Islamabad, Nov 27 (IANS): Pakistan will give a general amnesty to all banned groups, including the Pakistani Taliban, if they give up terrorism, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said in remarks published Tuesday.

"If proscribed organisations agree to cooperate with the government and give up terrorism, they will be removed from the list of banned organisations," the Dawn newspaper quoted Malik as saying late Monday.

The minister said it was time for Tehrik-i-Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, whether he was physically fit or suffering from any disability, to apologize to the nation for killing innocents.

"Hakimullah, don't hide in one bunker or another. I announce a general amnesty for you if you stop killing innocent people. The enemies you are working for will kill you too one day," he said.

Malik said intelligence reports revealed that the Pakistani Taliban had "franchised" terrorism, and several groups involved in target killings and kidnapping for ransom were using the outfit's name.