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India-Pakistan

Five more injured along LoC as Army issues stern warning to India over July 16 attack

2017-07-18

[DAWN] At least five civilians, including three women, were maimed in Azad Jammu and Kashmire (AJK) in "unprovoked" shelling by Indian troops from across the Line of Control (LoC) on Monday, officials said. The shelling, which began at about 7am in the Nakyal sector of southern Kotli district, coincided with a weekly hotline contact between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of Pakistain and India in the wake of Sunday’s mortar attack on an army vehicle in Neelum valley. Officials said there was no let up in Indian aggression along the LoC in Nakyal sector after yesterday's attack. "There has been indiscriminate mortar shelling since 7am in the morning, targeting almost all villages of Nakyal sector," police official Khurshid Ahmed told Dawn from the area. "So far, five people have been brought to the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital Nakyal, with multiple injuries, but I am afraid there might be more injured persons," he said. The official identified the hospitalised victims as Shaheen Kosar, 38, and Nazakat Ali Babar, 32, of Oli village, Iftikhar Ahmed, 28 of Marg Jair village, Gul Begum, 50, of Balakot village and Safina Kosar, 28, of Kunda village.

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India-Pakistan

1 killed, 3 injured in cross-LoC firing by Indian troops

2017-06-29

[DAWN] A man was killed and three others, including a woman, injured in Azad Jammu and Kashmire (AJK) as Indian forces opened fire from across the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday, local police said. The casualties occurred in the Nakyal sector in southern Kotli district after shelling began in the area at about 3:30pm, with Indian troops using small arms, automatic weapons and mortars, according to local officials. Abdul Wahab, son of Haji Razzaq, was hit by shrapnel from a mortar shell when he was on his way to Dothilla village, which lies along the restive LoC, police official Khurshid Ahmed told Dawn. The 22-year old victim, who ran a shop in Nakyal bazar, was struck down in his prime, he added. Elsewhere, Mohammad Shakil, 25, was injured in Balakot, Asif Mahmood, 28, was injured in Mohra Gimb and Safeera Bibi, 32, was injured in Bohail Colony. They were hospitalised in District Headquarters Hospital Kotli, police official Idrees Ahmed told Dawn.

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India-Pakistan

PM calls meeting to discuss PTI issue

2015-07-30

[DAWN] Prime Minister 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... has invited heads of the parliamentary parties to a meeting on Wednesday (today) to discuss the prevailing political situation, particularly the developments which have taken place after the release of the inquiry commission's report on the 2013 general elections. "Will no one rid me of this meddlesome cricket player?" Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, told Dawn that he had received the invitation. The decision to consult the heads of the parliamentary parties was made by the ruling PML-N after the National Assembly deferred for a week two identical motions moved by the JUI-F and the MQM seeking to declare as vacant seats of 28 Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) members for their absence from the house without leave during the party's sit-in in Islamabad last year.

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India-Pakistan

'Illegal mosques, madressahs caused Rs1.1 billion loss'

2015-01-29

[DAWN] The illegal construction of madressahs and mosques in Islamabad caused a loss of Rs1.1 billion to the public exchequer. This was disclosed in an audit report of financial affairs of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for the fiscal year 2012-2013 during the meeting of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday. Audit says over 300 mosques and madressahs were illegally constructed on CDA land According to the report, “about 305 mosques/madressahs had been illegally constructed on CDA land in various sectors of Islamabad.” The audit further observed that 69 madressahs/mosques had encroached upon, on average, 100 square yards each. The audit report observed that it is the CDA’s responsibility to guard its land against encroachers and take possession of land forcefully by removing encroachers and when necessary demolishing the illegally-constructed buildings on the land. The office of the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) estimated that “this resulted in a loss of Rs1.12 billion”. PAC chairman Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah referred this para to Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) for deliberations. After the audit authorities read out the said objection, the PAC chairman Shah said: “It is appropriate to refer this matter to DAC for action.”

