Karachi police operation, 30 suspects held

KARACHI: Police in a search operation in Orangi Town on Wednesday hauled up 30 suspected persons, Geo News reported.

SP Orangi Town, Sajid Amir Saddozai said that police launched an operation against suspected persons at Pirabad, Qasba and Frontier Colony in Orangi Town by blocking all exit/entry roads started house-to-house search operation and picked up 30 suspects in the process.

At least 13 suspected militants killed in fresh North Waziristan airstrikes

PESHAWAR: At least 13 suspected militants were killed and their hideouts were destroyed Wednesday in air strikes carried out by fighter jets in the Shawal tehsil of North Waziristan.

Sources claimed that the jet strikes destroyed at least six hideouts in the Shawal mountains and the area near Dattakhel.

However, these claims could not be independently verified.

Air strikes were also carried out late on Tuesday.

Youm-e-Ali (RA) being observed across the country today

KARACHI: The country is observing Youm-e-Ali (RA), the martyrdom day of Hazrat Ali (RA), as law enforcement agencies have made strict security arrangements to avert any untoward situation in any part of the country, Geo News reported.

The mourning processions following the planned routes and finally gather at the pre-decided venues. Strict security is being observed throughout the processions routes while the district administrations have also installed CCTV cameras.

Seven suspected militants, one elite force man killed in Lahore clash

LAHORE: An armed clash between security forces and suspected militants during a search operation early Thursday in a compound situated in Lahore’s Raiwind Road area killed seven suspected militants while one elite force man was also killed and five others had been injured, Punjab Minister for Anti-Terrorism Col. (retd) Shuja Khanzada said.

Speaking to media representatives, Khanzada said that the exact figure of militants present the area could not be established and several of them appeared to have fled.

He said security forces wanted to apprehend the militants alive, adding that terrorism could not be eliminated in a single day.

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."

Five killed during operation in Karachi's Landhi area

KARACHI: Five suspected militants were killed during an operation in Gulshan-i-Buner area of Karachi's Landhi area.

Security sources said that a police team conducted the raid after receiving a tip-off regarding the presence of hardened criminals in the vicinity.

The police team was fired upon once they entered the area.

At least five 'terrorists' were killed in retaliatory firing by security personnel, while police also claimed to have recovered a weapon factory, in addition to a large quantity of arms and ammunition.

Pakistan restrict Mohammed Irfan to ODIs and T20s

Karachi: Pakistan team management have decided to restrict tall paceman Mohammed Irfan to only ODIs and T20s, keeping in mind team's interest in the next year's World Cup.

Injury-prone Irfan was stopped from participating in any Ramazan tournament as coach Waqar Younis called him back to the national cricket academy to concentrate on fitness.

"Waqar, who himself has been a fast bowler, has made it clear to Irfan that he should just work on his fitness and training at the NCA till the next domestic season starts in September," a source close to Irfan told PTI.Irfan said that he had been told that the Pakistan management had prepared a proper schedule for him and he would only be playing in the one-dayers and T20 matches in future.

Emirates to seek damages over Qadri episode

LAHORE: The Emirates airline plans to file a suit over the damages caused to its reputation by the enforced diversion of its plane carrying Dr Tahirul Qadri on Monday.

Official sources told Dawn that the airline had told the Civil Aviation Authority that it had been upset by the diversion of its flight EK-612 Dubai-Islamabad to Lahore, causing a great deal of inconvenience to passengers on the plane and those waiting at the airport to fly to Dubai.

Pakistan needs to make hard choices now: Hillary

WASHINGTON: Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has said that Pakistan’s policy of seeking strategic depth in Afghanistan has been proven wrong and the country now needs to focus all its strength on dealing with the militants.

“Their idea, that they have these groups to provide strategic depth, as they like to say, vis-a-vis Afghanistan, or vis-a-vis India, I think if that were ever true, which I doubt, but if that were ever true, it no longer is,” she told Indian NDTV channel.

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.

Attackers flee after firing at Karachi ASF camp

KARACHI: Attackers managed to flee as a heavy contingent of security forces reached Airport Security Force (ASF) camp number 2, which came under a fresh attack on Tuesday, DawnNews reported. Flight operations resumed after being temporarily suspended.

A security sweep and search operation is underway at the ASF academy, which is located in Bhitai Abad, Pehlwan Goth in Karachi.

Another Attack Near Karachi Airport, All Flights Suspended

Kabul:  A security checkpost outside Pakistan's Karachi airport was attacked by gunmen on Tuesday, an official spokesman told AFP, a day after an all-night siege by the Taliban left 37 dead.

"Gunmen are exchanging fire with Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel at a checkpost guarding the airport," an ASF spokesman said.

TV footage showed paramilitary vehicles and ambulances racing to the scene of the attack.

Martyrs of Karachi airport attack laid to rest

KARACHI: Personnel of the Airport Security Force (ASF) who were martyred in the terrorist attack on the Karachi airport are being laid to rest in their respective hometowns amidst tears and sorrow.

ASF official Islamuddin’s funeral prayers were offered at the GPO ground in Multan. A resident of the Ghareebabad area of Multan, Islamuddin received a salute from the ASF officials before being laid to rest.

ASF ASI Tariq Masood Babar of Faisalabad was buried in his ancestral graveyard after his funeral prayers were offered in a nearby village.

US condemns Karachi airport attack; offers help with probe

WASHINGTON: Condemning the terrorist attack on Karachi's Jinnah International Airport, the United States on Monday offered Pakistan its help in investigating the incident on the country's largest airport.

“(We) join the Pakistani people in condemning this attack. We have offered assistance to the relevant Pakistani authorities in investigating this crime,” Deputy Spokesperson at the State Department Marie Harf said, while wishing the injured speedy recovery and condoling with families of the victims.

Gunmen storm Pakistan airport, leaving at least 18 dead

Pakistani officials said Monday that 18 people were killed when gunmen disguised as police guards attacked a terminal at Pakistan's busiest airport Sunday night with machine guns and a rocket launcher.

Rizwan Akhtar, the paramilitary Rangers chief, said that all 10 "terrorists" who attacked the Jinnah International Airport have been killed. Akhtar added that Pakistani forces were combing through the terminal and would hand it back to civilian authority later Monday.

At least 25 killed, 36 hurt in road accidents

Islamabad: At least 25 people have died and 36 injured in four road accidents on Saturday morning.The deadliest crash occurred in Mansehra, where a passenger bus travelling from Rawalpindi to Skardu plunged into a deep ravine killing 10 people and injuring 10 others at Gandian in Mansehra district.

Altaf released on bail, addresses Karachi sit-in participants

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain was released on bail four days after he was arrested on the suspicion of money laundering by the London Metropolitan Police, DawnNews reported.Police sources said Hussain was released on a personal bail without any charges framed against him with the condition that he would appear before authorities whenever required.

MQM workers, supporters observe Youm-i-Dua for Altaf’s recovery

KARACHI: Workers and supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were holding a Youm-i-Dua on Friday to pray for the early recovery of party chief Altaf Hussain who underwent an angiography in London yesterday.

Hussain’s angiography report had also been prepared and is expected to be reviewed by a medical board at a London hospital.

Blast in Karachi's Baldia Town injures four

KARACHI: An explosion occurred early on Saturday which injured four people in Karachi's Baldia Town, DawnNews reported.The blast took place near the Muhammad Khan Police checkpost.Police said that the explosive material was planted in a donkey-cart.