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‘Factually incorrect’ report hurt Pakistani community

The Pakistani government and members of the Pakistani community in the UAE have responded angrily to what they say are false claims their country ‘betrayed’ the UAE in the final stages of its successful World Expo 2020 bid.

A recent editorial which ran in English-language newspaper Gulf News claimed that despite assurances to the contrary, both Pakistan and Afghanistan failed to vote for the emirate during the voting round in which delegates from around the world backed one of the four final candidates.

Without citing any sources, the editorial said the newspaper was ‘stunned and disappointed’ to learn the UAE had been ‘betrayed’ in the vote and raised questions about whether the two countries, that it said had benefited from much financial aid from the UAE, would be able to justify their decision to their resident expatriate populations.

In a letter directed at the paper and also sent to Khaleej Times, Pakistani Consul-General Javed Jalil Khattak said the editorial was wrong and an “orchestrated attempt to damage and defame the historic fraternal relations between Pakistan and the UAE.”

“Not only is the language offensive, the article is factually incorrect,” he wrote. He said the purpose of the article was “beyond comprehension. The voting for Expo 2020 was a secret ballot and, therefore, the authenticity of this report and its sources are at best dubious.”

Khattak said he demanded the newspaper substantiate its claims or revoke them. “The newspaper is expected to realise (sic) the negative implications of such unsubstantiated reports which have not only hurt the sentiments of (the) Pakistani community but also cast a shadow of doubt on the credibility of the newspaper itself.”

In a separate statement on the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website, the government explains the country committed itself to vote for the Turkish bid of Izmir in May 2011, before the UAE had even entered the race.

“This fact was explained to the UAE leadership. It was also conveyed that if Turkey were to withdraw its candidature, Pakistan would not only support the UAE but also lobby for it. Consequently, when Turkey withdrew its candidature, Pakistan voted in favour of the UAE.” It said Pakistan’s support had drawn appreciation at “the highest level” from the UAE government which was a friend Pakistan would continue to stand by.

It ended with a potshot aimed at Gulf News saying: “Responsible newspapers are expected to ensure greater accuracy in their reporting.”

The Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) general secretary Faisel Ikram wrote an open letter to the newspaper denouncing the editorial, and highlighting the support given to the UAE’s bid by Pakistani expatriates - with PAD the only community organisation that was a registered Expo 2020 supporter. “We feel disappointed and deeply hurt by the strong language used in the editorial and claims with no proof.”

However, Gulf News editor-in-chief Abdul Hamid Ahmad has defended the newspaper’s position on Twitter, saying the article was about the government of Pakistan rather than the people. He said the government had made a mistake and “I hope it clarifies and say (sic) why it did not vote for Dubai though it promised to”.

amanda@khaleejtimes.com

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