(RSF/IFEX) – On 22 February 2003, RSF expressed concern over threats to journalist Syed Anwar, of the English-language daily “Frontier Post”, by an Afghan military commander’s henchmen. The organisation has called on the Pakistani authorities to ensure Anwar’s safety. Two secret service officials from the eastern Afghan border province of Nangarhar threatened the journalist with […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 22 February 2003, RSF expressed concern over threats to journalist Syed Anwar, of the English-language daily “Frontier Post”, by an Afghan military commander’s henchmen. The organisation has called on the Pakistani authorities to ensure Anwar’s safety.
Two secret service officials from the eastern Afghan border province of Nangarhar threatened the journalist with “terrible personal consequences” after he reported in the Peshawar daily’s 15 and 16 February editions that Hazrat Ali, the province’s military chief, was arrested by United States forces for drug-smuggling, kidnapping and supporting members of Al-Qaeda in their escape from the Tora Bora mountains.
RSF has urged Pakistani Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali to guarantee the safety of all journalists covering Afghan affairs, especially “Frontier Post” journalists. Anwar, an Afghan national, heads the paper’s Afghan affairs desk.
The two secret service men, one of whom was identified as Abdul Rehmen, went to the newspaper’s offices in Peshawar to deliver their threat. They also warned that they may ban all Pakistani journalists from Afghanistan’s three eastern provinces. Anwar says he has feared for his life since their visit.
In addition, the authorities in Jalalabad banned the sale of “Frontier Post” in Nangarhar province on 18 February.
