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India-Pakistan

MQM claims party leader abducted by Rangers

2016-07-13

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday accused the Sindh Rangers of “abducting” a senior party member from Gulburg area of the metropolis without “any provision of warrant”. In a statement, MQM claimed that Izhar Uddin Ahmed Khan, 55, was reportedly arrested when he went visit Sindh lawmaker Abdul Haseeb. “Izhar was abducted by Rangers’ personnel who then moved him in an unmarked vehicle,” said MQM leader Wasay Jalil. The party statement said “we fear for the safety of Izhar Ahmed who was abducted Rangers’ personnel this afternoon. We are concerned because that no warrant was provided and his current whereabouts remain unknown.” The MQM called upon the lawful authorities to ensure the safety of Izhar Khan. The party lawmakers claimed that their calls to Rangers’ headquarters in Karachi to inquire about the whereabouts of Izhar Khan remained unanswered. Izhar Khan is a member of Central Coordination Committee and is based in the party’s London head office. He was visiting Karachi to see his extended family members and has been nominated for the post of District Mayor, Karachi West. “Izhar Khan holds British nationality as well and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British High Commission in Islamabad have been informed about his disappearance,” the party said.

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Judge dismisses terrorism charges against Muslim cleric, cites lack of evidence

2013-01-17

A federal judge on Thursday dismissed terrorism support and conspiracy charges against the younger of two Muslim clerics accused of funneling thousands of dollars to the Pakistani Taliban, citing a lack of evidence. The judge ruled that "no rational trier of fact" could convict 26-year-old Izhar Khan, who is imam at a mosque in suburban Margate north of Fort Lauderdale. Trial is continuing against his father, 77-year-old Hafiz Khan. U.S. District Judge Robert Scola said the evidence against the older Khan is much stronger. "This court will not allow the sins of the father to be visited upon the son," Scola wrote in a seven-page order. Federal prosecutors earlier dropped charges against another of Hafiz Khan's sons who also had minimal involvement. Izhar Khan's attorney, Joseph Rosenbaum, said a judge's dismissal of charges is rare, particularly in a case linked to international terrorism.

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Pakistani violence detailed in Fla. terror case

2013-01-15

A former Pakistani politician and landowner described beheadings, bombings and attacks on police stations by Taliban militants Monday at the trial of two Muslim clerics accused of financially supporting the terrorist group. Saifullah Khan, 43, said his name was on a Taliban hit list of officials targeted during the Islamic fundamentalist group's attempt to take control of Pakistan's Swat Valley in 2007. The father of six, who now lives in Philadelphia, was formerly an elected official who helped oversee such things as road and water projects for about 15 villages in the Swat Valley. Testifying through an interpreter in Pashto, Khan said on one occasion he saw his cousin's beheaded body, "and the blood was still there, fresh." Another time he helped carry a mortally wounded police officer out of a station attacked by Taliban fighters with assault weapons and grenades. He knew people whose homes and businesses were bombed, killing dozens more. His own home was struck by a rocket and shot at, he said. "The Taliban was harming people. They were shooting at the army. The army would shoot at them. The people in the middle would get hurt," he testified. "I don't have the number, but many times they (Taliban fighters) attacked my house." The testimony about Taliban violence came in the second week of the trial of Hafiz Khan and one of his sons, Izhar. They are not related to Saifullah Khan but, like Saifullah, have family origins in the Swat Valley, where the surname is common. Hafiz and Izhar Khan are facing conspiracy and terrorism support charges that each carry potential 15-year prison sentences.

