One should think twice before making statements on sensitive issues: PM

Nawaz says MQM chief's apology is a good gesture but issues related to national security are very sensitive

KARACHI: A day after MQM chief Altaf Hussain tendered an apology for making defamatory statements against the armed forces, Prime Minister Nawaz Shairf indirectly cautioned the leader once again about his inflammatory speeches.

“MQM chief Altaf Husain’s apology is a good gesture but issues related to national security and national interest are very sensitive,” Prime Nawaz Shairf said in a statement. One should think twice before making statements on such issues, he added.

In a statement released on Saturday, Nawaz said the MQM chief had hurt the sentiments of millions with his anti-Army remarks.

Nawaz said it is the government’s responsibility to uphold and guard the integrity of the armed forces, and defence and security institutions.

Read: 'Provocative' remarks: Altaf apologises for disparaging remarks against armed forces

The premier also urged the media to act responsibly and in line with the Constitution. The federal government on Friday advised the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to clamp down on broadcast of hate speeches of political leaders live.

Govt asks Pemra not to allow live broadcast of hateful speeches

According to a statement issued by the Pemra, the government expressed concerns over the live telecast of the hate speech of political leaders by majority of the electronic channels and urged the regulatory body to invoke the section 27 of the Pemra Amendment Act 2007. Acting on the government’s advice, Pemra issued show cause notices to 14 television channels, Radio Pakistan reported.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Senator Parvez Rashid said that the government was waiting for media houses to reply to the show-cause notices served by Pemra.

"No one will be allowed to compromise national security,” the minister said.

Read: ‘Disgusting’ remarks: Army to take legal action against Altaf

Having faced strong criticism over his comments regarding the army, Hussain apologised for "hurting the sentiments of national security institutions and patriotic people.”

Earlier, the Pakistan Army had censured Hussain for castigating the military leadership and called his remarks ‘uncalled for and disgusting’.

The chief military spokesperson, Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, used his Twitter account not only to rebut the allegations but also announced legal action against Altaf, who in a late Thursday night address to his supporters had made references to the surrender of Pakistani troops after the fall of Dhaka in 1971.