BBC Online :
A BBC interview with the boss of Pakistan’s leading English-language newspaper has stirred controversy a week before national elections.
Hameed Haroon, CEO of the Dawn Media Group, accused the security establishment of interfering in politics, in favour of former cricketer Imran Khan and his PTI party. But the HARDtalk interview prompted claims that Mr Haroon and his newspaper were biased in favour of ex-PM and rival to Mr Khan, Nawaz Sharif. Others criticised his lack of evidence against the military. Dawn is among newspapers that have faced censorship and intimidation ahead of the 25 July vote. The lead-up to the polls has been blighted by violence and political controversy. In the interview broadcast on Monday, Mr Haroon, who is also president of the
All Pakistan Newspapers Society, accused the powerful military of an “unprecedented assault” on the freedom of the press. He told HARDtalk host Stephen Sackur that the “deep state” appeared to be working in favour of its preferred candidates – a charge that has been widely echoed by other political observers ahead of the polls.
The army has frequently intervened in Pakistani politics since independence in 1947, and the country has alternated between periods of civilian and military rule. It denies any involvement in next week’s election.
“I think that at this point, there appears to be an attempt to favour second-level string leaders and a patch-up coalition which would rule with direction from the deep state,” Mr Haroon said. When asked if he meant Imran Khan and his PTI party, he said: “There are times that Imran’s index goes up with the security state and at times other people in his party are named.” When pressed on what evidence he had, Mr Haroon responded: “I think that evidence today in Pakistan must to a certain extent be looked at through inference, through the work of human rights organisations, through the works of political commentators.
A BBC interview with the boss of Pakistan’s leading English-language newspaper has stirred controversy a week before national elections.
Hameed Haroon, CEO of the Dawn Media Group, accused the security establishment of interfering in politics, in favour of former cricketer Imran Khan and his PTI party. But the HARDtalk interview prompted claims that Mr Haroon and his newspaper were biased in favour of ex-PM and rival to Mr Khan, Nawaz Sharif. Others criticised his lack of evidence against the military. Dawn is among newspapers that have faced censorship and intimidation ahead of the 25 July vote. The lead-up to the polls has been blighted by violence and political controversy. In the interview broadcast on Monday, Mr Haroon, who is also president of the
All Pakistan Newspapers Society, accused the powerful military of an “unprecedented assault” on the freedom of the press. He told HARDtalk host Stephen Sackur that the “deep state” appeared to be working in favour of its preferred candidates – a charge that has been widely echoed by other political observers ahead of the polls.
The army has frequently intervened in Pakistani politics since independence in 1947, and the country has alternated between periods of civilian and military rule. It denies any involvement in next week’s election.
“I think that at this point, there appears to be an attempt to favour second-level string leaders and a patch-up coalition which would rule with direction from the deep state,” Mr Haroon said. When asked if he meant Imran Khan and his PTI party, he said: “There are times that Imran’s index goes up with the security state and at times other people in his party are named.” When pressed on what evidence he had, Mr Haroon responded: “I think that evidence today in Pakistan must to a certain extent be looked at through inference, through the work of human rights organisations, through the works of political commentators.
