Taliban publicly execute alleged murderer
By DPA, IANSTuesday, June 8, 2010
ISLAMABAD - Taliban militants Tuesday publicly executed a man accused of killing two brothers in Pakistan’s tribal region along the Afghan border, security officials and residents said.
The execution took place at a football ground in Miranshah, the main city in the militancy-plagued North Waziristan district, as hundreds of residents watched.
The Taliban captured Waheed Ullah, 25, alleging he killed two brothers, Nour and Alam Zeb, around two weeks ago. Ullah was then sentenced to death under Islamic Sharia law.
An intelligence official confirmed the incident.
The execution represents Islamist insurgents’ efforts to win public support by delivering swift justice in the lawless tribal region. But this also shows militants’ power and influence in the district, which has turned into a major hub of Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters since 2001.
Washington is encouraging Pakistan to conduct an assault in North Waziristan against the militants, who also target NATO-led international forces in Afghanistan.
But Islamabad has signed a peace deal with Taliban leader Hafiz Gul Bahadur, who controls much of the district together with Afghan commander Sirajuddin Haqani.
