Inter Services Public Relations

Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) (Urdu: شعبہٴ تعلقات عامہ )is an administrative organization within the military of Pakistan that coordinates military information with Pakistan's public press. The ISPR is now headed by Major General Athar Abbas who took over from Major General Waheed Arshad on 15 January 2008. [ [http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=12311 Abbas assumes charge as DG ISPR today ] ] [ [http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=35186 Maj Gen Athar Abbas appointed new DG ISPR ] ] [ [http://www.dawn.com/2008/01/15/nat15.htm New chief of ISPR takes charge today -DAWN - National; January 15, 2008 ] ]

History

The public relations requirements of the Armed Forces are looked after by the ISPR Directorate. The ISPR Directorate was established in 1947. The Directorate is staffed with military and civilian officers. It functions as a part of the Joint Staff Headquarters and garner national support for the Armed Forces and strengthen their resolve to accomplish the assigned mission while undermining the will of the adversary, it also acts as an interface between Armed Forces, media and the public. It formulates the media policy, safeguard negative influences on the Armed Forces and monitor mass media and discern contours of hostile psychological campaigns for effective response. [ [http://www.ispr.gov.pk/General/about.htm ISPR Website - About ISPR] ]

Thes ISPR also issues notices regarding military exercises and notifies relevant parties and the public media about Pakistan's indigenous ballistic missile testing program. Apart from functioning as the public relations body of the Pakistan Army, the ISPR handles exclusive dissemination of information regarding Pakistan's military operations in Wana & Swat. The news of a clash in Balochistan between military contingents and unknowned armed personnel resulting in the death of tribal leader Nawab Akbar Bugti was also verified once the ISPR issued comments on the news. The news regarding the recent events of the Lal Masjid conflict, disputable though, was also disseminated by the ISPR.

The ISPR has also produced TV drama serials, such as the widely popular Alpha Bravo Charlie, Sunehre Din, 6th September Nishan-e-Haider plays [ [http://www.desistuff.co.uk/confirm.asp?id=1574 Nishan-e-Haider (DVD) PTV Drama ] ] and currently miniseries Wilco. [ [http://www.defence.pk/forums/military-photos-multimedia/8640-wilco-new-pa-drama.html Wilco - New PA Drama ] ]

List of ISPR Director Generals

#Colonel Shabaz Khan (May 1949 - July 1952) cite web |url=http://www.ispr.gov.pk/General/ex_dgs.htm |title="Ex Directors & DG ISPR" |accessdate=2007-01-27]
#Commander Maqbool Hussain (August 1952 - October 1965)
#Colonel Z A Suleri (November 1965 - August 1966)
#Lieutenant Colonel Masud Ahmed (September 1966 - February 1967)
#Brigadier A R Siddiqui (March 1967 - November 1973)
#Brigadier Fazal ur Rehman (December 1973 - March 1977)
#Brigadier T H Siddiqui (April 1977 - July 1985)
#Brigadier Siddique Salik (August 1985 - August 17, 1988)
#Major General Riaz Ullah (December 1988 - September 1991)
#Major General Jahangir Nasrullah (October 1991 - April 1993] )
#Major General Khalid Bashir (May 1993 - July 1994)
#Brigadier S M A Iqbal (August 1994 - February 1995)
#Major General Saleem Ullah (March 1995 - August 1998)
#Brigadier Ghazanfar Ali (September 1998 - October 1998)
#Major General Rashid Qureshi (November 1998 - May 2003)
#Major General Shaukat Sultan Khan (June 2003- February 2007)
#Major General Waheed Arshad (February 2007 - January 2008)
#Major General Athar Abbas (January 2008 - present)

ee also

* Pakistan Army
* Military of Pakistan

Notes

External links

* [http://www.ispr.gov.pk/index.htm "ISPR" Official website]