Terrorist, criminals’ nexus in Pak Punjab posing serious security threat

June 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Jun.11 (ANI): Pakistan intelligence agencies have revealed that there exists a dirty nexus between local criminals and terrorists in Punjab, especially in the provincial capital Lahore, which has witnessed a spate of bloody terror strikes in the recent past.

According to intelligence inputs, there was damning evidence that the terrorist were providing various logistical support to the criminals to assist them in kidnapping for ransom and robberies in order to generate funds that they eventually use in carrying out terror attacks.

“Karachi has been known in the past as a place where terrorists collaborated with criminals to raise funds for their own activities, however, terrorists are now zooming in on Lahore,” The Daily Times quoted sources, as saying.

Following the intelligence report, the top brass of the Lahore police have decided to
maintain a comprehensive database of criminals, especially those who had been involved in robberies and kidnapping for ransom.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is strengthening its position in Punjab continuously and has joined hands with local ‘jihadi’ groups, but strangely enough the provincial government is living in denial, as it has opposed the idea of a Swat like military operation in the province.

While Interior Minister Rehman Malik had clearly pointed out that Punjab based terror organisations pose a great risk and that they are planning some major attacks across the country, provincial leaders believe that the situation is under control.

“Army operations are required only where there are no-go areas and there is no such situation in any part of Punjab,” said Rana Sanaullah, Punjab Law Minister and a trusted aide of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

It is pertinent to mention here that Sanaullah had attracted wide criticism after he was seen hobnobbing with leaders of banned terror outfit Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) during a local election in Jhang a few days ago. (ANI)

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Hezbollah threatens to strike Israeli ships

May 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Damascus (Syria), May 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Shiite armed group Hezbollah has threatened to hit all Israeli ships in the Mediterranean Sea if a new armed conflict breaks out between Israel and Lebanon, the group’s leader said.

‘In any future war, if Israel blocks our coast and ports, all military, civil and commercial ships heading to Palestinian ports in the Mediterranean will come under Hezbollah rocket fire,’ Hassan Nasrallah, the organisation’s secretary general, said Tuesday at a meeting to observe 10 years of the end of Israel’s 22 years of occupation of southern Lebanon.

Nasrallah was reacting to reports that said there were plans of military operation in Lebanon in 2010. The plans were discussed in France in 2009, at a meeting of French, US and Israeli military officials.

During the 34-day war with Lebanon in 2006, Israel had imposed a sea blockade to prevent further arms supplies to Hezbollah. Around 1,200 Lebanese civilians and 160 Israeli soldiers were killed in the conflict.

Hezbollah fired more than 4,000 rockets into Israel during the war.

‘We are capable of targeting, striking and destroying your ships as they head to any port on the Palestinian coast from north to south… We are determined to open this new front if our coast is under siege,’ Nasrallah said.

Israel, meanwhile, launched a five-day nationwide home front exercise Sunday to train soldiers against possible missile strikes on its territory, including from Lebanon.

‘Israel just wants internal comfort… do drills as much as you want but we will see how the drills will help you when the rockets start hitting,’ he said.

Hezbollah, a Shiite political group with an armed militant wing, was founded in 1982 in response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, according to the think-tank Council on Foreign Relations.

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Fresh Kandahar offensive may be delayed until fall

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington/Kandahar, May 18 (ANI): A fresh offensive against a regrouping Taliban in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar could be delayed until the fall, American commanders and policy makers have revealed.

With the Taliban taking the Afghanistan war to the streets and launching a campaign to assassinate key public officials, key military operations have been delayed to improve local governance and end the sense of dread that prevails on to Kandahar”s dusty streets, the Christian Science Monitor (CSM) reports.

NATO officials had last year indicated major progress against the Taliban, but now, at the urging of Afghan leaders, U.S. officials have stopped describing the plan as a military operation.

Instead, they”ve dubbed it “Cooperation for Kandahar,” a moniker meant to focus attention on efforts to build up local governance while reducing fears of street battles.

US commander in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal said: “It”s important that we engage the population so that we shape the leaders, the natural leaders, the elders, political and economic leaders so that their participation helps shape how we go forward.”

American and Afghan officials, however, so far have made little headway in building a foundation for a respected local government capable of winning the confidence of the nearly a million Afghans who live in and around Kandahar.

