Pakistan bans Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan

Islamabad, Aug 25: Pakistan's Interior Ministry has reportedly banned the local unit of the Taliban - the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan - and also decided to freeze its bank accounts. People associated with the group would be arrested, and the bank accounts of the TTP would be frozen, the Dawn quoted sources in the Interior Ministry as saying.

Earlier, on Sunday, Aug 24 the TTP had unilaterally announced a ceasefire with security forces and offered peace talks with the government. However, their request was turned down by the Pakistan government. In the recent past, Pakistan has witnessed a series of suicide blast attacks which left more than 100 people dead. The TTP claimed responsibility for these attacks and threatened to carry out more attacks if the security forces continued their operations in Swat valley and tribal areas. Meanwhile, the TTP is learnt to have sent a threat to the members of provincial assembly (MPA) hostel in the North West Frontier Province. The Taliban warned that the MPA hostel in Peshawar would be blown up and security has been put on high alert in the area.

ANI