Pakistan: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2014

At least three people were killed and 30 others were injured in a suicide attack targeting Shia pilgrims in the Akhtarabad area of provincial capital Quetta (Quetta District) on January 1, reports Dawn. Police said a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the bus carrying Shia pilgrims who were coming from Iran to Quetta. Syed Ahmed Mobeen, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police said, "We have found the legs of suicide bomber from the spot". Read less...

Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on January 1 asked all Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) factions opposing the peace process to grow out of their mindset and respond positively to the gestures of both the Government and the entire political leadership of the country, reports Dawn. Expressing the Government’s resolve to establish peace in the affected areas through talks with the TTP during a meeting with Jama’at-e-Ulema-Islam-Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman who called on him, the Minister said that the Government was sincerely pursuing the path of dialogue. “It is incumbent upon the other side to react positively,” Nisar said. Read less...

Former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf is expected to be indicted on January 1, 2014 (today) in the high treason case for subverting the Constitution while imposing the proclamation of emergency in the country on November 3, 2007, reports The News. A three-member bench of the Special Court headed by Justice Faisal Arab and comprising Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali will conduct hearing into the complaint lodged by the Federation for initiating high treason trial against Musharraf. Read less...

Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) on January 1 opposed the proposed talks between the Government and TTP, reports Daily Times. SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, MWM Secretary for Political Affairs Syed Nasir Abbas Sherazi and Voice of Shuhada-e-Pakistan (VoSP) spokesperson Senator Faisal Raza Abidi expressed their opposition to the talks while addressing a joint press conference at the MWM office. The MWM and SIC central leadership claimed that they would not allow the Government to hold talks with the terrorists at the cost of the Constitution. They said the Government should not hold negotiations with the TTP who neither recognise the country’s Constitution nor respect its sovereignty. Read less...

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests that had blocked the NATO supplies almost came to an unannounced end on January 1, reported The News. The party has wound up four out of five protest camps set up in Nowshera, Dera Ismail Khan and Kohat Districts and at Peshawar Motorway Toll Plaza. Container-mounted trucks were hardly stopped to ascertain their destination. The party, however, officially denies it and insists it is as committed as it was in disallowing NATO supplies through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Read less...

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on January 1 said that he planned to strengthen the National Security Council (NSC) and make it an institutionalised forum with the power to take relevant decisions, reports Dawn. In the past, he said, stakeholders spoke differently, but now everyone should come and speak at this forum and then implement decisions taken there. He also said that the Government was moving in accordance with decisions taken by an all-party conference about a peace initiative. The best option is to achieve peace through talks. But “when we start dialogue, drones derail everything”, he added. “We have to adopt a multi-pronged policy to address the challenge of extremism and terrorism. We have also decided that Pakistan’s and Afghan soil or territory would not be allowed to be used in activities against each other,” he said. Read less...

The authorities concerned on January 1 decided to further enhance security for Musharraf as he could not appear before the Special Court after a kilogram of explosive material was recovered and defused near his Chak Shahzad farmhouse residence in Islamabad, reported The News. Around 1600 Police and Rangers personnel would provide security to him from his farmhouse resident to Special Court on January 2, 2013 (today). Read less...

The Special Court, constituted to try former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf for treason, on January 1 ordered him to appear for the hearing of the case on January 3, 2013, reports Dawn. The bench initiated January 1 hearing without Musharraf’s presence and while ordering for his production in court also warned of issuing a ruling in case he failed to appear in the court for the next hearing. Musharraf’s counsel, Ahmed Raza Kasuri, said that the judiciary would be responsible if any untoward incident took place, adding that if a bombing occurred, everyone, including the judges of the Special Court, would be killed as a result. Responding to which, Justice Faisal Arab, who is heading the Special Court, cautioned Kasuri to not threaten the court, adding that the counsel's point had been noted. Read less...

A Doctor, identified as Dr Ahmad Zia, was abducted by unidentified militants in the Peshawar, the provincial capital Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on January 2, reports The News. Read less...

A girl’s school was partially damaged in an explosion in the Dhub Banda area of Charsadda city in Charsadda District on January 2, reports The News. Read less...

A Policeman, identified as Azizul Allah, was killed and three others were injured in a remote-controlled blast in the Tank town of Tank District on January 2, reports Daily Times. Read less...

One person identified as Tahir Siddiqui (28), was shot dead by unidentified assailants near Naseerabad on Sharea Pakistan. Read less...

Pakistan Army carried out search operation for more than 16 hours in the Peshawar Central Prison after receiving information that some militants had passed on suicide jackets to Tehreek-e- Taliban Pakistan (TTP) prisoners in the jail on January 2, reports The News. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 2 foiled a terrorism bid by recovering and defusing an anti-tank mine concealed in a handcart in the Sakarosare area of Taal Tehsil (revenue unit) in the Hangu city of Hangu District, reports Daily Times. Read less...

Three alleged gangsters, identified as Attaullah (35), Adil Khattak (30) and Hamid alias Mota (36), were shot dead during an ambush by a rival group in Ibrahim Hyderi’s Ilyas Goth area. Read less...

Two alleged militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed in an encounter with the Rangers in Manghopir on January 2, reports The News. An unnamed Rangers official claimed that both the suspects were affiliated with the Wali-ur-Rehman group of the TTP. “One of them was their explosives expert.” Read less...

Two dead bodies were found near the Tonga stand on Tannery Road in Lyari town on January 2, reports The News. Read less...

Gunmen killed two senior members of Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) in an attack in Islamabad on January 3, reports Daily Times. The secretary general of the Islamabad chapter of the ASWJ organisation, Mufti Muneer Muavia, and his colleague Qari Asad Mehmood were killed in a residential area bordering the twin city of Rawalpindi. Read less...

Inspector General Frontier Corps (IGFC) Balochistan Major General Mohammad Ejaz Shahid said on January 3 that 60 to 70 Farari camps, or insurgent camps, were operating in the province, reports The Express Tribune. However, he added that it was difficult to crack down on these camps because they keep changing location according to the weather. Read less...

Islamabad High Court on January 3 directed the Government to provide a bulletproof car to former Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Chaudhry, saying even those who violated the Constitution were being given foolproof security, reports The Hindu. Justice Shoukat Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court issued the directive while hearing a plea filed by former Rawalpindi High Court Bar Association president Sheikh Ahsanuddin for providing security to justice Chaudhry. During the hearing, Cabinet Division Joint Secretary Zia-ul-Haq told the judge that a bulletproof vehicle was given to justice Chaudhry but it was not functioning properly. There is no other vehicle, which can be provided to him, he said. The judge expressed his displeasure at the non-provision of proper security to justice Chaudhry and ordered the city police chief to provide “proper security” to him and adjourned the matter till January 9. The bulletproof vehicle has to be provided to justice Chaudhry within three days, the judge said. Read less...

A body of a young man was found dead from Link Road of Gulshan-e-Hadeed within the remits of Shah Latif Police Station January 4, reports Daily Times. Read less...

A downward trend in the number of overall incidents of violence, which had started in 2010 and continued in the two subsequent years, could not persist in 2013 reported The News on January 5. It took a slight upward curve during the campaign for the 2013 general election and sustained until the year’s end. This was revealed in the Pakistan Security Report 2013, produced and recently released by an Islamabad-based research institute Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS). According to the PIPS report, militant, nationalist insurgent and violent sectarian groups carried out a total of 1,717 terrorist attacks across Pakistan in 2013, claiming the lives of 2,451 people and causing injuries to another 5,438. As compared to 2012, the number of reported terrorist attacks in Pakistan in 2013 posted a nine per cent increase while the number of people killed and injured in these attacks increased by 19 per cent and 42 per cent, respectively. The major actor of instability in the country in 2013 was the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Despite the killing of some of its top leaders in Drone attacks and also military operations launched by Pakistani Security Forces (SFs), the operational capabilities of the group remained intact. An alliance of numerous militant groups and commanders, TTP proved lethal in 2013 as it carried out 645 terrorist attacks in 50 Districts across the country, claiming the lives of 732 civilians and 425 SFs personnel. A rise in sectarian violence that started in 2011 continued through 2012 towards the end of 2013. While the overall incidents of sectarian violence, including sectarian-related attacks and clashes, posted a slight increase in 2013 as compared to 2012, the number of people killed and injured in these incidents significantly increased. The number of suicide attacks across the country rose by 39 per cent, with 46 suicide attacks in 2013 compared to 33 in 2012. As many as 18 (39 per cent) out of the total suicide attacks in 2013 were recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 12 in Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA), 9 in Balochistan, 5 in Sindh and 1 each in Rawalpindi and Azad Kashmir. Of the total, 34 suicide attacks were perpetrated by the TTP and other similar militant groups, 9 were sectarian-related mainly carried out by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and 1 suicide blast was carried out by nationalist insurgents. Another 2 attacks were carried out in inter-militant clashes. US Drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas registered a 31 per cent decrease in 2013 compared to the previous year and fatalities in these attacks also fell by 39 per cent. Out of 31 reported Drone attacks in 2013, as many as 24 struck militants and their hideouts in North Waziristan Agency, in FATA. Five Drone strikes were reported in South Waziristan, and one each in Khyber Agency and Hangu, a settled District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The number of overall cross-border attacks and clashes increased in 2013, particularly along Pak-India border (including the Line of Control and the working boundary), but the casualties in these attacks decreased. Most of the cross-border attacks and clashes (68, or 66 per cent) were reported from Pakistan’s border with India; 26 and 9 attacks, respectively, were reported from Pakistan’s borders with Afghanistan and Iran. On the whole, 103 border attacks and clashes were reported from Pakistan’s borders with Afghanistan, India and Iran, which were 30 percent more than such incidents in 2012. As many as 59 Pakistani citizens, including personnel of security forces and civilians lost their lives in these incidents, 82 per cent less than the killings in such incidents in 2012. The incidents of ethno-political violence in Pakistan increased by 22 per cent, from 183 in 2012 to 224 in 2013, but the fatalities in these incidents slightly decreased from 288 in 2012 to 283 in 2013. While most incidents of ethno-political violence in 2013 were concentrated in Karachi (over 81 per cent), such incidents were reported from a total of 28 districts in all four provinces of Pakistan. It was apparently due to the May 2013 elections that the ethno-political violence in the country became more complex with increasing number of political parties becoming either part of it or being targeted in politically motivated targeted killings. Despite a decrease in fatalities in 2013 in the overall incidents of violence, the number of civilians killed in these incidents increased by 16 per cent and of civilians injured by 34 per cent. However, the number of militants killed in 2013 in overall incidents of violence declined by 28 percent. Fatalities among SFs personnel also modestly decreased, by almost two per cent. Read less...

A peanut seller, identified as Syed (40) was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Hyderi area January 4, reports Daily Times. Read less...

A Policeman, identified as Mohsin (37), was shot dead in Shahnawaz Shar Goth area within the precincts of Sacchal Police Station January 4, reports Daily Times. Read less...

An unidentified person was killed by unidentified assailants in Pak Colony area January 4, reports Daily Times. Read less...

Four persons, including a top politician were injured in bomb attacks in Quetta (Quetta District), the provincial capital of Balochistan on January 4, reports The Times of India. Majid Abro, the advisor to the Balochistan Chief Minister, was among four persons injured. Read less...

