PESHAWAR, Feb 18: The Peshawar High Court Bar Association has announced that it will move the high court to ascertain facts behind the disappearance of a North Waziristan-based journalist, Hayatullah Khan, and to seek his recovery.

Speaking at a protest meeting organized by the Khyber Union of Journalists at the press club here on Saturday, PHCBA President Iqbal Mohmand said that the bar association was ready to file a petition in the high court to seek recovery of the journalist.

He lamented that Mr Khan had been missing for the last three months and the NWFP government had failed to secure his recovery.

He said that the disappearance of Mr Khan highlighted difficulties faced by journalists in the tribal areas. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists President Shaukat Pervez demanded immediate release of Mr Khan and asked the NWFP governor to help ensure his freedom.

Mr Pervez said that if Mr Khan was not recovered by March 10, the PFUJ would launch a countrywide campaign for his release from the kidnappers. Tribal Union of Journalists President Sailab Mehsud said that Hayatullah had been detained by security forces and had not been kidnapped for ransom or due to enmity.

He said that if Mr Khan had committed any crime, the government should produce him in a court of law and initiate a trial against him.