DG ISPR Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar has said that the nation has to be informed about the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya today.
The spokesperson of ISPR said that this press conference is being held in the context of such situations, where the correct understanding of the facts is very important, so that the difference between fact, fiction, and opinion can be clarified, and the truth can be brought before everyone.
He said that due to the importance and sensitivity of this press conference, the Prime Minister of Pakistan has been specially informed about this in advance.
Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar said that it is also important to cover the factors, under which not only a certain narrative was created, but people were misled through this false narrative, institutions, their leadership, and Even the Chief of the Army Staff was blamed, and an attempt was made to create a situation of division and unrest in the society.
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He said that the death of Arshad Sharif is a very sad incident, and we are all deeply saddened by it. May Allah forgive Arshad Sharif, and we are all with his family in this hour of sorrow and pain. Arshad Sharif was an icon of Pakistani journalism. Because he was the son of a soldier, brother of a martyr and brother of a serving officer.
Therefore, that pain and feeling was always reflected in his programs regarding the army, be it Siachen, tribal areas, military exercises, operational areas, line of control, Arshad Sharif’s programs as a role model in the world of journalism. Will be remembered. He made a place in journalism with his outstanding work.
His reason was his reputation for investigative journalism, so when the case of the cipher was brought to light, Arshad Sharif did several programs on it, he also had several meetings with the Prime Minister of that time, and conducted several interviews with him. As a result, it was also suggested that he might have been shown the minutes and ciphers of various meetings.
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DG ISPR said that it is very important to get to the facts of the events related to the death of Sypher and Arshad Sharif. So that there is no ambiguity and speculation in this regard. And the people can know the truth. As far as the cipher is concerned, the Army Chief himself mentioned it with former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Kamra on March 11.
On which he said that it is not a big thing. It was surprising to us when a piece of paper was waved in the Islamabad rally on March 27, and an attempt was made to dramatize a narrative, which was not remotely related to reality. Several facts have recently come to light regarding the cipher, which has exposed the hollow and fabricated story of how the Pakistani ambassador’s opinion was used for political purposes, the National Security Committee on March 31 said. The meeting was also a link in the same chain, the ISI had told the National Security Committee in a very clear and professional manner that there was no evidence of any kind of conspiracy against the government.
The ISPR spokesperson said that the briefing was given to the National Security Committee, that this is the personal opinion of the Pakistani ambassador. And the plan of action recommended by the Pakistani ambassador was also recommended by the National Security Committee to the Foreign Office. ISI’s fact-finding on ciphers did not find any evidence of conspiracy. And all these findings are part of the record, we wanted to put these facts before the nation, but left that decision to the government of the day. , to make the ISI’s findings public. But this was not done, rather more rumors and fake news were spread, aimed at gaining political advantage and creating a certain narrative.
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That the no-confidence motion against the government, rather than a constitutional, legal and political issue, was part of a regime change operation. Then, in this regard, references were given to the regime change of the United States all over the world and the change of government in Pakistan was linked to them. Pakistan’s institutions, especially the leadership of the army, were targeted. Everything was linked to treason and a regime change operation, which was when Arshad Sharif and several other journalists, and social media activists were fed a specific narrative. The truth of which has become very clear.
He said that through mind-bending, a deliberate attempt was made to create a difference between the nation and the forces of Pakistan, between the army and the leadership, and in particular, no effort was spared to defame Pakistan’s institutions around the world. In this media trial, the ARY channel played the role of a sting doctor in promoting a false and conspiratorial narrative about the Pakistani Army and leadership in particular.
and fostered a specific anti-military narrative through agenda-setting. The declaration of the meeting of the National Security Committee was misrepresented, even in the second meeting of the NSC fake news regarding Asad Majeed was circulated. A political intervention was expected from the Pakistan Army, which is against the Constitution of Pakistan. The word ‘political’, ‘neutral’ has become a slur. Despite all this false narrative and misleading propaganda, the institution and especially the Army Chief showed great restraint.
