KOHAT, April 22 A pro-government group of militants clashed with Darra Taliban on Wednesday and set a 24-hour deadline for them to leave the area.

The two groups took positions in Shna Kalay, Bostikhel and Tora Chinna and attacked each other with heavy weapons. No report of casualties was received.

The pro-government Taliban, led by Momin Khan Afridi, had raised a Lashkar of 300 tribesmen against his archrival Tariq Afridi, who controls Darra Adamkhel and Orakzai Agency. The group of Momin Khan Afridi parted ways with commander Tariq over the killings of security men during military operation last year.

The chief of Taliban in Orakzai Agency, Hakeemullah Mehsud, had already asked commander Tariqs men to stop their activities in the area and live peacefully.

Tariq Afridi is the most wanted member of Darra Taliban, who is blamed for killing the Polish geologist and dozens of innocent persons and security men.

Sources told Dawn that Momin Khan Afridi also distributed pamphlets in the area on Wednesday asking tribesmen to stand against their common enemy for restoration of peace. He asked them not to provide shelter to Tariqs men.

VEHICLE RECOVERED Police on Wednesday claimed to have recovered a car, snatched by armed men in Gulberg area of Lahore, and handed it over to its owner.

Police had received information that a car had been snatched at gunpoint from Mohammad Asif in Gulberg area. The DPO put the district police on high alert as usually the car-jackers bring stolen vehicles to Darra Adamkhel and Kohat.

Police signalled the said car, which was coming from Peshawar on Indus Highway. The inmates tried to speed away but left the car near the Gold Club on Dhodha road and escaped. A fake number plate LZL-2832 was also recovered from the car.

Police handed over the car to its owner in the presence of Punjab police on Wednesday.