DERA ISMAIL KHAN - The Taliban will attack government, police and military officials if three of the late Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s widows are not released from Pakistani custody, a spokesman for the militant group said on Friday.
Government has charged bin Laden’s three widows with illegally entering and staying in the country, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Thursday.
“If the family of Osama bin Laden is not released as soon as possible, we will attack the judges, the lawyers and the security officials involved in their trial,” said Ehsanullah Ehsan of the TTP.
“We will carry out suicide bombings against security forces and the govt across the country.” Malik did not specify which court was dealing with the case. The three women will have to stand trial, but it was not clear what punishment they face if convicted. The Qaeda leader’s body was flown out by American special forces, but his three wives and an undisclosed number of children were among the 16 people detained by Pakistani authorities after the raid.
Two of the wives are Saudi nationals, and one is from Yemen, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Pakistan had previously said that it would repatriate the women after a government commission probing the bin Laden raid had completed its questioning.
TTP’s spokesman also threatened attacks against Shad Begum, a women’s rights activist based in Peshawar.
The United States State Department honoured Begum with the 2012 International Women of Courage award at a ceremony in Washington on Thursday.
“She works for a secular and infidel system in Pakistan,” Ehsan said. “That is why America has given her this prize.” Meanwhile speaking to the media after visiting the NADRA headquarters in Islamabad, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said he would not be deterred by threats being made by the TTP.
Malik said the government had an obligation to protect and respect the family of Osama bin Laden who were in Pakistani custody.
The Interior minister added that if there was no trial held for the widows of Osama, then there would be an accusation that the government was supporting them.