Govt announces compensation for Dattakhel drone strike victims
------ Rs300,000 each announced for martyred family members, Rs100,000 each for injured
By Saleem Mehsud
MIRANSHAH, March 26 : The Government of Pakistan for the first time has announced compensation for the victims of Dattakhel US drone strike in which 45 innocent tribesmen were killed and 25 others wounded and the attack was condemned strongly by the army chief, Prime Minister Gilani and others in their separate statements.
Sources told INP that in a rare meeting of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) Political Administration officials with the family members of Dattakhel US drone strike victims, it announced Rs300,000 each for the family members of those martyred in the Dattakhel drone strike and Rs100,000 each for injured ones.
Sources said that it is unprecedented that the Political Administration has announced compensation for the victims of drone strikes in NWA, a tribal area of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan and considered the hot-bed of militancy by the Americans, since the US unmanned drone strikes started their operations of targeting militants in the tribal areas.
Sources further disclosed that on 17th March US drone strike in Dattakhel, around 45 innocent tribesmen including influential Maliks of tehsil Dattakhel, Khassadar Force personnel and Taliban commander of tehsil Dattakhel Maulana Sherabat Khan along with 12 foot-soldiers were martyred and 25 wounded. The US drone had targeted a Jirga which was summoned to settle a dispute among the locals over a Chromite mine in Dattakhel.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Pakistan Army Chief, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and several others in their separate statements vociferously condemned the US drone strike in Dattakhel for the first time. Tribesmen hailing from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Frontier Regions (FR) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) held protest demonstration in the tribal areas and also in settled districts of Pakistan to condemn the drone strikes in tribal areas.
Sources on condition of anonymity told INP that announcement of compensation for the victims of Dattakhel drone strikes by Government of Pakistan has challenged the accuracy of drone strikes as US and Pakistani officials both claimed that drones were just targeting militants without harming the locals.
On the other hand, victims of drone strikes and tribesmen have demanded of the government several times to halt the drone strikes which is clear violation of Pakistan airspace and also killing locals but the authorities concerned turned deaf ear to their demands.
It merits a mention here that NWA Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur had also threatened to end peace deal with the government after the Dattakhel drone strike.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Four killed over spying for US in NWA
Four killed over spying for US in NWA
By Saleem Mehsud
MIRANSHAH, March 21: Taliban have killed four persons on charges of spying for US. Their bullet riddled bodies were recovered from Dattakheil and Mirali areas of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) on Monday.
“Among the killed three were local tribesmen and one was Afghan national,” official sources said.
Local sources told INP that dead body of an Afghan national, riddled with bullets was found on road-side in tehsil Mirali with a note attached. “Everyone who will practice spying for US will meet the same fate,” the note read and also sends a message of Taliban to the locals to refrain from such activities.
Three other dead bodies riddled with bullets were found in Manzar Kheil area of tehsil Datta Kheil along the road-side along with similar note.
“All the three killed by Taliban were local tribesmen who were kidnapped some days earlier by special group of Taliban identified as ‘Khurrassan group’ which was specifically formed to deal the spies,” sources who refused to be identified told INP while identity of those killed was not yet ascertained.
Normally whenever Taliban kill anyone either local or foreigner, first they kidnap the suspect and after interrogation they throw the dead body on road-sides in thickly populated areas in order to send scary messages to the locals to abstain from anti-Taliban activities otherwise they will one day be killed in the same way.
The sources further told INP that dead bodies of spies can’t be removed from the spot before the scheduled time so that they were seen by the locals and government officials and send a loud message of Taliban’s might in the area.
Local sources said that several innocent tribesmen fell prey to the label of spies who tried to oppose the activities of Taliban. Such people were kidnapped and killed by Taliban in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan to settle their tribal jealousy and personal differences in the name spying against Taliban. On the other hand Taliban claim that every killing was done after thorough interrogation and once it was proved that they indulged in spying or anti Taliban activities.
By Saleem Mehsud
MIRANSHAH, March 21: Taliban have killed four persons on charges of spying for US. Their bullet riddled bodies were recovered from Dattakheil and Mirali areas of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) on Monday.
“Among the killed three were local tribesmen and one was Afghan national,” official sources said.
Local sources told INP that dead body of an Afghan national, riddled with bullets was found on road-side in tehsil Mirali with a note attached. “Everyone who will practice spying for US will meet the same fate,” the note read and also sends a message of Taliban to the locals to refrain from such activities.
Three other dead bodies riddled with bullets were found in Manzar Kheil area of tehsil Datta Kheil along the road-side along with similar note.
