ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister said Monday that around 700 militants have been killed in major offensive launched last week in the country’s northwest. On May 7, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani in televised address ordered the armed forces to eliminate militants and terrorists in Swat valley and several areas ‘to restore honour and dignity of the homeland and protect the people’.

Taliban have taken control of Mingora, main city in Swat valley, for a week and the armed forces have not yet succeeded to retake it. Thousands of people have fled fighting in Swat valley and Malakand area to safe places to avoid casualties.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that 700 militants have been killed so far by the security forces. He said that 20 soldiers have been killed and around 30 others injured in the operation. “The operation will continue till last Taliban militant is eliminated,” Malik told reporters at Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto international airport on arrival from visit to the United States.

He said military operation is the best option against the Taliban militants and he was favouring such action.
“It is a test for the whole nation,” he said, urging the people to stand behind their armed forces in this difficult time.

The Interior Minister said that around 2,69,000 people have been displaced from Swat and other areas including Lower Dir and Buner, adding he expect hostilities will displace around four hundred thousands people. He urged the international community to help the displaced persons. To a question Mr Malik said that a new force will be created for border security, adding that joint Pakistan-Afghanistan patrolling of the border is not possible. NNI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday dismissed reports about Russia’s involvement in Balochistan as misleading saying the country attaches great importance to its ties with the Federation. A clarification from the Foreign Office said that during a briefing to the Senate by Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior “reference to the Soviet Union was made in a historical context.”“The media coverage on the subject was misleading,” a statement quoting the Foreign Office spokesman said and added that it has also been conveyed to the Russian Federation through diplomatic channels.

The Foreign Office Spokesman said Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with the Russian Federation which was playing an important role for peace, security and stability at the international and regional planes.

The Spokesman said Pakistan and Russia were in the process of strengthening their multifaceted cooperation and in this context referred to Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s recent visit to Moscow to participate in a Special Conference under the SCO. The two countries are engaged building a comprehensive partnership. These relations will continue to grow in the times to come, the spokesman said.-APP

ISLAMABAD: Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior, Rehman A. Malik Wednesday informed the Upper House of the Parliament that India is backing the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) for fuelling insurgency in the province and creating unrest.

“BLA was raised and funded by Russia during Soviet-Afghan war when Pakistan was supporting Afghanis and now India is backing its activities,”

he said, winding up debate on an adjournment motion, to discuss the Balochistan situation emerging out of recent killing of three Baloch leaders in Turbat.

“BLA remained dormant since the Afghan war ended but it was reactivated after killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, whose grandson Barhamdagh Bugti has openly sought Indian and American support for independence of Balochistan in a recent interview,”

He said that Indian consulate in Iranian city, bordering Balochistan, was also involved in activities other than visa granting to people. The BLA Chief Barhamdagh Bugti, in his recent interview to a Pakistani channel has openly sought Indian support for independence of Balochistan, he added. “Barhamdagh Bugti is residing in Kabul just five kilometer away from President Karzai’s palace and Pakistan has continuously been asking the Afghan government for access to Barhamdagh,” he said.

However, he said, the Afghan Government has been denying Bugti’s presence in Afghanistan, though Pakistan repeatedly raised it with Afghanistan that their soil was being used against Pakistan. Rehman Malik said the law and order situation in Balochistan is a very serious issue and the government is engaged in sincere efforts to defuse the tension. “We have taken all the Parliament members onboard and assure to implement recommendations of the Parliament in true spirit.”

“There is a realization, on every part, that something should be done to redress the problems; to address the concerns and satisfy our Baloch brethren,” the advisor said. He said that the grievances of Balochs as well as Pakhtoons need to be identified and discussed to reach to a concrete solution. “Therefore, I want to sincerely brief the house on the facts on ground as we do not want to hide anything and want to clear the doubts, which people have in their minds,” Malik said.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s government, he said, from the very first day, has made efforts for redressing concerns of Balochs and undertake development projects in the province.“All cases against Mengals and Harbyar Marri were withdrawn in a bid to provide relief. Similarly, the negotiations with Bugti tribe were also held and I am in close contact with every son of Nawab Akbar Bugti,” Malik informed the House.

