Pakistan announces reward, protection for Taliban info

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday announced a reward of 10 million rupees (around 120,000 dollars) to anyone providing information about the Taliban, as Islamabad struggles to defeat the Islamic militants.

“The government will make arrangements to settle the informers and their families anywhere in the country, even abroad, if they fear that Taliban might hurt them,” interior minister Rehman Malik told reporters.

Malik said that most Taliban belonged to the banned Sunni militant outfits of Laskhar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Sahaba.

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is regarded as Pakistan’s most extreme Sunni outfit, accused of killing hundreds of minority Shiite Muslims after its emergence in the early 1990s. It was banned by then president Pervez Musharraf in 1999.

The group played a key role in the 2002 kidnap and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl from Karachi

‘Code of conduct’ to help maintain peace in Karachi

KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday spelled out a “strategy” to maintain peace in Karachi with the help of all stakeholders.

“We have prepared a short, medium and long term strategy which will be implemented by the provincial government. We have also devised a “code of conduct” in consultation with all stakeholders including MQM, ANP, PPP and law enforcement agencies to stabilise this economic hub of Pakistan”, he told newsmen while addressing a press conference after presiding over a high level meeting on law and order at Chief Minister House.

Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza, Raza Haroon of MQM, Afrasiyab Khattak senior leader of ANP and Rashid Rabbani of PPP were also present on the occasion.

The prime minister also vowed to discourage the display of weapons in Karachi. “We do not want that arms are displayed in this city, which is commercial hub of Pakistan and whose stability is vital for the political and economic stability of the country”, he added.

He said that action against criminals, culprits and terrorists will be held across the board. Anyone involved will not be spared and action will be taken against all responsibles, he remarked.

Besides, the prime minister said, he will continue his “fire fighting” mission to defuse situation.

“We have created an atmosphere where all stakeholders should sit on the table of negotiation and agree that we will resolve all the issues through dialogue. Once they agree, we will discuss and resolve the real core issues under short term, medium term and long term plans”.

PM Gilani said that the federal government will support the provincial government and the law enforcement agencies for this purpose and federal law enforcement agencies will also fully cooperate in this task.

I am directing the Interior Minister to use all his powers to facilitate the implementation, the decisions of these negotiations.

The Sindh government will have the responsibility of implementing these decisions, he added.

He said Karachi was extremely dear to him as its stability was vital for the country. Peace in Karachi will flourish its business activities, he noted.

Talking of his engagements in Karachi on Friday, the premier said that he had held meetings with the delegations of MQM, ANP and PPP regarding the incidents of targeted killings and today (Saturday) he presided over a meeting of law enforcement agencies.

“I had also ranged up MQM leader Altaf Bhai on Friday and expressed my condolences over the loss of lives including the assassination of MPA Syed Raza Haider in Karachi during targeted killings and we agreed to stabilise this city”, he added.

“We have to eliminate the terrorism and extremism from this city with the cooperation of all the stakeholders”, he remarked.

Replying to a question, he said that there was no need for calling the army to control the situation as the political forces are mature enough to identify the real issues and resolve them for stability in the country.

Responding to a question on de-weaponization, he said the government will discourage. I have asked the Interior Ministry to prepare a strategy for this purpose”, he added.

To another question, he said the government was also looking at the possibility of involvement of “third force” including terrorists and criminals in the targeted killings.

Referring to a question, he said that the federal government was fully aware of flood situation in the country and all its machinery was fully involved in relief and evacuation work.

As a first step we are evacuating the stranded people with the help of armed forces and civil bureaucracy and providing relief to them. We are providing food and medicines to the affectees in the camps and other places, he added.

He said that in the third phase, the government will assess the quantum of damages with the help of credible sources like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) to ensure transparency in the entire process.

Gilani said that he has created a “special fund” for the rehabilitation of flood affectees and provincial governments were also having the similar funds.

He said the hazardous floods have badly damaged the infrastructure and caused severe devastation in Khyber-Pukhtoonkhwa, Balochistan, southern Punjab, AJK and Gilgit Baltistan.

We have to now see the affects of flood in Sindh. We are now mentally prepared to deal with any situation in Sindh. I am going to Sukkur now to personally monitor the situation. I want to tell the people that your government is responsible and understands your problems and we are making efforts to provide all possible assistance in this hour of need, he added.

The senior leadership of coalition partners including PPP, MQM and ANP reached a “code of conduct” to maintain peace in the greater interest of the country in general and particularly in Karachi.

The code of conduct has been signed by PPP”s Rashid Rabbani, MQM”s Raza Haroon, ANP”s Afrasiab Khattak and Interior Minister Senator A Rehman Malik in Karachi on Saturday.

Following are the salient features of the code of conduct:

1. They resolved that extra care is to be observed to make political environment conducive.

2. They also resolved that they will assist the law enforcement forces to take strict action against drug mafia, land mafia and target killers.

3. They resolved to form Coordination Committees comprising of MQM, ANP and PPP and other relevant stakeholder to promote peace and harmony in their respective areas.

4. They resolved to identify Talibans/ Terrorists involved in target killing/Members of the banned organizations who have taken refuge in Sindh in general and particularly in Karachi.

5. They resolved to assist the authorities for action against Talibans/ Terrorists/ Members of the banned organizations.

6. They resolved to help to expose Talibans/ Terrorists/ Members of the banned organizations.

7. They resolved to help and assist ongoing government drive against land mafia and encroachers.

8. They resolved to mutually consult each other in case of any dispute.

9. The provincial government of Sindh shall immediately order a high level judicial commission to investigate for the murder of Raza Haider and all other people killed in target killings. After the report of Judicial Commission those who will be found guilty, shall be punished without discrimination.

