Journalist’s arrest under Peca law condemned

MINGORA: The journalists’ fraternity of Malakand Division on Thursday staged a protest against the arrest of their colleague under the Protection of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in Swat

Haider Ali Jan, a local journalist in Khwazakhela, was taken into custody under the Peca Act.The arrest prompted the journalists in Khwazakhela and across the division to staged protests and demanded the repeal of the Peca Act and the quashment of the first information report (FIR).

Local journalists, including Essa Khankhel , Shahzad Alam, Ghafoor Khan Adil, Shah Asad Ali, and Murad Ali Khan, demanded immediate cancellation of the FIR against Haider Ali Jan and his release.

During Haider Ali Jan’s court appearance, the journalists expressed solidarity with their colleague and assured their full support in these testing times.They also alleged that the FIR against their colleague was based on personal vendetta and demanded its immediate cancellation. They have also expressed concerns that the Peca Act was being used to silence journalists and suppress freedom of expression.The Malakand Union of Journalists vowed to continue its protest movement until Haider Ali Jan was released and the Peca Act was repealed.