Pak Taliban and al-Qaeda planning to kidnap Bilawal: Malik

Islamabad, Oct 17: The Pakistani Taliban and al-Qaeda are plotting to kidnap ruling Pakistan People's Party chief and President Asif Ali Zardari's son Bilawal Bhutto, Interior Minister Rehman Malik today (Oct 17) said. "About two weeks back, an elite agency gave us the information that al-Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan might jointly try to kidnap our chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

"When this information came to us, it was circulated to all the concerned law enforcement agencies," Malik told reporters in the southern port city of Karachi. "All measures will be taken to protect (Bilawal)," Malik said without giving details of the plot to kidnap the 23-year-old.

In keeping with Zardari's plans to groom him for a future leadership role, the Britain-based Bilawal, son of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto, frequently visits Pakistan. Meanwhile, Dawn News channel said The National Crisis Management Cell has alerted authorities that al-Qaeda has plans to abduct Bilawal, nominal chairman of the PPP, from Karachi.

Intelligence agencies sent a report to the Interior Ministry that said al-Qaeda was planning to abduct Bilawal and target other officials, the report said.

PTI