Punjab Timeline- 2013

Month/Date

Incidents

January 2

The TTP militants abducted seven soldiers from a bus from Jand area of Punjab. The soldiers were travelling between Army headquarters in Rawalpindi and their stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when they were taken off their bus in Jand The militants took the seven soldiers and let go a sweeper on the bus with them, one military official said. The gunmen were wearing military uniforms. TTP 'commander' Tariq Afridi, who has forces in the area, was not available for comment and no TTP 'spokesman' returned calls seeking comment.

January 3

One person, identified as Aslam Zia, was injured when two motorcyclists opened fire at a Majlis held in a house at Wahdat Colony, a few metres from the local police station, in Taxila (Taxila District) and fled away. The Majlis was held in connection with the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain.

Two unidentified armed motorcyclists shot dead vice-president of the SSP, Muhammad Shakeel, near Kot Pindi Das area of Sheikhupura town of same District in Punjab. According to Police, the Muhammad Shakeel had been on his way to Lahore when unknown motorcyclists opened fire on him near Kot Pindi Das.

Punjab Counterterrorism Department report said that there is a threat of a suicide attack on the long march of Dr Tahirul Qadri on January 14, 2013. The feared attack has been planned by a Jihadi group - Ghazi Fidayee Force - under the leadership of Saifullah Baqi of Abbottabad. According to a report of the Department, Yar Bakht Khan of Hango, Ahmad of Charssada and Alam Khan have been assigned the task of a suicide attack.

After a trial spread over 14 months and conducted in an uneasy environment, Additional District and Sessions Judge Raja Pervez Akhtar jailed a blasphemy accused, Ghulam Ali Asghar for 10 years and imposed a fine of PKR 200, 000. Convict Ghulam Ali Asghar, a resident of Chinji village in Talagang tehsil was booked on Nov 17, 2011, on a charge of blaspheming the Holy Prophet (PBUH) by misquoting a Hadith in Punjabi language.

Around 4000 personnel of the FC deployed in KP to help the Police in maintaining peace in the province are reaching Islamabad Capital Territory for deployment during the long march of the Tehreek Minhaj-ul-Quran scheduled for January 14. Sources said the federal government directed the commandant of FC to immediately withdraw 4200 personnel assisting the KP Police and multi-national companies in the province for deployment in Islamabad during Tahirul Qadri's long march.

In the aftermath of 9/11, the number of foreign students studying in the madrassas of Punjab had dropped sharply but about 450 are still on their rolls and causing a bit of worry to the Punjab Police. A recent field survey of the madrassas by the Special Branch of the provincial Police revealed that 289 of them are, technically, staying illegally in the country. An overwhelming majority of them, 275, were found lodged in the madrassas in Lahore. Many of the foreign students have been continuing their stay in the residential madrassas without fulfilling legal formalities, the field report said. It suggested the Punjab Government to direct local authorities to ensure the registration of foreigners at District Police level to keep a watch on them on regular basis. Those found violating Pakistan's immigration laws "should be sent back" to their home country. The report partly blamed the administration of madrassas for not paying attention to the legal status of the foreign students on their rolls.

In the face of West's 'war on terror'- and description of the madrassas system as "the breeding ground of Islamic extremists" - the former president Pervez Musharraf ordered, in 2005, that the foreign madrassas students staying in Pakistan illegally must leave the country and the legal ones register themselves with the authorities. Seven years later, the secret Police has counted 444 resident foreign students in the madrassas all over Punjab. Interestingly the highest number, 135, came from Indonesia, the next highest were the 99 students from Thailand. Other foreign nationalities studying in the Punjab madrassas are Kazakhstan (44), China (30), Philippines (28), Kyrgyzstan (21), Malaysia (20) and Myanmar (9), according to the survey report.

A local leader of ASWJ, Qari Mohammad Saeed, was killed by unidentified assailant in Talagang area of Chakwal District in Punjab. Qari Mohammad Saeed, the prayer leader of a local mosque, was attacked by an unidentified assailant when he came out of Ayesha Siddiqua Masjid on Mianwali road after Maghrib prayers.

The LEA arrested four suspected militants from Saggian Bridge of Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab.

Three persons, including two brothers, Jamshed and Sajjad and an Elite Force official Hassan Naeem, were killed while a Policeman was injured during a raid in Katarian area of Rawalpindi (Rawalpindi District).

ATC awarded death sentence to three persons on two counts in a abducting for ransom case in Attock.

A joint team of Police and intelligence agencies arrested five cadres of HuT including Saad Jagrani, Head of HuT's Central Contact Committee during the raid on a banquet hall at Kurri Road near Shakrial in Rawalpindi town (Rawalpindi District) of Punjab.

In a sectarian attack, the Lahore General Hospital Ophthalmology Department head Professor Dr Ali Haider and his son were shot dead by two unidentified assailants in the Gulberg area of Lahore city (Lahore District), the provincial capital of Punjab.

Senior LeJ leader Ghulam Rasool was arrested under the maintenance of public order and shifted to the Bahawalnagar jail (Bahawalnagar District).

Maavia Azam, a leader of ASWJ was arrested in Jhang area (Jhang District) under the MPO.

The move came in wake of attacks on Hazara Shia in Balochistan for which the LeJ had claimed responsibility. The Supreme Court also took suo moto notice of the incident and asked the Federal Government to act against those responsible.

Police said that they arrested the leader of LeJ, Malik Ishaq, in the Rahim Yar Khan town of same District in connection with sectarian attacks in Quetta (Quetta District), the provincial capital of Balochistan that have killed nearly 200 people in 2013. The LeJ claimed responsibility for both attack in Quetta.

ASWJ central information secretary Maulana Aurangzeb Farooqui, who survived a life attempt in December 26, 2012 in Karachi (Karachi District), the provincial capital of Sindh and Bahawalpur chapter chief Rao Javed Iqbal alleged that more than 400 cadres of defunct LeJ were arrested in Police crackdown on February 23, night throughout Punjab.

Qari Asad Irfan, the District president of ASWJ, and a cadre, Moreed Hussain were arrested in Chakwal area (Chakwal District) and sent to the Jhelum prison.

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that Punjabi Taliban were behind the attack in Abbas town of Karachi (Karachi District), the provincial capital of Sindh. The minister said that the LeJ had its headquarters in Punjab and claimed that the province's ruling party, the PML-N, was in an electoral alliance with the banned organisation. Malik said that the same group of terrorists was involved in the Quetta and Karachi attacks. He said that terrorism would be eliminated from the country only if action was taken against terrorists in Punjab.

Hundreds of angry protesters turned into arsonists, attacking around 160 houses and 80 shops of Christians just a day after allegations of blasphemy were leveled against a man in a predominantly Christian colony of the Badami Bagh area of Lahore (Lahore District), the provincial capital of Punjab.

The ATC, Judge Irfan Saeed granted four-day physical remand of 14 nominated accused involved in the Joseph Colony arson attack.

Meanwhile, the same court sent 21 accused, involved in the same attack, on judicial remand for their identification parade.

An ATC sent 13 suspects nominated in the Badami Bagh tragedy to jail on a 14-day judicial remand.

A security guard working at a private bus terminal in the jurisdiction of Pirwadhai Police Station in Rawalpindi in the province of Punjab has been shot dead.

Police recovered 10 bags of 1698 dynamite bombs loaded on a truck and arrested the smugglers on Grand Trunk road near Khairabad Chowk in Khairabad town of Mianwali District.

Unidentified assailants shot dead a senior lawyer, identified as Chaudhry Aslam of the Supreme Court, near Fauji Foundation Hospital of Rawalpindi.

JI Gujranwala District 'chief' Bilal Qudrat Butt was injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on his car at Qila Didar Singh town of Gujranwala District.

RPO Ghulam Rasool Zahid denied Rahim Yar Khan District is the headquarters of the TTP as claimed by former interior minister Rehman Malik.

"Terrorism is my only worry which can disturb smooth run-up to the general elections," Punjab's caretaker Chief Minister Najam Sethi said. Adding that otherwise things were very much under control.

The Lahore High Court has been told by a senior law officer not to rule in favour of giving official legal assistance to JuD and LeT founder Hafiz Saeed in a case filed against him in the US, as doing so would strengthen the hand of the Indian Government.

After the Supreme Court concluded hearing of suo motu notice of March 9, 2013, Lahore Badami Bagh mob attack, at least five persons were injured in a fresh Muslim-Christian clash in Francisi Colony of Gujranwala city of same District.

A lady health worker was injured when some unidentified assailants attacked a polio team at Nasirabad town of Rawalpindi District.

Unidentified militants blew up a 22 inch diameter gas pipeline in the Faiz Muhammad Goth area of Rajanpur District in Punjab, depriving several areas of the province of gas.

Police neutralised a major terror bid by recovering an explosives-loaded vehicle which was parked near the Chak Shahzad farmhouse of former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad, the federal capital of Nation. The BDS defused the bomb after which the vehicle was shifted to Shehzad town Police Station.

The ATC has ordered inclusion of Pervez Musharraf in the investigation into Benazir Bhutto assassination case in Rawalpindi city (Rawalpindi District) of Punjab. Musharraf appeared before the court in relation to the case and made three requests, including unfreezing of his assets and bank accounts. During the hearing, the court granted him the permission to meet his lawyers and also allowed him a 15-minute meeting with his lawyers inside the court premises. Further, the court admitted for hearing the former President's request regarding unfreezing of his assets and bank accounts. It also issued a notice to the FIA in this regard.