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India-Pakistan

Shah says easier to negotiate with Afghan Taliban than Pakistanis

2013-09-11

[Dawn] Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah Tuesday said the government should hold result-oriented dialogue with Taliban to curb terrorism and restore peace in the country. Speaking to journalists at his chamber in the Parliament House, he said, "There are two types of Taliban: Afghans and Paks. It is easy to negotiate with the Afghan Taliban as compared to the Paks, because there are around 59 groups operating in the country." Shah said the Pakistain People's Party (PPP) government had brought Sufi Muhammad to the negotiating table for 13 times, but all efforts went in vain as many agreements reached in the talks were not even adhered to by the Taliban themselves. He urged the government to devise a mechanism to check the mushroom-growth of seminaries in the country. "The government will have to take strict decisions to improve the law and order situation in the country. The PPP will support the government in this regard as it has backed the government's stance at the All Parties Conference (APC)," he added.

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-Obits-

Islamic sendoff for Qazi Hussain Ahmed in Peshawar

2013-01-07

Ululululululululu *deep breath* ulululululululu... [Dawn] The funeral prayers of former Jamaati-e-Islami (JI) chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmed ...the absolutely humorless, xenophobic former head of the Pak Jamaat-e-Islami. He was also head of the MMA, a coalition of religious parties formed after 2001 that eventually collapsed under the weight of the holy egos involved. Qazi was the patron of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar during the Afghan mujaheddin's war against the Soviets. His sermons are described as fiery, which means they rely heavily on gospel and not at all on logic. Qazi once recommended drinking camel pee for good health, but that was before his kidneys went... were held on motorway Ring Road 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 Sunday, January 6, 2012, DawnNews reported. The funeral prayers were led by JI Chief Syed Munawar Hassan ... The funny-looking Amir of the Pak Jamaat-e-Islami. He joined the National Students Federation (NSF), a lefty student body, and was elected its President in 1959. He came into contact with the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) Pakistan and studied the writings of Mawlana Syed Abul Ala Maududi, The Great Apostasizer. As a result, he joined IJT in 1960 and soon he was elected as President of its University of Karachi Unit and member of the Central Executive Council. He was Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistain in 1992-93, and became Secretary General in 1993. After years of holding Qazi's camel he was named Amir when the old man stepped down in 2009... , and were attended by a large number of political and religious leaders including Central Amir of Jamaat e Ulema Islam (JUI-F) Fazlur Rehman, Chairman Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, 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.... President, Javed Hashmi, JUI-F leader, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, JI leader Liaquat Baloch, Former Senior Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... Minister, Siraj Ul Haq, JUI-Sami Chief, Maulana Samiul Haq ...the Godfather of the Taliban, leader of his own faction of the JUI. Known as Mullah Sandwich for his habit of having two young boys at a time... , Professor Khurshid Ahmed, former MNA Shabeer Ahmed Khan, senators, members of the parliament, officials, ex-local government representatives, and a large number of workers of JI. After the prayers, his body was shifted to Ziarat Kaka Sahib in Nowshera district where he was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard. Earlier today, Ahmed's body was brought from Islamabad to his residence in Peshawar. Many party workers and supporters from all over the country were traveling to Peshawar to attend the funeral. President of Pakistain Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Federal Information Qamar Zaman Kaira, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor and Chief Minister offered condolences over the death of the veteran politician and called it a great loss. Pakistain Mohammedan league- Nawaz (PML-N) chief 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... , Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Muttahida Qaumi Movement ...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead... (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and Religious scholar and Minhaj-ul-Koran International chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, among others, also offered condolences over the demise of the former JI chief. The 74-year-old religious scholar had died in Islamabad of cardiac illness. Ahmed was suffering from cardiac disease for quite some time and turned critical three days ago. Qazi Hussain Ahmed, 74, was also a prominent religious scholar, Islamic theologian, Islamic democracy advocate. Qazi joined JI in 1978 and was elected as the party's ameer (chief) in 1987, a position he would be re-elected to on two more occassions before finally stepping down in 2009. He served as the party's ameer for 22 years. Last November, he escaped an attack unhurt when a jacket wallah detonated explosives near his convoy in the Mohmand tribal agency.

