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BANNU: One person was killed and another was injured in a minor explosion in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.

The blast initially seemed a planted bomb explosion but later security sources claimed that the two men were transporting explosive material on the motorcycle and had to stop due to a fault in the vehicle.

As they stopped, the material they were carrying exploded, killing one and injuring the other.The casualties were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital.

The incident occurred within the precincts of Miryan police station.

340 kg explosive material seized since the start of operation

Inspector General Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Nasir Khan Durrani told DawnNews yesterday that systematic implementation of anti-terror plan by provincial police has saved the settled areas of the province from becoming safe heavens for terrorists,

Sharing the document from the second phase of the anti-terror operation, the IGP maintained that during the ‘Search and Strike Operations', 38,113 suspects were detained while 10,512 firearms were confiscated and almost 340kg of explosive was seized.

The KP police also established 35,042 road blocks for snap checking and during the exercise 69,783 suspects were detained along with 5,409 arms and 174,863 rounds of different caliber were confiscated.

Around 5 kilograms of explosive material was also seized during snap checking.

ISLAMABAD: The Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) announced on Friday to have discovered reserves of crude oil, condensate and natural gas in its Karak Block’s Kalabagh Well in Mianwali.

In a statement issued here, the company said the hydrocarbon deposit was found in Kalabagh-1A ST1 Well. The Karak Joint Venture is operated by MPCL which holds 60 per cent working interest and the MOL of Hungary with 40 per cent share.

Also read: Large reserves of crude oil found in Sindh

The discovery is the company’s second success in the block, after its first major crude oil discovery at Halini Well-1 in 2011.

Tests said to have produced good results

The Kalabagh-1A ST1, spud-in on March 20, 2015, is the company’s second exploratory well in the Karak Block, drilled down to a depth of 3,003 metres in Datta Formation.

During testing, the well flowed gas and condensate in Datta Formation at a rate of 3.3 million cubic feet of gas per day and 160 barrels of crude with wellhead pressure of 694 Psi at 32/64 choke size.

“The gas discovery has an excellent heating value of 1144 BTU/SCF and its Condensate API is 52 @600F,” the company said.

It also said the well had been successfully tes­ted in Samanasuk Forma­tion, which also flowed gas and condensate at a rate of 4.68 million cubic feet of gas and 180 barrels of crude per day at a wellhead pressure of 926 Psi at 36/64, choke size with excellent gas heating value of 1128 BTU/SCF and Conden­sate of 58 @600F API.

The testing of Lockhart Forma­tion flowed commercial quantity of Crude Oil @500 barrels a day with wellhead flowing pressure of 155 psig of 22 API @600F at 32/64 choke size.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: At least six suspected terrorists were killed in a United States (US) drone strike in South Waziristan Agency (SWA) on Friday.

Sources said two missiles were fired from the Un-manned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), killing at least six suspected militants and destroying their hideout in the Sarokai tehsil of SWA.

Those killed in the strike are yet to be identified.

South Waziristan is among Pakistan’s seven tribal districts near the Afghan border which are rife with homegrown insurgents and are alleged to be strongholds of Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives, among others.

Based on averages within the ranges provided by the New America Foundation, the Long War Journal and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, there have been an estimated 522 US targeted attacks in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia since Sept 11, 2001, which have killed 3,852 people, of whom 476 were civilians.

In March, Pakistan successfully tested its first indigenous armed drone named Burraq, and its laser guided missile named Barq.

The drone had the ability to fly in all types of weather conditions and strike its targets with pinpoint accuracy.

At least three suspected militants were killed while a militant hideout was destroyed in Shawal valley of North Waziristan when Burraq was first used to carry out air strikes in September.

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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court ordered on Friday the Quetta Development Authority (QDA) to reinstate 113 people it appointed in 2013 for one of its schemes but whose services were terminated soon after their appointment.

The apex court gave the reinstatement order while upholding the Jan 12 verdict of the Balochistan High Court (BHC) which had declared the termination orders issued by the QDA’s director general on Jan 24 and Feb 12, 2013, as illegal and of no legal effect.

