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3 Muttahida MNAs resign
Muttahida’s move to unseat MNAs termed healthy trend-setter
Attempt to bomb US consulate foiled
Consulate closed
2 girls killed in firecracker explosion
Blasts damage railway track in Khairpur
907,712 acres PR land encroached - Minister
Musharraf warns against failure of Wana operation
‘Osama escaped capture several times’
Madrid train blasts linked to Al Qaeda
Iran ready to let N-inspectors in
3 Muttahida MNAs resign
ISLAMABAD, March 15: Three MNAs of Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Monday handed over their resignations to the National Assembly secretariat. This was in keeping with the MQM's decision unseating its three legislators from Karachi.
Those who tendered their resignations are Azizullah Brohi, Sarkaruddin advocate and Sultan Ahmed Khan, according to the NA secretariat. -APP
Muttahida’s move to unseat MNAs termed healthy trend-setter
KARACHI: The Advisor to the Chief Minister, Sindh, on
Information, Salahuddin Haider, has said that the decision of Muttahida Qaumi
Movement to unseat three of its MNAs was not only radical but a trend-setter
in Pakistan.
Never before in the history of the country did any political party voluntarily
surrender its seats and risked new elections. He
stated the fact that MQM has done that on Saturday by asking Azizullah Brohi,
S.A. Khan, and Sarkaruddin to quit their assembly seats was something that
has set new tradition for others to emulate.
The advisor said that the MQM being a revolutionary party,
and a movement, dedicated to the cause of the people, has once again
established that commitment to the masses and their welfare remains its
cardinal principle. It has submitted proof of its sincerity to the world that
here is a party dedicated to the cause of the poor and believes in practical
steps, rather than on slogans, he said, adding that the risk of the
by-election was never an easy decision but the MQM preferred to take a chance
rather than subject itself to criticism from people for ignoring their
problems which these parliamentarians had tried to do.
Similarly, he said the decision to remove some of the
ministers from Federal and Provincial cabinets was taken by those affected in
their proper stride. Rauf Siddiqui and Nauman Saghi, attended the meeting of
the party after the announcement for their removal was made, and remained
committed to the party’s principles. Not for a movement did they display
any bitterness or unpleasantness by their actions or deeds which shows that
the party rank and file remains loyal to the organisation’s principles and
its leadership, he concluded.
Attempt to bomb US consulate foiled
KARACHI: Police prevented a huge car-bomb from exploding
outside the US consulate in Karachi on Monday just two days before US
Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to the country.
Around 750 litres of explosive, timers and detonators were
found in a Suzuki van left outside the consulate building at around 7:30 am,
police said. They added that a man parked the Suzuki high-roof (No GA-0313)
near the consulate and fled in another vehicle.
Security staff at the consulate informed their high-ups
about the car. Later, police and the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) were called,
who checked the vehicle and found a fibreglass tank in it that was filled
with chemical. The chemical was connected with some fuses and detonators,
which were defused.
A BDS source told The News that the chemical filled in the
tank was a mixture of ammonium nitrate, hydrogen peroxide and sulphuric acid,
making it a highly inflammable liquid. During preliminary investigations, it
was revealed that the vehicle used by the unidentified terrorists had been
snatched from Muneeb Tariq, a resident of Karachi Administration Society in
Baloch Colony police jurisdiction late on the night of March 14 (Sunday).
During the snatching, the carjackers shot at Muneeb Tariq on resistance,
sources close to the investigators told The News. The sources said the
original registration number-plate, bearing number CA-8501, was changed and a
fake number-plate bearing number GA-0313 was fixed, the sources added.
A police spokesman told The News that on March 15, at
about 7:14 am, the police picket in front of the US consulate-general on
Abdullah Haroon Road saw a man dressed in Shalwar-Kameez parked a Suzuki
Bolan (Hi-Roof) in front of the main gate of the consulate-general. He
alighted from the vehicle and quickly got into a following Suzuki Alto and
fled.
Police cordoned off the suspected vehicle and Rangers were
deployed for the security of the consulate-general and an immediate message
was sent through the police control for dispatching the Bomb Disposal Squad,
to verify whether any suspicious or explosive device was present in the
vehicle, the spokesman said.
The BDS and the police promptly arrived at the scene and
defused the explosive. They took the vehicle into their custody and towed it
to a safe place. On search of the vehicle, it was found that the rear seats
had been removed and in their place, a blue fibreglass water tank of 750
litres capacity had been placed, which contained a liquid form of explosive.
The tank was fitted with two detonators and a fuse connected to a washing
machine timer device. After defusing the explosives and towing the vehicle to
a safer place.
