PIO to challenge his removal in court

ISLAMABAD: Former principal information officer (PIO) Rao Tehsin Ali said on Sunday that he would challenge the DawnLeaks inquiry commission recommendations in the court, as he said that he “would be proceeded against under the E&D rules 1973 on the charges based on the report findings.”

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday approved the recommendations of the committee, which ordered proceedings against Rao Tehsin and withdrew the portfolio of Foreign Affairs from the PM’s Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.

Rao Tehsin told Geo TV that he was awaiting the inquiry commission report and that his lawyer had asked for the classified copy of the report. “How could the commission recommend action against me without identifying those responsible for the Leaks?” he asked.

Earlier, the Pakistan Army rejected the government notification on the NewsLeaks. The order released by the PM’s Office also said that the role of the editor of newspaper, Zaffar Abbas, and reporter Cyril Almeida will be referred to the All Pakistan Newspaper Association (APNS) for necessary disciplinary action to be taken against them.

It added that the APNS will be asked to develop a code of conduct for the media, "especially when dealing with issues relating to security of Pakistan and to ensure that stories on issues of national importance and security are published by following basic journalistic and editorial norms.” The Establishment Division issued a notification, transferring PIO Press Information Department Rao Tehsin and asking him to report to the division immediately.