Nangarhar court frees ARY News reporter

KABUL without documents, was released on Sunday.

In line with President Hamid Karzai’s orders, the Court of Appeals in the eastern province freed ARY News reporter Faizullah Khan on Sunday afternoon, Afghani and Pakistani officials confirmed.

Akhtar Munir Khan, speaking on behalf of the Pakistan embassy in Kabul, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “Yes, I can tell you that the high court in Jalalabad ordered Faizullah Khan’s release this afternoon.”

Following his release, the journalist was formally over to Pakistani Consul General in Jalalabad Farmanullah Khan, he said, adding that the reporter would travel to Pakistan tomorrow.

Earlier in the day, Farooq Firaq — a member of Peshawar Press Club — wrote on his Facebook page the outgoing president had issued orders for Faizullah’s release on a special request from them.

Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, the Nangarhar governor’s spokesman, congratulated him and said Faizullah would be freed shortly. “We had raised the issue with President Karzai during our lunch on Friday.”

Initially, the National Directorate of Security had charged Faizullah with spying, but the judge did not accept the plea and convicted him of travelling to Afghanistan without a visa and giving the Taliban favourable coverage.

In Pakistan, the reporter’s spouse told The Express Tribune: “I spoke to Faizullah Khan this morning and he confirmed his release.” Malala Yousafzai had also appealed to President Karzai for her husband’s release, she said.

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