The largest impediment remains President Hamid Karzai”s half-brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, a controversial kingpin and reputed drug smuggler who reportedly has been paid by the CIA.

He reportedly wields virtually unchecked power over the region as the chairman of the provincial council as well as through local militias, security firms awarded lucrative contracts by the U.S.-led international force and an alliance with a small band of powerful tribal leaders.

Karzai denies any wrongdoing, and U.S. officials say they”ve been unable to uncover incriminating information on him.

Many U.S. defense officials and analysts are concerned that continuing to work with Ahmed Wali Karzai could jeopardize the public support that General McChrystal concedes is vital to his plan”s success. (ANI)

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Petraeus says need to give credit to anti-Taliban ops in Pak

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

As pressure piles up on Pakistan to extend its military action against militants, a top US General has said the country should be given credit for going after the Taliban in its territory.

General David Petraeus, Commander of the US Central Command, said the Pakistani military went after the Taliban effectively last year in its northwest territories.

“There is a common enemy out there, and we all have to cooperate” in defeating it, Petraeus said in his key note address to the 2010 Joint War fighting Conference, in Virginia Beach.

Petraeus, who was in western Pakistan last week said: “It’s important to give Pakistan credit for what it has done”.

The praise for Pakistan Army’s anti-militant operations in its north west came as the Islamabad is under pressure to extend crack down to North Waziristan, believed to be the base of many al qaeda and Taliban leaders.

The US has been pursuing Pakistan to launch a military operation in North Waziristan, and the impetus has increased after the recent Times Square failed bombing attempt was found to have links to the region.

President Barack Obama has said that al Qaeda and the Taliban continue to plot from the Af-Pak border region.

“As we’ve seen in recent plots here in the United States, al Qaeda and its extremist allies continue to plot in the border regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and a growing Taliban insurgency could mean an even larger safe haven for al Qaeda and its affiliates,” Obama said yesterday.

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US turns down Pak’s request for drone technology

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 13 (ANI): The United States has reportedly rejected Pakistan’s fresh demands of handing over unmanned drone technology to it, highly placed sources in the Pakistan military have revealed, adding that Washington’s refusal could see Islamabad further delay its decision to launch a new war front against militants in North Waziristan.

“Apart from other issues, the issue pertaining to transfer of requisite drone technology could cause delay in Pakistan’s launching of military operation in North Waziristan”, The Nation quoted the sources, as saying.

Pakistan has already developed drones capable of reconnaissance missions, but it still lacks the technology to attach weapons to the indigenous drones so that it can carry out attacks against extremists in the country’s semi-autonomous tribal regions by it self.

The well-placed military sources said that it was imperative for the Obama Administration to provide the drone technology to enable it take action against extremists flourishing on the terror hot beds situated along the Afghan border.

“Drones with weapon systems are imperative to meet Pakistan’s pressing needs in tackling low intensity conflict such as terrorism especially with back up intelligence support from US satellite network on Pak- Afghan border” they said.

Islamabad has long been opposing the Central Investigation Agency (CIA) operated drone strikes in the restive tribal areas, saying they violate its sovereignty and fuel anti-American sentiments amongst the population, however, it is believed that Pakistan is privately sharing intelligence with the US about the insurgents and their hide-outs. (ANI)

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Pak not to wilt under US pressure to launch offensive in North Waziristan

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 13 (ANI): Pakistan has apparently made it clear that it would not succumb under intense US pressure to launch an offensive in North Waziristan, the stronghold of the Taliban.

The decision was taken after President Asif Ali Zardari held separate meetings with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to discuss national and international issues.

In the wake of the failed Times Square bombing plot, the Obama Administration has been piling up pressure on Pakistan to launch a military operation in North Waziristan, saying there are indications that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had played a major role in the terror plot.

According to a statement released after the meetings, both the political and military leadership resolved not to accept any pressure from Washington to start an operation against extremists, who are based in North Waziristan and threatening the whole world, including the US.

“Matters relating to current security situation in the country and professional preparedness of the Armed Forces were discussed during the meeting,” The Nation quoted an official’s handout released after General Kayani’s meeting with Zardari, as saying.

Sources privy to the meetings said that the situation arising after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s blunt warning was also discussed.

It may be noted that Clinton, during a television interview, had warned Islamabad of ‘dire consequences’ if Pakistan based terrorists succeeded in attacking the United States.

