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India-Pakistan

Handler of Bashir Bilour's killer held

2015-03-29

[DAWN] The local police on Friday claimed they had placed in durance vile Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out! the suspected handler of a jacket wallah, who killed ANP leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour in the city in Dec 2012. They also insisted the suspect had confessed to being involved in the killing and many other heinous crimes. "We have captured a terrorist, Fazal Mohammad. He was the main handler of Farooq, who killed Bashir Bilour in a suicide kaboom. He kept the bomber in his house for two days before sending him to target Bashir Bilour," an official of the police's counter-terrorism department told Dawn here. He said the bomber's handler belonged to Afridi tribe of Khyber Agency and had been living 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. city for many years. The official said the arrested man used to help Lions of Islam reach targets in the lovely provincial capital. "The (bomber's) handler is associated with terrorist groups and has a role in around 50 terrorist activities. He has so far admitted to being involved in many heinous crimes," he said. The official said the department had achieved 'significant' success in the investigation into attacks on All Saints Church, Imamia Mosque Hayatabad Township and Army Public School and that efforts were underway to arrest those behind those terrorist activities. Also in the day, the local police held a suspected terrorist. A police official said Alamzeb, who had Rs0.5 million bounty on his head and belonged to Sepah tribe of Khyber Agency, was arrested in Sufaid Dheri area of Peshawar. He said the arrested man was wanted for various terrorist attacks in Peshawar and adjoining tribal and settled areas.

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India-Pakistan

JUI rejects ANP moot against terrorism

2013-01-22

[Dawn] Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam ...Assembly of Islamic Clergy, or JUI, is a Pak Deobandi (Hanafi) political party. There are two main branches, one led by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, and one led by Maulana Samiul Haq. Fazl is active in Pak politix and Sami spends more time running his madrassah. Both branches sponsor branches of the Taliban, though with plausible deniability... chief 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 ... has said that his party would not attend the all parties conference (APC) being convened by the Awami National Party for working out a strategy at the national level to counter terrorism. Talking to media persons after addressing the condolence reference organised for former chief of 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... Qazi Hussain Ahmad ... third president (1987--2009) of the PakJamaat-e-Islami. Qazi was also head of the Muttahidah Majlis-e-Amal until his ego became bigger than the organization. Qazi is what is known as a fiery preacher, which means he has lots of volume, a good delivery, and not a lot of reverence for coherence. He was the patron of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Rasool Sayyaf and Osama bin Laden during the war against the Soviets. He used to recommend drinking camel's urine to maintain good health before his kidneys started to go... at Nishtar Hall here on Sunday, Mr Rehman categorically said that his party would clean the mess left over by the ruling party in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... "The ANP has promoted terrorism and violence in the region and now the ruling party is trying to involve other parties to remove the dirt. We don't want to take the blame for the wrongdoings of others," he said when asked whether the JUI-F would attend the proposed APC. The ANP has started contacting other political parties to participate in the conference being organised in the wake of liquidation of senior minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour in a suicide kaboom 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. on Dec 22, 2012. Several political parties have accepted the invitation. However, there is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened... the JUI-F is yet to receive any invitation. Condemning the killing of 18 civilians in Bara, Khyber Agency, Mr Rehman said that there was complete lawlessness in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 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... and tribal areas. He said that governor's rule was imposed 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... when the people staged a sit-in to protest against killings and lawlessness in Quetta, while the federal government had closed its eyes to the situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata. He said that innocent people, including women and kiddies, were killed in the province, but nobody was taking notice. "Our party strongly criticises this double standard," he remarked. He opposed 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.... chairman Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who is the lightweight's lightweight... 's demand that President Asif Ali Ten Percent Zardari ... husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who has been singularly lacking in curiosity about who done her in ... should resign from the presidency before general election. Earlier, addressing the condolence reference the JUI-F chief blamed external forces for ongoing wave of sectarianism in the country. He said that big powers were fuelling sectarianism to weaken Moslems. The country's security agencies despite spending the taxpayers' money had failed to contain foreign interference in the country, he added. He said that Pakistain was at the crossroads and people were killed on linguistic, sectarian and ethnic grounds. Political parties have to play their role to stop violence, he said and added that aggrandisement of Islam was their joint goal and they should focus on it. He paid tribute to late Qazi Hussain Ahmad who struggled for rule of law and democracy throughout his life. He said that unity among Moslems was Qazi Sahab's top priority and for this purpose Milli Yakjehti Council and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal were formed. Federal minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Pakistain Moslem League (likeminded) president Senator Saleem Saifullah Khan, former Afghan prime minister Gulbadin Hekmatyar' aide Engineer Ghairat Baheer and others also addressed the reference. JI's central general secretary Liaquat Bloch said that the death of Qazi Hussain Ahmad was a major loss for the Islamic resistance forces across the world. He said that the leader fought against dictatorship and served the cause of democracy. He said that the country could not afford any type of adventurism or unconstitutional act and demanded free and fair election. He said that honest people should be inducted in the caretaker setup for conducting elections. He urged religious parties to contest next general election from a JUI-F's no to APC Fazl blames ANP for promoting violence joint platform to defeat secular forces. In Mansehra ...a city and an eponymous district in eastern Khyber-Pakthunwa, nestled snug up against Pak Kashmir, with Kohistan and Diamir to the north and Abbottabad to the south... , leaders of political parties paid tribute to Qazi Hussain Ahmad and said that his services for the country and Moslem Ummah would be remembered for long. "Qazi Hussain Ahmad struggled for enforcement of Shariah in the country and played an important role in formation of political alliances to steer the country out of crisis," said Javed Khan Swati, a PTI leader while speaking at a reference held here on Sunday. Representatives of almost all political parties, labour unions, lawyers and journalists spoke on the occasion. "Pakistain has been deprived of a seasoned religious scholar who laid the foundation of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal to brig people of different sects on a single platform," said JI leader Tariq Sherazi. Besides others, traders body president Haroonur Rasheed, transport union's secretary general Pervez Khan and teachers association's president of Khalid Zaman also spoke on the occasion.