Earlier, he elaborated details of his meetings with Baloch Nationalist Leaders including former Chief Minister Akhtar Mengal in Balochistan and Harbayar Khan in London respectively. Malik said the government had also extended legal support to Harbyar Khan Marri for defence of case registered by the British government in London.

Meanwhile; he said, the demands of Balochs for share in the resources is genuine and the government; including President Asif Ali Zardari has agreed to take all steps according to aspirations of Balochistan people.

Similarly; another major demand for removal of 36 Frontier Constabulary (FC) checkposts, from different parts of the province was also fulfilled. “In addition, the federal government has directed FC to work under supervision of Police,” said the advisor. Besides President Zardari, the Prime Minister was personally interested in redressing concerns of Baloch people and he daily seeks update over the issue.

PM Yusuf Raza Gilani has approved Rs 70.5 billion loan grant for Balochistan on recommendations of the provincial chief minister, he added. “Recent visit of President Asif Zardari to province was landmark as he announced Rs. 46 billion development package for the province,” Malik said. The package announced by President Asif Ali Zardari was widely welcomed across the Balochistan.

The government was following three-pronged policy of Dialogue, Development and Deterrence and all maximum possible steps were ensured peace and stability, said the advisor. Rehman Malik said that there was no military operation in Balochistan since PPP took over reins of the country after February 18 general polls last year.

“I can say with authority and I am saying, neither there is military operation in Balochistan nor it would be launched,” repeated the advisor.

He said that Rs.7 billion were allocated for conversion of A areas into B areas and Rs. 5.1 billion have been spent for the purpose. However, the locals were demanding for restoration of Sardari system in the areas, he added.

Rehman Malik said all political prisoners except 36 were released. The cases of those 36 are under scrutiny at a special committee, as they are alleged to be involved in murder crimes.

Subsequently, employment, rehabilitation of displaced people and allocation of National Finance Commission (NFC) award were under consideration for Balochistan, he added. The martyrdom of former governor and chief minister Nawab Akbar Bugti aggravated the situation and created enormous problems for the country. Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) was reactivated by enemies of Pakistan in the mean time, he said.

BLA consists of 1,000 Baloch students, trained in Russia and spread in various parts of the province. They are demanding for independence of Balochistan, said the advisor. BLA chief Barhamdagh Bugti is present in Afghan capital Kabul just at distance of five miles from President Hamid Karzai’s palace but Afghan government was denying the fact despite proofs, Malik disclosed.

Barhamdagh, in his recent interview to a Pakistani TV channel, has sought Indian, American and UNO support for independence of Balochistan. “BLA chief denies provincial autonomy and 1973 constitution. He is pressing for complete freedom,” said Malik, adding, “had our ancestors achieved Pakistan for this purpose….No…None patriotic Pakistani can support such demand.”

Regarding missing persons, Malik informed that figure presented by various sources was inconsistent when the PPP government. “However; 6, 000 men and 140 women were reported missing on occasion of UN representative John Solecki’s abduction,” he said.

Meanwhile, the final figure of people missing from across the country is 831 including 270 from Balochistan. “220 people from missing 270 of Balochitsan, 20 out of 50 in Punjab and 45 out of 55 in Sindh, were traced; respectively,” he said, adding that 36 people were missing in NWFP out of which 23 have been recovered. Malik said that adduction of John Solecki, on the occasion when UN Secretary General was scheduled to arrive, harmed reputation of Pakistan globally.

He said that the abductors of Solecki had links with people in Afghanistan as telephone call from Kabul was traced. He said that the seven number used for calling were traced and the information was shared with President Karazi by Pakistan but he denied it as true. Later, Secretary General UNO appealed Karzai for efforts to release Solecki.

