Nisar lashes out at one-sided media trial of armed forces

• Interior minister says federal govt constitutionally bound to protect dignity of Pakistan Army, intelligence agencies
• Says Jang group should retract allegations in ‘greater national interest’
• Says govt will go to any extent in unearthing people behind attack on journalist Hamid Mir

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said Friday that a one-sided media trial against Pakistan’s armed forces and defence establishments should end.

Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House, Nisar said it was the federal government’s constitutional and legal responsibility to protect the dignity of the Pakistan Army and other intelligence agencies, adding that there should be no ambiguity or fallacy in that respect.

The interior minister said Jang group would have to retract its steps in the greater national interests of Pakistan, adding that the media trial over senior journalist Hamid Mir’s attack would have to end otherwise anti-state elements would take advantage of the situation.

The minister said he was personally trying to ensure that the situation would not be aggravated from either of the sides. The minister said the ISPR had strongly condemned the attack on Mir and also demanded for an independent commission to probe the incident, adding that a media trial would create further confusion.

He said all forces and segments of society were on the same page over conducting a transparent investigation into the attack on Hamid Mir and to bring his perpetrators to justice.

Nisar said an independent media as well as honourable and dignified armed forces were the needs of Pakistan. He advised both sides to remain patient and to avoid troublemakers.

The interior minister said Mir’s family should come forward in case of any doubts over the Sindh police’s investigation and the commission set up to probe the attack and that alternate options could be considered.

Nisar said Mir had mentioned the capital police in his statement which said that even they had not launched any investigation of the previous attack on him. He said that no untoward incident took place with Hamid Mir in Islamabad after PML-N assumed the government. He said the senior journalist neither lodged any complaint nor provided any numbers which might have been used for threatening him during the PML-N’s current government.

He said that former police officials have denied any report over attack on Mir’s children. He said that if Hamid Mir or his family has any objection over Islamabad police then he would have them investigated.

The interior minister further said that the government would go to any extent to unearth the culprits involved in the attack on the renowned journalist.

Nisar further said that he is making efforts to cool down the situation and for that purpose everyone should take one step back.

The minister said both freedom of media and prestigious defence institutions are pivotal for the country.