MQM’s activists behind Farooq’s murder

By Tariq Habib

KARACHI:  The people involved in the murder of senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Dr Imran Farooq were graduates of Karachi University and affiliated with the party’s student wing, Pakistan Today learnt on Friday.

Al Qaeda’s Pakistan chief is alive

By Tariq Habib

KARACHI: The CIA’s claim about killing Ustad Ahmed Farooq, head of al Qaeda in Pakistan, proved false when he appeared in a video tape and vowed to avenge the killing of Osama Bin Laden. Farooq was earlier declared killed in a US drone strike in South Waziristan on June 3.

3 naval officers face court martial in PNS Mehran case

By Tariq Habib

KARACHI: Pakistan Navy has initiated court martial proceeding against three serving officers for their alleged negligence in the PNS Mehran terror attack. The officers being court martialled include PNS Mehran Commanding Officer Captain Israr, Naval Aviation Commander Commodore Tahir and PNS Mehran Chief Security Officer Lt Commander Abrar.

Sleuths blame three politicians’ ‘RAW links’ for violence in city

KARACHI:  Three important political personalities of Pakistan have close ties with intelligence agencies of India –the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) – and Iran, and are behind the ongoing incidents of violence across Karachi in compliance with the orders of their foreigner masters, Pakistan Today has learnt.

FIA team to head to UK to arrest NICL scam accused

KARACHI - The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday revealed that it had decided to send a team to the UK to arrest Amin Qasim Dada, the main accused in the National Insurance Corporation Ltd scam.

Wanted by Interpol, released by AVCC

By: Tariq Habib | Published: March 11, 2011

KARACHI - A Karachi-based industrialist arrested by the Anti Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) on Wednesday over financial irregularities in Dubai was released on Thursday.

Urge to smoke proves lethal for ‘terrorist’

KARACHI - An explosion ripped off the roof of a house in the Korangi area on Saturday, while killing one person and injuring two others. Police said a man identified as Zulfiqar Kolachi was killed in the blast near Gulzar Mosque in the Jumma Goth area of Ibrahim Hyderi, Korangi.

FIA seeks foreign help to arrest NICL absconders

KARACHI - The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has requested the American and British consulates to help arresting the absconders of the National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) scam, FIA Sindh Director Moazzam Jah said at a press conference held at the FIA camp office in Karachi.

Many eye Cantt but only few find the Horizon

KARACHI: A group of goons, alleged to be associated with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and posted at Bilawal House, have grabbed 24 apartments in a complex situated at Dr Dawood Pota Road near the Cantt Station, Pakistan Today has learnt.

NICL scam – FIA not allowed to search AKD’s house?

KARACHI - The high-ups of the authorities concerned are continuously interfering in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) probing the National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) scam as some bitter facts have come to light. Recently, the FIA joint interrogation team was not permitted to search the house of an important personality of the business community as he is an in-law of Amin Qasim Dada, the main culprit of NICL scam.

Sindh Assembly building escapes terror attack?

KARACHI - Police foiled a possible terror attack attempt on the Sindh Assembly building when they arrested three suspects having close links to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

NADRA officials assisting agents involved in forgery ?

By: Tariq Habib | Published: January 14, 2011

 



KARACHI - Criminal elements have gained inside access to the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) and use it to make fake national identity cards, it has been learnt.Sources in NADRA told Pakistan Today that a few staff members were in contact with agents involved in the business of forged identity cards, who charge huge amounts for making fake computerised national identity cards (CNICs).Dozens of applications have been submitted at NADRA for inquiry against counterfeit identity cards, but officials are not willing to help in the investigation being carried out by police to combat persons involved in such business.Recently, a person by the name of Asif Zia got himself fake ID card No 42301-8587677-1, showing Zia Ahmed Khan as his father and using his house address. However, there was no record in the computer data of NADRA.When Pakistan Today contacted Khan, the Honorary Consulate General of Republic of Equatorial Guinea, he said he did not know Zia.“I was shocked to know that he has shown me as his father and also used my address as his own home address,” he added.Khan said he had submitted an application in this regard to NADRA General Manager Col (r) Ahsan on 6th May 2010, requesting the fake CNIC be cancelled immediately and an inquiry ordered to get hold of the culprits involved in such forgery. An FIR has also been lodged at the police station, he added.NADRA Deputy General Manager Col (r) Aqeel, while talking to Pakistan Today, said that an application was received from Khan and investigation were underway.NADRA Deputy Chairman Tariq Malik said that application of Khan was sent to the department concerned and the fake ID card would be cancelled after an inquiry.The Gizri SIO told Pakistan Today that the police was facing hurdles due to non-cooperation of NADRA officials. “We sent a letter to NADRA through the SP Investigations for details on forged ID cards but the management did not reply”, he said, adding that a reminder was also sent to NADRA on May 25, 2010.Sources alleged that more that 15,000 fake ID cards have been issued, as staff members themselves are involved in this business.I was shocked to know that he has shown me as his father and also used my address as his own home address.