Malik said that Pakistan has repeatedly asked Afghanistan to stop supporting Barhamdagh and asked to hand over him to Islamabad under security for negotiations. “We conveyed through ministry of foreign affairs that we want to talk to Barhamdagh and know his grievances,” he added.

He said that India is enemy of Pakistan and involved in creating unrest in Balochistan. The government and people of Pakistan could not close the eyes from the reality. “None true Pakistani could support the independence of Balochistan and see repetition of incident like fall of Dhaka. Every Pakistani is ready to devote life for the homeland,” he maintained.

He said that killing of three Baloch people took place soon after visit of President Asif Ali Zardari and announcement of development package for the province. “At the time when Baloch people were praising package of President Zardari, the killing of political workers was grave conspiracy against Pakistan,” said Malik.

Condemning the killings, he informed the Upper House that a high-powered committee, headed by IGP Balochistan, was probing into the matter. “Three intelligence agencies are assisting the committee and those involved in the heinous act would be taken to task,” he added.

The advisor said the ministry of interior welcomed the guidelines of parliamentarians and he was ready to give the investigation committee under supervision of Senate; if they had reservations. He said that the killings were a big conspiracy as 14 settlers were killed, four bomb killings and three bomb blasts took place during the law and order situation created in wake of the incident.

He said people of Balochistan are peaceful and they could not carry bombs in their pockets, thus those involved were miscreants.

Malik requested the Baloch parliamentarians for cooperation to redress the problems and vowed that the government was ready for negotiations at all forums. He gave undertaking on behalf of the government for implementation of Senate committees’ and individual members recommendations regarding Balochistan too.

Meanwhile, the advisor disclosed that two of the murdered political workers Ghulam Muhammad and Sher Muhammad were Iranian nationalists. “Ghulam Muhammad was involved in terror activities in Iran and his name was third on the list for extradition of terrorists, sent by Tehran on March 16, 2009,” Malik said. Similarly, Sher Muhammad migrated from Charbihar area of Iran and got Pakistani nationality, he added.

Meanwhile, some Senate members including Raja Zafar-ul-Haq advised for in-camera briefing instead of disclosing confidential information as, they argued, it could create problems for sovereignty of the country. Later, the Chairman gave ruling for in-camera briefing to all members of the Upper House, which is scheduled tomorrow.-APP

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s Interior Ministry Adviser Rahman Malik yesterday announced that the law enforcing agencies of the country have arrested another suspect of Mumbai’s terrorist attacks. Malik said that Shahid Jamil Riaz was arrested in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi. Riaz is alleged to have maintained financial accounts and helped plan the November attack, which killed 179 people in Mumbai.

Malik further said that Pakistan needs more information from India to aid its investigation. India yesterday reiterated that enough evidence had been furnished about the involvement of elements from Pakistan in the Mumbai terror attacks and it was now for Islamabad to act on this.

“We have given enough information to act. It is for them to get their act together,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters in New Delhi. Home Minister P. Chidambaram was more forthcoming, even suggesting “tongue in cheek” that if Pakistan were not in a position to interrogate those India has blamed for the Mumbai, it permit India to do so.

“What is the use of a government that keeps on saying that not enough evidence has been furnished? The remaining evidence is in Pakistan. “If Pakistan cannot interrogate those it should, why doesn’t it permit the FBI, which has made a request, to interrogate them,” Chidambaram maintained.

“If I may suggest tongue in cheek, if Pakistan can’t interrogate the suspects, will they allow us to interrogate them?” the home minister wondered. Also yesterday, Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma accused Islamabad of indulging in “diversionary” tactics that raised questions about its sincerity in punishing those behind the carnage.

“We have given sufficient evidence to Pakistan to act against identified masterminds. By delaying action and raising technicalities, Pakistan would be undermining the credibility of its own commitments to take tangible action,” Sharma told reporters in New Delhi.

