Punjab Timeline- 2012

Month/Date

Incidents

January 3

Two alleged suicide bombers blew themselves up near Gorali locality of Gujrat town in Gujrat District of Punjab. According to Police, two alleged suicide bombers, identified as Ramzan Ali and Muhabbat Khan of Bhimber in PoK, wearing suicide jackets were heading towards their target on a motorcycle when they heard the sound of siren of the Rescue 1122 ambulance. Thinking that police were chasing them, they blew themselves up near Gorali.

January 4

A man, identified as Mohammad Waqas, received serious injuries in an indiscriminate firing by unknown armed assailants in Gawalmandi area of Lahore.

Thousands people gathered at Data Darbar in Lahore in support of the former Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer's assassin Malik Mumtaz Qadri, and called for his release. Supporters of various religious parties that form the Tahaffuz Namoos-i-Rasalat Mahaz (TNSM) staged protests at the Lahore Press Club, Minar-e-Pakistan and other places before gathering at the Darbar.

One speaker, Allama Muhammad Tahir Tabassum, suggested that the Government auction off the gun with which Qadri shot the Governor, "like an auction of the bats or hockey sticks of famous athletes".

A resolution was adopted at the end of the rally asking President Asif Zardari to declare clemency for Mumtaz Qadri and punishment for Asia Bibi, the Christian woman jailed for blasphemy whose release Taseer had campaigned for.

Former Chairman of the Punjab Bar Council's Executive Committee, Advocate Chaudhry Nasrullah Warraich, was shot dead by unidentified militants in Lahore District. Police said some unidentified militants visited Nasrullah Warraich's house, and enquired about his son Mansoor. Nasrullah responded, and as he turned back, the accused opened fire and fled.

A bomb hoax at Atif Aslam concert held at the Al Hamra Cultural Complex in Lahore led to a stampede that killed three girls and injured five others. The deceased girls were identified as Maheen Naseem (17), Sara Nawaz (22) and Nimra (16). There were reportedly between 6000 and 7000 girls at the concert.

Al Qaeda continues to preach jihad in Pakistan through an Urdu monthly magazine, Hiteen. The 200-page magazine, Hiteen, is delivered by post to not only the Deobandi but also to Ahl-e-Hadith and Barelvis to convert them to al Qaeda's point of view. Hiteen, the battlefield where Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi defeated the Crusaders, was started in June 2011, a month after Osama Bin Laden's killing.

An editorial in the magazine says that it is not true that the mission of the 'mujahedeen' has been damaged with Bin Laden's death. The mujahedeen are still fighting with their full strength. It advises readers not to pay attention to the 'false reports about mujahedeen from the hypocritical media' and to continue the struggle.

At least 18 people, belonging to the Shia sect, were killed while 30 others were wounded when a bomb exploded near a procession marking Arbain or the chehlum (40th day) of Hazrat Imam Hussain's martyrdom in Khanpur city of Rahim Yar Khan District.

An Afghan girl (9), identified as Haleem, carrying 50 bullets and an Afghan man, identified as Gul Mohammad (25) were arrested by Security Force deployed at the main procession of Hazrat Imam Hussain's Chehlum in Kashmiri Bazaar in Lahore District.

When Police contacted on the address in Chakwal, they could not trace the family of the girl. Afterwards, the Police arrested the girl's uncle from Dhoke Hassu in Rawalpindi District.

The death toll of January 15, 2012 bomb attack on a chehlum (40th day of Imam Hussain's martyrdom) procession at Darbar-e-Hussain Imambargah in Khanpur city of Rahim Yar Khan District rose to 21, while another bomb weighing two kilogrammes was found in the same area.

The private security personnel claimed to have arrested one suspect. They said that they found the man with two remote controls in his pocket.

Two Europeans, identified as Giovanni and Bernd, working with the Welthungerhilfe, a German International Non-Governmental Organisation for food rehabilitation, were abducted from Western Fort Colony of Qasim Bela area in Multan District while returning from Kot Addu tehsil of Muzaffargarh District.

Police claimed to have arrested 14 suspects for their alleged involvement in the March 3, 2009 attack on Sri Lankan Cricket Team and other terrorism-related activities in Lahore District during the year 2011.