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Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar said that we tried our best to make the politicians sit down and solve the national problems themselves. But this was not possible. Then it was said that the cipher was hidden. The question is whether the Foreign Office posting the cipher concealed it, and what action was taken against those responsible for handling the cipher at the time. And if no action was taken against them, why was it not taken? And why are their names not taken?
By manipulating words and spreading misleading and false news, the institutions and their leadership were made traitors and put in jail. Late Arshad Sharif and other activists also spoke openly about the cipher. He also spoke very harshly, Arshad Sharif was criticizing institutions from the platform of ARY News Channel since 2021, in which he also conducted harsh critical programs regarding various institutions, but despite all this, our hearts I had no negative feelings towards them.
Many other journalists are also talking about this. But they remained in Pakistan, and even today they are raising very tough questions, which is their constitutional right. During the entire cipher drama, whenever we spoke to any journalist or channel, we told them not to make accusations of treason and conspiracy against the leadership of the institution based on unsubstantiated and fabricated assumptions. And the political stance of the army should not be disputed.
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He said that we have to see today what are the facts so far regarding late Arshad Sharif?
1: On August 5, 2022, a threat alert was issued by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government regarding ARY anchor Arshad Sharif. It was suspected that the Afghanistan-based TTP had held a meeting in Spanboldak, that they wanted to target Arshad Sharif in Rawalpindi and adjoining areas. In this regard, no information was shared by the federal government or security agencies.
How and who conveyed the information to the KP government that Arshad Sharif would be targeted? This indicates that this threat alert was issued with specific thinking in mind. The purpose of this was probably to persuade Arshad Sharif to leave the country. While there are reports that Arshad Sharif did not want to leave the country, he is repeatedly being made to believe that he is in danger.
2: On August 8, 2022, Shahbaz Gul’s controversial statement on ARY News about inciting a mutiny among the army was strongly condemned by all schools of thought. And described it as crossing the red line. He was arrested on August 9.
3: When Imad Yusuf, Senior Executive Vice President of ARY News was investigated regarding this controversial special transmission, it was found that ARY Chief Executive Officer Salman Iqbal told Imad Yusuf immediately after the arrest of Shahbaz Gul. Give instructions that Arshad Sharif should be sent out of Pakistan as soon as possible. In response, Imad Yusuf said that Arshad Sharif will leave for Dubai from Peshawar. Then this narrative was made that Arshad Sharif will be killed abroad. 4: On August 9, 2022, Arshad Sharif’s air ticket was booked from Karachi at 4:40 PM, which was booked by a travel agent named Fazl Rabi for Rs. booked According to this travel plan, Arshad Sharif was to return to Pakistan on September 9, 2022.
5: On August 10, Arshad Sharif left Bacha Khan Airport for Dubai on Air Emirates flight 637 at 6:10 am. Arshad Sharif was given full protocol by the KP government. Chief Minister’s staff provided assistance to Arshad Sharif at all counters. In this regard, no attempt was made by the institutions to stop Arshad Sharif. If the government wanted to stop, it could have been done through the FIA. Mr. Arshad Sharif stayed in the UAE until he had a valid UAE visa. He left for Kenya when his Dubai visa expired. According to our reports, nobody forced Arshad Sharif to leave Dubai at the official level. So who were they who forced them to leave?
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6: The question has also been raised that who carried out the documentary matters of Arshad Sharif. Who was arranging Arshad Sharif’s stay and food in UAE? Who convinced them not to return to Pakistan? Otherwise, they will be killed. ? Who assured them that their lives are safe in a foreign country, especially Kenya? A narrative was also made that Kenya was the only visa-free country. While there are 34 countries in the world that are visa-free.
7: How did Arshad Sharif reach Kenya who was hosting him, who was he in contact with in Pakistan, who are Waqar Ahmed and Khurram Ahmed, the characters associated with Arshad Sharif’s death? What was his relationship with Arshad Sharif? ? Did Arshad Sharif already know him or did someone establish this contact? ? Some people also claimed to meet Arshad Sharif in London, who made those claims to them? And on what basis were those claims made? Were these claims also part of fake news and disinformation?