Javed Aziz Khan

PESHAWAR: Two French journalists were detained on Friday for making a film in the Cantonment area without seeking prior permission from the authorities.

“One of the detainees was identified as Francesco Lino Cardon and his cameraman Christophe,” said a police official, who was not sure about the correct names of the detainees. The official of the Special Branch police took them into custody when they were filming a video in the Cantonment area. A source said the two had interviewed a senior official of the Special Branch as well but the report was not confirmed.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)-Operations Karim Khan, while confirming the arrest of the two foreign journalists, said they were detained by the Special Branch and later handed over to the local police.

An official of the West Cantonment Police Station, where the two were later shifted, told The News that the foreigners did not have visas to visit Peshawar. “They were having restricted visa for Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad and were not permitted to visit Peshawar,” said the official, requesting anonymity. He said no first information report had been lodged so far but the two journalists could be booked under the 14 Foreigners Act for visiting Peshawar without the required documents.
Source: The News
Date:5/29/2010