In an effort to promote its ideology and update supporters about its latest actions in the country, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has brought out a high gloss, Vogue-style magazine, The Express Tribune reported on February 13. The first issue of ‘Mujjallah’ magazine was published in November 2016 and reportedly distributed in Pakistan sometime in December 2016. The inaugural issue had 56 pages. The second issue printed a couple of weeks ago is slicker and thicker and has more pages than the first one. The paper quality of the magazine is at par with that of Vogue, besides having fine printing quality. The cover carries bulletins of the banned outfit’s activities in Pakistan and also features reports on how to make bombs and other explosives. Some experts who have known about the operations of organisation like TTP stated that the magazine has been modeled after ISIS publications which were available in Arabic and Urdu among other languages.
While declining to be named, they said, the magazine is being printed in Afghanistan, most likely in Jalalabad, and allegedly distributed throughout Pakistan amongst hardcore followers and also has a limited circulation in Afghanistan. Judging from the kind of language used in the magazine, the articles and features were probably written by non-native Urdu speakers, possibly Arabic-speaking people. The articles have not been attributed to anyone. Since TTP has lost ground in Pakistan, the magazine is most likely an attempt to spread its propaganda. It may also be an effort to defame the country, they added. To illustrate their point, they said that when TTP held a strong position in Pakistan it had never attempted to bring out such a magazine but now after it had lost ground such a publication was released.
Earlier, the Federal Government had approved a request forwarded by the Government of Punjab for the deployment of Rangers personnel in the province, reports Dawn. The decision was taken by Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan during a highlevel meeting attended by National Security Adviser Nasir Khan Janjua, Federal Secretary Interior Arif Ahmad Khan, Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Saeed and other officials of the Punjab Government. Punjab had requested the Federal Government to deploy over 2,000 Rangers personnel in the province, who would be given policing powers to conduct intelligencebased operations (IBOs) against militants, wherever required and with full authority. The Rangers will 'assist' Punjab Police and law enforcement agencies in their fight against terror for a period of 60 days, initial reports suggested. Read less...
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