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India-Pakistan

Khyber militants behead Sikh for 'spying'

2013-01-10

[Dawn] A local turban group on Tuesday beheaded a Sikh 'spy' and chopped his body before throwing it in Bazaar Zakhakhel area of Khyber Agency. Mahinder Singh, 40, had been missing since November last year, according to officials in Jamrud. The officials said Tawheedul Islam had claimed the responsibility for the killing by leaving with the body a leaflet saying the man had been killed for spying for its rival turban group, Lashkar-e-Islam. They said the body packed in a gunnysack was found in a dry stream in Chora area. The killing was confirmed by the slain man's brother, Paswand Singh. He said his brother's killing was a cruel act with the members of a small religious minority. "We have no enmity with anyone and have lived peacefully in Khyber Agency for more than six decades," he said. Mr Paswand said if the government couldn't provide the members of religious minorities with proper security, then it should arrange for their migration to a safer country. He said his brother had a herbal medicine shop in Tabbai village of Bazaar Zakhakhel, where he was kidnapped by unidentified gunnies on Nov 20 last year. He denied that his brother was affiliated with any turban group. Mr Paswand said he had contacted the local political administration along with an application for (slain) ANP leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour for recovery of his missing brother, but to no avail. He said no turban group had contacted him after his brother's kidnapping. Mr Paswand said his family had lived in Kalanga Maira of Akkakhel in Bara tehsil for over 40 years before migrating to 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. three and a half years ago after Lashkar-e-Islam imposed jiziya, an Islamic tax on minorities, in Bara. He said his brother left behind two wives and eight children with one of his sons disabled by polio ...Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by infection with the poliovirus. Between 1840 and the 1950s, polio was a worldwide epidemic. Since the development of polio vaccines the disease has been largely wiped out in the civilized world. However, since the vaccine is known to make Moslem pee-pees shrink and renders females sterile, bookish, and unsubmissive it is not widely used by the turban and automatic weapons set... MILITANT KILLED: A turban linked to Bazaar Zakhakhel-based Tawheedul Islam was killed, while two of his accomplices were maimed in a roadside kaboom blast here on Tuesday.

