Senior journalist Fayyaz Zafar, who was tortured and detained by Swat police, was released on Thursday after caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi took notice.
The caretaker information minister contacted the authorities concerned regarding the torture on the senior journalist and his detention. The minister has also sought a report on the incident.
Solangi said, "According to the constitution, he fully believes in the freedom of media and expression. An impartial investigation of the incident should be ensured. All details should be provided. The power of office should not be used to suppress the voice of journalists."
The minister said that he would monitor the progress in the case of journalist Fayyaz Zafar. All the facts related to journalist Fayyaz Zafar will be shared with the media, he added.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Swat Deputy Commissioner's office issued an order to Superintendent District Jail Saidu Sharif Swat to withdraw the decision to arrest journalist Fayyaz Zafar. The move came after the caretaker Information Minister took notice of the incident.
According to the written order, the warrant issued for the arrest of Fayyaz Zafar under Section 3 of the West Pakistan Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960 on the request of the District Bar Association and the dignitaries of Tehsil Babuzai is withdrawn, and the accused, Fayyaz Zafar, should be released from jail if he is not involved in any other case.
According to police sources, journalist Fayyaz Zafar was arrested in Saidu Sharif under MPO 3. Zafar was constantly active on social media and was trying to provoke people with his posts, they claimed.
According to the written order issued by Deputy Commissioner Swat's office, the order to arrest Fayyaz Zafar was given in light of the report of DPO Swat. According to this Zafar was using freedom of expression wrongly and for personal fame.
He has further written that journalist Fayyaz Zafar was spreading false news against institutions on social media.