On detonation, the device would have caused a huge fire
besides emitting gases and causing a devastating explosion, which could have
engulfed the surrounding area and buildings, causing considerable damage to
life and property, the spokesman said.
In recognition of the prompt response and expert handling
of the explosive material by officers of the Bomb Disposal Squad, IGP Syed
Kamal Shah announced promotions and cash awards for them. The Artillery
Maidan police have registered a case.
Azfar-ul-Ashfaque adds: The US Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) would also conduct a separate investigation into the
case, informed sources told The News. The sources said that besides local
investigating agencies, the FBI would also step in the investigation process
owing to the fact that the terrorists had tried to attack a US establishment.
"We are expecting they (FBI agents) will also join us
in the probe. But they will not investigate the matter directly. They will
provide us technical assistance," said a senior government official,
requesting not to be named.
The sources also said at least two FBI agents stationed at
the US consulate-general in Karachi had already started investigations and
visited the site from where the explosives-laden vehicle was recovered.
"Even though the terrorists failed to get success in attacking the
consulate building, but we consider this incident a security lapse, as
security personnel failed to arrest any of the terrorists who made their
escape in front of them," said the official.
Consulate closed
ISLAMABAD: A US Embassy official here on Monday said the
consulate general in Karachi has been closed following a bomb was defused
outside its premises. Andrew Steinfeld, the counselor for public affairs at
the embassy, said the bomb was defused before most of the two-dozen American
and Pakistani staff had arrived for work. It wasn’t immediately clear when
it would reopen. In Washington, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said an
investigation was under way to determine who was responsible for the
attempted bombing. "We would praise the very alert and courageous action
of all those involved in detecting and responding to what could have been a
horrific explosion," he said. Asked if the attempt was a warning in
advance of Powell’s visit, Ereli declined to speculate. "I would note
that Karachi has been the scene of bombings for some time."
2 girls killed in firecracker explosion
KARACHI: Two sisters were burnt alive in a fire caused by
firecrackers, a middle-aged person was found murdered at his house, while a
fleeing robber was killed in an encounter on Monday, police said.
Lubna (22), daughter of Abdul Majeed was cleaning a room
at her house situated on Akbar Road in Shershah police limits, where
firecrackers were stored. Suddenly a bundle of crackers fell down that caused
a fire, followed by a small explosion. The fire engulfed the room and some of
the neighbours called the fire brigade that controlled the fire in an hour.
Lubna received serious burn injuries, while Zainab (18), her sister, who
tried to rescue her, also suffered critical burn injuries. Both the injured
were rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where Lubna was pronounced died on
her arrival, while Zainab succumbed to her injuries after a few hours. The
police were looking at the incident to be accidental.
SHOT DEAD: Abid Wakeel (26) was killed by a stray bullet,
while he was passing from Gul Muhammad Lane, Tannery Road in Chakiwara police
limits. His body was brought to Civil Hospital.
FOUND MURDERED: Abdul Hameed (52), a resident of Abdullah
Goth in Shah Latif Town police limits was found murdered with stab wounds in
his house by a few relatives, who had come to visit him. He was living alone.
ENCOUNTER: An alleged robber was killed in an encounter
with Khokhrapar police, after the police intervened in a snatching bid in Pak
Kausar Colony in Indus Mehran locality. Two armed bandits barged into Ahmed’s
house in broad daylight and started collecting cash, jewellery and other
valuables. Some neighbours informed the police on Madadgar-15, who reached
the site when the robbers were about to leave. After a brief fire exchange, a
25-year-old fleeing dacoit was hit, while his other accomplice escaped
leaving his injured partner. Police nabbed the injured robber and claimed to
recover a TT pistol as well as some looted cash from him. The injured robber
succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital. His body was later shifted
to JPMC and placed in Edhi morgue.
ACCIDENTS: Abbas Ali (15) was killed when a hit-and-run
vehicle hit his motorcycle in North Nazimabad police limits. His body was
shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
An eight-year-old boy, Muhammad Ismail was killed by a
recklessly driven coach in Zafar Town within Shah Latif police limits. His
body was taken to JPMC.
ARREST: Police arrested seven accused persons from various
city parts and claimed to have recovered four pistols and other valuables
from them.
Blasts damage railway track in Khairpur
KHAIRPUR: Two explosions at Khairpur Railway Station
damaged railway track and spread panic in the city on Monday.