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India-Pakistan

Hoti calls for immediate steps to rein in militants

2012-12-25

[Dawn] Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti called upon the politicianship and the military on Monday to immediately put their heads together to find a permanent solution to the problem of militancy. "Time has come that the military and politicianship take a quick decision and guide the nation. Otherwise, it will be criminal negligence," he told politicians in the provincial assembly amid a sombre mood over the liquidation of Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour in a suicide kaboom on Saturday. When the assembly's proceedings began, Chief Minister Hoti, along with ministers and politicians, placed a wreath of red and white roses in the chair of the slain ANP leader. Mr Bilour's portrait, red cap and shawl were put on his seat and politicians lit candles on his desk as a mark of respect and to pay tribute to their colleague. Women members wore black shawls and men black armbands. Bashir Bilour, who had been elected five times as an MPA, was the third politician of the sitting assembly to have fallen to terrorism. Earlier, Awami National Party's MPAs Alamzaib Khan and Shamsher Khan, from 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, had died in kabooms. Sikandar Khan Sherpao, an MPA, and Jails Minister Mian Nisar Gul survived bomb and suicide attacks. The chief minister said a delay in taking a decision would amount to a "betrayal of the deaders". "The enemy will be weakened if we take a bold decision. Otherwise, our enemy will gain more strength and power," he said. He also said that some people had a misconception that the situation would improve once NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It's headquartered in Belgium. That sez it all.... forces pulled out of Afghanistan. "The people who have started terrorism and killing innocent people have already vowed to take over Pakistain after coming to power in Afghanistan," he said, adding that the nation had two choices: to fight them or leave the ground open for them. He said that if forces of Evil continued killing leaders and candidates of political parties one by one, the general election would become doubtful.

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India-Pakistan

UN, US pledge to stand by Pakistan in anti-terror war

2012-12-24

[Pak Daily Times] UN Secretary General the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon ... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan... and US Ambassador Richard Olson have condemned the suicide kaboom 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. that killed Bashir Ahmad Bilour. "The secretary general reiterates the strong support of the United Nations ...a formerly good idea gone bad... for the efforts of the government and people of Pakistain to combat the scourge of terrorism," said a statement issued by Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson. In a statement, Olson also praised Bilour as a courageous man. Yeah, buddy. If I was a Pakistainian I'd feel ever so much more secure with Ban Ki Moon watching my back.

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India-Pakistan

Two shot dead at Landi Kotal checkpost

2012-12-20

[Dawn] Two persons were killed when a levies trooper opened fire on a car at a check point here on Tuesday. Official sources said that a man posted at Charwazgai check point signalled a car to stop but the driver tried to speed away. The trooper opened fire killing Samiullah, a local businessman sitting in the car, and a pedestrian, Mohammad Sher, on the spot. Authorities have taken the levies man, Ihsanullah, into custody and started investigation.In Bara, bullet riddled bodies of two local residents were recovered from a deserted place. The two were later identified as Mula Jan and Jamroz Khan belonging to Malikdin Khel tribe. Local sources said that both the men went missing a month ago and their disfigured bodies revealed that they were killed some time back. No one has so far grabbed credit. Meanwhile, ...back at the scene of the crime, Lieutenant Queeg had an idea: there was a simple way to tell whether Manetti had been the triggerman -- just look at his shoes!... the corpse count in Monday’s Jamrud blast rose to 21 after two critically injured men shuffled off the mortal coil at a 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. hospital on Monday night. Among the total number of dead, 11 belonged to Kukikhel ...a tribe of primitives inhabiting Khyber Agency. They are a branch of the Afridi tribe. Traditionally they have been migratory, tromping between Jamrud and the Rajgal valley with the seasons. The tribe has had mustache-cursing relationships with several other tribes, including the Zakkakhel and Kambarkhel, and with the Mullagori. They make welcome most anyone with a turban and automatic weapons, but every once in awhile they get together a tribal lashkar to mollify the government... and Zakhakhel tribes and were laid to rest at their ancestral graveyards on Monday while bodies of three Afghan children and two women were sent to Kabul. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... senior minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour paid a visit to the site of blast on Tuesday morning and offered fateha. He also announced compensation of Rs25,000 each for the blast victims. Earlier, the political administration announced Rs100,000 compensation each for the dead and Rs50,000 for the injured. Authorities said that the affected families would also get compensation from the federal government.