A TTP cadre was arrested while pasting the group's pamphlets in the Multan Press Club of Multan city of same District. According to media reports, two members of the TTP were busy pasting pamphlets in the press club, carrying directives for the people to stay away from the upcoming election. The press club management informed the Police, who arrested one of the cadres, identified as Usman Ghani, a university student.

A senior prosecutor handling the 26/11 Mumbai attack case and Benazir Bhutto assassination case was shot and killed by unidentified assailants in the busy commercial area of Karachi Company in Islamabad, the federal capital nation. Assailants riding a motorcycle fired at the car of FIA prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfizar Ali in the busy commercial area of Karachi Company at 7.30am. Ali, who was driving, was hit by several bullets and lost control of the car. The vehicle hit a woman crossing the road and she too died later in hospital. His bodyguard, Frontier Corps trooper Farman Ali, was injured in the attack. The assailants managed to escape after the shooting. Ali was heading for an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi for a hearing of the Bhutto assassination case when he was attacked.

A ST leader, Khurram Qadri, was shot dead by unidentified assailants near Food Street of Tibi City of Sialkot District.

Former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's son, Ali Haider Gilani (27), was abducted by unidentified assailants on the outskirts of Multan city of same District. Officials said his secretary and a bodyguard were killed and four persons were injured. "People came on a motorbike. They also had a car with them and they opened fire and abducted Yousaf Raza Gilani's son Ali Haider in a black Honda," Police officer Khurram Shakur told reporters. There was no claim of responsibility for the abduction. Yousaf Raza Gilani alleged that the PML-N has abducted his son. "The election is a national obligation and we will not boycott," he said. "Kidnapping of my son following killing of his secretary in a firing attack is a horrific incident," he added.

Three Karachi targeted killers were killed by Lahore and Karachi Police in a joint operation in the Satukatla area of Lahore District. Police said that two Policemen also lost their lives during operation.

Chairman of APNA Sardar Arif Shahid was killed by two unidentified assailants in Rawalpindi city of same District. His party, Jammu & Kashmir National Liberation Conference has announced three-day mourning across PoK.

A central leader of the JuD, Khalid Bashir (42), was found dead in Sheikhupura area of the same District. JuD's Ameer (chief) Hamza told that Bashir was abducted by some unidentified militants two days ago.

A businessman, Hanif, who is also father-in-law of a PTI leader, Sadaqat Abbasi, has been receiving threats from suspected TTP militants, who have been demanding PKR 100 million to help them in their 'noble cause of Jihad'.

SSP leader Malik Ishaq, who was under custody of the law enforcing agencies, was released from Chohang Jail of Lahore.

Chief Justice of LHC, Umar Ata Bandial deferred the hearing of a petition moved by JuD 'chief', Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, till September 24, seeking direction from the Federal Government over the issue of defending the JuD 'chief' before a US Court, which issued summons to him, former ISI chiefs and other officials on a law suit filed by relatives of US nationals killed in Mumbai attacks (26/11).

JUP General Secretary, Daud Mustafai was brutally murdered while three others were seriously injured in a firing incident at Pindsultani village of Attock Dostrict in Panjab. Daud along with his fellows was trying to evacuate a piece of land of a poor woman occupied by land mafia when some unknown assailants opened fire on them. Daud died on the spot while his brother Abdul Rauf, Umer Farooq, Ahmad and an unidentified person received bullet injuries.

Two persons belonging to Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies in FATA were shot dead by two unidentified gunmen in the busy Taj Mehal market of Rawalpindi. The deceased were identified as Yaquoob Khan and Ajmair Khan.

The trial of seven Pakistanis, including LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, charged with involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was shifted from a court in Rawalpindi (Punjab) to a new Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Islamabad.

The Government of Punjab province has allocated millions of rupees in its budget for fiscal 2013-14 for the largest centre of the JuD, considered a front for the banned LeT. Besides a grant-in-aid of over PKR 61 million for the JuD centre known as 'Markaz-e-Taiba', the provincial Government has allocated PKR 350 million for setting up a 'Knowledge Park' at the centre and other development initiatives.

A Judicial Commission probing the brutal murder in a jail attack on Indian national Sarabjit Singh in KotLakhpat jail has so far recorded the statements of 38 witnesses. The Inspector General of Prisons of Punjab province and the Superintendent of Kot Lakhpat jail among others have testified before the Lahore High Court.

The Islamabad Police arrested two TTP militants involved in the killing of newly-elected Member of the Provincial Assembly [MPA, KP], Farid Khan of the PTI, who was shot dead in Hangu (Hangu District) with his driver on June 3, 2013. The suspects, during the preliminary questioning, disclosed that they had killed, slaughtered or tortured 36 people to death.

Farid had won the PK-42 (Hangu-I) seat as an independent candidate and had then joined PTI. He was shot dead near his residence close to Singair village, when unidentified armed men opened fire at his vehicle. Police said his driver and guard also sustained injuries in the attack. According to details, the CIA received information that a group of terrorists was hiding in Tarnol area.

As a measure to beef up security in the wake of recent wave of terrorism in the country, the DIG Operations Lahore Muhammad Tahir Rai said 30 percent additional force had been deployed for the security of judges and courts, including Lahore High Court, sessions courts and civil courts. Additional patrolling by Police would ensure the security of courts and judges, he added.

Explosives concealed in a polythene bag went off inside a restaurant on the busy Food Street of the Old Anarkali area of Lahore city, killing at least five people and injuring 46 others.

The death toll of July 6, 2013 bomb blast that occurred at Old Anarkali area in Lahore District reached five.

Armed gangsters belonging to Chhoto Mazari group resorted to rocket attacks and injured three Police constables and held hostage nine Police officials of two check posts in the riverside of the Indus in Rajanpur District. Retired Police Inspector Muhammad Azam Khan told Dawn that his nephew, Constable Ghulam Yaseen who was deployed at one of the posts, told him through his cell phone that he with eight others had been held hostage by a gang.

Police arrested more than 80 suspects for interrogation, but without any significant breakthrough in investigation. However, a Police official told Dawn that a group, calling itself BLT, led by Meeran Baloch, had claimed responsibility for the attack in phone calls made to the Balochistan media and police.

Police arrested two militants for attacking a polio worker in Sahiwal District. Police said the polio worker, 23, who was assigned to the anti-polio vaccination in Chichawatni, visited the house of Ziaullah Jutt to administer vaccine with a colleague. When Jutt entered the room, he began to hit her.

The Police beefed up security arrangements across Lahore after reports indicating more attacks. Sources confirmed that Intelligence Agencies had once again forwarded their reports to the authorities concerned, passing information about the presence of terrorists in the city and expressing fear that follow-up attacks might take place.

The Supreme Court was told that the Punjab Government had decided to initiate legal proceedings against Army officers, including an ISI brigadier, in the missing persons' case. During the hearing of the missing persons' case, Punjab Additional Advocate General Faisal Malik told the three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, that there is no need for further investigation in this matter and the Provincial Government has decided to submit challan against the nominated persons in the light of statements of Dr Imran Munir and former Rawalpindi CPO Rao Iqbal.

Upon this, Justice Ejaz Ahmad asked who would be tried and whether anyone was nominated in the challan. The AAG replied that according to Imran Munir's statement, which he had given before a JIT on December 5, 2009, he had seen missing person Masood Janjua in Westridge area of Rawalpindi, while he was illegally in the custody of ISI's Brigadier Mansoor Saeed Sheikh during the period from July 28, 2006 and second week of March 2007. He said that the challan would be submitted in this matter according to the available evidence.

The Supreme Court was informed that 514 people were under detention in five internment centres set up in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the Action in Aid of Civil Power Regulations 2011 which allows the civil Government to confine persons accused of terrorism. A three-judge bench headed by Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja which had taken up cases of missing persons ordered the Attorney General's office to inform it on July 10 about details and the status of pending cases of disappeared persons provided by Amina Masood Janjua, a campaigner for missing persons' cause, and the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances.

Unidentified militants failed to blow up the house of a spiritual healer Pir Abdus Sattar Khattak in Naya Mohallah area of Rawalpindi. The BDS, however, defused over half-a-kilogram device, wrapped in a polythene bag, and cleared the area, Police said.

Haji Gulzar Awan, a resident of Westridge-1 in Rawalpindi District, who had contested 2013 election from NA-57 on PPP ticket, has been receiving extortion threats allegedly from the TTP who are demanding PKR 50 million from him. Awan complained to the Police that he had received three long interval threat calls from extortionists who also threatened of abducting him if he failed to meet their demand.

When a senior police official was contacted, he said Haji Gulzar Awan, after receiving extortion calls, went to the SSP Israr Ahmed Abbasi and informed the Police that the caller, who spoke Pashto, identified himself as a member of the TTP and demanded ransom. He added that he had received three similar phone calls so far. Abbasi had received a threat letter along with a USB containing the video and pictures of the suspected TTP militants. However, the Police have so far been unable to trace any clue which could lead to the extortionists.

Earlier, Raja Hanif Abbasi, a wealthy businessman from Murree, had also received extortion and life threats allegedly from the TTP, which demanded PKR100 million from him, Police said.

Punjab Police finally managed to recover eight Policemen, who were abducted by a group of robbers from the kacha area of Rajanpur District, after having successful negotiations with the kidnappers. This release of hostages came at a price. The Government agreed to release three members of the LeJ in exchange for eight Policemen held hostage by a gang led by notorious bandit Chotu Mazari.