“All the three killed by Taliban were local tribesmen who were kidnapped some days earlier by special group of Taliban identified as ‘Khurrassan group’ which was specifically formed to deal the spies,” sources who refused to be identified told INP while identity of those killed was not yet ascertained.
Normally whenever Taliban kill anyone either local or foreigner, first they kidnap the suspect and after interrogation they throw the dead body on road-sides in thickly populated areas in order to send scary messages to the locals to abstain from anti-Taliban activities otherwise they will one day be killed in the same way.
The sources further told INP that dead bodies of spies can’t be removed from the spot before the scheduled time so that they were seen by the locals and government officials and send a loud message of Taliban’s might in the area.
Local sources said that several innocent tribesmen fell prey to the label of spies who tried to oppose the activities of Taliban. Such people were kidnapped and killed by Taliban in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan to settle their tribal jealousy and personal differences in the name spying against Taliban. On the other hand Taliban claim that every killing was done after thorough interrogation and once it was proved that they indulged in spying or anti Taliban activities.
PAF on high alert, a dozen US drones continued flying over NWA on Saturday
PAF on high alert, a dozen US drones continued flying over NWA on Saturday
By Saleem Mehsud
ISLAMABAD, March 19 :Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was placed on a high alert on Saturday and was conducting strict vigilance of the country’s airspace but about a dozen US drones continued hovering over the North Wazirsitan Agency (NWA) on Saturday searching their targets.
PAF intensified air patrols over the country’s northwestern tribal areas after a US drone attack in NWA, considered by the US most dangerous place on the earth, killed over 45 innocent tribesmen who had gathered to settle a dispute.
PAF has also cancelled the holidays of its essential personnel to keep vigil on the country’s airspace.
A PAF spokesperson declined to confirm or deny the reports.
Sources in NWA told INP that about eight to twelve US drones were continuously hovering over in NWA on Saturday creating scare and situation of uncertainty among the locals. The locals informed INP that US administration is determined on killing innocent tribals living in the bordering area of Afghanistan.
“The US drones were flying at very low height in the area than before and the Pakistani government was not initiating any practical step to halt the drones movement over the area,” the locals complained, adding that Pakistani leaders were just condemning the drone attacks which was not sufficient.
By Saleem Mehsud
ISLAMABAD, March 19 :Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was placed on a high alert on Saturday and was conducting strict vigilance of the country’s airspace but about a dozen US drones continued hovering over the North Wazirsitan Agency (NWA) on Saturday searching their targets.
PAF intensified air patrols over the country’s northwestern tribal areas after a US drone attack in NWA, considered by the US most dangerous place on the earth, killed over 45 innocent tribesmen who had gathered to settle a dispute.
PAF has also cancelled the holidays of its essential personnel to keep vigil on the country’s airspace.
A PAF spokesperson declined to confirm or deny the reports.
Sources in NWA told INP that about eight to twelve US drones were continuously hovering over in NWA on Saturday creating scare and situation of uncertainty among the locals. The locals informed INP that US administration is determined on killing innocent tribals living in the bordering area of Afghanistan.
“The US drones were flying at very low height in the area than before and the Pakistani government was not initiating any practical step to halt the drones movement over the area,” the locals complained, adding that Pakistani leaders were just condemning the drone attacks which was not sufficient.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
3 days mourning announced in Waziristan; elders demanded compensation for victims of Dattakhel drone strikes
3 days mourning announced in Waziristan; elders demanded compensation for victims of Dattakhel drone strikes
By Saleem Mehsud
MIRANSHAH, March 18 : Tribesmen of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) and Mehsud tribesmen of South Waziristan Agency (SWA) on Friday announced three days mourning over the killing of innocent people by the US drones in tehsil Dattakhel of NWA.
The environment was tense and full with grief in Dattakhel as over three dozen tribesmen were killed, local sources said, adding that trade activities in the area were abandoned for three days to mourn the death of tribal brethren.
A Grand Jirga of Meshud tribe was held in the political administration compound in Tank district. The jirga strongly condemned the drone strikes which were claiming lives of innocent tribesmen and also demanded compensation for the heirs of those killed in drone strike.
Malik Nasrullah Khan Mehsud, a tribal elder while talking to media persons said that the Mehsud tribesmen expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and demanded the US government to pay compensation to the heirs. Nasrullah also announced three days mourning over the death of innocent tribesmen in NWA.
