Notable religious scholar Sher Ali Shah arrives in Mohmand to release captives

GHALLANAI: A delegation headed by Maulana Sher Ali Shah of Madrasa Haqqania (seminary) Akora Khattak has arrived in Mohmand Agency on Tuesday to negotiate with Local Taliban militants for the release of prisoners held in the battle with another faction of Taliban a few days before. According to details, a delegation comprising 20 Ulema headed by distinguished religious scholar and head of the Islamic seminary, Jamia Haqqania, Akkora Khattak has arrived at the Qandharo area, stronghold of Taliban at night, in Mohmand tribal region where they would hold talks with the local Taliban commanders for the release of the captives being imprisoned by them after a fierce clash between Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Umar Khalid group and Shah group in the border area of Khawaizai on July 19, 2008. TTP's Umar Khalid group attacked the training center of Shah group in Khawaizai area along the Pak-Afghan border and after a fierce fighting captured the training center killing 15 militants and abducting 120 alive including the group chief, Shah Khalid alias Shah Sahib and his deputy, Qari Ubaidullah, who were also killed later. It is learnt that the TTP chief, Baitullah Mehsood, has approved the delegation and it has been sent with his consent. Maulana Sher Ali Shah and TTP Taliban belong to Deobandi school of thought while Shah group belonged to Ahli Hadith.