ISLAMABAD: When MQM’s parliamentarians headed to the chambers of Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, the latter’s alacrity in verifying their resignations raised many eyebrows and caused much confusion in the federal capital.

In fact, many channels went so far as to report that the resignations had been accepted and a notification issued. This news was denied by the government much later in the day.

For many in the capital, the Speaker’s efficiency was linked to his meeting with the federal minister for interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, around mid-day on Wednesday.

Know more: MQM lawmakers tender resignations

Held in the Speaker’s chamber, some believe that the meeting was held to discuss the impending resignations.

By Wednesday morning, most people knew that the resignations were coming.

It seems even the MQM didn’t expect such a quick response. Dr Farooq Sattar told the media outside the parliament that, “when it came to our resignations, the speaker has accepted them without wasting any time. But, everybody knows how he delayed a similar action in case of the PTI.”

The PTI resigned from the National Assembly in August last year and the resignations issue was finally resolved on August 6, 2015.

The media wing of the National Assembly secretariat has confirmed the meeting between the speaker and interior minister.

A PML-N insider claims that while he doesn’t know “what transpired during the meeting,” it is no secret that “the interior minister is against the blackmailing tactics of the MQM to roll back the Karachi operation.”

Chaudhry Nisar had on Monday in the parliament categorically told the MQM that the Sindh Rangers weren’t going to spare anybody found involved in criminal activities.

This is why some feel that Chaudhry Nisar could have played a role in the decision of the speaker National Assembly to accept the MQM’s resignations.

A PML-N member points out that “If a speaker writes ‘process’ on the resignation of an MNA, to my knowledge, it means that the resignation is to be sent to the Election Commission. This is why the NA secretariat even prepared a formal notification listing the names of MQM parliamentarians who had resigned. But it was held back at the eleventh hour.”

This notification was perhaps what led many channels to report that the resignations had been accepted.

Sources within the NA also confirmed that after the formal verification by the Speaker, a notification was prepared but not released.

But once the news of the notification was announced on the news channels, the top tier of the PML-N leadership got wind of it. Shocked out of their stupor, they then began a damage control exercise.

Anusha Rehman and Zahid Hamid, both lawyers, were sent to the Speaker’s office where they held a meeting.

Soon afterwards, the journalists were sent a clarification, which was to be attributed to un-named sources, that the speaker was yet to accept the resignations because he was required to verify them individually and not en bloc.

Clearly this was a legal jugglery because the Speaker had – in front of television cameras – examined each resignation individually and asked each member if he had submitted it voluntarily.

This argument was then repeated by senior PML-N ministers and members at the talks show at night, adding that the prime minister (who reached Pakistan on Wednesday night) would handle the issue on his return.

When asked, a spokesperson for the prime minister office contended that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was on his way back from Belarus when the issue of resignations erupted in Islamabad.

According to a senior government official, the prime minister was received by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan at the airport and the two had a brief meeting. Evidently the MQM was discussed.

The PM house official also said that the government would try its best to bring the party back to the parliament.

Late night on Wednesday, there were reports of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar having contacted Dr Farooq Sattar about the resignations. The latter is reported to have said that this was a party decision.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers simultaneously submitted their resignations in the National Assembly, Senate and the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday, citing reservations over the Rangers-led operation in Karachi.

MQM lawmaker Farooq Sattar while addressing the NA said, "We have decided to resign from the National Assembly, Senate and Sindh Assembly."

In National Assembly, after Sattar finished his speech, the MQM lawmakers went into the Speaker's chamber to submit their resignations.

The NA Speaker sat at his desk, surrounded by MQM lawmakers who submitted their resignations one by one.

Ayaz Sadiq verified the resignations, but the decision to accept the resignations will take place after the arrival of PM Nawaz Sharif, said sources in the PML-N. The PML-N leadership is also in contact with PPP leadership, they added.

MQM Senators then submitted their resignations to Chairman Senate.

Senator Raza Rabbani initially refused to accept the resignations and asked the MQM lawmakers to submit the resignations in Senate Secretariat — which they later did.

Meanwhile, the party's MPAs also submitted their resignations to Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani.

MQM airs grievances

• Farooq Sattar announces decision to resign from National Assembly, Senate and Sindh assembly.

• Hundreds of party workers arrested by LEA’s have not been sent on judicial remand, a practice that was against Article 10, said Farooq Sattar.

• He complained that the government has failed to set up a monitoring committee to check the performance of Rangers.

• If state aggression is used to build a new political empire by suppressing the actual public mandate, it will create a violent backlash.

• If Altaf Hussain speaks against institutions, everyone loses their minds. But when other leaders do so, no one takes notice.

Farooq Sattar, while addressing a press conference outside NA, said "it has been proved that the implementation of law is different for MQM than that for other parties".

"Even if the statements and speeches of Altaf Hussain are allegedly against the Constitution, it does not give any state institution the leverage to carry out illegal and unlawful acts against MQM and its leaderships," he asserted.

While addressing the National Assembly earlier today, MQM leader Farooq Sattar said that many party workers over the past six months had been arrested by Rangers and other law enforcement agencies but had not been sent on judicial remand, a practice, he said, was against Article 10.

The MQM leader said that there were hundreds of fake cases registered against the party chief and workers.

"Take a 90-day remand as per the law if required. We have never protested against or objected to it," he said.

He demanded an "unbiased operation" in Karachi, saying that the government had failed to set up a monitoring committee to check the Rangers. "We have failed to get justice," he said.

Farooq Sattar said the government was involved in a media trial of the MQM and is trying to "create space for someone" in the upcoming Local Government elections.

“A media trial against MQM is being facilitated by releasing stories and confessional statements to media. Who is giving all this stories to media? Under what law and on whose orders?” questioned the MQM lawmaker.

“If someone uses state aggression and tries to build a new political empire by suppressing the actual mandate of the public, it will create a violent backlash,” Sattar said.

He alleged that the government provides a safe exit to terrorists while the Rangers treat MQM workers like prisoners of war. He asked the speaker how the PPP, PML-N or Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf would react if the same happened to their party members.

