Nisar hints at conflict within 'Dawnleaks' investigation team

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday revealed that there is a conflict in the investigation committee formed over the ‘Dawnleaks’ issue.

The interior minister, while speaking to media, said that he would only hand over the final report to the government when he receives it. He said that even the salient features of the report have also not been agreed upon.

He refused to give further details into the nature of the conflict, stating that the committee head would only approve the report after there is a mutual consensus on the report among the committee members.

MQM founder involved in heinous crime

Ch. Nisar strongly criticised Mutahida Quami Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain saying that he iss involved in several heinous crimes including money laundering and incitement of hatred leading to loss of life and property.

“A person who doesn’t even believe in the ideology of Pakistan has no right to do politics here,” he said.

He said an investigation team will be sent to London soon over investigation in the murder of former MQM leader Imran Farooq who was killed in September 2010. He also announced that UK Home Secretary will visit Islamabad next week.

Pakistan will lead campaign against blasphemy on social media

Ch. Nisar said that Pakistan will lead the Muslim community and take action against blasphemous content on social media platforms, which he termed as a conspiracy against Islam.

He said that there will be no compromise on the sanctity of respected personalities of Islam. He expressed disappointed that the Muslim community was silent on the issue.

“Such offensive content has been posted on social media for several years. I am surprised that no other Muslim country raised the issue till now,” he said vowing that they will go to any extent to take action against such offensive content.

He further added that Foreign Office has been tasked to appoint a representative in US to liaison with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and social media websites on a regular basis.

“Facebook and other social media pat forms should share all information about the people behind blasphemous content with us,” he said adding that they can take extreme steps but it will not solve the problem.

He said that freedom of speech and expression does not allow to hurt religious sentiments particularly of revered Islamic personalities.  He stated that Holocaust denial was a crime in several Western countries, but there is no action on blasphemy.

He added that they will make sure that those who have posted such content do not go scot-free and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has been instructed to remove offensive content.

The presence of blasphemous content on social media platforms has been strongly condemned by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who said they will not hesitate to action against such content.

The National Assembly has also passed a resolution against them, while the Islamabad High Court has also taken notice and ordered action such content.