August 11, 2007	Saturday	Rajab 26, 1428

GHALANAI, Aug 10: Local militants have vacated the shrine of freedom fighter Haji Saheb Turangzai and the adjacent mosque in Lakaro tehsil, officials and residents confirmed on Friday.

On July 28, the masked gunmen had occupied the mosque and renamed it as Lal Masjid and later set up a madressah by the name of Jamia Hafsa.

Officials said the militants ended the occupation on Thursday night after negotiations with a tribal jirga. However, they said the madressah was still functioning.

An official said the militants had told the jirga that they would not talk to media persons about their withdrawal from the place.

Earlier, a jirga member said they were morally bound not to comment on the occupation and subsequent withdrawal of the militants from the shrine.

Residents said the militants had vacated the mosque and the shrine, but Qari Daud, who was appointed to teach Holy Quran to the children of the locality, was still doing his job.