Police arrested at least
three terrorists and seized explosives from their custody
during an action in SITE Town area of Karachi, the provincial
capital of Sindh. The SSP of West Zone, Nasir Aftab said
in a joint action, launched by Police and personnel of
an intelligence agency, three terrorists affiliated to
a banned outfit were apprehended and recovered explosive
material and detonators from their possession.
Pakistan lashed out at
India, saying that New Delhi had “deployed” terrorism
as an instrument of state policy in the garb of denouncing
terrorism. India, it added, was involved in perpetrating,
sponsoring, supporting and financing terrorism. The remarks
came in a statement that Foreign Office spokesman Nafees
Zakaria issued in response to queries regarding reports
about the failure of an Indian move in the United Nations
sanctions committee.
The number of target killings
in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, have significantly
decreased by 253 percent during 2016, as compared to 2015,
while the menace of extortions have slashed by 36 percent
during the same period, the annual report of Sindh Police
said. However, Police in the report have claimed that
the number of target killings has reduced because of the
good performance of the Police while the report has not
mentioned the achievement of Sindh Rangers' Karachi operation
continued for the past three years.
Meanwhile, the Sindh Police’s
Counter-Terrorism Department is planning to deradicalise
and rehabilitate an estimated 300 militants held in different
jails of the province with the help of qualified psychologists,
said Additional Inspector General of the CTD, Dr Sanaullah
Abbasi. Under the proposed initiative, the CTD would conduct
psychological profiling of the arrested militants to ascertain
the possible factors, leading to militancy as a move to
rehabilitate them. “The CTD Sindh has taken an initiative
to create psychological profiles of arrested militants
in the province,” said Dr Sanaullah Abbasi. He said a
unit of the CTD Sindh had been deputed to go to jails
to create such profiles along the lines of a proforma
created by the NACTA to better identify the factors that
lead to radicalisation of young men. The CTD chief said
the unit concerned had around 15 police personnel, who
would collect data about the imprisoned militants in Karachi
and other parts of Sindh. Dr Abbasi said that there were
250 to 300 militants in different prisons of the province.
January 2
Six FCB officials were
injured after their vehicle came under attack near Western
Bypass in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
The personnel were en route to firing range of the training
camp when terrorists attacked the van with a remote-controlled
bomb. The injured officials are Subedar Muhammad Shafi,
Hawaldar Awalur Rehman, Naik Latif, Sepoys Saif, Raza
Rehman and Qaim Khan. According to the Bomb Disposal Squad,
eight to ten Kg explosives were used in the bombing.
January 3
The CTD officials of Hazara
Division arrested two TTP terrorists, Muhammad Nawaz alias
Abrash and Azizullah alias Hazaza, from Batagaram District
of KP. Both the terrorists are said to have received militant
training in Kunar area in Afghanistan. Nawaz and Azizullah
were involved in a number of terrorism incidents in the
past and were also found plotting an attack in the Batagaram
region at the time of their arrest. CTD officials said
the two men revealed major terrorism plots in Batagaram
District during their initial interrogation. A video clip
of DPO Batagaram was also recovered from their possession.
Deaths linked to violence
in the country decreased significantly in 2016, dropping
45 percent compared with the previous year, CRSS report
said. Some 2,610 people lost their lives due to violence
during the period compared with 4,647 in 2015. "There
was nearly a 45 percent reduction in the number of violence-related
fatalities in 2016, which continued the trend of reduction
from 2014," the report said. "In fact, since
2014, there has been an overall reduction of nearly 66
percent." December was the least violent month for
the country during the year. Two provinces - Punjab and
Balochistan - had a marginal increase in violence during
2016. Balochistan suffered the most fatalities as violence-related
deaths rose from 719 in 2015 to 798 last year, an upsurge
of nearly 10 percent, followed by Punjab, which lost 424
people during 2016 - the highest number of fatalities
in the province during the last four years. Both provinces
were the targets of suicide attacks that increased the
casualty count. Balochistan had three suicide attacks,
leaving 186 dead, while Punjab had one suicide attack
at a park crowded with families on Easter Sunday, killing
75, including many children.
January 4
Three persons, including
a Sub-Inspector, were killed in firing incidents at various
parts of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.
A SI of Police Iqbal Mehmood,
probing some targeted killing cases was shot dead and
two others injured in the night when unidentified assailants
opened fire at them on main Rashid Minhas Road in Gulistan-i-Jauhar
Town of Karachi. DSP Shara-i-Faisal Ali Anwar Soomro said
that assailants were chasing SI Iqbal Mehmood who was
riding a bike along with his friend Waseem. "As they
disembarked from their motorbike to purchase some items
from a vendor near Lal Flats, gunmen travelling in a car
opened fire on them and fled," he said. Mahmood's
friend Waseem and a passerby teenager Hafeez Ullah sustained
bullet wounds in the incident. The deceased SI Iqbal Mehmood
was posted at investigation section of Ferozabad Police
Station. Investigators collected three spent bullet casings
fired from a 9mm pistol from the crime scene.
One person, identified
as Rizwan, who worked as a Police informer against drug
peddlers, was shot dead in a firing incident in Korangi
Industrial Area under Korangi Town of Karachi. SSP Nauman
Siddiqui said that the Police had arrested the killer
and recovered weapons from him.
A civilian was shot dead
in a target-killing incident at Jamshed Road near Pardah
Park in Jamshed Town area of Karachi.
January 5
Unidentified militants
shot dead two people in Jinnah Town of Quetta, the provincial
capital of Balochistan. According to Police, both victims
were going somewhere when the assailants riding a motorcycle
opened fire on them. Both the men died on the spot.
FCB neutralised a 10 kilograms
bomb in the Chithar area of Nasirabad District.
January 6
At least four suspected
militants were killed during an exchange of fire with
SFs in Uch and other areas of Naseerabad District in Balochistan.
A security officer said that SFs conducted a search operation
in Uch and other areas of Naseerabad District. Five militants
were also arrested. Moreover, nine sanctuaries of militants
were demolished by security personnel.
Unidentified assailants
shot and injured five Hazara Shias in a suspected sectarian
attack community on Spiny Road in the Qila Mubarak area
of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan. DIG,
Quetta, Razzak Cheema said that the incident is a targeted
attack when five individuals were travelling in a taxi
At least one civilian
was killed and two Policemen injured in two separate attacks
in North Nazimabad area of Karachi, the provincial capital
of Sindh. Police constable Muhammad Iqbal was injured
when unidentified assailants lobbed a hand grenade at
Taimuria Police Station in North Nazimabad. Later, 25-year-old
Ali Imran was shot dead when unidentified assailants opened
fire at Five Star Chowrangi in the same area. Bashir,
a traffic police official, was also injured in the firing
incident.
The Military Courts -
to try civilians on terrorism charges - will expire today
at midnight (Night between Friday & Saturday) after
which all the terrorism cases against civilian suspects
will be transferred to the ATC. The 21st Constitutional
Amendment, which had paved the way for setting up the
military courts for two years, will become ineffective
on January 07. Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar
Ali Khan said, “The military courts were set up for two
years with the consensus of all the political parties.
Any extension in these courts is not being considered.”
He said ATCs will take up all such cases after expiry
of the military courts after January 07.
January 7
The CTD killed six suspected
terrorists during an encounter on Faisalabad Bypass Road
in Faisalabad District of Punjab. According to CTD Sheikhupura
sources, the CTD Lahore on January 6 arrested two terrorists
identified as Saadullah Khan and Jahanzeb Khan - allegedly
involved in Gulshan Iqbal Park Lahore suicide blast. As
per the details, the CTD Lahore team was taking the arrested
terrorists to Kot Pindi Daas to arrest other terrorists
when their alleged accomplices attacked the team and got
released Saadullah Khan and Jahanzeb Khan. The incident
led to a cross firing between Police party and suspected
terrorists. Resultantly, six terrorists were killed while
three others managed to escape. The CTD also recovered
three motorcycles, Kalashnikovs, pistol, bullets and a
huge cache of explosives and hand grenades from them.
A human rights activist,
Civil Progressive Alliance Pakistan (CPAP) president Samar
Abbas (40) has gone missing from the federal capital Islamabad.
Mr. Abbas is an activist based in Karachi who belongs
to various forums that have been raising their voice voicing
against atrocities committed against minority groups in
the country.
Earlier, Social media
activists Waqas Goraya and Asim Saeed disappeared from
Lahore on January 4, Ahmed Raza Naseer went missing from
Sheikhupura on January 7 while Salman Haider vanished
from Islamabad’s Bani Gala area on January 6.
January 8
The Sindh CTD Transnational
Terrorism Intelligence Group in-charge Raja Umer Khattab
said that there might be surge in sectarian violence in
city if LEAs don’t chalk out a strategy to clamp down
on sleeper cells. The sleeper cells of AQIS and the LeJ
are believed to be involved in the recent attacks on Policemen
and there might be a surge in sectarian violence in the
coming days, Raja Umer Khattab said. “In the past AQIS
has used homemade bombs containing ball bearings in the
Taimuria Police Station a Russian-made grenade was used,
something that is new,” Raja Umer Khattab added. “AQIS
primarily used handmade bombs. They had started off by
making ball bombs and IEDs. The use of a grenade now suggests
that sleeper cells of these terrorist outfits are now
active and their members possess new kinds of weapons
and explosives,” Raja Umer Khattab added further.
January 9
The BDU neutralised a
10 kilograms bomb in Karkhano Market of Peshawar, the
provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Police said
it was a remote-controlled device.
Bannu Special Police Unit
arrested three suspected TTP terrorists from the Chando
Khel area of Lakki Marwat District. Police recovered a
Kalashnikov rifle, three grenades, an anti-personnel mine,
explosives and 30 bore pistols. The terrorists were identified
as Waliullah, Amanullah and Ravib. The arrested militants
were involved in target killing, extortion and attacking
law enforcers. The arrested persons also stole the rifle
of police official Ali Badshah after killing him.
The Balochistan High Court
issued bailable arrest warrants for former President General
(Retired) Pervez Musharraf in JWP leader Nawab Akbar Bugti's
murder case. A divisional bench of BHC passed this order
during hearing of a review petition challenging acquittal
of the former president by Anti-Terrorism Court. Former
Balochistan chief minister and governor Nawab Akbar Bugti
was killed in Dera Bugti District on August 26, 2006.
The CPLC in its report
has identified sixty 'hot spots' in Karachi, the provincial
capital of Sindh, where the street criminals operate the
most and incidents of snatchings take place. These areas
including PIDC, Tariq Road, Sakhi Hassan, Hassan Square,
Bahadurabad, Aisha Manzil and the NIPA Chowrangi which
are high-risk areas and even some areas in city's posh
localities such as Defence and Clifton make it to the
list. The CPLC report further states that in 2016, 19,336
incidents of mobile snatching were reported which is an
increase of 38 percent as compared to 2015. "Besides
mobile snatching, around 22,358 motorcycles were snatched,
which is 24 percent more as compared to 2015," stated
the report. However, CPLC has claimed that car theft and
its snatching incidents have reduced substantially in
Karachi during 2016. All this is despite the passage of
more than three years of Karachi operation, which is claimed
to be successful by the Rangers and the provincial government
adds the news report.
Interior Minister Chaudhry
Nisar Ali Khan stunned the entire opposition in the Senate
by stating that “banned sectarian organisations could
not be equated with other banned terrorist organisations”.
The Interior Minister gave the remarks to justify his
meeting with Ahmed Ludhianvi, the chief of banned sectarian
organisation ASWJ.
January 10
Unidentified assailants
killed a Police constable, Khalid Shaikh (30), near his
house on Jamshed Road in the Soldier Bazaar area of Karachi,
provincial capital of Sindh.
January 11
JI ameer (chief), Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Mushtaq Ahmad called for merger of FATA and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and also stated that the people of
the FATA were deprived of basic and democratic rights
for the last seven decades, reports The News. Mushtaq
Ahmed also rejected the FCR, saying it was a black law.
“If no solid steps were taken for the merger of the FATA
with KP and uplift of the tribal areas, we will have no
other option but to march on Islamabad,” he said. Mushtaq
Ahmad asked the Government to announce PKR 1,000 billion
uplift package for the tribal areas.
Earlier, JUI-F leaders
on January 8 rejected the federal government’s plan to
merge FATA with KP and threatened to launch a protest
movement if any changes were ‘imposed’ on the tribal people.
“We request the federal government, especially the prime
minister, to stop implementation of the reforms until
every stockholder is taken on board, otherwise the JUI-F
would start an agitation campaign across FATA,” threatened
Abdul Shakoor, head (FATA) JUI-F.
January 12
Unidentified assailants
shot dead a journalist, Muhammad Jan (37), in Kalat town
of same District in Balochistan. Muhammad Jan, who worked
for local Urdu language daily newspaper ‘Qudrat’, was
shot dead while he was on his way home on a motorcycle.
“Two attackers on motorcycle opened fire on him, using
a pistol and killing him on the spot,” Senior Police Officer
Muhammad Ali said.
January 13
The FO rejected allegations
of terrorist safe havens in the FATA, saying Pakistan
does not allow its territory to be used for attacks against
any other country. Responding to queries during the weekly
news briefing, FO Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Afghanistan
was infested with a number of terrorist organisations
due to its instability. This, he added, created space
for terrorist elements such as Haqqani network's leadership,
TTP, Daesh, and al Qaeda, among other terrorist organisations.
"It is, therefore, not appropriate to blame others
for the adversities due to the deteriorating security
situation in Afghanistan. The oft repeated claims regarding
safe havens are, therefore, more of a rhetoric than anything
else," the spokesperson maintained.
The Federal Government
claimed that it has been spending an additional PKR 250
billion annually on security since the launch of Operation
Zarb-e-Azb and that it cannot sustain the burden alone,
but the two big provinces have already refused to share
the cost. In a position paper it has sent to the four
federating units to convince them to pay for security,
the NFC Secretariat claimed that security-related additional
spending stood at PKR 732.4 billion since June 2014. This
includes PKR 283 billion allocations for the financial
year 2016-17. “Since 2014-15 alone, when new security
operations started, the federal government has been spending
some PKR 300 billion specifically for meeting the expenditures
related to security, rehabilitation and capacity-building
of security forces to meet the challenges of law and order,”
the finance ministry note stated.
January 15
Three Policemen were injured
when unidentified militants attacked the convoy of a Qatari
prince in Musakhel District of Balochistan in the evening.
Security sources said that the militants opened indiscriminate
fire on the convoy, as a result of which District Police
Officer Majeed Dasti and two other security officials
received bullet wounds. The Qatari prince remained unharmed
in the attack, said Senior District Administration official
Mohammad Yasir.
Army and LEAs carried
out joint combing operations in Shaheen town, Warsak Road,
Dalazak and Pakka Ghulam areas of Peshawar, the provincial
capital of KP, in the evening. According to ISPR, during
the combing operation 58 suspects were apprehended including
five Afghan nationals. Huge cache of arms, ammunition
and drugs were recovered during the operation.
January 16
Unidentified militants
killed two Police officials in different areas of Quetta,
the provincial capital of Balochistan. Militants opened
fire at a Police constable in the Killi Deba area of Quetta,
killing him on the spot. In another incident, militants
opened fire near the Passport Office area and killed another
Police official on duty. The attackers managed to escape
from the scene in both cases, with Police officials terming
the incidents as acts of target killings.
The special policing powers
granted to Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, by the Provincial
Government under Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 to carry out
raids and arrest suspects ended. The Government had extended
the Rangers' Policing powers on October 18, 2016, for
90 days thus entitling them to carry out raids, snap checking
and arresting the people in the provincial capital only.
Sindh Government, however, had not issued any official
statement in connection with extension of the powers by
the end of the day.
January 17
The CTD personnel shot
dead four suspected militants belonging to a banned outfit
near the Sheikhupura Bypass in Sheikhupura District of
Punjab in the wee hours. CTD officials claimed that they
had been tipped off by intelligence sources regarding
the presence of the suspected terrorists. Upon reaching
the place, an armed conflict initiated between the CTD
officials and the suspected militants. Four alleged terrorists
were gunned down by CTD while three managed to flee. Police
managed to recover arms, ammunition and explosive material
from the suspected militants.
January 18
Sindh Chief Minister Syed
Murad Ali Shah approved the summary extending Rangers'
special powers in Karachi for 90 days. The special powers
will grant Rangers special Policing powers in the metropolis.
The summary to extend the powers of the paramilitary force
had been sent to Syed Murad Ali Shah by the Home Minister.
The Rangers were given
extension last on October 16, 2016 by Murad Ali Shah.
Under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, Rangers have been
granted special powers to raid and take into custody suspects.
JuD has filed a petition
in the Islamabad High Court seeking the removal of its
name from the watch list under Schedule 2 of the ATA 1997.
Raja Rizwan Abbasi filed JuD’s petition before the IHC.
JuD is alleged to be an incarnation of the banned LeT
and was placed on the watchlist in December 2008.
January 19
Police recovered four
dead bodies from an empty plot in Steel Town area of Karachi,
the provincial capital of Sindh. Malir Town SSP Rao Anwar
claimed that the four victims had been shot to death adding
that the corpses bore torture marks.
Two SF personnel were
killed after unidentified militants opened fire on them
in Kohlu area of Balochistan. The deceased were identified
as constable Shero and Khawand Bukhsh. The militants managed
to flee the scene.
The Senate (The
upper house of Parliament) was told that certain foreign
intelligence agencies funded [militant] groups in Pakistan
to destabilise it. Answering a question about major sources
of funding being used in acts of terrorism in the country,
Minister of State for Interior Baleeghur Rahman said it
was difficult to pinpoint with 100 per cent accuracy the
sources of terrorism funding. But some of the generally
perceived sources include extortion and funding by foreign
intelligence agencies. He said that militants were known
to extort money from drug dealers and producers operating
in the areas straddling the Pakistan-Afghan border. Giving
details of the investigations being conducted to collect
information about terrorism funding, he said 844 such
cases were under investigation, including 498 registered
under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 230 under anti-money
laundering law and 116 cases of suspicious transactions
reported by the financial monitoring unit of the State
Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
The CoAS General Qamar
Javed Bajwa met leaders from the business and trader communities
and assured them of continuation of the security operation
in Karachi, the statement released by the ISPR said. "The
Karachi operation will continue till the elimination of
crime in the city," said Army chief. He added that
all possible measures will be taken to restore peace in
Karachi, and said that the strategy for Karachi would
remain the same and there would be no change in policy.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed
Murad Ali Shah said that his Government would never allow
terrorists and religious fanatics to play with the lives
of innocent people even if the Federal Government refuses
to cooperate with it. This he said while presiding over
the Sindh cabinet meeting here at the Sindh Secretariat.
Briefing the cabinet on the response of Ministry of Interior
to ban 94 madrassa's allegedly involved in promoting terrorism,
the Chief Minister said that in the Apex committee the
list of the madrassa's was presented. The Committee was
told that 94 madrassa's were involved in terrorist activities.
They had presented solid evidences gathered from the terrorists
arrested by Law Enforcement Agencies and they had revealed
startling disclosures against the said madrassa's.
January 21
At least 25 people were
killed and more than 87 others were injured in a bomb
blast at the Sabzi Mandi (vegetable market) area of Parachinar
in Kurram Agency of FATA in the morning. A statement issued
by the ISPR said IED blast took place at 08:50am. Government
official Shahid Khan said the explosion took place when
the market was crowded with retailers buying fruits and
vegetables. In a text message sent to journalists, the
al-Alami (International) faction of LeJ claimed that it,
along with the TTP splinter Shehryar Mehsud group, carried
out the attack. The Shehryar Mehsud group did not independently
claim the bombing.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor,
Engr Iqbal Zafar Jhagra strongly condemned the bomb blast
and said "We will continue our struggle till eliminating
the last terrorist from FATA". The terrorist, he
added, could never deter our courage, since we are determined
to follow them to the extreme extent. He further directed
the political administration to expeditiously complete
relief activities and no effort should be spared in ensuring
best ever treatment facilities to the injured.
The number of Pakistanis
under detention in Saudi Arab jails on terror charges
reached 69 with the arrest of a woman in Jeddah’s Al-Naseem
District during a security operation. According to a report
in Saudi newspaper Arab News, Fatima Ramadan Balochi Murad
was arrested along with her Saudi husband from an apartment
in Al-Naseem District by security agencies after a tip-off.
A recent statement issued by the Interior Ministry through
its Tawasul (communications) portal said that 5,085 terror
suspects from 40 countries are in detention in five intelligence
prisons in the Kingdom.
January 22
Unidentified assailants
opened fire and killed two persons in Satellite Town area
of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan. Police
officials said the gunmen were on a motorcycle when they
opened fire and critically injured two tribal locals.
The injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital in Quetta
but they succumbed to their injuries. The motive behind
the attack remains to be ascertained. The assailants escaped
unhurt from the crime scene.
The COAS General Qamar
Javed Bajwa said terrorists would not be allowed to derail
the stability of FATA. According to a statement issued
by ISPR Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor, General
Qamar Javed Bajwa said this during his visit to Parachinar
and Peshawar. The COAS was given a detailed briefing on
January 21’s bombing in Parachinar. General Bajwa lauded
the support of tribal people in combating terrorism and
acknowledged their sacrifices for peace. He said that
with their support the Army, FC and other law enforcers
have done a great job in stabilising the area and terrorists
will fail to derail it. The COAS lauded their efforts
in maintaining tribal and sectarian harmony which is source
of national integration. He said, "Pakistan belongs
to all of us without any religious, provincial, tribal,
linguistic, ethnic, sectarian or any other discrimination."
January 23
At least eight security
personnel were injured when their convoy comes under militant
ambush in Gichak area of Panjgur District in Balochistan.
"The security personnel were moving through the district's
mountainous Gichak area to conduct a raid against miscreants
when they were fired upon," said a security official.
No arrests were reported after the incident. There was
no claim of responsibility for the attack.
The Police recovered two
suicide jackets from Abu Bakar mosque under the Paharipura
Police Station, on the outskirt of Peshawar, the provincial
capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, no arrests were
made. An official at the Paharipura Police Station said
that acting on a tip-off Police personnel checked Abu
Bakar mosque near Benazir Hospital along the motorway.
He said the cops recovered two suicide jackets containing
about five kilogramme explosives from the room of the
prayer leader of the mosque. However, the prayer leader
was not present in the room at the time of the raid.
The CTD arrested two LeJ
militants during raided on a house on Airport Road near
railway line in Bahawalpur District of Punjab around 3pm.
A CTD spokesman said they received information about the
presence of ‘terrorists’ planning to attack some installation
in Bahawalpur. A CTD team raided the house on Airport
Road and arrested two LeJ militants, identified as Khalid
Mahmood and Sajjad. Explosive material and two live grenades
were recovered from their possession.
January 24
A Shia man, Mohammed Kazim
Raza (39), was gunned down in suspected sectarian attack
in Gulistan-i-Jauhar area of Karachi, the provincial capital
of Sindh, in the night. “It appeared to be a targeted
killing incident linked with sectarianism,” said Superintendent
Police Dr. Fahad Ahmed.
January 28
Authorities arrested eight
more suspects in connection with the Parachinar market
bomb blast in Kurram Agency of FATA on January 21, as
the number of detained persons reached 15. Officials said
that investigations were underway from different angles
to arrest the elements involved in the blast. After the
explosion, the administration took into custody seven
people who were being interrogated. Sources said most
of the arrested persons were daily wagers who were present
at the spot during auction of vegetables in the morning.
The CTD claimed to have
arrested a would-be suicide bomber and another militant,
associated with a banned outfit, who were allegedly involved
in major terrorist acts in urban and rural Sindh and operating
their networks in four major cities of the province besides
Jaffarabad District of Balochistan. In a targeted raid
conducted in the Manghopir area of Karachi, the CTD team
detained the two suspects, Shaukat (would-be suicide bomber)
and Abdul Ghani, and seized explosive material, a suicide
jacket, a hand grenade and two pistols from their custody.
“The held militants, who belonged to the Brohi tribe and
were trained in Balochistan, were operating terror networks
in Sukkur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Sanghar districts
in Sindh and Jaffarabad district in Balochistan,” said
Sindh CTD chief Dr Sanaullah Abbasi.
An ATC of Bahawalpur District
in Punjab jailed two militant for 45 years for carrying
explosives and illegal weapons. According to details,
Riaz and Peerakh were found guilty of carrying explosives
and illegal in the Kot Sabzal Police Station in 2014.
After hearing arguments, ATC Judge Khalid Arshad sentenced
them to 45 years. The court also ordered to confiscate
their property and imposed Rs 500,000 fine each.
The Punjab Home Department
issued a warning against possible terrorist attacks in
Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab. According to
the notification, TTP trained boys aged about 10 to 12
years are currently in and around major cities of the
country including Punjab. Upon investigation an arrested
little boy revealed that he was tasked to attack an educational
institute close to Abdali Chowk in Lahore. The warning
also instructed further security for important installations
and called for an immediate meeting of the District Intelligence
Committee.
Two Policemen, including
an inspector, were shot dead while another official received
bullet injuries in Wapda road area of Dera Murad Jamali
District in Balochistan in the evening. Police officials
said that unidentified militants opened fire at a Police
mobile in Wapda road area, killing Inspector Hidayatullah
Kolachi on the spot. His gunman succumbed to his injuries
on the way to a nearby hospital. The assailants escaped
unhurt from the spot.
January 30
A Pakistan Army soldier,
Waqas, who was critically injured in a cross-border terrorist
attack in Khyber Agency of FATA, succumbed to his injuries.
"Terrorists fired from across the border on a Pakistani
post in Khyber Agency critically injuring Sepoy Waqas
performing duty at the border post," read a statement
issued by the ISPR.
At least nine people,
including three FC personnel, were injured in a blast
on Charsadda road of Peshawar, the provincial capital
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A contingent of FC personnel was
on its way from Mohmand Agency to Peshawar when their
vehicle was targeted through a bomb planted on the roadside
on Charsadda road, SSP Operations Sajjad Khan said. As
a result of the explosion, six civilians and three security
men sustained injuries. There has been no claim of responsibility
for the blast.
The Punjab Government
issued orders to place JuD chief Hafiz Saeed under house
arrest. The Government launched a crackdown against JuD
and a heavy contingent of Police was deployed around the
JuD headquarter and offices in Muridke and Lahore. “A
large police team arrived (at JuD headquarters) and told
us that Hafiz would be placed under house arrest,” said
the secretary of information for JuD, Nadeem Awan. Awan
said the Police told them they had an arrest warrant for
Saeed and five others at JuD headquarters.
Hafiz Saeed was reportedly
present at the Qudsia Mosque located in Chauburji area
of Lahore. Contingents of Police and other law-enforcing
agencies reached the area and surrounded the premises,
sources said. Police sources further informed that Saeed
will be shifted to his residence in the Johar Town area
of the provincial capital, Lahore, which will then be
declared as a sub-jail. Saeed has been detained under
Section 11-EEE (1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1977, a
notification issued by the Interior Ministry said. Meanwhile,
the District intelligence committee has suggested it to
the Government to put the JuD chief’s name in fourth schedule.
Moreover, national flags have been hoisted at the JuD
offices in Lahore, instead of party flags, on the directives
of provincial home department, it added. The provincial
authorities have also started to remove the banners of
JuD from the roads of Lahore.
January 31
The ISPR Director General
Major General Asif Ghafoor said JuD chief Hafiz Saeed's
house arrest is a State decision in the best national
interest. Sending a clear message to India, he said whether
it is cold start or any other doctrine, Pakistan is ready
to respond with full strength. Major General Asif Ghafoor
said the successes of Army and other law enforcers in
the war on terror has made Pakistan safer than 2008. To
a question about the JuD chief's house arrest, he said
that the state took this policy decision in national interest.
He denied any foreign pressure behind the move.
February 1
Sindh Rangers claimed
to have killed notorious Lyari gang war commander Noor
Muhammad alias Baba Ladla in a shootout in Lyari Town
area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Two
of Baba Ladla’s close associates, Sikandar alias Sikko
and Mohammad Yaseen alias Mama, were also killed in the
encounter. During the operation, Head Constable Fayyaz
and Constable Tufail were also killed. One Kalashnikov,
a 9mm pistol, a 9mm mouser and a hand grenade were also
recovered from their possession. The “most wanted” suspects
were involved in numerous terrorist incidents, said Rangers
in a press release. “Baba Ladla was wanted in more than
74 crimes by police,” added the press release further.
The Sindh government had placed a head money of PKR Three
million on Baba Ladla in 2012.
The press release also
revealed that Baba Ladla had, with the help of Uzair Baloch,
committed the murders of Shera Pathan, Arshad Pappu and
Yasir Arafat. It also stated that in March 2013, Baba
Ladla had kidnapped a group of Muhajirs and murdered them.
The Rangers press release also claimed the other gangster
gunned down in the operation, Sikander alias Siku, was
wanted in more than 15 crimes by Police. Sikander was
described by Rangers as a close aide of Baba Ladla and
also his facilitator. In April 2012, Sikander had committed
the murder of Station House Officer (SHO) Fawad Khan while
in the same year he had also killed Constable Asif, according
to the press release. In 2013, he had tortured and subsequently
killed two other men. Sikander had also been involved
in the sale and purchase of illegal weapons.
Security Forces killed
a TTP militant and arrested eight other suspects during
an exchange of fire in the Luni Jungle area under Kulachi
tehsil in Dera Ismail Khan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Three Army personnel - Major Abbas, Captain Omer and Naik
Adnan - were injured during a 'routine sanitisation operation',
the ISPR said in a statement.
The Federal Ministry of
Interior placed names of JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed Ahmed and
37 other individuals on the ECL. All 30 people who are
put on ECL are affiliated with JuD or LeT. The decision
to place Hafiz Saeed on ECL was taken two days after JuD
chief and four others were put under house arrest. The
Interior Ministry has forwarded a letter to all Provincial
Governments and the Federal Investigation Agency, which
included names of Hafiz Saeed and 37 other individuals
placed on the ECL. On January 31, the Federal Ministry
of Interior placed FIF and JUD on the Watch List and listed
these organizations in the Second Schedule of the ATA
1997 (as amended).
February 2
Police arrested a man,
Kashif Hanif (29), whose name appears on the Fourth Schedule
of the ATA and is said to have links to the so-called
'Tehreek-e-Taliban Kashmir' (TTK) from Datot village on
the outskirts of Rawalakot in PoK. Hanif is suspected
of involvement in nine acts of terrorism, the SSP in Poonch
Mir Abid said. These acts included a suicide attack on
an Army vehicle near Dothan village in January 2010, in
which some Army soldiers were injured. He is also suspected
of being involved in the planting of a bomb outside a
hotel in Rawalakot in September 2010 which killed the
bomber was killed and injured a citizen. Hanif has also
allegedly been involved in other attacks on military vehicles
and installations. SSP Abid said that the accused was
wanted since 2010 by five Police Stations of Bagh, Poonch
and Sudhnoti Districts for masterminding and executing
different subversive activities. The SSP said that the
accused belonged to the group of Nazirul Islam alias Shamil
Khan who was the first head of the so-called 'TTK' after
defecting from Asmatullah Muavia.
February 3
Police stopped JuD from
holding a ‘multiparty conference’ (MPC) on Kashmir issue
at the press club in Hyderabad city of Sindh reportedly
after receiving ‘orders’ from high-ups in the wake of
house arrest of JuD chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. JuD leaders
decided to cancel the conference and disperse peacefully.
Later, they informed media persons through an SMS that
the MPC had to be cancelled because of some ‘unavoidable
circumstances’. A heavy contingent of Police had sealed
the road with barbed wire outside the press club. JuD
Sindh emir Faisal Nadeem said the MPC was not organised
by JuD only, it was held by Tehreek-i-Azadi Kashmir, a
platform founded by JuD and other parties to discuss Kashmir’s
freedom movement.
February 6
A grand jirga of elders
from Khyber Agency was held in Jamrud town, opposing the
proposed merger of the FATA with KP. Jirga participants
urged the Government instead to form an independent FATA
Legislative Council or announce a separate province status
for the tribal areas. Malik Ghaffar Khan Afridi, a tribal
elder, said that the merger of FATA with KP was unacceptable
to tribal people. He said the proposed legislative council
should be formed to legislate for the tribal region in
line with the local social, political and traditions.
The elder believed that the FATA reforms proposed by the
government committee went against tribal customs and traditions.
He said legislation and policies on Fata should be made
in light of local traditions and customs. Malik Ghaffar
Khan Afridi opposed the extension of the jurisdiction
of the Supreme Court and high courts to FATA, saying local
residents knew very well how to resolve their issues through
a jirga system.
February 7
At least two Policemen
were injured, in an explosion, at the main gate of Mandan
Police Station in Bannu District of KP. The blast was
caused when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden
car into the entrance gate of the Police Station. The
main gate of the Police Station was completely destroyed
due to explosion while the building was partially damaged.
The injured Policemen were shifted to a nearby hospital.
Pakistan handed over four
suspected cadres of Afghanistan chapter of IS to Kabul
as ‘a gesture of goodwill’. The four were paraded before
journalists at the Michni checkpoint before being handed
over to Afghan officials at the Torkham border crossing
in Khyber Agency of FATA. Landi Kotal Assistant Political
Agent Niaz Mohammad told reporters that Javed Khan, Safiullah,
Talmeen Khan and Niamatullah, all hailing from Nangarhar
province of Afghanistan, had been arrested by intelligence
agencies in Peshawar after they received information about
the militants’ presence in the city.
The Punjab Government
giving a clean chit to all educational institutes - including
15,000 madrassas - has declared that no seminary or public
and private institute is involved in teaching hate material
to students. During the Punjab Assembly session, Law Minister
Rana Sanaullah while commenting on a resolution moved
by a treasury member Ms Hina Pervez Butt informed the
House that the PML-N-led Punjab Government had registered
all 15,000 madrassas, including 532 existing in 'Gray
Areas' of the province. Rana Sanaullah confirmed that
as many as 1.1 million students were enrolled in madrassas
in which around 0.4 million students are enjoying boarding
facilities, while 1300 students belong to foreign countries.
February 8
AJK Police announced the
arrest of three men suspected of facilitating a suicide
attack on a Muharram procession in Mirpura village of
Neelum Valley in Muzaffarabad in December 27, 2009. The
arrests were made from three different places in Muzaffarabad
in the evening of February 7. The men arrested have been
identified as Malik Mohammad Ashfaq from Sarriyan District,
Muhammad Khaqan Awan from Hattian Bala District and Umer
Farooq Shah from Athmuqam District in Neelum Valley. The
attack left at 15 parsons, including two Policemen, dead
and more than 100 injured. ASP Asif Durrani said that
the men were suspected of providing accommodation and
transportation to the attackers.
Almost 248 Police officials
who took part in 1992 and 1996 Karachi operations were
killed however, so far only six killers of these cops
have been convicted. A total of 378 accused were arrested.
Challans submitted in 121 cases out of which in six cases
killers have been convicted whereas a total of 55 accused
acquitted and the remaining 60 are still under trial.
Official statistics show that from 1995 till 2016, almost
1,488 Policemen were killed in the Karachi Range. Although,
the most number of Police officials – 261 — were killed
in 1995 yet otherwise 2012, 2013 and 2014 were the worst
years for the Karachi Police with 123, 165 and 136 killings
respectively.
The ongoing Rangers’ led
operation appears to have been a blessing even for the
Karachi Police as killings of Police officials in the
city had drastically reduced in 2015 and 2016. In 2016,
only 29 Policemen were killed whereas this figure was
67 in 2015. The official data shows that a total of 261
Policemen were killed in 1995 58 were murdered in 1996
74 in 1997 97 in 1998 59 in 1999 49 in 2000 58 in 2001
14 in 2002 19 in 2003 23 in 2004 24 in 2005 40 in 2006
51 in 2007 48 in 2008 41 in 2009 49 in 2010 53 in 2011
123 in 2012 165 in 2013 136 in 2014 67 in 2015 and 29
in 2016.
Outside Karachi in Sindh,
Larkana appears to be the most dangerous place for Policemen
from 2001 till 2016. Each year’s number of Policemen killed
in Larkana District during the period (from 2001 till
2016) is 8 7 17 1 6 4 11 21 13 13 13 8 13 20 10 9 and
5 respectively. These figures show that the most difficult
time for the Larkana Police has been from 2007 to 2014
— the period during which the killing of policemen remained
high. Otherwise, in the Hyderabad District, the Police
had a bad time really in 2014 when a total of 27 Police
officials got killed.
February 9
Six militants were killed
in a shoot out with Police during a raid on a chicken
farm off Superhighway near the Baqai Medical University
in Gadap town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.
SSP Malir Rao Anwar Ahmed said that the six militants
belonged to AQIS and TTP, and were involved in targeting
law enforcement personnel. One of the militant was also
involved in the Peshawar Army Public School attack. An
ID card was found from his pocket, but the investigators
are trying to verify his identity as the card he was carrying
may have been faked. Another militant Ibrahim Haydri had
allegedly been wanted by Police for his involvement in
grenade attacks and firing on various Police officials
in different areas of Karachi. "Haydri and the other
militants were responsible for the death of around 25
Police personnel," the Rao Anwar Ahmed alleged.
Five persons, including
four children, were injured in a roadside bomb blast in
Arang tehsil of Bajaur Agency in FATA. The bomb
was detonated through a remote control device.
February 10
Two militants killed and
three others injured when Army repulsed militant attack
from Afghanistan on two Pakistan Army checkposts in the
Ulai area of Baizai tehsil in Mohmand Agency of
FATA in the night. The Army’s media wing, ISPR said that
Pakistan Army effectively responded to the fire, rendering
it ineffective. Soon after the incident, militants fled
back to Afghanistan, ISPR added. The JuA faction of TTP
stated that it lost two cadres while three others were
injured after they launched an overnight attack on a Pakistani
checkpost.
Iranian forces fired four
mortar shells across the border into Balochistan's Panjgur
District. Deputy Commissioner Panjgur Habibur Rehman claimed
Iranian forces fired four mortar shells into Parom area
'without any justification and provocation'. "We
have not received any report about any human loss",
he added.
February 11
Provincial Home Minister
Sarfraz Bugti stated that India was using Afghanistan’s
soil to destabilise Balochistan. Speaking at a seminar
at University of Karachi, Sarfraz Bugti said, Security
Forces and the youth of Balochistan brought peace in the
province, adding that rate of crime in Balochistan is
much lower as compared to Karachi and Faisalabad. A handful
(100-200) of miscreants are trying to sabotage CPEC, he
added.
February 12
Two children were killed
and another critically wounded in an accidental grenade
explosion in Buner of Swat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The children of a shepherd family were playing when they
found the hand grenade and accidentally set it off, local
government official Zariful Maani. The two brothers, aged
nine and 10, died, while their seven-year-old female cousin
is in critical condition.
An employee of Samaa TV
was killed evening when unidentified assailants opened
fire on a Samaa TV DSNG van at KDA Chowrangi near Dolmen
Mall in North Nazimabad of Karachi, the provincial capital
of Sindh. An assistant cameraman, Taimur, received a bullet
wound to the head and was rushed to the nearby Abbasi
Shaheed Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The
media van was in the area to cover an earlier incident,
a cracker attack on a Police vehicle, when it was attacked.
“Our team members along with the DSNG had gone there to
cover the cracker attack on the police vehicle when they
came under attack,” said Samaa TV's Director News, Farhan
Malik. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Central,
Muqaddas Haider said the same suspects might be involved
in both the incidents and added the cracker attack on
the police vehicle did not cause any damage. “It appears
that the suspects attacked the Police mobile with a cracker
to attract media's attention and when the Samaa team arrived,
they chased and attacked it,” added Haider.
In an effort to promote
its ideology and update supporters about its latest actions
in the country, the TTP has brought out a high gloss,
Vogue-style magazine. The first issue of ‘Mujjallah’ magazine
was published in November 2016 and reportedly distributed
in Pakistan sometime in December 2016. The inaugural issue
had 56 pages. The second issue printed a couple of weeks
ago is slicker and thicker and has more pages than the
first one. The paper quality of the magazine is at par
with that of Vogue, besides having fine printing quality.
The cover carries bulletins of the banned outfit’s activities
in Pakistan and also features reports on how to make bombs
and other explosives. Some experts who have known about
the operations of organisation like TTP stated that the
magazine has been modeled after ISIS publications which
were available in Arabic and Urdu among other languages.
While declining to be
named, they said, the magazine is being printed in Afghanistan,
most likely in Jalalabad, and allegedly distributed throughout
Pakistan amongst hardcore followers and also has a limited
circulation in Afghanistan. Judging from the kind of language
used in the magazine, the articles and features were probably
written by non-native Urdu speakers, possibly Arabic-speaking
people. The articles have not been attributed to anyone.
Since TTP has lost ground in Pakistan, the magazine is
most likely an attempt to spread its propaganda. It may
also be an effort to defame the country, they added. To
illustrate their point, they said that when TTP held a
strong position in Pakistan it had never attempted to
bring out such a magazine but now after it had lost ground
such a publication was released.
The ISAF Commander General
John Nicholson (Jr.) said TTP provides the core fighting
group for the militant IS group as TTP militants in Orakzai
Agency of FATA en masse joined the relatively new terrorist
group. General John Nicholson (Jr.) appeared before the
US Senate Armed Services Committee this week to brief
American lawmakers on the current situation in Afghanistan.
He told the panel that the IS, which in Afghanistan was
called the Islam State Khorasan Province, comprised fighters
mainly from existing militant groups in Afghanistan and
Pakistan. Primarily, their membership had come from the
TTP, which was a Pakistan-based opponent of the Pakistan
regime, he said. The general said TTP militants in Orakzai
Agency had, en masse, joined the IS-Khorasan and formed
the initial group of fighters who then moved into Afghanistan’s
Nangarhar province, spreading out to about 11 Districts
initially. “So, the majority of the fighters in the IS
right now came from the TTP and joined the banner of the
IS,” he added.
February 13
At least 14 persons were killed and 85
injured when a suicide bomber struck around 6pm outside
the Punjab Assembly on Mall Road of Lahore, the provincial
capital of Punjab, during a protest. IGP Punjab Mushtaq
Ahmad Sukhera confirmed that six Police officials were
among the dead, including two senior officers. DIG, Traffic,
Lahore Captain (retd) Ahmad Mobin and SSP, Operations,
Zahid Gondal of Punjab Police were among those killed
in the attack. Hours earlier, DIG Mobin had been seen
on television, mediating with the protesters gathered
at the site. A large group of chemists and pharmaceutical
manufacturers were gathered in front of the provincial
assembly to protest a Government crackdown against the
sale of illegal drugs. There was a significant presence
of law enforcers in the area while the protest was ongoing.
"The suicide attacker was on foot," CTD Chief Dr Mohammad
Iqbal said. The JuA faction of TTP claimed responsibility
for the attack.
Three FCB personnel were killed in an
IED blast in Khan Kot Zarmina area of Toe Khula tehsil
in SWA of FATA. The FCB personnel were on a cordon and
search operation on motorbikes in Khan Kot Zarmina area
when the planted IED went off.
Two BDS officials were killed and 11 others
injured in a roadside blast near the Sariab Bridge of
Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan. Police
said that explosives were found planted near the Sariab
Bridge after which BDS was called in. However, the blast
occurred while BDS personnel were defusing explosives.
Two BDS officials were killed and 11 others
injured in a roadside blast near the Sariab Bridge of
Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan. Police
said that explosives were found planted near the Sariab
Bridge after which BDS was called in. However, the blast
occurred while BDS personnel were defusing explosives.
The TTP-JuA claimed that the previous
Operation Saut-al-Raad (Sound of Thunder), which was aimed
at hit and run tactics, had achieved its targets and that
now it was time to launch big operations. TTP-JuA has
already started this by launching big scale attacks on
three Pakistan Army check posts in Baizai (border area
with Afghanistan) simultaneously claiming to have inflicted
heavy losses onto the Pakistan Army, while conceding that
two of its fighters were killed and three injured. Police
sources, talking to Pakistan Today, revealed that law
enforcement agencies are now expecting some large scale
attacks in Mohmand Agency, Bajaur Agency and Peshawar
on the LEAs while sectarian minorities will be targeted
too. Shia community-dominated areas in KP/FATA and Quetta
in Balochistan will be likely targets of these attacks.
February 14
Following the suicide attack on the Mall
road of Lahore, Punjab's law enforcement agencies have
launched a province-wide crackdown on militant outfits.
The Provincial Intelligence Centre of the Punjab Home
Department has issued a letter directing police high-ups
to beef up security in different cities of the province.
The letter has been circulated among the Divisional Commissioners,
RPOs, CCPO of Lahore, Deputy Commissioners, CPO and District
Police officers. An officer privy to the development told
Dawn that the crackdown was ordered on the basis of intelligence
reports suggesting that militants might have planned similar
attacks in other cities. The Home Department has directed
law enforcement agencies to ensure extreme vigilance and
heightened security.
February 15
The CTD killed at least six suspected
JuA militants in an operation in Chak 10-R 98 area of
Khanewal District in Punjab. Four suspects managed to
flee during the operation. The operation was carried out
on a tip off regarding presence of militants in the area.
JuA is an offshoot of TTP, which is responsible for the
suicide blast in Lahore that killed 14 persons including
two senior police officials on February 13.
Three Levies personnel and two civilians
were killed while eight others injured in twin suicide
attacks in Ghalanai Tehsil of Mohmand Agency in FATA.
Two suicide bombers tried to enter a compound of the local
political administration. When stopped, one of the attackers
blew himself up outside the entrance, a senior official
said. "The other attacker was shot down by Levies officials
who were on guard," the official added.
Following suicide attack, FC launched
search operation in Sheikh Banda area and killed five
militants. An encounter took place between militants and
FC personnel during the search raid, the FC spokesman
said. As a consequence, five militants were gunned down.
The deceases could not be immediately identified.
The Driver of the civil judge vehicle
was killed when a motorcycle bourne suicide bomber rammed
his bike into the vehicle in Hayatabad area of Peshawar,
the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Civil Judge
Asif Jadoon and three female judges of the lower judiciary
were travelling in an official car in Phase 5 area when
an attacker on a motorcycle struck the front of the vehicle
and exploded, killing the driver and injuring the four
judges. A total of six persons were injured in the explosion.
The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack. "About
15 kg of explosive was used in the suicide bomb," said
Peshawar Police Chief Tahir Khan.
An official from the MoFA met Afghan Deputy
Head of Mission Syed Abdul Nasir Yousafi in Islamabad
to address militant attacks in Pakistan by JuA, an offshoot
of TTP, operating in Afghanistan, said the press release
of MoFA. UN&EC Additional Secretary Tasnim Aslam raised
the "grave concern [Pakistan has] about the continuing
terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil by the terrorist outfit
JuA [operating] from its sanctuaries inside Afghanistan,"
the release read. Aslam also informed Yousafi that Afghan
authorities had been informed "earlier" about "actionable
intelligence" where Pakistan pressed Afghanistan "to take
urgent measures to eliminate the terrorists and their
sanctuaries, financiers and [facilitators] operating from
its territory," the statement read.
February 16
At least 88 people were killed when a
suicide bomber attacked the crowded Sufi shrine of Lal
Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan Sharif town of Jamshoro District
in Sindh, injuring at least 343 others. The blast took
place inside the premises of the shrine as a dhamaal was
taking place, with a large number of women and children
said to be among the casualties. Devotees throng the shrine
of the revered Sufi saint every Thursday to participate
in a dhamaal and prayers. The Assistant Superintendent
of Police in Sehwan said a suicide bomber entered the
shrine through its Golden gate. The attacker blew himself
up after throwing a grenade, which failed to explode,
he added. The ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack
through Amaq, the group's affiliated news agency.
Four Policemen and a passerby were killed
when their vehicle was attacked by unidentified militants
in Mission Mor area of Dera Ismail Khan town in the same
District of KP. The van was stationed at a filling station
as part of its normal patrol duty when it was attacked
by unidentified militants, said District Emergency Officer
Imran Khan. The victims were identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector
Rehmatullah, Constable Iqbal, Constable Irshad and a passerby
Fazal. The driver of the vehicle sustained serious bullet
wounds and was rushed to hospital by rescue officials,
but he later succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
Three Army personnel were killed when
an IED, targeting an Army convoy, exploded in Awaran town
of same District in Balochistan. The killed were identified
as Captain Taha, Sepoy Kamran Satti and Sepoy Mehtar Jan.
Two other soldiers were also injured in the attack.
Two personnel of the FC were injured when
suspected militants attacked a post along the Pak-Afghan
border in Khyber Agency of FATA. Troops "effectively responded"
to the attack carried out by militants from the Afghan
side of the border, the ISPR statement said. According
to the ISPR, there are reports of a "few" militants killed
in the ensuing exchange of fire.
Pakistan summoned officials of the Afghanistan
embassy to the GHQ in Rawalpindi to lodge protest against
the use of Afghan soil by terrorists to carry out attacks
in Pakistan. The Afghan officials were handed over a list
of 76 "most wanted" terrorists by the Pakistan Army, ISPR
DG Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a Tweet. Afghanistan
was asked to either take "immediate action" against the
named terrorists or hand them over to Pakistan, he said.
The move comes two days after a senior Afghan diplomat
was summoned to the Foreign Office in Islamabad to receive
protest over the use of territory of his country for launching
terrorist attacks in Pakistan. The Afghan diplomat was
given a demarche containing details of the recent terrorist
attacks and supporting information.
The Government has sought a three-year
extension in the term of military courts, read a document
obtained by Dawn. The Government has formulated a draft
to carry out legal amendments that aim to extend the tenure
of military courts - they had ceased to function after
expiry of tenure earlier this year. A meeting of parliamentary
leaders was convened by the Government in which it distributed
the copy of draft among the attendees a copy of the draft
is also available with Dawn. According to the new definition
of 'terrorist', revealed in the new draft, now anyone
can be termed a terrorist regardless of the matter that
whether he is motivated by religion or not.
February 17
Around 100 terrorists were killed while
a sizeable number of others were apprehended during last
24 hours in intelligence-based and combing operations
by security agencies in parts of the country including
Punjab. As per orders of COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa,
response to recent terror incidents is in progress across
country, ISPR said in a press release. "IBOs and combing
operations are in progress across the country including
Punjab. No cross border/unauthorised entry will be allowed
to Pakistan from Afghanistan. Security forces have been
given special orders in this regard to have strict watch
all along the border," it read.
At least 18 alleged terrorists were killed
in a raid carried out in Ziarat Mai Garhi, Manghopir area
of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, said a spokesman
of Pakistan Rangers Sindh. Arms and ammunition was also
seized from the possession of the alleged terrorists said
to be affiliated with a proscribed organisation.
At least 17 terrorists including four
key militant commanders were killed in various search
operations in Peshawar, Hangu, Orakzai, Khyber and Kurram
Agencies. SFs sources said four key militant commanders
were killed in Mumazo area of Lower Orakzai Agency where
a search and strike operation was conducted. The forces
seized suicide jackets and arms from the location. In
another encounter in Lower Kurram Agency, security forces
intercepted two terrorists who were planting an IED on
roadside and after exchange of firing, both were killed.
In Tora Wari area of Hangu, the forces killed two terrorists
while their accomplices fled.
Six terrorists were killed and 10 of their
hideouts were destroyed during airstrikes near Pak-Afghan
border in Khyber Agency. At least 10 hideouts of the terrorists
were also destroyed.
In Peshawar, the security forces conducted
a search operation in Regi area of Peshawar and killed
three terrorists, said local police said.
The FC arrested 20 suspects during a search
operation in the Nushki area of Quetta, the provincial
capital of Balochistan.
While the ISPR press release gives details
about the killing of above 35 militants, rest of the killing
remains in ambiguity.
Police killed nine TTP militants including
would-be suicide bombers during exchange of fire near
Super Highway in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.
SSP Malir Rao Anwar said the terrorists were planning
to attack Rangers Headquarters in Karachi. He said Police
carried out raid at the alleged residence of father-in-law
of TTP Karachi chapter Amir, where the militants resorted
to fire on the arriving police party. In retaliatory fire,
nine militants including suicide bombers were killed.
The Pakistan Army targeted militant hideouts
across the Afghan border, killing several militants including
a top commander of JuA, an offshoot of the TTP. Nature
of the attacks and areas targeted by the Pakistani military
were not immediately known. However, the TV channel said
the terrorist sanctuaries were located across the Mohmand
Agency and Khyber Agency of FATA. The strikes were carried
out hours after the Army summoned Afghan diplomats to
GQH in Rawalpindi and handed over a list of terrorists
involved in staging attacks inside Pakistan.
The Punjab Government has included names
of JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and one of his close
aides, Qazi Kashif, in the fourth schedule of the ATA.
Hafiz Saeed's name has also been put on the exit control
list. A senior police officer privy to the development
told Dawn that the CTD had added their names to the list
of the 1,450 'fourth schedulers' on an order of the Federal
Interior Ministry.
Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, while addressing
a press conference in Lahore, claimed that the suspects
involved in planning and carrying out the February 13
suicide bombing on a protest at Mall road of Lahore. During
the conference, CM Sharif also announced the arrest of
an alleged facilitator of the attacker, who he said belonged
to Bajaur Agency of FATA. The suspect's confessional statement
was aired during the briefing. The suspect introduced
himself as Anwar-ul-Haq, and said he hailed from a remote
village in Bajaur Agency. "I was associated with Jamaat-ul-Ahrar
and they trained me," said the suspect, adding that he
has visited Afghanistan around 15 to 20 times.
