International media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the disruption in distribution of Pakistan's oldest newspaper Dawn after it published an interview suggesting that Pakistani militants were behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The comments by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sparked a firestorm at home and in India. Sharif approached what is seen as a red line in the country by touching on criticism of Pakistan's armed forces, especially their alleged use of proxies in India. RSF said distribution of the country's leading English-language newspaper had been restricted in much of the country. "The interview, which reportedly displeased the Pakistani military, appeared in the 12 May issue and the blocking began on 15 May. According to RSF's information, distribution is being disrupted in most of Baluchistan province, in many cities in Sindh province and in all military cantonments," said a statement issued Friday.
The Press Council of Pakistan had notified Dawn's editor that the newspaper breached the ethical code by publishing content that "may bring into contempt Pakistan or its people or tends to undermine its sovereignty or integrity as an independent country", the watchdog said.
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