In an incident of firing by armed assailants on January 4 (today), at least three people were killed and four others were injured in Karachi District, reports Dawn. In the Gulshan-i-Iqbal area of Karachi city, on a juice shop situated near Maskan Chowrangi, armed assailants opened fire killing the owner of the shop and two of the workers while injuring four others in the assault. Read less...

Quetta Police Chief Abdul Razaq Cheema on January 4 claimed that Police has arrested four United Baloch Army (UBA) militants and seized a huge cache of bomb-making material from their possession in Bakra Mandi area of Quetta, reports The Express Tribune. Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Cheema said that subversive acts, including bomb and grenade attacks, were taking place in Quetta for a long time under the supervision of UBA chief Abdul Nabi Bangulzai who had used young boys to carry out explosions. CCPO Cheema said Bangulzai’s accomplices were planning a big attack when Police raided their hideout and arrested four accused, identified as Asghar Ali, Ejaz Ahmed, Wafa Waheed Ahmed and Zahoor. Cheema said that the accused have confessed of carrying out 15 terrorists acts in 2012-13 in which 12 persons were killed and dozens others were injured. Read less...

Three persons were killed and four others were injured in an armed attack near Maskan Chowrangi in Gulshan-e-Iqbal town. According to the law enforcers, all victims belong to the Shia sect. Read less...

Two brothers, also seminary students, identified as Abid Mavia (25) and Sajid Mavia (28), were shot dead by unidentified assailants on Rashid Minhas Road within the jurisdiction of Jauharabad Police Station January 4, reports Daily Times. Read less...

Two persons were killed and nine others were injured in a blast in Bakhtiarabad area of Sibi town of same District on January 4 reports the Times of India. The bomb was attached to a motorcycle and detonated by remote control. Read less...

Two Policemen were killed and another was injured in an armed attack in Orangi Town within the precincts of Pirabad locality January 4, reports Daily Times. Read less...

A factory owner, Muhammad Iqbal, was shot dead while he was on his way on a car in Qasba Colony on January 5, reports Daily Times. Read less...

A person, Asif, who had sustained injuries during an attack on a Police van in Pirabad locality, succumbed to the injuries on January 5, reports Daily Times. Read less...

A person, identified as Muneeb Ahmad was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Ashfaq Colony on January 5, reports Daily Times. Read less...

A senior worker of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), identified as Qari Jaffar, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in SITE area on January 5, reports Daily Times. Read less...

A worker of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), identified as Nazar Shaikh, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Surjani area on January 5, reports Daily Times. Read less...

Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) recovered three bodies from Killi Maryam in Qamarud Din Karez area of Zhob District on January 5, reports The News. Local Levies sources said that the bodies were recovered on information provided by local people. However, the identity of bodies could not be ascertained. Read less...

Police arrested over a dozen suspects from Sharifabad, Liaquatabad and Orangi neighbourhoods on January 5, reports Daily Times. Authorities did not disclose the identities of the suspects and moved them to an undisclosed location for further questioning. Read less...

Police recovered explosives in the limits of Mandani Police Station of Charsadda District on January 5, reports The News. Read less...

Rangers and Police claimed to have arrested over two and a half dozen suspects during separate targeted raids and operation across the Karachi on January 5, reports Daily Times. Pakistan Rangers Sindh arrested around 15 alleged criminals in various parts of the metropolis, including Landhi, Essa Nagri, Godhra, Gulshan-e-Ghazi, Gadap, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Ranchore Line and Ali Basti. Rangers’ spokesperson said 15 hardened criminals along with a complete chain of target killers affiliated with a political party, notorious gangster, Noora and extortionist, Ghaus were arrested during the raids. Weapons recovered included SMGs, .22 rifles, an M-16 rifle, shotguns, pistols and a large quantity of mixed ammunition. Read less...

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that the targeted operation in Karachi will continue till the elimination of criminals and terrorists on January 5, reports Daily Times. The minister said that our Law Enforcing Agencies (LEAs) are doing a commendable job in the operation and a large number of criminals and militants have been arrested. He said that after the operation against terrorists, another operation would be carried out against ‘terrorists making factories’. Memon said that talks could not be held with terrorists, but doors of negations were always open for political parties. Read less...

The house of a Policeman was partially damaged when it was targeted with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the limits of Kaki Police Station of Bannu District on January 5, reports The News. The sources said unidentified militants had placed explosives at the main gate of the house of Constable Waqar. “The explosives went off at night. It partially damaged the gate and the boundary wall of the house but caused no loss of life,” a Police official said. Read less...

The prayer leader of Masjid-e-Khizrul Islam was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Baldia Town on January 5, reports Daily Times. Read less...

The President of the Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) Rajanpur District, identified as Doctor Azhar Hussain (59), was shot dead by unidentified armed assailants in a sectarian attack at his residence in the District on January 5, reported The Express Tribune. The target killers shot him eight times at point blank range before escaping. Hussain was a doctor by profession. He served as Executive District Health Officer Rajanpur and in 10 other executive medical positions in different districts of Punjab. Read less...

Two persons, identified as Ameer Bukhsh (65) and Shafi Muhammad (60), were shot dead and another was injured in Mawach Goth in the precincts of Mochko Police Station on January 5, reports Daily Times. Read less...

Two Policemen were shot dead in Sector J of Madina Colony in Baldia Town. Police said that unidentified assailants, riding motorbikes, hurled a hand grenade at the shop of Awami National Party (ANP) leader Abdul Razzak Buneri and also opened fire. Buneri remained unhurt but the two Policemen, identified as Abdul Raheem and Khan Muhammad, were killed in the attack. Police suspected involvement of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the attack. Read less...

A Frontier Constabulary (FCB) official, identified as Wahid Mir, was killed and three other FC personnel were injured in a roadside bomb explosion in the Regi Lalma Housing Scheme area of Peshawar (Peshawar District) on January 6, reported The Express Tribune. Soon after the attack, Police conducted a search operation and arrested some suspected militants. A Police official said, “Being close to Khyber Agency, the area provides militants a golden opportunity to escape to the tribal areas safely after such attacks.” Read less...

A passerby, identified as Hussain Turi, was injured in roadside bomb explosion in Pewar area of Kurram Agency on January 6, reports The Express Tribune. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

A Police constable, identified as Manfarullah, was shot dead outside City Hospital on Kohat Road in Peshawar (Peshawar District) on January 6, reported The Express Tribune. Manfarullah belonged to the Frontier Reserve Police. Read less...

A Policeman was injured when armed assailants hurled a hand grenade at Satellite Town Police Station in Quetta on January 6, reports Dawn. Read less...

A teenage boy, identified as Aitazaz Hassan (14), was killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Government school in the Ibrahimzai area of Hangu District on January 6, reports Daily Times. No outfit claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

An activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), identified as Shahid Sheikh, was killed in a targeted attack on M.A. Jinnah Road near Jama Masjid in Jamshed Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on January 6, reported Dawn. Sheikh was the taluka naib nazim (District Deputy officer) in Tando Adam town of Sanghar District. Tando Adam Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ayoub Brohi said that Sheikh lived in Karachi for several years and had recently returned to his native town Tando Adam. Read less...

At least nine persons, including three children and three suspected militants, were killed and several others were wounded in a bomb blast targeting the house of a tribal elder Hakeem Khan Akakhel in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 6, reports Dawn. Read less...

Law enforces during their ongoing drive against criminals and gangsters claimed to have arrested 94 suspects during separate targeted raids and operations across Karachi on January 6, reports Daily Times. In the first incident, Karachi Police claimed to have detained around 69 suspects during 73 raids and three encounters in different parts of the city. In addition, Pakistan Rangers Sindh claimed to have arrested 25 criminals during separate targeted raids conducted in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, Korangi Town, Landhi Town, New Karachi Town, Gadap Town, North Nazimabad Town and other areas. Read less...

PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain presented himself for trial under Article 6 of the constitution for having supported Musharraf’s decision to proclaim the state of emergency on November 3, 2007, reports Dawn. He also called for trial of former Army Chief Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry for supporting Musharraf on different occasions. Read less...

Security Agencies on January 6 claimed that they have arrested a key suspect, identified as Rahim Khan, from Federal Capital Islamabad for his involvement in the June 22, 2013 Nanga Parbat attack on 10 foreigners in Diamer District of Gilgit Baltistan, reports The Express Tribune. Unofficial statements by Police officials suggest a joint team of Gilgit Baltistan and Islamabad Police made the latest arrest from a seminary in Islamabad over the weekend. Read less...

Terming reports about presence of Afghan Taliban as baseless and far from reality, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti on January 6 said that there is no Taliban Shura in Quetta, reports Dawn. “No sign of Afghan Taliban factor in the province,” he said, adding that foreign hands were involved in the prevailing unrest in Balochistan, Pakistan's least developed and area wise the biggest province. Read less...

The Pakistan Rangers, Sindh on January 6 prepared an elaborate security plan to meet any eventuality during the forthcoming Chup Tazia and 12th Rabi-ul-Awal celebrations, reports Daily Times. The Director General of Rangers, Major General Rizwan Akhtar, presided over the meeting. According to the plan, temporary pickets will be established and manned round the clock. Snipers will be deployed on the rooftops on procession routes and complete route will be sealed off. Sniffer dogs will be employed to clear the route coupled with aerial surveillance. Read less...

Two people, including a woman, were killed while Police constable Farzand Ali and Frontier Corps (FC) official Gula Khan were injured when an unidentified militant opened fire at them in a market in the Matani area of Peshawar (Peshawar District) on January 6, reports The Express Tribune. Read less...

Unidentified militants attacked the office of Lyari Development Authority (LDA) at Civic Centre in Gulshan Town and set the office furniture on fire on January 6, reported The News. Read less...

While quoting some officials The Express Tribune on January 7 (today) reported that Pakistan is planning to enlist Saudi Arabia’s help in brokering a peace deal with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in its quest for peace in the long term. According to the initial report, when Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal meets Pakistani officials during his two-day visit beginning on January 6, 2013, one of the key agenda items would be to explore the possibility of Riyadh’s role in the Government’s peacemaking efforts. Mullah Fazlullah has so far refused to respond to the Government’s peace overtures. Sources familiar with the development disclosed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was likely to request the Saudi Foreign Minister to use his country’s ‘good offices’ in persuading the TTP and its affiliates to come to the negotiating table. Both Jama’at-e-Ulema Islam-Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman as well as Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, who is known as the father of the Afghan Taliban, are considered close to the Saudi rulers, and are intensifying efforts to bring the TTP to the negotiating table as most of the militants have studied at their seminaries. Another official pointed out that the government believes Saudi Arabia could use its ‘clout’ over some of the TTP affiliates for an agreement. When contacted, a senior member of the Federal Cabinet insisted that the Saudis were careful in getting involved in the process considering the TTP’s links with al Qaeda. Read less...

A Frontier Corps (FC) official and a Policeman were killed while one FC sustained injuries during an exchange of fire in Chatkan Bazaar of Panjgur District on January 7, reported The News. A handout issued by the FC said that the FC had received information about presence of a militants involved in attacking Security Forces in Chatkan Bazaar. “An FC patrolling team reached the site to arrest the suspect who ran into a street adjacent to the bazaar. The FC team chased the suspect, and during that time, two persons riding a motorcycle tried to halt FC personnel in order to provide a chance to the accused to escape. The two persons opened fire on FC team injuring one FC personnel, Muhammad Akhtar, seriously,” said a spokesman for the FC. Read less...