QUETTA: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman A Malik on Tuesday said that the government had decided to constitute a high powered investigation committee to probe the killing of three Baloch leaders in Turbat. He was Addressing a conference here at the Governor House with CM Balochistan Nawab Aslam Khan Raisani and provincial Home Minister Mir Zaffarullah Zehri.

The Adviser said Inspector General Police Balochistan Asif Nawaz Warraich would head the committee while Director FIA, representatives of all intelligence agencies, senior officials of the Frontier Corps Balochistan and MPA of the concerned area would be its members. He said the killing of the three leaders was an inhumane and heinous act and the government would utilize all available resources to expose the real motives and reach the culprits.

“The dastardly act was aimed at destabilizing the country and sabotaging the ongoing reconciliation process launched by the PPP government in the province,”

He said that the unrest that followed the killing of the Baloch leaders left more than a dozen innocent people and personnel of law enforcing agencies dead, which benefitted enemies of the country.

He announced Rs. 2.5 million each on behalf of the federal and the provincial government for any information leading to the arrest of the culprits. Assuring full support of the federal government to the people of the province, Rehman Malik appealed to the people to be patient and let the judicial tribunal reach some conclusions. He also appealed to the political parties, members of the civil society and media to join hands with the government and frustrate the designs of those who are active to weaken Pakistan .

To a question, he appreciated Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, Nawabzada Hairbyar Marri and other Baloch tribal heads for their efforts in the release of UNHCR official John Solecki and said that the government was making all out efforts to remove the sense of deprivation in Balochistan and satisfy all stakeholders.

He added that the government traced some 200 Baloch youths whose names had been mentioned in a list provided by BLUF. Most of these persons were abroad, some were in their homes while some of them had crossed border and were in camps in Afghanistan .

To another question, the Adviser admitted that the police force lacked necessary means in order to face the well trained and well equipped terrorists. He said that the government was making efforts to provide sophisticated means and training to the personnel of law enforcing agencies whose role is instrumental in combating terrorism. For this purpose a donor has promised $25 million which would be spent on training and provision of equipment to the law enforcing agencies.

All the provinces, he siad, would be given 20, 000 additional police force in order to enable them to fight terror effectively. To a question, Rehman Malik said that every person involved in human smuggling and the recent container incident would be punished severely.

He said had a plan to visit the province along with his team who would brief the representative of the people of Balochistan in an in?camera session about the great game being played in the region and the involvement of the foreign forces in fueling insurgency in Balochistan. Senior Minister Balochistan Maulana Abdul Wasey, Minister for Communication and Works Zmarak Khan Achakzai, Finance Minister Mir Asim Kurd Gailo, Syed Ihsan Shah and Minister Education Shefiq Ahmed Khan were also present on the occasion.-APP

ISLAMABAD: Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik has called upon the political forces and the participants of the Long March to hold direct dialogue with the government for selecting a venue away from the constitution avenue keeping in view the prevailing situation in the country.

Talking to newsmen in Islamabad on Saturday, he said the government wills expend all facilities to the Long Marchers in case they select a new venue and hoped the organizers will pay heed to their request. He said the constitution avenue houses many important buildings and the government can not allow the long marchers to paralyze the whole government machinery.

Rehman Malik said there is credible information of targeted killing, series of explosions and attacks on important installations during the long march. He said this information has been passed on the law enforcement agencies as well as the PML (N) leadership to abreast them with the actual situation.

The Advisor said the country can not afford long March at this critical juncture and appealed to the participants of the Long March to forsake the Long March plan in the best national interest. He asked them to resolve the matter through dialogue as the long march and sit-in is not a solution to any problem. He said at a time when the enemies of Pakistan are out to destabilize the country, long March will not serve any purpose

The Interior Advisor said the civil society members, traders and many other people of the capital have also written to the Interior Ministry not to allow any procession in Islamabad as they believe this will bring only destruction and not resolve the matter.

