Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif's confession on Mumbai attacks gets Dawn blocked
A media watchdog has alleged that circulation of Dawn, an English newspaper of Pakistan, has been stopped after it published an interview of former PM Nawaz Sharif. In the interview, he had confessed about his country's hand in the 26/11 attacks that shook Mumbai. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) alleged circulation was blocked from May 15, merely 3 days after Sharif's remarks were published.
RSF said the decision to block Dawn, one of the main independent newspapers in the country, is proof that military wants to control news industry in Pakistan. RSF alleged military high command was against democratic debate before general elections. "We call on the authorities to stop interfering in the dissemination of independent media and to restore distribution of Dawn throughout Pakistan," RSF said.
In the interview in Dawn published on May 12, the ousted Prime Minister admitted Pakistani terrorists carried on the 26/11 attack on Mumbai that left 166 dead. "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 reportedly said.
