ISPR rubbishes Suhail Warraich’s claims in a strong statement regarding his alleged “exclusive interview” with the army chief. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) clarified that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir did not hold any such meeting with journalist Suhail Warraich during his recent visit to Brussels.
According to ISPR, the army chief attended high-level meetings and events in Belgium last week, where he discussed Pakistan’s foreign policy, defence strategy, and security challenges. However, ISPR rubbishes Suhail Warraich’s claims that he had a one-on-one session with the COAS.
In his August 16 column for Daily Jang, Warraich wrote that he met the army chief for two hours in Brussels and posed political questions. He even claimed that the COAS responded to queries about President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and political reconciliation. The column quickly went viral.
Reacting to the story, ISPR said Warraich fabricated the interview for personal gain. The statement stressed that the army chief never mentioned PTI or its founder Imran Khan at the Brussels event. The ISPR chief, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, further explained that Warraich was only one of many attendees at the gathering and not part of any private meeting.
ISPR also criticised Daily Jang for publishing what it called an “unverified story” without confirming the facts. The military media wing categorically denied all the claims and emphasised that such false reporting creates unnecessary confusion.
This controversy has now raised questions about journalistic responsibility and the importance of fact-checking in political reporting.