Ministry of Interior Wednesday issued recommendations of the Dawn Leaks Inquiry Committee approved by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. According to a press release of the ministry, the committee suggested that there was a need to develop a Code of Conduct for the Print Media especially when dealing with issues relating to security of Pakistan.
The committee recommended that the role of Dawn/Zafar Abbas/Cyril Almeida, in the instant case, may be referred to All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) with a direction to take disciplinary action against Dawn/Zafar Abbas/Cyril Almeida, besides developing a Code of Conduct for publishing stories on issues of national importance and security by abiding to the basic journalistic and editorial norms.
"Due to reasons referred to previous sections, the action already taken by the Federal Government against Senator Pervaiz Rashid is endorsed," said the press release. The committee unanimously agreed that Rao Tehsin Ali had not displayed the required level of professionalism and had shown carelessness while dealing with the issue that the committee recommends that, he being a civil servant, may be proceeded against under the Efficiency and Discipline Rules 1973. Due to reasons referred in previous sections, the Committee recommended removal of Tariq Fatemi from his current portfolio. "Since action on orders of the Prime Minister has already been completed by the respective Ministries and Divisions, the issue of Dawn Leads stands settled," it added.-APP