In a bid to improve civil-military relations, soured by a controversial news item published in an English newspaper, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has removed Pervaiz Rasheed from the post of federal minister for information.
The ministry has been taken back from Rashid until the probe of a “leaked” story published in DAWN – on alleged differences relations between Prime Minister and Pakistan military leadership – is completed.
Prime Minister Sharif, who in the past had been embroiled in disputes with presidents and army chiefs, is also confronted with the specter of a lock down of capital Islamabad from a political party demanding probe into his hazy offshore account.
An inquiry committee, comprising intelligence agencies ISI, MI and IB – is probing how the story was leaked.
English newspaper DAWN published a story on October 6, in which columnist Cyril Almeida wrote about an alleged civilian and military rift during the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting over the issue of tackling Jihadi outfits.
The story triggered a storm of conjectures and speculations in media and political circles. Pakistan military official felt it was fed to the reporter and demanded an investigations into it. Almeida was temporarily placed on exit control list – meaning he could not leave the country – but within days ban on his travel was reverted.
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 meeting was confirmed by the ISPR , the military’s media wing. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif met with General Sharif at the Army House
“The delegation briefed COAS on the progress of investigation and recommendations related to planted story of National Security breach of 6 Oct 2016,” the military said in a statement. The meeting was also attended by DG ISI Lt-General Rizwan Akhtar.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Imran Khan, who is planning massive protests against PM Sharif over corruption allegations, has welcomed the removal of Senator Pervez Rashid. In a message on his Twitter account, Khan congratulated the Pakistani nation and hoped that many more would lose their jobs in Newsgate scandal.
