Hardliner Group Claims Responsibility For Islamabad Attack

Islamabad, March 4, IRNA - A Taliban splinter group “Ahrar-ul-Hind” has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack on a court in the Pakistani capital which killed 11 people, including a local judge and five lawyers. “I claim responsibility for the Islamabad attack,” a purported spokesman for the group told the media by the phone from an undisclosed location. The spokesman said his group strongly opposes peace dialogue between the Taliban and the government. ˈWe do not endorse the ceasefire and peace talks between the government and the Taliban as we consider it against Islam,ˈ he said. ˈWe only want implementation of Sharia and the ongoing peace talks have not mentioned it,ˈ he said. Pakistani Taliban Monday said they would not be responsible for any incident during the month-long ceasefire. On the other hand the Taliban spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, denied any involvement in the Islamabad’s attack and said that explanation will be sought from any Taliban member if found guilty of having hand in any incident during the month-long ceasefire. “We have already issued instructions to all of our colleagues to stop all violent activities since the ceasefire has been announced. We will have no link with any incident during this period,” Shahid said in a statement. “The Tehrik-e-Taliban was not involved in the Islamabad attack and none of our colleagues took part in it,” he said./end