Pakistan puts bounty on Taliban leaders

A total of $5million has been offered by the Government of Pakistan for information that would lead to the capture of Taliban leaders and commanders.

Two top Taliban aides and the leader Hakimullah Mehsud have a price on their heads (dead or alive) of 50m rupees ($600,000) each. Pakistan blames the Taliban for a recent series of attacks in the country. BBC News reports the offers coincide with army operations being conducted against militants in South Waziristan province. Ads announcing the rewards were spread across the country and claimed the accused were "daily involved in deadly activities" which were killing Muslims and "earning a bad name for the Muslims in Pakistan and around the world". "Such people are killers of humanity, and they deserve an exemplary punishment," it said. "Anyone who captures these people dead or alive, or provides concrete information, the government will award them a cash reward." The Taliban's South Waziristan leader, Wali-ur Rehman, and for Qari Hussain, the commander in Kotkai were valued at 50m rupees each and eleven commanders have 20m-rupee bounties on their heads and rewards of 10m rupees are on offer for five others.