During the CBS’ 60 minute, Clinton said that though Pakistan’s attitude towards Islamic terrorism had changed in the recent past, it still needed to take far more stringent measures to quell militancy emanating from its soil.

“We’ve made it very clear that if, heaven-forbid, an attack like this that we can trace back to Pakistan were to have been successful, there would be very severe consequences,” she had warned. (ANI)

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Captured Baradar providing clues on Taliban

May 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 6 (ANI): Captured Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is providing important information to American officials on the inner workings of the Taliban.

According to the New York Times, these pivotal insights will help the United States look for ways to end the war in Afghanistan.

Baradar, the second-ranking Taliban leader, was arrested in January outside Karachi, in a joint operation by American and Pakistani intelligence agents.

Officials, however, said that Baradar has not revealed details of Taliban combat operations, yielding little that American commanders would like to know as they prepare for a military operation around Kandahar, the Taliban’s spiritual base and Afghanistan’s second largest city.

He has provided his American interrogators with a nuanced understanding of the strategy that the Taliban’s supreme leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar, is developing for negotiations with the government of President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, who is visiting Washington next week.

He is also offering a more detailed understanding of what prompted Mullah Omar to issue a new code of conduct for militants last year that directed fighters to avoid civilian casualties.

American officials say the code was meant to project a softer image to the Afghan people.

Four American military, intelligence and diplomatic officials provided details of Mullah Baradar’s cooperation, but requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the delicate intelligence interrogations. (ANI)

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US working with India on Af-Pak: Petraeus

April 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The US is trying to reverse the momentum of the Taiban in Afghanistan and has been working actively with India with regard to the situation in the Af-Pak region, a top American General has said.

“It (India) is not in the title (of Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke), but he has certainly had a lot of activity with our Indian partners,” General David Petraeus, Commander of the US Central Command, told Charlie Rose Show on the PBS.

Appreciative of the recent Pakistani military operation against the Taliban and al-Qaeda along the Pak-Afghan border, Petraeus said the US forces in Afghanistan are trying to regain the momentum in the country.

“It (Taliban) has been resurgent. It did indeed have the momentum. And what we’re trying to do now is reverse that moment and take back areas they have been able to take control of,” Petraeus said.

The American General said that defeat of the Taliban in Kandahar is very important for victory in the war against terrorism.

“It really is the birthplace of the Taliban. It is also where the 9/11 attacks were originally conceived. That’s where they were planned. So it has enormous importance to the Taliban,” he said.

“It will not be a hub-to-hub offensive. This is not going to be something like the clearance of Ramadi or, say, southwestern Baghdad. This in fact is as much political as it is military,” he said.

Responding to a question on Pakistan, Petraeus said there has indeed been considerable progress by the Pakistani army and frontier corps against the Pakistani Taliban in the country’s northwest, including Swat and tribal areas, but clearly it is a very tough work.

“And again, the extremists there, the Pakistani Taliban and their confederates, have sought to fight back by doing what they do, which is carry out acts of indiscriminate violence against innocent civilians as they did before, as well, as they assassinated Benazir Bhutto and blew up visiting cricket teams and thousands and thousands of innocent Pakistani civilians and security force members,” he said.

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3 top Pak Taliban men killed in single day?

March 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani military dealt a crippling blow to Tehreek-e-Taliban by killing its three top commanders, including the group’s deputy-chief Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, in Mohmand tribal region in the country’s northwest, interior minister Rehman Malik said on Saturday.

Two more prominent commanders Qari Ziaur Rehman, an Afghan national and Fateh Muhammad, a close aide of Taliban chief in Swat Fazlullah, were also killed in air strikes carried out in the region on Saturday which resulted in deaths of 30 militants, Malik confirmed.

Maulvi Faqir had named himself chief of Pakistani Taliban following the killing of Baitullah Mehsud. He has publicly stated his close ties to al-Qaida No 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri.

The Taliban leaders were killed when helicopters gunship of the Pakistan military targeted their hideouts in Pandiali area of Mohmand Agency. Security forces retrieve the body of Fateh Muhammad while the bodies of the others are yet to be recovered, Malik said.

Faqir Muhammad, who was originally based in Bajaur tribal region, moved to Mohmand Agency after security forces cleared most parts of the area. Ziaur Rehman was believed to be the head of the Taliban in Kunar and Nuristan provinces of Afghanistan and the US had offered a reward of $350,000 for him.

