6 Pakistani politicians under threat from terrorists

Pakistan's Natio­nal Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) has revealed the names of six politicians who could be targeted by terrorists during the ongoing election campaign.

"The six people comprise Pak­istan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, Awami National Party leaders Asfandyar Wali and Ameer Haider Hoti, Qaumi Watan Party head Aftab Sherpao, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leader Akram Khan Dur­rani and Hafiz Saeed's son Talha Saeed," Nacta Director Obaid Farooq said on Monday while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Interior.

"Moreover, there are threats to senior leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz," Dawn online quoted Farooq as saying.

He said Nacta had forwarded 12 threat alerts to the federal interior and provincial home ministries as well as law enforcement agencies.

Committee chairman Senator Rehman Malik directed the Interior Ministry to provide foolproof security to those for whom threat alerts were issued.

He said Election Commission of Pakistan Secretary Babar Yaqoob had already informed the committee that there was a possibility of violence during the general elections scheduled for July 25, and directed that such alerts be taken seriously.

--ians

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