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India-Pakistan

Over 60 per cent of Pakistani lawmakers evade taxes: report

2012-12-13

[Dawn] More than 60 per cent of Pakistain's cabinet and two thirds of its federal politicians paid no tax last year, according to a report released Wednesday on tax evasion among the country's politicians. The study entitled "Representation without Taxation" by investigative journalist Umar Cheema takes Pakistain's elected leaders to task for paying little or no tax despite an estimated average net wealth of $882,000. "The problem starts at the top. Those who make revenue policies, run the government, and collect taxes have not been able to set good examples for others," said the report, likely to increase pressure on Pakistain to implement tax reform. There was no immediate reaction from top politicians, although a front man for the main opposition Pakistain Mohammedan League-N party told AFP it was up to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to take action against any evaders. Pakistain has one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in the world, estimated at 9.2 per cent. Only 260,000 out of 180 million citizens have paid tax consecutively for the last three years, according to the FBR. According to the findings, President Asif Ali Ten Percent Zardari ... husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who has been singularly lacking in curiosity about who done her in ... did not file a tax return in 2011 and neither did 34 of the 55 cabinet members including Interior Minister Rehman Malik Pak politician, Interior Minister under the Gilani government. Malik is a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intelligence officer who rose to head the FIA during Benazir Bhutto's second tenure. Malik was tossed from his FIA job in 1998 after documenting the breath-taking corruption of the Sharif family. By unhappy coincidence Nawaz Sharif became PM at just that moment and Malik moved to London one step ahead of the button men. He had to give up the interior ministry job because he held dual Brit citizenship. Information was not available for one cabinet minister. Of the 20 cabinet ministers who did pay, most made only negligible contributions, including Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, with 142,536 rupees ($1,466) and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar with 69,619 rupees ($716). The cabinet member who paid the most was state minister for commerce, Abbas Khan Afridi, who paid 11.5 million rupees last year ($118,677). Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah paid the least with 43,333 rupees ($446). Among all the politicians in the upper and lower houses of the federal parliament, 67 per cent failed to file tax returns in 2011; 28 per cent did and five per cent were not possible to verify, according to the report. It also found that 78 members of parliament are still not registered with a national taxation number. Pakistain's refusal to implement sweeping tax reform was instrumental in the collapse of a $11.3 billion IMF bailout programme in November 2010.

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India-Pakistan

No probe against Nawaz in ISI funds case

2012-12-07

[Dawn] A federal minister revealed on Wednesday that the government had no plan to hold an inquiry into the allegations that PML-N chief 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... had received money from intelligence agencies in 1990 as ordered by the Supreme Court in the Asghar Khan case. "The Asghar Khan case is buried," declared Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, the chief negotiator of the government with the opposition, while talking to news hounds after attending a parliamentary committee meeting. He also expressed apprehensions over the court's recent decisions about delimitation of constituencies in Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... and the 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... government. "We do not want the FIA director general to drag Mr Sharif," Mr Shah said, adding that the PPP wanted the matter to be decided by the people. Mr Shah's remarks came a day after Mr Sharif said the credit for completion of the elected government's five-year term went to his party. "We are thankful to Mr Sharif for supporting democracy despite efforts to pitch us against each other," Mr Shah said while commenting on the PML-N chief's remarks. The apex court had, in its Oct 19 order in the Asghar Khan case, held the then military establishment and the presidency responsible for manipulating the 1990 elections through distribution of money among politicians. Initially, the PML-N rejected an investigation by the FIA, but following criticism from different quarters, Mr Sharif -- who had become prime minister as a result of the 1990 elections -- announced that he was ready to face a probe through the agency.

