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Recent Appearances... Rantburg

India-Pakistan
Govt to implement 'comprehensive strategy' to curb incidents like Sialkot lynching
2021-12-07
[GEO.TV] The federal government has decided to implement a comprehensive strategy to curb violence after a mob lynched a Sri Lankan national in Sialkot.The foreigner, Diyawadanage Don Nandasri Priyantha, was working at a factory in Sialkot. Hundreds of people, including workers from the factory, had tortured him to death last week and later burnt his body over blasphemy
...the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence to a deity, or sacred objects, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable. Some religions consider it to be a crime. In Pakistain you can commit blasphemy by looking cross-eyed at a Koran...
 allegations.

The decision to implement the strategy came during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan
...aka The Great Khan, who is the lightweight's lightweight...
 in Islamabad, where the overall security situation in the country came under review, a statement from the PM's Office said.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Jawed Bajwa, National Security Advisor Dr Moeed Yousaf, Chief Minister Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....
Sardar Usman Buzdar, senior military and civil officers were in attendance.

"The meeting expressed serious concern over the cruel act of killing of Sri Lankan national Mr Priyantha Diyawadanage in Sialkot and expressed the resolve to bring the perpetrators to justice," the statement said.

The participants of the meeting were of the view that individuals and mobs cannot be allowed to take the law into their hands and such incidents cannot be tolerated, the statement said.

"Therefore, a comprehensive strategy shall be implemented to curb such incidents and strict punishments to all the perpetrators shall be ensured," the statement said.

The participants praised the bravery and courage of Malik Adnan who endangered his own life to save Diyawadanage and conveyed deepest condolences to the family of the dear departed.

REMAINS SENT OFF TO COLOMBO
The remains of the factory manager were sent off to Colombo earlier today. Sri Lankan embassy officials arrived at the hospital to escort Kumara's body to the airport and laid flowers over it.

Priyantha's last rites will be performed upon the arrival of his body in Sri Lanka.

Twenty-six suspects arrested in connection with the lynching of the Sri Lankan factory manager have been remanded into police custody.

The police presented the suspects before an anti-terrorism court earlier in the day and requested their remand for interrogation.

During the hearing, the names of the suspects were called out to mark their presence. All the suspects responded to their names except for one, named Shoaib alias Gonga (speech impaired).

The investigation officer informed the court that Shoaib is speech impaired.

The police requested the court to grant 15-day remand of the suspects for interrogation which the court accepted and ordered the investigation officer to present them on December 12.

So far, a total of 131 suspects have been arrested in connection with the Sialkot lynching case.

THE INCIDENT
Priyantha, working as a manager at a private factory in Sialkot, was lynched on Friday by a mob after being accused of blasphemy.

The gruesome incident was dubbed by PM Imran Khan as "a day of shame for Pakistain".

Workers of a garment industry, located on Sialkot’s Wazirabad Road, had alleged that the foreigner had committed blasphemy. He was subsequently lynched and his body set on fire.

The mob had also vandalised the factory and blocked traffic, according to the police.

The brutal murder drew widespread condemnation from senior government functionaries, including the prime minister and president, as well as the military's top leadership, who promised to bring all those involved to the book.
Related:
Sialkot: 2021-12-05 Good Morning
Sialkot: 2021-12-05 Second prime suspect in Sialkot lynching incident arrested
Sialkot: 2021-12-05 Time bombs planted in society will continue to explode if not defused: Fawad
Link


India-Pakistan
3 dead, several injured as Jinnah Express hits freight train near Hyderabad
2019-06-21
[DAWN] Three people were killed and several others injured when a passenger train, the Jinnah Express, hit a freight car near Hyderabad on Thursday.

One of the dear departed was identified by a colleague as the driver of the Jinnah Express, Aslam Chandio. The other two were identified as Syed Noman Ali and Yasir Bashir.

The injured were shifted to Liaquat University Hospital's city branch for treatment.

Earlier, at 7pm, locomotive traffic remained suspended on the up- and down-country tracks as the tracks had not been completely cleared of the wreckage and debris.