"We are the fourth largest party and we are being prevented from playing our role, we have been pushed against the wall," he said.

Sattar that a judicial commission should be formed to investigate cases of missing citizens. "When we ask for justice, why is there a hindrance in providing us justice if this is a democracy with a representative government?"

"Karachi only receives 66 per cent revenue," Sattar said. "We demand justice, and for the establishment of a judicial commission," he said.

"We have raised our concerns before the Sindh chief minister, the Sindh home minister, the prime minister and Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, but were never given a clear response," the MQM leader told the NA.

"We were told that all of this is a result of Altaf Hussain's speeches from London," he added, saying that the government's ban on Altaf's speeches was in violation of Article 19 of the constitution.

He said that Khawaja Asif, Munawar Hassan, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Maulana Abdul Aziz had also spoken about the armed forces in public.

Meanwhile, Altaf Hussain in an interview with Geo television's Hamid Mir, said that he will not issue any statement which would hurt the integrity of the country's institutions.

Also read: Ruckus in Sindh Assembly as MQM protests killing of worker

Earlier today, as MQM party members staged a protest outside the National Assembly, Farooq Sattar had told reporters the party would go to the assembly first and then to the Speaker's chamber.

Sindh Assembly MPAs had directly approached Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani's chamber to submit their resignations as the assembly session had concluded.

Farooq Sattar outside the National Assembly as party members stage a protest. ─ DawnNews screengrab

Earlier, an MQM spokesperson told Dawn.com that MQM MPAs are expected to resign from the Sindh Assembly today.

He also said Farooq Sattar would address parliament today and that "mass resignations" should be expected.

Senior MQM member Mustafa Azizabadi confirmed to BBC Urdu that the party intended to tender resignations in the Senate and assemblies today.

The party's parliamentarians held a meeting at Parliament House, following which they staged a protest outside the National Assembly.

A protest note circulating on local news channels, believed to have been drafted by the MQM, may be submitted along with the resignations of MQM legislators.

The note highlights the party's reservations over being targeted for the past two years, as well as the media trial conducted against the MQM. It also terms the ban on the live broadcast of MQM chief Altaf Hussain's speeches as unconstitutional.

Will accept MQM resignations if genuine: NA Speaker

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq while speaking to the press earlier on Wednesday had said that if MQM MNAs submitted their resignations voluntarily, he would accept them.

"If they come with their resignations and hand them over to me themselves, I will ask them 'Is is voluntary? Is it genuine?' If they say they were not pressured into it, I will accept it," he said.

When asked about the possibility of MQM resignations being tendered, he said "I don't know where you got the news that MQM members were going to resign."

"Farooq Sattar spoke about the extra-judicial killing of an MQM worker. I allowed him to speak on a point of order. The Interior Minister replied that they had reservations over the matter," he said, referring to the killing of MQM activist Muhammad Hashim.

Resignations being processed: NA secretariat

Later in the day, a press release was issued by the NA secretariat saying that resignations of MQM MNAs had not been officially accepted thus far, contradicting reports to the contrary in some sections of media.

The release said the resignations were being processed by the relevant branch of the secretariat.

"It is clarified that resignations of 24 Members of MQM were handed over to the Honourable Speaker in his office at about 3.00 pm today, Aug 12, 2015. The Honourable Speaker after receiving these resignations, directed the National Assembly Secretariat in writing to process them," says the news release.

ISLAMABAD: Security agencies claimed on Wed­nesday to have thwarted a suicide bombing plot linked to Independence Day celebrations in Karachi.

A number of high-value terrorists including a senior Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan commander from the group’s Swat chapter, identified as Bakht Zaman, were said to have been arrested in what is being described as an ‘intelligence-based operation’ (IBO). Zaman was the group’s naib emir for Karachi.

“Security forces have busted a foreign-sponsored gang and foiled a terrorists bid to sabotage August 14 celebrations in Karachi,” ISPR said in a statement.

Know more: Three TTP leaders among 16 arrested

It said the operation to foil the plot was carried out in Karachi and Hyderabad on Sunday (Aug 9) after extensive surveillance of the suspects.

It only said that the terrorists had been “planning for some time” to attack Independence Day celebrations in the city, but did not identify the exact target.

A threat alert issued by the National Crisis Manage­ment Cell of the Interior Ministry on July 28 had claimed that Taliban terrorists had extorted Rs3 million from a Karachi-based businessman for terrorist attacks.

A Suzuki high-roof van and a motorbike, which were to be used in the attack, were claimed to have been bought from the extortion money, while the remaining amount was reportedly used for buying suicide bombers from Afghanistan and for planning other attacks.

The emir of the group travelled to Afghanistan to arrange the bombers. He is seemingly yet to return from Afghanistan with the bombers.

It wasn’t clear why the security agencies, which normally do not disclose information about their operations, decided to announce the arrests even though they were yet to net the emir and the bombers, who are supposed to be on their way to Karachi.

The ISPR statement said that the van and motorcycle, which had been recovered from the terrorists, had been rigged with explosives.

The army flaunts IBOs as a major success story in the fight against terrorism.

The military, with the support of intelligence agencies and civilian law enforcement forces, has since last year conducted over 9,100 IBOs in which 232 hardcore terrorists are said to have been killed.

The IBOs started after the launch of the Zarb-e-Azb operation to pre-empt terrorist backlash, the army says, are now being intensified to neutralise terrorist networks, particularly in urban areas.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2015

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KABUL: Afghanistan's intelligence agency claims Pakistan was involved in last week's attacks on Kabul that killed more than 50 people and wounded hundreds.

Hassib Sediqi, the spokesman for the National Directorate of Security, said Wednesday that Afghan authorities have confirmed “Pakistani military interference” in the attacks last Friday.

Sediqi says “special circles of the Pakistani military were behind all those attacks.” He claims the Pakistanis were working through the Haqqani network, one of the most brutal militant groups in Afghanistan.

