ISLAMABAD: Federal Com­merce Secretary Younus Dagha has recused himself from disciplinary proceedings against former principal information officer (PIO) Rao Tehsin in the news story row, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed on Wednesday.

During the hearing of a petition filed by Mr Tehsin, an Establish­ment Division official said a summary had been forwarded to the prime minister for appointment of another inquiry officer.

Mr Tehsin was fired in April following an inquiry into a news report carried by Dawn on Oct 6 last year which gave details of a meeting of civilian and military officials.

The federal government ordered an investigation into the matter following tension between civil and military leadership. Consequently, besides Mr Tehsin, the then information minister Pervez Rashid and the prime minister’s special assistant Tariq Fatemi lost their jobs.

The former PIO filed a petition in the IHC and sought a copy of the inquiry report so that he could know what allegations had been levelled against him that led to his removal.

In the light of the report prepared by the inquiry committee, the secretary to the prime minister on April 29 issued directives that Mr Tehsin shall be proceeded under the Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1973.

The Establishment Division official also informed the court that the interior ministry was the custodian of the news inquiry report.

Justice Aamer Farooq warned that the court would summon all the relevant federal secretaries if the ministries kept trying to pass the buck. The next hearing is scheduled for Sept 14.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2017