TTP claims sending 10 suicide bombers to FATA, New video suggests Fazlullah alive

By: Tariq Habib | Published: December 27, 2010

KARACHI - The Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat has claimed dispatching a batch of 10 suicide bombers to the Tribal Areas to fight security forces combating militants near the Afghanistan border.In the latest video message, Taliban leader Mullah Fazlullah said, “Four of the suicide bombers have completed their tasks, while a group of another 300 bombers are ready to take their turn.

” The video shows 10 young would-be bombers, their faces covered in head-scarves, listening to Fazlullah, accompanied by a few other Taliban leaders.Taliban’s Swat media cell, Al-Fateh, was providing a copy of the DVD to reporters in Karachi, which carried the recording of Fazlullah’s address, which is divided into three parts.The first part is the address to the would-be suicide bombers; the second part to Muslims in general; and the third part to the media. The video suggests that the fleeing Taliban leader was alive, active and living in Waziristan. “We want to tell the world that Fazlullah is alive and fine,” said a person who handed over the video message.

Sources said the DVD was recorded in the first week of December 2010 at an undisclosed location in Malakand for dispelling the impression that Fazlullah had been killed and convey a message to the authorities that the Taliban leader would continue to attack law enforcement agencies, their supporters and ANP leaders.“Journalists should support us as we are working for an Islamic revolution in the country,” the Taliban leader stressed in his message. An Awami National Party senior leader said they had been receiving threats from the Taliban for the last two years. “I have lost my only son in this fight and will never surrender to the militants,” said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain.Dozens of ANP activists and leaders have been killed in suicide attacks, he said, adding that they “do not have concrete evidence of Fazlullah’s condition”.

This news was published in print paper. To access this news in paper click

Pakistan Today

Six suspected terrorists linked to foreign militant group arrested

By: Tariq Habib | Published: December 26, 2010

 



KARACHI - Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have arrested six suspected terrorists with links to an Iran-based militant organization, foiling their bid to form a terrorist wing of the outfit in Karachi, intelligence sources told Pakistan Today on Saturday.The suspects are believed to be involved in sectarian killings of over 100 people. They have been shifted to an unidentified location and raids are being carried out to arrest their 13 accomplices.The arrested men are alleged activists of the banned Sipah-e-Muhammad and working for another terrorist organisation, the Iran-based Lashkar-e-Ahle Bait. Sources said LEAs conducted a raid in the Federal B Area and arrested a man identified as Maisum, recovering heavy weapons and grenades from his possession.Within 24 hours of his arrest, police raided Yousuf Plaza in Ancholi and arrested another five suspects, recovering weapons and explosives from their possession. During initial interrogation, the suspects revealed that they had killed more than 100 members of rival sects in the last few years. “The suspects have strong links to Lashkar-e-Ahle Bait and were trying to establish a network of that organisation in Karachi,” a Home Department official told Pakistan Today.

 

This news was published in print paper. To access this news in paper click

Pakistan Today

Crooked murder of a crook?

KARACHI - Risala Police Station turned into a scene of commotion on Saturday as charged relatives and friends of a 24-year-old alleged bandit, Imran Baloch, staged a demonstration outside the police station over his death inside a lock-up on Friday.

Mirza stirs up a hornets’ nest?

KARACHI: Sixty percent of the people held for targeted killings in Karachi belong to a "major city-based political party" while the rest are also affiliated with other political parties, Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza said on Monday while addressing members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

Korean dog gives intelligence agencies the runaround

By: Tariq Habib | Published: December 13, 2010

KARACHI: A Korean dog has kept officials from the intelligence agencies and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on the runaround since Thursday – first to locate him and then to feed him.“The dog, Mind Reader, travelled all the way from Seoul Korea, landed in Afghanistan, and then arrived in Karachi on Thursday,” sources privy to the matter told Pakistan Today. A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft had been chartered by NATO forces to transport a unit of the South Korea army from Seoul to Bagram in Afghanistan. While others were successfully transferred, one soldier was left behind: the unit’s dog. Korean airline authorities hurriedly sent an e-mail to their Pakistani counterparts after the Korean military realised that Mind Reader was missing. “Please urgently check (with your crew) if it has been unloaded or skipped,” wrote John H. Hung of the Krasel Air Agency. “Pakistan intelligence agencies cordoned off the Jinnah terminal on Friday and assumed charge to search for Mind Reader,” sources said. The dog was ultimately found in his cage from the plane that had been chartered, sources added.Intelligence personnel are now working around the clock with other Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) officials to look after the dog, sources said. Korean authorities have sent a diet chart for the dog to the Pakistani government, with strict instructions to follow directives to the tee. Sources said that Mind Reader is being treated as a missing combatant in the war on terror, and top government officials in Islamabad have now taken responsibility for his guardianship. “The federal government along with intelligence agencies sent the dog to Islamabad on Sunday onboard a PIA flight,” sources said, explaining that Mind Reader will now be flown to Kabul and then to Bagram. Pakistan intelligence agencies are providing security to the Korean dog. The dog will be escorted by intelligence agencies until it is given to its rightful owners.

 

This news was published in print paper. To access this news in paper click

Pakistan Today

’200 people went missing during current regime’

KARACHI: More than 200 people have been abducted from various parts of the country in the tenure of the incumbent government - swelling the unofficial count of missing persons to more than 10,000 over the past nine years, Defence of Human Rights Pakistan (DHRP) Chairwoman Aamna Masood Janjua told Pakistan Today on Monday.