There was no immediate reaction from Islamabad, which has in the past denied such accusations from Afghanistan. Islamabad wields considerable influence over the Taliban, which have waged a 14-year war against Kabul.

Read: Ashraf Ghani slams Pakistan over recent Kabul attacks.

The development comes soon after Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in statements a day apart accused Pakistan of implicit support to Taliban, who have recently been engaged in brutal offensives in Afghanistan, which has been struggling to combat terrorism ever since the withdrawal of Nato forces.

Also read: Abdullah Abdullah accuses Pakistan of helping Afghanistan's enemies.

Pakistan recently brokered a first round of peace talks between the Aghan government and the insurgent group, which took place in Murree. But negotiations fell into jeopardy after the announced death of Taliban chief Mullah Omar.

According to Islamabad, a second round of peace talks has been postponed on the Taliban's insistence after confirmation of Mullah Omar's death sent the militant group into a leadership crisis, with reports of internal conflicts on the issue of Omar's successor.

Take a look: Peace talks in jeopardy: Afghan Taliban postpone second round of talks.

Meanwhile, the Taliban on Wednesday said the spike in attacks in Kabul was designed to prove the Taliban's new leader was firmly in charge, the group said, but Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour's position remains precarious as clerics and top militants meet secretly to decide whether to back him.

Divisions are deep over Mansour's appointment as head of the hardline Islamist movement fighting since its ouster in 2001 to overthrow Afghanistan's Western-backed government and re-establish strict Islamic rule.

A Taliban spokesman confirmed two of three big suicide bombs last week within 24 hours were in response to rumours the insurgents had been weakened by disputes following confirmation of the death of founder Mullah Mohammad Omar.

Know more: Taliban leadership struggle fuels wave of attacks in Afghanistan.

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet decided on Wednesday that contracts for construction of $3.5 billion road projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor be awarded to Chinese companies through bidding.

A meeting of the ECC presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was informed that Article-II of the CPEC Framework Agreement required that bidding for such projects would be limited to Chinese firms.

The meeting was convened on the request of the ministry of communications to formally allow the bidding.

Two projects of the CPEC earmarked for early completion– $2.6bn Karachi-Lahore Motorway and $920 million Karakoram Highway Phase-II – have been included in the current year’s Public Sector Development Programme for their completion in 2017-18.

The projects, to be constructed on ‘build, operate and transfer’ basis, will be undertaken by the National Highway Authority. China will facilitate loans for them through its financial institutions led by the China Development Bank.

An official said that the procurement rules required award of contracts for public sector projects through international competitive bidding, but since the two projects were under the CPEC programme with most of the funding originating from China, the bidding would be limited to Chinese contractors.

The Chinese government will nominate its companies for bidding and will be responsible for their performance.

The government of Pakistan will ensure land acquisition, related infrastructure and security of Chinese contractors.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested former officials of the Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) on Wednesday for allegedly embezzling Rs300 million from funds meant for rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

According to the NAB spokesman, the bureau arrested Arshad Khan, former director-general of the FDMA and presently serving as an additional secretary in the home and tribal affairs department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with a former assistant director of the FDMA identified as Irfanullah.

The NAB official said the men were arrested for allegedly embezzling funds of the Housing Uniform Assistance Subsidy Project, launched to provide relief to the IDPs of Bajaur Agency who had to vacate their homes due to Zarb-i-Azb operation.

A handout from the bureau said the arrested officials had embezzled more than Rs300m.

As part of the project, the federal government with assistance from the USAID compensated the IDPs whose houses were damaged in the military operation.

About Rs2.5 billion was distributed among 10,000 IDPs. An amount of Rs400,000 was given to individuals whose houses were destroyed while Rs160,000 was paid to IDPs whose houses were partially damaged. During the course of NAB’s inquiry it was revealed that the accused prepared fake survey forms of fictitious and ineligible IDPs and used those forms to claim funds.

Mr Khan is already in judicial custody as NAB arrested him earlier for embezzling Rs60m from funds meant for people displaced from Mohmand Agency. A major portion of these funds has been recovered. The NAB official said the bureau was actively pursuing the case. He added that the accused would be produced before an accountability court in Peshawar for obtaining their physical remand.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The Election Com­mission of Pakistan (ECP) has come out with yet another schedule by proposing holding of local government elections in Sindh and Punjab in three stages on Nov 14, 29 and Dec 19.

The new schedule was agreed upon at a meeting on Tuesday between ECP officials and secretaries of local governments of the two provinces.

Take a look: Court asks ECP, Punjab and Sindh govts to come up with dates for LG polls

The meeting was called in compliance with the directive of a three-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja, which had taken up an application of the ECP seeking the court’s permission to delay the elections in Punjab and Sindh for at least 30 days in a phased manner.

The new schedule was submitted on Wednesday and the court said it would issue an appropriate order after going through it.

According to the last understanding with the court, the ECP was to conduct polls in the two provinces on Sept 26.

On March 5, the apex court had rejected a similar ECP request for holding the elections in Punjab and Sindh in three phases on Sept 30, Nov 4 and Dec 9. It ordered the commission to submit a new schedule for elections the same day on Sept 20.

The latest report submitted by the ECP on Wednesday said the two provincial governments had proposed holding of the elections in three phases in view of the difficulties they had faced because of rains and floods in most parts of Punjab and Sindh. Besides, practical difficulties will emerge if the polls are held on the same day in the two provinces in view of the shortage of resources and manpower as well as maintenance of law and order. Moreover, the report added, September and October would coincide with Haj and Muharram respectively.

Lessons learnt from the holding of local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in May which drew flak and became controversial for lack of transparency and allegations of rigging also forced the ECP to consider holding the elections in Punjab and Sindh in phases.

According to the new schedule, in the first phase elections will be held in Punjab districts of Lodhran and Vehari in Multan division; Okara in Sahiwal division; Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar in Bahawalpur division; Toba Tek Sindh in Faisalabad division; Sargodha division; Kasur and Nankana Sahib in Lahore division; Gujrat in Gujranwala division; and Rawalpindi and Attock in Rawalpindi division.

