“We didn’t carry out the church attack. However, we believe it’s according to the Sharia,” says TTP spokesperson. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has once again denied involvement in the Sept 22 twin suicide bombings at All Saints Church in Peshawar – but the group says it condones the attack.
“We didn’t carry out the church attack. However, we believe it’s according to the Sharia,” TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid told the BBC Urdu in a telephone interview from an undisclosed location.
Asked who issues orders for any attack, he said the TTP central leadership did not necessarily take such decisions. “Our objectives are clear to all our component groups. They are free to select and attack the enemy targets.”
However, he added that the TTP had checked with all its groups and none of them owned the church attack.
Separately, security forces arrested three local militant commanders during an operation in the Hassan Khel area of Frontier Region Peshawar.
Pakistan Army backed by Frontier Corps carried out a large scale operation in the area and arrested three commanders — Mulla Younas, Meena Gul and Dr Sarkha Gul, local residents told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2013.
COMMENTS (61)
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@Rohit Sen:
Don't forget this is Taliban's Shari'ah. Because it does not represent any tenets of religion that is why whole nation is united against them. But you in your typical Indian prejudice won't understand.
@Hasan Mehmood: yes there is one in my name mined at present and his name is mufti Hamid Gul ......??
Since the Taliban seem to be focused on implementation of Sharia, can any one for Heaven's sake name a single Alim, Mufti, Mujtahid or religious scholar in their ranks. So the other religious scholars outside their fold can engage in a healthy debate with them on live TV.
@numbersnumbers: - I came to know from the comments of Bye bye whom i replied. sarcasm is a word i hope you are familiar with.
The rational behind condoning the church bombing by these terror outfit can be equated to a most hideous remark of this century. These heinous criminals have no idea what a shariah law is. With their long evil beards and equally evilest looks supported by viciously preposterous and atrocious beliefs they consider themselves as bastion of Islam.It goes to say that these rugged criminals have done more damage to Religion of Islam than the crusaders during the Ottoman Empire and Kufars during the Prophet's time. This nation sees no other solutions than to completely rout these scums out from where ever they exist by Sri Lankan style assault irrespective of the consequences. Nothing else can deliver this nation for this languishing misery than a final annihilation of Talibanism.
@Mirza:
Ideological freedom and its peacful perpetuation should exist for all, otherwise, fists start talking.
@ numbersnumbers
whitesky picked that information up from the friday sermon.
The TTP are a bunch of crazed, sociopathic narcissists. Since when does Shariah permit/condone MURDER of innocents. Sick, messed up perverts. They use their appreciation of violence against GOOD human beings as a cover for their own emasculated feelings and low self-esteem. They should be completely exterminated.
However, we believe it’s according to the Sharia,” Have TTP propounded new shariat after 1400 years? Where are those people who are always siding with these goons? I would like to hear from Munawar Hassan, Maulana Fazal and Imran Khan. What defence or lame excuse they have now for TTP? Its clearly been forbidden not to attack the worship of other religions and Maulanas know very well why it has been forbidden. Looks like they all need a religious refresher course.
@Faqir Khan:
Well said and even as a foreigner I believe you!! What Pakistan needs is at least ONE elite university, they have none. They have not reformed the eduction system. Their contemporary came to Germany fo his studies, but most Pakistani students travel to anglo saxon universities for education. They are neither innovative nor creative nor have arabic language compulsary in their schools but pretend to know what is written in the scriptures. Here is a lesson NumbeNr ONE, the laws as legislated in a muslim country is Sharia!! And if you have none than you keep running fter the 7th century laws as practiced then by the muslims!!
Rex Minor
I have a question, why dont they trace this TTP spokesman scum and hunt down rest of his baboons along? Why is this lunatic still alive? And I will answer as well in one word. Incompetence.
@whitesky: And just how do you know that TTP is "Indian Funded"??? Just asking for your source of supreme knowledge!!
So people don't know that Taliban have their own Shariah they want to implement?
Why operation only taking place in Karachi . Because MQM is having Indian made arms . It not taking place against those having Chineese arms or RDX or Rocket lounchers on their soulders . Because they are implementing SHARIYA in true letter and spirit . It is Really a good approach .....!!!!???
