ISLAMABAD – Director General Intra-Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor contradicted a statement by interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan regarding the delay in the report by committee constituted to probe Dawn Leaks story.
According to reports, the interior minister had clarified on Saturday that the delay in publishing the findings of the committee constituted to probe Dawn’s controversial story was due to lack of consensus among the members.
Chaudhry Nisar claimed that Justice (retd) Amir agreed to assume the position of the head of committee subject to the condition that he would sign the report only if a consensus is reached.
The legislator opined that ISPR DG had nothing to do with this committee, and that was not the DG at that time when this committee was formed.
‘Had the members reached consensus after the formation of committee, why did it take more than five months to finalise the report?’ questioned Nisar.
However, during a press briefing on Monday, Director General (DG) ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor said that there was no word on consensus on the issue of Dawn Leaks during the court of inquiry.
The DG ISPR maintained that the interior minister had said that he would make an announcement on the Leaks issue within three to four days and he hoped that the minister would fulfill his commitment. He said the responsible will be identified after the decision is announced.
To a question regarding viewpoint of interior minister who cited ‘lack of consensus’ for a delay in report, the DG responded that the question should be asked from the minister.
It is worth mentioning that Pakistan’s leading daily Dawn stirred controversy on October 6 when it published a story suggesting a civil-military divide over inaction against militant groups.
A seven-member committee was formed soon after the story jolted military and diplomatic corridors. The then information minister Pervaiz Rasheed was also asked to tender resignation by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
