Literary security in ... Pakistan

       In Dawn Ikram Junaidi reports that Unlettered security irks literary figures, as 'Over 100 literary figures boycotted the inaugural ceremony of an international writers' conference after waiting for security clearance for over two hours outside the Prime Minister Secretariat on Thursday'.
       So, for example:

Saadullah Shah, a poet and author of 35 books, said literary personalities were not eager to meet the prime minister. "In fact, most of us do not want to meet him but still we have been brought to the PM Secretariat. The government officials are humiliating us," he said.

       'Columnist and poet Ataul Haq Qasmi' meanwhile opined:

Although I am in favour of democracy, most of the things on the credit of the government are negative,

       Nevertheless, a few titbits of interest are buried in here as well -- such as that Prime Minister Ashraf: "raised the stipend for literary persons from Rs5,000 to Rs7,000".
       Okay, Rs7,000 is only about US $72.00 -- but still ... they give 'literary persons' (no definition offered) a stipend in Pakistan ?