PESHAWAR, July 11: A Taliban spokesman has said that militants will start killing a group of hostages if their men detained by the government are not released by Saturday afternoon.

Maulvi Umar claimed on Friday that the Taliban had kidnapped 29 people, most of them security forces personnel.

However, a Hangu district official said that only 16 or 17 people had been held by the Taliban. He said the hostages were taken during a siege of a police station in Hangu on Wednesday.

A 400-strong force of Taliban militants besieged the Doaba police station after the arrest of seven of their associates by security agencies.

The provincial government sought the army’s help which immediately moved in artillery and tanks from Kohat and took control of the entire Doaba area on Thursday.

The militants demanded the release of their associates. Rafiuddin, suspected of being a deputy to top Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud, is believed to be among those prisoners.

A jirga constituted to negotiate the release of government officials continued its efforts but no breakthrough was reported.

Maulvi Umar said the government must release the prisoners by Saturday afternoon or the hostages would be killed..—AP

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...