HYDERABAD, March 4: The Press Information Department (PID) kept the print and some TV channels away from the 263rd Urs celebrations of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, which began on Sunday with the Premier Shaukat Aziz performing the opening ceremony.

The PID followed its old policy of dividing journalists on the lines of electronic and print media and kept newspaper reports out of the event.

When contacted, the local officials of PID in Hyderabad held Special Branch (SB) officials responsible for not issuing passes to journalists for security reasons.

On Sunday a few TV channel representatives were taken to Bhitshah by PID officials. “We even couldn't get passes for some TV channel reporters from SB officials for security concerns”, Mohammad Ali Bachani of PID told Dawn.

President of the Hyderabad Press Club Shahid Sheikh complained to the federal information minister about PID officials.

Mr.Sheikh along a journalist friend, however, left for Bhitshah on their own when he was contacted on telephone by PID officials to accompany them.