ISLAMABAD: The Interior Ministry spokesperson on Monday strongly contradicted a news item published in a section of media regarding `implementation report 2016’ released by the Interior Ministry on the National Action Plan (NAP).’
A press release issued by the Interior Ministry cited the ministry spokesperson as saying that the news item was completely baseless. The spokesperson said, “No such report has been released by the Interior Ministry nor has it been authorised by the interior minister, as it has been stated in the said news item.”
The spokesman lamented the fact that the baseless news item on an important national security issue was released without any verification or cross-checking of facts from the authorities concerned. He further criticised the fact that the news item was wrongly attributed to the Interior Ministry in order to lend credence to an unauthentic document.
“Such irresponsible reporting would not only result in misleading public perception, but is against the norms of ethical journalism”, the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson further called upon the media to exercise restraint before publishing unverified material on sensitive national security issues. He reiterated that any material in relation to NAP or any security issue would only be provided through the office of the spokesperson of the Interior Ministry.