30 militants killed in Orakzai offensive
PESHAWAR: Thirty militants including a key militant commander were killed during security forces operation in different areas of Orakzai Agency.
According to sources, security forces helicopters pounded militants positions in tehsil Ismailzai killing 30 militants including a key commander and injuring several others. Seven hideouts were also destroyed in the offensive in Ghaljo, Torkanray and adjoining areas. At least 1200 militants have been killed so far during operation against militants.
Security forces kill 40 militants in Orakzai
HANGU: Security forces killed 40 militants and injured nine during an offensive against militants in Orakzai Agency.
Sources said forces pounded militants positions in Kasha area killing 40 militants including militant commander Wali Muhammad. Two hideouts were also destroyed in the action.
Security forces launched operation in the area two months ago in which at least 1,000 militants have been killed so far and more than 100 hideouts have been destroyed.
Karachiites suffer unscheduled load shedding
KARACHI: The Karachiites have been suffering on account of unannounced electricity load shedding while KESC sources said the Korangi Combined Cycle Plant which generates 220 megawatt electricity has shut down due to low gas pressure, Geo news reported Sunday.
Many people living in areas including Defense, Korangi, PCSH Society, Jamsheed Road, Jahangir Road, Liaquatabad, Malir, Gulshan, Gulistan-e-Johar and Saeedabad have complained of havocs caused by hours long and unscheduled load shedding.
Meanwhile, residents of Saeedabad and others staged protest against and set tires on fire, sources said.
Citizens have said their complaints in concerned departments of KESC are going unnoticed.
PPP’s Dasti, Jatt win NA by-polls
MUZAFARGARH: PPP candidates Jamshed Dasti and Asghar Jutt have won by elections on the National Assembly seats.
According to the unofficial results, Jamshed Dasti from NA-178 secured 52,624 votes while Pakistan Democratic Party’s candidate Iftikhar Ahmad Khan remained second who grabbed 46,235 votes. Thus according to the unofficial results, Jamshed Dasti won the by-elections with a lead of six thousand votes.
From NA-167 Vehari, PPP’s candidate Asghar Jatt outclassed his rival by taking 63,183 votes. Awami Ittehad’s candidate Nazir Ahmad stood second by securing 40,429 votes.
Meanwhile, independent and PML-N candidates have succeeded in their respective constituencies of PP-259 of Muzaffargarh and PP-63 of Faisalabad.
According to unofficial results, the independent candidate from PP-259 of Muzaffargarh, Makhdoom Basit Bukhari won with an outstanding vote output of 32, 512 against his rival PPP’s Sami-ullah Bukhari with 30,247 votes.
Meanwhile PML-N’s Ajmal Asif took lead in PP-63 of Faisalabad with 31,173 votes as against 22,233 of his PPP rival Rana Aftab.
Our correspondent adds from Faisalabad: By-elections were held in two National Assembly and two Punjab Assembly constituencies, including NA-167 (Vehari), NA-178 (Muzaffargarh), PP-259 (Muzaffargarh) and PP-63 (Faisalabad) on Saturday.
Scuffles in different constituencies of Faisalabad and Muzaffargarh claimed two lives. A man was killed and over a dozen others received injuries when a scuffle broke out between the supporters of two main contestants at polling station No 49 in Faisalabad.
A schoolteacher, Mohammad Din, fainted during the scuffle and died on his way to a hospital. Later, the police reached the polling station and controlled the situation.
According to the Election Commission, 110 polling stations were established in PP-63 constituency and eight candidates, including Rana Aftab Ahmed of the PPP and Mian Muhammad Ajmal of the PML-N are contesting for the seat. The official said unofficial results could be compiled by Saturday midnight. The turnover remained around 35 to 40 per cent and the total number of registered voters in the constituency is about 110,000.
Our correspondent adds from Vehari: Polling for by-election in NA-167 constituency was held here on Saturday. The police took six Frontier Constabulary officials, including Rahim Bakhsh, Munawar Khan, Munir Khan, Muhammad Javed, Nusrat Khan, Nizam Din and Muhammad Sadiq into custody for interfering in the electoral process. The turnout remained 30 to 40 per cent, said an official. The main contestants for the seat are Asghar Ali Jatt, Syed Shahid Mehdi Naseem and Chaudhry Nazir Ahmad Arain. Minor incidents of brawl were reported in Chak No 249/EB. Police allegedly tried to manipulate voters and former MNA Nazir Ahmad Jatt slapped a policeman. The police also misbehaved with media persons in Chak No 253/EB. Three persons were reported injured in the incident in Chak No 493/EB, 175/EB, E-Block, Habib Colony and polling remained suspended after the scuffle.
Returning Officer Masood Ahmad Malik didn’t allow media persons to witness the polling process inside polling stations. According to initial results of 26 polling stations, Asghar Jatt of the PPP got 7,001 votes, Nazir Ahmad Arain of the Awami Ittehad got 6,824 and PML-N’s Syed Shahid Mehdi Naseem got 2,867 votes.
