Pakistan

Nisar seeks probe into ‘video confessions’

Federal interior minister says it is the prerogative of the courts and not the media to issue verdicts in a case

Qadeer Tanoli June 18, 2016

SCREEN GRAB OF THE VIDEO SHOWING DR ASIM HUSSAIN DURING AN APPARENT INTERROGATION

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday prohibited all concerned authorities, including the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), from airing videos of any suspects who are currently under arrest.

The directives follow the recent leaking of ‘confessional’ videos of Dr Asim Hussain and Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist Minhaj Qazi.

Dr Asim’s mother wants PEMRA to disallow airing of confessional videos

“We are writing a letter to the government of Sindh and asking it to investigate which investigative institution is behind these cases. In a separate letter, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority is also being asked to formulate a code of conduct and procedure to eliminate the [occurrence] of such incidents,” Nisar said in an official statement.

Terming the release of such videos ‘illegal and unethical’, he said only courts are eligible to pronounce judgments in such cases. The interior minister added that the unnecessary release of such videos weakened the prosecution’s case instead of strengthening it, and called for avoiding ‘media trials’.

On Wednesday, an 80-second clip of Dr Asim’s ‘confession’ went viral on social media and was screened on several TV channels. In the clip, Dr Asim accused Owais Muzaffar Tappi of ‘all kinds of corruption’ under the PPP government in Sindh.

“When the second (PPP) government [in Sindh] came to power, he [Muzaffar] came to the fore and became the virtual CM,” Dr Asim claimed. “He [Muzaffar] was involved in all kinds of corruption, all types of projects and land [grabbing]. He never let an opportunity pass, any CCTV project or anything else,” he added.

Leaked video: Dr Asim’s lawyer says footage has no legal value

Another ‘confessional’ video, that of MQM’s Minhaj Qazi, surfaced on Friday. In the 38-second video, Minhaj – who has been accused of murdering a former K-Electric managing director among others – shared the names of some party workers allegedly involved in the high-profile assassination of then Sindh governor Hakim Mohammad Said in 1998.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2016.

COMMENTS (13)

NDA | 8 years ago | Reply Interior ministry should not hide behind Sindh government. Rangers and senior investigation agencies are supervised by the federal government. who and why this statement was released . Was it not to weaken the case ,create doubts, and vitiate a solid case against Dr Asim who is known to all for corruption and mis-use of power. After all why the federal government can not get thing right.??

kilo | 8 years ago | Reply Yes,Sindh govt. should investigate this matter as suggested by Ch Nisar and start with probing Ch Nisar who previously publically informed that he has such videos and can release them if opposition members did not behave.

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asy ma wail ! | 8 years ago | Reply @Shuaib: So you think a guy living in a house worth $1M cant be oppressed? :) Just a thought.

GR | 8 years ago | Reply One can understand this well planned game easily, the release of videos and Tahir Ul Qadari dharna. These are interrelated with other and indicating towards the objective of………… to get approval of the bill “that is already expired some days ago” from parliament.

NKAli | 8 years ago | Reply Hahahaaah! Frankly, it amuses me that Interior Minister Mr. Nisar is making such a statement. He must not being in charge of internal security. Salaams

sophee | 8 years ago | Reply Courts have done a great job along with NAB against corrption in the country, lol

freed | 8 years ago | Reply No one is guilty in pakistan of corruption from elite class. Why bother with courts, when everyone on street know the verdict already.

riz | 8 years ago | Reply Something positive from government, appreciatable.

NDA | 8 years ago | Reply This complicates the whole game play. Dr. Asim is in the custody of Sindh Rangers.His video recorded statement is on air. Interior Miniter does not approve of it. How media got it and from where. Ch sb, it is your responsibility to catch corrupt and end violence. But this is not the way to do it. It is an endless game of thrones. Not good for the country .

Waqas Zia | 8 years ago | Reply doesnt these legalities and ethics cross your mind when you threaten opposition with "200 hours of video" of Dr. Asim? or is it that you were gonna keep Minhaj Qazi video safe with you to bargain with MQM?

Shuaib | 8 years ago | Reply The media only knows how to flame unrest. It's futile effort. Anything happens 'OMG, Zarb e Azb didn't work, the world is coming to an end', we got 4.7% growth instead of 5% growth, 'OMG, despite all the macro economic stability and tax revenue increasing 66%, our economy is getting worse', I can go on and on. Calm down, the world is not coming to an end, stop hyping everything up. I remember meeting a guy whose house is worth $1 million, saying he was 'oppressed'. This is what the media has done.

Napier Mole | 8 years ago | Reply Does he expect anyone to believe these hypocritical statements of his. What was the result of the inquiry that he announced after the mqm worker imprisoned in relation to Imran Farooq case. In any case, the whole mish mash of security services - police actions is all messed up.

ZAK | 8 years ago | Reply I strongly support Ch Nisar stance.

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