10. It was resolved that the government will compensate the families of victims.

Banned outfits trying to re-establish contact: Rehman

KARACHI: Interior Minister Rehman Malik Monday said the traces of terrorism and targeted killings lead to links in Waziristan.

Addressing a special cabinet meeting of Sindh, Rehman Malik said the banned outfits are behind the acts of extremism and terrorism and that they are trying to re-establish contact with one another.

He said a number of people belonging to these organizations have been arrested.

The Interior Minister said eyes and ears will to be kept open for keeping a vigilance on the activities of outlawed outfits in Karachi.

LJ terrorist held

KARACHI: CID police have arrested a militant of the banned sectarian outfit, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi in Mominabad area.

According to SSP CID Chaudhry Aslam, terrorist Sajid was arrested from Mominabad area along with weapons and extremist literature.

He was wanted in various crimes of sectarian and targeted killings including attack on imambargah in Khada Market area of Liyari in 2008.

Britain cannot deport Pakistani student: court

LONDON: British Immigration Tribunal Tuesday overturned Government”s deportation order against Pakistan student Shoaib Khan and allowed two others Abid Naseer and Ahmed Faraz Khan to remain in the UK.

Justice Mitting handed down the judgement this morning after the tribunal had heard appeals for three weeks against the Pakistani students who were arrested last year in April in terror swoop in North West England. The hearings were held from March 9 to 26 this year and the judgement was reserved for three weeks.

The ten students, all belonging to the Frontier region, were released uncharged after three weeks and handed over to the UK Border Agency for deportation. Eight of the students eventually decided to return home voluntarily on the condition that deportation charges are dropped against them. Two of them Abid Naseer and Ahmed Faraz Khan decided to contest their cases.

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission heard appeals from Abid Naseer, Ahmed Faraz Khan, Abdul Wahab Khan, Shoaib Khan and Tariq Ur Rehman. Mr. Justice Mitting was assisted by Senior Immigration Judge Mr. Warr and a member Mr. J.Daly.

The Commission ruled that Abid Naseer and Ahmed Faraz Khan may not be sent to Pakistan after failing to secure assurances from the authorities that the students would not be maltreated.

Shoaib Khan, Abdul Wahab Khan and Tariq-ur-Rehman were represented by Barrister Amjad Malik while Abid Naseer was represented by Jonathan Bennathan and Ms. S.Harrison while Baroness Kennedy QC appeared for Ahmed Faraz Khan.

The Commission rejected the appeals of Tariq-ur-Rehman and Wahab Khan on the plea that they pose a ”serious and immediate threat to the national security of the UK.”

Among other students Janas Khan and Sultan Sher , Umar Farooq, Rizwan Sharif, Muhammad Ramazan all withdrew their appeals on returning home.

Abid Naseer and Ahmed Faraz remained in detention since April 8 2009 before Faraz was released on bail in March this year with conditions.

Regarding Shoaib, the Commission noted that ”he is from settled area of Pakistan and not the troubled North West. He did not know any of the four other appellants before he arrived in the UK in 2005. He does not speak their first language. He did not attend or claim to have attended the Manchester College of Professional Studies. He was a genuine student of Accountancy at a reputable college. Nothing is the manner in which he gave his evidence caused us doubt that he was telling the truth. He answered questions in a calm and straight forward way and did not bluster.”

However, in upholding his appeal, Commission stated: ”It is for the Secretary of State to determine what should be done in the light of our judgement.”

PAC seeks withdrawal of TV fee from electricity bill

ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee Tuesday termed the collection of TV fee and other taxes along with electricity bill an ‘open robbery’.

The PAC also took notice of purchase of energy savers at double prices by the Pepco. The committee sought details of this plan from the Managing Director of Pepco.

The PAC members met today in Islamabad to review the audit objections of water and power ministry.

Federal Secretary, water and power ministry, informed the PAC that out of Rs15 billions needed to expand Mangla Dam, only R7 billions have been provided.

He said the government is yet to approve the removal of TV fee from the bills.

On this federal secretary of finance ministry told the committee that release of funds for Mangla dam expansion and some other projects were stopped due to financial difficulties being faced in 2007-08 Budget.

Hafiz Saeed faces life threat from Taliban: PHD

LAHORE: Hafiz Saeed, chief of the defunct Jamaat ud Dawa, is facing a life threat from Taliban, Punjab’s Home Department said Tuesday.

It said the banned Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is planning to kill Hafiz Saeed.

According to the PHD, suspicious activities have been witnessed around Saeed’s home.

However, the provincial home department has directed all concerned departments to step up security of JuD chief.

US mission attack mastermind held in Karachi

KARACHI: The CID Police on Wednesday arrested an alleged member of a proscribed jihadi outfit from a Karachi locality.

The arrested man is said to be the mastermind of attacks on the US consulate and former President Pervez Musharraf.

His name was also included in the list of most wanted terrorists.

On receiving a tip off, the CID police raided a house located in New Karachi area and arrested Ahsan alias Ashan Bhai, a member of the banned Harkat-ul-Mujahideen al Alami, along with weapons, Incharge of the CID Anti-terrorism Cell, SP Omar Shahid, told Geo News.

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Dhoni Banned For Two ODIs

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