Pak govt. orders all out offensive to hunt down Mehsud

Islamabad, June 15 (ANI): The Pakistan government has asked the Army to carry out an all out offensive to hunt down the Tehreek-e-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, and Mehsud tribes.

Addressing a press conference, the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Governor, Awais Ghani, said that a comprehensive military operation would be launched against Mehsud for harbouring terrorists, and killing innocent people.

"Law-enforcement agencies have been ordered to launch a comprehensive operation against Mehsud tribes and the TTP chief and his followers for their failure to fulfil their duties in accordance with the law of the land," Ghani said.

Although he failed to set a date for the operation, sources said it would follow soon after the offensive in Malakand and Swat is accomplished, with the troops already moving closer towards Waziristan.

Ghani said the operation would play a decisive role in rooting out terrorism from the country.

"This would be an affective and decisive operation that would root out terrorism from Pakistan," The Daily Times quoted Ghani, as saying.

He said Mehsud has been challenging the writ of the government, and creating havoc in the country, so it is very important to curb his terror activities, and quell the increasing barbaric acts of the Mehsud tribes.

"The decision to launch the operation against Mehsud tribes had been made to protect the lives and properties of the people of Pakistan from the barbaric terrorists of Mehsud tribes," Ghani added. (ANI)