Senior journalist Azaz Syed has claimed that the KP government paid Rs 50 million to secure the release of Waziristan Session Judge, Shakirullah Marwat, who was abducted from Tank last week. Other sources say at least Rs70 million were paid.

However, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have claimed that the judge was released following a ‘grand operation’ in Kulachi area of the province.

Judge Marwat was taken away by a group of militants as he travelled to Dera Ismail Khan from Tank last week.

‘Ransom paid’

Syed made the revelation on his YouTube show “Talk Shawk,” stating that Sher Afzal Marwat played a key role in securing the judge’s release.

He said the kidnappers had demanded Rs70 million and CM Gandapur’s government paid Rs50 million.

The Peshawar Bureau of Aaj News reported that the ransom paid was even higher, amounting to Rs70 million. But sources told Aaj News that no militant was released in exchange for the judge.

The militants who kidnapped the judge had originally demanded released of their fellows from KP jails.

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However, they also confirm that no individuals were released in exchange for the judge’s freedom.

It was revealed that the agreement was facilitated by a jirga of the Marwat tribe in Lakki Marwat, and the judge was released in Kolachi area.

The sources also suggested that the kidnappers intended to take the judge across the border; however, they were thwarted by timely intervention.

Grand operation by police

The KP police, meanwhile, has claimed that the judge was successfully recovered after a grand operation, during which six terrorists were killed.

The report filed by Central Police Office regarding the abduction of Judge Shakirullah, stated that District and Session Judge Shakirullah Marwat was traveling to D.I. Khan when he was intercepted by over 20 unidentified militants near Bhagwal after completing his duty.

Following the incident, a search and strike operation was initiated, targeting suspected areas with extensive geotagging and fencing, the report said.

The report includes the statement of the judge’s driver, who claimed that the militants issued severe threats when their demands were not met. Police sources revealed that the vehicle hijacked from the fields of Gorah Sherai village was found.

The police report also disclosed that multiple raids were conducted on militant hideouts in the vicinity of Kulachi, resulting in eight grand operations within 30 hours, including in D.I. Khan and Tank.

During the grand operation, as per the Central Police report, six terrorists were killed in exchanges of fire, and a significant amount of weaponry was recovered.

Furthermore, the report detailed that joint operations by police and security forces led to the closure of routes leading to South Waziristan and Balochistan, with a joint anti-terrorism operation conducted on the nights of April 28th and 29th.

Amidst the operation, the abducted judge, Shakirullah Marwat, was successfully rescued and commended the efforts of security forces and police for his swift recovery, the report said.