ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday took suo moto notice of the threat by the Taliban to Ismailis and the Kalash tribe in the Chitral Valley, and issued notices to Attorney General and Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
On February 12, the militants in a video announced an armed struggle against the Kalash tribe and Ismailis in the Chitral Valley, threatening them to convert to Islam or face death.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani said that the threat by the Taliban to Ismailis and the Kalash tribe was against articles 9, 20 and 36 of the constitution.
The chief justice said that Islam was a religion that preached peace and tolerance. Moreover, he asked the attorney general as to what measures the government and other security agencies were taking for the protection of these communities after the threats were issued.
The apex court also directed Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to collect the report from District Police and Commissioner Chitral and submit in the court on February 24.