MIRAMSHAH, May 1: The body of a cleric abducted from Mirali last week was found near Miramshah in the North Waziristan Agency on Monday, officials said.

They said residents found the bullet-riddled body of Maulana Jannat Mir Khan in the Ziraki area near Miramshah early in the morning and informed political authorities.

Sources said a list purportedly released by militants in Miramshah about six months ago had held that Maulana Jannat Mir and 29 other tribesmen were liable to be killed.

They said about 150 pro-government tribal elders and alleged US spies had been killed in North and South Waziristan agencies since the army had launched the operation against militants.

Family sources said unidentified people had kidnapped Maulana Jannat Mir from his native Esokhel village in the Mirali tehsil about six days ago. They, however, denied any family feud in the area.

They said the late Maulana was opposed to the ongoing military operation and activities of pro-Taliban elements in the North Waziristan Agency.