All terrorists, including Haqqanis, to be tackled: DG ISPR

 

RAWALPINDI: Terming the Operation Zarb-e-Azb as war for the survival of Pakistan, the Pakistan Army on Thursday pledged to tackle all terrorists, including the Haqqani Network.
Briefing the media here, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said 327 hardcore terrorists had been killed while 45 hideouts of terrorists were destroyed in the North Waziristan Agency during the ongoing operation launched on June 15. He said 19 terrorists surrendered before the security personnel. He said 10 soldiers laid down their lives while seven were injured in the line of duty.

Major General Bajwa said North Waziristan had become an abode of terrorists. He said due to the sudden operation, the terrorists were entrapped in North Waziristan and would not be given a chance to escape.

He said all the allegations of Afghan government against the Pakistan Army were baseless. “The operation in North Waziristan was being conducted by the Pakistan Army and it was not assisted by the US or anyone else.”

About the internally displaced persons (IDPs), he said that so far 456,292 people, comprising 36,804 families, had been registered and majority of themwere shifted to their relatives in Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat. He said only a few hundred persons opted to stay in the camps set up for the IDPs.

Giving details, Asim Saleem Bajwa said from January 29 to June 8, some 195 persons had lost their lives in 20 terrorist incidents. He reiterated that North Waziristan had become a stronghold of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and a hub of terrorist activities. “In this backdrop, it was decided to launch an operation aimed at restoring the writ of the government.”

He said the army troops, FC Khyber Pakhtunkhwa troops, Khassadar, Levies, intelligence agencies and Pakistan Air Force were deployed to flush out the terrorists from the area.Major General Bajwa said 50 army personnel, along with 20 NDMA officials, had been deployed for the registration of all IDPs. He said six ration distribution points had been established in Bannu, DI Khan and Tank for provision of food packets and medicines to the IDPs. He said every family was given Rs15,000 besides one month ration as announced by the army. “Of the enlisted IDPs, 221,000 were administered polio drops.”

The DG ISPR said Nadra mobile and Smart Card vans were made available to check the identity of incoming IDPs at the registration centres. About the relief collection points, he said 32 such points had been set up in different cities. To a question, he pointed out that 400 Afghan families had crossed over to Afghanistan after the start of the ongoing operation.

He said the whole nation had to play its role to support the armed forces in rooting out terrorism from the country. He also urged the media to create an awareness among the people to wipe out any misperception regarding the operation.

To a query, the DG ISPR said the Afghan government had been requested to take action against those terrorists who could cross over to the Afghan territory to avoid operation. He said that Pakistan had raised voice against the drone attacks as Pakistan armed forces were fully capable of defeating the terrorists. He said joint control rooms had been set up (UAN 1135) in different cities where people could share information about any suspicious person or activity.

Ashrafuddin Pirzada adds from Landikotal: Four militants and three Khassadar force personnel were killed in a clash after about two dozen gunmen attacked the Hawaldari checkpost in the Surkamar area of the Jamrud Tehsil in Khyber Agency on Thursday, local and official sources said.

The sources said at least 12 gunmen, equipped with automatic weapons, stormed the Hawaldari checkpost located on the main Pak-Afghan Highway at around 1:50am during the night.Local sources said the militants besieged the checkpost and opened fire on the soldiers manning it. The lightly armed Khassadar force personnel returned the fire, triggering a gunbattle.

“I heard sounds of firing from different sides when the attack was launched on the checkpost,” said a local tribesman. He added that the firing stopped after a few minutes but it started again when a contingent of the paramilitary Frontier Corps reached the spot to support the besieged Khassadar force personnel.

The security forces, the official sources said, repulsed the attack and killed four attackers. However, the rest of the militants managed to escape.Three Khassadar officials identified as Naib Line Officer Shaukat Khan Afridi, who was recently promoted, and Sepoy Shamshad Afridi and Sepoy Baseer Khan were killed in the clash.

According to an ISPR statement, four paramilitary officials, including Captain Umar, were injured in the attack.The other injured soldiers were identified as Sepoys Umara Khan, Noor Hussain and Abdur Rauf.

Assistant Political Agent Jamrud Roshan Wazir condemned the attack and praised the bravery of the Khassadar force personnel.The funeral prayers for the slain Khassadars were offered in the presence of a large number of people. Roshan Wazir and other officials also attended the funeral.

