Saif Claims settlement Shakil denies | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Saif Claims settlement Shakil denies

ISLAMABAD, FEBRUARY 7: The government on Sunday claimed that the matter concerning Jang Group has been more or less settled while the chief executive of the group still seems unsure about it.

Ehtesab Bureau chief Senator Saifur Rehman told Dawn on Sunday night that after a series of meetings between the two sides during the last few days, the government had unfrozen certain accounts of Jang group besides releasing newsprint in addition to 200 reels allowed by the Supreme Court.

When asked whether the row between the government and Jang group is over, he said yes the things have almost settled now and moving positively,” adding “they (Jang group) have realised what they have been doing wrong in the past.”

To a question concerning the recovery of outstanding taxes from the Jang group, he said “the government has not compromised on tax matters and has told them very clearly that they have to pay whatever is outstanding against them”. If the matter is before the court of law then whatever the court decides they will have to pay, he said.

The EB chief maintained that the recent meetings between the government functionaries and the Jang management had held following the Jang group’s desire.

“First they held a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Elahi Bux Soomro, later they met with Law Minister Khalid Anwar and /Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and ultimately Mir Shakilur Rehman had a one to one meeting with me” Mr Rehman said.

He said that the bank accounts had been unfrozen to enable the Jang Management to pay salaries to its employees. He however, said some of the accounts were still frozen.

Mir Shakil, the CEO of Jang group, when contacted by Dawn said that things had not yet settled. When asked that there are reports from both the sides that the row is over, he said “no such thing has occurred so far”.

Meanwhile Information and Culture Minister Mushahid Hussain on Sunday also claimed that the dispute between the government and the Jang group had been settled, reports AFP.

“All issues have been amicably resolved to the satisfaction of both sides”, Mr Hussain told the news agency

The row burst into the open last month when Jang group alleged that it had been pressured to sack certain employees and to support the government policies, the agency reported.

Source: Dawn

Date:2/8/1999