KOHAT, Sept 7: The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has set up two self-style Sharia courts in Darra Adamkhel town of FR Kohat to what they call dispense speedy justice to the local tribesmen.

The development comes in the wake of a secret peace deal between TTP and the government, claim sources in the banned militant outfit.

According to these sources, local TTP chief Mohammad Arif heads the two courts, which are called ‘Sharia courts’ by Taliban, and operate at separate places in Tor Chappar village.

The courts hear murder, kidnapping, drug and arms smuggling, and adultery cases and dispose them of within 24 hours.

They hand down sentences, including detention, whippings and death by shooting, to convicts under what TTP calls Islamic laws.

The large compound, where the two courts operate, have cells, too, for convicts.

Interestingly, the convicts are bound to preach Islamic teachings to the people of the specified areas for four months after serving sentences.

The sources told Dawn on Saturday that TTP and security forces had struck the secret Islamic court deal courtesy of local TTP spokesman late Khalid’s father and commander Arif, the cousin of slain TTP Darra Adamkhel and Khyber Agency chief Tariq Afridi.

They said TTP and security forces were bound by the deal to stop fighting.

The sources said under the deal, the Taliban militants wouldn’t target security forces, khasadars and innocent tribesmen but would continue with their activities against criminals.

They, however, said another Taliban group led by commander Noor Bangash had refused to abide by the deal and announced to continue fighting security forces.

TTP was declared a banned outfit and expelled from Darra Adamkhel in 2008 after fierce battles with security forces.

Later, it twice tried to destroy the Kohat tunnel by suicide blasts, but to no avail.

After the blasts, the army was tasked with safeguarding the tunnel.

The army is still doing the job.

In the past, too, TTP had punished criminals in Darra Adamkhel under Islamic laws.

At that time, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, an alliance of religio-political parties, ruled the adjoining province then called North Western Frontier Province.

Afterwards, the banned outfit began targeting security forces over the military operation, which, it claimed, got underway at the behest of the US.

Our Ghalanai Correspondent adds: A boy was seriously injured when a toy bomb exploded in Wocha Jawar village of Khawezai tehsil in Mohmand Agency on Saturday.

Local residents said the blast occurred when Jalil Khan, 12, was playing with the toy bomb he had found grazing the cattle.

They said the boy was shifted to a Peshawar hospital, where his condition was out of danger.