Dawn newspaper stands by its story, reporter placed on ECL

Leading English daily Dawn on Tuesday stood by a news story which discussed an internal civil military rift over the issue of tackling Jihadi outfits.

A statement issued by its Editor Zaffar Abbas said, “this newspaper considers it a sacred oath to its readers to pursue its reporting fairly, independently and, above all, accurately. The story that has been rejected by Prime Minister’s Office as a fabrication was verified, cross-checked and fact-checked.”

It added, “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.”

Meanwhile, the reporter Cyril Almeida tweeted that he was informed that he had been placed on the Exit Control List.

In a news story published in Dawn on October 6 Cyril Almeida had written about a hot exchange of words between DG ISI General Rizwan Akhtar and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif during a top civil-military huddle over the issue of tackling Jihadi outfits operating in the country.

The Prime Minister House has rejected the story thrice.