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Malik reveals al Qaeda, TTP plot to abduct Bilawal
Says Shahbaz Taseer is alive and has been shifted to the Pak-Afghan border.
Confirms that kidnapped Shahbaz Taseer is still alive and might have been shifted to N Waziristan. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that militant organisations, including al Qaeda and Pakistani Taliban, are planning to kidnap Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as he visits Pakistan in December.
Regarding the mysterious abduction of Punjab’s slain governor Salmaan Taseer’s son, he claimed that Shahbaz Taseer is alive and was recently shifted to the Pak-Afghan border, most probably to North Waziristan.
Threats to Bilawal
“The TTP and al Qaeda have planned to assassinate Bilawal,” Malik told reporters on Monday. “Necessary measures have been taken for Bilawal’s security in and outside of Pakistan,” he said.
According to intelligence reports, Bilawal could be targeted by militants when he comes to visit Garhi Khuda Bux – his family’s native town in Sindh – in December to commemorate his mother Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary.
Officials associated with the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) told The Express Tribune that the cell has shared reports with President Zardari regarding the threats to Bilawal’s life. An official letter was also sent to the Prime Minister Secretariat earlier this month.
A senior interior ministry official, quoting revelations of the British Security Service (MI5), confirmed that there were threats to Bilawal’s life. The MI5 in coordination with the Oxford University – where Bilawal is currently studying – is assessing how to provide more security to Bilawal, the official said. A detailed report will be handed over to the president at the end of the month, he said. Around Rs136.5 million is being spent on Bilawal’s security in Britain, according to official sources. However, NCMC chief Brig (retd) Javaid Lodhi refused to divulge any details due to “the sensitivity of the matter”.
Meanwhile, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), in collaboration with the NCMC, has begun investigations to foil threats against the president’s son, officials said. Nacta, with assistance from Rangers, also found some clues regarding death threats against famous politicians and personalities in Karachi, they said.
Malik also made some startling revelations in the Shahbaz Taseer abduction case, which has entered its eighth week. He assured that Shahbaz’s whereabouts will be unearthed soon. “The kidnappers’ identity still remains unclear since no militant organisation has confirmed his kidnapping yet,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 18th, 2011.
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May you return to your loved ones soon… We are all waiting for you… Stay safe…
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was this the “good news” Rana Sanaullah was talking about here?
http://www.tribune.com.pk/story/256997/shahbaz-taseer-abduction-sanaullah-says-good-news-soon/
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God bless you, Shahbaz. It is a very incorrect conception of few Muslims in Pakistan that they are revering Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him by supporting the murder of Slain Salman Taseer.
Blessings to Bilawal.
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Kill these militants NOW!!!!
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May ALLAH protect you and you back to your home safely. Ameen
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Wow, seriously wow…….
I am totally shocked to see so much duaein and support for a person who everyone knows is not at all related to an average pakistani. While no-one here i m sure prays for those affected by dangue , those killed by drone attacks and those killed in suicide attacks & bomb blasts in Pakistan and no one prays for those soldiers and village people killed by taliban in Dir.
Ohh i am shocked to my soul, what have we become, praying for a billionaire and nothing for average pakistani. I just have no words to express my sickening to see such prejudiced behavior.
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Wouldn’t it be better to share this information in media after this case is resolved? Just a thought…..
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Sad how many people are now speculating the whole kidnapping is a hoax, . How insane!!Recommend
tens of thousands Pakistani citizens are abducted and disappeared and nobody care about them. And when a political offspring shehbaz abducted look R.Malik knows that he has been brought to the border. what a Discrimination.Recommend
May Shahbaz come home safe and well, and may all the unnamed abducted/missing Pakistanis be rejoined with their loved ones.
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“Shahbaz Taseer has been taken to the Afghan-Pakistan border in a red Suzuki van with one broken tail light…”
How do they know so much and yet cannot rescue him? There are so many dodgy things about Pakistan that nothing must come as a surprise.
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If only we all showed this much concern to the hundreds of thousands of other abductions taking place all over the country, and our prayers could reach them; maybe then such news of shahbaz/bilawal abductions & plots of abductions would not matter.
It is a shame how we now show concern & pray for a select few and not the thousands of those who are from us and amongst us.
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Shahbaz, please negotiate your release directly. Don’t involve these officials and politicians. Recommend
Please also pray for the recovery of those innocent Pakistani citizens who went missing during Musharraf regime.
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This shows utter failure on the part of the LEA`s ( law enforcement agencies )& the Punjab govt…when supposedly all exit & entry points were sealed on the very day of abduction…so how come Salman was shifted out of Lahore….?? nobody questions that…?? Salman shifting out of Lahore was done deliberately inorder to avoid public pressure & put the blame on Al Qaida…?? very easy….
If Musharraf can be held responsible for BB`s death…so is the PM, President & the ministry of interior for Salman Taseer`s death in Islamabad…..anybody question that….??Recommend
he should not be blamed for the acts his father did infact his father has already been killed so he should be freed….
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Our Prayers are with you Shahbaz Taseer. May you reach home safe. Ameen.
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If you figured out where he is then why don’t you go and get him !? ! !
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And yet this government is adamant in talking to the Taliban? And yet this government refuses to take action in Waziristan where the biggest terrorists on the planet are residing. What absurdity!Recommend
media should stop playing “me first” games with cases that are being sought by the police. You are actually abetting them.
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If Rehman Malik knew Shahbaz Taseers location he should have mounted an operation to rescue him. The Media before putting words to print must verify the authenticity raher than give space to bogus reports. Recommend
@RichPrejudiced
There is support for Mr. Taseer’s son because he was kidnapped. Why shouldn’t anyone support someone who has been kidnapped? This is a basic right that every civilian should have along with many others (i.e. the right NOT to be kidnapped.) When laws are broken, in this case when someone is held against their will, then it is time for the public to show support for the victim. I understand there are many other problems in the country such as infectious disease but this article is about Mr. Taseer’s son. By the way, who are you to tell others what to pray about? To each their own.
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@RichPrejudiced: Every life is important, including his. Just because you don’t like rich people it doesn’t give you the right to dismiss his life so heartlessly. Pull your head out of it’s little hole and look at the bigger picture. What implications does this have for you or your family if people around you are being kidnapped and murdered for freedom of speech? Dengue is something we are ALL trying to stop, but the kidnappers out there are actually causing this on purpose, to destabilize our country. You should be praying very hard to stop this internal cancer.
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It is sickening to see some actually are unhappy about the prayers for Taseer Jr. Nobody is stopping anyone to pray for each and every dead or kidnapped person. Here we are talking about one family being victimized by fanatic terrists repeatedly. Yet the lust of blood has not subsided for some. Being born in a rich family is not a crime just like being born in a poor or middleclass family. Aren’t some people just jealous and would fine all excuses to justify their terrorists? Recommend
Just a thought – actions speak louder than words. So far they have done nothing but spread rumors about Shehbaz. And even if its true where he is why disclose it till you recover the boy? Shouldn’t this information be categorized as sensitive? Recommend
I have a feeling, Qadri’s life will be trader for Shahbaz Taseer’s life! This is going to be a greek tragedy! Life of son for the life of killer of his father! What a country!
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next thing the abductors want an exchange for QADRI . . . . !!!!!!
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Who cares if they want to kill or kidnap Bilawal? What about the tens of thousands of Pakistanis who get killed/kidnapped in Pakistan each year? To the Government of Pakistan, all Pakistanis should be the same – Bilawal or no Bilawal.
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It seems that Pakistan is built to serve and proetct some dynasties and their cronies. The sufferings of people on the street continue. The governement really does not care about its people.
Shame on us..
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The abduction of Shahbaz Taseer is a conspiracy to divert people from real issue of blasphemy laws. We all know who is behind this.
How did Rehman Malik know that they took him in a red car with broken light. If they had this level of detail why could they not intercept them? It looks very very fishy indeed.
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I am surprised by all the people who have so much faith in Rehman Malik’s statements.Recommend
We are now worst than Afganistan………
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“Around Rs136.5 million is being spent on Bilawal’s security in Britain,”
Is it a joke??? Common citizen is dying here every day and Rs136.5 million has been spent on someone who is British National? WOW
Subhan Allah
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Do the Pakistani taxpayer pay Rs136.5 million for Bilawals security? Last time I checked he didnt hold a public office.
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May ALLAH protect whole of humanity from the clutches of Al Qaeda and Tehrik-e Talban . These organizations are killers and they will rot in hell. Members of these terrorist organizations cannot be Muslims. Muslims are not allowed to kill or kidnap any human being. Inshallah Shahbaz Taseer and thirty kidnapped student from Wana Waziristan will be back home soon.
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agree with @mr.shah. our real enemies r the banned oufits related to the taliban and alqaida. i pray to ALLAH to protect bilawal from these butchers(terrorists) and 4 the safe return of shahbaz taseer to his family.Ameen
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Is 136.5 MillionRS spent monthly or annually? This 136.5 MillionRs equals to almost a million pound with current exchange rate of 136 GBP.
How much money is ‘collectively’ spent on President, PM, all CM and Governor of four provincens + Mr. Nawaz Sharif.
Last but not the least – Everyone has to answer the question of what they did to provide security to a common man during their rule.
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“Interior Minister revealed that Shahbaz Taseer, the kidnapped son of slain former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer has been shifted to the Pak-Afghan border, most probably to North Waziristan.’
And Pakistan refuses to do an operation in N Waziristan?
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@RichPrejudiced:
What do you want? I am scared from Pakistanis who envy, oppose and negate the situation. Bilawal and Shahbaz, both are human beings. Being a philanthropist, humanity comes first to me before my religion. I also remember that MY religion preaches humanity not brutality.
As far as it is about Dengue and Flood, steps are being taken. Prayers have been sent to God. Now what is left to be done is resisting patience and tolerance. Praying for a billionaire does not negate other prayers sent to God. Indeed, Allah is the greatest.
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Maybe this might be an excuse to provide fool proof security to Mr. Bilawal …….so that no one raises any fingers.
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Bilawal has left Oxford…does not make sense this report.
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God bless Bilwal and keep him safe.
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Oh please I don’t think that BALAWAL ZARDARI is that important that Al Qaeda will spend its resources Kidnapping him. Its just another publicity stunt. PPP is losing and the elections are near so they are trying to create a scene whr the citizens wud symphatize with thm and give them votes.
and secondly I don’t understand why would Al Qaeda tell it’s plans to Malik. Quite confusing.
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If 136.5 million ruppees are being spent on his security JUST in England, imagine how much of our money will be spent on his security once he DOES get to Pakistan. Just wish that kind of money was used to protect us ordinary citizens of Pakistan.
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Mr.Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a great leader and the Founder of the People’s Party.- Agreed
Be-Nazir Bhutto was the daughter of Mr.Bhutto ,…. Geo Bhutto !
Bilawal Zardari ,Son of Mrs.Zardari , a Bhutto ? How Come ?
Imran Khan also came out of Oxford, and started to Play for Pakistan, then after 15 years he came to help his Country ! – Is the ‘People’s Party actually the property of the Bhutto’s, or do the People, also have a say about this ??
Why would the Taliban or anybody else kidnap the Kid ?Recommend
@kashan: Insha_allah one day he will come back home safely my wishess to Baji AMINA TASEER and his family
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