TTP condones Peshawar church attack Tribune

TTP condones Peshawar church attack By Riaz Ahmad / News DeskPublished: October 5, 2013 “We didn’t carry out the church attack. However, we believe it’s according to the Sharia,” says TTP spokesperson. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS PESHAWAR: The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has once again denied involvement in the Sept 22 twin suicide bombings at All Saints Church in Peshawar – but the group says it condones the attack. “We didn’t carry out the church attack. However, we believe it’s according to the Sharia,” TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid told the BBC Urdu in a telephone interview from an undisclosed location. Asked who issues orders for any attack, he said the TTP central leadership did not necessarily take such decisions. “Our objectives are clear to all our component groups. They are free to select and attack the enemy targets.” However, he added that the TTP had checked with all its groups and none of them owned the church attack. Separately, security forces arrested three local militant commanders during an operation in the Hassan Khel area of Frontier Region Peshawar. Pakistan Army backed by Frontier Corps carried out a large scale operation in the area and arrested three commanders — Mulla Younas, Meena Gul and Dr Sarkha Gul, local residents told The Express Tribune. Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2013.