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim had taken up an appeal filed by QDA against the high court judgment.

Also read: Non-bailable arrest warrants issued for former QDA officers

In Jan 2013, QDA employed 113 people in grades 1 to 17, as naib qasids, chowkidars, gardeners, helpers, drivers, record keepers, tracers, junior clerks, security assistants, accountants and sub-engineers.

The jobs had been advertised in newspapers and appointment letters were issued to the selected persons.

Those who were selected for the jobs submitted their joining letters to the QDA director general. Surprisingly only about a month later, the QDA director general terminated their services by cancelling/withdrawing the appointments letters.

The sacked employees then moved the BHC, which on Jan 12 this year declared the director general’s orders cancelling the appointment letters as null and void.

While rejecting the termination orders, the BHC held that the QDA had validly issued the appointment letters on the recommendations of the selection committee. In February the QDA challenged the high court’s decision before the Supreme Court.

Advocate Raja Abdur Rehman, representing the sacked employees, argued before the apex court that the posts were created after proper sanctioning by the provincial government in its annual budget for 2012-13.

The employees were appointed against posts in the Zarghoon Housing Society Scheme but without issuing any show-cause notice or affording any opportunity of hearing to the employees, the QDA withdrew their appointment letters, he said.

The counsel argued that the stance taken by the QDA director general that the employees’ services were terminated because of non-receipt of the grant-in-aid needed for the project and because they lacked the qualifications required for the jobs was not based on facts.

If this indeed was the case, the QDA should not have initiated and completed the selection process and should not have issued the appointment letters.

Instead of penalising the employees, adverse actions should have been taken against the officials who decided to initiate the appointment process, he said.

He recalled that in its verdict the BHC had observed that the 113 posts had been sanctioned in the provincial budget for 2012-13 and that the QDA had not been waiting for grant-in-aid from the Balochistan government.

Through its counsel, the QDA argued that Rs136.8 million which was supposed to be provided by the provincial government as grant-in-aid was not approved by the provincial finance department. Therefore, the project could not be continued.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The Election Comm­ission of Pakistan (ECP) appointed on Friday heads of election tribunals for Lahore and Multan to entertain complaints about forthcoming by-elections in two National Assembly constituencies — NA-122 (Lahore) and NA-154 (Lodhran).

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, retired district & sessions judges Shahid Rafique and Rashid Qamar have been appointed as judges of the election tribunals of Multan and Lahore, respectively. They will serve till Aug 31 next year.

In both constituencies PML-N candidates had won the 2013 polls, but their elections were declared null and void by election tribunals on the basis of mismanagement and irregularities on the part of Election Commission of Pakistan.

Former speaker of National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had won from NA-122 (Lahore) and Siddique Khan Baloch from NA-154 (Lodhran).

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2015

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BERLIN: Prosecutors in Germany say they have charged six German nationals and one Pakistani with supporting Daesh or the self-styled Islamic State (IS) group and two other extremist organisations that are active in Syria.

Federal prosecutors said Friday that the seven, aged 23 to 59 and including one woman, formed a network to help facilitate and finance people's travel to Syria to join the groups, which also included Ahrar al-Sham and Jund al-Sham.

They face charges of supporting a terrorist organisation between the beginning of 2013 and September 2014.

Two of the accused are in custody, including one who is also accused of trying to recruit a man as an IS member or supporter.

German authorities say that a total of around 700 people have travelled from Germany to join extremists in Syria and Iraq.

ISLAMABAD: The special judge (customs) declined to grant bail to an importer of computers, saying that such concessions could not be given to “swindlers and plunderers” of state wealth.

In his order issued on Friday, the judge observed that the offences not falling under the prohibition clause of Section 497 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) did not mean that a person accused of such offences became entitled to the grant of bail as of right.

“There is possibility of repetition of offences if bail is granted to the petitioner,” the judge said.

The petitioner, Naeem Siddiqui, had sought the bail in a case registered against him by the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (Inland Revenue) Islamabad for allegedly evading Rs150 million in taxes.

The judge handed over the accused to the intelligence department on physical remand for another two days to investigate the case.

