‘Dawn leaks’ probe report within 2-3 days: Nisar

Says Sindh govt has not notified extension in Rangers’ powers in province

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that the inquiry report into the ‘Dawn leaks’ will be submitted to his ministry within two to three days.

The inside story published in Dawn about a high-level civil-military huddle, which both civil and military officials called ‘fabricated and concocted’, stirred a huge controversy last year. Subsequently, the government formed a committee, headed by Justice (retd) Amir Raza Khan, to inquire into what it called ‘planted news story’.

Speaking at a news briefing, the security czar also talked about the three close aides of PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari who went missing earlier this month. “Two of them went missing from Sindh so the chief minister should know better about their whereabouts. However, some information about the third who disappeared from Islamabad has been collected,” he added.

Responding to question about blasphemous content on social media, Nisar said 84 such pages have already been removed.



On the FIA probe into air marshal (retd) Asghar Khan case, he said FIA’s investigations were at a standstill as the accused have filed a review petition in the court.

On consular access to RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav, he said Indian authorities “don’t offer such facility to those Pakistanis who have charges petty in nature [against them] … he [Jadhav] is a spy”.

About the Khanani and Kalia case, the minister said he has initiated an inquiry with a new angle into the transfer of Rs103 billion out of the country through illegal hundi/hawala channels.

He added that no summary has been issued by the Sindh government to extend Rangers’ powers in the province.

The minister said the government has decided to re-launch the Pakistan Origin Card under a new name - Temporary Residence Card. “If a foreigner marries a Pakistani national, then initially he/she will be issued a visa for a year, which will be extendable up to five years subject to security clearance,” he added. “After five years, he/she will qualify for a Temporary Residence Card.”

On the CNICs issue, he said out of a total of 353,085 blocked CNICs, 174,184 belonged to confirmed aliens and the remaining 178,901 CNICs are being restored temporarily for 60 days.

To unblock CNICs permanently, ownership record of land and domicile certificate before 1978 are required, he said and added that family-tree attested by the revenue department and government job certificate of the affected person or his relative prior to 1990 may also be produced to unblock CNICs permanently.

About international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), Nisar said they would be permitted to carry on their work in Pakistan according to the defined code of conduct only. “More than 130 INGOs have applied for registration, out of which, 62 have been granted approval.”