The Taliban are the truest and best adherents of islam. Rest seem to be confused ( very slightly though :) ).
Thank you TTP, for clarifying. We always knew you are such a sweetheart.
@Bye bye: -Sir, how pathetic is the situation that All political parties including the Pastun hero Imran Khan, who is the front runner, are eager to talk to Indian funded TTP. what a shame Why don't they crush this Indian funded organisation whom you call TTP?
US sent those bombers to the Pakistani churches to dismantle Pakistan's UN coalition which was going to force the US to abandon drone strikes. These drone strikes target Afghan resistance fighters and those among TTP who want peace with the Pakistan government. The TTP is in the pocket of the US. The goal, as it has always been, is to make it look like Pakistan is unsafe for foreign investment, tourism, and eventually to malign the people of Pakistan. The target chosen was Peshawar to malign Pukhtoon people, whom the US views as enemies in Afghanistan as well.
@alinasir: - sir, please name one religious scholar who opposed this bombing of church which is proclaimed by TTP to be Sharia compliant. Can TTP also clarify their understanding of Sharia compliant on 1) destruction of girl's school- 2) Killing of infidels ( Ahmadis& all other non believers in Islam) 3) wearing of shorts/ skirts by girls/ women. Accepting aid / help from IMF & America who is striking drones in Pakistan sorry North Waziristan, 5) manufacture / consumption/ sale of heroine by Muslims.
okay lets assume that you didn't kill 82 christians. But what about 40,000 Muslims? My dear conspirattis, associate some theories of cia raw mossad blackwater to those killings too. That would give you a false happiness of TTP being good sharia compliant mujahids.
If this is what Sharia is, then the Kufur system is 1000 times more better.
So who is doing it. The usual suspects?
We usually look outward. What about political/religious parties who wants instability as they are not in power? And have the nexus and reach with jihadi outfits willing to do bidding on their behalf?
.......and is their understanding of Sharia in line with Imran Khans understanding of Sharia ? If not Imran Khan must stand tall and say so.
Disowning is double gaming,why TTP repeatedly doing is well understood.
How it is possible that BBC,VOA,CNN,Al Jazzera knows the location and all numbers of TTP leadership and they go freely record interview,immediately get connected after every explosion and surprisingly our intelligence do not know their whereabouts,I suspect some kind of compromise because embarrassment and defensive attitude is in our bad luck at all levels.
Only Money talks , Mr Spoke Person don't drag Shariah on it , its a massive game generates billions of dollar to feed few Warlords... & its a Same old mindset has no twist ..
Indian funded TTP can say goodbye to peace now. Even if Pak Army and politicians don't take action, we the tribal Pakhtuns will not let live these traitors of Pakhtun society in peace.
cool so this is according to sharia for them! insanity of the TTP! and anyone who wishes to talk to them!
Too little too late........you and your ugly ideology needs to be finished off TTP
waiting patiently to see/hear any reaction from any political/religious party.
why do our 'patriotic' jamat e islami leaders aren't offended when ttp says church attack is according to sharia. . . It conveys the idea, sharia is brutal and inhumane. .i am not saying this, mullas' beloved terrorists are saying so
The statement is a slap on both sides of the faces of all who are begging for talks and even touching the feet of these ruthless killers. Peshawar being the stronghold of the TTP, no killing can take place without their knowledge or they have done it themselves but not admitting the same due to public outrage. But TTP's open and blatant endorsement of Church attack on minority community does not warrant the govt or any political party to hold talks with them as the same would deemed to be unconstitutional and the Apex Court of Pakistan should call for a suo-motu against the same.
If this is according to shariya - one should throw away the book. Anything that tries to justify killing of innocent people like this is not the worth the paper it's printed on
So blowing churches is sharia compliant? Who wrote this sharia and where does it come from? We are up against some nihilistic marauders who know nothing but kill and plunder.
If TTP can attack schools,kill women,blow shrines,slaughter soldiers,remove heads of shia soldiers,kill Chinese,Ukrainian,attack police,kidnap all accept USA/UK/NATO people then why can't they attack church because every action to embarrass Pakistan and provide all support to declare Pakistan a failed state-so we understand clearly who is funding them and there ultimate purpose-now dis owning of church attacked repeated has a purpose to fix or transfer blame on some of us that too contribute to that western goal/mission.
