Clerics jirga continyed in Mohmand Agency for the release of detained Taliban

GHALLANAI: A jirga of Notable Ulema (religious scholars) headed by Molana Sher Ali Shah, the Principal of the renowned seminary, Madrasa Haqqania Akkora Khattak, continued talks with the local Taliban of the Mohmand Agency to release the remaining 50 detainees being abducted by local Taliban group of Umar Khalid after infighting with another militant group named as Shah group on July17, 2008 near Khalo Dag in the border area of Khawaizai in which at least 15 fighters from Shah group were killed and 120 others were detained. Later, Shah Khalid, Ameer (chief) of the Shah group and his deputy, Qari Ubaidullah were killed. It is worth-mentioning that 30 hostages out of 80 have already been released as a good will gesture after holding successful talks with the said jirga. Umar Khalid, chief of the TTP Mohmand chapter has presented some conditions for the safe release of the rest of the detainees, it is learnt. Sources on the part of Taliban have expressed hope that differences would be soon resolved. Meanwhile, one of the jirga-members, Fazl-ur Rehman Khalil, chief of the banned Harkat-ul- Mujahideen, has also called on Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Ameer of the Jamaat-u-dawa in Peshawar in this regard.