LANDI KOTAL: Journalists held protest demonstrations in Khyber Agency on Saturday against alleged manhandling of their colleagues by khasadar officials during a political rally in Bara on Friday.

Holding placards inscribed with slogans and against the khasadarforce, journalists in Jamrud, Landi Kotal and Bara tehsils took out peaceful processions. Activists of some political parties and members of civil society also expressed their solidarity with the journalists.

Reporters Sajid Ali Kukikhel and Amirzada Afridi were harassed and manhandled by two khasadar personnel in Bar Qambarkhel area of Bara.

Speaking on the occasion, Sajid Ali Kukikhel said he along with other colleagues was covering a gathering of a political party when he was thrashed by a khasadar, who then pulled his pistol on him. The journalist said the khasadar ofncials also snatched his camera.

Jamrud Press Club President Zahir Shah condemned the incident and said it was aimed at denying the local journalists their right of reporting and free movement in the area.He demanded arrest of the two khasadars involved in the incident and warned of boycotting all official functions and staging a demonstration outside the Governor House in Peshawar if their demand was not met in 24 hours.

T R I B E S M E N ` S RELEASE DEMANDED: Activists of various political parties in Jamrud on Saturday demanded release of eight Torkhel tribesmen who were arrested by the political administration under the collective territorial responsibility clause of FCR.

Talking to media persons at Jamrud Press Club on Saturday, Said Kabeer of JUI-F, Saidgha Jan of PMLN, Mazoor Afridi of ANP and Majeed Khan of PTI said that innocent tribesmen were arrested after a minor bomb blast near a filling station in Jamrud on Thursday.

They said the blast caused no damage but the 1(hasadar force arrested eight Torkhel tribesmen from nearby houses during a so-called search operation just to hide their own inefficiency by not protecting the lives and properties of local residents.

They said that all the arrested men belonged to poor families and had no connection with any sabotage activity in the area.