On the night of July 14, 2013, the bandits released three civilians kidnapped months earlier for a reduced ransom of PKR two million, after talks between MPA Sardar Atif Mazari - representing the Government - and Ataullah, alias Patt Umrani, an ally of Chotu Mazari.

The Islamabad Koral Police and the traffic Police arrested four abductors and recovered a vehicle, two pistols and ammunition from their possession from Muhammad Ali Park area of Lahore.

An intelligence report sent to the Provincial Government said that despite being put on the ATA 1997 watch list, 40 individuals having links to outlawed outfits are working in different Government departments in the Rawalpindi Division, comprising the Districts of Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal and Rawalpindi.

Lahore Investigation Police arrested a suspect for allegedly demanding extortion money from local traders in the Lahore District. The traders in different areas of Lahore had lodged several complaints with the Police about threatening phone calls they had been receiving for the past many days. Tracing a phone call, the Police arrested a suspect, identified as Abdullah, a resident of Gujranwala District, who had made a threatening call to one Imran, a trader of Badami Bagh Market, and demanded PKR 2.5 million three days ago.

Four TTP militants responsible for the July 12, 2012, attack on a jail in the Rasool Park area of Ichra in the Lahore District that killed at least 10 jail personnel were arrested by the Lahore CIA officials. The four suspects were identified as, Karamat Ali, Zulfikar Alim, Sohail and Abdul Hafeez. Two Kalashnikovs, 50 bullets and four hand grenades were recovered from their possession. Investigations have so far revealed that the attack was planned by al Qaeda 'commander' Junaid.

Mobile phone services are scheduled to be suspended in Lahore District of Punjab and Karachi District of Sindh, on account of Youm-e-Ali procession. Cellular services will be suspended from 4:00pm to 8:00pm in Lahore, while Karachi will suffer a prolonged closure from 6:00am to 8:00pm. There were some reports that cellular services in other parts of the country may also be suspended. The Government has also decided to impose a ban on pillion riding in the areas adjacent to the procession.

The son of Water and Power Ministry Deputy Secretary Zafar Mehmood was abducted in Islamabad on July 31. The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of PKR 3 million (USD 29,400) ransom for the release of Mehmood's son.

Hearing the case of missing persons, the Supreme Court directed the Rawalpindi Police to proceed against Military Intelligence (MI) Major Haider in accordance with law. A three-member bench of the court, headed by CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing an application by Abida Malik whose husband Tasif Ali went missing on November 23, 2011, from the Sadiqabad Police precincts in Rawalpindi. Earlier, the father-in-law of Tasif had told the bench that he had met with the MI officer, Major Haider, in Mirpur (Azad Kashmir) who said that Tasif would return home very soon. The court observed that the case was of "individual nature" and does not involve the institution. "Therefore, police should proceed against the army officer (Major Haider) in accordance with law."

On the other hand, Ibrahim Satti, the counsel for MI, raised objection to the court's order, and said that Police have no jurisdiction to proceed against any serving Army Officer under the Army Act, 1952. He also made it clear that the army would not hand over its officer to Police. But Justice Jawwad S Khawaja told the lawyer that the MI could not probe the matter itself as only Police had the authority to investigate the Army Officer.

Six unidentified militants shot dead Shia Council's Divisional President Sheikh Manzoor Hussain and his younger son Haider Ali while they were leaving their house located at Umar Block in Abbasia Town of Rahim Yar Khan District.

Security at the Benazir International Airport in Islamabad was been beefed amid intelligence reports of a of a possible terror attack.

Investigating authorities traced another case of extortion and arrested two persons from the Punjab Housing Society of Lahore (Lahore District), the provincial capital of Punjab, who demanded PKR two million from a doctor in the name of TTP. The arrestees were identified as Munawar and Haider, the residents of Kohat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They demanded money from Dr Shahzad Ahmad, who runs a hospital in Nishtar Colony. The callers introduced them as the 'extortionists' belonging to the TTP (Ehsanullah Ehsan Group) and demanded PKR two million from the doctor on August 1.

Police arrested three alleged TTP militants attempting to force a citizen to pay them in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab. The arrested persons, identified as Akram, Munawar and Haider, threatened to kill Dr. Shehzad in the name of the TTP if he didn't pay PKR two million (USD 19,550) per month.

A major terrorism attempt was foiled when a suicide bomber was shot dead at Imambargah (Shia place of worship) in Bara Kahu village, on the outskirt of Islamabad, the Federal capital of Pakistan. Police officer Nasir Mehmood said, "A suicide bomber targeted a Shia mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad in Bhara Kahu area but could not explode himself due to timely interception by a private security guard." Another Police official, Majeed-ur-Rehman, said a guard was killed in an exchange of fire with the bomber before he was shot dead.

The Punjab Chapter of TTP warned the PML-N Government of dire consequences if it carries on with its plan of executing some convicts on death row. In a pamphlet distributed in Southern Punjab and South and North Waziristan Agencies of FATA, the TTP said that the Government will be considered at war with them if it goes on to execute their 'colleagues' currently serving jail terms and are on death row.

A criminal, identified as Akhar Nawaz, who had escaped from Dera Ismail Khan Central Prison during jail break by the TTP on July 29, 2013, was re-arrested in Bhakkar District. A senior Police official in DI Khan said that Nawaz, who was sentenced for murders, attempted murders, thefts, robberies and other crimes, had escaped from the jail during the attack.

Islamabad's new counter-terrorism policy, titled National Counter Terrorism and Extremism Policy 2013, seeks to dismantle all terrorist outfits and their networks through wide-ranging reforms in the education system, police, judiciary and foreign policy. According to the draft available the five-layered counter-terror policy seeks to dismantle, contain, prevent, educate and re-integrate.

The Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said, "We will leave it to the political parties to decide whether we should hold talks with militants, use force against them or adopt a mix of tact and might". The "war against terror" was thrust upon the nation by a dictator, but saving Pakistan from death and destruction had now become "our war", said Federal Minister of Interior, adding that a strategy against militants would be thrashed out at a Multi-Party Conference later this month.

During a meeting in Lahore to review the law and order situation of Punjab, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif that a special force would be constituted to protect foreigners. Given the recent rise in terrorism, he ordered the recruitment of 4,000 constables in the Police force.

Despite threats by the Punjab Chapter of TTP, the Government has decided to carry out the execution of the three LeJ prisoners and the death penalty for the first batch of terrorists belonging to the outfit will be implemented next week in the Sukkur Central Prison. The three LeJ terrorists are Attaullah, to be executed on August 20, Mohammad Azam on August 21 and Jalal on August 22.

The PTI submitted a resolution against drone attacks in the Punjab Assembly secretariat. The resolution, submitted by MPA Mian Aslam Iqbal stressed that drone attacks - which have increased in recent years - were an attack on Pakistan's sovereignty and led to a number of civilian casualties. The resolution moreover said that the Federal Government should convey to the US that such attacks on Pakistani soil were unacceptable.

While addressing a meeting in Lahore District, the LeT founder and JuD 'chief' Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, who is wanted in India for the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror attacks, said that he was not a terrorist, and asked for an independent probe by judges from India and Pakistan to find out whether he was guilty. "You (India) are continuously calling me a terrorist. But I am not a terrorist, and if you are not satisfied, an independent judicial commission comprising senior lawyers and judges from India and Pakistan should investigate whether I am guilty," said Saeed.

Holding Islamabad in terror for six hours an armed man, identified as Muhammad Sikandar, along with his wife and two children, opened fire in the high-security Red Zone of Islamabad, demanding the imposition of Sharia'h in Pakistan. He was later shot and wounded by Police during a standoff in the capital city. The SFs arrested him on the directives of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar.

The ATC sent five suspects arrested in connection with the August 9, 2013, suicide attack on Bara Kahu mosque in Islamabad on a three-day physical remand on Police request.

Rejecting Rawalpindi Police's investigation report about the recovery of a missing person, the two-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry directed the city's SP-Investigation to interrogate accused officials of Intelligence Agencies in the matter related to the forced disappearance of Zaheer Muzaffar, who has been missing from Rawalpindi since February 2011.

The Multan CIA Police arrested a gang of abductors accused of abducting people by offering them drugged food. Police said the gang had abducted 20 people over the last few months. Initial investigations revealed that the gang had been active in two Districts and the leader of the gang had been identified as Muhammad Asif.

Benazir International Airport in Islamabad has been sealed and security has been tightened after receiving reports of terror threat. Security has been beefed up at the airport and commandos have been deployed to avert any untoward situation.

Islamabad Police registered a case against Sikandar at Kohsar Police Station under Section 6 of the ATA. His wife, Kanwal, was also named in the FIR.

An independent NA member Jamshed Dasti was injured in an armed attack targeting him during his visit to address a rally in Sanawan locality of Muzaffargarh District. Before he could address the rally two unidentified assailants attacked Dasti with sharp objects and rest of their accomplices pelted stone on him. At least six of the attackers were detained by people who had gathered to listen to Dasti, but four of their accomplices managed to escape.

An Additional District and Sessions Judge in Lahore District framed charges against four Black Arrow Printing Press employees, identified as Moeed Ayaz, Asmatullah, Razaullah and Ghulamullah, under the blasphemy laws for allegedly publishing blasphemous literature and summoned witnesses for September 14, 2013. They were arrested on January 7, 2013, as they loaded a small truck with books and CDs.

ATC granted Kanwal, wife of Sikandar who had held Islamabad hostage for hours on August 15, 2013, a seven-day physical remand. Earlier, the duty magistrate had issued a one-day transit remand for Kanwal.