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India-Pakistan

Peshawar in shock after airport attack

2012-12-18

[Dawn] The residents of Kandi Jamroze Khan, a small locality opposite the western boundary wall of Bacha Khan International Airport and PAF Base, are in a state of shock after the Saturday night brazen attack by Islamic fascisti that left several houses and vehicles damaged besides five persons dead and over 40 injured. On Sunday several of the families in the area were seen leaving their houses as they were no longer fit for living. Over a dozen houses were damaged badly in the attack. The boundary walls of several houses were demolished and cracks were visible in several others. Roofs of some of the structures caved in and their windowpanes were shattered. A small road separates the locality, situated in Abdara village, from Bacha Khan International Airport and PAF Base both of whom share a joint airfield. However, a poor excuse is better than no excuse at all... the two portions of the western wall, which the attackers breached, are towards the base and installations of PAF and Army Aviation Authority are situated in that area. The road connects Bara Road to several villages and Old Bara Road in an upscale University Town locality. The security forces erected a makeshift curtain to hide broken portion of the boundary wall of the PAF Base where some labourers were busy in its reconstruction. Residents of the area and passersby were peeping through holes in the curtain. The wreckage of the vehicle used by the attackers to make a breach in the wall by exploding it was also lying nearby the broken wall. Blood stains were also visible at different spots which the local people said were of the killed Death Eaters. Remains of a suicide vest were also lying nearby along with pieces of human flesh. A big cater at the place of occurrence was a testimony to the severity of the blast. Local people said that first they heard an kaboom and when they came out of their residences they saw the vehicle was being pushed by Islamic fascisti towards the boundary wall and soon it went kaboom! with a deafening noise. “Soon it was chaos with injured people lying at different spots groaning with pain amidst complete darkness and plume of dust,” said Abdul Ghafoor, a resident of the locality. He said that they saw remains and bodies of the attackers, probably four or five in number. He said that the outer wall of his residence collapsed and windows were also broken, but his family remained unhurt. Most of the inhabitants contradicted the accounts of the law enforcement agencies that the attackers were killed in exchange of fire. They said that soon after the vehicle went kaboom! they saw the dismembered bodies whereas one of the attackers was still alive but maimed critically. They said that after about an hour the injured Death Eater also expired. However, a poor excuse is better than no excuse at all... none of them had seen any of the Islamic fascisti fleeing. Provincial Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour, who visited the area and inspected the damage, told the people that on Saturday night he was passing by the site of the first blast near Old Bara Road where he spotted a vehicle on fire while two persons, apparently attackers, were fleeing away. He added that it was a well coordinated attack, carried out from different sides. He told journalists that it was time for the federal government to decide about shifting of the airport and base from the populated area to some safer location. About compensation for the damaged property and vehicles, Mr Bilour said that it was not the policy of provincial government to pay compensation for damaged property. The affected persons should submit applications that would be considered by them, he added. Faheem Khan, another resident of the locality, was busy in loading important household items in a tractor trolley. He said that as the entire structure of his house had cracked, therefore he shifted his family to residence of one of their relatives in some other area. Mr Khan said that Saturday night occurrence was like a nightmare and the loud kabooms still echoed in his mind. He said that women and kiddies in the area were crying and the injured were calling for help. He added that the government should compensate the people as most of the affected persons belonged to poor families. Several linemen of Wapda were seen busy in repairing the snapped wires on both sides of the road. One of them said that they had been trying their level best to repair the broken wires so that electricity could be restored at the earliest.

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India-Pakistan

ANP backs Nawaz on Siachen troop pullout

2012-04-23

[Dawn] The Awami National Party on Saturday backed PML-N president Mian 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... 's call for troops pullout and demilitarisation of Siachen. "The PML-N chief was right in his call for troops pullout from Siachen," said ANP's central front man and Senator Zahid Khan while talking to media persons after inaugurating Bacha Khan Medical OPD building at the district headquarters hospital here. However, denial ain't just a river in Egypt... he said that the ANP believed in negotiations for resolving all issues. Mr Khan said that both Pakistain and India should pull out their troops from Siachen and settle the issue through dialogue. Earlier, speaking at the inaugural function, Mr Khan said that the project of OPD and provision of necessary equipment had been completed with a cost of Rs20 million and it would start functioning next week. He also announced Rs20 million for provision of other medical facilities for the hospital and asked its administration to make it model hospital. The senator said that supply of Sui gas to Dir, construction of schools and electrification of several villages showed commitment of the ANP to the welfare of people. He said that construction of Chakdara Bridge was a longstanding demand of the people of Dir, Bajaur and Chitral, and this had been included in the Asian Development Bank-funded projects in the region. He said that the chief minister would visit Chakdara on May 1 to inaugurate construction of the bridge. "The government is committed to providing health and education facilities to people of the far-flung areas," he said, adding that the DHQ hospital was being provided with equipment and specialist doctors in order to minimise burden on Beautiful Downtown Peshawar hospitals. An employee of the DHQ hospital, Timergara, told this correspondent that the Bacha Khan OPD had so far been inaugurated by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... Chief Minister Ameer Haidar Hoti, senior minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour and provincial minister Haji Hidayatullah during their visits to Lower Dir.

