LANDI KOTAL: The local chapter of the All Teachers Association on Friday demanded immediate release of a teenaged student arrested by the political administration on murder charges.

Addressing a news conference at the local press club, the association’s president Sharif Ullah and general secretary Farman Ullah said that the arrest of 15-year-old Tahir Khan was violation of human rights and the reforms made in the Frontier Crimes Regulations.

They said that the arrested student was an 8th grader at government middle school, Lateef Khan, and his annual examination was to commence on Saturday (today).

“The student is unlawfully charged in a murder case and has been kept at the local lockup for the last few weeks despite admission of the concerned officials that juveniles couldn’t be arrested and imprisoned under the reformed FCR,” contended the teachers’ leaders.

They said that they wanted to meet the local administration officials to plead the release of the student but a meeting was denied to them. The teachers threatened to start agitation if the student was not released forthwith.

Meanwhile, Landi Kotal assistant political agent Tayyab Abdullah said that he had already directed release of the jailed boy on bail. He said that the student was among two residents of Sheikhwal village arrested after three persons were killed in a firing incident.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play