The JuD said that the cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan will attend its Difa-e-Pakistan (Defence of Pakistan) rally to be held in Multan District of Punjab Province on January 29, 2012. JuD leaders said the Difa-e-Pakistan gathering would also be attended by JeI chief Munawar Hassan and Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and leaders of other religious and political parties.

The movement was launched shortly after a cross-border November 26, 2011, NATO air strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. During rallies and meetings organised as part of the movement, leaders of the JuD and other extremist groups have mainly targeted the US and India.

Police registered a case against 15 persons for their alleged involvement in the January 15 bomb blast at a chehlum procession of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) in Khanpur. The Chief of LeJ, Malik Muhammad Ishaq, Shafiq Dahar, Ghulam Muhammad, Muhammad Yaqoob, Muhammad Usman and 10 unidentified people have been nominated in the FIR, which was registered under the Anti-terrorism Act.

A Pakistani judicial review board ended the house arrest of Malik Ishaq who was detained in 2011 after his group was blamed for a string of attacks on the minority Shia community. The three-member review board headed by Lahore high court justice Nasir Saeed set aside the Punjab Government's plea that Ishaq's detention should be extended for maintaining law and order in the province.

The leaders of the Pakistan Defense Council, comprising of 44 politico-religious parties of the country gathered at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi in a rally against what they called the anti-Pakistan forces.

"The current standoff between state institutions is the result of a sin that we committed 10 years ago by allowing our territory to be used against Afghan Muslims, and until we repent for that grave mistake, we will never be able to overcome these issues," Saeed said, adding, "This is America's war and we only want to fight Pakistan's war."

Kot Addu Police claimed to have arrested four suspected persons in connection with the abduction of two European aid workers from Western Fort Colony of Qasim Bela area in Multan District on January 19, 2012. Punjab Police IG Javed Iqbal said the aid workers, were being held for ransom.

The Rawalpindi Police claimed to have arrested two suspected militants, identified as Usman Liaquat alias Shah Gee and Saqib Ali Shah alias Hamza, during a raid of a hideout of an alleged militant in the Wah Cantt area and seized two Kalashnikov rifles and eight magazines, 200 rounds and four hand grenades from them.

Police accused militants for the abduction of a German aid worker and his Italian colleague at gunpoint on January 19 from Multan District, and a Kenyan aid worker abducted on January 22, from Khairpur District of Sindh."

An industrialist abducted along with his driver from Alipur Road near Kachi Kothi in Nawab Town in Lahore District on January 28, 2012 was recovered by Police from Lahore-Islamabad Motorway, known as the Lillah interchange. One of the four abductors, belonging to LI in Khyber Agency of FATA, was arrested during search operation. According to Police sources, Hassan who owned the Nazir Paper Mills had been abducted for ransom and an attempt was made to take him to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

During a public meeting at Multan Sports Ground in Multan District the leaders of the Pakistan Defense Council warned the Government against reopening of the NATO supply routes, threatening strikes and sit-ins if the rulers compromised on the issue.

Thousands of traders and activists from religious parties gathered near the Holy Family Hospital at Satellite Town in Rawalpindi District on January 29 to call on the Government to stop 'unconstitutional' activities of the Ahmadiyya community. The protest, arranged by Traders' Associations, was attended by activists of JuD, JeI and the ASWJ. Members of the SSP were also in attendance.

Paramilitary troops and City Police combed the Margalla Hills in Islamabad after two suspects in custody spoke of militants hiding there to strike the city. Security sources said the suspects' words were taken seriously as they were arrested in the widespread hunt for the militants who fired rocket on the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 27, 2012.

A militant outfit has plans to carry out a rocket attack on the Pakistan capital, similar to the one at Abbottabad on January 27, 2012, said Islamabad Police Chief Bin Yamin Khan. Yamin Khan said that comprehensive security measures had been put in place to counter such an assault.

A senior professor, Shaharyar, of King Edward Medical University in Lahore District received threats after he asked a student not to wear the ''hijab'' (headscarf) in his classes. Shaharyar, the head of the Oncology Department had asked a girl attending a fourth-year MBBS class not to wear the hijab. "It''s better if you wear the Hijab outside the classroom," Shaharyar had said while delivering a lecture a few days ago. Following his remarks, students affiliated to the Islami Jama'at Tulba (IJT), the student wing of the JeI boycotted Shaharyar's classes and protested against him.

