Journalist expelled from Taliban newspaper
PESHAWAR- The tussle between Taliban Chief Justice and two Kabul-based Afghan journalists Mullah Asad Ullah Hanfi and Mullah Ghulam Muhammad Farooq resulted in their transfer from Taliban movements organ Daily Shariat sources said.
Mullah Hanfi was the editor and Mullah Farooq worked as Assistant Editor of daily Shariat.
Taliban have arrested them for publishing some “objectionable material” early this month. The objectionable material was satirical poem written by classical Pushtun poet Khushal Khan Khattak in which he criticized the hypocrisy of religious leaders.
Later, the matter was brought into the notice of TalibanÂ’s spiritual leader Mullah Muhammad Omer who after examining the case ordered their release.
Both the journalists were not seen almost for a week and only came after their missing report was carried out in Pakistani media.
It has to be mentioned that Taliban launched daily Shariat in 1995 in Peshawar as its mouthpiece and after capturing Afghan capital in 1996, its office was shifted to Kabul.
A powerful lobby, headed by Afghan Chief Justice Molvi Noor Mohammad Saqib, in Taliban hierarchy had reportedly developed some differences with the editor of student militias organ.
After falling to reconcile their differences, Afghan Ministry of Culture and Information ordered their transfer after receiving directives from high-ups, confided reliable sources.
Source: The Nation
Date:9/6/2001
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