Held in North Waziristan: Following jirga efforts, 25 labourers return home

Reports indicate hostage situation occurred because of a land dispute.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Twenty-five labourers, who were kidnapped in Bannu and taken to North Waziristan, were freed after a jirga negotiated their release on Saturday.

An official of the political administration of North Waziristan told The Express Tribune that the jirga was held with tribal elders and the assistant coordination officer of Bannu. After the jirga, the labourers were handed over to the Bannu district administration.

Till the filing of this report, only 12 labourers had reached their homes, while others were still on their way.

The labourers had been kidnapped from the Mandan Gate area in Bannu and taken to North Waziristan a week ago.

The men had gone to the area on the premises that they would be given Rs1,000 as daily wage, which was higher than the Rs400 they received in Bannu. The labourers agreed to go with the people who wanted to hire them in North Waziristan’s Mir Ali sub-division. However, they were held hostage in North Waziristan.

The labourers were kept in the Spin Wam tehsil of Mir Ali. The reason behind the kidnapping is said to be a land dispute.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2012.