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India-Pakistan

Several injured, arrested at Sunni Ittehad Council rally

2010-11-28

[Dawn] Over a hundred local leaders and activists of Sunni Ittehad Council were jugged on Saturday. Police stopped the rally near 'Soha Rawalpindi, where the activists had held a sit-in protest and were determined to move forward. Police in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi jump-started into action since Saturday morning in a bid to stem Council's Long March from Islamabad to Lahore. Hazrart Bari Imam Shrine was sealed. The workers of Sunni Tehreek (ST) arriving on board Khyber Mail were jugged at Rawalpindi Railways station. According to Cantt Police Station, at least 50 people were taken into custody. Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... Sunni Council front man claimed over 200 of their workers were nabbed. In view of security apprehensions, the government was in top gear since yesterday to stanch Islamabad-Lahore Long March announced by Sunni Ittehad as the march to 'Save Pakistain'. Islamabad's exits and entry points especially those roads leading to Bari Imam Darbar were heavily guarded with baton-wielding police contingents armed with tear-gas shells and armored personnel carrier (APC). Police were given duties outside madaris in support of Sunni Tehreek. Also, some local leaders were browbeaten into staying back. Police took 19 Tehreek workers including a local leader during an operation in Jhelum. According to Rawalpindi officials, over 100 people have been taken into custody. -- Agencies Chief of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sahibzada Fazal Karim on Saturday said the SIC will not allow the repeal of the blasphemy laws. He said terrorism had distorted Pakistain's image across the globe, adding that those persuading people for suicide kabooms were not loyal to Pakistain. Hundreds of SIC activists started a nearly 200-mile long march on Saturday in a protest against Taliban attacks on the country's religious sites. Authorities warned that gunnies could attack the procession which was being led by Sahibzada Fazal Karim. Police escorted the convoy out of Islamabad, where the journey had started. The participants, travelling on foot and in cars, plan to rally in Lahore, where 47 people died in a suicide kaboom at a Sufi shrine in July. While addressing the participants of the long march at Islamabad's Bari Imam shrine, Karim said the government had not accepted the SIC's demand for legislation to curb terrorism and called for an All Parties Conference on the issue. He further demanded the release of the jugged SIC activists. The local administration had imposed Section 144 in Rawalpindi and several activists from various religious seminaries had been jugged. Following intelligence reports of possible terror attacks, the Punjab government had banned the long march to avert any untoward incident.

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India-Pakistan

10 suicide bombing investigations shelved

2007-05-02

Intelligence agencies have shelved investigations into 10 suicide bombing after failing to identify the suicide bombers, Daily Times has learnt. At least 161 people have been killed in 27 suicide bombings in different parts of the country since 2002. The sources said that 10 cases were lying closed, as investigators could not make any headway. They said the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) also could not provide any detail of the fingerprints and facial descriptions of the suicide bombers to the intelligence agencies, as none of the 10 bombers had had national identity cards, which carry the fingerprints and other details of the holders. Investigators believe that identification of the bombers is the only way to reach the masterminds of such incidents. The 10 cases in which the identity of the suicide bombers could not be identified are: Zanibia Mosque, Sialkot, suicide bombing on October 1, 2004; Bari Imam Shrine suicide bombing on May 27, 2005; suicide attack on a military convoy in Tank on February 13, 2007; attack on a police picket in Dera Ismail Khan on January 29, 2007; attack in Peshawar on January 27, 2007; attack on Marriott Hotel, Islamabad, on January 26, 2007; attack on military personnel in Kharian Cantonment on March 29, 2007; attack on military scouts in Dargai on November 8, 2006; Hangu suicide attack on February 9, 2006; and suicide bombing in front of police headquarters in Quetta on November 14, 2006.

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India-Pakistan

Arrested LJ activists confess to Bari Imam bombing

2006-01-01

LAHORE: Asif and Usman Chotoo, detained activists of the banned religious outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, claimed responsibility for the bombing of the Bari Imam Shrine in Islamabad on May 27 2005, Geo television reported on Saturday. Modern methods were being used to interrogate the two, who confessed to having masterminded the suicide bombing that killed 43 and left several injured, the channel quoted official sources as saying. According to the channel, the accused admitted that they carriedout the bombing to fuel sectarian violence. Asif Chotto was arrested from the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway on September 28, while Usman Chotto was apprehended in the outskirts of Karachi on December 20, the report added.

