ISLAMABAD, Feb 8: Opposition members on Thursday staged a protest sit-in outside the Parliament House building to express solidarity with the journalists whose movements had been restricted by the government during the ongoing National Assembly session in the name of security measures.

The protest sit-in was arranged by the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) and it was also attended by members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) besides senior media-persons and representatives of journalists’ organizations.

PPP MNA Zamarrud Khan was the main organiser of the protest camp, who named it “alternative cafeteria” and arranged snacks and tea for the participants.

It may be recalled that the government through an unprecedented decision on Tuesday restricted the movement of journalists in the Parliament House building and barred them from entering the cafeteria and ministers’ chambers.

On Wednesday, the journalists staged a walkout from the press gallery to protest against the decision. Later, as a result of a meeting between journalists and Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain, the government partially lifted some restrictions and allowed reporters to enter the parliament cafeteria, but Minister of State Tariq Azeem flatly refused to allow private TV cameras inside the house.

Speaking at the protest camp, PPP MNA Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan said the government had basically undermined the authority of the National Assembly Speaker as the Parliament House building came under his direct command and control.

He said the speaker should not withdraw from his special powers and take notice of this ‘wrong act’ of the government.