ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday briefed the Committee on Newsleak.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior, the minister apprised the committee members about the progress made so far over the issue. He also informed the committee of his reservations regarding the story and provided them with the related documents and records.
The briefing was given on the request of Committee on news leak which lasted for about one hour here at the Punjab House.
The seven-member committee after a thorough discussion and consultation prepared a questionnaire which will be handed over to the government officials and including the chief minister who attended the meeting on National Security. The questionnaire would also be sent to other participants of the meeting.
The committee will also record statements from politicians and government officials including the chief ministers of the provinces who participated in the meeting on National Security.
The Committee will conduct in-camera sessions on daily basis and in 30 days it will submit its suggestions and recommendations to the Interior Ministry which will forward it to the Prime Minister who will decide action in the light of the committee’s report.
Sources said that the Committee Chairman and other members would not talk to media, however, the Chairman would provide information to the media if needed.
Earlier this week, the government constituted the inquiry committee to probe the Newsgate scandal.
According to an Interior Ministry press release, head of the committee is Justice (Retd) Aamer Raza A Khan while members include Punjab Ombudsman Najam Saeed, Secretary Establishment Syed Tahir Shahbaz, Director FIA Punjab Dr Usman Anwar and one representative each from Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence and Intelligence Bureau.
Last month, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif removed Information and Broadcasting Minister Pervaiz Rashid from his cabinet over October 6 security meeting’s leak to media.
The article, published in English daily, Dawn, caused uproar and the journalist who wrote it was briefly hit with a travel ban.
