PESHAWAR- The political authorities of Orakzai Agency arrested The Nation’s correspondent from Kohat Fida Mohammad Khan and his companion.

However, there is no charge against Fida Mohammad Khan. Fida Mohammad Khan, who is in custody of the political administration at Orakzai Agency, contacted the Peshawar office of daily The Nation informing that they were on professional assignments when apprehended by political authorities.

He said that there is a longstanding dispute between Mishti and Sheikhan tribes over coal-mines in the area and they were there for its detailed coverage.

However, they were arrested by the personnel of law-enforcing agencies on Sunday at around 11 am.

They were deprived of all belongings and locked up at Lower Orakzai Agency. They are being humiliated and do not allowed-to get drinking water.

Now they are being pressurized to confess baseless charges against, them. Fida has contradicted all charges and said that neither he was a businessman nor had having any link with wheat flour smuggling.

Meanwhile, journalists’ from Orakzai Agency met the political authorities to secure the release of their colleagues. During the talks, the political authorities didn’t level any allegation against Fida Mohammad Khan, but alleged that second journalist Abid Amin Awan was a trader and arrested on charges of flour smuggling into tribal areas.

The political authorities are reluctant to release the arrested journalists saying that on completion of the investigation process, they would consider plea of the journalists.

Meanwhile, Mr Javed Aziz President and Akhunzada Zahid Ali Askar, General Secretary of Khyber Union of Journalists have expressed concern over arrest of their colleague and demanded early notice of the matter by the authorities concerned for their early release.
Source: The Nation
Date:5/7/2002