Pakistan orders release of pro-Taliban militant leader

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

PESHAWAR, Pakistan - Pakistan on Monday released a pro-Taliban leader who sent thousands of fighters against the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, officials said, in what appeared to be part of efforts to broker peace with Islamic militants.


There was no immediate comment from the government on the freeing of Sufi Muhammad, who is the father-in-law of the current militant leader in Pakistan's Swat Valley.

Muhammad was jailed in 2002 and was shifted to a hospital in the northwestern city of Peshawar five months ago because of poor health.

Ajmal Khan, the deputy superintendent of Peshawar's main jail, said the government on Monday "issued an order for the release of Sufi Mohammad, and I have conveyed this order to him."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080421/ap_on_re_as/pakistan

[Muttocracy]

1. Nowhere near as important as lapel decoration nt

:sarcasm:

[maxsolomon]

2. cross-border UWAC attack in 10... 9... 8... 7...

be sure to surround yourself with lots of children, Sufi.

[maddezmom]

3. Pakistan frees pro-Taliban leader and announces peace accord

PESHAWAR, Pakistan - A pro-Taliban leader who sent thousands of fighters against the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan was freed by Pakistan on Monday, and an official said his militant group signed a peace deal with the provincial government in the restive northwest.

The group founded by radical cleric Sufi Muhammad renounced attacks on government forces in the six-point accord but it will be allowed to peacefully campaign for the implementation of Islamic law in Pakistan, provincial government spokesman Faridullah Khan said.

He said the pact was signed by Muhammad's deputy and eight other clerics and four officials, including three provincial government ministers.

It was not immediately clear if Muhammad's son-in-law, cleric Maulana Fazlullah, who led a militant takeover in the northwestern Swat Valley last year, agreed to lay down arms as part of the pact.



more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080421/ap_on_re_as/pakistan;_ylt=AsCFundbDdIKf4jJ_qGsYctvaA8F

[Ian David]

4. But.. but.. Pakistan is our ally in TWAT! n/t