TTP Might Target Media Organizations

Islamabad, Oct 14, IRNA – Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Hakimullah Mehsud has issued orders to operatives for taking action against international and national media organizations in Pakistan, media reported on Saturday. Reports quoting an official of the interior ministry said that agencies have recorded a telephonic conversation between Mehsud and a Taliban operative Nadeem Abbas regarding the directives. Mehsud, according to the interior ministry, was directing Abbas to target media organizations and personnel in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and other cities who were criticizing the Taliban for attacking Malala Yousufzai. The Taliban have been targeted with severe criticism and condemnation for attacking the 14-year-old child activist by Pakistan and other countries. After listening to the conversation the government has directed all media organizations, especially international media organizations to tighten security around their offices and has directed concerned authorities to do the same for these organizations. The Taliban have threatened media organizations through emails and telephonic conversations as well. The government has directed authorities to station heavy contingents of police in areas where there are important media organizations and if need be, they can request the government for stationing Frontier Constabulary (FC) too./end