Naeem Siddiqui, engaged in import and re-sale of computer items in the local market, was arrested from his Islamabad office.

The order said the petitioner had allegedly evaded Rs150m while committing sales tax fraud and appeared to be a direct beneficiary of the fraud. Prima facie, the judge said, sufficient incriminating evidence was available on record against the petitioner. On the basis of these circumstances, the application for grant of bail was dismissed, he said.

According to the FIR, Naeem Siddiqui of CSM Distribution is involved in tax fraud by knowingly and dishonestly making taxable supplies without charging tax liability that caused huge losses to the national exchequer. It was found that Naeem had made purchases from an international IT firm in millions of dollars and supplied the items to different people in Pakistan. But he did not discharge his sales tax liability by not getting himself registered with the tax department.

According to the FIR, Naeem made purchases of over $8m from the international IT firm between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2012. As a result of evidence available on record, a case under Section 37A of the Sales Tax Act, read with Section 2(37), was registered against

him for allegedly committing offences, including tax fraud, as defined under Section 2(37) punishable under Sections 33(13) & 33(7) of the Sales Tax Act, 1990.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2015

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KARACHI: The vehicle of Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker Saifuddin Khalid was fired at on Friday near Nishter Govt Girls College, 11-B, North Karachi, DawnNews reported.

Karachi-West DIG Feroze Shah tld Dawn that three motorcycle-riding armed men fired five bullets, three of which hit the MQM leaders vehicle. He added that retaliatory firing by police guards deputed with Khalid forced the attackers to flee from the scene.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, MQM leader Farooq Sattar condemned the attack on his colleague.

Saifuddin Khalid was elected as a Member of Sindh's provincial from PS-94 Karachi-VI constituency of Karachi during the 2013 General Elections. He had previously served as an MPA after being elected from the same Orangi Town constituency during the 2008 general polls.

Khalid was among three MQM MPAs who were wounded in a grenade attack in Karachi's Orangi Town area on November 21, 2014.

Previously MQM's Raza Haider and Manzar Imam had been killed in Orangi Town area of Karachi in 2010 and 2013 respectively.

MQM lawmakers had simultaneously submitted their resignations in the National Assembly, Senate and the Sindh Assembly on August 12, 2015 due to reservations over the Rangers-led operation in Karachi.

The MQM legislators had accused the law enforcement agencies of discriminatory action against MQM, forced disappearances and extra judicial killings.

PESHAWAR: At least 42 people, including 13 terrorists, were killed as the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) camp at Inqalab road in Peshawar's Badaber area came under attack by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants early Friday.

Thirteen terrorists were killed by security forces, Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major-General Asim Bajwa said on Twitter.

Sixteen people offering prayers at a mosque inside the airforce camp were killed by a group of militants, Bajwa said. Addressing a press conference later during the day he said that seven other people were killed in the ablution area of the mosque.

Three PAF technicians were killed in the attack, a PAF spokesperson said, adding that the airmen were deployed at the guardroom when the attack occurred.

Terrorists entered the camp at two points, splitting into sub-groups, Bajwa claimed. The firefight began immediately due to the quick response from security forces, he said.

The attackers were wearing constabulary uniforms.

Pakistan Army's Captain Asfandyar was killed in the attack.

The DG ISPR said 10 soldiers were injured during an exchange of fire with terrorists — two of whom are officers.

Rescue sources, however, said 22 people have been injured, out of whom 20 have been shifted to CMH Peshawar and two have been taken to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH). An emergency has been declared in both hospitals. Dr Subhani at LRH said one unidentified body had been brought to the hospital.

TTP spokesperson Muhammad Khurasani claimed responsibility for the attack in an e-mail sent to journalists.

A search operation for hidden terrorists is underway, Bajwa said. Corps Commander Lieutenant-General Hidayatur Rehman conducted aerial surveillance of the base from a helicopter.

Around 15 people were arrested during the search operation, police said.

The attack was carried out by a group of seven to 10 terrorists, the DG ISPR said earlier, while eyewitnesses claimed they saw around six to seven terrorists dressed in black militia uniforms wearing white shoes.

