July 20, 2003	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 19, 1424

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LANDI KOTAL, July 19: The Bara Tajir Ittehad in collaboration with the Tanzeem-i-Ittehad Afridi and the Khyber Union on Saturday formed a representative jirga to hold talks with Khyber Agency political administration for the release of shopkeepers and opening of their shops.

The political administration in Bara on June 26 closed down more than 500 shops belonging to Sipah tribesmen in connection with the kidnapping of a custom official Amanullah and his friend Zakria on June 24.

The authorities on July 11 arrested some 50 shopkeepers from Bara when they tried to stage a hunger strike in front of the Khyber House, the official residence of political agent in Peshawar cantt. The detained shopkeepers were sent to Dera Ismail Khan, Jamrud and Bara jails.

The Bara Tajir Ittehad and the Khyber Union protested against what they alleged the forcible closure of their shops and arrest of their colleagues.

Tribal MNA Maulana Khalilur Rehman had organized a protest procession in Bara on Monday last to press for the release of the shopkeepers and unconditional opening of Sipah tribesmen’s shops.

Maulana Khalil held several rounds of talks with secretary to Fata Governor (security) Brig Mahmood Shah, but the issue could not be resolved.

The three organizations decided in the meeting that the talks with the political authorities would be held on Monday.

Meanwhile, the administration has failed to find any clue to the whereabouts of the kidnapped custom official and his friend despite the lapse of more than three weeks.