ISLAMABAD: Former Principal Information Officer (PIO) Rao Tehsin Ali Khan has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking directions for the federal government to provide him a copy of the Inquiry Report in the matter of 'Dawn Leaks' so that he may come to know the exact nature of the accusations leveled against him and he could avail legal remedies.
The petitioner adopted in the petition that a very harsh action has been taken against him that resulted in public humiliation, and removal from the office of PIO given the fact that he neither attended the meeting at Prime Minister House nor was the outcome of the meeting conveyed to him.
The petitioner through his counsel Waseem Sajjad Advocate has nominated federation of Pakistan through secretary Ministry of Information, secretary Interior and secretary to the Prime Minister as respondents.
The petitioner mentioned in the petition that he joined civil service's information group in 1982 and lastly he held the grade 21 post of PIO.
That on October 6, 2016 a news report was published in daily Dawn under the heading "Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tells military".
This report was regarding ahigh level meeting held at prime minister house that was participated by the highest civilian and military officials. As the report dealt with a sensitive issue, so an inquiry was conducted to fix the responsibility as to who leaked the information.
An inquiry committee headed by Justice (R) Amir Raza called the petitioner and asked him about his role in this matter. Before the committee, petitioner completely denied any role in this regard as he neither attended the meeting nor he was informed about the outcome.
In the light of report prepared by the committee, secretary to the prime minister on April 29, 2017 issued directions that "Rao Tehsin Ali Khan PIO of the Ministry of Information shall be proceeded against E&D rules 1973 on the charges based on findings in the instant report". After this, the Establishment Division issued a notification relieving the petitioner of his duties and he was asked to report to the Establishment Division.
On May 3, 2017 a notification was issued by the Information and Broadcasting Division stating that the petitioner has been relieved of his duties as PIO while the petitioner does not know till today, findings of the inquiry committee or reason for the harsh action against him that resulted in a stigma and public humiliation for the petitioner and his family and also affected his service career.
On April 28, 2017 the petitioner filed an application before the secretary Interior requesting him to provide the petitioner with a copy of the report so that petitioner could avail lawful remedies.
However no action was taken on the request. The petitioner on May 2, 2017 and May 13, 2017 also filed applications but without any response. The petitioner contended in the petition that obtaining report to know about the details of accusations, is his right under Article 9 and 19-A of the Constitutions. Despite persistent efforts of the petitioner, the inquiry report has not been supplied to him.
The petitioner has prayed to the court to direct the respondents to supply him a copy of the inquiry report or submit the report before the court.