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India-Pakistan

Hoti urges ulema to exercise restraint

2011-12-01

[Dawn] Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Tuesday urged followers of different Islamic schools of thought to be tolerant towards each other for peace during Muharram. He said this while chairing a consultative jirga of Shia and Sunni Learned Elders of Islam, and officials of provincial, district and divisional levels about maintenance of religious harmony and Islamic brotherhood during Muharram here at the Chief Minister`s House.The chief minister said presence of Learned Elders of Islam of different sects in the meeting showed that the nation was united and would remain united against those trying to destabilise the country by fanning sectarianism. He said the current delicate security situation facing the country demanded unity and harmony among different schools of Islamic thought. Mr Hoti said the recent NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Originally it was a mutual defense pact directed against an expansionist Soviet Union. In later years it evolved into a mechanism for picking the American pocket while criticizing the cut of the American pants... attack on Pak troops in Mohmand ... Named for the Mohmand clan of the Sarban Pahstuns, a truculent, quarrelsome lot. In Pakistain, the Mohmands infest their eponymous Agency, metastasizing as far as the plains of Beautiful Downtown Peshawar, Charsadda, and Mardan. Mohmands are also scattered throughout Pakistan in urban areas including Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta. In Afghanistan they are mainly found in Nangarhar and Kunar... agency was in fact an attack on the country`s illusory sovereignty and national integrity. He said ironically, the NATO didn`t act against Kunar (Afghanistan) terror camps targeting Pak troops. "Firing for hours on Pak posts was not a mistake," he said, adding that the decision to suspend NATO supplies and ask the US to vacate Shamsi airbase within a fortnight was necessary but there was a need to take more such decisions, including review of diplomatic relations with the US. The chief minister said the nation was united on the matter, adding that if the country`s existence was in danger, then politics, ideologies and manifestos were meaningless. "It is time to aptly respond to those targeting our illusory sovereignty," he said. Mr Hoti lauded efforts of Learned Elders of Islam and district administrations in the province for maintaining peace and religious harmony during Muharram and expressed the hope that the month would pass peacefully. He appreciated the suggestions and recommendations of participants and said appropriate steps would be taken accordingly. He said Pakhtuns had paid a heavy price for peace in the shape of massive killings and bombings of places of worship but still, the government was ready to hold dialogue with those willing to give up militancy and lead peaceful life. In response to a suggestion of health minister Zahir Shah, the chief minister directed police bosses to permanently solve the law and order problem during Muharram. He appreciated the role of peace committees and said provincial, divisional and district administrations would help Learned Elders of Islam in maintaining peace during Muharram. Senior provincial minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour, provincial ministers Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Zahir Shah, Qalb-e-Hassan and Qazi Muhammad Asad, Learned Elders of Islam of different sects from Peshawar, DI Khan, Hazara and Kohat Division, representatives of religious organizations, politicians, coppers, commissioners and provincial authorities were also present in the jirga.

