Taliban warns of dire consequences if Pak hangs militants

A faction of the Taliban has warned the Pakistan government of dire consequences if it goes ahead with its plans to end a moratorium on executions and hang militants.

Nawaz Sharif's government will next week execute four people, including two jailed militants, ending a five-year moratorium on capital punishment.

The move has been condemned by the Pakistani Taliban as an act of war sure to trigger more violence.

The Punjabi Taliban, a faction of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, has distributed a pamphlet with the warning in southern Punjab and South and North Waziristan tribal regions, media reports said.

The group said the government will be considered to be at war with the Taliban if it executes any militants currently on death row.

The pamphlet further warned the government not to "blindly follow" the Pakistan Army, alleging the military uses political forces for its own gains.

"They (Pakistan Army) will be in favour of yet another political force after alienating them at due time," it said.

The Taliban claimed the US drone attack that killed commander Waliur Rehman was a planned conspiracy by "pro-America generals" to sabotage efforts by militants to ensure peace.

"The execution of prisoners will prove to be next episode of that conspiracy," the pamphlet claimed.

Pakistani authorities recently said a five-year moratorium on executions will end with the hanging later this month of four convicts, including two members of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

The stay on executions was put in place by the previous Pakistan People's Party-led government. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz now intends to do away with the moratorium.