Drone strikes continue despite Pakistan warnings; latest strike kills 25, injures 21 in NWA
By Saleem Mehsud
MIRANSHAH, April 22 : A day after the Pakistan’s army chief warned Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, that drone attacks were counterproductive, US predator drones targeted a suspected militant compound in Hassankhel village of tehsil Spinwam, killing at least 25 including two women and three children and injuring 21 others on Friday.
Official sources said that the U.S. drones fired five missiles at a home in Yeshkhula area of village Hassankhel, the bordering village of the tribal area of North Waziristan Agency (NWA), in which at least 25 people loyal to Taliban Commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, the pro-government NWA Taliban chief, including two to three foreigners were killed.
Soon after the attack the local Taliban fighters cordoned off the entire area and kicked off rescue activities. However, exact identities of the victims were not immediately clear, but NWA hosts militant factions accused of targeting Western forces in neighboring Afghanistan.
“The death toll as a result of drone strike may rise as some of the injured were in critical condition,” local sources said, adding that the house was completely destroyed in the attack.
The Taliban fighters were not letting the locals to the spot to participate in the rescue activities. The injured were said to have been shifted to Agency Headquarters Hospital Miranshah for treatment.
The incident sparked fear among the locals when they heard about causalities of the locals while about a dozen drones were flying over the targeted area. Responding to the Mid-March drone attack in which about 40 innocent tribesmen attending a Jirga were killed, the NWA Taliban Commander Hafiz Gul warned the government of Pakistan to play effective role in stopping the drone attacks in the tribal areas otherwise, he would end the peace deal with the Pakistani government.
During a visit to Islamabad on Wednesday, Adm. Mike Mullen had accused Pakistan's military-run spy service of maintaining links with the Haqqani network, a major Afghan Taliban faction. The Haqqani network is considered one of the most lethal forces battling U.S. and NATO troops in eastern Afghanistan.
Pakistan's military-run Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency has had links to the network's leaders that date back to the 1980s Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, when the group was also supported by Washington. But after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Pakistan has insisted it has cut those ties.
Still, many analysts and U.S. officials suspect Islamabad may be trying to maintain its links to the Haqqanis so that it can use them as a means of retaining influence in Afghanistan — and keeping a bulwark against archrival India — after the Americans leave.
Pakistan has long denounced the drone-fired missile strikes as violations of its sovereignty, but it is widely believed to secretly cooperate with at least some of the attacks. But in mid-March, Kayani issued a rare statement denouncing one such attack after it killed nearly 40 people. A U.S. official said the target was justified, but Kayani said dozens of innocent tribesmen died. The incident of killing dozens of innocent tribesmen had angered the Pakistani leaders.
That strike came the day after the American CIA contractor Raymond Davis was freed after compensation was paid to the families of the victims. Throughout the affair, Pakistan refused to take a stand on whether Davis had diplomatic immunity from prosecution as the U.S. embassy claimed. Pakistan-U.S. relations sunk to new lows this year after an American CIA contractor in January shot and killed two Pakistanis he said were trying to rob him.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Khyber, Bajaur, Mohmand IDPs repatriation process will continue till May 20 ----- IDPs reluctant to go back due to bad security situation in tribal ar
Khyber, Bajaur, Mohmand IDPs repatriation process will continue till May 20
----- IDPs reluctant to go back due to bad security situation in tribal areas
By Saleem Mehsud
PESHAWAR, April 14 : Around one lakh Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Khyber, Bajaur and Mohmand tribal agencies who had deserted their hometowns due to military operation against militancy in tribal areas, are unwilling to return to their native areas due to poor security situation.
The repatriation process which was started on 11th April will continue till 20th May. The IDP families going back to their areas were given Rs25,000 cash each and free travelling facility, whereas the World Food Programme (WFP) will provide ration for at least two years to the IDPs in their hometowns.
Sources said that only 25 families repatriated to their areas on the first day of repatriation process on 11th April because law and order situation in Khyber Agency was still grave and operation against the militants in Mohmand Agency is underway. Keeping in view the latest developments the IDPs were reluctant to go back to their native villages.
The in-charge of Jalozai Camp, Allahdad Khan talking to INP said that IDPs were complaining about the non-availability of basic requirements of life and on the other hand they were reluctant to go back to their homes. He asked the government not to force the IDPs to the leave the camp because situation of uncertainty was still prevailing in the tribal areas where Taliban fighters and armed forces were still at war.
The FATA National Disaster Management Cell Director General (DG) Irshad Khan said that 14,000 families had been registered in the Jalozai Camp among whom 8,000 were hailing from Bajaur Agency, 2,000 from Khyber Agency and 4,000 from Mohmand Agency. The DG said that over 50,000 families of IDPs were living with their relatives in the suburbs of Peshawar.