A grocery shop was destroyed in an explosion near the house of levies official Major Rekhmeen at Bahadur Bandha in Hangu District on January 7, reported The Express Tribune. However, no casualties were reported. Rekhmeen said that he had not been threatened by anyone, but militant groups kept on issuing warnings to Security Force officials to quit their jobs immediately or face the consequences. “The blast outside my house shows that I was the target, but fortunately no human loss occurred,” he said. Read less...

A low-intensity bomb blast occurred in front of the house of Dr Razaullah in Saro Village of Shabqadar tehsil (revenue unit) in Charsadda District on January 7, reports Daily Times. However, no casualty was reported. The main gate of the residential compound was damaged due to the explosion. Read less...

A proclaimed offender, identified as Aalam Khan, was killed in Musazai village while 45 suspects were arrested in a search operation conducted within the jurisdiction of Badhaber and Bhanamari Police Stations in Peshawar on January 7, reports The Express Tribune. Police raided several houses in Bazid Khel, Ahmad Khel, Musazai, Badhaber, Khattako Pul and Kagawala areas. Read less...

An unidentified dead body was recovered near Malir checkpost in Malir Town on Janauary 7, reports Dawn. Read less...

An unidentified Police Officer was killed in firing incident in Pak Colony area of SITE Town on January 7, reports Dawn. Read less...

Another unidentified man was shot dead in Quaidabad area of Bin Qasim Town on January 7, reported Dawn. Read less...

At least seven people were injured in an explosion in Sadda Bazaar of lower Kurram Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 7, reported The Express Tribune Read less...

At least six dead bodies were found near the Sufi shrine of shrine of Ayub Shah Bukhari in Gulshan-e-Maymar area of Gadap Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on January 7, reports Dawn. Two of the victims were beheaded, while the rest had their throats slit, said a Policeman. Among them three worked at the shrine while the others were visitors. The Police found a bloodstained knife and note, written by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which read, “Stop visiting shrines — from the Pakistani Taliban”. “People visiting shrines will meet the same fate,” a senior Police Officer quoted the group as saying in the note. Five of victims were identified as, Munawwar, Saleem, Javed, Ramzan and Abid, respectively. One victim could not be identified. Read less...

Police on January 7 arrested a target killer from Musharraf Colony in Baldia Town and recovered two Kalashnikovs, two hand-grenades and two home-made bombs from his possession, reports Dawn. Police alleged that the arrested suspect was wanted in the killings of 28 people and that he hailed from a political party. Read less...

Saudi Arabia made it clear on January 7 that it has nothing to do with former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf’s high treason case and Riyadh does not want to interfere in internal matters of Pakistan, reports Daily Times. Addressing a press conference along with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal denied he had brought any message for the Pakistan Government with regard to Musharraf’s trial. The Saudi Foreign Minister was asked about rumors that Saudi Arabia might intervene to secure the release of Musharraf. “Musharraf’s trial is an internal matter of Pakistan,” Prince Saud said. He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy historic and deep-rooted relations and added that designs of those who were plotting to damage Pakistan-Saudi relations should be thwarted. “We are friends and friends do stand with each other in all circumstances. It is a visit of friendship,” he said. He said his country would extend cooperation to Pakistan in energy and other sectors. Saud Al-Faisal also said there was need for joint efforts to eradicate the menace of terrorism. Read less...

the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on January 7 got 14 days physical remand of two accused after arresting them for alleged involvement in the multi-billion scam concerning the procurement of weapons and vehicles for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, reports The News. The NAB officials produced Raza Ali Khan, said to be related to former Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti, and the latter’s un-notified special adviser on police affairs Niaz Ali Shah, and sought their 14 days physical remand. The NAB special prosecutor Lajbar Khan informed the bench that the accused had played a vital role in the scam. Read less...

The Special Court will resume the hearing into the high treason case against former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf, on January 7 (today), reports The News. On January 6 the Special Court trying the Pervez Musharraf again exempted him from personal appearance for a day and summoned a medical certificate from the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC). Pervez Musharraf failed to appear before the special court for the fourth time in a row. Special Prosecutor Muhammad Akram Sheikh, stressing the court to issue non-bailable arrest warrants, said the accused was flouting the orders of the august court. “A person cannot hide in the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) avoiding appearance before the court,” Sheikh contended. Earlier on January 5 a lawyer representing Musharraf said that he would not make a scheduled appearance at his treason trial because of an ongoing illness, reports Daily Times. Musharraf was rushed to a military hospital on January 2, 2014, after developing what a Police official called a “heart problem” while being taken to hear treason charges against him at a special tribunal in Islamabad. As Musharraf got exemption from appearing before a special court, a number of politicians raised doubts over his trial, reports The News. So far, leaders from the top political parties including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Jama’at-Ulema-Islam-Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) have objected over the trial, saying that the trial should start from October 1999. Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah said that all those who supported Pervez Musharraf should also be held accountable. He said that October 12, 1999 toppling of Nawaz Government was bigger crime than November 3, 2007 proclamation of emergency. Read less...

The United States (US) Department of State on January 7 declared Qari Saifullah, a Quetta-based Taliban ‘commander’, a specially designated global terrorist, reports Dawn. Qari Saifullah is the Taliban’s shadow ‘deputy governor’ and an operational ‘commander’ in Zabul province of Afghanistan, but the designation identifies him as a resident of Quetta. The State Department reported that as an operational commander, Qari Saifullah has used Taliban fighters to organise terrorist activities against the Government of Afghanistan and coalition forces in eastern Zabul province. Qari Saifullah has also directly ordered his subordinates to conduct Improvised Explosive Device attacks, small arms fire attacks, and rocket attacks in Zabul province against the Government of Afghanistan. The designation includes a prohibition against US persons engaging in transactions with Qari Saifullah, and the freezing of all property and interests of Qari Saifullah in the US or come within the US or the possession or control of US persons. Read less...

Two security guards, identified as Muhammad Shafiq (40) and Dilshad Ansari (27), posted at United Bank Limited (UBL) in Korangi Town were killed, while three people, including Branch Manager, cashier and another employee sustained injuries when six masked robbers opened fire at them and looted around PKR 1.7 million on January 7, reports The News. Read less...

Unidentified militants shot dead a former Naib Nazim of Union Council (UC) Shahdara, identified as Shah Zaman, when he was in his shop in Mingora city of Swat District on January 7, reports Daily Times. Read less...

A College Professor and a Shia religious leader, identified as Nazir Hussain Imrani, was shot at and critically injured by unidentified assailants in a targeted sectarian attack in Dhoke Kashmirian area of Rawalpindi District on January 8, reports The Express Tribune. Imrani was an imam of Qasr-e-Sajjad Imambargah in Iqbal Town and a Professor at Government Hashmat Ali College. Police said that Imrani was returning home on after dropping his daughter at school. When he reached Dhoke Kashmirian, two unidentified assailants riding a motorbike fired a volley of bullets at him and fled from the scene. Read less...

A source in Balochistan Home and Tribal Affairs Department said on January 8 that the Commission on enforced disappearances has received 209 cases of missing Baloch political workers from Balochistan, reported Dawn. He said that 61 missing persons have been recovered and 24 mutilated dead bodies found in different parts of Balochistan up till now. He said 44 cases of missing persons were disposed off following lack of required documents. Apart from this, 144 cases of missing persons were under trial before Supreme Court of Pakistan. “The Chief Minister has strictly directed the concerned quarters to expedite the cases of missing persons,” the official said. He said that all deputy commissioners were instructed to inform the Home Department about the missing persons' cases on priority basis. “Without the recovery of missing persons, situation in the province cannot be improved,” said the Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch. Read less...

Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz during a book launch at the Institute of Strategic Study in Islamabad on January 8 said that America is fighting the “wrong war with wrong methods against the wrong people”, reports Daily Times. Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan has been protesting against the drone attacks at all levels, as these are un-productive and violate Pakistan’s sovereignty. He said that Pakistan has got support from the international community on its stance on drone attacks. Further, he said a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has also been adopted to condemn the drone attacks, which reflects the international public opinion. He said this also speaks of legality and illegality of the use of drones. Reiterating Pakistan’s position on the drone attacks that they violate sovereignty of the country and cause collateral damage, Aziz said Pakistan will continue to protest against these attacks at all levels. He said according to the United States drone strikes have achieved the desired results, as high value targets have been killed in these strikes, therefore, now these drone attacks should be stopped. He said Pakistan’s next move will be to approach the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva against drone attacks and make efforts for adoption of a similar resolution there. Read less...

At least 10 militants and three Security Forces (SFs) were killed when militants attacked Green Ridge check post in Ladha subdivision South Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 8, reported The Express Tribune. Militants attacked the check post in around 8:00 pm “which was repulsed” said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement. The military claimed “inflicting heavy casualties to the militants.” Read less...

At least one Policeman was killed and another was injured when unidentified militants opened fire on two Policemen deputed at a checkpost on Canal Road in University Town of provincial capital Peshawar on January 8, reports Dawn. Read less...

Lyari on January 8 remained tensed as Lyari gangster Abdul Jabbar alias Jabbar Jhengu and his companion Abdul Ghani were killed in a road accident in the Bella area of Balochistan on January 7, 2014 reports The Express Tribune. As the news of his death spread, armed gangsters resorted to indiscriminate firing in Lyari Town and its adjoining areas of Sher Shah, Mithadar, Kharadar, Mauripur and Pak Colony. However, Jhengu’s comrades claimed that they do not believe he was killed in a road accident. “Jhengu’s killing was pre-planned,” one of his associates said, adding, “The law enforcers are behind his killing. They abducted him and then killed them in this way.” As Jhengu’s gang mourned his death, the members of the rival group led by Noor Muhammad alias Baba Ladla and Ghaffar Zikri celebrated his killing. “If he did not die in the accident then he must have been killed by us,” claimed a member of the Baba Ladla gang. “Celebrating his murder is not only our right but it is the right of every person of Lyari who had been victimised by him and his gang members. He was not a human being, he was an evil.” Read less...

Station House Officer (SHO) of Bhana Mari Police Station, identified as Hameed Khan, and two of his bodyguards were injured when unidentified militants opened fire on their vehicle within the limit of Paharipura Police Station in Peshawar on January 8, reported Dawn. Read less...

The Express Tribune reported that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) claimed responsibility for the January 6, 2014 suicide blast in Ibrahimzai area of Hangu District. Ibrahimzai is a Shia-dominated area of Handu District. According to details, there were nearly 2,000 students in the school at the time the attack occurred. Aitzaz Hasan, the boy who was killed in the attack died in his attempt to save others by catching hold of the suicide bomber who detonated his vest. Read less...

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on January 8 strongly condemned the killing of six men at a shrine in Karachi and demanded meaningful steps to put an end to killing of citizens by the extremists, reports Daily Times. HRCP Chairperson Zohra Yusuf said in a statement that the brutal killing of six young devotees in Karachi apparently for visiting a shrine was a proof that staying alive in Pakistan today was a privilege reserved for those who unthinkingly and without question comply with the whims of cold-blooded killers who are religious fanatics. Read less...

The Police on January 8 released sketches of two suspects it believes were involved in the January 7, 2014 slaughter of six men at a shrine in Gulshan-e-Maymar area of Gadap Town, reports The Express Tribune. Read less...

Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) chairman Nasrullah Baloch said that the officials were deliberately showing less number of missing persons. He claimed that so far his organisation has received 2,781 cases of missing persons from different parts of Balochistan. The officials, however, contradicted the VBMP claims and said that the number of missing persons was less. Read less...

Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Police Sindh Shahid Hayat on January 9 said that targeted operation against the anti-social elements would continue to maintain peace in Karachi, reports Daily Times. He said that investigations have been ordered to nab the culprits involved in the killing of Police Officers. Condemning the attacks on Police Officers, he said that Chaudhry Aslam laid down his life in the line of duty, adding that the operation will continue in Karachi. Read less...

Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Karachi Police on January 9 (today) claimed killing a trio of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in Manghopir area of Gadap Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, reports The News. "The Policemen, who busted a terrorist hideout in Manghopir area, following a promising lead, were met with heavy armed resistance", said Chaudhry Aslam, a senior CID official. The suspected militants, who were armed to the teeth fought with the Police fiercely and exhausted all their ammunition, which let the CID take charge, Aslam said, adding, “The shots fired by the cops left the terrorists seriously wounded and they were immediately rushed to a hospital where they were pronounced dead". Read less...

Pakistan Teheek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan on January 9 reiterated his stance of negotiating with TTP following the killing of SP CID Chaudhry Aslam Khan in Karachi, which was claimed by the terrorist group, reported Dawn. While condemning the attack he said that prevailing violence and killings in the country would not end without pulling out from ‘someone else’s war’. He said that people were fed up with terrorism and suggested dialogue was a better option than fighting with the militants. “Dialogue is a better option than fighting against Taliban.” “At least those (Taliban) groups which are ready to negotiate peace should be contacted for talks,” he said. Read less...

The three-judge Special Court led by Justice Faisal Arab in a hard-hitting order on January 9 summoned former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf on January 16, 2014, reports The Express Tribune. Musharraf had been excused from court three times for health reasons. The decision was taken after a careful review of Musharraf’s medical report, which seemed to have ruined plans of his legal team for a route out of the country for treatment. “The medical report does not suggest that the accused, in his present state of health, is unable to attend the court, nor any material was placed on record to justify his inability to appear,” the court order stated. The special court in its written order held, “It is clear that the accused has failed to obey and comply with the order of this court.” Read less...

Three Policemen, including Crime Investigation Department (CID) Superintendent of Police (SP) Chaudhry Aslam Khan was killed and 10 others were injured when a suicide bomber smashed his car into Aslam’s convoy near Essa Nagri at the Lyari Expressway in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on January 9, reports Dawn. Two others were identified as Farhan (27) and Kamran (34). Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. TTP Mohmand Chapter ‘spokesperson’, Sajjad Mohmand said that the group has carried out a “successful” attack to take revenge for several Taliban members killed by the Police. Read less...

Abductors on January 10 released the eight coalminers abducted from Harnai District on December 25, 2013, reports Dawn. Sajjad Gul Kakar, a levies official, said that the kidnappers left the coal miners in nearby mountains and sped away in their vehicles. "Miners are back and they are safe," Kakar said. He, however, declined to comment on the ransom amount paid to the kidnappers for release of the coal miners. Read less...

An alleged suicide bomber who detonated his explosive-laden vehicle to target Superintendent of Police (SP) Crime Investigation Department (CID) Chauhdry Aslam on January 9, 2013, was identified as Naeemullah (26), a resident of Banaras Colony in SITE Town, reported The News. Read less...

Hearing the high treason case against former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf, the Special Court on January 10 stated that the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) is applicable in this matter, reports Daily Times. The applicability of CrPC will allow the court to issue an arrest warrant against the accused (Musharraf) over his non-appearance before it. The bench, headed by Justice Faisal Arab, also rejected Musharraf’s plea to suspend its January 9, 2014 order regarding his personal appearance on January 16, 2014. The court said that it cannot revisit its orders and Musharraf will have to appear before it on the next hearing of the case. One member of the defence team said that Musharraf would not appear before the court on January 16, 2014 and another medical report might be furnished regarding his inability to appear before the court. Musharraf’s counsel Anwar Mansoor moved a written application against the court’s January 9, 2014 order regarding the appearance of his client in the next hearing. The counsel said they believed that the notification issued by the Federal Government for the constitution of the Special Court was illegal, and the Prime Minister did not follow the lawful and constitutional procedure in the process of formulation of the court, which was required under Article 90 of the Constitution. On the other hand, special prosecutor Akram Sheikh pointed out that as per Article 90 (2) of the Constitution, the Prime Minister could act directly. Read less...

One militant was killed when unidentified militants attacked the Manzoor Shaheed checkpost in the limits of Badbher Police Station near Matani area in Peshawar on January 10, reports Dawn. The militant was killed in retaliatory firing by the Security Forces. Read less...

The Government’s non-compliance of its December 10, 2013 order to produce 35 missing persons, led the Supreme Court to order the Secretary to the Prime Minister Javed Aslam on January 10 to bring the matter into the notice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, reports Dawn. A two-judge bench headed by Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja issued the order during the hearing of a case about a missing man named Yasin Shah which was initiated on an application of his elder brother Muhabbat Shah. The Court also directed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Mohammad Shahzad Arbab to inform Chief Minister Pervez Khattak about non-compliance of the order. In its December 10 order, the apex court said the army authorities had taken away 35 internees from the Malakand internment centre, but only seven of them were produced before the court. It ordered action against the authorities concerned in the case involving non-compliance of the verdict. The court directed the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister to submit by January 17, 2014 their replies explaining reasons why the December 10, 2013 judgment had not been complied with. Notice has also been issued to Law Secretary Barrister Zafarullah Khan. “We have repeatedly, at least since July last year, been emphasising to the Government that in view of these constitutional provisions, no person could be detained or incarcerated without the backing of a valid law,” the order said, adding that it had also been emphasised by the court from time to time that deviation from the Constitution and the law by the Government would constitute violation of Article 5 of the Constitution, quite apart from undermining the authority of the Government. Article 5 asks for showing loyalty to the state and obedience to the constitution. Read less...

Three people, including prayer leader Maulana Iqrar and two students of the seminary, identified as Salahuddin (16), and Naseer (17), were injured in a bomb blast at the rooftop of Jannat Masjid (mosque) in Gulshan-e-Ghazi area of Al-Falah Society in Malir Town on January 10, reports The News. Read less...

Three Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were killed in an alleged Police encounter within the jurisdiction of Mauripur Police Station in Musharraf Colony of Baldia Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on January 10, reports The Express Tribune. The dead were identified as Mirza Ali (45), allegedly the TTP Amir (chief) for Ittehad Town; Sher Muhammad (35), allegedly the TTP Amir for Landhi Town, and Amanullah (22). Police claimed that they were patrolling near Musharraf Colony where the three suspects were waiting by a motorcycle. The terrorists allegedly opened fire when Police began to ask them questions. The Police retaliated, killing all three suspects. “They were terrorist and belonged to TTP,” Mauripur Police Station official Khan Muhammad claimed. Police recovered the motorcycle and weapons, including a hand grenade, a Kalashnikov and a pistol. Read less...

Two passengers were killed when unidentified armed assailants opened fire at a passenger van in the Dukki tehsil (revenue unit) of Loralai District on January 10, reports Dawn. No outfit claimed of responsibility for the attack. Read less...

Two people, including Awami National Party (ANP) leader Aziz Khan, was injured when his house in Future Colony of Quaidabad area in Bin Qasim Town was attacked with a hand grenade on January 10, reported The News. Quaidabad Police said that Khan blamed extortionists for the attack as he failed to pay an amount of PKR 5 million. Read less...

Two Police Officers were injured when unidentified militants hurled a hand grenade at a Police mobile in Karachi on January 10, reports The Express Tribune. The Police retaliated and injure done of the attackers. Read less...

Unidentified militants blew up a gas pipeline in Dera Murad Jamali area of Naseerabad District suspending gas supply to many districts on January 10, reported The News. Read less...

Unidentified militants shot dead two workers at Ghazi Shah Baba Shrine in Mardan District on January 10, reported Dawn. Read less...

An Anti-Terrorism Court-II on January 11 adjourned the hearing of March 16, 2014, Arshad Pappu murder case till January 29, 2014 after investigation officer failed to produce witnesses in the court, reports Daily Times. All accused nominated in the murder cases of Arshad Pappu were produced in an armoured personnel carrier (APC) before ATC-II Judge under tight security. Read less...

JuD ‘chief’ Hafiz Mohammad Saeed on January 11 warned the Pakistan Government over striking a "secret deal" with India on the Kashmir issue, reports Authintmail.com. "We cannot leave the Kashmiri people at the mercy of India. Kashmiris have not sacrificed lives to divide Kashmir," he said during a meeting with supporters in Lahore. "We will not allow the government to have a secret deal with India on the Kashmir issue. Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris and any decision without taking them on board will not be acceptable to them or to the people of Pakistan", he added. Read less...

A gangster, identified as Mulla Nisar, was killed in clashes between rival groups and hand grenade attack in Jhat Pat market, Rangewara and Kalakot areas of Lyari Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on January 12, reports The News. Read less...

A tortured and bullet-riddled dead body of a boy (10) was found on January 12 in Turbat District, reports The Express Tribune. According to sources, the victim’s elder brother is a campaigner for the Baloch separatist movement. A Baloch Student Organisation-Azad (BSO-A) spokesperson accused Security Agencies of being behind the incident. However, Security Agencies denied charges of their involvement in any illegal detention or dumping of bodies. Read less...

An unidentified dead body was recovered from Mewashah graveyard in SITE Town on January 12, reported The News. The victim was subjected to torture before killed. Read less...

Armed militants snatched weapons from levies personnel in Panjgur District on January 12, reports Dawn. A levies official, on condition of anonymity, said that more than two dozen armed militants stormed a check post and snatched weapons from levies men. "I have no information about the exact number of levies men," he said, adding that the levies men did not resist the attackers. The militants managed to escape after the attack and there was no immediate claim of responsibility. Read less...

Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on January 12 stated that negotiations with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were the Government’s top priority and serious efforts are being made in this regard, but warned that the militants unwilling to hold talks will be dealt with sternly, reports Daily Times. Nisar said the Government was entrusted with holding talks with the Taliban by the political leadership of the country during the all-parties conference. He said that the country was passing through a delicate phase and there was a need to have complete unanimity of views and consensus on the strategy to deal with the challenge of terrorism and violence. The Interior Minister called upon the Taliban factions opposing the peace process to grow out of their mindset and respond positively to the gestures of the Government. “I urge Taliban groups who are refusing to hold dialogue that the path of Islam is the path of welfare and peace, and not of bullet,” Nisar said. He said that both talks and military operation against the Taliban are difficult tasks, as they are not a party or force which is in front of us. He said we are tolerating a lot of unjustified criticism for talks with TTP. The minister said negotiations are underway with different groups and hoped for a good outcome. He said the government welcomes those Taliban groups who respond to talks’ offer positively, but those who will resort to arms‚ the Government will wage a war against them. He said the government would go after them wherever they are. “The desire for talks should not be considered as a weakness of the Government,” the Minister said. “No one should have any misgivings that we would let terrorists coerce us into accepting their unconstitutional terms. We will do everything under the constitution,” the Interior Minister said, adding that the “use of power would be the last option”. Read less...

Five persons, including three Policemen and two security guards were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast targeting the convoy of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s senior aide Amir Muqam in Shangla District on January 12, reported The Express Tribune. Muqam was unhurt. “Amir Muqam was on his way to attend a jirga to solve a dispute between two rival groups in Martong when the incident took place, on the way, in Garay area of Shangla,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Muhammad Zaman of Puran Circle. Read less...

