Thu, Jul 24 01:05 PM
Pakistan's security and intelligence agencies have been put on high alert following reports that local Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud has prepared a hit list of 300 high-profile figures, including top political leaders.
Among those that could be targeted are the leadership of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, Awami National Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and anti-Taliban Shia and Sunni clerics, said source close to an intelligence agency.
Personnel from intelligence and law enforcement agencies, officials from the federal interior and provincial ministries and journalists could also be targeted by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan of Mehsud, who was blamed for the December 27 assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.
The families of the political leadership and law enforcement personnel are also believed to be at risk, the sources told the Daily Times newspaper.
"Of course this type of information is received from time to time," said CID chief Saud Mirza, adding that Pakistan is still under threat. "We are in coordination with all the intelligence agencies," he said.
The MQM's leadership was alerted by law enforcement agencies when members of the Jundullah militant groups were arrested on charges of attacking the former Corps Commander of Karachi, Lt Gen Ahsan Hayat.
During interrogations, the arrested men confessed that they targeted the MQM's leadership as its members were perceived as "American agents".
Meanwhile, the restive north western Mohmand Agency has come under the "complete control" of the Pakistani Taliban after its cadres eliminated the leadership of another Jihadi organisation operating in the semi-autonomous tribal area.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan commander Umar Khalid took control of the Mohmand region following a bloody campaign against the "Shah group", whose chief and deputy chief were among eight persons killed on Friday.
This has made Khalid one of the strongest and most influential Taliban leaders after Baitullah Mehsud, local residents said.
Mehsud has set up a team to "probe" the killings of the leaders of the Shah group, which was close to former Lashker-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Mohammed Saeed.
But local residents have said there is little likelihood that the team sent by Mehsud would penalise Khalid for his actions against the Shah group.
"Any group not showing allegiance to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan will not be tolerated in Mohmand Agency," Khalid told reporters after taking over the headquarters of the Shah group.
Khalid, a former journalist, worked for pro-jihad publications Zarb-e-Momin and the daily Islam in the 1990s before he joined the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
His affiliation with the two publications also earned him membership of Ghalanai Press Club in Mohmand Agency. The membership was revoked after he became involved in
militancy. Khalid was the Harkatul Mujahideen chief in Mohmand Agency before becoming a Taliban commander. Khalid's fighters usually target US forces in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar.
He closely coordinates with Maulvi Faqir, the Taliban commander on the nearby Bajaur Agency, officials said.
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