Responding to a question, Rehman Malik said sufficient security arrangements have been made for the security of Sharif brothers and said they are satisfied with the arrangements. Responding to another question, he said he has nothing to do with the blockage of the transmission of a private channel.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior, Rehman Malik Thursday warned of threats of terrorist attack during long march and asked political leadership not to expose themselves to these threats. “We have intelligence reports that terrorist and enemies of the country may benefit from this situation and there can be act of terrorism and target killing,” he said in a statement in the Senate.

The Advisor informed that he had written to Punjab government for maximum security for Sharif brothers and read out contents of the letter on the floor of the House.“Given the prevalent security situation in the country and keeping in view intensive public exposure of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, former Chief Minister of Punjab, it has become extremely imperative to ensure fool proof security of the two leaders,” he said quoting the language of the letter.

“Needless to emphasize that political leadership of the country remains under perpetual threat of terrorist attacks which warrants for safe security arrangements to avert any such untoward occurrence,” Malik said.

He further stated all provincial governments are urged to ensure foolproof security for Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Giving details, he said, besides all conceivable security measures, Sharif brothers should be ensured provision of a bullet proof vehicle, box formation escort during their movement ensuring that the dignitaries vehicle is covered by escort vehicles on all the four sides, provision of bullet proof rostrum during address, jammers in working condition must always accompany the two leaders and intensive and elaborate, security arrangements at the place of public meeting, residence and during movement for their safety.

He said since safety and security of the political leadership is provincial responsibility, it is expected that respective provincial governments would leave no stone unturned to ensure safety of the two PML (N) leaders.

He said security agencies have also been directed that any information regarding threat to Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif should promptly be shared with the Provincial government under intimation to the Ministry of Interior.

Recalling the past, Malik mentioned to the reconciliation process that had started from London and culminated on Charter of Democracy and said, it was a great effort for restoration of democracy in the country.

He said a Magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the arrest and raid on the house of Senator Raja Zafarul Haq as it was conducted despite categorical instruction that no members of the Parliament would be arrested or detained.

“I immediately took action after receiving the information about raids on Raja Zafarul Haq and Zafar Ali Shah’s houses,” he informed the House and said, report on these incidents would be presented to the House.

The Advisor said, “we do not want to stop long march but we and lawyers differ on its modalities. A committee of officers was constituted to take up the matter with lawyers about the venue. But, they insisted to protest on Constitution Avenue.”

Malik said, the government has given an undertaking to diplomatic community that Constitution Avenue will not be used for long march and sit-in.

“Country is already facing terrorism challenge. In this situation what message we want to convey to international community and investors by ransacking the capital,” he said.

Malik said he had offered different venues to lawyers like one in G-11 and other near Aabpara, but they refused. “I had also proposed them to select five to ten members from each community and stage sit-in and hand over memorandum.”

He said number of people from business community, civil society and the Chamber have repeatedly asked me to stop them from long marching and staging sit-in in the capital.

He said he had requested to the Speaker the other day to constitute a House committee to sort out modalities with the lawyers for long march and sit-in and I request it to the Chairman also.

“We have told them that protest is their right but we will not allow disturbance and taking law into their hands. Peace is very important for the country and we should not repeat follies of the past,” he added.

He paid tribute to late Benazir Bhutto, President Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani for struggle to restore democracy and said, even after the court decision, President Zardari sent messages for reconciliation through Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Asfandyar Wali but to no avail.

He said all parties are patriotic and he calls upon them to seek a solution to the prevailing situation and promote harmony. He urged to strengthen institutions to defeat terrorism and said, “we need to set good examples. We need to be united and let us go towards consensus than to polarization.”

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Senator Ishaq Dar have exchanged some harsh words in Senate here on Thursday. According to sources, these words were exchanged at a time when Ishaq Dar’s statement was quoted by Malik in the Senate, which annoyed Dar.

Senator Dar explained that he never said that Asif Ali Zardari had sent the people to assassinate Mian Nawaz Sharif. “The interior ministry has not given any favour by writing a letter to Nawaz Sharif as it is their responsibility to protect Sharif brothers,” he said.