Security Agencies raided an alleged technical hub of al Qaeda in Lahore District and arrested 13 suspected terrorists, including seven women. The alleged tech hub was being used to trace phone numbers of influential and affluent people across the country in order to make phone calls for extortion and kidnapping-for-ransom, an unnamed official said.

According to a survey carried out by the Provincial Government, as many as 267 terrorists are imprisoned in the Punjab out of which 17 are locked up at Bahawalpur Central Jail. It says that Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi District, Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore District, Multan Central Jail in Multan District and Dera Ghazi Khan Jail in DG Khan District have been declared 'sensitive' and Rangers personnel have been deployed there.

Intelligence Agency uncovered a plot to abduct Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif from his residence in the Jati Umra town of Raiwind in Lahore District. The conspiracy was unearthed after a militant of the TTP Punjab Chapter, identified as Muhammad Usman, arrested on suspicion, revealed they had completed their reconnaissance and had chalked out a plan to abduct the Chief Minister. During the course of investigation Usman revealed that Ubaid alias Qari Muhammad Imran Group and Aslam Yasin alias Osama Group, 'commanders' of Punjabi Taliban, had planned to abduct Shahbaz Sharif to release their accomplices detained in high-profile cases of terrorism in different jails of the country, particularly in Punjab. 'Commander' Ubaid and Aslam Yasin were based at Miranshah in the North Waziristan Agency of FATA, and had also links with the al Qaeda; sources quoted Usman as telling investigators.

Rawalpindi Special ATC Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rahman while hearing the December 2007 murder case of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto indicted the former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf. "He was charged with murder, criminal conspiracy for murder and facilitation for murder," public prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar said at the ATC in Rawalpindi hearing the case. However, Pervez Musharraf denied the charges and the case has been adjourned until August 27, 2013.

Punjab Chapter of TTP welcomed a call for dialogue by PM Nawaz Sharif with extremists. PM Nawaz Sharif made the offer to extremists on August 19, 2013. "We welcome the offer of talks by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif," TTP Punjab 'chief' Ismatullah Muawiya said in a statement distributed in Wana town of South Waziristan Agency of FATA.

A clash between ASWJ and members of Shias community killed at 11 people in Kotla Jam area of Bhakkar District in Punjab. As per Police official Abdullah Khan, people were killed on both sides. The conflict started when one of the ASWJ cadres was shot dead by unidentified assailants while he was closing his shop during a rally in the area.

A fugitive militant with PKR 500,000 as bounty on his head, identified as Atique, was killed in an exchange of fire with the Police in Sabzazar Colony of Lahore District.

Reports on absence of women from by-polls were received from Mianwali and Mandi Bahauddin Districts.

After receiving the inquiry report from a Chakwal Sessions Judge, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, directed the ISI through the Defence Ministry to produce two missing brothers, Umer Hayat and Umer Bakht, on September 28, 2013. A Chakwal District and Sessions Judge told the Supreme Court that the two brothers were picked up by the ISI on April 5, 2010, from Chakwal District of Punjab.

The 'spokesman' for the Hakimullah Mehsud-led TTP, Shahidullah Shahid, claimed that the head of the Punjabi Taliban faction, Asmatullah Muawiya, has been stripped of his leadership for welcoming the Government's peace talk offer. He said that the Taliban central Shura had taken 'serious notice' of Asmatullah Muawiya's recent statement as he was not authorised to respond to the Government's offer for talks.

However, Muawiya responded that the TTP Shura did not have the capacity to remove him because the Punjabi Taliban is a separate group. He said his group has its own decision-making body to decide leadership and other matters.

The IGP revealed that the gunman Sikandar responsible for the August 15, 2013 Islamabad standoff demanding imposition of Sharia'h had links with a banned militant outfit. The IG told a press conference that Sikandar had been operating with militant groups in foreign countries, including Dubai, for the last five years. He said that the gunman had been helping terrorist outfits carry out their activities. He acted as their handler and facilitator, the IG added. According to details given by the IG, Sikandar underwent combat training in 1996 after which he started raising funds for the banned organisation in Dubai. Sikandar received militant training in PoK.

The formal trial of former President General Pervez Musharraf on charges of involvement in the December 27, 2007, murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto began today. "The trial began with the Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi recording evidence of a witness," state prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar said. He said four witnesses were summoned but only one turned up to testify.

A three-member Turkish Police delegation met with Punjab IGP Khan Baig at the Lahore Police Office train Punjab Policemen in counter-terrorism and security measures. The delegation is part of a programme for mutual cooperation between the Punjab and Turkish Governments. A formal agreement in this regard will be signed in September 2013. The delegation will observe policing patterns across the Punjab and devise a strategy to fight terrorism in the province. They will also help improve the Punjab police's capacity.

IG Punjab Police Khan Baig said that the TTP and other militant outfits operating in FATA and Waziristan Agency had their offshoots and members in Punjab province. The IG said that presence of al Qaeda in Punjab was low as compare to the TTP.

Police arrested two TTP militants, Hammad Adil and Muhammad Tanveer, allegedly involved in the March 2, 2011 killing of former Minister for Minorities' affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, from their hideout in Phulgran area of Islamabad. They were arrested with the help from Intelligence Agencies and a car laden with explosives was also seized from their possession, claimed media reports. These two were suspected of planning the attack on Bhatti with the help of another accomplice Omer Abdullah.

During the interrogation, Adil told the Police that he planned to murder Bhatti as he had spoken about amending the blasphemy laws and supported 'blasphemers'. He also revealed told the Police that he was preparing for another terror attack on a major installation. A suicide bomber was on his way from the tribal areas to Islamabad to drive and hit the explosives-laden vehicle (found during the raid) into a key target in the capital city, the report said.

Nishtar Colony Police of Lahore (Lahore District, the provincial capital of Punjab) arrested a woman allegedly for proclaiming herself 'prophet' and booked her under blasphemy charges. Model Town SP (Operations) Tariq Aziz said Salma alias Fatima (40), principal of a private school and wife of Tanveer, a resident of Bahadarabad, started distributing pamphlets in the neighbourhood around 6am allegedly inscribed with blasphemous remarks and proclaiming herself 'prophet'. He said on being informed by some locals of the situation the Police took Salma in custody and recorded statements of witnesses. The SP said a case under Section 295-C (use of derogatory remarks, etc, for the Holy Prophet PBUH) of the Pakistan Penal Code had been registered against the accused on the complaint of Jamia Masjid Anwar-e-Madina prayer leader Qari Iftikhar Ahmad Raza.

The Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that extortionists should be dealt with an iron hand and an effective strategy should also be evolved for elimination of street crimes. He said that modern technology should be benefitted for curbing crimes and the process of computerising all police stations should be completed at the earliest. He said that Lahore should be made a role model for eradication of crimes and solid measures should also be taken for eliminating crimes in all other Districts. He was presiding over a high-level meeting with regard to eliminating street crimes and extortionists at the Chief Minister's Office in Lahore. Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that nothing can be more important than protection of life and property of the people and Police will have to fulfil its responsibilities in this regard.

At least seven alleged terrorists were arrested during a raid by Intelligence Agencies at residential apartments in the Liaquatabad area of Lahore District. They also seized huge cache of explosives and four suicide jackets from their possession.

Unidentified militants shot dead seven people and injured two others in the Jasoki area of Gujrat District.

BDS defused five anti-tank landmines which were recovered by Police during a special search operation in Bajwat villages of Sialkot District. According to Police officials, the anti-tank landmines were Indian made and they reached here with recent floodwater from India.

LeT founder and JuD Chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, who has USD 10 million US bounty on his head, appeared openly at a rally in Islamabad on September 6, denouncing India as a 'terrorist state' as more than 10,000 of his supporters chanted for "holy war" against India. "The United States and India are very angry with us. This means God is happy with us," Saeed told the crowd as supporters chanted Jihad (Holy war) and 'War will continue until the liberation of Kashmir'. He did not use the word jihad himself. "We are ready for every sacrifice for the liberation of Kashmir," declared Saeed.

Hamid Gul, a former chief of the ISI told the crowd, "They should know there are a lot of people here who are waiting for the conquest of India. It will be our privilege to take part in this war."

Anti-Shia and anti-Government rally was held by ASWJ cadres in Lahore District. Thousands of ASWJ cadres joined a procession at the Lower Mall in Lahore District and held a conference on the road after several activists were arrested from Nasser Bagh, the scheduled venue for the conference. The party had scheduled a Difa-e-Sahaba and Difa-e-Pakistan Conference at Nasser Bagh. However, a Police contingent had been deployed outside the venue to stop them from entering.

The Police arrested nearly 200 activists at Istanbul Chowk. Policemen in civilian clothes and uniforms stopped many bearded men and asked them if they were ASWJ members. The ASWJ then took out a procession from Out Fall Road and Ravi Road to the Lower Mall near Government College University. Around 3,000 ASWJ activists chanted slogans against Shiites and the Government. The proceedings began with speeches by some local leaders who delivered fiery speeches. The conference ended with a speech by ASWJ Chief Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi. Maulana Muhammad Muavia Azam Tariq said, "Shiites are Pakistan's enemies."

Police foiled a terror bid in Islamabad by defusing explosives and arresting five accused, including two women, and recovering a huge amount of explosive material from their possession from a house located in Khayaban-e Kashmir-area of Islamabad. Police also recovered detonators, 20 Kalashnikovs, 4 pistols, hand grenade and a wireless set from the same house.