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Afghanistan/South Asia

Qaeda in touch with local extremist groups: Sherpao

2005-06-24

Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao said on Wednesday that Al Qaeda had established a strong nexus with outlawed extremist groups in Pakistan. Gee golly gosh. Who'da ever thunkit? "There is a nexus of Al Qaeda and extremist elements in Pakistan. Whenever they feel hurt, they react. But it will not decrease our resolve against terrorism," he told Daily Times in an exclusive interview on Thursday. Without naming any organisation, the interior minister said the banned groups were facilitating Al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan. Pakistan has banned religious groups including Jaish e-Muhammad, Harkatul Mujahideen, Jamiatul Ansar, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Khuddamul Furqan and Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami. Even though "banned," the groups seem to be quite as active as they've ever been, to include publishing their monthlies and collecting funds... Sherpao also refuted a recent Los Angeles Times report on the presence of scattered training camps countrywide, saying there were no such training facilities in Pakistan. "Terrorists don't have to train a suicide bomber. They have people indoctrinated for such a type of job. So there are no training camps," he added. On the other hand, recruiters of suicide boomers do need a certain amount of highly specialized training, even given a willing pool of rubes who're willing to become meat puzzles... However, he did not deny the involvement of extremist groups in training people at secret locations. "There are no such reports, but they can do so. There are several proclaimed offenders who have not been caught. So they may be doing these activities," he said. President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and other senior government officials were on Al Qaeda's hit list, he said, adding, "One has to be very careful and security for all government officials has to be on alert in that sense." One has to be real careful if one's a Shiite or a Christian, too. And if one's a Western reporter. And if one works in a Western diplomatic mission... Thankfully, it also looks like one has to be careful if one's a big turban at Jamia Binori, too. He claimed that the government had a fair idea about the people involved in the bomb blast at the Bari Imam Shrine and terrorist incidents in Karachi. Omar Saeed Sheikh isn't dead yet, though... He denied allegations about the failure of intelligence and law enforcement agencies to ensure security of citizens. Well, then, where precisely are you falling down in ensuring the security of your citizens? Sherpao also claimed Osama Bin Laden and Mulla Omar could be in southern or southeastern Afghanistan. "US and Afghan forces haven't operated extensively in the border areas with the southern and southeastern Afghan provinces. There is a likelihood of their presence in those areas in Afghanistan," he added. Osama remained in Afghanistan for a long time and there were still several areas that were considered Taliban-friendly, he said. Sherpao denied claims of former US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad about the presence of Osama and Mulla Omar in Pakistan. "I just don't know how the ambassador made this statement. If he had certain information he should have shared it with us," he added. Maybe it was intel on you? He refused to comment on Dr AQ Khan's health and the status of the investigation into his actions.

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Afghanistan/South Asia

Qazi wants Karachi strike

2005-06-01

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad asked people to observe a complete strike in Karachi today (Wednesday) to condemn the killing of JI leader Aslam Mujahid, the imambargah attack and a bombing at Bari Imam Shrine in Islamabad. Qazi will try to milk this for all it's worth... President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday condemned the killing of Aslam Mujahid and the terrorist attack on the imambargah and appealed for calm and unity to foil the saboteurs' designs. What'd they expect him to say? "I'm glad they're all dead!"? Might have induced a few arrhythmias ... Police on Tuesday identified two of the assailants involved in Monday's attack on the imambargah. Dr Najeeb, town investigation officer (TIO) of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, told Daily Times that the surviving assailant was identified as Tehseen, a resident of Orangi Town. The TIO said Tehseen was critically injured in the gunfight outside the imambargah. The dead assailant was identified as Muhammad Asif Khan, the TIO said, adding that Tehsin had told police that he and Asif were from the defunct Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ). "I do no think that word means what you think it means..." Earlier, Tehsin kept changing his statement, the TIO said, adding that he first told police that his name was Muhammad Jamil and he was a Jaish e-Muhammad activist. Then he said his name was Bashir. Even though we're the Great Satan, they really should look into using Craftsman tools...

