ISI rubbishes allegations of attack on journalist Asad Ali Toor

Premier spy agency assured full cooperation in investigating the incident, says information ministry

ISLAMABAD:

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in a high-level contact with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday completely disassociated itself from the recent incident in which digital media journalist Asad Ali Toor was allegedly tortured at his Islamabad apartment.

According to a press release by the Ministry of Information, the allegations against the ISI were part of the “fifth generation warfare under a well thought-out conspiracy”.

The ISI believed that the investigations should go ahead as the faces of the accused can be seen clearly in CCTV footage and stern action should be taken against the culprits involved in the incident, read the statement.

“The ISI assured full cooperation with the investigating agencies in this regard. The Ministry of Information was in close touch with the Islamabad Police and hoped that the accused would be apprehended soon,” it added.

The practice of levelling accusations against the institutions sans any supporting evidence should end now as such negative tendencies were part of a conspiracy against the country's institutions. They [ISI] expressed firm belief that the real culprits would be exposed soon, the communiqué said.

Also read: AGP Khalid Jawed expresses concern over attack on journalist Asad Ali Toor

Toor was reportedly attacked in Islamabad late Tuesday (May 25) as the attackers broke into his house and physically assaulted him.

Soon after the incident, Islamabad IG Qazi Jameel-ur-Rehman formed an investigation team under the supervision of DIG Operations Afzaal Ahmed Kauser.

An investigation team led by the SSP Investigation would look into all aspects of the case.

The members of the investigation team include SP Saddar Zone, DSP Special Branch, DSP Ramana and (official) in-charge investigation Ramana.

IG Rehman had directed the investigation team to use all scientific and forensic methods to trace the accused involved in the incident.

“With the help of CCTV footage, Safe City cameras and human resources, those responsible should be identified as soon as possible," the Islamabad IG had stated.