Foreigners killed in north west Pakistan explosion

Page last updated at 07:38 GMT, Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Police say three Westerners are among six people killed in an explosion near a girls' school in north west Pakistan.

A group of journalists and aid workers was travelling in an army convoy when it was hit by a roadside bomb in the Lower Dir area, officials said.
At least 19 people, including school girls, were injured in the blast.
Pakistani troops carried out a major offensive in the area last year to crush Taliban militants who have often attacked girls' schools.
The BBC's Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says a bomb was detonated when a military convoy was passing a road beside the school in Koto, a heavily populated village in the Lower Dir district in North West Frontier Province.
The convoy was on the way to Maidan, an area of Lower Dir district which is the base of a pro-Taliban cleric Maulana Sufi Mohammad, and a stronghold of Taliban militants, our correspondent says.

Death toll in US drone strikes rises to 31

Updated at: 1040 PST, Wednesday, February 03, 2010

MIRAMSHAH/PESHAWAR: In the biggest attack so far by the American spy planes in the Pakistani tribal areas, the US drones on Tuesday rained a barrage of missiles on different locations of Dattakhel Tehsil of North Waziristan Agency (NWA), initially killing 17 people, including militants, and injuring several others.Now, the death toll has risen to 31 while some injured persons are still fighting for their lives, Geo news quoted sources as saying.Government officials in Miramshah, the main town of North Waziristan, said nine spy planes took part in the brazen attack, firing 18 missiles and causing heavy human loss.They had rightly feared the death toll could rise as rescue work could not be started for late in some of the places due to fear of more missile strikes by the unmanned spy aircraft. Besides the militants, several villagers and some foreign nationals were said to be among the victims. The villagers came under attack from the drones while approaching the spot to help retrieve the bodies and the injured from the rubble of the collapsed houses.Tribesmen in Miramshah said the town echoed with heavy explosions when the missiles were fired. They said a series of explosions were heard in distant villages of the restive North Waziristan tribal region.Officials said the Deegan village in Dattakhel Tehsil, where the Taliban last week claimed to have shot down a US drone, suffered the most. The drones fired eight missiles, hitting several houses and vehicles parked inside the mud-walled buildings.Deegan, which is located about 30 kilometres west of Miramshah, has always been the prime target of US drones. “Deegan is considered to be a stronghold of the Taliban but we don’t know whether those killed were militants or villagers,” said a government official, who declined to be named. He said most of the targeted places were located in the mountains.After Deegan, Thooth Narray village in the same vicinity, also suffered when drones fired four missiles at targets there. Officials said four houses were attacked in the village, leaving seven people dead and six injured.Similarly, the US spy planes struck suspected hideouts of militants in Mohammad Khel and Khar Kamar villages. In Mohammad Khel village, a drone reportedly fired two missiles on villagers, who had come out of their houses after the first drone attack and were on their way to help retrieve the bodies and injured from the collapsed houses.Tribal sources said the drones had been flying over the area since early morning and the militants were seen firing at the planes from their anti-aircraft guns, which they had installed on double-cabin trucks.Officials said they could not gather exact details about human and material losses in Tuesday’s attacks due to lack of physical presence of the government in the area. “We don’t have any physical presence in the area and then there is no telephone facility. We do have our security personnel deployed on their checkpoints on hilltops but they are away from the area where drones played havoc,” a government official explained.An intelligence official said on condition of anonymity that the drones mostly targeted small posts set up by the militants. He said it appeared the US forces in Afghanistan wanted to avenge the loss of their drone, which the militants had allegedly shot down in the same area a few days ago.He said initial reports indicated that most of the people killed in Tuesday’s missile strikes were either low-level militants or poor villagers. “I did not hear that any big name had died,” he claimed. It was the biggest missile attack by the CIA-operated spy planes in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.

