Malala has to die: Pakistan Taliban

The Pak Taliban has defended the attack on 14-year-old peace activist Malala Yousafzai, saying she deserved it because she had "promoted secularism".

Zeenews Bureau

Islamabad: The Pakistan Taliban has defended the attack on 14-year-old peace activist Malala Yousafzai, saying she deserved it because she had "promoted secularism". While stressing Islamic Shariah to defend the attack, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said they would target the child activist again if she survived. On Tuesday night, a group of doctors successfully removed the bullet lodged near the spine of a 14-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl, who was attacked by Taliban for speaking out against the banned outfits` atrocities. Ahmed Shah, the uncle of Malala Yousufzai, said that the doctors have advised against taking Malala, the first recipient of Pakistan`s National Peace Award for Youth, outside Pakistan for treatment. In a statement issued on Wednesday, TTP said they were against attacking women, but “whom so ever leads a campaign against Islam and Shariah is ordered to be killed by Shariah”. The statement further says that it is “not just allowed … but obligatory in Islam” to kill such a person involved “in leading a campaign against Shariah and (who) tries to involve whole community in such campaign, and that personality becomes a symbol of anti-Shariah campaign”. “If anyone argues that she was female, and then we can see the incident of killing of wife by a blind companion of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) because she used to say demeaning words for the Prophet and the Prophet praised that act,” the statement argues. “If anyone thinks that Malala was targeted because of education, that is absolutely wrong, and propaganda of media. Malala was targeted because of her pioneer role in preaching secularism and so called enlightened moderation. And whomsoever will commit so in future too will be targeted again by TTP,” it adds. Malala gained international recognition for bringing to fore Taliban atrocities in Swat through a blog written for the BBC three years ago The blog was written when the Taliban were burning girls’ schools and terrorising the Swat Valley. She was hit by two bullets on Tuesday when Taliban militants fired at her inside a school bus at Mingora, the main town of the Swat Valley located 160 km from Islamabad. One bullet hit her in the head and it travelled downwards and was lodged close to her backbone. TTP spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan claimed responsibility for the attack in phone calls to journalists in the country`s northwest. He said Malala was targeted because of her "pro-West" views and for "negative propaganda" against the Taliban.