Pak Taliban gives 5-day ultimatum to NWFP govt to resign or face consequences

Khar, July 18 (ANI): The NWFP government was not sincere in checking lawlessness in tribal areas and it should resign within five days or be ready to face the consequences, said the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) headed by Baitullah Mehsud.

"The NWFP government is not sincere about restoring peace, rather it is responsible for lawlessness in the tribal areas, Hangu and Swat," TTP spokesman Maulvi Umar quoted Baitullah as saying here last evening.

He said that the Taliban reserved the right "to take action against the provincial government" if it did not resign in five days. "The NWFP government is a powerless entity and Taliban would not hold talks with a weak government," the Dawn quoted him as saying.

On the other hand, pooh-poohing the threat, provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that people had given the government a mandate for five years. "This is just nonsense and we know from where they are getting dictation," he said and added that Mehsud's statement was regrettable.

He said the government would not step down, nor would it follow the dictates of a person or group, added the paper. (ANI)