PARACHINAR, Aug 18: The criminals who kidnapped five tribal people of Kurram Agency in Paktia province of Afghanistan last Sunday have demanded Rs6 million in ransom for their release.

Local people said the five residents of Parachinar, including a woman, were coming to their hometowns in Kurram from Peshawar via Afghanistan owing to the closure of Thall-Parachinar Road.

Armed persons disembarked them from their vehicle at gunpoint when they reached Lajja area in Paktia province and shifted them to an undisclosed location.

The kidnap victims, belonging to Turi tribe, were identified as Munawwar Ali, Javed Hussain, Khial Hussain, Sultan Ali and wife of Sultan Ali. Sources said that kidnappers contacted families of the abducted persons and demanded Rs6 millions as ransom for their safe release.

Meanwhile, tribal elders living on both sides of Durand Line were trying to negotiate their freedom.

The Afghan security forces have also expedited search operation to recover the kidnapped Pakistanis.

The Turi Bangash tribesmen and family members of the kidnapped persons have appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gilani to take up the issue with Afghan authorities.

JIRGA: A jirga of tribal elders has asked the government to arrange early repatriation of displaced persons and implement the Murree peace agreement to restore peace in Kurram Agency.

The jirga, held in Parachinar on Thursday, was convened by Political Agent Shahab Ali Khan to discuss the issue of rehabilitation of displaced families from Parachinar, Sadda and other violence-hit areas of the tribal region.

The elders of Turi, Bangash, Mangal and Jaji tribes and representatives of Sunni and Shia sects attended the jirga.

The participants thoroughly deliberated measures for solution of conflict among tribal people and rehabilitation of displaced people under Muree peace agreement.

The jirga was told that all stakeholders in Kurram Agency wanted peace and security to travellers on the main road. The participants of the jirga said that provision of security to people was duty of government. They demanded enforcement of Muree agreement in its true spirit to restore peace in the volatile region.

Asadullah and Attaullah, the representatives of displaced people, told the jirga that Parachinar was their hometown and they would continue efforts for strengthening brotherhood and fraternity among the people of the region.

Haji Hameed Turi and Prof Jamail Kazmi, the elders of Turi tribe, also addressed the jirga. They said that they had always played their role in restoration of peace.

They extended full support to government in establishing its writ and finding durable solution to sensitive issues. They demanded early repatriation of displaced people under Muree peace declaration. The jirga decided to hold second session after Eidul Fitr.