SECURITY
Eight Terrorists Killed
Sheikhupura: Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed to have killed at least eight terrorists affiliated with a banned outfit were killed in an encounter in Sheikhupura. A raid was conducted in Sheikhupura’s Narang Mandi area following a tip-off, which led to an exchange of gunfire with terrorists. Consequently, eight terrorists were killed, who were said to be affiliated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. The News
‘SLA Militant’ Arrested
Karachi: The Malir police claimed to have apprehended a suspected militant linked with a banned nationalist organization. The Steel Town police arrested a suspect identified as Fahad Soomro, alias Allah Dino, during a raid in a Gulshani-Hadeed locality. The held suspect was affiliated with the Sindh Liberation Army.
Red Zone on Red Alert Ahead of SC Verdict on Panama Scandal
Islamabad: Police, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary personnel will be deployed in and around the Red Zone for security and to maintain the peace on Thursday, when the Supreme Court is to announce its judgment in the Panama Papers case. Senior police officials met at the Central Police Office to review the arrangements, and it was decided that the Red Zone would be put on `red alert`. Dawn, Daily Mashriq
COAS Signs Death Sentences for 30 Terrorists
Islamabad: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed assigned off on the death sentences for 30 terrorists, including some convicted for the 2014 Taliban attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that killed144 schoolchildren. The militants were tried in military courts set up by authorities after the APS attack. In cases of capital punishment handed down by military courts, in trials conducted behind closed doors, the army chief is required to confirm the sentences. Dawn, Daily Mashriq, The News, Akhbar-e-Khyber
POLITICAL
FATA Problems can be solved by Implementing FATA Reforms Package: Amer Muquam
According to Amer Mukam, provincial chief of PML(N) KPK, problems facing by the conflict inflicted people of FATA will be solved at every level. He further said that the solution of socio-economic and political problems of FATA is possible through the implementation of the recommendations of FATA Reforms. The mainstreaming of FATA with the rest of the country is possible through implementation of these reforms. There is a need to start reconstruction in FATA particularly in the post-conflict period. Akhbar-E-Khyber
All Eyes on Panama Case Verdict Today
Islamabad: Major opposition parties summoned their meetings to tone up their political strategies ahead of the Panama case verdict. The Supreme Court (SC) will announce its verdict at 2:00pm on Thursday (today). Major political parties in opposition have summoned their top leaders to devise a strategy if the court decision. The News, Akhbar-e-Khyber
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Pakistan Reopens Angor Adda Crossing Point on Pak-Afghan Border
Pakistan army has announced reopening of Pak-Afghan border crossing at Angor Ada in South Waziristan Agency. The GOC Wana, Maj General Nauman Zakria announced the opening of Angora Ada crossing, which was closed in February 2017 due to security reasons. Khyber News
Bilateral Ties to Remain Unaffected
Islamabad: The army assured Iran that bilateral ties between Pakistan and Iran would remain unaffected. The assurance was extended to Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa during a meeting at the General Headquarters. Dawn, The Express Tribune
India Summons Pakistani Official over Jadhav Case
New Dehli: India`s external affairs ministry summoned the Pakistani deputy high commissioner on the issue of the death sentence handed down to Kulbhushan Jadhav by a military tribunal in Pakistan and made a fresh demand for consular access to the Indian national. Dawn
‘Pakistan wants Better Ties with India, Afghanistan’
Islamabad: Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said that talks should start between Pakistan and India and there should be better relations between both the countries, saying that Pakistan also wants better relations with Afghanistan. The News
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
717MW Power Plant Inaugurated near Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lashed out at his political rivals for threatening to hold protests against long durations of loadshedding across the country while speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of a 717MW natural gas-fired power plant at Bhikki, some 16km from Sheikhupura. Dawn
