KOHAT, Nov 25: Authorities on Friday released a member of the Fata reforms committee, who had been arrested under the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) for attending a meeting in Afghanistan a few days ago. Talking to reporters here on Friday, Ghairat Khan Afridi termed his arrest illegal, saying that he had been punished for raising his voice against the black FCR law.

Mr Afridi said he and other members of the Fata reforms committee had submitted their recommendations for amendments to the FCR to the president.

They would meet President Gen Pervez Musharraf soon and request him to enact the new version of the law and save tribesmen from abuse and torture.

He said the tribesmen, who were as loyal to their country as other patriots, were treated as aliens and traitors. This had fuelled anti-state feeling among them, he added.

The tribesman criticized the political administration for detaining him under the black law without any reason. He said that every year hundreds of innocent tribesmen were harassed and arrested under the colonial-era law that required changes.

He suggested that the administration should have enough proof or reason for arresting any tribesmen who should be given the right to take their case to any court of law.