No blame game in security meeting, committee told

NewsLeak scandal

LAHORE: Top government representatives have told the committee investigating the publication of a news report in Dawn that all issues are discussed openly in national security meetings to design future line of action, The News has learnt.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, former Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Punjab chief minister’s adviser Muhammad Malick, PIO Rao Tehsin etc have submitted their statements to the inquiry committee probing news leak — "Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military" — published on October 6, 2016.

The committee is investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged leak to determine the motives behind the leak and publication of the story. The committee was also tasked with fixing responsibility.

“All issues are discussed in a very cordial atmosphere in such high-profile national security meetings but no institution casts any blame over the other,” the government officials told the committee.

They further told the committee that civil and military top brass discuss all issues — terrorism, extremism, internal or external threats — in such NSC meetings and how to deal with them. But, they said, it was completely wrong to say that the civil side had accused the military side of protecting or supporting the banned elements in the province from behind the closed doors.

“It is also absolutely wrong that the ISI chief and the Punjab chief minister exchanged an argument in the meeting about the handling of banned outfits in the province. Everything was discussed in a very cordial atmosphere,” sources claimed quoting Foreign Secretary Azaz Chaudhry as having said in his statement.  He denied having uttered a word in the meeting about Pakistan facing isolation. Pakistan is neither facing nor will face isolation in days to come, sources cited him as having said.

The secretary told the investigators, “We discussed changing landscapes in our regional and international fronts as new blocks are emerging. We discussed how to redesign our strategy keeping in view the changes taking place all around us.”

Senator Rashid, sources said, told the committee members that it was a big accusation by the newspaper on the elected prime minister that he had orchestrated the discussion which had led to arguments between the spymaster and the chief minister.

Why the prime minister should do such things. It was a baseless allegation by the paper, sources, quoting Rashid’s statement, said.

The former minister further told the committee that such discussions take place whenever such a situation arises to address the issue at hand but they aren’t meant to play blame game on anyone.

“Our security institutions are working very hard to put an end to extremism and terrorism in Pakistan,” the Senator said, adding, the issue of Pakistan facing challenges on foreign relations’ front also came under discussion in the meeting to draw future line of action.

Sources, privy to the developments, further said that the inquiry committee has also recorded statement of Cyril Almeida, who had reported the story.

Quoting Cyril’s statement, sources said, he told the committee that he had verified and cross-checked details reported in the story. He also confirmed meeting with Pervaiz Rashid before filing the story only to have government’s response. He further stated before the committee that before reaching the senator for version, he had all the details in the story.

It is further learnt that Cyril refused to reveal his source before the committee saying under the law, he can’t be forced to disclose his source.

Similarly, it is learnt that the newspaper management has also recorded its statement and defended the story in toto.

According to sources, Editor Dawn Zaffar Abbas also appeared before the inquiry committee on November 16 and defended what the paper published about the NSC meeting on October 6.

Sources said he told the committee that the newspaper ran the story after verifying all facts from multiple sources.

Responding to The News’s queries through email, Zaffar Abbas stated that, “It’s true that I did appear before the Inquiry Committee and gave my version of the news gathering process and Dawn’s editorial policy in response to their questions.”

Although, he further wrote, “I am not sure if officially, or under any order, the proceedings are being held in-camera, I was requested by the Inquiry Committee not to go public with the proceedings of the day, and as a principled person I would not like to share the details of what transpired at the meeting.”

He also clarified that the editor’s comprehensive response to the news had come in the form of an editorial published on October 12, 2016. Also, Dawn’s position, as of almost all other newspapers, regarding the protection of the sources of a news story, as well as the source, material, has been reinforced by a unanimous resolution of the Press Council of Pakistan during its meeting of November 10, 2016, Zaffar Abbas maintained.

“I am again sorry for not being able to share the details of the proceedings, however, I hope what I have stated above may help in understanding our position on the matter,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Principal Information Officer Rao Tehsin confirmed to this correspondent that he has recorded his statement before the inquiry committee and he has nothing to do with the news leak issue as he was out of the city on the day of the meeting.

The inquiry committee also recorded statement of Punjab CM’s adviser Muhammad Malick. Malick told the investigators that Cyril did contact the Punjab government for version regarding any argument between the spymaster and the chief minister. “We told the journalist that no such thing happened in the meeting,” the adviser told the committee, adding, the reporter didn’t incorporate their version in the story and they had to issue a rebuttal very next day.

The inquiry committee has also recorded statement of Rao Tehsin Anwar, Principal Information Officer (PIO) Press Information Department and two senior journalists.

When contacted, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said he wouldn’t comment on the ongoing inquiry into news leak issue. “Don’t mind, I will not speak on the issue”, he remarked.

Senator Pervaiz Rashid, talking to The News said, “I have submitted whatever I had to say in my statement before the committee and wouldn’t like to comment on it.” He said it is up to the committee members to give their findings whenever they feel appropriate.

Earlier, the senator had told The News that he would appear before the investigators and tell them all the truth, “Nothing less than truth.”

This correspondent also tried to reach Cyril Almeida through phone calls, text messages and emails but he preferred not to respond.

The inquiry committee recorded majority of the statements at the Punjab House, Islamabad. Earlier, the committee took into possession the record related to the NSC meeting of October 3 including meeting minutes and details of those who attended that meeting at the PM Office. The committee has also sought help of some forensic experts to evaluate the record.