Pakistan’s oldest newspaper blocked from sale in 'military crackdown'

Ben Farmer
Updated
A Pakistan man reads a copy of the Dawn English-language newspaper at a newspaper stall in Karachi on May 20 - AFP
A Pakistan man reads a copy of the Dawn English-language newspaper at a newspaper stall in Karachi on May 20 - AFP

Pakistan’s authorities are accused of blocking a leading newspaper from sale after it angered the military with comments from an ousted PM suggesting Pakistani militants were behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Distribution of the English-language daily Dawn has been hit since Nawaz Sharif used an interview to criticise the country’s handling of the attack, a media freedom watchdog said.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the block on the country’s oldest paper was the latest example of Pakistan’s military trying to tame the media ahead of July’s general election.

The country’s most popular television channel, Geo TV, was temporarily taken off air across much of the country at the end of March under pressure to stop favourable coverage of Mr Sharif and end criticism of the military.

Dawn’s interview with Mr Sharif earlier this month caused a political storm and he faced widespread condemnation after saying the militants had crossed the border from Pakistan before killing 166.

The former premier approached what is seen as a red line in the country by touching on criticism of Pakistan's armed forces, especially their alleged use of proxies in India.

Pakistan's English-language Dawn newspaper is displayed for sale at a newspaper stall in Karachi on May 20  - Credit: AFP
Pakistan's English-language Dawn newspaper is displayed for sale at a newspaper stall in Karachi on May 20 Credit: AFP

“Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me.

“Why can't we complete the trial?" he said, referring to stalled court cases against several suspects.

Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba is accused of masterminding the attacks. India has long alleged "official agencies" in Pakistan were involved, but Islamabad denies the charge.

Dawn’s circulation has been curbed across large parts of the country since May 15, RSF said.

It said: “The unwarranted blocking of the distribution of one of the main independent newspapers has yet again shown that the military are determined to maintain their grip on access to news and information in Pakistan.

“It is clear that the military high command does not want to allow a democratic debate in the months preceding a general election.”

Pakistan's army called a meeting of the National Security Council after Mr Sharif’s comments, announcing the body of military chiefs and cabinet ministers “unanimously rejected the allegations and condemned the fallacious assertions".