Pakistani cop moves court to reclaim ransom paid to Taliban

ISLAMABAD - A policeman has moved the Peshawar High Court against the police department to get back Rs.500,000 that his family paid to the Taliban for his release from captivity.

Head Constable Pir Jamal petitioned the court against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Department for reclaiming the ransom money, Daily Times reported Wednesday.

He said in the writ petition that a group of Taliban rebels attacked Doaba Police Post at Hangu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nov 6, 2009.

Jamal was in-charge of the police post and three police constables were killed and two injured in the attack.

The Taliban abducted Jamal and two police constables Tariq and Akhlaq Ahmed. They were taken to an undisclosed location.

He said that they remained in Talibans custody for three months and claimed that no effort was made by the police department for their release.

After three months, his family began negotiating with Taliban and finally the rebels agreed to release him on payment of Rs.500,000 ransom.

He said that he belonged to a poor family and his family had to borrow money from other people. He added that he was on duty and was abducted while battling the Taliban.

The petition said: To get him released from Talibans custody was the governments responsibility.

It went on to say that after his family members secured his release by paying ransom, now it was the governments responsibility to pay the said amount to his family.