KARACHI
Fearing a terrorist activity at the poorly-guarded Sindh Secretariat, the Sindh government has linked the entry of journalists into the building to the production of accreditation card which it never issues on time.
On Wednesday, the Sindh information department complained that some reporters considered it insult to identity themselves at the entrance.
“This is a matter of concern as any person with intention of terrorism can make entry into premises impersonating him or herself as press reporter,” said the provincial department in a statement.
Citing a letter of the Services General Administration and Coordination Department, it claimed that most of the media personnel visit the Sindh Secretariat premises for personal work.
“When they are stopped by the security personnel for clearance, they agitate and show disrespect,” alleged the information department, adding that the journalists also tend to be non-cooperative and threaten with dire consequences to the security staff.
It went on to claim that while the department had issued accreditation cards to eligible journalists very few of the latter bother to show their cards. “Others prefer to quarrel and feel it their insult to prove their identity,” it alleged.
The information department has requested the media personnel and their organizations to cooperate with the secretariat’s security staff.
It asked the journalists to show their Accreditation Card at the time of entrance in Sindh Secretariat Building.
The information department whereas has linked the journalists’ entry into Secretariat to the Accreditation Card it seems to have forgotten the fact that it never was able to issue or renew the same cards on time, ideally during the month of January. Issued on calendar year basis, validity of the cards in question expires on December 31st of every year.
It always is March or April when the journalists finally are handed their accreditation cards. Question arises what the newsmen, tending to visit the Secretariat, would be doing during the months when their accreditation cards are not ready.