Reports said he would often move from Bajaur Agency to Afghanistan with his fighters to carry out attacks on US-led forces.

Omar Rehman alias Fateh Muhammad was best known for leading Taliban fighters from Swat into Buner, a district located 100km from Islamabad, last year. The move prompted the government to launch a major military operation to evict militants from Swat.

Malik said other militants who are on the run will also be captured and not spared. pti

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Residents of Pak’s Bara district flee homes following Lashkasr’s warning

September 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Landi Kotal (Pakistan), Sep 19 (ANI): Following a warning issued by the leader of a terrorist organization, hundreds of Bara residents fled their houses to move to safer places before the last day of Eidul Fitr festivities.

On Friday morning, Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) chief Mangal Bagh issued a warning over his illegal FM radio station, saying that people should take cover as his armed outfit was about to retaliate the military operation in Bara, The Dawn reports.

Earlier, the militant leader had said that his private miltia would not resist the operation in the area.

Traders and shopkeepers of Bara bazaar have shifted their merchandise to safer places, it has been learned.

Meanwhile, the bullet-riddled body of Wahid son of Hanan, who was kidnapped by Lashkar activists a day earlier, was found in Jamrud Khwar area.

A note was found with the dead body saying that anyone found assisting the security forces would meet the similar fate.

Earlier, the FC media cell had appealed the locals to help security forces in their operation against militants. (ANI)

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Taliban back to terror business from new stronghold near Mardan-Swat Highway

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.16 (ANI): The Taliban’s threat has still not subsided in the Swat and Malakand Divisions as the security forces have found that the extremists have created a new stronghold in the region and are planning strikes from there.

According to senior officials, the Taliban, after being forced to retreat following the military operation, have shifted their base to the rough terrains between Batkhela and Jalala on the Mardan-Swat Highway and trying to regroup.

“It is from here that they are building their arms arsenals, training camps, logistics and propaganda centres,” officials said.

Over 200 people in the region have received handwritten and typed death threats in the past fortnight which proves that the Taliban is alive and kicking here.

“We are aware of how you assist security agencies and act against Islam. You are going to face the wrath of God,” one of the letter stated.

One of such threat mail has also been received by former North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Minister, Kamal Shah, who said the extremists have taken refuge in Shergarh, Batkhela, Chakdara, Iroshah, Shakh Number Panch, Jabban Road, Palai Sherkhanai, Sakhakot, Jalala and other villages on the Highway and are waiting to strike.

Security officials said they are aware of the development and the threat mails being sent by the Taliban. They said steps are being taken to thwart any untoward incident and block the supplies of arms and ammunition to the extremists.

“We are on their heels and are making all efforts to block arms and ammunition supplies to them from the channels developed by Taliban through Mohmand Agency, the adjoining areas of Malakand like Palai Sherkhani and Jabban Iroshah Road,” The News quoted a senior official, as saying. (ANI)

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Pak Army claims that it has killed 16 more militants in Swat

September 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.14 (ANI): Security forces killed 16 more militants, at least two of them senior Taliban members, while one soldier was killed in clashes during searches in Swat on Monday, the military said in a daily update.

Over 1,700 militants have been killed since Pakistani security forces launched the military operation against Taliban militants in the month of April.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Sunday, the top Taliban leader in the Swat valley, about 120 km northwest of Islamabad, was surrounded, adding the back of the Taliban insurgency had been broken.

The military’s chief spokesman, however, was more cautious, saying efforts were being made to capture the Swat Taliban chief, a self-styled cleric called Fazlullah, but media reports of his imminent capture were speculation.

‘We’d like to capture him today,’ the official said, while declining to say when he might be tracked down.

The Pakistani Taliban under the overall command of Baitullah Mehsud were held responsible for a wave of attacks across the country from 2007, including the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in December that year. (ANI)

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I think Osama’s dead, says Zardari

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Sep.10 (ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said he believes that Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is dead.

In an interview with the BBC, Zardari said: “It seems as if Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Ladin is no longer alive.”

Zardari reiterated that democracy was working well in Pakistan, and the government is determined to fight extremism and root out militancy from the country’s soil.

“The army, the civilian government and democracy could yield better results in the war on terror,” The Daily Times quoted Musharraf, as saying.

Zardari urged the international community to provide more funds to Pakistan and added that the most important issue facing the country was the lack of resources.

