A local court on Tuesday released a cleric who allegedly issued fatwa for killing four women and two men for “staining the honor” of their families.
He was released after submitting surety bonds of Rs 50,000.
Police had arrested Maulana Azad and his brother Mohammad on Tuesday from Palis village of Peech Bela union council of Kohistan, after he allegedly issued decree of honor killing of four women and two brothers for violating tribal culture by singing and dancing together at a wedding.
The jirga had declared them fornicators after the wedding videotape came to the surface, which showed the six people dancing together.
The ceremony had taken place more than two months ago in Bando Baidar village.
The district police came into action after news channels broke the news on Monday.
Police had claimed that they had detained eight people from the women’s tribe and they had give written guarantees that the women would not be harmed.
On Tuesday, police also arrested the cleric and presented him in a local court, which released him after submission of surety bonds.
However Kohistan District Coordination Officer Aqal Badshah rejected the police statement, telling reporters that it was a concocted and fabricated story.
They said the women in question were living normal life and there was no threat to their life.
“No jirga was held to decide the fate of women and two brothers and it seems someone is conspiring against the people of Kohistan. We would foil such conspiracies,” he said.
The local cleric, who allegedly issued the fatwa, said he issued no decree.
“I swear on Holy Quran that I have not issued any fatwa and have not seen the video, only heard about it. As for as the jirga and decree regarding killing of four women and two brothers is concerned, it is merely a baseless and concocted story to defame clerics,” Maulana Azad said.
Meanwhile, a jirga of Islahi Committee of ulema was held at Puttan with former MPA Maulana Dildar and condemned what they called a conspiracy against ulema and people of Kohistan.
After the jirga, Dildar told reporters that the ulema of Kohistan would not allow conspirators to destroy the peaceful environment of Kohistan.