A couple of Ministers from Southern Punjab during the Cabinet Meeting on February 1 raised the issue of former leader of LeJ, Malik Ishaq's free movement in Punjab and said that it appeared that Ishaq got patronage from the Provincial Government. Malik Ishaq had attended a rally organised by the Difa-e-Pakistan Council in Multan District on January 30, 2011.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that the permission for the rallies held in Lahore and Multan by the Difa-e-Pakistan Council recently had been granted by the DCOs concerned. Since the DCOs fell under the administrative control of the Chief Minister, the Federal Government at best could seek an explanation from the Punjab Government, he added.

The Muzaffargarh District administration issued a notice to the District Police banning entry of LeJ leader Malik Ishaq into the Muzaffargarh District for three months after he was released from Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore District on January 21, 2011. Ishaq, accused in 44 cases involving 70 killings, has been acquitted in 34 cases and granted bail in another 10. He was released after a Lahore High Court review board denied an extension to his detention under Maintenance of Public Order Law.

Special Branch official said that the decision was taken anticipating that Ishaq's entry to the District may cause disruption of peace and sectarian tensions. He said DPO Rao Munir Zia had sent a letter on January 31 to DCO Tahir Khursheed suggesting the ban. Both departments, he said, agreed on the proposal and the DCO issued the orders under Section-5 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance 1960.

Seven persons were injured in firing between two groups during an Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession organised in Kalar Abadi area of Gujranwala District.

According to a FIR registered on the complaint of Rafiq Shabbir, a prayer leader at a mosque run by Ahl-e-Hadith school, the slogan-chanting started when the procession was passing the house of Markazi Jama'at Ahl-e Hadith Gujranwala Amir Maulana Sadiq Attiq.

A man, dressed as a security guard was detained by the Police and Law Enforcement Agencies from central procession of Eid Milad-un-Nabi at Wah Cantt in Islamabad. The central procession was carried out from Markazi Jamia Masjid and led by religious scholar Pir Naqeeb-ur-Rehman and others.

Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik demanded the Punjab Government to take to task its officials who allegedly let two firebrand leaders of SSP sneak into Islamabad on February 3, 2012 to make provocative speeches. Police sources here said the Interior Ministry had demanded the Punjab Home Department take action against the administration and Police officers of Kamalia and Khanewal who failed to prevent Maulana Mohammad Ahmed Ludhianvi and Maulana Mohammad Khalid Dhillon from leaving their hometowns in violation of restrictions imposed on the leaders of SSP under Section 11 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

According to the sources, the ceremony had been a long tradition and the Margalla Police came to know about the presence of the leaders only because it was there to provide security. It was considered prudent not to incite religious frenzy by arresting them. However, the event was noted in the police station's daily diary and the senior officers were informed same night about the unexpected presence of the SSP leaders.

The Minister of State for Health Sheikh Waqas Akram of PML-Q rubbished the Government's anti-terrorism efforts "a drama." He said he knew that a Paighumber-e-Islam Conference planned in Karachi was in fact meant to provide a stage for religious militants to spread venom.

A group of men claiming to be members of an 'Intelligence Agency' took into custody four armed activists of the JuD detained by Rawalpindi Police.

Lawmaker Ejaz Virk claimed that two MPs entered the Parliament House in Islamabad carrying weapons, prompting Interior Minister Rehman Malik to order a probe into the matter.

Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik announced to set up a separate investigation elite unit and prosecution wing in Islamabad Police for speedy probe into cases and trial of criminals through collection of strong evidences against them.

February 8

The 11 prisoners were acquitted by ATC in Rawalpindi District of Punjab in different cases of terrorism. But they went missing mysteriously on May 28, 2010, after the Lahore High Court ordered their release. Initially, the Government continued to express ignorance about them, but in December 2010 counsel for Intelligence Agencies admitted that they were in their custody.

February 11

A senior TTP commander claimed of keeping two western aid workers abducted from Multan District of Punjab on January 19, 2012, hostage near the Afghan border. "The two NGO workers who were abducted in Multan nearly a month ago are in our custody near the border. We haven't made any demands yet," a senior TTP commander said, adding, "They are in good health."