In the first phase in Sindh, the elections will be held in Sukkur, Ghotki and Khairpur districts in Sukkur division and Larkana, Qamber Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Kashmore in Larkana division.

The schedule for these districts will be announced on Sept 1 and elections will be held on Nov 14.

In the second phase, the polls in Punjab will be held in Khanewal in Multan division; Sahiwal in Sahiwal division; Faisalabad and Chiniot in Faisalabad division; Khushab and Mianwali in Sargodha division; Sheikhupura in Lahore division; Gujranwala, Hafizabad and M.B. Din in Gujranwala division and Chakwal and Jhelum in Rawalpindi division.

In Sindh, elections in the second phase will be held in Shaheed Benazirabad and Naushero Feroze in Shaheed Benazirabad division; Dadu, Matiari, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Tando Mohammad Khan, Thatta, Sujawal and Badin in Hyderabad division; and Umerkot, Tharparkar, Sanghar and Mirpurkhas in Mirpurkhas division.

The schedule for these areas will be announced on Sept 21 and elections will be held on Nov 28.

In the third phase, the districts in Punjab selected for the elections are: Pakpattan in Sahiwal division; Layyah, Rajanpur, D.G. Khan and Muzzafargarh in D.G. Khan division; Jhang in Faisalabad division; Bhakkar in Sargodha division; Lahore in Lahore division; Sialkot and Narowal in Gujranwala division; Rahimyar Khan in Bahawalpur division; and Multan in Multan division.

For Sindh the districts in the third phase are: Karachi West, Karachi East, Karachi South, Karachi Central, Korangi and Malir in Karachi division; and Hyderabad division.

The schedule for these districts will be announced on Oct 14 and the elections will be held on Dec 19.

The ECP, however, has kept with itself the authority to exclude or include any district in the first, second or third phase on the request of the provincial governments.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2015

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PESHAWAR: At least three security personnel were killed when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off on Wednesday in Sandana area of Khyber Agency's Tirah Valley.

According to a security official, the bomb which had been planted on a roadside, exploded when security personnel were on a routine patrol of the area, where the army is currently involved in Operation Khyber-2.

As a result of the IED attack, three security personnel, including a Pakistan Army captain were killed in the attack.

The area is off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to independently verify the number and identity of the dead.

Khyber Agency is included in Pakistan’s seven semi-autonomous regions governed by tribal laws and lies near the Afghan border. The Taliban and other Al Qaeda-linked groups who stage attacks in both Pakistan and Afghanistan are also known to have strongholds in the zone.

Pakistan suffers frequent bomb and suicide attacks blamed on extremist militant groups and troops have for years been fighting homegrown armed groups in the tribal belt.

If there is one thing that shouldn't be trifled with, it is our national spirit, especially around Independence Day time. But that's what the Vital Signs-Junoon collaborative single 'Chand Sitara' has done.

With lyrics by Shoaib Mansoor and music by Salman Ahmed and Shahi Hasan, one expected this comeback single to be 2015's national song of the year, but it barely lived up to its hype. While the song itself did little in way of kindling warm feelings of unity and love for the motherland, the video reduced the song to a joke. Both bands have a much cherished catalogue of pop/rock taranas, and this latest instalment tarnishes their memory.

Here are 5 reasons why 'Chand Sitara' isn't the anthem it was hyped up to be:

1. It will disappoint many a proud Pakistani:

The purpose of a national song is to evoke patriotic sentiments, but it seems like that the video's production team decided to overlook that aim. Their video appears to be an attempted tourism commercial or a catalogue of heritage sites. We're unsure what the concept is, actually.

Kalasha waving at invisible people— Screengrab

It isn't hard to come up with a video of a national song: take cricket or feel-good stories or celebration of our diversity and viola! You have a video that pays tribute to the Pakistani essence. Of course, it has to be shot well too but some semblance of a patriotic element has to be present.

2. 'Chand Sitara' is full of hot air... balloons:

Lots and lots of hot air balloons — Screengrab

Anyone who has visited Cappadocia in Turkey will suspect that 'Chand Sitara' may have tried to set a new trend: sightseeing in hot air balloons. In a country where parasailing and snorkeling are the adventure fads, many wonder if they have actually seen hot air balloons in Pakistan and that too over sites like Badshahi Mosque? The closest we've been to hot air balloons is at an eye exam at the optician's!

3. Animation just can't save you every time:

We're a sucker for good graphics. In the last decade, there has been a considerable rise in artists working in animation and honestly, we've produced some pretty darn good stuff. But no, 'Chand Sitara's animation had to have us cringing.

Animated soldiers parading with the flag — Screengrab

Those computer-generated balloons and monuments are just an epic fail.

4. You literally have to watch out for Salman Ahmad and Shahi Hasan:

Shahi Hasan in the video. — Screengrab

Salman Ahmad and Shahi Hasan have both returned to screen after ages, yet the video offers mere glimpses of them. The musicians are cramped with their guitars into the hot air balloon caskets, with a few groupies waving at God-knows-who, because no stretch of the imagination has us convinced that the Kalaasha are waving at an invisible hot air balloon in the sky! It is also unfair that Junaid Jamshed is absent from the video since we were promised a reunion. Perhaps he wanted to stay away from yet another controversy.

5. The song also disappoints:

Given that Shoaib Mansoor has the distinction of making the second anthem 'Dil Dil Pakistan', the listeners were expecting powerful music and lyrics, but they unfortunately don't make us want to hit the replay button. Even Shahi and Salman Ahmad haven't given us the killer composition we were hoping for.

Palwasha Bashir in the video. — Screengrab

The only portion of the video that is praiseworthy is the showcase of the little known stars of Pakistan, like badminton champion Palwasha Bashir and and chess champion Mehak Gul.

As soon as the video was out, fans who had been eager to witness the reunion took to Twitter:

Many are picking on the hot air balloons:

Some are just plain disappointed:

A few were seeing red:

This one is just probably wondering if it's okay to criticise the greats:

Nevertheless, a national song is out and despite its flaws, it means a lot to some fans:

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz will visit New Delhi for security talks on August 23, he said on Thursday, in the rivals' first attempt in months to restart talks.

