Arrested French journalists were making fake reports - minister

Pakistani authorities said yesterday the two French journalists, arrested for traveling to Balochistan province without proper visas, were on a mission to damage the country's reputation by making a fake news report about the activities of Afghan Taliban on Pakistani soil.

"Efforts are being made in a section of the Western media to damage Pakistan's image and undermine its role in the war against terror," Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, information minister, told reporters in Karachi.

The two French journalists arrested by Pakistani authorities were also part of the conspiracy, he said.

"We are in no way against journalists or journalism. But fake films on Taliban have been recovered from their possession which were aimed to tarnish Pakistan's image," he said.

Reporter Mark Epstein and photographer Jean Paul Guilloteau of L'Express magazine were arrested earlier this month for traveling to southwestern Balochistan province without valid travel document.

The pair arrived Pakistan on December 7 on journalist visas, which only allowed them to visit Karachi, the capital Islamabad and Lahore. But they went to Quetta and some areas bordering Afghanistan without informing the authorities.

Pakistani intelligence officials say the French journalists hired men in tribal areas to act as Taliban for their documentary.

A local journalist, Khawar Mehdi, has also been arrested.

Ahmed said Pakistani law will come to action when even illegal and unlawful activities are undertaken.

Anwar Mehamood, the information sectary, urged the international journalists organisations to condemn what he called "fake and concocted" reporting.

On Saturday a lower court rejected the bail application of and sent them to jail until their trial is over.

Meanwhile, France said yesterday it was in contact with authorities in Pakistan to try to secure the release of the two French journalists.

A French foreign ministry spokesman said there had been "numerous contacts" over the fate of the journalists, but declined to give further details.