MIRAMSHAH: The chief of the Pakistani Taliban was killed in a drone strike at his marbled residence near Miramshah, headquarters of the volatile North Waziristan tribal region, on Friday evening, government and security officials said. Although there was no official confirmation and there was no way to independently confirm the death of Hakeemullah Mehsud, head of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella organisation of Pakistani militantgroups, government and security officials citing intelligence reports said the 34-year-old militant leader was among five people killed in the strike at his house in Dandi Darpakhel, near Miramshah. Dawn, The Frontier Post, The Nation.
ISLAMABAD: Taliban confirmed that their chief Hakeemullah Mehsud had been killed in a US drone attack on Friday. `We confirm with great sorrow that our esteemed leader was martyred in a drone attack,` a senior Taliban commander said. His funeral would be held on Saturday in Miramshah, the commander said an event likely to stir tensions further in the already volatile region. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: Khan Saaed alias Sanjna has been appointed new chief of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after the killing of Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone attack today (Friday) in North Waziristan, sources said. Funeral prayers of Hakimullah Mehsud will be offered in North Waziristan at 3:00 pm Saturday, sources said. The Frontier Post, The Express Tribune.
MIRANSHAH (INP): Unknown miscreants attacked a security forces camp with rockets here on Friday but no loss was reported. According to military sources, three rockets fired from unknown location landed at a security forces camp in Miranshah, the tribal headquarter of North Waziristan Agency. However, no damages or causalities were reported as the rockets fell in the vacant space of the camp. The security forces cordoned off the area after the attack and launched search operation for the attackers. The Frontier Post.
PESHAWAR: Each year Pakistan witnesses preventable deaths of 432,000 children under-five and 20,000 mothers due to causes related to pregnancy and child birth. Among the under-five deaths, two-thirds are in the newborn period (first 28 days of life) and the remaining is largely due to pneumonia (13%) and diarrhoea (11%). In FATA, 104 of every 1,000 children die before their fifth birthday1. Of these, the majority die in the first year of life (IMR 87/1000 Live Births) due to preventable diseases like diarrhea and pneumonia2. Diarrhoea and pneumonia are mainly seasonal calamities and preventable. Only 4.8% of women in FATA can identify two danger signs of pneumonia in children3. Most of these precious lives can be saved by simple knowledge about prevention and promotion of some key measures at home and health care seeking practices relating to these diseases. The Frontier Post.
MIRAMSHAH: While the government is preparing a roadmap for peace talks with militants, a faction of Taliban has asked people living near Miramshah to move their families to safe areas by Friday. The Shura Mujahideen North Waziristan, led by Commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, also directed shopkeepers in Miramshah town to shift their expensive goods to other areas. The warning was issued in the wake of recent shelling by security forces of civilian targets in the area. Two civilians were killed and four injured in the shelling. Dawn, The Frontier Post.
KHAR: The local administration on Friday started disbursing the increased compensation amount under the `Shuhada Package` among the relatives of the deceased Levies personnel. A ceremony in this connection was held in the agency headquarters here attended by tribal elders, members of various peace committees, family members of fallen personnel and senior officials, including Bajaur`s assistant political agent Asad Sarwar. Addressing the ceremony, Mr Sarwar said the federal government was committed to providing all facilities to the Levies force in the tribal areas, who had always rendered huge sacrifices for restoration of peace in the area. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: Activists of Jamaat-ud-Dawa on Friday held a protest demonstration here against the drone attacks in Fata, and urged the government to order for shooting the predators. The protesters held banners and placards inscribed with demands for an immediate end to the drone attacks as these violated basic human rights. Dawn.
NOWSHERA: Chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and Difa-iPakistan Council (DPC) chairman Maulana Samiul Haq has said that the government of Nawaz Sharif seems to be paving the way for launching a fresh military operation against Taliban. `The announcement that the government has started negotiations with Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan and then saying that the opposition parties have extended full support to the government is basically like paving the way for military operationagainst Taliban,` claimed JUI-S chief during his Friday sermon in Nowshera. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Engineer Shaukatullah has directed to shift all the functional tube wells in FATA on solar Energy System and said that it will not only help in saving energy resources but also to ensure sustainable supply of potable water to the respective people. This he said while reviewing working of Public Health Engineering and Work and Services departments in FATA at high level meeting held at Governor’s House here on Friday. Beside others, the meeting was also attended by Additional Chief Secretary, FATA Arbab Muhammad Arif. The Frontier Post.
