Journalists barred from covering PAC body meeting

ISLAMABAD: In a clear violations of the directives of Chairman Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Syed Khursheed Shah for open coverage of the meetings of the PAC and its sub-committees, a new precedent was made on Monday when journalists were barred to cover the proceedings of the sub-committee of the PAC, where the audit paras relating to Defence Ministry was to be examined.
The excuse for stopping the journalists from covering the proceedings of the sub-committee of the PAC that the sensitive issues could be discussed and it would not be in national interests that these should come up before the media.
It is to be mentioned that open session of the PAC used to be held during the tenure of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan as a Chairman PAC in which the audit paras relating to the National Logistic Cell, Heavy Mechanical Complex and other defence institutions were examined and media was always allowed to cover the proceedings.
The Parliamentary Reporters Association has protested on the sub-committee decision to disallow the media from coverage of the sub-committee and termed it against the access to information right.
Later on, the delegation of Parliamentary Reporters Association held the meeting with Chairman PAC Syed Khursheed Shah and drew his attention towards the violation of his directives for open meetings of the PAC.Chairman PAC assured to the delegation of the Parliamentary Reporters Association that he would probe the matter of holding the in-camera session of the sub-committee of the PAC.