As many as 26000 combing operations were
conducted and 198 hardcore terrorists and 217 facilitators
nabbed while 2.3 million persons were questioned since
December 17, 2014 to February 14, 2017 under NAP introduced
with consensus among all the political parties of the
country. According to a comprehensive report presented
to PM Nawaz Sharif about implementation of NAP to curb
terrorism in Pakistan, some 20467 operations were conducted
in Lahore where 1.3 million persons were asked questions
during investigation. Similarly, 5784 operations were
carried out in Sheikhupura during this period and 151825
persons were questioned on the basis of suspicion and
intelligence reports. In all, 1275 cases were registered
on alleged involvement in terror related activities.
In Gujranwala division a total of 6865
operations were conducted and 88815 persons were subjected
to questioning while 1514 cases were registered on various
counts. Some 1305 cases were registered under Foreign
Act and lethal weapons were recovered from 9662 persons
during general hold-ups. A total of 7437 cases were registered
on display of weapons and licenses of 38 Kalashnikovs,
63 rifles, 71 guns and 83 pistols were suspended. The
Police have registered 13975 cases for violation of Sound
System Regulation Ordinance and 260 under MPO 1960.
NACTA has made considerable progress in
drafting a robust national narrative on terrorism and
extremism. The first ever NISP has been formulated to
protect Pakistan's national interests by addressing critical
security issues. Initially, the combing operations were
thoroughly conducted in various districts including Rajanpur,
Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Multan, Bahawalpur,
Jhang, Rahim Yar Khan, Bhakkar, Bahawalnagar, Rawalpindi,
Lahore, Okara, Jaffarabad, Nasirabad, Dera Bugti, Qila
Abdullah, Kohlu, Khuzdar, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Kashmore,
Jacobabad, Naushehro Feroze, Karachi, Kohat, Karak, Tank,
Kohistan and FATA. There is a marked and undeniable reduction
in sectarian violence across Pakistan while not completely
eliminated this level of mitigation is a positive sign.
February 19
Eleven suspected militants allegedly attempting
to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan were killed in a clash
with SFs in Sapperkot and Para Chamkani area of Kurram
Agency in FATA. Two Kurram militia members were also injured
in the gun battle between SFs and the militants. The terrorists
were trying to enter Kurram Agency via Khyber Agency from
Afghanistan when they were intercepted by the security
forces and heavy exchange of fire took place.
ISPR claimed that numerous militants were
killed when Pakistan Air Force fighter jets pounded militants
hideouts who were regrouping in Wucha Bibi area, an Afghan
bordering strip in North Waziristan Agency. However, the
ISPR press release did not mention the number of militants
killed in the arial bombardment.
Seven militants were killed and one rangers
personnel received injuries during a targeted operation
between Pakistan Rangers Sindh and militants in Shah Latif
Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. A spokesman
for the Pakistan Rangers Sindh revealed that the rangers
launched a targeted operation after receiving intelligence
reports about the possible presence of terrorists in the
area. The forces were shot at by the terrorists and returned
fire resulting in the death of seven members of the banned
terrorist outfit, some of the terrorists managed to flee
from their hideout using the dark as cover, while Police
called in backup and cordoned off the area until the terrorists
were found. One ranger's personnel also received injuries
in this incident. A large number of arms and ammunitions
were also recovered from the hideout and it was revealed
that the terrorists were planning a terrorist activity
of substantial scale in the area.
A cracker blast injured 24 persons in
the jurisdiction of Makki Shah Police Station in Hyderabad
District, ahead of a strike called by the banned JSMM
against the CPEC. Initial reports suggested that the cracker
was lobbed from Sakhi Abdul Wahab Shah Jillani flyover
on a road where shops of second-hand clothes and shoes
are located.
SFs arrested the alleged facilitator of
Lal Shahbaz Qalandar suicide bomber from the outskirts
of Khairpur town in the same District. Sources said the
alleged facilitator, during initial interrogation, has
revealed that Hafeez Birohi group of Shikarpur is involved
in Sehwan Sharif bombing. Hafeez Birohi group, who was
previously affiliated to LeJ, has been associated with
ISIS now. The same group was also involved in Shikarpur
bombings. The suicide bomber was Afghan national and the
suicide vest was also prepared in Shikarpur, the investigation
further revealed. Sources said the car used to target
ISI headquarters in Sukkur was also prepared in Shikarpur.
Sindh security establishment has proposed
to the Government that a dedicated force be raised to
keep an eye on its border with Balochistan after it was
found that the suspects involved in the recent terrorist
attacks here had come from the neighbouring province,
said officials. This proposal was discussed at multiple
meetings held between the security officials and top administrative
authorities, including Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah,
after the suicide attack on Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's shrine
in Sehwan.
Investigations into the recent terrorism
activities convinced the relevant authorities that their
planners, handlers and perpetrators had come from the
neighbouring province. "A similar thought or proposal
emerged in October last year as well after it was found
that the suspects involved in two terrorists attacks in
Shikarpur in September 2015 had come from Balochistan,"
said a senior official. "The findings pushed the Sindh
authorities to take up the matter with their Balochistan
counterparts and tighten security along the border and
as the first step they deployed policemen at key border
points," he said, adding that the Sindh government then
had deployed a total of 400 policemen on its side of the
border.
The CTD killed five JuA militants in a
shootout in Dera Sami Patti area of Chubara tehsil in
Layyah District of Punjab. Three suspects managed to flee
during the operation that was carried out on a tip off.
Arms, ammunition and maps were recovered from the possession
of the suspects.
The CTD in an operation arrested an alleged
terrorist, Muhammad Jafar, belonging to a defunct organisation
and recovered two kilogrammes of explosive material from
a house near Sufi Mor on Jhang-Chiniot Road in Muzaffargarh
District of Punjab.
Police arrested 21 suspects during house-to-house
search operation, launched in Muzaffargarh. Accompanying
law enforcers, the Police team encircled various areas
of the District early morning and blocked traffic on road
passing through the area. Police combed the areas and
made biometric verifications of 1,200 people with the
arrest of 21 suspects.
12 suspects were arrested after Police
conducted search operations in separate areas of Lahore,
the provincial capital of Punjab. The operations were
conducted in Sher Shah Colony, Chong and Raiwind road
and nearby areas, and resident's identities were scrutinised.
Punjab Government during a provincial
apex committee meeting chaired by Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif
decided to seek support from the Rangers to combat terrorism
in Punjab days after the Mall Road suicide attack in Lahore
that killed at least 15 people and wounded 85 others.
The details regarding the nature and extent of support
to be provided by the Rangers will be finalised later,
according to a statement released by the Punjab Government.
SFs killed a militant in an encounter
and seized arms during a search operation at Darakhshan
near Eastern Bypass area of Quetta, the provincial capital
of Balochistan. According to a spokesman of SFs, following
a tip off, security forces carried out a search operation
in the area while suspect opened fire on them. The suspect
was killed in retaliation by SFs. Arms were also recovered
from his hideout.
Balochistan Government has prepared a
new security plan for Quetta in the wake of recent wave
of terrorism in the country. Official sources said on
February 19 that under the security plan jointly prepared
by Police, Frontier Corps and other security agencies,
profiling of houses in the provincial capital will be
carried out to track down the elements working as facilitators
of banned outfits. There will be a ban on residing in
mosques, seminaries, schools and Government buildings
which are required to get themselves registered with the
Police Station concerned. Registration of tenants has
been made mandatory. Legal action will be taken if they
fail to do so. Under the plan, the hosts will have to
inform a committee to be formed by the area police station
about the visit of guests.
A special task force has been constituted
to provide better security to judges of the superior courts
in the wake of successive attacks against judicial officers
during the recent spate of terrorist attacks in the country.
The task force was recently notified by the Federal Ministry
of Interior, which also constituted a three-member committee
that will provide recommendations on how to better protect
judges. NPB Director Syed Kaleem Imam will head the three-member
committee, formed by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar
Ali Khan to give recommendations on how to improve the
security of judges. Islamabad Inspector General Tariq
Masood Yasin and NACTA Director General Umar Sheikh are
also members of the body, which has been given 15 days
to complete its task.
February 20
Army claimed to have conducted and intelligence
based operation in Frontier Region Tank of FATA, killing
four suspected militants. The ISPR released a statement
in this regard, saying the operation was reportedly carried
out against Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani Group of TTP.
The ISPR claimed that the suspects killed in the military
operation were allegedly high-profile terrorists including
the son of former TTP shura member Asmatullah Shaheen.
The identities of those killed in the military operation,
as provided by the ISPR, are Commander Zaman alias Toofan,
Naib Commander Umar s/o Asmatullah Shaheen, Commander
Wasiullah and Commander Zulam alias Zulmat. Asmatullah
Shaheen was killed by another TTP faction due to an internal
rift during 2014. The group was allegedly involved in
target killings, extortion and kidnapping for ransom in
Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and surrounding areas.+
CoAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that
Pakistan and Afghanistan will fight their "common enemy"
of terrorism together, the ISPR statement said. Chairing
a high-level security meeting at the GHQ, he said enhanced
security measures taken along the Pak-Afghan border are
to fight the common enemy, which includes "terrorists
of all hues and colour". The Army Chief issued directions
for more effective coordination between Pakistani and
Afghan officials to curb cross-border movement of terrorists.
General Bajwa "also welcomed proposals from Afghan authorities
to take forward the mutual coordination for result oriented
efforts against terrorism".
The Finance Minister Ishaq Dar informed
the Senate that the Army had been empowered to act against
terrorists across the border after obtaining concrete
evidence that Afghanistan soil had been used to launch
recent acts of terrorism in the country. February 20's
session focused on several important issues including
the current law and order situation and the exclusion
of senators from consultations on the revival of powers
of military courts to try civilians. While responding
to various points of public importance, Finance Minister
Ishaq Dar said the prime minister had authorised the Army
to take out terrorists wherever they might be.
February 21
At least seven persons, including a lawyer
and an eight-year-old boy, were killed and as many as
25 others were injured when three terrorists wearing suicide
vests attacked the session's court in Tangi tehsil of
Charsadda District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The attack begun
at around 11:40am when the terrorists opened indiscriminate
fire, using automatic weapons and hurled grenades at the
security officials, in an attempt to enter the court.
The gunfire was immediately followed by explosions of
hand grenades, one of which exploded at the entrance,
while another went off near the bar room where a number
of lawyers were reportedly present at that time. However,
timely action by Policemen stationed at the session's
court prevented the attackers from entering the premises,
as they gunned down two attackers and the third one blew
himself up after failing to enter the building. Charsadda
DPO Sohail Khalid informed the media that all the three
attackers had been killed in retaliatory fire. Charsadda
Assistant Commissioner Inayatullah Khan said that the
injured included six Policemen who confronted the terrorists
in a gun battle that lasted for at least 14 minutes.
In a statement, JuA, the offshoot of TTP
claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was
a continuation of Operation Ghazi, which they had initiated
against Pakistan. The group released details of two of
the attackers - Abdul Basit of Mohmand Agency in FATA
and Khairullah of Kunduz province of Afghanistan.
Unidentified assailants lobbed a hand
grenade at a residential building in Lyari town of Karachi,
leaving one woman injured. Police said 30-year-old Gul
Nisa was injured when two men riding a motorbike hurled
a hand grenade at the entrance of a building in Afshani
Gali and sped away.
Pakistan Rangers Sindh recovered a cache
of arms from Landhi area Karachi. A Rangers communication
said that a raid was conducted on an intelligence tip
off that some miscreants belonging to MQM-London had hidden
arms and ammunition with the intention of committing sabotage.
It said that Rangers took prompt action and during search
recovered arms and ammunition hidden on the rooftop. This
consisted of weapons and ammunition including six Kalashnikovs,
five magazines, one rifle of 8 mm, two 7mm rifles, one
repeater, five pistols of 30 bore, and 554 rounds.
The FCB and the FATA political administration
razed the house of the suspected facilitator of the Lahore
blast and arrested his father and two brothers from Bajaur
Agency. The measures were taken in accordance with the
FCR territorial responsibility clause, which states that
for any mishap, the administration can take the community
or family members of the perpetrator to task and punish
them under a collective responsibility clause. The suspect
was arrested after video evidence placed him in the area
of the blast, walking along with the suspected suicide
bomber that blew himself on Mall Road near the Punjab
Assembly amid a protest. In his confessional statement,
shared by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in a media
briefing on February 17, the suspect had said he hailed
from a remote village in the Bajaur Agency.
The Government has released an amount
of PKR 1.4 billion for NACTA, State Minister for Interior
Baligh-ur-Rehman told a meeting of the Senate Standing
Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control. He claimed
that serious steps were being taken to strengthen NACTA
in order to effectively counter the challenge of terrorism.
He added that the government has released PKR 1.4 billion
out of the PKR 1.8 billion allocated for NACTA and two
buildings have been provided for its use.
February 22
Police shot dead eight terrorists including
a key militant figure affiliated with a banned organization
during a raid on Bakrapeeri Road in Karachi, the provincial
capital of Sindh. According to SSP Malir Rao Anwar, the
suspected terrorists were killed during the raid on a
tip off regarding presence of Gul Zaman, Amir of a proscribed
outfit. He said the terrorists were planning to carry
out an act of terrorism in Karachi.
Five militants were killed when Air Force
targeted their hideouts along Pak-Afghan border in the
Rajgal area of Khyber Agency in FATA.
A tribesman, identified as Bahadur Khan,
was killed in a roadside bomb blast in Dawizai area of
Pandyali tehsil in Mohmand Agency.
Police neutralised 14 bombs, weighing
50 kilograms, placed in ghee tins planted in a park on
University Road of Loralai town of same District in Balochistan.
Locals discovered the bombs and informed Police. BDS personnel
later neutralised al the bombs.
Pakistan Army launched 'Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad'
across the country, said ISPR. Radd-ul-Fasaad - which
translates roughly to 'elimination of discord' - will
aim at indiscriminately eliminating the "residual/latent
threat of terrorism", consolidating the gains made in
other military operations, and further ensuring the security
of Pakistan's borders, read the statement. The announcement
followed a meeting in Lahore between Chief of Armed Staff
Qamar Javed Bajwa, the corps commanders of Punjab, the
Director General of Pakistan Rangers Punjab, and the heads
of intelligence agencies. Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan
Navy, Civil Armed Forces and other security and LEAs will
actively participate in and 'intimately support' the armed
forces' efforts to eliminate the menace of terrorism from
the country, the statement added. "The effort entails
conduct of Broad Spectrum Security / Counter-Terrorism
(CT) operations by Rangers in Punjab, continuation of
ongoing operations across the country, and focus on more
effective border security management," the ISPR said.
"Countrywide de-weaponisation and explosive control are
additional cardinals of the effort. Pursuance of National
Action Plan will be the hallmark of this operation," it
added.
The Federal Government had approved a
request forwarded by the Government of Punjab for the
deployment of Rangers personnel in the province. The decision
was taken by Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar
Ali Khan during a high-level meeting attended by National
Security Adviser Nasir Khan Janjua, Federal Secretary
Interior Arif Ahmad Khan, Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid
Saeed and other officials of the Punjab Government. Punjab
had requested the Federal Government to deploy over 2,000
Rangers personnel in the province, who would be given
policing powers to conduct IBOs against militants, wherever
required and with full authority. The Rangers will 'assist'
Punjab Police and law enforcement agencies in their fight
against terror for a period of 60 days, initial reports
suggested.
According to report compiled by the Inspector
General of Sindh Police, a significant decline in the
number of targeted killings in Karachi has been witnessed
in 2016 as compared to 2015 showing 72 per cent drop.
The report said that the Police recorded 45 targeted killings
in the city last year, which it described as a huge as
compared to 159 such killings in 2015. The report discussing
crime and militancy in Sindh, however, does not show any
visible improvement vis-a-vis incidents of terrorism.
It shows six terrorist incidents last year while seven
such incidents occurred in 2015. Some 188 cases of extortion
were registered last year which were 27pc less than 256
such cases in 2015.
February 23
Police shot dead two IS militants, identified
as Saifullah and Haneef, in Manghopir area Karachi, the
provincial capital of Sindh. According to sources, Police
came under attack when it raided their hideout. One policeman
received injuries during the gun battle while both the
militants were killed and their accomplices managed to
flee the scene. SSP, West Zone, Nasir Aftab said they
found a hit list that included names of Police officers
and other Government officials on the laptop.
The Sindh Home Department issued a notification
that contained certain areas of Karachi which could be
on the terrorists' agenda next. According to details,
a notification by the Sindh Home Department stated that
Sindh High Court, Empress Market, Sindh Assembly, Zainab
Market, markets located at M.A. Jinnah Road and the restaurants
located at Do Darya, could next be targeted by militants.
SFs in Balochistan claimed to killed 470
suspected militants, associated with various militant
outfits, in the previous two years under the NAP. During
the time period, over 100 militants were also injured
in exchange of fire with SFs in Quetta and other parts
of the province. "Most of miscreants were killed during
IBOs belonged to sectarian outfits," said Anwarul Haq
Kakar, the spokesperson for the Provincial Government.
The FC, Police, Levies and intelligence agencies conducted
a total of 5,640 IBOs in the Province, added the spokesperson.
More than 20,000 suspected militants were arrested in
the Province.
February 24
The CTD conducted an operation in which
six militants were killed in the Patti Sultan Mahmood
area of Muzaffargarh District of Punjab. During the operation,
three militants managed to escape. Five hand grenades,
four rifles, three pistols and other weapons were recovered
from the slain militants.
The CTD claimed thwarting a terrorism
bid after arresting an Afghan national named Naimatullah
from the Achini Khwar area of Peshawar, the provincial
capital of KP. "This man, Naimatullah alias Fidai alias
Umair is an Afghan national, currently residing in the
Yakatoot area. He was arrested in Achini Khwar area …
He was trying to enter the city with explosives," a CTD
official said.
A cache of arms and ammunition was recovered
during a raid on a house in the New City Homes locality
by a team of Chamkani Police. SSP Sajjad Khan said that
the house of Ayub, who is a resident of Lakki Marwat,
was raided after an informant forwarded the information,
adding that 24 shotguns, 21 pistols and 7,100 cartridges
were seized.
25 kilogrammes of explosives, 34 hand-grenades
and prima cord were seized during a raid jointly conducted
by personnel of Police and intelligence agencies on a
house in Shahpoor. SSP (Operations) Sajjad Khan told reporters
at Chamkani police station that the seized material was
going to be used in an attack on Peshawar.
110 suspects were arrested by law enforcement
agencies late in the night as Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad
(elimination of discord) continued at Lahore, Islamabad,
Sialkot and Peshawar. Reports suggest that Islamabad Police
apprehended 43 suspects which included four Afghan nationals
from various bus stops and stations. While search operations
in Lahore's Punjab University hostels and other areas
of the city resulted in the arrests of seven. An operation
in Sialkot's Hajipura area resulted in the detention of
ten 10 suspects while Peshawar police have claimed to
have arrested 50 people from various parts of the city.
Investigators probing the attack on the
shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, detained four people
suspected of facilitating the attack during raids conducted
in different parts of Sindh, including Shikarpur. Source
said that the suspects were affiliated with Hafeez Brohi
and Abdullah Brohi, who were part of a banned sectarian
outfit and were involved in various terrorist activities,
particularly facilitating terrorists and suicide bombers.
"Hafeez and Abdullah Brohi are on the wanted list since
they have been involved in terror activities including
bombings in Shikarpur and Sukkur," said CTD in-charge
Raja Omar Khattab.
A suspected terrorist was arrested and
weapons were seized during an intelligence-based operation
carried out by the FC in Garhi and Kandi Mashti areas
of Kurram Agency in FATA. As many as 10 Rocket Propelled
Grenade-7 gun along with six chargers, one grenade launcher,
a heavy machinegun with 115 rounds, a spare barrel of
heavy machinegun, one 12-bore rifle along with 18 rounds,
three .303 rifles along with 520 rounds, six submachine
guns, magazines along with 120 rounds and two binoculars
were seized during the operation.
February 26
Three persons belonging to the Shia community
were gunned downed under Paroa Police Station area in
Dera Ismail Khan District of KP.
A soldier was injured as terrorists from
across the border opened fire at a check post in Mangrotai
area of South Waziristan Agency in the evening.
A soldier was injured as terrorists from
across the border opened fire at a check post in Mangrotai
area of South Waziristan Agency in the evening.
Balochistan's Minister for Home and Tribal
Affairs, Sarfaraz Bugti, said that thousands of Afghan
Taliban were still studying in seminaries across the province.
"There are many seminaries where Afghan Taliban are studying,
and many are owned by the Afghan Taliban group," Bugti
said. Amin-ul-Hasnat Shah, the Minister of State for Religious
Affairs, said that funds for most of these Madrassas originate
abroad, mostly in Arab countries. "The government is monitoring
the money trail and how this money is spent and utilised
by the Madrassas. We want to ensure that these funds are
not used for any suspicious activity or to promote extremism
through Islamic seminaries in Pakistan." Shah said the
Government "has pledged to reform these Madrassas through
registration and change of syllabus" and it was determined
to "keep an eye on any extremism-related activities or
links in these Madrassas."
February 28
At least three FC personnel and one civilian
were injured in an IED blast on Sariab Road of Quetta,
the provincial capital of Balochistan. The bomb, which
was planted on the roadside, targeted an FC vehicle while
it was on patrol. The explosion left the vehicle partially
damaged.
Army said that recently launched Operation
Radd-ul-Fasaad (elimination of discord) also envisages
a countrywide 'de-weaponisation' campaign. But no timeline
can be given for the completion of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad,
said Major General Asif Ghafoor, the Director General
of the ISPR. Speaking in a television interview, Major
General Ghafoor said the very name of the operation was
self-explanatory. "It is aimed at eliminating the elements
creating disorder and mischief, whether they are in or
outside the country," he added.
About the objectives of Radd-ul-Fasaad,
he said all previous operations were primarily aimed at
decimating hideouts of terrorists in different areas and
restoring the writ of the state there. "And the main objective
of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is to consolidate the gains
of the previous operations," he added. "This operation
seeks to smoke out facilitators of terrorists inside the
country." "The operation also envisages a de-weaponisation
campaign," he said but refused to give a timeline for
its completion.
The CTD of both Sindh and Balochistan
Police decided to launch a "joint operation" in parts
of the country's largest province where the intelligence
wings of the law-enforcement agency had identified "hideouts"
of suspects allegedly involved in recent terrorist attacks
in Sindh. High officials flew from Karachi to Quetta,
where a meeting of the CTD from both provinces was scheduled.
After hours of deliberations and presentations, the Sindh
Police authorities finally convinced their counterparts
about the presence of the hideouts of some banned militant
outfits in Balochistan which were used by terrorists for
the recent attacks in Sindh. "It was a formal meeting
after our earlier correspondence and intelligence-sharing,"
said Chief of the Sindh Police's CTD Additional IG Sanaullah
Abbasi. "We showed them not only the findings of a JIT
(joint interrogation team) report about high-profile militants
but also data and reports of our intelligence units that
strengthened our case. The Balochistan authorities agreed
to cooperate with us and move with Sindh police in pursuit
of these hideouts," he added.
March 1
The cadres of Islamic State or Daesh hide
among the general population, using small businesses as
a cover, said a Police official under the condition of
anonymity. The official under the condition of anonymity
said that their approach differs from the TTP, whose cadres
used to openly establish camps in parts of FATA and even
in the settled areas of KP. They are highly experienced
in sabotage and concealment" since most cadres had previously
belonged to the TTP, he added. "These people hide among
the (general) population and we have solid evidence suggesting
that they engage in small businesses such as fruit vendors,
plying pushcarts, using it as a cover, avoiding suspicion
… Their strategy is mostly successful," he said, adding
that these people rent houses and move frequently to avoid
detection. "All new recruits are sent to Afghanistan …
Once people know that you are fighting in Afghanistan,
chances are that no policeman or anyone else will touch
you simply because you are (among) 'good Taliban'," he
maintained.
March 2
Four militants and two Army personnel,
Lieutenant Khawar and Naik Shehzad, were killed in an
exchange of fire during an intelligence-based operation
conducted by SFs in the Jani Khel area of FR Bannu in
FATA, ISPR statement said.
A US drone strike killed two suspected
militants in a border village along Pak-Afghan border
in Kurram Agency. One official from local Administration
said that the missile struck two men riding a motorcycle.
It was not clear who was being targeted. There had been
no drone strike by the US in Pakistan since May 21, 2016.This
was one of the longest periods that no US drone attack
had taken place in Pakistan.
One militant was killed and 12 others
arrested during a search operation by FC and intelligence
Agencies in Andoor area of Ketch District in Balochistan.
One FC soldier was injured due to exchange of fire with
terrorists and a cache of arms and ammunition was recovered
during the operations.
March 4
Unidentified gunmen killed a lawyer, identified
as Mohammed Jan Gigyani apparently in a targeted shooting
near the Afghanistan border in Shabqadar in Charsadda
District in the KP. According to a Police officer, two
gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on Mohammed Jan Gigyani
while he was driving his car. He said Gigyani was critically
wounded and died en route to a hospital. He added that
Gigyani was a prominent lawyer affiliated with Aftab Ahmed
Khan's Qaumi QWP.
One inspector was killed and a DSP was
injured in an encounter with terrorists in Harrapa village
of Sahiwal District in Punjab. According to CTD officials,
in the shoot-out two terrorists were also injured, around
four others were arrested and explosive material was recovered.
The two other terrorists escaped from the site.
One inspector was killed and a DSP was
injured in an encounter with terrorists in Harrapa village
of Sahiwal District in Punjab. According to CTD officials,
in the shoot-out two terrorists were also injured, around
four others were arrested and explosive material was recovered.
The two other terrorists escaped from the site.
March 5
At least 10 militants and five soldiers
were killed during a clash when militants lunched a cross-border
attack on three Pakistani border posts along the Pak-Afghan
border area in Mohmand Agency of FATA in the night. The
ISPR press release said that five soldiers of the Pakistan
Army and more than 10 suspected militants were reportedly
killed in the attack. The slain soldiers were identified
as Naik Sanaullah, Naik Safdar, Sepoy Altaf, Sepoy Nek
Mohammad and Sepoy Anwar.
One militant was killed and four others
arrested during a raid by CTD personnel in Korangi Town
area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. According
to CTD official, Raja Umar Khattab, the terrorist killed
by forces was identified as Dildaar alias Chacha, who
was reportedly an expert in making explosives. He said
that the detainees had been planning a terrorist attack
when their hideout was raided. A large amount of explosive
material, detonators and weapons were recovered from the
site.
March 6
An attempt to blow up the Quetta-bound
Jaffar Express was foiled when security personnel defused
a bomb planted at a railway track near the Mangoli area
in Nasirabad District of Balochistan. According to official
sources, all train services were suspended between Quetta
and Sukkur as the BDS was not available in Dera Murad
Jamali. The BDS team was summoned to the site from Sibi.
Police said the saboteurs had planned to blow up the train
by remote control. The Jaffar Express coming from Rawalpindi
was the target as it was scheduled to reach Mangoli after
15 minutes, said a senior Police Officer, adding that
the train was stopped at the Dera Allah Yar station.
March 7
Five militants and two Army personnel,
including one Captain Junaid, were killed during an intelligence-based
operation against suspected terrorists in Malikabad area
of Swabi District KP. "[The] five terrorists who were
killed [...] were planning to target educational institutions
and judicial complexes," Inter-Services Public Relations
(ISPR) said in a statement. Three of the terrorists had
been identified, while the remaining two were "probably
Afghans". At least one of the identified militants was
a cadre of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), added ISPR.
A soldier was killed when a patrol vehicle
hit an IED planted on a roadside in Awaran area of same
District in Balochistan. Sources said that unidentified
militants had planted an IED on the roadside which they
detonated with a remote control device while targeting
the security vehicle.
March 8
10 militants were killed when SFs stormed
a compound in a nearby village of Malikabad area in Swabi
District of KP. Earlier the day, five militants and two
Army personnel, including one Captain Junaid, were killed
during an intelligence-based operation against suspected
terrorists in Malikabad area.
Five hardcore terrorists were executed
at District jail of Kohat, the statement issued by the
ISPR said. The convicts were tried by military courts,
the ISPR said. These terrorists include Shoukat Ali s/o
Abdul Jabbar, Imdad Ullah s/o Abdul Wajid, Sabir Shah
s/o Syed Ahmed Shah, Khandan s/o Dost Muhammad Khan and
Anwar Ali s/o Fazal Ghani, ISPR added.
Police recovered an anti-tank mine and
arrested six suspected persons during a search operation
in Injeer Khwar area of Hangu District. DPO Ihsanullah
Khan said that the Police was informed about an explosive
device planted in Injeer Khwar area. He said that they
called in the officials of the BDS who recovered and defused
the explosive device weighing up to three kilogram. He
said that the police conducted a search operation in Doaba
and surrounding localities and arrested six suspected
persons. He said the Police also recovered a Kalashnikov,
a rifle, two pistols and several cartridges from the arrested
suspects.
March 9
Unnamed Officials involved in anti terrorist
operations have revealed that LeJ, a proscribed organization,
particularly active in the port city of Karachi (provincial
capital of Sindh) and Quetta (provincial capital of Baluchistan).
The Organization is still the prime target of LEA for
its close liaison with banned JuA. Most of the organization's
activists have gone underground to escape arrests. The
officials claim that LeJ's almost 90 percent network has
been disabled by eliminating its top leadership. According
to the officials, LeJ ties with ISIS surfaced last year
when terrorists attacked the Police academy in Quetta
in October. The group is active in Karachi and Quetta
with two deferent off-shoot groups namely the Naeem Bukhari
Group in Karachi and LeJ Al-Alami in Quetta.
March 11
PM Nawaz Sharif, during his visit to the
Lahore based Jamia Naeemia, asked Islamic clerics to reject
in forceful terms all the religious decrees that incite
violence in the name of Islam. "Hate is being spread in
the name of religion and it is the duty of the Ulema to
free it from hate and violence. One way of doing that
is to reject all those fatwas that incite violence, [and]
only the Ulema can do it," said the PM Nawaz Sharif. He
promised that the "few remaining militants" would not
be spared. The government, he said, had brought the political
leadership, the army, the police and other law enforcement
agencies on the same page as far as dealing with terrorism
and terrorists was concerned. "Peace is not far off, especially
if the Ulema extend a helping hand," PM Nawaz Sharif said,
adding that religious scholars should play a proactive
role in building an alternative narrative of Islam that
promoted peace and harmony. The religion has been held
hostage by hate-mongers, he said.
March 13
Three personnel of Punjab CIA were injured
in a drive-by shooting incident near Lady Willingdon Hospital
in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab. The assailants
managed to flee after targeting Police officers. Police
sources said that all three Police officers who are posted
at Ghaziabad CIA were dressed in plain clothes and were
returning home after performing their duty.
March 14
Suspected militants abducted three Government
schoolteachers in Giskhor area of Awaran District in Balochistan
in the evening. Levis official Muhammad Jan said that
militants abducted three teachers as they were returning
from a training session facilitated by the PBS for the
upcoming national census in Giskhor area. Jan identified
the abducted teachers as Rashid Ali, Elahi Bakhsh and
Rasool Bakhsh. The men are part of a team in the District
that will collect data for the census.
Balochistan higher education secretary
Abdullah Jan was abducted from Wahdat Colony of Brewery
Road area in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
Jan's son Mohammad Attiuqe said his father was on his
way to work when unidentified assailants in a white Toyota
Vitz kidnapped him near his house in Wahdat Colony. Jan
was kidnapped along with his driver. However, the abductors
released the driver near Sabzal Road area and drove off
an unknown location, said DIG Quetta Abdul Razzaq Chema.
No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction
so far.
March 15
Three militants convicted by military
courts were executed in the wee hour at Sahiwal District
prison of Punjab, ISPR press release. According to the
ISPR, the militants were involved in committing heinous
offences relating to terrorism, including attacks on armed
forces and law enforcement agencies. Sharing details of
the executed convicts, ISPR said that two of the convicts
- Said Zaman Khan and Muhammad Zeeshan - were cadres of
HuJI. While the third convict was cadres of the Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan TTP. During its two-year constitutional life,
the military courts, set up to try civilians charged with
terrorism after the carnage at the Army Public School
in Peshawar in December 16, 2014, have convicted 274 accused.
Of them 161 were awarded death sentence and 113 prison
terms, mostly life imprisonment. Out of 161 death sentences,
21 have been executed so far.
March
17
At least six militants were killed during
a search operation in the Mosal Kor village of Michini
area in Peshawar, the provincial capital of KP. FC spokesperson
said that the SFs carried out a search operation in the
Mosal Kor area when terrorists opened fire on the personnel.
Six militants were killed in the retaliatory fire. SFs
recovered a cache of arms and explosive from the possession
of slain militants.
One FCB soldier was killed and another
injured in a suicide attack on an FC training centre in
Shabqadar area town of Charsadda District. The ISPR said
the attack was "foiled" and two suicide bombers were killed
in retaliatory fire. FCB Commandant Liaqat Ali Khan said
that the attackers tried to sneak into the training facility
in the wee hours to cause maximum casualties but the guards
quickly responded and neutralised the attackers. One attacker
was killed by FCB personnel while the other died after
his jacket exploded when it was hit by gunfire.
Two personnel of the FC were killed when
suspected militants from across the Pakistan-Afghanistan
border reportedly attempted to attack a check post in
Khyber Agency in the FATA. Pakistani troops "effectively
responded", as a result of which six militants were killed
during the exchange of fire, the ISPR was quoted as saying.
March
18
SFs foiled a terror bid by seizing a significant
quantity of arms and explosives in Kohlu District of Balochistan
Province. "The FC and personnel of intelligence agency
conducted a raid and recovered 28 kilograms of explosives,
six rockets and other weapons," said a security official.
The official added that the compound which was raided
belonged to "miscreants of an outlawed militant organisation".
No arrest was made during the raid.
FC forces and personnel of an intelligence
agency arrested four suspected militants during a raid
in Smungli area of Quetta. SFs claimed to have recovered
five SMGs, three rockets and other weapons from their
possession.
BNP-M said that Baloch are neither traitors
nor Indian agents and urged media to bring to light the
woes of Balochistan. BNP-M Vice President Abdul Wali Kakar
asked the media to visit interior parts of Balochistan.
He regretted that a wrong image of Balochistan was being
portrayed, and media was barred on the pretext of security
issues. As a result, Balochistan does not get its due
rights in the country's media, he added. He was speaking
to the Biennial Delegates Meeting of Pakistan Union of
Journalists. He stressed upon the media to help the Baloch
get their due rights. Balochistan was craving for its
basic human rights, including the availability of pure
drinking water, health and education, he added. It was
best opportunity to discuss the issues of Balochistan
in front of journalists, hailing from various parts of
the country.
March
19
At least 19 suspects were arrested during
joint search operations in various parts of Punjab. According
to ISPR, the joint search and intelligence based operations
were conducted by Punjab Rangers, Police and intelligence
agencies in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Attock, Sialkot, Lahore
and Kasur as part of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad. At least
19 suspects were apprehended. Weapons, ammunition, laptops,
currency, sectarian hate material and foreign passports
were also seized.
March
20
Qari Yaseen, wanted for involvement in
attacks on GHQ in Rawalpindi and Sri Lankan cricket team
in Lahore, was killed in a US drone strike in Barmal District
of Paktika province in Afghanistan. The drone strike carried
out in Barmal targeted Yaseen and three of his accomplices
who were travelling in a vehicle. Yaseen belonged to the
Lodhran District of Punjab and was part of various terrorist
attacks carried out in Pakistan. The other attacks included
those on ISI offices in Lahore and Multan, Data Darbar,
Marriott Hotel and the one in RA Bazaar, Rawalpindi. He
was also said to be a facilitator for al Qaeda and Jundhulla
in Pakistan, an expert at making bombs, including IEDs,
and a trainer for terrorists.
The Pakistan Rangers Sindh recovered a
cache of arms and ammunition during an intelligence based
operation from the storeroom of the Safari Park on the
University Road in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town of Karachi, the
provincial capital of Sindh. Pakistan Rangers Sindh spokesman
said weapons recovered include rifles, SMGs, LMGs, hand
grenades, snipers and large number of bullets.
March
21
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is successfully
continuing across the country as at least 20 insurgents
including a Ferrari commander surrendered to Pakistan
Rangers Punjab, ISPR statement said. The erstwhile militants
said they were funded by Indian spy agency RAW through
Brahamdagh Bugti who leads the BRP. Apologising for their
past which was awash with terror activities in Balochistan,
the surrendering insurgents said they were kept misinformed
and fed with negative narrative over the decades, the
ISPR statement added.
Violence-related incidents declined in
2016 as compared to the year before, and casualties from
violence were half the number of casualties in 2015, the
CRSS annual security report said. The report recorded
a 66 per cent fall in violence-related incidents since
2014, but noted that terrorist groups have changed their
strategy for suicide attacks and instead of sending in
one suicide bomber to a location, sent two. It said militants,
facing military operations and law enforcement, had begun
to flee the county and had devised new strategies. The
report said the targeting of geographical areas and population
centres that were less protected was unprecedented, and
militants also begun deploying a wider array of improvised
explosive devices and suicide bombers despite strong resistance
from security personnel. "Karachi has seen the most improvement,
with urban crime and target killings on the decline. Compared
to 1,671 people killed in target killing incidents in
2013, 183 people lost their lives in 2016," report states.
March
22
Five militants, including a high-profile
TTP militant, identified as Duran, were killed in an intelligence-based
operation carried out by SFs in Mirak village of Kalaya
tehsil in Orakzai Agency of FATA. An ISPR press release
said two FC personnel also laid down their lives in the
exchange of fire that ensued during the operation. The
deceased were identified as Major Mudassar and Sepoy Mateeullah.
Two Levies personnel were killed and three
others injured when a roadside bomb struck their vehicle
at Angoor Adda area of South Waziristan Agency. The vehicle
was also badly damaged in the explosion.
A portion of railway tracks damaged when
an IED went off at Misri Shah area near Rohri Railway
Station in Sukkur District of Sindh in the evening. SP
Special Branch Mansoor Mughal said that the service of
Karachi-bound Shalimar Express that passes through Rohri
has been halted until the track is repaired. According
to the Bomb Disposal Squad, some 2.5 kilogrammes of explosive
material was used in the blast.
A cracker blast at the Mehrabpur Railway
Station in Naushahro Firoz District damaged a foot-long
part of the track, interrupting trains travelling up and
down the tracks.
A government girl's school in Qila Abdulla
town of same District in Balochistan was damaged when
an IED placed near its wall went off. Levies officials
said that unidentified men had planted the remote-controlled
device along the school's wall which exploded with a big
bang. The blast shattered windowpanes of the institution,
nearby houses and shops. No casualty was reported.
The Airport Security Force (ASF) foiled
a suspected terror bid at the Allama Iqbal International
Airport in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, by
confiscating a cache of weapons and ammunition. A vehicle
was stopped and searched by the ASF personnel at the airport
check post and during a routine inspection a weapon and
a large cache of ammunition was found in the vehicle,
the ASF officials said. The ASF confiscated a .223 bore
rifle, seven magazines, and dozens of bullets from the
vehicle.
The US Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson
warned that the militant IS group wants to recruit young
people from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq and has stepped
up its efforts in those places. Speaking at the 10th Global
Coalition ministerial meeting on IS in Washington, Tillerson
also hinted at establishing a safe zone in the Middle
East for sheltering Syrian refugees. "The United States
will increase pressure on ISIS and al Qaeda and will work
to establish interim zones of stability, through ceasefires,
to allow refugees to return home," he said. Tillerson
said that since the United States and its allies had broken
their back in the Middle East, IS militants were moving
to other regions to recruit fighters. "Today, … Daesh
(IS) is resorting to many terrorist attacks in Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Iraq, and many other places in Europe in order
to send a message that they are still standing and they
want for those young people to go fight in its ranks,"
he added.
March
23
Pakistani officials have hosted seven
Taliban leaders in Islamabad to try and press them into
peace talks ahead of a multination meeting in April in
Moscow, two Taliban officials said under the condition
of anonymity. The two officials, who were familiar with
the Islamabad meeting, spoke to AP on condition of anonymity,
fearing reprisals by Pakistani authorities who have not
confirmed the meeting. The Two Taliban officials said
the militant leaders used the Islamabad gathering, which
took place last week, to press their own demands, including
that Pakistan free Taliban figures from its jails. Islamabad
has been under international pressure to try and bring
Taliban leaders, who have lived in Pakistan since their
rule in Afghanistan was overthrown in the 2001 US invasion,
to some form of negotiations with Kabul. However, successive
attempts have faltered and failed. Last year Pakistan,
Afghanistan, China and the United States met to jumpstart
the peace process but that effort faltered after a series
of deadly Kabul attacks that Afghanistan blamed on militants
hiding in Pakistan. China, Russia and Pakistan are behind
the initiative of the April meeting in Moscow. Afghanistan
will attend the meeting as will Iran and India. Washington
has not said whether it would attend.
March
26
SFs recovered a cache of arms and ammunition
during a raid on a house in Karram village in Mizer Valley
area of NWA in FATA. The recovered arms included rockets
of various types, seven rocket-propelled grenades launchers,
and anti-tank bullets. The security source, however, declined
to say if anyone was arrested during the raid.
FC personnel averted a possible terrorist
attack by diffusing an IED on Turbat-Dasht road in Turbat
District of Balochistan. The ISPR said that the FC, as
part of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, recovered and defused
an IED planted on Turbat-Dasht road.
March
27
The Islamabad High Court stayed the extradition
of an American citizen of Pakistani origin Talha Haroon
to United States of America for allegedly planning an
attack on New York in connivance with the IS. Islamabad
High Court was hearing a petition filed by Haroon Rashid,
father of the suspect.
March
28
Ahmed Ludhianvi, leader of the proscribed
ASWJ, expressed confidence that his party would be taken
off the list of banned organisations. Mr. Ludhianvi said
he had held meetings with officials and the political
leadership in this regard. He said that meeting officials
or political leaders from the centre or Punjab was a routine
matter for all politicians, including him. "I have one
bone to pick with the system - whenever there is a need
to pacify enraged ASWJ workers or to negotiate with militants,
I am called in for the sake of Pakistan. But, legally,
I am a proscribed person and my party is still a banned
group," he told journalists. He was referring to negotiations
with the militants who had attacked the GHQ in 2009. The
ASWJ leader said: "The decision-makers of the state have
acknowledged my grievances, but if they are not ready
to allow us to work as a legal entity in the country,
I will not cooperate with them in the future."
The rivalry between Afghanistan and Pakistan
has created room for terrorists of the militant IS group
to build a foothold in the region, recent US reports on
the issue point out. Last week, the United States hosted
a 68-nation conference in Washington to formulate a joint
strategy for combating the IS terrorists. In his address
to the conference, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
not only noted the group's presence in the Pak-Afghan
region but also pointed out that the group had carried
out "many terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan".
In the region, the group is known as the Islamic State
of Khorasan (ISK) and operates from its bases in the Afghan
areas along the Pak-Afghan border. In a recent report
on ISK, the Congress-funded US Institute of Peace underlines
the link between this group and Pakistani militant organisations
to show how the Afghan-Pakistan rivalry benefited the
terrorists. The USIP report quotes from a July 2016 report
by the Afghanistan Analysts Network, which claims that
Afghanistan's intelligence agency, "the National Directorate
of Security, has supported the militant organisation Lashkar-i-Islam
and elements of TTP since 2014 "with the aim of playing
these militants against Pakistan in retaliation for Pakistan's
long-time support of the Afghan Taliban." Fighters from
both groups later joined ISK.
March
29
Five militants, affiliated to al Qaeda
and TTP outfits, were killed by the CTD during an encounter
in Kanja area of Gujrat District in Punjab. The CTD sources
said the militants were planning to target secret installations
in Gujrat and Kharian. Weapons and explosives were recovered
from the possession of slain militants.
At least six Ahmadis were killed in Pakistan
in 2016 because of their religious beliefs, a recent report
issued by the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya said. Saleemuddin, the
spokesperson for the group, cited Ordinance XX which later
came to be known as the Blasphemy Law as the main reason
behind targeted killings of Ahmadis. "Since its [Ordinance
XX] imposition in 1984, so far 250 Ahmadis have been killed,"
he complained. Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya said the promulgation
of the ordinance endorsed political, social and legal
discrimination against Ahmadis. While news reports of
the Ahmadi community being targeted appear regularly,
the group accused the local media of holding its own biases
against Ahmadis. It also accused state institutions of
not properly investigating their killings.
March
30
A prominent local leader of the Ahmadi
community and a relative of Nobel laureate Abdus Salam
was shot dead in Nankana Sahib town of Punjab in the morning
in an attack claimed by the banned LeJ. Advocate Malik
Saleem Latif, a leader of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya in Nankana
Sahib, was on his way to a local court on a motorbike
along with his son, Advocate Farhan, when Latif was targeted
and shot at by "unidentified attackers". "Saleem Latif
was spreading Ahmadi beliefs in the region," the LeJ said
in a statement claiming the attack. "Around 1,700 advertisements
were published against the Ahmadiyya community in local
and national newspapers in 2016," said Saleem Uddin, a
spokesman for the community. "There is no check on hate
mongering and if the situation remains the same then the
killing of Ahmadis will also continue," he added.
ISPR stated that, Tahir, a 'hardcore terrorist'
belonging to TTP and involved in the 2012 Bannu jailbreak
was executed in Kohat jail. The terrorist was tried and
convicted by a military court. In April 2012, over 200
terrorists attacked the Central Jail in Bannu, freeing
384 prisoners in the pre-dawn assault. The execution came
two days after Senate approved the 28th Constitutional
Amendment Bill, consummating the parliamentary process
to revive military courts for another two years.
A minor girl was killed and a young man
wounded in a bomb blast in Gandi Khankhel area of Lakki
Marwat. A Police official said that a girl identified
as Naila Moeen (8), was playing outside her house in the
fields when she mistook a grenade for a toy. They said
that as the girl lifted the grenade it exploded killing
her on the spot. He said that a young man, Sifatullah,
was wounded in the explosion. Police later cordoned off
the area and during search found nine hand grenades from
the place of incident which were defused by officials
of bomb disposal squad.
The Federal Government appointed Salahuddin
Khan Mehsud, as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police chief. A
notification issued by the establishment division said
that Salahuddin Khan Mehsud, a BS-21 officer of the PSP,
presently serving under the KP Government, was transferred
and posted as PPO, KP, in his own pay and scale with immediate
effect till further order.
March
31
At least 24 persons were killed and another
100 injured in a suicide attack on an Imambargah
in the Noor market area of Parachinar town in Kurram Agency
of FATA. Sources said the explosion took place as people
gathered for Friday prayers near the women´s entrance
of Imambargah. A witness said security personnel at the
Imambargah were checking devotees when an unidentified
person parked a car next to the building, which then exploded.
TTP's faction JuA claimed responsibility for the attack.
The blast was part of its operation Ghazi and Shias were
the targets, the outfit said in a statement sent to the
media.
A high-value terrorist Mehmoodul Hassan
alias Khwaja Madni and his accomplice from the TTP' Sajna
group were killed in an operation by SFs in Jandola area
of SWA, the ISPR statement said. The SFs personnel recovered
weapons and ammunitions from the terrorists' hideout.
President Mamnoon Hussain gave his formal
assent to the Pakistan Army Act 2017 and the 23rd Constitutional
Amendment Bill ? the two pieces of legislation aimed at
granting legal cover to military courts. When it was tabled
the 28th Constitutional Amendment Bill was titled the
23rd Constitutional Amendment Bill. However, it will now
be called the 28th amendment bill. It was presented along
with the Army Act 1952 before the Senate earlier this
week. Military courts were disbanded on January 7, 2017,
after a sunset clause included in the legal provisions
under which the tribunals were established, expired.
April
2
Unidentified militants fired four missiles
from Afghanistan into Kurram Agency of FATA. A spokesperson
for the local administration said that the missiles had
been fired from Afghanistan's Paktia province and did
not cause any loss of life. One missile struck a shop
in the Shingak area, another landed near a mosque, and
two others in a graveyard at Kachkina.
April 4
The ISPR claimed that eight JuA militants
had surrendered before the Army in Mohmand Agency of FATA.
In a statement issued by the ISPR, the Army said the militants
who surrendered include Akbar, Gull, Siraj and five of
their accomplices.
April 5
Six people, including four Army soldiers
and an off-duty Air Force airman, lost their lives after
a suicide bomber targeted a census team in Bedian Road
area of Lahore in Punjab. At least 19 others were injured
in the attack, according to the provincial Government.
The TTP claimed the attack. The injured were shifted to
the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and General Hospital.
At least three of the injured were said to be in critical
condition. One, identified as Lance Naik Irshad, lost
his life while undergoing treatment.
Unidentified gunmen shot dead four laborers
in Kharan District of Balochistan. Police and paramilitary
personnel reached the area and took the bodies to DHQ
Hospital. The deceased were identified as Ghulam Mustafa,
Naizi Sohrab Shah and Sajid, who hailed from Sindh. The
men were working on a road project under the CPEC.
April 7
The CTD of Punjab killed 10 JuA militants
in the night at Manawan area of Lahore, the provincial
capital of Punjab. The CTD said the terrorists killed
in the ‘encounter’ were involved in Mall Road suicide
attack. Days after the attack, CTD personnel had apprehended
alleged facilitator Anwarul Haq. The law enforcers, on
Haq's pointation, had also arrested his other accomplices.
The sources said the CTD was taking the arrested facilitators
to Manawan for recovery of explosives when their accomplices
ambushed the team. In the retaliatory fire, 10 militants
were killed including the facilitators of the attack.
One veterinary doctor Prof. Dr. Ashfaq
Ahmed (68) who belongs to Ahmadi community was shot dead
in a sectarian target killing in the Sabzazar area of
Lahore. The doctor was being driven by his grandson when
a motorcyclist pulled up next to their car and fired at
point-blank range, killing him on the spot. His grandson,
Shahzeb, remained unhurt, while the attacker, who was
wearing a helmet, fled the scene. Prof Dr Ashfaq Ahmed
had retired as a professor from Lahore University of Veterinary
and Animal Sciences. Salim Uddin, a spokesperson for the
Jamaat-i-Ahmadiyya Pakistan, condemned the attack and
protested that the doctor was targeted because of his
faith. "In a span of 10 days, this has been the second
killing of an Ahmadi. There is a campaign of hate against
the Ahmadiyya community and as a cost, innocent people
are killed. On the one hand, the government boasts about
the Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad and on the other, people
are being killed along religious lines in broad daylight,"
read an excerpt from a press release issued by the Anjum-i-Ahmadiyya
Pakistan.
April 9
Five terrorists and Pakistan Ranger Punjab
personnel killed during an IBO in Chhera Thal area of
Dera Ghazi Khan District of Punjab. According to the ISPR,
in sequel to Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, Pakistan Rangers
Punjab started special IBO in the area of Chhera Thal,
40 kilometres South West of Fort Manro, in the early hours
and was continuing till the mid day. During trade of fire,
Sepoy Kamran was killed while Deputy Superintendent Rangers
Haroon got injured.
The CTD personnel shot dead a terrorist
during snap checking at Sukkur-Shikarpur link road in
Sukkur District of Sindh in the evening. According to
SP Irfan Samo, CTD personnel, during snap checking signalled
three men riding on a motorcycle to pull over. The militants
opened fire on CTD personnel that was retaliated. One
terrorist was killed, while two others managed to flee
during the encounter.
The Army seized an explosive laden vehicle
near Chaman town of Killa Abdullah District in Balochistan
and arrested two suspected persons, a statement issued
by the ISPR said. According to the ISPR, 80 kilograms
explosive material was fitted in the vehicle that was
prepared in Kandahar and brought in Pakistan to use it
in a terror attack. The ISPR said the vehicle was seized
in an operation that was carried on the basis of intelligence
reports.
April 9
The CTD personnel shot dead a terrorist
during snap checking at Sukkur-Shikarpur link road in
Sukkur District of Sindh in the evening. According to
SP Irfan Samo, CTD personnel, during snap checking signalled
three men riding on a motorcycle to pull over. The militants
opened fire on CTD personnel that was retaliated. One
terrorist was killed, while two others managed to flee
during the encounter.
April 11
Two "hardcore terrorists"
tried by Military Courts were hanged in a high security
prison in Sahiwal District of Punjab. The ISPR statement
said the two convicts were awarded the capital punishment
for offences related to terrorism, including the killing
of civilians, attacking armed forces and law enforcement
agencies, and assaults on polio vaccination teams and
employees of an NGO. The hanged militants were identified
as Muhammad Shahid Omar, who was an active member of TTP,
and Fazl-i-Haq, an active member of the TTP, who was also
accused of kidnapping and amputating the hands of four
Police officials.
Seven JuA militants were
arrested by the CTD at Severra Chowk in Multan town of
same District in Punjab. According to the CTD spokesperson,
the militants were stationed at Severra Chowk and were
caught with hand grenades and heavy explosives in their
possession. The CTD had received information that the
militants were planning to attack vital installations
within the city, after which they conducted a raid near
Severra Chowk, the spokesperson added.
