PTI in two minds over ‘news leak’ petition

Some party leaders consider it a matter between govt and army

ISLAMABAD: With the Panamagate case already in the Supreme Court, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf seems divided over the issue of filing another petition in the apex court to seek formation of a commission to probe into a news leak in October.

Almost a month ago, the PTI’s chief spokesperson had announced that he would move the Supreme Court over the issue; however, some senior party leaders opposed the idea, saying it would distract the party’s focus from the Panamagate case.



“It [filing a petition] was not a part of the party’s policy, but the decision of an individual [PTI chief spokesperson Naeemul Haque],” said a senior PTI leader, adding that currently, the party was not considering it as an option.

He said the news leak was a matter of contention between the government and an institution [the army] and the PTI chief had been advised to stay away from it. “Let the government and the institution decide the matter,” he said.

On the other hand, the party’s chief spokesperson Naeemul Haque told The Express Tribune that the PTI would file a petition in the apex court next week.



Babar Awan would file the petition on behalf of Haque. “It has been delayed due to the hectic schedule of Awan. But certainly it would be filed next week,” Haque said. Awan has already been appearing in a couple of petitions related to the PTI in different courts, and on his advice the filing of that petition was put off for some time.

The development is an expression of the PTI’s growing trust in the Supreme Court and that the party was out to give the government a tough time on the issue. “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be one of the respondents,” Haque added.

The story published in an English-language newspaper on October 6 claimed that Pakistan was facing diplomatic isolation because of its inaction against some militant groups, and the civilian and military leadership were not on the same page in this regard.

A seven-member committee formed by the government and headed by Justice (retd) Aamer Raza Khan has already been probing the issue. However, the PTI had rejected the committee.



“The prime minister was the appointing authority [to finalise the names of committee members]. Because the committee is supposed to question close aides to the prime minister, his personal staff, and possibly one of his family members,” Haque added. “It constitutes conflict of interest, as the prime minister had appointed head of the committee that would investigate his confidants.”

He rejected the impression that the filing of that petition was delayed due to the pending Panamagate case. Newly-appointed party spokesperson Fawad Hussain said the PTI had no trust in the government’s committee.

“The PML-N has a history [of hoodwinking people]. It only forms some commission or committee when it wants to put some important matter under the rug,” Hussain said,  adding that filing a petition with the apex court over the matter would solely be a party decision.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2016.