LANDI KOTAL: Peshawar police allegedly manhandled a tribal journalist and later arrested him in semi-unconscious condition from Karakhano police checkpost here on Thursday.

Jamrud Press Club former president Zahir Shah said that a young journalist, Shehzad Afridi, was stopped at the Karkhano checkpost by Peshawar police on the pretext of checking his vehicle.

He said that police personnel posted at the checkpoint and Mr Afridi exchanged hot words as the journalist protested over his undue checking. On this, other policemen present on the occasion thrashed Mr Afridi and dragged him on ground.

Zahir Shah told colleagues that Mr Afridi was then taken to Hayatabad police station and put in the lock-up. Members of Jamrud Press Club blocked the Peshawar-Torkham highway at Wazir Dhand in protest against the arrest and manhandling of their colleague.

Landi Kotal and Bara Press Club members also staged a protest demonstration against the police action and demanded unconditional release of Mr Afridi. They also demanded of the inspector general of police to take disciplinary action against the Karkhano checkpost police.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2018