A military official at the base said, "All the terrorists were wearing explosives-laden jackets and were armed with hand grenades, mortars, AK-47 rifles."

Also read: PAF Badaber camp attack was planned, controlled from Afghanistan: DG ISPR.

Nearby residents said explosions and gunfire could still be heard more than three hours after the attack took place.

Map of the location.

When the attack occurred, a heavy contingent of the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) reached the spot. An exchange of fire between the militants and security forces took place. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police have cordoned off the area.

The DG ISPR said terrorists had attacked the guard room at the camp early in the morning. The QRF reached the scene and surrounded the attackers, isolating them.

The terrorists had been engaged and confined to a small area around the guard room area of the camp.

The Badaber camp used to be an operational airforce base. It is no longer an operational airbase but is still used as a PAF training centre.

The base is on one side of the road, while a residential estate lies on the opposite side.

COAS, CAS, Corps Commander meet

COAS, Chief of Air Staff and Corps Commander meet at Core Headquarters. ─ Photo: ISPR Official Facebook page.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif reached Peshawar earlier today. He held a meeting with Corps Commander Lieutenant-General Hidayatur Rehman to discuss the terrorist attack at the Badaber PAF airforce camp.

The COAS and Corps Commander discussed the deaths of two PAF technicians who were posted at the airforce base's guard room. The army chief was briefed about the condition of Major Haseeb of the Pakistan Army who was wounded during retaliatory action against the attackers.

Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman also met COAS Raheel Sharif and the Corps Commander at Corps Headquarters in Peshawar. Prior to the meeting, he briefed the prime minister about the ongoing operation in Badaber over the telephone.

The Corps Commander briefed the Air Chief and COAS on the Peshawar operation.

The COAS and Chief of Air Staff visited the wounded at CMH.

They then visited Badaber airforce camp to meet PAF, Army and police personnel who defeated the attackers.

Condemnations pour in

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Peshawar and strongly condemned the attack on the Badaber airforce camp.

Nawaz reiterated the nation's resolve to continue its mission of eliminating terrorism with zeal.

The premier said he is being kept updated on the ongoing operation against terrorists. He said the armed forces of the country have the full support of the entire nation, and that networks of terrorists would soon be eliminated from Pakistan.

Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed also repeated the national resolve of fighting terror and paid homage to the martyrs by saying that such cowardly attempts cannot weaken the country's resolve and the anti-terror operation will continue till the elimination of last terrorist.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif while commenting upon the tragic incident said that "once again our brave and valiant soldiers have proved their commitment to the defence of the motherland.

In his condemnation message, Asif maintained that the way in which our soldiers responded shows how vigilant and brave our armed forces are.

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in his Twitter message condemned what he called a 'cowardly' attack on the PAF airbase while commending the timely actions of the QRF.

Imran also paid rich tribute to the martyred Captain Asfandyar who led the troops to defeat terrorists' plan. He also prayed for the recovery of injured.

Funeral prayers held

Funeral prayers of those killed in the attack on the PAF base have been held in Peshawar. The funeral prayers were attended by the Prime Minister, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and other military and civilian leaders.

Nisar meets PM

Earlier in the day, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar called on the premier at PM House. Nisar apprised the PM about the role of civil law enforcement agencies in the terrorist attack at Badaber airforce camp.

Matters relating to the law and order situation in country were also discussed during the meeting.

KP Speaker visits LRH

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker and Acting Governor Asad Qaisar also visited LRH to inquire about the health of those injured in the attack.

On Aug 16, 2012 militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons had carried out a brazen attack under cover of darkness on the Minhas base of the PAF at Kamra, Dawn newspaper reported. The TTP had claimed responsibility for the assault on Kamra air base.

Peshawar suffered the worst terror attack in Pakistani history in December 2014 when TTP gunmen massacred more than 150 people, most of them children, at an army-run school.

But recently then there has been a lull in violence. The last deadly attack in the city came in February when three heavily armed Taliban militants stormed a Shia mosque, killing 21 people.

Military operation Zarb-i-Azb was launched against insurgent hideouts in North Waziristan on June 15 following a brazen militant attack on Karachi's international airport and the failure of peace talks between the government and TTP negotiators.

