PTI peace march: TTP faction warns participants of consequences

Mujahideen Jaishul Khilafa issues pamphlet warning participants of loss of 'life or money'.

ISLAMABAD: Mujahideen Jaishul Khilafa (MJK), an offshoot of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Friday distributed a pamphlet in Tank district near Waziristan which warned participants of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “peace march” to stay away and that they themselves would be responsible for any loss of “life or money” caused during the rally.

PTI’s Media coordinator Tahir Jamil said that the party did not receive any threat directly from any militant organization active in the tribal region. However, he said that he would be able to clarifies party’s stance on MJK’s threat by evening.

The pamphlet with the subject “Imperative warning and announcement” termed PTI chief Imran Khan as an agent of Israel, United States and Britain, who wanted to strengthen the hold of “Jewish and Christian forces” in the tribal area of Pakistan.

In the statement, MJK said that Khan’s march to South Waziristan was a “pack of lies and farce” and that he only wanted to make the tribal region a stronghold of foreign forces “in the garb of raising voice against drone attacks.”

The Taliban faction “sincerely and honestly requested” people to not participate in the rally and said that they would be responsible for consequences in their “lives and the hereafter.”

TTP factions planning on targeting PTI Waziristan march: Officials

Officials of the Interior ministry said that some factions of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were planning on targeting the PTI's “peace rally”.

The officials told The Express Tribune that the prime target of these factions was the top leadership of the PTI and foreigners participating in the rally.

A senior official of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) of the Interior ministry tasked to look after security arrangements of the rally confirmed that the PTI has a “threat from some militant element.”

When The Express Tribune contacted the Crisis Management Cell of the Interior ministry, its in-charge Brigadier Javed Iqbal Lodhi neither confirmed the news nor denied, citing that he was on a day’s leave and that he could not confirm anything.

Peace march 

PTI Spokesperson Shafqat Mehmood said over 50,000 to 60,000 people will participate in the rally. He said that the local administration, police and the PTI workers will ensure the security of the procession.

Mehmood added that the local PTI leaders will host the procession."Come what may, we will go to Waziristan," he said.

PTI's “peace march” is scheduled for October 7.