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MIRAMSHAH, June 29: Political authorities of North Waziristan released another batch of 50 prisoners from Miramshah jail on Thursday, an official said. Miramshah Assistant Political Agent Iqbal Khattak told Dawn that the administration had set free 50 tribesmen and restored their privileges.
He said the tribesmen had been arrested under the collective and territorial responsibility clauses of the Frontier Crimes Regulations. He said the government would release more prisoners to reciprocate the one-month ceasefire announced by militants in the agency.
LEAFLETS: In a related development, militants distributed fliers on Thursday calling for one-month ceasefire in fighting with Pakistani forces to allow talks with the government, adds AP.
The pamphlets, which armed tribesmen circulated in towns and villages throughout North Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan, followed a weekend call by a local militant leader for a month-long truce in violence that has killed scores of fighters and soldiers this year.
“We will work to ensure that the ceasefire holds and there is no violation of it,” said the statement released in the name of the “Mujahedeen of North Waziristan.” Several statements have been released in the past by the same group.
It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the statement, which, if genuine, could mark a turning point in violent relations between Taliban-linked insurgents and the military in the region.
