ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani television reporter, who was sentenced to four years in prison in July on charges of travelling to Afghanistan without valid documents, has been freed on the orders of a local court, officials confirmed on Sunday.
Pakistan’s Embassy spokesperson Akhtar Munir told The Express Tribune that Faizullah Khan, a reporter of ARY News, has been handed over to the Pakistani consul general in Jalalabad, Farmanullah Khan, late Sunday. Faizullah may be shifted to Kabul before his formal hand over to the Pakistani diplomatic mission in Kabul.
Earlier in the day, a high court in Jalalabad ordered the release of Faizullah Khan, who was detained by Afghan security officials in the eastern Nangarhar province in April this year. Some reports had earlier suggested that Faizullah was on an assignment to interview Taliban leaders as part of his professional duties.
The Afghan spy agency, the National Directorate of Security (NDS), had initially charged Faizullah of spying. However, the judge did not accept the NDS plea and convicted him of travelling to Afghanistan without valid documents, and for “positively projecting the Taliban”.
Later, an intelligence court convicted Faizullah of illegal entry and “positive projection of militants”. Faizullah’s lawyer, Hameedullah Khan, had challenged the conviction of his client in the high court.
“I spoke to Faizullah Khan this morning and he confirmed his release,” Saniya Khan, Faizullah’s wife told The Express Tribune. She thanked the Pakistani government, Pakistani diplomatic mission and journalists for their support. She added that Malala Yousafzai had also appealed to Afghan President Hamid Karzai for the release of Faizullah Khan.
Faizullah’s father Qari Farhad also confirmed his son’s release via phone from Karachi.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2014.
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