He added that during initial repatriation process the IDPs returning to their homes will be given Rs25,000 as relief package to each family while Rs400,000 will be given to each family whose homes were completely destroyed in the operation and Rs60,000 each to the owners of partially damaged houses.
“The process of tribesmen migration from hometowns was initiated in 2008 and according to unofficial reports still in Jalozai Camp and Benazir Complex at least one Lakh IDPs were dwelling and many of them were not yet registered,” the DG added.
On the other hand, people were fleeing Khyber Agency who had taken refuge in the Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency due to the bad security as two rival groups from the last two weeks were attacking each others’ targets with heavy weaponry and the locals had to flee the area.
In the same way, in FR Kohat over 50,000 people had migrated to Kohat from Jawakai area lying nearby the tribal area, and considered stronghold of militants.
The refugees of Jawakai area said that they were receiving threats from the local militants and also several missiles fired from unknown location had hit their compounds which inflicted huge damages on them so they had no option but to flee the area.
----- IDPs reluctant to go back due to bad security situation in tribal areas
By Saleem Mehsud
PESHAWAR, April 14 : Around one lakh Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Khyber, Bajaur and Mohmand tribal agencies who had deserted their hometowns due to military operation against militancy in tribal areas, are unwilling to return to their native areas due to poor security situation.
The repatriation process which was started on 11th April will continue till 20th May. The IDP families going back to their areas were given Rs25,000 cash each and free travelling facility, whereas the World Food Programme (WFP) will provide ration for at least two years to the IDPs in their hometowns.
Sources said that only 25 families repatriated to their areas on the first day of repatriation process on 11th April because law and order situation in Khyber Agency was still grave and operation against the militants in Mohmand Agency is underway. Keeping in view the latest developments the IDPs were reluctant to go back to their native villages.
The in-charge of Jalozai Camp, Allahdad Khan talking to INP said that IDPs were complaining about the non-availability of basic requirements of life and on the other hand they were reluctant to go back to their homes. He asked the government not to force the IDPs to the leave the camp because situation of uncertainty was still prevailing in the tribal areas where Taliban fighters and armed forces were still at war.
The FATA National Disaster Management Cell Director General (DG) Irshad Khan said that 14,000 families had been registered in the Jalozai Camp among whom 8,000 were hailing from Bajaur Agency, 2,000 from Khyber Agency and 4,000 from Mohmand Agency. The DG said that over 50,000 families of IDPs were living with their relatives in the suburbs of Peshawar.
He added that during initial repatriation process the IDPs returning to their homes will be given Rs25,000 as relief package to each family while Rs400,000 will be given to each family whose homes were completely destroyed in the operation and Rs60,000 each to the owners of partially damaged houses.
“The process of tribesmen migration from hometowns was initiated in 2008 and according to unofficial reports still in Jalozai Camp and Benazir Complex at least one Lakh IDPs were dwelling and many of them were not yet registered,” the DG added.
On the other hand, people were fleeing Khyber Agency who had taken refuge in the Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency due to the bad security as two rival groups from the last two weeks were attacking each others’ targets with heavy weaponry and the locals had to flee the area.
In the same way, in FR Kohat over 50,000 people had migrated to Kohat from Jawakai area lying nearby the tribal area, and considered stronghold of militants.
The refugees of Jawakai area said that they were receiving threats from the local militants and also several missiles fired from unknown location had hit their compounds which inflicted huge damages on them so they had no option but to flee the area.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
TTP claims Umer as their bomber, says many suicide bombers training camps running
TTP claims Umer as their bomber, says many suicide bombers training camps running
By Saleem Mehsud
MIRALI, April 13 : The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Shakirullah Shakir Mehsud on Wednesday claimed that the detained suicide bomber Umer Fidai was their trained bomber and also confessed that scores of suicide training camps were being run by the TTP in the tribal areas.
Talking to INP from unknown location, the spokesman for Qari Hussain, the master trainer of the suicide bombers, about whom vague reports of his death were run by media, endorsed the statement of Umer Fidai that around 350 suicide bombers were getting training in Mirali. He said the TTP has other several suicide training camps in the bordering areas in which scores of suicide bombers were getting training.
“A large number of our trained-suicide bombers had been sent on attacking missions to different areas and they will attack their targets on the specified time,” the spokesman confirmed.
He said the TTP fighters have engaged the Pakistani army in a fierce battle in the South Waziristan Agency (SWA) from where reports of causalities were not made public by the media due to ban on the Taliban viewpoint imposed by the government.
He claimed that the TTP suicide bombers were know getting high quality training in the training camps and were able to achieve targets efficiently.
Shakirullah Shakir said that the Taliban’s fight against Pakistan will continue till the imposition of Islamic law in the country.
