Pakistani Taliban kills Christian girl

March 5, 2014: Pakistan: A Christian girl was shot dead by the Pakistani Taliban in the northern region of the country last week. She was hiding with a male cousin who had converted from Islam to Christianity a few years ago.

Since the conversion, he was declared ‘apostate’ and had been the target of the Taliban. Militants found their hiding place and shot the girl while the man managed to escape.

The Christian community expressed outrage and asked for the intervention of civil institutions to defend the rights of minorities and all citizens against Taliban violence. Pakistan Taliban has been trying to impose its extreme views and has been killing whoever has gone against its diktats. A dialogue between the government and Pakistani Taliban reached a deadlock after Islamic militants told the government that "there is no possibility of peace in the country unless Pakistan changes its political and legal system and officially adopts Islamic law".

Islamabad had suspended air strikes against the Taliban recently but stated that it reserves the right to "respond to any violent action" carried out by the Pakistani Taliban. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’ government is looking for a "negotiated solution" after years of conflict with militants, but talks were interrupted in February after a series of terrorist attacks.

The Pakistan government has introduced a bill called ‘Policies on national security’ in Parliament that intends to put an end to violence and terrorism in the country. Prime Minister Sharif said that the government intends to “promote dialogue with the Taliban", but if it does not demonstrate willingness to respect the cease-fire, "the army will respond in an appropriate manner".

Source: ucanews.com