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India-Pakistan

Ulema delegation offers 'full support' to PM in bid to end terrorism, extremism

2019-04-03

[DAWN] A delegation of religious scholars and Learned Elders of Islam called upon Prime Minister Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree... on Tuesday, and offered their full support to the government in its drive to eradicate extremism, terrorism, and sectarianism within the country. The delegation comprised Chairman Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Mufti Muneebur Rehman, Sunni Ittehad Council ...an Islamist(aren't they all in Pakistain?) political party which claims to represent the Barelvi school of Sunni Islam. Member parties of the Sunni Ittehad Council includes the Aalmi Tanzeem Ahle Sunnat of Pir Afzal Qadri (of Gujrat) and Jamiat Ulema e Pakistan - Sawad e Azam of Sayyid Mahfooz Shah Sahib Mashadi... chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Allama Iftikhar Hussain Naqvi and others. The meeting, which took place at the Prime Minister's Office in Islamabad, was also attended by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Dr Noorul Haq Qadri, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi among others. The delegation also assured its complete support to the government in the country's social and economic development. They expressed the firm view that religious scholars and Learned Elders of Islam all across the nation not only reject the baseless propaganda against Moslems but also condemn elements that ruin the name of Islam to achieve their despicable objectives. During the meeting, discussions were also held on the government's initiatives aimed at bringing improvements to the education system as well as the registration of madressahs across the country. The delegation assured the prime minister of their utmost cooperation in this regard. The prime minister apprised the delegation of the developments so far on the economic front, eradication of corruption and social welfare of the people brought about through specific government programmes. Prime Minister Khan said that the establishment of peace and the safeguarding of people's lives and property were the foremost priorities of the government.

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India-Pakistan

Ulema delegation visits North Waziristan

2018-12-29

[DAWN] A delegation of religious scholars and Learned Elders of Islam visited Miranshah ... headquarters of al-Qaeda in Pakistain and likely location of Ayman al-Zawahiri. The Haqqani network has established a ministate in centered on the town with courts, tax offices and lots of madrassas... and Mir Ali areas in North Wazoo tribal district where they were briefed about return of peace and normality in the region. The delegation also visited local garrison where they were briefed about the prevalent environment in North Waziristan, army’s operation against militancy and endeavours for socioeconomic uplift of people of the area. The delegation included Mufti Abdul Raheem, Allama Amin Shaheedi, Allama Arif Hussain Wahidi, Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi, Mufti Mohammad Naeem, Mohammad Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Pir Mohammad Aminul Hasanat, Allama Iftikhar Hussain Naqvi, Maulana Zahid Mehmood Qasmi, Dr Qibla Ayaz, Maulana Fazalur Rehman Khalil and Mohammad Yaseen Zafar. Local Learned Elders of Islam, including Maulana Abu Rizwan Mohammad Alam, Maulana Qari Mohammad Roman and Maulana Sabirullah, also joined the delegation. Genral officer commanding 7 Division, Major General Mumtaz Hussain, while interacting with Learned Elders of Islam highlighted the measures being taken for development and economic revival in North Waziristan. The delegation appreciated the efforts and resolve of security personnel against militancy. Later, the delegation drove through Miranshah city, witnessed Sarbankai Model Village, Miranshah bus stand, reconstructed market, DHQ hospital, Army Public School and Stadium Complex. Thereafter, the delegation went to nearby Mirali town and besides interacting with Maliks they also visited Pak Sweet Homes Orphanage.

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India-Pakistan

Mian Iftikhar again receives threat of terrorist attack

2018-08-02

[DAWN] Senior politician and ANP general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain has once again received a ’suicide kaboom’ threat and he says this time it is ’serious’. He has received the warning about attempt on his life at a time when he himself and his party leaders and workers have announced to take to streets to protest alleged rigging in the elections and demand fair re-elections. "I am concerned as this time there was no mention of my name in any recent Nacta briefings, just like late Haroon Bilour, yet I have received this serious threat alert from all the civil and military authorities concerned. This is what worries me," Mr Hussain told Dawn.

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India-Pakistan

Pakistan secular party defiant after its leader killed in blast

2018-07-12

[Al Jazeera] Pakistain's Awami National Party founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986. Part of the PPP-led cabinet 2008-13. The ANP is considered left wing, advocating for secularism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism.... (ANP) on Wednesday vowed to fight against gangs after its big shot Haroon Bilour was killed in a suicide kaboom a day ago in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack on Tuesday at an election campaign event organised by the ANP also killed at least 20 people. Their funerals were held in the KPK bustling provincial capital Beautiful Downtown Peshawar ...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire. on Wednesday. The Pakistain Taliban ...Arabic for students... grabbed credit for the attack. Bilour was a provincial assembly candidate for the July 25 general elections. His father, Bashir Bilour, also a prominent ANP politician, was killed by a jacket wallah in 2012. "We want peace on our soil and will stand with our ‎people," said senior party leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain, who lost his only son in a armed attack eight years ago. "One thing is clear: We will stand in the field against the terrorists," he told Rooters news agency.

