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India-Pakistan
Court reissues arrest warrants of Musharraf, Aziz in Bugti case
2012-08-16
QUETTA: A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Sibbi on Wednesday once again issued arrest warrants for former president Pervez Musharraf, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, former Balochistan chief minister Mir Jam Muhammad Yousaf, former Balochistan governor Awais Ahmed Ghani and others nominated in the Akbar Bugti murder case.

The arrest warrants were issued by ATC judge Nawaz Khan Barakzai in Sibbi while hearing the murder case of Akbar Bugti, which was registered at the Kohlu Police Station. The sessions court in Kohlu had sent the case to the ATC in Sibbi on July 4.

Jam Muhammad Youaf and Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, who are among those nominated in the case, have been granted bail. The court ordered arrest of all those nominated in the case and their production before the court during the next hearing.

The court said it was the last chance for Musharraf, Aziz, Yousaf, Sherpao, former Balochistan home minister Shoaib Nosherwani and former Dera Bugti DCO Abdul Samad Lasi. Later, the hearing was adjourned until September. It may be recalled that earlier a Quetta judicial magistrate had also issued arrest warrants for all the accused nominated in the case. The ATC in Sibbi has also earlier issued warrants for the accused. Yousaf was issued protective bail by the Sindh High Court, while some of the accused have not got bail.

Bugti was murdered during a military operation on August 26, 2006.
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India-Pakistan
Who wanted emergency and who did not?
2007-08-10
A high-level meeting with President Pervez Musharraf in the chair on Tuesday night had decided to impose emergency in the country, but the president did not proclaim so, fearing a severe public reaction, reported Geo TV.

According to the channel, Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi and Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim pressed the president to impose emergency. Government's legal advisers Sharifudin Pirzada and Justice (r) Malik Qayyum seconded the proposal. "The Muttahida Qaumi Movement leaders, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf, PML Secretary General Syed Mushahid Hussain and the chief of an intelligence agency opposed the proposal to impose emergency," the channel quotes sources as saying.
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India-Pakistan
Massive operation planned: Jam Yousaf
2007-06-16
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf said on Friday that the provincial government had planned a “massive operation” against terrorists and miscreants, Geo TV reported. Criticising the attack on security personnel in Quetta on Thursday, the CM said a special security plan had been prepared to maintain law and order in the provincial capital. He chaired a meeting to exchange views on the attack on security personnel. The meeting decided to install security cameras at all sensitive places in the city.
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India-Pakistan
Pakistani Police arrests 15 militants for attacking CM residence
2006-07-12
(KUNA) -- Police has arrested 15 militants involved in an attack on provincial Chief Ministers residence, rocket firing, bomb blasts and other subversive activities in the insurgency-hit Baluchistan province, said an official on Tuesday.

Inspector General (IG) Police Baluchistan, Chaudhry Muhammad Yaqub, addressing a press conference said that these men were involved in an attack on residence of Chief Minister Mir Jam Muhammad Yousaf in Kalat, bomb blast in Baluchistan High Court and blowing up of railway tracks. He said that police also arrested a Baluchistan University Graduate Zakir, who had joined fugitive training camp at an annual pay of Rs. 6000 (US100) after graduation in 2003.

The IG said that millions of rupees are being spent annually on these terrorist training camps in the province, which are funneled from London and Abu Dubai through money laundering. He added that the law enforcing agencies are planning a big operation against these camps.
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India-Pakistan
Bombs set off near Jam Yousaf’s home
2006-03-27
DERA BUGTI: Suspected tribesmen set off two bombs near the home of the chief minister of Balochistan on Sunday, but there were no casualties. The bombs shattered windows and damaged a perimeter wall at Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf’s home in Lasbela, about 450 kilometres southeast of Quetta, local police official Mohammed Afzal said. Yousaf was not at home when the explosion occurred, Afzal said. Suspected tribal militants also attacked a mountaintop military post, triggering a gun battle that left two attackers and a soldier dead, officials said. Another attacker was killed when his motorcycle hit a landmine as he tried to escape after the shootout near Sui, Dera Bugti District Coordination Officer Abdul Samad Lasi said. Two soldiers were reported injured in the gunfight.
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Afghanistan/South Asia
Rocket attack rocks Kohlu on CM’s visit
2005-08-23
Seafarious made me a hat like that for the last Rantapalooza. Every once in awhile I put it on. The Little Woman rolls her eyes and the cat avoids me.
QUETTA: Four rockets were fired in Kohlu district on Monday, coinciding with the arrival of Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf. FC troops retaliated by firing rockets at the assailants in Kohlu, some 350 kilometres east of Quetta. A Frontier Corp (FC) spokesman underplayed the attack as a ‘routine matter’, and dismissed claims they were related to the chief minister’s visit. Unconfirmed reports alleged that the rockets landed near the helipad where the chief minister’s helicopter was scheduled to land. Meanwhile, a man, calling himself Azad Baloch,
"Free Baluch"? If that's not an alias it should be...
claimed responsibility for the attack on behalf of the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Baloch People’s Liberation Front Azad Baloch said that the rockets had been fired specifically in view of the chief minister’s visit.

