ISPR Director General terms Taliban sharia 'terrorism'

Islamabad, Jan.23 (ANI): The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan has termed the 'sharia' imposed by the Taliban in the tribal region as 'terrorism'.

Director General (DG) of the ISPR, Major General Athar Abbas has said that the peace treaty signed with the Taliban in the Swat valley has provided the extremists an opportunity to re-emerge in the region.

Taliban has regrouped in Swat as the security forces have changed their strategy after the peace deal," The Daily Times quoted, Maj. Gen. Abbas, as saying.

He maintained that the democratic government of the country has total control over the areas where the security forces have been stationed.

"Government's writ is intact in the areas where security forces are present," he said.

Meanwhile, responding to Maj Gen Athar Abbas' statement over the sharia imposed by the Taliban, JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman has said Abbas was not a mufti to judge the Talibani sharia.

Rehman rejected his comments saying: "It is the traditional language of the army."

Commenting on Maj. Gen. Abbas's claims of government writ in the Swat valley, he said despite heavy deployment of forces in the region it (government) has no control in the area.

"Why the army is being beaten by 500 men despite the presence of 50,000 troops in the Tribal Areas," Rehman said. (ANI)