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.

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.

Fatemi to leave for US today on official visit

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi is scheduled to travel to the United States on an official visit from the 21st to the 28th of this month.

"Mr Fatemi is scheduled to hold meetings with senior officials in the State Department, Defence Department and the White House to exchange views on bilateral relations," Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam told Dawn.

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."

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.”

Judicial magistrate kidnapped? in Balochistan

QUETTA: Armed militants kidnapped Judicial Magistrate Ziarat Jam Saka Dashti from Pishin district of Balochistan on Monday, police said.A senior police officer who requested anonymity told Dawn.com that gunmen seized the vehicle of the judicial magistrate in Pishin district.

PML-N, PTI leaders want ‘change, not confrontation’

ISLAMABAD: Following the ultimatum issued by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, both the government and the PTI are sticking to their guns. But behind the scenes, leaders from both sides are hoping for a solution through negotiations.

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.

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.

Pakistan fully capable of defending itself, PM Nawaz

LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday gave an address on the occasion of Youm-i-Takbeer and said that Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself against any possible aggressive designs, DawnNews reported.

The premier congratulated the nation on the event and said that the country’s nuclear assets were in safe hands, adding that it was for peaceful purposes.

Taliban's Mehsud faction severs ties with TTP

PESHAWAR: The spokesman of the Mehsud faction of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Azam Tariq on Monday announced that his group has formally separated from the central outlawed militant group.

The spokesman of the Mehsud group, who was also a central member of the Taliban shura, made the announcement in a press conference.

He added that the other Taliban factions were also becoming distrustful of the main organisation.

Azam further said that the Mehsud group had tried to reform the TTP, adding that despite its efforts, conniving elements in the organisation had emerged successful.

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.

Gunmen kill Pakistan Navy man in Karachi

KARACHI: Unknown gunmen attacked a Pakistan Navy man near Karasaz area on Karachi's Shahrah-e-Faisal on Monday, DawnNews reported.

Security and rescue teams reached the attack site situated on the port city's main artery.

The targeted Navy man was rushed to a hospital for treatment where he succumbed to his wounds during treatment.

Police sources said that the incident appeared to be sectarian motivated.

Shootout in DHA leaves teenage boy and police guard dead, two wounded

KARACHI: An 18-year-old student and a police guard were killed while another teenage boy and a private security guard were wounded in an exchange of fire in the Defence Housing Authority in the early hours of Thursday.

The deadly exchange of fire took place at the bungalow of Suleman Lashari, an A-level student, in DHA Phase V on Khayaban-i-Shamsheer following a quarrel between the teenagers over some petty issue, police said.

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.