Protestors demand early recovery of abducted journalist | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Protestors demand early recovery of abducted journalist

PESHAWAR: Tribal and local journalists on Saturday held a protest demonstration against the abduction of a senior journalist Rahmatullah Tarapakhel in North Waziristan. They demanded of the government to take prompt steps for his early safe recovery.

Scores of tribal and local journalists gathered in Peshawar Press Club to protest against the kidnapping of their colleague led by president of Tribal Union of Journalist Safdar Hayat Dawar, President of Khyber Union of Journalists Arshad Aziz and president of Peshawar Press Club Saiful Islam Saifi.

The protesting journalists were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogan in favour of their demands and called for immediate safe recovery of the abducted their colleague. “We are protesting against abduction of Rahmatullah Darapakhel, and demanding of the government to take steps for his immediate recovery and protection of journalist community in the province”, said president of PPC.

He expressed concern over the abduction of the tribal journalist Rahmatullah from Miranshah bazaar. He said that tribal journalists are facing enormous difficulties on the line of duty in the province, “and we had constantly been demanding of the government for protection of journalist community”. For the purpose, he informed the journalists community had devised a comprehensive strategy and Standard Operative Procedure (SOP) for the protection of journalists’ life and property in the province.

“We demand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Masood Kauser to take prompt steps for immediate and safe recovery of the abducted tribal journalist Rahmatullah Daparkhel,” he said. Safdar Hayat said that more than 11 tribal journalists had been killed and injured on the line of duty in different acts of terrorism.

He said that many tribal journalists had been compelled to leave hometown in wake of security threats. In the prevailing lawless situation of FATA, he said, the tribal journalists are facing immense life and security threats in tribal belt.

He demanded of the government to take serious steps for provision of journalists’ security in the province, especially in Federally Administered Tribal Areas. He expressed fear that if the journalism will stop due to prevailing security challenges, then the tribal areas would push into darkness. When asked about reasons behind the abduction of Rahmatulalh, he said that the motivation for the abducation is unclear and no one had claimed responsibility.

However, he said that Ahmadullah Ahmadi, the spokesman for Gul Bahader, and most powerful militant commander in North Waziristan, condemned the abduction and said the local Taliban would assist to locate. The situation would be cleared about the abduction after the independent or government level probe, he maintained. Khyber Union of Journalists expressed grave concern over the abduction of tribal journalist Rahmatullah and demanded of the government for immediate its recovery.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:8/14/2011