-Atif Khan says he has informed security agencies about the letter
-TTP confirms the issuance of letter by its Mardan Chapter
-The letter comes after reports of TTP’s resurgence in the KP
-Federal Ministers express concern over Swat’s security situation in NA
-Defence Minister says situation not yet of ‘same velocity and gravity’ as earlier
PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: Senior Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister Atif Khan has received a letter demanding Rs8 million in extortion from the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Sources within TTP have confirmed the issuance of the letter by their Mardan chapter. Atif also confirmed that he has received the extortion letter. Speaking to journalists, Atif said that he has shared the letter with the relevant officials.
“We will take whatever action [needed] on the letter. Security agencies have been informed rest is up to them,” said the minister. The letter comes after reports of TTP’s resurgence in the KP.
Later, the outlawed group rejected the reports that it had sent the letter to the minister, saying that it was “fake”. Recently a terror attack also took place in Swat on a school van that killed a van driver.
Following the incident, the National Security Committee (NSC) took stock of the security situation in the country. In the meeting, officials of the country’s security apparatus gave a briefing on the security situation — in light of the recent terrorist activities.
The meeting made it clear that the blood of every citizen is precious and noted that the law will strictly deal with those involved in the bloodshed of innocents.
“Our citizens rendered unprecedented sacrifices along with the armed forces and played a historic role in the war against terrorism,” read a statement.
The forum decided to constitute an apex committee headed by PM Shahbaz and revive the National Counter-terrorism Authority (Nacta), which will work in collaboration with the provincial-level counter-terrorism departments to prevent any resurgence of terrorism in the country.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday raised concern over Swat’s alarming security situation during the day’s National Assembly session and warned that the “fire in Swat can reach everyone, including me”.
The defence minister said there are issues which need to be resolved and problems can arise if the situation is not resolved politically.
While talking about recent militant incidents in the mountainous district, Asif said that the fact that people were standing up against incidents of terrorism was an encouraging sign.
“The same process has started in Swat after 13 years. The fire there can reach everyone including me. The people of Swat have come together. We should sit together to solve the issues,” added Asif and further added that the situation, though similar, has not reached the “same gravity and velocity”.
Climate Minister Sherry Rehman also raised alarm over the situation in the district and said it was “terrorism and not an insurgency”. She further stated that there could be no “result-oriented engagement with terrorism” and a “terrorist will remain a terrorist.”
“When they agree to talk, they have pre-conditions,” Rehman said, adding that whenever such groups were engaged in talks, it was only possible after they laid down their arms. – Agencies
