Transcript of the Weekly Media Briefing by Spokesperson Thursday 12 October 2023
Question: Can you please comment on the issue of Zainab Abbas, who went to India from Pakistan to cover the World Cup and was forced by Indian authorities to leave the country?
Secondly, Pakistan’s Cricket Team is also facing security issues in India. The Chairman of PCB also discussed security risk issues.
Yesterday, the standing committee of the Senate for Foreign Affairs passed a resolution of condemnation and demanded that the Pakistan Cricket Team should be called back to Pakistan immediately. How do you comment? (Ghazala Noreen, Suno Tv)
Supplementary Question: There is a match between Pakistan and India on Saturday, and as Ms. Ghazala said, the PCB Chairman met the Foreign Secretary, and the Indian High Commission has also contacted some journalists.
Has the issue of the non-issuance of visas been taken up? Or is it in your notice that Pakistani journalists and spectators have been issued visas? (Naveed Siddiqui, Dateline Islamabad)
Answer: As I have said in the past. We believe that India as the host of the World Cup has the responsibility to provide seamless security for Pakistan’s cricket team and our officials who are in India for the World Cup.
We also believe that it is their responsibility to offer a conducive environment for all cricketing teams including the Pakistan cricket team and other individuals who are visiting India in connection with this tournament.
Regrettably, Pakistani sports presenter Ms. Zainab was intimidated through the registration of an FIR against her on the basis of some attributed tweets made several years ago.
Such developments reflect the growing level of intolerance in Indian society and set a wrong precedent in the ICC sports tournaments.
With regards to visas, Pakistan has remained in contact with the Indian authorities and we have impressed on them to issue visas to all Pakistani journalists who have been accredited by the ICC and to Pakistani spectators who are in possession of valid tickets for these cricket matches.
We hope that India will fulfil its responsibilities as the host nation.