ISLAMABAD: With reference to some news items appearing in a section of the press, the interior ministry has clarified that it was the committee probing the news story that had asked the interior minister, during his briefing to the committee, to request the editor and the staffer of Dawn to appear before it for recording their statements.

The spokesman for the interior minister also pointed out that at no point during his press conference had the minister criticised Dawn for the news story. The minister’s statement on the story probe was exactly in line with government’s stance, said the spokesman.

The ministry has requested the media to refrain from giving their own interpretations to the minister’s words.

“Kite-flying and assumptive analysis on this issue of national importance would negatively impact the ongoing probe,” said the spokesman.

He said that ethics of international journalism and reporting should be followed in letter and spirit by all the media houses and watchdogs until the completion of the inquiry into the matter.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2016