‘TTP sends’ extortion letter to K-P minister

TTP denies it was behind the letter, Atif Khan rests onus on security agencies to guarantee his safety

PESHAWAR:

 

A letter, demanding payment of Rs8 million, was sent to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Science and Technology Minister Atif Khan, it emerged on Wednesday.

According to a report, Khan received the letter from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The letter also threatened Khan with assassination if the payment was not made within three days.

The TTP, however, denied the allegations that it had sent the threatening letter. The group said that a reference number mentioned in the letter did not belong to it.

Sources told The Express Tribune that all letters of the TTP were issued through the Markazi Shura [Central Committee] on its official letterhead.

Speaking with the media, Khan said that he had received the letter “the way extortion [threats] are normally received”, adding that he would not budge to any threats.

He refused to pay the extortion amount and added that he had informed all relevant security agencies of the incident. “The ball is now in the agencies’ court to take appropriate action,” he said.

The extortion letter is the latest addition to emerging concerns about the resurgence of militancy, especially the TTP in K-P. There have been widespread protests against the regrouping of militants in the country.

Earlier this month, crowds in Swat staged massive demonstrations to protest against a militant attack on a school van that left the driver dead and two students injured.

Local residents demanded the arrest of culprits responsible for the attack in Charbagh and an operation against militants camped on the mountain tops in the district and challenging writ of the state.

After Swat, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Khyber, South and North Waziristan districts against the increasing incidents of militancy and lawlessness in Lakki Marwat district.

Meanwhile, a grand Jirga organised by the civil administration of Malakand division has resolved that the people of K-P will not let any group or individual to disrupt peace in the province.

According to a statement issued by the Swat deputy commissioner, the jirga of Swat, Buner, Shangla, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Malakand and Bajaur districts was held on Saturday in Saidu Sharif.

The Jirga participants discussed the security situation in Swat and other districts of Malakand division and the measures taken to ensure peace and stability.