Dawn’s Cyril Almeida’s name will be removed from ECL soon: report

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Dawn’s Assistant Editor’s name was put on Exit Control List (ECL) without Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s approval.

Geo News citing a source reported on Wednesday that Cyril Almeida’s name will be removed from ECL soon, adding that a high level committee is also investigating the issue.

Senior columnist of Dawn Cyril Almeida has been put on Exit Control List after his ‘misleading’ story regarding purported deliberations in a meeting on the security issues stirred controversy.

Read More: Dawn’s senior columnist Cyril Almeida put on Exit Control List for ‘misleading’ story on national security

All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) had also condemned the government’s decision to place Dawn’s Assistant Editor’s name on ECL and demanded that the action be reversed immediately.

“APNS believes that the right of freedom of expression is enshrined in Article 19 and 19A of the Constitution of Pakistan and is one of the basic pillars of the democratic society,” a statement said.

Mr. Sarmad Ali, President and Mr. Umer Mujib Shami, Secretary General of APNS condemned the move in a joint statement.

Further Read: APNS condemns putting Cyril Almaeda’s name on ECL

The APNS said that the news story published was contradicted by the government repeatedly over the course of last few days. That contradiction was also published prominently in all the major newspapers flashed on electronic media as well. Without going into the merits of the content of the story, it is suffice to say that it should have been the end of the matter.

Also Read: Army didn’t seek action against Dawn’s Cyril Almeida: Security sources

On the other hand, Geo News had already reported that the military did not seek action against the Dawn and its staffer, Cyril Almeida, who penned a report about an alleged conversation between senior civlian and military officials during the NSC meeting.