Pakistan quizzed over expelled Irish reporter

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it asked Pakistan to explain the expulsion of Irish journalist Declan Walsh from the country.

However, it has yet to receive a reply.

Mr Walsh, working as the Pakistan bureau chief for the New York Times out of Islamabad, was covering the run-up to elections when he received an official letter telling him his visa had been revoked and he would have to leave.

He had been working in the country for a number of years, primarily with The Guardian. He later said he was surprised at the move by the Pakistani authorities.

Two days before the election, Mr Walsh, who previously worked for the Sunday Business Post, was summoned to his home in Islamabad, where he met policemen and a plainclothes officer who gave him a letter ordering him to leave the country within 72 hours.

The reason provided was that it was “in view of your undesirable activities”.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed messages asking for an explanation had been sent via two different channels to the Pakistani authorities regarding Mr Walsh’s expulsion.

“We made a diplomatic approach to Pakistan and we are awaiting a response,” the spokesman said.

It is understood the approach is seeking clarity on why Mr Walsh was asked to leave Pakistan. Approaches were made via the Irish embassy in Turkey and the Pakistani embassy in London.

“We would have indicated our concern, certainly,” the spokesman said, adding that if no response was forthcoming, the Government would “follow it up”.