Free media claims politicians links with proscribed organisations

Lahore : The Government has taken serious notice of a local television programme in which mention was made of a list of politicians with alleged relationships with proscribed organisations.

It was allegedly stated in the said programme that the list has been issued by the Intelligence Bureau of Pakistan, a press release issued here on Tuesday said.

The IB has also issued a formal denial of any such report or list. PEMRA has been advised to take strict action against apparently malafide reporting.

Meanwhile ; APP reported that Intelligence Bureau on Tuesday contradicted a news story that alleged the initiation of a report by the bureau regarding links of 37 parliamentarians with defunct sectarian and militant organizations.

“Intelligence Bureau vehemently denies existence or initiation of any such report. The story is false, baseless and unfounded,” the bureau said in a statement issued here in response to a news story telecast by ARY News in its programme “Power Play,” hosted by Arshad Sharif on September 25.

According to the statement, Intelligence Bureau, premier intelligence agency, was fully committed to safeguarding national interest and security of the country.

“Its officers/officials are working round the clock throughout length and breadth of the country, facing all kinds of risks emerging in the line of duty. Many operatives have even laid their lives while carrying out operations against terrorists/anti-state elements,” the statement said.

“IB’s active and incessant cooperation to LEAs (Law Enforcing Agencies) in combating threats to national security has led to neutralizing scores of wanted militants, apprehension of their facilitators/abettors and busting of terrorists/anti-state networks having cross border linkages/support,” it added.

IB’s contribution in countering threats to national security has regularly been brought into the notice of relevant executive authorities and Parliamentary Forums through reports and briefings, the statement said.

“Attributing such scandalous stories to Intelligence Bureau only undermines morale of its personnel, diverting their focus from ongoing operations against terrorists and other anti-state elements; thus serving the interest of enemies of Pakistan. Intelligence Bureau reserves the right to take recourse to law against the instant, or any other unfounded malicious story,” the statement added.