The report is a distortion of what the chairman of PkMAP expressed in his speech
ISLAMABAD: With deep concern, the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) seeks your attention on a report published in your paper on December 3 regarding Mehmood Khan Achakzai’s public gathering, held recently in Quetta (“Unprecedented call: Achakzai urges Afghan Taliban to join Pashtun struggle”). The report is a distortion of what the chairman of PkMAP expressed in his speech. The opening paragraph stipulates that Mr Achakzai appealed to all the Pakhtun leaders — including Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor — to join hands for the “dignity of the Pashtun nation”. The PkMAP would like to put it on record and categorically challenge the assertion that Mr Achakzai appealed to the Afghan Taliban to “join hands”. Instead of appealing to the Afghan Taliban, Mr Achakzai demanded of them to forsake violence for the sustenance of peace in the region.
The last sentence of the last paragraph states: “He was parroting the allegations of Afghan officials that Pakistan was interfering in Afghanistan.” This is harsh and dilutes the seriousness of Mr Achakzai’s message. Whilst the print and the electronic media reserve the right to express opinions, they should be mindful of whether that freedom of expression is a distortion of the original message conveyed to the people or not. The report in your newspaper has elements contrary to the official press release sent by the media cell of the PkMAP. We would appreciate it if you could ensure that such out-of-context portrayals are not allowed in your paper.
Talimand Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2015.
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