 Taliban in North Waziristan have issued a threatening letter to members of the national and provincial assemblies warning them against voting President General Pervez Musharraf in the presidential election.
| In a civilized country such overweening arrogance would astound and perplex. In Pakistain it's almost background noise. |
The statement issued by the Taliban central office in Miranshah addressed the members, “you have cast your votes for Musharraf who ruled for five years and you and the whole world saw its consequences”, it said. The statement added, “You have seen what atrocities he (Musharraf) meted out to the Pakistani nation and especially against the ulema of the madaris and mosques. The series of atrocities and destruction is continuing, due to which thousands of madarassa students have been martyred.”
| Don't worry about the common folk. It's the madrassah brats that deserve our attention and sympathy. |
“Therefore, you are requested to avoid imposing this tyrant on us again and if someone votes for him, then he should be ready to face suicide attacks,” the statement read. “Voting for Musharraf is haraam (unlawful) and he is an apostate (out of Islam) due to his cooperation with infidels. An apostate cannot be a ruler according to Pakistan’s law, therefore, all the members are requested to feel for their lives and children, so that we may stop our 376 suicide bombers (Fidayeen) who have been trained for you. And if you don’t accept our demands, then...” the statement concluded. |