Dawn editor guarantees Almeida's presence in court on October 8

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 7 years ago

ISLAMABAD - An editor’s note published by Dawn.com on Tuesday says that journalist Cyril Almeida is a law abiding citizen and will appear at the next hearing of the Lahore High Court.

The case filed by a civil society member seeks action against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif under treason charges for allegedly defaming state institutions through an interview he gave to Almeida.

Almeida had missed the previous three hearings of the case that prompted the judges to issue his non-bailable arrest warrants on Monday besides ordering his name on the exit control list.

Dawn editor said: “The notice served on Cyril Almeida was delivered at Dawn’s Islamabad bureau in the middle of last week, and journalists and officials at the bureau say the earlier two notices were never delivered. Mr Almeida, like all Dawn staffers, is a law abiding citizen, and sincerely believes in the rule of law. He is a seasoned journalist and has never shied away from such matters.”

“There is absolutely no question of him not being present at the next hearing on October 8, as desired by the honourable court. He will certainly be there.”

The editor’s note said further: “Mr Almeida has no immediate plans to travel abroad, and will attend the proceedings of the case whenever desired by the honourable court. Therefore, the honourable bench of the LHC may like to withdraw the non-bailable warrants of arrest, and the instructions given to put his name on the ECL.”