Peshwar prisoners observe fast against teenager’s re-arrest

PESHAWAR - Suspected militants in a Pakistani jail here have gone on hunger strike to protest the arrest of a teenager by intelligence agency just after being released from jail, said a media report.

The jailed teenager had completed his prison term after being convicted by an anti-terrorism court for his attempt to carry out a suicide attack.

The hunger strike in the Central Prison of Peshawar Saturday continued for the second day against the re-arrest of their teenaged colleague by an intelligence agency after his release from jail and torture of their other militants by jail authorities, the Daily Times quoted sources as saying Sunday.

On Jan 26, the militants clashed with the prison officials over the release of their teenaged colleague that they had opposed fearing that intelligence agencies might pick him up again.

Despite pressure from the jailed militants, the teenager was released and as soon as the youth emerged from the main jail he was picked up by the personnel of an intelligence agency, the report stated.