PESHAWAR, Dec 28: A wanted militant in the South Waziristan tribal region, Maulvi Sharif, accepted the government amnesty offer here on Tuesday.

Maulvi Sharif, who belongs to the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe, was declared the most wanted militant during the army operation. He had earlier refused to surrender to the authorities.

His four companions had already signed agreements with the authorities in November, promising them good conduct and no shelter to foreign militants. An official handout said that Maulvi Sharif called on Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah on Tuesday and assured loyalty to the country.

Talking to journalists at the Governor's House, Maulvi Sharif said that he had signed an agreement with the government without any conditions and would support the government efforts to restore peace in tribal areas.

"I will not provide sanctuary to militants and will remain peaceful in future," he said. He asked other militants, including Abdullah Mehsud, to accept the amnesty offer.

Governor Iftikhar said the government had not yet taken a decision to launch a military operation in the Mehsud-dominated areas of South Waziristan. Terming Abdullah Mehsud a criminal, the governor said the government would take stern action against him. He, however, said the government was ready to hold negotiations with Baitullah Mehsud.

He said that Maulvi Sharif had taken a wise decision of reviving loyalty to the country and the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe would abide by the agreements they signed with the administration.