Terror mail: Taliban order closure of ANP office

A handwritten letter in Pashtu ordered removal of party banners and flags.

PESHAWAR: The traders and residents of Ander Sher area panicked when the Awami National Party (ANP) election office in their area got a threatening letter from Tahreek-e-Taliban (TTP) on Tuesday.

The handwritten letter in Pashtu ordered removal of party banners and flags. Some of the ANP supporters complied while others did not.

The letter directly addressed Tariq Khan, an ardent supporter of the ANP, who had established the election office.

“You should close down the office campaigning for the ANP and remove all banners otherwise you people themselves would be responsible for your loss,” warned the letter.

Residents of the area were in grip of panic. “The office is on the back of my house and I am really concerned about the threatening letter,” said Mushrraf. He said that in the event of any explosion there could be large scale damage as the area was congested.

Meanwhile, when contacted an official of the local Khan Raziq Police Station said that they had not been informed about the presence of the letter but they had beefed up security for the election offices and candidates as well as corner meetings due to the on-going situation.