Passengers remained stranded at the Hyderabad and Kotri railway stations due to the delay.

Later that evening, in a video statement to address the incident, Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said that the tracks had been cleared for traffic and the passengers had been sent on their way.

Link


India-Pakistan
Police file charge sheets against 16 'MQM workers'
2015-04-23
[Dawn] KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) 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...
 on Wednesday accepted charges pressed by police against 16 men said to be affiliated with 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) who were enjugged
Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out!
 during the March 11 raid on Nine-Zero.

The charge sheets were submitted for illegal possession of weapons and kabooms, and include Ubaid K-2, Faisal Mota, Nadir Shah, Amir Khan, Rasheed Ahmed, Abdul Qadir, Amboro Nabeel, Imtiaz Amir, Rizwan Tauseef, Noman Asif among others.

It may be recalled that 26 suspects were booked in connection with the recovery of illicit weapons and kabooms allegedly recovered from Nine Zero.

Meanwhile,
...back at the palazzo, Don Smilzo looked for an avenue of escape. The only window opened a hundred feet above the moat. The nearest of the hired assassins hold a bloody axe.
The window was looking better all the time....
 the court directed the Investigating Officer (IO) to submit charge sheets against the remaining 10 suspects.

Last month, around 100 suspects were picked up by Rangers personnel near Nine Zero, the headquarters of MQM during early morning raids. Over 60 suspects were placed under a 90-day preventive detention by the paramilitary force -- including Rabita committee member Amir Khan.

Twenty six suspects were handed to police who booked them in 26 cases pertaining to illegal possession of weapons and kabooms.
Link


India-Pakistan
Ex-councillor of MQM, son killed
2014-09-18
[DAWN] KARACHI: A worker of the 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...
, who was a former councillor, and his young son were bumped off in an attack apparently carried out on political grounds in Orangi Town on Tuesday, police said.

They added that Syed Rasheed Ahmed, 50, and his son, Syed Adil Ali, 23, were sitting at their 'Hamara 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...
 Restaurant' near Sabri Chowk when at about 8.30am three assailants riding a cycle of violence emerged there, fired at them indiscriminately and rode away.

The father and the son sustained multiple bullet wounds and were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.

Hospital source said Rasheed and his son sustained five and seven bullet wounds, respectively.

Tension gripped the Orangi Town locality after the attack.

SSP-West Irfan Baloch said the incident appeared to be an outcome of assassination on political grounds.

The victim, Rasheed, was a former councillor in the area.
Link


India-Pakistan
PAT chief hosts like-minded political party leaders
2014-06-26
[DAWN] Pakistain Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri
...Pak politician, and would-be dictator, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran and Pakistain Awami Tehrik. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him...
 on Wednesday called for a meeting of all the like-minded parties on June 26, DawnNews reported.

A meeting between chief of the Awami Moslem League, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, leaders of the Pakistain Moslem League — Quaid (PML-Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, and Qadri was underway at the latter's Lahore residence.

During the meetings consultations and discussions were held over the next plan of action to be taken regarding the formation of an anti-government grand alliance, which would be announced tomorrow on June 26.

Earlier during the day, chief of Tehrik-e-Subah Hazara Baba Haider Zaman and Pakistain Peoples Party leader Shaukat Basra and Makhdoom Shahabuddin also called on Dr Qadri and discussed the prevailing situation and the future course of action to be taken.

The 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), Majlis-e-Wahdatul Moslemeen (MWM), PML-Q and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) have agreed to Qadri's invitation and will be attending the meeting.

The meeting headed by Dr Qadri will discuss a future joint action by all the parties.
Link


India-Pakistan
Peace talks can't progress if drone attacks continue: govt
2013-11-12
[Pak Daily Times] The government told the National Assembly on Monday that the dialogue process with the Pak Taliban cannot move forward if drones attacks continued unabatedly.

Speaking on the floor of the House, Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan stated: "If drone attacks continue, the talk of dialogue would merely be an illusion." However,
if you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning...
 he remained silent on the issue of blocking the NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis....
 supplies if drone attacks continued. This has been a demand of 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) Chairman Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality problems...
, and he reiterated it in the House later when he took the floor.

