ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has boycotted the Senate committee formed by the Senate chairman to probe the alleged leak of an “objectionable” video of Senator Azam Swati.
Senator Shahzad Waseem, the leader of the opposition, said in a statement that the PTI had already “rejected” the committee set up by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani for the very reason that Mr. Swati desired justice from the Supreme Court, in response to Mr. Haideri’s criticism of Mr. Swati for missing committee meetings.
Moreover, Dr. Waseem said that PTI and the opposition’s coalition parties rejected the committee through a decision at a joint parliamentary party meeting on November 7 and declared they would not participate in its activities.
He claimed that given Mr. Swati’s and the PTI’s allies’ unambiguous stance, the convener’s claim that Mr. Swati skipped the meeting was “contrary to the fact and unacceptable.”
After presiding over the committee meeting on Friday, Mr. Haideri expressed sadness that Mr. Swati had chosen to abstain from the proceedings and said that the committee would be unable to assist the PTI senator in this circumstance.
Meanwhile, PTI Senator Azam Swati approached the Supreme Court with an appeal to safeguard his honor, privacy and respect in accordance with the Constitution.
He said it was mystifying that his telephone numbers, as well as those of his wife and son, were with the unknown persons who shared with them an objectionable video involving him and his wife.
The application was filed in pursuance of observations by a five-member SC bench on Monday.
The bench was headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.
Senator Swati informed the court that he had advised his family, upon learning about the video, to relocate from Islamabad to Abbottabad.
“I sent a message to my son Usman Swati, who lives in the United States, that his mother, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren should immediately be shifted to USA to join him,” the senator stated in his application.
“On Nov 5, I held a press conference in Lahore and left for Abbottabad. I reached there at 7pm and met my wife there. We confirmed that the venue at which the objectionable video was taken was Federal Lodge No 1, Quetta. My wife and I stayed there for two nights and were guests of Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani.
“The heinous incident is gravest violation of humanity, human rights and fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973. The applicant reserves the right to be protected in accordance with the law and the Constitution.
“This court is requested to safeguard sanctity, honor, privacy and respect of the applicant in most effective manner and in accordance with the law and the Constitution,” Mr Swati concluded.
