March 29, 2003	Saturday	Muharram 25, 1424

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TIMERGARH, March 28: Fifteen members of the Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariah Muhammadi (TNSM) including some of its key leaders were released from the central prison D.I. Khan on Friday.

The members, who were convicted last year by a court in Kurram Agency, arrived here.

The chief of the TNSM, Maulana Sufi Mohammad, his son, Ziaullah and driver, Badshahuddin, are still in prison as they had refused to file an appeal before the FCR Commissioner against their sentence.

Prominent among the released leaders include Naib Amir of TNSM, Maulana Fazalullah, Amir of Swat district, Safiullah, Fazal Wahid, Anwarullah and Fazal Hayat.

The activists of the TNSM had gone to Afghanistan during the US-led war there and about 30 of them were arrested in Kurram Agency on their return. They were charged under different laws for possessing illegal weapons, illegal crossing into Afghanistan and display of weapons.

They were sentenced to different terms by the assistant political agency, Kurram Agency, in his capacity as additional district and sessions judge under the Frontier Crimes Regulations.

The released members claimed that it is expected that the FCR tribunal would also decide the fate of Maulana Sufi Mohammad and his son on Saturday.