Nisar said that the dialogue can also not be pursued if the government works for it vigorously and the other side, an apparent reference to Pakistain Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP), keeps on refusing to it. "This cannot happen if we devote ourselves to talks and the other side escapes from it," Nisar said. He claimed that there still are elements in the TTP that are in favour of talks with the government despite the fact that United States' killing of Hakimullah Mehsud has severely damaged the dialogue process.

The interior minister admitted that the atmosphere is not ripe for dialogue after the killing of Mehsud, but he added that the government would strive to move forward on this front. "Now we have to pick up the pieces," Nisar said, adding that the government would have to analyse how the next four to six weeks turn out to be. He said that for the sake of the country, the political and military leadership have to get on the same page.

The interior minister also touched upon the debate triggered by Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
 (JI) chief's statement regarding deaders and termed it damaging at this critical time. "Any kind of controversy related to the armed forces is worse than poison for Pakistain," he remarked. Showering praise on the armed forces for rendering sacrifices in the war against terrorism, Nisar said that the morale of the army should not be lowered by such controversies.

Criticising former military dictator Pervez Perv Musharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
's "misuse of the army", the minister said the armed forces are not an individual, but an institution, and in the case of talks with the Taliban, the military had exercised great restraint and created an environment conducive to talks, despite ongoing terrorist attacks. Taking the floor, Imran Khan invited all the political forces to join him to block NATO supplies on November 20 as a mark of protest against drone strikes, receiving only the support of Jamaat-e-Islami and Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed.

"We are not waging a war by blocking the NATO supplies but only exercising our right as a mark of protest against these strikes," Imran said. The PTI chief expressed disappointment over the public reaction on the drone strike that killed Hakimullah Mehsud, saying that he was hoping the entire nation, including the media and opposition, would be on the same page and that we would show a stern reaction to America. However,
if you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning...
 he noted that this did not happen.

Imran blamed the United States for what he said was "droning" of Pakistain's grinding of the peace processor when a drone strike took out Mehsud hours before dialogue was to commence. "I felt dejected when people called me the supporter of snuffies when I termed the attack attempt to sabotage the (peace) process," he said. Imran underlined the need for Pakistain to present a united front so that drone strikes are discontinued. He opined that the attacks had only served to divide Paks.
Link


India-Pakistan
Fearful parents stop sending girls to schools in Ittehad Town
2013-10-29
[Dawn] Six months after undergoing a series of operations, Mian Syed Wahid, 65, is recovering and is now able to sit properly.

He was among the many people inside The Nation Secondary School that came under attack on March 30 this year.

Situated in Ittehad Town, a prize distribution ceremony was under way in the school when one after the other three hand grenades were lobbed at the school by gunnies, followed by shooting.

While principal of the school Rasheed Ahmed died on his way to hospital, chief guest Wahid, who got hit by a bullet near his kidney, underwent two operations and a surgery and survived.

Besides the principal, a grade four student, 10-year-old Tahira Noor, also succumbed to her injuries. "Twelve people were maimed in the attack," said Mohammad Ali, an eyewitness.

Six months later the school continues to run, with children from nearby neighbourhoods filling the classrooms. But the major difference this time around is that there are fewer girls in attendance.

Sitting in a hunched position, in an open veranda of an Awami National Party (ANP) office in the area, Wahid speaks slowly about what happened. "Rasheed [the dear departed principal] was receiving extortion chits from some criminals. I told him not to mess with them, but he didn't listen and sought help from the authorities. A couple of days later this incident occurred," he said.

A close friend of Rasheed's, Wahid was the only person who spoke against arranging a prize distribution ceremony. "I thought it was too risky considering the kind of threats Rasheed was receiving. But he insisted upon the ceremony arguing that schoolchildren looked forward to such events and he didn't want to disappoint them," he adds quietly.

A predominantly Pakhtun locality, a huge chunk of the population hails from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), with small pockets of Baloch and Urdu-speaking neighbourhoods, Ittehad Town is considered to be infested with krazed killers. Initial reports that came after the attack on the school also suggested the same. But the school administration completely refuted it.