Egypt confirms 183 death sentences, including Islamist chief

MINYA: An Egyptian court on Saturday confirmed death sentences for 183 Islamists, including Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohamed Badie, a prosecutor said, after a speedy mass trial that sparked an international outcry.

The court in the central city of Minya had initially sentenced 683 people to death, but on Saturday it commuted death sentences of four to life in prison, including two women, and acquitted 496 other defendants.

Since the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July last year, hundreds of his supporters and Badie himself have been sentenced to death in trials criticised by Egyptian and global human rights bodies.

Those sentenced on Saturday, in a session that lasted about 15 minutes, were accused of involvement in the murder and attempted murder of policemen in Minya province on August 14, the day police killed hundreds of Morsi supporters during clashes in Cairo.

Saturday´s sentencings came after the court´s initial ruling was referred to Egypt´s top Islamic scholar as required under the country´s law.

In March, the same court presided by judge Said Youssef Sabry had reduced 492 of 529 death sentences to life in prison.

 

All including Punjab CM should appear before commission: PM

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while expressing anguish over the Model Town incident directed that all including Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif must appear before the judicial commission if it summoned them.
He also directed all the concerned to ensure that such incidents should not occur in future.He urged that the conspiracy behind the gory incident should be unearthed as it was being used to tarnish image of the government.

Nawaz Sharif expressed these views while chairing a high-level meeting here at the Prime Minister House on Thursday.Talking about Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Wiziristan Agency (NWA), the prime minister said that Pakistan was fighting a defining battle in the nation’s history and God willing terrorists would be defeated. He said that national unity was the prerequisite to make the operation against the terrorists a success.

He also directed the provision of all the facilities to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was conspicuous with his absence in the meeting which was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid, Minister for Planning and development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Minister for States and Frontier Regions (Safron) Lt Gen (R) Abdul Qadir Baloch.

It is understood that the prime minister will continue process of consultation with other likeminded political leaders on the subjects.The sources told ‘The News’ that the premier was firm on forwarding the economic revival ahead with faster pace and rid the country of terrorism.

The prime minister said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb required national unity and added, “A peaceful environment in the country would benefit the soldiers fighting in the North Waziristan tribal area.” He expressed confidence that militants would lose this war and added that the IDPs from North Waziristan would be provided with every facility.

The sources said that Shahbaz Sharif’s briefing on the Model Town incident also figured in the discussion.Various aspects of the incident were also brought to the light and Shahbaz Sharif assured that the provincial administration would submit details of the incident before the judicial commission.

The participants of the meeting expressed their regret on the incident that resulted in the death of nine innocent people and injuring others. Shahbaz Sharif assured that the provincial government would investigate the incident and those responsible for it would be brought to justice. He assured that strict action would be taken against the responsible for the incident.

Four including 3 women gunned down in Swat

SWAT: Four persons were killed when unknown culprits opened fire in a house in Buner District of Swat on Monday morning, Geo News reported.

According to police, the incident occurred in Palwari area of Buner where unknown armed assailants opened fire in a house that killed three women and a man.

The ferocious incident didn’t end here. The brutal murderers set the bodies along with the house on fire after killing their targets.

Police reached the incident site and initiated investigation.

All institutions including media working within limits

PAKPATTAN: Punjab Governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar has said that the government is proud of the Pakistan Army.

He added that the government has made a strategy to end power shutdowns in the next three years.Talking to newsmen at the Shrine of Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Masood Ganj Shakar on Sunday, the governor said all institutions, including the army, administration, judiciary, politicians and the media, had an important role in the country. He said responsible journalism played a pivotal role in nation-building. “The significance of the media could not be denied as it had played a vital role in stabilising the social set-up and bringing the truth to people. The army, administration, judiciary, politicians and the media are working within their limits. The Pakistan Army is the best army in the world. We are proud of our army, the governor said.

The governor was received by MNA Sardar Mansab Ali, MPA Mian Ali Naveed, Habibullah Bhatti, Administrator Market Committee MD Butt, DCO Rana Muhammad Arshad, DPO Shah Nawaz and others. Foolproof security arrangements were made at the shrine of Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Masood Ganj Shakar. The governor offered Fateha at the shrine and left for Sahiwal by a helicopter.