The first bomb went off on the railway track near overhead
bridge at the Khairpur Railway Station. The second blast, also on the railway
track and just 15 metres away from the site of the first one, was stronger in
intensity. There was, however, no loss of life, but one of the explosions
made a 1.5-foot deep hole on the track, while the other damaged and
dislocated one metre length of the railway track. The policemen deployed
nearby also escaped unhurt.
The blasts caused panic throughout the city. Bomb Disposal
Squad rushed to the scene and the police cordoned off the area.
Talking to The News at the site of the explosions, the DPO
Khairpur stated that the terrorist activity could have caused a big losses.
The DPO informed that he ordered investigations into the incident, while the
railway authorities said the repairs of the damaged railway track have
already been started. They said the Karachi-bound Sukkur Express has been
stopped at Rohri Railway Station while the Lahore-bound train has been
stopped at Nawabshah. They said the trains would be allowed to run on the
track after a clearance signal from the bomb disposal authorities.
APP adds from Karachi: The Railway traffic on up and down
tracks was suspended following two bomb blasts. Railway sources said the
first blast occurred at the down track at 7:45 pm and the second blast at
10.10 pm, damaging 1.7 foot portion of the track. Railway officials from
Sukkur reached the spot and after clearance from the Bomb Disposal officials
the repair of the track has started.
907,712 acres PR land encroached - Minister
ISLAMABAD, March 15: About 807,712 acres of Railways' land has been encroached between Karachi and Landi Kotal has been encroached and its value has been assessed at Rs2.3 billion, Minister for Railways Ghous Baksh Khan Mahar tells the National Assembly.
In a written statement submitted on Monday during the question-hour session, the minister said the Railways' administration had initiated several anti-encroachment operations while strictly adhering to the law. As a result of the Railways' administration efforts, 1,424 acres had so far been retrieved from the land mafia and encroachers, he said.
Retrieval of valuable Railways land was part of the government's policy, he said, adding that in the anti- encroachment drive, priority was being given to the clearance of operational areas besides commercial land.
The minister said the Railways had so far earned Rs281,934 by running 12 Safari Trains between Rawalpindi and Golra stations on Sundays. Out of Rs281,934, the Railways had earned Rs134,310 while spending Rs147,624 in expenditure on different heads.
Musharraf warns against failure of Wana operation
PESHAWAR, March 15: Exhorting tribesmen to expel foreign militants from tribal regions, President Gen Pervez Musharraf warned on Monday that failure to do so could entail serious repercussions for Pakistan.
The president told a grand tribal Jirga at the sprawling lawns of the Governor's House here that the ongoing operation in South Waziristan must produce results at all costs.
"Repercussions will be very serious for the country if operation fails in Wana," he said, stressing that the tribesmen would have to cooperate with the government in this regard.
"We have confirmed that 500 to 600 foreign suspects have been sheltered in the South Waziristan region. But we don't want they get weapons and training from here and create disturbance across the western border," he said.
He urged tribal elders to expel foreign suspects and their local sympathizers from the region. He reiterated an earlier offer that foreign militants who surrendered would not be handed over to any foreign country.
President Musharraf's warning to the gathering of over 500 tribal elders and parliamentarians came two days ahead of a visit to Islamabad by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.
NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, Water and Power Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Commander 11th Corps Lt-Gen Safdar Hussain, and senior officials were present on the occasion.
The president assured that foreign troops, including Americans, would not be allowed to carry out any operation in tribal areas. Only Pakistan troops would conduct operations against the wanted people, he said.
"I assure you that US troops would not be engaged in the South Waziristan's operation. I can quit (my office), but will not compromise on vital national interest," he said.
He, however, acknowledged that some Americans were operating in the area to gather intelligence on foreign militants. "It is true that over two dozens Americans are operating in the area who are sharing intelligence with the administration," he admitted.
Appreciating tribesmen's role in the operation against Al Qaeda, Gen Musharraf said tribal volunteers had started action against extremists and were dismantling their hideouts in Wana, but that was not enough.
He said that foreign elements, including Uzbek and Tajiks, were being sheltered in this part of the country and they should be removed. Expressing concern over the recent killing of 13 civilians in Wana, he said investigations were under way and action would be taken against responsible officials. He said such misunderstandings would not be repeated in future.
The president said it was encouraging that tribesmen were giving positive response to the government's efforts in removing extremism from the country. But the government would do more to improve the image of Pakistan in the international community, he added.
Showing a copy of an international magazine, Gen Musharraf pointed out that foreign media had reported that suspects sneaked into Afghan territory from the tribal area and attacked allied forces and that Pakistan was not cooperating in the war against terrorism.
He said that extremists had badly damaged the image of Islam and Muslims were being projected as ignorant, militant and suicide bombers. He said the West did not know that Muslims believed in peace and brotherhood.
