ANP demands resignation of PTA chairman

ISLAMABAD: Awami National Party (ANP) has demanded that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Hafeez ur Rehman tenders his resignation, for the remark made against ANP leader Senator Aimal Wali Khan.

The confrontation stems from a heated exchange that took place yesterday, during a meeting of the Senate’s Functional Committee, between Senator Wali and PTA Chairman.

The PTA chairman had accused Senator Wali of being high on charas (cannabis cigarette). Senator Wali strongly reacted to the jab, saying that how could a public official make such a remark against a lawmaker.

The PTA chairman eventually offered an apology, accepting that his remark was wrong. However, Senator Wali refused to back down, calling for disciplinary action against the PTA official. Hafeez ur Rehman was made to leave the meeting yesterday, but today the ANP has made this demand of resignation of the PTA chief.

During yesterday’s meeting, Senator Wali had also said that his party would take up the matter with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as well. ANP also asked the IT Ministry secretary to take notice.

Also read: PTA chief’s “cannabis cigarette” jab against Aimal Wali sparks Senate showdown