• The official says that the live broadcast was arrested due to the prevailing tensions of India-Pakistan
• Omar Ayub complains the speaker about his censored speeches
• Ayaz Sadiq affirms his right to eliminate comments’ at home and in cameras’ ‘
Islamabad: The procedures of the National Assembly were not broadcast live on their official social media platforms for the second consecutive day, on Tuesday, while the Chamber continued a discussion about tensions with India after Pahalgam’s attack.
But when the opposition leader, Omar Ayub Khan, raised the issue of his censored speech, President Ayaz Sadiq affirmed his authority, saying that he had the right to eliminate anything considered “against national interest.”
The procedures were not broadcast live on the official YouTube and Facebook channels of the NA, while Payment television Speeches were issued from the treasure banks.
When contacted to comment, a senior official of the National Assembly Secretariat said that the live transmission of parliamentary procedures had stopped on social networks in view of the sensitivity of the prevailing situation between Pakistan and India, and added that the living flow would resume soon.
On Monday, the opening speech of the opposition leader in the state of the relations of India-Pakistan, a strike organized by Chief Jui-F, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, as well as the speeches of other opposition legislators, were not televised in Payment television.
Although the censorship of “objectable parties” of the speeches of opposition legislators has become a norm, a complete blackout of procedures during the debate on an important issue is not preceded.
The NA media wing generally shares the live broadcasting link, through social media channels, with reporters through a WhatsApp group. However, this practice has not been witnessed during the last two days.
Omar Ayub also raised the issue of censorship in the National Assembly on Tuesday, but only to the extent of his own speech.
At the beginning of Tuesday’s procedures, he regretted that his speech was not broadcast live. He said that all his speech was based on facts, adding that “we point out again and again, you can verify its record, which there was no live food …”.
“Let us know if someone does not like our voice,” he said. He said he also sought a copy of his speech from NA staff, which was not provided. He also talked about the pressure about his staff and said he has to write his entire correspondence himself.
In response, Na president Ayaz Sadiq said his speech was shown on closed circuit televisions throughout the NA Secretariat.
However, the speaker affirmed his authority to expel anything he considered against national interest. In view of the responsibility of the chair, he said, he would prefer to eliminate anything that was inappropriate in his opinion. “He will get a copy of the rest of his speech,” the speaker told the opposition leader.
Sadiq also said he would review all speeches and then decide which parties should be eliminated. “I can delete comments during procedures, as well as in the camera,” he said.
Speaking about the concerns raised by Mr. Ayub about his staff, the speaker said: “Be sure that if they do their job and someone tries to harass or stop them, I will assume responsibility.”
In a separate letter to the president of Na, Omar Ayub complained: “Despite his failure and personal commitment made on the floor of the camera, my speech was, in fact, blocked, censored, and the continuity of the procedures and the parliamentary debate was deliberately interrupted by the media and the wing of the photography of the NA.”
He complained that his request for access to the official audio and video recordings of his speech of the general media of NA and the wing of photography were denied without any legal justification, “although no part of the speech was ordered.
Posted in Dawn, May 7, 2025