On this occasion, Rehman Malik said that people were issuing indecent statements against the President. He said the government would not stop long march, but added nobody would be allowed to disturb law and order situation.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: Condemning the attack on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Secretariat, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has warned President Asif Ali Zardari and Advisor to Prime Minister on interior Rehman Malik if such attack would take place again then his party workers would not remain peaceful any more.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he said that on Monday night at 1:30 am eight people Frontier Constabulary (FC) personals armed with Kalashnikovs and pistols entered into the office and started beating PTI workers including PTI, Islamabad General Secretary Awais Khalid with the kicks and the guns and also broke the office equipments.

Imran said, “The country is being governed by Zardari Law as he appointed his own judges who cannot provide justice to the people and at the end they will have to hold gun for justice”. He asked President Zardari and Rehman Malik not to think that by using such gimmicks the government could stop the lawyers’ long march as it the constitutional right of the people and they would not step back only because of such coward activities

“The act was carried out by the coward people those who want to hide their corruption and want to extend their rule under the umbrella of NRO”, PTI Chairman stated.

He flayed President Zardari on appointment of Islamabad High Court Chief Justice saying he appointed a person as IHC CJ who had close ties with the criminals. To a question, he said that the attackers were FC personals and it was the responsibility of Rehman Malik to carry out investigation regarding the attack. The police had not registered the FIR yet, he said.

To another question, he warned the government that his party workers would not remain peaceful if any such coward act took place again. Speaking on the occasion, Awais Khalid said that his party would reply of the act in the long march by sowing maximum participation of the people.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan yesterday admitted for the first time that last year’s Mumbai attacks were launched from its soil and partly hatched there. Interior Ministry adviser Rehman Malik told a news conference here that most of the suspects, including one described as the main operator, had been arrested. He said six suspects were in custody and two had been identified but were still at large.

But he reiterated that authorities needed more evidence from New Delhi to secure convictions.

India’s Foreign Ministry called Pakistan’s announcement “a positive development” and said it would consider Islamabad’s request for further information.

Malik said investigators had traced a boat engine used by the attackers to sail from Pakistan to India and busted two hide-outs of the suspects near Karachi. Other leads pointed to Europe and the United States, and Malik said Pakistan would ask the FBI for help.

“I want to assure the international community, I want to assure all those who have been victims of terrorism that we mean business,” Malik said, waving a copy of Pakistan’s initial findings at reporters.

Malik said criminal cases had been opened against eight suspects on charges of “abetting, conspiracy and facilitation” of a terrorist act. The six in custody included Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and Zarrar Shah, both Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders named by India as the masterminds of the attack, and a person who sent an e-mail claiming responsibility for the attacks.

Tracing telephone calls and bank transfers had led to the capture of a key figure in the conspiracy, Hammad Amin Sadiq. “He was basically the main operator,” Malik said, adding that his interrogation led to the raid on the two hide-outs.

“They (terrorists) had some kind of training before they went into the ocean,” he said, saying they had sailed from Karachi. “Some of the accused who have been arrested, they have given us the full rundown.”

Malik said the breakthrough in the investigation resulted from tracing the fishing vessel “Al-Fauz” used by the militants, purchases of equipment like life jackets and the engine for the rubber dinghy in which the militants came ashore in Mumbai. Al-Fauz was later renamed “Mashaallah”. One of those arrested, identified as Javed Iqbal, was lured back to Pakistan from the Spanish city of Barcelona, Malik said. Investigators had also discovered that some funds transferred from Italy and Spain were used to finance the attack, and Austrian telephone SIM cards were used. The official spoke of a link, possibly an Internet domain, to Houston in the United States.

Malik said investigators had been unable to confirm the identities of the nine gunmen killed in the attack, though Pakistan has confirmed Mohammad Ajmal Qasab, the gunman caught alive, was a Pakistani.