KOHAT, Nov 12: Negotiations between the tribal administration and Taliban continued through elders of the five main tribes of the Kohat Frontier Region for the second day on Monday for the recovery of Habibur Rehman Orakzai, chairman of the All Pakistan Human Rights Organisation, who was kidnapped on Sunday.

Sources said that elders of the Zarghuna Khel, Akhorwal, Sheraki, Bosti Khel and Tor Chappar tribes had been asked to put pressure on harbourers of Taliban for the recovery of Mr Orakzai.

The administration has sent messages to the local commander and Amir of the Taliban, Piao Gul and Azeem, respectively, to free the captive without any pre-conditions.

The sources claimed that the victim had been betrayed by the Taliban although he had close terms with their Amir.

The administration of the frontier region, meanwhile, has decided to organise another grand jirga of all the six tribes, including Jawaki, and parliamentarians soon to discuss ways and means to control the law and order situation.

District Coordination Officer Kamran Zeb, who holds the charge of the region’s Political Agent, told Dawn that nobody would be allowed to challenge the writ of the government and all disputes would be settled in accordance with the Frontier Crime Regulations and local norms and traditions.

Anybody who tried to take the law into his hands and enforce his own version of the religion would be dealt with an iron hand, he said.

“Efforts will be made to establish the writ of the government effectively and engage the Taliban in negotiations through the local senator, MNA and maliks,” he said.

In reply to a question, Assistant Political Agent Capt (retd) Tariq said the Taliban in the Darra had links with those in Waziristan and Bajaur but had little influence in the area.

He said tribal elders would be asked to make the transportation of goods to allied troops in Afghanistan safer and special patrolling teams of tribesmen had been constituted for the purpose.