Four foreign journalists killed in Dir blast

Updated at: 1131 PST, Wednesday, February 03, 2010

LOWER DIR: A massive explosion has been reported near girls school in tehsil Blambutt located in Lower Dir, reportedly killing four foreign journalists and injuring scores others on Wednesday morning, Geo news reported.According to preliminary details, some security forces also came under attack as the bomb was planted on a roadside, which targeted the convoy of foreign journalists.The rescue efforts are underway as the security forces have cordoned off the entire blast site. Also, few local journalists have sustained injuries amid explosion, sources saidSome girls have been reportedly caught under the debris of school building, sources said further.

Offensive kills up to 80 militants: military

Tuesday, 02 Feb, 2010

SAWAI: A Pakistani military commander said Tuesday a new air and ground offensive had killed up to 80 militants in the northern extremity of the lawless tribal belt on the Afghan border.

The paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) stepped up an offensive targeting Taliban havens in Bajaur district after a suicide bombing killed 17 people at a military checkpoint on Saturday.
Bajaur, which is at the northern tip of the semi-autonomous tribal belt, has seen a spike in attacks and Pakistan is under US pressure to do more to eliminate the extremist menace to ease the conflict in Afghanistan.
The raids are concentrated around Mamoond, about 12 kilometres (eight miles) northwest of Khar, a notorious Taliban hideout which Pakistan failed to clear in past offensives against militant havens.
“When we started the operation it was estimated that there were about 1,000 militants present in the area and 80 of them have been killed so far,” Colonel Rana Munnawar told reporters at a briefing in the village of Sawai.
There was no independent confirmation of the death toll. Local officials have given a combined toll of 43 militants killed since Saturday, and said two other militants were found hanging from a pole outside Khar.
Four soldiers have been killed, Munnawar said. Militants from nearby districts Swat and Dir, where Pakistan quelled a major Taliban uprising last year have also joined the fight, he added.
Pakistani troops backed by jets, helicopter gunships and commandos swung into action Sunday in Sawai, some 22 kilometres northwest of Khar, where they have come under mortar and rocket fire, Munnawar said.
He claimed the offensive had dislodged a Taliban command and control system, but expected main operations to take another 15 days.

The colonel said troops had also captured the strategic height of Khaza, where the militants had attacked from bunkers and set up a training centre.
Pakistan first launched operations in the district in August 2008 and has claimed several times to have eliminated the Islamist militant threat.
US officials call Pakistan's tribal belt the most dangerous place on earth and, following the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan, the headquarters of Al-Qaeda, which has links to Taliban and other extremist networks. -AFP

Karachi violence claims 27 lives within 4 days

Updated at: 1049 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010
KARACHI: Another person was brutally killed by unidentified shooters on Tuesday morning, taking the tally of target killings to 27 persons within 4 days of extreme chaos, violence and tension here in metropolis; meanwhile, nearly 2 dozen more injured victims are being treated at separate hospitals in city, Geo news reported. On Monday, at least 7 more people were gunned down by late night when some unidentified armed assailants opened indiscriminate fire in the Nazimabad and Khwaja Ajmer Nagri localities of metropolis city, mounting the death toll to 26.According to reports, unknown armed men started firing near Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, killing four people, two of them on the spot. While two more succumbed to injuries in hospital. Immediately after the incident, the hospitals’ doors were closed.Later, another incident of incessant firing occurred near Abbasi Phatak located underneath Nazimabad Bridge, killing 5 persons on the spot including a youth who resided in nearby flats, police sources said.Two persons were gunned down in Orangi Town and Qasba Colony as the deceased persons were reportedly hailing from two different political parties and used to serve as their activists, sources claimed.The incident seems to be the part of recent spate of target killings in mini-Pakistan, according to police.

