Some officials in the AJK information ministry had released a press statement misquoting PM Sharif, stating that “Kashmir was a flashpoint and that unless the issue was resolved there was a possibility of a fourth war between Pakistan and India.” PHOTO: AFP/FILE
MUZAFFARABAD:
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has suspended three officers of the information department for their ‘poor performance’ during the recent visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Muzaffarabad, sources in the Press Information Department (PID) told The Express Tribune on Friday.
According to the sources, PID Director Chaudhry Abdur Rashid, Press Information Officer (PIO) Parvez Ahmed and Assistant Director Khawaja Imran were suspended for issuing “irrelevant material” to the media that embarrassed premier Sharif and his government.
The sources said that PID Secretary Dr Shehla Waqar had also sent a summary to the state’s information ministry to hold an inquiry into the matter.
Some officials in the AJK information ministry had released a press statement misquoting Sharif, stating that “Kashmir was a flashpoint and that unless the issue was resolved there was a possibility of a fourth war between Pakistan and India.”
This prompted Indian Prime Minister to issue a strong-worded statement reminding Sharif of the consequences of war.
Earlier the Prime Minister’s secretariat, Information Minister Pervez Rashid termed the statement released in Muzaffarabad baseless as the prime minister never made such a statement during his address to the AJK Council meeting and the representatives of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2013.
COMMENTS (48)
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A vast majority of Kashmiris don't really want to be part of Pakistan anymore after seeing Pakistan recess deeper and deeper into terrorism, extremism, increasing poverty, intolerance and political chaos. The only solution for Pakistan is to give the Kashmir (AJK, GB and northern areas) that it controls full independence and let them then choose their fate. After all, doesn't Pakistan say Kashmir is an independent country; Pak calls it Azad Kashmir with a Prime Minister and separate constitution.
The composition of Prime Minister's media team and standing operating procedure to draft vet and issue the Press Releases of the Prime Minister's house needs to be relooked. As far I know, Mr. Imran Gardezi is out the loop to issue Press Releases of the Prime Minister's office. Had he been there, there was no question of release of such a press release which jeopardized already strain relations between the two countries.
Adament attitude in respect to Kashmir issue has resulted the current situation of Pakistan . You want to devide us once again on the basis of religion and for that sake you people are doing all efforts to mould the opinion of Indian muslims in your fevour for the last sixty six years . We know that our uniry and integrity is on the stake and to foil the above design against us we can go to any extend . Thanks god , at present we are not concerned on this issue because international community and Drone is taking due care of the issue .
@Asad Khan: Dear Asad , any country Pakistan or India can have as much as nuclear arsenals it wants but war is very much still conventional . The moment Pakistan decides to use nuclear weapons it will get bombed from many nations. Already don't think that world is not taking any notice of nuclear threats of Pakistan, just think what happens when world is tired of nuclear threats of Pakistan and decides to take some action .
@Asad Khan: Some real demo of your knowledge. I am impressed. History teaches but corrupted history misleads. Talking about Hitler, then why so many dictators in Pakistan... cheered as saviors? You have said "it should be none of your concern that I for a sake argument is brain washed or sun soaked." You are wrong as when you are on discussion board you become every body's concern. And statements like "Why is your mighty India is so afraid of Pakistan, so suspicious of her Muslim Population, so viscous on its own State that for every 20 Kashmiri there is 1 Soldier in Jammu & Kashmir." are misleading and spreading hate. if you sincerely wish to know the answers to your questions raised kindly read detailed analysis by writers of opinion columns or blogs on the papers like Express Tribune or Dawn of your own country.
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri:
"Kashmir is part of Pakistan and the Muslim world"
Wrong! Kashmir has been Hindu land for over 5000 years. You need to read some real history and not the lies and distortion taught in Pakistan studies.
@idi amin: You should be ashamed at using racial slurs here. The lack of respect from Indian posters on this website is appalling.
E Tribune Moderators, please ban posts which contain racist slurs and personal insults against individuals.
@Dr Prabhakararao: Nice sentiments. However, it is very difficult for Pakistani people to watch the oppression and subjugation of our brother and sister Kashmiri people. India should be forced to adhere to the UN resolutions on Kashmir, and Pakistan should put all means of pressure on India in every form for the goal of complete Kashmiri self-determination.
How long will Kashmiris be held hostage by India? How long will the world watch the occupation of Muslim lands all over the world by heavy-handed foreign regimes in Palestine, Chechnya, Somalia, Kashmir, etc? Muslims deserve the right and power to rule themselves, its the basic right of any human being. You cannot deny it on the basis of our religion.
