Islamabad: The opposition in Pakistan hasscored a "PR-brownie" against the government by starting an"open-air cafeteria" to assuage the hurt feelings of media persons bannedfrom entering the cafeteria and chambers in parliament for security reasons.

The Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) onThursday set up the 'cafeteria on a green belt in front of Parliament House toexpress solidarity with parliamentary correspondents and private televisioncrew.

"Members of National Assembly, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan andZamurad Khan of the PPPP arranged the 'cafeteria', where lawmakers of thePakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Islamist combine MuttahidaaMajlis-e-Amal (MMA) also met with journalists," The Daily Times said.

Upset over being denied entry to the government cafeteria,media had earlier this week boycotted proceedings of the two Houses.

Ahsan said the National Assembly's Speaker should not haveallowed the Information Ministry to 'impose' the restriction on journalists."The National Assembly speaker is the custodian of the house and he shouldnot surrender his powers (to the government)," Ahsan said.

Khawaja Saad Rafique of the PML-N said that this restriction,imposed on the pretext of security, was an attack on press freedom, and anattempt to suppress the voice of the people of Pakistan.