On 10 October, 2015, the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) raided the house of Rahat Shinwari, a correspondent of an Urdu daily “Ausaf” and took him with them in Landi Kotal a town in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan.

They blindfolded and handcuffed him and took him to an unknown place. Shinwari’s family members told media persons that they were not given any reason by the FC for his arrest.

Talking to Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) local journalists said Shinwari used to write stories about corruption in FC and smuggling in the region and he was also active in social media.

Local journalists and members of Landi Kotal Press Club organized a protest demonstration on October 11. They demanded to know his whereabouts and reason for picking him up. They also organized a protest rally in which a large number of political workers participated. They gave 24 hours to the FC to release him and announced to arrange another protest in front of the FC headquarters, Governor House and office of Corps Commander.

The FC had a few months back arrested and released another local senior journalist Sudhir Ahmad Afridi in a similar manner.

Three hours after the protest demonstration the FC released Shinwari in the city of

Peshawar instead in Landi Kotal.

Pakistan Press Foundation