September 02, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 1, 1429

LANDI KOTAL, Sept 1: The political administration of Khyber Agency signed an agreement with a firebrand cleric here on Monday barring him from attacking security forces and harbouring local and foreign militants.

The political administration issued arrest warrant of the controversial cleric, Hazrat Nabi alias Tamanche Mulla, on Sunday but he agreed to sign the agreement to avoid arrest. Mr Nabi was accused of attacking containers and tankers taking oil and other goods to Afghanistan, harbouring militants and inviting Lashkar-i-Islam chief Mangal Bagh to Landi Kotal.

In a written agreement, the cleric assured the administration that he would refrain from attacking security forces, government installations and oil tankers and containers.

It was also agreed that Mr Nabi would not provide shelter to any local or foreign militants in Landi Kotal and would patrol roads along with his armed men.

The administration had earlier imposed a strict ban on display of heavy weaponry near the border areas. Local authorities had on Sunday arrested at least fifty Khugakhel tribesmen besides sealing their commercial property and impounding dozens of vehicles under the Collective Territorial Responsibility clause of Frontier Crimes Regulation. The action was taken to force the elders of Khugakhel tribe to hand over Mr Nabi to the administration.

All the arrested men were released after the signing of peace deal.

The agreement was also signed by Malik Khan, Malik Rasool Jan, Malik Hafizullah, Malik Mohib Fatmikhel and

Malik Habibur Rehman on behalf of Khugakhel tribe. The said elders would also ensure the implementation of the agreement.