Bilour seeks govt intervention on Karachi killings

Updated at: 1803 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

PESHAWAR: NWFP senior minister Bashir Bilour, denouncing the recent spate violence in Karachi, called for the government’s intervention to stop the ongoing incidents of target killing. In a statement from Peshawar on Monday, Bilor slammed wave of target killings in Karachi and demanded its immediate halt. He emphasized that the government should arrest the culprits, who were mostly targeting the Pakhtun inhabitants. Bilour further said that safety of life and property of citizens should be ensured. He urged the Sindh Government take immediate measures to curtail target killings so that any untoward incident could be averted in future

Election symbols allotted for NA-55 by-poll

Updated at: 1928 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010

LAHORE: The Punjab Election Commission, releasing the final list of candidates contesting by-election in NA-55, allotted them election symbols.The polling will be held on Feb 24 in this constituency. According to the election commission, 25 candidates will contest in NA-55 Rawalpindi. PML-N candidate was allotted lion while Awami Muslim League candidate was allotted with ‘Kalam dawat’ symbol. Apart from PML-N and AML, no other major party has fielded its candidate here.

PPP conspiring to take over Karachi: MQM

Updated at: 1823 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Rabita Committee on Tuesday demanded a medical examination of Sindh Local Bodies Minister Agha Siraj Durrani at any good hospital over use of non-parliamentary language against MQM and City Nazim during Sindh Assembly’s session. Addressing a joint press conference along with other party’s leaders at Nine Zero, MQM’s Deputy Convener Anis Kaimkhani said some members of the Pakistan People Party (PPP) believe in politics of hypocrisy rather than reconciliation. He alleged that PPP had not only supported the infamous Rehman Dacoit Group but also employed its some 5, 000 criminal people in the Police department. “Why Nabeel Gabool’s son was released after being arrested for keeping illegal arms?” he asked Mirza.The MQM leader said that PPP was using negative tactics to take over Karachi. Kaimkhani further said that Home Minister Zulfiqar Ali Mirza carried out bloodshed in Karachi on Yaum-e-Ashur and released several culprits.

Administrators will be apolitical: PPP, MQM

Updated at: 2119 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement have reached an agreement on the appointment of non-partisan administrators before the local bodies elections in Sindh.This was announced by PPP leader Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq and MQM leader Dr. Farooq Sattar while talking to media persons here outside Bilawal House on Monday.They said a bill in connection with the above will soon been tabled before Sindh Assembly and the date of local bodies polls will also be announced.The meeting of PPP-MQM core committee was held here at Bilawal House under the chairmanship of President Asif Ali Zardari.The meeting reviewed overall law and order situation of the province including Karachi besides the future of local bodies system.Dr. Farooq Sattar said agreement has been reached that the administrators will be non-political and that the local bodies elections will be held in the next 3 to 4 months. The date of elections will be announced soon, he added.It was also came under discussion that the mandate of each party would be respected. Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq said some elements are not happy with the PPP-MQM alliance and not leave any opportunity of creating a rift between the two parties.

Gen Kayani vows to root out militancy despite losses

Updated at: 1836 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said that Pakistan has suffered the maximum in terms of human and economic losses due to terrorism and violent extremism, but it has not dented the resolve of the nation and its armed forces to root out the terrorism in line with own national interests.He made these remarks, while talking to a group of foreign correspondents on his return from Brussels, where he had gone to attend the conference of NATO commanders on a special invitation.The Army chief said he has conveyed the concerns, challenges, contributions and constraints of Pakistan in its fight against the terrorists.The COAS said that he had highlighted the key issues of the conflict that needed to be fully understood and addressed. He drew the attention of the forum towards the huge sacrifices made by the people of Pakistan and its armed forces, due to the effect of ‘Blow Back’.Referring to Afghanistan, Gen Kayani said: “Our objective is to have peaceful, stable and friendly Afghanistan. We cannot wish for Afghanistan anything that we don’t wish for Pakistan”. He reaffirmed that geography, culture and history can neither be separated nor wished away and emphasized that our operations in 2009 have helped improve situation in Afghanistan in terms of squeezing of spaces, better control of areas and continuous logistic flow.The COAS identified five fundamentals that helped in turning the tide and must not be lost sight for future operations. These are: public opinion, media support, army’s capability and resolve, ‘our war’ was not ‘US war’ and a comprehensive strategy based on four different phases namely clear, hold, build and transfer.About the way forward, he said that, the fundamentals should remain strong and intact, short and long term interests be reconciled, strategic direction should be maintained and coordination be effect based.He informed the NATO commanders that our strategic paradigm needs to be fully realized. He said we are the second largest Muslim nation in the World located in a strategic region defined by competing interests and civilizational cross roads, with a prolonged history of conflict. “We have three million Afghan refugees. At present, our operations are in a transitory phase (from hold to build), we must consolidate our gains and fully stabilize the areas secured, lest it falls back to terrorists.” Constraints of capability to absorb and operate, limited cutting edge counter intelligence, counter terrorism capability and limited budgetary space should be factored in, he said.In his concluding remarks, General said Pakistan has contributed to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan. “We have the will and resolve to overcome the menace of terrorism in our country and we have the public support. We have also offered to train ANA and ANP, as we have the capacity and wherewithal to do so.” He reiterated that Pakistan should be trusted and enabled.