“The death toll of those killed in Dattakhel drone strike has surged to 45 including five Maliks and influential elders of Wazir tribe,” local sources said. Malik Daud Wazir, his uncle and cousin, Malik Gul Akbar Wazir, his son and nephew, Malik Veran Wazir, Malik Ahmad Jan Wazir and Malik Saddar Wazir were notable and well-known personalities of Dattakhel area who were killed in Dattakhel drone strike, the sources said.
Some of the deceased were buried Thursday while funeral of the remaining deceased was offered on Friday.
“Seven personnel of Khassadar Force were also reportedly killed in the drone strike,” local sources said.
Sources said that commander Sherabat Khan, amir of Dattakhel tehsil, appointed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, along with 12 foot-fighters were also killed in the drone strike. The said commander was there to settle dispute between the tribesmen over chromite mine in Dattakhel when the attack took place. It is pertinent to mention here that all those killed in the drone strike were pro-government people.
Tribesmen in NWA in their separate statements have demanded of the government to take measures to stop US drone attacks.
Report said that Dattakhel drone strike was the most fatal attack since 2010 till to the date in which over 40 tribesmen fell pray to the strike.
However, according to WikiLeaks report our politicians have made commitment with the US government to carryout drone strikes in the tribal area if you can achieve exact target and we will just condemn the strikes on the floor of the house to impress the masses at large.
By Saleem Mehsud
MIRANSHAH, March 18 : Tribesmen of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) and Mehsud tribesmen of South Waziristan Agency (SWA) on Friday announced three days mourning over the killing of innocent people by the US drones in tehsil Dattakhel of NWA.
The environment was tense and full with grief in Dattakhel as over three dozen tribesmen were killed, local sources said, adding that trade activities in the area were abandoned for three days to mourn the death of tribal brethren.
A Grand Jirga of Meshud tribe was held in the political administration compound in Tank district. The jirga strongly condemned the drone strikes which were claiming lives of innocent tribesmen and also demanded compensation for the heirs of those killed in drone strike.
Malik Nasrullah Khan Mehsud, a tribal elder while talking to media persons said that the Mehsud tribesmen expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and demanded the US government to pay compensation to the heirs. Nasrullah also announced three days mourning over the death of innocent tribesmen in NWA.
“The death toll of those killed in Dattakhel drone strike has surged to 45 including five Maliks and influential elders of Wazir tribe,” local sources said. Malik Daud Wazir, his uncle and cousin, Malik Gul Akbar Wazir, his son and nephew, Malik Veran Wazir, Malik Ahmad Jan Wazir and Malik Saddar Wazir were notable and well-known personalities of Dattakhel area who were killed in Dattakhel drone strike, the sources said.
Some of the deceased were buried Thursday while funeral of the remaining deceased was offered on Friday.
“Seven personnel of Khassadar Force were also reportedly killed in the drone strike,” local sources said.
Sources said that commander Sherabat Khan, amir of Dattakhel tehsil, appointed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, along with 12 foot-fighters were also killed in the drone strike. The said commander was there to settle dispute between the tribesmen over chromite mine in Dattakhel when the attack took place. It is pertinent to mention here that all those killed in the drone strike were pro-government people.
Tribesmen in NWA in their separate statements have demanded of the government to take measures to stop US drone attacks.
Report said that Dattakhel drone strike was the most fatal attack since 2010 till to the date in which over 40 tribesmen fell pray to the strike.
However, according to WikiLeaks report our politicians have made commitment with the US government to carryout drone strikes in the tribal area if you can achieve exact target and we will just condemn the strikes on the floor of the house to impress the masses at large.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Adezai Lashkar Chief again airs his grievances against KP Govt -------Mian Iftikhar denies his claim, says Govt providing weapons and salary to 70 of
Adezai Lashkar Chief again airs his grievances against KP Govt
-------Mian Iftikhar denies his claim, says Govt providing weapons and salary to 70 of Lashkar
By Saleem Mehsud
PESHAWAR, March 10 : The Chief of Adezai Peace Committee (Lashkar) Dilawar Khan expressing grave concerns about the treatment being meted out to Peace Committee members has said that provincial government has neither extended any kind of help to the Lashkar members nor provided compensation to the bereaved families.
Talking to a private TV channel, Dilawar Khan said that during the last three years government has not provided a single bullet to the Lashkar members who were at fight with the Taliban who are well equipped and trained in guerrilla warfare, and warned the government if their grievances were not addressed then they would lay down their arms to make peace with Taliban.