The Islamabad Police conducted a raid in the Khayabaan-e-Kashmir area of Islamabad and arrested three nephews of the Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DEM) founder-chairperson Syed Asiya Andrabi for terror links. Andrabi confirmed the raids by the Pakistan Police and told The Hindu that Dr Syed Mujahid Gilani, Syed Irtiyaz-un-Nabi Gilani (sons of her sister Syed Rehana Andrabi and Dr Syed Mushtaq Gilani) and Syed Mohammad Shoaib Andrabi [son of her brother Syed Zial-ul-Haq Andrabi] had been arrested after police raided her sister's house Islamabad.

An official at the Tarnol Police Station in the Islamabad Capital Territory said that Shoaib was caught with a cache of arms and ammunition but did not confirm the presence of "remote controlled spy planes". The youth has been remanded in Police custody till September 11, 2013 (today) when he will be produced in a civil court.

Police foiled a major terrorism bid at a park adjacent to Lahore Railway Station as it recovered and defused bomb weighing 3 kilogram.

Law Enforcement Agencies arrested four alleged terrorists and recovered explosive material from Model Town and Liaquatabad areas of Lahore District. The alleged terrorists were arrested on information of the earlier arrested seven terrorists.

An Intelligence Agency detained seven al Qaeda militants from Punjab University Campus in Lahore District. The militants include al Qaeda's suicide squad, their local handler and two of their technical collaborators. Out of seven al Qaeda members, four have taken special Jihadi training in Miranshah, headquarters of North Waziristan Agency in FATA, while the other three are also experts in different fields with five having expertise in information technology/communication, IED, diploma associate engineer in automobile technology and media coordination.

A senior serving Intelligence Agency officer, who also led operations in which wanted al Qaeda figures Ahmad Khalfan Ghalani and Naeem Noor Khan alias Abu Talha were arrested, said that JeI has been directly and indirectly involved in providing accommodation to al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, supposedly No 3 in the al-Qaeda hierarchy was arrested in March 2004, from the house of a women's wing leader of the JeI in Rawalpindi District, while another al Qaeda leader Abu Zubaida was arrested in the same year from Faisalabad District, and was given shelter by JuD and LeT.

The intelligence agency and Police jointly raided in Johar Town and Sabzazar Police Station area in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab and arrested four more suspected terrorists, with one hardened criminal disguised as a beggar. According to sources, law enforcers arrested terrorist, Ghulam Ahmad Nabi, who was nabbed by agencies a few days back at railway station and recovered suicide vests and other explosives material.

In order to control terrorism in the province, the Punjab Police have demanded PKR 100 million for the purchase of 46 vehicles for the Counter Terrorism Department. The summary stated that the officers and officials of the Counter Terrorism Department were facing difficulties while performing their duties due to shortage of vehicles, therefore, it has been requested that the required funds should be released on priority basis.

PKR 70.551 billion has been allocated for the Punjab Police during the fiscal year 2013-14, which is almost PKR nine billion more than the budget of previous fiscal year. The Provincial Government had allocated PKR 61.588 billion for the Punjab Police during the fiscal year 2012-13. However, Police spent PKR 64.955 billion which is almost PKR 3.45 billion more than the allocated amount.

At least 21 foreign students staying without valid documents were arrested by Police during a raid in the early morning on two madrassas in Gujranwala town of Punjab. The madrassas reportedly belonged to Qazi Hamidullah Khan - a teacher of Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar. Officials from 30 Police Stations headed by the Superintendent of Police raided the seminaries. The nationality and the names of the foreigners could not be ascertained.

The law enforcing and Intelligence Agencies in a joint action arrested an alleged militants belonging to al Qaeda from Lahore District in the night. According to sources the accused was a student in Science College Lahore.

After receiving threats of a Dera-Ismail-Khan-jailbreak like attack, the security has been fortified at Central Jail Lahore also known as Kot Lakpat jail. The prison authorities said that unidentified callers claiming to be representatives of Taliban and al Qaeda threatened to attack the prison. According to the sources, hundreds of additional Police and Elite Force Commandoes are deployed inside and around the prison facility.

The Capital Police found a dead body of a militant, identified as Haris Khan, one of the four accused in the May 3, 2013 assassination of Chaudhry Zulfikar Ali, the FIA prosecutor handling the 26/11 Mumbai attack case and the Benazir Bhutto murder case from Islamabad.

During the May 3 attack Constable Farman Ali, the prosecutor's guard belonging to the Frontier Corps, also fired at the attackers. As a result, an attacker's cell phone and pistol fell on the road, but all four managed to escape. During the ambush, Abdullah Omar Abbasi and Haris Khan were injured when the prosecutor's guard retaliated, but they managed to escape.

The Police, accompanied by an Assistant Commissioner, a magistrate and a medico-legal officer, went to Adil's house and dug out the body. The remains were then taken to a hospital for legal process, including autopsy and DNA test, to establish identification. Currently, all four people involved in the assassination have been identified namely Omar Abbasi, Haris Khan, Adil and Tanveer (the mastermind).

An alleged target killer of Karachi, identified as Amin Buledi of Lyari gang war, was arrested along with 13 others in a targeted operation on Mall Road in Murree tehsil of Rawalpindi District and handed over to Karachi Police. The operation was carried out by the Punjab Police and Elite Forces. These targeted killers reportedly originate from Karachi and had taken refuge in Murree from the targeted operations that were being carried out in the city since September 5, 2013.

Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad sent suspected terrorists Hammad Adil and Shaukat Zaman on a 14-day judicial remand. Adil was arrested on September 16, 2013, during a raid in the Sabzi Mandi area. The police believe Adil was plotting a car bombing in Islamabad. It was revealed that Adil's next target was former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf's farmhouse in Chak Shahzad. The Police had seized his car in Bhara Kahu in which they found a CNG container filled with 120 kilogrammes of explosive material. Zaman was also allegedly helping a man named Tanveer who is associated with al Qaeda.

Officials of a secret agency arrested three terror suspects during a raid at the office of property dealer Mohammad Anwar in Imamia Colony in Shahdara of Lahore.

Pindi Bhattian Police seized more than 25 kilogram of explosives in a Sargodha-bound van near the bypass in Hafizabad District. The Police have arrested the driver, the conductor and impounded the van.

Police demolished minarets at an Ahmadi place of worship Kabutranwali Ibadatgah in Sialkot District of Punjab, after a group of protesters threatened to do so themselves. The Police approached the community on September 20, 2013 after a local cleric Abdul Hameed Chishti belonging to Jama'at Ahl-e-Sunnat Pakistan (JAS) complained that three worship places for Ahmadis had features that resembled mosques, namely minarets and verses from the Quran written on the walls.

The cleric whose complaint led to the action said that he had approached the Police after he attended a Khatm-e-Nabuwwat Conference on September 7, 2013 marking the anniversary of the passage of anti-Ahmadi laws, where a speaker said that Ahmadis were not allowed to build minarets or use verses from the Quran at their places of worship. Sections 298-B and 298-C of the Pakistan Penal Code outlaw Ahmadis from calling their place of worship a masjid, claiming to be Muslims or preaching their faith to others.

Pakistani Police busted a gang that uses a female member to lure youngsters through Facebook and telephone calls and then kidnapping them for ransom. The gang, which included a lawyer, his wife, the son of a Policeman and four others, was active in the industrial town of Gujranwala in Gujranwala District and was traced by tracking phone calls.

Sandal Bar Police registered cases against 190 cadres of ST including 20 nominated persons for attacking a Police Station and creating a law and order situation in Faisalabad District of Punjab. Police said cases were also registered against 10 women who had joined the protestors to press their demand for the release of 25 ST cadres. Station House Officer Muhammad Afzal Lali told the media that Sandal Bar police had arrested 25 people on September 21 for "forcibly occupying a piece of land adjacent to a mosque in Chak 31-JB."

Maulana Abdul Aziz, the chief cleric of Lal Masjid (Red Mosque), was acquitted from his last case by a judicial magistrate of Islamabad, Mohammad Naveed Khan. Since 2001, 27 different cases had been registered against Maulana Aziz, and the last one was registered on April 1, 2007 by the Kohsar Police because he had threatened shopkeepers of Aabpara and Jinnah Super Market for selling movies containing indecent content. The first of the 27 cases against Maulana Abdul Aziz and his associates was registered on September 28, 2001, for delivering fiery speeches.

Between 2001 and 2005, the Police registered 10 cases of which five were registered under different sections of the Anti Terrorism Act 1997. The remaining five were withdrawn before 2007. However, 22 cases were later registered against the cleric between January and July, 2007. In this regard, the prosecution produced 60 witnesses against Maulana Aziz. However, when the relevant witnesses, including the shopkeepers, were produced before the court, they disowned the prosecution's story and claimed that Maulana Aziz had never threatened them or visited their shops.

Maulana Wajihullah advocate, counsel of Maulana Aziz, after the cleric's acquittal told Dawn that former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf had forced the Police to register fake cases against the cleric and his family members. He said Maulana Aziz and his family members had now been acquitted from all fake cases but General Musharraf himself was still facing trials.