Impeachment only way to remove President from office

Updated at: 1415 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Former Supreme Court Bar President Aitzaz Ahsan said the President of the State could be removed from his office through impeachment at the Parliament despite his ineligibility declared by the Supreme Court, Geo News reported Monday.Talking to media at the SC compound here, he said the President has the immunity from the criminal cases under Artcle-248 of the Constitution.The detailed verdict given by the 13-member SC bench headed by Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday in 2007 mentioned that the President has no immunity in civil cases.

Nawaz not to contest by-polls in NA-123

Updated at: 1100 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

LAHORE: The leader of PML-N Nawaz Sharif will not contest by-poll from National Assembly constituency 123.According to PML-N sources, Nawaz has decided to withdraw nomination papers filed from NA-123. The spokesman of PML-N senator Pervaiz Rashid while talking to Geo News said Nawaz Sharif wants to give a chance to a worker who resisted the dictatorship to contest the election.

Two more lose lives in Karachi firing incidents

Updated at: 1600 PST, Sunday, January 31, 2010

KARACHI: At least two more people were killed in firing incident by unidentified miscreants in Karachi areas of Qasba Colony and Pirabad, raising the overall death toll to 14 in firing incidents in last two days, Geo News reported Sunday.Some unidentified miscreants gunned down two people including a political party activist in Qasba Colony in Friday night, triggering the tension in the area.Yesterday, at least 12 people were killed in the ongoing firing incidents in the city.Also today, a child was killed and a man injured in firing incident by some unidentified armed men in Qasba Colony.Some unidentified men shot down another man in Orangi Town area of Pirabad today. Heavy contingents of police and the Rangers have been deployed in Orangi Town, Qasba Colony and the adjacent areas.Sindh Governor and Chief Minister took notice of these gory incidents and directed the concerned authorities to submit report in this connection.

SC reserves decision in promotion case

Updated at: 1254 PST, Friday, January 29, 2010
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has reserved the decision in the case of promotion in top bureaucracy on Friday and stated that if promoted officers want to express their views they could inform the court in a written form.A three- member bench of Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry heard the case. Attorney general continued arguments regarding eligibility of the officers. Chief justice has asked the attorney general to take care of public interest instead of government. Attorney general replied that Supreme Court has authority to review any administrative decision.Attorney general in his arguments said all officers of grade 21 were equally eligible for the promotion. The lawyer of one of the affected officer Ikram Chaudhry in his arguments said King law rules in the absence of democracy and law whereas law is the king in democracy. He said the authority practiced by prime minister in connection with the promotion of officers has proved that king law is exists here. The court has reserved the decision at the end of the hearing and said promoted officers could present their views within seven days through establishment division.