Karachi Police claimed to have arrested around 95 criminals, including one terrorist, five robbers, 19 absconders, and three target killers, whereas 17 suspects were detained for possessing illicit weapons. Read less...

Law enforcers on January 12 arrested 160 suspects, including members of banned outfit, target killers and gangsters in the ongoing-targeted operation across the city, reported Daily Times. Pakistan Rangers Sindh detained around 48 criminals including members of an outlawed terrorist organisation, target killers and gangsters from Orangi Town, Al-Asif Square, Mehran Town, Bakhtawar Goth, Essa Nagri, Guslhan-e-Ghazi, Firdos Colony, Pirabad and Lyari Town. Read less...

Police and Anti Terrorist Force (ATF) conducted a raid at the private jail of Jama’at-Ulema Islam-Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F) member and former Provincial Minister Education and Member of Balochistan Assembly, Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran on January 12 and rescued seven abducted people, including two women and three children in Barkhan District, reports Dawn. Police also arrested six suspects and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession. Khetran surrendered to Police in the aftermath of the registration of the kidnapping case against him in Barkhan Police Station. Read less...

Unidentified militants opened fire in Dashti Bazaar area of Turbat District and killed two people on January 12, reported Dawn. Imam Bakhsh, a police officer said, "Both victims were dead on the spot". Read less...

Unidentified militants opened fire on Awami National Party (ANP) leader Mian Mushtaq’s vehicle in Badhpir area of Peshawar, killing three people including him on January 12, reports The News. Read less...

Unidentified militants shot dead a levies constable, identified as Murad Bakhsh, in Mand Soro area of Kech District on January 12, reports Dawn. The militants took away the weapon of the constable after killing him. Read less...

A large quantity of anti-Pakistan literature as well as maps of a separate Balochistan were recovered during a raid of Attashad Degree College in Turbat District on January 13, reported The Express Tribune. A Baloch student had reportedly taken over a hostel in the college and a Frontier Corps (FC) spokesperson claimed he was brainwashing students to conduct acts of terrorism in the country. The recovered material included separatist leaflets, banners and posters. The books include Nehru and Gandhi’s biographies as well as books about Baloch separation. The books were printed in Karachi and neighbouring countries. The FC had conducted the raid after receiving a tip about the operation. No arrests were made and the student in question fled before the FC arrived. Read less...

A Police Inspector, identified as Mohammad Iqbal alias Bijju, was shot dead at his son's hardware shop in MPR Colony within the limits of Orangi Town Police Station in Orangi Town on January 13, reports Daily Times. According to officials, the Iqbal was involved in investigating extortion cases. Read less...

A remote-controlled explosion occurred on January 13 in Sulemankhel area of Badbher area in Peshawar where the funeral prayer of slain Awami National Party (ANP) leader Mian Mushtaq Ahmed was scheduled to be held, leaving one Policeman injured, reported Dawn. According to the Police, security arrangements were being made for the funeral prayers of Mushtaq Ahmed. A Police mobile was transporting a walkthrough gate to be installed at a location when the explosion occurred. Subsequently, one policeman was injured. Read less...

A woman, identified as Gulshan Bibi, was shot dead for her alleged links with Baba Ladla group in Shah Baig Lane within the precincts of Baghdadi Police Station in Lyari Town on January 13, reports Daily Times. She is accused of being an informer for Baba Ladla group. Read less...

According to a report, titled, ‘Drone Wars Pakistan: Analysis,’ compiled by the think tank New America Foundation, at least 370 United States (US) drone strikes have occurred in Pakistan since 2004, reports The Express Tribune. The report also gives a breakdown of the number of casualties of the drone strikes. The year in which the most number of people who were killed in the strikes is 2010. There is a downward trend of the drone strikes since 2010. The total number of people who were killed in these strikes is between 2,080-3,428 people. Of these, 1,623-2,787 are reportedly militants and 258 – 307 civilians. The highest number of drone strikes occurred in North Waziristan Agency (267 out of the 370). The report further states that there were fewer number of drone strikes during former US President George W Bush’s term, as compared to the current administration of President Barack Obama. The number of strikes for 2013 is 26. Read less...

Four people were injured at Jumma Shah Plot when gangsters of two rival groups fired RPGs in Lyari Town on January 13, reports Daily Times. Routine and commercial activities were suspended in Lyari following the cross firing. The Rangers were unable to curtail firing. Read less...

In Swabi District, an official of the intelligence agencies, Amjad, was shot dead in Swabi bus stand area where he was on duty on January 13. Read less...

Police on January 13 arrested 29 suspects during raids in different areas of the city and confiscated weapons, stolen goods and drugs, reported Dawn. Under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Kiamari, 29 suspected criminals were arrested in Shershah, Mauripur, Machchar Colony, Sultanabad, Mawach Goth areas of Karachi. Read less...

The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) on January 13 thwarted an attempt of terrorism by defusing a 20kg bomb planted in congested Bana Mari area of Peshawar. According to BDS official Shafqat Malik, passers-by spotted the explosive device in Bana Mari area and informed Police. Read less...

The Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) on January 13 thwarted an attempt of terrorism by defusing a 20 kilogram of bomb planted in the Bana Mari area of Peshawar, reports Dawn. According to Additional Inspector General BDU, Shafqat Malik, the explosive device was planted in Bana Mari area when some passerby saw it and informed the Police. Read less...

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly (KP) on January 13 unanimously passed a resolution asking the Federal Government to direct the Federal Minister of Interior to give the assembly a briefing about measures and progress on policy aimed at eradication of terrorism in the country, reports Daily Times. The resolution was jointly moved by Members of Provincial Assembly (MPA) both from treasury and opposition benches. Earlier, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak agreed with the MPAs that a resolution should be passed by the House for presentation of a briefing by the Federal Minister of Interior. The issue was raised in the House by MPA Nighat Orakzai of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) who, after condemning terrorist attacks on adviser to the Prime Minister, Amir Muqam and target killing of Mushtaq Ahmad of Awami National Party (ANP), said the people are tired of giving shoulders to the dead bodies. Read less...

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee (NASC) on Interior and Narcotics Control on January 13 approved a draft of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance (ATO) 2013, with some members expressing reservations and writing dissenting notes, reports Dawn. The Committee, however, did not approve the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance (PPO) 2013 which was termed by some members ‘a black law’ and similar to the Indian law called Protection of Terrorism Act (POTA) 2002. Under the PPO, no-one can oppose any act of the Government and all kinds of demonstrations have been banned, according to critics. Some members of the committee, including Arif Alvi of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Nabeel Gabol of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), strongly opposed the PPO 2013 and wrote dissenting notes on the ATO 2013. “Under the proposed PPO bill presented by the Government no-one can raise his/her voice against any act of the Government,” said Mr Gabol. He said that under the PPO no-one could hold a protest rally, even against electricity and gas load shedding which was contrary to the basic rights enshrined in the constitution. “The main objective of discussing the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013, bill was to take effective measures to protect life and property of the people in the face of increasing acts of terrorism in the country,” the head of the committee Member of National Assembly (MNA) Rana Shamim Ahmed Khan said. Read less...

Two suspected gangsters were shot dead and four others were wounded when unidentified militants opened fire at two gangsters near Zonal office within the jurisdiction of Chakiwara Police Station in Lyari Town on January 13, reported Daily Times. Tension prevailed in Lyari Town. Read less...

A bomb explosion took place near a Police van, injuring seven Policemen on Rohri road near the Kolachi tehsil (revenue unit) area of Dera Ismail Khan District on January 14. The bomb was remotely detonated. The Station House Officer (SHO) of Kolachi Police Station was among those injured in the blast. Read less...

One Policeman was killed whereas another sustained injury when an explosion took place in Regi Model Town area of Peshawar (Peshawar District), the provincial capital of KP on January 14, reports Dawn. Police added that the Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) personnel defused two bombs worth five kilograms from the site of explosion. Read less...

Police on January 14 found four unidentified men's bodies near a riverbank in the Amagarh area of Nowshera District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports The News. Unidentified militants shot the four and dumped their bodies in the Amagarh area, Police said. Read less...

The Director General Rangers Major General Rizwan Akhter on January 14 expressed concern over the news circulating in the media regarding high-level postings in the Police department, and said that the Rangers wanted that present Police setup in the city should continue for a year. During a high-level meeting held in Pakistan Rangers Sindh Headquarters, the option of discontinuing targeted operations in Karachi was also discussed, said a handout issued. The statement added that there was a consensus that the current setup of Karachi Police should continue for at least another year so that the ongoing operation against target killers, extortionists and criminals in the city could reach its conclusion. Read less...

The Federal Ministry of Interior informed Sindh Government that Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders are on the hit list of terrorists and, therefore, appropriate security measures should be made, Daily Times reported on January 15. A special communiqué sent to Sindh Government, the Federal Ministry of Interior has expressed fear that extremist might target MQM leaders. The communiqué quoted intelligence reports as saying that MQM leaders, including Dr Farooq Sattar, Faisal Sabzwari, Khalid Maqbool Saddiqqi and Nabeel Gabol, have “serious threats” to their lives. Meanwhile, the Sindh Government has asked MQM leaders to restrict their movement and limit their activities in the wake of security threats. Read less...

A bullet-riddled body of a man was found from garbage dump in Gulistan Society within the limits of Chakiwara Police Station in Lyari Town on January 15, reports Daily Times. Read less...

A traffic police warden was gunned down near Matric Board office within the jurisdiction of North Nazimabad Police Station on January 15, reports Daily Times. Police said that unidentified armed men riding on two motorbikes waylaid their target, Mehmood Raza, son of Manaan halaak and shot him dead. Read less...

Lyari remain tensed as an armed clash occurred between rival groups of gangsters of the area on January 15, reports Daily Times. Two gangsters were killed in a joint encounter of police and rangers in the same locality. Police sources said that the clash started at Jhat Phat Market, Lyari between the members of Baba Ladla Group and defunct People’s Amn Committee (PAC) over the dispute of extortion money collection from vendors of the area. During the clash, both the groups used hand grenades, crackers, rockets and various weapons, and as a result tension prevailed in the area and adjacent localities of Lyari. A gangster belonging to PAC, named Zubair Hameed sustained bullet wounds and died on the spot, while at least six people including a volunteer Junaid, Muneez, Hunain, Naseer, Haji Ali and Ameen also sustained wounds in the clash. Read less...

PM Nawaz Sharif, during his visit to Swat on January 15, approved in principle and announced a brigade-level cantonment for Swat and Malakand, reports The News. The PM gave the approval during a briefing given to him. He also lauded the role played by the Pakistan Army in restoring peace and stability in the area. “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has in principle approved and announced a brigade level cantonment for Swat and (adjacent) Malakand areas,” his office said in a statement, adding that the approval came during his visit to Swat. “The prime minister lauded the role played by the army in bringing peace and stability to the area.” Read less...

Police and Rangers conducted a targeted operation against criminals involved in the clash, where gangsters group resorted to fire on the law enforcers’ vans near Khada Market area on January 15, reports Daily Times. In retaliation by the LEAs, two gangsters were killed in the alleged joint encounter while three were apprehended in the operation. Read less...

Police conducted another raid at the CHK and arrested injured gangsters and shifted them to an undisclosed location on January 15, reports Daily Times. Read less...