PAF can meet all challenges including that of Taliban: Air chief

 

SARGODHA: Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, Chief of the Air Staff Pakistan Air Force (PAF), has said the PAF is ready to cope with all challenges, including any operation against the Taliban.
He was talking to the media on the occasion of the induction of the first batch of F-16 jets comprising five aircraft from Jordan here on Sunday. An impressive ceremony was held to induct these aircraft in the inventory of the PAF. Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt was the chief guest on the occasion.

Nawaf Khalifa Saraieh, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Pakistan, and other high ranking officers from the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Army also attended the ceremony.The air chief said that these aircraft would enhance the PAF capability to counter any internal and external threats.

He further said that PAF would perform its duties as envisaged by the Government of Pakistan. He also said that these aircraft had been purchased from Jordan at a nominal cost.“The aircraft have been purchased from the Royal Jordanian Air Force after a series of negotiations held between the concerned ministries and the concerted efforts of Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt,” an official said.

According to a senior PAF official, in order to avoid extra burden on the national exchequer, the PAF opted for the used planes as they have been acquired at a nominal cost per bird and could serve for a longer duration.

The PAF has acquired a squadron of F-16A/B aircraft, which were in the use of Royal Jordania.The first batch has been flown by PAF pilots from Jordan while the remaining aircraft are planned to be flown in to Pakistan very soon. Acquisition of these aircraft would not only augment the aerial defence of the country but also greatly assist in pilot training. Additionally, it is yet another manifestation of the brotherly relations between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and the two air forces. The PAF is already effectively using this state of the art, multi-role aircraft for the past three decades. The purchased aircraft are in immaculate condition and have been upgraded for flying in the coming years.Earlier, on the arrival of the air chief, he was received by Air Vice Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Air Officer Commanding Central Air Command.

5 including sister shot dead by brother over marriage of choice

SWABI: A brother gunned down five persons including his sister, brother-in-law and nephew over marriage of choice at Qab Ghani on Monday here, Geo News reported.

Police said that the sister of the accused, who had married by choice some eight years ago and had left the area, returned to her native place a few days ago. The accused on information of her arrival went to his sister’s in-laws home and opened indiscriminate firing, killing five persons including his sister, brother-in-law and nephew, while another nephew of the accused and a woman sustained injuries.

The bodies and the injured were shifted to the District Headquarter Hospital.

Police hunting for the accused, who immediately after firing successfully escaped from the scene of incident.

4 dead, including gunman, at Fort Head: officials

FORT HOOD: A gunman opened fire Wednesday at Fort Hood in an attack that left four dead, including the shooter, law enforcement officials said.

One of the officials, citing official internal Justice Department updates, said 14 others were hurt. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release information by name.

A U.S. law enforcement official said reports circulating within the Justice Department indicate the shooter died of what appears to be a self-inflicted wound. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is still ongoing.

The Texas Army base was the scene of a mass shooting in 2009. Thirteen people were killed and more than 30 wounded in what was the deadliest attack on a domestic military installation in history.

The Army said on its official Twitter feed that the post was still on lockdown. Injured people were being treated at the post's Carl R. Darnall Medical Center and other local hospitals.

Outside the base, some relatives of soldiers waited for news about their loved ones.

Tayra DeHart, 33, said she had last heard from her husband, a soldier at the post, that he was safe, but that was hours earlier.

"The last two hours have been the most nerve-wracking I've ever felt. I know God is here protecting me and all the soldiers, but I have my phone in my hand just hoping it will ring and it will be my husband," DeHart said.

In Chicago, President Barack Obama vowed that investigators will get to the bottom of the shooting, seeking to reassure the nation whose sense of security once again has been shaken by mass violence

In a hastily arranged statement, Obama said he and his team were following the situation closely but that details about what happened at the sprawling Army post were still fluid. He said the shooting brought back painful memories of the 2009 attack.

Obama reflected on the sacrifices that troops stationed at Fort Hood have made - including during multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan.

"They serve with valor, they serve with distinction and when they're at their home base, they need to feel safe," Obama said. "We don't yet know what happened tonight, but obviously that sense of safety has been broken once again."

The president spoke without notes or prepared remarks in the same room of a steakhouse where he had just met with about 25 donors at a previously scheduled fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee. White House officials quickly pushed tables to the side of the room to make room for Obama to speak to the nation.