Even the Taliban have joined the chorus as the rest of the country riots over load-shedding, voicing their frustrations over the constant blackouts. In an interesting twist to the ongoing electricity crisis plaguing Pakistan, a little-known militant commander in North Waziristan has warned Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) officials to either mend their ways, or face the music.
Abdul Khaliq Haqqani, a former member of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group’s shura, phoned local reporters and threatened to bring the Tribal Areas Electric Supply Company (TESCO) Chief and Executive Engineer to North Waziristan in order to be ‘punished’. He insisted that their homes would be targeted if electricity was not restored in North Waziristan within 48 hours and warned that suicide bombings would not be ruled out.
The militant leader’s furious tirade at least partially echoes the complaints of disgruntled citizens around the country — on the one hand, military operations have taken a huge toll on the tribal areas, while on the other hand, TESCO was ‘ruining people’s lives on the pretext of electricity bills’, he said.
Haqqani’s fury was not limited to the authorities and threatened local reporters by saying that if his statements were not published, their newspapers would not be ‘allowed access’ in North Waziristan.
In addition, he demanded that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chapters of Mohmand and Darra Adamkhel should help his own militant outfit in capturing the TESCO chief.
Currently, North Waziristan and Bannu district are facing 21 hours of load-shedding a day.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2011.
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It's government's new strategy to frustrate the Talibans to failure! wah.
Dear forum readers,
Taliban are threatening to orchestrate more suicide attacks to show their frustration over the constant blackouts. Would it be fair to label them as hypocrites who threaten others in the name of justice, but only act when their own selfish desires are at stake? Do not their actions pull the curtain off their real faces, killers of thousands of innocent civilians who find it inconvenient to deal with the load shedding?
@Moise: there is no RAW or Zionist conspiracy. The Pakistani Taliban are a distinct group-they are not the same as the Afghan Taliban but they are a group nonetheless and they call themselves the Taliban. As far as I know the TTP has never held a 'press conference'-they have spokesmen who call up media outlets and issue statements. Believe it or not, untraceable phones are in existence. And what does technology have to do with Zionism?!?!?!? If a phone can't be traced how is it a Zionist link? Please try to think rationally and not scapegoat other countries and their agencies for OUR problems. For these are problems that we have created ourselves by interfering in Afghanistan and using militants to our own advantage for the purpose of low-intensity conflict vis-a-vis India. These are our chickens coming home to roost.
Electricity or else suicide bombings ? Lots of insane folk in Waziristan.
Obviously they want sharia in Pakistan, that will make them the central characters and give them all the powers. Its like eid committees who look for moon. Any fool with two eyes can look at the moon but the mullahs feel special doing so. Gives them power over the people, power that wasn't 'elected' by the people, simply 'forced' upon them.
HAHAHAHAH now i think electric will come ....
Anyone consider the possibilty that the phone call could just be a prank. And how is this image remotely related to TTP.
Mois is right. They are not Taliban. Real Taliban are fighting against U.S. These pakistani side people are criminals. Their number one is paid by India in dollars to destablize Pakistan. Number one pays to number five and so on. So last person receiving money does not Know who is actually paying them. But last one only knows his Ustaad to obey his orders. Like this structure Number 1\ Number2 \Number 3\ Number 4\ Number5\ some one at a Madrassa to prepare the minds of innocent students for Jehad. Its a Satanic process.
Beware the TTP is fake Taliban. They are the killers of Colonel Imam, kill innocent Pakistanis, create bomb blasts, attack law enforcement, blow schools, hostage takers, kidnap for ransom, kill innocent children, have sophisticated western communication equipment and utter disregard for Sharia. Their job is to destabilize Pakistan and using this crisis for their purpose. I don't know why they are called Taliban in media and create confusion. Real Talibans are against US occupation, drug production and trafficking and already have Sharia implemented in areas they control.
His electric shaver was not charged?
Everyone including militants are impacted due to power cuts! All pakistanis are united atleast in this issue! If common citizens are rioting, taliban threatens bombing! Everyone protests the way they know
Its not USA that is uniting pakistan...its Load shedding.....even the Taliban....and the Haqqani Bros...the Americans ( sweating in the embassy) are now united..against the Govt...
We are giving electricity to these people FOR FREE and then they threaten us if we stop it ?????? It boggles the mind
Now that's how the Taliban should be used in the interests of the Pakistani people. Never knew they could come in so handy! Come on fellas, you gotta keep up that attitude towards EVERY problem this country faces! :P