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India-Pakistan

Move afoot to bring down govt: Gilani

2011-12-23

[Dawn] Responding to intriguing questions being raised from right and left, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani ... Pakistain's erstwhile current prime minister, whose occasional feats of mental gymnastics can be awe-inspiring ... made a strong assertion of parliamentary supremacy in the National Assembly on Thursday, declaring that all state organs, including the military, were answerable to parliament and none could claim to be "a state within the state". Y'know, if they raised bananas they'd be a banana republic... His sharp comments in the lower house -- as well as in a speech earlier in connection with the birthday of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah -- followed some dire speculations relating to a defence ministry reply to a Supreme Court query and some challenging remarks by opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan about the state of the government's control over the military. "All institutions of the country are answerable to parliament and nobody is above law," the prime minister said at the fag-end of his second intervention in the house during the day that was greeted by a standing ovation from the treasury benches and supportive statements from allied parties. The obvious provocation was some divergent interpretations of a two-paragraph letter sent by the defence secretary to the Supreme Court registrar stating that his ministry "only exercises administrative control over the Pakistain Army and the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and it does not exercise any operational control over these organizations". This was not a new position taken by the ministry, stated even by Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar in a speech to the National Assembly some time back, but had been reiterated apparently to support the ministry's contention in its letter dated Dec 16 that it had "no knowledge, interaction or information worth submission" in the court vis-a-vis replies submitted by former ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani and an American businessman of Pak origin, Mansoor Ijaz, about a controversial anti-army memorandum sent by Mr Mansoor in May to the then US military chief. Chaudhry Nisar said media reports about the ministry's letter indicated the army General Headquarters and ISI were not under the government's control and blamed Mr Gilani's government for bringing the situation to this pass. But the prime minister rejected this assertion, saying no organ of the state could say "I am a state within the state" and, in a reference to his position as the chief executive representing parliament, added: "Decision-making is done only by parliament." He recalled his oft-repeated statement that he had made the military leadership accountable to parliament as had happened in military briefings given to joint sittings of the lower and upper houses, including last held after the May 2 US commando raid that killed Al Qaeda chief the late Osama bin Laden ... who abandoned all hope when he entered there... at his Abbottabad ... A pleasant city located only 30 convenient miles from Islamabad. The city is noted for its nice weather and good schools. It is the site of Pakistain's military academy, which was within comfortable walking distance of the residence of the late Osama bin Laden.... hideout, and said "they are answerable to parliament" and that any statement to the contrary could be a "misunderstanding". In his earlier speech at an exhibition of rare photographs and papers of the Quaid-i-Azam organised by the Pakistain National Council of the Arts, the prime minister claimed credit for bringing unity in the country in support of the army's fight against terrorism and said: "Therefore, my army, my military is disciplined and follows the Constitution of the country. "If some individuals think they are not under the government, they are mistaken. They are under the government and they will remain under the government because we are the elected, chosen representatives of the people of Pakistain." In emphasising the government-military cooperation, Mr Gilani referred to parliamentary support for anti-terrorism operations, support to the security establishment after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks and the anti-Osama raid, and a strong position taken on the recent NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A single organization with differing goals, equipment, language, doctrine, and organization.... attack on two border posts 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... tribal area that killed 24 Pak soldiers, as well as the doubling of military salaries, and said: "We have enhanced the image of the military... and they know what were the issues under (former president) Gen Pervez Perv Musharraf ... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ... and what are issues now." But the prime minister appeared piqued over objections being raised over the number of Pak visas issued to American intelligence personnel in connection with a probe of the Osama affair. "Now they are asking about how those visas were issued and we ask on what visa he (Osama) had come here?" In both his speeches, Mr Gilani spoke of "conspiracies" being hatched to "pack up" his government and said there would be "no use sitting in this house if we cannot protect the interests of the people". Chaudhry Nisar reiterated PML-N's position to stand by the government against any undemocratic move to topple it -- contrary to the past tradition of opposition parties seeking GHQ's help against a government -- and, while criticising the government for allowing what he called a bad situation to develop, said all was not lost and there was still time for the government to "mend itself and control the situation". Earlier, the prime minister informed the house that an inquiry had shown that a government reply to a question in the last session had wrongly stated that 30,000 pounds had been paid to PML-N leader Javed Hashmi for medical treatment abroad and offered his regrets for the error over which some members of the opposition party had tabled a privilege motion. The sitting, which ended with a six-day adjournment, was also marked by criticism of intelligence agencies from almost all parties for allegedly threatening telephone calls made to an anchor of a television channel and a token walkout by journalists from the press gallery before the house authorised Speaker Fehmia Mirza to constitute a special committee to probe the matter. A motion moved by PPP chief whip Khurshid Ahmed Shah and adopted by the house said the committee, likely to be headed by an opposition politician, would have 15 days to make a report. Chaudhry Nisar had said his party was ready to chair the committee which would consist of members from all parties in the house.