Our correspondent adds from Muzaffargarh: One Nasir Ali Ansari, 22, an activist of Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmed Khan, was shot dead allegedly by one Jugnu, son of Fazal Din, in the Shah Jamal area of Muzaffargarh. The accused snatched the pistol of an ASI, Sultan Ahmed, and used it to kill his opponent. Police said Jugnu asked a voter, Nasir, whether he will cast his vote in favour of Jamshed Dasti of the PPP or Nawabzada Iftikhar. When Nasir said he was a staunch supporter of the Nawabzada, the accused snatched the pistol of the ASI and shot him dead.
Later, the relatives and activists of the PDP blocked the road and staged a sit-in. Muzaffargarh DPO Manzoor Sarwar reached the spot and assured the protesters that the culprit would be held very soon. The protesters were demanding the arrest of PPP candidate Jamshed Dasti.
In another incident, three persons sustained injuries when the PPP supporters allegedly opened fire in the Mehrpur area.
A clash took place in Kot Ratta (PP-259) between two rival groups in which three persons received injuries. DCO Muhammad Aslam Wazir called out the rangers to control the situation. The DCO said: “Polling was delayed for one to two hours at different places due to scuffle between the rival groups on petty issues.”
These seats were vacated after lawmakers elected from these seats resigned for having fake educational degrees.
Our correspondent adds from Lahore: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah said on Saturday the deployment of the FC in by-election was unconstitutional. The FC men have been deployed on the orders of the interior minister and a case would be registered against him. He asked the interior minister to take notice of the situation instead of further aggravating it. He said the prime minister should call back the FC personnel and take strict action against them.
US still running private spy network in Pak, Afghanistan
WASHINGTON: Despite official denials, a secret network of private spies set up by a US Defense Department official continues to operate in Afghanistan and Pakistan, The New York Times reported late Saturday.
Citing unnamed US officials and businessmen, the newspaper said the network was still operating, the paper reported.
Its reports on Taliban activities, especially in Pakistan, were submitted almost daily to top US commanders in the region.
The Times reported in March that Defense Department official Michael Furlong had set up a network of private contractors in Afghanistan and Pakistan to help track and kill suspected militants.
He did this under the cover of a benign government information-gathering program.
In the wake of those reports, US government officials said it was a rogue operation that had been shut down once an investigation had begun.
But interviews with more than a dozen current and former government officials and businessmen, and an examination of government documents, suggested otherwise, the paper said.
Over time, the operation had appeared to morph into traditional spying activities, the report noted.
And while Furlong was indeed under investigation, a review of the program by The Times found that his operatives were still providing information using the same intelligence gathering methods as before.
The contractors were still being paid under a 22-million-dollar contract managed by defense corporation Lockheed Martin and supervised by the Pentagon office in charge of special operations policy, the paper said.
The US military is largely prohibited from operating inside Pakistan, The Times noted. And under Pentagon rules, the army is not allowed to hire contractors for spying.
Orakzai operation kills 10 extremists
HANGU: At least ten extremists were killed and six others injured in shelling by the security forces’ fighter jets in Upper Orakzai Agency, Geo News reported Sunday.
The security forces’ fighter jets pounded two havens of extremists in Upper Orakzai Agency areas, killing ten extremists present there and injuring six others. Also, both the hideouts were destroyed in the shelling.
The forces’ operation is in progress for 50 days now and at least 700 extremists have been killed in the operation and their 80 havens including 20 training centers were devastated.
Militant positions pounded in Orakzai, 40 killed
PESHAWAR: At least 40 militants were killed and their 10 hideouts were destroyed on Sunday in aerial bombing carried out by security forces in Orakzai Agency.
According to sources, security forces backed by helicopter gunships pounded militant dens situated in Dabori, Ghalju and Khadzai areas. As a result of at least 40 militants were killed and several others injured.
In Orakzai offensive, so far over 550 militants were killed and their 75 hideouts were destroyed in more than five weeks.
Operation Rah-e-Nijaat: Security Forces Take control of Shahu Khel
Pakistan News: Operation Rah-e-Nijaat continues in South Waziristan while security forces have taken control of Shahu Khel.
Five militants were killed and 11 injured in clashes with security forces. Forces bombarded in Mashti Shekan and Shahu Khel areas of Orakzai Agency with helicopters. Contingents of forces entered the area after bombardment. Curfew has been enforced in Shahu Khel and search operation is underway. Militants’ hideouts were destroyed in shelling by the forces in Laddah, Makeem and Kani Garam areas.
Operation Rah-e-Nijaat: Security Forces Take control of Shahu Khel was first posted on November 22, 2009 at 3:43 pm.
12 Militants Arrested in Swat
RAWALPINDI: Twelve militants including a suicide attacker were arrested from different areas of Swat and Malakand during last 24 hours.
A suicide attacker identified as Habibullah was arrested from Kalkot near Fatehpur, a military spokesman said on Sunday.
Five militants were arrested from Bartana, two near Mingora and four militants were captured from Gharghot, the spokesman said.
The troops capture munitions from the accused and their hideouts were destroyed.
The troops also found four caves being used by the militants as hideouts.
Moreover, four landmines were destroyed near Nadeem Shaheed Post in Dir, spokesman added.
