ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has said that a complete investigation should be carried out before any Pakistani’s name is put on the Exit Control List (ECL).
When questioned about Dawn staffer, Cyril Almeida’s inclusion on the ECL, the interior minister said that he would have a meeting with senior APNS and CPNE officials in the capital regarding the matter. “An attempt has been made to adversely impact a big national security paradigm, so there should be an inquiry,” the interior minister said.
“Indian media used the report saying that publication of the story verifies the Indian narrative of Pakistani dealings with non-state actors,” he said.
“The news is inaccurate. So who leaked this inaccurate news? It was published on the behest of someone, and that will be uncovered. The inquiry will end in three to four days and then everyone will be allowed to travel freely,” he said.
“Had we not put the central character on the ECL, we would have been blamed for letting him go,” he said. “Whoever has leaked this news will be brought to justice, this I can guarantee to you. But how can that person be brought to justice, if we allow the journalist to leave the country?” he asked.
“We had no other option but to put his name on the ECL as he was travelling abroad the next day,” he added.
Almeida’s name was added to the Exit Control List – preventing travel abroad – on Monday after he wrote the news report “Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military”. The Prime Minister’s Office rejected the story thrice since it was published on October 6.
In an Editor’s note, Dawn clarified its position and stated on the record that the story “was verified, cross-checked and fact-checked.”
The note further stated that “Many at the helm of affairs are aware of the senior officials, and participants of the meeting who were contacted by the newspaper for collecting information. Therefore, the elected government and state institutions should refrain from targeting the messenger, and scape-goating the country’s most respected newspaper in a malicious campaign.” —INP