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Declan Walsh Twitter Account via Twitter

Irish journalist Declan Walsh ordered to leave Pakistan

The former Sunday Business Post journalist has been Pakistan bureau chief for the New York Times since January 2012.

IRISH JOURNALIST DECLAN Walsh has been ordered to leave Pakistan where he has been working as the New York Times’ bureau chief for the past year.

The order came last Thursday on the eve of today’s national elections with the deadline for his departure falling later today. He has confirmed he will comply with the order.

Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has confirmed the expulsion order but has not explained the reasons for it beyond Walsh’s “undesirable activities”.

Walsh is a veteran correspondent in Pakistan where he has previously worked for The Guardian before joining the New York Times in January 2012.

He has previously worked for the Sunday Business Post and the UCD student newspaper The University Observer.

According to the New York Times, Walsh was out on a social visit on Thursday evening when he received a call ordering him to return to his home in Islamabad where he was handed the expulsion order.

The paper reports the order as stating: “It is informed that your visa is hereby canceled in view of your undesirable activities. You are therefore advised to leave the country within 72 hours.”

The New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson has sent a letter of protest to Pakistan’s interior minister describing Walsh as “reporter of integrity who has at all times offered balanced, nuanced and factual reporting on Pakistan” and requesting that his visa be reinstated.

Today Walsh has been tweeting about the elections in Pakistan with pictures from polling stations in Lahore but has confirmed that he will comply with the expulsion order and leave the country tonight.

Read: 11 dead in Karachi bomb blast as voting takes place in Pakistan

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    Mute Hakuin Murphy
    Favourite Hakuin Murphy
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    May 11th 2013, 4:35 PM

    Great guy, know him from college.
    Amazing what he’s achieved in journalism. He’ll win the “and what have you been doing?” competition at the reunion.

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    Mute Willy Sullivan
    Favourite Willy Sullivan
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    May 11th 2013, 4:58 PM

    You’ll have the ole ‘Can’t wait to go to Pakistan whenever I want’ card over him though ;)

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    Mute Dave Caplice
    Favourite Dave Caplice
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    May 11th 2013, 5:32 PM

    Small club of people

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    Mute Niall Mullins
    Favourite Niall Mullins
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    May 11th 2013, 5:03 PM

    Could always offer him a job at The Journal; )

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    Mute Margaret Martin
    Favourite Margaret Martin
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    May 11th 2013, 4:38 PM

    A fine man.if I may say so

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    Mute Lou Brennan
    Favourite Lou Brennan
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    May 11th 2013, 4:02 PM

    He should have paid the VRT.

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    Mute Marc Power
    Favourite Marc Power
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    May 11th 2013, 4:25 PM

    He must be happy to be leaving that difficult posting

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    Mute thomas
    Favourite thomas
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    May 12th 2013, 12:30 PM

    Who would want to work in that cesspit ?

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