A raid conducted
by CTD officials in Gujranwala town resulted in the arrest
of two suspected terrorists who belong to proscribed organisations.
The raid was conducted after the law enforcement agency
received information that the pair was planning to attack
sensitive installations within the vicinity of Sialkot.
During the raid, the CTD team recovered explosive material
and detonation equipment from their possession.
April 12
Two Pakistan Rangers Sindh
personnel were killed during a raid to arrest militants
trained in Syria and Afghanistan and working for foreign
intelligence agencies were arrested from Mawaach Goth
area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Briefing
media on the raid, Rangers spokesperson Colonel Qaisar
said that they raided a militant hideout in Mawaach Goth
area on a tipoff that militants of AQIS have entered in
the metropolis for subversive activities. ‘Eight KG explosives,
one suicide vest, four ball bearing bombs and four SMGs
were seized from the suspects,’ Colonel Qaiser explained,
further adding that ‘two Rangers personnel were martyred
during the raid.’ The LEAs also recovered 360-degree images
of a site were from their possession, he said. Tahir Zaman
aka Boxer Mota was trained in Afghanistan. IED
expert Nawaz joined the AQIS group in 2012, he also provided
medical services to another terrorist, Javed Swati. The
third suspect, Bilal, was a close associate of main suspect
Tahir who was involved in the Safoora attack.
Police arrested a target
killer affiliated to MQM-L, identified as Kamran s/o Jumma
Khan, from Joharabad area of Karachi. Police said Kamran
is involved in two murder cases in Orangi Town.
At least three persons
were injured in a blast on Airport road in Gwadar town
in same district of Balochistan. Police sources said that
the IED was planted in a motorcycle parked on the side
of a road.
April 13
A doctor, identified as
Dr Zulfiqar, was killed when two unidentified assailants
called out him from his house and opened fire in Kharadar
area of Saddar Town in Karachi, the provincial capital
of Sindh. Dr. Zulfiqar used to run a clinic in Khadda
Market.
A journalism student was
lynched at AWKU in Mardan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
in broad daylight after being accused of blasphemy. The
deceased was identified as Mashal Khan, a resident of
Swabi and a student at AWKU’s Journalism and Mass Communication
department. A friend of the deceased student said that
a mob attacked him before shooting him in the head and
chest. He added that the mob then continued to beat his
body with sticks.
US said that the safe
havens still exist in Pakistan for terrorist groups to
operate from and carry strikes out on Afghanistan. US
State Department acting spokesperson Mark Toner, in daily
press briefing said, “We’ve been very clear, while we
understand that Pakistan has made efforts to confront
terrorism and terrorist organizations on its own soil,
that there are still what we call safe havens that exist
for terrorist groups to operate from and carry strikes
out on Afghanistan.” The spokesperson went on to say,
again, it’s in Pakistan’s interest to work with – constructively
with Afghanistan to address those security concerns.
April 14
One militant was killed
and three of his accomplices apprehended during combing
operation in Factory Area of Lahore, the provincial capital
of Punjab. According to Police, the terrorists opened
fire on the security personnel during joint combing operation
in the area and in the ensuing gunfight, a terrorist was
killed and three security personnel sustained injuries.
Three militants were arrested by the law enforcers. A
suicide vest, detonators and weapons were seized from
the site where exchange of fire took place
A suspected gangster,
identified as Ghulam Nabi alias Gull, was shot
dead in an ‘encounter’ in Kalakot area of Lyari town in
Karachi, reports Dawn. The Police have seized a TT pistol
and a hand grenade from his custody. The deceased was
associated with the Uzair Baloch-led Lyari gang, the Police
said. “He looked after drug business in Lyari,” an unnamed
officer added.
April 15
At least nine militants
and three Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) personnel were killed
during an exchange of fire in Basti Dadwani near Choti
Zareen area of Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab. The ISPR said
"9-10 hardcore terrorists" affiliated with the
TTP were killed during the joint security operation launched
by Rangers, intelligence agencies and CTD personnel near
Choti Zareen area. Among the slain militants included
Muhammad Asghar Dadwani alias Ustad Gorchani and
Muhammad Naeem alias Waqas Dadwani. The Punjab
Rangers personnel slain in the shootout were identified
as Havildar Asif, Sepoy Aftab and Sepoy Azizullah. Two
soldiers also sustained injuries.
One militant was killed
and three of his accomplices apprehended during combing
operation in Factory Area of Lahore, the provincial capital
of Punjab. According to Police, the terrorists opened
fire on the security personnel during joint combing operation
in the area and in the ensuing gunfight, a terrorist was
killed and three security personnel sustained injuries.
Three militants were arrested by the law enforcers. A
suicide vest, detonators and weapons were seized from
the site where exchange of fire took place.
April 16
Two suspects, identified
as Ramzan Khan and an Afghan national, were taken into
custody from Cantonment area of Lahore city. The arrested
due is suspected to be involved in Bedian Road, Lahore
terror incident.
The LEA apprehended two
suspects from Bhatta Chowk of Lahore city. The duo was
arrested for their involvement in Charing Cross incident
LEA arrested a terrorist,
identified as Omar alias Sufiyan, at Saddar area
of Ghazi Road in Lahore city. He is said to be close aide
of militant and proclaimed offender Azeem aka Fauji.
US NSA Lt-Gen HR McMaster
said the best way for the Pakistani leaders to pursue
their interest in Afghanistan and elsewhere is through
diplomacy and not through the use of proxies that engage
in violence. Gen McMaster said: "As all of us have
hoped for many, many years that the Pakistani leaders
will understand that it is in their interest to go after
these groups less selectively than they have in the past
and the best way to pursue their interest in Afghanistan
and elsewhere is through diplomacy not through the use
of proxies that engage in violence."
April 17
The DG of ISPR, Major
General Asif Ghafoor, announced that Ehsanullah Ehsan,
former ‘spokesperson’ of the TTP and a senior leader of
the JuA, had turned himself in to Pakistan's security
agencies. "…I want to take this opportunity to announce
that Ehsanullah Ehsan, the former spokesperson of the
TTP and a leader of the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, has turned himself
into our security agencies," he stated. In 2014,
after a split in the TTP, Ehsan had become a ‘spokesperson’
for the JuA — what was then a newly-formed splinter group
of the TTP. Ehsan had said at the time that 70 to 80 per
cent of the TTP ‘commanders’ and fighters had also joined
the splinter group.
Naureen Leghari, the wife
of militant Ali Tariq who was killed in an encounter in
Lahore in Punjab in the night of April 14, had allegedly
joined the militant Islamic State (IS) in Syria. According
to sources, the woman had physically taken part in the
encounter and had engaged police personnel for about an
hour. Naureen Leghari, who was arrested during the encounter,
had married her husband after leaving her home and joining
the militants. Sources said that Leghari had allegedly
visited Syria to join IS after leaving her home in February.
She had also received training in Syria for using weapons,
they said. She returned home to Lahore three weeks ago
and was being tracked by security personnel.
Naureen Leghari was a
medical student of the Liaquat University of Medical and
Health Sciences in Jamshoro, Sindh. She had reportedly
been contacted by militants through social media.
Lahore Police also arrested
Hafeez, the owner of the house where the encounter took
place, and a property dealer, Ayub, and were conducting
raids to arrest Azeem, a facilitator of the militants
who is said to be a leader of the IS. The law enforcement
agencies had announced PKR 1 million head money for his
arrest.
The Security Forces in
Lahore also arrested four people suspected of being linked
with the IS network in the city.
The Director General of
ISPR, Major General Asif Ghafoor, announced that Ehsanullah
Ehsan, former ‘spokesperson’ of the TTP and a senior leader
of the JuA, had turned himself in to Pakistan's security
agencies. "…I want to take this opportunity to announce
that Ehsanullah Ehsan, the former spokesperson of the
TTP and a leader of the JuA, has turned himself into our
security agencies," he stated. In 2014, after a split
in the TTP, Ehsan had become a ‘spokesperson’ for the
JuA — what was then a newly-formed splinter group of the
TTP. Ehsan had said at the time that 70 to 80 per cent
of the TTP ‘commanders’ and fighters had also joined the
splinter group.
The JI has launched a
mass contact campaign in accordance with its annual action
plan. A high-level meeting to review the preparations
in this regard will be held at Mansoora on April 19, with
JI Secretary General Liaqat Baloch in the chair. The meeting
will chalk out plans to mobilise the masses through mass
contact in all parts of the country to support the JI
in the next elections.
In a recent study carried
out by Sindh CTD about educated ‘hardcore militants’ in
the province’s jails, revealed that out of 500 surveyed
militants, at least 64 have a Masters degree or higher.
As many as 70 militants have a Bachelors degree and 63
have completed their matriculate and intermediate.
Once thriving, adventure
tourism in PoK has seen a sharp decline over the past
four years. Since 2013, an additional challenge has been
staring the mountaineers attracted to the largest cluster
of daunting peaks in the region. That year terrorists
killed 11 climbers at their base camp at the foot of the
mighty Nanga Parbat. According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan
(ACP), the number of mountaineering expeditions daring
to come for climbing the five highest peaks - K2, Nanga
Parbat, Broad Peak and Gasherbrum I and II – has been
declining. “Sadly, the disturbing trend continues,” regrets
the APC president, retired Colonel Manzoor Hussain. “Last
year some 34 expeditions came to Pakistan, compared to
nearly 70 plus groups before the incident.
April 18
Naureen Leghari, the wife
of militant Ali Tariq who was killed in an encounter in
Lahore in Punjab in the night of April 14, had allegedly
joined the militant IS in Syria, reports Dawn on
April 18. According to sources, the woman had physically
taken part in the encounter and had engaged police personnel
for about an hour. Naureen Leghari, who was arrested during
the encounter, had married her husband after leaving her
home and joining the militants. Sources said that Leghari
had allegedly visited Syria to join IS after leaving her
home in February. She had also received training in Syria
for using weapons, they said. She returned home to Lahore
three weeks ago and was being tracked by security personnel.
Naureen Leghari was a
medical student of the Liaquat University of Medical and
Health Sciences in Jamshoro, Sindh. She had reportedly
been contacted by militants through social media.
Lahore Police also arrested
Hafeez, the owner of the house where the encounter took
place, and a property dealer, Ayub, and were conducting
raids to arrest Azeem, a facilitator of the militants
who is said to be a leader of the IS. The law enforcement
agencies had announced PKR 1 million head money for his
arrest.
The Security Forces in
Lahore also arrested four people suspected of being linked
with the IS network in the city.
The JI has launched a
mass contact campaign in accordance with its annual action
plan. A high-level meeting to review the preparations
in this regard will be held at Mansoora on April 19, with
JI Secretary General Liaqat Baloch in the chair. The meeting
will chalk out plans to mobilise the masses through mass
contact in all parts of the country to support the JI
in the next elections.
In a recent study carried
out by Sindh CTD about educated ‘hardcore militants’ in
the province’s jails, revealed that out of 500 surveyed
militants, at least 64 have a Masters degree or higher,.
As many as 70 militants have a Bachelors degree and 63
have completed their matriculate and intermediate.
Once thriving, adventure
tourism in PoK has seen a sharp decline over the past
four years. Since 2013, an additional challenge has been
staring the mountaineers attracted to the largest cluster
of daunting peaks in the region. That year terrorists
killed 11 climbers at their base camp at the foot of the
mighty Nanga Parbat. According to the ACP, the number
of mountaineering expeditions daring to come for climbing
the five highest peaks - K2, Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak
and Gasherbrum I and II – has been declining. “Sadly,
the disturbing trend continues,” regrets the APC president,
retired Colonel Manzoor Hussain. “Last year some 34 expeditions
came to Pakistan, compared to nearly 70 plus groups before
the incident.
The SF seized a huge cache
of arms and ammunition during an operation in Kurram Agency
of FATA, officials. Political Officer Shahid Ali Khan
and Commandant, Kurram Militia, Colonel Umar Malik told
reporters that seven rocket launchers, 24 rocket shells,
two anti-aircraft guns, 50 hand-grenades and 400 mortar
shells were also seized in the operation. The officials
said that the densely populated area of the town had been
declared 'red zone' on the requests of tribal elders and
traders. About 24 kilometer trench had been dug around
the town, they said, adding, the trench had disrupted
movement through unfrequented routes. The officials said
that the trench would be made a ring road in future. They
also announced that motorcycles and other vehicles' entry
into 'red zone' had been banned.
Police claimed to have
arrested a target killer belonging to MQM-L from Gulberg
Town in Karachi. According to Gulberg SP Bashir Brohi,
Jauharabad police arrested Umar Farooque alias
Rashid Charya alias Rashid Kalla. Charya has been
involved in at least 12 cases of target killing and terrorism.
A pistol with five bullets has been recovered from him.
"He joined Unit 131 of MQM in 1995. During the course
of interrogation he has revealed multiple terrorist activities
in Karachi," the SP said. He said further Charya
attacked Baloch Goth in 1995-96 in which five people were
killed, including his own accomplice Jameel.
An ATC in Karachi awarded
17 years’ imprisonment to two MQM-L activists each for
attacking a police mobile and possessing illegal arms.
After the prosecution proved the charges against Mohsin
alias Peter and Raees alias Kala, the court
sentenced them to 17 years in prison and imposed a fine
of PKR 80,000 on each convict, observing that they had
not only targeted the police but also possessed illegal
arms. According to the prosecution, the MQM-L workers
had attacked the police mobile in Pirabad police jurisdiction
in 2011. Both were arrested after an encounter with a
police team and illegal arms were found on them.
April 19
The ISPR, press wing of
Pakistani Armed Forces, informed that Chief of Army Staff
General Qamar Javed Bajwa signed the death warrants for
30 "hardcore terrorists" with links to the 2014
Army Public School attack. The suspected terrorists were
involved in "heinous offences," which included
the "kidnapping and slaughtering" of soldiers
of the Frontier Constabulary and an attack on Saidu Sharif
Airport, the military's media wing said. The 'terrorists'
were also responsible for killing innocent civilians,
attacking the armed forces of Pakistan and law enforcement
agencies, ISPR said.
The CTD of Punjab Police
killed eight militants by busting a 'big' cell of the
TTP in the Narang area of Sheikhupura District of Punjab.
Two CTD officials were injured in the shootout, a handout
issued by the department's spokesman said. The killed
militants had planned to carry out a major terrorist plan
in Lahore in the near future, the CTD said. The CTD team
also recovered weapons and explosives from the possession
of the militants including more than three kilogrammes
of explosives, prima cord, three Kalashnikov rifles, five
pistols and ammunition.
The ISPR informed that
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa signed the
death warrants for 30 "hardcore terrorists"
with links to the 2014 Army Public School attack. The
suspected terrorists were involved in "heinous offences,"
which included the "kidnapping and slaughtering"
of soldiers of the Frontier Constabulary and an attack
on Saidu Sharif Airport, the ISPR said. The ''terrorists''
were also responsible for killing innocent civilians,
attacking the armed forces of Pakistan and law enforcement
agencies, ISPR said.
April 20
The Government is planning
to extend ‘Super Tax’ for yet another year, generating
PKR 30 billion for partially meeting security establishment’s
expenditures although more than 90 per cent of the population
affected by the Operation Zarb-e-Azb have returned
to their homes,. The authorities are clearly not in a
mood to withdraw the Super Tax from next financial year
2017-18, set to start from July this year, said officials
in the FBR. They said that the FBR proposed that in addition
to extending the tax into its third year, the government
should also increase the rate of super tax to 5 per cent
for banking companies.
April 21
A child was killed and
two persons were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Shinkoot
area of Bajaur Agency in the FATA on. Officials said Gul
Mast Khan, a local resident, along with his children was
coming home from a nearby mosque after offering Friday
prayers when a remote-controlled bomb placed along the
link road went off. A child identified as Marwan died
on the spot while his father and other child, Farmanullah,
received serious injuries in the blast. No one claimed
responsibility for the blast.
Around 500 militants belonging
to different banned Baloch militant organisations including
12 ‘commanders’ and 16 ‘sub-commanders’ surrendered themselves
at a ceremony held on the lawns of the Balochistan Assembly
in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan. The
militants announced that they had abandoned the armed
struggle against the Government and would join mainstream
politics. The militants belonged to the Baloch Republican
Army BRA, BLA, Lashkar-i-Balochistan and some other Baloch
militant groups.
Former Army Chief General
(retd) Raheel Sharif left for Saudi Arabia to head a 41-nation
military alliance after the government issued him a NOC.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that Raheel Sharif
had requested the Government for the NoC. "The permission
was given after approval from GHQ," he said. His
service tenure will be three years. Earlier, Khawaja Asif
had informed the National Assembly that the Saudi government
would announce the alliance's Terms of Reference (ToR)
in May during a meeting.
April 22
16 people including women
and children were injured in Lyari Jhatpat Market of Karachi,
the provincial capital of Sindh, when a hand grenade blast
took place on. Shakir alias Shakkar, a Gang War
commander from the Baba Ladla group is reportedly behind
the attack, a source from Lyari informed.
President Mamnoon Hussain
said education is essential to address political, economic,
social and psychological factors behind terrorism and
extremism. The President said it was an important national
activity that would prove to be a message of hope, life
and light, not just for Pakistani nation, but for the
entire humanity.
April 23
A khasadar, local Policeman,
was killed while another was seriously injured when an
IED planted along a road hit their motorcycle in Alingar
area of Mohmand Agency in FATA. An official said that
the deceased, Iqbal Khan, along with another khasadar
was patrolling the area when their motorbike was hit by
an IED. He died on the spot while his colleague received
injuries.
A man was shot dead in
Mansehra District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Abdul Sattar
was on his way to Balakot from Boi area when a group of
unidentified people intercepted him near Garhihabibullah
and fired at him, killing him on the spot. Police said
that assailants tortured had tortured his brother before
opening fire at him.
An improvised explosive
device hit a FC vehicle near the Turbat town in Kech District
of Balochistan killing four soldiers and wounding three
others.
SFs recovered weapons
buried in Karachi’s Lal Qila Ground in Azizabad in Karachi.
The weapons recovered included SMGs, LMGs, 9mm pistols
and a large number of cartridges.
SFs arrested three wanted
suspects, including two members of the banned BLA. In
the first incident, the SFs raided hideouts of Lyari gang
war suspects Sajid Dakait, Jameel Changa, and Bilal Pappu
and arrested two members of the BLA. According to sources,
the three suspects, who reside in Dubai, were operating
a drug den in the Ghazi Khan vicinity with the help of
accomplices Arif Tiki, Obaid Langra, and Fahad Baloch.
In a separate raid, an important member of the Lyari gang
war, Amin Baloch, was arrested during a raid at Lyari
General Hospital. According to the police, Amin was a
vital accomplice of Lyari gang war's Zahid Ladla and the
younger brother of gang war suspect Wasim Qasargandi.
Amin had been arrested by Rangers in the past and had
spent time in prison. He had been wanted by the police
in a number of criminal cases.
PPP-led Sindh Government
extended Sindh Rangers special powers in Karachi for another
90 days. The policing powers of paramilitary Rangers had
expired on April 15 after which a summary was forwarded
to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah seeking extension of
the special powers of Rangers.
A khasadar, local Policeman,
was killed while another was seriously injured when an
IED planted along a road hit their motorcycle in Alingar
area of Mohmand Agency in the FATA. An official said that
the deceased, Iqbal Khan, along with another khasadar
was patrolling the area when their motorbike was hit by
an IED. He died on the spot while his colleague received
injuries.
A man was shot dead in
Mansehra District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Abdul Sattar
was on his way to Balakot from Boi area when a group of
unidentified people intercepted him near Garhihabibullah
and fired at him, killing him on the spot. Police said
that assailants tortured had tortured his brother before
opening fire at him.
A total of 113 most-wanted
terrorists hail from various districts of Punjab revealed
a Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control report. According
to the document, 19 most-wanted terrorists hail from Lahore.
Eight most-wanted militants belong each to Sargodha and
Faisalabad districts. Rawalpindi, a city located next
to the federal capital, is also the residential address
of six-most wanted terrorists in the list. Likewise, five
militants each hail from districts of Rahimyar Khan, Sheikhupura,
Bhakkar, Multan and Attock districts. The document revealed
that no wanted terrorist belonged to Sialkot, Jhelum,
Hafizabad, Vehari, Narowal, Okara, Chiniot, and Rajanpur.
However, some suspected militants from these districts
have been added to the schedule four of the Anti-Terrorism
Act, 1997.
The document has divided
wanted-terrorists into three categories. In the first
category, there are about 22 terrorists involved in suicide
attacks. Punjab Home Department has also notified head
money of PKR 50.33 million for 73 wanted militants out
of a total 113, according to the report. Matiur Rehman
from Bahawalpur continues to lead the list with a head
money of PKR 10 million. His childhood friend Qari Ehsan
(head money PKR 5 million) is the second most wanted militant.
They have been wanted since December 2013, when they orchestrated
suicide attacks against the then president General (retd)
Pervez Musharraf. The first category also included the
profiles of Zubair alias Mughaira from Bahawalpur district
and Ziaur Rehman from Khanewal district. Both the militants
are wanted for attacking the ISI office in Qasim Bela,
district Multan, on December 8, 2009. Hafiz M Sohail,
M Niaz and Zaheer Ahmed from Attock have also been added
to the list for their alleged role in masterminding the
suicide attack against late Punjab home minister Shuja
Khanzada. A terrorist Saad Munir from Rawalpindi is also
wanted in connection with his alleged role in the murder
of an American citizen. The second category contains the
profiles of 62 alleged Sunni militants and the third the
profiles of 29 alleged Shia militants. Out of total 62
Sunni militants, nine are from Lahore and eight from Faisalabad.
Rahimyar Khan District is home to five wanted militants,
while three each are from Multan, Mianwali, Rawalpindi
and Sargodha.
April 24
At least 15 people, including
five woman and four children, were killed and nine others
sustained injuries when a passenger van hit a landmine
in the Godar area of Kurram Agency. Sources said that
the passenger van was en route to Sadda from Godar when
it hit a landmine in Pato Kot village. Injured people
included four Khasadar census workers who were scheduled
to carry out the activity in the far-flung areas of the
agency.
Five persons, including
three terrorists, wife of one of them, and a 5-years-old
boy, were killed while four Rangers personnel were injured
in an encounter in the area of Urdu Bazaar of Karachi,
Sindh. Sources said that, on a tip off, Rangers and security
agencies carried out a raid on a hide out of terrorists
in Urdu bazaar. On spotting Rangers, terrorist attacked
on them with cracker bombs. As a result four Rangers personnel
sustained injuries. In retaliatory firing by Rangers one
terrorist was killed while the other was arrested. However
the terrorists and Rangers personnel continued to trade
firing. Blasts were also heard during the exchange of
firing. Five terrorists, including one female, and a 5-year-old
boy died in this seven hours long operation. According
to Rangers, the deceased boy and female were residing
in the respective hide out along with suspects and boy
was killed as a result of explosion from terrorists.
Weapons and explosives have been recovered from their
possession. SATP had earlier reported that one terrorist
was killed in the operation.
Reports indicate that
the killed militants belonged to banned outfit Jandullah.
Rangers have arrested 10 suspects, including the flat
owner, to investigate further. Huge cache of weapon was
also recovered from the flat.
Rangers personnel and
the CTD of the Sindh Police claim to have arrested eight
suspects during raids and operations in different parts
of Karachi. According to Rangers spokesperson, Saeedul
Hassan alias China and Syed Omar Aijaz alias Omar alias
Maaz alias Musab, Saleem alias Chosni, Furqan alias Shooter,
Abu Bakar, Ibrahim alias Hyderi, Sikandar and Asif Pathan
were arrested in the operation. The Rangers spokesperson
has claimed that the accused persons were affiliated with
AQIS, adding that the accused persons were involved in
attacks on police and Rangers check posts in Nazimabad
and Gulshan-e-Iqbal. They were also accused of being involved
in various cases of crime and terrorism, including target
killings, wall chalking, extortion, robberies, and facilitating
terrorism. The Rangers spokesperson said that arms and
ammunition were also recovered from their possession.
The Army's senior command
resolved during the 202nd Corps Commanders'
Conference at the General Headquarters that the military
would play its 'due role' as part of the Supreme Court
(SC)-ordered JIT that would probe Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif and his family's business dealings abroad. The
ISPR said in a statement that the forum had discussed
the SC’s Panama gate verdict with special reference to
the JIT. "The forum pledged that the institution,
through its members in the JIT, shall play its due role
in a legal and transparent manner, fulfilling [the] confidence
reposed [in the military] by the apex court," the
ISPR said. The JIT is to include officials from the NAB,
the FIA, the SBP, ISI and the MI, and will be led by an
assistant director general-level officer from the FIA,
according to the SC order.
On April 22, the SC issued
notices to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons, directing
them to comply with the Panama gate verdict "as and
when required".
Earlier on April 20, the
SC had constituted a six-member JIT to probe the allegations
leveled against Nawaz Sharif regarding the acquisition
of London flats through corruption. The top court directed
the prime minister and his children to appear before the
JIT when they are summoned. The court directed that the
JIT submit its progress report periodically after two
weeks and the final report shall be submitted in 60 days
before a new bench, constituted by the chief justice.
The new bench shall issue the order after the JIT report.
The two members of the bench Justice Asif Saeed Khosa
and Justice Gulzar in their dissenting notes stated that
since Prime Minister has failed to substantiate the money
trail for mills and properties, thus the Prime Minister
is liable to be disqualified. The judgment was passed
by a majority of 3-2. The verdict of 3 judges shall prevail
wherein the constitution of JIT is directed.
April 25
CTD of Larkana Police
claimed to have arrested two terrorists in two separate
incidents from Larkana District and Jacobabad District,
and recovered weapons, explosive material from their possession.
CTD Larkana SP Abdullah Ahmed Yar said, "One of the
detainees was identified as Qari Muhammad Bilal who was
arrested from Shaikh Zayed Morr area of Larkana. He is
affiliated with banned outfit LeJ and other terrorist
groups of Punjab. He is a resident of Rajanpur (Punjab)
and was also awarded death sentence in 2008 for murder.
Since then he had been absconding." In another action,
the CTD SP said a member of BRA, Abid Shah, was arrested
along with a pistol and explosive material from Jacobabad.
"The detainee was involved in carrying out bomb blasts
on railway tracks, gas pipelines and electricity poles,
and an FIR had already been registered against him in
Kashmore for targeting Khushal Khan Khattak Express in
2015," the SP said.
CTD Mardan region in an
operation arrested an alleged terrorist from Akoddaa Khatak
area of Nowshehra District. The arrested terrorist identified
as Rehmat Ullah was involved in providing SIMS to kidnappers,
terrorist, extortionists and other banned outfits.
Authorities hanged four
militants involved in attacks on civilians, police and
troops after they were convicted by the country’s military
courts, an army statement said. It said the four, who
were hanged at a prison in KP, belonged to the TTP. Those
executed were identified as Rehmanuddin, Mushtaq Khan,
Zafar Iqbal and Obaidur Rehman. According to the ISPR
all the TTP militants had confessed to their involvement
in murdering innocent persons and carrying out attacks
on armed forces and law enforcement agencies. The Army
Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa had confirmed death sentences
passed by military courts on 30 militants, some of whom
were involved in the country’s worst-ever extremist attack.
The military courts – in which the army can try civilians
on terror charges in secret, despite strong criticism
from rights groups – were established in the wake of the
2014 attack, which traumatised the country. They were
seen as an “exceptional” short-term measure to give the
government time to reform the criminal justice system,
as the military targeted militants in the tribal areas
of the northwest. The law expired in January 2017, but
was shortly extended for another two years.
The CTD got 14 day remand
of three alleged terrorists from a court in Gujranwala.
The CTD team arrested Sher Khan, Khyber Khan and Faisal
Akbar during a raid at Alam Chowk in Gujranwala on April
24 and seized explosives from them.
The JeM has started its
fund raising campaign in Punjab as the harvest season
for major Rabi crops sets in. In the latest issue of JeM's
weekly online magazine (accessed on April 25), its charity
wing al-Rehmat Trust invited Ushr contributions for supporting
the "families of martyrs, detainees of Islam and
ghazis" along with the "seminaries, religious
centres and the needy". Ushr is an agricultural equivalent
of Zakat, where a portion of agricultural produce is given
away as charity.
April 26
At least six suspected
militants were killed and as many were injured when jets
pounded their hideouts in the Tirah valley of Khyber Agency
in FATA. Security sources said that warplanes destroyed
at least two hideouts of the TTP. One of the hideouts
– located in the Rajgal area of Tirah right on the border
with Afghanistan – was used by terrorists as an ammunition
dump, they revealed.
The military claimed that
SFs have thwarted a terror bid in the Zhob District of
Balochistan. “The Frontier Constabulary, Balochistan,
seized a huge cache of explosives and ammunition during
a raid on a compound,” the military’s media wing said
in a statement.
April 27
A suspected US drone strike
on a house in the Lawara Mandi area of North Waziristan
Agency of FATA killed at least seven militants, security
officials said. “There are two militant commanders, Abdul
Rehman and Akhtar Mohammad among the dead,” an unnamed
intelligence official said. “We have received reports
of a drone attack in North Waziristan in which some seven
militants have been killed,” an unnamed security official
said. Local intelligence officials said drones were seen
in the area before two missiles hit a house in Lawara
Mandi area, believed to be used by the TTP. Officials
said the missiles could have been fired by US drones,
but declined to confirm the origin of the strike.
A terrorist plot was foiled
by the Frontier Constabulary in Bar Qambar Khel Bara in
the Khyber Agency. During the operation, two terrorists,
Shahid and Abdul Raziq, who were planning a major terrorist
attack based on foreign directives, were arrested, the
ISPR revealed. A large quantity of explosives was also
recovered from the terrorists.
Five terrorists were killed
during an intelligence-based operation in the Gawak area
of Mand in Kech District in Balochistan. Two FC officials
were also injured in the operation. Deputy Commissioner
Kech Sirmad Ali Khan claimed they were involved in a series
of terrorist activities in the area.
April 28
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a senior
Afghan Taliban leader, Maulvi Daud, near Shamshato refugees’
camp near Peshawar, provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The gunmen sprayed bullets at the car of Maulvi Daud –
a former Taliban governor for Kabul. Daud’s driver was
also killed in the attack. No group has claimed responsibility
for the attack. There are speculations of the Islamic
State (IS) involvement in the incident, as both the Taliban
and IS supporters had been involved in fighting in parts
of Afghanistan.
April 30
A suspected militant,
Habibullah, was killed in an exchange of fire with Security
Forces in Pasni town of Balochistan. According to Levies
officials, security personnel launched a search operation
in the Kolanch area after receiving information about
the presence of militants there. ‘Heavy exchange of fire
took place in the area, resulting in the killing of an
armed militant,’ they claimed.
SFs recovered an enormous
store of arms from a car in Kot Pindi Das in Sheikhupura
city. The Motorway Police recovered approximately a hundred
rifles, Kalashnikov rifles, pistols, and a huge cache
of bullets from a car, two suspects have been arrested.
According to Motorway Police, the accused were transporting
the arms and ammunition from Islamabad to Lahore.
May 1
Successfully foiling attacks
on two check posts of Army from across the border, SFs
killed three terrorists and injured several others in
South Waziristan Agency of FATA. ISPR said Army troops
valiantly repulsed the attack, killing three 'terrorists'
and injuring a number of others in an "intense exchange
of fire".
The Motorway Police recovered
a cache of arms and ammunition near Pindi Das area in
Sheikhupura District of Punjab. The Police said the arms
were recovered near Pindi Das area from a car but no arrest
was made as the two men travelling in the vehicle managed
to flee. Around 100 rifles, Kalashnikovs and guns were
recovered beside huge cache of cartridges, the Police
said, adding that the arms were recovered from hidden
parts of the vehicle. The Police said the arms were being
brought to Lahore from Islamabad and were supposed to
be used in acts of terrorism.
The Sindh Police’s CTD
has decided to execute a comprehensive plan that its team
had prepared for deradicalisation of militants from this
month. A core team comprising forensic psychiatrist and
psychologist, facilitator or mediator, religious scholar
and a CTD official has already been established for this
purpose, sources said. A few young suspected militants,
who are in custody for indulging in ‘minor’ activities,
were selected for a pilot project in the first phase of
the deradicalisation plan, said Sindh CTD chief Additional
Inspector General of Police Dr Sanaullah Abbasi. He said
a number of sessions with those youngsters would be held
possibly at the CTD office in Garden police headquarters
and if need be, such sessions might be held at their residences.
May 2
Two soldiers were killed
in a militant attack on a security check post in the Maidan
area of Tirah valley in Khyber Agency of FATA in the evening.
Official sources said that a group of unidentified militants
attacked a check post killing two troops. They said that
the attackers managed to flee after the incident taking
cover of the darkness.
At least three FC personnel
were injured as a bomb went off during a search operation
in Kech area of same District in Balochistan. The injured
were rushed to a nearby hospital where they were stated
to be in a stable condition.
An IED explosion was reported
from Dera Bugti District. No casualty was reported from
that incident.
May 3
Four "hardcore terrorists"
of TTP tried by the military courts were hanged. The four
were said to be involved in "committing heinous offences
related to terrorism, including killing of innocent civilians,
attacking armed forces of Pakistan and LEAs," an
ISPR statement said.
May 4
A 62-year-old Ahmadi man,
identified as Basharat Ahmad, was shot dead in a suspected
sectarian attack in Saddar area of Rahim Yar Khan District
in Punjab in the night. Basharat Ahmad was on his way
to his house in Green Town from a petrol pump situated
in Zahir Pir Road when unidentified assailants intercepted
him and opened fire on him. The reason behind the murder
is yet to be ascertained. However, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya
spokesperson Saleemuddin claimed Ahmad was targeted because
of his religious beliefs. “Ahmad had no enmity and was
gunned down because of the hate campaign against Ahmadis,”
the spokesperson said.
Three ‘hardcore terrorists’
sentenced by military courts were executed in Kohat jail
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said a statement released by the
ISPR. The executed terrorists belonged to TTP. Their names
were Hassan Dar, Umar Zada and Hazrat Ali. They were involved
in attacking the Security Forces and civilians.
May 5
At least 12 persons —
10 civilians and one sepoy each from the Pakistan Army
and the FC — lost their lives and around 40 others were
injured in firing and shelling after Afghan forces attacked
FC personnel guarding the staff conducting census in Kali
Luqman and Kali Jahangir areas of Chaman tehsil
in Qilla Abdullah District of Balochistan. The Inter-Services
Public Relations (ISPR) press release tweeted by its Director
General (DG) Major General Asif stated, “Afghan border
police opened fire on FC troops detailed for security
of census in a village along Chaman border… Since 30th
April, Afghan Border Police had been creating hurdles
in conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman
and Killi Jahangir in Charnan area on Pakistani side of
the border. This was done despite the fact that Afghan
authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination
was carried out through diplomatic and military channels
for conduct of census."
May 7
The Army said it had killed
more than 50 Afghan soldiers in a clash on the Chaman
border crossing in Qilla Abdullah District of Balochistan
on May 5. The skirmish took place on May 5 at the Chaman
border that divides the Balochistan province and Afghanistan’s
southern Kandahar, as officials were carrying out a census
in the area. At least 12 persons — 10 civilians and one
sepoy each from the Pakistan Army and the FC — lost their
lives and around 40 others were injured in firing and
shelling by Afghan forces in Kali Luqman and Kali Jahangir
areas. "We are not pleased to tell you that five
Afghan check posts were completely destroyed -- more than
50 of their soldiers were killed and over 100 were wounded,"
FC Major General Nadeem Ahmed said. "We are not happy
for their losses but we were forced to retaliate,"
he said. Afghanistan quickly denied the claim. "Very
false claims by a Pakistani Frontier Corps that as many
as 50 Afghan soldiers lost their lives in Pak (Pakistan)
retaliation; totally rejected," tweeted Sediq Sediqqi,
a Afghan Government spokesman.
Three CTD officials sustain
injuries when an IED exploded at Khattak Pull area of
Peshawar, the provincial capital of KP. According to reports,
the CTD officials were targeted when they were returning
after defusing an IED found outside a girls primary school
in Urmarh area. Police said the blast damaged the vehicle
and the injured were moved to Lady Reading Hospital for
treatment where they were stated to be in stable condition.
May 8
The chief of the Iranian Army Major General
Mohammad Baqeri warned Islamabad that Tehran would hit
bases inside Pakistan if the Government does not confront
militants who carry out cross-border attacks. Ten Iranian
border guards were killed by militants on April 26. Iran
said Jaish-al-Adl, a militant group, had shot the guards
with long-range guns, fired from inside Pakistan. The
border area has long been plagued by unrest from both
drug smuggling gangs and separatist militants. "We cannot
accept the continuation of this situation," Major General
Mohammad Baqeri said. "We expect the Pakistani officials
to control the borders, arrest the terrorists and shut
down their bases. If the terrorist attacks continue, we
will hit their safe havens and cells, wherever they are,"
he said.
May 9
Four TTP terrorists, who were tried by
Military Courts, have been executed in Rawalpindi. According
to a statement issued by the ISPR, the convicted terrorists,
named Qaisar Khan, Mohammed Umar, Qari Zubair, Aziz Khan
were members of the TTP and were involved in attacks on
security personnel, mosques and the general public. They
were also involved in the destruction of satellite systems.
SFs recovered anti-tank mines, suicide
jackets, IEDs and explosive cylinder during intelligence-based
operations conducted in the Khyber and South Waziristan
agencies of FATA. According to an ISPR statement, these
operations were conducted under the ongoing Operation
Radd-ul-Fasaad.
SFs conducted joint operations in Lahore,
Attock, Islamabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Sheikhupura, Dera
Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur cities of Punjab
and recovered arms and ammunition from several suspected
persons.
May 10
LEAs claimed to have arrested three alleged
terrorists at Taaja Shaakh (water channel), in the limits
of Dadupur Police Station of Ghari Khairo tehsil
of Jacobabad District in Sindh. LEAs recovered 3 kilograms
explosive substance from their possession According to
SSP Jacobabad ,Sarfraz Nawaz Shaikh, Dadupur Police and
law enforcers cordoned off the area and succeeded in arresting
three alleged terrorists, later, identified as Nawabuddin
son of Meer Muhammad aka Sher Muhammad Sandrani, resident
of Baluchistan province, Balach Khan by caste Banglani,
resident of Thull town of Jacobabad, Karim Dino son of
Waris Dino Banglani, resident of Thull town of Jacobabad
and seized 3kg explosive substance from their possession,
SSP claimed.
May 12
At least 27 people were killed and 40
others, including Senate Deputy Chairman Maulana Abdul
Ghafoor Haideri, suffered injuries in a suicide attack
on his convoy in the Mastung town of same District in
Balochistan. Maulana Haideri is also General Secretary
of the JuI-F. The target of the attack was Maulana Haideri
- who hails from Kalat - as motorcycle bourne suicide
bomber rammed the motorcycle into the vehicle in which
the Maulana was travelling on the Quetta-Karachi National
Highway. Maulana Haideri had just left a seminary after
attending a graduation ceremony and offering Friday prayers.
A witness said the blast took place when Maulana Haideri
was moving to the place where lunch was to be served to
the guests of the graduation ceremony.
The bulletproof vehicle of Maulana Haideri
was severely damaged in the explosion. The deceased included
Maulana Hafiz Qudratullah, Naib emir of Quetta district
chapter of the JUI-F Iftikhar Mughal, director staff of
the Senate Maulana Haideri's driver, Abdul Waheed, an
official of the Anti-Terrorism Force and seven volunteers
of the JUI-F who were escorting Maulana Haideri as guards.
The victims included Mohammad Adil, Mohammad Imran, Abdul
Ghaffar, Zahoor Ahmed and Abdul Karim. Several bodies
have not been identified. A young girl, a child and a
Mastung-based journalist, Abdul Hanan, were among the
wounded.
Daesh (the Islamist State, formerly Islamic
State of Iraq and al Sham) claimed responsibility for
the attack through a statement posted on the website of
its propaganda agency Amaq.
Two FCB soldiers were injured in cross-border
firing in Kurram Agency of FATA from Khost province of
Afghanistan. The attack took place as FCB personnel were
undertaking construction of a wall along the border on
the Pakistani side, the sources said, adding that they
returned fire across the border.
SFs foiled a major terror bid near the
Pak-Afghan border in Kurram Agency. According to Assistant
Political Agent Shahid Ali Khan, SFs fired at an explosive-laden
vehicle entering Pakistan from the Paktia province of
Afghanistan as they suspected it to be a potential threat.
The shots fired at the vehicle detonated the explosives
in the van, which, according to Khan, was to be used in
a major terror plot in Parachinar.
May 13
At least 10 labourers were killed and
two others injured when motorcycle bourne unidentified
assailants opened fire at the construction site in Pishgan
area Gwadar town in Balochistan. "All the labourers were
shot at close range," said Senior Levies Official Muhammad
Zareef. The slain labourers belonged to Naushahro Feroze
District of Sindh. BLA claimed responsibility of attack.
May 14
The CTD of Punjab claimed to have killed
four terrorists of a banned outfit in Jahanian area of
Khanewal District. According to CTD, terrorist Usman Basra
and Abdul Rehman were hiding in a house along with their
associates when the cops launched action. Four terrorists
including Usman Basra and Abdul Rehman were killed in
the gunfight with CTD personnel. The CTD officials recovered
10 kilograms of explosives, hand grenades and other weapons
from the site of shootout.
A political secretary and his security
guard were shot dead by unidentified assailants in Walicheena
area of Kurram Agency in FATA. The secretary, Sarfraz
Hussain and his guard were travelling in a vehicle in
Walicheena area when the suspects opened fire and killed
them on the spot.
PM Nawaz Sharif said the CPEC under the
OBOR could be regarded as a 'powerful tool for overcoming
terrorism and extremism', and called for building a peaceful,
connected and caring neighbourhood by shunning mutual
differences. OBOR initiative was open to all countries
in the region and that the project 'must not be politicized'.
"Let me make it very clear that CPEC is an economic undertaking
open to all countries in the region. It has no geographical
boundaries. It must not be politicised," the prime minister
said in his address to the plenary session of High-level
Dialogue on BRF, themed 'Cooperation for Common Prosperity',
being held in Beijing.
Protests broke out in Gilgit-Baltistan
of PoK against the ongoing construction of the CPEC project
under the Belt and Road initiative OBOR. China opened
one of its biggest foreign policy initiatives since 1949
- the OBOR summit in Beijing, which is being attended
by heads of state and government of over 23 nations, including
Pakistan. Various students and political organisations
including Karakoram Students Organisation, Balawaristan
National Students Organisation, Gilgit Baltistan United
Movement and Balawaristan National Front have been protesting
against OBOR in Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu and Ghizer. They
described the project as an illegal attempt to grab Gilgit
and see it as a "Road of Gulami or Slavery for Gilgit-Baltistan".
Carrying placards and banners stating "Stop Chinese Imperialism"
protestors have been calling on the world community to
stop the Chinese transgression on Gilgit's soil which
remains disputed since 1948-49.
The Pakistan Ministry of Interior during
a judicial review on May 14 said that the Mumbai terror
attack mastermind and JuD, the frontal organisation of
LeT chief Hafiz Saeed and his four aides were under house
arrest for "spreading terrorism in the name of jihad".
Saeed appeared before the board and told it that he had
been detained by the Pakistani government in order to
stop him for raising voice for Kashmiris. However, the
Interior Ministry rejected his arguments and told the
three-member board that Saeed and his four aides have
been detained for "spreading terrorism in the name of
jihad". The board comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan of
the Supreme Court (head), Justice Ayesha A Malik of Lahore
High Court and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail of Balochistan
High Court directed the Ministry to submit a complete
record regarding detention of Saeed and his aides - Zafar
Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid, Abdullah Ubaid and Qazi Kashif
Niaz on next hearing on May 15. The board also sought
personal appearance of the Attorney General of Pakistan
on next hearing.
May 15
At least four FC personnel
were injured when their vehicle hit an IED in Splingi
area of Mastung District in Balochistan. No one claimed
the responsibility for the attack.
May 17
Four TTP terrorists, tried
by military courts, were executed at a jail in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, the ISPR said. According to ISPR, the terrorists
sent to gallows were involved in committing heinous offences
relating to terrorism, including killing of innocent civilians,
destruction of communication/electricity infrastructure,
destruction of educational institutions, attacking Armed
Forces of Pakistan and Law Enforcement Agencies.
A report of an Islamabad-based
security think tank CRSS shows that Sindh is the only
province of the country where fatalities from violence
have suddenly increased during the first quarter of this
year. The quarterly report issued by the CRSS, however,
states that the other provinces show a decline in violence-related
casualties, when compared to data from last year’s corresponding
period. During the first three months of the current year,
there were 1,129 reported casualties – 594 dead and 535
wounded – across Pakistan. Regionally, Sindh is the most
violent region, followed by FATA, Punjab and Balochistan.
Sindh is the only province to witness a rise in violence-related
casualties. Unlike in the past, Karachi is not the principal
factor in the rise in the rate of homicides, Muhammad
Nafees, a Karachi-based security expert associated with
the CRSS, told The News.
While ongoing military
operations against proscribed militant outfits, such as
the TTP and the LeJ, have forced terrorists to go into
hiding, the Islamic State (or Daesh) has shown its presence
in Sindh and Balochistan by claiming major suicide attacks
on two Sufi shrines, adds the CRSS report.
May 18
The COAS General Qamar
Javed Bajwa made a subtle distinction between terrorism
and extremism, saying the military could only defeat terrorists
but extremism is something civil society is better equipped
to deal with. He was speaking at a seminar in Islamabad,
titled "Role of Youth in Rejecting Extremism",
attended by students, Army personnel as well as dignitaries
from the world of academia. General Bajwa said extremism
is the foremost factor driving terrorism, adding that
though the former is a term "relative to our perception
of what is normal," it has a lot to do with the environment
in which people live. "From that perspective,"
he added, "We must admit that Pakistani youth is
being exploited due to the poor governance [of the country]
and lack of justice in society."
May 19
Unidentified militants
shot dead three labourers and injured another in Hoshab
town of Turbat District in Balochistan. They were making
a trip to a marketplace in Hoshab to buy daily supplies
when suspected militants shot at them and fled, said Frontier
Corps official. The slain labourers were part of a team
working in coastal Makran division on a major highway
linking the port-city of Gwadar to the provincial capital
of Quetta, said Sarmad Saleem, a regional official.
As part of the ongoing
reconciliation process, 26 militants belonging to various
militant groups surrendered their weapons to authorities
in Khuzdar District of Balochistan. The militants surrendered
at a ceremony organised at the Kalat Scouts campus in
Khuzdar.
At least 14 people including
seven children and women sustained injuries in five different
hand grenade attacks in Shabqadar tehsil of Charsadda
District in KP. According to Police, the hand grenades
were hurled at different places including a private school
in Zareef Kore. A schoolboy and watchman of the school
sustained injuries in the attack on private school, police
said. Three houses were targeted in Meero area. 11 people
were wounded when unidentified miscreants threw hand grenade
at a house in Mosul Kore area.
A car was completely destroyed
in three explosions outside a trader’s house in Ghani
Rehman Karlay area of Peshawar, the provincial capital
of KP. However, no casualty was reported in the explosions.
PAF fighter jets pounded
several militant hideouts in Rajgal area of Khyber Agency
in FATA. According to security sources, PAF F-16 aircraft
carried out an airstrike in Rajgal area and destroyed
three militant hideouts. The sources further said that
suspected terrorists are likely to have been killed in
the bombing.
A curfew has been imposed
in Mohmand Agency after information was received that
six suicide bombers had entered the Agency. The curfew
was imposed as a preventative measure, Political administration
official said, adding that the agency has been at security
risk for quite some time now. Law enforcement personnel
said they had been instructed to shoot if they saw anything
suspicious. Educational institutions, offices and market
places were closed down after the curfew was imposed and
a blanket ban was placed on any social activity.
The CTD of Sindh with
the collaboration of intelligence agency arrested one
BLA cadre, involved in blew up of SSGC pipeline, from
in Lyari Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.
An explosion had damaged the Sui gas pipeline near Madinatul
Hikmat area of Manghopir on May 17 causing damage to the
16-inch diameter gas pipeline. Though no loss of life
was reported from the explosion but due to the incident,
gas supply to Manghopir, Banaras, and nearby areas was
disrupted.
May 20
Four Police personnel,
including a SHO, were gunned down in the Lachi tehsil
of Kohat District. DSP Lachi Raza Khan told that unknown
assailants targeted a police mobile which was on routine
patrol. "The assailants ambushed the mobile, killing
four Policemen on-board, including SHO Khanullah and additional
SHO Tahir Mehmood," said the DSP.
CTD arrested a TTP ‘commander’
in Mundan village in Bannu District. Mansoorullah Ali
alias Qiyaz is believed to be the mastermind behind attack
on Mundan Police Station in Bannu on February 7, 2017.
Police said the TTP ‘commander’ was found in possession
of explosives, grenades and material used for making bombs.
Police and law enforcement
agencies recovered 400 kilogrammes of military-grade explosives
during a joint raid at a house of one Hunzala in Shamshato
Refugee Camp, an area falling within the jurisdiction
of Mattani Police Station in Peshawar.
May 21
Four assailants, riding
on two Bikes, opened fire on a Police van left two Policemen
killed and one critically injured near Doraji in the jurisdiction
of New Town Police Station in Karachi, the provincial
capital of Sindh. East zone SSP Faisal Abdullah said unidentified
assailants fired at New Town Police Station’s mobile van
during routine patrolling, injuring three police personnel.
ASI Iftikhar and Head Constable Raja Younus later succumbed
to injuries at hospital. The SSP Faisal Abdullah added
that 30-bore and 9-mm pistols were used in the incident.
Mortar shells fired by
the Iranian border forces landed and exploded in a border
village of Pakistan in Chagai District of Balochistan.
However, no casualty or damage to property was reported
as no house was hit by the shells. “Five mortar shells
fired from Iranian side early in the morning landed in
Talap village,” Taftan Assistant Commissioner Zafar Kubdani
said.
May 22
Five people, including
one levies personnel, were killed in a remote-controlled
bomb blast in Akakhel area of Tirah valley in FATA. Those
killed in the blast included, head of the peace committee,
Zarwali Khan and committee members Noor Khan, Hameed Khan
and Amir Nawaz were amongst those killed in the bombing.
Abdul Manan, a levies officer was also killed in the incident.
May 24
The US drone attack killed
three militants, including a key TTP commander, Abdullah
Kashmiri, in an unspecified place close to Afghanistan
border North Waziristan Agency of FATA.
One militant killed and
two SFs personnel sustained injures in an exchange of
firing in Kalat town of same District in Balochistan.
Sources said the SFs raided a hideout in Kalat where the
suspected terrorists opened fire at the raiding party,
leaving two SF personnel injured. The SFs retaliated and
gunned down one of the militant.
A Chinese couple was kidnapped
from the Jinnah Town area of Quetta, the provincial capital
of Balochistan, in the afternoon. According to Police,
unknown abductors had forced the two foreigners into a
vehicle at gunpoint and driven away. “A Chinese couple
was kidnapped from the neighbourhood of Jinnah town in
Quetta today. The couple was running a Chinese language
centre,” Acting Deputy Inspector General Police Aitzaz
Goraya said.
One TTP leader, Saeed
Ahmed Badani, describe as the "mastermind" behind
three major attacks in Balochistan was arrested from an
unidentified location of Quetta. The arrested militant,
Saeed Ahmed Badani, was among the planners of three attacks
in 2016 that killed more than 180 people, the Provincial
Government spokesman, Anwar ul Haq Kakar, said. "He
was involved with a team in all the attacks, but I can
describe him as a mastermind, because he was the lynchpin
in providing targets and facilitating suicide bombers,"
Kakar added.
The two TTP terrorists
in involved in committing heinous offences relating to
terrorism, including the attack on Army Public School
Peshawar, were sent to gallows. According to ISPR, the
terrorist, Atta Ullah and Taj Muhammad, tried by Military
Courts were executed.
A major terrorism bid
was foiled as Pakistan Rangers Sindh arrested six suspected
militants from Scout Colony area of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town
in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.
The CTD conducted an operation
near general bus stand in Gujranwala town of same District
in Punjab and arrested a suspected terrorist allegedly
belonging to the Islamic State. The CTD spokesperson informed
media that explosive material, detonators and other ammunition
was also seized from the arrested suspect. He further
said that the suspect was planning to target sensitive
installations in Gujranwala.
May 25
The Peshawar High Court
stayed the execution of former spokesman of the Swat chapter
of TTP, Muslim Khan, who was sentenced to death last year
by a military court on multiple charges of terrorism.
The PHC bench comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and
Justice Ijaz Anwer issued the order after a preliminary
hearing of a petition filed by Nida Bibi, wife of Khan,
challenging the conviction of her husband by the military
court. The bench issued notices to the Ministries of Defence
and Interior directing them to submit the record of the
case and fixed June 1 for the next hearing. Advocate Tariq
Asad, representing the petitioner, put forward different
objections to the trial of Khan under the Army Act. He
said that Khan was taken into custody by SFs in September
2009 after which nothing was known about him. Finally,
his family came to know about his conviction through newspapers
in December 2016. The counsel said that the family had
not been provided record of the trial proceedings and
it was not known under what charges Khan had been convicted.