The Balochistan Government has approached all political forces in the province for an all parties’ conference (APC) which is likely to be held at the end of January in Quetta, a provincial Government spokesperson said on January 15, reports The Express Tribune. The APC was scheduled to be held in December, 2013 but could not take place due to the local Government elections in the province. The conference is being held to seek suggestions from all political forces on how to restore peace in the volatile region. Besides insurgency and sectarian violence, the issues of kidnapping for ransom will also be discussed in the APC. Read less...

The decomposed bodies of a young boy and a girl were found from a water tank of empty plot Sector 16-A, Orangi Town within the vicinity of Pakistan Bazaar Police Station on January 15, reports Daily Times. Read less...

The Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on January 15 vowed to continue the targeted operation in Karachi against criminals, reports Daily Times. At a meeting with members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he shrugged off the rumours about halting the operation in Karachi. “There is no plan to compromise on the operation,” he said and added that the authorities were standing by the prime minister’s word on restoring peace to the commercial hub of the country. Read less...

The law enforcement personnel also killed two alleged gangsters during an encounter in Lyari area on January 15, reports Daily Times. Read less...

The Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif on January 15 said it was not imperative that only the Government will hold talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and it will welcome Imran Khan, Maulana Samiul Haq, Munawar Hassan and others if they can make progress in this regard, reports The News. Speaking to Saleem Safi, the host of the Geo News programme ‘Jirga’, which is to be telecast today (January 16), the PM said he will contact other leaders, including Imran Khan, over the issue of talks with the TTP. He said the presence of the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the All Parties Conference (APC) proved that the military and the nation were on the same page. “This will help in the negotiations process,” he said. Nawaz said the Army also endorsed the decisions of the APC and accepted them. “Even today, the Army wants the political leadership to handle the issue of talks with the TTP,” he said. He said the Government wants all the parties to work collectively on this issue. Read less...

The Supreme Court (SC) on January 15 directed the Government of Balochistan to ensure security to the doctors’ community in the province, reports The News. A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Nasir ul Mulk and comprising Justice Saqib Nisar and Justice Ameer Hani Muslim heard the Balochistan law and order situation and missing persons’ case. The court directed Nasruallah Baloch, Chairman Voice of Missing Persons, Balochistan to appear before the court on the next date of hearing, stating as to whether he wanted to proceed further with the instant case or not. Read less...

Three suspected militants were killed while five others arrested by the Security Forces (SFs) during a search operation in Zaidi area of Khuzdar District in Balochistan on January 15, reports The News. Deputy Commissioner Syed Abdul Waheed Shah said that the security forces and Levies force had been conducting a joint search operation in Zaidi area when armed men opened fire on them. The SFs returned the fire, killing three suspects. They also arrested five suspects. Two security men also sustained injuries. One abducted person and heavy weapons including ammunitions were also recovered from the possession of the suspects. Read less...

Two Policemen were shot dead in a firing incident near Police post situated at Gulberg area within the limits of Yousuf Plaza Police Station in Karachi (Karachi District), the provincial capital of Sindh, on January 15, reports Daily Times. Police said the incident took place when unidentified armed riders arrived at the Police post and opened fire on the cops. Both the victims sustained bullets wounds and were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead. They were identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Wali Mohammad, and Constable Allah Ditta. Read less...

Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif on January 16 directed the authorities that the Karachi operation should continue at all costs till the restoration of peace in the city, reports The News. While talking to the Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan at the PM House, Nawaz Sharif observed that the targeted operation in Karachi was fruitful in restoring peace in Karachi. He expressed satisfaction over the ongoing operation against the criminal elements in him about the Karachi operation. He also apprised him about progress in the dialogue process with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Government will provide resources needed for continuation of the operation and next phase would be conducted in accordance to the plan. It is understood that the two have also discussed the situation arising due to difference of opinion between the civil administration and authorities carrying out the operation. The situation in the wake of assassination of SSP Chaudhary Aslam Khan also reportedly figured in the meeting. PM Nawaz Sharif eulogized the efforts of the Interior Ministry for overcoming the law and order situation in various parts of the country. Read less...

A Khasadar Force personnel killed while two others injured in a bomb blast near the vehicle of Khasadar Force in Zakhakhel area of Bara tehsil (revenue unit) in Khyber Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 16, reports Daily Times. Read less...

A man, identified as Syed Junaid Akhtar (43), was shot dead on Manghopir Road within the precincts of SITE-A Police Station in SITE Town on January 16, reports Daily Times. Read less...

An officer of a spy agency, identified as Captain Ehtesham Haider, was injured in a targeted armed attack near Jauhar roundabout within the limits of Shahrah-e-Faisal Police Station in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town on January 16, reported Daily Times. Read less...

At least ten people were killed and more than 60 others were injured in the evening of January 16 when a bomb exploded at a Tablighi Markaz (religious centre) on Pajaggi Road in Peshawar (Peshawar District), the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Dawn. Eyewitnesses said the bomb exploded at Tablighi Markaz run by the Tableeghi Jamaat, just before Maghrib (Evening) prayers. Around a thousand people were gathered at the seminary for a Shab-i-Juma (Thursday) congregation when the bomb ripped through the centre. Shafqat Malik, a senior official of the bomb disposal squad, said the bomb was planted inside a canister of ghee (cooking oil). “Around five kilograms of explosive material was used in the blast, which was detonated through a timed device,” he said. Two more bombs diffused at blast site by the bomb disposal squad by applying water charge. Read less...

Bomb disposal experts defused a bomb planted outside a Tablighi Markaz mosque in Nowshera, around the same time the bomb exploded in the Peshawar. According to officials of the bomb disposal squad, a bomb weighing five kilograms was planted outside the main gate of the mosque. Police spokesman Turk Ali Shah said bomb was similarly planted in a canister of ghee. Read less...

Eight Policemen sustained injuries in two blasts in Daowat area of Chakisar tehsil (revenue unit) in Shangla District, on January 16, reports The News. The sources said unknown persons had planted explosives near the Police checkpost in Daowat area, which exploded as soon as two cops reached there for duty. The two Policemen, identified as Nisar Ahmed and Khan Bahadur sustained injuries. The Police launched search operation in the nearby areas after the blast. Six more Policemen were injured when their vehicle was targeted with an improvised explosive device (IED) in Sarkol area. The sources said the cops were on their way to Sarkol for search operation. Read less...

Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while addressing 170 senior civil and military officers participating in the National Security and War Course at the National Defence University (NDU) in Islamabad on January 16 said that the National Security Policy was in final stages of formation which will help the Government in effectively combating militancy and eradicating extremism in Pakistan, reports Dawn. The Minister said that enemy of the country was vague and divided, adding that the security policy is proactive in nature which will address the problems being faced by Pakistan. He said the new security policy will have three components covert, strategic, and operational. He further said that National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) will be the focal point of the government for counter-terrorism and a Joint Intelligence Directorate will be established under this agency for intelligence analysis and coordination among various intelligence agencies. The Interior Minister said that the Government has again started the process of dialogue with the militants. He said the Government wants a durable solution to eradicate terrorism from the country and the use of force will only be the last resort. “It has been categorically communicated to the United States that drone strikes are counterproductive and must immediately be stopped,” said Nisar, adding that this continues to be an irritant in Pakistan-US relationship. Read less...

Pakistani media professionals are vowing to maintain a free press in the face of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)'s recent threats against them, and the country is calling for broad support of the media, given their key role in the war against terrorism, Central Asia Online reported on January 17. "Several journalists have lost their lives for the truth," KP Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani said. "[But] the police will take any security measure to protect media men and media houses." The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Shura, under the leadership of Mullah Fazlullah, recently decided unanimously to target journalists or news outlets that carry what they call "fabricated" statements that "tarnish" the TTP's image or that of their spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid. But journalists remain committed to providing accurate accounts of what is happening in society. "The media have to convey a true picture to the masses," Peshawar-based senior journalist and Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) President Nisar Mehmood told Central Asia Online. "No doubt journalists, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KP] and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas [FATA], are facing death threats, but still we have to depict a true picture of society and convey the truth," he said. The threats will not destroy journalistic principles, journalist and former Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) secretary general Mazhar Abbas said. Read less...

Police claimed to have arrested around 85 suspects during 94 separate targeted raids and seven encounters conducted across the city on January 16, reported Daily Times. According to Sindh Police spokesman, those detained include 25 absconders, 19 drug peddlers, four robbers, one terrorist, two target killers and two extortionists, while 27 have been arrested for possession of illicit weapons. Read less...

Police defused four hand-grenades in Mustaffaabad forests area under Gomal University Police Station in Dera Ismail Khan town of same District on January 16, reports The News. Sources said unidentified persons had planted four hand grenades in bucket in Mustaffaabad forests area. The Police and bomb disposal unit reached the spot and cordoned off the area and defused four hand grenades. Read less...

Two Policemen, identified as Head Constable Mohammad Javed (40), and Constable Asif Khan (30), were killed and two persons, including Constable Saleem (28), and a passerby, identified as Khano Ada (40), were injured in an armed attacked on the Police van near Shafiq Mor within the jurisdiction of New Karachi Police Station in Gulberg Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on January 16, reported Daily Times. Read less...

A “wanted criminal”, identified as Ashraf Khan, was shot dead near the Paposh Nagar graveyard in Nazimabad Town on January 17, reported The News. Investigators claimed Khan was affiliated with a political party and was wanted by the police in a number of cases. Read less...

A report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) stated that the year 2013 was the deadliest one for Karachi so far with as many as 3,251 fatalities, reports The Express Tribune on January 18 (today). The city has seen a sharp increase in killings in the past few years with 1,981 people killed in 2010, 2,382 killed in 2011 and 3,105 killed in 2012. Of the entire year, August was the bloodiest month with 334 killings or deaths. According to HRCP chairperson Zohra Yusuf, sectarian and police killings have increased in 2013 as compared to previous years. Referring to the targeted operation that started in September last year, she said the start of the operation showed some improvements in law and order but it failed to sustain. Read less...

A roadside vendor, identified as Shafi Muhammad (50), was shot dead in a targeted attack near Fancy Bakery on Tannery Road in Lyari Town on January 17, reports The News. Read less...

Four people were killed and 65 others were injured when Khushaal Khan Khattak Express passenger train carrying around 400 passengers derailed following a bomb explosion on its tracks in Omar Kot area of Rojhan sub-district in Rajanpur District on January 17, reports The Express Tribune. The train was en route to Karachi in Sindh from Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Baloch Republican Army (BRA) claimed responsibility for the attack. “We will continue to attack train tracks until the army operation in Balochistan is called off,” BRA spokesperson Arbaz Khan said in a phone call from an unknown location. Read less...

On January 17 security was put on high alert at Central Jail in view of the risk of terrorist attack, reported The News. According to the Police, heavy contingent of Police and Rangers have been deployed at the jail while the roads around the jail have been closed for traffic. Read less...

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on January 17 expressed his reluctance to hold peace talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) saying he lacks authority to do so, reports Dawn. Speaking at a press conference, Khan said he cannot hold talks with TTP as neither his party is in power at the centre nor he has any authority over the services. “What powers we have because of which we are being asked to hold talks?” he asked referring to the Government’s proposal that Imran Khan and other leaders should hold talks with TTP. He said the All Parties Conference (APC) held on September 9 gave mandate to the Government to hold talks with the militants. The US drone attack (that killed former TTP ‘chief’ Hakimullah Mehsud) sabotaged these talks, he remarked. Read less...

