Tanweer TV staffs and police officials in Baghlan provice said that the dispute between Pulkhumri (Baghlan province center) ex-mayor, Sayed Maqsoud Sadat’s relatives and Tanweer TV was ended.
Last Sunday, after that two reporters of Tanweer TV were beaten up by people related to Sayed Maqsud Sadat, the TV officials called for the prosecution of the assailants.
But Relatives and family members of ex-mayor who are in high positions in Baghlan province governmental offices turned the case against Tanweer TV.
Because of pressures from Sadat’s relatives Tanweer TV officials were charged with kidnapping and insult of government officials. Whereas, journalists support organizations and civil society institutions in Kabul and Baghlan conducted enormous efforts to support Tanweer TV officials. Finally, Baghlan provincial council in coordination with civil society and Baghlan MPs intermediated between two sides yesterday (Saturday 3rd of Aug).
Sher Muhammad Jahesh, chief editor of Tanweer TV said: “in yesterday’s meeting which was held after intervention of provincial council where Sayed Mahmoud Sadat, Baghlan's Head of Justice department and brother of ex-mayor was present in behalf of the assailants, after long discussions Mr. Sadat apologized in front of Tanweer TV officials for the beating up of their reporters.”
According to the one of the Baghlan police officials it was also decided in the yesterday's meeting to collect all the petitions of Tanweer TV which were sent to different government offices in Baghlan for pursuing the case. The police added: “according to the decision of the meeting, officials of Tanweer TV should take back their claims against relatives of ex-mayor or the assailants of the TV reporters.”
Afghanistan's National Journalists Union (ANJU) had been following the case closely during past days and conducted vast efforts to solve the problem. While welcoming the decrease of pressures on Tanweer TV officials, ANJU expresses its dissatisfaction with the method of solving the case.
M. Faheem Dashty Chief Executive of ANJU said: “it’s not legal that some people come and break the law, then, make conspiracies and finally remove all of their responsibilities with a single apology.”
He added: “judicial institutions of the country should have pursued the case according to the current laws and prosecuted the offenders regardless of their government positions and relations.”