They submitted an application to the military court of
appeal seeking details of the trial proceedings, but no
reply was given to them. He said that Khan was not provided
a counsel of his own choice and was denied fair trial
as provided under article 10-A of the Constitution.
Pakistan has cut direct
and indirect losses to its economy on account of terrorism
by slightly above 40 per cent to USD 3.9 billion (PKR
407.21 billion) in the first nine months of this fiscal
year. Economic Survey 2016-17 attributes this to an improving
security condition in the wake of ongoing military-led
counterterrorism operations in the nation’s tribal regions
and elsewhere. The latest survey, which has recorded the
losses to the national economy under the chapter ‘Impact
of War in Afghanistan and Ensuing Terrorism on Pakistan’s
Economy’, shows that the losses to the economy are steadily
decreasing since FY12 when they hit a peak of USD 23.77bn
the year before. Last year, the economic losses due to
deterioration in the security conditions on account of
terrorism went down by about 30pc to USD 6.49 billion
from USD 9.24 billion a year earlier. The cumulative losses
to the economy on account of terrorism in the country
since it joined the global ‘war on terror’ in the aftermath
of terrorist attacks on the American soil in September
2001 have been estimated by the Government at USD 123.13
billion.
May 27
A mortar shell fired from
Iranian side of the border in Balochistan killed a civilian,
identified as Khuda-e-Rahim, in Panjgur area in the morning.
The mortar shell landed on a vehicle in Panjgur, killing
the man and caused extensive damage nearby, District Commissioner
Abdul Jabbar has confirmed.
FC raided hideouts of
a banned outfit and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition
in Arjun Nala and Darenjan Nala areas of Dera Bugti District.
The recovered weapons included RPG launcher with five
RPG-7 rounds, four mortar shells, two land mines, four
grenades, 170 pressure buttons and other equipment that
was stashed for subversive activities.
Religious scholars from
all schools of thought issued a fatwa (religious decree)
that declared suicide attacks, armed insurgency against
a state and use of force in the name of imposing Shariah
as ‘Haram’ or forbidden in Islam. The fatwa carrying signatures
of 31 noted scholars was released at a seminar “'Reconstruction
of Pakistani society in the light of 'Mithaq-e-Madina'
(Charter of Madina) and announcement of 'Paigham-e-Pakistan'
(Message of Pakistan). The event was organised by the
Islamic Research Institute of the International Islamic
University Islamabad. The unanimous declaration was presented
by Professor Masoom Yasinzai while Mufti Rafi Usmani read
out the fatwa. The religious edict condemned terrorism
and extremism and declared suicide attackers and their
supporters as traitors. It also declared Jihad a jurisdiction
of Islamic state and disallowed use of force in name of
enforcement of Islamic laws.
May 28
The Counter-Terrorism
Department claimed to have killed a wanted gangster in
an encounter near Naurus Chowangi area of Site area in
Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. The killed gangster,
identified as Mohammed Sohail alias DC, was allegedly
involved in targeted killings of at least 10 people including
a local reporter, minority members, Police and workers
of MQM, said CTD Senior SSP Omer Shahid Hamid. The deceased
was associated with Lyari’s gangsters, Wasiullah Lakho
and Taj Mohammed alias Taju. He had fled to Dubai in order
to avoid being arrested, revealed the SSP Omer Shahid.
At least four persons
were injured in a blast after their vehicle ran over an
IED along the LoC in Khilana area of Chakothi sector in
Jhelum Valley District of PoK. The public transport vehicle
was passing through Khilana area to drop passengers from
Rawalpindi when the IED went off at about 9:30pm, according
to Deputy Commissioner Jhelum Valley Abdul Hamid Kiani.
The injured persons were identified as driver Iram Abbas
(a resident of Muzaffarabad), Mukhtiar Ahmed, Changaz
Latif and Rehmat Hussain (residents of Khilana area).
More than 5,700 people,
including paramilitary force officials, have lost their
lives in FATA in terrorist attacks during the last six
years, Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON)
figure revealed. The SAFRON revealed this figure during
the recently-concluded 42nd session of the National Assembly
in a written response to a query by lawmaker Abdul Qahar
Khan Wadan of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party. According
to surveys conducted by the Ministry to assess losses
sustained as a result of the ongoing war on terrorism,
5,740 people have been killed in the last six years and
an estimated 80,000 houses damaged of which the Government
had validated 22,471 for compensation. 50,000 killed,
USD 80 billion loss incurred in war on terror, NA told.
The Ministry informed lawmakers that 234 levies, 174 khasadars
and 5332 civilians were killed in terrorist attacks in
FATA and 6,427 others injured. The SAFRON Ministry further
added that PKR 3.04 billion had been spent under the PKR
3.56 billion Shuhada package which the Government had
earmarked.
May 29
Four members of a defunct
pro-government peace militia were killed and another was
injured in a targeted attack in Mattani Bazaar in the
outskirts of Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa. “Irshad, Imtiaz, Waheed and Muhammad Ali
– all former volunteers of the defunct Adezai Aman Lashkar
– were killed when gunmen ambushed the vehicle they were
travelling in,” SP (Rural), Shaukat Khan said. The injured
was identified by him as Mohsin.
DSP Umer Ur Rehman was
killed and another Police officer injured following a
firing incident in Quetta's Huddah area. The injured sub-inspector,
identified as Bilal Shams, was the nephew of the deceased
DSP. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for
the attack.
May 30
A relative and former
secretary of Afghanistan’s former Prime Minister Gulbuddin
Hekmatyar, Haji Fareed, was shot dead in Tajabad area
of Pishtakhara in Peshawar, the provincial capital of
KP. Police said unidentified attackers opened fire on
Haji Fareed while he was coming out of a mosque. As a
result, Fareed died on the spot. Haji Fareed had served
as secretary of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. He had recently returned
from Afghanistan. Hailing from Kunduz, Fareed was based
in Peshawar for the past decade with his family.
Around 41 banned outfits
of Pakistan operate openly on Facebook. Activity of 41
sectarian, terrorist, anti-state organisations is accessible
to every user on the social network. They exist in plain
sight, just one search and one click away from any of
Pakistan’s 25 million Facebook users. An investigation
carried out by Dawn across the month of April 2017
has revealed that 41 of Pakistan’s 64 banned outfits are
present on Facebook in the form of hundreds of pages,
groups and individual user profiles. Their network both
interconnected and public, is a mix of Sunni and Shia
sectarian or terror outfits, global terror organisations
operating in Pakistan, and separatists in Balochistan
and Sindh.
June 2
11 Chinese nationals living
in the Jinnah Town of the Quetta city have been shifted
to Karachi for their departure to China. This follows
the abduction of two Chinese nationals from the same locality
on May 24 the duo’s fate remains unknown.
Banned outfits allegedly
supporting those who’re fighting in Afghanistan and other
regions, have once again started collecting donations
in areas across the country. According to a BBC Urdu report,
banned organisations have circulated videos and brochures,
asking people to help the mujahidin. One of the videos,
which have apparently been shot in a mosque of a far flung
area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, invites people for jihad and
helping Afghan fighters. Similarly, a letter circulating
on social media appeals the people to help the Taliban
in Afghanistan. The letter is addressed to a mosque in
Zhob District, Balochistan, appealing for donations on
Friday for mujahidin. According to the imam of the mosque,
contributions are collected to help the mujahidin.
June 3
SFs killed at least 12
suspected IS militants after three days of search operation
to recover abducted Chinese nationals in Mastung District
of Balochistan. “Some 12-13 IS commanders have been killed
after intense gun-battles and the area was cleared late
Saturday,” a senior security official said, but added
that the Chinese pair were not recovered from the scene
despite the presence of the vehicle used in their kidnapping
nearby. The Chinese couple was abducted from the Jinnah
Town area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan,
in the afternoon of May 24.
June 4
A man and his younger
sister belonging to the Shia Hazara community were shot
dead in the Spiny Road area of Quetta, the provincial
capital of Balochistan. The siblings, identified as Shakeel
Ahmed and Hawa Bibi, were going to Marriabad from Hazara
Town on a motorbike when they came under fire near Killi
Tirkha. They suffered serious injuries and died while
being taken to the hospital by the Police.
SFs recovered a cache
of weapons from an alleged terrorist hideout in Sken Nullah
Darango area of Kohlu District. According to a statement
issued by ISPR, an IBO was conducted in Sken Nullah Darango,
on the alleged hideouts of BLA. “A large cache of weapons,
ammunition, and explosives including guns, rocket launchers,
anti-personal mines, detonators and communication equipment
recovered from the hideout,” read the ISPR statement.
The JuA faction of TTP
expelled four commanders for ‘acting against Shariah and
violating group’s rules and regulations, the group’s spokesman
Asad Mansoor said. The spokesman informed all militant
groups in a statement emailed to the media that the JuA
will not be responsible for any act of the sacked members
as they are no more associated with the outfit. The sacked
commanders were identified as Maulana Salahuddin, Maulana
Waqas, Qazi Saqib and Mehdi. Maulana Salahuddin was a
senior commander and in-charge of the JuA’s financial
affairs. He was former member of the TTP ‘shura’. Mehdi
was a senior commander and had many followers among the
militants. He also served as head of the Finance Department.
He once headed activities in the cities. Qazi Saqib, a
renowned religious scholar, has served as Chief Justice
of JuA. Maulana Waqas is a religious scholar and a teacher.
All four belong to Mohmand Agency of FATA and now live
in Afghanistan.
June 5
Six kidnapped Pakistani
workers for a Polish oil and gas company have been freed,
a local official said, more than six months after they
were abducted. The workers were kidnapped on November
26, 2016, on a road near the village of Drazinda, some
80km (50 miles) from Dera Ismail Khan while carrying out
exploration work for oil and gas surveyor Geofizyka Krakow.
The company has been in liquidation since August 2016,
and a spokesperson for its parent company, PGNIG, said
at the time the six were kidnapped that they were “sub-contractors”.
The Sindh Government announced
a 10 per cent increase in the budget for security with
a plan to recruit 10,000 more Policemen in the next financial
year to “improve police-to-citizens ratio, especially
in Karachi”. “When hate rhetoric permeates our worshipping
places, our educational institutions and media outlets,
we are faced with a clear and present danger at our doorsteps,”
said CM Syed Murad Ali Shah while delivering his budget
speech in the Sindh Assembly. The CM said the budgetary
allocation for security in the financial year 2017-18
was proposed at PKR 92.91 billion, reflecting an increase
of 10pc over the allocation of PKR 84.26bn during the
outgoing fiscal year. It is proposed that 10,000 new posts
of different ranks will be created in Sindh police and
PKR two billion will be spent on purchasing vehicles for
the law enforcement agency. “Forensic laboratory at an
estimated cost of PKR 2.6 billion is being constructed
to provide Sindh police state-of-the-art centre to investigate
and solve complex crimes,” CM Shah said, referring to
key features of the budget proposal for the provincial
security apparatus.
June 6
A Pentagon report released
singled out Pakistan as a possible location for a future
Chinese military base, as it forecast that Beijing would
likely build more bases overseas after establishing a
facility in the African nation of Djibouti. The prediction
came in a 97-page annual report to Congress that saw advances
throughout the Chinese military in 2016, funded by robust
defense spending that the Pentagon estimated exceeded
USD 180 billion. That is higher than China’s official
defense budget figure of USD 140.4 billion. Chinese leaders,
the US report said, appeared committed to defense spending
hikes for the “foreseeable future,” even as economic growth
slows.
June 8
IS claimed of killing
two Chinese nationals who were abducted on May 24 in Balochistan.
The claim, by the IS news agency Amaq, came hours after
the Pakistani Army announced it had carried out a successful
operation against IS-affiliated militants in the same
region. “Islamic State fighters killed two Chinese people
they had been holding in Baluchistan province, south-west
Pakistan,” Amaq said. The Chinese couples were studying
Urdu in Quetta, where they reportedly also ran a Mandarin
language course. They were kidnapped in late May by men
wearing police uniforms.
India is promoting state-sponsored
terrorism in Afghanistan to sabotage Pak-Afghan bilateral
relations, the Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria
said. “Pakistan and Afghanistan need to closely coordinate
with each other for overcoming the scourge of terrorism,”
he remarked during the weekly media briefing of the foreign
office. The spokesperson said Afghanistan has been in
turmoil for over forty years, and this situation has given
space to terrorists. “Afghani people have suffered a lot
due to terrorism so have we,” he added. The instable Afghanistan
has affected Pakistan more than any other country, Nafees
Zakaria said adding that Pakistan believes in Afghan-owned
and Afghan-led peace process.
June 9
Police arrested four people,
including two Police personnel, for running a 'torture
cell' in which they held people after kidnapping them
for ransom in Rohri town of Sukkur District in Sindh.
A special team led by Sukkur DIG Feroze Shah arrested
four suspects, including Police officials Mohammad Jawed
Khero and Naeem Ahmed, during a raid in Rohri. However,
the ringleader and in-charge of the 'torture cell', former
Sub-Inspector Ayaz Khero managed to flee during the raid.
Khero had been dismissed from the Police service over
allegations of corruption and extortion. The suspects
used to kidnap people in the guise of checking from Sukkur
and other areas and later locked them up in the torture
cell.
Three SHOs were suspended
after a large number of people took to the streets and
blocked a section of the Hyderabad bypass for six hours
in protest against the killing of a villager in, what
the Phulelli Police claimed, was an ‘encounter’. Relatives
of the victim, Wali Mohammad Chang — a resident of Chang
Goth located off Hala Naka Road — said he was actually
picked up by Police at around 11am on June 8 and the Police
claimed to have killed him in the alleged encounter at
around 11pm. “He [Wali] was fasting ... he was going to
buy fruits when residents of the village saw Police picking
him up at around 11am,” his younger brother, Mairaj Chang,
said while speaking to journalists at the Liaquat University
Hospital (LUH), city branch.
June 11
Three Balochistan Constabulary
personnel were killed and one wounded in a gun attack
on a checkpost in the Chakki Shahwani area of Sariab road
in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan. Balochistan
Deputy Inspector General Police Abdul Razzaq Cheema said
four unidentified assailants riding two motorcycles opened
fire on a checkpost in the Chakki Shahwani area. The slain
personnel were identified as Ashiq Ali, Mehboob Ali and
Ghulam Mustafa.
Three SF personnel were
injured after an IED seemingly targeted their vehicle
in the Johan area of Kalat District. There was no immediate
claim of responsibility for the attack.
A senior journalist of
a local newspaper, identified as Baksheesh Allai, was
shot dead by undefiled assailants in the Haripur town
of same District in KP. Baksheesh Allai, the bureau chief
of The K2 Times, was on his way home when motorcyclists
intercepted him on a main road and spread him with bullets,
successfully fleeing the scene in its aftermath.
June 12
A drone strike killed
a commander of Haqqani network and his partner in Speen
Tal area of Hangu District in KP. Haqqani network leader
Abubakar and his partner were killed when a drone fired
two missiles at his house in Speen Tal area in the night.
The drone strike "completely destroyed" the
suspected militant's house, security sources said. Local
residents said the drone was strafing above the area for
a while, before it destroyed the targeted compound.
FC personnel killed two
BLA militants during an IBO operation in Quetta, the provincial
capital of Balochistan. The ISPR press release said the
militants were killed after they were tracked down by
the FC personnel and a gun battle ensued between the two
parties.
Federal Minister of Interior
Chaudhry Nisar said that two Chinese nationals abducted
from Quetta on May 24 were involved in preaching instead
of business activities — their declared purpose for visiting.
Lee Zing Yang (24), and Meng Li Si (26), were abducted
from Jinnah Town of Quetta on May 24 and later murdered
by the militant Islamic State on June 8. After the briefing,
the Interior Minister ordered an initial review, followed
by regulation and the streamlining of the visa process
to avoid the misuse of business visas by foreign nationals.
June 13
Balochistan Home Minister
Mir Sarfaraz Bugti dispelled “the impression of the presence
of IS in Balochistan” and said that the crackdown against
terrorist is in full swing under Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.
During a press conference at Madadgar Centre of FC, Bugti
rejected the existence of the IS in Balochistan, adding
that the terror organisation was making efforts to strengthen
its base in the entire country, but the Government and
the military had expressed their strongest resolve to
block its entry into Balochistan.
June 14
SFs killed two BLA ‘commanders’,
identified as Nazar Mohammad alias Beerbak and Mohammad
Jan alias Chota, in an operation in the Leela area of
the provincial capital Quetta. The two BLA ‘commanders’
were said to be involved in 17 bomb blasts and different
incidents of target killing. SFs claimed to have tracked
down their links to training camps in Afghanistan.
SFs claimed to have gunned
down an alleged terrorist in Quetta.
The Lahore Police have
finalised a four-tier security plan for Youm-e-Ali (AS).
Under the plan, more than 7,000 Security Force personnel
would provide a security cover to the main mourning procession.
A number of CCTV cameras have also been installed on sensitive
points across the city, while a police van equipped with
latest technology will also monitor police activity.
CoAS General Qamar Bajwa
has said that mainstreaming of the FATA is essential for
enduring peace and stability in the region. “Our focus
now is to transform our operational achievements in FATA
into enduring peace and stability for which early mainstreaming
of FATA through reforms is essential,” the CoAS was quoted
as saying by the ISPR. “Pakistan Army fully supports all
efforts towards that end,” the CoAS added.
June 15
At least three Police
personnel and one militant were during an ambush on the
Police vehicle in Chamkani area of Peshawar, the provincial
capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the evening. The Police
personnel were on a routine patrol after iftar when three
assailants riding a motorcycle targeted the Police van,
SP rural Furqan Bilal said. As a result of the firing,
constables Umer Hayat, Shahid and Intikhab Alam laid down
their lives while head constable Sheraz sustained injuries.
The Police party, which belonged to Waheedabad Police
Station, retaliated to the assailants' firing, shooting
dead one of the three militants. The other two militant
managed to flee the scene, SP Bilal added.
June 16
Pakistan Rangers Punjab
foiled a major terror bid in Dera Ghazi Khan District
of Punjab, killing two militants who were planning a terrorist
activity on Youm-e-Ali processions on June 17. According
to ISPR statement, the Pakistan Rangers Punjab launched
intelligence based operation in Dera Ghazi Khan as part
of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad and during exchange of fire
two terrorists were killed.
June 18
A rocket hit the gate
of the residence of Sardar Akhtar Mengal, president of
the BNP, in his native town of Wadh in Khuzdar District
of Balochistan. Official sources said the rocket was fired
in the early hours from an unknown place, damaging the
main gate of the house badly. Sardar Attaullah Mengal
and Sardar Akhtar Mengal were not in the house when the
attack took place. “The rocket landed and exploded at
the main gate of the house,” Abdullah Baloch, the SHO
of Wadh, said, adding that no casualty took place in the
explosion.
Iranian BSF fired several
mortar shells into Pakistani territory, at least one of
which exploded in the Prom area of Panjgur District. Official
sources said the shells were fired in the early hours
of the day and landed close to the border. The mortar
shell that exploded in Prom had landed in an uninhabited
area, causing no casualty and loss of property.
Two diplomats based in
the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jalalabad city of
Afghanistan, went missing while traveling to Pakistan
by road, the FO confirmed. A press release from FO Spokesperson
Nafees Zakaria's office said Islamabad is in constant
contact with Afghan authorities, and the matter of the
diplomats' safety and recovery at the earliest has been
raised with the relevant officials. "Pakistan has
requested the Afghan government that all efforts may be
made to ensure early recovery of our officials and bring
the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice,"
the FO statement said.
Pakistan is an ally on
counterterrorism issues and will be essential for bringing
the Afghan Taliban to the table for peace talks, said
acting Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military
Affairs Tina Kaidanow. “The United States and Pakistan
have a close partnership on regional peace, security,
prosperity and stability. And we continue to work with
the government of Pakistan on areas — many areas of mutual
interest, including counterterrorism,” adds the US State
Department’s spokesperson, Heather Nauert. A retired US
general, Douglas Lute, urges Washington to balance “our
demands on Pakistan (with) … our other interests in Pakistan”,
adding that “we actually have several interests in Pakistan
(that)… surpass our interest in dealing with the Afghan
Taliban”.
June 19
Two Navy sailors were shot dead and three
others were wounded when their vehicle was ambushed by
four assailants on two motorbikes in the Jiwani area of
Gwadar District in Balochistan. The sailors were transporting
iftar items during a routine run from Jiwani town when
their vehicle came under attack. There has been no immediate
claim of responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) and the CTD
of Punjab Police claimed to have arrested 23 members of
banned outfits in joint operations in various areas of
the Punjab. Officials of the law enforcement agencies
also recovered a huge quantity of illegal weapons, ammunition
and bulletproof jackets from their possession. The suspects
were allegedly involved in facilitating terrorists. According
to a news release, Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) and CTD jointly
carried out operations in tehsils Kharian and Sarai Alamgir
of Gujrat District. The agencies searched houses in both
tehsils and arrested 20 suspects said to be involved in
facilitating terrorists. They also recovered a huge cache
of arms, ammunition and bulletproof jackets. The suspects
were later shifted to undisclosed locations for interrogation.
The joint operations were part of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad,
which was launched on February 22 after a string of terrorist
attacks across the country.
The CTD arrested three TTP cadres from
Bahawalpur whom they claimed were plotting an attack in
the city on Eid. They also recovered explosives and suicide
jackets from their possession. A CTD spokesman claimed
that acting on a tip-off that the TTP was planning to
attack a sensitive installation in Bahawalpur, a local
CTD team conducted a raid at around 1:30pm at a house
near Quaid Colony and arrested three suspects belonging
to the TTP. Terrorists were identified as Gohar Ali, Muhammad
Yousaf and Zamurad Khan.
June 20
Two suspected terrorists were killed in
an exchange of fire with SFs when they attempted to raid
a checkpost in Dewana Baba Ziarat area of Tank District
in KP. The ISPR press release said the attack was successfully
repelled when the Pakistani forces engaged in retaliatory
firing and killed the attackers, the ISPR said.
An unmanned Iranian drone allegedly on
a spying mission was shot down by a PAF JF-17 Thunder
fighter jet in the Parom area of Panjgur District in Balochistan.
The officials said the unmanned aircraft was shot down
by a JF-17 in the Parom area after it ventured "deep inside
Pakistani airspace" on a spying mission. They spoke on
condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to
speak to media. SFs took custody of the debris after discovering
the wreckage on Monday, but it is still unclear when the
drone was shot down.
The Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), along with
the CTD of Police and intelligence agencies, arrested
seven suspects from the Mandi Bahauddin and Nilore areas
of Islamabad. The ISPR press release said the raids were
part of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.
The process of phased fencing on the Pak-Afghan
border has been commenced on the directions of Chief of
Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, an ISPR statement
said. In phase 1, high infiltration prone border areas
in Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber agencies of FATA are being
fenced, the statement added. In phase 2, fencing of remaining
border areas, including Balochistan will be executed.
Besides fencing, Pakistan Army and Frontier Crops are
constructing new forts/border posts to improve surveillance
and defensibility.
June 21
SFs recovered cache of arms and ammunition
from Maidankai village of South Waziristan Agency and
Zarkai village of North Waziristan Agency in FATA. According
to the statement issued by ISPR, the recovered arms and
ammunition include LMGs,12.7, RPG7s, SMGs, grenades, Rifles,
pistols, explosive boxes, Anti-Personal mines daggers
and various calibre ammunition including rockets of RPG-7,
14.5 mm rounds, ammunition boxes of 12.7, 12 bore rifle
rounds, HMG and SMG ammunition.
SFs recovered cache of weapons and ammunition
in Akka Khel, Guli Khel and Ghaibi Nokia area of the Khyber
Agency. The SMGs, prepared IEDs and fuses were recovered
during the raid.
The CTD of Sindh Police prepared a consolidated
list of websites, web pages and social media accounts
spreading extremism and terrorism. The CTD has written
a letter to the PTA, FIA and other authorities for closing/banning
of such websites, web pages and social media accounts
to foil the designs of banned militant organisations.
"We have identified 25 such websites, which were involved
in spreading religious and ethnic extremism and terrorism,"
said CTD chief AIG Dr Sanaullah Abbasi. He said the CTD
had sent a list of 25 sites with the recommendation that
they should be banned by the PTA. These sites were linked
with banned organisations or promoting radical thought,
he added.
June 22
SF arrested five facilitators of terrorists
during a joint search operation in areas along river in
Mandi Bahauddin area of Rawalpindi in Punjab. ISPR statement
said that automatic weapons and explosives were also recovered
from the arrested facilitators. The search operation was
carried out as part of the ongoing Operation Radd-ul-
Fasaad, the statement added.
Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria
said that drone strikes are against Pakistan's sovereignty.
During the weekly news briefing, the spokesperson said
that Pakistan's policy regarding drone strikes had always
been clear. The FO's statement came a day after a Pakistan
Air Force JF-17 Thunder jet shot down an unmanned Iranian
drone allegedly on a spying mission in Balochistan's Panjgur
area. Officials said the drone was shot down after it
had ventured "deep inside Pakistani airspace". In a statement
released hours after the drone was shot down on June 21,
the FO said Islamabad had notified Tehran of the development.
During the briefing, the FO spokesperson refused to comment
on foreign media reports that US President Donald Trump's
administration was likely to toughen its policy on Pakistan.
Instead, the spokesperson said that Pakistan values its
relationship with America and would work closely with
the Trump administration.
Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria
said that drone strikes are against Pakistan's sovereignty.
During the weekly news briefing, the spokesperson said
that Pakistan's policy regarding drone strikes had always
been clear. The FO's statement came a day after a Pakistan
Air Force JF-17 Thunder jet shot down an unmanned Iranian
drone allegedly on a spying mission in Balochistan's Panjgur
area. Officials said the drone was shot down after it
had ventured "deep inside Pakistani airspace". In a statement
released hours after the drone was shot down on June 21,
the FO said Islamabad had notified Tehran of the development.
During the briefing, the FO spokesperson refused to comment
on foreign media reports that US President Donald Trump's
administration was likely to toughen its policy on Pakistan.
Instead, the spokesperson said that Pakistan values its
relationship with America and would work closely with
the Trump administration.
June 23
Seven Policemen were among 13 killed and
20 others injured in a suicide attack near the office
of Balochistan Police Chief on Gulistan Road of Quetta,
the provincial capital. BDS confirmed that the explosives
were planted in a vehicle. The Police said that the bomber
blew up the vehicle after he was stopped by the law enforcement
personnel for screening as he was mysteriously taking
rounds in the area. "The blast took place near the IGP
office (Inspector General of Police) and it´s possible
the assailants were trying to enter the (army) cantonment
which is close by," Provincial Government Spokesman Anwar
ul-Haq Kakar said. Two outfits said they had carried out
the attack - JuA, a splinter group of TTP and the Islamic
State.
Unidentified militants shot dead four
Policemen, who were sitting at a roadside eatery for Iftar
in the SITE Town area of Karachi, the provincial capital
of Sindh. SITE town SP Asif Ahmed Bughio said that four
Policemen were about to break their fast at a restaurant
located between the Siemens and Habib Bank traffic intersections
when two armed motorcyclists emerged there, fired a volley
of bullets at them and rode away. The victims were identified
as ASI Mohammed Yusuf and constables Shabbir, Khalid and
Israr. A hitherto unknown militant outfit, Jamaat-ul-Ansar
al-Shariah Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The CTD official Raja Umer Khattab said
that the Police found a pamphlet from the scene of the
crime and it appeared that the assailants threw it there
before fleeing. Sharing details, the official said that
the pamphlet was from the so-called spokesperson of the
newly-formed outfit, in which he claimed responsibility
of the killing of the Policemen. Khattab said that it
was the second attack in Karachi which was claimed by
the group. The name of this group first emerged in April
when it claimed responsibility for the targeted killing
of a retired colonel, Tahir Zia Nagi, in Baloch Colony.
The Jamaat-ul-Ansar al-Shariah was established in Libya
and Tunisia in 2011 but it was reactivated in 2014. This
outfit had mostly targeted law enforcers as well as Americans,
Khattab added.
Police killed three militants in an encounter
near grid station of Shahpur in Chamkani area of Peshawar,
the provincial capital of KP. SSP, operations, Sajjad
Khan said, the Police, working on a tip-off, raided a
floor mill near grid station of Shahpur in Chamkani, where
terrorists opened fire at them as a result two Policemen,
Inspector Zia and constable Arshad were injured. While
in retaliation, the Police also opened fire and killed
three terrorists belonging to a banned outfit, SSP added.
CCPO, Peshawar Tahir Khan said that weapons, explosive
material, detonators, footage and documents were recovered
from the building during the search operation. IGP Salahuddin
said that "A high profile terrorist commander was also
among those killed".
ISPR DG Major General Asif Ghafoor linked
recent terrorist incidents to 'sanctuaries' in neighbouring
Afghanistan. In his tweet, DG ISPR Major General Asif
Ghafoor said, "Recent terrorist incidents linked to sanctuaries
across." The military spokesman went on to say that security
and surveillance of Pak-Afghan border has been enhanced.
He also promised stringent actions against illegal border
crossers. Earlier, he said security has been tightened
across the country and special intelligence-based and
search operations have been launched in coordination with
intelligence and other law enforcement agencies.
June 24
At least 67 persons were killed and more
than 200 injured in back-to-back explosions in the Turi
Bazaar area of Parachinar, the headquarter of Kurram Agency,
in FATA when the market was crowed for Iftar and Eid shopping.
Initially, an explosion took place at the busy Turi Bazaar
moments after an Al Quds Day (an international day of
solidarity with the Palestinian people) rally had concluded
at central Imambargah. When people rushed to the
spot to remove the injured and bodies, the second blast,
which was more powerful, took place resulting in most
death and destruction. The al-Alami (International) faction
of LeJ claimed responsibility for twin bomb blasts. It
said in a statement it was targeting Shias and threatened
more attacks over "Pakistanis fighting against Sunni militants
in Syria's civil war".
June 25
A bomb resembling a toy killed at least
six children and injured two others in Speenmark village
of South Waziristan Agency in FATA. "Six children aged
between six to 12 years, all boys, were killed by a toy
bomb and two others wounded critically," a local government
official said on condition of anonymity.
Unidentified militants attacked a checkpost
of FC in Wadh town of Khuzdar District in Balochistan.
Foiling the attack, the SFs arrested two of the attackers.
Pakistan has deployed a 15,000-strong
military force to protect Chinese nationals working on
energy and infrastructure projects in the country, President
Mamnoon Hussain said. The President told visiting Chinese
Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Islamabad that the protection
of Chinese citizens working in Pakistan was the "top priority"
of the government, read a statement issued by the Presidency.
June 27
A high value BLA militant, identified
as Abdul Rasool alias Ustad/Borjon/Boss, along with his
group surrendered to SFs, ISPR statement said. The militant
group also surrendered their group's weapons and ammunition.
The ISPR said Abdul Rasool was involved in terrorist activities
in Pasni, Kolanch, Dashat and Mand areas of Balochistan.
June 30
Women rights activist and founder of the
first female jirga, Tabassum Adnan, survived in
an armed attack conducted by unidentified assailants in
Saidu Sharif Police Station area of Swat District in KP.
Tabassum Adnan said that some unidentified assailants
starting firing in the midnight on which her police guard
responded and after sometime the attackers fled. Tabassum
is the founder of first female Jirga known as Khwendo
Jirga which works for women rights. She is the recipient
of several national and international awards.
The CTD arrested a key militant identified
as Saeedur Rehman, a resident of Shawar, in Matta tehsil.
The Police said that he was allegedly involved in anti-state
activities during the Swat mayhem.
SFs foiled an attempt to blow up the Rawalpindi-bound
Jaffar Express passenger train by defusing a 15kg bomb
planted at the main railway line near Mach area of Bolan
District in Balochistan. Pakistan Railway officials said
that some gangmen were checking the main railway line
before the arrival of Jaffar Express in Mach when they
found a suspected bag. They said SF personnel and Railway
Police were immediately informed about the suspected bag.
A 15 kilograms bomb was planted to target the Rawalpindi-bound
train. BDS personnel rushed to the area and defused the
bomb after finding it in the suspected bag.
July 2
One SF personnel was injured when their convoy comes
under militants' ambush in the Balnigwar area of Kech
District in Balochistan. No group claimed responsibility
for the attack.
SFs arrested eight militants from the Kohlu area of Balochistan.
July 3
Pakistan Rangers
(Sindh) arrested two wanted members of Lyari gangsters,
Muhammad Omair and Zaheer Khan, in Madina Colony of Lyari
Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.
July 5
One person was
killed and seven others were injured when unidentified assailants
ambushed vehicle of a Member of the MPA Manzoor Khan Kakar
at Manan Chowk in Quetta, provincial capital of Balochistan.
Quetta Deputy Inspector General of Police said that MPA
was not present in the vehicle at the time of the attack
but his brother was travelling in the vehicle along with
his guards.
July 6
A Lyari gangster, identified as Wasla,
was shot dead in a Police encounter at Nippier Road under
the jurisdiction of Nippier Police Station in Lyari Town
of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. According
to Police, the deceased was affiliated with the Uzair
Baloch gang and involved in murders, grenade attacks,
kidnapping for ransom, attack on Police mobile and other
heinous crime.
Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakariya
said that there was no organised presence of any terror
outfit, including TTP, JuA, Daesh and al Qaeda on Pakistani
soil. He also reiterated that the Haqqani Network operated
from Afghanistan, not Pakistan. At his weekly news briefing,
the spokesperson said the allegations about the presence
of Haqqani network in tribal areas were mere rhetoric.
"These are only aimed at putting the blame of their failures
on Pakistan. The killing of a number of commanders of
Haqqani network in Afghanistan clearly indicates that
the group was based in Afghanistan and not operating from
Pakistan," he said.
July 7
Malik Naveed Dehwar, a main leader of
the BNP-M, and three others were killed in two gun attacks
on Arbab Karam Khan road of Quetta, the provincial capital
of Balochistan. Police said that Malik Naveed Dehwar was
passing through Arbab Karam Khan road along with his guard
and another person when four men on two motorcycles opened
fire on the vehicle from two sides. In his 30s, Mr Dehwar
hailed from Mastung. He was a member of the BNP-M's central
council. In 2013, he contested the election from the National
Assembly's Mastung-Kalat constituency on a BNP-M ticket,
but lost.
Two persons were shot dead in the Chashma
Auchuzai area on the outskirts of Quetta. Amil Khan Kakar,
son of prominent Pashtu poet, writer and educationist
Wali Muhammad Siyal, was sitting in his farm with his
watchman when armed men appeared and attacked them. Both
Kakar and the watchman, whose name could not be ascertained,
died on the spot.
Police and SFs launched a crackdown in
Quetta and adjoining areas, arresting 98 suspects after
the killing incidents over a 24-hour period. There has
been no claim of responsibility for the killings as yet.
"Police and Frontier Corps conducted a search operation
in Killi Ismail and adjoining areas and detained 98 suspects
in connection with recent targeted killings," DIG Razzaq
Cheema said.
A data analysis by JPP, a non-government
organisation working for prisoners' rights, shows a total
of 465 prisoners have been executed since the country
lifted moratorium on the executions in December 2014.
The organisation regretted that such a high number of
the executions has made Pakistan "fifth most prolific
executioner" in the world, following China, Iran, Saudi
Arabia and Iraq. The research shows the use of death penalty
has failed to curb crime, including terrorism, but it
is exceedingly used as a political tool, sometimes even
as a jail overcrowding solution. Punjab has emerged as
a major practitioner of death penalty, accounting for
83 percent of the executions, and 89 percent of death
sentences in Pakistan. However, it has also witnessed
only a 9.7 percent drop in murder rate from 2015 to 2016.
Sindh, on the other hand, has registered a drop of nearly
25 percent in the same time period - even though it carried
out only 18 executions compared to Punjab's 382.
July 8
The NSC said peace and progress in the
region was directly linked to resolution of all outstanding
issues, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting of the committee, chaired by Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif at the PM House, discussed matters pertaining
to national security and foreign policy in the regional
and global context. The participants said Pakistan had
acted as a frontline state in global counterterrorism
efforts with unparalleled sacrifices and successes. "No
other country in the world has done as much for global
safety and security as Pakistan at a huge cost of both
men and material," a statement released after the meeting,
said.
July 10
The DPO of Qilla Abdullah, Sajid Khan
Mohmand, and his security guard and driver were killed
and over 10 other people, including five Police personnel,
injured in a suicide blast in the border town of Chaman
in Qilla Abdullah District of Balochistan. Sources said
that DPO Sajid Khan Mohmand with his team was on an inspection
of the Eidgah area of Boghara road when the suicide bomber
riding a motorcycle blew himself up after hitting his
vehicle. Sources said Sajid Khan Mohmand died on the spot
as the suicide bomber hit the vehicle on the side where
he was sitting. The TTP claimed responsibility for the
attack.
Police killed a Lyari gangster in an encounter
at Mirza Adam Road in Lyari town of Karachi, the provincial
capital of Sindh. Police said they carried out a targeted
raid in Mirza Adam Road. As the gangster saw the police
approaching to him, he resorted to firing and injured
a cop, while in retaliation he got killed, the deceased
was affiliated with the Lyari gang, they added.
July 11
A cache of arms and ammunition was recovered
by the SFs in Kohat Town of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According
to an ISPR press release, SFs conducted an intelligence-based
operation and recovered the weapons while they were being
transported from Darra Adam Khel to Wana. "Weapons were
discretely hidden inside the truck's lower body," the
press release read. ISPR said that two men were also apprehended
in the operation. The recovered cache of weapons includes
614 pistols, 115 automatic weapons, 7,000 rounds of various
calibre and 579 pistol magazines.
July 12
An IED explosion was reported from an
area near Jama Mosque Mohammadi in the Bin-Qasim town
of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Though no
casualties were reported, however, the green belt of the
road was damaged. DIG East Arif Hanif stated, "Sindhudesh
Liberation Army is involved in the incident as its terrorists
have been doing such activities in all over the Sindh
to disturb the peace." He informed that suspects of Sindhudesh
Liberation Army (also known as Sindhudesh Revolutionary
Army, SRA) had claimed to have planted bomb on the green
belt to target the convoy of Chinese engineers but likely
the convoy passed through the spot earlier. According
to the DIG the suspects involved have left some pamphlets
on the spot claiming the responsibility of the blast.
Sindhudesh Liberation Army issued a letter to media claiming
the responsibly. Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army claims
the responsibility of the bomb attacks on Chinese Engineers
in Karachi today (July 10) and warns the Chinese that
they should not become the part of any Project in Sindh
which may be against the national interest of Sindhis.
SRA will continue its struggle till the freedom of Sindhudesh.
Sindh CM Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed
police department to provide adequate security to the
Chinese working on CPEC related projects and install jammers
in their vehicles when they travel from one are to another.
The Chief Minister said that there are over nine CPEC
projects in Sindh, work on all these seven projects is
in progress where 3044 Chinese are working in them . These
projects and their workforce, particularly the Chinese
are very important for the development of the country
in general and Sindh in particular. They should have foolproof
security as it was decided at the start of the CPEC projects.
Home Secretary Qazi Shahid Parvez briefing
the Chief Minister said that seven security headquarters
of each project with a 3044 well trained police force
have been deployed for the security of Chinese. He added
that Pakistan Army leads their security apparatus. He
added that the eighth project of NTDC Transmission line
from Matirai to Lahore has been launched where 15 Chinese
have been engaged. "We have provided them a security force
of 65 personnel," he said. The Chief Minister said according
to the data available with some 137 non-CEPEC projects
are going on in the province where 1971 Chinese are working.
"What arrangement have you made for their security, he
asked the home secretary. The home secretary said that
1373 personnel have been deployed on their security. Additional
IG Karachi Mushtaq Maher said that with the approval of
the Chief Minister Sindh police have raised a Special
Protection Unit (SPU) to maintain an effective security
response and to avert any threat to Chinese nationals
working on CPEC projects. He added that the total sanctioned
strength of SPU is 2662 against which 1349 are working
while 1313 posts are vacant for which recruitment process
was in progress. DIG RRF & SPU Amin Yousifzai said that
nine projects have been expanded to 11. Talking about
the security arrangements he said that the coal-based
power Plant at Port Qasim have been provided a force of
563 personnel which include 30 army men, 193 SPU, 149
Rangers, 17 FC, 17 policemen and 157 private security
guards. Similarly, Thar project of Block-II has been given
security of 413 personnel while 46 personnel have been
deployed on Thar power project Block-I. He added that
for the security of four wind power projects in Thatta
district a force of 555 personnel has been deployed. The
DIG said that for 126 km long NDTC transmission line from
Sukkur to Ghotki a force 1197 personnel has been deployed.
For the transmission line from Matirai to Lahore/Faisalabad
a force of 76 personnel has been deployed for the security
of Chinese. The 548 km railway line being laid from Karachi
to Peshawar has been given a force of 75 personnel for
the Sindh section.
A report of the PILDAT shared at a public
forum has stated that terrorist activities in Punjab have
declined by 33 per cent. Punjab has apparently improved
its performance in the implementation of the NAP during
first quarter (January-March) of 2017 as compared to performance
in previous two years (2015-2016), said the report. The
report records a decrease of 33 per cent in terrorism
incidents in Punjab during the period under review. "Punjab
had witnessed 12 major terrorist attacks during 2015-2016,
bringing the average to 1.5 during each quarter compared
to one terrorist incidence during the first quarter of
2017." It added, "Of the 15 points pertaining to the performance
of Punjab on the implementation of the NAP, the first
quarter of 2017 has recorded upward progress on the implementation
of points No 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15 in Punjab." The remaining
eight points reflect unchanged implementation levels that
do not reflect a regression on status of implementation
of NAP in Punjab during the first quarter of 2017, it
said.
July 13
The SP, Mubarak Shah, and three of his
Police guards were shot dead when the motorcycles bourne
militants opened indiscriminate fire at the Police mobile
while it was patrolling in Killi Deba area of Quetta,
the provincial capital of Balochistan. Senior Police Official
Abdul Razzaq Cheema said the attackers opened fire from
different directions, killing Quaidabad SP Mubarak Shah
and his three Police guards, adding that militants managed
to escape from the crime scene. The banned TTP had claimed
responsibility for the attack.
Three militants were killed in an encounter
with Police and SFs in Essa Nagri area of Quetta. Police
officials said that militants opened fire on a Police
patrolling party in the area. In response, the Policemen
engaged the suspected terrorists, whereas, a heavy contingent
of Police and other law enforcement agencies immediately
reached the spot. After the encounter, the three suspected
terrorists were found killed, said Police officials. A
cache of arms and ammunition, including five-kilogram
of exclusive material were recovered from the possession
of the slain militants.
Two suicide bombers were killed by SF
when they tried to storm the FC camp in Jarobi area of
Khyber Agency in FATA. FC personnel engaged with the attackers
as they tried to enter the camp in Jarobi area, shooting
dead one of the suicide bombers at the gate. The second
attacker blew himself up at the entrance of the camp when
SFs opened retaliatory fire. At least two FC personnel
also sustained injuries during the incident.
Sindh Government has given 90-day extension
to the special powers of rangers in Karachi Division under
the Anti-terrorism Act. The period of the special powers
of rangers in Karachi Division was to end on July 12.
However, CM Syed Murad Ali Shah approved a summary to
give 90-day extension to the special powers of the rangers
in Karachi Division. However, the final notification in
this regard would be issued by the Federal Government.
July 14
Four militants were arrested in separate
raids by SFs from Gujranwala and Dera Ghazi Khan District
of Punjab. The first joint intelligence based operation
was conducted in Dera Ghazi Khan by Pakistan Rangers Punjab,
Police and intelligence agencies. Two militants were arrested
along with cache of arms and ammunition. The ISPR press
statement said the weapons and ammunition was being transported
for terrorist activities in major cities of Punjab and
Sindh.
The Punjab CTD conducted an operation
on an intelligence report in Gujranwala and arrested two
militants. The arrested terrorists were identified as
Muhammad Sufiyan and Zaheerud Din," the CTD said. CTD
officials said that explosives, detonators and weapons
were seized from the arrested terrorists.
Against the back of a renewed wave of
targeted attacks against senior police officers in Balochistan,
Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa arrived
in Quetta and reviewed the security situation prevailing
in the restive province. The Army Chief assured the people
of Balochistan that their prosperity would remain his
priority and his focus was on bringing them on a par with
the people of other provinces. COAS says the Army will
continue to perform its duty with people's support. According
to a statement issued by the ISPR, the Army chief was
apprised that "terrorists in desperation" were targeting
law enforcement agencies and soft targets since there
had been a phenomenal reduction in targeted killings on
sectarian grounds in the province.
July 15
Four militants were killed during an exchange
of fire with the FC troops in the night after they attacked
the Shoaib Nikka post in the Qamar din Kerez area of Zhob
District in Balochistan. According to the ISPR, the militants
fired rockets and used machine guns during the attack
on Shoaib Nikka post. The FC troops, however, foiled the
attack, killing four terrorists.
July 16
The DG of ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor
announced the launch of Operation Khyber-4 under Radd-ul-Fasaad
to "wipe out terrorists" in the Rajgal Valley area of
Khyber Agency in FATA. "An operation to wipe out terrorists
has been launched in Rajgal valley in Khyber Agency,"
Major General Ghafoor said. Khyber-4 seeks to target terrorist
hideouts in what the DG ISPR called "the most critical
area in the FATA". There is no timeline for the operation
as yet, Ghafoor said in response to a question.
July 17
SFs claimed to have killed at least eight
militants and injured three others in air strikes on their
hideouts on the first day of Operation Khyber-4 in the
mountainous region of Rajgal in Tirah valley of Khyber
Agency in FATA. Official sources said that several hideouts
of the LI and IS group were targeted during the daylong
shelling. Residents in nearby areas said they saw military
helicopters approaching Rajgal in the morning and also
heard heavy artillery shelling. Air Force jets also participated
in the strikes along with military helicopters at the
militant hideouts in Pakdara, Naray Naw, Sattar Kalay
and Khairaba areas of Rajgal.
Two FC personnel were killed and four
others injured when a suicide bomber targeted their vehicle
in Hayatabad area of Peshawar, the provincial capital
of KP. Superintendent of Police (Cantonment), Imran Malik
has confirmed it was a suicide attack and death of two
FC soldiers, including a Major rank officer.
Two workers of PSP were killed in a suspected
targeted attack in Orangi Town of Karachi, the provincial
capital of Sindh. According to Superintendent of Police
Abid Ali Baloch the PSP workers, Abdul Hameed alias Nadeem
alias Mulla (55) and Rashid Khan (50), were sitting at
a corner of a street near Qazafi Chowk behind Sindh Government
Qatar Hospital when armed pillion riders attacked them
and fled.
July 19
At least four persons belonging to the
ethnic Hazara Shia community were shot dead when unidentified
assailants opened fire on their vehicle on the main RCD
highway in Mastung town in the same District of Balochistan.
A woman is among the slain victims. The assailants managed
to escape after carrying out the attack.
Abdur Razzak Shaikh, a former security
officer of PPP MNA and sister of Party Co-Chairperson
Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur, was shot dead in an act
of targeted killing in District Central at Haji Mureed
Goth within the limits of Gulbahar Police Station in Karachi,
the provincial capital of Sindh. Abdur Razzak Shaikh was
shot multiple times and was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital
for medical treatment where he succumbed to his injuries.
His body was handed over to his family for burial. He
was shot at least twice with a close range. DSP Zafar
Khan said that the incident occurred when the victim was
sitting outside his residence when at least two armed
men riding a motorcycle shot him. Razzak was also a close
aide of Zardari's chief protocol officer Bilal Shaikh
who had been killed a few years ago in a suicide attack
in Karachi. Bilal's brother, Khan Shaikh, said that the
deceased had served as Talpur's security officer and had
previously served as a security officer at Zardari House.
He had been a founding member of Jannisar-e -Benazir.
The United States (US) listed Pakistan
among nations that provide "safe havens" to terrorists
to operate. It also stated that India continued to be
a victim of attacks "including by Maoist insurgents and
Pakistan-based terrorists". In its annual 'Country Report
on Terrorism', the State Department said that terror outfits
like Haqqani Network, LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad continued
to operate, train, organise and fundraise in Pakistan
in 2016. "Although LeT is banned in Pakistan, LeT's wings
JuD and FiF were able to openly engage in fundraising,
including in the capital," it said. "LeT's chief Hafiz
Saeed (a UN-designated terrorist) continued to address
large rallies, although, in February 2017, Pakistan proscribed
him under relevant provisions of Schedule Four of the
Anti-Terrorism Act, thus severely restricting his freedom
of movement," it noted.
According to the State Department, the
Pakistani Government did not publicly reverse its December
2015 declaration that neither JuD nor FiF is banned in
Pakistan, despite their listing under UN sanctions regimes,
although in January 2017, Pakistan placed both organisations
"under observation" pursuant to Schedule Two of the Anti-Terrorism
Act. The State Department also said that Pakistan did
not take sufficient action against the extremely focused
groups that continued to exist in the country. "Pakistan
did not take substantial action against the Afghan Taliban
or Haqqani, or substantially limit their ability to threaten
US interests in Afghanistan, although Pakistan supported
efforts to bring both groups into an Afghan-led peace
process." It also said that Pakistani military and security
forces undertook operations against groups that conducted
attacks within Pakistan such as TTP.
According to the State Department, the
Pakistani Government did not publicly reverse its December
2015 declaration that neither JuD nor FiF is banned in
Pakistan, despite their listing under UN sanctions regimes,
although in January 2017, Pakistan placed both organisations
"under observation" pursuant to Schedule Two of the Anti-Terrorism
Act. The State Department also said that Pakistan did
not take sufficient action against the extremely focused
groups that continued to exist in the country. "Pakistan
did not take substantial action against the Afghan Taliban
or Haqqani, or substantially limit their ability to threaten
US interests in Afghanistan, although Pakistan supported
efforts to bring both groups into an Afghan-led peace
process." It also said that Pakistani military and security
forces undertook operations against groups that conducted
attacks within Pakistan such as TTP.
July 20
At least 13 militants were killed and
six others were injured while an Army soldier, identified
as Sepoy Abdul Jabbar, was killed during operation Khyber-4
in Rajgal Valley area of Khyber Agency in FATA. The ISPR
said the raid was conducted as part of Operation Khyber
4, launched under Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (RuF), to specifically
clear areas in FATA that are susceptible to threats from
the IS.
July 21
Three Policemen and a 12-year-old boy
were killed after six unidentified assailants opened fire
on a Police van parked near Darul Uloom in Korangi town
of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. SP Landhi
Arif Aslam confirmed that an Awami Colony Police mobile
was the target of the attack. The dead personnel were
identified as ASI Qamar Din, Constable Babar Ali and Constable
Amjad. The identity of the boy is still not known.
The ISPR said a major achievement was
achieved in Operation Khyber-4 when troops including SSG
successfully cleared the highest mountain top Brekh Muhammad
Kandao near Pak-Afghan border in Khyber Agency of FATA.
Many terrorists were killed, with a few managing to escape
to Afghanistan, the ISPR press release said. Terrorists'
hideouts were cleared, and caches of IEDs, arms and ammunition
were recovered. "The forces have established posts at
over 12000-feet altitude - the terrain is riddled with
thick forestation," the ISPR statement said.
July 22
Two FC personnel were killed by unidentified
assailants on the RCD Highway in Chaghi District in Balochistan.
The two soldiers were patrolling the highway on a motorcycle
in the Killi Dawoodabad area when assailants opened fire
on them and fled, the Levies sources said. A search operation
was launched in the area following the attack. There was
no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
July 23
A Khasadar force personnel was killed
and another injured when an IED went off in Sheen Drang
area of Khyber Agency in FATA. Security personnel cordoned
off the area soon after the blast.
ISPR said that the Army has cleared two
strongholds of terrorists in the Rajgal valley of Khyber
Agency during the ongoing Operation Khyber-4. The Spinkai
Top dominating Saprai Pass and Star Kille have been secured
and are "effectively dominated by the Pakistan Army",
read a statement issued by ISPR.
July 24
At least 26 persons, including nine Policemen,
were killed and 56 others injured in a suicide blast near
the Arfa Karim IT Tower on the Ferozepur Road of Lahore,
the provincial capital of Punjab, in the afternoon. The
suicide attack was carried out during the demolition of
the old fruit and vegetable market. The suicide bomber
was aged between 16 to 18 years, apparently riding a bike,
reached the spot where the Police were standing guard
to avert any retaliation from the owners of the buildings
being demolished for a park. The bomber – carrying a suicide
jacket weighing at least 12 kilogrammes of explosives,
including ball bearings – triggered the button at 3:55pm.
The impact of the blast was so huge that it shook the
Arfa Karim Tower like an earthquake as ball bearings shattered
a number of windowpanes. Three bikes and a car were damaged
in the blast. The incident occurred just a few meters
away from 180-H Model Town – the Chief Minister’s camp
office, exposing the so-called combing search operations
and maintenance of law and order in the provincial metropolis.
TTP claimed responsibility for the attack.
