Pakistani media supports Cyril Almeida; asks govt, military to stop lecturing press
Pakistani media has come out in full support of the well-known journalist Cyril Almeida, who has been barred from leaving the country, after reporting on a rift between civilian and military leaderships.
The journalist fraternity of Pakistan has stood firmly behind Almeida and the newspaper Dawn, where he works.
The story, written by Almeida, which created a political storm, has been tweeted by the journalist himself:
Dawn: Exclusive: Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military https://t.co/6fOZypto6T
— cyril almeida (@cyalm) October 6, 2016
In an editorial titled, How to Lose Friends And Alienate People, by Dawn's professional rival, The Nation, lends support to Almeida and the newspaper where he works.
Read the full editorial:
It
is
a
disturbing
day
when
civilian
and
military
top
leadership
meet
to
lecture
the
media
on
how
to
do
their
job.
Couched
in
the
familiar
and
nauseating
mantra
of
protecting
"vital
state
interests",
the
resulting
action
from
the
meeting
was
just
a
few
hours
later
-
the
addition
of
Dawn's
Cyril
Almeida
to
the
Exit
Control
List.
Apparently a barrage of online abuse, and three official denials were not enough to assuage tempers riled after Mr Almeida's exclusive story in Dawn, detailing an unusual exchange between the very same civilian and military top brass that yesterday issued forth a statement on the violation of "universally acknowledged principles of reporting on national security issues".
A denial, perhaps even three, were expected. What was not expected - possibly because the government was incorrectly credited with better judgement - was a witch-hunt. If the government and military top brass were affronted by the implication in the report that Pakistan was facing growing international isolation, they can now congratulate themselves on a coup de grace that unreservedly confirms this fact.
The
report
by
Mr
Almeida
has
been
called
"fabricated",
and
"speculative
reporting".
But
the
government
and
military
top
brass
in
yesterday's
meeting
delivered
no
explanation
for
why
government
MNA's
are
protesting
the
visible
presence
of
banned
outfits
in
Pakistan.
Or
why
possible
action
against
Masood
Azhar,
or
Hafiz
Saeed
is
a
danger
to
"national
security".
Or
why
Pakistan
faces
increasing
isolation?
We're
all
ears.
Instead,
how
dare
the
government
and
military
top
brass
lecture
the
press
on
how
to
do
their
job.
How
dare
they
treat
a
feted
reporter
like
a
criminal.
And
how
dare
they
imply
that
they
have
either
the
right
or
the
ability
or
the
monopoly
to
declare
what
Pakistan's
"national
interest"
is.
Or
even
more
laughably,
what
"universally
acknowledged
principles
of
reporting"
are.
Since
the
government
would
counsel
us,
the
press,
on
how
to
do
our
job,
we
would
like
to
offer
some
advice
for
them,
on
how
to
better
do
theirs.
Leave
journalists
alone.
Worry
a
great
deal
about
Pakistan's
image
abroad
-
some
of
our
actions
and
inactions
as
a
country
are
indefensible
-
everyone
knows
it,
no
matter
how
much
we
may
pretend
otherwise.
Salvage
your
own
newly-minted
reputation
as
a
government
envious
of
Kim
Jong
Il's
press
management.
For yesterday's statement, and the government's actions, there can be no feeling, save of contempt. And for Mr Almeida, nothing but solidarity. More power to you, and to your pen. The press stands with you.
OneIndia News