May 08, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 2, 1429

KARACHI, May 7: Local corporate leaders and media persons are uncomfortable over what they consider ‘excessive security demands’ being made by US Consulate for American Ambassador Ms Anne W. Patterson’s visit to the Management Association of Pakistan as a guest on Thursday.

The members of the association are being asked to bring their original national identity cards. They are being advised not to carry mobile phones and are required to report at the venue half an hour before the proceedings begin.

On Wednesday, the MAP sent an advisory to the media offices to inform that due to security concerns, the US embassy has requested media persons, specially those carrying equipment, to report at the meeting venue earlier than commencement of the proceedings because the “equipment will have to be duly screened”.

In its invitation dispatched a few days before, the media persons were advised to give their consent of attending in writing. Many invitees find such excessive measures humiliating.

The US Consulate officials are holding meeting with MAP executives daily for last few days to discuss security measures.