The Taliban today warned authorities not to punish any of its jailed cadres in the wake of the assassination of Chaudhry Aslam, one of Pakistan's leading counter-terrorism officials.
A statement released by the Mohmand chapter of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, which earlier claimed the suicide attack that killed Aslam in Karachi, said detained militants were being "brought out of jail and killed".
The government has increased violence against detained militants, it claimed. "We know who they are, we even have their names, addresses, and number of kids (of those) who are torturing our men in custody in Karachi jail," the statement said.
The Taliban warned that police officers would be targeted in retaliation. "You will get nothing from it, neither you people nor your kids will be safe in future," the statement said.
"Therefore, for the sake of your children, stop this practice of torturing and killing Taliban in your custody, otherwise the Lions of Allah will target you any time," it added.
The Taliban further warned jail officials in Karachi against shifting the group's jailed cadres.
Aslam, who led a drive against militants despite several attempts on his life, was killed with two other policemen in the suicide attack on January 9.
