The writer and Ikram Sehgal together have tried to spin the matter and create a negative perception of the Minister
ISLAMABAD: In response to an article published in your newspaper titled “From Washington to Davos”, it is sad to observe that the facts are distorted, angled and framed to spin away from the originality of the matter. The self-tailored story has generated one-sided views, without being consulted about the actual version from the government personalities concerned in discussion. The actual facts as are verified by the concerned are stated clearly, point-wise to rectify the misconception and baseless allegations levelled against the Minister.
Firstly, on 3rd of January 2017, the Minister of State for IT received an official invitation via e-mail from Mr Ikram Sehgal, to participate in his session conducted during World Economic Forum (WEF). It is pertinent to mention that the Minister regretted for participation in response due to her prior engagements/Commitments at WEF 2017. Secondly, the Minister had again been repeatedly requested by Mr Sehgal and his family on the eve of Abaraj dinner (which was held a night before Ikram Sehgal breakfast event) to participate in the co-hosted breakfast and also to speak on the event for a few minutes. The Minister agreed to participate with the caveat that she could only stay on the occasion for 40-45 minutes, as she had some other scheduled official sessions to attend. The fact of matter is that Mr Sehgal’s co-hosted “Pakistan breakfast” started at least an hour later than scheduled time. Knowing the planned departure time of Minister, Mr Sehgal himself apprised the audience on mike about her prior engagements and henceforth informed them of her departure. After his own appraisal to the audience Mr Sehgal started criticising her on media which is lamentable. Although, the Minister arrived at the breakfast at around 07:25am, and if the proceedings had started on time she could have attended the whole event, but due to the delay she simply couldn’t stay any longer. Mr Sehgal’s third assertion that the Minister self invited herself to speak is again a regrettable claim on his part.
The writer and Ikram Sehgal together have tried to spin the matter and create a negative perception of the Minister which is absolutely false, derogatory and contradictory to facts. It is surprising as to why Mr Sehgal is targeting the Minister who came to his event as a gesture of goodwill and in support of his event. Could it be that he himself is trying to cover something that he has said or done and trying to deflect attention from himself? Could it be that he is concerned about the harmony between government and other institutions and considers this to be fatal for his shop closure as a defence analyst? Could it be that people like him thrive son such malicious propaganda and use it as a source of their own publicity? This is something which only time will tell.
Rao Tehsin Ali Khan
Principal Information Officer
Government of Pakistan
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2017.
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