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India-Pakistan

Islamabad-Rawalpindi: Button men bang four

2011-09-29

[Dawn] Tuesday proved a bloody day for the twin cities where unidentified gunnies rubbed out four persons in assassinations and beat feet unchallenged. A mother, her daughter and their driver were killed in Islamabad while the principal of a kindergarten school was bumped off in Rawalpindi. Revenge appeared to be behind both the crimes. According to police of the two cities, the 38-year-old principal Akhtar-ul-Islam had earned ire for divorcing his wife to marry a teacher of his school, and the mother Najma Bibi, 45, was thrice married and allegedly in sex trade. Islamabad police said Najma had survived a murder attempt in July and had gone into hiding. Her pursuers got her as she and her daughter Sidra were being driven home by their driver after a court appearance in Islamabad. Gunmen were apparently shadowing them from the court and got them when their car stopped near a roundabout in Sector F-10 to drop a fourth person travelling in it. The gunnies swarmed the car and shot the three persons inside dead from close range and decamped. "Not a single bullet hit the body of the car," said a policeman who reached the scene of the crime and took the victims to a hospital where they were declared dead. Police Sherlocks are trying to get information about the driver from his native Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... province, to determine whether he was a target or was killed because he could identify the killers at some stage. In the attack on Akhtar-ul-Islam in Rawalpindi, a lady teacher saw the killers but was too frightened to say that as she was injured in her leg by their get-away firing. "I cannot identify the gunnies as I was too confused and stunned by the flying bullets as they ran out while I was entering the school," Ms Kiran said from her hospital bed. Sub-inspector Jawad Shah of Rawalpindi police, who is leading the investigation into the cold blooded murder of Akhtar-ul-Islam in his K-Tech Kindergarten School in Dhoke Matkial locality, said she was the only person who could identify the killers but he failed to convince her to come out as a witness. Meanwhile, ...back at the fist fight, Jake ducked another roundhouse, then parried with his left, then with his right, finally with his chin... Khurshid Ahmed, a cousin and husband of the sister of Akhtar-ul-Islam, has created a weird situation by nominating brothers of both the former and present wife of the murdered principal as suspects. Police however have made no arrests yet, arguing that the motive had to be determined to reach the real killers. Police sources said Akhtar-ul-Islam belonged to Hazara district and had divorced his first wife Faiza six weeks ago and married Nazima, a teacher in his school he had fallen in love. In the case of Najma Bibi, the central character in the murders in Islamabad was reportedly seeking separation from her current, third husband of four years, and a share in his property. The husband, a lawyer has sued her of 'kidnapping' their daughter Sidra. Islamabad police said her first husband was living in the USA. She separated from her second six years ago who is living in Kamra.

