Pak Taliban issues ‘last warning’ to media against showing it in bad light

PESHAWAR - The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has warned newspapers and television channels for the ‘last time’ for presenting only one side of the story of their struggle and supporting the armed forces.

An e-mail sent by a self-proclaimed spokesperson of the ‘Taliban Media Centre’ in North Waziristan, Muhammad Umar, blamed the media for working as an ally of the government, and said it is hiding the truth.

“Why is the media only conveying the army’s point of view? Is this proof that the media is also working as an ally for the government and the army? Or they are being forced to hide the truth?” The Daily Times quoted the e-mail, as saying.

“This email should be considered a last warning for the media of Pakistan. If the media doesn’t stop working as an ally of the government and the army, the Taliban would have to treat the media as they want to be treated,” it warned.

The e-mail was sent just hours after militants targeted an Army convoy in Dattakhel area of North Waziristan killing seven soldiers and injuring 25 others.

Six vehicles were destroyed in the attack in was said to have been carried out by supporters of a powerful Taliban commander Maulvi Saddiq Noor.

Noor belongs to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group which had attacked a military convoy in Wecha Bibi area last year and killed 23 soldiers.

Confirming the ambush, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the convoy was going from Miramshah to Datakhel when it came under attack near Boya area of the restive region. (ANI)