“My brother had been killed in Karachi by the militants and my house came under the barrage of rocket and motor shells last year but the provincial government and the officials concerned did not take notice of the incidents,” the chief of Lashkar stated. He said that during the last three years the Lashkar members have lost their businesses and everything due to their fighting and they were fighting the extremists with their own resources.
“With our meagre resources we cannot carry on the war against militancy which has exhausted our resources completely,” Dilawar Khan remarked.
Dilawar Khan lamented that even the IGP and the Commissioner Peshawar have not convened a single meeting with the Lashkar members. We have registered FIRs against some suspected militants but the government is not willing to take action on our advice, Dilawar Khan accused.
Sending alarm bell to the provincial government, Dilawar Khan warned that if their members were not provided minimum resources and compensation to the Adezai suicide blast victim families where around 42 fell prey to the militant attack then they would re-think over parting ways with the government to join the Taliban fighters.
Information Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mian Iftikhar Husain responding to the grievances of the Lashkar chief has said that our government is equally participating and sharing grief with the tribesmen. Mian Iftikhar said that before funeral prayers of Wakeel’s wife, who was not member of the Adezai Lashker, locals had not informed the police and Frontier Constabulary for providing security to the funeral gathering.
The Provincial Information Minister said that Dilawar Khan was levelling wrong allegations on the provincial government because government has appointed some 70 locals on contract basis on his recommendation and they were regularly paid by the government. Government has provided weaponry to the Lashkar member, extended proper training to them and we have also record of all of the assistance, the minister added.
“No one who wants to join Taliban or to leave Taliban is not restricted to the will of the government and has never asked from the government to join anyone but it is clear to all that our government will fight terrorism till the end,” Iftikhar added.
Iftikar said that chief minister has convened high level meeting and also invited Lashkars members to the meeting where their due demands will be fulfilled by the government.
Sources said that Peace Committee members in most parts of the Tribal areas where war against militancy is underway has suffered great losses and the government has not extended them proper support which has dishearten them for their support of the government.
-------Mian Iftikhar denies his claim, says Govt providing weapons and salary to 70 of Lashkar
By Saleem Mehsud
PESHAWAR, March 10 : The Chief of Adezai Peace Committee (Lashkar) Dilawar Khan expressing grave concerns about the treatment being meted out to Peace Committee members has said that provincial government has neither extended any kind of help to the Lashkar members nor provided compensation to the bereaved families.
Talking to a private TV channel, Dilawar Khan said that during the last three years government has not provided a single bullet to the Lashkar members who were at fight with the Taliban who are well equipped and trained in guerrilla warfare, and warned the government if their grievances were not addressed then they would lay down their arms to make peace with Taliban.
“My brother had been killed in Karachi by the militants and my house came under the barrage of rocket and motor shells last year but the provincial government and the officials concerned did not take notice of the incidents,” the chief of Lashkar stated. He said that during the last three years the Lashkar members have lost their businesses and everything due to their fighting and they were fighting the extremists with their own resources.
“With our meagre resources we cannot carry on the war against militancy which has exhausted our resources completely,” Dilawar Khan remarked.
Dilawar Khan lamented that even the IGP and the Commissioner Peshawar have not convened a single meeting with the Lashkar members. We have registered FIRs against some suspected militants but the government is not willing to take action on our advice, Dilawar Khan accused.
Sending alarm bell to the provincial government, Dilawar Khan warned that if their members were not provided minimum resources and compensation to the Adezai suicide blast victim families where around 42 fell prey to the militant attack then they would re-think over parting ways with the government to join the Taliban fighters.
Information Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mian Iftikhar Husain responding to the grievances of the Lashkar chief has said that our government is equally participating and sharing grief with the tribesmen. Mian Iftikhar said that before funeral prayers of Wakeel’s wife, who was not member of the Adezai Lashker, locals had not informed the police and Frontier Constabulary for providing security to the funeral gathering.
The Provincial Information Minister said that Dilawar Khan was levelling wrong allegations on the provincial government because government has appointed some 70 locals on contract basis on his recommendation and they were regularly paid by the government. Government has provided weaponry to the Lashkar member, extended proper training to them and we have also record of all of the assistance, the minister added.
“No one who wants to join Taliban or to leave Taliban is not restricted to the will of the government and has never asked from the government to join anyone but it is clear to all that our government will fight terrorism till the end,” Iftikhar added.
Iftikar said that chief minister has convened high level meeting and also invited Lashkars members to the meeting where their due demands will be fulfilled by the government.
