Taliban warns journos in Swat, asks them to 'mend ways'

Islamabad: Taliban militants in Pakistan’s Swat Valley have asked journalists to “mend their ways” and stop publishing reports critical of them.

A Taliban pamphlet sent on Tuesday to newspapers and TV channels offices in Mingora, the main city in Swat, asked journalists to review their role and avoid following "an anti-Taliban agenda".

The pamphlet is called Intebah or warning and was issued by commander of the "fidayeen section" of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, said media personnel would face dire consequences if they did not "mend their ways".

"The media's biased coverage is giving the impression that Taliban are sabotaging the Nizam-e-Adl (regulation for enforcing Shariah in Swat). Journalists would be responsible for the grave consequences if they did not stop working on that agenda," it said.

The pamphlet claimed there was a new trend in the media over the past week which showed that "everybody is following a pro-Western policy under pressure or for greed".

"All editors of private and official news agencies, journalists and columnists are informed that you have a key role in changing the direction of society, bringing revolution and making public opinion," said the warning written in Urdu.

"It is the duty of media to give space and time to statements which have a positive impact on society," the pamphlet said.

The Taliban warned they would approach Shariah courts in the region if the media did not follow their instructions. The pamphlet said the Taliban's struggle was purely meant for enforcement of Shariah and they had no other objective.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has expressed concern over the threat to the media.

A statement issued by the Union said sending "warning letters and displaying warnings in Swat by the Taliban is a regrettable act. It is tantamount to intimidation of the media and media personnel."

The PFUJ said if this tendency is allowed to develop, all non-state actors would start telling the media to project their "particular point of view". In that case, the media could not play its due role as envisaged in the constitution.

"Even our religion requires us to tell the truth," the statement said.