Censored: Is It Time for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia To Part Ways?

The Express Tribune newspaper in Pakistan published, and then deleted, an article sharply critical of Islamabad's relations with Riyadh.

Imad Zafar

The Express Tribune newspaper in Pakistan published, and then deleted, an article sharply critical of Islamabad's relations with Riyadh.

censored is it time for pakistan and saudi arabia to part ways

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Photo: Reuters

It was a reader who alerted Pakistani newspaper columnist Imad Zafar that the link to his column published on the Express Tribune’s website on August 20 was missing. His regular column had been uploaded on Thursday night, but within an hour, it was taken down.

Zafar, who has been writing a regular column for the Karachi-based English language paper, said that he wasn’t surprised by this move, due to the subject matter of the article. “In Pakistan, anything to do with Saudi Arabia is highly sensitive,” he said.

He told The Wire that he offered two topics to the Tribune editors for his column – two years of the PTI government and the fruitless visit of the Pakistani Army chief to Saudi Arabia. “I gave the choice thinking that they will not accept the Saudi subject, but they felt that it would be more topical. I asked them repeatedly if they are sure that they will be able to carry it, and they said yes.”

Having worked in Pakistani media for a long time, Zafar noted that he was aware of the unwritten rules. “We used to discuss the topics before the publication… I know what’s the line and where to stop before that.”

When the article was not published on time on Thursday, Zafar again checked with the editors about its status. “I asked them twice, whether they will be able to stand the pressure. But, they again replied that there is no issue.”

After the article went missing shortly after being uploaded, he believes it was taken down due to instructions from outside, rather than an internal decision. “This was certainly done due to external pressure,” Zafar stated, adding that he intends to end his association with the Express Tribune.

The Wire is re-producing below the cached version of his article that was taken down from the newspaper's website.

An e-mail was sent to the concerned editor in the newspaper and the response, if received, will be added here.

This article went live on August twenty-fourth, two thousand twenty, at thirty-four minutes past two in the afternoon.

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