Wahid, however, believes that, some "criminal elements" might be using the name of forces of Evil to extort money, adding that forces of Evil did have a presence in Ittehad Town. "From what we know, there are two factions active in our part of the town: Mehsuds and Kandaharis.

They operate openly in this area, with the police completely powerless to stop them. Also, small-time crooks use their name to instill fear among the people."

SSP-West Irfan Baloch repeated what Wahid said, claiming that the ongoing operation in the city had "somewhat weakened their presence".

He however refused to comment further on the attack or the arrests made afterwards, adding that he had recently joined service and was not updated on the matter.
Link


India-Pakistan
Nawaz returns to power
2013-05-12
Remembering that this is a historic situation for Pakistan: from one elected government to the next without a military coup interceding. However, it does remain to be seen how long the Army of the Pure can restrain themselves before taking over again.
[Pak Daily Times] The Pakistain Mohammedan League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday emerged as the leading political party in the general election, with 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)'s 'tsunami' heading towards the second largest gainer, along with the Pakistain People's Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), the former ruling party in the Centre.
Poor, sad Pakistain. The choice is between the rapaciousness and ineptitude of the PPP, the rapaciousness and incompetence of PML-N, and the lunacy of PTI.
The PTI, of course, never having won enough votes to be able to practice serious rapacity. but they and their formerly handsome figurehead live in hope.
The electoral gains of mainstream political parties -- the PML-N, the PTI and the PPPP -- varied from province to province, as the former overwhelmed the rivals in Punjab and the PTI dominated Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
 (KP) and some areas of Punjab. The PPPP dominated the rural parts of Sindh by retaining a majority of its seats in the province.

The ANP, the former ruling party of KP, remained the big loser, as it appeared to lose its grip completely on the province at the hands of the PTI. The MQM's lead on most of the seats in urban parts of Sindh that it secured in the last general election. According to preliminary results of the general election, the PML-N kept its grip on its stronghold in Punjab by dominating a majority of seats, except a few upsets in Rawalpindi, where it faced defeat at the hands of PTI and Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed of the Awami Mohammedan League.

The PTI, making a dent in the stronghold of the PML-N and grabbing some seats in the province, secured big electoral gains in KP where it uprooted the Awami National Party and the PPPP, especially in 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.
 and Swat.

The polls results indicate the PML-N leading with more than 110 seats against its political rivals, particularly in Punjab, whereas the PTI seems to have secured around 40 seats, particularly in KP, Rawalpindi division and Islamabad.

The PPPP appears dominating its stronghold Sindh where it is retaining a majority of its seats. In Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
, the National Party (NP) was going ahead, with the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party -- led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai -- and the JUI-F overtaking their rivals in the Pashtun belt of the province.

PTI's Chairman Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality problems...
 was heading towards a big electoral victory in an individual capacity, as the poll results suggested that he had won the NA-1 Peshawar seat. Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
, Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza Shahbaz Sharif secured their seats, whereas Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was comfortably leading in one of the constituencies.

PPPP bigwigs in Punjab -- former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Manzoor Wattoo, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar and Arbab Alamgir -- lost the seats to their rivals.
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India-Pakistan
'Intelligence agencies had a role in Lal Masjid operation'
2013-02-21
[Dawn] Testifying before the Lal Masjid Commission on Tuesday, a witness presented new information about the perceived role of intelligence agencies in the events leading up to the 2007 operation.

He suggested that the government had not given due support to those working to avoid a military confrontation.

Nadeem Ahmad is the chairman of Khubaib Foundation, a Turkish-funded relief organization that took part in rescue and relief operations during and after the Lal Masjid operation.

He told the court that before the military operation, he had tried to convince Ghazi Abdul Rasheed -- the brother of Maulana Abdul Aziz, the Khateeb of Lal Masjid -- to avoid a confrontation with the government, and Ghazi Rasheed told him that an intelligence agency had given its support to the mosque administration.

