TTP accuses govt of stepping up attacks in tribal areas

Published March 23, 2014
Pakistani Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid (c) along with other members of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). — File photo
Pakistani Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid (c) along with other members of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). — File photo

MIRAMSHAH: The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has accused the government of increasing attacks on militant hideouts and raids on houses of its members in tribal areas.

Despite a ceasefire announced by it earlier this month, its members in the custody of law enforcement agencies are not only being tortured but tortured with greater intensity, the TTP has said.

TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told media personnel by phone on Saturday that instead of reciprocating his group’s goodwill gesture with a befitting move the authorities had intensified activities against the militants.

He said the government did not seem to be sincere towards dialogue with the TTP.

After the announcement of a ceasefire by the Taliban shura, the government should have refrained from shelling or raiding the militants’ hideouts. But, he added, shelling of the militants’ hideouts as well as their houses had registered a sharp increase over the past few days.

Incidents involving torture of TTP members in all jails of the country, particularly in Karachi, were also increasing, he said. Some of the TTP members had been moved to prisons in Sukkur and Hyderabad after being tortured.

It seemed that the government wanted the militants to resume carrying out attacks across the country, the TTP spokesman added.

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