A prominent defense writer accused Pakistan’s government Thursday of banning the launch of her new book on the army’s interests in business, an issue which has been raising concern.

Ayesha Siddiqa’s book “Military Inc. Inside Pakistan’s Military Economy” was to be launched at the main auditorium of the government-run Islamabad Club on Thursday, but Wednesday night the club told launch organizers they had to find another venue.

“The launch of my book has been banned by the government. No hotel in Islamabad is allowing me to hold a ceremony for my book’s launch,” she told The Associated Press, adding that she was still looking for another place.

No government official was immediately available to comment on Siddiqa’s claim, but an army official at the military’s media department said the military had nothing to do with the cancellation of the reservation. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media.

The book’s publisher, Oxford University Press, only confirmed that The Islamabad Club had “regretted” turning down the request to hold book launch there.

“We don’t know why it was done,” said Uzair Ahmed, an assistant manager at the Oxford University Press branch in Islamabad.

Siddiqa said she had written nothing against the army, while raising the issue “that the army should not involve itself in business activities,” she said.

There has been growing concern about the Pakistan army’s involvement in business activities, ranging from running factories to selling land for housing programs.

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Source: International Herald Tribune