According to Mr Ahmad's testimony, Ghazi Rasheed felt that, with the support of an intelligence agency, the Lal Masjid administration would be able to "topple" Pervez Perv Musharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
's government and enforce Sharia law in Pakistain.

However,
you can observe a lot just by watching...
 Mr Ahmad reports that Maulana Fazalur Rehman, the chief of the JUI-F, claimed that the intelligence agencies were deceiving the holy mans and playing them false.

The Maulana alleged that a "dispute" between two spy agencies was behind the matter.

Justice Shahzado Sheikh, the lone judge on the Federal Shariat Court's Lal Masjid Commission, also took statements from government representatives, although former president Pervez Musharraf and prime minister Shaukat Aziz failed, for the third time, to appear before the court.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been asked to serve them notices yet again through the embassies.

Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, who was the federal railways minister in 2007, cited his unrelated portfolio and "not very cordial" relationship with Shaukat Aziz when telling the court he "had had no mandate" to influence the government on the situation.

He claimed, since the matter was not brought into the federal cabinet, he did not know who ordered the military operation.

Abdul Shakoor Tahir, then-Chief Coordinator for PTV, told the commission that he had planned the "special transmission" on the Lal Masjid operation.

He said, however, that the interview with a burqa-clad Maulana Aziz had not been his initiative. Justice Shahzado Sheikh turned finally to Shanaz A. Riaz, Director-General of the Federal Directorate of Education.

The court asked her to suggest possible reforms, including scientific education, that could help influence madressah culture and reduce the likelihood of such incidents in the future.
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India-Pakistan
DPC announces long march schedule against Nato supply resumption
2012-07-08
[Dawn] An All Parties Conference (APC) held under the umbrella of Difa-e-Pakistain Council (DPC) on Saturday has come to an agreement on different issues regarding national autonomy, security and integrity.

However,
a clean conscience makes a soft pillow...
 the priority will be given to get the US forces out of the region, vacated all air bases of Pakistain and blocked the drone attacks.

The DPC has announced its long march schedule against NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis....
 supply reopening according to which the march will commence from Lahore at 10:00 am on Sunday. The participants will stay in Gujrat at night and will march towards Islamabad via Rawalpindi.

The APC held here at a local hall on Saturday was attended by representatives of as many as fifty political and religious parties. Among them eminent were Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
 (JI) chief Syed Munawar Hassan
... The funny-looking Amir of the Pak Jamaat-e-Islami. He joined the National Students Federation (NSF), a lefty student body, and was elected its President in 1959. He came into contact with the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) Pakistan and studied the writings of Mawlana Syed Abul Ala Maududi, The Great Apostasizer. As a result, he joined IJT in 1960 and soon he was elected as President of its University of Karachi Unit and member of the Central Executive Council. He was Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistain in 1992-93, and became Secretary General in 1993. After years of holding Qazi's camel he was named Amir when the old man stepped down in 2009...
, Jamaat-ud-Dawa
...the front organization of Lashkar-e-Taiba...
 (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed
...who would be wearing a canvas jacket with very long sleeves anyplace but Pakistain...
, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, General Hamid Gul
The nutty former head of Pakistain's ISI, now Godfather to Mullah Omar's Talibs and good buddy and consultant to al-Qaeda's high command...
, Maulana Fazlur Rahim, Maulana Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Khadim Hussain Dhillun, Allama Ibtisam Ilahi Zahir, Hafiz Abdul Ghaffar Ropri, Ameer Hamza, Qari Muhammad Yaqub, Maulana Abdur Rauf Farooqui, Abdur Rahman Makki and others.

Addressing the gathering and later speaking to media representatives, DPC chairman Maulana Samiul Haq deplored that US once again had openly flouted the security and autonomy of Pakistain by recent drone strikes in North Wazoo that killed 24 people on Friday.

He lamented that the government had sold Pakistain's illusory sovereignty and autonomy for $1.1 billion while the US and its allies were suffering a loss of billions of dollars per day.

He said the US had at once paid back Pakistain in shape of drone attacks and "gifted" Pakistain with 22 bodies including women and kiddies. If Parliament and Supreme Court had defended Pakistain, the situation will not have become so miserable, he added.

