Journalist, driver release | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Journalist, driver release

MIRAN SHAH – The administration of the North Waziristan tribal region on June 2 released Afghan journalist Sami Yousufzai and his driver, Muhammad Saleem, after they remained in detention for 40 days.

Sources said that the assistant political agent had convicted the two under the colonial era law of Frontier Crimes Regulations 1901, and sentenced them to 40-day imprisonment.

Mr. Yousufzai, a correspondent of Newsweek and his driver had gone missing on April 21, and there were certain news reports regarding their arrest by intelligence agencies near Bannu.

An official of the tribal administration told Dawn that the two were released from the agency prison and their vehicle was handed over to them.

Fata Secretary (Security) Brig (retired) Moahmood Shah told the reporter by phone from Peshawar that the two accused were tried under section 11 of the FCR. “Their trial was conducted by the official concerned as they had committed crime by entering the tribal region without acquiring proper permission.”
Source: Dawn
Date:6/3/2004