Govt assails attack on Jang, Geo offices | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Govt assails attack on Jang, Geo offices

ISLAMABAD ,February 1, 2005: The government on Monday held out an assurance that attacking media offices was neither its policy and nor was it behind the heinous and uncalled for armed attack on the Jang Group of Newspapers and the offices of Geo television in Karachi.

It is condemnable and tolerance has to be promoted and there should be discussion and debate about the recognition (of Israel), said Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan during the weekly press briefing.

The spokesman recalled that President Pervez Musharraf broke the taboo when he called for a debate on the recognition of Israel and added “yes, we did come to a conclusion after this debate that opinion is still divided”.

Commenting on the interview of the Israeli deputy prime minister with The News, Khan said his comments were an indirect message to Pakistan. “We can be candid about the issue and these pertain to the proper conditions for steps in this direction. Pakistan supports the right of the Palestinians for a sovereign and independent Palestinian state, an end to the human rights violations, an Arab consensus for a road map for enduring peace.

But here I should say we do not know anything about the authenticity of the message by Peres”, said the spokesman.
He clarified that President Musharraf did not volunteer a role for himself in the mediation of the problems in the Middle East. He said this comment came from Peres himself in the interview.

“We have not reached the stage to do so. The Middle East situation should first see the easing of tensions. The recent elections were a good omen for future interaction and we will see what kind of a role President Musharraf can play”, he added. Responding to another query, Khan said there was no clandestine role between Pakistan and Israel and nor has Islamabad received any message for opening up of relations.
Source: The News
Date:2/1/2005