“I can confirm that I will be going to India on August 23,” Sartaj Aziz told a news conference.

Aziz said his visit was “not a breakthrough in terms of composite dialogue and all the issues but at least it is an ice breaking on some issues.. and let's hope it will lead to further more comprehensive dialogue on the other issues between the two countries”.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, in their meeting at Ufa (Russia) in July, had agreed that a meeting of the National Security Advisers (NSAs) would be convened to “discuss all issues connected to terrorism”.

Read: FO says Indian invitation under study

Since the meeting, however, a series of militant attacks and border skirmishes have poisoned the atmosphere.

Earlier during the month New Delhi had proposed a meeting of NSAs on Aug 23 for discussing the terrorist threat faced by India and Pakistan.

The invitation for dialogue on terrorism came in the shadow of the July 27 militant attack in Gurdaspur, which Indian leaders have blamed on Pakistan.

India is planning to raise the issue of trial of alleged Mumbai plotters by a Pakistani court and the bail for Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the principal accused in the case.

Pakistan would, meanwhile, want to flag its concerns about Indian involvement in terrorism in Karachi, Balochistan and tribal areas.

Also read: RAW instigating terrorism, says army

India has long been accused of fuelling insurgency in Balochistan and unrest in Karachi. Indian intelligence agency RAW is also reportedly patronising militant groups that have been fighting Pakistan Army in tribal areas.

ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that Iran intends to expand economic cooperation with Pakistan, along with increasing regional cooperation and carrying out joint efforts in the fight against extremism and terrorism.

Addressing a joint press conference during his day-long visit to Pakistan on Thursday, following a round of talks at the Foreign Office with prime minster's adviser Sartaj Aziz, the visiting foreign minister said "both countries need to exploit the wide array of options available in economic cooperation, following the lifting of sanctions linked to Tehran's nuclear programme".

Zarif said that during the discussions, both sides reviewed the regional situation and extremism.

"Iran hopes for a positive outcome from the talks between the Afghan Taliban and Afghan government being mediated by Pakistan, which will help bring peace in the region," he added.

Also speaking at the occasion, Prime Minister's Adviser on National Security Sartaj Aziz said that views on regional and international issues of mutual interest were also exchanged during the meeting.

“We agreed that enhancing bilateral collaboration in the energy sector was one of the major areas of mutually beneficial cooperation," Aziz said. Progress on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline was also emphasised, he added.

Aziz further said that economic integration and connectivity within the region should be improved in order to achieve better economic and commercial activity "not just between our two countries but all the neighbouring countries as well".

He also said that Pakistan welcomes the agreement on nuclear deal, hoping that it will lead to peace on an international level.

Take a look: Iran nuclear deal: World leaders voice relief

Earlier, the top Iranian diplomat arrived at PM House and discussed bilateral ties with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He also took the premier into confidence over the recent nuclear deal between the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

Zarif also held formal talks with Sartaj Aziz at the Foreign Office where all aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries were reviewed.

This is Zarif's second trip to Pakistan in a span of four months which is part of a South Asia visit. He is scheduled to travel to Delhi from Islamabad.

Zarif had at the end of last month undertaken a visit of Arab countries touring Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq for what was described by the Iranian foreign ministry as an effort to “strengthen ties and develop cooperation in all fields with neighbours”.

Iranian FM promotes unity in Muslim World

Speaking at the special meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of National Assembly later in the day, Zarif called for unity in the Muslim world and said no country including India can undermine the importance of Pakistan for Iran.

The Iranian foreign minister offered his compliments to Pakistani nation on its Independence Day. Replying to a question raised by Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Zarif said “Iran has completed its part of the pipeline and is waiting for Pakistan to complete its part”.

On a question raised by Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Iranian FM reiterated unflinching support of Iran for Palestine and Kashmir. He said Iran faced international opposition for sticking to the cause of Palestine.

Zarif hoped that the US Congress would not override the presidential veto on the Iran nuclear deal. Speaking candidly, he said Iran had settled only one issue with the United States, adding that it still has serious differences with the world power.

Also read: Iran FM’s visit to focus on economic cooperation

Besides developing trade and economic cooperation, Iran, through this regional outreach, is seeking to address its neighbours’ concerns and engage them for resolution of regional issues, such as the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, and also for dealing with the threat from terrorist groups, including Daesh.

In Pakistan’s context, Tehran is specifically interested in developing energy cooperation.

Iran is considered to be one of the top energy sources in the world having 158 billion barrels of oil reserves. With 34 trillion cubic metres of gas, Iran also has one of the world’s largest gas reserves.

Iran and Pakistan have an agreement on building a gas pipeline, but the project had been held up because of the sanctions on Iran.

Lately, there has been talk again to include India in the project. Delhi had earlier walked out of it in view of the sanctions on Iran.

An Indian delegation is expected to visit Tehran in September to discuss the possibilities of rejoining the pipeline project.

Pakistan and Iran have also been working on an electricity sharing project. Iran is already providing 74MW of electricity to Pakistan’s border towns — a figure that is planned to be increased to 100MW. Transmission line for another 100MW project is under construction for providing electricity to Gwadar.

The two sides are now negotiating a 1,000MW agreement for which feasibility studies have been completed.

A Pakistani delegation would soon visit Tehran for negotiating and finalising power purchase agreement for 1,000MW, a spokesman for water and power ministry had said.

HARIPUR: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended the project review ceremony of the Hazara Motorway project in Chichiyan on Thursday, where he announced that the motorway would be a 6-lane thoroughfare, and directed officials to complete the project by December, earlier than the estimated completion date in 2017.

National Highway Authority officials also briefed the premier about the project's progress on the occasion. He was told that the Havalian section of Hazara motorway is being constructed at a cost of over Rs22billion.

Speaking on the occasion, Nawaz said the constructions of roads will bring stability to the region and will pave way for an economic revolution.

