Daily Dawn Newspaper journalist Cyril Almeida has refused to record his statement before a government’s committee set up to hold an inquiry into his story about a purported confrontation between civilian government and military.
According to sources and local news channel ‘Samaa News’ the committee head and Federal Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid twice contacted Mr Almeida and asked him to record his statement, however, Almeida has refused to appear before the committee.
Read: Dawn News journalist Cyril Almeida put on ECL after controversial report
Almeida’s was put on Exit Control list on instructions of Interior minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan
Interior Minister defended his decision to place Cyril Almeida on ECL and said “I have invited APNS, PFUJ and CPNE representatives for a meeting on Friday to discuss the issue,”
Nisar also confirmed that Almeida would be questioned if he was still standing by his story, which was inaccurate in the first place.
Prime Minister House and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the report as fabricated.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the interior ministry to hold an inquiry to determine who leaked the report.