Rally in Landikotal seeks justice for slain journalist

LANDIKOTAL: Parliamentarians, tribesmen, journalists, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) activists and thousands of civil society members on Tuesday held a protest march in Landikotal demanding justice for slain journalist Khalil Jibran Afridi.

Chanting slogans for the restoration of peace and justice for the slain journalist, the participants of the rally marched from Takia Sultankhel village in Khyber for five kilometres and gathered at Bacha Khan Chowk in Landikotal bazaar.

The rally was staged on the call of a 45-member committee comprising Shinwari and Afridi elders. The traders at the main Landikotal bazaar observed a shutdown strike and suspended traffic on the Pak-Afghan highway.

A number of schoolchildren from a private school dressed in uniform were also seen marching in the rally. The protesters were holding black flags, banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding an end to the target killing of journalists and restoration of peace.

Minister for Religious Affairs Muhammad Adnan Qadri, MPA Sohail Afridi, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl leader Mufti Muhammad Ejaz, Awami National Party President Shah Hussain and senior ANP leader Darya Khan Afridi, Landikotal mayor Shah Khalild Shinwari, Jamaat-e-Islami amir Murad Hussain Afridi and senior JI leader Ziaul Haq Afridi, Shakir Khan Afridi and others spoke on the occasion.

The speakers demanded the government to maintain peace and provide security to citizens, particularly the journalists in Landikotal. They said Pakistan was not safe for media people as four journalists were gunned down over the past few months.

They said unidentified gunmen killed several citizens in Khyber but the killers could not be brought to justice. The speakers said journalists, private school owners and other citizens were being threatened.

Provincial Minister Adnan Qadri said tribal people faced many difficulties and were still bearing the brunt of militancy and military operations.

He said the people of ex-Fata suffered due to militancy and military operations and rendered sacrifices for peace. He suggested that military operations should be conducted in Punjab and Sindh where dacoits were freely operating. Meanwhile, the sit-in camp continued for the sixth day at Takia ground in Sultankhel village where leaders of various political parties arrived and expressed solidarity with journalists.