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India-Pakistan

Demand for talks with Taliban irrational, says minister

2011-10-14

[Dawn] Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... Senior Minister and Awami National Party leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour on Wednesday regretted the repeated demands by head of certain political party for holding negotiations with Taliban and said that such statements could be given by politicians lacking sagacity. He was talking to a group of journalists here. Apparently referring to Pakistain Tehrik-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan ... who isn't your heaviest-duty thinker, maybe not even among the top five... , the minister said that making such demands after exposure to the nefarious designs of Taliban put a question mark on the political maturity of the politician. He said that Taliban had been involved in terrorist activities, killing of innocent people in suicide kabooms and destabilising the country. Mr Bilour said that the former player advocating dialogue with those who had killed women and kiddies and targeted security forces must know that politics was not a playground where every technique could be tried. "Politics is a delicate business specially when related to defence of the country and security of its people," he said and added that the present ANP-led provincial government believed in philosophy of non-violence and had held prolonged parleys with Taliban, inked a peace agreement and showed much leniency. The minister said that the soft gesture of the government was not only misused, but the Taliban used the situation to strengthen themselves and breached the peace agreement and again started destroying schools and public buildings and killing people in suicide kabooms. The Taliban even gave a deadline to the provincial government for resignation, he said. He said that that the government had eliminated subversive elements from Malakand. The senior minister said that even laymen would not support parleys with Taliban who even did not spare to kill people in mosques and Eidgahs. He said that it was need of the hour to crush all terrorist elements with a spirit of national cohesion and unity. In reply to a question, he said that the nation was in a state of war and this war could be won only by taking part with the same spirit as demonstrated by our forefathers in the war of independence.

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India-Pakistan

JUI-F lawmaker terms Osama hero of Muslims

2011-05-04

The news of killing of the late Osama bin Laden ... who has won the race to that place where we all eventually end up... overshadowed the proceedings of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... Assembly on Monday when a politician of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl That would be Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman's part of the Deobandi Assembly of Islamic Clergy party, the other part (JUI-S) belonging to Maulana Sami ul Haq. They've established thousands of madrassahs over the decades, and are supposed to be connected to the Taliban. termed him a hero of Mohammedans, prompting a cabinet member to call him a symbol of terror. On a point of order, Mufti Kifayetullah of JUI-F said that Osama was a hero for Mohammedans and a great jihadi leader, who sacrificed his life for the glory of Islam. He said that America in collaboration with the army killed Osama in a fake encounter in Abbottabad. Crossfire!! Except that there were no bullets behind the ear. The holy man from Mansehra paid rich tribute to bin Laden in his fiery speech in the house and blamed military for his liquidation. "It is a matter of shame for army and government that foreign forces invaded the country and killed our hero," he remarked, adding that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government was equally responsible for this action. "This is a fact that Americans killed bin Laden "He's dead, Jim." but they could not eliminate his ideology," he maintained. He said that it was the darkest day in the history of Pakistain. Awami National Party parliamentary leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour, who also holds the portfolio of senior minister, while giving a tit-for-tat reply to the Mufti termed bin Laden a symbol of terror. He said that the killer of thousands of innocent people had reached his logical end. "Thank God, we have been rid of this man," said Mr Bilour amid loud thumping of desks by the treasury members. He said that Osama bin Laden was not only responsible for killing of 10,000 innocent people but also killed over 3,000 soldiers. Osama and his supporters had destroyed schools, hospitals and killed their brothers and sisters therefore he did not deserve sympathies, he said. "He (Osama) was providing suicide jackets, guns and explosives to our children 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... and other parts of the country. His people have killed 400 workers and politicians of ANP," he added. "Let them (Al Qaeda gunnies) fight in Middle East and other parts of the world instead of killing innocent people in blasts. If Osama was a true Mohammedan then he should have launched jihad in his own territory," he said, adding that before the fall of Taliban government about 500 Learned Elders of Islam had asked Osama to leave Afghanistan. Speaker Karamatullah Khan Chagharmati, who was presiding over the proceedings, did not allow Qalandar Khan Lodhi, the parliamentary leader of PML-Q, to express his views on the US forces operation in Abbottabad. Mr Lodhi told Dawn that news about presence of bin Laden in Abbottabad shocked him and he did not believe that he was residing in such a peaceful and sensitive area. "This is failure of our security agencies that a high value target took shelter near the prestigious military academy," he said. Although security alert was declared in Beautiful Downtown Peshawar after the news of bin Laden's killing spread, people thronged bazaars and shopping malls. Offices and schools in the provincial metropolis remained open. Security was on alert as usual. However, The contradictory However... people seemed reserved to express their feelings on the killing of the Al Qaeda leader, who stayed in the scenic provincial capital along with his fighters for several years during the Afghan war. Many native of Peshawar did not believe the news about the killing of bin Laden. Mohammad Sajjad, a shopkeeper in Saddar Bazaar, said that he did not believe in the death of bin Laden. "Americans always tell lies. They have declared Osama dead many times before and I can't trust," he remarked.

