‘Pak Taliban send suicide bombers to target Gilani,Shahbaz’

The Taliban planned to target Gilani,other dignitaries like Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif,officials of law enforcement agencies and their relatives,the intelligence report said.

The Taliban has sent 50 suicide bombers to Punjab and North West Frontier Province to carry out attacks to pressure the government to release militants arrested by security forces,it said.

Intelligence agencies informed law enforcement authorities through a letter that the Taliban have rebuilt their network and the suicide bombers had been directed to strike their targets so that militants could achieve their goals within 30 days,the media reports said.

The intelligence agencies also warned the militants would try to abduct officials to secure the release of detained rebels. They also said terrorists could carry out attacks to secure the release of a militant named Zubair who was arrested for the assault on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March. The TV channels quoted official sources as saying that law enforcement agencies had been advised to improve security to avert possible attacks.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone attack in South Waziristan on August 5. The military launched an operation against the Taliban in Swat in May after they took advantage of a peace deal to extend their influence to Buner and Dir districts near Islamabad. The army claims over 1,800 militants have been killed so far. About 300 security personnel have also died in the fighting.