Officials say nearly 3,000 militants have been killed since the launch of the latest offensive.

The number of attacks in Pakistan has fallen around 70 per cent this year, due to a combination of a military offensive against Taliban bases along the Afghan border and government initiatives to tackle militancy.

─ Additional reporting by Irfan Haider.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner on Friday to lodge a strong protest against the latest ‘unprovoked ceasefire violations’ by Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Nakyal sector in Kotli district.

Thr­ee Pakistani civilians were killed and three others wou­n­ded on Thursday in what officials said fierce shelling by Indian troops from across the Line of Control, Dawn newspaper reported.

The Indian Deputy High Commissioner, JP Singh was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Director General (SA and Saarc ) Dr Mohammad Faisal today to protest against the killing of three civilians, in Nikyal sector, due to 'unprovoked ceasefire violations' by the Indian Security Forces at LoC, said a statement issued by the ministry.

Laiba Shabbir, 12, was killed in Oli village and Sufi Amin, 55, and Zahid, 19, died in Mohra Dharoti village when mortar shells fired by BSF hit their houses.

"The Government of Pakistan has expressed its deep concern at the continuous unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian Security Forces and the intentional targeting of innocent civilians, which is highly condemnable," said the ministry statement.

Pakistan has stressed upon India to stop forthwith these ceasefire violations and respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement in order to restore peace at the LoC and the Working Boundary, the statement added.

The press release said that the Pakistani government extends condolences to the bereaved families and prays for the departed souls and for the quick recovery of the injured.

The latest bout of border skirmish follows a bi-annual meeting between commanders of Pakistan's Rangers and India's Border Security Force, in which the two sides had agreed to stop border violations along the LoC, check smuggling and ensure expeditious repatriation of those who inadvertently cross borders.

Also read: India violates LoC ceasefire despite recent promises of peace: ISPR

Tens of thousands of soldiers are massed on either side of Kashmir, one of the world's most militarised regions, and in recent months they have stepped up cross-border firing.

QUETTA: The Pakistan Army has trained 150 Levies personnel in Balochistan, with their passing out parade held on Friday.

The Levies personnel were trained in Quetta Cantonment, with the army imparting modern training to expand upon their operational capacity.

“The Levies force is being trained to wipe out the curse of terrorism from the province and to ensure capacity building for security forces in Balochistan,” said Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch.

The chief minister added that the Levies administratively control more than 90 per cent of Balochistan and they play an important role in maintaining law and order in the province.

During the passing out parade, the Levies personnel demonstrated their skills in martial arts, counter terrorism and targeted operation drills during the ceremony held at Quetta cantonment.

Those in attendance at the ceremony included Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch, Major General Aftab, Chief Secretary Saifullah Chatha and other military and civilian leaders.

Pakistan Army has trained more than 4,000 Levies personnel during the last few years, helping them build capacity and deal with emerging security scenarios.

Security forces have intensified their actions in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan after the announcement of the National Action Plan to combat terrorism in the country.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court hinted on Friday at reviewing its order for a media blackout of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s chief Altaf Hussain if the party’s lawyers submitted an undertaking by him that he would remain careful regarding issuing statements against state institutions.

If Mr Hussain would undertake to remain careful in issuing statements against the state institutions, the court would review its order, Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, heading a full bench, said.

The bench was hearing petitions against Mr Hussain’s ‘objectionable’ statements against the army and the Rangers and an application of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement against the order banning his media coverage.

Also read: LHC bans live broadcast of Altaf Hussain's speeches

Senior lawyers Asma Jahangir and Dr Khalid Ranjha appeared on behalf of the MQM, whose leader Farooq Sattar was also present.

Ms Jahangir said the ban was in sheer violation of fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution and the order was also in conflict with provisions of Article 19-A.

Justice Naqvi said the article gave right to information subject to regulation and reasonable restrictions. He said there was no absolute liberty to exercise this right. The army was a constitutional institution and deserved respect, he said.

