SECURITY
Two LJ men held for `sectarian` killings
KARACHl: The Counter-Terrorism Department of police claimed to have arrested two suspected Lashkar-iJhangvi militants who were planning to carry out killings during the month of Muharram. Dawn
Security men hurt in Kurram blast
PARACHINAR: Three security personnel were injured in a landmine explosion in Kurram tribal region. According to political administration officials, security personnel were on a routine patrol in Narray area of central Kurram when a landmine planted along a road by unknown miscreants went off with a bang. As a result, three personnel were injured and their vehicle was damaged. Dawn
Jammers for official vehicles in Bajaur
KHAR: The authorities on Tuesday decided to install jammers in the vehicles of all the senior officials of the political administration and Bajaur Levies in order to protect them from bomb explosions. According to officials the decision was taken at a high-level meeting. He pointed out that such devices had already been installed in some vehicles of the officials, but these failed to jam cell phone signals because of their poor quality. Dawn
Extremist outfits asked to shun violence to participate in polls
PESHAWAR: Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan urged jehadi and extremist organisations to abandon violence before participating in electoral politics. `Entry of these groups in mainstream political process is a positive step. But they should publicly disassociate themselves from their past activities and apologise for it,` replied Asfandyar Wali when asked about the participation of the Milli Muslim League (MML) and other similar groups in the NA-120 Lahore by-polls. Dawn
One Injured In Landmine Blast In South Waziristan
WANA: One person was injured in a landmine blast in Ladha tehsil of South Waziristan Agency. Local people said Habibullah, hailing from Tangrai area, was working in a Barani nullah when he stepped over a landmine. The injured person was taken to Agency Headquarters Hospital. One leg of Habibullah was removed by the doctors due to incurable injuries. It was 71st such incident after return of temporarily displaced persons (TDPs) of Mehsud tribe of South Waziristan in which common people became target of landmines. Radio TNN
POLITICAL
PML-N leaders` row reveals internal split
ISLAMABAD: The prime minister`s endorsement of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif`s contention that Pakistan needs to `put its house in order` has exposed cracks in the ranks of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and provided an opportunity to opposition parties to criticise the government`s foreign and security policies. Dawn
Sharifs boycott court proceedings in NAB references
ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court of Islamabad could not proceed against ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and members of his family on Tuesday in three corruption references filed against them by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the order of the Supreme Court because all of them opted to boycott its proceedings. Dawn
Army chief Gen Bajwa believes in civilian supremacy
ISLAMABAD: Monday’s meeting between Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and members of defence committees of the Senate and National Assembly was really frank and candid with both the sides agreeing on greater interaction to counter the challenges, both internal and external, haunting the nation. Informed sources said that while the army chief referred to the past military interventions with abhorrence and stated that he believes in democracy and civilian supremacy, the parliamentarians appreciated the military’s role in curbing terrorism and admitted that misgivings of institutions against each other will only damage Pakistan. The News
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
President Trump changes tack in meeting with Abbasi
NEW YORK: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met with US President Donald Trump at a reception and had a discussion with him on Afghanistan. He told the Pak-America Business Council about the meeting, explaining to the attendees that the US president expressed a positive attitude about the role of Pakistan in Afghanistan. The Express Tribune, Dawn , Radio TNN
President Ghani Calls For Dialogue With Pakistan To Contain Extremism
NEW YORK: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani addressing the UN General Assembly call for engagement with Pakistan to work together to tackle terrorism and restore peace to the regions. “I call upon Pakistan to engage with us on a comprehensive state to state dialogue on peace, security and regional cooperation leading to prosperity,” he said. The Afghan president said US President Donald Trump’s new Afghan strategy was a clear signal to Taliban guerrillas that they cannot win on the field and must negotiate peace. Radio TNN
