The world's biggest group representing journalists has condemned the Pakistani government's decision to expel three British newspaper reporters, saying such acts would only encourage instability.
"Banning international media and gagging local journalists will not solve problems," said Aidan White, general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, said in a statement issued in Brussels late Saturday.
"It smacks of intolerance, will only encourage further instability and destroys international confidence in government promises of a quick return to the rule of law and democracy," he said. The IFJ has more than 600,000 members in 117 countries.