Khan was not in Swat valley at the time of the rocket attack on his brother's house [Reuters]

The rocket attack on the house of the brother of Waqar Ahmed Khan, a provincial ruling party member, killed the brother, two nephews and five others, Rahim Badshah, a police official, said on Monday.

"Taliban militants attacked the house of the brother of a ruling party MP with rockets," he said.

"Eight people have been killed and four others are injured."

Khan, a member of the Awami National Party, confirmed the casualties. He was not in Swat valley at the time.

Pakistani troops killed up to 35 rebels in valley over the weekend after a suicide bombing and other attacks left seven people dead, including three policemen.

Last year, Maulana Fazlullah, pro-Taliban leader, launched a campaign to ensure the implementation of Islamic law in the region.

Since then, there has been heavy fighting in the region.

Taliban banned

Meanwhile, the Pakistan government has decided to ban the so-called Pakistani Taliban after the group claimed responsibility for an attack on an arms factory that killed scores of people.

Rehman Malik, interior ministry chief, announced the decision on Monday, about 24 hours after rejecting a Taliban ceasefire offer in Bajur, a tribal region along the Afghan border where recent fighting has reportedly killed hundreds of people and prompted more than 200,000 to flee their homes.

"We have banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan because of their involvement in a series of suicide attacks," Malik said.

"They themselves have claimed responsibility of several suicide attacks and the government cannot engage in a dialogue with such people."

He said that the Pakistani Taliban, led by Baitullah Mehsud, were "creating mayhem" in th country.

Malik said the group had not been banned before because the provincial government was trying to negotiate with them.

The move is likely to be welcomed by the United States, which has urged Pakistan to crack down on armed groups in the northwest of the country.

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