Journalists boycott Nangarhar governor’s office

JALALABAD (PAN): Journalists in eastern Nangarhar province on Monday announced an indefinite boycott of covering activities of the governor’s house, accusing it of refusing to cooperate with media representatives.

The decision came during a meeting, attended by a large number of journalists, at the office of Pajhwok Afghan News in Jalalabad. They blamed the authorities concerned for denying reporters elaborate and timely information.

Lal Pacha Azmoon, the head of Journalists and Writers Association in the eastern zone, said many high-ranking officials recently visited the province, but the governor’s office did not share details with the local media.

“On the other hand, news regarding their engagements in Nangarhar is regularly released by foreign organisations whose representatives are invited to come to Jalalabad from Kabul,” he added.

This policy of the governor’s house raises disturbing questions about the presence and professionalism of Nangarhar-based reporters, who are deliberately kept in the dark on important issue, according to Azmoon.

Ziaur Rahman Hasrat, a Radio Liberty reporter in the zone, alleged they were not informed due to the authorities’ fear that their failure and corruption might be revealed in the presence of higher-ups.

“Since we know the problems facing Nangarhar, the governor’s office fears we may highlight them to their chagrin. As a result, they invite Kabul-based media representatives to covers visits of top dignitaries,” he argued.

Complaining that reporters in Nangarhar were frequently subjected to such treatment, Hasrat said the boycott would continue until the governor’s office held out a written assurance of cooperation with them.

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