WANA, Nov 17: A tribal malik who had sought political asylum in Afghanistan and had been living in Kabul since August, returned to South Waziristan on Wednesday after signing an agreement with the government.

Malik Baa Khan, an elder of the Kakakhel sub-tribe of the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe, has submitted a surety bond of Rs1 million to local authorities for his future good conduct.

Talking to Dawn, Malik Baa Khan, who was associated with the Awami National Party, confirmed he had sought asylum: "Yes, I had a meeting with President Hamid Karzai and sought political asylum there."

As a goodwill gesture, the authorities later released Baa Khan's brother Badshah Jan Wazir from the Wana jail. Badshah Jan was arrested about seven months back under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulation.

It may be recalled that security forces had demolished more than 200 shops in the Wana bazaar on Sept 10 owned by Baa Khan's family. The authorities blamed him for creating unrest in the region and sabotaging peace efforts.

Baa Khan said he had opposed military operation in the area and urged the authorities to resolve the issue in accordance with tribal traditions. "I am a political activist and I have never backed militancy or extremism, nor have I worked against the state interests," Baa Khan said. "Yet," he complained, "the authorities included my name in the wanted people's list."

Official sources said that under the agreement reached with Baa Khan the government would compensate him for demolishing his property. Sources said that the tribal elder had also held a meeting with the US military officials across the border before heading for Kabul.