Gen Musharraf said the world community continued to blame Pakistan for the prevailing insecurity in Afghanistan, disturbances in the Indian-held Kashmir and nuclear proliferation and accused it of promoting extremism across the world.
He said: "We are not living in space and Pakistan is part of the integrated world." Extremists were trying to marginalize Pakistan, but their designs would be foiled, he added.
The president said he feared that if peace efforts failed in Afghanistan, Pakistan would again face a huge influx of millions of refugees. Peace in Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan.
He reiterated that Pakistan would not roll back its nuclear programme and had recently test-fired the ballistic Shaheen-II missile and would continue the programme.
DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE: Gen Musharraf said the government was committed to continue development activities in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. He said the ongoing development schemes would change socio-economic environment of the area.
He assured the Jirga that the proposed Rs7 billion development package would be released soon to expedite development activities in the region. The president said that work on the Torkham-Jalalabad road and Peshawar-Torkham Expressway would be started soon, while construction of the Thall-Parachinar and Bannu-Ghulam Khan highways was under consideration.
He said that Pakistan had an important geo-strategic location in the region and could act as a bridge between the land-locked Central Asian Republics and the South Asian region by developing land routes.
'Libyan militant tried to kill me'
The president accused a Libyan Al Qaeda militant of trying to kill him in December. "We have identified a network. They belong to Al Qaeda. One Libyan was involved in the attacks on me," Gen Musharraf said during a visit to Peshawar. -APP
‘Osama escaped capture several times’
PARIS: Osama bin Laden has escaped capture in Afghanistan
several times and may be linked in some way to the Madrid train attacks that
killed 200 people, the French chief of defence staff said on Monday.
General Henri Bentegeat said that about 200 French troops
were operating with US forces in southeastern Afghanistan against the Taliban
and al-Qaeda members. Bin laden is thought to be there or just across the
border in Pakistan.
"Our men were not very far. On several occasions, I
even think he slipped out of a net that was quite well closed," he told
Europe 1 radio. He did not specify a time frame. Bentegeat, who spoke as if
he were sure bin Laden was in Afghanistan, said the country’s difficult
terrain explained why it was so hard to catch the world’s most-wanted man.
"In Afghanistan, the terrain is extremely favourable to escapes, there
are underground networks everywhere," he said.
The general said that it was essential that bin Laden be
caught. "He symbolises September 11 and is certainly not completely
innocent in what happened in Madrid," he said, making a link between the
2001 attacks in the US and the Spanish train bombings last Thursday.
But he added that arresting bin Laden "would not
change things directly. (al-Qaeda) is a hydra with many heads. If we catch
one head, there will be others". Bentegeat said that the minute
preparations needed for the Madrid bombings were "the clearest
indication" that al-Qaeda was probably behind them.
He said that the threat of Islamic radicalism was
spreading beyond the Middle East. "It’s a phenomenon we’re seeing
step-by-step in Africa," he said, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
"Then there are countries that are adrift, that we are trying to help to
not sink, such as Ivory Coast or the Central African Republic," he
added.
Asked about security in France, Bentegeat said French
fighter jets could scramble in less than two minutes to confront any
intrusion into the country’s air space. "Not a day goes by with at
least one patrol that takes off to go check an aeroplane that has strayed off
its path or doesn’t respond by radio," he said.
Madrid train blasts linked to Al Qaeda
RABAT, March 15: The group that carried out last week's deadly train bombings in Madrid was linked to Al Qaeda network and to extremists responsible for attacks in Casablanca 10 months ago, the Moroccan press alleged on Monday.
"A link exists between the attacks in Madrid and those in Casablanca," wrote Aujourd'hui le Maroc, basing its assertion on the personal ties of Jamal Zougam, one of three Moroccans arrested in Spain after attacks on trains in Madrid on Thursday.
"A Moroccan accused by the Spanish security services was given lodgings by another Moroccan, indicted in a trial against Al Qaeda, who is the brother of yet another Moroccan implicated in the Casablanca attacks" on May 16, 2003, wrote the paper.
Another newspaper, Liberation, said there were "patent links" between terrorist groups in Spain and "the fundamentalist galaxy in Morocco."-AFP
Iran ready to let N-inspectors in
WASHINGTON, March 15: Iran has agreed to let United Nations inspectors into the country by the end of the month, reversing an earlier decision to stop inspections, Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the UN nuclear watchdog, said on Monday.
Iran had put off inspections scheduled for last week to protest a tough resolution by IAEA against Tehran for hiding sensitive parts of a weapons programme. -AFP