Taliban blames Pakistan govt for murder of rights activist Sabeen Mahmud

In this picture taken late Friday, April 24, 2015, sandals lie on the floor of a car surrounded by broken glass in the damaged car of a prominent women’s rights activist Sabeen Mehmud following an attack on Mehmud in Karachi, Pakistan.

The Taliban blamed government agencies for the killing of social rights activist Sabeen Mahmud, as the outlawed outfit denied its involvement in the murder.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesperson Muhammad Khorasani, in a statement sent to media houses, categorically denied the involvement of the outlawed outfit in Mahmud’s targeted killing in Karachi.

He alleged that investigation by the TTP’s intelligence wing suggests government agencies are behind the killing of Mahmud, 40, which took place on Friday night.

Meanwhile, acting President Raza Rabbani described Mahmud’s assassination as an attack on freedom of speech and expression, and her death as a big loss for Karachi. He gave the provincial Sindh government three days to arrest the killers. “Nothing can justify this inhuman killing,” he said, adding that the whole nation stood by Mahmud’s family.

Rabbani also sought a detailed report from provincial authorities on the incident, directing Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to arrest the perpetrators within three days.

Mahmud was shot dead by unknown gunmen as she was returning home shortly after hosting a seminar on human rights abuses in Balochistan province, prompting PM Nawaz Sharif to order an investigation.

Source:: Indian Express