Khawaja Asif, family leaves for Dubai

0
191

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif along with his family has left for Dubai on Saturday amid political tensions in the country.

Earlier, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid was suspended from his post.

The removal came in the wake of civil-military leadership leaked conversation that appeared in a local newspaper.

Read more: Nisar vows to unveil culprits in Dawngate

The ministry has been taken back from Rashid until the probe of a leaked story published in DAWN is completed.

An inquiry committee was constituted which is probing how the story was leaked. The committee comprises senior officials of ISI, MI and IB.

English newspaper DAWN published a story on October 6, in which journalist Cyril Almeida had written about an alleged civilian and 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 Shahbaz 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.

Read more: Pakistani journalist Cyril Almeida’s name put on ECL

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has congratulated the nation over the removal of Pervaiz Rashid.

He said, “The ‘darbar’ pf Nawaz Sharif is coming to an end as his ministers are fleeing.”