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants killed three Express News staffers, including a technician, guard and driver, by opening fire on a DSNG (Digital Satellite News Gathering) vehicle near Matric Board Office in North Nazimabad Town on January 17, reported Dawn. TTP Karachi Chapter ‘spokesman’ Sajjad Mohmand claimed responsibility for the attack, adds The News. "We will continue to target the media if they do not stop propaganda against Islam and the Taliban," he said. Former TTP ‘spokesman’ Ehsanullah Ehsan told the station it had been attacked because the Taliban considered its coverage biased and the Taliban would continue to attack journalists they disagreed with. "Channels should give coverage to our ideology. Otherwise we will continue attacking the media," the TV station broadcast him saying. Read less...

Three people, including Mufti Usman Yar, the Secretary General of Jama’at Ulema-e-Islam Sami-ul Haq (JUI-S), were killed when unidentified militants opened fire on a car near Awami Markaz in Shahra-e-Faisal Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on January 17, reports The News. The other two killed were his driver and a personal guard, adds Dawn. Read less...

A bomb planted by unidentified militants at an unpaved road to target Frontier Corps (FC) troopers supplying rations at check posts went off in the Landikotal tehsil of Khyber Agency on January 18. No loss of life was reported. Read less...

A house was partially damaged when a rocket was fired in its direction in Masho Khel village of Peshawar in the night of January 18, reports The Express Tribune. Police said the artillery rocket was fired from several kilometres away near Khyber Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). It struck Murad Khan’s house and damaged the boundary wall. Police said no loss of life was reported. Read less...

A man who was injured during a shooting incident in the Gulbahar area of Liaquatabad Town succumbed to his injuries on January 18, reports Dawn. Read less...

Six people were injured in a hand grenade attack in the Khadda market area of Lyari Town on January 18, repors Dawn. Read less...

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan said on January 18 that despite the complexity of missing person’s cases, the Government, through court orders, has ensured at least 1,270 of them reached their homes, reports The Express Tribune. Another 1,086 have been identified at notified internment centres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Some 3,033 people have been traced to various locations in the region. Justice Khan said that the Human Rights Directorate set up by him for those who cannot afford to hire a lawyer, has received more than 9,000 cases so far. Of these 7,000 were decided instantly, with the aggrieved getting justice in less than 72 hours. Read less...

Three persons were killed when unidentified assailants opened fire on a car carrying Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) leader at Noori Gate in Sargodha area of same District on January 18, reports Daily Times. According to Police, the incident occurred at Noori Gate in Sargodha when ASWJ Deputy Chief of Punjab chapter Maulana Abdul Hameed Khalid along with others was on his way from Bhakkar District to attend the hearing at an anti-terrorism court in Sargodha. Read less...

Two people, including the driver and cleaner of a NATO container carrying equipment for troops in Afghanistan, were injured when unidentified militants opened fire at the NATO container in the Choto area of Mastung District on January 18, reports Dawn. No outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

Two persons were killed and another was injured when unidentified assailants opened fire at a car showroom on GT Road in Shaidu area of Nowshera District on January 18, reports Daily Times. Read less...

A Police Constable, identified as Noman Ahmed (26), was killed while two passers-by and an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), identified as Sohail, were injured in an armed attack targeting the Police van near Dow Medical College in the Arambagh area of Saddar Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, on January 19, reports Daily Times. Read less...

An unidentified dead body of an old man was found from Mureed Jhokiyo Goth, within the jurisdiction of Steel Town Police Station area in Malir Town on January 19, reports Daily Times. Read less...

At least 20 soldiers were killed and another 30 were injured when a bomb ripped through a military convoy in the Bannu Town (Bannu District) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 8:45 am on January 19, reports Daily Times. “A vehicle-borne improvised explosive device caused the blast,” a senior military official said. The convoy was about to leave for the Razmak town in North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) when the blast hit one of the civilian vehicles hired to move troops. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ‘spokesman’ Shahidullah Shahid claiming responsibility, said, “It was part of our fight against a secular system. We will carry out more such attacks in future.” He added that the TTP were seeking revenge for the deaths of their former ‘chief’ Hakimullah Mehsud and ‘deputy chief’ Waliur Rehman – both killed in US drone attacks. Read less...

Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, on January 19 held Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, responsible for the terrorist attacks on Security Forces of Pakistan, and said, "Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman or Sami-ul-Haq alone cannot get the Taliban peace talks off the ground. The Prime Minister should take the lead in this regard”, reported The News. He said that if he were the Prime Minister he would be spearheading the peace talks. "Had I been Nawaz Sharif, I would have taken the charge long ago", said Khan. Read less...

Law Minister Anisul Huq on January 19 called upon the countrymen to boycott JeI, its wings and institutions in order to "uproot" the party from Bangladesh forever, reports The Daily Star. He observed, “I agree that JeI should be banned. But, what if the party returns to politics with a different name? Rather, they should be despised and boycotted socially. Otherwise, they cannot be uprooted.” Read less...

Rangers on January 19 claimed to have detained at least 20 suspects belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during a targeted raid conducted at Kunwari Colony area of Manghopir in the Gadap Town reports Daily Times. The third phase of the operation is against banned outfits' militants, target killers, terrorists, extortionists and others criminals. Kunwari Colony area of Manghopir is said to be a stronghold of TTP, and a number of TTP militants operate from there to carry out terror activities across the city. Read less...

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ‘spokesman’ Shahidullah Shahid on January 19 said that TTP were ready for a “meaningful dialogue”, reports Daily Times. However, the militant group asked the Government to “prove its authority and sincerity with dialogue process”. In a letter issued to the media on January 19 the TTP also said, “TTP wants to give clear-cut message to people of Pakistan that our war is for implementation of Sharia’h and we will never give up principles of Sharia’h.” Read less...

Two Frontier Corps (FC) officials were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off at a roadside in the Ghari Gal area of Mamond tehsil (revenue unit) in the Bajaur Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 19, reports The Express Tribune. Political administration official from Mamond, Abdul Haseeb Khan, said he was informed by a tribesman around 12:30pm about a canister spotted on the roadside in Ghari Gal area of Mamond. Consequently, FC officials rushed to the site along with a bomb disposal squad (BDS) unit and defused the five-kilogramme explosive device. The official added that while the bomb was being defused, another IED planted nearby was detonated by militants through a remote control, injuring two FC officials while destroying their vehicle completely. Read less...

A clear divide between the liberal and conservative elements was witnessed in the Senate on January 20 during a debate on two major attacks on Security Forces (SFs) by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) over the past two days and functioning of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), reports Dawn. Senators from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lashed out at the Government for its inaction and asked it to order an Army operation against TTP in the wake of terror attacks on SFs in Bannu and Rawalpindi. The opposition senators asked the Government to take the nation and parliament into confidence about progress in talks with TTP, alleging that TTP were regrouping because of “unclear and confused policies” of rulers. “If the army obeys you and recognises the constitution, then use it. Why personnel of security forces are being made a sitting duck?,” said MQM’s retired Colonel Tahir Mashhadi, condemning the Government for not taking action against TTP terrorists despite the fact that they were carrying out attacks in all parts of the country on a regular basis. Read less...

A former assistant producer at Samaa TV, identified as Syed Mohammad Arif Rizvi, was picked up by Rangers on January 20, 2014, and his family is still looking for his whereabouts, reports Daily Times. Read less...

A man, identified as Mohammad Saleem (35), was shot dead in Daryabad area within the precincts of Kalri Police Station in Lyari Town on January 20, reports Daily Times. Police said the deceased had no affiliation with any political party or gang. Read less...

A Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) suicide bomber killed 13 persons, including eight soldiers and three children, and wounded 29 others in Royal Artillery Bazaar close to General Headquarters in Rawalpindi District on January 20, reported Daily Times. An Army statement said, “13 persons including eight security forces personnel, three schoolchildren and two civilians embraced shahadat (martyrdom) while 29 were injured in this cowardly act of terror.” TTP ‘spokesman’ Shahidullah Shahid claimed responsibility for the attack as payback for a deadly military raid on the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad in 2007. “It was carried by one of our suicide bombers to take revenge for the Red Mosque massacre,” he said, adding, “We will continue our struggle against the secular system.” Read less...

A worker of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), identified as Noor Khan (32), was shot dead in MPR Colony of Orangi Town on January 20, reported Daily Times. Read less...

An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), identified as Kamran Naqvi (40), was shot dead in Chakra within the jurisdiction of Zaman Town Police Station in Korangi Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, reports Daily Times. Read less...

Army helicopters on January 20 pounded several militant hideouts in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) killing at least 24 persons and injuring 15 others, reports Dawn. Fear and panic gripped the area after the overnight blitz after which locals began to migrate out of the volatile area to safer places. Read less...

At least three armed bandits robbed PKR 270,000 from a branch of private bank in Gol Market area of North Nazimabad Town on January 20, reported Daily Times. Police, while quoting initial investigation, said that they suspect the involvement of security guards and a cashier in the bank heist. "We are sure the guards and one of the cashiers helped robbers to loot the booty from the bank," claimed Station House Officer (SHO) Ejaz Lodhi. Read less...

At least two persons were killed on January 20 when a roadside remote-controlled explosion occurred in Loni area of Kolachi tehsil (revenue unit) in Dera Ismail Khan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), reports Dawn. The deceased persons were identified as Zainullah and Shamsur Rahman. Following the explosion, a tip-off was received regarding more bombs in the area. The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) team personnel reached the site of explosion and defused four bombs. Meanwhile, security personnel cordoned off the area and a probe into the incident went underway. Read less...

At least two persons were reportedly injured when an explosion took place in Kala Dher area of Charsadda District on January 20, reports Dawn. According to the police, explosive materials were concealed in a pile of gravel at a roadside on Mardan Road which blew up, creating a loud explosion. Police said two cars were passing by at the time of explosion and the intensity of the blast smashed their windows. Read less...

One official was wounded when unidentified militants hurled a cracker on a Ranger’s vehicle in Nusrat Bhutto Colony of Manghopir in North Nazimabad Town on January 20, reports Daily Times. Later, Rangers launched a grand targeted operation in Manghopir locality and detained around 20 suspects, which included four Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. Read less...

Pakistan on January 20 expressed disappointment over the Consolidated Appropriations Bill 2014 approved by the United States (US) Congress, which links USD 33 million in assistance to Doctor Shakil Afridi’s detention, reports The Express Tribune. According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Government said that Dr Afridi’s case was sub-judice and that he remains entitled to due process under the law. “Consequently, any linkage of US assistance to this case is not in keeping with the spirit of cooperation between the two countries,” the statement read. “However, we are disappointed that the bill proposes to withhold USD 33 million from assistance on account of Dr Shakil Afridi’s detention,” the statement further said. The Consolidated Appropriations Bill 2014, approved by US Congress, was signed into law by US President Barack Obama on January 17, 2014. As an omnibus legislation, it contains respective Appropriation Bills for all Government Departments, including the Department of Defence and the Department of State. The State Department will now undertake the process of making allocations, including those for Pakistan. Read less...

Police on January 20 arrested four suspected TTP militants during a raid in a house located in Tarnol area of Islamabad and seized a huge quantity of explosives from them on January 20, reports Daily Times. Police also seized more than 130 kilogram of explosives. The terrorists were shifted them to an undisclosed location for interrogation. Read less...

