Swat anti-terror court declares Fazlullah a 'proclaimed offender'

Islamabad, Aug.19 (ANI): A Swat anti-terrorism court has declared Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Swat chapter chief Mullah Fazlullah and his six associates 'proclaimed offenders.'

The court has asked Fazlullah and his aides to appear before it within the next seven days.

More than 100 cases, including that of murder and attempt to murder have been registered against the militant leader who is also known as Radio Mullah, The News reports.

Reports in the media suggested that Fazlullah has been seriously injured in a drone strike and is on his death bed, but the Taliban has rejected all such reports, saying he is in good health and hiding somewhere in the Swat Valley.

However, the authorities have failed to ascertain where he has taken refuge.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) has asked the district coordination officer (DCO) to submit records relevant to three sons of Tanzim Nifaz Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM) chief Sufi Muhammad.

A single bench court, headed by Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, directed the DCO to submit the record on August 20.

Sufi's sons Rizwanullah, Hayatullah and Ziaullah, who were arrested along with their father, had challenged their detention in the court.

In his petition, Rizwanullah has claimed that he had been settled in Saudi Arabia for last 13-14 years. Hayatullah was a PTC teacher in a government school in Maidan in Lower Dir and Ziaullah was doing his post-graduation in Islamiyat from Malakand University. (ANI)