JournalismPakistan.com
May 11, 2014

ISLAMABAD: The Press Club of India (PCI) has termed Pakistani authorities' decision to ask two Indian journalists to leave the country as regrettable.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the PCI said this move could prove to be a factor which may set back ties between the two countries. The statement reads:  “The Press Club of India is aghast at the shoddy treatment meted out by Pakistan authorities to two senior Islamabad-based Indian journalists from the Press Trust of India and The Hindu. They have been told to leave the country within a week. It is a pity that no reasons have been assigned for this arbitrary action.

"At the worst moments of difficulties between India and Pakistan journalists from both sides have played a meaningful role in helping to ease tensions, re-set people to people ties, and create an atmosphere in which governments may regain their composure.

"We regard this move to expel the journalists as a factor which may set back ties. We have seen in the past that such action against the media is usually a precursor to deterioration of relations between our two countries. This action is regrettable. It leads to the apprehension that security agencies in Pakistan have re-asserted themselves and are guiding the democratically elected Nawaz Sharif government from which much had been expected.

"We understand that the media in Pakistan is also under attack from security agencies as was indicated by the murderous attack on a senior Pakistani journalist recently.

"We call upon the Pakistan government, as a matter of basic courtesy, to indicate the reasons for asking the Indian journalists to leave the country, and revoke the order at the earliest.”

Authorities in Pakistan on Thursday informed Meena Menon, a correspondent for The Hindu, and Snehesh Alex Philip, a correspondent for the Press Trust of India, that their visas would not be renewed and that they would need to leave the country in one week.