Punjab

Punjabi Taliban: Sharif says phrase unfair, misleading

PML-N believes term will harm its image.

Express March 04, 2011

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday reiterated his objection to the term ‘Punjabi Taliban’.

Sharif said he had never used the term.

“The interior minister first used this word in the cabinet meeting. I had asked the prim minister even then whether the terrorists responsible for killing citizens in Sindh or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be given the name Sindhi and Pakhtun Taliban,” Sharif said.

He ‘warned’ Rehman Malik to avoid using the term. He said the PML-N believed that the term will harm its image. “It minimises our chances of coming into power because the Punjab province is being run by the PML-N.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (11)

ABD | 13 years ago | Reply To all those against Shahbaz Sharif, I have a question for them: Why can't we just stick to the name "Pakistani Taliban"? As if that wasn;t enough, it seems we have stooped so low that now we are coming with Punjabi Taliban. Disgusting absolutely and a disgrace. Ppl should realise the effect this will have on Punjab's image. The Taliban ruled Afghanistan and were created as a response to Soviet occupation. They are a Pashtun movement and have nothing to do with Punjab. The name "Punjabi Taliban" is totally inaccurate and propaganda against Punjabis.

UMAR | 13 years ago | Reply All these political leaders are thiefs and robbers Pakistan can never get out of these robbers hands.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Mohammed+Abbasi | 13 years ago | Reply oh dear! may just call them mullahs then? or cuddly fat bearded twits? gosh so many other words we can call these holy evil ones

Arshad | 13 years ago | Reply Come on Puhtuns made their grave with their own hands when they initially loved and cosseted Talibans. I remember in 2003, villagers near Mardan refused to offer namaz-e-janaza of policeman killed in action against Talibans. The same thing drama is being repeated in punjab, but with little difference, here their so called elected government is not brave enough to face the reality. I come form the heart of punjab and this Taliban factor in punjab has got strong roots. Remember CM is businessman and I have never seen a business man taking risk on his life. Lawyers from the party in government in punjab were the first one to offer roses to Qadri. Is it the rule of law what the lawyers claim in restoration of judiciary? I don't know to whom we are fooling around?

faraz | 13 years ago | Reply It also debunks Imran's theory of taliban cum Pushtoon nationalists

Mr. Deny | 13 years ago | Reply To deny it's existence will not change the ground reality, they are here and they are dangerous, it is the creation of one of the powerful institution of Pakistan to basically do their dirty works. It is in the intrest of this institution to keep the democracy weak and destabilized and unfortunately supported by some political parties. They are protected and are allowed to carry out crimes against the nation. the only misleading thing is the denial by the CM of it's existence

Mulla Toofhan | 13 years ago | Reply Mr. CM How long will you deny the truth. Putting your head in the sand will not change reality, Punjab has become the major base for the Punjab Taliban. The only reason they have a strong hold is because they are treated as Stratagic asset or supported by some political party. They are even encouraged by some just to stay in power

S Khan | 13 years ago | Reply What do you say the posters of QADRI , posted all over Lahore depicting the fanatic murderar as hero right under the nose of TAKHAT E Lahore.

Uza Syed | 13 years ago | Reply @Qadir Buksh Bungalzai: "Come on Shahbaz, prove yourself worthy of your place." ------- sir, you are asking for impossible, one must be worthy of something to prove one's worthiness, what does one do if one is not?

Qadir Buksh Bungalzai | 13 years ago | Reply Punjabi Talibans are fact of life. If the group calls itself as Punjabi Talibans, and they belong to Punjab, they have safe sanctuary in Punjab, they recruit their fighters from Punjab and they kill their victims in Punjab, what would they be called?. If PML N cannot be called PML Q how come Punjabi Talabans be called by some other name. This is a sinister move of Shahbaz Sharif. He wants that Punjabi should not be prefixed so that the blame goes to Pakhtuns as the name has become synonymous with Pakhtuns. He also wants to ward off the responsibility which he has as the chief executive of the Province which has produced groups like Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) , Tehreek-e-Jaferia Pakistan (TJP), Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi , Lashkar-eJhangvi (LeJ) Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan (SMP) , Jamaat-ul-Fuqra Harkat-ul-Mujahideen Al-alami mand scores of others!!!! Come on Shahbaz, prove yourself worthy of your place.

Kamran Khatak | 13 years ago | Reply Dear Khaadim-e-Aala sahib, Atleast by using this terminology one clears the Pashtoons of being the only Talibans.

Replying to X