Senior journalists refused entry into North Waziristan
PESHAWAR: Authorities stopped two senior journalists at the Khajuri checkpoint the other day and didn’t allow them to enter North Waziristan to perform their professional duties.
Dr Shahid Masood, the host of a widely watched Geo TV programme “Meray Mutabiq”, and Rahimullah Yusufzai, the executive editor of The News in Peshawar, were on their way to Miranshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan, to report on the situation in the troubled tribal region. A Geo TV cameraman also accompanied them.
The political administration argued that the situation was dangerous on the road to Miranshah, as it was infested with criminals, including kidnappers and car-snatchers. Its officials said in recent weeks a number of people, including women, had been kidnapped for ransom on the stretch of the road from Mir Ali to Miranshah. The two journalists were told that the government had banned the entry of all non-locals to North Waziristan, as they risked being kidnapped.
When reminded of the government’s claim that there was no ban on members of the press wishing to visit the tribal areas and report from there, the government officials at Khajuri checkpoint and Mir Ali said they had been directed by senior officials not to allow the two journalists to enter North Waziristan.
Source: The News
Date:7/20/2007
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