Taliban killed TNSM leaders: Pak minister

Peshawar, June 7 (ANI): The Information Minister of Pakistan's North Western Frontier Province, Iftikhar Hussain, has blamed the Taliban for the killing two TNSM leaders and an army officer, who were being taken to Peshawar for interrogation.

The arrested TNSM leaders, Maulana Muhammad Alam and Ameer Izzat Khan were being taken to Peshawar along with some terrorists when some suspected terrorists blew up their vehicle with a remote-controlled bomb in Sakhakot.

"In the wake of life threats to TNSM leadership, it is strongly believed that the militants had killed Ameer Izzat and Muhammad Alam," The News quoted Hussain, as saying.

Hussain said the militants had killed the TNSM leaders in order to put the blame on government and also instigate the general public on the other.ddressing a press conference here on Saturday, Hussain rejected reports of TNSM chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad's arrest, and said the NWFP government did not know anything about Muhammad's whereabouts.

Hussain, who was actively involved in the Swat peace deal, disclosed that Muhammad had pledged to declare the violators of peace agreement as traitors and rebels, but he had changed his mind and stance after receiving life threats from the militants.

About the difference between the figures of internally displaced persons being shown by NWFP government and military officials, the minister said that the government had clarified that due to dual registration and random calculation of the IDPs, the number could be different.

However, he said the NADRA itself verified some 2,29,071 families till Saturday, which could be enhanced. (ANI)