MIRAMSHAH, Sept 26: The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said on Wednesday they had removed a minister from their ‘hit list’ after he offered $100,000 bounty for the death of a US filmmaker who produced an anti-Islam movie.

Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour sparked international condemnation when he offered the bounty and urged the Taliban and Al Qaeda to carry out what he called the “noble deed”.

“We have totally forgiven him and removed his name from our hit list,” TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said in a phone call from an unknown location. He said the Taliban Shura had met on Tuesday and “praised Bilour for his sacrifice for the cause of Islam”.

“The Shura paid rich tribute to Bilour and endorsed his bounty announcement,” he said.

The government and Mr Bilour’s own party have distanced themselves from the reward for the killing of the person behind the crudely-made ‘Innocence of Muslims’ film, which has sparked violent protests across the Muslim world.

But Mr Bilour insisted public opinion was behind him. “I expressed my personal view and faith. I stand by my declaration,” the 72-year-old Bilour said.

“My faith is non-violent, but I cannot forgive and tolerate (this insult),” he said. He said a businessman from Lahore had offered to put up a further $400,000 for the reward and said that freedom of speech should not be used as an excuse to insult Islam.—AFP