LANDI KOTAL, April 19: The Khyber Agency political administration after its failure to pressure Shalobar tribe for the recovery of Ismail Yousuf has now reverted to negotiate the recovery of the minor through an MNA and elders of the area.

Although the political administration is tightlipped to disclose any information to the press, Dawn has gathered through independent sources that the authorities have acquired the services of MNA Maulana Khalilur Rehman, a former federal minister and MNA from Bara, Malik Waris Khan, and some Bara elders to negotiate the recovery of Ismail.

Ismail, son of a government servant Mohammad Yousuf, was kidnapped from Peshawar on Jan 6. Initially his abduction was blamed on a notorious outlaw, Sial Akbar alias Sialay, and the political authorities had even demolished his house in an operation in early February. Sialay reportedly made good his escape days before the operation. Ismail’s whereabouts were provided to the Bara administration by a kidnapper, Mir Wali, now in official custody.

Soon after the authorities arrested one Kapthan Khan from Shalobar area during a raid on his house. Kapthan was handed over to the CIA police where he provided further information to both the police and the Bara administration. He revealed to the investigators that Ismail was in the custody of one Saidak Zakhakhel to whom the minor boy was sold by Jalath Shalobari.

Jalath is a close relative of Kapthan. Both have a track record of involvement in some high profile kidnappings like the one of Dr Roghani in 2002.

Reliable sources told Dawn that initially Ismail was kidnapped by Jalath but when he realised the seriousness of the matter he sold the boy to Saidak. Following Kapthan’s information, the political administration through a 9-member tribal jirga approached Saidak in the remote Tirah valley.

The jirga returned empty handed when Saidak flatly refused to accept the responsibility of Ismail’s kidnapping. In the meantime, Jalath reportedly contacted the jirga members with the pledge that he would help find Ismail if Kapthan was released from the police custody. This pledge by Jalath enraged Saidak who warned him of dire consequences.

In the meantime, the administration acquired the services of Maulana Khalilur Rehman, MNA from Bara in Khyber Agency, and former federal minister and MNA Waris Khan Afridi. The two notables again constituted a jirga and approached Saidak. It was after protracted negotiations that Saidak finally accepted the responsibility of Ismail’s possession and set conditions for his release.

Saidak asked the jirga to help release his father and brother who were arrested by the political administration under the collective responsibility of a tribe. The two were arrested by the authorities to force Saidak for the recovery of Ismail. Dawn has also learnt that one of Saidak’s brother was killed during an encounter with the Peshawar police a year ago. His brother was a member of a criminal group.