Taliban impose Shariah, encircling Islamabad

EVEN AS the Taliban began enforcing Islamic law in Bajaur region, latest reports from Pakistan said that militants were consolidating their hold on Buner in an attempt to encircle Islamabad.

A senior militant commander said that Pakistan Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud had decided to enforce the Shariah in Bajaur and announced the same on Friday (April 10).

With the imposition of the Shariah law, Taliban barred women from coming out of the house without male relatives, banned shaving and asked people not to get assistance from government financial aid for women.

Taliban, on Saturday (April 11), said that they would use every measure to implement the Shariah and those violating the edicts will be punished severely.

The militants are also entering Buner district in large numbers and consolidating their hold in the area, which is just 100 kms from Islamabad.

Taliban, earlier had announced that they would move out of Buner, but the militant group, its seems, has changed plan after threatening to withdraw from the peace deal in Swat.

No opposition was offered to the Taliban fighters, who entered the area as police and security forces avoided any contact with them, locals said.

Militants have also stopped people from visiting a local Sufi shrine and threatened those opposing them with dire consequences, they added.

Source: Meri News