Babar Awan talking to the media men at Lahore Airport.&m
Babar Awan talking to the media men at Lahore Airport.—Online

LAHORE Punjab government's spokesperson Pervaiz Rashid says the MPs holding bogus degrees are befooling the masses and not Nawaz Sharif as alleged by the federal law minister in his media talk.

Sharply criticising Mr Awan for using 'foul language' against the PML-N leader, the spokesperson said the minister got angry with Nawaz as the latter reiterated his stance of supporting the independent judiciary and media and not sparing bogus degree holders.

Pervaiz said Mr Awan feared that an independent media could make the minister tender resignation for holding a 'fake (PhD) degree'.

He alleged the federal law minister also feared that the independent judiciary and media could hold him accountable for millions of rupees he allegedly received in the Haris Steel Mills scam.

The spokesperson said Nawaz's press conference the other day diminished the chances of making laws for gagging the media. He alleged Mr Awan had been making preparations for introducing such laws.

He blamed the federal minister for spoiling the atmosphere which he said the PML-N chief wanted to create before the proposed national conference on terrorism.

A handout quoted Senator Pervaiz Rashid as urging PPP leadership to take notice of such statements in the interest of national unity and consensus in the country against terrorism.

Senator Rashid, commenting on the statements of the leader of Q-League, Shujaat Hussain and Pervaiz Elahi, said they were indulging in politics of hypocrisy as the members of their party (PML-Q) had also voted for the resolution.

He said these leaders should admit their mistake and try to promote serious and responsible politics instead of promoting confusion and chaos. He said Nawaz Sharif had always given priority to freedom of press and the PML-N would continue to play its role at every level for a free media.

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