November 17, 2002	Sunday	Ramazan 11, 1423

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BAJAUR, Nov 16: The political, social and religious circles expressing concerns over the arrest of farmers and elders of the Salarzai tribe by the political administration have criticized the infamous Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), terming it an inhuman law.

Speaking at a joint press conference on Saturday the National Awami Party, Fata, president, Shahabuddin Khan, Bajaur Siasi Ittehad president Haji Rahat Yousaf, HRCP Bajaur chapter coordinator Habib Hassan and religious leader Qazi Abdullah Haqqani said that the political administration abusing the power had violated the human rights by taking action against innocent farmers and tribal elders.

They claimed that the detained farmers were not involved in the cultivation of the poppy crop or illegal activities. They alleged that the administration had started a campaign against the tribesmen for supporting reforms in the tribal areas, local government elections and changes in the FCR.

They appealed to Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah and other high-ups to take immediate notice of the arrests being made by the political administration under the pretext of operation against poppy cultivation.