SWABI, Aug 7: Four local supporters of the previous Taliban regime, who were arrested nine months ago while they were entering Pakistan through the porous border with Afghanistan, were released from the Swabi judicial lock-up on Tuesday.

Official sources informed Dawn here on Wednesday that those released were Javad Shah, Khalid Khan, Haroon Rashid and Ubid Shah, all from the Swabi district.

They said the four men had joined the Taliban government forces to fight against the US-led coalition in Afghanistan, but with the defeat of the Taliban, they wanted to move back to their homeland

According to the sources, the four supporters of the Taliban were arrested by the law-enforcement agencies in November, while entering Pakistan through the Durand Line. The political agent of the Bajaur Agency sentenced them to three-year imprisonment under the FCR, which was challenged by the religious parties’ leaders.

The Taliban supporters were shifted from Bajaur to the Haripur judicial lock-up, where they remained for a few months. Later, they were brought to the Swabi judicial lock-up.

According to JUI (F) leaders, their efforts have succeeded, as all the four persons have been released, while the punishment awarded by the political agent under the FCR has been set aside.

They claimed that the released Taliban supporters were members of the banned Jaish-i-Mohammad.

POLLS’ CANDIDATES: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has finalized the names of the candidates to contest the forthcoming general election on two National Assembly and six provincial assembly’s seats of the district.