PESHAWAR: Shakirullah Marwat, the district and sessions judge, has returned home safely after being abducted by militants in northwestern Pakistan last week.
Government officials claim that Marwat was released as a result of a large-scale operation, but senior Pakistani journalist Azaz Syed asserts that the KP government paid Rs50 million to secure the release of the Waziristan Session Judge.
In an interview on his YouTube channel, Azaz Syed highlighted the pivotal role played by PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat in facilitating the judge’s release. He stated that militants initially demanded Rs70 million, but the government of CM Gandapur negotiated and settled on Rs50 million.
Contrary to some reports suggesting a higher ransom, a private news channel asserted that no militants were freed in exchange for Judge Marwat’s release.
The negotiations for the judge’s release were reportedly facilitated by a jirga of the Marwat tribe in Lakki Marwat, ultimately leading to the judge’s freedom in the Kolachi area.
The Waziristan session judge was intercepted by over 20 unidentified militants near Bhagwal while traveling to DI Khan. In response, the police initiated a thorough search and strike operation, targeting suspected areas with extensive geotagging and fencing.