Tax exemptions to NATO tankers costing Rs 41.8b a year

By: Tariq Habib | Published: December 03, 2010

KARACHI: The government is incurring a loss of around Rs 3.5 billion a month or Rs 41.8 billion a year in exemptions granted in duties and sales taxes to tankers supplying fuel to NATO forces in Afghanistan.Hundreds of tankers transport thousands of litres of fuel to NATO troops each month. “Each day, 120 oil tankers transport fuel from two oil depots of Karachi to NATO troops. Each tanker carries as much as 50,000 litres,” a source in the Petroleum Ministry told Pakistan Today.“Normally, the Pakistani public is charged Rs 19.34 for every litre sold to them by the government. However, NATO forces do not pay a single penny to the taxpayers of Pakistan because of a transit-trade agreement with the government,” the source said. Former ISI chief Hameed Gul told Pakistan Today that these shipments were causing losses in billions.“Pakistan is losing over Rs 41 billion a year, something it cannot afford to lose, especially at this time when it needs funds to help rebuild its infrastructure and relocating its people after the floods,” he said. According to a statement released by the US government on May 26 this year, Pakistan had received a little under $7.5 billion for its role in the war on terror since 2001.“The US has provided us money for our operations only. Pakistan has lost more than simply its assets. Our sovereignty has been lost, not to mention the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the country for this senseless war. Who will be held accountable for that?” Gul said.The former spymaster said the war had forced the army to change strategies and move 147,000 soldiers from the eastern border for deployment on the western front. “Something like this has never happened in the history of this country,” he said.The oil transport business involves four companies, which engage more than 3,000 tankers to transport fuel to Afghanistan. Al-Hajj group has sidelined 1,000 of its tankers for NATO fuel supplies, Mengal Brothers 1,500, Spinners 500 and Bilal Company 50.

This news was published in print paper. To access this news in paper click Pakistan Today

None of country’s 13 air crashes probed properly

By: Tariq Habib | Published: November 29, 2010



KARACHI: Since independence, the country has witnessed 13 air crashes, none of which have been investigated even after assurances by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the government.Sources told Pakistan Today that orders were issued for their investigation from time to time, but not a single report of any crash was made public.

Search begins for two CID attack suspects

By: Tariq Habib | Published: November 13, 2010


KARACHI: Investigators, looking into the attack on the head office of the Crime Investigation Department in Karachi, said on Friday that they are looking for two men – identified by eyewitnesses – believed to be involved in the terrorist act, and also released their sketches.
“Eyewitnesses confirmed that they saw the two men approach the CID building from the railway lines, located behind the office,” an investigator said. The men escaped minutes before the explosion,” a police officer close to the investigation told Pakistan Today.
Diversion: According to police sources, it was believed that the two attackers, both in their youth, created a diversion to direct the policemen away from their positions, which allowed their accomplices to gain entry to the building with ease.
They also said that against popular belief, a total of five attackers approached the front of the building in two cars. Two of the terrorists came in a four-by-four luxury vehicle, while three came in a pick-up that was carrying the explosives.
“The first two waited for their accomplices who came in a Datsun pick-up. When the latter three arrived, the two men opened fire on the guards at the main gates, and also attacked them with grenades,” the officer said. “Then, all five made their way to the second gate, inside the CID building premises.
When they failed to open this gate, which would have led them to the main building, they detonated the truck,” the officer added. Also, there are conflicting reports on who actually carried out the attack.
Television channels reported the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as claiming responsibility through an e-mailed message. But on Friday, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told Senate that the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi was responsible for the deadly assault.
Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sultan Salahuddin Babar Khattak told reporters that police had acquired CCTV footage, which would give investigators a lead in identifying the attackers.

Pakistan Today

Cargo plane crashes in Karachi

KARACHI: A Russian-made cargo airplane crashed into a residential area near Dalmia area of the Gulistan-e-Johar soon after takeoff from the Jinnah International Airport on early Sunday, setting off a huge blaze, senior government and rescue officials said.

Karachi police will get mobile tracking system

KARACHI: A special mobile tracking system will be provided to Karachi police to help them maintain law and order, a meeting attended by members of the National

Assembly's Standing Committee on Interior and Sindh police officials held at the Inspector General of Police (IGP)'s Office on Thursday decided. A detailed summary of the law and order situation in the city was given by Karachi CCPO Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari.

‘Targeted unemployment’ – Livelihood of millions threatened in Karachi

KARACHI: An increasing ethnic divide is threatening the livelihood of millions of daily wagers who are now being financially targeted by the rival, political groups, which are bent on imposing the writ of their faction in 'enemy territory'.

Senators spin money out of flood relief

KARACHI: Indifferent to the suffering of flood-hit people across the country, some ruling parties' senators have been busy smuggling luxurious items into the country under the guise of relief goods for the affected people.

Police reluctant for fear of backlash

KARACHI: The government's search operation in Karachi - which is in its final stages of planning - has already hit snags as several police officers have expressed their unwillingness to take part in it, citing security concerns for themselves and their families.

Relief goods worth billions rotting away in PIA warehouses

KARACHI: Goods worth Rs 3.5 billion, sent to Pakistan by friendly countries for the assistance of the millions of displaced flood survivors, are rotting away in the import section warehouses of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Pakistan Today has learnt.