Following the recent attack on Pakistani teen Malala Yousafzai by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, Pakistani cities are on security alert for likely terror attacks. Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik has warned that the militants, angered over sympathetic media coverage of the girl, are planning to launch attacks on Pakistani and foreign media houses and journalists, especially television presenters.
According to Pakistani media reports, excerpts from which are given below, TTP Emir Hakimullah Mehsud has drawn up a list of targets, including journalists, and has assigned tasks to TTP suicide bombers. Meanwhile, Rehman Malik has also announced a $1 million bounty for the head of TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ihsan.
Pakistani Interior Minister: Militants Planning Attacks On Media Houses, Journalists
Following are excerpts from an October 16 report:[1]
"[Pakistani Interior Minister] Rehman Malik has revealed that the militants have planned to target some media houses and [television] anchors while the intelligence agencies are working to gather details about the plan. Talking to the media... Monday, the minister said there are alerts regarding the probable attack on some of the media houses and anchors and he has instructed the intelligence agencies to gather complete information in this regard....
"The minister said the civil and military leadership is in consultation over the matters of national importance and decisions are made with consent. He ruled out possibility of military operation in North Waziristan.... 'For the time being there is no plan for military operation in North Waziristan...,' he said.
"Speaking at a meeting here [in Islamabad] Monday, the interior minister directed the intelligence agencies to provide timely and correct information to the government so as to ensure arrest of terrorists and other criminals. He directed the provincial home secretaries and inspectors general of police to ensure foolproof security arrangements for the people and key installations."
"[Militants Have] Selected 12 Suicide Bombers And Tasked Them To Target Media Organizations... And Some Foreign Media Organizations And Their Workers, In Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore And Karachi"
According to an October 15 media report:[2]
"Enraged by widespread media coverage of Malala Yousafzai, who was shot and critically injured by the militants in Swat, the Pakistani Taliban led by Hakimullah Mehsud reportedly planned to target media organizations, particularly television channels and some journalists in the country....
"According to sources, the Taliban felt that the media has become biased against them and was giving 'undue' coverage to the attack on Malala and portraying them as the 'worst people on earth.' The militants were reported to have held meetings and decided to suspend all their current operations and activities in the country and directed field commanders and fighters to divert their attention towards media organizations instead of the government and security forces.
"In this regard, the sources said, the militants had selected12 suicide bombers and tasked them to target media organizations, particularly the electronic media and some foreign media organizations and their workers, in Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and wherever they found them. 'The suicide bombers have particularly been directed to target offices, vehicles and journalists individually who had become a party and were issuing fatwas or decrees against the Taliban,' TTP sources said.
"They said the Taliban had deputed people to closely monitor various media organizations, Pakistani and foreign media, after the attack on Malala to assess which media outlet was giving how much coverage to her and how the journalists remained impartial and unbiased while reporting the incident....
"The journalists in Swat said they were receiving threatening telephone calls and text messages from unknown people warning them of serious consequences for giving coverage to Malala...."
Pakistani Daily Report: Terror Alert Across Pakistan; "15 Terrorists Have Entered Pakistan With The Intent To Attack Pakistan Ordinance Factory (POF), Security Checkposts, Government Schools, Colleges"
Following are excerpts from an October 16 report:[3]
"The Interior Ministry, acting on information provided in intelligence reports, has declared high alert across the country on Tuesday. Local factions of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have planned on attacking various targets in the country, the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) of the Interior Ministry warned.
"The information revealed that around 15 terrorists have entered Pakistan with the intent to attack Pakistan Ordinance Factory (POF), security checkposts, government schools, colleges and sensitive installations.
"This group of terrorists is reportedly led by an Afghan national who has also served in the Afghan National Army (ANA) as a commander. He currently is said to be hiding in Kurram Agency. The report further stated that the terrorists have already been dispatched to carry out the planned attacks.
"The Interior Ministry has alerted all provincial home departments, provincial police chiefs and provincial heads of other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), directing them to increase security across the country...."
"TTP Chief Hakimullah Mehsud Has Compiled A List Of Targets"; TTP Plans To "Kidnap Foreigners Particularly American And French Nationals From Rawalpindi And Islamabad"
"[Continuing from the previous report] TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud has compiled a list of targets and directed the group's fighters to launch attacks against national and international media outlets in the country, revealed an intelligence report. Several prominent journalists are on the list, it added....
"Another threat alert stated that TTP terrorists are planning to carry out a terrorist attack on various targets in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. TTP operatives – Marchal and Karim Khan – have moved to Islamabad from Waziristan to execute their plans.
"The report further revealed that a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) group has planned to assault Inspector General of Police K-P and kidnap foreigners particularly American and French nationals from Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
"The TTP Orakzai chapter is planning to target LEAs in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and surrounding areas shortly, the NCMC report added. Tariq Geedar Group (TGG) of the TTP has planned to target Marriot Hotel in Islamabad, the interior ministry revealed."
Pakistani Interior Minister Announces $1 Million Bounty For TTP Spokesman
Following are excerpts from an October 17 report:[4]
"[During a visit to Swat district, Rehman Malik responded to] a question regarding his earlier statement about the government having no plans of launching an operation [against the Taliban] in North Waziristan...: 'If the Taliban lay down their arms, we can offer them forgiveness.'
"He maintained TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud had already been killed and the outfit would now appoint Mullah Fazlullah in his place. He also offered a $1 million bounty for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan.... 'The images of TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan will be issued to the media very soon..., Malik said."
Endnotes:
[1] The News (Pakistan), October 17, 2012.
[2] The News (Pakistan), October 15, 2012.
[3] Tribune.com.pk (Pakistan), October 16, 2012.
[4] The Express Tribune (Pakistan), October 17, 2012
