KARACHI, Feb 14: A Pakistan People’s Party lawmaker, Dr Ahmed Ali Shah, has lodged a protest against the attitude of Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani for ridiculing members while responding to their questions during the question hour.

Calling upon Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro to protect the sanctity of the house, he has asked him to seek a public apology from the minister and ensure that such behaviour will not be allowed in future.

Dr Shah in a Jan 29 letter to the speaker referred to the incident of Jan 26 when Mr Durrani apparently used derogatory language in the presence of the leader of the house.

Instead of answering questions from the members with humility and respect, alleged Dr Shah, he made fun of the members, both male and female, by using unseemly language and making racist remarks.

In the letter, he further said, this kind of uncouth and uncivilised behaviour from a senior cabinet minister who had been a member of this house several times was highly objectionable and unacceptable.

“This amounts to conduct unbecoming of a minister,” he said.

“As elected members, we are supposed to be role models for our electorate, showing respect and humility to our colleagues but have unfortunately made ourselves a laughing stock before the public, as has been expressed in some editorials and articles in the aftermath of this episode. The racist remarks have also sparked protests from the Sheedi community. It is this kind of uncivilized conduct of a few in our government that has given a bad name to democracy and the party for which our leaders have laid down their lives.”