ISLAMABAD, April 6: Journalists on Tuesday evening staged a walkout from the press gallery of the Parliament House to protest against Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmed for not fulfilling his commitment regarding provision of financial support to a journalist for his treatment abroad.

It may be mentioned that the journalists staged a walkout from the Parliament House a few days ago against the information minister for refusing to grant financial assistance to Shakeel Turrabi, who needed liver transplantation. Later, Mr Turrabi was taken to the United Kingdom by his family members with the help of a philanthropist.

The speaker held a meeting with the representatives of the journalists and talked to the information minister, who gave him the assurance that he would take steps in this regard. However, despite passage of several days, the ministry took no practical step.

On Tuesday, state minister for parliamentary affairs Raza Hayat Harraj and state minister for environment Tahir Iqbal came to the journalists and said the speaker had stated on the floor of the House that he would summon the information minister and the information secretary to his chamber on Wednesday and seek a reply. On this assurance, the newsmen ended their boycott.