KHYBER
Leadership of mainstream political parties, councilors, journalists and members of civil society categorically condemned the arrest of former President of Bara press club in a protest demonstration held here at Bacha Khan Chowk, Landi Kotal Bazaar on Wednesday.
It is to be mentioned that last day Khadem Afridi,working as reported for The Express group has been detained from Bara press club by the Counter Terrorist Department(CTD) for undisclosed crime.
Addressing on the occasion Tehsil Chairman Haji Shah Khalid, Tehsil Ameer of Jamate Islami Muqthader Shah, Khyber Transport Chief Shakir Afridi,local elite of Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sajid Afridi,Saeed Shinwari of Tanzeeme Naujawanane Qabail,representative of Khyber Sports Club Kaleemullah,Welfare Orgainzation,Landi Kotal Akhtar Ali,local leader of Pakistan People Party(PPP),representative of Al-Haj Karwan Haji Sher, councilor Abu Darda,Ikram Shinwari and others said that media is the fourth pillar of the State and media persons raise voice of the voiceless however with harassment of journalist community means to deny the fundamental right of freedom of expression.
We stand affirm with the journalist community and with join strive will foil every single attempt of suppressing media persons, they added.
They maintained that durable peace has been restored in Khyber but ironically some government departments deliberately sabotage the peaceful environment of the district that is resentful.
Media persons of Khyber have played the role of front line soldier during the militancy and for the betterment of the tribal region have suffered a lot therefore till release of the local journalist they will actively join protest agitation of the journalists.
They threatened that if the ex-President and member of Bara press club is not set free in near future they will come on roads and will suspend Pak-Afghan highway in protest for all kinds of traffic.
At the end the participants while holding banner and placards inscribed with slogans against arrest of the journalist took out a rally from Bacha Khan Square till in front of Landi Kotal press club where it dispersed peacefully.
