Swat flogging eyewitness refutes Taliban's conspiracy theory

Mingora (Pakistan): The man who captured the Taliban publicly flogging a teenage girl on his mobile phone has refuted the outlawed outfit's claim that the video was months old, and that it was a conspiracy against it, saying that the barbaric incident took place only two weeks ago.

The only eyewitness of the incident named Shaukat, for the first time since the release of the video, appeared before media explaining the reality behind it.

Shaukat said the Taliban actually punished the 17 year girl following her refusal of a marriage proposal.

"The man who proposed to marry her joined the ranks of the Taliban after the rejection and this was how he took his revenge from the 17-year-old girl," The Dawn quoted Shaukat, as saying.

When enquired as why any of the onlookers did not raise voices against the act, Shaukat said that the Taliban's fear had been thoroughly engrained in the Swat Valley, and no one could dare defy their law.

"People in Swat are so scared that no one has the courage to stand up and speak out against the Taliban and their verdicts," he added. (ANI)