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India-Pakistan

Shootout at Peshawar detention centre: 3 militants, two soldiers killed

2012-08-09

[Dawn] Three incarcerated Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please! gun-hung tough guys and two soldiers were killed in a shootout at a detention centre in the garrison area in provincial metropolis on Monday night, sources said. They said that the incarcerated Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please! gun-hung tough guys overpowered the sentries at a detention centre in R.A Bazaar near Corps Headquarters. The incarcerated Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please! gun-hung tough guys snatched guns from the guards and fired at them before escaping from the compound, they added. Sources said that two guards received injuries in the firing. The injured soldiers later gave up the ghost, they added. They said that other guards, taking position at the observatory towers, fired at the fleeing turbans. All the three fleeing persons were killed on the spot, they said. The names and identities of the dear departed could not be ascertained. The residents of the area said that two low intensity kabooms were also heard in the vicinity. However, facts are stubborn; statistics are more pliable... officials of Eastern cop shoppe expressed ignorance about the incident and said that no FIR was registered till Tuesday evening. Army troops cordoned off the Cantonment area after the incident and launched extensive search operation, which continued till late night. All roads in the red zone and its surrounding localities remained closed to traffic till late night. About two years ago, gun-hung tough guys had snatched weapons from guards at a detention centre in the Cantonment area, however, they were overpowered by the security forces. In Bajaur Agency, aka Turban Central ...Smallest of the agencies in FATA. The Agency administration is located in Khar. Bajaur is inhabited almost exclusively by Tarkani Pashtuns, which are divided into multiple bickering subtribes. Its 52 km border border with Afghanistan's Kunar Province makes it of strategic importance to Pakistain's strategic depth... , two pro-government tribal elders were killed and as many members of a peace committee received injuries in two separate incidents. In the first incident, unidentified armed persons rubbed out two pro-government elders, Malik Khan Mohammad and Malik Islam Khan, in Shah Khani area of Nawagai tehsil on Monday night. Both the elders were at their homes when the assailants attacked them with automatic weapons. Scores of local people and peace volunteers rushed to the area immediately but the attackers managed to escape, Izhar Khan, a member of Charmang Peace Committee, told Dawn. The residents of the area said that both the dear departed elders had played vital role in elimination of gun-hung tough guys in the area. "Both of them have no personal enmity with anyone. They were receiving threats from unidentified persons for the last several months," they added. No group grabbed credit for the killings, however, local people pointed finger at turbans. The administration launched investigation into the incident and jugged Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please! several persons in the area during a search operation. Also, Malik Najeebullah Khan, a senior member of Mamond Peace Committee, and his driver were maimed when a roadside remote controlled bomb, planted by unidentified turbans, went off in the border area of Gardi Bagh on Tuesday morning. Eyewitness said that Malik Najeeb was going to Khar in his car when a roadside kaboom went kaboom! with a big bang. The residents of the area and members of peace committee rushed to the site and shifted Malik Najeeb and his diver Fateh Khan to agency headquarters hospital in Khar for treatment. Hospital sources said that both the injured were at death's door. "The administration has launched investigation in to attack and several suspects have been jugged Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please! ," an official told Dawn.

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Feds drop terrorism charges against South Florida imam's son, accused of helping Taliban

2012-06-22

Federal prosecutors dropped all terrorism charges against one member of a South Florida family accused of sending tens of thousands of dollars to the Pak Taliban terrorist group, according to court documents filed Wednesday in Miami. No reason was given in prosecutors' one-paragraph filing dismissing the charges against Irfan Khan, 39, of Miami. Terrorism charges are still pending against his father Hafiz Khan, 77, and his younger brother, Izhar Khan, 25. Both have pleaded not guilty "Wudn't me." to the allegations. Their lawyers could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Izhar Khan was a soft-spoken, popular leader of the moderate Masjid Jamaat Al-Mumineen mosque in Margate before his arrest last year. His congregation said he only preached love and tolerance there. Hafiz Khan led the Miami Mosque, known as the Flagler Mosque. Irfan Khan was released from the Federal Detention Center in Miami in April after a federal judge agreed he could be freed on a combined bond package totaling about $700,000. His father and brother remain locked up in the detention center in downtown Miami and are forbidden from having contact other than when they see each other at court hearings. Trial for the remaining co-defendants is currently scheduled to begin Nov. 5, though it could be postponed because of the complexity of the case and the voluminous amounts of evidence in dispute. If convicted, they face punishment of up to 15 years in prison per count. Defense attorneys have said in court that they are working their way through enormous amounts of evidence, including recordings of calls that have to be translated by professional interpreters, in order to prepare their clients' defense. Much of the evidence in the case was obtained from wiretapping and was collected under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is frequently used in terrorism cases.

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US judge denies bail for Florida imams

2011-05-24

MIAMI: A US judge on Monday denied bail for a 76-year-old Florida imam and his son accused of sending $50,000 to support the Pakistani Taliban. Good! One sensible judge! Clone that man! Pakistan-born Hafiz Muhammed Sher Ali Khan, the head of one of Miami's leading mosques, and his son, Izhar Khan, who is also an imam at another south Florida mosque, were arrested on May 14. The two men were among six people, including three other family members of Hafiz Khan, indicted on charges that they conspired to provide money and support for the Taliban, which the United States considers a terrorist organisation. The Khans, both US citizens, appeared in a federal court on Monday for a hearing attended by several dozen supporters from their mosques. Boy howdy, makes you wonder if they really meant the pledge of allegiance at their citizenship ceremony... Did they give up their Pakistani citizenship when they took American? So many people don't, nowadays. I have a friend whose son has Mexican citizenship through his father, Canadian citizenship by birth, and with both parents got American citizenship last year.