February 12

The Federal Capital, Islamabad, once again is under threats by militant outfits, well-placed sources said. The Intelligence Agencies believe that the attacks could be conducted from Margalla Hills in Islamabad and asked for adopting stringent measures to counter such threats, sources maintained. They said that as many as 25 surveillance posts of Rangers have already been set up at different points on the hills, while 25 more check posts were being established.

The Islamabad Police took Malik Abid into custody for his alleged role in the March 2, 2011 killing of Minorities Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, and obtained his physical remand from the ATC for seven days.

SFs arrested a TTP Swat chapter militant, identified as Hashmat Ullah, during an operation in the limits of Sabzi Mandi Police Station in Islamabad. The sources said a team of security personnel in response to an intelligence tip off regarding a suspect who was hiding in the area of Shams Colony, located in the limits of Sabzi Mandi Police Station conducted the operation which led to his arrest from a house. He was the active member of TTP Swat chapter.

The Difa-e-Pakistan Council during a public meeting in Attock District of Punjab strongly opposed restoration of supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan and vowed to resist what its leaders said the humiliating move of the Government.

Islamabad Police conducted a search operation in the vicinity of Margalla Hills and maintained high alert in the city to ensure foolproof security. Search operations were conducted at slum areas, inns, hotels, restaurants and Afghan habitats.

Police arrested two more suspects, Waheed Ahmed of Mandi Bahauddin District and Mohammad Ijaz of Gujranwala District, from Rawalpindi District for their alleged involvement in the November 12, 2011 Pir Chunbal incident where four security officials and a civilian were killed.

An ATC in Rawalpindi released Malik Abid, an accused in the murder of former Minorities Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti.

Sources close to the investigation said investigators had identified two more persons in connection with the murder case. They were identified through the pamphlets found at the spot where the Minister was shot dead.

Five people, including three men of foreign origin and two Pakistani women, were taken into custody at the office of an Afghan NGO in Attock District.

A local leader of the TTP, Abdul Zareen alias Shah Gee, was arrested from Bara Koh, a suburb area of Islamabad, involved in attacks on Army troops and Frontier Constabulary forces in Bajaur Agency of FATA.

The Sabzi Mandi Police arrested 60 suspects during a search operation in various localities of Islamabad. According to details, SHO Inspector Abid Akram, along with Police teams, Police commandoes, conducted special checking of various houses, under-construction buildings, inns and slums. The suspects were arrested after they failed to produce any authentic document of their identification. The Police also arrested two people for possessing illegal pistols.

Unidentified assailants shot dead four Police constables and injured another two at a picket in the jurisdiction of Sadar Police Station in Gujrat District.

Islamabad Police arrested a suspect, identified as Sohail, from Saadat Colony within Golra Police Station area and recovered three hand grenades and 370 rounds of a submachine gun from him.

As many as 21 cadres of HuT were arrested by LEAs from a house in Islamabad. The raid was conducted by a joint team of the city Police and Security Forces on information that the outfit was holding a meeting against 'national interest'.

ATC Rawalpindi gave custody of arrested HuT activists to Police. Industrial Area Police produced the activists of HuT, who were arrested in a raid on March 15, 2012 from Islamabad, in the ATC to seek their physical remand.

A local official of Saudi Embassy's sub-office, identified as Doctor Hafiz Abdul Rasheed Azhar, was killed at his residence in Islamabad. Azhar belonged to Ahl-e-Hadith sect and was a religious scholar.

Police claimed to have arrested two suspects, Wajid Baloch and Master Mohammad Nawaz Bhund, for their alleged involvement in the January 15, 2012 bomb blast in Khanpur on a Chehlum procession from Rahim Yar Khan District.

According to a report, there has been a swift rise in the number of abduction for ransom in Lahore District. One reason for the rise in the crime is the failure of Law Enforcement Agencies to track down the abducted people, which, in a way, encouraged criminals to snatch people. According to the figures available in the report, at least 400 cases of abductions have been registered till March 20, 2012. With the average of five persons per day, abductors continue to lift young girls, minor children, youths, government employees and traders. Around 2,954 abductions were reported in 2011, while 2010 saw 2,831 people's abduction.

