Tribal journalist released

Shinwari had been picked up by Khyber Rifles from Landikotal

LANDI KOTAL: Rahat Shinwari, a journalist from the tribal areas, was freed Sunday following a huge uproar by the media, a member of Landikotal Press Club announced. According to Shinwari, he had been picked up by Frontier Corps Khyber Rifles on Saturday.

A protest was held at the political administration’s office Sunday morning around 11am, ending around 2pm. At the end of the rally, an official from the press club conveyed Shinwari’s message that he had been freed. “Rahat Shinwari confirmed he was freed somewhere in Hayatabad, Peshawar via a telephonic conversation, however, it could not be determined where exactly he was released.”



Shinwari said he was picked up by personnel of Khyber Rifles, a wing of Pakistan Army’s Frontier Corps, on Saturday. He said he was blindfolded and released from a vehicle near some bazaar in Hayatabad in a relatively unpopulated area. He then reached Karkhano Market on his own, from where he informed his relatives and friends that he had been released. Reasons behind Shinwari’s capture remain unidentified.

Before Shinwari was released, PML-N leader in Khyber Agency Said Agha Jan addressed the rally and denounced Shinwari’s arrest after Khyber Rifles forces raided his house the other day. Political leaders criticised the FC forces for raiding houses of the public and journalists alike. One of the political party leaders, Zarnoor Afridi, from Jamaat-e-Islami, called it a clear violation of human rights.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2015.