Caretaker Sindh Minister for Finance and Information, Dewan Mohammed Yousuf Farooqui, has asked the Sindh Press Information departments to ensure that only authenticated journalists are issued passes for coverage of elections.
He warned that if anyone caught entering a polling station with fake press card, would face very strict action. He issued the directive in a follow-up meeting of recently held seminar on "United for Elections" here Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Information Fasihuddin, Director PID Thakurdas, Director SID Mohammed Iqbal besides spokespersons of groups of the seminar on "United for Elections".
The Minister said that Regional Directors and District Information Officers would be responsible to ensure that passes are not wrongly issued. The Minister was informed that process for issuance of passes to journalists covering Election-2008 has started and so far photographs and identity cards of about 200 journalists out of expected 300 to 350 from print and electronic media with letters of authentication have been received from their respective organisations. He was told that these are now being given to Provincial Election Commission for issuance of passes.
Dewan Yousuf said that February 14 be fixed as last date for submission of photographs and identity cards of journalists wishing to cover the elections after which no request should be entertained.
He was informed that in the interior of Sindh, where there is no PID Office, the SID officers would get the passes issued through respective Returning Officers for which Election Commission has already issued instructions.
It was pointed out that passes would be issued and delivered three days prior to election. Information Minister asked PID and SID to chalk out plan with regard to routes on which the teams of journalists would be taken as well the polling stations to be visited by them, specially the most sensitive and sensitive ones. It was informed that PID has made arrangements to take 10 teams and 5 teams by SID.
It was stated that foreign journalists coming to Karachi for election coverage here as well as in the interior of Sindh would be issued passes the same way as are being issued to local journalists.
Provincial Secretary Information informed that Sindh Government will depute grade 18 and 19 officers to conduct foreign observers coming here for monitoring of election in coordination with SNG&AD, Minister and Secretary Home. To a query by the Minister, both SID and PID officials informed that arrangements will be in place to conduct journalist's visits right from 8-30 am while in the interior of Sindh arrangements have been made in 22 districts.
Dewan Yousuf Farooqi assured that on the question of security for journalists visiting most sensitive and sensitive polling stations, he will hold a meeting with Home Minister. Regarding availability of progressive results to journalists immediately, the Minister said he is holding a meeting with the Provincial Election Commissioner Chaudhry Qamaruzzaman on Wednesday in which other related issues would also be sorted out.
Meanwhile, the Information Minister also called a meeting of the regional and district directors of Sindh Information on Friday to discuss matters regarding facilitation of journalists covering elections.
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