Sources in the CPLC said that a majority of the families declined to register cases and avoided Police interference for the recovery of victims. They categorised the kidnapping gangs in the city into two groups - those operating from southern Punjab and affiliated with various terrorist outfits and others formed because of poverty. They said that inter-city groups usually took the victims to their hometowns, where accessibility of law enforcers was limited due to the tribal system.

Two Policemen, identified as Abdul Malik and Naveed, were killed when unidentified assailants opened fire at residence of Justice Jahangir Arshad, a newly-appointed judge of the Shariat Court in Mumtazabad area of Multan District.

Islamabad Police released ASWJ leader Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi after negotiations between the leaders and the local Police administration. Ejaz-ul-Haq, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman Khalil, Haji Ghulam Mustafa, Abdullah Gill and former MNA Mian Aslam negotiated on behalf of ASWJ leader, while on the other hand Interior Minister Rehman Malik along with Police Officials of Islamabad participated in the talks.

Two persons were arrested from Kasur District for their alleged involvement in the March 17, 2012 murder of a religious scholar belonging to the Ahl-e-Hadith sect and local official of Saudi Embassy's sub-office. The Capital Police traced the suspects with the help of mobile phone record of the victim. The investigators got some important information which suggested that it was a target killing.

Security Forces arrested a TTP 'commander', Gul Rahim, along with his accomplice from a hotel during a brief encounter in Taxila town of Rawalpindi District in Punjab. Authorities said Gul had escaped to Karachi after the Army operation in Swat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and was now going back home when captured in Taxila. A Kalashnikov, a pistol and bullets were recovered from the possession of the arrested militants.

At least three people, including a Railway Police official, died and around 45 others received injuries when a bomb exploded at the counter of Business Train on Platform No 2 of the Lahore Railway Station in Lahore District. The blast took place near the reservation office of Pakistan Business Train. BDS officials said 8-10 kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast. They said the bomb was possibly detonated using a timer or a remote control. The deceased were identified as Muhammad Idress, a head constable of Railway Police, Muhammad Bota, a railway loader, while the identity of the third could not be ascertained.

The bomb disposal experts defused an "Improvised Explosive Device" found in a bag on board Peshawar-bound Awam Express at the Attock Railway Station. According to Police sources, the disposal squad arrived at the scene after two hours to neutralize the twenty-kilogram bomb planted on the passenger train.

A Balochistan-based militant outfit, LeB claimed responsibility for the Lahore railway station bomb blast on April 24.

Two HuT activists, Doctor Abdul Qayyum and Doctor Abdul Wahid, allegedly picked up by the ISI and MI during a crackdown on a banned outfit after the arrest of Brigadier Ali Khan in August 2011 were released in Islamabad.

The court had sent their cases to the "inquiry commission on enforced disappearance" and a Joint Investigation Team was constituted for their recovery. Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman directed the JIT on April 16, 2012 to produce the missing activists in the court on May 14, 2012.

At least 11 persons aggrieved by the 2007 military operation in Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) registered murder and kidnapping charges against the then entire state hierarchy with the City Police. A Senior Police Officer confirmed that the Aabpara Police Station of Islamabad entered their separate complaints in its Roznamcha. "We are following the legal procedure. That was the first step in entertaining the complaints," he said on condition of anonymity.

Each of the 11 people wanted a murder or kidnapping case registered against former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf, the then Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, his cabinet members, including the then Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao and religious minister Ejazul Haq, former Federal Secretary Interior Syed Kamal Shah, the then area Corps Commander, Director General Rangers, Senior Officers of the City Police and Administration - and also any person these accused name during their interrogation.

Two Policemen were shot dead while two others sustained injuries when some unidentified armed militants opened fire at Police cordon in Shera Kot area of Lahore District. According to the Police, the incident took place when Police signaled a suspicious car to stop after which car riders opened fire at Police cordon. Resultantly two Policemen, identified as Muhammad Mushtaq and Zahid Shakeel, were killed.

A child, identified as Naveed (10), was killed while other two Majeed (13) and Rabia (7) sustained injuries when a hand grenade exploded accidentally at riverine area of the River Sutlej near Mailsi in Vehari District. According to Mailsi Sadar Police, the children were returning with their family when they found a hand grenade and picked it assuming it to be a toy. They were playing with the grenade when it exploded, killing one of them.