Pervaiz Rashid removed as information minister
The development came in over a news that was fed to media earlier this month
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Pervaiz Rashid has been relieved from his services as Minister for Information and Broadcasting on Saturday in a surprise development.
The news broke in early evening hours around three weeks after a controversial story was reported by an English paper.
The development came in over a news that was fed to media earlier this month which claimed of a confrontation between civil and military leaders during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC).
An English newspaper carried a story that allegedly revealed the inside happenings of the meeting. The report became controversial overnight as according to the Interior Ministry, it harmed national security.
The government had promised the nation to point out the participant who leaked the news. Kamran Khan, host of ‘Dunya Kamran Khan Kay Sath’ has asserted that Rashid admitted before Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif of correcting the story to Cyril Almeida, the journalist who filed the report.
Reportedly, senior officials of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) will now lead a probe following the sacking.
Prime Minister House has reported that Rashid was found guilty in the issue according to the evidence. The PM House further stated that the news hit the national security and that the committee would bring others involved to justice.
Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had announced formation of a committee within days after the incident that was tasked with conducting a probe.
Know more: Enemies benefited off Cyril s news report, says Nisar
In a press conference, the Interior Minister reported that the committee would complete investigations within three to four days. The announcement had come in around the time when Almeida was added to the Exit Control List (ECL) over attempting to fly to Dubai.
However, the travel restriction on the journalist was lifted but he was instructed to not leave the country until the probe concluded.
Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has criticised the government following the development in a message he posted on social media.
Khan has stated on Twitter that Nawaz Sharif’s government was falling apart as one minister, Khawaja Asif has fled to Dubai while another was sacked. The rest of the ministers have started trembling, claimed Khan.
However, the Defence Minister has announced to return tomorrow over the speculation surrounding his departure to Dubai earlier today. Khawaja Asif has said that he left for Dubai along with his family to participate in a wedding ceremony.
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