A few days back, talking to foreign media, the TTP spokesman Eshanullah Eshan had claimed responsibility for both the attacks -- Sahki Sarwar shrine and DIG house attack in Quetta -- saying that the TTP’s attacks will continue in the region until Pakistan did not withdraw its support to the Nato forces in Afghanistan and end cruelty on the Taliban fighters in their custody.
It is pertinent to mentioned here that detained Umer Fidai who was rounded up in Dera Ghazi Khan in injured condition from the shrine where scores of devotees were killed had sought apology from the nation especially from the shrine victims and also asked the under-training suicide bombers to leave the training as their training was un-Islamic.
Sources said that Umer Fidai was admitted to ICU of Nishter Hospital in Multan and is in critical condition.
By Saleem Mehsud
MIRALI, April 13 : The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Shakirullah Shakir Mehsud on Wednesday claimed that the detained suicide bomber Umer Fidai was their trained bomber and also confessed that scores of suicide training camps were being run by the TTP in the tribal areas.
Talking to INP from unknown location, the spokesman for Qari Hussain, the master trainer of the suicide bombers, about whom vague reports of his death were run by media, endorsed the statement of Umer Fidai that around 350 suicide bombers were getting training in Mirali. He said the TTP has other several suicide training camps in the bordering areas in which scores of suicide bombers were getting training.
“A large number of our trained-suicide bombers had been sent on attacking missions to different areas and they will attack their targets on the specified time,” the spokesman confirmed.
He said the TTP fighters have engaged the Pakistani army in a fierce battle in the South Waziristan Agency (SWA) from where reports of causalities were not made public by the media due to ban on the Taliban viewpoint imposed by the government.
He claimed that the TTP suicide bombers were know getting high quality training in the training camps and were able to achieve targets efficiently.
Shakirullah Shakir said that the Taliban’s fight against Pakistan will continue till the imposition of Islamic law in the country.
A few days back, talking to foreign media, the TTP spokesman Eshanullah Eshan had claimed responsibility for both the attacks -- Sahki Sarwar shrine and DIG house attack in Quetta -- saying that the TTP’s attacks will continue in the region until Pakistan did not withdraw its support to the Nato forces in Afghanistan and end cruelty on the Taliban fighters in their custody.
It is pertinent to mentioned here that detained Umer Fidai who was rounded up in Dera Ghazi Khan in injured condition from the shrine where scores of devotees were killed had sought apology from the nation especially from the shrine victims and also asked the under-training suicide bombers to leave the training as their training was un-Islamic.
Sources said that Umer Fidai was admitted to ICU of Nishter Hospital in Multan and is in critical condition.
6 suspected militants killed, 2 injured in SWA drone attack
6 suspected militants killed, 2 injured in SWA drone attack
By Saleem Mehsud
WANA, April 13 : Six suspected militants were killed and two others sustained injuries in three US unmanned predator drone strikes which targeted two vehicles and a motorcycle in separate attacks in Baghar area of Angoor Adda in South Waziristan Agency (SWA) on Wednesday.
Official sources said that the drones fired six missiles in which a pick up van a car and a motorcycle were targeted in Baghar area, 14 kilometres from Pak-Afghan border in Wana, the headquarters of SWA and inhabited by Wazir tribe, killing six suspected militants and injuring two others.
Locals rushed to the targeted spot and retrieved the bodies and the injured. However, identities of the deceased were not yet ascertained. The injured were shifted to the Angoor Adda hospital.
The political administration has confirmed the killing of the suspected militants and destroying of vehicles and bike in the drone strikes.
It was the first drone strike reported in Pakistan since March 17, when 39 people, mostly civilians, died in Dattakhel drone attack that further shook the fragile alliance between Pakistan and the United States in the war on militants.
This was the first US drone strike in the tribal belt of Pakistan which is considered by the US as stronghold and breeding place of the militants after Pakistani intelligence chief General Shuja Pasha returned home on Monday night after holding important meeting with the CIA chief Leon Panetta.
Sources said that Taliban Commander Maulvi Nazir Wazir hold influence over the area where the drone strike targeted suspected militants and is on good terms with the Pakistani government.
Maulvi Nazir is not the member of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) headed by Hakimullah Mehsud, successor of TTP former chief Baitullah Mehsud, and rather had concluded peace deal with the government.
Two years earlier, Maulvi Nazir had waged war against Uzbeks and Chechen fighters along with the armed forces in Wana and forced them to leave the area of Wazir tribe which earned bad name for him in the Taliban quarters. The fleeing militants were given refuge by the TTP slain chief Baitullah in SWA’s Mehsud tribe area.
It is pertinent to be mentioned here that SWA is inhabited by two major tribes -- Mehsud and Wazir. In SWA the Mehsud tribe occupies large territory of the tribal region and greater in number as compared to Wazir tribe there area was still abandoned as Mehsud tribesmen had deserted their native town due to military operation initiated against militants loyal to TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud last year while the Wazir tribesmen were living in Wana.