Commenting on the lawyer’s argument that the party’s viewpoint had not been heard, Justice Naqvi said the court had no prejudice against the MQM, but it could not issue a notice to Mr Hussain before verifying his nationality.

During the course of arguments, Ms Jahangir said she did not know which civil society group one of the petitioners (Abdullah Malik) was representing.

Mr Malik responded aggressively that “I represent the civil society which does not receive dollars from abroad” and said he was a patriot. However, he apologised when the bench asked him to withdraw his remarks about Ms Jahangir.

Mr Sattar said Mr Hussain had already apologised for his statements in several interviews to news channels. The bench asked him to attach the relevant record with the affidavit. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader said he could tell the court about the party’s response after discussing the issue with the members of its coordination committee.

An additional attorney general informed the court that the national identity card of the MQM chief had expired in 1980 and his passport in 1994.

The bench rejected the report and asked the law officer to file a clear reply about the nationality of Mr Hussain.

The hearing was adjourned to Oct 2.

Some lawyers chanted slogans outside the courtroom against Mr Hussain, Ms Jahangir and Dr Ranjha.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2015

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PESHAWAR: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major-General Asim Bajwa on Friday said that the attack on Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Badaber camp earlier in the day was planned and controlled from Afghanistan.

Take a look: Army captain among 29 killed in TTP-claimed attack on PAF camp in Peshawar.

The DG ISPR held a press conference following the attack on PAF Badaber camp earlier in the day and provided details of the attack and follow-up actions by security forces.

According to the details given by ISPR in its press conference, the attack on the PAF installation started at around 5am, when the terrorists arrived on Inqalab road, and dismounted from their vehicle near the gates of the base.

“After dismounting, the terrorists used rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and automatic rifle fire to breach the gates and gain entry into the PAF base,” said Bajwa.

He elaborated by adding that as soon as the terrorists entered the facility, they met stiff resistance from the PAF guards who were stationed to guard the base.

“The terrorists then split in to two groups, with eight militants heading towards the administrative area of the base while the other group headed towards the technical area,” added the ISPR head.

Major-General Bajwa said that the terrorists were under continuous fire from security forces, and the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) reached within ten minutes and managed to contain the attackers in a relatively small area of the base.

The QRF was joined by Special Service Group (SSG) special forces, Light Commandos and regular army personnel. The outer cordon of the operational area was maintained by police forces.

“Once the terrorists entered the facility, they were contained within 50 metres of either side of the gate, and were not able to advance towards their objectives.”

The head of the ISPR confirmed that the ensuing firefight took place within the small area which also housed the base’s mosque, which “unfortunately became a target for the attackers, and they rushed in and opened fire on the people present for morning prayers.”

The DG ISPR explained to the media personnel present that the ensuing attack on those present in the mosque and a barracks building next to the mosque caused the most casualties during the attack, as the attackers lobbed grenades and opened fire on the worshipers present.

“At least 29 people have been martyred -- 23 from air force, three from army and three civilians,” AFP quoted Bajwa as saying. The ISPR spokesperson said that 29 people were also wounded during the attack

Maj Gen Bajwa also appreciated the media for its objective reporting and informing the people regarding the developments announced by the ISPR in a timely manner.

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has ordered an inquiry into the allotment of plots in the Gwadar industrial zone and put a ban on new allotments in the area till the completion of inquiry.

“A ban should be imposed on further allotment of plots in the Gwadar industrial zone,” he said during a meeting convened to discuss various issues related to the port city.

He directed officials concerned that the list of allotments of all plots in the industrial zone should be submitted to him immediately.

Taking notice of reports of wrongdoings in the allotment of plots, the CM said he should be informed of terms and conditions on which the plots had been allotted to investors. He asked the authorities concerned to submit to him the list of people who had failed to fulfil conditions on which the industrial plots had been allotted to them.

He expressed concern over reported irregularities in the transfer of land in the Karwat area of Gwadar district and ordered an inquiry into the matter. He said the authorities concerned should take care of the land ownership of local people and landlords at all costs. He said the land should be taken back from those who had occupied the state property illegally.