The death toll in January 19’s attack on a military convoy in the Bannu Town (Bannu District) at 8:45 am rose to 26 on January 20 as six more soldiers succumbed to their injuries at hospitals, reports The News. 20 soldiers were killed and another 30 were injured when a bomb ripped through a military convoy as their convoy was about to leave for the Razmak town in North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Read less...

Three unidentified dead bodies were found near Baba Wilayat Shah Shrine located within the vicinity of Sharafi Goth Police Station in Baldia Town on January 20, reported Daily Times. Police said the victims were first kidnapped. Read less...

Two persons, identified as Aqil Shah and Kamil Khan, were arrested by Anti-Terrorist Squad from Mattani area of Peshawar and taken to an undisclosed location for further investigation, reports The Express Tribune. Official sources said that they were detained because of their alleged links with militants. “These people have been arrested for their alleged links with militants and it is not the first time members from their families were picked up,” said an official. “Previously, Shah’s father and brother were arrested by Security Forces. They were released after eight months of captivity.” Read less...

Unidentified assailants killed a Shia Muslim scholar Allama Alim Al-Musvi who was walking to the mosque in Kissa Khwani market of Peshawar, the provincial capital of KP, on January 20, reports Dawn. “Two gunmen opened fire on the scholar and escaped in the narrow streets when he came out of his house and walked towards the mosque,” local Police official Fazal Jan said. Al-Musvi was a locally respected scholar and used to deliver sermons at special Shia gatherings, he added. Read less...

Unidentified militants blew up a 16-inch diameter gas pipeline in Pirkoh area of Dera Bugti District on January 20, reported Dawn. . Read less...

Ahl-e-Sunnat-Wal-Jama’at (ASWJ) leader Maulana Zarin escaped an attack by unidentified militants in Labour Colony of Landhi Town on January 21, reported Dawn. Read less...

At least 12 suspected militants were killed when fighter jets bombed their hideouts in the Inzar Kor area of Kukikhel in Khyber Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 21, reports The Express Tribune. A security official claimed that four militant hideouts were flattened in the blitz. Read less...

At least 24 Shia pilgrims returning from Iran were killed and 40 others were injured in a bomb attack targeting their bus in the Khusak area of Kanak in Mastung District on January 21, reported Daily Times. Local Government official Shafqat Shahwani said that 51 passengers had been on board at the time of the blast and that nine passengers were still unaccounted for. Provincial Home Secretary Asad Gilani said that two buses with 103 pilgrims had been travelling together with security vehicles provided by the Government and that the bomb struck one of the buses. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) claimed the responsibility for the attack. Read less...

Feeling the growing pressure from the sympathisers of those affected by the crippling polio disease, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has officially distanced itself from some of the recent attacks on polio vaccinators in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi, saying it has nothing to do with these killings, Dawn reported on January 22. TTP ‘spokesperson’ Ehsanullah Ehsan said that the militant outfit was “in principle” not targeting polio workers. “We have been holding detailed deliberations on the polio issue for some time and have been consulting trustworthy Muslim medical experts. Some of our doubts have been removed,” he said. The statement is much in contrast to the situation either some prominent member or one of the affiliated militant outfits had openly claimed responsibility for such attacks or the TTP had decided to remain silent after such killings. Read less...

Law enforcers claimed to have arrested around 126 criminals during separate targeted raids and operations conducted across Karachi on January 21, reports Daily Times. In the first raid, Pakistan Rangers Sindh arrested around 19 suspects, including gangsters and militants, during separate targeted raids conducted in Kunwari Colony, Sherpao Colony, Federal B Area, Rozi Goth, Mehmodabad, Manghopir, Kalakot, Gul Goth, Khokrapar and Bahadarabad. Weapons of different calibres were also recovered from their custody. Read less...

On the direction of military officials the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) on January 21 decided to permanently close the RA Bazaar Road, where several military installations, including GHQ, National Logistics Cell (NLC), Canteen Stores Department (CSD) head office, Military Intelligence office and residences of military officers, are located, while security was also put on high alert in the twin cities, reported Daily Times. Earlier, in 2012 on the direction of military authorities RCB had closed this link road for public traffic but due to resistance it was compelled to take back its decision. RCB Cantonment Executive Officer Rana Manzoor Ahmad Khan said that due to the prevailing law and order situation and threat of terror attacks the road has been closed. He said public would not have to face any inconvenience as there are alternative roads for traffic. Read less...

One polio campaigner was killed when unidentified motorcycle-bourne assailants opened fire in Sher Garh area of Mansehra (Mansehra District) on January 21, reports Daily Times. Read less...

Rangers recovered a hostage, identified as Qamar Mehmood, during a raid in Kunwari Colony of Manghopir area in Gadap Town and arrested at least nine suspects. Qamar was abducted on January 20, 2014 from Kati Pahari area in Orangi Town. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) are also trying to ensure the safety of various installations in Islamabad, like the Diplomatic Enclave, Parliament House, and have sought the assistance of other Law Enforcement Agencies in this regard. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Islamabad Muhammad Rizwan directed all SPs, SDPOs and SHOs to ensure strict checking at all entry and exit points and keep a close watch on suspicious persons. Read less...

Six Police officers and a 13-year-old student were killed and nine others injured in a bomb blast near a police mobile in Sardheri Bazaar of Charsadda Town (Charsadda District) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 21, reports The Express Tribune. There were eight police officers in the mobile at the time of the blast. The Police officers were on their way to provide security to a polio team. The explosive material was planted in a bicycle which exploded when the Police mobile passed by it. Read less...

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee (NASC) on Interior on January 21 approved the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance (PPO) Bill, reports Dawn. A meeting of the Committee, presided over by its chairman Rana Shamin Ahmed, approved the bill with majority votes. Some of the members gave dissenting notes, saying the bill, presented by the Government to enable it to effectively tackle the issue of terrorism, could be misused against innocent people and political parties. The ordinance empowers Police and Security Agencies to arrest anybody on the basis of ‘credible’ information that he/she is involved in anti-state activities, terrorism and treason. However, the term ‘credible information’ has not been defined in the bill. The PPO allows anybody to file an appeal in the Supreme Court within 15 days of his arrest. But some members insisted that the period should be extended to 40 days and that appeals should be entertained also in lower and high courts because majority of applicants might not be able bear the cost of a trial in the apex court. The PPO protects victims of terrorism, assault, kidnapping-for-ransom, personnel of armed forces and law enforcement agencies, parliamentarians, media persons, members of judiciary and executives, important personalities, foreign officials and visitors, official guests, tourists, internationally protected persons, social welfare workers, health personnel, aid workers and volunteers but it does not provide protection to witnesses in terrorism cases. Read less...

Three abductors were killed while three people, including a Police Official, one Anti Terrorist Force (ATF) official and one passerby, were injured in an operation near Sariab Road in Quetta on January 21, reports The Express Tribune. Capital City Police Official (CCPO) Abdul Razzak Cheema said, “We don’t know who the kidnappers are as yet, investigation is still ongoing on.” Read less...

Three anti-polio workers were shot dead when unidentified militants opened fire on them in Qayyumabad area of Korangi Town on January 21, reported Daily Times. The attacks came just days after the World Health Organisation warned that Peshawar was the world’s “largest reservoir” of the polio virus. Read less...

Two alleged gangsters, identified as Jan Mohammad alias Janu and Jawad alias Current, were killed during an encounter with the Police near Phool Chowk area of Kharadar in Saddar Town on January 21, reports Daily Times. As per details, the encounter took place when at least four armed gangsters came and opened indiscriminate firing at a police mobile stationed in the said area. Two of the attackers were killed in police retaliatory firing. Station House Officer (SHO) Idress Bangash claimed that the suspects were associated with Sheraz Comrade group of Lyari gangsters, and were involved in a number of cases, including killings of a CID officer, extortion and kidnapping-for-ransom. Read less...

A cleric, identified as Maulana Qazi Azizullah Athar, was shot dead in front of Committee Bagh near DHQ Hospital in Frontier Region (FR) Tank on January 22, reports The Express Tribune. Read less...

A Lyari gangster, identified as Behram, affiliated with Waliullah Lakho group was killed in an alleged encounter during a targeted operation conducted by Police and Rangers at Super Highway on January 22, reports Daily Times. Police officer said that the encounter took place when they along with the Rangers conducted a joint raid on a tip-off about criminal’s hideout. “As we reached the terrorists den, the gangsters opened fire and in retaliation, one gangster, Behram was killed,” the officer added. He claimed that the deceased gangster was wanted by the Police in around 13 cases of crime. Read less...

A man, identified as Zar Lal (30), was shot dead in Siddiq-e-Akbar Colony within the limits of Iqbal Market Police Station in Orangi Town on January 22, reported Daily Times. Read less...

A man, identified Bashir Ishaq (40), was shot dead in Rabbani Mohalla in Frontier Colony within the precincts of Peerabad Police Station in SITE Town on January 22, reported Daily Times. Police said the deceased was hailing from Swat and had arrived in a city a couple of days ago. Read less...

A militant and a Levies official were killed during an operation launched by Security Forces (SFs), including Police, Levies and Frontier Corps in Darin Garh area. Read less...

A Sikh, identified as Bhagwan Singh, was shot dead by unidentified militants while he was on his way home in Tangi Bazaar area of Charsadda District on January 22, reported The Express Tribune. Tangi Police Official Noorullah said that Singh owned a medicine shop in the bazaar for many years and had no dispute with anyone. Read less...

A suspected gangster was killed in an incident of firing within the limits of Chakiwara Police Station in Jhat Pat market of Lyari Town on January 22, reports Daily Times. An extra contingent of law enforcers including Police and Rangers was unable to control the situation and to take any reliable action against the gangster groups. Read less...

An old man, identified as Azad Gul (60), was killed and a rickshaw driver, identified as Hameed Gul (24), was injured in an armed attack in Gulshan-e-Bunair area within the vicinity of Quaidabad Police Station in Landhi Town on January 22, reports Daily Times. Police said the deceased hailed from Bajaur Agency and lived in Gulshan-e-Buner area. Read less...

An unidentified man was shot dead and several people, including women and children were reportedly injured because of firing in Lyari Town on January 22, reports Daily Times. Read less...

Armed militants on January 22 torched one NATO container carrying equipment in the Western Bypass area of Quetta, reports Dawn. A police official who requested anonymity said that the militants opened fire at the NATO container which was on its way from Kandahar in Afghanistan to Port Qasim in Karachi (Sindh). However, the driver and cleaner managed to escape unhurt. Read less...

At least eight persons, including seven Levies personnel and one militant were killed, while ten others, including a Spanish tourist, were injured when a militant kidnapping bid was foiled in Darin Garh area of Koshak in Mastung District on January 22, reports Dawn. Asad-ur-Rehman Gailani, the Home Secretary Balochistan said, "Militants wanted to kidnap the Spanish tourist". The militant killed was later identified as Uzbek national. Read less...

At least five people, including a woman, identified as Raquiya (35), her son and a relative, were killed and several others were injured in a grenade attack during a clash between gangsters near Juna Masjid in Zikri Mohalla of Lyari Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on January 22, reports Daily Times. Read less...

Four unidentified dead bodies were found an empty plot near Link Road, within the jurisdiction of Memon Goth Police Station in Bin Qasim Town on January 22, reports Daily Times. Station House Officer (SHO) Naeem Khan said all the four victims were clad in shalwar kameez, and appeared to be young while one of them was believed to be in his 50s, he added. Police officer while quoting the initial investigation said unidentified persons first kidnapped the victims and later shot them to death. Read less...