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India-Pakistan

18 killed as violence spreads in Karachi

2011-07-25

[Dawn] Interior Minister Rehman Malik Pak politician, current Interior Minister under the Gilani administration. Malik is a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intelligence officer who rose to head the FIA during Benazir Bhutto's second tenure. He later joined the Pak Peoples Party and was chief security officer to Bhutto. Malik was tossed from his FIA job in 1998 after documenting the breath-taking corruption of the Sharif family. By unhappy coincidence Näwaz Shärif became PM at just that moment and Malik moved to London one step ahead of the button men. ruled out any 'operation' in Bloody Karachi on Sunday, but talking to newsmen after a renewed wave of murders left at least 18 people dead and several others maimed said that police and Rangers would work together to restore order. The daylong violence caused the authorities to once again impose a ban on riding double that Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan had lifted about a fortnight ago. While the situation had been tense in Malir and Landhi amid gunbattles between groups going on for the past few days, violence spread to other parts of the city with attacks on a restaurant and a sweetmeat shop on Sunday. There were reports of two rocket attacks in Malir. Commercial areas were shut and residents stayed indoors with several localities reverberating with gunfire. The worst-hit areas were Malir, Landhi, North Bloody Karachi, Surjani, F.B. Area, Baldia, Lyari and Orangi. The law-enforcers stayed away from trouble spots and were seen only on main roads. Mr Malik said President Asif Ali President Ten Percent Zardari ... sticky-fingered husband of the late Benazir Bhutto ... had summoned a meeting to review the law and order situation in the city and other parts of the province. The meeting has been called amid allegations by MQM leaders about patronage of criminals by some ministers and an appeal made by the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) to the president to take notice of what it described as "the political aggression and terrorism against the MQM-H and its members" and to provide them security. There is a possibility that some decisions would be taken at the meeting about deployment of law-enforcement agencies in the city to address people's concerns. Mr Malik said all parties would have to work hand in hand to restore peace. According to sources, development projects in Lyari are likely to be given priority at the meeting and a package is expected to be announced. Meanwhile, ...back at the Esquimeau village our hero was receiving a quick lesson in aeronautics:... federal Minister Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah called on Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan on Sunday. The minister said the federal government would extend all possible assistance to the province in its efforts to maintain law and order and political harmony. According to a statement issued after the meeting, the two leaders agreed that the entire country needed restoration of law and order in Bloody Karachi. The chief minister also presided over a meeting held to review the situation in the city. He asked the Sindh Rangers and police chiefs to take ruthless action against myrmidons and maintain peace and tranquillity. Additional Chief Secretary (home) Waseem Ahmed said the ban on riding double would remain in force till further orders. He said senior citizens and women would be exempted from the ban.

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India-Pakistan

Opposition parties fail to reach agreement

2011-06-01

[Dawn] ISLAMABAD: All opposition parties met here on Monday to devise a joint strategy for the budget sessions of the two houses of parliament, but, according to sources, failed to reach an agreement. But the parties invited for the meeting by Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan decided to meet again on Friday morning, hours before presentation of the budget, to consider the same agenda of taking a unified position on the budget and implementation of the May 14 resolution of the two houses of parliament on the May 2 US raid in Abbottabad. The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, which has become the second largest opposition group in parliament after the PML-Q joined the ruling coalition, has reservations over the PML-N move to unite the opposition parties on one platform because the two parties have been in a row over the position of leader of opposition in the Senate. "No such decision of a united opposition or taking a united stand has been taken in the meeting," JUI-F General Secretary Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri told Dawn after the meeting held in the chamber of Chaudhry Nisar at the Parliament House. But, he said there was a consensus that all opposition parties should put pressure on the government to immediately set up an independent commission to investigate the Abbottabad raid. He said it was on the PML-N`s demand that they had agreed that the constitution of the commission should be the starting point for implementation of the resolution. Moreover, he said, the JUI-F had informed all opposition parties that a three-day meeting of the party`s Majlis-i-Shoora had been convened by 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 ... in Islamabad from June 10 and only after that meeting the party would be able to make any commitment to them. Replying to a question, Maulana Haideri admitted that his party was not on good terms with the PML-N over the issue of the leader of opposition in the Senate. He said his party had a clear majority in the Senate but the PML-N had been manoeuvring to get the opposition post despite having only seven senators. Aftab Sherpao of the PPP-S, Prof Khurshid Ahmed of Jamaat-i-Islami, Maulana Ataur Rehman of the JUI-F, Abdul Rahim Mandokhel of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Zahid Hamid of the PML-N also attended the meeting.

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