Several leading politicians, including Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif, are on the potential hit-list of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), according to an intelligence report circulated among law enforcement agencies.
Also appearing on the list are Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Fakhar Imam and the head of the Shia Ulema Council Pakistan Allama Sajid Naqvi. The report, citing plans of TTP Punjab’s commander Matiur Rehman and his associates, also spoke of terror plots being hatched by the group in Punjab. For instance, it warned of a possible suicide attack on the police force in order to free their jailed comrades who were implicated in the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in 2009.
One of the suspects in the attack, Qari Waqas, who is imprisoned in Kot Lakhpat Jail, is said to be in constant touch with the TTP, providing them with the dates of the court hearings. The alleged attack is likely to be carried out while the police would be taking him to the court hearing.
The report stated that the group was also involved in kidnapping wealthy businessmen, in particular those from the Ahmadi community in Lahore.
Another intelligence report revealed that members of the TTP were planning attacks on prominent Shia leaders residing in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and surrounding areas. Prominent hotels, VIPs, foreigners and other sensitive locations in the twin cities and Lahore are also on the targeted list.
Terrorists are also alleged to be preparing for a strike in retaliation for any military operation launched in North Waziristan Agency.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2012.
COMMENTS (45)
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I rather think the whole humanity are in TTP's hit list HAHAHAHHA!!!!
TTP is presently dictating terms to anyone including the military which does not auger well for Pakistan. Its time for the military to take fresh stock of the situation and formulate new strategy to eliminate this dangerous outfit in time bound operations.
hmm... It can be the result of that wiki-leaks cable in which Sharif was caught showing his "pro-american" feelings to then ambassador, Patterson.. :O
What really? They have done everything to appease the Mullahs - this does not add up!
My reading of Nawaz sharif is that he is an honest patriotic and visionery person.He is neither extrem right nor extreme left but tries to stay somewhere in the middle.Some time shady politics of Pakistan compels him to do a little bit right wing politics that is just to counter the opposition.That is called politicals compulsion which doesn't necessarily mean he is rightest. He is a man Pakistan needs.He is the greatest threat to staus quo that is why he is on the hit list.
Mirza. Have you ever seen animals film,how hyenas hunt their prey.They first que them up forming a long line chase their prey until it is exhausted and can run no more.The forces behind TTP are doing the same job with Pakistan.TTP are nothing but hired criminals.
nawaz sharif should take security seriously. we dont want anyother zardari to take office with sympathy vote.
Pakistan Taliban power is limited to some Tribal Regions, for them to hit targets in Northern Punjab they need helped of Banned Militant groups in Karachi and Southern Punjab
TTP don't target goray kashmiri boys. MiaN sahab is safe.
He is a national level leader and must be protected.
PML-N and SC are the political wings of TTP.
This can;t be true.
May Allah bless him and all other Pakistan's leading politicians, we can't offord any political vacum after Benizar Bhutto assasination...
We should be united against any form of extrimism...
rehman malik name is there in the list?
Publicity stunt by PMLN. They want to imply that they are not glove-in-hand with terrorist outfits in Punjab. You failed, dude!
We have a list of politicians. Please entertain them.
May Allah keep them save under His Guard.
This is nothing but propaganda by Sharifs to gain sympathies of liberals. In fact he is a blue eyed boy of these elements who have their hide outs in Punjab and are well looked after their law minister. How can TTP harm their biggest supporter and support base?
Frankenstien calling his Master & knocking at his Door!
Obviously. Sharif's fell out with Pak army so the strategic assets must be unleashed on them.
@sgrr: The more important question is why the jail authorities cannot stop mobile phones from entering the jail. If they are unable to do something as simple as this, what security can they provide against a jailbreak?
@Fahad: Are they different? TTP, i thought, stands for tehrik e taliban pakistan, active all over the county including FATA. Anyway thanks for putting me wise.
Sharifs, Imran Khan, Sh. Rasheed, Jamaat e Islami, Hameed Gul, Orya Maqbool Jaan, Difa Council cannot be on hit list of TTP
They all are good friends of eachother
well interesting to not, CJ is not on the hit list, this shows how harmless / irrelevant he is for these butchers.
@observer sir the current war is not engaged at TTP but taliban i hope it clarifies
Now he got another reason to use 200 Policemen with him...Can someone put the source of this report...
hahahahahahaa talibans seem 2 b so jobless that they want 2 kill these politicians..
hahaha another drama....Express tribune is trying to bring this man to lime light...
Might be true...would explain why main sahib has started spending so much time abroad...
So if PMLN wants to win next elections they have to use the same strategy PPP applied ...
i wish :P but how it could possible when both are same
TTP is outfit of professional killers duly sponsored by CIA & RAW!! The credibility & skillfulness of our SPY KIDS are also becoming questionable with passage of time (Dr. Shakil Afridi’s interview to Fox news). Sharifs have always been on the disliked list of US. Therefore, it’s not beyond the imagination that the plan may have been hatched with consensus!!!
A final blow is awaiting either to Pakistan or TTP
I am unable to understand why the mobile phone jammers are not being installed in jails to atleast disturb the terriorists connections outside their jails cleeagues.
@Mirza: Why would TTP be interested in killing PPP and ANP leadership when its serving the very purpose of TTP i.e. ruining Pakistan? For PPP leaders, TTP knows that their own kins are enough to do the job when required....
@Mirza you are truly delusional.
Nops,TTP is only interested in targeting Pakhtun leadership !!
what does ttp have to do with North Waziristan?
These fanatic terrorists have strong connections with rightwing parties and they are not going to attack them. This is a publicity stunt by the PML-N and their allies. Rana Sana and Captain Safdar's relations with these terrorists are open secret. These terrorists target PPP and ANP leadership not the rightwing leaders who are their allies. The history and hard facts confirm this fact.
And still this is not our war