He said the military operation against the Taliban could be expanded if the international community provided support. (ANI)

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15 more Taliban extremists killed in Pak army offensive, drone strike

September 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Peshawar, Sep.8 (ANI): At least 15 more Taliban extremists were killed in Pakistan military’s counter insurgency operation and a drone attack in the Khyber and North Waziristan areas.

While 10 militants were killed in the Tirah valley during anti-militancy offensive, a US drone targeted an alleged militant hideout and a madrassa in Machikhel village in North Waziristan killing five persons on the spot besides injuring six others, The Daily Times reports

“The strike targetted a madrassa and an adjoining house in Machikhel village in North Waziristan. At least five people were killed and six others injured,” a senior security official said.

Local tribesmen have cordoned off area and are searching for bodies, sources said.

People have started leaving their homes amid the fresh military operation against the extremists in the region.

According to an estimate 30,000 people have left Khyber Agency for safer places since Sunday.

“Thousands have fled the military operation in Khyber. Around 30,000 people have arrived in Peshawar,” said Sahibzada Mohammad Anis, administrative chief in Peshawar. (ANI)

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Concerned US asks Pak for immediate resolution of explosive Baloch issue

September 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.2 (ANI): Expressing concerns over the Baloch insurgency, the United States has asked the Pakistan Government to settle all outstanding issues with the Baloch people as soon as possible.

According to sources, three US Senators met President Asif Ali Zardari and asked him to resolve the crisis while expressing concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the region.

Senators Carl Levin and Jack Reed of the US Senate’s Armed Services Committee and Edward Kaufman of the Foreign Relations Committee stressed on the need for complete peace and stability in Balochistan during their talks with Zardari, The Dawn reports.

The US Congressional delegation led by Senator Carl Levin, which is on a visit to Pakistan currently, told Zardari that the stability of Balochistan was imperative for success in the ‘war on terror’.

Briefing media person after the meeting, Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Zardari urged the senators to try to hasten the reimbursement and supply of critically needed equipment, including helicopter gunships.

Zardari also requested Washington to speed up the process for the early adoption of the Kerry Lugar Bill, and also asked the White House to release all outstanding dues amounting to 1.6 billion dollars in order to help Islamabad counter extremism effectively.

“Payment of outstanding amounts in the support funds is important for the security forces to continue the ongoing military operation against militants,” The Dawn quoted Babar, as saying.

“President Zardari said attaching conditions to aid would be counter-productive and impart a transactional nature to the relationship which must be avoided,” he added.

Zardari also welcomed the Obama Administration’s commitment to help Pakistan address its increasing energy needs. (ANI)

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Enemy in Pakistan is far from defeated, says US

August 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Aug.28 (ANI): The Pakistan Army may have been claiming that it has forced the Taliban and other extremist groups to retreat in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), but the United States believes that the enemy in Pakistan is far from defeated.

Speaking at the 91st Annual American Legion Convention, ouisville, Kentucky, US Central Command chief General David etraeus noted that the military operation in the Swat and Malakand Divisions has forced the extremists to move back, but highlighted they are not rooted out from the region.

“These encouraging developments notwithstanding, however, the enemy in Pakistan is far from defeated, and many extremist elements have yet to be engaged, particularly those that typically operate outside Pakistan’s borders,” General Petraeus said.

“Robust Pakistani military operations in Swat Valley and in other NWFP districts have cleared militants from those areas. Operations in FATA in recent months have resulted in the death of militant leader Baitullah Mehsud and a number of other important extremist group leaders,” he added.

General Petraeus said Islamabad has realized that it faces the prime threat from the Taliban and other extremist organization operation from its soil.

“Even here one can sense the beginning of a realization among Pakistan’s leaders and people that extremists operating from their soil, in neighbouring countries, challenge the writ of Pakistani governance and inevitably will turn on their own country’s security forces and citizens,” The Nation quoted General Petraeus, as saying.

He said America would continue its support to the Pakistani military and the government in their fight against extremism. (ANI)

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Akbar Bugti’s son files petition for murder case against Musharraf

August 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Quetta (Pakistan), Aug.26 (ANI): Slain Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti’s son, Jamil Akbar Bugti has filed a petition in the Sibbi District and Sessions Court seeking a court order to register a case against former President General Pervez Musharraf and other senior officials in connection with his father’s death.

Jamil Bugti, in his petition, has accused Musharraf and his associates of murdering Akbar Bugti.