At least 49 prisoners allegedly involved in high profile terrorism cases, including five American nationals, have been shifted from the Central Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi District to the high security prison of Central Jail in Faisalabad District. According to a prison official, more than 60 prisoners involved in terrorism cases are still languishing in the Central Jail Adiala amid tight security. He said the 49 prisoners, who were shifted to Faisalabad on different occasions, were involved in various terrorist attacks such as those on General (retired) Pervez Musharraf and former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Doctor Usman, an alleged terrorist, was also shifted to Faisalabad. He had been convicted in a deadly attack on the Army Headquarters Rawalpindi in October 2009. Also, five American nationals, who were allegedly involved in the Sargodha Airbase attack, were also shifted. They were arrested by the Pakistani Law Enforcement Agencies in December 2009 during a raid at a house in Sargodha District. According to the Police, laptops, CDs and other items were recovered from the five Americans who were described to be in their 20s when arrested.

The prison official said the 49 prisoners were kept in a high security barrack in the Central Jail Faisalabad after they were shifted. When contacted, a senior official of the prison department confirmed that all 49 high profile prisoners had been shifted first to Mianwali Jail and then to Faisalabad.

The security personnel arrested a prime accused of Karachi Lyari gang war named Sheraz Comrade and his two accomplices when they were trying to escape to Dubai from the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore (Lahore District), the provincial capital of Punjab. The other two accomplices of comrade were identified as Zakir Mogheeri and Awais Tipu. The personnel conducted a raid outside the premises of the Lahore airport on a tip-off and arrested them minutes before they were about to fly to Dubai. Sheraz Comrade was wanted by the LEA in more than 100 cases of target killings, extortion and kidnappings for ransom. The Sindh Government had also fixed PKR Five lakh as head money for the arrest of Comrade. Soon after the arrest of Comrade, Police and other LEAs conducted raids in different parts of the city to arrest other criminals and their facilitators on the pointing of arrested accused persons.

Two Lyari gang war criminals, identified as Owais Tipu and Amin, were arrested at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore. Sources in Intelligence Agencies said that they were allegedly involved in the armed gang-wars in Lyari Town of Karachi District in Sindh. "We received word from reliable informers that some gangsters, who fled the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi, have travelled to Lahore and from here they will try to leave for the overseas", said the sources. They added that following this tip-off the surveillance at the Lahore airport was put on high alert.

DSP CID, Tofail Baloch while talking to media in Islamabad said that the Police arrested three suspects belonging to a banned outfit who were allegedly involved in target killing and extortion in Karachi from a nearby village in Garhi Afghanan within the jurisdiction of Saddar Police Station at Wah Cantt in Islamabad. The Police, on a tip off, raided and arrested the most wanted proclaimed offenders. The arrested criminals were also wanted by the Karachi Police in several cases. The police have recovered eight mobile SIMs, three fake national identity cards, three fake passports, walkie talkie sets, automatic pistols with bullets, and millions of rupees from their possession.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial constituted a division bench to hear an appeal of Punjab Prosecution Department seeking cancellation of bail granted to Zubair alias Nek Muhammad, an accused of attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in March 2009. The bench consists of Justice Shahid Hameed Dar and Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali.

The Prosecution Department had filed the appeal, submitting that a trail court granted the bail to the accused despite presence of evidence and witnesses against him. The prosecution submitted that the trail court had overlooked the facts and evidence and ordered to release the accused. The court was requested to set aside the decision of ATC and order Police to arrest the accused again. The court directed the police to produce the accused before the court on October 10, 2013 which is the next date of hearing.

A LHC review board also turned down the Punjab Government's request to extend detention of Zubair. A representative of the Home Department, Prosecution Department and Inspector General of Punjab Police appeared before the board and requested it to extend detention of the accused. The IGP requested the court to extend the detention for two more months. He submitted that Zubair was mastermind of the attack and his release could be dangerous for peace in society.

An inquiry report confirmed that 'bhatta mafia' (extortionists) were active in Sabzi Mandi area of Islamabad indicating that they collected extortion under the protection of Police and the relevant section of the CDA, while the CDA officials were also found depriving the vendors of fresh fruit and vegetables to provide them to their high-ups to please them.

The reports said that on the basis of documentary evidence available in shapes of FIRs and in the light of statements recorded by the team, it appears that there are two groups - Nasir Khan Group (consisting of Marshal, Qari and others, allegedly patronised by Safdar Siddique) and Amanuallah alias Shino Group (consisting of Mir Vais, Riaz and others) - involved in collecting extortion from Sabzi Mandi.

In order to probe the issue at least five teams headed by upper subordinates were constituted, with the direction to visit the Sabzi Mandi and record statements of vendors, transporters, workers, fruit sellers, with a view to ascertain the presence and modus operandi of extortionists if any. The teams including ASP and SDPO Industrial Area visited Sabzi Mandi in uniform as well as in civil clothes in order to know the factual position of the issue.

The report revealed that during the inquiry it was also stated by the concerned persons that Inspector Aurangzeb Satti, in connivance with other CDA officials was involved in taking illegal gratification from fruit sellers. He used to confiscate fruit and vegetable stall arbitrarily.

October 9

The al Qaeda terrorist, who was arrested from the hostel of Punjab University Campus in Lahore District on September 11, 2013, revealed that he was the mastermind of suicide attack on Denmark embassy in Islamabad on June 2, 2008.

Sources said, on the basis of information gathered from this fighter, 17 others have been arrested and the network of this group has been busted.

At least one person was killed and injured 14 others were injured in a bomb explosion outside a restaurant in the Old Anarkali area of Lahore. Police said the time device with one kilogram of explosives was planted at the counter of the restaurant and an investigation had been initiated. The son of the restaurant's owner was killed in the blast. The owner of the restaurant said that they had never received any threats.

The Islamabad Police and intelligence agencies, in a joint venture, have discovered a drone project, an invention of the al Qaeda chapter in Pakistan, sources said, adding that the joint team of the Islamabad Police and intelligence agencies timely intervened and halted the al Qaeda's ambitious project. "Yes, the al Qaeda Pakistan chapter had acquired drone technology and was in the final stages of implementing the plan when intercepted," sources said. The Islamabad Police, during a recent raid in the Kashmir Housing Society in G-15 area, recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition. The house belonged to Professor Irtyaz Gilani, a graduate in electronic engineering from Ghulam Ishaq Khan University who has also served in the Air Weapons Complex, Kamra. After leaving the job at Kamra, Irtyaz served as a lecturer at the International Islamic University, Islamabad, teaching electronics.

Gilani managed to dodge the raiding team and is still at large, intelligence agency sources said, while some other sources claimed that he had been held and shifted to an unknown place for thorough investigation. Police investigators have recovered evidence of his links with al Qaeda. Evidence also suggested that Tanveer, a most wanted terrorist of al Qaeda, had been staying at Gilani's place since January 2013 till the recovery of VBIED from Bhara Kahu. During the raid, it was observed that the house was purposefully built, having a dedicated lab in the basement which was being used to develop the ambitious project. The Police found the layout of drone technology, which they believe was acquired from different sources.

The Punjab Government is committed to uprooting terrorism by any means, either through dialogue or military action, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said. Talks with militants are a peaceful solution, but if dialogue fails, "we will launch operations against terrorists to restore peace in the country," he said.

Lahore Police stopped various members of the Ahmadi community in Lahore from slaughtering animals as part of 'Qurbani' ritual on Eidul Azha, proclaiming that the ritual of animal sacrifice was an Islamic injunction whereas Ahmadis were not Muslims. Police from the Islampura Police Station directed Tahir in Sanat Nagar not to sacrifice his bull, which he had bought and tied in front of his house a day before Eid. At the direction of Police, Tahir had to remove the animal from his house. On the same night, Hanjarwal Police raided the house of Ahmad at Sabzazar and took him to the Police Station, where he was detained for two hours. When his family members reached the Police Station, officials agreed to release him, but not before he provided a written assurance that he will not perform the sacrifice meant to remember the Prophet Ibrahim's (AS) tradition of presenting Ismail (AS) for sacrifice, said one of Tahir's family members.

Police arrested three suspected terrorists, identified as Jafar Khan (23), Ameer Baqi (26) and Saleh Baloch (29), from Jail Road in Lahore District for their alleged involvement in the October 10, 2013 blast in the Old Anarkali area of Lahore. According to sources, the suspects have connections with the BLA.

The ATC-I will begin the retrial of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto murder case by recording statements of four doctors on October 22. The doctors, working at the Holy Family Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital, had treated the injured and conducted the post-mortem of the victims brought to the hospitals on December 27, 2007 following the attack on PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto at Liaquat Bagh area of Rawalpindi District. On October 1, 2013 ATC judge Justice Chaudhry Habibur Rehman had ordered to start the retrial of the case after the indictment of former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf, besides summoning four prosecution witnesses - Doctor Hina Bukhari and Doctor Rida Khan of the HFH and Doctor Qasim and Doctor Ashraf of the DHQ Hospital - for recording their statements.

Former MNA belonging to the PML-N Anjum Aqeel Khan, escaped a terror attack, when an explosive device planted by some terrorists at the main entrance of his house at E-11 Golra village in Islamabad was recovered and defused. Khan termed the attempt as an act of terrorism, and said that he was target of the terrorists as he had no personal or political rivalry with anybody. "Terrorist outfits tried to kill me as the technology, used to target me, indicates the involvement of any section of TTP," Anjum Aqeel said.

The security guard of the house noticed the explosive at about 7 a.m. and reported to Anjum Aqeel's younger brother about the suspicious material who informed the area police. Sadar SP Jamil Hashmi reached the scene along with the police team, anti-terrorist squad and bomb disposal unit and defused the explosive device attached with two detonators linked with a mobile phone, the Police said.