Hazara motorway is part of the greater China Pakistan Economic Project, which will bring economic stability to the region, the PM added.

The ground-breaking of the second phase of the project in Mansehra will take place soon, said the premier.

It is pertinent to mention that a by-election has been scheduled for for NA-19, Haripur, on August 16.

Know more: CPEC projects: status, cost and benefits

The implementation of energy and infrastructure projects identified under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is taking place on a fast-track basis on both sides to translate the plans into reality.

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday was tasked with the responsibility to convince Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers to withdraw their resignations submitted a day earlier.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the parliamentary leaders to discuss the matter of resignations submitted by MQM lawmakers.

After the meeting, Maulana Fazlur Rehman addressed mediapersons outside Parliament House and said that Khursheed Shah had tasked him with the responsibility "to contact Altaf Hussain and MQM leadership so that they agree to take back their resignations and return to parliament."

He said MQM’s actions could cause a political crisis and that he will make efforts to defuse the situation.

The JUI-F further said that he will consult constitutional experts before approaching MQM lawmakers and added that positives signs had also been received from the MQM.

Fazl said that he had already stated obvious his stance on the situation that once the resignations are submitted or are sent to the speaker's chamber, then the resignations cannot be taken back as per rules of constitution.

Read: MQM lawmakers tender resignations

MQM lawmakers on Wednesday had simultaneously submitted their resignations in the National Assembly, Senate and the Sindh Assembly, citing reservations over the Rangers-led operation in Karachi.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah belonging to PPP and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman were among those who were especially invite to the meeting of parliamentary leaders summoned by the prime minister.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi talking to DawnNews had said that his party had not been invited to the meeting summoned by the prime minister.

KASUR: The wife of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Reham Khan, said on Thursday there was no need for an inquiry in regards to the Kasur child abuse case, adding that people just wanted expeditious justice.

"If the government does not want to resolve an issue, they initiate an inquiry into it," remarked Reham, adding that "there is no need for further evidence when hundreds of witnesses have come forward and 400 videos exist of the abuse."

"Those sitting in parliament have done nothing; have they made any laws to protect children? They enjoy all the perks of a public office but do not work for a single day," said Reham.

Read: Child abuse victims expect govt to deliver justice, says Reham Khan

Reham was speaking at Kasur's Husain Khanwala area, where she reached earlier today to meet families and victims of the child molestation scandals.

"We would also bring in a team of psychologists to help children and parents who suffered this horrible ordeal," said Reham, while addressing those affected by the tragedy.

"This child abuse scandal is extremely shameful, and it is the need of the hour to punish those responsible without delay."

Reham urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to follow through on his promise to deliver exemplary punishment to the culprits.

She also said child abuse is not only limited to Kasur, and concrete steps need to be taken to rid Pakistan of this ill.

Earlier in the week, she addressed a press conference after meeting the families and victims of child abuse on her first visit to Kasur.

Also Read: Kasur child abuse scandal: Shahbaz orders judicial probe

Last week, the Lahore High Court (LHC) sought a report from Advocate General Punjab Naveed Rasool Mirza, Inspector General Police Punjab Mushtaq Sukhera and Home Secretary Punjab Azam Suleman to determine if the Kasur child abuse case can be tried in an ATC.

Earlier, relatives of four more victims had come forward to register their complaints in the child abuse scandal. An application was filed by family members claiming that the victims had been abused at gunpoint.

Reports of the sexual abuse of about 280 children have shocked the country. Most of the victims who are from Husain Khanwala village near Kasur are less than 14-years-old. The victims were sexually abused and filmed by members of a gang. Their families had also been blackmailed by the gang since 2009.

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz on Thursday met a high-level Afghan delegation led by Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and assured Afghanistan of Pakistan's complete cooperation in combating terrorism.

During the talks, Pakistan assured Afghan officials that if any evidence linking Pakistan to the recent wave of attacks in Kabul is found, it will duly be shared with Afghanistan, sources told Dawn.com.

The visiting delegation was also informed that Pakistan's security forces are conducting an internal inquiry to investigate recent Afghan allegations of Pakistan's implicit involvement in Kabul attacks, sources privy to the development said.

Read: Ashraf Ghani slams Pakistan over recent Kabul attacks.

But Pakistan emphasised that allegations on Islamabad of sponsoring or abetting attacks on Kabul were “regretful.”

The Afghan delegation also included Masoom Stanekzai, Acting Defence Minister and Rahmatullah Nabil, Director General of Afghan National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan's premier spy agency.

The two sides had a candid discussion regarding bilateral relations and discussed matters related to security cooperation and peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Also read: Afghan intel claims Pakistan implicated in Kabul attacks.

Sartaj Aziz also conveyed Pakistan’s conviction for building a constructive and forward-looking relationship with Afghanistan, and said Pakistan was ready to work with Afghanistan in overcoming all challenges.

“Pakistan and Afghanistan should have trust and faith in each other and discourage detractors who have been trying to create mistrust between the two brotherly countries,” said Sartaj Aziz on the occasion.

Aziz also condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and expressed his condolence on the occasion for the innocent lives lost.

“We condemn the terrorists attacks in Afghanistan. We need to make joint efforts to meet common challenges faced by both countries and work together towards rooting out terrorism from the region,” Aziz elaborated.

“Pakistan stands in solidarity with the fraternal people of Afghanistan and would continue to extend all possible support in their quest for peace and stability in Afghanistan, including through facilitating an Afghan-led and Afghan owned peace and reconciliation process,” the adviser added.

The Afghan envoy also reaffirmed Afghanistan’s desire to work closely with Pakistan to enhance mutual cooperation in all areas of common interest.

“We agree that we need to work together towards the common endeavours of countering terrorism and for enduring peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region,” said Rabbani.

Salahuddin Rabbani also called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM House where matters related to bilateral relations and areas of mutual interests were discussed.

This was Salahuddin Rabbani’s first visit to Pakistan as foreign minister of Afghanistan.

While placing the latest information about the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) before the National Assembly recently, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan reported “significant gains” had been made in countering terrorism in the country.

