Notification of April 29 prevails as issue settled for good

ISLAMABAD: The April 29 notification of the Prime Minister House, which generated a tweet from Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), is the only notification so far issued over implementation of DawnLeaks inquiry report. 

However, the Interior Ministry issued a press release on Wednesday explaining the very notification issued by the PM House on April 29. Sources in the PM House said the notification issued on April 29 was complete by all means and was directed at three concerned ministries for further action. There was no mention of Pervaiz Rashid in the said notification because he was already de-notified, therefore, there was no need of mentioning his de-notification again, the sources said.

Though a controversy was generated when a tweet from the DG ISPR rejected the notification and the ratings hungry media tried to create hype and impression that the Pakistan Army and the government were at odds over implementation of the Leaks inquiry report’s recommendations, everything fell flat when the Pakistan Army withdrew its tweet and held that the prime minister was the final authority. 

The interior ministry also issued a press release which was explanation of what the PM House had notified on April 29.

The PM House in its notification, which generated the controversy after its rejection by the Army, had said, “The role of Daily Dawn/Mr. Zafar Abbas/Mr. Cyril Almeida in the instant matter shall be referred to All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) for necessary disciplinary action to be taken against them; ii. The APNS shall also be asked to develop a code of conduct for the print 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 abiding to basic journalistic and editorial norms; iii. Rao Tehsin Ali, Principal Information Officer of the Ministry of Information, shall be proceeded against under the E&D Rules 1973 on the charges based on findings in the instant report; and, iv. Allocation of portfolio of Foreign Affairs to Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to Prime Minister, shall be withdrawn. Necessary notification in this regard should be issued forthwith. Further necessary action may be taken accordingly by the concerned ministries and divisions.” 

The Interior Ministry on Wednesday issued a press release which is mere an explanation of the above narrated notification with an addition of Pervaiz Rashid’s removal stating that action has already been taken against him.

The PM House notification was addressed to the secretary interior with its copy forwarded to secretaries of establishment, cabinet and information and broadcasting for information and necessary action. The Cabinet Division was to de-notify Special Assistant to the PM on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi, whereas the Establishment Division was to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Rao Tehsin Ali, Principal Information Officer. The Information Ministry has to take up the issue with APNS both for taking necessary disciplinary proceedings against the newspaper editor and the reporter besides developing code of conduct for the print media, especially when dealing with issues relating to security of Pakistan.

Now that the dust has settled and both, the military and the civvies, have agreed to move on while settling the Leaks issue, it seems that the PM’s notification was misunderstood and reaction was given in haste. The television channels and so-called analysts took it as an opportunity to sell whatever stuff they had but till date, the PM’s notification is the only instrument issued to implement the recommendations of the Leaks inquiry report.