A Lahore High Court division bench comprising of Justice Anwarul Haq and Justice Abdul Sattar Asghar dismissed the bail application of Zubair alias Nek Muhammad, who has been accused of attacking the Sri Lankan cricket team on March 3, 2009. He had been granted bail earlier by Anti-Terrorism Court. The bench remarked that the bail granted earlier by the trial court was not 'justified'. The court dismissed his bail on the request of the Government which had challenged his bail before the Lahore High Court. A deputy prosecutor general said Nek Muhammad had a key role in the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team. He asked the court to cancel the bail granted to the alleged terrorist who is in detention under the Maintenance of Public Order.

Justice Mahmood Maqbool Bajwa of the LHC refused to hear the bail plea of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi leader Malik Ishaq and referred the matter to the Chief Justice with the recommendation that a division bench be set up to hear the matter. The judge observed that the plea should be heard by a two-member bench since the FIRs registered against the petitioner contained sections of the Anti Terrorism Act. According to the FIRs, Ishaq delivered hate speeches at public gatherings on August 8, 2012, and February 2, 2013, that spread hatred against Shias and created unrest in the area.

The LHC sought a reply from the Federal Government to an appeal by two men convicted of spying for India for their prison term to be reduced for the time they had been detained before being sentenced, as per Section 382-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure. A military court had convicted Muhammad Afzal and Muhammad Islam of spying for India and sentenced them to four years in prison each. According to Section 382-B of the CrPC, "The length of any sentence of imprisonment imposed upon an accused person in respect of any offence shall be treated as reduced by any period during which he was detained in custody for such offence."

Justice Ayesha A Malik directed a Deputy Attorney General to submit the Government's reply by the second week of November, when the hearing will resume.

Chakwal DCO Ahmed Aziz Tarar during a meeting said that Chakwal was one of the most sensitive Districts of the country and army troops and Rangers, along with Police, will be deployed on procession routes and others sensitive places to avoid any untoward incident during Muharram. He said comprehensive security arrangements were being finalised while heavy contingents of security personnel will be deployed to guard procession routes and Imambargahs.

The Faisalabad Police arrested four high-profile TTP terrorists, who had planned the abduction of PML-N MPA Malik Mohammad Nawaz and a businessman Shahnawaz alias Shahnawaz Ferrari for swapping them with the TTP's top convicted terrorists housed in the Central Jail in Faisalabad District. Faisalabad CPO Doctor Haider Ashraf confirmed having these four terrorists in custody. Two among them are named Usman, while the names of the other two could not be confirmed. They all belong to Qari Imran Group of the TTP based in Miranshah area of North Waziristan Agency of FATA.

According to details, it was revealed that the said MPA was in contact with the TTP activists in Miranshah. The Counter Terrorism Force picked up some important names during the MPA's conversation with the members of the Qari Imran Group. Having these names with them, the Force started zeroing in on these terrorists, operating in Faisalabad. Two important members of the group were picked up some time back. The other two were picked up later when their names were revealed by the already arrested terror suspects.

An alleged al Qaeda suspect, identified as Saifullah, who is nominated in the abduction of US Citizen Warren Weinstein was re-arrested from Multan District. Weinstein was abducted from his house in Lahore's Model Town on August 13, 2011. The arrested suspect Saifullah was nominated in the case along with two others, Imran and Afzaal. The other two suspects are still at large.

Saifullah was arrested soon after the kidnapping and was interrogated by security officers about his involvement in the case. The accused was release due to lack of evidence. However, Police recently gathered new evidence and Saifullah was again declared wanted. He was arrested today on the basis of new evidence that points at his possible involvement in the kidnapping.

Rawalpindi CPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana on November 6 said that as many as 4,200 Policemen would ensure security for Majalis and Muharram processions in Rawalpindi. He said the security arrangements had been finalised for Majalis and Muharram processions in the city.

The CPO said under the security plan formulated for Muharram, leaves of all police personnel had been cancelled between the first and 10th Muharram. It was decided in the meeting that all departments concerned would make concerted efforts for the safety of the mourners.

The entry of 157 ulema into the Rawalpindi District has been banned while 92 religious scholars of different sects were taken onboard to promote harmony. The CPO said an additional force of Special Branch, Elite Force, Punjab Constabulary, Lady Police and Rangers along with District Police would be deployed to ensure security during Muharram.

As many as 4,200 Policemen would ensure security for Majalis and Muharram processions in Rawalpindi, said Rawalpindi CPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana. He said the security arrangements had been finalised for Majalis and Muharram processions in the city. The security plan formulated for Muharram leaves of all police personnel had been cancelled between the first and 10th Muharram. The security plan for Muharram had been finalised in a special meeting held Rawalpindi on November 7. It was decided in the meeting that all departments concerned would make concerted efforts for the safety of the mourners. The Majalis and Muharram processions of Rawalpindi have been divided into three categories. The entry of 157 ulema into the Rawalpindi district has been banned while 92 religious scholars of different sects were taken onboard to promote harmony. The CPO said an additional force of Special Branch, Elite Force, Punjab Constabulary, Lady Police and Rangers along with district police would be deployed to ensure security during Muharram. He said strict checking of vehicles was being made at the entry points of the city. There would be strict monitoring of all processions while CCTV cameras had been installed to ensure the security, he added. He said no vehicle would be allowed to park within 200 yards of Imambargahs.

At least three people were killed when gunmen opened fire on two Imambargahs in Gujranwala, sparking protests from mourners and enraged members of the Shia community. According to Police reports, the first incident took place close to dawn when unidentified gunmen opened fire as Muhammad Yousuf, the prayer leader of the Qasr-i-Abu Talib Imambargah in Mominpura area, had just finished leading Fajr prayers. Yousuf and another person present at the mosque died on the spot.

A short while later, gunmen entered the Qasr-i-Zainabiya Imambargah in Shahrukh Colony located a short distance from the first mosque and opened indiscriminate firing, killing worshiper Syed Javed on the spot. According to initial investigation reports by police, the attackers had come on motorcycles and managed to escape. A police officer said the attacks appeared to be sectarian in nature.

A potential terror bid was averted with the arrest of three suspected militants, identified as Zaman, Ali Haider and Shahzad Hussain, and seizure of a huge quantity of explosives during a covert operation by law enforcers in a house in Sector I10/2 of Islamabad in the night. A Police official familiar with the details of the raid said on the condition of anonymity that the arrested suspects were linked to LeJ. The official said that the arrested suspects -- had been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation. The official said that the suspects were planning to carry out attacks on Imambargahs in Islamabad.

The 'chief fundraiser' of the Haqqani Network, Nasiruddin Haqqani, was shot dead by unidentified militants in Islamabad, the Afghan Taliban said. "I can confirm that Nasiruddin Haqqani, 36, was shot dead in Islamabad's Bhara Kahu area on Sunday night. At least four gunmen opened fire on him," an unnamed senior Afghan Taliban source from the Haqqani Network said.

Shahidullah Shahid, the main spokesman for the TTP, claimed, "Nasiruddin Haqqani has been martyred by ISI. He was killed because he bravely supported Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud."

National Directorate of Security, a spy agency of Afghanistan also confirmed Haqqani's death but blamed it on an "internal conflict". It did not give further details.

Nasiruddin Haqqani was the eldest son of the founder of the Network, Jalaluddin Haqqani.

The TTP has transported 'blue bombs' in different cities of Punjab to conduct terrorist activities during Ashura, according to a report intelligence agencies have sent to the Federal Government. The days chosen for the terrorist activities are 9th and 10th of Muharram. The report, which narrates in detail the 'sabotage plan' of the TTP, has also been shared with the Punjab Government. It says that a group of five terrorists has transported more than dozen small-sized blue cylinders of explosive material to target different cities of Punjab, particularly Lahore on or before the 10th of Muharram. Intelligence agencies told the Interior Ministry in their report that a group of TTP terrorists had left Miranshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan Agency in FATA, and Mir Ali in North Waziristan Agency on November 7 - in the guise of pilgrims of Tablighi Ijtima in Raiwind. The TTP plans to target Islamabad and Rawalpindi after Lahore, the report said.

A red alert has been issued for the federal capital, Islamabad, following reports of potential terrorist attacks on Imambargahs during Muharram. Islamabad SSP asked the police to prevent entry of irrelevant persons, cars or motorbikes within the 200-yard radius of Muharram gatherings. He also directed the Police to keep a vigilant eye on the movement of 23 religious clerics of the federal capital who are listed in Schedule 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Among the 23 clerics, 19 belonged to banned groups likes SSP and Tehrik-e-Jafaria. They have been required to report their presence in the city to the police every week. It has been learned that 909 majalis and 177 Muharram processions - 159 on the traditional and 18 on newly 'licensed' routes - are planned during the month.

A renowned doctor, identified as Doctor Ehsanullah, who had come from North Waziristan Agency of FATA for an interview for a vacant post of dermatologist, was abducted from the premises of PIMS in Islamabad by unidentified masked men, who were riding in two vehicles, in broad daylight.

The Gujranwala District coordination officer ordered detention of 14 suspects of militants' outfits SSP, LeJ and JeM. All the suspects were sent to jail for a period of one month.