By Saleem Mehsud
WANA, April 13 : Six suspected militants were killed and two others sustained injuries in three US unmanned predator drone strikes which targeted two vehicles and a motorcycle in separate attacks in Baghar area of Angoor Adda in South Waziristan Agency (SWA) on Wednesday.
Official sources said that the drones fired six missiles in which a pick up van a car and a motorcycle were targeted in Baghar area, 14 kilometres from Pak-Afghan border in Wana, the headquarters of SWA and inhabited by Wazir tribe, killing six suspected militants and injuring two others.
Locals rushed to the targeted spot and retrieved the bodies and the injured. However, identities of the deceased were not yet ascertained. The injured were shifted to the Angoor Adda hospital.
The political administration has confirmed the killing of the suspected militants and destroying of vehicles and bike in the drone strikes.
It was the first drone strike reported in Pakistan since March 17, when 39 people, mostly civilians, died in Dattakhel drone attack that further shook the fragile alliance between Pakistan and the United States in the war on militants.
This was the first US drone strike in the tribal belt of Pakistan which is considered by the US as stronghold and breeding place of the militants after Pakistani intelligence chief General Shuja Pasha returned home on Monday night after holding important meeting with the CIA chief Leon Panetta.
Sources said that Taliban Commander Maulvi Nazir Wazir hold influence over the area where the drone strike targeted suspected militants and is on good terms with the Pakistani government.
Maulvi Nazir is not the member of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) headed by Hakimullah Mehsud, successor of TTP former chief Baitullah Mehsud, and rather had concluded peace deal with the government.
Two years earlier, Maulvi Nazir had waged war against Uzbeks and Chechen fighters along with the armed forces in Wana and forced them to leave the area of Wazir tribe which earned bad name for him in the Taliban quarters. The fleeing militants were given refuge by the TTP slain chief Baitullah in SWA’s Mehsud tribe area.
It is pertinent to be mentioned here that SWA is inhabited by two major tribes -- Mehsud and Wazir. In SWA the Mehsud tribe occupies large territory of the tribal region and greater in number as compared to Wazir tribe there area was still abandoned as Mehsud tribesmen had deserted their native town due to military operation initiated against militants loyal to TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud last year while the Wazir tribesmen were living in Wana.
Friday, April 8, 2011
350 suicide bomber including Arabs, Uzbeks getting suicide training in Mirali: detained suicide bomber Umar
350 suicide bomber including Arabs, Uzbeks getting suicide training in Mirali: detained suicide bomber Umar
---10 suicide bombers sent to Punjab on 27th March from Mirali
By Saleem Mehsud
DERA GHAZI KHAN, April 08 : Umer, the injured suicide bomber, who was caught alive from inside the Sakhi Sarwar Shrine in Dera Ghazi Khan a few days ago, has claimed that up to 350 suicide bombers are being trained in tehsil Mirali of North Waziristan Agency (NWA).
“Me and Usman were brought to launch attack on the Sakhi Sarwar Shrine,” the Fidai admitted and said that around 10 suicide bombers had been sent to the settled districts of Pakistan on 27th March, among whom four of us were brought to Dera Ismail Khan in the first shift of transferring suicide bombers.
Talking to private TV channel the detained injured suicide bomber identified as Umar Fidai, student of ninth class and hailing form Essakhel town of Mirali said Arabs, Uzbeks, Punjabis and Tajiks are amongst militants in the area.
I was student of Essakhel Noor Public School where one day in the front of our school Taliban Ameer Qari Zafar asked me to join Taliban in the war against infidels, Umar added. He said that for six months he was given the suicide training and then sent for suicide attack.
Umar said that he had two sisters and mother in the Essakhel town of Mirali while his uncle was a dumper driver, adding that his other uncle was serving in the armed forces of Pakistan.
Fidai said his mission was to attack the shrine half an hour after the first wave of attacks so that people gathered at the site could be targeted. He claimed a man known as Sangeen Khan travels from Waziristan to Afghanistan and picks out targets for the bombers. He also claimed that a man known as Naeem alias Zairali indoctrinates the bombers.
The Fidai confirmed that he and Usman, who blew himself up during attack on the Sakhi Sarwar Shrine, were sent to target those who were praying and begging for demands from the dead and buried people. The Fidai added that Qari Zafar had allured him for the suicide attack on shrine and greeted us that you will won Heaven by targeting people praying before the tombs.
I had pressed the pin of the suicide vest on exact time of the blast but my vest failed to explode when people were busy in shifting injured from the spot after which he was targeted by police personnel in his arm, the suicide bomber confessed.