Senior Member of the Board of Revenue Qamar Masood, Secretary of Industries and Trade Abdul Fateh Bhangar and Deputy Commissioner of Gwadar Abdul

Hammed Abro briefed the meeting on the Gwadar land, encroachment in the industrial area and the state land and future industrial development and protection of government land for use in public interest.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2015

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DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Twenty-two people, among them suspected militants and civilians, were killed and several others wounded when military helicopters and planes pounded hideouts in different areas of South Waziristan tribal region on Friday.

Sources said that Kundi Ghar, Ziarat Zhay and Durmandi areas in Sarwakai tehsil were targeted.

They said a base camp of Mehsud Taliban (Khan Said group) in Kundi Ghar was destroyed and 13 militants were killed and eight others injured.

Know more: US drone strike kills six in South Waziristan Agency

Local residents told Dawn that the house of a suspected militant Abdul Manan Mehsud was attacked in Ziarat Zhay in which three women, four girls and two boys were killed. Another house was targeted in Durmandi area in which two minors were injured, they said. One injured child was shifted to the district headquarters hospital in Dera Ismail Khan and another to DHQ hospital in Tank.

Local MNA Jamaluddin of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl condemned the attack on residential areas and said that innocent civilians had been killed and wounded.

Earlier, the media reported that a US drone had carried out an attack in South Waziristan that left six suspected militants dead. The drone attack, however, could not be confirmed.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Khursheed Shah, on Friday lashed out at former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, calling him a 'coward' who preferred a stay in hospital instead of facing the courts.

Taking strong exception to the former president’s remarks against PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Shah said that, "Musharraf should try to be man enough to spend even half a day in jail, instead of ridiculing Asif Zardari who spent over a decade in detention and faced police brutality".

"Since he feared being sent to prison by court, Musharraf demonstrated 'shameless cowardice' by asking the driver to turn the vehicle towards a hospital, feigning pain in his chest, instead of appearing in court", Shah said in a statement Friday.

Read: Musharraf moved to hospital; court grants exemption

Shah claimed that his party's co-chairman spent 11 years in jail including long periods in solitary confinement without any conviction by a court.

"He was tortured while in custody and his tongue was slashed. Zardari was dragged from court to court, city to city and jail to jail as torture," Shah claimed.

The PPP stalwart added that Asif Zardari was kept from living with his family when his children were in their formative phase of life and were in most need of fatherly care.

"If this is not torture while in custody then what else is this," asked Shah.

In a television interview yesterday, former dictator Pervez Musharraf had claimed that Asif Ali Zardari was never tortured in jail and he completed most of his jail term in a Karachi hospital.

Moreover, Musharraf also called for extending the tenure of current Army chief General Raheel Sharif.

“I wish he carries on with all he (Gen Raheel) is doing,” he said.

“What he is doing right now, it needs continuity and if there is any change in the leadership amidst this all, all good work which has been done so far would go in waste. So I can only wish and suggest that he should stay there.”

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KARACHI: The PPP is set to hold a crucial meeting in Dubai on Saturday (today) to discuss and formulate its strategy for upcoming local government elections and the anti-corruption drive being run by some federal institutions in Sindh, it emerged on Friday.

A senior PPP leader said the meeting was called by Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and it would continue till Sunday. PPP leaders, including former prime ministers Yousuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf, would attend it.

Also read-Editorial:PPP in Dubai

“The agenda is not known to everyone but obviously the meeting is most likely to discuss the party strategy in the upcoming local government elections and the recent anti-PPP campaign in the name of an anti-corruption drive. Since the co-chairman is in Dubai these days, you would see these kinds of sittings in the near future as well,” he said.

Sources said that senior PPP leaders Faryal Talpur and Taj Haider along with Sindh Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal left Karachi for Dubai on Friday evening.

It is the second PPP meeting in Dubai this month.

After the Sept 8 meeting, the PPP came up with a declaration that the policy of reconciliation had damaged it and it would not repeat this mistake in the coming LG polls.

The meeting called it “painful” for the PPP to be declared by some as supporters of terrorists, but it would try to endure repressive actions and continue to struggle in parliament and the courts, the PPP leader said.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2015

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