September 30, 2007	Sunday	Ramazan 17, 1428

LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Sept 29: Militants of the Lashkar-i-Islam have freed a tribal elder after keeping him in captivity for nearly six months, some sources in Bara said.

Malik Duran Gul was kidnapped by the Lashkar-i-Islam in March of 2007. Initially, the Lashkar had denied its involvement in his kidnapping but admitted after a month that he was in their captivity.

The Malik, belonging to the Malikdin Khel tribe, was part of the 35-member tribal jirga which was formed by the Khyber Agency political administration in December 2006 to broker peace between the Ansaarul Islam and the Lashkar-i-Islam. The jirga abandoned its mission in March after the two groups refused to adhere to the conditions for a ceasefire.

The Lashkar men accused him of being an agent of the political authorities and kept him in illegal confinement for nearly six months.

The sources in Bara said the tall black-bearded Malik was released by Mangal Bagh, the self-proclaimed amir of the Lashkar-i-Islam, after he got Rs3 million ‘deposited’ with the Lashkar and promised to preach for four months for the Tableeghi Jamaat.

People who saw him after he was released said he looked weak and fatigued.

Relatives of Malik Duran Gul refused to give any details about his disappearance or details about his release. They also did not tell exactly when he was freed.