Farhan Saya
Mazar-e-Quaid, Karachi
I went to Mazar-e-Quaid with a friend today to shoot a few pics. It was the first time in years that I went in there. As we setup and started the taking the first pic, a burly guy came out of nowhere and started asking us whether we have permission to take these pics as anyone taking pictures here needs a permission of Resident Engineer. I told him I don’t have any such permission since this is a public place, but he was adamant that I need the official permission. I asked where the office of RE was where I can go and get the permission and he told me it’s outside the mausoleum. Upon inquiring as to who he was, we were told that he was the deputy of the Resident Engineer of the mausoleum. When asked for some sort of identification he showed us his business card, which showed that he was an employee of some contractor who manages the mausoleum. I further inquired that I wanted to see his official ID card not his business card to which he replied this is his official card. When he saw I didn’t believe him nor was I budging, he said his official card is in his office. I shrugged and said lets go to your office and you can show me your badge and also the law which forbids me from taking pics here.
I thought maybe he was just pestering us and wouldn’t have an office here, but turns out I was wrong. When we reached his office he shuffled through the mess in his drawer and after a minute or two of searching finally found his ID card, which showed that he was in charge of maintenance there. Now we were sure he wouldn’t have anything to back up his claim so we asked him to show us the circular or something which backs his claim. He called his assistant who came out with two laminated pages full of rules and said it’s in there. We just scanned it briefly and realized that it was all about maintenance. When we told him there’s nothing like that in there, he changed his tune and said there are boards all over the place saying no photography. When we said we haven’t seen a single board like that, he again changed his stance and said there’s a big board at the entrance with all the rules and in there is written the rule about no photography allowed. We said lets all go there and then he can show us where it’s written because I am sure we alone will not be able to find it.
That’s when he suddenly asked, are you taking these pics for personal use or commercial use? When I told him it’s for personal use, he said, okay then you can go and take as for personal use its okay to take pictures and we rolled our eyes and walked out of there thinking what a waste of time.
Mazar-e-Quaid, Karachi
I went to Mazar-e-Quaid with a friend today to shoot a few pics. It was the first time in years that I went in there. As we setup and started the taking the first pic, a burly guy came out of nowhere and started asking us whether we have permission to take these pics as anyone taking pictures here needs a permission of Resident Engineer. I told him I don’t have any such permission since this is a public place, but he was adamant that I need the official permission. I asked where the office of RE was where I can go and get the permission and he told me it’s outside the mausoleum. Upon inquiring as to who he was, we were told that he was the deputy of the Resident Engineer of the mausoleum. When asked for some sort of identification he showed us his business card, which showed that he was an employee of some contractor who manages the mausoleum. I further inquired that I wanted to see his official ID card not his business card to which he replied this is his official card. When he saw I didn’t believe him nor was I budging, he said his official card is in his office. I shrugged and said lets go to your office and you can show me your badge and also the law which forbids me from taking pics here.
I thought maybe he was just pestering us and wouldn’t have an office here, but turns out I was wrong. When we reached his office he shuffled through the mess in his drawer and after a minute or two of searching finally found his ID card, which showed that he was in charge of maintenance there. Now we were sure he wouldn’t have anything to back up his claim so we asked him to show us the circular or something which backs his claim. He called his assistant who came out with two laminated pages full of rules and said it’s in there. We just scanned it briefly and realized that it was all about maintenance. When we told him there’s nothing like that in there, he changed his tune and said there are boards all over the place saying no photography. When we said we haven’t seen a single board like that, he again changed his stance and said there’s a big board at the entrance with all the rules and in there is written the rule about no photography allowed. We said lets all go there and then he can show us where it’s written because I am sure we alone will not be able to find it.
That’s when he suddenly asked, are you taking these pics for personal use or commercial use? When I told him it’s for personal use, he said, okay then you can go and take as for personal use its okay to take pictures and we rolled our eyes and walked out of there thinking what a waste of time.