Taliban may target oil depots, grid stations in Pak Punjab

September 14th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - A Saudi Arabian charity has funded 15 million dollars to a pro al-Qaeda militant organization to carry out terror attacks in Pakistan, Pakistani police has claimed. "The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan is likely to strike major cities of the Punjab.

August 22nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The banned Pakistani Taliban, against whom the security forces are engaged in a major offensive in the country's restive northwest, had planned to target Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and other dignitaries, an intelligence report said Saturday. Among the others on the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) radar were Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, as also sensitive buildings.

July 23rd, 2009 LAHORE - At least three explosive laden vehicles have entered Punjab and may target important installations in the province. The Pakistan Interior Ministry has received intelligence inputs that two Toyota Corollas and a pick up van have been sent to the province to attack high value targets, The Daily Times reports.

June 27th, 2009 LAHORE - Governments in Pakistan's Punjab and Sindh provinces have been placed on terror alert amid fears that the Taliban could take refuge in the southern part of the country after fleeing from Waziristan and Swat. Interior Minister Rehman Malik disclosed that his department had recorded 1,148 terrorist threats during last four months.

June 19th, 2009 LAHORE - The Taliban has dispatched three suicide bombers to carry out attacks in Islamabad and Lahore, it has been revealed. According to the Daily Times, one of the would-be suicide bombers, who was arrested earlier this month, has disclosed that the Taliban had sent two suicide bombers to Lahore and one to Islamabad to strike at important locations of the two cities.

June 19th, 2009 PESHAWAR - The Taliban not only used sophisticated arms and ammunitions to install their command on key installations in Mingora, but also resorted to 'psychological warfare' against the security forces, Subedar Fazal Hameed, who defended the Mingora electric grid station for 20 days continuously before getting help from the military, has said. Hameed, a Frontier Corps subedar, denied the Taliban an access to the grid station, and fought bravely against the insurgents despite being short of arms and ammunition.

June 18th, 2009 RAWALPINDI/LAHORE - At least 30 explosive-laden vehicles have entered Punjab as well as the garrison town of Rawalpindi adjacent to the Pakistani capital Islamabad from the tribal areas of the country, a media report Thursday said. The intelligence agencies had warned of the entry of the 30 explosive-laden vehicles, Online news agency reported, quoting a private TV channel.

May 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - With a relatively unheard of terror group, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Punjab (TTP) having taken responsibility for Wednesday's terror strike in Lahore, fears have been raised about an increasing unity between different Punjabi militant groups and the Taliban. Former Lahore city police chief, Malik Iqbal said there are signs which prove that the Punjab based militia is 'working hand in glove' with the Taliban.

May 28th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - A relatively unheard of terror group, the 'Tehrik-i-Taliban Punjab' has claimed responsibility for Wednesday's Lahore suicide attack in which over 30 persons, including 12 security officials were killed. According to the Dawn, the claim was made in Turkish-language and was posted on Turkish militant websites through an organization called the Elif Media.

May 19th, 2009 LAHORE - The governor of Pakistan's Punjab province has said there is no danger of Talibanisation in the area. Governor Salman Taseer said the situation in Punjab is under control and there is no danger of Talibanisation in the province, the Online news agency reported Tuesday.

May 14th, 2009 LAHORE - Only 38 percent of the NWFP and the FATA is under Pakistan Government's control, a BBC map illustrates. The 18-month-long research covered 24 districts of NWFP, seven tribal agencies and six frontier regions of the FATA.

May 7th, 2009 LAHORE - Suicide bombings are justified in Islam from the days' of Prophet Mohammad, the Taliban has said. Spokesperson of the reclusive leader of Afghanistan Taliban Mullah Omar, Zabiullah Mujahid said the Taliban is working for the sake of Islam.

May 1st, 2009 LAHORE - The Taliban has the potential to not only expand suicide attacks inside Pakistan, but also to put greater pressure on the routes ferrying supplies to NATO troops in Afghanistan. The new US plan calls for increasing troop levels in Afghanistan, would require more supplies.

April 22nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Punjab province is falling under the grip of the Taliban and the country needs to act quickly to eliminate this grave threat to the heart of our country, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Deputy Parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar has said. Talking to reporters at Parliament House, Sattar claimed the Taliban were getting stronger in Punjab and the time had come to take immediate action against the people who posed a grave threat to Pakistan's security.

March 21st, 2009 LAHORE - Jamaat-e-Islami's (JI) Pakistan Punjab province chief Liaquat Baloch on Friday said the Pakistan Muslim League-Q and PML-N are going to form government in Punjab. Talking to reporters here in Okara, Liaquat Baloch said he sees rise in conspiracies against democracy in case PML-Q joins Pakistan People's Party in order to form government in Punjab.