Ashrafuddin Pirzada
DISTRICT KHYBER: Hundreds of protesters in Landikotal marched in Bazaar and demanded the immediate release of Jamat-e-Islami leader Khan Wali Afridi on Saturday.
The protesters warned the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of severe consequences if their leader is harmed in their custody.
The protest, organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Khyber district, was organized at Bacha Khan Chowk.
Carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans calling for Afridi’s safe release, protesters marched from Bacha Khan Chowk to Tehsil Gate.
Leaders from various political and civil society groups participated in the protest.
Despite the district Khyber Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Shah Faisal Afridi, Murad Hussain Afridi and Zarnur Afridi, Awami National Party’s Izhar Afridi and Abdul Jabbar Afridi, addressed the crowd.
Shah Faisal Afridi criticized state institutions, particularly the CTD, for filing a “fake FIR” against Khan Wali Afridi. He warned that if Afridi were not released by Monday, they would give a call for a large-scale protest outside the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, involving people from across Khyber and other districts.
“The state’s institutions must stop suppressing the rights of Pashtuns. We will never tolerate such actions,” Shah Faisal Afridi said, adding that the CTD would be held responsible for any harm to Afridi.
The protesters demanded the immediate withdrawal of the FIR and Afridi’s safe return, vowing to escalate their movement if their demands were ignored.
It may be mentioned here that Khan Wali Afridi the Jamat-e-Islami leader is also a private school and college principal in Bara tehsil famous as an educationist and social worker. He was arrested by police four days ago in Bara nominating him in a FIR.