Maulana Sami-ul-Haq regretted that DPC invited other politicians including PML-N president Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
, PTI Chairman Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality problems...
, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman
Deobandi holy man, known as Mullah Diesel during the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty ...
 and others to come forward for the 'defence' of the country but no one attended the APC. If anyone wants to lead the movement, we are ready to work his leadership, he offered.

He categorically denied the notion that DPC was working under the patronage of military or secret agencies and it had no political objectives.

The JI chief while addressing the APC, warned that if the nation will not get united on the issue, Pakistain will become a slave country. He deplored that the rulers had passed over the Parliament resolutions and ignored the apex court decisions.

He strongly reacted to the statement of PM's Interior Advisor Rehman Malik
Pak politician, Interior Minister under the Gilani government. Malik is a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intelligence officer who rose to head the FIA during Benazir Bhutto's second tenure. Malik was tossed from his FIA job in 1998 after documenting the breath-taking corruption of the Sharif family. By unhappy coincidence Nawaz Sharif became PM at just that moment and Malik moved to London one step ahead of the button men. He had to give up the interior ministry job because he held dual Brit citizenship.
 said the government itself never obeyed any law.

He reiterated his demand that government should pull out from "War on Terror" for formulation of independent foreign policy. He said the country was being pushed toward anarchy in order to block Pakistain's nuclear program.

The host of the APC Hafiz Muhammad Saeed appealed to the masses to get united in order to transform Pakistain into a real autonomous and sovereign country.
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India-Pakistan
Benazir murder case: Indictment delayed again
2011-10-31
[Dawn] An anti-terrorism court here on Saturday delayed the indictment of seven accused in the Benazir Bhutto liquidation case for the fourth time since September.

Special Judge ATC-I Shahid Rafique deferred the indictment of Aitzaz Sherazi, Sher Zaman, Rasheed Ahmed, Hasnain Gul and Rafaqat Hussain, former City Police Officer Saud Aziz and Superintendent Police Khurram Shahzad till November, because the SP and his counsel Malik Rafique could not appear before the court.

Special Public Prosecutor of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali argued that the accused was deliberately using delaying tactics to prolong the trial.

He said four years had already lapsed since the liquidation of the former prime minister. "Ms Bhutto was twice elected prime minister of the country and was also heading a major political party. Due to the delaying tactics, her liquidation case still remains undecided," he added.

Mr Ali told Dawn that he had filed a petition for conducting the trial on a daily basis some three months back; adding under sub-section 7 of Section 19 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, the court was bound to hear the case on a daily basis. He said if the accused were innocent, why they were afraid of facing the trial.

Meanwhile,
...back at the pie fight, Bella opened her mouth at precisely the wrong moment...
 the same court accepted the bail plea of three accused in the NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It's headquartered in Belgium. That sez it all....
 containers attack case.

The court directed the accused, Ali Imran, Shujaur Rehman and Mohammad Azaz, to deposit bail bonds of Rs100, 000 each.

The NATO trucks were attacked in June 2010 in the jurisdiction of the Tarnol police.
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India-Pakistan
Ulema back Swat military operation
2009-06-10
[The News (Pak)] Ulema belonging to various sects completely advocated the military operation in Swat against the extremists and stressed for unity among the Muslim Ummah.

Speakers prayed for peace and solidarity in the country at the International Jashan-e-Miladun Nabi conference at Eid Gah Sharif held here on Monday in connection with the birth celebrations of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Syed Kazmi was the chief guest on the occasion. Besides, Musa Ali Al Abdali, member Sharif Family from Makkah, former minister for Railways Shiekh Rasheed Ahmed, Mashaikh Council President Hazrat Sultan Fayyaz-ul Hassan Sarwari Qadri, Sunni Tehrik President Sarwat Ijaz and other prominent scholars also spoke on the occasion. Kazmi lauded the Army operation against the extremists and terrorists. "All the proclaimed offenders have no religion, cast and creed they are only beasts," he said.
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