Meanwhile in separate incidents, three rockets were fired and two bombs exploded in Kohlu early Monday morning. The bombs went off near a doctor’s clinic. Local government elections are scheduled to be held in Kohlu on August 25. Baloch nationalist forces accuse the chief minister of conducting the election campaign for Pakistan Muslim League (PML) candidates in violation of Election Commission regulations. Observers believe that the chief minister’s visit to Kohlu was aimed for the PML-backed candidates’ election campaign.
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Afghanistan/South Asia
5 held for rocket attack on Jam Yousaf's house
2005-07-03
QUETTA: Five more people were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of firing rockets on Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf's house last month. Kalat police raided Mangchir Dilo Chjir and tracked down the accused. Police in plain clothes have also been deputed to various areas and more arrests are expected in the next 24 hours.
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Afghanistan/South Asia
Balochistan CM’s family house rocketted in Kalat
2005-06-27
Unidentified attackers fired rockets at the family home of Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf in Kalat, injuring two of his servants.
I've been thinking of having my head upholstered like that. Pretty snappy, don'tcha think?
Kalat Police said that three rockets hit the building where Jam Yousaf’s family was present. Raziq Bugti, a spokesman for the Balochistan government, confirmed the incident, but nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack.
"Hrarrr! We dunnit an' we're glad!"
"Who're youse?"
"Ummm... Ain't sayin'!"
The chief minister could not be contacted for comment. Jam Yousaf and his family were in Quetta when the pre-dawn attack happened in Kalat, about 200 kilometres south of Quetta, said Maj Akbar Lashari, a paramilitary official. Lashari said Jam Yousaf “rarely” visited his Kalat home because he lived mostly in his official residence in Quetta and the attack might have been aimed at intimidating the chief minister.
He and his family were in Quetta when the attack occurred, but his family was in the building when the attack occurred? I'm guessing the wife or wives and kiddies stay in Kalat, while Jam and his male relatives enjoy the fleshpots of Quetta. With a fine head of cloth like that, he prob'ly walks by and the ladies' burkas just roll up like window shades...
Prince Esa, the brother-in-law of the chief minister, told Daily Times that it was a miracle that the family was safe in the attack. He said that the assailants had disconnected the phone lines before the attack. Arshad, a servant at the chief minister’s house, said four rockets were fired, but two hit the building. Local journalists said about six attackers riding cycles of violence motorbikes and pickups came to the area and fired rockets. They also fired at the building, but the police did not confirm it. Guards in the building retaliated the attack, but the attackers escaped.
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Afghanistan/South Asia
Balochistan minister resigns
2005-05-15
QUETTA: Balochistan Minister for Culture and Fisheries Sher Jan Baloch on Saturday resigned from his post, citing lack of authority as the reason.
"Nobody listens to me! I quit!"
Sher Jan, who belongs to the ruling PML, told Daily Times by phone from Pasni, that he was not getting any enjoying authority and that even a police officer of the rank of inspector or deputy inspector of police ignored his orders.

He said that he was trying to contact Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf and the Balochistan governor to convey his decision to them. He said that he would be in Quetta on the 20th to tender his resignation to the governor. He said the land mafia and drug barons swung into action after Pasni Nazim Mayar Noori took action against them. As a result the nazim was arrested and now he is facing the outcome of his actions, Sher Jan said, adding that the weapons found in Nazim's house were licensed.

He said that he had written letters to President General Pervez Musharaf, the governor and the chief minister, calling for stern action against the land mafia in Pasni and adjoining areas.

A police constable at Pasni police station said that a case had been registered against the nazim for possessing weapons.
It's illegal to possess a weapon in Pakistan? Who knew?
Mayar Noori, his brother, two Levies personnel and two others were picked up from Noori's house at about 4:00am and were taken to Turbat for questioning. Rumours spread that Noori was kidnapped along with five others. The news sparked a protest and protestors blocked the coastal highway for several hours.

Anti-Narcotics Force officials said that Noori was picked up for questioning after the police found a car parked by his house, which was carrying arms and drugs. Meanwhile, Noori was released on bail. However, officials were not available for comment.
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Afghanistan/South Asia
Jam orders crackdown on Balochistan militants
2005-02-10
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf ordered security agencies to take action against tribesmen who attack state infrastructure in the province, Geo News reported on Wednesday. According to the report, Yousaf said the government would ensure the safety of gas installations at any cost. He was chairing a meeting to discuss the safety of state assets in Balochistan. Yousaf directed law enforcement agencies to arrest "miscreants" and present them in court with enough evidence to convict them. He also ordered that all vacant posts in the Levies be filled and that security at gas installations be increased.
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Afghanistan/South Asia
Baluchi chief minister not ruling out Iranian, al-Qaeda involvement in unrest
2005-01-26
Mir Jam Muhammad Yousaf, the Balochistan chief minister, has said he will not rule out the possibility that Iran or an extremist group is behind the recent disturbances in the province.

Talking to a private television, the chief minister said he suspected that either Iran, Al Qaeda or another foreign power or extremist groups opposed to the government's policies could have been involved in the recent attacks by tribesmen on gas installations in Sui.

A report in the Sunday Telegraph claimed Pakistani officials believed Iran was instigating an insurgency in Balochistan, but the Foreign Office has denied the report, saying it blames no foreign power for events in the province and has a very good relationship with Iran.

Yousaf said there was no military operation in progress in the province and the government had no plans to launch one either. He said security forces were only there to guard natural gas installations in Sui.

Tribal chiefs have said the attacks were sparked by public outrage at the alleged gang rape of a woman doctor by army personnel, but Yousaf said the incident had sparked no such public outrage. He said many women in other parts of the country had been subjected to such crimes, but never had there been such a reaction.

He said soon after getting wind of the crime, the provincial government was ready to take action against the alleged rapists, but Pakistan Petroleum Limited authorities denied police permission to question the victim.
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