SWAT: Journalist Fayaz Zafar was freed here on Thursday after a jirga was held between the local elders and district administration.

Mr Zafar, the bureau chief of daily Mashriq and a reporter for Deewa radio in Swat, was detained on Wednesday night under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). Known for his brave reporting, he played a vital role as a journalist during the militancy period in Swat.

His arrest triggered widespread protests on social media, with posts and messages condemning his detention pouring in from political figures, journalists, lawyers, human rights activists and members of civil society across the country.

Civil society members and youth activists had also announced a protest at Nishat Chowk in Mingora against his arrest. However, the call for protest was withdrawn after his release was announced.

After his release Mr Zafar told Dawn that he was driving his car home from his office late Wednesday evening when about 30 policemen and some masked men stopped him and started beating him. “Policemen also struck my vehicle with their batons and firearms before shifting me to jail,” he said.

Earlier, a jirga of lawyers, local political leaders of different parties, elders, members of Swat Olasi Pasoon, members of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement and journalists was held. The jirga was led by Swat Bar Association president Mohammad Saeed Khan, PML-N leader Wajid Ali Khan, JI leader Mohammad Amin Khan, Rashid Iqbal, Sherinzada, Niaz Ahmad Attaullah Jan, Shehzad Alam and others.

Swat Press Club also issued a statement, strongly denouncing the arrest of Fayyaz Zafar. An emergency meeting was convened, during which a committee of senior journalists was formed to negotiate the issue with the district administration.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2023