ISLAMABAD: Former Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan was barred from entering provincial assembly by security forces.
Videos circulating on social media showed Awan being stopped by security personnel at the entrance of the provincial legislature. Firdous Awan arrived at the assembly to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Ahsan Saleem Baryar but was informed that her name was not on the guests’ list.
Talking to journalists, Firdous Awan said she was late to the oathtaking ceremony and the session had already ended, therefore there was no need to go there. “So there is nothing like this that anyone targeted me and stopped me from going inside,” she added.
The former SPCM said the PML-Q was an ally of the PTI and the speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, had the right to permit or refuse entry as the custodian.
Referring to her former role as special assistant to Punjab Chief, she said her statements were not personal but the government’s stance and policy so “if there are any reservations then I will resolve them together with the speaker”.
She said she was the “strongest voice” in advocating and strengthening the PTI-PML-Q alliance. “Today we think too that we have to move forward together and resolve any reservations if there are any,” she added.
She praised Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as a man of “grand” thinking and vision, saying that his connection with the nation was very strong. “I don’t think he will target any current or former member and malign them. I expect big thinking from him,” Awan said.
In response to another question, Firdous Awan said she had resigned from her post and it is up to the Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Punjab to assign her new responsibilities, adding that she would continue to serve the party as a worker.
Last week, Firdous Ashiq Awan had resigned as Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister on Information and Broadcasting. She directly sent her resignation letter to Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, who has duly accepted the resignation.
“Chief Minister has been pleased to accept the enclosed resignation tendered by Ms Firdous Ashiq Awan from the office of Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information. Further necessary action may be taken accordingly,” a statement issued by CM Punjab’s Office read.
Prior to assuming the charge as CM Punjab’s aide, Prime Minister Imran Khan had appointed Dr Firdous as the special assistant to the prime minister on information and broadcasting in April 2019. She had replaced Fawad Chaudhry, who at that time was the minister of science and technology.
Dr Awan had begun her mainstream political career in 2002 when she became MNA on a reserved seat on a PML (Q) ticket. She was re-elected to the NA as a PPP member in 2008 before joining the PTI in 2017.