Four militants, including Mullah Akbar
Swati, the chief of AQIS Karachi chapter, were killed
in an encounter with Police during a raid in the Sachal
area of Malir Town in Karachi, the provincial capital
of Sindh. “The spy agencies traced a telephone call in
the morning that the terrorists were going to hold a gathering
in the area,” Malir SSP Rao Anwar said. “The surveillance
of the area was increased following intelligence sharing,
and preparations were made for the arrest of the outlaws.”
“However, the terrorists opened fire on the police team
that reached the site of terrorists’ gathering,” the SSP
said, adding that the Police retaliated and killed four
of them. Following the encounter, a heavy contingent of
Rangers reached the site and started searching the area
to nab other terrorists.
A traffic Constable was killed and another
injured when unidentified assailants riding pillion on
a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire at Abul Hasan
Ispahani Road in Sohrab Goth area of Karachi. Gadap town
Superintendent of Police Chaudhry Saifullah confirmed
the incident, stating that both traffic wardens had been
attacked near the Paradise Bakery. “Apparently, today’s
incident appeared to be part of a recent wave of attacks
on law enforcers in the city,” stated the CTD's SSP Omar
Shahid Hamid.
July 25
The ISPR said that FC conducted an intelligence
based operation and recovered a huge cache of arms and
ammunition in Duagai area of Mamond tehsil in Bajaur
Agency of FATA. As per details, FC foiled a sabotage attempt
as troops conducted a successful operation based on intelligence,
where troops recovered a cache of arms and ammunition
which were brought there to carry out a major terrorist
activity.
Law enforcement agencies identified a
new militant network, an offshoot of the TTP, as the group
responsible for July 24’s attack on Lahore’s Ferozepur
Road. The suicide attack near the Arfa Karim IT Tower
was the first deadly assault by the TSG, which comprised
highly trained suicide attackers (Fidayeen commandos),
a Senior Police Officer said under the condition of anonymity.
The Police officer said the emergence of the TSG had raised
concerns among law enforcement agencies, who were viewing
it as an emerging new challenge. The TSG commandos have
been trained to carry out massive and deadly attacks,
he added.
July 26
A religious scholar and leader of the
JUI-F, Maulana Haq Nawaz Haqqani, was shot dead in Shabqadar
tehsil of Charsadda District in KP. According to
Police, Maulana Haq Nawaz Haqqani, administrator of Jamia
Muhammadia in the Matta Mughalkhel area, was going to
the mosque in his seminary for Fajr prayer at about 4.20am
when two men on a motorcycle opened fire on him. He suffered
10 bullet wounds and died instantly, while the killers
escaped. JUI-F leaders termed the incident targeted killing.
They said Maulana Haqqani was a non-controversial person
and had no enmity.
Balochistan's higher education secretary,
Abdullah Jan, who was abducted from Quetta on March 15,
2017, returned home in the evening. Unidentified gunmen
had picked the official up from Sabzal Road area of Quetta
at gunpoint when he was on his way to work. He was kidnapped
when the 6th national census was underway throughout the
country and a large number of Government employees, including
those from the education department, were participating
in the process. "My father has safely reached home,"
Attique Khan, Jan's son, said. He said his father's physical
condition was not good. It is not yet apparent whether
the official was recovered by Security Forces in an operation,
or set free after payment of ransom. No group claimed
the responsibility for his abduction.
July 27
Tribal elder along with two members of
his family were gunned down by unidentified assailants
in the Haleemzai area of Mohmand Agency in FATA. An official
of the political administration confirmed the killing
of tribal elder Sadiq Shah, his wife and his son, Yaseen
Khan. He added that the assailants had barged into Sadiq’s
house and shot him, his wife and son to death in the Shani
Khel area of Haleemzai. A resident of the area said that
unidentified assailants had entered Sadiq’s house with
the motive to abduct Yaseen Khan. However, Sadiq and his
wife resisted their attempts to abduct Yaseen. Upon resistance,
the assailants killed Sadiq and his family.
July 29
At least four people were killed and five
others sustained injuries in an explosion in Chedgi area
of Panjgur District in Balochistan. The nature of the
blast could not be ascertained yet.
July 30
Four militants were killed in an exchange
of fire in Gishkur area of Awaran District in Balochistan.
According to Balochistan Levies sources, an exchange of
fire took place between SFs and the militants in Gishkur
area. Four militants were killed as a result.
Police and SFs arrested 12 suspects following
raids carried out as part of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad
in different parts of Balochistan. Eleven of them were
arrested during a joint operation conducted by FC Balochistan
and local Police in the Killi Deba area of Quetta, the
ISPR said in a statement. According to the ISPR, the joint
Police-FC ‘sanitisation’ operation was launched in parts
of Quetta late July 28-night in view of the recent spate
of target killings and bombings in the provincial capital.
“More than 3,000 security personnel and 208 teams – also
comprising 208 women personnel – are participating in
the operation,” Quetta FC Commander Brigadier Khalid Baig
said. More than 190 weapons, along with caches of ammunition,
were also seized during the Killi Deba raid, ISPR added.
Another wanted terrorist suspect was apprehended
in an IBO in Killa Abdullah District. According to reports,
FC troops and intelligence officials arrested a ‘notorious
terrorist’ belonging to a banned organisation from the
Killi Segi area of Killa Abdullah. Rocket launchers and
other weapons were also recovered during the operation.
Haji Daud Mehsud, a senior leader of the
TTP, has declared allegiance to Daesh or the Islamic State
that could be seen as a serious setback for the TTP and
a boost for IS-Khorasan (IS-K) region just two weeks after
the US airstrikes killed the IS-K leader Abu Sayed in
Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province. Daud, who belongs
to Haibat Khel tribe in South Waziristan Agency of FATA,
has served as the Karachi TTP chief. Tribal journalists
who are aware of the TTP affairs say he is the first senior
Mehsud within the TTP to join Daesh. He was one of the
few trusted leader of the TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud,
who was killed in a US drone strike in Miranshah in November
1, 2013. Hakimullah group had appointed Daud as the Karachi
chief, where he had previously served in the Sindh Police
Department, according to a TTP source.
A militant source said that Daud’s differences
with another top leader Khan Said Sajna surfaced even
when Hakimullah was alive and he could have parted ways
with the TTP as Sajna has rejoined the TTP and Daud was
uncomfortable with Sajna. Sources say Sajna is currently
the TTP’s deputy chief, replacing Sheikh Khalid Haqqani.
Splinter Mehsud factions had been involved in infighting
after Hakimullah’s death that had reportedly claimed the
lives of dozens of militants.
Several militants, who are considered
confidants of Daud, have confirmed to the tribal journalists
that Daud has joined Daesh and that he has moved to the
group’s controlled areas in Afghanistan along with his
family. A militant leader said that the TTP leader has
declared allegiance to Daesh; however, neither Daud, nor
Daesh has confirmed the decision. He said the confirmation
could come if Daud is given any responsibility.
July 31
Two IS militants were
shot dead in an exchange of fire with SFs during raid
on a house in Sector 21-B of Shah Latif Town in Karachi,
the provincial capital of Sindh. Shah Latif Town SHO Amanullah
Marwat said the militants were allegedly involved in the
targeted killing of 15 people, including a DSP, Traffic,
Faiz Shigri. One of the deceased was identified as Abu
Huzaifa, while the name of the other militant could not
be ascertained immediately, said SHO Marwat. “Abu Huzaifa
was previously associated with AQIS, but later on he joined
IS,” said Malir SSP Rao Anwar.
The ISPR said that SFs
have foiled a major sabotage attempt by recovering two
thousand kilograms of explosive materials from a vehicle
during a raid at Spain Taiza area of Qilla Abdullah District
in Balochistan. According to ISPR, on a tip-off, SFs conducted
a raid at Spain Taiza area and apprehended two terrorists
who were carrying a huge quantity of explosive materials
in their vehicle to carry out sabotage activities in the
province which was averted due to timely operation of
the law enforcement agencies.
The ISPR said at least
19 suspects were arrested during joint search operations
in different areas of Punjab. According to the statement
issued by ISPR, the joint search operations were conducted
by Punjab Rangers, Police and intelligence agencies. Operations
were conducted in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rojhan, Lahore, Narowal,
Rawalpindi and Attock. Nineteen suspects were apprehended
while cache of weapons and ammunition were also recovered.
Sindh IGP, A.D. Khowaja,
said that talks with different companies and consultants
were under way to install 10,000 cameras in Karachi under
the safe city project and expressed the hope that work
on the project would start soon. Speaking at a ceremony
held to hand over 45 Toyota pick-ups among the investigation
wing of Police at the Police headquarters in Garden area
of Saddar Town in Karachi and talking to journalists after
the ceremony, the IGP Khowaja said that all possible efforts
were being made to enhance the capacity of the police
force. IGP Khowaja said that as part of enhancing the
capacity of Police, more weapons such as SMGs and pistols
were being purchased from Pakistan Ordnance Factory in
Wah. He said that Karachi was a megacity and under such
a situation, carrying pistol was more advisable than SMGs.
Around 12,000 pistols would be procured while in the past
Police had only 3,000 pistols. At least 10,000 bulletproof
jackets would also be purchased as at present the Police
had only 18,000 such jackets, he added.
August 1
The TTP released the first
edition of a magazine for women, apparently aiming to
convince its target readership to join the militant group
and take up jihad. The first edition of Sunnat-i-Khaula
— which translates as ‘The Way of Khaula’, referring to
an early female follower of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
— published by the TTP features a picture of a woman veiled
from head to toe on its front cover. Inside is an interview
with the TTP’s leader’s wife, who is not named, in which
she talks about being married to the head of the militant
group, Fazlullah Khorasani, at the age of 14. “I ask you
why now everywhere there is hue and cry about underage
marriages ... We have to understand that mature boys and
girls if left unmarried for too long can become a source
of moral destruction of the society,” the militant leader’s
wife tells the interviewer. “We want to provoke women
of Islam to come forward and join the ranks of Mujahideen-e-Islam,”
reads the opening editorial of the magazine, which includes
an advice column for would-be lady jihadists. The English-language
magazine also includes an article written by a Pakistani
female doctor describing her decision to shun her western
education and embrace Islam, titled “My journey from ignorance
to guidance”.
August 2
The Punjab CTD shot dead
three TTP militants during a raid at University Road of
Gujrat Town in same District of Punjab. According to CTD’s
spokesperson, Police, on a tip-off, conducted a raid and
killed three militants after a heavy exchange of fire,
while three others managed to escape. CTD has recovered
four detonators and other explosive materials from the
custody of the slain militants.
August 6
FC personnel shot dead
four terrorists as the cops conducted intelligence based
raids at Dera Bugti and Kohlu areas of Balochistan under
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad. According to ISPR, FC
carried out raids on a tip-off in Dera Bugti and Kohlu
areas, after a heavy exchange of fire FC killed four terrorists,
involved in attacks on SFs and other sabotage activities
in the province. FC has dismantled several hideouts of
the terrorists and recovered cache of mines, explosive
material and tools of communication during the raids.
Two major commanders belonging
to the banned BLF along with four other suspected militants
surrendered before SFs at Gwadar. The commanders, who
were identified as Hali alias Jahaz and Rafiq alias Aamir
and four other militants, handed over their weapons to
Colonel Ali Saeed and other officials of the Frontier
Corps in a ceremony held at Gwadar. “We have decided to
end our armed struggle against the state and join mainstream
politics to serve our people who are facing difficulties
due to the war-like situation in our area,” Rafiq alias
Aamir said while handing over his weapons to the security
officials.
The CTD shot dead three
militants in a late night encounter at Machar Colony area
of Kiamari Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of
Sindh. According to SSP Shahid Hamid, on a tip-off, CTD
carried out a targeted raid in a house at Machar Colony,
where Policemen entered the house to approach the alleged
terrorists, they suddenly resorted to firing. After heavy
exchange of fire three militants got killed, while four
others arrested. CTD recovered a cache of arms and IEDs.
Pakistan Rangers Sindh
conducted an operation and arrested two suspected militants
from a residential building near the Lal Flat located
on the Rashid Minhas road.
Contrary to their previous
assumption that one single outfit has been targeting Policemen
and retired personnel of law enforcement agencies, CTD
officials now conclude that there are numerous splinter
groups — of either TTP or LeJ— responsible for the spate
of attacks in recent months. “There are multiple groups
involved in targeted killings of policemen in the city,”
said CTD’s chief ADGP Sanaullah Abbasi. He said the CTD
assessed that there were apparently separate militant
groups involved in around half a dozen acts of terrorism
in the metropolis as their modus operandi were different
in each case. TTP has formed a special cell to target
LEA personnel. They were operating in the East and West
zones of the Police’s organisational structure.
August 7
The CTD killed four TTP
militants in an encounter near Sagian Bridge in Lahore,
the provincial capital of Punjab. According to CTD, Police
were deployed at all entry and exit points of Punjab’s
capital as the threats of more attacks were looming after
a blast early on the day, when the cops approached a vehicle
to search, the militants in that vehicle restored to firing.
CTD police effectively responded and in retaliation four
of them got killed, while three others managed to escape
the scene having an advantage of darkness, spokesperson
of CTD added. CTD recovered a cache of arms and ammunition
from the custody of the slain militants.
One person was killed
and 37 others were injured in a truck bomb that ripped
through Bund Road area of Lahore. As per details, the
explosive material was planted inside a truck which was
loaded with fruit. It is yet to ascertain that how and
when the truck arrived in the area. According to eyewitnesses,
it was a powerful blast which damaged, partially or heavily,
more than 100 vehicles, such as cars, mini-trucks and
motorcycles parked at the stand. A large number of people
in the area came out on roads after the explosion. The
blast was heard in several areas of the city in the radius
of four to five kilometres of the site. The high voltage
wires (132kV) from Saggian Grid Station were also damaged
leaving the area in darkness.
August 8
One ISI personnel was
shot dead by unidentified assailants in Cantonment Bazaar
of Multan District in Punjab. Mahar Muhammad Yasir Manzoor
was riding a motorcycle in Cantonment bazaar when the
assailants on a vehicle shot at and killed him in a drive-by
shooting with pistols at 8:37am. The deceased official
was the resident of Maisli area in Vehari District.
August 9
Four Army personnel, including
a major, and two suicide bombers were killed during an
operation in an attempting to foil a terrorist attack
in Sherotkai area of Timergara in Lower Dir District of
KP in the early hours. The ISPR press release said the
Major Ali Salman, who belonged to an intelligence agency,
along with his team carried out an IBO against a terrorist
hideout in Sherotkai area. When the security personnel
raided the hideout, the suspected militants opened fire
on the soldiers. One of the two suicide bombers present
inside the hideout then blew himself up, while the other
was killed in the exchange of fire with soldiers. One
suspected terrorist was apprehended during the operation,
the ISPR statement said. The slain Major and soldiers
were identified as Major Ali Salman, Havildar Ghulam Nazir,
Havildar Akhtar and Sepoy Abdul Karim.
The CTD conducted a search
operation in the Al-Kareem Islamic Academy located in
SITE Town area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh,
allegedly linked with the TTP and arrested seven persons
for interrogation. CTD SSP Omar Shahid Hamid said that
a team, along with District Administration and District
Police, had conducted a search operation in the Al-Kareem
Islamic Academy which had been established by Mufti Shakir,
a “dangerous terrorist and TTP commander". “Mufti
Shakir is responsible for a number of police murders in
District Central and West in 2013-14, and is suspected
of involvement in the murder of SSP Chaudhry Aslam,” added
the officer.
August 11
A Traffic DSP and his
driver were shot dead in Hussainabad area of Azizabad
Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. As per
initial reports, DSP Hanif was on his way home from office
when unidentified assailants opened fire on his vehicle
in Hussainabad, said SSP, Central, Muqadas Haider.
August 12
At least 15 people, among
them eight soldiers, were killed and 40 others injured
when a suicide bomber targeted a military truck near the
Pishin bus stop in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
“A man riding a motorbike came close to the army truck
and blew himself up,” an official of the Bomb Disposal
Squad said. “We can now confirm that 15 people have died
in the explosion today. At least 32 others are wounded,”
Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said following
the suspected suicide blast, which reportedly targeted
a vehicle carrying military personnel. The deceased include
members of the armed forces and civilians, said the provincial
Home Minister. The ISPR said it was an attack on an “on
duty military vehicle”. It said that terrorists had used
“incendiary explosives” due to which many vehicles in
the affected area caught fire. About the death toll, the
ISPR confirmed that 15 people, including seven civilians,
were martyred in the attack and 25 others, including 15
civilians, wounded.
August 14
Eight FC personnel were killed in IED
blast in Khost area of Harnai District in Balochistan.
FC personnel were patrolling between Shahrag and Khost
areas when their vehicle hit an IED planted on their route.
The BLA has claimed responsibility for the blast. "The
BLA has carried out a remote-controlled blast, which caused
the death [martyrdom] of eight soldiers," BLA spokesman
Jeiand Baloch claimed in a statement received by some
media men through email.
August 15
Two militants belonging to the TTP Mufti
Shakir group were killed during an encounter with the
CTD personnel in the Manghopir area of Karachi, the provincial
capital of Sindh. According to a CTD press release, an
operation was carried out in the Manghopir area to intercept
the two 'TTP men' reportedly coming from Balochistan,
based on information gathered from the 'terrorists' apprehended
by the CTD in last week in Machhar Colony. The apprehended
terrorists also claimed that Abdul Jabbar was on his way
to Karachi from Balochistan, with plans to attack jamaat
khanas, imambargahs, shrines and Police training centres
and important officials of security agencies. The team,
with the use of the CTD's intelligence, was able to set
up check posts in the city. As soon as the terrorists'
vehicle reached Manghophir, the Police signalled them
to stop, the CTD said, after which the terrorists began
firing at the Police. The terrorists, namely Abdul Jabbar
and Daniyal were killed on the spot by the Police's retaliatory
firing, the CTD handout read. According to CTD forensic
scans run on two pistols recovered from the 'terrorists',
the weapons were used in the 2015 target killing of a
Police Sub-Inspector in Baldia Town.
Two schoolchildren were injured when one
of the two mortar shells fired from across the Afghan
border exploded near the hostel of the Army Public School
inside an Army camp in Landi Kotal town of Khyber Agency
in FATA. Officials said that the other shell landed in
an empty compound and caused no damage.
At least five mortar shells, fired from
the Afghan side, landed in a hilly terrain of Sheen Pokh
area of Loe Shalman bordering Afghanistan. Officials said
that the explosion of shells caused no damage as there
was no population nearby.
The ISPR said that FC KP busted a terrorist
network involved in planting IEDs and other sabotage activities
in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency. Terrorist network
involved in planting and facilitating IEDs and carrying
out other terrorist activities was apprehended after an
IBO conducted by FC KP, ISPR statement said.
August 16
SFs arrested seven TTP militants and 20
Afghan suspects during various operations conducted over
the last 72 hours in Punjab, ISPR said. The statement
adds the search operations had been carried out jointly
by Punjab Rangers, Police and intelligence agencies in
Attock, Dera Ghazi Khan and Lahore. Explosive material
and weapons had also been recovered from the militants
affiliated with the TTP.
August 17
One Police Qaumi razakar was killed and
another was injured in a firing incident in the Northern
Bypass area in Karachi. SSP Malir Rao Anwar said the two
razakars, wearing Police uniforms, were standing at a
Police chowki near the bypass when unidentified assailants
opened fire on them.
The CoAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa advised
the youth to stay alert as educated people are major target
of Daesh and its affiliated groups. An ISPR statement
says the COAS paid a visit to the Directorate of ISPR
and met the interns. He said that Allah had blessed Pakistan
with the intelligent and energetic youth. He advised the
youth to follow merit and rule of law and lead the country
towards peace and prosperity. He advised the youth to
stay alert as educated people are a major target of Daesh
and its affiliated groups.
August 18
A local leader of the JUI-F, Maulana Syed
Ataullah Shah, was shot dead by unidentified assailants
in Banu Ada area of Dera Ismail Khan District of KP. The
assailants targeted Maulana Syed Ataullah Shah while he
was walking home after offering Fajr prayers in Banu Ada.
Shah, who was serving as the khateeb (sermon-giver) of
a local mosque, was considered to be a prominent leader
of JUI Dera Ismail Khan and a close aide of JUI-F chief
Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
As part of the ongoing political reconciliation
in Balochistan, 22 more suspected militants including
a commander of the BLA surrendered before the SFs in a
ceremony held at FC Madadgar Headquarters in Quetta. According
to the statement issued by the ISPR, the surrender was
a part of the larger political reconciliation process
in Balochistan which has led to many militants surrendering
recently.
Reviewing law and order situation in
the wake of recent terror attacks in Balochistan, the
province's apex committee decided to further intensify
efforts to take targeted action against the terrorists
and their facilitators including those providing them
shelter in the province. The meeting, held at the Chief
Minister Secretariat, took place in the backdrop of August
12 suicide attack in Quetta and August 14 blast in Harnai,
in which scores of people including 16 security officials
were martyred.
August 19
Two TTP militants were killed in shootout
during an IBO jointly conducted by CTD and Pakistan Rangers
(Sindh) at Noorani Basti in Korangi Town of Karachi, the
provincial capital of Sindh, in the early hours. CTD SSP
Raja Umar Khattab said that an IBO jointly carried out
in search of militants at Noorani Basti when the Policemen
entered a house the militants restored to firing and after
a heavy exchange of fire two militants belonged to TTP
got killed. CTD said that killed militants were involved
in murder of two Traffic Policemen, Constable Kamran and
Head Constable Mohammad Khan, at Abul Hasan Ispahani Road.
CTD claimed to have recovered weapons and other materials
from the alleged terrorists who had affiliation with TTP's
Mufti Shakir Group and involved in other sabotage activities
in the city.
August 20
Three Punjabi labourers, who were abducted
by unidentified miscreants four days ago, were found dead
in Hoshab area of Kech District in Balochistan. These
labourers, who belong to Rahim Yar Khan District of Punjab,
were working on a development project in the area. The
bodies were found with multiple bullet injuries. There
was no claim of responsibility for the killing.
A boy was killed and six other children
were injured in a toy bomb explosion in Spinawari area
under Pishtakhara Police Station in Peshawar, provincial
capital of KP. Police said the children were playing in
a field when the explosion took place at around 4pm. The
blast was caused by a toy like grenade.
August 21
Punjab Police successfully recovered the
seven Policemen, who were kidnapped by a group of bandits
from the Kacha area of Rajanpur District, in an operation
after a heavy exchange of fire. According to details,
Police launched an operation on the directives of Punjab
CM Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for safe recovery of the kidnapped
Policemen at the earliest and successfully recovered them
after heavy exchange of fire. The kidnappers managed to
escape due to the advantage of darkness. Seven Policemen,
included Luqman, Zeeshan, Sabir, Shakir, Jamshed, Safdar
and Muzammil, were on their way to a picket of Nabi Shah
on a boat were abducted by 15 dacoits from the riverine
area of River Indus in the limits of Bangla Ichha Police
Station on August 20. Rajanpur DPO Attiq Tahir said that
the head of Patt gang Attaullah was involved in the incident
who escaped during the operation.
August 21
Punjab Police successfully recovered the
seven Policemen, who were kidnapped by a group of bandits
from the Kacha area of Rajanpur District, in an operation
after a heavy exchange of fire. According to details,
Police launched an operation on the directives of Punjab
CM Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for safe recovery of the kidnapped
Policemen at the earliest and successfully recovered them
after heavy exchange of fire. The kidnappers managed to
escape due to the advantage of darkness. Seven Policemen,
included Luqman, Zeeshan, Sabir, Shakir, Jamshed, Safdar
and Muzammil, were on their way to a picket of Nabi Shah
on a boat were abducted by 15 dacoits from the riverine
area of River Indus in the limits of Bangla Ichha Police
Station on August 20. Rajanpur DPO Attiq Tahir said that
the head of Patt gang Attaullah was involved in the incident
who escaped during the operation.
The DG of ISPR, Major General Asif Ghafoor
said that the Operation Khyber-4 that was launched on
July 15 has been successfully completed. Sharing of details
of the operation, Major General Asif Ghafoor said the
ground targets had been achieved in Rajgal and Shawal
areas of Khyber Agency in FATA. 253 kilometers of land
had been cleared from terrorists in the Operation Khyber-4,
in which 52 militants were killed, one arrested, 31 sustained
injuries while four blew themselves. Clearance operation
was still continued in the Khyber Valley, he added, saying
91 checkposts had been setup in Rajgal area.
US President Donald Trump cleared the
way for the deployment of thousands more US troops to
Afghanistan, backtracking from his promise to rapidly
end America´s longest war, while pillorying ally Pakistan
for offering safe haven to "agents of chaos". In his first
formal address to the nation as Commander-in-Chief, Trump
discarded his previous criticism of the 16-year-old war
as a waste of time and money, admitting things looked
different from "behind the desk in the Oval Office." "My
instinct was to pull out," Trump said as he spoke of his
frustration with a war that has killed thousands of US
troops and cost US taxpayers trillions of dollars. But
following months of deliberation, Trump said he had concluded
"the consequences of a rapid exit are both predictable
and unacceptable" leaving a "vacuum" that terrorists "would
instantly fill." While Trump refused to offer detailed
troop numbers, senior White House officials said he had
already authorized his defense secretary to deploy up
to 3,900 more troops to Afghanistan.
Donald Trump indicated that single-minded
approach would extend to US relations with troubled ally
Pakistan, which consecutive US administrations have criticized
for links with the Taliban and for harboring leading militants
like Osama bin Laden. "We can no longer be silent about
Pakistan´s safe havens for terrorist organizations," he
said warning that vital aid could be cut. "We have been
paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the
same time they are housing the very terrorists that we
are fighting," he said. "That will have to change and
that will change immediately." Ahead of the speech Pakistan´s
military brushed off speculation that Trump could signal
a stronger line against Islamabad, insisting the country
has done all it can to tackle militancy. "Let it come,"
DG of ISPR, Major General Asif Ghafoor said, referring
to Trump´s decision. "Even if it comes... Pakistan shall
do whatever is best in the national interest."
August 22
Minister for Defence Engineer Khurram
Dastgir rejected the allegations of US President Donald
Trump saying there is no safe haven for terrorists in
Pakistan, adding that armed forces of the country had
dismantled all nurseries of terrorists. While lauding
the role of Pakistan Army, the Minister said Pakistani
forces bravely fought the terrorists and rendered sacrifices
to eradicate the terrorism from the country, adding that
through its operations of Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad
brave forces of Pakistan rooted out terrorism from the
country. Khurram emphasized the need of a comprehensive
dialogue with the US and said that Foreign Minister Khawaja
Muhammad Asif would soon visit Washington in this regard.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said
the Government of Pakistan would be in danger if Taliban
were not controlled. The United States again urged India
and Pakistan to engage in direct dialogue to reduce tension,
a day after the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said
India could take some steps of rapprochement on issues
with Pakistan to improve stability. Speaking about the
militant groups and regional approach to the US efforts
for peace and stability at a briefing, Secretary Tillerson
said that India and Pakistan had their own issues that
they had to continue to work through. "But I think there
are areas where perhaps even India can take some steps
of rapprochement on issues with Pakistan to improve the
stability within Pakistan and remove some of the reasons
why they deal with these unstable elements inside their
own country," he went on to say.
August 23
The CoAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa said
that Pakistan was not looking for any material or financial
assistance from the US, but wants to be trusted and treated
with respect, according to a statement issued by the ISPR.
"We are not looking for any material or financial assistance
from USA but trust, understanding and acknowledgement
of our contributions," CoAS General Bajwa told US Ambassador
in Pakistan David Hale who called on him at the GHQ in
Rawalpindi. The meeting comes a day after US President
Donald Trump said his country 'could no longer be silent
about Pakistan's safe havens for militants' and warned
'it had much to lose by continuing to harbor terrorists'.
According to the ISPR, the US ambassador briefed the CoAS
about the new US policy regarding Afghanistan. The Ambassador
said that US values Pakistan's role in the war against
terror and is seeking cooperation from Pakistan to resolve
the Afghan issue.
CoAS Bajwa has apprised the US ambassador
of Pakistan's reservations over giving India an enhanced
role in Afghanistan. Sources said the CoAS conveyed his
reservations over the manner in which Pakistan was singled
out and held responsible for the mess in Afghanistan.
He also reportedly cautioned the US ambassador about the
negative implications of giving a formal role to India
in Afghan affairs. Pakistan has long suspected that India
is using Afghan soil to create instability.
August 24
Pakistan's top civilian and military leadership
strongly rejected US President Donald Trump's allegations
of insincerity and duplicity in the fight against terrorism
and set conditions for future counterterrorism cooperation
with Washington and Kabul, specifically the removal of
hideouts in eastern Afghanistan. The Government's formal
and comprehensive response to the Trump administration's
policy on Afghanistan and South Asia came after a meeting
of the NSC, which was chaired by PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
and attended by Ministers for Defence, Foreign Affairs,
Finance, and Interior, the National Security Adviser,
Services Chiefs and Heads of Intelligence Agencies and
military operations. The NSC was specially convened for
deliberations on the US policy and formulating the 'comprehensive
response'. The statement issued after the NSC meeting
was a detailed rejoinder to all elements of concern in
the new US policy and President Trump's speech - the allegations
about sanctuaries, claims about taking billions and billions
of dollars in aid from Washington, fears about nuclear
security, and the formalisation of India's role in Afghanistan.
The Senate was told that Pakistan suffered
the loss of USD 107 billion (PKR 11,275 billion) in the
war on terror. PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi said the US
must stop crying for USD 17 billion which had been given
to Pakistan, but it had no idea that the so-called war
against terrorism cost Pakistan over USD 107 billion losses.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi hinted at discussing
the recommendations being finalised by the Senate on the
national security in a joint sitting of parliament expected
to be convened shortly to discuss US President Donald
Trump's threats to Pakistan.
The NSC demanded an immediate US military
effort to eliminate sanctuaries harbouring terrorists
and miscreants on the Afghan soil and rejected the notion
that India could be the net security provider in the South
Asia region. The committee, while rejecting specific allegations
and insinuations against Pakistan by US President Donald
Trump, said the country had an abiding interest in peace
and stability in Afghanistan. "Scapegoat[ing] Pakistan
will not help in stabilizing Afghanistan," a strong statement
issued at the end of the meeting chaired by Prime Minister
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at the PM Office said. "Afghan war
cannot be fought in Pakistan," the meeting, which was
also attended by all services chiefs and senior cabinet
members, agreed after a threadbare discussion on the Trump
administration's South Asia Strategy. "More specifically,
we would like to see effective and immediate US military
efforts to eliminate sanctuaries harbouring terrorists
and miscreants on the Afghan soil, including those responsible
for fomenting terror in Pakistan." The NSC pointed out
that being immediate neighbour, Pakistan had an abiding
interest in peace and stability in Afghanistan. "India
cannot be a net security provider in the South Asia region
when it has conflictual relationships with all its neighbours
and is pursuing a policy of destabilising Pakistan from
the east and the west."
Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif accused
Pakistan's former ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani of
authoring US President Donald Trump's South Asia policy.
In a tweet, the minister called on Asif Ali Zardari, the
former president and leader of the Pakistan People's Party,
to "rein in" Hussain Haqqani's. Responding to Asif's remarks,
the former ambassador, who is a staunch critic of Pakistan's
policy towards Afghanistan, said on Twitter: "Pakistan
foreign minister should deal with the policy instead of
trying to bully an exiled Pakistani on Twitter".
August 25
The Sindh High Court transferred 14 cases
including cases against LeJ's high profile suspected target
killers Ishaq alias Bobby and Mohammad Asim alias Ahmed
alias Capri nominated in the Amjad Sabri murder case,
to Anti-Terrorism Court-16 (ATC-16). The Sindh High Court
Inspection Team-II issued a notification regarding transfer
of the cases to ATC-16. The court has received the notification.
The court heard the Amjad Sabri case along with over a
dozen of other cases against the two suspected militants
of LeJ. The court issued production orders of the accused.
The accused were arrested by the CTD in November 2016
for their alleged involvement in over 12 dozen cases pertaining
to targeted killings of Army personnel, Rangers, Police
officials and members of the Shia community.
A country like India that is involved
in state-sponsored terrorism cannot be an effective partner
in bringing peace to the region, said Foreign Office spokesperson
Nafees Zakaria in his weekly briefing. He was speaking
in reference to US President Donald Trump's speech on
the Afghan war, in which he directed India to provide
more assistance and development to Afghanistan. While
expressing Pakistan's reservations regarding the US''s
acknowledgement of "India's important contributions to
Afghan stability", Zakaria said that extremists have found
their way into India's governing bodies. "The extremist
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other such organisations
are already influencing the Indian judiciary's decisions
at this time while the Indian army is lending its support
to the RSS as well," Zakaria said. "There are unresolved
issues on a wide range of matters that India has with
various countries, which is why it cannot be expected
to maintain peace in the region."
Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said that
Taliban carry our sabotage activities from Afghanistan,
denying the allegations leveled by US President Donald
Trump, he said that Afghan Government had admitted the
Taliban's influence and 40 percent of its territory under
their control. Speaking on Geo News'' program ''Naya Pakistan'',
the Minister said that Pakistan had informed Afghan Government
that terrorists carried out attacks and other sabotage
activities in our country from Afghanistan, adding that
Afghan Government had told that it had no writ on 40 percent
of its territory which is stronghold of Taliban. Asif
said that terrorists need not bases in Pakistan as they
have stronghold in Afghanistan and can freely operate
there. "They (terrorists) do not need bases inside Pakistan
if they control such a huge area in Afghanistan," he said.
The COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa said
that terrorists were common enemies of Pakistan and Afghanistan
and a trust-based coordinated response was required against
them rather than blame game. According to an ISPR statement,
the COAS during a meeting with a nine-member Afghan media
delegation at GHQ said that Afghanistan was Pakistan's
brotherly neighbour. He said media could play a vital
role in mitigating the negativity created by inimical
forces. The COAS reiterated that Pakistan had undertaken
operations against terrorists of all hue and colour and
there were no safe havens inside Pakistan, which were
being used against Afghanistan. Emphasizing the need for
an effective border management along Pak-Afghan border,
he said Pakistan had taken measures on its side of the
border, including fencing and establishment of new border
forts and posts.
August 26
The CTD Sindh claimed to have arrested
a target killer belonging to Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London
MQM-L who was involved in over a hundred cases of target
killing from Qasba Colony area of Orangi Town and recovered
huge cache of dumped weapons, from Shehzad Mor within
the limits of Pirabad Police Station in Frontier Colony,
Orangi Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.
PBTIG in-charge of CTD Mazhar Mashwani stated that the
arrested target killer Imran alias Mama has remained underground
after 2013 until he was arrested on informer's information
from his hideout. Imran was rounded up in a midnight raid
when team of CTD, on spy's information raided near Qasba
Colony, Shehzad Mor under Pirabad Police Station and recovered
dumped weapons including five repeaters action pumps 12
bore, two rifles, one 8mm rifle, one KK and over 500 rounds
of bullets.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi stressed
the need for a political settlement in Afghanistan, saying
that like previous US plans President Donald Trump's new
strategy for America's longest-running war in that country
will also fail. "From day one we have been saying very
clearly the military strategy in Afghanistan has not worked
and it will not work," PM Abbasi said in an interview
with Bloomberg News. There has to be a "political settlement,"
PM Abbasi said during the interview adding that "That's
the bottom line".
General John W. Nicholson, the top US
commander in Afghanistan, claimed that the US was aware
of Afghan Taliban leadership's presence in Peshawar and
Quetta, adding that the military would continue to put
pressure on Afghan Taliban sanctuaries inside and outside
Afghanistan. In an exclusive interview with Tolo News,
the top commander discussed US President Donald Trump's
recent speech in which he revealed his long-awaited policy
on the Afghan war. According to General Nicolson, the
matter of the alleged sanctuaries for terrorists was being
addressed "in private" by the Governments of US and Pakistan.
"The Quetta shura, Peshawar shura - these shuras are identified
by cities inside Pakistan; we know Afghan Taliban leaders
are in these areas," said General Nicholson adding that
"Support for terrorists and insurgents has to be reduced
- [it] has to be stopped."
August 27
Two soldiers were killed and three others
injured in a landmine blast in Barmal area of South Waziristan
Agency in FATA. An Army jeep was patrolling the area during
a search operation when it struck a landmine planted on
the roadside. The slain personnel were identified as Sepoy
Attaur Rehman and Sepoy Imran Ali.
Two militants were killed and two of their
facilitators arrested by FC during IBOs in Kahan, Chattar,
and Uch areas of Dera Bugti District in Balochistan. According
to an ISPR statement, four terrorist camps were also destroyed
in the operations conducted under the Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.
FC personnel foiled a terrorist activity
in IBO by busting a network of terrorists and their facilitators
in Turbat District. A cache of arms and ammunition, being
transported to carry out terrorist activity in Turbat,
was recovered from the possession of the facilitators.
Assuring cooperation to Afghanistan, the
COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that Pakistan cannot
bring Afghan war into Pakistan. Addressing QCCM in Dushanbe,
Tajikistan, the Army Chief said terrorism is a multinational
threat. He said Pakistan has indiscriminately eliminated
all safe havens of terrorists on its soil. The meeting
was attended by senior military leadership of member countries,
including General Bajwa, General Li Zuocheng (China),
General Sobirzoda Imomali Abdurrahim (Tajikistan) and
General Sharif Yaftali (Afghanistan), said Inter-Services
Public Relations (ISPR) press release. All four leaders
welcomed the QCCM initiative and expressed hope that an
inclusive and cooperative regional approach will prove
best for eradication of terrorism.
On sidelines of the event, COAS General
Qamar Javed Bajwa met his Afghanistan counterpart General
Sharif Yaftali. Both the Army Chiefs agreed to form a
joint working group of the two armies. General Bajwa proposed
the working group during a discussion and Afghan Army
Chief accepted the offer. The working group will "jointly
work and formulate security recommendations for government
level discussions aimed at addressing mutual concerns,"
said the release. During the discussion, General Bajwa
highlighted Pakistan's efforts for border security. He
termed "dignified repatriation of Afghan refugees" and
border security management as key factors for enduring
peace.
Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said that
Afghan Taliban was the US and Afghanistan's problem, not
Pakistan's. He added that Pakistan had suffered a great
deal for being an ally of the US and the latter should
stop pinning the blame for its own 16 years of failures
on the former. "If the US doesn't trust us, it should
repatriate Afghan immigrants in Pakistan itself," he told
reporters in Sialkot. The minister said 0.2 million Pakistani
troops were fighting against terrorists and thousands
of soldiers had sacrificed their lives for this purpose.
"Pakistan has managed to cleanse its land from terrorism,"
he maintained. Asif said US President Donald Trump's recent
remarks that Pakistan harboured terrorists were disturbing.
"Pakistan has been a partner of the US in the war against
terrorism and such statements undermine our efforts,"
he remarked. "We want to maintain good ties with the US
and remove misunderstandings."
Minister Khawaja Asif said that Afghan
soldiers used to sell US weapons to Afghan Taliban. Forty
percent of Afghan land is still under the control of Taliban.
Over 90 percent attacks on Pakistan had been carried out
from Afghan side.
August 28
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reiterated
that Islamabad wants peace in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Speaking to the British High Commissioner, Abbasi said
that Pakistan's campaign for peace in the region had successfully
been going on. We have rendered countless sacrifices for
the elimination of terrorism, the prime minister told
the UK High Commissioner in the meeting, which also discussed
bilateral trade, situation in the region, Afghanistan
and the role of Pakistani community living in Britain.
Pakistan has temporarily suspended talks
with the US as well as official bilateral visits in protest
against President Donald Trump's speech in which he censured
Islamabad while proposing a new policy on Afghanistan,
Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said during an in-camera
session in Senate. The Senate was converted into a Committee
of the Whole House for a thorough private discussion on
proposals being formulated by a House panel to suggest
to the Government policy guidelines after the contours
of the new US policy on Afghanistan were delineated by
President Trump in his speech. The sources quoted Asif
as saying that as an immediate reaction, he postponed
his first visit to Washington as foreign minister last
week. Similarly, US Secretary of State for South and Central
Asia Alice Well's tour had also been postponed, he added.
Although Pakistan did not officially suspend bilateral
visits or talks, postponement of the two high-profile
visits is being viewed as a significant development.
America's security aid to Pakistan "will
be conditioned" on the steps Islamabad takes against terrorist
groups such as the Taliban and the Haqqani network, a
senior White House official who said on the condition
of anonymity. "There have been long standing relationships
between the Pakistani intelligence officials and these
terrorist groups. So, we don't expect things to change
overnight. We expect incremental changes over time," the
official said. "We will be able to see when these changes
start to happen. They [might] not become immediately apparent
to the public, but we're confident that when Pakistan
takes the steps we're asking it to do, we'll know it and
we'll be able to assess. And so, our security aid will
be conditioned on the steps that we expect them to take
against, in particular, the Taliban-Haqqani Network,"
the official added.
August 29
The NACTA has begun the process of compiling
data on Pakistan-based individuals that are suspected
of involvement with terrorist organisations abroad, the
National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior was told.
NACTA chief Ihsan Ghani said the authority had completed
the task of data compilation on suspected militants who
had fought in conflict zones such as Yemen, Iraq or Syria.
"We are in the process of having the data verified from
Federal and Provincial Departments," he told the committee
during a briefing on the status of implementation on the
NAP to counter terrorism and extremism. Ihsan Ghani tells
National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior about
plans to develop mobile app for reporting hate speech.
NACTA chief detailed measures to choke
terrorists' financial networks, saying that a task force
had been established under the authority to coordinate
efforts in this regard. Progress on updating the list
of those individuals who were placed on the Fourth Schedule
of the ATA 1997 was also shared with the committee. The
bank accounts of around 5,000 of the more than 8,000 individuals
on the list had been frozen, he said, while they could
no longer be issued passports or gun licenses.
August 30
Twelve cadres of the BRA surrendered to
SFs in Nushki District of Balochistan. A statement issued
by ISPR said "Those surrendered included two mid-tier
militants identified as Wali Khan and Karghani."
SFs arrested 39 suspects, including eight
Afghan nationals and seized weapons and ammunition during
the IBOs conducted under the Operation Raddul Fasaad across
the country in last 48 hours.
National Assembly passed a unanimous resolution
rejecting the "hostile and threatening" statements made
by US President Donald Trump and General John Nicholson,
a top commander of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
It condemned Washington's call for increased Indian involvement
in Afghanistan due to "(India's) known support to terrorists
and destabilising policies in the region". The call for
an Indian role in Afghanistan's development is "detrimental
to regional stability," the resolution said, adding that
it was premised on a "failure to understand existing ground
realities and challenges in the region." The resolution
called on the US, NATO and Afghan government to ensure
that India was denied use of Afghan territory to attack
Pakistan.
August 31
The Judge of ATC, Rawalpindi, Muhammad
Asghar Khan, while announcing the verdict in the former
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto murder case acquitted five
accused (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), awarded 17-year
imprisonment each to former DIG Saud Aziz and former SP,
Rawal Town, Khurram Shehzad, for abetting the crime, and
declared former President General Parvez Musharraf an
absconder. The court also imposed a fine of PKR 500,000
each on both convicts. The Police arrested the former
DIG and the former SP from the premises of the court on
the occasion as they were on bail.
The court announced the verdict in the
Adiala Jail premises under tight security arrangements.
In a landmark decision, the court declared former President
General Parvez Musharraf an absconder in the case ordering
seizure of all his moveable and immovable property. Five
suspects who had been in jail for nine years, including
Rafaqat Hussain, Husnain Gul, Sher Zaman, Aitzaz Shah
and Abdul Rashid were acquitted on murder charges. The
investigation agencies failed to prove a link of the five
accused with Baitullah Mehsud, therefore, the court acquitted
them. The two former Policemen have been awarded 10 years
in prison under Section of 119 of the PPC and 7 years
each under Section of 201 of the PPC. They have also been
fined PKR 500,000 each in case they do not pay the fine,
they will have to spend another six months in jail.
The US President Donald Trump administration
has held back previously promised military aid of USD
255 million to Pakistan by attaching new conditions which,
the State Department says, will allow it to review the
level of its cooperation with Islamabad before making
new commitments. "The Department notified Congress on
August 30 of our intent to obligate USD 255 million in
FY 2016 FMF for Pakistan. At the same time, the Department
is placing a pause on spending those funds and on allocating
them to any specific FMF sales contracts," said the State
Department in a statement sent to Dawn. The FMF provides
grants and loans to help countries purchase US weapons
and defence equipment and for acquiring defence services
and military training in the United States. "Consistent
with our new South Asia strategy, this decision allows
us the flexibility to continue reviewing our level of
cooperation with Pakistan prior to committing new security
assistance resources to projects in Pakistan," the State
Department said.
The FO rubbished US General John Nicholson's
"unacceptable" claim that Washington is aware of the Afghan
Taliban leadership's presence in Peshawar and Quetta,
saying that terrorist safe havens are present in Afghanistan,
not Pakistan. FO Spokesman Nafees Zakaria told a weekly
press briefing in Islamabad that there had been no high-level
contact between Pakistan and the US following President
Donald Trump's August 21 diatribe, in which he lambasted
Islamabad for providing safe haven to terrorists. He announced
that a conference of ambassadors would be held between
September 5-7 in order to discuss foreign policy challenges
facing the region and the world. Zakaria reiterated Pakistan's
commitment to an Afghan-led peace process and asserted
that Afghanistan's war could not be brought into Pakistan.
US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale assured
NSA Lieutenant General (Retd) Nasser Khan Janjua that
President Donald Trump did not blame Pakistan for the
failure of the War on Terror in Afghanistan. As Hale and
Janjua met in Islamabad to discuss the Trump administration's
new strategy on Afghanistan and South Asia, the US envoy
claimed the perceived misconceptions it arose due to the
press taking the policy apart piece by piece instead of
interpreting it as a whole. Trump, in his August 21 diatribe,
denounced Pakistan for allegedly allowing terrorists to
maintain safe havens inside its territory. According to
a press release issued by NSA Janjua's spokesperson, Hale
said it was wrong to assume that the policy recommended
a purely military solution, or that engagement with Pakistan
had been ruled out. Military strategy, he said, was just
one piece of the policy which espoused a political solution.
NSA Janjua told the US envoy that Pakistan was taking
its time to examine the US policy and considering its
options. He added that Islamabad would like to receive
further details from the US. "This notwithstanding, President
Trump's address at Fort Myers was disappointing and had
deeply hurt the feelings of the government and the people
of Pakistan," the NSA said, according to the handout.
China reiterated that Pakistan is at the
forefront of fighting terrorism, and for many years has
been making positive efforts and great sacrifices on counter-terrorism.
As we have said many times, Pakistan is at the forefront
of fighting terrorism, and for many years has been making
positive efforts and great sacrifices on counter-terrorism,
Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Hua Chunying said
during her regular press briefing. The spokesperson said
the international community should acknowledge and fully
recognize its contributions. Hua said that China is willing
to work with Pakistan and other countries to enhance cooperation
on counter-terrorism and protect regional security and
stability. Responding to a question about use of China's
influence for arrest of terrorists allegedly based in
Pakistan, she said, "We have taken note of the concerns
of the Indian side on counter-terrorism issues of Pakistan,
but I don't believe that it should feature prominently
during the Xiamen Summit," she added.
Kashmiri militant outfit HuM, Maulana
Fazlur Rehman Khalil is set to launch political party
of his own "Islah-e-Watan". Khalil was the founder of
Kashmiri militant outfit HuM and was put on the US state
department's list of "specially designated global terrorists"
in 2014. Khalil, who also was one of the founders of HuJI
in 1980, is the man who signed the fatwa issued by Osama
bin Laden calling for jihad against the West. He stepped
down as chief of HuM in February 2000. Pakistani authorities
arrested him in May 2004, for allegedly helping transport
Pakistani militants into Afghanistan. However, he was
released after six months due to lack of evidence. He
then founded the Ansar ul Ummah, but the outfit was disbanded
after some years. A source close to the cleric said that
the senior cleric was in touch with many of his associates
to mobilise people in order to launch a political party.
"Maulana (Khalil) has taken a lead from Maulana Makki's
decision to mainstream his (banned) outfit. He believes
it is about time to get back all his associates and friends
who have been sidelined due to the effective ban on their
movement and activities," the source said.
Amidst pressure from the international
community to crack down on terror groups operating from
its soil, Pakistan-based terrorists are forming political
parties to give cover to their outfits. Hafiz Saeed, the
chief of JuD, the frontal organization of LeT, and the
mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, launched his party,
Milli Muslim League, on August 8. Saifullah Khalid, a
religious scholar and longtime official of the JuD, is
President of the newly-formed party. He told reporters
in Islamabad that his party will work to make Pakistan
"a real Islamic and welfare state" and that it is ready
to cooperate with like-minded parties. The party will
continue to follow the ideology of JuD.
China sent out a signal that it would
defend Pakistan and would object to any discussion about
Pakistan's role in sheltering terrorists during the upcoming
BRICS summit, which would be attended by Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi. China is worried Modi may raise
the issue at the meeting because he did so at the Goa
summit of BRICS last year while describing Pakistan as
the "mother-ship of terrorism". "We also noticed that
India, when it comes to Pakistan's counter-terrorism,
has some concerns. I don't think this is an appropriate
topic to be discussed at BRICS summit," Hua Chunying,
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said at a briefing.
She also indicated that raising the topic might affect
the success of the summit because Chinese leaders may
be forced to defend its close ally, Pakistan. "The world
is paying great attention to the BRICS summit. I hope
relevant parties can work with China to ensure the success
of the summit and make due contributions," Hua said. She
meant the five members of BRICS including India when she
mentioned "relevant parties".
September 1
Three people including father and his
son were killed in a landmine explosion in Shani Meenah
area of Ambar tehsil in Mohmand Agency of FATA. Two others
also sustained injuries.
NACTA spokesman Usman Ghani said that,
upon the advice of Federal Ministry for Interior, paramilitary
forces will remain high alert in the country for Eidul
Azha. "Air wing of Interior Ministry has been put on high
alert from early this morning," he mentioned. According
to media reports, NACTA added that PDMAs of the four Provincial
Governments have been advised - through a letter - to
take intelligence reports seriously and make arrangements
to hold Eid prayers within boundary walls. NACTA also
said that collection of hides of sacrificial animals without
NOC is a punishable offence and stern action should be
taken against the violators.
The Federal Ministry for Interior directed
the Adiala jail authorities to keep the five accused,
associated with the TTP, in the Benazir Bhutto murder
case in their custody for 30 days. According to reports,
the Ministry directed the jail officials to continue detaining
Rafaqat Hussain, Hasnain Gul, Sher Zaman, Aitzaz Shah
and Abdul Rasheed under the relevant laws for a month.
The five accused persons had been acquitted of the high-profile
murder case by Rawalpindi ATC on August 31.
Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani in
his Eidul Azha message reached out to Pakistan offering
"comprehensive negotiations" to bring peace to their troubled
relationship. "Ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have
been steadily deteriorating amid spate of allegations
about cross-border terrorism among other disputes," the
Afghan president said. While addressing political elites
and journalists at the Presidential Palace, President
Ghani also renewed calls for peace with the Taliban and
for resuming political dialogue with Pakistan to overcome
the differences. "From here, I have a message for Pakistan:
We are ready for comprehensive political talks. Peace
with Pakistan is in our national agenda," Ghani said who
has long been blaming Pakistan for 'waging an undeclared
war' against Afghanistan.
The six persons accused of facilitating
slain Afghan Taliban supremo Mullah Akhtar Mansoor acquire
a Pakistani identity have been bailed out, reveals Federal
Ministry for Interior records. Mullah Mansoor, along with
another man, was killed when a taxicab he was travelling
in was targeted by US drone near Nushki District in Balochistan
in May 21, 2016. A Pakistani passport and CNIC were found
near the charred wreckage of the taxi which identified
him as Wali Muhammad. A DNA test conducted on the body
later confirmed it was Mullah Mansoor who had acquired
Pakistani CNIC under a fake name. A subsequent investigation
identified six men for facilitating Mullah Mansoor acquire
a Pakistani CNIC and passport. But interestingly, all
these suspects are now out on bail, while another two
persons - a medical officer and wife of Mullah Mansoor
- are absconding. This transpired in a report of Federal
Investigation Agency's Crime Circle Quetta which was recently
submitted by the Federal Ministry for Interior in the
Senate in response to a question raised by Pakistan People's
Party (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Babar.
The US intends to work with Pakistan to
take down terrorists, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis
said, asserting that this is what a "responsible" nation
does. He was responding to questions on Pakistan's reaction
to the Afghanistan and South Asia policy announced by
US President Donald Trump. Mattis did not respond to questions
on timeline, if any, for Pakistan to take action against
terrorists and terrorist groups. "We intend to work with
Pakistan in order to take the terrorists down. I think
that's what a responsible nation does," Mattis said at
a media briefing.
September 2
Two people including a child were killed
in an attack in which MQM-P leader Khwaja Izharul Hassan
escaped unhurt in the Buffer Zone area of Karachi, the
provincial capital of Sindh, in the morning. According
to details, Khwaja Izharul Hassan, who is also the leader
of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly survived the assassination
attempt when he was leaving a mosque after offering Eid-ul-Azha
prayers. Police said a child and one of Hassan's security
guards were killed in the attack by unidentified assailants
clad in police uniform riding on the motorcycles. Three
other persons were also injured in the gunshot. An assailant
was also killed in the retaliatory fire while another
was injured but managed to flee, Police added. The shell
of a 9mm pistol bullet was also found from the crime scene.
