SECURITY
Three Wounded in AJK as India Resumes Shelling from across LoC
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: After a three-day lull, Indian troops resumed shelling from across the Line of Control (LoC), injuring three people in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The casualties were reported from Khanpur and Chattar villages of Khuiratta sector in the southern Kotli district, after shelling from `small and big` arms was started by Indian troops at about 6pm. Dawn
Five FC Men Injured in Kurram Agency Blast
Kurram Agency: At least five security personnel were wounded in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Kurram Agency’s Kharlachi area, near the Pak-Afghan border. The FC convoy was on a routine patrol last night when their vehicles were hit by an IED blast at Kharlachi’s road. Soon after the attack, security forces cordoned off the area and started search operation but no one was arrested. Radio TNN
Security Forces Recover Huge Cache of Arms, Explosives in Khyber
Khyber Agency: Security forces have seized a huge quantity of arms and explosives from Jamrud teshil of Khyber Agency. They carried out a search operation in Ghariza area of Jamrud after receiving information and recovered arms and explosives. Radio TNN, Akhbar-e-Khyber
Levies Man Injured in Jumrud Attack
Khyber Agency: A levies man was critically injured when unidentified gunmen attacked him in Jumrud Tehsil of Khyber Agency. After the incident, security forces conducted a search operation but no one was arrested. Dawn
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
Modern Terminal to be constructed at Torkham to Facilitate Trade
Khyber Agency: Qurban Ali Khan, Collector Customs Khyber Agency, said that a state of the art terminal would be constructed at Torkham at the cost of Rs 12 billion to facilitate trade activities. He further said that the terminal would later be made as part of the mega China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It will help to facilitate and enhance trade activities and control smuggling. Radio TNN, Dawn
North Waziristan IDPs Protest Non-Provision of Food, Monthly Cash
Bannu: The internally displaced persons of North Waziristan Agency held a protest demonstration in Bannu against the Fata Disaster Management Authority for failure to provide food items and monthly financial assistance to displaced families. They said that they were living in miserable conditions as the holy month of Ramazan was around the corner; however, the concerned authorities ignored their plight. They warned to besiege the FDMA office if their problems were not resolved. Radio TNN
Counting of Houses in 14543 Blocks Completed in FATA
The second phase counting of houses in 14543 blocks have been successfully completed in six tribal agencies during the ongoing sixth national population census 2017 which is smoothly underway amid tight security arrangements. The enumerators along with relevant staff have completed housing census process in 3543 blocks in six tribal agencies of FATA. Khyber News
Joint Efforts Urged to Improve Education Facilities in Bajaur
Bajaur Agency: During a conference on, “Importance of Education in Socio-Economic Development of Tribal Areas,” the speakers stressed for improving education facilities with a view of socio-economic development of the Tribal areas. According to them, lack of education was the major cause of backwardness and negative tendencies in FATA. Dawn
Survey of Destroyed Homes have not yet Started
In Kamarkhel, Khyber Agency, survey of destroyed homes in the conflict has not yet started. Tribesmen demanded from the political administration to start survey of their damaged homes; otherwise, they would be compelled to stage sit-in. Akhbar-e-Khyber
CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR
KP, Chinese Firms Signed Project MoUs Valuing $24bn: CM
Nowshera: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak claims that the provincial government has signed MoUs valuing $24 billion of different development projects with the Chinese companies. Talking to media persons, he said Chinese delegations had started coming to the province for signing different MoUs. He said these agreements included construction of a 1,900MW power plant, industrial parks in Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda and Swabi, and a separate CPEC road from Dir to Chitral. Dawn
Chinese Officials Say Educational, Cultural Activities Planned
Peshawar: Chinese authorities have planned several education and cultural projects in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Culture Corridor that is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Speaking to reporters, the managing director of Cultural Communication Centre of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Ms Echo Lee said that they were trying to identify similarities in the cultures of Pakistan and China. The News
FATA being Linked with CPEC: Governor
Engr Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Khyber Pakthunkhwa Governor, said that FATA was being linked to CPEC through link roads that would usher a new era of progress and prosperity in Federally Administered Tribal Areas. He further said that provision of basic amenities in FATA to tribal people was the top most priority of the government and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would help improve the overall economic and industrial prosperity of tribal population. Khyber News, Akhbar-e-Khyber
POLITICAL
Opposition Move for Panama Leaks Probe Defeated
Islamabad: The government used its majority in the National Assembly to defeat an opposition bill seeking investigations against all Pakistanis named in the Panama Papers leaks about offshore wealth. The Panama Papers Inquiries Bill 2016 was first tabled before the Senate in September last year. Piloted by Opposition Leader in the Senate Aitzaz Ahsan and 37 other movers, it was passed in December amid uproar in the mostly disciplined upper house of parliament. Dawn
Rangers’ Chief Told to Arrest MQM-P’s Farooq Sattar & Amir Khan
Karachi: An antiterrorism court directed the director general of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, to arrest and produce in court Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan chief Dr Farooq Sattar and senior leader Amir Khan in two cases pertaining to sedition, anti-state offences and attack on media houses following Aug 22, 2016 incendiary speech of party founder Altaf Hussain.. Dawn
New Rewaj Act for Tribal Areas Comes Under Fire
The government failed to reach consensus regarding the controversial Rewaj Bill 2017 after law makers on both sides of the aisle opposed the move, terming it a ploy to delay reforms in Tribal areas. Law makers questioned the logic behind tabling the Rewaj Act. Abdul Qadir Baluch, Minister for SAFRON, avoided using the term “Merger” and, instead, kept employing the vague term “Mainstreaming” for the Tribal areas. FATA MNAs, Shah Je Gul Afridi and Shahabuddin of the ruling PML-N, also opposed the Rewaj Act. Dawn
Opposition of FATA Reforms Making Constitution Controversial
Zar Noor Afridi, second Ameer of JI (FATA Chapter) said that those who were opposing the reforms package for FATA were making the constitution of Pakistan controversial. He further said that those who were considering FATA a part of Afghanistan under Durand Line were not loyal with Pakistan. Akhbar-e-Khyber
Developmental Projects have been started in FATA
Malik Mustafa, PML-N (FATA), said that various projects of developments had been started not only in Mohmand Agency but in the rest of Tribal region as well. He further said that PML-N was the only government who applied a paradigm of development in the post-conflict FATA. Akhbar-e-Khyber
Problems of Tribesmen will be Solved after FATA Reforms
Ammer Muqam, a senior member of PML-N said that problems faced by the people from Tribal region would be solved after passing the FATA Reforms Bill in the National Assembly. It will bring constitutional, legal, and political changes in FATA after it has been passed in the assembly by the required majority. Akhbar-e-Khyber
The Fate of FATA should be decided according to their Perspective
Ghazi Gulab Jamal, FATA parliamentarian, said that the future fate of FATA should be decided according to the perspectives of the tribesmen. Without taking tribal on board any initiative will not bring the desired results particularly in the post-conflict period. Akhbar-e-Khyber
PTI on Same Page with Ruling Party Regarding FATA Reforms
Doctor Azhar Jadoon, PTI member in NA, said that his party was supporting the ruling party, PML-N on FATA Reforms. He further said that it would mainstream this region with the rest of Pakistan in the post-conflict period. Akhbar-e-Khyber
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Nawaz meets Putin as Xi also joins in
Beijing: A rare meeting was held between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping in the suburb of the capital of China late afternoon upon conclusion of second roundtable conference. This would pave the way for facilitating a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi next month at Astana where Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) would hold its summit. The News
