Two journalists allegedly abducted by FC, have been released after two days of torture
Two journalists affiliated with private media outlets who were abducted from Chaman have said they were “severally tortured” by Pakistani security forces.
According to details, journalist Saeed Ali Achakzai, former president of Chaman Press Club and senior reporter of Samaa News and Abdul Mateen Achakzai of Khyber News went missing on Sunday, have been recovered today with torture marks on their bodies.
Deputy Commissioner of the district, Bashir Barresi while confirming the detention of journalists, told Mashaal Radio that the journalists had falsely accused Frontier Corps (FC) of corruption.
A journalist Bashir Ahmed Gwakh said in a tweet; “Journalists Saeed Ali & Matin Achakzai were detained & tortured for 3 days in #Balochistan for reporting lack of facilities in quarantine center in Chaman.”
Frontier Corps is a paramilitary force in Pakistan, which is active in Balochistan especially in border areas. FC is responsible for the quarantine camps on Afghan-Baloch border. The aforementioned abductee journalists had reported the worse situation and lack of facilities of quarantine centers in the area, and raised questions about financial wrongdoings with Covid-19 funds.
They also reported a recent escape of 200 patients from the camps due to the negligence of administration.
Many rights activists and journalists are criticizing the law enforcement forces for the abduction and torture of journalists.
Whereas, Balochistan journalists walked out of the provincial assembly today as a gesture of protest and demanded punishment for law enforcement forces and administration officials who abducted and tortured the journalists for reporting corruption.
The Balochistan Post tried to reach the FC commandant of Chaman for comments regarding the allegations but his office has not replied to the queries at the time of filing this report.