KARACHI: A private television channel's team was arrested from Sindh Assembly premises on Friday after a team member took a gun inside the house apparently in order to expose substandard security arrangements at the building.
A team member concealed the weapon in his clothing and entered the house. Once inside, he presented the weapon before the speaker, shocking lawmakers.
Sindh Assembly opposition leaders were critical of the provincial government and those responsible for the building's security. Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani demanded an inquiry into the matter.
Provincial Interior Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal, instead of addressing the opposition's concerns requested the speaker to order the arrest of the armed man and the team behind the ARY News programme.
"I request you to order the assembly's security staff to keep them in detention until police arrive to arrest them for the crime," Siyal asked Durrani.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA and Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izharul Hasan questioned the speaker about insufficient security arrangements for the assembly building "which is already receiving threats from banned organisations".
"The Sindh government is spending millions for the security of the house but an armed man is not only able to sneak into the house but stay there with ease," Izhar remarked, outraged.
Earlier this month, an unclaimed bag wreaked havoc during a session of the Sindh Assembly, leaving lawmakers to wonder whether there was a bomb in the bag.
Related: How Sharmila Farooqi's Burberry bag wreaked havoc in the Sindh Assembly
Interestingly, the speaker instead of calling in the security staff or Bomb Disposal Squad, ordered staff inside the house to put the bag in water.
The bag belonged to provincial minister Sharmila Farooqi, who left it unattended for a short while.
Also Read: Sindh Assembly members flout security rules