Yet, the minister had nothing to say what has been holding up activating the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) in the crucial fight - or even the Joint Intelligence Directorate (JID) that was to be created under Nacta.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had described the JID as a key element in hunting down and eliminating the terrorists when he launched the NAP in December 2014.

Before that, the interior minister had laid emphasis on creating JID in Nacta when the country’s first-ever Internal Security Policy was announced in early 2014.

Indeed, Chaudhry Nisar often accepted after taking over the charge of interior ministry that trust deficit and near absence of collaboration between the civil and military intelligence agencies of the country were greatly hurting the fight against terrorists and insurgents.

That made the disclosure in the document he submitted to the National Assembly that the ubiquitous ‘summary’ for setting up the JID has been lying with the Prime Minister’s Office for approval, incredulous.

Although, the minister didn’t explain the delay in approval, the mere fact of inattention is unfortunate and cause of unwanted speculation.

A senior government official involved in the formation of JID said bringing civilian and military intelligence agencies to work together is a difficult task.

May be so, but the prime minister approving the summary certainly is not. Why is he shy of taking that first step?

It was planned that all agencies will pool their terrorism related intelligence in the JID, from where subsequent operations will be launched.

Another important measure the government announced as part of its NAP strategy was to craft counter narrative to extremist mind-set in the country.

According to the interior minister, a draft ‘national narrative’ has been finalised by the federal ministry of information and broadcasting, which is also finalising amendments in the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) laws.

However, the government is yet to share the draft with media which would be the vehicle to spread the ‘good’ narrative.

Likewise, the Prevention of Electronic Crime Bill 2015 is pending before a Senate standing committee. Civil rights activists had found the bill “too intrusive” when the National Assembly passed it recently.

Perhaps, fearing public pressure for unpalatable changes, the government prefers sleeping over it than pursuing it in the Senate.

However, it is not all dark on the counterterrorism front. The government has brought the potential misuse of the vast communication network under control. 

Of the 103 million SIMs in use in the country, the government has so far verified around 98 million. It is also in talks with Afghanistan government to check cross-board mobile telephone services used by terrorists.

Islamabad has also made headway in checking financing of terrorists. The government has registered 274 cases and arrested 259 people involved in the Hawala and Hundi illegal money transactions, suspicious transactions, anti money laundering.

The effort resulted in the recovery of Rs222.10 million and freezing 124 bank accounts believed to be used by banned organisations.

In its NAP operations against armed militias, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), interior minister reported law enforcement agencies killed a staggering number of 20,186 terrorists killed, 3,418 arrested and 3,462 individuals identified as affiliates of the TTP. Another 651 militants were proclaimed absconders.

Chaudhry Nisar told the National Assembly that the federal government has so far transferred 69 cases of terrorism to the nine special military courts which had been set up following the 21st constitutional amendment.

In the meantime, the Supreme Court, in a ruling on the 21st constitutional amendment, emphasised the need for transparent trial of accused terrorists.

It emerges from the interior minister’s report on the implementation of NAP that while the government is making some progress in certain areas, others are being ignored.

For example, registration and streamlining of madrassahs, an important feature of the NAP, is neither here nor there.

Mere arrests of terrorists would not serve the purposes of the NAP. “The solution lies in a holistic approach the focal person (Chaudhry Nisar) has to pursue,” commented a government official.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority on Thursday suspended cellular phone services from 6am till 12:30pm in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad as a part of security measures for the rehearsals of the flag hoisting ceremony to be held at the Convention Centre on Friday.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, which regulates the mobile operators, received the directives to block signals from the interior ministry after 10pm on Wednesday, a PTA official said.

The subscribers were caught unawares when they woke up in the morning and found no signal sign on their phone windows.

PTA said that cellular signals will remain suspended on Friday also from 6am to 2pm also for the flag hoisting ceremony.

Though some subscribers complained that internet service on mobile phone also went off, PTA and the cellular mobile companies did not confirm it. However, an official in China Mobile said 3G and 4G would also not work if a cell phones service was suspended.

“Shutting down some towers was not serving the purpose,” said the representative of a cellular company.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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RAWALPINDI: Many people’s plans of heading to Murree for the Independence Day weekend will be disrupted, with a new order being passed to allow only those with a hotel booking to proceed towards the hill station.

Policemen would be deployed at five pickets, jointly manned by Punjab and Islamabad Police and would ask all travellers to show proof of booking between August 13 and 16. Anyone unable to show confirmation of room reservations would be turned away.

Permanent residents of Murree, however, would be exempted from showing proof of hotel reservation and would instead need to show their Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC) with Murree addresses.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif frequently visits Murree, especially on the weekends. He directed the police and local administration to ensure that roads are not as busy this year. Punjab Police Chief Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera visited Murree two days ago to review security and traffic arrangements.

Meanwhile, motorcyclists would also not be allowed to enter Murree city on Independence Day weekend. Those motorcyclists racing one another and performing acrobats such as one-wheeling would be arrested.

Police officials told Dawn that pickets have been jointly established by Islamabad and Rawalpindi Police at Rawal Dam Chowk, Satra Mile Toll Plaza, Dhokri Chowk, Lake View Park and Dhoke Raj Gan.

City Traffic Police Spokesperson said motorcyclists have been banned from entering Murree city as they add to the traffic mess and create problems for tourists. “Stunts on motorcycles endanger the lives of those riding the bikes and others on the road,” the spokesperson said.

Parking of vehicles within 200 meters of an intersection has also been banned in Murree, while no type of vehicle will be allowed to ply on the Mall Road.

Similarly, the Regional Police Officer Muhammad Wisal Fakhar Sultan Raja directed all district police officers in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal to strictly impose the ban on performing stunts on motorcycles and arrest all those doing so.

The RPO advised tourists to visit Murree city on August 13, at various times during the day and ensure that they book rooms in hotels and rest houses, before they leave their homes.

