He was speaking to media in Islamabad with regard to the security measures taken by the government for Ashura.
Malik said that data showed that around 460 bomb blasts were carried out by motorcyclists, 90% of total blasts were carried out through mobile phones.
He further said that bomb blasts in the last 15 days took place on the same pattern.
Calling the terrorists a part of an organised gang, Malik said they have been planting explosives in cement blocks and connecting them to cellular devices.
Challenge to Mehsud
The interior minister challenged Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chief Hakimullah Mehsud to prove to him whether Islam allows killing fellow Muslims.
Malik told the media that he and his officers have recently received death threats through text messages. He added that security officials have traced the sender as well.
Authorities request for ban
Malik said that his ministry has received requests from authorities in Punjab, Sindh, tribal areas, Kashmir, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to ban cellular services and riding motorcycle in certain areas on Muharram 9 and 10. He said the decision will be taken after discussion with stakeholders.
He further clarified that all security-related decisions are approved by Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
He added that people who had poked fun at him when he first imposed these bans have now realised that I was right and have applauded me for these steps.
COMMENTS (27)
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@MZJ: and who are you to think of someone as a lesser Muslim? He may be an inept politician/administrator but judging if he happens to be a good Muslim or not is none of your or anybody's business. How good a Muslim are you?
If only we would mourn more for the loss of human lives than we do for the loss of cell phone services !
Well done Rehman Malik ! He does not control the foreign policy or the defense policy of the establishment and yet he has managed to deliver in adverse circumstances. Give the devil his due.
He is treating the symptom and not the illness, although he knows what and where the illness is............this is more dangerous because it allows the illness to spread.
@Pakistan One: Hey Mr Laughing Intelligent, Do you have a solution up your sleeve? It's very easy to enumerate problems. Very hard to find a solution.
I see this as an opportunity for more terrorist attacks. How? Through car jacking. What this idiot minister does not realize is that vehicle tracking companies also use gsm technology to prevent car thefts. Now that the whole mobile communication system is down, it’s a free run for the terrorists (and car jackers) to rob any vehicle and use it for terrorism. Even if they are not used for terrorism they would be able to cross the border before the networks are back on. Hahahahahahaha, so much for intelligence!
Hydrabad is peaceful city and there is no taliban why ban in m0tercycle riding in hyd
This is only a short-term solution.
The long term solution is not making Pak such a fertile ground for Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni extremist militants.
Pandering to the inhumane criminal likes of TTP's Mehsud asking where in Islam its allowed to kill Muslims, makes it sound like there's some tacit approval of killing non-Muslims, the very twisted rationalizing logic they use to declare all Pakistanis not with them as non-Muslims to kill, some more than others.
I am proud of you Sir; Thank you!!
@Syed A. Mateen: Agree with you totally. He may sound and look like a joker at times, but he has done a good job this time.
@Thor: Rehman Malik is correct. It is explosive planted inside C4 and placed inside cement blocks.
@MZJ: "........but the challenger is a ‘Muslim’ who can’t even recite Surah Ikhlas without messing it up….3 times!!"
If reciting the Surah Ikhlas is the only criteria to become a good Muslim, no one can be a better Muslim than my Parrot !!!!!!
Suspend Islam temporarily for eight days four times a year and reap the benefits
I have a suggestion for Rahman Malik and other Pakistanis:
Can you not ban Islam temporarily for just 2 days by issuing a fatwa?
@RKM: Why donot you take him to India. He will work better due to higher income. What will happen if God forbid there is an emergency situation? How will people contact their relatives and come to know of their safety
motorcycles and cellular devices banning decision based on INCOMPETENCE not b/c of critical intelligence
Why not just ban religion 100 % of the bombs based on religion, stupid to think that a cycle, donkey cart or car can not be used to substitute motorcycles. Why not stop the ability of these guys getting explosives and guns.@Sharjeel Jawaid:
His decisions might be sound if statistics quoted by him are correct.
Some of the readers here are in a permanently negative syndrome. They'll just criticize anything and everything mindlessly.
Mr. Rehman Malik ....i wont ride MotorCycle. .... Would you please provide your service to bring up Grossary etc :P
A super computer was asked to suggest means for eliminating wars. The answer was eliminating the human race!
I dont like this guy...But he has a point here....Good work
The great man speaks again.His brilliant brain is working overtime. I'm sure we will be riding bicycles in the near future as that will solve the problem of bomb blasts once and for all and by the way who needs cell phones.
Imran Khan said it right "Banning Mobile Phone Services is like Treating a Cancer Patient with Disprin". When will our Government will learn from our mistakes ?
'The interior minister challenged Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chief Hakimullah Mehsud to prove to him whether Islam allows killing fellow Muslims.'
Good challenge, but the challenger is a 'Muslim' who can't even recite Surah Ikhlas without messing it up....3 times!!
You know, I like this man. Doesnt care how stupid he sounds, does hs work, not caring about the criticism. I like it.
Malik said they have been planting explosives in cement blocks and connecting them to cellular devices. i believe its not cement but called c4. duh! Mr. Malik
Mr. Rehman Malik should be given a standing ovation on the steps he has taken to control any untoward situation and incidents that might have taken place during the peak days of 8th, 9th and 10th of Moharram.
I am confident that the action he has taken has very much reduced the chances of any sort of big incidents that would have taken place during the Moharram processions.