ISLAMABAD: During the first round of direct talks between the government and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Wednesday, the latter flatly refused to release the sons of ex-prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and ex-governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer and demanded the establishment of a free zone for the Taliban and evacuation of the army from Waziristan. The News, Dawn, TheFrontier Post.
ISLAMABAD: Professor Ibrahim Khan, who attended the first round of talks with the TTP, said on Thursday that the two committees could make the next trip to the tribal areas in three to four days. The News, The Frontier Post.
NOWSHERA: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) chief and head of the Taliban negotiation committee, Maulana Samiul Haq, on Thursday said that the Taliban would conditionally release the Islamia College University Vice-Chancellor, Ajmal Khan, and other important personalities. The News, Dawn.
KARACHI: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday said he had received threats from the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) – a banned outfit. In a tweet posted after 9pm on Thursday night, Bilawal also said that he would hold the Punjab government responsible for any attacks, especially if they failed to act against the banned outfit. The News.
PESHAWAR: Three more wild type1 polio cases were reported from the militancy-plagued North Waziristan Agency on Thursday, officials of the provincial Health Department said. Three of the new polio victims were male children. They were identified as Mohammad, son of Ghayasuddin, and is five months old. He is the resident of area Eidak village near Mamakhel area of Mir Ali subdivision. The News.
PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman has said his party wanted success of the process for restoration of peace in the country even though they were not part of the talks between the government and the militants. The News.
PESHAWAR: An election tribunal on Thursday directed the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to verify thumbprints of ballots cast in 12 polling stations of NA-40 constituency, North Waziristan. The News.
PESHAWAR: Despite a degree of optimism and feel-good impression generated by the militant-handpicked committee, insiders believe the first direct face-to-face interaction with militants has hit a stalemate and unless some quick decisions are taken, it will be difficult to prolong the ceasefire. Dawn.
KABUL: President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday expressed solidarity with Afghan people in their pursuit for peace and reaffirmed Pakistan`s support for a stable Afghanistan. Pakistan continued to support and facilitate efforts for an Afghan-led and Afghan owned peace and reconciliation process. Dawn.
LANDI KOTAL: The political agent of Khyber Agency ordered withholding of salaries of all technicians and health workers, who refused to take part in the recently concluded anti-polio vaccination campaign in the tribal agency. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Engineer Shaukatullah on Thursday directed the relevant authorities to check high maternal and infant mortality rate in the Federal Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) by taking concrete steps to improve the health of mothers and children. Dawn.
GHALANAI: Local activists of political parties and social welfare organisations and religious leaders held a jirga here on Thursday to record their protest against the arrest of tribesmen and raids on their houses in Ghalanai. Dawn.
ISLAMABAD: After around one month, the relatives of missing persons held a protest rally in the city but were stopped from proceeding towards Parliament House on Thursday. Dawn.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan said Thursday that Taliban did not want to enforce Shariah in the country at gunpoint but wanted to liberate it from the US war, Local TV reported. The Frontier Post.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan met with the government committee tasked with holding peace talks with the Taliban. Nisar was briefed by the committee over their first direct meeting with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Shura which took place at an undisclosed location in North Waziristan on Wednesday. The Frontier Post.
