A local jirga in Kurram Agency is preparing a list of over 150 prisoners belonging to various parts of Kurram who would be released by the government by next month, Pakistan Today has learnt through reliable sources. Sources told Pakistan Today that the Kurram jirga was preparing a list of men detained by law enforcement agencies on charges of an alleged murder attempt on the life of Haji Bakhat Jamal – leader of the Anjuman Farooqia, Kurram Agency and member of the Mangal tribe – to get them released. The men were detained from Pevaar, Amir Bahail, Maggla, Karrman, Malli Kalay, Daal, Zahraan and Ahmedzai villages and have been in prison for the last several months. No formal case has been registered against them, the sources added. Following the recent sit-ins staged in Kurram against Shia and Hazara killings, an agreement took place between the government, Kurram Political Agent Yousuf Rahim and Toori-Bangash Jirga with efforts of Air Marshal (r) Qaisar Ali Shah, brother of deceased PPP MP Dr Riaz Hussain. Shah guaranteed that both sides would act upon the deal as decided with consensus reached between both factions in the agency. Under the current agreement, the government and Kurram political agent have ensured the locals of releasing the detainees, except those involved in the assassination bid on Haji Bakhat Jamal. The sources said the prisoners from Kurram were likely to be released next month and would be handed over to the agency’s jirga.