An Afghan man said to be on a suicide mission was arrested after a brief encounter with security personnel in Tarnol area, a suburbs of Islamabad. According to sources, Matiullah had arrived from Afghanistan via Torkham a few days ago and stayed at a house in Tarnol area. He was reported to be wearing jacket stuffed with about five kilograms of explosives and was planning to attack a 9th Muharram procession near Asna Ashari Imambargah at G-6/2. The sources said the bomber had been arrested on information provided by an alleged Afghan agent detained by a team of security forces and capital police. Syed Mohammad Abdullah told interrogators that he had brought the bomber from Torkham for attacking the procession. The sources said Abdullah used to work for an Afghan intelligence agency. He had also spied for the French Embassy in Islamabad from 1996 to 2010. He had been arrested by Khasadars in Khyber Agency in December 2010 when his movement in Wazir Dhand aroused suspicion. Abdullah was handed over to a joint investigation team comprising officials of the ISI, Intelligence Bureau and police. The report submitted by the team said that he had been involved in spying against Pakistan. The report said that two cases, one relating to a murder attempt, had been registered against him in the Margalla Police Station in 2010.

At least eight persons were killed and over 80 injured after sectarian clashes erupted at a 10th of Muharram (the mourning period observed by the Shias, commemorating the tragedy of Karbala) procession near Fawara Chowk in Rawalpindi of Punjab. The tragedy occurred as mob turned against the Police in the procession passing through Raja Bazaar. A group of miscreants at 3:00pm reportedly snatched guns from Police personnel installed in the area for security, and opened fire. As panic spread, unknown people set a portion of the cloth market in Raja Bazaar on fire. The situation soon got out of hand and the Army was called in to control the situation. Authorities have imposed a curfew for 24 hours in the limits of 19 Rawalpindi Police Stations. The curfew will also extend to Rawal Town and Potohar Town.

The death toll in the sectarian clashes erupted at a 10th of Muharram (the mourning period observed by the Shias, commemorating the tragedy of Karbala) procession near Fawara Chowk in Rawalpindi of Punjab on November 15, climbed to 10.

Government ordered an inquiry into sectarian violence in Rawalpindi. Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial constituted a one-member judicial commission to probe the sectarian violence, as authorities lifted the curfew that was imposed following the unrest.

The Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while addressing participants of the Security and War course at the National Defence University (NDU) said that 'yesterday's jihadis have become today's terrorists'. He vowed to take action against the elements responsible for the Rawalpindi violence, adding that the incident was a 'stigma'.

LeJ militants killed a senior Shia university director, Syed Shabir Hussain Shah, along with his driver in an apparent sectarian attack in Gujrat town of same District. "We found a note at the scene of Shah's death which read: 'This is in retaliation for Rawalpindi'," Deputy Superintendent of Police Manzoor Malik said, referring to the clashes in Rawalpindi over the weekend in which eight people were killed. "The note was signed, LeJ."

Army and Rangers personnel would be deployed in 13 sensitive Districts of Punjab including Rawalpindi to maintain law and order situation while imposition of Section 144 would also be ensured across the province. According to Punjab Government spokesman, indiscriminatory action would be taken against provocative content, hatred speeches and writings. He said that the speeches of preachers in sensitive Imambargahs and mosques would be recorded.

The Punjab Government has separated the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) - the only department in the Punjab that deals with terrorism - from the Police, replacing it with a new department. According to well-placed sources, the new department has been put under the Home Department as a result of bid by the Punjab bureaucrats to adjust a few men.

A Shia man, identified as Razzaq Ali, was shot dead by two unidentified armed assailants at a grocery shop in front of Imambargah Qasr-e-Abbas near Baraf Khana Chowk in Rawalpindi District.

A case has been registered against a PTI leader in Bhakkar District for demanding protection money at gunpoint, Police said. Police said the complainant, Deputy Director Muhammad Khalid Hanif, an Audit Officer at the Bhakkar Town Municipal Authority had told them that PTI leader Abu Bakar Niazi had threatened him and demanded money at gun point.

Three suspected target killers belonging to Mullah Group, identified as Nadeemullah, the leader of the group, Tariq and Faheem, were handed over to the Karachi CID, four days after they were detained by Military Intelligence officials near Thokar Niaz Beg in Lahore District. According to details, the militants had come to Lahore with Tablighi Jama'at pilgrims heading for the Raiwind Ijtima, the source said.

The fact-finding committee constituted to probe the November 15, 2013 Rawalpindi incident that killed eight people in an attack on Ashura procession presented its report to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif which held the Police responsible for the tragedy. According to sources, the report said the Police had failed to take necessary and timely action which could have prevented the tragedy from occurring and that coordination among institutions was almost non-existent.

Over 40 suspects accused for involvement in the November 21, 2013 Raja Bazaar incident that took place on Ashura had been identified, while 12 suspects had been arrested so far, according Rawalpindi CPO Akhtar Umar Hayat Lalika.

LeT founder and JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed while speaking at a protest rally on The Mall in Lahore District said that the sectarian clashes and terrorism in Balochistan were occurring because of India, the US and Israel. He criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and said, "His pro-India polices are not acceptable". "I appeal the Taliban to issue a statement saying they would fight for Pakistan's defence if drone attacks are not stopped," he said.

He accused that India wanted to build a wall in Kashmir. He said it was to this end that it had staged the "Bombay drama" and accused him of terrorism. He said the Government should play its role to stop the construction of the wall. Otherwise, he said, private citizens would go and destroy it.

The DPC leaders said that the Government should play its role in stopping drone strikes in the country and stop the construction of a concrete wall along the LoC in Kashmir. Speaking at the same protest rally JUI leader Maulana Sami-ul-Haq said US presence in the country should end.

The provincial head of ASWJ, identified as Maulana Shamsur Rehman Muawiya, was shot dead in an incident of target killing on Ravi Road in Lahore District. "As he [Muawiya] reached the Ring Road interchange, the assailants, who arrived on a motorcycle, opened fire at his Toyota Corolla," said his brother.

A dead body of an eight-year-old boy abducted four days ago was found lying in a sugarcane field in Bahawalpur District of Punjab. The victim had been kidnapped on December 2, 2013 on his way from school. The Police said the boy's father, Ghulam Soomro, who worked in Saudi Arabia, had returned home on the night of December 5, 2013 after being informed about the kidnapping. Soomro said his family had received a call from an unidentified man who had demanded that he be given PKR 5 million as ransom.

The PU administration searched Hostel No 15 and handed over four illegal occupants to the Police. PU administration had searched Hostel No 15 and 18 and handed 15 illegal occupants over to the Police. A joint strategy was drawn up at a meeting to evict any illegal hostel residents amidst reports that suspected terrorists were visiting the hostels or staying there whilst pretending to be students.

A Shia leader associated with TNFJ Nasir Abbas was shot dead near FC College in Lahore.

ATC released 13 IJT members from the Punjab University who had been accused of setting a bus on fire. The students had been booked under Section 7 of the ATA on several charges including attempted murder, interfering in state business, and torturing and detaining two professors.

Four persons, including a SI, were killed while 13 others were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a sectarian attack outside an Imambargah in Gracy Line area near airport in Rawalpindi District.

The motorway Police foiled a terror bid in Punjab by recovering a huge amount of sophisticated weapons and arresting two accused, identified as Ameen-ur-Rehman and Asim, near Burhan in Attock District.

A member of Police Service of Pakistan Officers' Association met at capital CPO's office to discuss their reservations on amendments to the Punjab Police proposed cadre by the Home Department. The meeting came in the wake of reports that the Home Department was set to take direct control of Elite Force and the Special Branch.

Unidentified militants abducted four Custom Officials, including Deputy Superintendent Chaudhry Iftikhar, near Motorway in Islamabad. The sources said that the Custom authorities had seized a container of smuggled items including clothes and electronic equipment a few days ago.

The Police claimed to have arrested three alleged terrorists during a raid on a house in Harbans Pura in Lahore District. According to Police, weapons, explosives, and remote controls were also recovered from their possession.

The city Police finalised a security plan for the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the urs of Hazrat Ali Hajveri Data Ganj Bakhsh, Christmas and for the expected arrival of the Turkish Prime Minister. The detailed plan includes installation of CCTV cameras, walkthrough gates and deputation of more than 15,000 Police Officers and other Law Enforcers to avoid any untoward incident in the provincial capital.

LHC restrained Pakistan's federal film censor board from issuing certificates for the exhibition of Indian films in the country. "According to law, no movie can be exhibited in Pakistan if it has been produced in India," members of the Pakistan Film Workers Association said.

The Punjab Government decided to arrest the local leadership of various sects who have been listed as potential trouble makers, and arrested 15 local clerics including those of ASWJ. The decision was taken to avoid sectarian clash as the Government has already announced that there would be no change in Chehlum route to be held on December 24, 2013.

The Taxila Police arrested two persons and seized weapons and ammunition from their possession including a 30-bore pistol with five bullets from one accused Aurungzeb and a 30-bore pistol with three bullets from the other accused Fazlur Rehman in Rawalpindi District.

Additional Sessions Judge Chaudhry Zafar Iqbal awarded death sentences to two men, Riaz Ahmed (34), and Ijaz Ahmed (38), found guilty of blasphemy. Judge Chaudhry Zafar Iqbal also fined the convicts PKR100, 000 each. Malik Ghulam Qasim, the defence lawyer said that he would continue to fight against a law that could be easily misused to victimise innocent people. "I tried my best to defend them," Qasim said, adding, "We seriously need to reconsider the blasphemy law and its enforcement".

Two Police Officers were killed and another injured in a firing incident outside an Imambargah in Race Course area of Rawalpindi District. The officers were deployed for the security of the Imambargah.

Five packets of explosive material were found near former President General Pervez Musharraf's Chak Shahzad farm house in Islamabad. According to the Police, explosives were recovered from the green belt on Park Road. Each packet contained around 400-500 grams of explosive material.