Journalists blast govt for lack of cooperation

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Journalists in southeastern Paktia province on Thursday complained they had little access to information and were being intimated by officials.

The journalists expressed the views at a gathering arranged to award commendation certificates to representatives of media outlets in the province.

Police Chief Maj. Gen. Zalmai Oryakhel, Independent Election Commission (IEC) official Sher Ali Faizi and Civil Hospital Director Haya Gul Paktin attended the event.

Ihsanullah Mahjoor, president of the Paktia Press Club, appreciated the move but said that official cooperation was direly needed to promote access to information.

Some officials still did not extend cooperation or share information with journalists to keep the nation updated about facts, he noted.

Niazullah Asil, in charge of the Jwand Radio Station in Gardez, the provincial capital, said journalists were facing multiple barriers in acquiring information.

But Mohammad Shifa Mushfiq, director of information, said journalists had full freedom and there was no barrier to them getting information.

However, he acknowledged some problems were being faced by the journalist community.  At least 25 journalists are working in the volatile province.

nh/rm/mud

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