Pakistan embassy responds<\/p>\n
I refer to the London Observer story How a Third World leader
\nlives beyond his country's means published by The Jakarta Post on
\nSept. 30, 1998.<\/p>\n
The whole story by the London Observer is based on a so-called
\nreport by Rahman Malik who is now an absconder and against whom
\nan inquiry is being conducted on a number of charges. Rahman
\nMalik who is the former additional director general of Pakistan's
\nFederal Investigating Agency, failed to appear before the inquiry
\nteam in Islamabad on Sept. 26 to answer the charges. It would be
\ninteresting to note that Rahman Malik is an outlaw and criminal
\nwhose international warrants have already been issued.<\/p>\n
The London Observer's story contains a number of glaring
\nfactual mistakes which lend it creditless. For instance the
\nstatement saying that Mr. Sharif has six brothers, is factually
\nwrong. The flats in London alleged to be owned by the Sharif
\nfamily were in fact rented for the use of the family.<\/p>\n
A spokesman from the President's house in Islamabad said that
\nthe petition of a fugitive from the law (because of his abuse of
\nthe concession of bail in a corruption case) cannot be
\nentertained. The spokesman further said that the petition cannot
\nbe adverted to in the absence of any evidence proving its
\nauthenticity, when even the genuineness of the signatures of the
\nauthor cannot be vouchsafed.<\/p>\n
The Chief of the Army Staff General Jehangir Karamat has
\ntotally denied he was \"on the brink of declaring martial law in
\nthe country\" as claimed by the Observer.<\/p>\n
The Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan has categorically
\ndenied that any inquiry report against the Prime Minister was
\nsent to the President because no such report existed at all.<\/p>\n
Rahman Malik was promoted out of turn during the previous
\ngovernment. During that period he tried his best, without any
\nsuccess, to establish these charges against the Prime Minister.
\nHe even traveled to Switzerland three times but could not get any
\ninformation. When he could prove nothing he turned against the
\nSharif family and arrested the father of Mr. Nawaz Sharif and
\nmanhandled other members of his family.<\/p>\n
The government of Pakistan has lodged a written complaint
\nagainst The Observer, with the Press complaints Commission (PCC)
\nin London, for violating the Code of Practice. The paper \"has
\nsought to undermine and destabilize the democratic political
\nprocess in Pakistan,\" by publishing baseless stories, a letter
\nwritten to the Director of the Press Complaints Center, Guy
\nBlack, said.<\/p>\n
The Sharif family also reserves the right to take legal action
\nagainst the publishers of this story.<\/p>\n
SYED AYAS AHMED PIRSADA<\/p>\n
Press Attache<\/p>\n
Pakistan Embassy<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pakistan-embassy-responds-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }