Taliban intended to take over ANP Karachi offices: Rehman Malik

PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

ISLAMABAD: Taliban wanted to take over the Karachi offices of the Awami National Party (ANP) and we had informed the party leadership about these threats, Interior Minister Rehman Malik informed the Senate on Friday.

“Our prompt action in this regard foiled their plans,” Malik said, adding that the authorities will continue targeting the Taliban and members of other militant groups.

Malik alleged that these groups are funded from outside the country to carry out criminal activities in Pakistan.

“We are now going to start community policing in Karachi, engaging political leaders,” he said.

Revealing that different Taliban factions have shunned differences and have united against Pakistan, Malik said they now get funds in Pakistani currency rather than the US dollars.

“I warn all the enemies and hostile agencies to stop sponsoring and funding Taliban. Otherwise, I will make evidences against them public,” he said.

He further informed the house that target killers in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan have links with the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. “Taliban commanders hire Lashkar people for their purpose, who execute their plans for money,” he claimed.

“Two former Harkatul Ansaar militants – Farooq and Najatullah – have now formed their own gangs and are involved in the Gilgit and Babusar Top killings, respectively,” he accused.

Malik further claimed that he had provided information regarding Malik Ishaq to the Punjab government and also wrote to the chief secretary and had warned them that if the provincial government fails to arrest Ishaq, the Federal Investigation Agency would do so. Ishaq was arrested late last week.

The interior minister said that Waliur Rehman and Hakeemullah Mehsud were once each other’s enemies but they have now reconciled and are pitched against Pakistan.

“They are involved in the Kamra incident. But, I want to make it clear that their days are numbered. The nation stands united against terrorism and we will take every possible action against the terrorists,” he vowed.