MINGORA: Civil society activists on Monday condemned the police act of lodging FIR against six persons who were part of a protest held against the strict checking at various checkposts in Swat the other day.

They said that the protest was peaceful and was their right.

However, Khwzakhela police lodged FIR against six persons namely Bacha Gul, Aimal Khan, Ahmad Shah, Izhar, Hussain Shah and Latif Khan under 7-9 ATA, PP 124A, 186, 341, 189, 147 and 149.

“Actually the protest was not against the checkposts but against the strict checking and I don’t know why police lodged FIR against some of the protesters,” said activist Sohail Ashgar.

“I am shocked to see the FIR content in which police have filed cases against them under the terrorism act despite the fact that these are the people who are against terrorism and offered sacrifices against terrorism,” Attaullah Jan, a lawyer in Saidu Sharif, said, adding the state must not curb the voice of its citizens.

“The articles 19 and 19A of the constitution of Pakistan give right of expression to every citizen,” he said.

Activist Talimand Khan said freedom of speech and protest was the basic right of all citizens whether they were in Islamabad, Lahore or Swat. “People stage protest everywhere in the country but I have not seen that police arrested them. Lodging of FIR against some participants in the protest creates doubts that there is something wrong with the police and not with the peaceful protesters,” he said.

The civil society members said after the suicide attack inside the army unit’s sports area in Kabal tehsil on Feb 4 checking at the security checkposts had been heightened which would take longer time causing problems for locals.

“Due to strict checking students cannot reach schools and colleges, patients to hospitals and workers to jobs,” activist Hazir Gul in Mingora regretted, saying staging protest against the strict checking was their right and was no way an anti-state activity.

Ziauddin Yousafzai, father of Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai, also condemned the action and demanded immediate withdrawal of the unjustified FIRs.

“Both military and civil administration should address the legitimate grievances of the people rather than intimidating them,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2018