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Afghanistan/South Asia

Two Lashkar-i-Jhangvi members arrested in mosque bombing

2005-05-31

Police and security personnel have carried out a raid arresting two militants of an outlawed extremist group involved in a Shrine suicide bombing that killed at least 20 people in the Pakistani capital. The forces, after being tipped off, conducted a raid on a guest house "rented hideout" of suspects in the Sargodha city of eastern Punjab province, about 400 kilometers from Islamabad, a district police officer, Naeem Shaikh, told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Monday. He said the two suspects, identified as Mansour Ahmed and Zafar Iqbal, are members of Al-Qaeda linked militant group, Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ). Earlier, a third suspect, Muhammad Saeed, was arrested but was released later. He added that Ahmed, during initial interrogation, has confessed to his involvement in the suicide attack. "Ow ow ow! I confess! I confess! Stop doing that and I'll name anyone you like!" At least 20 people were killed and over 100 were wounded in the suicide explosion at Bari Imam Shrine on Friday. The blast took place as thousands of worshippers were gathered at the Shrine to attend a religious festival. The government had released a photo of the suspected suicide attacker and announced reward money of 500,000 rupees (Approx. US8,400) for information that help to locate him. Designated as a terrorist organization by the United States on January 30, 2003, the LIJ is a Sunni-Deobandi Muslim extremist group based primarily in the Punjab region of Pakistan and the port city of Karachi. It has confirmed links with Al-Qaeda and assisted in several high-profile attacks on Westerners in Pakistan, including the January 2002 kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

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Afghanistan/South Asia

20 killed in Bari Imam bombing

2005-05-28

More details from yesterday's report: ISLAMABAD: Twenty people were killed and 82 were injured, some critically, when a suicide bomber blew himself up amid the annual Shia Muslims congregation at the Bari Imam Shrine on Friday. Prob'ly Lutherans again... Mormons, definitely Mormons ... The intense blast made a crater of almost ten metres in radius littered with human limbs, mutilated bodies, pools of blood, the dead and injured, portraying a horrifying scene. Twelve bodies have been identified. "The blast tore the body of the suicide bomber and his head fell 20 yards away from the scene," said an eye-witnesses. The district administration announced Rs 2 million as a reward for information leading to the arrest of the criminals behind this incident. There will of course be the usual charges that RAW is behind the whole thing... Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah, who visited the shrine along with State Interior Minister Shahzad Waseem, told reporters that three investigation teams consisting of the capital police, the Federal Investigation Agency's Special Investigation Group and Crime Investigating Department (CID) had been formed to trace the culprits. These organizations make the Keystone Kops look professional ... "Aye! We'll track 'em down! An' then it'll be the Lahore High Court fer them! That'll show 'em!" Witnesses said the incident took place when Shia Muslims annual congregation was progressing towards the shrine's vicinity. Shias claim Bari Imam as their religious leader and hold a special Majlis-e-Aza (religious gathering) the day after the conclusion of the four-day annual Urs of Bari Imam. Witnesses said the suicide bomber entered the congregation area when Tahreek-e-Nifaz-e-Fiqa-e-Jafria (TNFJ) Islamabad president Raja Basharat Hussain Imami entered the venue with his supporters. Waited for the big turban to arrive, did they? And then missed him. Sounds like Lashkar e-Jhangvi-Hekmatyar branch... Talking to Daily Times, Imami said, "As soon as I entered the congregation area and people stood up to welcome me, a powerful blast took place and I saw the bomber's upper body flying through the air." Imami was about to address the gathering. He said human flesh and blood was seen all over the place with people beating their chests and the injured crying for help. Local Shia leader Syed Mazhar Ali called the incident an act of terrorism by enemies of the country, saying, "No Sunni or Shia Muslim can do such a thing." Ohfergawdsake. You're just saying that, right? However, another witness gave a different account saying that two bearded men had entered the gathering and sat near a podium at the front. "An explosion then occurred, and the body of one of them flew in the air," he said, adding that he did not know what happened to the other man. "Well, Sam, since he was sitting next to the boomer, I think that these pieces here, here, and, yeah, over there are the 2nd bearded man." "Brilliant Dr. Quincy, how do you do it?" Though their leaders did not call it a sectarian incident, some Shias called it premeditated and asked the government to take action against the perpetrators. "Nothing happened during the four days of annual Urs and a blast occurred during our annual gathering, showing that the bombing targeted Shia Muslims," said a young Shia Muslim, Asad Abbas. Is there such a thing as an unpremeditated suicide bombing?

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