Militants have planned to kidnap Bilawal Bhutto: Rehman Malik

[Emmie]

ISLAMABAD: The al Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have planned to kidnap Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as he visits Pakistan next month, according to Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
“The TTP and al Qaeda have also planned to assassinate Bilawal,” revealed Malik while talking to reporters on Monday. “Necessary measures have been taken for Bilawal’s security in and outside Pakistan,” he said.
According to intelligence reports, Bilawal may be targeted by militants when he will be on his visit to Garhi Khuda Bux, a native town of his family in Sindh in December to attend death anniversary of his mother Benazir Bhutto, officials associated with the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) told The Express Tribune.
The NCMC shared the reports with President Asif Ali Zardari, they said adding that the reports confirmed the upcoming threats to the life of his son, Bilawal. An official letter has also been sent to Prime Minister Secretariat, knowing the sensitivity of the matter earlier this month.
“Some banned outfits have notorious designs against Bilawal Bhutto,” said a senior official of Interior Ministry, quoting revelations of the British Security Service (MI5), a UK based intelligent agency responsible for national security. The MI5 with coordination of Oxford University is assessing how to provide more security to Bilawal where he is residing, he added. A detailed report on this matter will be handed over to the President by end of this month, he said.
“Around Rs136.5 million is being spent on Bilawal’s security in Britain,” he added.
However, the NCMC head Brig (retd) Javaid Lodhi did not share the details on the issue of Bilawal’s kidnapping plan due to “sensitivity of the matter.” Meanwhile, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) with the cooperation of the NCMC has begun investigation to dig out the notorious plans of militants to kidnap famous celebrities in the country, officials said. The NACTA with the help of Rangers has also found some clues regarding such plans in Karachi, they added.
Shahbaz Taseer’s kidnapping Case
Interior Minister revealed that Shahbaz Taseer, the kidnapped son of slain former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer has been shifted to the Pak-Afghan border, most probably to North Waziristan.
“Shahbaz is still alive,” said Malik. “It’s still unclear about the kidnappers’ identity as no militant organization has confirmed his kidnapping.”
However, Malik did not share more regarding the investigation into the abduction of Taseer’s son who was abducted from Gulberg area of Lahore on August 26 when he was on his way to office.
“We are very close to know whereabouts of Shahbaz Taseer,” he said. “We want his safe release at all cost,” he pledged. Earlier, Punjab Governor Latif Khosa also claimed that Shahbaz was still alive and significant clues regarding Shahbaz’s abduction have been found during the investigation.
Blackwater connection
Rehman Malik said he will quit his job if any person brings evidences against him.
“I have no connection with a foreign security company, Blackwater,” he claimed.
To a question, he said he does not own any security firm and all allegations being leveled against him are false. He termed Blackwater, a notorious American security firm having no existence in Pakistan.

Militants have planned to kidnap Bilawal Bhutto: Rehman Malik – The Express Tribune