..so this pm does not even dare to make a statement against india in front of his own public before retracting it in fear..???? way to go..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Incompetence and laqck of professional attitude on the part of concerned officials. However, as per established practice Press releasesof the the speechs/statements of the Prime Minister are either drafted by his Press Secretary or Principal Information Officet Press Information Officer Govrnmrnt of Pakistan, How come that PIO Imran Gardezi, a senior and well experienced Information Group Officer was not consulted before releasing such a damaging Press Release.
@Zarb e Hanood: ...don't be so naive my dear.
...Provocation is an art of India & Israel. Israel make sure it appears on wining side, while when India gets beating She cry foul every time.
...India is on non compliance of UN Kashmir's resolution.
...India initiated forward policy and get liking from China.
...India attacked Pak in 65.
...India attack East Pak in 71.
...India started nuclear arms race in SA not Pakistan.
...India militarized Siachen, not Pakistan.
...here the PM of Pakistan is reprimanding some juniors who flip while reporting, even then India while knowing fully the aspiration of Pak's PM do not require the need to ask for an explanation, instead shout from the hips.
...avoiding war is better for BOTH not for ONE only. Its gonna nuclear this time.
regards,
Whether it was a misquote or not, enough damage has already been done as the Indian PM issued a strongly worded statement in response to the same. It is General Elections times in India so Modi should be expected to make even a much stronger statement during his next election rally.
War with India? What kind of cruel joke ? We are on life support from donor agencies. Please completely avoid the topic of India.
If the jingoists had succeeded in provoking an actual war, that would have been climax of the whole thing. The proceedings reported here are anticlimax. But we are grateful. We have been spared war. V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, 7 Dec 2013, 1434 IST
A statement of a Prime Minister reveal the official government policy. How some low level officers concocted a story and release it to the press without knowing the consequences that too in foreign affairs.
The statement is 100% true. Unless the Kashmir dispute is resolved, there is always a possibility of war by India against Pakistan/Kashmiris. We should bring it to the UNSC and resolve this matter once and for all. Why is India resisting justice for Kashmiris? What is does it gain by the occupation, oppression, and genocide of Kashmiris?
The way Sharif is going on sends good signal for democracy in Pakistan. We hope and pray that he takes practical and strong policy decisions to resolve this war of hatred between India and Pakistan. Enough damage has been caused. Every country has to seek its place on the globe as per its own ability and not by meaningless competitions arising out of hate.
This is called Dictatorship and if you join it with Tariq Malik's case - it's real dictatorship.
I would prefer not to comment on suspension of the governemtn officers. I would like the PM to explain the position and policy to the voters.
....I am with Nawaz Shariff on this, only.
There should be no need of testosterone laden enthusiastic statements. If gives the other party to cry wolf & score points.
regards,
@Tight Patloon - “Sir, I must correct you that the Pakistani mind lacks imagination and innovation. Water kit is an example.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In agreement with you though I hasten to point out that you have been unfair in not pointing out the other singular demonstration of the fact that the Pakistani mind lacks nothing in imagination and innovation. Here I am referring to Djinn power ie: generating electricity by using Djinns / Jinns / Genies as proposed by Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood who was a senior director of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s comment is nothing but the latest iteration of Stephen Cohen’s observation that “Pakistan now negotiates with its allies and friends by pointing a gun to its own head.” Making scapegoats out of bureaucrats is not going to make many in India accept the argument that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was misquoted.
Utter incompetence reflected yet again by Nawaz and now the the minions of information ministry to be punished for their honesty. This has become of my beloved country. Twisted people are rewarded and honesty is punished.
@Bill Ash: Its good actually that people are showing interest in national issues by reading newspaper but one must have the requisite expertise or knowledge to know who the "PM" is and what are his jurisdictions. And on the trolls who recommend such comments!!
@Bill Ash: Yeah right...may be you should be made prime minister of AJK and also Pakistan...
Another "Josh-e-Kitabat" taken back by NS
@Bill Ash: Yeah right...may you should be made prime minister of AJK and also Pakistan...
Irrespective of if Nawaz Sharif made the said statement released by AJK information ministry, I appreciate Nawaz Sharif trying to correct. People do make at times make off-the-cuff statements to please a crowd but it they correct it and that too in a conspicuous way as Nawaz Sharif has done, it should be appreciated.
As far as I am concerned, scapegoating is not going absolve Mr. Nawaz Sharif of the responsibility over making intemperate comments. Threatening war and nuclear annihilation is the norm when it comes to Pakistani behaviour.
For the first time in Pakistan such step has been taken in Pakistan but it is not enough . NBC is daily iinterfering in the internal affairs of India by encouraging separatist movements and their leaders . Talk should be only on table and not on streets or inside the mosques .
"… were suspended for issuing “irrelevant material” to the media that embarrassed premier Sharif and his government."
Only if ET report is correct, this seems not a case of misquoting, but over-exposing the truth.
So hypocrisy again. Will we ever learn? :(