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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK reporting trio leave Pakistan | UK reporting trio leave Pakistan |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Three Telegraph newspaper group reporters are on their way back to the UK after being expelled from Pakistan. | Three Telegraph newspaper group reporters are on their way back to the UK after being expelled from Pakistan. |
| Islamabad claimed their coverage of the country's state of emergency was offensive and ordered them to leave. | |
| President Pervez Musharraf said an expletive in an editorial "shocked" him and meant Isambard Wilkinson, Colin Freeman and Damien McElroy must leave. | President Pervez Musharraf said an expletive in an editorial "shocked" him and meant Isambard Wilkinson, Colin Freeman and Damien McElroy must leave. |
| The British High Commissioner to Pakistan said there was "no justification" for the expulsions. | |
| 'Really shocked' | 'Really shocked' |
| The editorial at the centre of the controversy was critical of the West's relations with General Musharraf, and used a quote containing an expletive to describe the key ally in the so-called "war on terror". | The editorial at the centre of the controversy was critical of the West's relations with General Musharraf, and used a quote containing an expletive to describe the key ally in the so-called "war on terror". |
| When questioned about the expulsions at a news conference, the president said he was "really shocked" by the language used. | When questioned about the expulsions at a news conference, the president said he was "really shocked" by the language used. |
| "Would you accept a word of that sort if I was to use it, if any one of my reporters were to use [it] against your president?" he asked. | "Would you accept a word of that sort if I was to use it, if any one of my reporters were to use [it] against your president?" he asked. |
| He said he expected the Telegraph to apologise to him. | He said he expected the Telegraph to apologise to him. |
| For a newspaper of the Daily Telegraph's reputation to resort to such derogatory language is highly regrettable Imran GardeziPakistan High Commission | For a newspaper of the Daily Telegraph's reputation to resort to such derogatory language is highly regrettable Imran GardeziPakistan High Commission |
| The article, carried on the Telegraph website, prompted a response from the press officer of the Pakistan embassy in London on Friday. | The article, carried on the Telegraph website, prompted a response from the press officer of the Pakistan embassy in London on Friday. |
| The editorial, which was titled Bankrupt Relationship, described Gen Musharraf's rule as a "combination of incompetence and brutality". | The editorial, which was titled Bankrupt Relationship, described Gen Musharraf's rule as a "combination of incompetence and brutality". |
| A comment beneath the editorial from Imran Gardezi at the Pakistan High Commission said: "The language used for the President of Pakistan in your leading article is offensive and flouts the norms of decent journalism. | A comment beneath the editorial from Imran Gardezi at the Pakistan High Commission said: "The language used for the President of Pakistan in your leading article is offensive and flouts the norms of decent journalism. |
| "For a newspaper of the Daily Telegraph's reputation to resort to such derogatory language is highly regrettable. | "For a newspaper of the Daily Telegraph's reputation to resort to such derogatory language is highly regrettable. |
| "This deserves an apology." | "This deserves an apology." |
| Media blackout | Media blackout |
| Commenting on the expulsions, the Foreign Office said: "The High Commissioner has made a strong protest to Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, making it clear that there is no justification for the expulsion of these journalists. | |
| "We believe media freedom is essential to economic and social development and stability, and actively support the development of a free and fair press in Pakistan." | |
| The declaration of emergency rule was blamed on militant violence. | |
| Under the state of emergency, the Pakistani constitution has been suspended, while opposition supporters have been arrested, Supreme Court justices replaced, and mass public gatherings banned. | Under the state of emergency, the Pakistani constitution has been suspended, while opposition supporters have been arrested, Supreme Court justices replaced, and mass public gatherings banned. |
| A media blackout is still in force. International channels like the BBC and CNN were allowed back on air on Thursday, but have since been blocked. | A media blackout is still in force. International channels like the BBC and CNN were allowed back on air on Thursday, but have since been blocked. |
| President Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday that he hoped new parliamentary elections could be held by 9 January. | President Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday that he hoped new parliamentary elections could be held by 9 January. |
| Reporters Without Borders, a group which campaigns for press freedom, criticised General Musharraf over the expulsion. | Reporters Without Borders, a group which campaigns for press freedom, criticised General Musharraf over the expulsion. |
| "Gen Musharraf is demonstrating a disturbing degree of authoritarianism and behaving like an all-out press freedom predator," it said. | "Gen Musharraf is demonstrating a disturbing degree of authoritarianism and behaving like an all-out press freedom predator," it said. |