Army, ISI in unprecedented presser question Arshad Sharif's exit from Pakistan, point to PTI's involvement

 

In an explosive and unexpected press conference, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum joined Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar to speak about journalist Arshad Sharif's killing and former premier Imran Khan's confrontational narrative against the military, as well as a host of other related topics.

This is the first time in Pakistan's history that the head of the country's spy agency has directly addressed the media. 

At the outset of the press conference, Gen Iftikhar said the purpose of today's media talk was to shed light on the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya and the circumstances surrounding it. 

This press conference is being held in the context of presenting facts so that "facts, fiction and opinion can be differentiated", he said, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been "specially informed" about the sensitivity of the press conference. 

Key points from joint presser 

• March 27 narrative built through a piece of paper 'far from reality' 
• Arshad Sharif was fed propaganda on cypher by Imran Khan 
• Facts behind the cypher and Sharif's death have to be determined 
• ARY News played the role of a spin doctor in targeting the army; CEO Salman Iqbal should be brought back to Pakistan 
• KP govt in August issued a letter stating TTP splinter group was looking to target Sharif 
• No one forced Arshad Sharif to leave Dubai 
• Sharif did not face any threat in Pakistan 
• COAS presented 'lucrative offer" for extension in March 

Besides, it is necessary to determine the factors due to which a particular narrative is being built and people are being misled, he said. 

"Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa was also targeted and faced criticism. An attempt was made to create a divide in society." 

He said that Sharif's death was an "unfortunate incident" and called him an "icon of journalism in Pakistan". 

He noted that members of the late journalist's family had served in the army, adding that he always felt the pain of martyred officers. 

Cypher Gen Iftikhar went on to say that Sharif's popularity was based on being an investigative journalist and when the cypher — which PTI chief Imran Khan has touted as evidence of a foreign conspiracy to oust his government — surfaced, he conducted several programs on the issue. 

He held several meetings with the former premier and interviewed him, the DG ISPR said. 

"As a result, it was stated that he was shown meeting minutes and the cypher." 

The facts behind the cypher and Sharif's death have to be determined, he said. 

Talking about the cypher, Gen Iftikhar said that the army chief had discussed it with Imran on March 11 when the latter had termed it to be "not a big thing".