He regretted and sought apology from the people who were targeted in the attack, saying that they were Muslim while our trainer informed us that you were going to attack the infidels in the shrine.
“I asked the entire under-training suicide bombers to left the training as they were getting the training of committing suicide rather than training of Fidaiee,” the detained suicide attacker informed.
The injured suicide attacker was sent to jail on judicial remand from the hospital where he had received initial treatment.
---10 suicide bombers sent to Punjab on 27th March from Mirali
By Saleem Mehsud
DERA GHAZI KHAN, April 08 : Umer, the injured suicide bomber, who was caught alive from inside the Sakhi Sarwar Shrine in Dera Ghazi Khan a few days ago, has claimed that up to 350 suicide bombers are being trained in tehsil Mirali of North Waziristan Agency (NWA).
“Me and Usman were brought to launch attack on the Sakhi Sarwar Shrine,” the Fidai admitted and said that around 10 suicide bombers had been sent to the settled districts of Pakistan on 27th March, among whom four of us were brought to Dera Ismail Khan in the first shift of transferring suicide bombers.
Talking to private TV channel the detained injured suicide bomber identified as Umar Fidai, student of ninth class and hailing form Essakhel town of Mirali said Arabs, Uzbeks, Punjabis and Tajiks are amongst militants in the area.
I was student of Essakhel Noor Public School where one day in the front of our school Taliban Ameer Qari Zafar asked me to join Taliban in the war against infidels, Umar added. He said that for six months he was given the suicide training and then sent for suicide attack.
Umar said that he had two sisters and mother in the Essakhel town of Mirali while his uncle was a dumper driver, adding that his other uncle was serving in the armed forces of Pakistan.
Fidai said his mission was to attack the shrine half an hour after the first wave of attacks so that people gathered at the site could be targeted. He claimed a man known as Sangeen Khan travels from Waziristan to Afghanistan and picks out targets for the bombers. He also claimed that a man known as Naeem alias Zairali indoctrinates the bombers.
The Fidai confirmed that he and Usman, who blew himself up during attack on the Sakhi Sarwar Shrine, were sent to target those who were praying and begging for demands from the dead and buried people. The Fidai added that Qari Zafar had allured him for the suicide attack on shrine and greeted us that you will won Heaven by targeting people praying before the tombs.
I had pressed the pin of the suicide vest on exact time of the blast but my vest failed to explode when people were busy in shifting injured from the spot after which he was targeted by police personnel in his arm, the suicide bomber confessed.
He regretted and sought apology from the people who were targeted in the attack, saying that they were Muslim while our trainer informed us that you were going to attack the infidels in the shrine.
“I asked the entire under-training suicide bombers to left the training as they were getting the training of committing suicide rather than training of Fidaiee,” the detained suicide attacker informed.
The injured suicide attacker was sent to jail on judicial remand from the hospital where he had received initial treatment.
DIG Balochistan escapes life attempt in suicide attack, one cop killed, 13 injured, 8 vehicles destroyed in Quetta blast
DIG Balochistan escapes life attempt in suicide attack, one cop killed, 13 injured, 8 vehicles destroyed in Quetta blast
By Saleem Mehsud
QUETTA, April 07 : A suicide bomber Thursday rammed an explosive laden vehicle into Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police, Wazir Khan Nasir’s residence situated in Police Line Quetta in a high security zone on Gulistan Road, killing one police personnel and injuring 13 others including DIG, his son and daughter.
According to CCPO Quetta Police, Daud Junejo, the suicide attacker first opened fire at the security personnel deployed at the entrance of the targeted house and then blew up his explosive-laden car, killing the guard at the gate. He said DIG Wazir Khan Nasir was slightly wounded in the attack. “This was a suicide attack in which 200 kilogram explosive material was used,” the CCPO confirmed.
He said that Wazir Khan Nasir had received threats from unknown people and in todays’ suicide attack he was the target. “Four motor-shells were also recovered from the spot that were defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) personnel which did not explode in the blast,” the CCPO said, adding that motor-shell explosion could have inflicted great damage but the shell failed to explode.
Bomb disposal squad and police personnel collected evidences from the spot and also body parts of the suicide attacker were recovered from the spot which will be sent for DNA test for investigation.
Police personnel soon cordoned off the entire area and shifted the injured including women, passers-by and school children to Civil Hospital Quetta for treatment. Three of the injured were stated to be in critical condition.
Injured children of DIG Wazir Khan were identified as Zubair and Laiba who were also admitted in the hospital for treatment but their condition was stable.
House of the DIG was completely destroyed while eight vehicles and one motorcycle were also destroyed in the suicide attack. Window panes of the nearby buildings and houses were also destroyed because the blast was very powerful.