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India-Pakistan

Imran Farooq murder: ATC issues arrest warrants of three suspects

2016-12-03

[DAWN] An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Friday issued arrest warrant of three suspects allegedly involved in Imran Farooq murder case. Arrest warrant of Kashif Khan Kamran, Muhammad Anwar and Iftikhar Hussain were issued by the ATC on the request of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). FIA had plead that three alleged suspects were directly involved in killing of senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement ...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead... (MQM) leader Imran Farooq. According to the documents available with Dawn.com, the FIR against the above mentioned suspects was registered in September 2010. Last month, Khalid Shamim, a key suspect in the murder of Dr Imran Farooq, confessed to his role in the murder and alleged the increasingly hugeAltaf Hussain ..The head of MQM in Pakistain, who has lived in London and hasn't laid eyes on Pakistain since Caesar made corporal. Judging from the size of him,he may be a Hutt... was also involved. "September 16 was chosen as the date for Farooq’s murder as it was meant to be a gift for Altaf Hussain on his birthday," said Shamim in his confessional statement. He added that a sum of 25,000 pounds were sent to him through Iftikhar Hussain, which were spent on travel arrangements. 25,000 pounds will pay for some pretty nifty hotels and air travel.

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India-Pakistan

Dr Imran Farooq murder: FIA registers case against Altaf Hussain

2015-12-06

[DAWN] The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday started the paperwork but haven't done much else against Muttahida Qaumi Movement ...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead... (MQM) chief the increasingly hugeAltaf Hussain ..The head of MQM in Pakistain, who has lived in London and hasn't laid eyes on Pakistain since Caesar made corporal. Judging from the size of him,he may be a Hutt... and other party leaders in the murder of former MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq. The news surfaced when polling in Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... , a traditional MQM stronghold, for local government elections was under way. The case, filed by FIA's counter-terrorism wing in Islamabad, has been registered for "conspiracy, assistance, abettment and ultimately liquidation /murder of Dr Imran farooq, ex-parliamentarian and senior member of MQM in London on Sept 2010. The case has been registered under sections 302, 34, 109, 120B of the Pakistain Penal Code and section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act," read a statement issued by the agency. "The government of Pakistain through FIA's counter-terrorism wing is the complainant in the case." Others nominated in the case include Mohammad Anwar, Iftikhar Hussain, Moazzam Ali Khan, Kashif Khan Kamran, Syed Mohsin Ali and Khalid Shamim.

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India-Pakistan

ANP office bearer killed in Peshawar, protest erupts

2015-11-21

PESHAWAR: Unidentified gunmen killed an Awami National Party (ANP) worker in Yakatot area of Peshawar city on Friday, triggering protest from area residents. According to police, unidentified assailants targeted Imdad Hussain Jafri, an ANP office bearer and Shia notable, a few yards away from Yakatot police station, killing the political worker on the spot. Residents of the area, including people from Shia community, started protesting against the police after the incident and blocked the road. “Hundreds of our men have been killed in the past too, but the police has not taken any action against the murderers,” an angry protester told DawnNews. Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP) Yakatot Shaukat tried to convince the protesters to call off their protest but in vain. Later, ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Mian Saeed arrived at the spot and assured the protesters of timely arrest of the culprits, upon which, the crowd dispersed. Imdad Hussain Jafri was an ANP office bearer from PK-2 constituency of Peshawar. ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan condemned the killing of the party office bearer in strong words accusing KP police and provincial government of being negligent. "Where is PTI's model police? political workers are being killed day in and day out but this police is doing nothing to prevent such incidents," said the ANP chief.

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India-Pakistan

Ulema call for curbing swara

2015-09-07

[DAWN] MINGORA: The religious scholars and Learned Elders of Islam here on Saturday termed the forced and swara marriages against Sharia and asked the authorities concerned to ban such practices once and for all. They were speaking at a seminar about 'early and forced marriages' organised by the Awakening, an organization working for the women's rights, and for social and cultural development. Iftikhar Hussain, a representative of Awakening, said that owning to frequent forced and early marriages it was deemed necessary to tell the society that such practices were against Sharia. "Taking opinion of Learned Elders of Islam and religious scholars about the early and forced marriages is an important factor in our campaign. The common people understand the Learned Elders of Islam well. The religious scholars can easily motivate the communities to shun the practice of swara," he said. Religious scholar Mufti Abdul Wahab said that swara or forceful marriage of a girl to resolve conflicts between two rival families was an anti-Islamic act. He said that Islam gave freedom to a girl and boy for marriage and the Islamic state was responsible to ensure, food, security, shelter, education, health and even Nikah in a proper way to a person. He said that swara or forced marriage was also against Pakhtun traditions.

