Maligning ISI: ‘Army to take legal action’
Baseless allegations by one channel have brought bad name to Pakistan: DG ISPR.
Investigators work at the scene after the attack on prominent Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir in Karachi on April 19, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
Reacting to the ‘baseless allegations’ levelled by Geo TV against the premier intelligence agency, the chief military spokesperson said on Sunday that Pakistan Army will take legal action in accordance with the law and Constitution.
“We are evaluating the baseless allegations levelled against the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) from all aspects and there should be no doubt that we will take legal action [against Geo TV],” Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj-Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa told Express News on Sunday.
“One particular channel has been repeating baseless allegations against the ISI and DG ISI since yesterday [Saturday]… this is all misleading and unfortunate,” he said. “The way these allegations were levelled against an organisation like ISI has brought a bad name to Pakistan.”
“Both Pakistan Army and ISI are responsible and honourable institutions. Levelling baseless allegations against them is not tolerable… [they] are tantamount to weakening the country and they should end,” Maj-Gen Bajwa said. He added that “there should be no doubt that the hearts of the people of Pakistan beat with the army.”
He said the army leadership was not only aware of the present situation, but was also trying, as a policy, to strengthen the independence of journalism and democracy. “Pakistan Army will fulfill its responsibility of defending Pakistan, no matter how difficult the situation,” he added.
Maj-Gen Bajwa welcomed the establishment of a three-member commission by the prime minister to probe the attack on journalist Hamid Mir. He held out an assurance that the army would help the commission bring the culprits to justice. He once again condemned the attack and prayed for an early recovery of Mir.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2014.
Reacting to the ‘baseless allegations’ levelled by Geo TV against the premier intelligence agency, the chief military spokesperson said on Sunday that Pakistan Army will take legal action in accordance with the law and Constitution.
“We are evaluating the baseless allegations levelled against the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) from all aspects and there should be no doubt that we will take legal action [against Geo TV],” Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj-Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa told Express News on Sunday.
“One particular channel has been repeating baseless allegations against the ISI and DG ISI since yesterday [Saturday]… this is all misleading and unfortunate,” he said. “The way these allegations were levelled against an organisation like ISI has brought a bad name to Pakistan.”
“Both Pakistan Army and ISI are responsible and honourable institutions. Levelling baseless allegations against them is not tolerable… [they] are tantamount to weakening the country and they should end,” Maj-Gen Bajwa said. He added that “there should be no doubt that the hearts of the people of Pakistan beat with the army.”
He said the army leadership was not only aware of the present situation, but was also trying, as a policy, to strengthen the independence of journalism and democracy. “Pakistan Army will fulfill its responsibility of defending Pakistan, no matter how difficult the situation,” he added.
Maj-Gen Bajwa welcomed the establishment of a three-member commission by the prime minister to probe the attack on journalist Hamid Mir. He held out an assurance that the army would help the commission bring the culprits to justice. He once again condemned the attack and prayed for an early recovery of Mir.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2014.