Information Ministry taken back from Pervaiz Rashid over 'planted story'

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has taken back the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage from Pervaiz Rashid, weeks after the military's top commanders said a 'false and fabricated' newspaper report breached national security.

According to a statement from the PM's office, the premier has directed Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid to step down to enable holding of an independent and detailed inquiry into the episode.

"The planted story related to the NSC and NAP meeting published in Daily Dawn on 6th October was a breach of national security. Evidence available so far points to a lapse on part of Information Minister, who has been directed to step down from office to enable holding of an independent and detailed inquiry," said the PM House statement.

"An inquiry committee including senior officers of ISI, MI and IB is being formed by the Government of Pakistan to clearly apportion blame, identify interests and motives and expose all those responsible for this episode for stern action in the national interest," it added.

The Dawn newspaper had published the story on October 6, in which journalist Cyril Almeida had written about an alleged civil-military rift during the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting over the issue of tackling jihadi outfits.

The story drew an outpour of criticism with the military stating that it was fed to the reporter and demanded investigations into it. It cost Almeida placement of his name on the Exit Control List for less than a week, before the government eventually lifted his travel ban.

On October 28, senior leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, the ISPR confirmed.

The military's media wing said Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif met General Raheel Sharif at the Army House between 4:00PM and 5:30PM.

"The delegation briefed COAS on the progress of investigation and recommendations related to planted story of National Security breach of 6 Oct 2016," said the statement.

The meeting was also attended by DG ISI Lt-General Rizwan Akhtar, said the ISPR.

Feeding of Dawn story national security breach

During a Corps Commanders meeting on October 14, Pakistan's top military commanders expressed serious concern over what they called the "feeding of a false and fabricated story of an important security meeting", terming it a breach of national security.

The 'fabricated story' was an apparent reference to a the news report published in Dawn.   

Imran reacts to Pervaiz Rashid’s removal

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan expressed his happiness over the removal of Pervaiz Rashid as interior minister. In a tweet the PTI chief said “Mubarak to nation! darbari sacked, the other flees and the rest start trembling.”

Meanwhile Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said he was in Dubai to attend a wedding and would be returning to Pakistan on Sunday.  

Pervaiz has left the ministry not politics

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Asif Kirmani said Imran Khan should not be happy over Pervaiz Rashid leaving the ministry.

“Pervaiz Rashid has left the ministry not politics,” Kirami said during a news conference.