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Home Front: WoT

Miami imam ordered held without bail

2011-05-18

[Dawn] An elderly Miami imam pleaded not guilty "Wudn't me." in US federal court on Monday to charges of supporting the Pak Taliban and was ordered held without bail. The US government accuses 76-year-old Hafiz Mohammed Sher Ali Khan, four of his relatives and another person of funnelling money and providing support to the group. He is the leader of Miami's oldest mosque. His attorney, Khurrum Wahid, expressed concern about his client being kept in jail. "He's 76 years old and has health issues -- heart and cholesterol problems," the lawyer said. One of Sher Ali's sons, 24-year-old Izhar Khan, also appeared in court for the first time since their indictment was unsealed. He is also a holy man at a Florida mosque. US Magistrate Judge Barry Garber scheduled another hearing for May 23. The six defendants are all Paks, although some of them have US citizenship.

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Home Front: WoT

Florida imams arrested over Taliban charges

2011-05-15

[Al Jazeera] US authorities have charged six people in Pakistain and the southeastern US state of Florida with helping to finance and support the Pak Taliban. US nationals Hafiz Muhammed Sher Ali Khan, 76, and his 24-year-old son, Izhar Khan, were nabbed in South Florida on Saturday. Another son, Irfan Khan, 37, was jugged in Los Angeles. The three were charged with "supporting acts of murder, kidnapping and maiming in Pakistain and elsewhere", according to an indictment announced jointly by the FBI and the US attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Wilfredo Ferrer. Hafiz Khan is a holy man at the Miami Mosque, also known as the Flagler Mosque - while his son, Izhar Khan, is a holy man at the Jamaat Al-Mu'mineen Mosque in Margate, Florida, the indictment said. The other three charged in the suit, Hafiz Khan's daughter Amina Khan, grandson Alam Zeb and Ali Rehman, are believed to live in Pakistain and remain on the lam. Indictment allegations The indictment alleges the Pakistain-born US residents raised and sent money to the Pak Taliban and wanted to target Pak government locations, including the parliament. Prosecutors said Hafiz Khan also supported the Pak Taliban through a madrassa, or traditional religious school, in Swat ...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat... in Pakistain, that he used to provide shelter for armed fighters. He had "sent children from his madrassa to learn to kill Americans in Afghanistan", according to the indictment released by Ferrer's office in Miami. "Despite being a holy man, or spiritual leader, Hafiz Khan was by no means a man of peace," Ferrer said in a statement. "Let me be clear that this is not an indictment against a particular community or religion. Instead, today's indictment charges six individuals for promoting terror and violence through their financial and other support of the Pak Taliban," Ferrer added. If convicted, each of those charged faces up to 15 years in prison for each count of the four-count indictment.

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US charges six with aiding Pakistani Taliban

2011-05-14

US officials arrested three Pakistani Americans including two imams Saturday, charging them and three others with providing or seeking to provide "material support" to the Pakistani Taliban, the Justice Department said. The defendants, five men and one woman, "are charged with conspiring to provide, and providing, material support to a conspiracy to murder, maim and kidnap persons overseas, as well as conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, specifically, the Pakistani Taliban," the department said in a statement. Three of the defendants, including a 76-year-old imam of a Miami mosque, "are also charged with providing material support to the Pakistani Taliban," namely the transfer of funds to finance the group, which Washington lists as a terror organization. At least five of the defendants are members of the same family. The two men arrested in Florida, identified as US nationals Hafiz Khan, the imam and family patriarch, and his son Izhar Khan, 24, also an imam at a separate Florida mosque, are due to appear in federal court in Miami on Monday. A second son, Irfan Khan, was arrested in Los Angeles. Three others, including Khan's daughter and her son, are at large in Pakistan. Each face up to 15 years in prison per count.