Sound of the suicide blast was heard at miles distance from the site of the blast which created panic and fear among the locals. They wondered that how an attack in high security zone was carried out. Sources said that big claims of police that security had been heightened in the city but the attack in high-security zone showed inefficiency of the law enforcement agencies to halt insurgent activities.
No one has yet claimed responsibility of the attack but official sources said that DIG Wazir Khan had played key role in counter-insurgency activities and in arresting the activists of separatists groups in the province.
Balochistan has long been the scene of a low-level insurgency by nationalists who say their movement is aimed at getting a greater share of profits from natural resources like natural gas extracted from Balochistan province.
In yet another incident, police personnel on a tip off raided a house in Khroatabad area of Quetta city and seized explosive material, 20 detonators and fuses, a remote control battery, three walkie talkie sets and remote control system.
A suspected person identified as Mohammad Yousaf was also rounded up during the raid. “Such material of violence could be used in terrorist activities,” the police said.
By Saleem Mehsud
QUETTA, April 07 : A suicide bomber Thursday rammed an explosive laden vehicle into Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police, Wazir Khan Nasir’s residence situated in Police Line Quetta in a high security zone on Gulistan Road, killing one police personnel and injuring 13 others including DIG, his son and daughter.
According to CCPO Quetta Police, Daud Junejo, the suicide attacker first opened fire at the security personnel deployed at the entrance of the targeted house and then blew up his explosive-laden car, killing the guard at the gate. He said DIG Wazir Khan Nasir was slightly wounded in the attack. “This was a suicide attack in which 200 kilogram explosive material was used,” the CCPO confirmed.
He said that Wazir Khan Nasir had received threats from unknown people and in todays’ suicide attack he was the target. “Four motor-shells were also recovered from the spot that were defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) personnel which did not explode in the blast,” the CCPO said, adding that motor-shell explosion could have inflicted great damage but the shell failed to explode.
Bomb disposal squad and police personnel collected evidences from the spot and also body parts of the suicide attacker were recovered from the spot which will be sent for DNA test for investigation.
Police personnel soon cordoned off the entire area and shifted the injured including women, passers-by and school children to Civil Hospital Quetta for treatment. Three of the injured were stated to be in critical condition.
Injured children of DIG Wazir Khan were identified as Zubair and Laiba who were also admitted in the hospital for treatment but their condition was stable.
House of the DIG was completely destroyed while eight vehicles and one motorcycle were also destroyed in the suicide attack. Window panes of the nearby buildings and houses were also destroyed because the blast was very powerful.
Sound of the suicide blast was heard at miles distance from the site of the blast which created panic and fear among the locals. They wondered that how an attack in high security zone was carried out. Sources said that big claims of police that security had been heightened in the city but the attack in high-security zone showed inefficiency of the law enforcement agencies to halt insurgent activities.
No one has yet claimed responsibility of the attack but official sources said that DIG Wazir Khan had played key role in counter-insurgency activities and in arresting the activists of separatists groups in the province.
Balochistan has long been the scene of a low-level insurgency by nationalists who say their movement is aimed at getting a greater share of profits from natural resources like natural gas extracted from Balochistan province.
In yet another incident, police personnel on a tip off raided a house in Khroatabad area of Quetta city and seized explosive material, 20 detonators and fuses, a remote control battery, three walkie talkie sets and remote control system.
A suspected person identified as Mohammad Yousaf was also rounded up during the raid. “Such material of violence could be used in terrorist activities,” the police said.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Zardari can’t become Z A Bhutto: Nahid Khan CEC loses credibility because of Rag-Zardaris: Dr Israr Shah
Zardari can’t become Z A Bhutto: Nahid Khan
CEC loses credibility because of Rag-Zardaris: Dr Israr Shah
By Saleem Mehsud
ISLAMABAD, April 04 : Senior politician and former Secretary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, Nahid Khan has said that President Asif Ali Zardari is the co-chairman of PPP but can neither become Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto nor can equal Shahheed Benazir Bhutto.
Speaking in a private TV programme on the occasion of 32nd death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Naheed Khan said that CEC of the PPP has never discussed seriously Shaheed Benazir Bhutto murder case and to avoid public criticism, the CEC members had been saying that investigation into assassination had been underway.
“Members of the CEC have decided to file reference about Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto hanging case and it should be seen that late Z A Bhutto’s innocence had been proved with hundreds of thousands devotees who thronged Ghari Khuda Baksh on the eve of his death anniversary,” the former close aide of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto remarked. She said that masses wanted to know about the killers of Benazir Bhutto but the Cabinet and the CEC have failed to make any progress and this is condemnable.
Naheed Khan said that they had been trained by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and during her life when important issues were discussed, some of them sometime disagreed with the arguments of Benazir Bhutto which was the essence of democracy. She said that Zardari has failed badly to run the party as his decisions have created divide between the workers of PPP and its leadership.
