SWAT: A local court has confirmed the pre-arrest bail of senior journalist Amjad Ali Sahab.

The court was presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Mohammad Tahir Aurangzeb. On August 31, Mingora police registered an FIR under Sections 500, 504PPC, and 25-D against Amjad Ali Sahab, after which he sought bail before arrest from the court.

Lawyers Asad Hameedur Rahman, Attaullah Jan and Mir Inam Khan appeared for the journalist. After hearing their arguments, the court accepted his bail application.

The FIR sparked a wave of anger among journalists and civil society members. The organisations working for the rights of journalists condemned the act.

The members of Swat Press Club and Swat Union of Journalists also strongly condemned filing of a ‘fabricated’ FIR against the senior journalist. They thanked lawyers for extending support to them.

TAX: The tehsil municipal administration of Charbagh has resumed tax collection from vehicles entering Malam Jabba tourist resort.

The tax collection activity resumed after one month when Malakand commissioner ordered its stoppage following protests by tourists and locals.

The residents of the area said that people claiming to be authorised contractors for the tourist entry fee reinitiated the tax collection activity, employing coercive tactics.

“Not only they are forcefully collecting taxes, but they are also subjecting tourists to verbal and physical abuse if they refuse to pay,” Murad Khan, a tourist from Mingora, told this scribe, sharing his experience of mistreatment by one of these tax collectors on Malam Jabba Road.

Visitors from other parts of Swat, who frequently visit Malam Jabba, have also complained about the aggressive behaviour of these tax collectors. “Disturbingly, if visitors refuse to pay the tax, the collectors resort to physically striking their vehicles with sticks,” said Ahmad Ali, another local tourist.

Tourists urged the commissioner and deputy commissioner to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2023