New Delhi:
Pakistan Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has been banned from entering the National Press Club in Islamabad. According to reports in Pakistani media, the temporary ban was a result of the minister making insulting remarks about a journalist undergoing cancer treatment.
The decision was taken after NPC President Shakeel Qarar met Geo TV video journalist Nasir, who is receiving treatment for cancer at Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi, the report said quoting a release issued by the press club.
According to the statement, Rashid had “uttered insulting sentences which deeply hurt Nasir’s sentiments” when a local journalist drew his attention towards the sick journalist.
In the light of the remarks, the press club has decided to place a ban on the coverage of Rashid in Rawalpindi and Islamabad and on his entry in NPC Islamabad and the Rawalpindi camp office for a week.
The press club appealed to reporters, video and photojournalists to follow the prohibition and also requested press clubs across the country to bar Rashid’s entry for seven days.
The Pakistan Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad is known for making insulting and provocating remarks. He had claimed that Pakistan has atom bombs who weigh as low as 125 to 250 grams. Rasheed has warned India that these 'smart bombs' are capable of targetting specific areas.
Rashid had predicted full blown war between India and Pakistan to take place in October or Novevber. He had also said that any war between India and Pakistan will be the last one. The minister had said if a war was imposed on Pakistan, India would be divided into 22 parts.
Rashid Ahmad was also in news after a video of him getting a minor electric shock during a rally went viral. Rashid suffered the shock while he was speaking against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Kashmir issue.