September 3
At least 13 suspected persons were arrested
on September 2 during a joint IBO in Punjab, an ISPR statement
said. The statement adds that Punjab Rangers and Police
conducted the first operation in Dera Ghazi Khan District
and arrested seven key facilitators wanted for extortion
and other criminal activities in Punjab and Balochistan.
In a separate operation in Lahore, Rangers, police and
intelligence personnel took six suspects, including two
unregistered Afghan nationals, into custody. Weapons and
ammunition were also seized from the suspects, it added.
September 4
One Policeman and one militant were killed
while another Policeman injured during a Police operation
in Kaneez Fatima Society in Malir Town of Karachi, the
provincial capital of Sindh. According to details, Police
and Rangers conduct operation on information given by
already arrested militants. During the raid, fire exchange
started between militants and Police resulted in killing
of policeman. One militant was killed while one remained
successful in fleeing the scene. According to SSP, Malir
Town, Rao Anwar, the name of fleeing terrorist is Sarosh
Siddique. "He is mastermind of attack on MQM-P leader
Khawaja Izharul Hassan on Eid day," SSP Malir said. "He
is central commander of banned militant organisation Ansar-ul-Shariah
and close associate of killed terrorist, Hassan," Anwar
further added. Sarosh Siddique was a student of Applied
Physics in Karachi University, sources mentioned.
Police
in a shootout killed four suspected terrorists, including
TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah's cousin, Khursheed, in Sadaf
Society locality of Karachi, the provincial capital of
Sindh. Malir Town SSP Rao Anwar claimed that Khursheed
has been involved in various incidents of terrorism, including
the attack on Malala Yousafzai and attacks on law enforcement
personnel. He said all the slain terrorists belonged to
TTP-Swat. Anwar said Police conducted a raid in the area
after getting information on the presence of members of
banned outfit, Ansarul Shariah.
One
Policeman and one militant were killed while another Policeman
injured during a Police operation in Kaneez Fatima Society
in Malir Town. According to details, Police and Rangers
conduct operation on information given by already arrested
militants. During the raid, fire exchange started between
militants and Police resulted in killing of policeman.
One militant was killed while one remained successful
in fleeing the scene. According to SSP, Malir Town, Rao
Anwar, the name of fleeing terrorist is Sarosh Siddique.
"He is mastermind of attack on MQM-P leader Khawaja
Izharul Hassan on Eid day," SSP Malir said. "He
is central commander of banned militant organisation Ansar-ul-Shariah
and close associate of killed terrorist, Hassan,"
Anwar further added. Sarosh Siddique was a student of
Applied Physics in Karachi University, sources mentioned.
Three FC personnel, including
a lieutenant colonel, were martyred while three others
were injured as unidentified militants opened fire on
their convoy in Washuk District of Balochistan in the
evening. "Three FC personnel died while three others,
including an officer, were also injured during the attack,"
a Senior District Administration official said, adding
that the firing also damaged the FC personnel's vehicle.
Unidentified militant
abducted at least 17 young tribesmen from a picnic spot
in Landi Kotal tehsil of Khyber Agency in FATA.
Khasadar officials while confirming the incident said
that some local youth from Adalkhad and Gagra villages
had gone to Yakha Cheena, Enzaro Naw picnic spot close
to the Afghan border on September 3-morning but did not
return to their homes till late in the evening. The officials
said that relatives of the missing youth reported the
matter to them after one of the abducted persons managed
to escape from the abductors and reached home early on
September 4. They quoted the escaped person as saying
that a group of around 12 armed persons held them hostage
while they were having midday meals. Later, they were
taken to an unknown place.
The BRICS grouping of
the five emerging economies unequivocally named the Pakistan
based groups JeM and LeT as terror organisations, reports
The Hindu. A Joint communiqué released at the BRICS summit
expressed concern about the regional security situation
and listed Taliban, ISIL/DAISH, al Qaeda and its affiliates
including ETIM, IMU, the Haqqani network, LeT, JeM, TTP
and HuT as sources of violence. Asked if the declaration
will advance the effort to impose a UN ban on Masood Azhar,
as an international terrorist, Preeti Saran, Secretary
(East) in the Ministry of External Affairs said: “The
declaration has been endorsed by all the BRICS leaders,
so obviously it has the approval and endorsement of all
the countries.” Making her point unambiguous that the
formulation adopted at the ninth BRICS will strengthen
the fight on banning terrorists and terror groups at the
United Nations, Ms. Saran said: “The BRICS leaders called
for greater efficiency in designation of terrorists and
terror groups by United Nations Committee on terrorism.”
September
5
SFs claimed to have arrested
head of newly-emerged outfit ASP in an intelligence-based
operation conducted in Kaniz Fatima Society of Gulzar-e-Hijri
in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. As per details,
Police along with other intelligence forces conducted
a raid in Kaniz Fatima Society and arrested Dr Abdullah
Hashmi (28), suspected head of newly-emerged outfit ASP,
which is involved in sabotage activities and attack on
MQM-P leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan and law enforcement
agencies personal in the Metropolis. The arrested suspect
Abdullah Hashmi, is an IT (Information technology) expert
and was employed in computer department of NED University.
He has received Master’s degree in Applied Physics from
the University of Karachi. Sources added that the suspected
terrorists used to communicate through a Smartphone app
and also had recorded all terrorist activities carried
out in the metropolis. According to Police, the newly-emerged
ASP comprised of highly qualified 12-member group belongs
to Karachi most of them are students of engineering universities
and reside at Gulzar-e-Hijri area of the Metropolis.
In the wake of the September
2 attack on Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P)
leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan, the Pakistan Rangers have
planned an operation in Karachi, interior Sindh and Balochistan
to dismantle the terrorist network involved in the incident.
Pakistan Rangers Sindh Chief Major General Muhammad Saeed
chaired a meeting at the Rangers Headquarters to discuss
the present law and order situation in Karachi, as well
as the recent attacks on Police Officials and Sindh Assembly
opposition leader Hassan.
The US has sanctioned
$33.4 billion for reimbursements to Pakistan during the
past 15 years, 44% of which was on account of services
that Islamabad rendered to support Washington’s anti-terror
operations in Afghanistan. The data has been gathered
by the Departments of State, Defense, Agriculture, and
the USAID. By excluding the USD 14.573 billion cost of
logistics and aerial support, the approved civilian and
security-related aid to Pakistan from 2002 to 2016 was
only USD18.8 billion, according to the statistics compiled
by US authorities. Withheld money is a repayment, not
an aid, Pakistan tells US. Compared to the actual foreign
aid of USD 18.8 billion to Pakistan, the Finance Ministry’s
statistics showed that Islamabad sustained USD 123.13
billion losses on account of the war against terrorism
since 9/11. But Washington’s economic leverage over Islamabad
has significantly reduced since 2014, as it came down
to USD 1.6 billion per annum against the average of USD
2.3 billion per annum between 2002 and 2013. This includes
reimbursements from the CSF that is technically not aid
but service payments for providing logistical and operational
support to the US-led military operations in Afghanistan.
By excluding the CSF-related payments to Pakistan, US
assistance to Pakistan from 2014 to 2016 was USD 810 million
per annum against the average of USD 1.4 billion during
the 2002-2013 period, according to the statistics. The
flow of funds from the US to Pakistan saw another drastic
reduction in 2017. US economic assistance historically
remained around 1% of Pakistan’s budget, which can easily
be met from other sources.
Pakistan rejected a declaration
by the BRICS nations, including China, saying there was
no "safe haven" for terrorists on its soil.
"We reject the declaration (released by member countries)
at the BRICS Summit," Pakistan's Defence Minister
Khurram Dastgir said during a meeting of the National
Assembly's Standing Committee on Defence. Dastgir claimed
that Pakistan has no "safe haven" for terrorists
on its soil. "Pakistan has taken action against all
groups on its soil and only the remnants of some are left,"
he added. "Forty per cent of Afghanistan is a safe
haven for terrorists," he added further.
FO spokesperson Nafees
Zakaria said that Pakistan is "seriously concerned"
about the threat posed by terrorism and extremism in the
South Asian region. Zakaria was speaking in reference
to the BRICS' leaders summit document which named militant
groups allegedly based in Pakistan as a regional security
concern. "Many terrorist groups based in the region
— including in Afghanistan — such as the [banned] Tehreek-i-Taliban
Pakistan and its associates like JuA have been responsible
for extreme acts of violence against Pakistani people,"
Zakaria said. "We are deeply concerned at the presence
of [banned] groups, like Daesh, East Turkestan Islamic
Movement and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, in the ungoverned
spaces in Afghanistan as they pose a threat to peace and
security in the region." Zakaria further said that
Pakistan is concerned about the rise of extremist ideologies
and intolerance in the region, which have been "encouraging
social stratification and systematic targeting of minorities".
September
6
COAS General Qamar Javed
Bajwa said that Pakistan has done much in war against
terrorism and urged the world to do more to curb this
menace. He was addressing Pakistan's 52nd Defence Day
ceremony held to tribute the martyrs of the 1965 war.
While urging the world to acknowledge Pakistan’s great
sacrifices in war against terrorism, The COAS said, “despite
all our countless sacrifice and over decades of war, we
are being told that we have not done enough against terrorism."
While highlighting Pakistan's efforts to eradicate terrorism
and to stabilize peace in the region Army chief said that
only Pakistan has seen this level of success within limited
resources from the operations carried out to wipe out
the terrorists from its soil like Sher Dil, Rah-i-Rast,
Rah-i-Nijat, Zarb-i-Azab and now Radd-ul-Fasaad. "We
have paid for each inch of gains with our blood",
said COAS. "And now, I say that the world must do
more." Referring to recent allegations leveled by
US President Donald Trump over Pakistan, COAS said, Pakistan’s
share in the war is more than any other country. He further
said, "if Pakistan has not done enough in this war,
then no country in the world has done anything”. In response
to Trump's criticism in which he claimed that they had
given "billions and billions of dollars" in
aid to Pakistan, General Bajwa said that Pakistan does
not want aid. He said, "we want your respect and
confidence, appreciation and acknowledgement of our actions
and sacrifices."
While encouraging members
of the BRICS to continue playing a constructive role in
stabilising the world, the US reminded Pakistan that it
“must change its approach” to terrorism. “We encourage
the BRICS Forum to contribute constructively to global
governance and stability,” said a spokesperson for the
US State Department when asked to comment on the BRICS
statement. The US official also welcomed BRICS’ condemnation
of North Korea’s recent nuclear test and then reminded
Pakistan of the need to fight all militant groups operating
in the South Asian region, including those that Washington
claims are based in the FATA. “As the (Trump) administration
has said Pakistan must change its approach. We look to
the Pakistani government to take decisive action against
militant groups based in Pakistan that are a threat to
the region,” the State Department added.
Three different groups
involved in the killing of Policemen in Karachi have been
busted by law enforcement agencies, Sindh Chief Minister
Syed Murad Ali Shah said at a Defence Day ceremony at
Pakistan Air Force Masroor Base. "This success will
help to eliminate organised terrorism and crime in the
city," he said, praising the efforts of law enforcement
agencies. "We have destroyed them [terrorist groups]
to a considerable extent but there is still a lot of work
to be done."
Pakistan admitted for
the first time that internationally proscribed terrorist
outfits, such as LeT and JeM, were operating from within
its territory, with Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad
Asif calling for tougher action against these groups.
"We should impose restrictions on activities of elements
like LeT and JeM so that we can show the global community
that we've put our house in order," Asif told during
an interview with Geo News while responding to a BRICS
declaration that named several terrorist groups, including
the two, as threats to regional security. "I am not
making any political statement.. we cannot afford to shut
our eyes on activities of these organisations in our country.
If we continue to do that we will always face such embarrassments."
Asif said Pakistan could no longer afford to "test"
its friends on the issue of terrorism. "Friends like
China should not be tested every time, particularly in
the changed (global) scenario," the Minister added.
Foreign Minister Asif
admitted that Pakistan had made mistakes in the past,
saying there was no need for the country to participate
in the proxy war in Afghanistan during Zia ul Haq's tenure,
and later in the war on terror. "There's an urgent
need for a clean break from our past. In 1979, Pakistan
had made a wrong decision and acted like a proxy for the
next decade. After 9/11, we again made a wrong decision
and adopted a war, which was never ours. We have suffered
uncountable losses of lives and properties in this war,"
he said. Asif said Pakistan needed to get rid of its false
image. "We've no stakes involved but are only carrying
the baggage of our past follies. We cannot correct ourselves
as long as we do not accept historical facts," he
said.
September
7
The ECP refused to recognise
the MML — a political front of the JuD — as a legitimate
political party and warned electoral candidates not to
use the party’s name in election campaigns. In Lahore,
the RO for the by-poll in NA-120 restrained Sheikh Mohammad
Yaqoob from displaying photos of the proscribed organisation’s
leaders on his campaign banners. The ECP had taken notice
of the JuD chief’s pictures and the insignia of the MML
displayed on the banners used in Yaqoob’s election campaign
in NA-120. A spokesperson for the ECP clarified that Yaqoob,
who was contesting the by-poll as an independent candidate,
had been allotted the symbol of an energy saver. He said
action would be taken under the ECP’s code of conduct
if Yaqoob failed to comply with the returning officer’s
directives.
Pakistan is among the
top 50 countries with high terrorism financing and money
laundering risks, according to a latest report by The
Basel Institute on Governance, a Swiss group. The group
in its 2017 edition of the Basel AML Index which has assessed
146 countries regarding money laundering and terrorism
financing risks said that Afghanistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka
stand out with particular high risk scores in the Index.
Pakistan has been placed on the 46th position in the list
of 146 countries which have been given marks on a scale
of 0 — low risk to 10 — high risk, by the Switzerland-based
independent not-for-profit competence center. The average
risk score this year is equal to 6.15. The 10 countries
with the highest AML risk are Iran, Afghanistan, Guinea-Bissau,
Tajikistan, Laos, Mozambique, Mali, Uganda, Cambodia and
Tanzania while the three lowest risk countries are Finland,
followed by Lithuania and Estonia, the group said in a
recent report published on its website. Top-ranked Iran
has scored 8.60 marks and bottom-ranked Finland 3.04.
Pakistan has been given 6.64 marks, above this year’s
average of 6.18. The greatest improvements since 2016
have been made by Sudan, Taiwan, Israel and Bangladesh
while the countries that deteriorated most severely in
their scores in 2017 are Jamaica, Tunisia, Hungary, Uzbekistan
and Peru, it said. In South Asia, Afghanistan, Nepal and
Sri Lanka have been given 8.38, 7.57 and 7.15 marks and
placed on the second, 14th and 25th ranks respectively.
September
8
Maulana Abu Turab, the
Balochistan Ameer of Markazi Jamat Ahle Hadees,
his son and his guard were abducted by unidentified assailants
from airport road of Quetta, the provincial capital of
Balochistan. According to the Police, assailants intercepted
Maulana Abu Turab's car on airport road and abducted him
and the other two men on gunpoint. Maulana Abu Turab leads
the Markazi Jamat Ahle Hadees in Balochistan and is considered
to be one of the most influential religious figures in
the province.
Balochistan FC has been
permitted a further three months extension to their police
privileges as declared by the Balochistan CM. According
to sources in Department of Interior, the validation for
Police privileges conferred to the Frontier Corps was
to end on August 18. The Provincial Department of Interior
pleaded the CM for a further three months allowance of
authority to the frontier corps Baluchistan, which was
readily permitted.
The CoAS, General Qamar
Javed Bajwa signed the death sentence of four convicted
terrorists. The ISPR said these terrorists were involved
in killings of 16 individuals and injuring 8 others. They
were involved in killings of innocent civilians, attacking
LEAs and Armed Forces.
China pledged its support
for Pakistan's efforts against terrorism as Foreign Ministers
of both the countries discussed regional and international
situation. Addressing a press conference along with his
Pakistani counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
said Pakistan's people, Government and the Armed Forces
rendered unprecedented sacrifices against terrorism. He
said Pakistan and China stand together amid changing regional
and international situation. He also welcomed Pakistan’s
efforts for peace in Afghanistan and expressed Beijing’s
desire for better relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He said China attaches great respect to Pakistan’s interest
and said relations between the two countries are stable.
Wang Yi said peace in Afghanistan is in the interest of
both China and Pakistan. Speaking at the press conference,
Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan and
China support each other on regional and international
forums. He said Islamabad has profoundly reviewed US Afghan
policy on South Asia and thinks that there is no military
solution to Afghan conundrum.
September
9
Seven
TTP militants were arrested by LEAs and Police during joint
operation in Al-Habib Society in Karachi, the provincial
capital of Sindh. The LEA and Police have also recovered
cache of weapons including suicide jackets. Raids were being
conducted for the arrest of one militant Qari Zahid who
managed to escape from scene during operation.
September
10
Unidentified assailants
opened fire at a vehicle coming from Chaman in Kuchlak
area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan,
in the evening, leaving five Shia Hazara persons dead.
Two women and one 12 year old boy were there among the
dead. The Hazara family had come to Chaman from Afghanistan
in the afternoon. The firing took place when the eight
members of a Hazara family stopped at a filling station
to refuel their vehicle and to take a brief rest when
two men on a motorcycle appeared and opened fire on them.
After the incident, the suspects sped away on their motorcycles,
Zahoor Khan, a local Police official said.
Proscribed sectarian outfit
ASWJ is among the religious parties holding protest demonstrations
for the Rohingya Muslims. Leaders of the proscribed group
held a rally in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.
They had joined hands with other religious parties to
hold demonstrations in Islamabad on September 8. Civil
society activists criticised the government for, what
they termed, a failure of the NAP, adding that proscribed
groups should not be allowed to hold political activities.
Activists have been warning that the Government's unwillingness
to act against such groups might affect the progress of
the ongoing military operations against terrorism.
September 11
Four TTP militants, including
a senior ‘commander’ Nazir Afridi alias Jundullah, were
killed in Nazyan District of Nangarhar province in Afghanistan.
They were killed when a private militia of Afghan leader
Haji Zahir Qadeer raided their hideout. Nazir was suspected
to be involved in the killing of senior TTP leader Tariq
Afridi in February 2013. Nazir was the brother-in-law
of Tariq Afridi and it was previously stated that Tariq
had been killed due to family issues but later it was
revealed that the killing was the result of an internal
rift as some TTP leaders were upset at the brutal actions
of Tariq Afridi. Besides a series of deadly attacks on
the local tribesmen in Darra Adam Khel, Tariq was accused
of beheading a Polish engineer Piotr Stanczak in February
2009.
Five soldiers were injured
when their vehicle hit a landmine in Koda Khel area of
Khwazai Bazai tehsil of the Mohmand Agency in FATA.
The injured who were identified as Havaldar Ismail, Lance
Naik Asif, Lance Naik Khan Wali, Lance Naik Idris and
Sepoy Kashif. A search operation is underway. No arrests
have been reported so far.
Two Policemen were injured
when an unidentified assailant opened fire on a Police
mobile during a security check in Rizvia Society of Jahangirabad
area in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Station
House Officer Rizvia Arshad Janjua said an unidentified
motorcycle borne assailants opened fired at a Police mobile
during snap checking in Jahangirabad, injuring police
constables Sirajuddin and Zeeshan Safdar. No one has claimed
responsibility for the attack as yet.
PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
said it would be counter-productive for the United States
to sanction Pakistani officials or further cut military
assistance, warning it would hurt both countries' fight
against militancy. "We are fighting the war against
terror, anything that degrades our effort will only hurt
the US effort," Abbasi said in an interview in Islamabad.
"If the military aid cuts degrade our effort to fight
war on terror, who does it help?" he said. "Whatever
needs to be done here, it needs to be a cooperative effort."
"We've had to look at other options to maintain our
national defensive forces," he said. "We have
a major economic relationship with (China), we have a
major military relationship since the 1960s, so that's
definitely one of our options," he said. US-Pakistan
relations have frayed since President Donald Trump last
month set out a new Afghanistan policy and lashed out
at nuclear-armed Pakistan as a fickle ally that gives
safe haven to "agents of chaos" by harbouring
the Afghan Taliban and other militants. The United States
has already begun conditioning future aid to Pakistan
on progress Islamabad makes in tackling the Haqqani network
militants who it alleges are Pakistan-based and have helped
the Taliban carry out deadly attacks inside Afghanistan.
September 12
Punjab Government opposed
the release of mastermind of Mumbai terror attack and
chief of JuD, Hafiz Saeed, informing the Lahore High Court
that freeing the cleric from house arrest is likely to
create unrest in the province. Punjab Home Department
submitted a written reply in the court during the hearing
of an appeal for Saeed's release, stating that he was
put under house arrest under the anti-terrorism laws to
stop him from collecting funds — which is a violation
of various resolutions of the United Nations. A K Khokar,
Saeed's counsel, argued in court that his client's detention
was illegal and baseless, thus the order of keeping him
under house arrest be immediately withdrawn. "The
defendant was put under house arrest after the US threatened
to cut Pakistan's aid, it was done without any cases being
registered against him," Khokhar told the court.
The judges, however, pointed out to Saeed's lawyer that
he had not mentioned about US's alleged pressure in the
case. They said that the defendant's application is based
on a news clipping. Punjab's home department, however,
pointed out that various cases were registered against
members of JuD for collecting hides during the three days
of Eid-ul-Azha in contempt of the ministry's orders. "Cases
were also registered against the party for collecting
funds in contempt of the provincial ministry's orders,"
the reply said. The court asked Khokhar to come up with
more argument in the next hearing and adjourned the case
until September 15.
September 13
One person was killed
while another sustained injuries after their motorbike
ran over a planted landmine in the Nasau area of Kohlu
District in Balochistan. Sources said two brothers riding
on their bike were hit by a landmine in the Nasau area.
SFs personnel recovered
six hand grenades hidden in Qadirabad area of Nushki District.
September 14
JUI-Fazl leader and former
MPA Hashim Khan and two of his aides were shot dead in
Shah Alam Baba area of Lower Dir District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
SHO Fazal Mabood said unidentified assailants had opened
fire on the vehicle in which Hashim Khan was travelling,
killing him and his two aides.
The CTD said that two
“high-profile militants” of the banned LeJ who earlier
escaped from Karachi’s Central Jail had crossed over to
Afghanistan from the Chaman border in Balochistan. In
a report submitted to the Sindh Home Ministry on the orders
of CM Murad Ali Shah, the CTD said that the Police party
tailing Shaikh Muhammad Mumtaz alias Firaun, and Muhammad
Ahmed Khan alias Munna, failed to arrest the two men.
The fugitives had broken out from Karachi's Central Jail
on June 13 following a shocking lapse of security at the
facility. The two had been arrested in 2013 by the CTD
for their alleged involvement in the killing of over 60
people, mainly members of the Shia community and law enforcers.
The report also said that the two militants' facilitators
were in Police custody and were being interrogated at
the moment. Discussing the prisoners' escape to Afghanistan,
CM Murad Ali Shah later said that: "We are investigating
how the escaped militants reached Afghanistan and the
people who aided them in fleeing will be punished."
"Those whose irresponsibility resulted in the escape
of the prisoners [from Central Jail] were punished and
sent to jail, but the courts set them free by granting
them bail," he added while addressing the media during
a visit to Sufi saint Abdullah Shah Ghazi's shrine.
Pakistani and Afghan officials
in a bilateral meeting at the Ministry of Defence in Kabul
agreed to formulate an action plan seeking to improve
security along the Pak-Afghan border through enhanced
cooperation, ISPR press release said. The six-member Pakistani
delegation led by DGMO Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza
in Kabul also held a trilateral meeting with Afghan and
American officials at the Ministry. Participants of the
bilateral meeting discussed issues related to cross-border
firing and attacks, counter-terrorism and coordinated
actions on their respective sides along the border, as
well as exchange of prisoners, ISPR said. Pakistani and
Afghan officials also agreed to make progress in line
with commitments made at recent high-level meetings.
Federal Minister of Interior
Ahsan Iqbal told the Senate that it was the responsibility
of the Provincial Governments to keep an eye out for and
take action against banned outfits in the country, including
those organisations that were resurfacing under new names
after being outlawed. The Senate had asked Minister Iqbal
to provide the name of the authority or agency responsible
for keeping a lookout for banned organisations in the
country, under the National Action Plan, and the role
of the Ministry of Interior in monitoring the activities
of these organisations. In a written reply sent to the
Senate, Minister Iqbal said: “It is the responsibility
and authority of the provincial governments to take action
in each case under the law. Intelligence agencies are
mandated to keep regular watch on the activities of proscribed
organisations. The Ministry of Interior regularly receives
reports from intelligence agencies on the activities of
proscribed organisations and shares the same with the
NACTA and the provincial governments.”
September 15
A US drone killed three
suspected Afghan Taliban militants in an attack on a compound
in Ghuz Ghari village of Kurram Agency in FATA. Officials
said the strike took place in remote Ghuz Ghari village,
close to the Afghan border where at least five fighters
from the Afghan Taliban had gathered. “The US drone fired
two missiles, at least three fighters from the Afghan
Taliban have been killed and two wounded,” a senior Government
official in Kurram Agency said.
Seven persons, including
six FC soldiers, received injuries in two grenade blasts
at Torkham border crossing in Torkham Town of Khyber Agency.
Officials said that Pakistani security personnel deployed
at the border were targeted in the attack. "At approximately
1:35 pm, two grenades were fired across the border from
Afghanistan. One grenade hit the Torkham gate while another
landed in front of the forces office. Six FC soldiers
and a ten-year old civilian were injured," officials
said.
Defence Minister Khurram
Dastgir Khan said that it is not Islamabad's job to satisfy
the US, and added that his Government is currently "reassessing"
ties with Washington. "We are here to give our point
of view logically and with evidence. We will explain our
position. But it's not for us to satisfy them," said
Khurram Dastgir Khan said. The "reassessment"
of ties with the US is a result of the US President last
month roundly criticising Pakistan for "hosting terror
safe havens". He said the situation in the region
was a "challenge" for Pakistan because the US
"keeps changing the goalposts". He didn't appear
to have elaborated on what these "changes" were.
September 17
Local Tehsildar Fawad
Ali and four Levies personnel were killed when a remote-controlled
bomb went off at a roadside in Loye Mamond area of Bajaur
Agency in FATA. Fawad Ali, along with Levies personnel,
was patrolling in Garigal area when his vehicle was targeted
with a remote-controlled explosive device, killing him
and four Levies personnel on the spot. TTP claimed responsibility
for the blast. TTP ‘spokesman’ Mohammad Khorasani said
the militants planted an improvised explosive device “to
target security personnel” in the Bajaur Agency area.
September 18
Two terrorists belonging to LeJ were killed
in an encounter with the CTD officials at Chak 83/M area
of Jalalpur Pirwala tehsil in Multan District.
One of the deceased militants was identified as Ijaz Asghar.
The CTD personnel recovered three hand grenades, a rifle
and a pistol from the scene.
SFs foiled a plot to target Punjab Chief
Minister Shahbaz Sharif and arrested a suspected terrorist
with a suicide jacket. Security sources on an intelligence
tip identified a 'terrorist' serving as a driver in a
house located in Block H of Model Town.
Pakistan summoned Switzerland's ambassador-designate
to lodge protest over the display of anti-Pakistan posters
in Geneva. Ambassador-designate Thomas Kolly was summoned
by the Foreign Office after some posters, reading "Free
Balochistan", were displayed in Geneva. The poster campaign
was apparently orchestrated by the BLA, a banned entity
in Pakistan. The Foreign Office in a statement said that
Kolly met Additional Secretary (Europe) Zaheer A Janjua.
"A strong protest was lodged with the ambassador on allowing
the use of Swiss territory by elements linked with a terrorist
organisation perpetrating terrorism and violence in Pakistan,"
it said.
September 19
At least five persons, including three
SF personnel, were killed and eight others injured in
a blast in the Rohri cement factory in Sukkur District
of Sindh. Sukkur Police DIG Feroze Shah said that the
explosion occurred when SF personnel were engaged in defusing
explosives found at the cement factory. Five people including
two Policemen, a Rangers official and two labourers were
killed in the blast. Eight others, including six Rangers
personnel, manager of the factory and one labourer were
also injured.
The CTD claimed to have arrested up two
suspected target killers allegedly belonging to LeJ during
a raid in Bandhani Colony of Liaquatabad in Karachi, the
provincial capital of Sindh. In a press release, the CTD
said the two target killers - Muhammad Abdullah Majid
and Adnan Ahmad - were involved in sectarian murders and
were planning to carry out more attacks during the upcoming
month of Muharram. The CTD also recovered three 9mm pistols,
15 bullets and one motorbike from the suspects' custody.
Sindh Government has shifted some 90 "high-profile"
inmates from the Central Prison Karachi to jails in other
Districts of the province and Rawalpindi (Punjab) on advice
of intelligence and law enforcement agencies, an official
confirmed. The key report about illegal activities of
the inmates inside the prison came from the CTD, which
recommended their shifting from the central prison to
other such facilities in Sindh and Punjab to "break an
organised network". The move came after a series of meetings
on the issue of jails' security, the official added. "The
process began in July 2017," he said. "The high-profile
militants belonging to banned outfits, both under trial
as well as those serving their terms, were shifted from
Karachi Central Prison to jails in other parts of the
province. So far 90 have been moved and under the plan
some 270 would face the same fate. More inmates would
be transferred to other jails in phases." The move is
meant to break an 'organised network' and improve prison
security Of the 90 prisoners, he said, two had been moved
to a prison in Rawalpindi, eight to Larkana and 80 to
Sukkur jail.
Two militant commanders belonging to a
banned outfit were killed by SFs during an operation in
Dera Bugti District of Balochistan. Two militant camps
were destroyed in the area, and SFs also recovered huge
cache of arms and ammunition from the demolished camps.
Three SF personnel were injured when their
vehicle hit a landmine in Kurram Agency of FATA.
The Interior Ministry of Spain said that
the Police have arrested a Pakistani man suspected of
"promoting terrorism and militant propaganda" on social
media networks. A Ministry statement said that the 25-year-old
resident of the northern Catalan city of Lleida was part
of a cell partially dismantled with the arrest of three
Pakistani brothers in Lleida in 2016. The Ministry said
that the man detained on September 19 had become "more
engrossed in radical activities" in recent weeks.
Former ruler of Kalat princely state and
a prominent Baloch leader in exile, Mir Suleman Dawood
Jan, said that if the UN held a referendum, 90 per cent
of the Baloch people would vote for freedom. "If there
will be a referendum by the United Nations, I believe
90% of Baloch will vote for freedom," said Mir Suleman
Dawood Jan Dawood, who currently lives in exile in Cardiff,
in the UK, was speaking on the sidelines of the 36th regular
session of HRC in Geneva. He alleged that more than 360
people in Balochistan were "murdered" just last month,
alleging state complicity, and added that he was "trying
to involve other countries to raise this issue so that
our voice gets heard at the United Nations."
September 20
The Chief of Army Staff General Qamar
Javed Bajwa confirmed death sentences awarded to four
hardcore terrorists, who were involved in heinous offences
related to terrorism, including abducting/slaughtering
of soldiers, attacking law enforcement agencies and Armed
Forces of Pakistan. According to an ISPR statement issued
on September 20, on the whole, they were involved in killing
of 21 persons and injuring another person. Arms and explosives
were also recovered from their possession. They were Shabbir
Ahmed, Umara Khan, Tahir Ali and Aftab ud Din. These convicts
were tried by military courts.
Unless the "core issue" of Kashmir is
resolved first, there can be no progress in ties with
India, Pakistan PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said. Pakistan
won't accept Indian role in Afghanistan, says PM Shahid
Khaqan Abbasi. PM Abbasi was interacting with an audience
at the CFR in New York. He is scheduled to address the
UN General Assembly on September 21. "…I think we need
to engage on core issues. Those have to be resolved first,
and Kashmir is the basic core issue there," the Pakistani
PM said, adding that "in the recent past the aggression
from India has continued unabated, and that is not acceptable."
"And we want normal relations with India, but on the basis
of trust and respect," he said, when asked about what
did he foresee on ties with India.
In response to questions on the deteriorating
relations between the US and Pakistan and the Donald Trump
administration's decision to suspend the strategic dialogue
between the two countries, Mr. Abbasi said: "We're engaged
at various levels. And our objective is the same, to find
peace in Afghanistan, to develop the relationship further.
And relationships have their ups and downs. … And I think
the engagement will continue. And I think any misconceptions
will go away. We remain a partner in the war against terror,"
he said. Mr. Abbasi was defiant on the issue of American
drone attacks on Pakistani soil. "No, no. We cannot condone
that. We cannot allow that. I think the sovereignty of
our territory has to be respected," he said in response
to a question. The Pakistani leader accused India of aggression
along the Line of Control, "mostly to draw attention away
from the genuine struggle of the Kashmiri people, who
have today risen against the Indian occupation there."
September 21
At least two Pakistan Customs officials
received injuries when a roadside remote controlled IED
went off in the Matha Khel area of Landi Kotal tehsil
in Khyber Agency of FATA. The administration and local
sources said that a Torkham-bound customs coach, carrying
Torkham Customs House crew, was on its way to its destination
from Peshawar when it was targeted at around 9am with
a bomb planted by militants on the main Pak-Afghan highway.
Resultantly, two customs officials identified as Muhammad
Yousaf and Abdul Kareem sustained injuries.
Former President General (retd) Parvez
Musharraf said that Asif Ali Zardari was the real mastermind
behind the murders of Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
and her brother Murtaza Bhutto and law enforcement agencies
should arrest him. Through a video message on a social
networking site, Parvez Musharraf said Asif Zardari has
levelled allegations against him for the murder of Benazir
Bhutto. "I want to reveal that the real mastermind behind
this gory incident is Asif Ali Zardari," he said. Parvez
Musharraf said he is addressing Bilawal Bhutto Zardari,
Aseefa and Bakhtawar in particular, and then the people
of Sindh and every citizen of Pakistan in general who
were aggrieved by the death of Benazir Bhutto, "There
is no doubt that (former TTP chief) Baitullah Mehsud and
his accomplices murdered Benazir Bhutto but the real mastermind
must be investigated. It needs to be seen who benefited
from the murder of Benazir Bhutto and who remained at
loss. As far as I am concerned, I was at loss but Zardari
took full benefit of it," he said. It may be mentioned
here that Zardari on September 18 filed an appeal against
the judgment of Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) at the Lahore
High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench where he sought death
penalty for Musharraf alleging his role in the Benazir
Bhutto murder case.
Pakistan refuses to be a "scapegoat" for
Afghanistan´s bloodshed or to fight wars for others, Prime
Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told the United Nations
General Assembly. Addressing the UN General Assembly,
Abbasi did not explicitly criticize US President Donald
Trump´s new strategy on Afghanistan but made clear his
displeasure with the renewed onus on Pakistan. "Having
suffered and sacrificed so much due to our role in the
global counter terrorism campaign, it is especially galling
for Pakistan to be blamed for the military or political
stalemate in Afghanistan," Abbasi said. "We are not prepared
to be anyone´s scapegoat," he said. "What Pakistan is
not prepared to do is to fight the Afghan war on Pakistan´s
soil. Nor can we endorse any failed strategy that will
prolong and intensify the suffering of the people of Afghanistan
and Pakistan and other regional countries," he said.
Abolishing militant hideouts in Pakistan
is critical to establishing peace in neighbouring Afghanistan,
President Ashraf Ghani said before meeting US President
Donald Trump on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
"Reduction of safe havens is absolutely necessary," Mr.
Ghani told National Public Radio in an interview broadcast.
"I hope that this time, Pakistan will get the message
loud and clear that business as usual cannot continue.
It's not in their interest. It's not in anyone's interest,"
Mr. Ghani said. "Pakistan has never had this type of dialogue
with the U.S. and I hope that wisdom and shared national
interests will prevail", he added further.
The Federal Ministry of Interior recommended
the Election Commission of Pakistan to reject the newly
formed MML’s application to become an official Political
party. MML is “affiliated” with JuD, the frontal organization
of LeT, the terrorist group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai
attacks. “The registration of MML is not supported,” the
Ministry said in the two-page letter sent to Election
Commission of Pakistan. Spokesmen for the election commission
and the interior ministry acknowledged the correspondence
and confirmed that the letter was authentic.
September 23
Three militants
and one Army Lieutenant Arsalan Alam were killed during
a cross border firing in Rajgal area in Tirah valley of
Khyber Agency of FATA. The ISPR said the Security Forces
retaliated and killed three militants and injured two others
when Pakistani militants based across the Pak-Afghan border
sneaked into Rajgal to carry out the attack on a newly built
border post. Post Commander Lieutenant Arsalan Alam also
killed during the action. It added that the militants took
away the bodies of the slain men and also their injured
associates and escaped to Afghanistan.
September 24
SFs killed three militants in Gara Madda
area of Dera Ismail Khan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
A press release issued by ISPR stated that the law enforcement
agencies were carrying out a search operation in Gara
Madda area when the alleged encounter took place. The
officials signalled three people, riding a bike, to stop
but they reportedly resorted to firing on the SF personnel,
ensuing an encounter, claimed ISPR. All the three suspects
were later identified as Iqbal, Waheed, and Majid, said
ISPR, adding that Iqbal was reportedly carrying a head
money of PKR one million.
A flag similar to that of the militant
IS was seen waving in Khana area of Islamabad, the Federal
Capital, in morning, before being removed by the local
Police after a citizen reported the matter. Police removed
the flag, hoisted on a pole by an unidentified person,
in the afternoon after one Naveed Ahmed Khan - a resident
of Dera Ismail Khan - informed Rescue 15 of the matter.
Khan, who was taken in by the police, said in his statement
that he was travelling on the Sixth Road in Islamabad
when he saw the flag. Khan added that he recognised the
flag as he had seen it on the television before. The flag
had "Khilafat is coming" written on it, in addition to
the Arabic verses. Taking notice of the matter, Federal
Minister of Interior Ahsan Iqbal asked the Inspector General
of Police to file a report on the said matter.
According to a recent report by the Federation
of American Scientists (FAS), Pakistan has stored its
nuclear forces at nine different locations across the
country. Renowned US nuclear weapon expert and co-author
of the report Hans Kristensen said Pakistan's nuclear
warheads may be located in storage facilities near the
bases the report identifies, and that these bases themselves
appear to house nuclear-capable launchers that would use
those warheads. The report describes the launcher bases
to give readers an impression of the extent to which Pakistan's
nuclear forces are being dispersed across the country.
Kristensen said that because Pakistan was building a short-range
sub-strategic nuclear arsenal (in addition to its longer-range
force), the warheads would likely be distributed to regional
storage sites from which they could be assembled and transported
to the launcher bases. "Since the shorter-range systems
are intended to be used earlier in a conflict below the
strategic level, weapons for these systems would likely
be distributed early in a crisis and raise the risk of
accident and incidents. If used against conventional attacks,
use of the tactical nuclear weapons would likely lead
to escalation to a wider nuclear war quickly," said Kristensen.
September 25
Four militants
were killed during operations conducted by the Frontier
Corps in various parts of Balochistan, ISPR press release
said. According to the ISPR statement, four "wanted terrorists"
belonging to the BRA and the UBA were killed during the
operations, while 24 others were arrested. Among those killed
were Thango and Keleri of the BRA, the ISPR said. According
to the statement, they were involved in the abduction of
civilians and responsible for attacks on law enforcement
personnel. The two other militants killed were identified
as Muhammad Khan and Jalal Deen ? both members of the UBA.
According to the ISPR, they were involved in bombing railway
lines, the planting of improvised explosive devices and
destroying power lines.
September 26
SFs conducted intelligence-based operations
in Kamar Khel, Baz Garhi and Bara area of Khyber Agency
and recovered arms and ammunition, ISPR press release
said. Submachine guns, grenades, rockets, IED and mortar
rounds were recovered from the sites.
One senior militant Shafqatullah laid
down arms and surrendered before Police in Lakki Marwat
District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A Police official said
that Shafqatullah was wanted to law enforcement agencies
in several militancy-related cases, including Shah Hasankhel
suicide blast of January 1, 2010. Over 97 villagers, including
security personnel, had been killed in the blast when
a suicide bomber blew up his double-door pickup truck
in the middle of a volleyball match. "The surrendered
militant is also involved in attacks on district police
office, police lines and city police post when militancy
was at peak in the southern district," the official said,
adding Shafqatullah was also wanted to Police in cases
of blowing up a water supply scheme in Lakki city, a government
primary school in Shah Hasankhel village and a house in
Dhoda village.
One IB official, Sub-Inspector Malik Mukhtar
Ahmed Shahzad accused his own agency of protecting terror
groups in a petition in the Islamabad high court, and
questioned the agency for not taking any action against
suspected terrorists. Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Shahzad in the
petition requested for a thorough investigation against
his seniors by the ISI. "The issue of connivance, complacency
and involvement of official of IB and other senior bureaucrats
raised in the petition may graciously be entrusted to
the ISI for investigation," the petitioner requested the
court.
Shahzad, who joined the IB in 2007, has
alleged that the agency did not take any action against
terror organisations with roots in Uzbekistan, Iran, Syria,
Afghanistan and India despite concrete evidence against
them. His petition names several Pakistan IB officials,
including a Joint Director General, Directors and Deputy
Directors as conspirators in the matter. Shahzad added
that the matter was even reported to the IB Director General
but no action was taken. While alleging that many of his
seniors were on the payroll of foreign intelligence agencies
to protect terrorists, Shahzad stated, "Upon thorough
intelligence gathering process, it transpired that certain
high officials of the IB themselves are directly involved
with the terrorist organisations having linkages with
hostile enemy intelligence agencies." Shahzad added that
he "has been running from pillar to post including approaching
the prime minister to raise this issue of national security
and protection of lives of the citizen of this country
but in vain."
Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad
Asif told an audience in New York that JuD chief and founder
of the LeT Hafiz Saeed and LeT are liabilities. "I accept
that they (Saeed and LeT) are liabilities, but give us
time to get rid of them because we don't have the assets
to match these liabilities and you are increasing them
(our liabilities) further," the minister said.
Pakistan also refused to take the blame
for the Haqqani Network and other alleged militant outfits,
reminding the United States that these 'terrorists' were
considered the 'darlings' of the White House up until
a few decades ago. Foreign Minister Khwaja Muhammad Asif,
who is attending the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly,
made remarks to this end at the Asia Society forum on
September 26. "Don't blame us for the Haqqanis [the Haqqani
Network] and don't blame us for the Hafiz Saeed [referring
to the head of banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD)]. These were
the people who were your darlings just 20 to 30 years
back. They were being dined and wined in the White House
and now you say 'go to hell Pakistanis because you are
nurturing these people'."
Afghanistan today didn't mince words in
declaring at the UN that terror in Afghanistan is the
"product of (a) long-standing policy" of Pakistan. "The
scourge of terrorism affecting Afghanistan is (a) product
of (the) long-standing policy by a neighbouring State
to keep Afghanistan unstable," said Afghan Foreign Minister
Salahuddin Rabbani at no less a forum than the UNSC. Afghanistan
also said that that terror's "roots are located in terrorist
sanctuaries and safe havens outside" its borders. "Despite
being on (the) receiving-end of provocative actions, we
have maintained a principled position in seeking to resolve
differences through dialogue, diplomacy and peaceful means...Pakistan
has so far failed to respond positively at its own cost,
particularly in relation to its global reputation and
standing," added the Afghan Foreign Minister. With its
unequivocal declarations, Afghanistan today joined US
President Donald Trump, the BRICS countries, Japan and
India in naming and shaming Pakistan, a country many have
come to call a "terrorist state".
Speaking at Asia Society seminar in New
York, Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif
said that Pakistan cannot owe responsibility of peace
and security in Afghanistan, adding that effective border
management with Afghanistan is imperative to stop infiltration
of terrorists. Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that the United
States cannot succeed in Afghanistan through waging war,
adding that from 16 years of the ongoing war in Afghanistan,
it is clear that peace will not be restored by the continuing
resort to military force, peace can be restored in Afghanistan
only through a negotiated settlement, he added. He said
no one desires peace in Afghanistan more than Pakistan.
Numbers of Afghan leaders want to continue status quo
for their vested interests, the minster added.
Pakistan received a proposal to swap Indian
national Kulbhushan Jadhav for a terrorist who carried
out the horrific 2014 Peshawar school attack and is now
jailed in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Khwaja Muhammad
Asif has claimed. Asif, however, did not specify the name
of the terrorist and the National Security Advisor who
had made the proposal. "The terrorist who killed children
in APS (Army Public School) in Peshawar is in Afghan custody.
The National Security Advisor (NSA) told me that we can
exchange that terrorist with the terrorist you have, which
is Kulbhushan Jadhav," Asif told the audience after his
speech at the Asia Society.
September 27
Four SF personnel were injured when their
patrolling vehicle hit a roadside IED near Afghan border
in Shorki area of Khyber Agency in FATA.
September 28
Police claimed to have killed five militants
in a raid in Sacha area of Malir Town in Karachi, the
provincial capital of Sindh. Malir Town SSP, Rao Anwar
said the raid was jointly carried out by intelligence
agencies and Police on the basis of secret information.
Anwar claimed that the militants had plans to carry out
attacks on Youm-e-Ashura. He said a senior al Qaeda leader
Amir Sharif was among the dead. He said a suspected identified
as Hamza was involved in sectarian target killing.
Two senior Central Jail officials in Karachi
were arrested over alleged obstruction of the investigation
of a jailbreak involving two high-profile militants on
June 14,. The CTD arrested Central Jail Superintendent
Ghulam Murtaza Shaikh and Assistant Superintendent Abdul
Rehman Shaikh, CTD DIG Amir Farooqi said, over a range
of charges from alleged destruction of evidence to threatening
witnesses. DIG Farooqi, who was handling the jailbreak
investigation, said the accused jailers were creating
hindrances into the investigation of the two militants
linked to the banned LeJ - Mumtaz alias Firaun, and Ahmed
alias Munna, who were involved in the murders of 60 people,
including members of the Shia community and law enforcement
agencies.
The CoAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa said
that Pakistan was incomplete without Balochistan. The
COAS General Bajwa said this while interacting with a
group of 173 students and faculty members, which called
on him, from various educational institutions of Balochistan.
He said that Pakistan cannot progress without peace, stability
and progress of Balochistan. The COAS termed youth as
Pakistan's most precious asset and urged them to contribute
in national integration and progress by performing their
positive role. General Bajwa said that never get misguided
by anti-state propaganda being engineered by certain anti-state
elements from abroad with support of hostile foreign agencies.
Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Aizaz
Ahmad Chaudhry said that Pakistan would not allow anyone
to use Pakistani land for terrorism. Addressing a ceremony
at Pakistan Embassy in Washington held in connection with
the Defence Day of Pakistan, Aizaz Chaudhry said that
Pakistan was committed to eliminate terrorism jointly
with the international community. "This day is observed
every year to commemorate the spirit and the valour displayed
by our armed forces in defending our borders against the
blatant aggression of our neighbor during 1965 war," he
said. He said that the armed forces of Pakistan had not
only defended our frontiers successfully, but had also
participated in the world's largest counter terrorism
operation. This resulted in clearing up most of the area,
under the influence of anti state elements. Besides, the
armed forces also participated in the nation building
activities, particularly during natural calamities and
emergencies," he added.
At least 20 people sustained
injuries in an explosion near a hospital located on Ring
Road near Shinwari Town, within the jurisdiction of Paharipura
Police Station, Peshawar, the provincial capital, Police
said. While Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Faizi said
20 people sustained injuries and were treated on the spot,
SSP (Operations) Sajjad Khan said only five people were
seriously injured in the explosion. "The blast occurred
just outside the hospital, injuring many people including
one of the owners, Osman Maqsood, who was on his way back
after Friday prayers," an official said, adding that
according to the bomb disposal squad officials the device
used in the attack was probably homemade. Police said
the hospital owner was the target of the attack as he
was already receiving threatening calls from extortionists.
Police and intelligence
agencies in a joint operation rounded up two terrorists
and recovered seven hand grenades, four IEDs and prima
card and shrapnel from an under an construction house
in Peshawar.
September 30
Sindh Rangers claimed to have recovered
arms from MQM-L unit office in Orangi Town of Karachi.
According to Rangers spokesman, on an intelligent report
that the activists of MQM-L has hidden arms and ammunition
in the unit office in Orangi town's Sector-7- C for target
killing and disturbing law & order situation in the city,
the Rangers conducted a raid and recovered a Light Machine
Gun (LMG), one AK-47 with 11 magazines, and a 22-rifle,
two 30-bore pistols with a magazines and 1850 different
types of rounds.
Intelligence agencies and SFs conducted
raids and seized weapons from Makhi Nala area of Kahan
in Kohlu District in Balochistan. In a press conference,
Kohlu Deputy Commissioner Agha Nabil said that the SFs
raided Makhi Nala area of Kahan. "During the raid, weapons
and ammunition were seized from the hideouts, belonging
to proscribed organisations," said Nabil. "Three hand
grenades, seven anti-tank mines, 477 LMG rounds, one kilogram
of explosive material, rifles, machine guns, detonator,
five Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG)-7 fuses, 400 yards
of detonator cable and other weapons were recovered,"
he said.
In another raid, a vehicle that was going
to be used as vehicle-borne IED was seized during an IBO
from Tore Shah, North of Pishin in Balochistan. The vehicle
was going to be used to disrupt Muharram in Quetta. Three
suspects were also arrested during the raid.
Pakistan Rangers Punjab and Police carried
out patrolling/flag marches in important areas of major
cities in Punjab. The ISPR said that extensive intelligence
based operations were carried out in Rawalpindi, Islamabad,
Multan, DG Khan, Lahore, Sialkot, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur
and Rahim Yar Khan. During these operations, 27 suspects
were arrested and a cache of illegal weapons was seized.
The CTD arrested four suspected terrorists from Multan,
seizing a sizeable quantity of arms and explosives from
them. The CTD conducted a raid on a tip-off and arrested
four activists of banned outfit, who were identified as
Nasir, Ali, Tahir and Shafqat. The CTD also claimed to
have seized six hand grenades, two pistols, one IED, two
kilogrammes of explosives, three-meter detonating cord,
eight-meter safety, and 10 detonators from the suspects.
October 2
At least one person was
killed and two others injured in a remote-controlled blast
in the Ghat area of Malam Jabba in Swat Valley District
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Police said the blast targeted
a family member of a VDC member, Ahmed Zeb. Zeb’s father
was killed and two others wounded, Police officials said.
Eighteen of convicted
and under-trial militants, including leaders of sectarian
outfits, are likely to be transferred from Karachi Central
jail to various other jails of Sindh. There were nearly
100 high-profile ‘hardcore’ terrorists incarcerated at
the Karachi central prison belonging to militant organisations
such as LeJ, SSP, JeM, TTP, al Qaeda, AQIS and Daesh (Islamic
States). This includes the militants who attempted to
assassinate former president and then army chief General
(retd) Parvez Musharraf, Omar Shaikh, who was sentenced
to death for killing American journalist Daniel Pearl,
Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British terrorist of Pakistani
origin with links to various Islamist militant organisations
such as JeM, al Qaeda, HuM and the Taliban, and LeJ co-founder
Mohammad Ajmal alias Akram Lahori.
The NADRA restarted the
process of registration of unregistered Afghan nationals
in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The process of registration was
temporarily suspended due to Muharram. Overall 100,000
Afghan refugees who have been living in Pakistan without
Proof of Registration cards have been registered across
the country in last one month out of which 80,000 have
been registered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone.
October 3
A soldier was killed and
another sustained injuries when militants opened fire
on a forces check post in the Rajgal area, along the Pak-Afghan
border, of Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency in FATA.
"Two soldiers posted at the checkpoint were targeted
with sniper fire from across the border," officials
said. The militants then escaped from the area.
Pakistan's external intelligence
agency, ISI, clearly has links with terrorist groups,
said the US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Joseph
Dunford. "It is clear to me that the [Inter-Services
Intelligence] has connections with terrorist groups,"
said Dunford, in his testimony at the Senate hearing.
Pakistan, of course, continues to deny there is state
or institutional support for terrorists, but the US isn't
buying that falsehood, said Dunford.
US Defense Secretary James
Mattis went a step further and said that ISI even "appears
to run its own policy". "We've seen the government
of Pakistan come down on terrorists, when the ISI appears
to run its own policy," said Mattis, according to
Russia Today. "We need to try one more time to make
this strategy work with them, by, with and through the
Pakistanis, and if our best efforts fail, President (Donald)
Trump is prepared to take whatever steps are necessary,"
said Mattis said at the House hearing, reported The Hill.
When asked if taking away Pakistan's status as a major
non-NATO ally is an option on the table if it doesn't
act to immediately to rein in terror, Mattis's response
was, "sure it will be."
Both officials were testifying
at the US Senate Armed Services Committee on the US's
strategy in Afghanistan. On the same day, they also testified
at the House Armed Services Committee on the same subject.
