The Foreign Office has rubbished recent news reports regarding the special assistant to the prime minister on foreign affairs, Tariq Fatemi, labelling them 'irresponsible and malicious'.

Earlier last week, certain sections of the media had reported that Fatemi was expected to be removed from his post after an inquiry committee's report revealed his 'alleged role in Dawn leaks'.

"A section of the media has been running baseless stories about Mr Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs (SAPM), alleging that he has left the country," Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said.

"The SAPM is in the Foreign Office performing his official duties. Irresponsible and malicious allegations by an anchor of an electronic media is not only a serious attack on the person of Mr Fatemi, a high office-holder, but also this Ministry, which deals with the matters related to relations with foreign countries."

The Foreign Ministry has taken a serious view of the 'malicious propaganda' and declared that it reserves the right to take legal action against those involved.