Sources said that Peace Committee members in most parts of the Tribal areas where war against militancy is underway has suffered great losses and the government has not extended them proper support which has dishearten them for their support of the government.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Foreign aid not sole source of Pakistanis survival: Mufti Naeem ---Says Raymond Davis should face Pakistani court
Foreign aid not sole source of Pakistanis survival: Mufti Naeem
---Says Raymond Davis should face Pakistani court
By Saleem Mehsud
KARACHI, March 07: Mohtamim of Jamia Benoria Almia Karachi Mufti Mohammad Naeem on Monday sending an alarming call to the present rulers of Pakistan said that prevailing bad governance, corruption, prices hike, unemployment and the issue of Raymond Davis were inviting the masses’ revolution.
Addressing a gathering of large number of Ulemas in Jamia Benoria, Mufti came hard on the rulers for giving vague statements on the Raymond Davis issue and asked them to come with a clear statement that American murderer would be dealt in according to the law and Pakistani courts’ verdict.
He said that our rulers were shifting the fate of Davis case merely on the shoulders of judiciary.
“Respect, death and everything is in the hand of Almighty Allah, our destiny is not confined to the foreign aid nor foreign aid could be the only source of Pakistan survival,” the Mufti said and added that giving special privileges and protocols to a murderer in jail was highly condemnable act. Mufti charged that our ministers and concerned officials were working only to appease their Americans masters.
Mufti Naeem said that Pakistan is an independent state and Pakistanis are not property of anyone rather they are liberal nation, adding that Raymond Davis should face the Pakistani court and he should be dealt like criminal at par with other criminals being kept in jails.
In order to happy European rulers, our law makers were adopting inept polices which has widened gap between Pakistan and the entire Muslim world and will prove damaging for Pakistan in the long run, Mufti added.
“Either there is a issue of blasphemy law or economic polices, unemployment polices, give ministry to someone and sending others to jails, country’s internal and external policies are under the direct influence of World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other infidels who want to destabilize Pakistan,” the Mohtamim accused.
He said that Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, who has made Pakistan an atomic power, had been dishonored and tagged with unfounded allegations.
He said that Pakistani nation was aware that the polices being pursued by our leaders were neither in the favor of Islam nor for the country. The rulers were acting on the directives of Pakistan’s enemies. Mufti Naeem reiterated that enemies of our country who did great harms to the country will never give refuge to their friends and they will face the same fate as was being faced by late Saddam Hussain, Hosni Mubarak and President of Tunisia.
---Says Raymond Davis should face Pakistani court
By Saleem Mehsud
KARACHI, March 07: Mohtamim of Jamia Benoria Almia Karachi Mufti Mohammad Naeem on Monday sending an alarming call to the present rulers of Pakistan said that prevailing bad governance, corruption, prices hike, unemployment and the issue of Raymond Davis were inviting the masses’ revolution.
Addressing a gathering of large number of Ulemas in Jamia Benoria, Mufti came hard on the rulers for giving vague statements on the Raymond Davis issue and asked them to come with a clear statement that American murderer would be dealt in according to the law and Pakistani courts’ verdict.
He said that our rulers were shifting the fate of Davis case merely on the shoulders of judiciary.
“Respect, death and everything is in the hand of Almighty Allah, our destiny is not confined to the foreign aid nor foreign aid could be the only source of Pakistan survival,” the Mufti said and added that giving special privileges and protocols to a murderer in jail was highly condemnable act. Mufti charged that our ministers and concerned officials were working only to appease their Americans masters.
Mufti Naeem said that Pakistan is an independent state and Pakistanis are not property of anyone rather they are liberal nation, adding that Raymond Davis should face the Pakistani court and he should be dealt like criminal at par with other criminals being kept in jails.
In order to happy European rulers, our law makers were adopting inept polices which has widened gap between Pakistan and the entire Muslim world and will prove damaging for Pakistan in the long run, Mufti added.
“Either there is a issue of blasphemy law or economic polices, unemployment polices, give ministry to someone and sending others to jails, country’s internal and external policies are under the direct influence of World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other infidels who want to destabilize Pakistan,” the Mohtamim accused.
He said that Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, who has made Pakistan an atomic power, had been dishonored and tagged with unfounded allegations.
He said that Pakistani nation was aware that the polices being pursued by our leaders were neither in the favor of Islam nor for the country. The rulers were acting on the directives of Pakistan’s enemies. Mufti Naeem reiterated that enemies of our country who did great harms to the country will never give refuge to their friends and they will face the same fate as was being faced by late Saddam Hussain, Hosni Mubarak and President of Tunisia.
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