Journalists stage protest against their colleague arrest

LANDIKOTAL:Journalists chanting slogans against the arrest of their colleague

LANDIKOTAL: Tribal journalists,political parties leaders and workers staged a protest demonstration here on Wednesday and condemned the illegal arrest of a senior tribal journalist by the Frontier Corps (FC).

Beside the political parties workers, a large number of journalists from Landikotal,Jamrud and Bara tehsils of  Khyber Agency participated in the protest. They had fastened black straps on their shoulders showing unity with their colleague and holding placards inscribed with slogans against Political administration and the Frontier Crops officials in Landikotal.The angry protestors marched in the Landikotal bazaar and chanted slogans against the officials. The Journalists Unions office bearers and tribal political leaders addressed the mob.

Mehboob Shah Afridi,President of TUJ Khyber Agency categorically condemned the immoral arrest of Sudhir Ahmad Afridi,a senior reporter hailing from Landikotal. He said apprehension of a tribal journalist was a coward act of the authorities against freedom of press.

He condemned the arrest of their colleague by the security forces said that it was an act to surrender pen to the gun. Mehboob said that raid on the house was totally against the law and Pashtoon's culture. He appealed the high ups to help release of their colleague as he did not committed any sin for which he was arrested  two day before.

Jamrud Press club President Sajid Ali Kokikhel also addressed on the occasion and denounced the detention of  Sudhir Afridi. He said that no one could stop journalists from raising voice of deprived people,adding that they would not surrender their profession before those who want to sabotage peace of the area.

Ameer Jamat-e-Islami(JI) Khyber Agency president, Iktyar Badshah Afridi, Muqtadir Shah Afridi, Awami National Party(ANP) leader,Shah Hussain Shinwari, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf(PTI) leaders Abdur Raziq Shinwari,Fakhr uddin Shinwari, Tanzeem-e-Ahlesunnat Waljamat Landikotal leader Shakir Khan Afridi and Pakistan Muslim League-N Landikotal leader Israr shinwar addressed the protest rally. They condmend the arrest and torture of a tribal reporter.

 Muqtadir Shah criticized the security force personnel had crossed the Pakhtoons' and tribal culture's limits. He said without any prior notice issued to Sudhir they raided his house and mentally torture his wife and children.The leaders  accused political administration of Landikotal for their back support in the incident.

It maybe added here that FC personnel on Tuesday raided the house of Sudhair Ahmad Afridi  and they then shifted  him to Landikotal Army garrison. According to sudhair Ahmad Afridi, the security force personnel released him after they did not find any charges against him and handed over to Political administration Landikotal.