SWAT: The members of the Babuzai tehsil council on Friday held a session along the Mingora-Saidu Sharif Road hereto voice their protest against the deputy commissioner and Babuzai assistant commissioner for their alleged inappropriate conduct.

Babuzai tehsil mayor Shahid Ali Khan led the protest meeting, which was also attended by women councillors. They said the assistant commissioner always declined to attend the council meetings.

The councillors chanted slogans against the AC Babuzai and the deputy commissioner.

The protesters said they had to serve their voters, but the government and the district administration had completely sidelined them.

However, deputy commissioner Irfanullah Khan Wazir said it was strange to hold the council session on the road when there was a hall available for such meetings. He said blocking roads was not a wise decision as it hindered people’s access to offices, courts and hospitals.

Regarding the absence of assistant commissioner from council meetings, he said the AC was a government employee and, according to the Local Government Act, he served as the principal accounting officer responsible for signing the budget document once it was approved by the council.

He suggested the mayor should take the time to read the provisions of the Act.

JOURNALIST BOOKED: The Swat police on Friday registered an FIR against another journalist for publishing posts and comments against the government departments.

Over the last two days, the police have registered cases against as many journalists.

The Mingora police said the FIR against the journalist, Amjad Ali Sahaab, was registered under Sections 500 and 504 of PPC and 25-D of Telegraph Act.

However, following registration of FIR, Mr Sahaab approached a court for bail-before-arrest, which was granted to him till Sept 9.

Meanwhile, Swat bar association, journalists, writers, teachers, human rights activists and civil society members condemned the FIR against the reporter.

They said the district administration and the police were trying to snatch the constitutional right of journalists and wanted to mute their voice.

They called upon the Chief Justice of Pakistan, national and international journalists’ federations, human rights organisations, as well as the provincial and federal governments to ensure mediapersons were not harassed and provided protection against threats.

Mr Sahaab is a popular journalist known for his professionally sound writings.

Earlier, the police had arrested another journalist, Fayaz Zafar, who was released on Thursday after a jirga between the local elders and the district administration.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2023