14 February 2004	Saturday	22 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: Journalists boycotted the Senate session here on Friday to protest against the alleged police misbehaviour and threatened more protests if amends were not made.

They chanted slogans against the police and Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro outside the parliament building after the house was adjourned and announced plans to stage a sit-in outside the parliament house on Monday at 5.30pm when the Senate is due to meet next.

The problem arose when police posted at the outer gate of the parliament house stopped those journalists who had yet to collect their cards from the press information department office there.

The protesters said the police used foul language and even hurled threats of physical violence against them.

SOOMRO ORDERS PROBE: In a later development, the Senate chairman set up a committee of three ruling coalition members to probe into the matter and asked officials concerned of the interior ministry and Islamabad police to look into the matter.

A Senate press release said the committee of Senators Tariq Azeem Khan, Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Mohammad Ali Durrani would put forward "substantiated recommendations for appropriate action and to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in future".