March 10, 2006	Friday	Safar 9, 1427

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LAHORE, March 9: Members of the Punjab Assembly Press Gallery Committee boycotted the assembly proceedings to demand ban on kite flying and show solidarity with a photo journalist, Waseem Niaz, who was injured by a kite twine the other day. There was no news of ban on the sport at that time.

Deputy Speaker Sardar Shaukat Mazari directed Works and Communication Minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, MMA’s Arshad Baggu and PPP’s Raja Shafqat Abbasi to bring back the journalists as the government would give an important explanation while responding to a call attention notice on the subject.

They were also assured that if any journalist fell victim to kite-related incident, he or his heirs would be paid compensation.

The law minister denied the impression that the government was patronising the sport or Basant. “No one can patronise a sport that becomes hazardous and starts endangering lives of others.”

He said the treasury and the chief minister were as sad and gloomy at the loss of lives due to kite flying as were the opposition MPs and the journalists.

Raja Basharat also explained that he had wrongly stated on Wednesday that Gen Musharraf would visit Lahore to celebrate Basant. “This was just a slip of tongue for I’d got a bit emotional.”

The opposition MPs wanted to discuss the issue further but the proceedings were suspended for Zuhr break.

As the house resumed its business, the opposition again sought time to discuss the subject as they were not satisfied with the words “as earlier as possible.”

They staged a symbolic walkout when they were denied the permission.

Responding to a point of order by Rana Sanaullah Khan, Raja Basharat told the house that the release of the innocent people arrested in the wake of Feb 14 rioting had been started. They included three activists of the PML-N.

He said the government would withdraw house-arrest orders of those who had not been issued notices. While the government would not oppose ending of house arrest of those too who had been issued notices.

As for those whose bail petitions had been rejected by courts, their cases would be further investigated to ascertain their innocence anew, he added.

Rana Sana said the chief minister had given the assurance that no innocent person would be detained even for a single day. He said he, along with the law minister, had gone through the list of detainees and no evidence had been found against 24 of them. Eighteen people were under house arrest.

Raja Basharat said the chief minister’s commitment would be fulfilled, as the PML-N and the MMA had been asked to provide lists of their detained activists.

He asked the opposition not to exploit religious feelings of the masses to achieve political motives, however, the opposition had every right to launch a political movement against the government.

Later, a lack of quorum was also pointed out but by that time the house had completed its business as the last item on the agenda, the Punjab Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance 2006, had been laid.