Pak bans umbrella group of Taliban militants
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 5:08 am Under World News Alerts 14 views
Pakistan today (August 25) banned an umbrella group of Taliban militants blamed for a wave of attacks and suicide bombings, including a strike on the house of a provincial legislator’s brother early this morning that killed ten people.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik announced the ban on Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella group of militants headed by Baitullah Mehsud, that operates in the North West Frontier Province and adjoining tribal areas.
Malik said the ban would help the government curb militants activities throughout the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.
The announcement came just hours after the Taliban attacked the home of Awami National Party (ANP) legislator Waqar Ahmed Khan’ brother in the Kabal sub-district of Swat valley in the NWFP. The leader’s brother was killed in the attack, along with his two nephews and seven security guards.
Militants separated women and children from the men before attacking the house with rockets and automatic weapons. They later demolished the house with explosives. Khan was not home at the time of the attack.
Local Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out in retaliation for military operations against militants that are supported by the ANP, which heads the NWFP’s coalition government. He warned of more such attacks across Swat.
Meanwhile, a notification issued by the interior ministry said the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan had been banned along with the Lashkar-e-Islam, Ansar-ul-Islam and Amar Bil Maroof Wa Nahi Aneelmunkar (promotion of virtue and prevention of vice force).
Malik said the Pakistani Taliban had been outlawed for their involvement in a series of suicide attacks. He pointed out that the groups had themselves claimed responsibility for several suicide bombings.
According to the notification, they were all banned for involvement in terrorist activities. It said that all those who provided shelter or financial support to members of these groups would face action under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The bank accounts and assets of Taliban members and organisations linked to them would be frozen, the notification said.
Malik said the government had so far not banned the Pakistani Taliban as authorities were trying to hold peace talks with the group. Malik, yesterday (August 24), rejected the local Taliban’s offer of a unilateral ceasefire, saying militants should first surrender their arms if they were serious about peace talks.
Despite a peace deal signed by the NWFP government and the local Taliban in May, the Swat valley has witnessed a fresh spurt in violence since the last week. Over 50 militants and 10 security personnel were killed in fresh clashes in Swat, where the Taliban are led by Baitullah Mehsud’s deputy Maulana Fazlullah.
Mehsud, who is based in the lawless South Waziristan tribal region, was blamed by former President Pervez Musharraf of masterminding the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto. Mehsud had denied the charge.
Over a thousand people have died in a wave of suicide attacks carried out by the Pakistani Taliban in the wake of the military operation against militants holed up in the Lal Masjid in Islamabad in July last year.
(PTI)
( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)
|
Loading ...
World News Alerts top stories
-
Pak bans umbrella group of Taliban militants
- This Category's RSS Feed
Pakistan today (August 25) banned an umbrella group of Taliban militants blamed for a wave... Read more »
Democrats poised to open Obama’s conventionDemocrats will launch a star-studded party in Denver to rally around Barack Obama’s... Read more »
Iran launches submarine production lineIran launches a submarine production line which the defence Minister says will ensure its... Read more »
Sharif names ex-judge as Pres candidateFormer Pakistan Prime Minister and PML (N) leader Nawaz Sharif today (August 25) named former... Read more »
Ten dead in Guatemala air crashTen people died and four others were injured when a propeller aircraft crashed near El Puente,... Read more »
Something to say about this news story?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Headlines from World News Alerts
- Rizwanur case:police officers asked to appear in court
- Good news for UPA, inflation at 8.90%
- ATS gets transit custody of Chaturvedi
- Qadir named chief selector by PCB
- Suri Cruise tops list of Hollywood’s power kids
- Phoolan murder: Key witness fails to identify Rana
- Suri Cruise tops list of Hollywood power kids
- Pirates demand $25 mn for Saudi oil tanker
- Brad Pitt producing reporter’s fake-fed story
- India tame England in 3rd ODI
Featured Video News
Advertisement
Advertisement
Email Subscription
Advertisement
Latest News In Piture
SWAT: Eight people have been killed... More »
