Members of the District Press Club in Landi Kotal called off their boycott of police functions after the Khyber police issued an apology for an ‘unwarranted’ raid on the press club premises on October 25. The reconciliation was facilitated by a jirga, involving representatives from civil society and local leadership.

The raid followed a press conference by local Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders, after which police arrested party workers. Journalists protested the raid, saying it was conducted without prior notice. Police sought forgiveness under the Pakhtun tradition of Nanawatai, prompting the journalists to call off their boycott.

A gathering at the press club, attended by political and social leaders, journalists and police officials, marked the resolution of the dispute. Participants included Press Club President Aman Ali Shinwari, former tehsil chairman Haji Shah Khalid, Khyber Siyasi Ittehad president Murad Hussain Afridi, DSP Landi Kotal Lal Jan and SHO Ishrat Shinwari.

Speakers stressed the importance of respecting the press club’s sanctity and maintaining mutual trust and cooperation between journalists and police. Police officials acknowledged their mistake and pledged to prevent similar incidents.

Shinwari thanked the jirga and civil society representatives for facilitating the resolution and acknowledged support from journalists in Jamrud and Bara during the boycott.