By Jawwad Rizvi
LAHORE: Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has asked one of the largest customer base cellular operator for commissioning company's BTS tower installed at Shaou Khail an area of Kurram Agency.The banned outfit written letter in Pashto and available with The News has threatened in a humble way for commissioning the tower within one month. The TTP in its letter gives assurance of the protection of the largest customer based cellular operators property if the company commissioned/on-air the BTS tower within one month after receiving this letter.The TTP's letter mentioned that if the company would not commission the BTS tower in the given time limit then the TTP would dismantle the BTS tower and all dismantled material would be deposited to Bait-ul-Maal.The News has translated the letter which reads: "First of all Salam and it is humbly requested that your Mobilink tower situated at SHAOU KHAIL is not yet commissioned (on-air), we assure you that the TTP will not harm any property or personal if it is commissioned with in one month, if it is not then tower will be dismantled and all dismantled material will be deposited to Bait-ul-Maal, Inshah Allh Tahla".The News has contacted the BTS tower site owner Malik Shareef Khan and asked him about the letter, he told some TTP representatives had delivered the letter at his residence. He said a representative of the TTP had reached to the area and asked about his house. "Abdul Wahab Khan owner of a medical store has informed him about my residence where the TTP representative delivered the letter to me from his commander Mula Muhammad Umar and TTP chief Baitullah Masood", Shareef disclosed."After receiving letter I have talked to a company official who asked me to sent the letter to him", he mentioned adding that after that whenever I called Mukthar said what company can do in this matter. However, the official assured me the company was trying to resolve the matter, Shareef told.He further informed that the company had installed BTS tower some six months ago but it was not operational till now and many times the locals had asked him when the company would commission the BTS tower. "People asked me when company give current to the tower", Shareef said.When The News contacted, spokesperson of the company said "in view of the prevailing adverse security environment, there are risks involved in sending technical teams for installation/repair of BTSs to certain areas. This subject has been already been taken up by the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of IT and PTA. That said, we evaluate such requests on a case-to-case basis and have forwarded the letter to our government relations team so that they can work with the authorities concerned", spokesperson added.
The News has published this news item on Feb 21 2009 in Lahore edition on Page 2
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