PESHAWAR, Sept 5: A group of tribal students held a protest demonstration here on Monday against the political administration of Frontier Region of Peshawar and accused it of arresting innocent people under Frontier Crimes Regulation.

The protesting students, belonging to Labikhel tribe, were holding banners and placards inscribed with demands for relaxation of restrictions on movement of people in the area. They alleged that political administration of FR Peshawar was misusing its powers.

The leaders of the protesters, Attaul Karim and Farmanullah, told journalists that a non-local, Sardar Khan, was wanted by political administration but he had been absconding since long and administration was punishing local tribesmen for his wrongdoings.

The administration, they said, had already confiscated property of the accused on Nov 10, 2009. The Labikhel tribe had nothing to do with him and it also imposed a fine of Rs0.5 million on him for his alleged involvement in difference nature of crimes.

“Assistant Political Agent Zaheeruddin Babar is using the archaic system of FCR and forcing the entire tribe living in Jana Korh area to hand over the accused to the administration or pay heavy fine,” they said.

They said that the accused had no blood relation with Labikhel tribe as his elders had migrated from Nowshera to FR Peshawar. They claimed that local elders had allowed the accused family to live in the area on the condition that it would not indulge in any kind of crime.

Sardar Khan was forced to leave the semi-tribal area when he was found guilty of crimes, they said.

The protesting students said that owing to restrictions on movement of tribesmen, they were unable to shift their patients to hospitals.

They added that government employees and students were also not allowed to visit their offices and educational institutions for fear of arrest at the checkpoints.

“We have stopped travelling in passenger vehicles and have to walk on the hilly ways,” they said.

They demanded of President Asif Ali Zadari, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar, Fata secretary and other high-ups of Fata Secretariat to stop the political administration from taking action against them.