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India-Pakistan

Pabbi incident

2015-06-02

[DAWN] THE ugly episode in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... town of Pabbi on Sunday -- and its aftermath -- illustrates that despite the claims by some quarters that a new political culture is being forged in Pakistain, in many respects the vindictive ways of old refuse to go away. Though there are claims and counter-claims about what exactly transpired, this much is clear: Habibullah, a teenaged PTI supporter, was rubbed out as hundreds of the party's activists staged a victory march after Saturday's LG polls, and headed towards the local ANP office in Pabbi. Eyewitnesses say some of the marchers were indulging in celebratory gunfire. The victim's father at first alleged that ANP secretary general Mian Iftikhar Hussain -- who was inside the party office when the PTI crowd arrived -- ordered his guard to open fire on the marchers. The senior ANP leader has denied this, saying the mob was baying for his blood and that he had to be whisked away to safety by army officers. Mr Hussain was locked away You have the right to remain silent... and produced in court on Monday. While Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality problems... says the PTI has nothing to do with the arrest and that this is purely a police matter, a further twist emerged yesterday when the victim's father told the court that he had been "pressured" to register a case against Mian Iftikhar Hussain. No doubt, due process has to be followed and the killers of the teenager must face the law. Yet there is a strong perception that Mr Hussain is being victimised on political grounds. While the political stature of the accused must not colour the investigation, it is a fact that the ANP leader is a politician of repute and has openly spoken out against violence and extremism. His own son was killed by myrmidons. It must be revealed who put pressure on the victim's father to implicate the ANP leader. The possibility that Habibullah fell victim to celebratory gunfire must also be considered by the law enforcers. Above all, the investigation must be free from political pressure. Political parties have condemned the arrest of Mr Hussain and the way in which he was led away. If it is proved that the big shot was implicated in the case to settle political scores, it would be an unhealthy precedent. The PTI has itself complained of being a target of political victimisation in other provinces. It would be a shame if it is itself now resorting to such tactics in the province it rules.

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India-Pakistan

Named Mian Iftikhar in FIR under pressure, says slain PTI youth's father

2015-06-02

[DAWN] The father of deceased Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) activist Habibullah said in court on Monday that he was pressured into registering a case against Awami National Party founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986. Part of the PPP-led cabinet 2008-13. The ANP is considered left wing, advocating for secularism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism.... (ANP) central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain for the murder of his son. During the hearing, the victim's father Sher Alam said neither the ANP leader, nor his guards, were involved in the murder of his son, and that he had been pressured into registering an First Information Report against Mian Iftikhar by "enraged protesters" during a clash between ANP and PTI activists. "People put pressure on me. Neither Mian Iftikhar nor his guards murdered my son," he told Nowshera Judicial Magistrate Sheraz Tariq, adding that he was overcome by emotion at the time. Accused Mian Iftikhar in court said he "could never think of killing anyone". "It would have been like killing my own son," he said. He also said he would do his best to bring Habibullah's murderer to justice. The court ordered a judicial lockup for Mian Iftikhar following the hearing. The ANP leader will remain in jail until he is granted bail.

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India-Pakistan

ANP's Mian Iftikhar Hussain arrested after killing of PTI activist

2015-06-01

[DAWN] ESHAWAR: Awami National Party founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986. Part of the PPP-led cabinet 2008-13. The ANP is considered left wing, advocating for secularism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism.... (ANP) central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain was enjugged Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out! on Sunday after the killing of a Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) activist in Pabbi area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... 's Nowshera district. A clash between activists of ANP and PTI occured outside near residence of Mian Iftikhar Hussain in Pabbi area after the Saturday night announcement of the area's results of the Local Government polls held on Saturday. A PTI activist, identified as Habibullah, died of gunshot wounds suffered during the clash. Paperwork was started but nothing else was done against the veteran ANP leader and his guards on various charges including murder and attempted murder over the complaint of the dear departed's father.

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India-Pakistan

Punjab is the training centre for terrorists: ANP

2015-01-03

[DAWN] Awami National Party founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986. Part of the PPP-led cabinet 2008-13. The ANP is considered left wing, advocating for secularism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism.... central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Thursday declared Punjab a training centre for holy warriors and their criminal masterminds and demanded that the government begin a decisive action against terrorist outfits in the province. He was speaking at the ?Shuhada Amn Qaumi Conference? here at Nishtar Hall on Thursday. The Jamaat-e-Islam had organised the event to pay homage to 150 people, mostly children, massacred by the Taliban at the Army Public School and College Beautiful Downtown Peshawar ...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire. on Dec 16. Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, JUI-S chief Samiul Haq ...the Godfather of the Taliban, leader of his own faction of the JUI. Known as Mullah Sandwich for his habit of having two young boys at a time... and leaders of various political parties were in attendance. Mian Iftikhar told participants that terrorism could not be eliminated from the country until an operation began against terrorist organizations in Punjab.

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