Summary Faizullah Khan was detained by Afghan authorities in eastern Nangarhar province in April 2014.
Part - 20: (Intriguing account of a Pakistani journalist captured in Afghanistan for interview of Taliban leadership)
Read Part - 19 here: Five months of Pakistani journalist in Jalalabad prison – XIX
The prisoner named Abdul Sami was a great businessman of Jalalabad. He had his business and residence in Kabul and Jalalabad. His father had remained a government lawyer at one time whereas all his three brothers were living in London. He had disputes with his uncle’s family and was later sent to jail after being convicted in a murder case. His uncle had a significant influence due to which he was effortlessly trapped by him in the murder.
One day while narrating his story to me, he said, “This is a land of corruption. I and my uncle had spent eight crores to defeat each other and this process still continues.” The interesting thing was that Abdul Sami had his personal mobile which was not allowed in any way but he used to give Rs15000 monthly to the block incharge for keeping the phone. Similarly, there were other prisoners in the Guantanamo Bay block who were using mobile phones by bribing the block incharge every month. Sami also gave me the facility so that I can contact my relatives back at home. It was a big crime and his phone can be confiscated but he dealt with me out of kindness.
Sania also told me that I would be released after some days as higher authorities of both the countries are negotiating with each other in this matter therefore; I should not worry much. This was big news for me and I was quite satisfied on hearing it.
After examining the jail cell I came out of it. I had to inform my family first. The jail authorities had placed five mobile phones in a PCO for the prisoners but had only one phone to contact outside Afghanistan. That single phone had a long queue of the jail inmates due to which it was difficult to avail a call chance however; if the turn comes up it was usually learned that the mobile balance had ended. The PCO also belonged to the block incharge who was charging high for the facility. This can be estimated from the fact that one minute call to Pakistan was charged at Rs100 but I was lucky that the phone was available to me easily on day one. I dialed my wife Sania’s number.
I thought that she would start crying on hearing my voice and would be extremely worried but I was pleasantly surprised when she not only spoke to me calmly but also told me that they had known about my detention on the fifth day of disappearance. They got this information after contacting renowned journalist Salim Safi and my media institution.
Sania also told me that I would be released after some days as higher authorities of both the countries are negotiating with each other in this matter therefore; I should not worry much. This was big news for me and I was quite satisfied on hearing it. I took my parents number from her and telephoned them after which I was composed and at peace. My mother was very upset. I tried to comfort her and ensured her that I would be with them soon.
I had the notion that this matter will be prolonged and my family had to struggle hard for it. After having the conversation I returned the mobile phone. My bill turned out to be Rs1800 which left me into a perplex situation.
Read the Urdu version here: Five months in Jalalabad prison
