Army withdraws tweet ‘rejecting’

Pakistan Army on Wednesday “withdrew” a tweet sent out by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General on April 29 which said the Prime Minister Office’s directives on the Dawn story inquiry report were “rejected”. “The tweet on April 29, 2017 was not aimed at any government office or person,” an ISPR press release said Wednesday. “Recommendations, as contained in Para 18 of the Inquiry Committee Report, duly approved by the prime minister, have been implemented, which has settled the Dawn leaks issue,” it added. “Accordingly, ISPR’s said Twitter post stands withdrawn and has become infructuous. “Pakistan Army reiterates its firm commitment and continued resolve to uphold the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and support the democratic process.” Following the ISPR statement on Wednesday, a document purportedly issued by the Ministry of Interior said that: “Since action on orders of the Prime Minister has already been completed by the respective Ministries and Divisions, the issue of Dawn Leads [sic] stands settled.”

Detailing the government’s final position follow- ing the entire affair, the interior ministry repeated the “need to develop a code of conduct for print media, especially when dealing with issues relating to the security of Pakistan”. Continuing in line with the PM Office’s earlier directives on the matter, the interior ministry reiter- ated that Dawn should be referred to the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) for “disciplinary action” against the Editor Dawn and journalist Cyril Almeida. It also repeated that Rao Tehsin Ali, the principal information officer, had not displayed “the required level of professionalism” and “shown carelessness while dealing with the issue” and should be proceeded against under the Efficiency and Discipline Rules 1973. The document also reiterated that “Due to reasons referred in previous sections, the Committee recommends removal of Mr Tariq Fatemi from his current Portfolio.” The only ‘new’ part of the interior ministry’s ‘notification’ was an endorsement of the removal of Senator Pervaiz Rashid by the federal government.