Dawn Leaks: Fazl says state institutions' reservations not 'unwarranted'

Maulana Fazlur Rehman says the government has not taken any unconstitutional steps

PESHAWAR: Commenting on the ongoing furore over the Dawn Leaks investigation, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Sunday that though the reservations of some state institutions on the issue were not unwarranted, tweeting was not the solution to address such matters.

"These issues should be resolved with mutual understanding," he told reporters at a prize distribution ceremony in Peshawar held in connection with his party’s centenary celebrations.

Rehman pointed out that neither any objections about the investigation into the leaks had been raised “on record”, nor had the government taken any unconstitutional steps.

“The government has already clarified that tweets cannot resolve these issues,” said Rehman, referring to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar’s remarks on Saturday that state institutions should not communicate with each other through tweets.



“The [government's] decision cannot be changed either as it was made after a proper legal procedure,” he added.

In a message posted on Twitter on Saturday afternoon, DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor had rejected a "notification" issued by the prime minister’s office saying that it was “not in line with the recommendations by the inquiry board”.

Rehman said the government had addressed the Dawn Leaks issue accordance with the Constitution.



The JUI-F chief regretted that political leaders were calling each other liars and thieves. "This blame game should stop," he added.

Speaking about the lynching of a student, Mashal Khan, in Mardan over blasphemy allegations earlier this month, Rehman said his party would not allow anyone to amend or repeal the blasphemy law or any other Islamic law based on a few unsavoury incidents.

He, however, insisted that no one should be allowed to resort to illegal actions in a fit of emotions. “We are peaceful and always want to resolve issues through peaceful means,” he remarked.

Rehman thanked foreign delegations, including the Imam-e-Kaaba, for attending his party’s centenary celebrations.