Iqbal Ibrahim Kaskar,
Dawood Ibrahim's brother has reportedly stated that Dawood
wanted to return to India, Pakistan's intelligence agency
ISI, won't allow him to do so. The ISI believes that if
Dawood returns to India, then many of its secrets would
be exposed, and it would find itself in an embarrassing
situation. Notably, a few years back Dawood Ibrahim had
reportedly desired to return to India.
October 4
Three terrorists tried
and convicted by military courts were executed at a jail
in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ISPR statement said. The convicts
were "involved in committing heinous offences relating
to terrorism, including [an] attack on a PIA plane at
Peshawar Airport, killing of civilians, attacking the
armed forces and law enforcement agencies," the ISPR
handout read. Former Army chief General Raheel Sharif
signed the death warrants of the three terrorists, identified
as Sajid, Behram and Fazal-i-Ghaffar.
The former spokesperson
of Balochistan Government and central secretary information
NP, Jan Buledi, narrowly escaped an attempt on his life
as unidentified assailants attacked his convoy, leaving
his son and two security guards injured in Kech District
of Balochistan. Levies officials said that suspected assailants
opened indiscriminate fire at Buledi's vehicle when he
was heading to Turbat from his hometown Buleda.
Iranian troops fired at
least 11 mortar shells into bordering town of Chedgi in
Panjgur District, causing no casualty. "The shells
landed in an open fray of bordering town Chedgi, area
of Panjgur District, without causing any casualty but
the huge bangs sparked fear among the people living in
bordering towns," Panjgur Deputy Commissioner Jabbar
Baloch said.
A US-based leader of the
MQM’s London faction allegedly financed the targeted killing
of a party worker in Karachi three months ago, Pakistan
Rangers Sindh claimed. Pakistan Rangers Sindh also announced
the arrest of three suspected target killers, allegedly
belonging to MQM, in connection with the chairman of union
council-13, Rashid alias Mamu. In a statement issued on
Wednesday, Pakistan Rangers Sindhs' spokesperson said
that the Rangers carried out an intelligence-based action
in Karachi's Shah Faisal Colony and arrested three suspects
"involved in the targeted killing of UC chairman
Rashid alias Mamu.” The arrested suspects were identified
as Asif Raees, Shahid Aziz and Mohammed Danish Khan.
October 5
At least 24 persons, including
a Police constable, were killed and more than 30 injured
when a suicide bomber struck outside the Dargah
(shrine) of Pir Rakhel Shah in Gandawa area of Fatehpur,
a small town in the Jhal Magsi District of Balochistan,
where anniversary celebrations was going on. The deceased
include at least three children. District Police Officer
Mohammad Iqbal said the suicide bomber had tried to enter
the shrine but a Police constable on security duty stopped
him, after which the attacker detonated his explosives.
Initial reports suggested that the explosion took place
when the dhamaal — a devotional dance performed at shrines
— was being performed after evening prayers. Balochistan
Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said that "if he [the
attacker] had managed to enter the Dargah, the death toll
would have been much higher." IS/Daesh claimed responsibility
for the attack.
The CTD shot dead two
suspected militant at Sher Shah Bund area of Multan District
in Punjab. According to CTD, they, on tip-off, carried
out a raid in Sher Shah Bund area about the presence of
terrorists linked to the banned outfit, as the cops approached
their hideout they restored to firing. In retaliation
two of the terrorists got killed. However, three other
managed to escape taking the advantage of darkness. Explosive
material and sophisticated weapons were recovered from
the possession of slain militants.
One LeJ militant, Saad
Surkhan, who was planning to carry out major acts of terrorism
in the city, was gunned down in an encounter with a joint
team of Police and IB in Khwaja Ajmer Nagri area of Karachi,
the provincial capital of Sindh. However, his two accomplices
managed to escape. Saad Surkhan had provided a suicide
jacket to the assassin of Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada
on August 16, 2015, a senior IB official said on condition
of anonymity. The killed suspect was twice arrested in
Karachi but was released on bail.
The DG of ISPR Major General
Asif Ghafoor said that there are no terrorist safe havens
in Pakistan. While addressing a press conference, he stated
that there are no organised bases of any terrorist organisations
in the country anymore. "More than 50 per cent of
Afghan territory is out of their control, which is also
affecting Pakistan." Major General Asif Ghafoor accepted
that there are threats to Pakistan's borders, but added
that the important question to ask is if the threat is
by state or non-state actors.
October 6
One person, identified
as Naeem Yunus distributing pamphlets of the proscribed
terror outfit HuT outside a mosque in Islamabad, was arrested
by Police. Police said five men were handing out pamphlets
outside a mosque in Sector G-7/2 meant to incite the public
against the government and state institutions. When they
saw the Police approaching, they tried to flee. However,
Police managed to arrest one of them. According to Police,
the pamphlets found in his possession read, "Get
rid of this weak leadership which seeks honour in subservience
to an alliance with America." The papers also carried
a hate speech against the government and the institutions
of Pakistan. The Police have booked five suspects under
the anti-terrorism laws.
Federal Minister of Interior
Ahsan Iqbal called on clerics and religious leaders to
denounce 'jihad fatwas' posted by people on social media,
declaring that in an Islamic country only the State had
the right to declare jihad, not a Mohalla or a mosque.
"Only the state can declare jihad … no group of people
has the right to declare jihad against another group,"
he told the National Assembly while speaking on the suicide
blast at Dargah Fatehpur Sharif near Gandawa area of Jhal
Magsi District in Balochistan. "We need to prevent
that from happening and I humbly request religious leaders
to condemn the fatwas posted on social media. If we let
this go on, the country will turn into a battlefield with
various groups and ethnicities pitted against each other,"
he added.
"The enemy wants
Muslims to behead each other. If we continue treading
this path of violence and unrest, we wouldn't even need
an [external] enemy to destroy us," the Minister
said. "If we start handing out fatwas on kufr in
every street and neighborhood, and the maulvi in every
street mosque starts handing out fatwas about who is kafir
and who is Muslim, then there will only be chaos. It is
God who is to decide who is going to heaven or hell …
it is not our job," he said. The Minister said it
was not the right of the any individual to issue decree
and declare any person non-Muslim or to do politics in
the name of religion. "Another thing people do is
given out fatwas about who can be murdered - that is not
for individuals to decide, only the state can decide such
matters."
The DG of IB Aftab Sultan
met several parliamentarians only to assure them that
a list containing their names and accusing them of having
links with banned outfits was a fake document and not
issued by his agency. Having names of 37 lawmakers who
were alleged to have links with banned outfits, the list
first came to light when a private television channel
aired a report claiming that former PM Nawaz Sharif had
directed the IB to keep a close watch on these legislators,
who mostly belong to the ruling PML-N. The meeting between
the parliamentarians and IB chief Aftab Sultan was arranged
by PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The lawmakers named in the
list complained to PM Abbasi that their opponents could
use the document to institute cases against them and,
thus, they would not be eligible to hold a public office.
October 7
FC Balochistan conducted
IBOs in Grandani area of Kohlu District and Ghazi Nullah
area of Naseerabad District and recovered 1300 kg explosives.
According to an ISPR statement, the explosives were planned
to be used for terrorist activities in the province. Besides
explosives, weapons and ammunition including submachine
guns, rockets, hand grenades, maps of important areas
and communication equipment were also recovered.
October 9
At least five Shia Hazara persons were
killed and one other was seriously injured when unidentified
assailants opened fire at their vehicle on Kasi road in
Gawalmandi area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
According to the Police, the deceased were going to Hazar
Ganji Sabzi Mandi in the vehicle when motorcycle borne
assailants sprayed bullets at the vehicle and managed
to escape.
While the US continues to suspect Pakistan's
fight against terrorists, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif
said that Islamabad has offered Washington an in-sync
operation against the Haqqani network. "We have offered
American authorities to visit Pakistan with evidence of
Haqqani network's safe havens in the country. If they
find any activity [of Haqqanis] in the targeted areas,
our troops along with the US would destroy them once and
for all," Asif told anchor Javed Chaudhry on the Express
News show Kal Tak. He further said Islamabad not to bow
to 'do more' demands. He further added that "If the US
secretary of state and secretary of defence are coming
to dictate us, we will refuse to accept their dictates…and
now we will do what is in the best interest of our country."
October 11
The Sheikhupura District and session's
court sentenced three men to death on charges of committing
blasphemy. The court also fined them PKR 200,000 each,
but if they are unable to pay the fine, they would have
to undergo six months of rigorous punishment. In his verdict,
Additional District and Sessions Judge Mian Javed Akram
ruled that the three members of the Ahmadi community of
Bhoaywal village had committed blasphemy by displaying
a po ster and banners at their place of worship in a manner
that was offending.
October 12
A local journalist, Haroon Khan, a correspondent
for Waqt News TV, was shot dead outside his house in Swabi
town of same district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Haroon Khan
came under fire when he stepped out of his home. He was
also affiliated with Akhbar-i-Khaiber, while earlier he
remained associated with the Mashriq TV.
The Pakistan Army said that it had recovered
five abducted foreign hostages from terrorists in an operation
based on intelligence shared by the US. An ISPR statement
said the hostages included a Canadian, his American wife,
and their three children. The hostages were recovered
"through an intelligence-based operation by Pakistani
troops." "They were captured by terrorists from Afghanistan
in 2012 and kept as hostages there," the ISPR handout
said. US intelligence agencies had been tracking them
and shared their shifting across to Pakistan on October
11, 2017, through the Kurram Agency border.
October 13
A Policeman was killed and three others,
including a child, were injured when unidentified militants
opened fire on a Police patrolling party on Faqeer Muhammad
road in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
Constable Ali Muhammad was killed in the attack while
two other Policemen were injured along with the child.
The assailants managed to escape after the attack.
The US President Donald Trump said that
Pakistan took "tremendous advantage" of the US over the
years, but is now "starting to have a real" relationship.
Trump's remarks came a day after Pakistan secured the
release of an American-Canadian family from the clutches
of the Haqqani network, five years after they were abducted.
"Yesterday, things happened with Pakistan," said President
Donald Trump. "I have openly said Pakistan took tremendous
advantage of our country for many years, but we're starting
to have a real relationship with Pakistan, and they're
starting to respect us as a nation again, and so are other
nations," Trump said. "They are starting to respect the
United States of America again," he said and thanked the
leaders of Pakistan for "what they've been doing".
The US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher said
that the US should support the Baloch people and other
oppressed groups in Pakistan, who are being subject to
grave human rights violations for demanding the right
to self-determination. Dana Rohrabacher said Pakistan
needs to remember what happened in 1971, referring to
developments in then East Pakistan which later on became
Bangladesh after years of Pakistani human rights abuses
and persecution of the local population. Resource-rich
Balochistan, Pakistan's largest but least populated province,
has been wracked by a long-running separatist insurgency
which has seen brutal repression by Pakistani security
forces and enforced disappearances. "When the people of
Bangladesh wanted to be a little independent of the Pakistani
government, have some way to control their own lives and
control their own government, they were brutally repressed
by the Pakistani government, and that is what led to,
basically, the uprising of the people in Bangladesh when
they freed themselves," Rohrabacher said in the US House
of Representatives. That same type of oppression is continuing
not only against the Baloch, but also against the Muhajirs
who came over from India after Partition, he said. Rohrabacher
said the Muhajirs do not want to be subjugated by "this
corrupt, militaristic, pro-terrorist" government of Pakistan.
"We should be siding with people like that who want their
independence and believe in these same values that we
believe in," he said, adding, the US needs to be supporting
the Baloch.
October 15
At least four FC personnel were martyred
and three others injured in an IED blast near the Pak-Afghan
border in the Kharlachi area of Kurram Agency in FATA.
An ISPR press release said the troops targeted by the
blast were part of a search party for handlers of the
rescued foreigners, Caitlan Coleman and Joshua Boyle,
who were recovered by the Army near Kohat. The slain personnel
were identified as Captain Husnain, Sepoy Saeed Baz, Sepoy
Qadir and Sepoy Jumma Gul. The injured were identified
as Naik Anwar, Sepoy Zahir and Lance Naik Sher Afzal.
The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack.
Punjab Government withdrew terrorism charges
against JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and his group, paving way
for the possible release. A Punjab Government official
told a review board of Supreme Court on October 14 that
the provincial government did not include charges of terrorism
in the new order for Hafiz Saeed and his aides. Authorities
had earlier detained Saeed under ATA. Saeed's lawyer A.K.
Dogar had urged the court to order the release of Saeed
and his four aides since they are no longer under ATA.
The Lahore High Court is expected to decide his application
in the coming week after Justice Muzahir Naqvi asked the
Government to file charges against Saeed. He had warned
the Government earlier this week that Saeed would be freed
unless evidence was presented against the JuD leader.
October 16
At least 20 suspected
militants were killed in US drone strike on a compound
near the border with Afghanistan in Kurram Agency of the
FATA. As per details, four missiles were fired on a compound
during the strike, in which suspected militants of Haqqani
network were killed.
October 17
The Federal Government
has directed the Provinces to launch action against proscribed
(banned) religious outfits and those kept under observations
by seizing their offices, weapons and properties. The
Federal Ministry of Interior also instructed all the Provincial
chief secretaries and the chief commissioner of the capital
territory Islamabad to submit reports on the organisations’
financial activities. According to sources, the orders
were issued to the chief secretaries of the four provinces,
Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir to restrain members
of all such organisations from continuing their activities.
The decision was taken after the recent statement of Foreign
Minister Khawaja Asif in which he stressed the need for
“putting our own house in order.”
An official of the Punjab
Home Department told a provincial review board comprising
judges of the Lahore High Court that keeping JuD’s chief
Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and his four aides under detention
was critical for the maintenance of law and order. The
board was hearing a Punjab Government application seeking
extension in the detention of Saeed and his four aides.
The official said that the Ministries of Interior and
Foreign Affairs had ample material to justify detention
of the JuD leaders. He said the UN had banned the JuD
and its leaders had been detained on direction of the
Federal Government.
October 18
At least eight Policemen
were killed and 24 other people were injured in an explosion
on the Quetta-Sibbi Road in Sariab Mill area of Quetta,
the provincial capital of Balochistan. According to initial
reports, SFs claimed a roadside bomb exploded just as
a Police vehicle carrying 35 Police personnel passed the
area. However, the nature of the blast has yet to be ascertained.
The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack.
A Police Inspector, Abdul
Salam, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Qambrani
road of Quetta. Abdul Salam was shot multiple times, Police
said.
Two SF personnel, identified
as Sepoy Tasawar Ali and Sepoy Ghulam Rabani, were killed
their vehicle hit an IED blast in Jalal check post of
FR Bannu in FATA.
Umar Khalid Khorasani,
the ‘chief’ of JuA, an offshoot of the TTP, has been killed
in a US drone strike in Paktia province of Afghanistan’s.
“Chief of our Jamaat-ul-Ahrar Umar Khalid Khorasani, who
sustained serious injuries in a recent US drone strike,
succumbed to his injuries Wednesday evening,” JuA ‘spokesman’
Asad Mansoor told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed
location. “At least nine close associates of Khorasani
were also killed in the strike,” he added. Mansoor said
a high-level meeting of JuA’s consultative council will
be convened soon to appoint the outfit’s new chief. However,
a senior JuA ‘commander’ said on condition of anonymity
that one of JuA’s senior commanders, Asad Afridi, has
already been appointed new JuA chief.
October 19
A ‘commander’ of Lyari
gangster, Ghafoor alias Chhotu, allegedly involved in
targeted killing of, among others, three foreigners in
the Hub area of Balochistan was shot dead by Pakistan
Rangers Sindh during an encounter in Murad Memon Goth
of Malir town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.
Acting on information, the Rangers encircled the hideout
in Murad Memon Goth at around 2am. On seeing the Rangers’
personnel, the suspects resorted to firing with automatic
weapons. Reinforcements were called in by the Rangers
and during an intense exchange of fire, one suspect was
gunned down while trying to escape in Bachal Goth near
Murad Memon Goth. His two accomplices fled taking advantage
of darkness, said the Rangers’ official. The dead suspect
was identified as Ghafoor alias Chhotu. “He was a close
aide of Lyari gang leader Noor Mohammed alias Baba Ladla,”
said the Rangers’ spokesperson, adding that the dead suspect
had established a reign of terror in the Malir area.
Thirty-five persons were
injured in two grenade attacks in Mastung and Gwadar District
of Balochistan in the evening. Unidentified persons on
a motorcycle hurled a grenade near a mobile market at
Safar Khan Chowk in Mastung town, injuring 15 persons,
Police Inspector Abdul Quddus said. Later in the evening,
20 people were injured when miscreants lobbed a grenade
at Al-Zubair hotel on airport road in Gwadar. Most of
the injured were labourers from Sindh who were having
their dinner when the attack took place.
A provincial review board
comprising judges of the Lahore High Court approved one-month
extension in detention of JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed
but turned down a Government request for extending detention
of four other leaders of the organisation. The Police
presented Saeed and his aides Qazi Kashif Niaz, Prof.
Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Abdullah Ubaid before
the board amid strict security. Senior officials from
Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs along with
Government’s law officers also appeared and assisted the
board’s members during in-camera proceedings. The board
comprises Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali, Justice Abdul Sami
Khan and Justice Alia Neelum. After hearing the Government
authorities and lawyers, the board approved extension
in the detention period of Hafiz Saeed for one month but
refused to extend detention of other four JuD leaders.
They would stand freed on October 26 when their detention
period expires. The Punjab Government had detained the
JuD leaders under the Maintenance of Pubic Order as recommended
by the Federal Government.
October 20
One militant was killed
and seven others arrested during an intelligence-based
operation by FC personnel in Rojhan Jamali area of Mastung
District in Balochistan on terrorist’s hideouts who were
involved in target killing and grenade attacks, ISPR press
release said. A cache of arms and ammunition including
explosives was recovered during the operation.
Missing journalist Zeenat
Shahzadi who went missing more than two years ago returned
home safe and sound – much to the surprise of the family.
Zeenat Shahzadi, who was affiliated with a private TV
channel, went missing on August 19, 2015 while travelling
to her office in an auto-rickshaw in Lahore. According
to witnesses, Shahzadi had been whisked away by gunmen
riding in two cars who intercepted the three-wheeler she
was travelling in. The Express Tribune called up
Shahzadi’s mother for her reaction but could not get through.
“I’ve spoken to Shahzadi’s mother and she has confirmed
that her daughter has returned home,” IA Rehman, veteran
Human Rights campaigner and former chairperson Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan said. However, Rehman wouldn’t
say who had recovered Shahzadi and how. “The good news
is that she is back at her home. Details of her recovery
will trickle in,” he said. Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal,
President of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances,
told the BBC that Shahzadi had been recovered from an
area on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Thursday night.
“Non-state actors and anti-state agencies had abducted
her and she has been recovered from their custody,” Iqbal
added. “Tribal elders from Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
played a role in her recovery.”
For the first time, PSGPC
general secretary Gopal Singh Chawla publicly admitted
to have been part of separatist ‘Khalistan movement’ and
have also undergone training for the purpose. A video
of Chawla has surfaced on social media where he is seen
as saying "I have been a part of Khalistan movement,
I have also undergone training, I have been abusing India
and its prime minister, if we want to get rid of India,
we have to help this organization (MML- Milli Musli League)".
Chalwa is seen addressing a gathering from the platform
of MML, a political wing of the banned JuD, a frontal
organisation of LeT.
PSGPC general secretary
Chawla in his speech addressed in Punjabi said that PSGPC
receives minimum of five to seven thousand pilgrims every
year from India. "We look into their eyes, out of
those seven thousand pilgrims at least two thousand are
RAW [Research and Analysis Wing] agents and we see a fear
of Hafiz Saeed Sahib in their eyes". PSGPC''s controversial
general secretary also raised slogans in praise of Jarnail
Singh Bhinderanwala and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and said
his organization (Punjabi Sikh Sangat) and supporters
from UK and Canada would help MML. Calling terror mastermind
as his ''Amir'' (Ruler), Chalwa bestowed praise upon Hafiz
Saeed saying that "Unha Indians dia nazra vich maray
Aamir Hafiz Saeed Sab da khauf hunda hai" (There
is fear of my Aamir Hafiz Saeed Sab in the eyes of those
Indians" he said.
October 21
ASP ‘chief’, Shehryar
alias Dr Abdullah Hashmi, among eight militants were killed
in a raid jointly carried out by the Pakistan Rangers
Sindh and the CTD in Raees Goth area of Baldia Town in
Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh at 11:00 pm.
A spokesman for the Rangers said Dr Abdullah Hashmi, Ameer
of ASP was mastermind behind several terrorist attacks.
Another suspect identified as Arsalan Baig was member
of group’s “Target Killing Team”, he said. A Rangers official
said that one CTD personnel and two Rangers personnel
sustained injuries during the encounter. Explosive material,
arms and ammunition were recovered from the militant hideout.
October 24
US Secretary of State
Rex Tillerson urged Pakistani leadership to step up their
fight against terrorist groups on their soil and facilitate
the Afghan reconciliation process. “The secretary reiterated
President Trump’s message that Pakistan must increase
its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating
within the country,” a US Embassy statement on Tillerson’s
visit said. Tillerson’s message appeared significantly
toned down as compared to the usual American rhetoric
on alleged terrorist sanctuaries on Pakistani soil, although
in essence there was little difference in the messaging.
The secretary had just a day earlier told reporters at
Afghanistan’s Bagram airbase that Islamabad needed to
have “a clear-eyed view” of terror safe havens on its
territory and cautioned that bilateral ties would be conditions-based
in terms of whether or not its leaders take the “specific”
actions that were being required of them.
October 25
Unidentified assailants
shot dead a leader of the MQM-P on Hali Road of Hyderabad
city of same District in Sindh. Dr Noshad, a sector member
of the MQM-P, was targeted by unidentified assailants
when he was returning home after dropping off his children
to a school. Noshad received several bullets and was shifted
to a hospital where succumbed to his wounds.
Foreign Minister Khawaja
Asif said that decrease in drone attacks in the past few
years showed that there are no more safe havens in Pakistan.
The Foreign Minister shared a chart of drone attacks carried
out in the last 12 years from 2005 till Oct 15, 2017 in
the Pakistani territory. He tweeted: "12yrs drone
attacks chart. If we have sanctuaries why frequency is
sharply down. US won’t hesitate attacking funeral, weddings
to get targets". Since 2013 there have been just
65 drone attacks in Pakistan, and 2010 being the year
when the pilot less planes attacked 90 times, the most
in 12 years. In 2013, there were 24 drone strikes in 2014,
19 in 2015, 14 in 2016, 03 and in the 10 months this year,
05 attacks took place, shows the chart shared by Foreign
Minister.
In a message to Pakistan,
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that terror safe
havens will not be tolerated and that too many terrorist
organisations were finding such havens in the neighbouring
country. On his first visit to India, and shortly after
a dialogue with his counterpart Sushma Swaraj, Tillerson
qualified his remark by saying that the US wanted to work
in a positive way with Islamabad as terrorism also threatened
Pakistan's own security and stability. Despite warning
Pakistan against hosting "agents of chaos' and terrorists,
the US position on Pakistan has remained open to conflicting
interpretations with President Donald Trump tweeting earlier
this month that he was starting to develop a "much
better" relationship with Pakistan and also thanking
Islamabad for cooperation on many fronts. Stating that
the US will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with
India in the fight against terrorism, Tillerson added
it was in Pakistan's interest to contain and eliminate
the activities of terrorist organisations.
Mumbai terror attack mastermind
and the chief of JuD Hafiz Saeed’s name was not on a list
of 75 terrorists the US had handed over to Pakistan, Foreign
Minister Khawaja Asif said. Saeed, who carries a USD 10
million bounty on his head for his role in terror activities,
has been under house arrest in Pakistan since January
this year. Asif told senators during a session of the
parliament's upper house that the US has "handed
over a list of 75 terrorists while we gave them a list
of around 100 terrorists." The list was passed on
during the maiden visit of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
to Pakistan on October 24. "The Haqqani network is
on the top of the (US) list but none of the terrorists
are Pakistanis," Asif told senators.
October 26
Abdul Razaq, a leader
of the ANP and his brother were killed in a blast in Harnai
District of Balochistan. Deputy Commissioner Abdul Salam
Achakzai said explosive were apparently planted in the
vehicle of the ANP leader Abdul Razaq and detonated with
a remote control when the two brothers left their house
in the morning.
Eight persons, including
an on-duty traffic police constable and a child sustained
injuries when unidentified militants threw a hand grenade
at an office of Pak-News Agency in Turbat town of same
District.
Militants opened fire
on a vehicle carrying newspapers in Awaran District, burst
all its tyres with gunshots and torched the newspapers.
October 27
At least five passengers
were injured in a blast targeting Akbar Bugti Express
passenger train in the Hirak area of Bolan District in
Balochistan. Bogie Number 9 was partially damaged from
the impact of the blast, which rocked the entire area.
The US issued its direst
warning to Pakistan to roll up terrorist groups operating
in the country and end the establishment support for such
groups, warning that if Islamabad chose not to act, Washington
will find ways to achieve its objectives. Days after US
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stopped in Islamabad
for four hours to deliver a blunt message that American
support to Pakistan was "conditions-based,"
Senior US officials who accompanied him on the trip signaled
that Washington had devised other ways to achieve its
objective of eliminating terrorist groups and stabilising
Afghanistan. "It's up to them whether or not they
want to work with us," acting assistant secretary
of state for South Asia Alice Wells told reporters. "And
if they don't ... then we'll adjust accordingly."
October 29
Two militants, who attacked
checkposts from across the Pak-Afghan border, were killed
in a shootout with the Aman Lashkar in Zakha Khel
area of Khyber Agency in FATA. Security sources said that
the militants from across the border attacked checkposts
of Aman Lashkar. In retaliatory fire, two of the militants
were killed while others managed to flee. The sources
said that the terrorists used mortar shells and rocket
launchers to attack the checkposts.
The Police claimed to
have arrested four militants as they attempted to plant
a bomb on Shah Alam bridge in Peshawar, the provincial
capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Counter-Terrorism Department
said the suspects belonging to a banned organization had
made the explosive device using two oil cans. Arms and
ammunition were also recovered from the possession of
the militants.
October 30
One FC personnel was killed while another
was injured in an IED blast near the Gurguray checkpost
in the Sarokai Tehsil of South Waziristan Agency in FATA.
One militant was arrested during a raid
in Gulshan Shahbaz Old Toll Plaza area of Jamshoro District
in Sindh. After crossfire between the militant and security
agencies, Qari Abdul Hameed Pandrani, a wanted militant
with ties to a banned outfit was arrested in injured condition.
Sindh Rangers have arrested 10 alleged
criminals, including a member of a banned outfit in different
targeted raids in Karachi. A team conducted targeted raids
in Gulbreg area and detained Muhammad Saad alias Darai,
a terrorist belonging to a banned outfit. He was involved
in target killing, extortion and several other crimes
in the city.
NACTA'S National Coordinator (NC) Ihsan
Ghani said that the authority had finalised the draft
of national narrative to counter extremist ideology and
submitted it before the Government for final approval.
FO confirmed the death of a Chinese couple
who had been abducted on May 24 from the Jinnah Town area
of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, reports
Daily Times.
Law-enforcement agencies arrested three
women from Chaman border crossing in Killa Abdullah District
of Balochistan. Security sources said that they belong
to banned outfits. A spokesperson of Balochistan Government
stated that the women had crossed from the Pak-Afghan
border town of Chaman illegally and that they had been
arrested by FC. According to initial investigation, the
three women reached Chaman on a taxi from Quetta along
with their accomplice and were arrested while they were
trying to enter Afghanistan's border town of Spin Boldak
via Bab-e-Dosti (Friendship Gate) at the Chaman border
crossing.
October 31
At least three Levies personnel were injured
after their vehicle hit an IED in the Rashakai area of
Khar tehsil (revenue unit) Bajaur Agency in FATA. The
vehicle was patrolling the Rashakai area for the security
of a polio team when the IED planted at Janat Shah Dry
Waterway [Khwar] hit the vehicle.
The FIA submitted an interim charge-sheet
against MQM-A Chief Altaf Hussain before the administrative
judge of the ATCs, accusing him of terror financing and
money laundering. Investigating Officer (IO) Mohammad
Ali Abro filed the interim investigation report. He named
the MQM founder as absconder.
The US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
informed Congress that Pakistan is willing to target terrorists
if provided information and Washington plans to give Islamabad
the opportunity to prove it. At a Senate Foreign Relations
Committee hearing on, American lawmakers also warned that
if the US insisted on having the option of first strike
against a nuclear-armed nation, it could send a wrong
signal to other nations with nuclear weapons.
November 1
Three persons, including two Policemen,
were killed while another was injured when unidentified
assailants opened fire at a patrolling Police party in
Majoki area of Charsadda District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The SFs foiled a terror bid, recovered arms and ammunitions
in Kurram agency of FATA which were later defused. The
SFs conducted a joint operation in rainwater nullah in
Lower Kurram Agency. During the operation, four bombs
and six landmines hidden in riverbed near a school building
were recovered.
The CTD arrested two militants and seized
explosive material from their possession near the Central
Imambargah (Shia place of worship) located in Fawara Chowk
in Hafizabad city of same District in Punjab.
SFs conducted IBOs in various parts of
South Waziristan Agency in FATA and recovered arms, ammunition
and explosives under Operation Radd-ul-Fassad.
Punjab Rangers with Police and Intelligence
Agencies conducted operations, patrolling and snap checking
in Dera Ghazi Khan, Attock, Islamabad and Lahore of Punjab.
Sixteen militants, facilitators and smugglers were arrested;
also a number of weapons and explosives were recovered
from them.
The Attorney-General for Pakistan Ashtar
Ausaf Ali, presented 'sensitive' documents before a judge
of the Lahore High Court in his chamber to defend detention
of JuD 'chief' Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.
On the request of Sindh's CTD, the Federal
Ministry of Interior accorded approval to trying two LeJ
militants in military courts in 10 cases of terrorism;
including attacks on military personnel. The two militants
were allegedly involved in a number of acts of terrorism,
including target killings and attacks on military officials
in Karachi.
The US Congressman Peter King called for
"more vetting" of people coming in the US from Pakistan,
blaming the country of having a "large terrorist presence".
November 2
The White House retains a list of 20 terrorist
groups that the Donald Trump administration claims are
operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan and is believed
to have shared this list with Pakistani officials. The
sources, however, rejected the suggestion as incorrect
that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson gave a list of
75 terrorists to Pakistani officials when he visited Islamabad
last week. The White House list, released on The Washington
Post's demand, includes three types of militants groups:
those who launch attacks into Afghanistan, those who attack
targets inside Pakistan and those who are focused on Kashmir.
Top on the list is the Haqqani network which, the United
States claims, has safe havens in FATA and uses them to
launch attacks into Afghanistan. Other groups on the list
are: HuJI, JuA, JuD al-Quran and Tariq Gidar Group, which
is one of 13 TTP affiliates. Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps, Commander Nazir Group, IM, IJU, IMU ISIS-Khorasan,
AQIS and the TIPM are also on the list.
FO Spokesman Muhammad Faisal during a
briefing said that Pakistan had contributed significantly
in the fight against terrorism. He rejected the US allegations
that Pakistan provides safe havens for terrorists and
said that America should refrain from making unfounded
allegations. FO said Pakistan made gains through its counter-terrorism
operations. He also said that Afghanistan's territory
was being used against Pakistan and added that Pakistan
had raised concerns about the presence of Taliban leader
Mullah Fazlullah in Afghanistan.
China again blocked Indian bid to list
head of JeM Maulana Masood Azhar as global terrorist at
the UN Security Council, citing "absence of consensus"
among member countries to declare him an international
terrorist. China was the only country opposing the resolution.
All other 14 countries of the 15-member Security Council
supported the move by the US and France.
NACTA Ihsan Ghani observed that Pakistan
would have to pursue the joint strategy to root out terrorism,
reports Pak Observer. He stated that media engagement
and revival of culture were key to the new counter terrorism
policy. Ghani said that as per NACTA's Youth Engagement
Policy, he had visited various universities to promote
counter terrorism national narrative and talked to HEC
for inclusion of terrorism related topics in the curriculum
along with allocation of scholarships for that category.
November 3
At least two people were injured when
a blast hit Zakhakhel Adda Rangra market in Landi Kotal,
FATA. An IED remotely controlled and hidden in a plastic
bag, went off in the car parking area of the market and
partially damaged three vehicles that were parked nearby,
while two civilians were injured.
ISPR in a statement said that SFs recovered
communication equipment and extremist literature during
an IBO conducted in Mandi Khel near Dosaali in North Waziristan
Agency. During the operation, the security personnel recovered
weapons and ammunition, including guns, mortar, rocket
launchers, IEDs and explosives. This operation was conducted
under the army's on-going Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.
MNA Sajid Hussain Turi said that a grand
Jirga in Kurram region has decided to burn houses of those
who provide shelter to militants or anti-state elements.
According to the MNA, some four local tribes after the
Jira (public meeting) met the local administration and
law enforcers and informed them about their decisions,
tribesmen held a separate meeting with FC commandant and
other sector commanders and informed them about the decisions
adding that the tribes would extend full support to the
Sfs to maintain peace and those offering shelter to militants
or Afghans without valid documents, their houses will
collectively be burned, and a fine of Rs 100,000 will
be imposed. Local tribes would help government keep a
check on the border areas with Afghanistan to help stop
any infiltration into the Kurram Agency.
A suspected militant was arrested and
a large cache of weapons was recovered during an IBO conducted
by FC Balochistan and intelligence agencies in Zhob, Balochistan
said a statement issued by the ISPR. According to the
statement, the FC and intelligence agencies arrested a
suspected TTP facilitator while conducting an operation
at a terrorist hideout in Zhob. The statement added that
weapons, IED, explosives and ammunition, suspected to
be used in carrying out terrorist activities in Quetta
were recovered from the terrorist hideout.
Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti
said that the Balochistan Government has released women
and children related to leaders of banned BLF and the
BLA from the custody of the FC. The women and the children
included wife and daughter of BLF chief Dr Allah Nazar,
sister of Aslam, alias Acho, Commander of the banned BLA
and wife of Dileep, another leading Commander of the BLF.
COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa has expressed
concern over the lack of terrorism-related cases being
transferred to military courts. He has informed the PM
that the Government has not forwarded any cases to military
courts since January this year. The ministry has also
informed the PM office that it will request formal approval
to transfer the cases during the next meeting of the federal
cabinet and was bound to submit the cases to the federal
cabinet as the Supreme Court has defined the federal cabinet
as the federal government for the purpose of case referrals.
The Federal Cabinet cleared 29 terrorism-related
cases to be sent to the Military Courts, Interior Minister
Ahsan Iqbal told in an interview. He added that 80 more
cases, once approved by the cabinet, will be forwarded
to be tried in the Military Courts.
Two influential Congressional sub-committees
will hold a joint hearing on Pakistan's commitment in
the fight against terrorism, and the review of the US'
aid to it, as a Congressman Ted Yoho expressed concern
over its commitment to denying terrorists safe harbor.
Two subcommittees of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Asia and the Pacific, and Middle East and North Africa,
would hold the hearing on "The President's Plan for Afghanistan
and Pakistan: Objectives and Resources" on Wednesday,
November 8. Alice G Wells, the Acting Assistant Secretary
of state for South and Central Asia, has been asked to
testify before the lawmakers, along with Gregory Huger,
Assistant to the Administrator Office of Afghanistan and
Pakistan in the USAID. This hearing will allow members
to review the approximate USD 1.1 billion combined FY
2018 budget request for the two countries, told Congresswoman
Elena Ros-Lehtinen.
November 4
A child was killed and another two were
injured in a landmine explosion in Tiarza tehsil (revenue
unit) of South Waziristan Agency (SWA) in FATA. The Security
Forces (SFs) cordoned off the area after the explosion
and started the investigation.
Two women were injured in a landmine explosion
at Phelawagh sub-division of Dera Bugti District in Balochistan
on. The SFs cordoned off the area.
The SPU arrested three members of a banned
(and defunct) outfit while they were distributing pamphlets
of their organisation at railway crossing near Firdous
Chowk, Peshawar, KP.
November 5
A 'commander' of the TTP, Abdul Khaliq
Haqqani, along with his fighters, surrendered to the SFs
in North Waziristan Agency of FATA.
NACTA has reported a decline in sectarian
terrorism with only two such incidents during 2017 as
compared to 185 in 2012. During last seven years, total
676 incidents of sectarian terrorism were reported, of
which 70 were recorded during 2011, 185 in 2012, 127 in
2013, 176 in 2014, 79 in 2015, 37 during 2016 and two
such incidents in 2017.
November 6
Two Policemen were killed in an attack
at a check post in the Mardan District of KP.
A Policeman was killed when unidentified
armed militants attacked a checkpost in Kalat town of
Kalat District in Balochistan.
SFs during the ongoing Operation Raad-ul-Fasaad
arrested three militants and recovered arms and ammunition
from a car in the Darra Adam Khel town of Frontier Region
Kohat in FATA. The recoveries included Sub-Machine Guns
(SMGs), 30bore and 9 mm pistols, 12 bore repeaters and
rifles of different calibres along with thousands of ammunition.
SFs during the ongoing Operation Raad-ul-Fasaad
arrested three militants and recovered arms and ammunition
from a car in the Darra Adam Khel town of Frontier Region
Kohat in FATA. The recoveries included Sub-Machine Guns
(SMGs), 30bore and 9 mm pistols, 12 bore repeaters and
rifles of different calibres along with thousands of ammunition.
SFs recovered 12.7 mm gun and RPG 7 along
with ammunition boxes in another Intelligence-Based Operation
(IBO) carried out in the Boya Ghundakai area of South
Waziristan Agency in FATA.
Karachi Police arrested three IS militants
from Ahsanabad area in the outskirts of the Karachi metropolis
in Sindh. Officials recovered two 30-bore pistols, one
9mm pistol along with propaganda literature from the possession
of the arrested militants. SSP Malir Rao Anwar, stated
that Police conducted a raid at a house after receiving
a tip from an intelligence agency. He also claimed that
the suspects were planning to recruit young people for
their militant group.
United States (US) Ambassador to Pakistan
David Hale, called on Pakistan to take 'decisive action'
against all militant outfits operating within its territory,
reports Daily Times. Addressing the fourth meeting of
Pak-US Track II Dialogue, the US ambassador stated, "Our
South Asia strategy looks to Pakistan for decisive action
against all terrorist groups operating from its soil.
We ask for equal diligence in decimating all the groups
operating in Pakistan which threaten the region's stability,
including the Haqqani network". He also stated that the
Pakistani leadership had assured to speed up its efforts
for regaining peace in Afghanistan, adding that the US
had also encouraged India to improve Pak-India relations.
"The US secretary encouraged India to do more to support
Afghanistan economically, and encouraged both India and
Pakistan to resume dialogue and reduce tensions."
Meanwhile, Pakistan's FM Khawaja Asif,
during the 4th Round of US-Pakistan Bilateral Dialogue
held in Islamabad with the title 'Convergence amid Divergence:
Identifying Pathways to Cooperation in a Challenging Environment',
stated that Pakistan had successfully suppressed militant
activity within its territory and that there was no organised
presence of any militant outfit within Pakistan, reports
The Nation. The FM added that Pakistan would not compromise
on its sovereignty. He emphasized that US had assured
India's role in Afghanistan would be limited to economic
assistance only and Pakistan welcomed mediation by United
States between India and Pakistan. He added that South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) should
be used for promotion of regional trade as the region
has been suffering due to instability in Afghanistan.
The Federal Government decided to extend
the deployment of the Pakistan Rangers in Islamabad, notified
the Interior Ministry. Currently one contingent of Pakistan
Rangers (2000 personnel) and 50 contingents of the Gilgit-Baltistan
Scouts are deployed all over the Federal Capital region
on the request of the chief commissioner under Section
4 of the 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act. This is the first extension
in deployment in the capital granted to the Pakistan Rangers
following an October 3 controversy surrounding the force's
'unauthorised' deployment outside the Federal Judicial
Complex.
November 7
Terrorists carried out an explosion targeting
a Health Department Team engaged in anti-polio vaccination
at Jandol in Arif Kele area in Lower Dir District in KP.
No casualty was reported.
FS Tehmina Janjua claimed that there are
no safe havens for militant outfits in Pakistan and that
the country had expelled all militants. During a briefing
of Senate's Committee on Foreign Affairs in Islamabad,
the FS said militant sanctuaries are in Afghanistan where
over 45 per cent area of the country is without any governance.
"The United States (US) has been apprised of the fact
that Indian Intelligence agency RAW [Research and Analysis
Wing] is using Afghan soil for terrorist activities in
Pakistan," she added.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg,
during a press conference in Brussels called upon Pakistan
to eliminate militant hideouts within its territory. Secretary-General
said, "Earlier, we had discussed issue of militant attacks
in Afghanistan with Pakistan and now we demand Islamabad
to wipe out Taliban hideouts from its territory." He added
that NATO commander in Afghanistan had discussed the situation
with his Pakistani counterpart.
November 8
Five bombs were defused near the entrance
of MUET in Jamshoro District in Sindh, by the BDS. The
bombs were locally made, weighing around 25 kilograms
and had been developed in such a way, that a remote-controlled
device could be fitted. The bombs contained ball bearing,
nuts and bolts, and five pencil cells along with an orange
fuse was recovered.
Rangers arrested four suspected LeJ militants
during segregated raids in Mominabad area of Orangi Town
neighborhood in Karachi. They were allegedly involved
in several cases of terrorism, including attacks on polio
teams.
Also, a cadre of the MQM-H was arrested
along with arms and ammunition during a raid conducted
on a tip-off in the Landhi area in Karachi. The suspect
was identified as Shahid alias Gada. An unnamed spokesperson
of the Rangers said that Gada was involved in various
cases of crime, including murder.
'Spokesman' for the banned JuA, a breakaway
faction of the TTP, Asad Mansoor, announced that Mukaram
alias Omar Khorasani and his followers had been "banished
from the Jamaat. He said a detailed 'policy statement'
would be issued later, asking supporters not to take any
sort of step, which could hurt their activities.
JuA therefore faces a rift as Mukarram
and his fighters are set to announce their own group.
Mukarram was one of the close confidants of the JuA 'chief'
Omar Khalid Khorasani. Mukarram, belongs to Pandeyali
tehsil in Mohmand Agency in FATA, was the main character
behind the JuA's activities with his position as head
of the group's intelligence unit. He was member of the
group's central 'shura' (or council). Some militant sources
say that several 'commanders' are likely to join Mukaram.
They include Jehad Yar Mehsud, 'commander' Muslim Yar
Momand, 'commander' Rashid Mama, Saad alias Wuraf Khan,
'commander' Imran and Salman.
Exiled Baloch' leaders' are set to congregate
in Geneva on November 18, to deliberate on the possibility
of a joint and peaceful struggle for their demands. The
Balochistan Government, however, criticised the idea saying
that the Sardars had lost credibility in the province.
BRP is hosting the moot. The list of confirmed participants
includes Harbiyar Marri, Mehran Marri, Javed Mengal, and
representatives of the BNM and the BLF.
IM Ahsan Iqbal informed Senate in a written
reply that contrary to media reports that slain Afghan
Taliban leader Mullah Mansoor had been carrying a Pakistan
passport and NIC, the card had actually been issued to
a man named Muhammad Wali, son of Shah Muhammad, reports
Dawn. The IM added that a departmental inquiry against
all NADRA officials involved in issuing the fake NIC had
been completed and at least three officials had been removed
from service. The Senate was further told that a total
of 65,003 'fake' NICs had been found circulating in the
country, of which Punjab accounted for 20,865; Sindh for
15,579; Balochistan for 11,859; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for
10,884; Fata for 3,834; Islamabad for 1,087; Azad Jammu
and Kashmir for 832; and Gilgit Baltistan for only 63
US Senators, decided not to tie financial
aid for Pakistan to counter-terrorism measures against
the LeT, as was proposed by Senator Mark Warner, co-chair
of the chamber's India Caucus, in an omnibus legislation,
NDAA 2018 it passed to fund the US military in 2018, because
of resistance from the US Defense Department reports Hindustan
Times. The provision was dropped from the legislation
after the two chambers agreed through a process called
Conference, meant to reconcile differing versions of a
bill passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The reconciled version of the NDAA-2018 now makes $350
million of $700 million available to Pakistan under CSF
contingent upon certification from the Secretary of Defense,
that Pakistan is taking demonstrable steps against the
Haqqani Network. The Defense Department had argued that
the US must stay focussed on the Haqqani Network. A congressional
Aide has told that progress in arresting and prosecuting
senior leaders and mid-level operatives of LeT by Pakistan
will be taken up another time.
November 9
At least five militants were killed and
four others wounded as SFs responded to an attack by terrorists
on recently established Pakistan Army posts at the Pak-Afghan
border in Rajgal area of Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency
of FATA. An Army Soldier was also killed during the incident.
Three Policemen, including a DIG of Police,
Hamid Shakil, were killed when a suicide bomber struck
his motorcycle with the DIG's vehicle on the Airport Road
in Quetta, Balochistan. The suicide attack targeted the
vehicle of DIG during his morning commute. Four other
Policemen were also injured in the explosion. TTP claimed
responsibility for the attack.
Separately, FC and Intelligence Agencies
foiled en explosion plot after they recovered explosives
fitted to a motorcycle near the Pak-Afghan border in Zhob
District.
Meanwhile, the Commander of Southern Command,
Lt. Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, met Balochistan Governor Muhammad
Khan Achakzai and discussed law and order and some other
matters. The Governor expressed satisfaction over the
action taken by the Pakistan Army against militants across
the country under Operation Radd-ul-Fasad and said that
political and military leadership concurred on the issue
of militancy.
NATO Commander in Afghanistan John Nicholson,
said that Pakistan had not increased its efforts and cooperation
against militant safe havens reports Daily Times. Addressing
the media following a meeting of NATO Defense Ministers,
he said, "You've heard the public statements from President
Trump, from Defence Secretary James Mattis, from Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs Gen Joseph Dunford, from Secretary
of State Rex Tillerson, so we are engaging at the very
highest levels with the Pakistanis to work together with
them against these terrorists that are undermining the
stability of the entire region". "The United States has
been very clear about the direction we want to go and
we hope to see some change in the coming weeks and months,"
he added.
November 10
Rangers foiled a suicide attack on the
occasion of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain at a security
check point near Bab-e-Karbala Imambargah, in Rohri of
Sukkar District in Sindh, by killing three militants including
two would-be suicide bombers. According to Sindh Rangers
Spokesperson they had prior intelligence about possible
militant activity in Karachi as well as rural Sindh on
the occasion of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain.
Meanwhile, the Police arrested a militant
of banned outfit and recovered hand grenades from his
possession in Phuleli near Islamabad Railway crossing
in Hyderabad District, Sindh. The militant identified
as, Siddique Soomro was allegedly planning to attack the
railways installations. Two hand grenades recovered from
his custody were later defused.
November 11
Unidentified motorcycle borne assailants
killed two Pakistani employees of Turkish waste management
company, Albayrak, and injured one other in the firing
in Rawalpindi city.
A Peshawar High Court Bench including
Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Roohul Amin Khan
has summoned the CTD's DSP (Investigation) along with
the relevant records over a plea by Fazal Khan, father
of a student Umar Khan killed in the 2014 Peshawar APS
attack that his statement be recorded by the CTD Police
Station. He said he had gone to the CTD Police Station
several times to record statement in the case but was
denied.
Meanwhile, the Bench also adjourned hearing
into another petition filed by slain APS student Asfand
Khan's father, Advocate Ajun Khan, who sought orders for
the Federal and Provincial governments to make public
all information related to the 2014 campus attack and
the actions taken by them in light of the August 2014
prior alert about the attack.
CTD arrested a militant from the Army
Stadium Chowk in Peshawar in KP, belonging to a banned
outfit suspected to be involved in an attack on a Police
Check Post in Budhber area, and killing of a Security
Personnel Anwar Ali. The militant has been identified
as Ahsanullah.
The Interior Ministry has decided to suspend
arms licenses for all automatic weapons. The notification
states that "All license-holders of afore-mentioned weapons
are directed to get their weapons converted into semi-automatic
weapons through Pakistan Ordinance Factories/ Licensed
Armours and get it verified by armor of concerned District
Police Officer (DPO) by 15th January 2018 or license-holders
of full automatic weapon may return their weapon in the
office of the District Magistrate (DM)/ District Coordination
Officers (DC)/ Deputy Commissioners (DCO)/ Political Agent
and get Rs 50,000 as compensation of their weapon,".
November 12
Four civilians and three Security Personnel
were injured in an remote-controlled explosion on Miryan
Road in Bannu District in KP. The SFs were heading from
Bannu Cantonment to the Jani Khel semi-tribal area, when
explosives planted on a motorcycle parked on Miryan Road
exploded.
The Security Forces defused an IED planted
by unidentified persons on Landi Kotal-Torkham Road in
Khyber Agency, FATA. Line Officer Landi Kotal, Tikka Khan
Afridi said that the FC Troops accompanied by the Khasadar
and Levies Soldiers arrived in the area on a routine visit,
upon noticing a concrete block, placed inside a makeshift
security check post filled with explosives, the reinforcement
along with BDS rushed to the spot, suspended the highway
for traffic and defused the bomb..
NACTA responsible for countering internal
terrorism has asked the Home Department of the Punjab
Province to enhance security for the detained perpetrator
of Mumbai terror attacks Hafiz Saeed leader of JuD , claiming
that a "foreign spy agency" was planning to kill him through
members of a banned militant outfit. Saeed is currently
being kept at his residence+, 116-E, in Johar town, Lahore
in Punjab. NACTA has sent a letter to Lahore-based Home
Department of Punjab, claiming that a foreign spy agency
had paid Rs 80 million to two activists of a proscribed
militant group to kill Saeed, suggesting the Home Department
to ensure strict security measures in the surroundings
of Saeed's Lahore residence, which has been declared a
prison for him by the Punjab's Government.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Government has removed
the names of MPA Masroor Nawaz Jhangvi and 300 others
from the Fourth Schedule, a list of terror suspects on
the recommendation of a committee responsible for maintaining
the list. MPA Masroor, after his victory in the PP-78
Jhang-II by-poll in 2016, had joined the JUI-F after objections
were raised over his affiliation with the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba
(renamed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat). His name was placed
in the Fourth Schedule of the ATA 1997 on May 9, 2014.
November 13
Two soldiers and at least 10 militants
were killed and several others sustained injuries in a
skirmish after the militants attacked a checkpost along
the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, with heavy weapons, in
the Mamond Tehsil area of Bajaur Agency in FATA.
The Pakistan Army asked Afghanistan and
NATO's RSM to further eliminate terrorist sanctuaries
on the Afghan side of the border. "More efforts are required
on Afghanistan side by all stakeholders. Lives of forces
and citizens (are) equally precious on both sides of border.
It now requires elimination of terrorist sanctuaries in
Afghanistan and effective Afghan border security," DG
ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a series of tweets
posted on his official account. According to him there
has been an increasing trend of cross-border terrorist
attacks on Pakistani posts from across Afghanistan. Almost
308 terrorist attacks have taken place this year. This
is the highest number of attacks since 2012 when 324 attacks
were reported. On an average there have been 248 attacks
every year since 2012. About 29 soldiers have been martyred
in the attacks over the past six years. Pakistan has 975
posts along the 2,600km border with Afghanistan, which
is mostly porous. Afghanistan, meanwhile, has around 218
posts on its side and there are huge gaps in between the
largest being 650km long on the southern side.
November 14
Authorities have issued a terror alert
for Parachinar in Kurram Agency in FATA, warning tribesmen
to be extra vigilant to prevent a possible attack in the
area and the Punjab. Officials said that Political Administration
and Security Agencies issued a 'Red alert' after receiving
reports about a suicide bomber identified as Talha, member
of a banned militant group, JuA, who walked with a limp
as he had lost a leg in an IED explosion. The militant
has sneaked into Kurram Agency from Khost province of
Afghanistan.
FO in a statement said that the cross-border
militant's attacks on SFs confirmed the presence of a
large number of militants in the increasingly ungoverned
spaces in Afghanistan.
The CJCSC General Zubair Mahmood Hayat
alleged that India's R&AW had established a cell with
a special allocation of over $500 million in 2015, to
sabotage CPEC projects in Pakistan. "India's indirect
interference in Pakistan is manifested in sponsoring TTP,
Baloch and other sub-nationalist outfits and many other
terrorist groups," he further claimed.
Sources within IM have denied cancellation
or suspension of licenses of prohibited bore arms. Calling
the notification over arms licenses circulating on the
social media fake, sources said that the license of PB
arms are neither being cancelled nor suspended. However,
separate policies are being made for allowed and restricted
arms, they added. The final approval of the arms license
policy would be given by the PM after its approval by
the Federal Cabinet. The last date for getting the restricted
bore arms licenses computerized is December 30, 2017.
November 15
Fifteen bullet-riddled bodies were discovered
by the Levies Force Personnel in the Gorak Area of Buleda
Tehsil in Kech District in Balochistan. Makran Commissioner
Bashir Ahmed Bangulzai said that all the victims purportedly
belonged to various districts of Punjab, allegedly were
en route to Iran through an infrequent route illegally,
and received multiple bullets from a close range.
