(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) Anees Takkar
MARDAN: Journalists are being stopped from coverage of distribution points of Ehsaas Program in all parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in Mardan.
No journalist is allowed to enter the distribution point or even get near to it. In some areas, reports have received that policemen have snatched cameras and mobile phones of journalists and also briefly kept them in confinement for trying to cover the happenings at distribution points.
Bakht Munir, a reporter associated with a private news channel in Mardan, when reached a distribution centre near the Mardan College Road, the policemen stopped him from coverage and also snatched his mobile phone. Bakht Munir told TNN that he told policemen that journalists have permission to cover the event and he also showed his press card, but the policemen were adamant not to allow him to cover the event.
'People told me that a large number of people have gathered at the Ehsaas Program distribution point to collect aid and there is no precaution worth its name there amid the fears of spread of coronavirus. When I went there, policemen did not allow me to show the people what is happening there,' Bakht Munir said.
The government has set up distribution points in different districts to enable the people to collect financial aid under the Ehsaas Program. It was promised that all arrangements for social distancing will be made at distribution points and soaps and hand sanitizers will also be available there besides proper seating arrangement for aid receivers. But these facilities are not available at most of the centres.
Saleem Khan, a local resident, told TNN that he came to the distribution point along with his wife at 7:00am, but no progress was made on his case till 11:00am. He said a crowd of women was gathered there due to which he was extremely concerned. He said coronavirus may spread quickly in such crowded places. He said he was standing under the open sky and there was no proper seating arrangement.
Another citizen, Jan Said, said the government doesn't seem serious in controlling coronavirus as social distancing measures are invisible at the distribution points.
Another local journalist, Ajmal, said he was welcome at a distribution point and he was even allowed to go inside. He said precautionary measures were not satisfactory, although the administration was trying to keep the people disciplined.
Additional Assistant Commissioner Nek Muhammad said security officials have been deployed at distribution centres and arrangements are being monitored regularly.
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