Dir: April 22, 2009. (Ghulam Ghaus for PCP) The DCO of upper Dir, Atifur-Rehman was set free in the afternoon of yesterday in the Asband area of Dir lower after negotiations of the government officials and the militants in Asband. He was abducted near Gul Abad area along with his gunman Said Bacha and two driver Wazir Muhammaad & Raham Zarin on 21st April when he was coming back from Fishing Hut of Chakdarra after attending a divisional meeting chaired by the commissioner of Malakand Division, Syed Muhammad Javand. In the morning of 22nd April, sources said he is in Madan area of lower Dir but in the afternoon the sources confirmed that he is in the Asband area, an area of lower Dir bordering with Swat with the hold of Taliban. The sources also told that the militants demanded for the release of one of their important commander for the release of the DCO but it is not confirmed whether the government has handed over that commander to the Taliban or not. That Taliban commander was arrested from Nowshehra. The sources told that a local political figure facilitated the efforts of the release of the DCO.