Taliban of Waziristan kidnapped VC Ajmal Khan: Commander Tariq Afridi

Taliban of Waziristan kidnapped VC Ajmal Khan: Commander Tariq Afridi

By Mohammad Saleem Mehsud

KOHAT, Nov 09: Commander Tariq Afridi of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned organization, on Monday rebuffing the allegations leveled against him has said that he was not involved in kidnapping of Vice Chancellor Ajmal Khan.

“Taliban of Waziristan has kidnapped Ajmal Khan VC of Islamia College Peshawar,” Tariq afridi blamed Taliban of Waziristan in the case, adding some clues show that Taliban of Waziristan had kept VC Ajmal in their custody.

Tariq Afridi, who hailed from Darra Adamkhel of Khyber Agency, said in an interview with media that he had kidnapped VC of Kohat university identified as Lutfullah Kakakhel and was released when the government accepted our demands of releasing 50 Taliban prisoners and paying Rs 5 million in cash.

Tariq Afridi who is working under the command of Chief of TTP Hakimullah Mehsud, successor of Baithullah Meshud, former chief of TTP, has been blamed for the suicide attack in Darra Adamkhel Masjid where some 85 worshippers were killed and over 100 got injured.

Sources said that Tariq refuted the allegation of suicide bombing rather he blamed ‘Blackwater’ (Xe), saying that suicide attack on the Darra Masjid was the handiwork of American Agency.

“Tariq Afridi flew away from Darra Adamkhel after security forces started search operation against militants in the area and settled in Upper Orakzai where Taliban have made hiding sanctuaries,” sources said.

Taliban have released two video tapes showing VC Ajmal with two armed men standing behind him and warned the government to negotiate terms of Ajmal safe release with them, otherwise he will be beheaded by 20^th Nov if the government failed to fulfill their demands.

“Ajmal Khan urged the government to fulfill demands of Taliban because he is heart patient and could not live for longer time in their custody,” the video tape said.

On the other hand, public sector universities in Khyber Paktunkhwa went on strike for indefinite period to pressurize the government to ensure safe release of Ajmal Khan immediately and student and teachers of the campus also held protest.

Official sources said that informal contacts have been established with the kidnappers, adding that Ajmal was said to be in North Waziristan. An official claimed to have made considerable headway in the case.

“Taliban have put forward their demands, including money and release of their commanders,” official sources said.