Quaid portraits removed from Presidency

The Nation

Published: June 28, 2009

ISLAMABAD – Spokesperson of the Presidency Farhatullah Babar has dismissed the report by a private channel, alleging that portraits of Quaid-i-Azam had been removed from the Presidency.
“It is not only false but also mischievous, unethical and highly unbecoming of any professional media outlet and professional journalists,” the spokesperson contradicted in a statement issued on Saturday. The spokesperson also said such tendentious and malicious reports should jolt professional media organisations into asking themselves if this is what the freedom of media is and for which democratic political parties, civil society bodies and media organisations have rendered great sacrifices.
Monitoring Desk adds: Portraits of Founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammed Ali Jinnah had been removed from the Prime Minister House and Presidential House, a private TV channel reported Saturday.
Two days ago, President Zardari hosted a reception in honour of the national cricket team on winning the ICC Twenty20 World Cup title. On this occasion, the team players and officials had a group photo with President Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
There were pictures of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal Zardari Bhutto and President Zardari hanging on the wall behind the group but there was no portrait of Founder of the Nation.
Similarly, an Internship Award ceremony was held with PM Gilani in chair on Friday. On this occasion, the stage was decorated with the pictures of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, President Zardari and PM Gilani; however, there was no picture of Quaid-i-Azam.
In a similar photograph, President Zardari was administering oath of Federal Mohtasib to Dr Shoaib Suddle; however, the backdrop flashed with a picture of Quaid-i-Awam sans any photo of Quaid-i-Azam.
Similarly, in a meeting with US delegation, no photograph of Muhammed Ali Jinnah was visible.
Under law, to hang the portrait of Quaid-i-Azam at offices of government officials, Presidency and Prime Minister House is compulsory.