ISLAMABAD – The Intra Services Public Relations took back its tweet posted on April 29 in connection with the notification issued by the government regarding Dawn Leaks controversy.
A statement by military’s media wing on Wednesday said that the 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’.
“Accordingly, ISPR’s said Twitter post stands withdrawn and has become infructuous,” confirmed ISPR and clarified that the tweet was not aimed at any government office or person.
https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR/status/858257576210952192
“Pakistan Army reiterates its firm commitment and continued resolve to uphold the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and support the democratic process,” the ISPR statement added.
Following the settlement of Dawn Leaks controversy, the ministry of interior also issued a press release detailing that the issue of Daily Dawn, its editor Zafar Abbas and columnist Cyril Almeida has been referred to APNS.
The fresh notification says that the action already taken by the federal government against Senator Pervaiz Rasheed is endorsed.
“The committee unanimously agreed that Rao Tehseen had not displayed the required level of professionalism and has shown carelessness while dealing with the issue that the committee recommends that, he being a civil servant, may be proceeded against under the Efficiency & Discipline Rules 1973,” said the notification.
The issue of Dawn Leaks led to visible friction between civil-military corridors when on April 29, the government issued notification sacking special assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi while referring the issue of Dawn Leaks to APNS. In addition, Principal Information Officer Rao Tehseen was also fired days after the notification.
However, minutes after the issuance of the notification, the ISPR took to the microblogging site and rejected the notification.
The Dawn Leaks controversy started in October last year when Pakistan’s leading daily ‘Dawn’ in one of its stories by the name ‘Act against militants or face diplomatic isolation’ hinted at a rift between civil-military relations.
The story stirred a major controversy, resulting in columnist Cyril Almeida coming under fire from the military and government and being temporarily placed on the Exit Control List.
The Dawn story quoting official sources said that civilian government and military were not on the same page regarding actions against some specific militant groups and there was heated exchange of words between Punjab CM Shehbaz and ISI chief during a national security meeting.
Pakistan army had dismissed the story as “unfounded and planted” and called for a probe into the leak that led to the formation of an inquiry commission.
Prime Minister Office and Punjab Chief Minister also rejected the report published in the newspaper.