Hope now the Pakistani friends understand what the sharia implementation by these monsters will do to Pakistan as it did to Afganistan. (Remember Bamiyan buddhas ?)
I don't get it. The report says: "security forces arrested three local militant commanders during an operation in the Hassan Khel" and many more have been captutred. Has anyone of them ever confessed that they are the agents of CIA/RAW/MOSSAD? ET. please try to find out.
@alinasir: Sounds like some Pakistanis need convincing. Since this such an obvious distortion of sharia, why not a huge conference of Islamist scholars giving a joint press conference, issuing joint statements, appearing on tv, citing religious authority, and clearly and persuasively destroying the Taliban interpretation of sharia? Why has this never happened?
@Iron hand: the ones who did challenge mullah's interpretation were declared "Non Muslims" by the state, its people and these mullahs and are being persecuted mercilessly. Nobody else is going to do it now.
@csmann: @Iron hand: @bashir:
After cold-bloodedly murdering 85 innocent citizens and injuring hundreds of others, they come out with a statement full of holes that they did not carry out the church attack. Haaahh! We are no gullible damn fools to believe what the TTP says and does. The mullah community as before, is nowadays very deeply 'hand in glove' with the TTP and the GOP to hold talks. This is another PMLN scam, as it is used to doing, because if an operation is carried out the biggest losers will be PMLN and PPP. NO TALKS. Salams
A very balanced statement & a sign of maturity in TTP leadership- While keeping the zealots happy (since bombing a church has now been declared an OK thing), it shall keep the conscience of all mainstream stakeholders clean and at the same time provide enough room for conspirationists to pile it on Bahaarat,Amrikaa and Izraayal.
BTW Who was that spokesperson of Jundullah group who took the credit in the beginning. Since State of Pakistan is nowhere to be found, I would request TTP to clear the doubt for everybody.
If not TTP, then who? That is the question!
Is it according to Sharia to carry out suicides in churches. I am crying to read this that somebody could be so wrong and has the audacity to use Sharia's name to promote their political and material gains. Shame on us!
Now PTI supremo should give the same statement that it was according to sharia !!!!
seems like yet another twisting of context , they had denied and expressed anger on that attack..now here is a phone call reference which cannot be verified .
we Pakistani's must be awaiting our fate in the hands of corrupt politicians, and I assume our fate is gonna be worst.
Okay. So all is good. They are not the bad guys.
These shameless animals(ttp) should read Najran pact
@csmann: Taleban have no sense of guilt...so no excuse. The have the guts in the past to accept their crimes.There appears to be something fishy in the episode.
@Iron hand: Dont be naive .all the true scholars have been vriticizing against this perverted type of SHARIYA
@bashir:
Agreed...they have their own distorted interpretation of SHARIYA. However the question is WHO DID THIS GHASTLY ACT? Taleban must understand that due to their misdeeds other forces are taking advantage
The statement made by the TTP spokes-person on Peshawar Church attack should act as an eye opener to all political parties, civilian government and their apologists who are strongly pleading for talks, expecting a positive outcome from the same. The message conveyed is loud and clear to all that the mayhem would continue and in the name of Sharia would even support sectarian outfits carrying out such barbarous attacks on the innocent people of other communities.
And this is why we need to start giving them an actual face. An office.
This enemy is without a face right now. Soon as you give them one, you can start countering them. You can finally learn exactly how many groups are working for them. Which of them are the people who joined to enact revenge, which of them are working for money, which of them are pawns, who really calls the shots. Etc Etc.
Its all possible if you start "explaining" terrorism. And NO, explaining Terrorism does not mean you sympathise with them, or support them.
Bekhudi besabab nahiN "Ghalib" Kuchh to hai jis ki pardah-dari hai. Only guilty makes excuses,and unwanted denials.
so IK wants talks whith them
"TTP condones church attack" and our leaders condone TTP cause. The poor spokesman of TTP has to hide and give only telephone interviews. He should get an office so he can preach his ideology more comfortably on radio and TV.
Where are the religious scholars who will authoritatively and definitively challenge the TTP's interpretation of sharia?
"it is according to sharia"...they don't even know the abc's of sharia!