| [Pak Daily Times] Pakistani Taliban flogged 65 men in public in the Orakzai Agency after accusing them of using and selling drugs, the group said on Monday. The men were given 10 lashes each in an open area used by children to play football and for religious sermons in the town of Mamozai in the Orakzai Agency, said Taliban spokesman Hafiz Saeed. The floggings illustrate how Pakistan's al Qaeda-linked Taliban is still able to impose harsh punishments in some parts of the northwest despite government assertions that several military offensives severely weakened the group. "They were found guilty of using and selling drugs after which our Islamic court sentenced them to punishment that was carried out in public," said Saeed. An Orakzai tribesman said about 600 people watched the lashings after the Taliban made announcements through mosques urging people to attend. People often comply with the Taliban out of fear, although the group does have supporters. "The men were brought in groups of five and were lashed 10 times each before being released," said the tribesmen, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals. |