Missing, not missing

LAHORE - While an earlier controversy about Governor Salmaan Taseers alleged absence from the country without any intimation to the Presidency is yet to reach its logical conclusion, a section of media (not Nawa-i-Waqt Group) on Tuesday created stir in the provincial hierarchy by airing yet another news of the governors mysterious departure to Dubai. Governors spokesperson Farrukh Shahs reaction to reported absence of his boss also gave some credence to the media reports when he said, He would neither deny nor confirm the story. But this time around, the drama came to an abrupt end later in the evening when Taseer suddenly appeared at a paintings exhibition at Alhamra Art Gallery, and criticised a section of media for airing fabricated news about his departure. I would like to tell Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman that he himself is a fugitive after looting money of Voice of America. I wonder why I am being targeted by his media team every day, a visibly perturbed Taseer observed while talking to media. Clarifying his position about the latest reports of his alleged absence, the governor said his wife and daughter flown to Dubai while he remained present in the Governor House and also attended the meeting of Board of Directors of Aitchison College. The governor said when he wanted to go abroad he would inform the President House. It is now up to the Presidency to notify my leave, he said. He, however, did not make any further comment over his reported absence from country a few days back. He questioned what type of journalism this particular media group was doing, as they were just targeting the governor belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party. The governor also came down hard on the PML-N leadership and alleged that they just wanted to take over the Governors House. I suggest Nawaz Sharif that he should relax as his partys government in Punjab would not be dissolved, he said. Taseer also told Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif that he was not going anywhere. I am here and will stay here, he averred, adding, Sometimes the chief minister Punjab talks about the president and sometimes he passes remarks about me. He said he wanted to tell Shahbaz that he would not let anybody to take over the Governors House, and if they had any 'appetite, he would invite them on a meal at the Governor House. Talking about PML-N Senator Pervez Rasheed, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and a journalist from the particular media group, Taseer said they should speak sensibly and with responsibility. I dont want to respond to these jokers, he further stated. The governor said this particular media house in collaboration with the Punjab government also conspired some times back to involve him in the murder plot of Chief Justice Lahore High Court Khawaja Sharif and now they were displaying the tickets of his wife and daughter on their channel. What type of journalism it is, he questioned, adding that he did not watch the news and current affairs TV channel owned by the particular media house, as it was not worth watching.

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