Poor security cover at Sindh Assembly was badly exposed during a sting operation by ARY News anchor Iqrarul Hasan, prompting authorities to instead arrest the host and overlooking the major security loophole.
Hasan, along with one of the crew members carrying a pistol, entered the assembly premises without being checked by security deployed at the building.
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| Iqrar showing the pistol to the Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani |
During the session, Iqrar asked his crew member to unveil the pistol and showed it to Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, thus stirring up a debate in the House.
Durrani ruled that no one including journalists would be allowed to enter the assembly without undergoing security check from this point on.
His order was followed by detention of Iqrar and his team as security personnel at the Sindh Assembly encircled the anchor and took him out of the hall. He was later arrested by the police and was moved to Arambagh Police Station.
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| Iqrar was arrested by the police and was moved to Arambagh Police Station |
In a brief interaction with media, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said security responsibility in the assembly lied with speaker. He stonewalled queries regarding arrest of the anchor and left.
Police arrested @iqrarulhassan after exposing poor security arrangements at #SindhAssembly #ReleaseIqrarUlHassan pic.twitter.com/FNNAwvjX6i— Syed Saif Ali (@smartsaif6) April 29, 2016
PTI lawmaker Samar Ali Khan said it often happens when security guards ask an MPA for checking, he replies with utter disdain in demonstration of his influence. This practice should now end, he emphasised.
FixIt campaigner Alamgir Khan lashed out at the government, saying Rs 64.4 billion budget for law and order had proved to be good for nothing.
He said feudals in Sindh are using their infleunce to suppress the common man’s voice. “I am here alone” and said he would remain there until he meet Iqrar.
“I will mobilize my team to ensure release of Iqrar and his team.”
He said a movie was created and it faced ban just because it used a word “Saeen”.
Scores of people gathered outside Arambagh Police station and demanded immediate release of Iqrar. They said government should appreciate the move highlighting poor security at assembly.
