CHITRAL, Dec 3: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Monday claimed that all killers of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had been arrested and their identity would be disclosed on Dec 27, the fifth anniversary of her assassination.

Addressing a meeting of Pakistan People’s Party workers here, Mr Malik said his successful strategy had led to the division of the banned militant organisation, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), into three factions and that TTP leaders Waliur Rehman, Zahid and Ihsanullah Ihsan were fighting for their survival.

He said he had gathered information about Ihsanullah Ihsan and his foreign masters and their agenda, and would be disclosing them all shortly.

The minister announced amnesty for TTP activists, who had abandoned militancy and agreed to live a peaceful life.

“It is a fact that majority of TTP workers are those who do it (carry out militant activities) out of poverty and unemployment,” he said, adding that he would provide jobs in government departments to those leaving the Taliban.

Mr Malik said the US should stop drone attacks in Pakistani tribal areas and shouldn’t ask a nation, which had already lost 40,000 of its people in the war against terror, to do more against terrorism.

He criticised Afghan President Hamid Karzai over the increasing incidents of intrusions from across the border and said: “Enough is enough and now we will chase infiltrators into Afghan territory.”

“How they (Afghan government) talk of peace by providing safe shelter to Fazlullah and Faqir Mohammad on their soil to enable them to carry out their nefarious activities against Pakistan,” he said.

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...