KARACHI, July 9: The journalists covering Asif Zardari’s trail, inside the Karachi Central Prison, were on Wednesday maltreated and obstructed in performance of their professional duty by the jail authorities.

They converged on the prison since 10.30am and tried to contact the jail superintendent for access to the special court room. They also sent their visiting cards and frantically approached the concerned official by telephone, but to no avail.

The jail authorities made every effort to keep journalists away, although the trial is being conducted in an open court.

After waiting for a response from the jail authorities for more than two hours, the journalists again tried to reach the security checkpost, but they were denied access by a policeman at the entrance of the area reserved for the visitors of the inmates.

When the newsmen tried to explain their right to access to the court room, the policeman pushed them and manhandled Dawn’s correspondent. However, as they lodged strong protest and demanded an apology, the jail authorities came rushing. The jail superintendent made an apology and removed the concerned policeman from the post.

Finally, the journalists were allowed in but only after surrendering their ID cards and cell phones.