A recently published book by senior journalist Suhail Warraich was removed from book stalls within hours of its arrival. The book, \u2018Yeh Company Nahi Chaley Gi\u2019 (which translates to: \u201cThis company will not work\u201d), is a compilation of Warraich\u2019s columns already published in daily Jang and on BBC Urdu.<\/p>\n
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is concerned with the confiscation of the book by Warriach. Tactics such as seizing copies of a prominent journalist\u2019s book act as a tool of intimidating the media and further leading to a limiting of press freedom and free expression in the country.<\/p>\n
The development comes amidst a crackdown on Pakistani journalists. In the past few days, three journalists have had criminal complaints lodged against them for allegedly posting anti-state content on social media.<\/p>\n
Speaking to BBC Urdu, Warraich said that the content of the book is previously published columns. He said that he found that \u201csome circles\u201d have objected to the book\u2019s title page. \u201cYesterday, I was also contacted and told that the cartoon on the title page undermines the dignity of the prime minister,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Warraich said that he did not think that there was anything objectionable in the cartoon on the title page of the book. He said that cartoons are made in a \u201clight mood\u201d and they are always seen in a \u201clight manner\u201d. \u201cBut despite this, late at night, on the insistence of a lot of my friends and groups, we removed it from Twitter.\u201d He added that they will change the title page of the book.<\/p>\n
The controversial book cover features a cartoon showing Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa sitting on a chair and Prime Minister Imran Khan playing on the floor besides him with a ball and a doll. On one side of the cover, leading opposition leaders \u2014 former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, former President Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan People\u2019s Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz \u2014peering in from the window.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A recently published book by senior journalist Suhail Warraich was removed from book stalls within hours of its arrival. The book, \u2018Yeh Company Nahi Chaley Gi\u2019 (which translates to: \u201cThis company will not work\u201d), is a compilation of Warraich\u2019s columns already published in daily Jang and on BBC Urdu. Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is concerned … <\/p>\n