June 12, 2006	Monday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 15, 1427

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PESHAWAR, June 11: Woman councillor Razia Ajmal, who was kidnapped from Tank city on Wednesday, was released on Sunday by her captors reportedly after receiving a large amount of money in ransom.

It is the first-ever incident of kidnapping of a woman allegedly committed by tribal Taliban for ransom.

Family members of 62-year old Ms Ajmal had been desperately trying to locate her at their own as police and political administration of the South Waziristan Agency did not take interest in the case.

Ms Ajmal was released on Sunday after her family paid Rs1 million in cash, a double-cabin vehicle and a new model car to her captors as ransom. The kidnappers have also warned the family of Ms Ajmal of dire consequences if they revealed the identity of the kidnappers or if they disclosed that ransom was paid for her release.

Her captors had kept her in Barwand area of the South Waziristan Agency, sources said.

Five masked men had abducted Ms Ajmal along with driver Taib Khan at gunpoint when she was on her way back home after attending a workshop on population welfare in Tank city. Later, her driver was released in Zam (Tank) area.

Ms Ajmal was also working as a lady health worker and a coordinator for an NGO in remote areas.

Earlier, it was suspected that she was abducted for her NGO activities and population planning.