KHAR, March 9: Political authorities on Thursday released two tribesmen, including an elder, who were arrested after the Jan 13 US air attack on Damadola. Officials in the Bajaur Agency headquarters said that the authorities had released Malik Kaus Khan and Bashir Khan, who had been injured in the attack after tribesmen staged a demonstration against their detention.

Sources said that political authorities had arrested Malik Kaus on charges of sheltering a wanted leader of the disbanded Tehreek Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Mohammadi, Maulana Mohammad Faqir. The cleric had gone underground after the US attack.

Tribesmen had protested against their detention and blocked roads in Khar on Wednesday and had called for their immediate release. Subsequently, political authorities had assured tribesmen that they would be released soon.

Bashir Khan was in the custody of secret agencies in the local hospital. He was interrogated in the hospital. Family sources said that Bashir was slightly mentally retarded.

ARMY OPERATION: MNA from the Bajaur Agency Maulana Mohammad Sadiq has urged the government to halt military operation in the North Waziristan and resolve the issue through a jirga.