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India-Pakistan

Sufi Mohammad leads ''peace rally'' to Taliban stronghold Matta

2009-02-20

Maulana Sufi Mohammad, Chief of the Tanzim Nifaz Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM), Wednesday reached Matta, the stronghold of militants in the volatile Swat Valley, as part of his peace mission. However, he could not hold talks with his son-in-law as widely expected by euphoric people who largely participated in his rally to play their part in the peaceful solution to the Swat problem. Earlier, Sufi Mohammad along with thousands of his supporters took out a peace rally, which after passing through various roads of Mingora culminated at the Tableeghi Markaz where special prayers were offered for the restoration of peace. Earlier, talking to The News, spokesman for the TNSM Amir Izzat Khan said that the rally was part of the peace initiative and an effort to remove the trepidations of the people of Swat. Izzat Khan said the peace rally would go to Matta and, if contacted, will hold talks with the Swat Taliban for laying down arms. He said the TNSM would devise a future strategy after holding talks with the Taliban in Charbagh. He said they would listen to their viewpoint. The spokesman said Sufi Mohammad would stay in Swat district till the complete restoration of peace in the valley and surrender by the Taliban. NWFP Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour on Wednesday said the provincial government was negotiating with everyone for the restoration of peace and normalcy in the restive Swat Valley. Meanwhile, a meeting of the Swat chapter of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was held on Wednesday at an unidentified location in Matta tehsil in which top commanders and Fazlullah's lieutenants participated. They reportedly constituted a committee to hold talks with the TNSM. Speaking at a press conference here at the Circuit House (this correspondent was not allowed to cover the event), NWFP Senior Minister Bashir Bilour said it was due to their negotiations that peace was being restored in the restive valley. He thanked Maulana Sufi Mohammad for his efforts to restore peace. Provincial Minister for Environment Wajid Ali Khan, Minister for Science and Technology Mohammad Ayub Khan, member provincial assembly Sher Shah Khan and District Coordination Officer Shaukat Ali Khan Yousufzai were also present on the occasion. Bashir Bilour also thanked the people of Swat for voting the ANP to power in the hope of bringing peace to the valley. He said the ANP once signed an accord with the Taliban and now it had reached an accord with TNSM chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad. The minister said the Sharai Nizam-e-Adl Regulation could also be replicated in other districts following its success in Malakand region. The provincial government wanted to solve problems through dialogue as use of force was not a solution to problems, he added. He said that courts in Malakand would not be like that of Afghanistan's Taliban but the regulation was aimed at providing speedy justice. A 14-member delegation of the TNSM, headed by central Nazim-e-Adl Safiullah, met Bashir Bilour at the Circuit House and discussed the regulation in detail. Bilour said that efforts by the TNSM would prove fruitful in bringing back peace to the valley. Agencies add: Earlier, Sufi Muhammad and his supporters, carrying black and white flags representing the Taliban and peace, marched through Swat's main city of Mingora as jubilant residents chanted "God is great! We want peace"! Police and witnesses estimated that 15,000 people marched in the crowd as they paraded through the town with the cleric, who advised them to recite only verses from the holy Quran. The marchers later drove through nearby villages to muster support for their call to militants to shun violence. "We have come here for peace," Sufi Mohammad told around 3,000 people in Matta, a militants' stronghold, some 18 km north of Mingora. "Without peace, Shariah (Islamic law) cannot be enforced," he said as militants carrying AK-47 assault rifles strolled nearby. "We're Taliban. Everybody here is Taliban ... We won't accept anything short of the Shariah system," Saifur Rehman, a resident of Matta, told Reuters after Sufi Mohammad's speech. Local residents lined the main roads, greeting Sufi Mohammad, who was jailed in Pakistan for six years after returning from Afghanistan where he led thousands of supporters to fight against US-led troops who toppled the Taliban in 2001. Amnesty International believes that over the past year, more than 1,200 people have been killed and 2,00,000-5,00,000 displaced from Swat as a result of fighting between hardliners trying to impose Shariah and the government. Geo News adds: The peace marchers then drove to the nearby Khwazakhela town, another hotbed of Swat Taliban. This was the last report filed by our slain correspondent.

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