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India-Pakistan

Guns will roar till tripartite talks: UJC

2008-04-22

Leaders of United Jihad Council (UJC), an alliance of fighter groups battling Indian rule in Kashmir, on Monday publicly criticised President Pervez Musharraf’s policies on the disputed region and vowed, after virtual lull for quite some time, that Jihad being an obligation would be carried on until the end of Indian subjugation. Sounds like they've bought the new government... Speaking at what was named as “Azm-e-Jihad Conference” under the aegis of a Kashmiri refugees’ organisation “Pasban-e-Hurriyat” the militant and political leaders also flayed the Muzaffarabad government for according “red carpet reception to the killers of the Kashmiri people.” The function, attended by over 1,000 people, was held under a large canopy on the lush green lawns of a hotel along the left bank of icy Neelum River. Sounds pretty plush. Heading a Pak terrorist organization seems to be a pretty lucrative line of work. A number of banners, displayed on the occasion, also reaffirmed the “Kashmiris’ resolve to continue their struggle till complete eviction of Indian troops from Kashmir.” Got some relative who own print shops, do they? The programme and the body language of speakers was unusual particularly when judged in the backdrop of the bearing of Pakistan based Kashmiri militant and political leaders after 9/11 when a crackdown on extremist elements was launched by President Musharraf “under external pressure.” Analysts are of the view that the change of guards in Islamabad has encouraged the Kashmiri leaders to come out, all of a sudden, with renewed calls for a forceful jihad. The Sharif bloc has been on the jihadis side the while. Maybe PPP would have brought them under control with Benazir running things, but Mr Ten Percent probably went cheap. UJC chairman Syed Salahuddin angrily dismissed reports of any softening on the armed struggle while interacting with reports later in a brief question answer session. “I have never been inactive. Not for a fraction of a second over the past seven years. This is a wrong perception,” he said in response to a question. Earlier, speaking at the conference Salahuddin said the fighters wanted to give a clear message to the people at the helm of affairs as well as political and religious leadership in Pakistan, and at the same time to the Indian rulers, that until every single inch of Kashmir was freed from New Delhi’s slavery, the struggle would continue with full force. “People who taunt us as gun-frenzy must not forget that we launched a peaceful political struggle for emancipation for 42 long years but its absolute failure compelled us to take up arms,” he said. The UJC chief reiterated that the mujahideen were ready to lay down weapons provided India accepted their conditions, such as acknowledging the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory and its settlement through meaningful tripartite talks. He regretted that after 9/11 Musharraf regime offered too many concessions to India, including the fencing of Line of Control, which caused great disappointment among the Kashmiris. “In 2000 and 2001 our struggle had reached a decisive phase, but unfortunately Musharraf took on the pressure against the Islamic movements beyond the pale and consequently the political and diplomatic support to our movement declined considerably,” he said. He disclosed that Kashmir had never been a “core issue” in any round of talks between India and Pakistan during Musharraf government. On the peace process, he said Kashmiris were a peace loving nation but could not promote peace process at the cost of their martyrs. Salahuddin made it clear that the Kashmiris would not accept any formula except complete liberation of their motherland. “Division, status-quo, internal autonomy or cross border trade, all are unacceptable,” he declared, adding, the militants were not opposed to trans-LoC travelling but they would not allow anyone to use it to dilute the freedom movement. Salahuddin also dispelled the impression as “enemy’s propaganda” that the mujahideen had got tired. “Who says we are tired? We cannot betray the blood of 500,000 martyrs. As the number of martyrs is rising, Jihad has become an obligation of everyone,” he said. Cheese. Just a year ago they couldn't betray the blood of 90,000 martyrs. Salahuddin also called upon the PaK government “to stop paying lip service to the movement,” and play its role in it on solid basis.” “The government in this part of Kashmir should reserve 75 percent of its budget for (freedom) movement and train its youths on war footing to liberate their enslaved brethren across the divide.” The UJC chief asked Islamabad to hold Kashmir centric and targeted talks with India. Referring to Mr Ten Percent Asif Ali Zardari without naming him, he said unfortunately some imprudent politicians were suggesting that Kashmir issue should be left for next generations. “This movement cannot be postponed even for a single day, not to talk of next generations,” he said. Referring to militant leadership’s participation in talks, he said: “We are not opposed to talks but the process should be in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiris. Whether we participate or not is insignificant. What is important is that when, where and on what issue the talks are held. If held on our conditions, we will appreciate and endorse the talks.” Prior to Salahuddin, a number of other militant and political leaders also spoke. Tehreek-e-Kashmir convenor Ghulam Mohammad Safi blasted the PaK government, asking it to give up the practice of toeing the line of Pakistani rulers. “You should develop courage to call a spade a spade. And you should also refrain from according red carpet reception to the so-called leaders whose hands are stained with the blood of Kashmiris, whether it is Omar Abdullah or Mehbooba Mufti,” he said. His views were later echoed by APHC convenor Syed Yousaf Nasim who said Pakistani and Kashmiri leaders may receive Indians but not those who were responsible for the massacre of Kashmiris. “Red carpet reception to such leaders is tantamount to rubbing salt into the wounds of oppressed Kashmiris,” he said. Almost all speakers criticized the previous Pakistani government’s policies on Kashmir, with some saying that Islamabad was trapped by New Delhi into weakening the Kashmir freedom struggle. Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi, amir of proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba, was also among the speakers but he focused his speech on some instances from the Islamic history to establish a point that freedom movements could take longer than expected time and Kashmiris should not get disappointed from 19 years of struggle. Prominent among other speakers were Sheikh Jamilur Rehman of Tehrikul Mujahideen, General Abdullah of Jamiatul Mujahideen, Attiqur Rehman of Harkatul Mujahideen, Farooq Qureshi of Al Barq Mujahideen, Mastoid Sarfraz of Hizb-e-Islami, Uzair Ghizali of Pasban-e-Hurriyat, Raja Izhar Khan, Yousaf Butt and Amjad Khan advocate.

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