She urged the CEC members to focus upon the manifesto of PPP which was food, shelter and clothes and also devise such economic policies which in return give relief to the general public.
Another senior politician and suspended CEC member Dr Israr Shah said that CEC of PPP has lost its credibility because Zardari devotees or Rag Zardaris were sitting in the CEC who have demoralized it, adding that people were well aware about the names of those cronies.
Dr Israr Shah said that when party leadership is surrounded by yes men, the party would not meet the aspirations of the people. He regretted that Asif Ali Zardari after undergoing several years of jail, the CEC and the party were being run not through the committed workers but by personal friendship.
Commenting on the question that Zardari said some dirty eggs were trying to become Bhutto but they will not get such importance, Dr Israr said that leaders like Bhutto are born in centuries and use of such abusive language was not appropriate on the part of the party co-chairman.
CEC loses credibility because of Rag-Zardaris: Dr Israr Shah
By Saleem Mehsud
ISLAMABAD, April 04 : Senior politician and former Secretary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, Nahid Khan has said that President Asif Ali Zardari is the co-chairman of PPP but can neither become Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto nor can equal Shahheed Benazir Bhutto.
Speaking in a private TV programme on the occasion of 32nd death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Naheed Khan said that CEC of the PPP has never discussed seriously Shaheed Benazir Bhutto murder case and to avoid public criticism, the CEC members had been saying that investigation into assassination had been underway.
“Members of the CEC have decided to file reference about Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto hanging case and it should be seen that late Z A Bhutto’s innocence had been proved with hundreds of thousands devotees who thronged Ghari Khuda Baksh on the eve of his death anniversary,” the former close aide of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto remarked. She said that masses wanted to know about the killers of Benazir Bhutto but the Cabinet and the CEC have failed to make any progress and this is condemnable.
Naheed Khan said that they had been trained by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and during her life when important issues were discussed, some of them sometime disagreed with the arguments of Benazir Bhutto which was the essence of democracy. She said that Zardari has failed badly to run the party as his decisions have created divide between the workers of PPP and its leadership.
She urged the CEC members to focus upon the manifesto of PPP which was food, shelter and clothes and also devise such economic policies which in return give relief to the general public.
Another senior politician and suspended CEC member Dr Israr Shah said that CEC of PPP has lost its credibility because Zardari devotees or Rag Zardaris were sitting in the CEC who have demoralized it, adding that people were well aware about the names of those cronies.
Dr Israr Shah said that when party leadership is surrounded by yes men, the party would not meet the aspirations of the people. He regretted that Asif Ali Zardari after undergoing several years of jail, the CEC and the party were being run not through the committed workers but by personal friendship.
Commenting on the question that Zardari said some dirty eggs were trying to become Bhutto but they will not get such importance, Dr Israr said that leaders like Bhutto are born in centuries and use of such abusive language was not appropriate on the part of the party co-chairman.
Large number of PPP senior politicians, activists joined PPP-S ---Joining of PPP workers into PPP-S beginning of revolution: Ghanwa Bhutto
Large number of PPP senior politicians, activists joined PPP-S
---Joining of PPP workers into PPP-S beginning of revolution: Ghanwa Bhutto
By Saleem Mehsud
NAUDERO, April 05 : Large number of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior politicians and activists on Tuesday joined Peoples Party Shaheed Bhutto (PPP-S) group, saying that local leadership of PPP have neglected them because ideological people have no place in PPP.
During a seminar organised by PPP-S party workers at Naudero, the home town of PPP’s leadership in Larkana, Chairperson of PPP-S Ghanwa Bhutto welcomed the newcomers and said that PPP has lost its prestige and is not people’s representative party because few people have hijacked the party.
“PPP-S is the real Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s party,” the chairperson claimed and added that PPP-S is the only party in which workers enjoys more respect then the party leader. She said that today people in the corridor of power have usurped rights of millions of poor people adding it is a high time to wage a struggle against the usurper class.
She condemned the closure of mausoleum of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for the devotees and promised that after entering the corridor of power she will re-open the mausoleum of the martyrdoms for the devotees. Joining of PPP-S by so many workers of PPP has proved that revolution has been launched.
Pir Baksh Bhutto, Zahid Samcho, Maskeem Ali Samoon, Maharam Katar, Madni Merani, Ghous Baksh Channa, Mir Baksh Samcho, Sajid Jarwar, Amanullah, Matiullah Madiou, Saleem Channa, Abdul Razzaq Mohli and scores of other senior politicians joined the PPP-S led by Chairperson Ghanwa Bhutto after tendering resignation from the PPP.
Speaking at the seminar ex-senior members of the PPP including Saleem Channa, Waraya Channa and Ghulam Haider Narejo said that true ideological party worker has no respect in PPP and due to awful behaviour of the local leadership of the PPP they opted to join PPP-S which is the truly people representative party.