SP Muhammad Ilyas was killed in Nawan
Killi area of Quetta, Balochistan along with three family
members. A passer-by was also injured in the attack. According
to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abdul Razzaq Cheema,
the SP was killed when three armed men whose identity
are yet to be ascertained, riding on a motorcycle intercepted
his car and opened fire, killing him along with his wife,
son, and granddaughter.
A meeting of NSC chaired by PM Shahid
Khaqan Abbasi was held to discuss the security condition
of Balochistan. It was reportedly agreed to provide more
development funds to the province of Balochistan along
with the intent to form a mechanism to ensure transparency
in the development projects.
Sindh CM Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a
meeting of the PAC in which it was decided to forward
28 high profile terrorism-related cases to the Military
Courts. The committee was told that the ATCs in the province
have so far convicted 1,521 criminals, 94 of which awarded
death penalty, while 562 convicts were sentenced to life
imprisonment. CM directed Police and Rangers to initiate,
a targeted operation against outfits involved in criminal
activities.
A faction of the Taliban has reportedly
made a comeback to Wana in South Waziristan Agency in
FATA, under the name of a "Peace Committee" and has placed
a ban on cultural and social activities and put restrictions
on movement of women outside their homes without male
members of their family. A local cleric, identified as
Ameer Ainullah, has been appointed "Head of the Committee".
An official statement issued by the Local
Administration said, "A few 'criminal-minded' people who
were not representing the tribes or will of the people
in Wana held a meeting to ban certain social activities."
"The Elders of the region called a Grand Jirga (Big congregation
of local leaders) to deliberate on the threat and agreed
not to allow such elements to harm the social fabric"
the statement added.
IEP has released the Global Terrorism
Index, stating Pakistan is the 5th most affected country
by terrorism. The rank of Pakistan had improved and it
was excluded from the list of 20 most dangerous countries
affected by terrorism.
Afghanistan's CEO Abdullah, said that
TTP had consolidated presence in Afghanistan and
TTP has achieved that by taking advantage of the instability
created by the insurgents fighting the Afghanistan Government.
November 16
CTD has arrested two militants in Peshawar
in KP. Eight-kilograms of explosives and a hand grenade
were recovered from the arrested militants.
IM Ahsan Iqbal said that India is using
Afghanistan territory for aiding militancy in Balochistan
in an attempt to sabotage CPEC.
Taliban 'commander' Khan Daraz of the
Hafiz Gul Bahadur outfit surrendered to the SFs
in North Waziristan Agency in FATA.
The US Congress passed the bill that requires
Pakistan to work with the Afghan and American Forces to
destroy the Haqqani Network but leaves LeT out.
November 17
ISPR said that BLF leader Younas Taukali
was killed by FC Balochistan near Alandur in Abdul Rehman
village of Turbat town in Kech District in Balochistan
after FC conducted an IBO. Younas Taukali was as one of
top eight BLF 'commanders'.
FC personnel conducted IBO on militant
hideouts in Dera Bugti, Uch and Chaman Districts in Balochistan
and arrested five militants. Explosive and ammunition
including IEDs, mines, detonators, grenades and communication
equipment were also recovered during the operation.
Punjab Rangers arrested four suspected
militants belonging to the banned TTP in an IBO in Dera
Ghazi Khan District in Punjab. The militants were allegedly
involved in killing of Police officials in KP and Punjab,
said a statement issued by ISPR. Automatic weapons including
grenades were also recovered from the militants during
the raid.
Lahore High Court, adjourned hearing of
a petition of JuD 'chief' Hafiz Saeed against his detention
to wait for a decision on the matter by a PRB.
The CTD Police and Sindh Rangers, in a
joint operation, arrested a militant from Mai Ghari area
of Manghopir on the outskirts of Karachi in Sindh, suspected
to be involved in Lal Shahbaz Qalandar explosion, which
killed 80 civilians and injured over 300. CTD DIG Amir
Farooqui stated that weapons and explosives were seized
from the custody of suspect Nadir Ali alias Murshid Jakhrani.
November 18
Five bullet-riddled bodies were discovered
by Levies Force personnel in Tajaban area of Turbat town
in Kech District in Balochistan. Levies said that all
the victims had received multiple bullet injuries and
belonged to Punjab's Gujrat District.
An ATC in Karachi, Sindh indicted MQM
Leader Amir Khan and Minhaj Qazi in a case for harbouring
militants at Nine Zero, who denied the charges. The Court
has declared other accused in the case as 'absconders'
and summoned witnesses of the case on next hearing on
December 4.
November 19
SF personnel from various agencies, including
the IB and FC, jointly conducted a sanitisation operation
in Pashtunabad and surrounding areas in Quetta, Balochistan
and recovered three weapons. The operation was primarily
conducted in the Pashtun living areas.
November 20
Militants from across
the border (Afghanistan side) opened fire at a Pakistani
Check Post in Mushthari, the bordering area of Landi Kotal
in Khyber Agency in FATA, in which a FC trooper sustained
bullet injuries.
The Police arrested two
persons after recovery of weapons during search from a
car outside Gujranwala District and Sessions Court in
Punjab.
November 21
Two militants and one
SF trooper were killed while three other SF personnel
were injured during an exchange of fire in the Buleda
area of Turbat town in Kech District of Balochistan.
Two separate teams of
provincial CTD conducted IBOs in Gujranwala and Rawalpindi
Districts of Punjab and arrested four TTP militants. The
militants were identified as Muhammad Irfan who was arrested
in Rawalpindi, and Abdul Wahab, Mudassar Nazir and Iqbal
arrested in Gujranwala. CTD also recovered explosives
and automatic weapons from the militants.
Security in and around
BKIA in Peshawar, KP, has been put on high alert amid
threat of an attack, on an international flight.
November 22
An Army Major was killed
and one soldier was injured in an exchange of fire with
TTP militants, when the SFs conducted a raid at Musa Zai
Mohllah in Kulachi area of DI Khan City in KP. According
to reports, the Army, acting on a tip-off around midnight,
had raided the house of ‘commander’ Zahir Shah of the
TTP where he was present with his accomplices.
A Review Board comprising
the Chair of Justice Abdul Sami Khan, Justice Sadaqat
Ali Khan and Justice Aalia Neelum of the LHC, ordered
the release of JuD chief and Lashkar-e-Toiba leader Hafiz
Saeed, on expiry of his 30-day detention if he was not
required in any other case. The Officers from FM and Punjab
Home Department presented the documentary record in support
of the detention of Hafiz Saeed.
Major General Asif Ghafoor
said that Pakistan welcomes US offer to act against TTP
militants.
Saudi Arabia announced
that former Pakistan Army Chief General (retd.) Raheel
Sharif would command the Saudi-led Islamic Military Alliance
to Fight Terrorism. Saudi Crown Prince and DM Mohammed
bin Salman will chair the first meeting of the Alliance’s
Council of Defence Ministers.
November 23
Police arrested five alleged
militants of TTP from Shabqadar area of Charsadda District
in KP, along with cache of explosive and ammunition. SHO
Shabqadar Police Station Muhammad Arif said the militants
were planning an attack on vaccination teams during the
on-going anti-polio drive in the area. The five militants
belonged to Bajaur Agency of FATA. Police also recovered
40 kilogrammes of explosive, seven mortar shells, three
speaker magnets, two IEDs, 10 hand grenades, 13 detonators,
and five remote control receivers with a 20-metre of cord
from Wacha Wala Graveyard of Subhan Khwar area on Peshawar-Shabqadar
Road.
The TTP, Daesh and JuA
groups are using Afghan soil in nexus with Indian intelligence
agency R&AW for terrorist activities against Pakistan,
FO spokesmen Muhammad Faisal. “Mullah Fazlullah and mastermind
of the terror attack on Army Public School in Peshawar
also took refuge in Afghanistan,” he added.
FO spokesmen stated that
the conditionality related to action against the Haqqani
Network for reimbursement of USD 700 million to Pakistan
under the CSF was not something new.
November 24
AIG of Police, Muhammad
Ashraf Noor was killed while seven other Policemen were
injured, when a suicide bomber hit his motorbike into
the vehicle carrying the AIG and other Personnel, near
Zarghoni Mosque in the Hayatabad area between, Phase 1
and 2 in Peshawar District in KP. There are however conflicting
reports on the total number of casualties in the attack.
Militant outfit LeJ claimed responsibility for the attack.
BDS neutralised a remote-controlled
IED affixed by unidentified militants to the vehicle of
a local media person Khalil Jibran in Khyber agency in
FATA.
FC arrested two militants
in IBOs, carried out in, Dera Bugti District, Gulistan
in Qilla Abdullah District, Uch, Dera Murad Jamali area
in Nasirabad District in Balochistan.
FC recovered a motorcycle
laden with IEDs, in Dera Murad Jamali in Nasirabad District.
November 25
Six civilians, including
a woman and a child, were killed and 17 others injured
in a suicide attack targeting the FC troops in the Sariab
Road area in Quetta District of Balochistan. Balochistan
HM Sarfaraz Bugti confirmed that the FC vehicle was the
target of blast.
The CTD killed four TTP
militants in an overnight shootout on Sargodha-Faisalabad
Road in the jurisdiction of Nishatabad Police Station
in Faisalabad District of Punjab. Three other militants
however managed to escape the encounter. Two Kalashnikovs,
pistols, three kilogrammes of explosive material, two
detonators and two motorcycles were recovered from the
slain militants. CTD, Faisalabad, had set up a check-post
based on intelligence.
Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar
Shrine blast accused Nadir Jhakrani linked to IS group,
confessed his crime before the Judicial Magistrate in
Karachi, in Sindh. ATC Hyderabad remanded the accused
in Judicial Custody for 15 days, while CTD Police has
initiated the process for recommending his trial to a
Military Court. In his statement, the suspect confessed
that the explosion was planned in Balochistan by Ghulam
Mustufa alias 'Doctor'.
November 26
The IMCTC’s Military Commander
General (retd.) Raheel Sharif said that the sole objective
of the alliance was to counter terrorism and it is not
against any country or any sect. The final declaration
issued after the Ministers meeting in Riyadh suggested
that it would be up to the Member States to decide the
extent of their participation in the coalition. The Alliance’s
TORs were finalised at a meeting of Defence Ministers
of the member countries forming the IMCTC. Pakistan’s
Defence Minister Khurrum Dastagir represented Pakistan
at the daylong meeting presided over by Saudi Crown Prince
Muhammad bin Suleman. The declaration said that “the ministers
emphasised the importance of providing necessary military
capabilities to ensure that terrorist organisations are
weakened, dismantled, eliminated and deprived of the opportunity
to reorganise”.
November 27
The US has once again
offered Pakistan to act jointly against the extremists
outfits in Pakistan citing the rise in religious fringe.
“Pakistani government now has an opportunity to demonstrate
its seriousness in confronting all forms of terrorism,
without distinction, by arresting and charging Hafiz Saeed
for his crimes” said a White House statement. Senior Officials
at the FM said the US had shown concern over Pakistan’s
failure to check the extremists’ advances as the Government
struggled to contain a sit-in in Islamabad by religious
outfits. “They [the US] were furious over [Jamaat-ud-Dawa
chief (Jud)] Hafiz Mohammed Saeed’s release. The rise
of religious groups like Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah
has infuriated them further. They want us to discourage
them before they take over the country,” said one Official
citing contacts in Washington.
November 28
JuD 'chief' Hafiz Saeed has filed a petition
in the UN for the delisting of his name from the UN's
list of Designated Terrorists.
US General John Nicholson said, that he
had observed no changes in Pakistan's support for militants
despite US President Donald Trump's tough line approach.
November 29
Two people including one IB personnel
were killed, while three others were injured, in gunfire
outside a Shia Imambargah in Sector I/8 of Islamabad.
The deceased IB official has been identified as Hubdar
Hussain.
Two FC Personnel were killed while four
others were injured in a landmine explosion in Sangan
region of Sibi District in Balochistan. The deceased Soldiers
have been identified as Aqib Ahmed and Masood Ahmed. The
injured have been identified as Muhammad Arif, Muhammad
Ayaz, Ghulam Hussain and Altaf.
SI Imdad Shah was killed by two militants
riding on motorcycle at the main gate of Government Sardar
Begum Teaching Hospital in Sialkot District in Punjab.
Former Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel
Sharif's appointment to the IMCTC as Commander has led
to objection from Iran calling it a 'sectarian alliance'.
November 30
Five Anti-Taliban Personnel were killed
and two were injured, in a remotely detonated bomb in
Spinkai area near the Afghanistan border, in South Waziristan
Agency in FATA. The group was part of a Volunteers' Militia
helping the Military in operations against Islamist militants.
A faction of Pakistani Taliban militants, known as the
Sajna group of TTP, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Deceased have been identified as Wali Jan, the head of
a Peace Committee, Malik Mewa Khan, Ahmed Gul, Zaman Khan
and Malik Ayar Dil Khan while Ahmed Jan and Khalid were
injured in the attack.
Four suspected Haqqani militants were
killed in US drone strike near the Pakistan-Afghanistan
border in the Kurram Agency of FATA. Afghanistan's Paktia
Provincial Governor's spokesperson Abdullah Asrat, however,
said that the strike happened within the Afghanistan territory
with seven militants killed in the drone strike.
At least three people were killed and
eight others were injured, as armed clash erupted between
two Sunni groups at Ammer Shah Chowk Jani Burira near
Hussainabad tehsil Kotdiji in Khairpur District
of Sindh. Rally was brought out by religious organization
Labaik Ya Rasool Allah, when it was fired upon by unknown
gunmen at the Chowk. The deceased have been identified
as Zulfiqar Buriro, Latif Dino Buriro and Mushataq Buriro.
Victim community called a jirga of Buriro community to
decide the further strategy.
Two militants were killed by CTD while
three others managed to escape the raid, in Gujrat District
in Punjab. The CTD Spokesman informed that explosive material
including hand-grenades and arms were recovered from the
dead militants.
CTD carried out an operation on the Muzaffargarh
Road in Multan District in Punjab and arrested three militants.
The arrested militants were experts in manufacturing bombs
and explosive material.
December 1
At least nine persons, including six students,
were killed and 37 were injured when TTP terrorists attacked
the ATI in Peshawar, KP. At least four attackers wearing
suicide jackets under burqas reached the compound in a
rickshaw. Their first target was the security guard, after
which they headed inside towards the ATI students' hostel.
Two soldiers were also injured in the rescue operation.
A cache of arms and ammunition, including three suicide
jackets, 20 hand grenades, AK-47 rifles and IEDs were
recovered from the incident site. According to reports,
about 120 college residents, out of a total of nearly
400, were present at the time of the attack. Most of the
others had gone home for a long holiday weekend. TTP took
the responsibility for the attack, claiming that it was
not targeting the Institute, but a safe house belonging
to Pakistan's ISI in the same area.
A child was killed and two others were
injured in an explosion at Christian Colony in the Chaman
area of Killa Abdullah District in Balochistan.
A soldier was killed and another was injured
in an IED blast in Safi Tehsil of Mohmand Agency in FATA.
ISPR DG Major General Asif Ghafoor said
that attack at a Peshawar college by the TTP was guided
from Afghanistan, and the militants were in contact with
leadership in Afghanistan. "Afghan Director General Military
Operations [DGMO] is visiting Pakistan and substantial
evidence of TTP sanctuaries [in Afghanistan] has been
handed over to him."
December 2
Pro-Government tribal elder, Malak Ameer
Rehman, was killed in an IED explosion in the Olai Shah
area of Ambar tehsil in Mohmand Agency of FATA. The Administration
said that the Khasadar Force arrested 13 people during
the clearance operation under the TCRC of the FCR.
Two suspected militants were arrested
near Jumma Khan Khwar in Nasir Bagh area of Peshawar in
KP. The arrested militants were wanted in target killings
and arms and explosives were recovered from them.
Police arrested nine suspects from Badhbher,
Telaband, and other areas outside Peshawar. Arms and ammunition
were recovered from the suspects.
CIA Director Mike Pompeo said that if
Pakistan does not eliminate alleged militant hide outs
within its territory then US will do all within its means
to eliminate them.
Jud 'chief' and founder of LeT Hafiz Saeed
announced to contest the general elections 2018. He said
he would contest the NA seat from the platform of the
MML to highlight the 'Kashmir issue' internationally.
December 3
Three TTP militants were killed while
two others managed to escape the encounter with the CTD,
within the limits of Sandal Bar Police Station in Faisalabad
District of Punjab. Arms, explosives, detonators and motorcycle
were recovered from the slain militants.
SFs arrested 11 militants of the BRA from
Sanni Shoran area in Sibi District in Balochistan under
Operation Raad-ul-Fassad.
The SFs launched IBOs at Ilyasi Nullah
in Dera Bugti District and an unspecified area of Dukki
District and recovered arms and ammunition.
Levies Force and Intelligence Agencies
recovered 181 Rocket Propeller Gun (RPG)-7 rockets, 172
fuses, an MMRR 75 gun and 80 rounds in the Kahan area
in Kohlu District.
Four IEDs were recovered from Killa Saifullah
District.
The Al-Shehab-2-Joint Counter Terrorism
exercise between Pakistan's SSG and KSA Forces is taking
place at Prince Naif Security City in Riyadh in Saudi
Arabia. The exercise started on November 25 and is due
to continue until December 10.
December 4
KP Assembly demanded an inquiry into ATI
attack on December 1 in Peshawar. The Lawmakers of both
the Treasury and Opposition Benches were divided over
the role of SFs that took down the militants at the institute.
PPP Lawmaker Nighat Orakzai said the role of SFs had created
unrest among the people. She said a student, who had had
a scuffle with one of the terrorists, had told her that
"he snatched the weapon from the terrorist and then locked
him up in a room, but the terrorist was later killed by
the security forces in the room". JI Senior Minister for
Local Government Inayatullah Khan said "If police could
overcome the terrorist and arrest him easily, then why
didn't they? This needs to be investigated". Law Minister
Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi refuted the statement of the student
saying that it was just hearsay, adding that he had the
complete report of the police which stated that four to
five militants who attacked the institute were killed
in the fight with the SFs.
The Senate's Standing Committee on Interior
of the Upper House, which met at the Parliament House,
expressed concern over the recent spur in militancy across
the country and demanded the Government review the NAP
and its implementation. Committee Chairman Senator Rehman
Malik claimed that India was behind the militancy in Pakistan
and its agency R&AW was using the Afghan soil for such
activities. The Senators also demanded that the Government
of Pakistan take up with International Crime Police Organisation
INTERPOL the issue of TTP leader Fazalullah and other
militants hiding in Afghanistan.
US Secretary of Defence General James
Mattis held meetings with the civil and military leadership
of Pakistan. He said that his visit was meant for securing
long-term ties between the two states. Pakistan PM Shahid
Abbasi, during the meeting, told Mattis that there were
no "safe heavens" for militants in Pakistan. According
to the ISPR, Mattis during his meeting with the Pakistan's
CoAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters
in Rawalpindi, remarked that US was willing to address
Pakistan's legitimate security concerns,. "Pakistan has
done much more than its due share despite capacity constraints
but shall remain committed for peace as a responsible
member of international community," the CoAS was quoted
by the ISPR. Both agreed to work towards specific and
sustained actions on each other's concerns.
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis had
told Pakistani Civil-Military leadership during his visit
that Pakistan, US and Afghanistan must launch simultaneous
and coordinated action against Taliban.
December 5
An IED blast near a military
vehicle in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan Agency
of FATA resulted in the killing of six persons, including
three civilians seeking recruitment in the Army; while
eight others were injured. “The casualties came from a
bomb planted on a motorcycle parked on a roadside in Khadi
market of Mir Ali town,” said Kamran Khan Afridi, a Senior
Administration Official in the North Waziristan tribal
region.
Militants killed three
labourers and injured another one in Naks area of the
Harnai District in Balochistan. The labourers were affiliated
with National Logistics Cell and were engaged in repairing
the Sibi-Harnai railway track which had previously been
blown up by the militants.
Balochistan Home Minister
Mir Sarfraz Bugti confirmed that two facilitators of the
suicide attack on DPO of Killa Abdullah District had been
arrested from Chaman area. They had confessed to receiving
PKR 7000 and phone cards for acting as facilitators.
Pervez Musharraf said
that he is open to forming a political alliance with the
JuD and its ‘chief’ Hafiz Saeed.
December 6
Two militants were killed
by SFs in an IBO in the Jahan Abad area of Swat District
in KP. Two facilitators were also arrested.
Ali Mohammad, a Peace
Committee member, was killed by TTP militants in Daggar
village of Chagmalai region in South Waziristan Agency
of FATA. According to local media, TTP claimed the attack
with the spokesman of the militant’s outfit warning that
they would continue to target members of the Peace Committee.
SFs recovered rockets,
IEDs and ammunition of various types in South Waziristan
and Bajaur Agencies.
SFs recovered a bomb along
the wall of Government Primary School in Jamrud tehsil
of Khyber Agency.
SFs recovered a cache
of arms, ammunition and explosives, during an operation
in Chaman District in Balochistan.
December 7
SFs carried out a search
operation under the ongoing Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad and
unearthed tunnels, four caves and a factory for production
of IEDs in Nangrosa-Lagad area of Barra Bara in Tirah
valley of Khyber Agency in FATA. Nangrosa had remained
a stronghold of banned militant outfit LI from 2005 to
2012. A cache of arms and ammunition, including hand-grenades
and IEDs was also recovered.
Air Chief Marshal Sohail
Aman stated that PAF will shoot down US drones if they
violate its airspace. The statement has come post the
November 30 incident, when a US drone targeted and killed
four Haqqani Network militants along Pak-Afghan border
in Kurram Agency FATA.
Pentagon Chief Spokesperson
Dana White, during a US State Department press briefing
said that no one had lost more troops and lives to terrorism
than Pakistan. “The Secretary [Jim Mattis] had very fruitful
conversations about where they we can find common ground.
As he said, you know, no one has lost more troops and
lives to terrorism than the Pakistanis. So again, this
is about broadening our relationship and looking for opportunities,”
stated Dana White.
December 8
Army and Police conducted
a Joint-Search Operation and arrested 19 suspected militants
in Gulberg and Riggi areas of Peshawar District in KP.
Arms and drugs were recovered from marked houses during
the operation. Police reported that in total approximately
80 houses were searched.
JuD ‘chief’ Hafiz Saeed
led a rally to launch a countrywide campaign against US
President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s
capital, outside the JuD headquarters in Chauburji in
Lahore in Punjab. Saeed said the Pakistani Government
should immediately convene a Joint Session of Parliament
to discuss the issue. Saeed said the Defence Council Pakistan
will send its delegations to Muslim countries and convince
them not to open their embassies in Jerusalem.
The US State Department
in a travel advisory warned its citizens to defer all
non-essential travel to Pakistan, saying that foreign
and indigenous militant groups continue to pose a threat
to them throughout Pakistan.
China warned its citizens
in Pakistan to be on alert after receiving intelligence
reports about possible attacks targeting Chinese. The
Chinese Embassy in Islamabad said on its website that
it had information about a “series of terror attacks”
planned against Chinese Organizations and Personnel. It
urged its citizens to stay inside and avoid crowded places.
National Coordinator of
NACTA Ihsan Ghani along with other Senior Officials of
the Authority visited the ISPR in Rawalpindi District
in Punjab. He discussed with the DG ISPR Major General
Asif Ghafoor about cooperation with the ISPR for NACTA’s
counter terrorism efforts. The DG ISPR assured him of
ISPR’s support.
December 9
Over 313 militants and
17 militant ‘commanders’ of various militant outfits surrendered
to the Government and Security personnel under ‘Peaceful
Balochistan Policy’ in Quetta in Balochistan.
Pakistan has blocked 937
web addresses and 10 websites run by banned outfits as
part of measures to prevent the use of internet and social
media for militant activities.
Former Lal Masjid cleric
Maulana Abdul Aziz sought action against online blasphemy.
Maulana Aziz said that he had also petitioned the Islamabad
High Court against the issue but the concerned did nothing.
December 10
Three children were injured
in a landmine explosion near Amin Check Post in Miranshah
in North Waziristan Agency of FATA.
Various religious and
political groups including Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM),
Difa-i-Pakistan Council, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP),
PPP held protests against US President Donald Trump’s
decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel
in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. The main
protest was held near the US Consulate in Karachi and
the activists burnt flags of the US and Israel and engaged
in sloganeering.
December 11
At least two men were injured in a landmine
explosion in the Bareli area of Mamond Tehsil in Kohlu
District of Balochistan. The injured were identified as
Muhammad Naseem and Zakariya Mari.
Six TTP militants were arrested by FC
in two separate IBOs under Operation Radd-ul-Fassad in
Rustam Darbar area in Dera Bugti District and Killi Deba
area in Killa Abdullah District in Balochistan. Explosives,
arms and ammunition, including anti-personal mines, detonators
and communications equipment were recovered from the militants.
Punjab Rangers along with Police and Intelligence
Agencies arrested 12 facilitators of militants during
IBOs conducted in Attock, Rawalpindi and Sargodha Districts
in Punjab.
Six militants belonging to a sub-group
of TTP Swat faction, allegedly linked to the ATI attack
in Peshawar in KP on December 1, were arrested during
raids in the areas bordering Charsadda District in KP
and Mohmand Agency in FATA. Suicide vests and explosive
material were recovered from the militants. However the
main accused remains absconding despite raids being conducted
by SFs in Bajaur Agency in FATA, where he was reported
to have been present.
December 12
The CTD submitted the final charge sheet
to the ATC in the February 16, 2017, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar
Shrine bombing case, in Hyderabad District in Sindh. Imtiaz
Ali Domki, CTD's Hyderabad Inspector and the IO said that
said six accused including Safiullah, son of Mohammad
Riaz Mazari; Abdul Sattar, son of Yusuf Mazari; Aijaz
Bangalzai, Farooq Bangalzai, Tanvir Ahmed and Zulqarnain
were absconders.
Two Pakistan Army personnel were killed
when their vehicle was targeted by the militants from
atop the mountains in North Waziristan Agency in FATA.
The deceased were identified as Second Lieutenant Abdul
Moeed and Sepoy Basharat.
CTD personnel acting on prior intelligence
arrested a suspected militant from Dogadra Area in Upper
Dir District in KP. The militant was identified as Fazl
Subhan.
The CTD submitted the final charge sheet
to the ATC in the February 16, 2017, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar
Shrine bombing case, in Hyderabad District in Sindh. Imtiaz
Ali Domki, CTD's Hyderabad Inspector and the IO said that
said six accused including Safiullah, son of Mohammad
Riaz Mazari; Abdul Sattar, son of Yusuf Mazari; Aijaz
Bangalzai, Farooq Bangalzai, Tanvir Ahmed and Zulqarnain
were absconders.
Federal IM Ahsan Iqbal in a meeting with
a delegation comprising Senators from France in Islamabad
said that militancy related incidents in Pakistan had
dropped by ninety percent.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in
a statement at the 2017 Atlantic Council-Korea Foundation
Forum held in Washington D.C. said that Pakistan could
lose territory to militants if it does not sever ties
with the Haqqanis and other militant outfits. "Pakistan
has allowed so many terrorist organisations to find safe
haven within its territories, and these organisations
are growing in size and influence, that at some point
I have said to the leadership of Pakistan, you may be
the target, and they turn their attention from Kabul and
decide they like Islamabad as a target better," Secretary
Tillerson said.
Brigadier General Lance Bunch, the Director
of the Future Operations at Headquarters of Operation
Resolute Support in Kabul, Afghanistan, said that US Forces
were targeting militants inside Afghanistan but they did
not have the authority to conduct any operations inside
Pakistan territory.
December 13
FC Balochistan arrested one illegal arms
trader in Sui sub-division of Dera-Bugti District in Balochistan.
Explosive, detonators, weapons and ammunition were recovered
from him.
FC Balochistan in an IBO recovered and
neutralised six IEDs planted on N-50 national highway
near Zhob District in Balochistan.
A two-member bench of the Peshawar High
Court acting on the petition filed by one Fazal Khan,
disallowed the Government from releasing the former 'spokesperson'
of TTP, Ehsanullah Ehsan, and directed the authorities
to continue with the investigation. The petition stated
that the Government was planning to give clemency to Ehsan
who is in the custody of Security Agencies. Ehsanullah
Ehsan had later joined JuA.
December 14
At least two civilians were killed and
another injured when a militant attacked Aman checkpost
in South Waziristan Agency of FATA.
FC conducted an IBO in Dera Bugti District
in Balochistan and recovered explosives, IEDs, detonators
and ammunition.
SFs comprising Punjab Rangers, CTD, Punjab
Police and Intelligence Agencies conducted IBOs and arrested
19 militants, including facilitators, across Sargodha,
Bhakar, DG Khan, Attock and Lahore Districts in Punjab
Province.
KP has witnessed 50 per cent decline in
militancy related incidents in the current year (period
not specified) as compared to the previous year (period
not specified). 126 militancy related cases were reported
to police in 2017 (period not specified), as against 258
cases of militancy in 2016 (period not specified).
Former Pakistan PM and PML-N's President
Nawaz Sharif said that terrorism was under control during
his tenure but it was rearing its heads again in the country.
"The current circumstances in the country are not satisfactory,"
he added.
December 15
Unidentified militants
hurled a grenade targeting the office of National Party
in Kech District in Balochistan. No casualties or injuries
were reported.
December 16
The Pentagon in its report titled 'Enhancing
Security and Stability in Afghanistan' submitted to the
US Congress on Afghanistan said that US will take "unilateral
steps in areas of divergence" with Pakistan and insisted
that there must be "fundamental change" in the way Pakistan
deals with militant sanctuaries within its territory.
Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal
said that the Taliban have largely devolved into groups
of criminals and militants but they must be brought into
the peace process. In an interview to Voice of America
Deewa, Zakhilwal stated, "The Taliban today are not the
Taliban of Mullah Omar because they had some religious
commitments and certain values." "But today, the Taliban
force is a mixture of drug barons, spreading fear; some
are opposed to the government on one pretext or the other
and there is a foreign hand involved as well. All these
are to be scrutinised and engaged accordingly," he added.
"But peace with Da'ish (Daesh) is impossible, and, similarly,
peace with other foreign terrorists invading Afghanistan
like those Turkmans, Uzbeks, Chechens, Arabs, Chinese
and Russians is out of the question," Zakhilwal clarified.
December 17
Nine civilians were killed and 56 injured
in a suicide attack by two IS militants on a church in
Quetta in Balochistan. Police Guards stationed at the
church entrance and on its roof killed one militant but
the second militant detonated his explosives-filled vest
outside the prayer hall, confirmed Provincial Home Minister
Sarfraz Bugti. At the time of the incident there were
nearly 400 worshippers in the church for the pre-Christmas
service. IS claimed the attack, through its Amaq News
Agency in an online statement, without substantiating
its claim. However, Police Official Abdur Razaq Cheema,
said that two other militants had managed to escape. Bethel
Memorial Methodist Church was the target of attack.
CoAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that
the attack targeting the church in Quetta was an attempt
to create religious discord in the country. "Effective
response by Law Enforcement Agencies is commendable. We
stay united and steadfast to respond against such heinous
attempts," he added.
December 18
An MQM-Pakistan member Ammad Wasim was
killed by unidentified assailants when he was on his way
to Samnabad Locality from Matric Board Office, within
the limits of Nazimabad Police station in Karachi, the
provincial capital of Sindh. Police termed the incident
target killing but declined to verify the political affiliation
of the deceased.
SFs arrested three suspected illegal arms
traders and recovered a cache of ammunition during a raid
in Rizvia Society in Karachi in Sindh. According to a
statement by an unnamed Rangers spokesperson the recovery
included a G3 rifle, four sub-machine guns (SMGs), two
7mm rifles, M4 rifles, one .22 rifle, one .22 pistol,
six 9mm pistols, five 12 bore rifles, four 30 bore pistols,
a 32 bore pistol, a 38 bore pistol and 2,159 rounds of
different weapon.
A Patrolling Unit of FC Balochistan recovered
and neutralised a 12 kilogram IED planted near QDA in
Quetta, provincial capital of Balochistan.
US President Donald Trump in his speech
shortly after White House released NSS said that Pakistan
must take decisive action against the terrorist groups
"operating on its territory". Mandated by the US Congress,
President Trump released his first NSS, according to which
the US seeks a Pakistan that is not engaged in destabilising
behaviour and a stable and self-reliant Afghanistan.
Pakistan PM Shaheed Abbasi's Special NSA
Lieutenant General (retd.) Nasser Khan Janjua during a
seminar on National Security Policy stated, "US seems
to be speaking India's language, and both of them are
harbouring identical standpoint over the lingering Kashmir
dispute. This is why the US is willing to give India a
bigger role in Afghanistan while blaming Pakistan for
its own failure in the region,"
Pakistan's NSC conceded that progress
on key elements of the NAP to counter terrorism was lacking
and ordered the finalisation of the long-delayed National
Security Policy. "The National Security Committee (NSC)
observed that while fair progress had been made in the
implementation of the NAP, certain areas such as policy
and institutional reform, needed more commitment and attention,"
the PM Office said in a statement issued after the meeting
of the highest Civil-Military Coordination Forum.
December 19
Three SF personnel and two civilians were
injured when a bomb planted along a road at Bacha Abad
area of Kulachi Town in Dera Ismail Khan District of KP
exploded. No militant outfit has claimed responsibility
for the attack yet. Police sources said the bomb was remotely
controlled and exploded when the SFs' vehicle were travelling
towards Loni area from Kolachi.
ASF has increased safety measures at the
Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore in Punjab,
amid increased threat of attack by militants.
LEA beefed up security of churches and
other sensitive places in view of upcoming festival of
Christmas across multiple districts in Punjab. RPO Muhammad
Idrees Ahmad issued directives to the Police Heads in
Multan, Vehari, Khanewal and Lodhran Districts to ensure
protection of worship places.
MFA Pakistan in statement issued said
that accusations made during the release of National Security
Strategy (NSS) do not reflect the facts on the ground
and trivialize Pakistan's counter-terrorism achievements
and efforts.
The military leadership confirmed during
the national security briefing to the Senators that since
their inception in 2015 Military Courts had decided 274
cases and awarded 161 death sentences (period not specified).
Also 56 convicts had been executed since that time, 13
before the launch of Operation Radd-ul-Fassad on February
22, 2017 and 46 since the launch of the operation. Since
the time General Qamar Jawed Bajwa was appointed as CoAS,
the Military Courts had received 160 cases.
DGMO Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza
briefed the Senators on the progress of Operation Radd-ul-Fassad.
He confirmed that under the Radd-ul-Fassad, at least 18,001
IBOs were conducted across Pakistan (periods not specified).
Giving further details he said that 1,249 IBOs had been
conducted in KP and the FATA, including 31 major operations;
13,011 operations had been conducted in Punjab, including
seven major operations; 1,410 operations, including 29
major operations, were undertaken in Balochistan; 2015
operations, including seven major operations, were conducted
in Sindh. No break up was provided for rest 242 IBOs.
There were another 4,983 search-based combing operations
(across Pakistan). At least 19,993 weapons were also recovered
during these operations. Further, briefing on Karachi,
he said that since the launch of the Rangers operation
in Karachi in 2013, at least 8,780 suspects had been transferred
to the Police; 12,105 weapons were seized and 1,948 militants
were arrested; 154 abductees had been freed from captivity
and 154 kidnappers were arrested; and 24 soldiers had
been killed (period for the data not specified).
COAS Qamar Jawed Bajwa defended the brokering
of the deal between the Government and the organisers
of the 22-day sit-in at Faizabad interchange in Islamabad,
the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah, during the national
security briefing. Senator Nihal Hashmi after the meeting
quoted him saying that "he will resign if the army's involvement
is proved in Faizabad protests". The Army Chief reportedly
said that the Police operation had worsened the Faizabad
protests and "Had the army taken any action against the
participants of the sit-in, the situation would have worsened".
COAS Qamar Jawed Bajwa defended the LeT
founder and JuD 'chief' Hafiz Saeed for raising the Kashmir
issue during the national security briefing on. "Like
every other Pakistani, Saeed can also take up the Kashmir
cause," he said.
The Third round of Pakistan-Japan counter-terrorism
consultations was held in Islamabad, MFA Pakistan confirmed.
PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, COAS General
Qamar Javed Bajwa and JUI-F 'chief' Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman
met to discuss FATA reforms. Unnamed sources in the Government
confirmed that Fazl gave conditional support as he wanted
the PM to meet with the Supreme Council of FATA Grand
Jirga to listen to their concerns on the matter.
December 20
Two TTP militants attempting to target
Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai in a suicide attack were
arrested by SFs in a raid from Gulistan tehsil of Killa
Abdullah District in Balochistan. Provincial HM Mir Sarfaraz
Bugti confirmed that SFs had also recovered suicide jackets,
anti-tank mines, rockets, mortar shells and other subversive
materials during the raid. The militants identified as
Hamid Bashir and Munawar, bothe from Punjab, belonged
to a splinter faction of TTP, the Qari Group.
Minister for States and Frontier Regions
(Lt.) General (Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch in response to
a question by MNA Muhammad Jamal ud Din confirmed that
14 people had been killed and 20 others sustained injuries
in 22 mine explosions since the start of repatriation
of temporary dislocated persons in SWA in FATA. The period
for the data has not been specified.
Afghanistan Consul General Mohammad Moeen
Marastial during a press briefing stated that tribal people's
consent is a must for KP and FATA merger. "Our Government
has no reservations over the merger, but the opinion of
the people of the area is paramount before taking such
a major decision," he said.
The Opposition for the eighth consecutive
day staged a walkout from the National Assembly proceedings
over non-inclusion of FATA reforms bill in the agenda,.
PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi held a meeting with the FATA Supreme
Council of Grand Jirga to develop consensus on the issue.
The Opposition for the eighth consecutive
day staged a walkout from the National Assembly proceedings
over non-inclusion of FATA reforms bill in the agenda,.
PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi held a meeting with the FATA Supreme
Council of Grand Jirga to develop consensus on the issue.
One Chinese national, named 'Liu', has
gone missing from Karot Hydropower Project in Kahuta District.
He was associated with Chinese company Sino Hydro Corporation
as a supervisor.
PML-N President Nawaz Sharif on nominated
his brother, and the incumbent CM of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif
as the PML-N's candidate for premiership in the upcoming
elections. Nawaz added that Shahbaz Sharif had differed
with him over certain issues but his thorough and firm
commitment with PML-N overrides everything else since
PML-N was a democratic party and considered difference
of opinion as an asset. He added that Shahbaz had never
violated the party discipline.
December 21
Seven people were killed and four others
were injured in firing followed by a mine explosion in
Toba Nokhani area of Dera Bugti District in Balochistan.
According to unnamed Levies sources, six people of the
same family were killed and four others were injured when
unidentified militants stormed a house belonging to a
person called Gujjar. Subsequently, a landmine explosion
took place when the vehicle was shifting the dead and
injured to the hospital, killing one more person on the
spot.
Two militants were killed and weapons
seized from their possession during an IBO by SFs in Tump
area of (Turbat) Kech District in Balochistan.
Two suspected militants were killed by
personnel of the CTD during a raid in a compound near
Jalalpur Pirwala in Multan District in Punjab. One of
the slain militant was identified as M Ajmal, the identity
of the other killed militant has not been ascertained
yet. Three other militants managed to escape.
US Vice President Mike Pence during his
visit to said that US President Donald Trump had put Pakistan
on notice for providing safe haven to Taliban and other
militant organisations within its territory. "As the President
said, so I say now: Pakistan has much to gain from partnering
with the U.S., and Pakistan has much to lose by continuing
to harbour criminals and terrorists." He said at the Bagram
airbase in Afghanistan.
MFA Pakistan Spokesperson Dr Mohammad
Faisal confirmed that a list of proscribed militant outfits
adopted at the Amritsar Declaration during the Heart of
Asia Conference on December 4, 2016 has been dropped in
the Baku declaration at the seventh HoA Ministerial Conference
held in Azerbaijan on December 1 2017.
MFA Pakistan Spokesperson Dr Mohammad
Faisal confirmed that a list of proscribed militant outfits
adopted at the Amritsar Declaration during the Heart of
Asia Conference on December 4, 2016 has been dropped in
the Baku declaration at the seventh HoA Ministerial Conference
held in Azerbaijan on December 1 2017.
Former PM and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif
met incumbent PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and agreed to address
the concerns of JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman over
FATA reforms. Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and
other senior leaders of PML-N were also present in the
meeting.
The National Command Authority (NCA) emphasised
that Pakistan would continue with its policy of Full Spectrum
Deterrence (FSD) to meet growing challenges to its security
and for maintaining strategic stability in the region.
"NCA reiterated Pakistan's policy of developing and maintaining
FSD, in line with the policy of Credible Minimum Deterrence
and avoidance of arms race," the ISPR said after a meeting
of the NCA. The NCA identified three major threats, the
growing conventional asymmetry with India, nuclearization
of Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and Indian plans for development
of BMD.
Representatives of different religious
and political organisations and ambassadors of Muslim
countries while addressing at 'Labbaik YA Al-Aqsa Conference'
held in Lahore in Punjab, under aegis of Pakistan Ulema
Council announced to reject US President Donald Trump
declaration for relocation of US Embassy to Jerusalem.
December 22
JuA 'commander' Abdur Rauf alias Abbasi
Mohmand and cousin of JuA 'chief' Abdul Wali Mohmand alias
Omar Khalid Khorasani was killed in Afghanistan, said
an unnamed Police Official. Unconfirmed reports suggest
that Rauf was killed by Khorasani himself after it was
found out that he wished to surrender to the Pakistan
Army and abandon militancy. However, reports about a rival
outfit killing him have also surfaced.Three FC Troops
and five militants were killed, when militants fired on
them from across the Pak-Afghan border at Shunkrai area
of Mohmand Agency in FATA. The Troops were targeted when
they were constructing new border post at Shunkrai area.
According to ISPR five militants were injured in retaliatory
fire as well. The deceased Soldiers have been identified
as Havaldar Muneer Khan, Sepoy Haq Nawaz Khan and Lance
Naik Irshad Hussain.
Three FC Troops and five militants were
killed, when militants fired on them from across the Pak-Afghan
border at Shunkrai area of Mohmand Agency in FATA. The
Troops were targeted when they were constructing new border
post at Shunkrai area. According to ISPR five militants
were injured in retaliatory fire as well. The deceased
Soldiers have been identified as Havaldar Muneer Khan,
Sepoy Haq Nawaz Khan and Lance Naik Irshad Hussain.
Militants lobbed a hand grenade on a SFs
post at Qayyum Abad Qandhro in Mohmand Agency in FATA.
No casualties or injuries were reported.
FC Balochistan killed two militants in
a sanitisation operation conducted in Sibbi District in
Balochistan. According to the ISPR, two militants who
were involved in threatening locals, were killed in an
exchange of fire during the operation. FC Balochistan
killed two militants in a sanitisation operation conducted
in Gandimgozi Kaur area of Kech (Turbat) District in Balochistan.
Arms and ammunition were recovered from their hideout.
Two persons belonging to the Hazara community
were killed and two others were injured when they were
targeted near Western Bypass in Nakhailabad area of Quetta,
provincial capital of Balochistan. According to DIG Abdul
Razzaq Cheema, 12 people were travelling from Quetta to
Karachi in a large van when unknown militants fired at
their vehicle killing two and injuring two others.
MFA Pakistan Spokesperson Dr Mohammed
Faisal said that VP Pence's "statement is at variance
with the extensive conversations we have had with the
US administration". "Allies do not put each other on notice.
On notice should be those factors responsible for exponential
increase in drug production, expansion of ungoverned spaces,
industrial scale corruption, breakdown of governance,
and letting Daesh gain a foothold in Afghanistan" he added.
DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor said
that the US threats against Pakistan with respect to the
latter's alleged support for militant groups can harm
the existing coordination and cooperation between the
two countries.
DIG and RPO Abdul Razzaq Cheema in a media
briefing said that six suicide explosions killed 45 persons
including 23 civilians, 12 Policemen and 10 Army personnel
in Balochistan during 2017, reports The Nation. While
195 including 125 civilians, 39 Policemen, 25 Army personnel
and 6 FC soldiers were injured in 2017 in Balochistan
(period not specified). During 2016, 155 were killed which
included 78 civilians, 71 Police, five FC and one Army
Personnel and 270 were injured (break down not specified),
in a total of four suicide attacks on SFs and civilians
(period not mentioned). The DIG added that 49 personnel
of the Police and FC were targeted this year in 21 targeted
killing attacks in 2017 (period not specified). He went
on to state that 16 cases had been sent to Military Courts
by the Police in 2017 (period not specified). After Court
permitted 45,000 kg explosive materials had been defused
in 2017 (period not specified).
December 23
CTD arrested three militants from Faisalabad
District in Punjab. Arms and ammunition, including explosives
and detonators, were recovered from the arrested militants.
CTD (unnamed) officials said they were planning an attack
on the office of a security agency.
The Ministry of Interior has termed the
MML an offshoot of proscribed entities including JuD,
FIF and LeT; and opposed its registration as a political
party with the ECP. The Ministry in its written reply
submitted to the Islamabad High Court on a petition filed
by MML seeking its registration with the ECP requested
the Court not to consider MML's plea and dismiss the petition
accordingly. It also mentioned that a Security Agency
opined that "it is difficult to believe that MML will
tread its own path, completely at variance with its mother
(LeT and JuD) organisations".
Pakistan and Iran agreed to joint aerial
monitoring to avoid an untoward situation and effectively
patrol their borders. Senior Security Officials of the
two countries met at the border town of Taftan in Chaghi
District in Balochistan and decided that helicopters would
be used for patrolling on both sides of the borders. Pakistan
would monitor the border belt from pole No 72 to 131.
December 24
Three FC personnel, identified as Naik
Inayatullah Khattak, Sepoy Mohsin Ali Turi and Sepoy Sifatullah
were killed in an IED explosion at Ghulam Khan area in
North Waziristan Agency of FATA. A curfew has been imposed
in Ghulam Khan area after the incident.
JuD 'chief' and LeT founder Hafiz Saeed
inaugurated the MML's office on Mohni Road in National
Assembly (NA) constituency-120 in Lahore in Punjab.
Pakistan's stance on the Kashmir issue
was incorporated in the joint 'Islamabad Declaration'
at the first-ever Speakers' Conference held in Islamabad.
The Conference included Pakistan, China, Turkey, Russia,
Iran, and Afghanistan. The 19th serial number in the 29
point declaration stated "We agreed that for ensuring
global and regional peace and stability, the issue of
Jammu & Kashmir needs peaceful resolution by Pakistan
and India in accordance with UNSC resolutions". Speaker
National Assembly (NA) Ayaz Sadiq representing Pakistan
in the Speakers Conference held in Islamabad mentioned
that Pakistan had suffered losses of over 119 billion
dollars to its economy because of militancy.
December 25
Deputy Chairman of Planning
Commission Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan wanted to facilitate
Afghanistan for transit trade. "We wanted to have
meetings with Afghanistan to resolve the business related
issues existing between the two neighbouring countries,"
he said. "We will not allow India for transit trade
with Afghanistan through using the land of Pakistan,”
he added.
PAF inaugurated a new
operational air base PAF Base Bholari in the Bholari area
of Thatta District in Sindh. The establishment of the
airbase would play an important role in safeguarding the
CPEC project, said Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal
Sohail Aman.
December 26
A US drone strike killed
two Haqqani network militants including a ‘commander’
travelling in a vehicle in the Mata Sangar area near Afghanistan-Pakistan's
border in Kurram Agency in FATA. The Haqqani network ‘commander’
was identified as Jamil-ud-Din. Four other militants were
present in the area when drone strike hit them but they
left the premise before the drone strike was conducted.
The FATA Youth Jirga said
in press briefing in Islamabad that it will start a countrywide
petition campaigning to convince masses within and out
of Government on FATA reforms espousing merger with KP.
The Federal Cabinet approved
early merger of FATA into KP. An official statement issued
after the Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Shahid Khaqan
Abbasi said that approval was granted “to the formation
of NIC on the FATA Reforms.” The NIC had agreed that the
FATA people will be able to elect 23 members to the KP
assembly, while the NA seats would be finalised after
consultations.
Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif
said that 1400 Police Personnel had been killed during
‘war on terror’ (period not specified).
Former PM and PML-N Chief
Nawaz Sharif said that the initiation of a treason case
against former President and General (retd) Pervez Musharraf
by PML-N Government was the reason behind his disqualification.
Pakistan, Afghanistan
and China held the first FM Dialogue in Beijing and urged
the Afghan Taliban to join the peace process. In a joint
statement, the three Governments called for a ‘broad-based
and inclusive peace and reconciliation process’ and reaffirmed
their commitment to improving relations, deepening mutually
beneficial cooperation, advancing connectivity under the
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and fighting terrorism
in all its forms and manifestations without any distinction.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan
announced his party's support for PAT led by Tahirul Qadri
protest against Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif and Law Minister
Rana Sanaullah for the Model Town incident on June 17
2014.
The NSAs of India and
Pakistan, Ajit Doval and Lieutenant General (retd) Nasir
Khan Janjua respectively held a meeting in Bangkok. However,
MFA Pakistan did not confirm the meeting.
December 27
The Executive Board of
the NAB approved filing of six new corruption references,
including illegal construction of a road to residence,
against former PM and PML-N Nawaz Sharif and his brother
& Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif.
Former president General
(retd) Pervez Musharraf said that some rogue elements
within the ‘establishment’ could have been involved in
murder of former PM Benazir Bhutto. He added that rogue
elements could have been in touch with the Taliban as
well because the Pakistani society is polarised on religious
lines.
December 28
A gas pipeline running
from Bakhtyar Abad to Showran was blown up by militants
near Jalal area of Bolan District in Balochistan.
DG ISPR Major General
Asif Ghafoor said that there were no rogue elements within
the Pakistan Army. “I am spokesman of the sitting army
chief. You should ask Musharraf to explain his statements.
As of now, I can say that there are no rogue elements
within Pakistan Army”, he said. Responding to Former PM
and PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif’s statement DG ISPR Major
General Asif Ghafoor said that Pakistan Army had no response
to events in the political domain. “If there is any conspiracy
[about Army’s involvement in politics], they should come
up with evidence,” he said.
DG ISPR Major General
Asif Ghafoor additionally stated that military-to-military
ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan were not ideal but
there had been some improvement since CoAS General Qamar
Jawed Bajwa’s visit to Kabul on September 28, 2017. “Pak-Afghan
military-to-military engagement is very important. At
present, we cannot call it ideal … but situation has improved
after army chief’s visit to Kabul,” he said. Additionally,
he said that “We have already started fencing of 2,611
kilometres of Pak-Afghan border. Additional posts and
forts are being built and on every 1.5-2 kilometres, we
will have a physical presence.” He also warned US against
unilateral military action within the Pakistan territory.
MFA spokesperson Mohammed
Faisal said that US had not cancelled the sale of F-16
jets to Pakistan. “They have not refused the sale”, he
said.
Russian Consul General
Aleksandr Khozin said that Pakistan occupied a significant
place in Russia’s foreign policy priorities and is considered
as an important business partner in various fields including
energy and metallurgy.
December 29
Police arrested six suspected
militants and recovered arms and ammunition in raids at
Kot Walidad and Nikora Check Posts in Kulachi Tehsil of
Dera Ismail Khan District in KP. Five of the arrestees
were identified as Abdullah Jan, Hanif, Ziaullah, Ghulam
Mustafa, and Sher Khan. The Police recovered one gun,
one pistol with over 100 bullets from Abdullah Jan; one
gun from Hanif; one rifle from Ziaullah; two rifles with
ten rounds from Ghulam Mustafa; and 12-bore gun with four
cartridges from Sher Khan.
CTD acting on prior intelligence
arrested two TTP militants in Gujranwala District of Punjab.
The militants identified as Imran and Abubakar were allegedly
planning to attack office of LEA. Arms, explosives and
detonators were recovered from them.
A suspected facilitator
of Afghan Spy Agency, NDS, was arrested by personnel of
FC and Intelligence Agencies, in IBOs in Musa colony and
Sangan areas of Sibi District of Balochistan. FC recovered
weapons and ammunition including explosives and communication
equipment, ISPR said in a statement.
Five LeJ militants were
arrested in SITE Superhighway Industrial Area of Karachi
in Sindh. The militants were planning to assassinate an
important personality belonging to the Shia community.
Palestine’s ambassador
to Pakistan, Waleed Abu Ali, shared a stage with ‘chief’
of JuD and founder of LeT Hafiz Saeed during a rally organised
by the DePC in Liaquat Bagh of Rawalpindi city of Punjab.
Hafiz Saeed used this rally to call for an "Islamic
summit" to defend Jerusalem from Israel.
December 30
Five suspected IS militants
were killed in an encounter with the Police in Gharibabad
area near Ayub Goth in Karachi, the provincial capital
of Sindh. Police acting on prior intelligence received
from an IA conducted a targeted raid at the hideout in
which the five militants were killed. One militant, identified
as Qari Habibullah alias Abdul Salam Burmi, was previously
associated with al Qaeda and involved in the targeted
killing of Policemen, Army personnel, and members of Shia
and Christian communities.
December 31
Police recovered one 10
kilograms bomb on the Circular Road in Quetta, the provincial
capital of Balochistan, which was later neutralised by
the BDS. LEA vehicles were allegedly the target of the
planned attack.
Source:Compiled from news reports
and are provisional.