12 militants killed in Mohmand, Bajaur

Updated at: 1724 PST, Friday, January 29, 2010

PESHAWAR: Security forces have killed 12 terrorists during operations in Mohmand and Bajaur Agencies on Friday.Meanwhile, 2 soldiers embraced Shahadat during the ongoing offensive.According to FC media cell, terrorists attacked military check post in Mulla Syed area of Bajaur Agency, which was effectively responded, killing 10 militants.Moreover, armed forces held 3 terrorists.On the other hand, troops killed 2 militants in Mohmand Agency. Terrorists attacked security forces with rockets in Dogar area of Kurram Agency, resultantly killing a civilian. In addition, forces detained 8 suspected militants in District Dir, while area’s national jurga backed the ongoing military search operation.

President in trouble for inaction on CoD: Nawaz

Updated at: 1556 PST, Friday, January 29, 2010

PESHAWAR: The leader of PML-N Mian Nawaz Sharif said President Asif Zardari disappointed us by not implementing Charter of Democracy (CoD) and it also created problems for him.Addressing a press conference here, Nawaz Sharif said country is facing through critical phase and revolutionary measures are needed. He said principles are necessary for the success of democracy and one should follow it first before anyone else. Sharif urged the government to accept supremacy of constitution and decisions of court. He also demanded to provide good governance to the public as it is in the interest of the country.

JUI-F to support GB govt in time of need

Updated at: 1545 PST, Tuesday, January 05, 2010
LAHORE: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Ali Shah said Maulana Fazlur Rehman rose to occasion at every critical juncture to save the government of President Asif Ali Zardari.Addressing the media after meeting JUI-F Secretary General Bilal in Lahore, he said if the new government is jeopardized, then the JUI-F will side with the government.Syed Mehdi maintained the Zardari government could not be dismantled in December; nor will it fall in March, adding he urged all and sundry to work concertedly in the larger national interest and strengthen the democratic institutions.The GB CM said the other provinces including Punjab will invest for the progress and welfare of Gilgit-Baltistan, calling upon the federal and provincial governments to cooperate to establish the quality educational institutions, hospitals and industry.

PM chairs cabinet’s defence committee meeting

Updated at: 1346 PST, Tuesday, January 05, 2010
ISLAMABAD: A meeting of defence committee of cabinet is underway in Prime Minister House here. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is chairing the meeting discussing. Federal ministers for defence, defence production, finance, interior affairs, information and minister of state, members of committee Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majeed, Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani and heads of three armed forces are taking part in the meeting. According to sources, the participants of the meeting briefed about challenges country is facing regarding defence and security issues. The meeting is also discussing war against terror and other related issues.

Nawaz offers Fateha at Quaid mausoleum

Updated at: 1556 PST, Tuesday, January 05, 2010

KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif visited the mausoleum of Founder of Pakistan Muhammed Ali Jinnah, Geo News reported Tuesday.Mian Nawaz Sharif arrived in the federal capital along with MNAs Ahsan Iqbal and Khawja Saad Rafique after completing his Quetta visit.He was received by PML-N Sindh leader Ghaus Ali Shah, Salim Zia, Mamnoon Hussain, Elahi Bux Soomro, Sardar Rahim and Sindh CM’s Advisor Qaqar Mehdi.PML-N chief laid floral wreath at the grave of Pakistan’s founder and offered Fateha Khawni there.Later on, Sharif reached Ghaus Ali Shah’s residence to participate the party’s organizing committee.On this occasion, Ahsan Iqbal told media that the party leaders came to the city to share the grief of the people here, adding the N-League is against the extremists clad whether in shalwar and qameez or in paints and shirts.

Karachi, Sindh observing strike

Updated at: 1044 PST, Friday, January 01, 2010

KARACHI: There is a complete strike in Karachi and Sindh on the call of Sunni Rehbar Council to mourn the deaths of martyrs of Ashura bomb blast on the M A Jinnah Road on December 28 claiming lives of at least 44 innocent people and injuring more than 80.All business centers and Karachi Stock Exchange have been closed. Karachi Transport Ittihad, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Jaffaria Alliance and several other political parties backed the strike call. The transport is completely off the road, however, private vehicles witnessed on the roads. All papers scheduled today have already been canceled.