Pakistan's Interior Ministry alerts : Al Qaeda, Taliban plan to blow Musharraf's vehicle

Interior Ministry has revealed and alerted the law enforcement authorities about a possible terrorism attempt by Al Qaeda and Taliban to target former president Pervez Musharraf on his way to court. The alert issued just a day before scheduled court hearing says Musharraf can be ambushed by his own security guard the way slain governor Punjab Salman Taseer was targeted, Dunya News obtained the copy of the letter issued to secretary defense by interior ministry and reported on Monday. In the correspondence to secretary defense, interior minister has alerted of a possible terrorist attack on former president’s convoy on their way to court. It further says citing intelligence sources that Taliban and Al Qaeda have finalized preparations to carry out the attack. Former president’s vehicle can be blown up using explosives-laden vehicle or a remote control explosive device, the letter alerts while mentioning the details. The correspondence also warns of a possible ambush by own security guards akin to Salman Taseer’s murder. The correspondence also directs to tighten the security and make it foolproof. The interior ministry’s alert has come at a time when special court hearing Ghazi murder case has summoned former president to indict him tomorrow (Tuesday). It is pertinent mentioning here that Musharraf was granted exemption from court appearance in previous hearing on March 1, when the hearing of murder case of Lal Majid’s deputy orator Ghazi and his mother was conducted by Islamabad additional session judge. Plaintiff’s council had demanded issuance of arrest warrants for the former president while defense attorney maintained Musharraf is unable to make an appearance owing to the security and medical reasons. He further said that former president will appear before court once medical and security clearance is received. Former president Pervez Musharraf is facing a number of trials including high treason for suspending the constitution in favour of military emergency on November 3rd 2007. Taliban, government ceasefire This is the first threat of its kind directly naming Taliban since the ‘ceasefire’ announced by Taliban and reciprocated by government earlier this month. Government had hinted involvement of military representative in the negotiating committee to hold ‘direct talks’. An organization by the name of Ahrarul Hind claiming to be a spin-off of Tehrik-e-Taliban had targeted Islamabad Katcheri claiming nearly a dozen lives including that of a judge.