The workers of the PPP-S presented an ‘Ajrak’ to the chairperson of PPP-S at the culmination of the seminar.
Political analyst said this shift in the party workers and their joining of PPP-S in bulk would create problems for the PPP in the next coming general elections.
---Joining of PPP workers into PPP-S beginning of revolution: Ghanwa Bhutto
By Saleem Mehsud
NAUDERO, April 05 : Large number of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior politicians and activists on Tuesday joined Peoples Party Shaheed Bhutto (PPP-S) group, saying that local leadership of PPP have neglected them because ideological people have no place in PPP.
During a seminar organised by PPP-S party workers at Naudero, the home town of PPP’s leadership in Larkana, Chairperson of PPP-S Ghanwa Bhutto welcomed the newcomers and said that PPP has lost its prestige and is not people’s representative party because few people have hijacked the party.
“PPP-S is the real Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s party,” the chairperson claimed and added that PPP-S is the only party in which workers enjoys more respect then the party leader. She said that today people in the corridor of power have usurped rights of millions of poor people adding it is a high time to wage a struggle against the usurper class.
She condemned the closure of mausoleum of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for the devotees and promised that after entering the corridor of power she will re-open the mausoleum of the martyrdoms for the devotees. Joining of PPP-S by so many workers of PPP has proved that revolution has been launched.
Pir Baksh Bhutto, Zahid Samcho, Maskeem Ali Samoon, Maharam Katar, Madni Merani, Ghous Baksh Channa, Mir Baksh Samcho, Sajid Jarwar, Amanullah, Matiullah Madiou, Saleem Channa, Abdul Razzaq Mohli and scores of other senior politicians joined the PPP-S led by Chairperson Ghanwa Bhutto after tendering resignation from the PPP.
Speaking at the seminar ex-senior members of the PPP including Saleem Channa, Waraya Channa and Ghulam Haider Narejo said that true ideological party worker has no respect in PPP and due to awful behaviour of the local leadership of the PPP they opted to join PPP-S which is the truly people representative party.
The workers of the PPP-S presented an ‘Ajrak’ to the chairperson of PPP-S at the culmination of the seminar.
Political analyst said this shift in the party workers and their joining of PPP-S in bulk would create problems for the PPP in the next coming general elections.
Malik Sardar Amanuddin beheaded body recovered in Wana
Malik Sardar Amanuddin beheaded body recovered in Wana
Mehsud tribe prominent leader went missing two months ago
By Saleem Mehsud
WANA, April 05 : Bullet riddled beheaded body of the Meshud tribe well-known and prominent leader, Malik Sardar Amanuddin Mehsud was recovered on Tuesday from the Ghoyah Khlaw area of Wana, headquarter of South Waziristan Agency (SWA).
Sources said that Sardar Amanuddin Mehsud went missing mysteriously from Wana military camp some two months earlier where leaders of the Mehsud and Wazir tribe usually went to discuss the law and order situation of the area with the officials of Political Administration.
The Amn Committee members in Wana after ascertaining identity of the deceased handed over the dead body to the heirs.
Funeral prayer of the deceased leader was attended by large number of people hailing from Shamankheil tribe of Mehsud.
The incident sparked anger among the locals of Mehsud tribe where large numbers of people shared grief over the sad demise of the leader with the bereaved family members.
It is pertinent to be mentioned here that Malik Sardar Amanuddin was prominent figure and played key role in solving dispute and other matters of his Shamankheil tribe in the near past. He has established his own jail in the SWA before the arrival of Taliban in the tribal belt where he had held trial of members of his own tribesmen.
Mehsud tribe prominent leader went missing two months ago
By Saleem Mehsud
WANA, April 05 : Bullet riddled beheaded body of the Meshud tribe well-known and prominent leader, Malik Sardar Amanuddin Mehsud was recovered on Tuesday from the Ghoyah Khlaw area of Wana, headquarter of South Waziristan Agency (SWA).
Sources said that Sardar Amanuddin Mehsud went missing mysteriously from Wana military camp some two months earlier where leaders of the Mehsud and Wazir tribe usually went to discuss the law and order situation of the area with the officials of Political Administration.
The Amn Committee members in Wana after ascertaining identity of the deceased handed over the dead body to the heirs.
Funeral prayer of the deceased leader was attended by large number of people hailing from Shamankheil tribe of Mehsud.
The incident sparked anger among the locals of Mehsud tribe where large numbers of people shared grief over the sad demise of the leader with the bereaved family members.
It is pertinent to be mentioned here that Malik Sardar Amanuddin was prominent figure and played key role in solving dispute and other matters of his Shamankheil tribe in the near past. He has established his own jail in the SWA before the arrival of Taliban in the tribal belt where he had held trial of members of his own tribesmen.
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