The divisional police chief also advised parents to not allow their children to drive to Murree on motorcycles during the Independence Day weekend and to remind them of the dangers of stunts such as one-wheeling.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Thursday approved death sentences of seven “hardcore terrorists” involved in the massacre at Peshawar’s Army Public School and an attack on soldiers of Sindh Rangers at Karachi’s Safoora Chowk, a statement released by the army’s media wing said.

This is the first approval of death sentences by the army chief following Supreme Court’s recent judgment giving legal cover to the establishment of military courts in the country.

The convicts, however, have the right to appeal, said the statement from the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

One terrorist has also been awarded life imprisonment, said the ISPR.

Political parties had unanimously agreed over the issue of setting up military courts to tackle terrorism cases in the country following the gruesome attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar in December 2014, following which the Parliament passed the 21st constitutional amendment to set up the said courts.

Take a look: Political leaders reach consensus on military courts.

President Mamnoon Hussain had promulgated an ordinance further revising the recently amended Army Act to ostensibly aid the functioning of military courts by allowing for trials in camera, i.e without the presence of the public or the media, and over video link if necessary.

But the constitutional amendment giving legal cover to military courts was challenged in the Supreme Court, which upheld the Parliament's sovereignty and allowed military courts to try and sentence hardened terrorists.

Read: Military courts get Supreme Court nod.

The apex court did however keep the power to review sentences in certain cases, where it feels the condition of fair trial is not met.

Recently, following the SC's ruling, the father of a death-row convict Haider Ali, who received the sentence from a military court, challenged the ruling in the Supreme Court.

Details of ruling

The ISPR statement also issued details of the convicts and the crimes for which they were sentenced.

Civilian Hazrat Ali s/o Awal Baz: The convict was an active member of Toheedwal Jihad Group (TWJ). He was found involved in attacking law enforcement agencies, abetting kidnapping and killing of Levies soldiers and collecting funds for attack on Army Public School, Peshawar. He was also involved in killing 23 Levies soldiers. He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on five charges and awarded the death sentence.

Civilian Mujeebur Rehman alias Ali alias NajeebUllah s/o Ghulab Jan: The convict was an active member of Toheedwal Jihad Group (TWJ). He was found involved in transporting 10 suicide bombers for the attack on Pakistan Air Force Base Peshawar. He was also involved in attacks on law enforcement agencies and abetment in the attack on the Army Public School, Peshawar, which resulted in the deaths of 151 persons including 125 children, injuries to 147 persons and damage to govt property. He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and awarded the death sentence.

Civilian Sabeel alias Yahya s/o Atta Ullah: The convict was an active member of Toheedwal Jihad Group (TWJ). He was found involved in the attack on Pakistan Air Force Base, Peshawar; a Police check post, transportation of 10 suicide bombers and abetment in the attack on Army Public School, Peshawar, which resulted in the deaths of 151 persons including 125 children and injuries to 147 persons. He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on three charges and awarded the death sentence.

Civilian Molvi Abdus Salam s/o Shamshi: The convict was an active member of Toheedwal Jihad Group (TWJ). He was found involved in harbouring suicide bombers, later used in the attack on the Army Public School, Peshawar, which resulted in the deaths of 151 persons including 125 children and injuries to 147 persons and damage to govt property. He was also involved in abetting deaths of two colonels and a civilian, Director of National Development Complex (NDC). He confessed to his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on four charges and awarded the death sentence.

Civilian Taj Muhammad alias Rizwan s/o Altaf Khan: The convict was an active member of TTP. He was found involved in attacking armed forces and harbouring suicide bombers, who were later used in the attack on the Army Public School, Peshawar, causing deaths of 151 persons including 125 children, injuries to 147 persons and abetting death of a civilian, Director of National Development Complex (NDC). He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on five charges and awarded the death sentence.

Civilian Ateequr Rehman alias Usman s/o Ali Rehman: The convict was an active member of Toheedwal Jihad Group (TWJ). He was found involved in attacking a Crime Investigation Department Police Station, providing funds for illegal activities,abetting deaths of two colonels and a civilian, Director of National Development Complex (NDC). He abetted the attack on the Army Public School, Peshawar, which resulted in the deaths of 151 persons including 125 children and injuries to 147 persons. He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on six charges and awarded the death sentence.

Civilian Kifayatullah alias Kaif Qari s/o Ghulam Haider: The convict was an active member of Toheedwal Jihad Group (TWJ). He was found involved in using improvised explosive devices at the residence of two civilians and transporting arms and ammunition. He had also been in league with the accused persons involved in the attack on the Army Public School, Peshawar. He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on four charges and awarded imprisonment for life.

Civilian Muhammad Farhan alias Ali alias Abbas alias Aijaz Qadri: The convict was an active member of Jaish-e-Muhammad. He was found involved in the attack on soldiers of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, at Safoora Chowk, Karachi, using an improvised explosive device, which resulted in the deaths of three soldiers and injured four. He admitted his offences before the magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on two charges and awarded the death sentence.

ISLAMABAD: Four seminaries were temporarily shut and vacated on Thursday, as part of security measures for the flag hoisting ceremony on Friday (today).

Similar measures were taken in March with seminaries being shut for a week, to ensure security during the Pakistan Day Parade at the Parade Ground near Shakarparian.

According to police sources, officials and concerned authorities had decided to close 45 seminaries and shrines in the second week of August to ensure security. An official, requesting anonymity, told Dawn that these seminaries were located near the Convention Centre.

Later, following discussions, it was decided that four seminaries would be temporarily closed and vacated. The official said other seminaries and shrines would be put under strict surveillance and security personnel would be deployed there.

Negotiations took place between the authorities and the administrators of the four seminaries, namely Jamia Siddiq Anwarul Quran at Rawal Dam Chowk, Madressah Ashraful Uloom on Murree Road, Siddiq-e-Akbar near Kashmir Chowk and Masjid Aman at Rawal Dam Chowk. The administrators agreed to give the students five-day holiday and send them home.

The students and teachers, the official said, left for their native towns or were shifted to other religious seminaries.

A joint team of capital police and paramilitary troops carried out a search operation at various seminaries operating in the capital.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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