Pakistan asks Afghan authorities to ensure border security

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan here on Thursday called on Afghan authorities to ensure their border security so that attacks emanating from their soil are stopped. Speaking during her weekly press briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam has said that that Pakistan condemns all forms of terrorism.

Army vows to 'completely eliminate' terrorist sanctuaries in N Waziristan

ISLAMABAD: Chief military spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa said on Tuesday that the Pakistan army will "completely eliminate" terrorists sanctuaries and hideouts from North Waziristan.

Speaking to media personnel in Islamabad, Bajwa said, "North Waziristan had become a hub of terrorism where several terrorist networks were based and had been operating for a long time."

"Terrorists used to brainwash suicide bombers while recruiting them in North Waziristan."

SC upset by lack of food subsidies in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: A Supreme Court bench was flabbergasted on Tuesday when it was told that no subsidy on food items has ever been extended to the neediest segments of Balochistan since the year 2009.

This is not all. Not a single fair price shop exists outside Quetta city to ensure the delivery of wheat flour or foodgrains at affordable prices to the poorest people of the province.

Pakistan reiterates NWA offensive will hit Haqqani network

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday reiterated that the ongoing Zarb-i-Azb military offensive, launched to eliminate insurgent hideouts in the North Waziristan tribal area, would target all militants, including the feared Haqqani network.

Briefing a delegation of foreign media reporters, DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa insisted the current operation would target “terrorists of every hue and colour.”

Nisar directs security agencies to secure twin cities

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan directed police and security agencies to gear up their resources to fully secure twin cities Rawalpindi-Islamabad and its residents in wake of the Zarb-i-Azb operation against militants in North Waziristan.

India visit a success, insist Sharif aides

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned to the federal capital on Tuesday evening where he was greeted by a volley of criticism from the media, which was up in arms that he had not mentioned Kashmir during his visit to India while he had been greeted by the T word (terrorism).

However, it did not take long for the prime minister’s senior aides to jump into action and address the criticism. They tried hard to convince many that the meeting had been a success.

Provinces told to beef up security amid spate of terrorist attacks

ISLAMABAD: The federal government, through the interior ministry, has issued instructions to provincial governments to step up security arrangements, Information Minister Pervez Rashid told Dawn on Sunday.

According to sources in the interior ministry, the instructions have been issued following a fresh spate of terrorist attacks in different parts of the country and amid renewed threats from militants.

They said that provincial governments had been asked to beef up security to cope with the possible fallout from an expected operation in North Waziristan, the stronghold of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

FIR can be lodged against armymen, AG says

ISLAMABAD: Attorney General Aslam Butt informed the Supreme Court on Thursday that a First Information Report (FIR) could be filed against a currently serving army official according to Pakistan Army regulations. He said this in the hearing of the Malakand missing persons case, which concerns the disappearance of 35 people from an internment centre in the region, DawnNews reported.

Butt submitted his reply in the apex court regarding FIRs against serving armed forces personnel.

SC reinstates PTI's Qaisar Jamal Khan as MNA

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday reinstated Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate Qaisar Jamal Khan as Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from NA-47, days after an election tribunal had declared his election void.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani, heard the case today.

The court issued notices to the respondents and adjourned the hearing of the case until two weeks.

Pakistani tribals worried after govt’s talks with Taliban stalled

ISLAMABAD: The people living in Pakistan's volatile tribal regions on the border with Afghanistan have given up hope of some kind of semblance of normality returning to their motherland, which has almost been turned into a no-go area for non-tribal people.

For them, the stalled dialogue process between the government and Taliban for peace is a reckless exercise that is doomed to end in failure . They say the government's attempt to end militancy through talks was full of flaws.

FBI agent doesn’t enjoy diplomatic immunity: FO

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Thursday that the FBI agent arrested in Karachi on Monday did not enjoy diplomatic immunity.

“He was not a diplomat and, therefore, had no immunity,” FO spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said at the weekly media briefing.

Joel Cox was arrested while attempting to board a flight for Islamabad, for carrying bullets, small knives and spy gadgets. The man was later identified as FBI official sent to Pakistan on a short-term assignment with the US embassy in Islamabad.

NA unanimously approves resolution for lifting YouTube ban

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution to lift the ban on video-sharing website YouTube, DawnNews reported.

During today's National Assembly session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi, MNA Shazia Marri belonging to the Pakistan People Party (PPP) submitted a resolution demanding the lifting of the ban on YouTube which was unanimously accepted by the lower house of parliament.

Ex-CJ rubbishes Imran's 'absurd' rigging allegations

ISLAMABAD: Former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday rejected the rigging accusations made against him by Pakistan Tehreeak-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, terming them as 'baseless', DawnNews reported.

The former chief justice said that Returning Officers (ROs) for the 2013 elections were appointed by the Election Commission of Pakistan and not by him. He added that the 'absurd' allegations hurled by the PTI chief did not warrant a response.

Pakistan to maintain policy of non-interference in ME, says PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday categorically stated that Pakistan desired peace and tranquility in the Middle East and would maintain the policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of states.

Addressing the concluding session of the Envoys Conference which focused on the Middle East, at the Foreign Office in the federal capital, Sharif said Pakistan had an equal aspiration to forge closer bilateral ties with all countries in the region.

Govt ignores TTP threat, to execute three militants

ISLAMABAD: Despite threats by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the government has decided to carry out the execution of condemned prisoners and the death penalty for the first batch of terrorists belonging to outlawed groups will be implemented next week.

While the TTP has issued a ‘warning’ to the government to refrain from implementing the death penalties of its members, the interior minister says the new government is determined to establish the writ of law.

Concerted efforts needed to fight terrorism: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said terrorism was not a problem restricted to particular regions of the country, adding that concerted efforts were required to combat the menace.

The premier made these remarks during a visit to the Interior Ministry where he also reviewed the prospects of the constitution of a new force to tackle terrorists, DawnNews reported.

Prime Minister Sharif said the state would ensure the security of the citizens and would employ all possible measures for the purpose.

Death toll rises to 84 in Pakistan floods

ISLAMABAD: Monsoon rains triggering floods have killed 84 people across Pakistan in the last week and affected more than 80,000 others, officials said Wednesday, warning of further downpours.

“At least 84 people were killed, 44 were wounded and 81,341 were affected by recent rain and flooding,” a senior official in the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) told AFP.

Punjab govt to boost industrial activities

ISLAMABAD: Industries are being set up across Punjab and foreign investors would be provided investment opportunities in a bid to boost the economy.

This was stated by Chaudhry Mohammad Shafiq, Punjab Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment during a meeting with a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI).

LoC attack: PM Nawaz summons emergency session

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif has summoned an emergency meeting with the foreign ministry and other high-ranked security officials over the Indian attack on the Pakistani soldiers at the Line of Control (LoC) Thursday, Geo News reported.

According to the sources, the meeting will review the strained situation that has emerged between Pakistan and India along with the Indian allegations after the LoC attack.

Shah urges all ECP members to resign

ISLAMABAD: After the resignation of the chief election commissioner (CEC), the PPP wants all the four members of the commission to immediately quit their posts.

“I am thankful to Fakhru Bhai for listening to my voice and tendering his resignation while admitting his mistakes in the May 11 elections. He took the right step by resigning after the Supreme Court’s act of undoing his orders in the presidential elections,” Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah said while talking to reporters here on Sunday.