The petition states that a case should be registered against Musharraf, former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, former Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao and several others, The Daily Times reports.

Jamil’s counsel said the judge has summoned the IG and the Dera Bugti SHO to appear before the court on September 2.

Musharraf has already denied allegations of being involved in the Baloch leader’s murder.

Musharraf said Bugti’s death was an accident, and he was not killed by the security forces.

“During the operation, our three army officers and other jawans found Bugti in a cave and they had requested him to lay down arms and at the same time the cave collapsed and he was killed along with our officers,” Musharraf had said.

Musharraf said the government was compelled to initiate a military offensive in Balochistan as extremism was taking dangerous proportions in the region, he added that four hundred rockets were fired at Sui plant in a day and in such condition it had no option but to launch military operation in Balochistan. (ANI)

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Gilani hails Pak military success against Taliban, vows to restore 1973 Constitution

August 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Aug.19 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday hailed the military’s success against the Taliban and also vowed to restore the 1973 Constitution.

“Terrorism and extremism are eating at Pakistan like termites. Our brave military fought the terrorists, they were martyred also, and with the blessings of Allah we achieved success,” Gilani said in a speech that was broadcast live on television from Faisalabad.

Pakistan launched a military operation in the northwest districts of Buner, Lower Dir and Swat after the Taliban had advanced to within 100 kilometres of Islamabad last April, violating a September 2007 peace deal.

After declaring these districts cleared of the Taliban last month, the military has turned its attention to the tribal belt along the Afghan border.

Analysts have said that the Taliban is in disarray after the reported death of Tehreek-e-Talibani Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud by a drone strike.

Gilani also laid the foundation stone of the Multan Motorway M-4, and said the people of Pakistan had voted last year in favour of democracy, and therefore, it was the responsibility of the present government to restore the Pakistan Constitution of 1973.

Talking about the menace of terrorism, he said that unless it was eliminated the Pakistan economy could not improve. Credit for the success of the military operation in the NWFP should go to the people, he said.

He also spoke about the various other problems facing the country, including the power crisis and the sugar crisis, both of which would be brought under control soon.

A reference to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was also made during his speech. He said that Bhutto’s sacrifices had resulted in the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.

Now, he said, was a time to strengthen the institutions of the country.

Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, Senior Provincial Minister Raja Riaz and others were also present on the occasion. (ANI)

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UN official says 1.3 million IDPs have returned to Swat

August 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Aug.19 (ANI): A United Nations official on Wednesday said that about 1.3 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have returned to their homes in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province, including the Swat Valley.

“The best estimate that we can make now is that approximately 1.3 million displaced people have returned home,” Pakistan’s UN humanitarian coordinator Martin Mogwanja told a press conference here.

Most of these IDPs had fled their homes in the wake of a military offensive against the Taliban rebels in the Swat and Malakand Divisions of the North West Frontier Province.

Pakistan had launched the military operation in the districts of Buner, Lower Dir and Swat after the Taliban had advanced to within 100 kilometres of Islamabad last April, violating a September 2007 peace deal.

Pakistan’s military has said that it has cleared the three districts of insurgents.

Mogwanja, however, said that the military operation is still on in some parts of Swat and Lower Dir, and added that the UN is monitoring the situation. (ANI)

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Pak Govt may review blasphemy law to stop its abuse

August 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Aug 13 (ANI): The Pakistan Government may review the blasphemy law to prevent its abuse following the recent violence against the Christian community in Gojra.

“After the completion of an inquiry report into the incident and subject to its recommendations, the government will take appropriate measures to prevent future flare-ups of communal carnage,” State Minister for Interior Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi said.

Condemning the Gojra incident, he said the Pakistan People’s Party had always worked for the welfare of minorities.

Qureshi said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had recently announced enhancing the quota in government departments jobs for minorities, planned to increase the number of minority seats in the national and provincial assemblies, declared August 11 “Minority Day” and decided to allocate minorities’ seats in the Senate for the first time.

Qureshi said the government was investigating the violence in Gojra in a transparent manner, including the possible role of banned religious organisations in rioting.

Calling the Swat military operation a success, the Daily Times quoted him as saying that the country had been able to overcome extremism and terrorism.

He said his visits to Norway, France and the United Kingdom helped him gain first-hand knowledge of the problems being faced by overseas Pakistanis. (ANI)

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