Wednesday, February 16, 2011

TTP warns govt against Raymond Davis’s release

PESHAWAR: The Hakimullah Mahsud-led Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Monday warned the government of dire consequences if it released the US national Raymond Davis involved in the killing of two Pakistanis.

“The government, particularly the ruling Pakistan People’s Party must think of our reaction before it succumbs to the US pressure and releases the killer of two innocent Pakistani nationals,” remarked Ihsanullah Ihsan, a spokesman for the TTP. He called The News from an undisclosed location and said their suicide bombers would target leaders and activities of any political party found lobbying for the release of the US national. “We would not even spare the judges if they set free this killer of two persons,” the militant spokesman warned.

Asked about media reports that Raymond Davis had links with the Pakistani Taliban and reportedly made some telephone calls to them from his cellular phone, Ihsanullah denied all such reports and termed it part of propaganda by their enemy against them.

“We would love if such an important person come to us as we know well what to do with him,” the spokesman said. He said there was no way the TTP or militants affiliated with their group would keep friendly relations with the US or any other country that has been fighting against the Muslims. The TTP spokesman claimed they were closely following proceedings of the US national’s case and would show strong reaction if any relief was given to him by the court or the government. “We know the corrupt rulers cannot bear US pressure in this case but they must know we would not spare them if they showed failure. We may not have access to the rulers at the moment, but can target their party leaders whenever and wherever we wish,” the TTP spokesman warned.

Ihsanullah said they would like the government to get back Dr Aafia Siddiqui from US custody in case it decided to release Raymond Davis. “Had we been there, we would have released 10 such US nationals to get back Dr Aafia Siddiqui,” he said.

(source:thenews.com.pk)

Qureshi reaffirms party loyalty 'with or without' Cabinet post

Amid stepped up tirade against Shah Mahmood Qureshi from leaders of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, the former Foreign Minister has said he had "no personal grievances" over his exclusion from Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's new Cabinet.

Qureshi was criticised by several PPP leaders after he skipped the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet last week after finding out that he would not be reallocated the foreign affairs portfolio.

In a statement, he reaffirmed his loyalty to the PPP "with or without a ministerial post".

He said he had "no personal grievances" against the party and its leadership over his exclusion from the 22 ministers who were sworn in on Friday by President Asif Ali Zardari.

"I respect the party leadership's decision to change the Cabinet and I hold, and have always held, the interests of the country, the party and its leadership in high esteem," he said.
Qureshi also sought to link his views on immunity for US official Raymond Davis -- who was arrested in Lahore last month after he shot and killed two men -- to the PPP's "commitment to the people of Pakistan and their rights".

In a reference to the American official, he said: "It is in this regard that I confirmed certain facts pertaining to the Raymond Davis case."

He did not give details on the grounds that the case is sub-judice but said that, if he was asked by courts, he would "reiterate the facts as were presented to me by the ministry of foreign affairs".

(source:indianexpress.com)