Under attack for imposing a foreign travel ban on a prominent journalist, Pakistan on Friday withdrew the order on the scribe who had reported on a rift between civilian and military leaderships on the powerful ISI’s covert support to terrorist groups in the country.
The travel ban on Cyril Almeida of Dawn newspaper had sparked a massive criticism of the government and the military from media houses, journalist associations and civil society.
Almedia’s name was put on the Exit Control List this week after he reported about a verbal clash between the military and the government over the spy agency’s support to militants.
“It has been decided to delete the name of Cyril Almedia… from Exit Control List,” government said in a notification. “All concerned are requested to take immediate action in the matter,” it said.
The decision was taken after Interior minister Nisar Ali Khan met media representative bodies – All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) – in Islamabad after government came under criticism over its decision to impose the travel ban on Almeida.
