KARACHI: Human rights groups and journalist bodies on Tuesday condemned a travel ban imposed by the government on a leading journalist after publishing of his story on the recent National Security Committee meeting.
Cyril Almeida, an assistant editor at Dawn newspaper, announced early Tuesday he had been placed on the "Exit Control List".
In a news story published on October 6, Cyril Almeida had written about an alleged hot exchange of words between senior civilian and military officials during the NSC meeting over the issue of tackling Jihadi outfits.
Amnesty International condemned the Pakistani government on Tuesday after it imposed a travel ban on Cyril Almeida.
His report published Thursday prompted threats on social media and was denied three times by the office of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in language branded by Amnesty as "chilling" and a "crude intimidation tactic designed to silence journalists".
"It is one thing for the authorities to dispute and contradict a media report. But it is quite another to threaten a journalist under the guise of national security," said the group´s director of global issues Audrey Gaughran, calling on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to "remember his promise" to improve conditions for journalists.
Human rights activists urged the government immediately to lift travel and other restrictions on Almeida.
The ban "will cause distress to all those, at home and abroad, who believe in the freedom of expression and the rights of journalists," said the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in a statement.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the government’s move to put Dawn journalist Cyril Almeida on the Exit Control List and termed it a violation of Article 19 of the Constitution that ensures freedom of press.
"Putting the name of Mr Cyril on the ECL does not suit the democratically-elected government. It is tantamount to harassment of journalists which is unacceptable to the PFUJ," said Muhammad Riaz, Chairman PFUJ Ad Hoc Committee.
"We have serious concerns about his safety and security," he said.
The All Pakistan Newspaper Society condemned "the decision of the Government to put the name of Assistant Editor of Dawn in Exit Control List and demanded that the action be reversed immediately." The journalist body said it was "disturbing to see a democratic government reacting in an arbitrary manner and opting to 'shoot the messenger'."
"The government can always take any complaint against the newspaper to Press Council, a legal forum created for this very purpose rather than acting in a one sided manner," said the APNS statement.
The Karachi Press Club (KPC) also expressed deep concern over placing the name of DAWN correspondent Cyril Almieda on Exit Control List, ECL, without taking any legal court and demand its immediate withdrawal.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, KPC President Fazil Jamili and Secretary AH Khanzada termed the move from Ministry of Interior as 'action in haste' without even holding an inquiry into the matter.