 

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Pakistan Today

Red tape at police stations – Karachiites shy from reporting crime

KARACHI - Despite the increasing crime rate in Karachi, the city police are not lodging first information reports (FIRs) and people affected by street crimes are also reluctant to register cases due to the indifferent behaviour of the law enforcers.

Punjab governor’s murder - 2,000 guards of Sindh VVIPs sent back to head offices

By: Tariq Habib | Published: January 06, 2011

 


KARACHI - Over 2,000 security personnel deployed with VVIPs of Sindh have been sent back to their head offices, while the personal details of more than 1,000 personnel of law enforcement agencies will be sent to intelligence agencies for vetting, Pakistan Today has learnt.According to the data of the Home Department, important personalities of Sindh enjoy the security of more than 8,000 police personnel and 4,000 personnel of other intelligence agencies. The assassination of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer struck a (security) chord among VVIPs of Sindh, however, and they have requested authorities to screen the personal details of all security guards.The Home Department in turn has decided to compile a list of law enforcement agencies’ personnel who have been affiliated with a religious party in the past.A list of more than 1,013 law enforcers has been prepared by the Home Department, and this will now be sent to different intelligence agencies for screening purposes. “The personnel of police, special police and intelligence agencies will follow the screening process,” sources claimed. “No action will be taken against them, but they would not be permitted on security duty for any VVIP.”Sources said that during the last 24 hours, some security guards from the Bilawal House, Sindh Assembly and some other buildings frequented by VIPs have been redeployed elsewhere. “Some ministers and other VIPs have also requested the Home Department to screen their guards’ data,” the sources said.Many important figures of Sindh have decided to trust and rely only on their private guards, but a few guards of law enforcement agencies will stay with them for emergency and backup purposes.“Some unexpected decisions regarding VVIPs’ security might be taken in the near future by the government,” the sources revealed.

 

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Pakistan Today

ISI chief pays surprise visit to Karachi, meets Zardari twice

By: Tariq Habib | Published: January 05, 2011

 



KARACHI - Political parties have taken a U-turn after chief of the premier intelligence agency met with President Asif Ali Zardari, sources told Pakistan Today.The political situation of the country suddenly changed after a surprise visit of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief to Karachi on Saturday night. Upon his arrival in the city, the ISI chief met twice with the president. “Had there been any scheduled high-profile visit, security agencies would have been informed about it. Since no high-profile visit of the ISI chief was scheduled for Karachi, this was a surprise visit,” sources said.They claimed that after the controversial role of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the politics of the country, intelligence agencies responsible for protecting national interests had to interfere in the country’s affairs. The ISI chief visited Karachi by his private plane and met Zardari. He also attended a high-level meeting at the local office of the intelligence agency.Following that meeting, the ISI chief met with Zardari again that night. On Sunday, the political situation took a U-turn and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) dealt with the MQM strictly. The PPP refused to accept MQM’s demands, compelling the MQM to move to the opposition benches. Earlier, controversies between the PPP and the MQM were apparently approaching their end, and Interior Minister Rehman Malik was playing an important role in this regard.“Some changes were being made by the PPP in the Sindh Cabinet just to fulfil the demands of the MQM,” sources claimed. Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza, Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza and two departments were going to go through some changes. However, after meeting with the ISI chief, Zardari took a strict stance and refused to accept any demand of the MQM.A PPP leader told Pakistan Today on condition of anonymity that the party’s leaders and activists had made their agitation known to the president.“PPP leaders were considering MQM’s demands as blackmailing tactics and wanted to strongly resist them,” he added. Sources said the MQM was continuously changing its demands and strictly criticising PPP members in the Sindh Cabinet.“There is no threat to the PPP government,” they added.

 

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Pakistan Today

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.

 

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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.

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.

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.