PESHAWAR: A mix of negotiations and force to tame militants and determination to engage with others is the way forward for building peace and reforming institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to senior government functionaries. `Fata remained a peace area even during the Taliban`s rule (in Afghanistan),` he said, adding `things changed after 9/11. The advice to apply the stick-and-carrot policy against militants came from none other than Khyber Pakhtunkhwa secretary (home and tribal affairs), while the need to engage with others for taking the ongoing peace building initiatives forward was emphasised by the UNDP country director here on Wednesday. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information minister Shah Farman on Wednesday said Nato supplies could not be officially blocked unless the provincial cabinet took a decision in this respect. `Chief Minister Pervez Khattak is in Lahore and the cabinet meeting has not held, so the official proclamation to block Nato supplies could not be issued,` the minister said while replying to a question about the provincial government action as a follow-up to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan`s announcement. Mr Khan reportedly announced on Tuesday that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would officially block the supplies on Wednesday. However, when a group of journal-ists asked about the government`s follow-up action, the information minister said the decision had to formally come from the provincial cabinet. `There is an undisputed thinking about officially blocking the supplies, but proper processes have to be followed when it comes to taking important decisions,` he said. Dawn, The Express Tribune.
NOWSHERA: The internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Jalozai camp staged a demonstration on Wednesday to protest against continued suspension of power supply, provision of low quality food items and forced eviction of IDPs from the camp. The IDPs from Khyber Agency, who were led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf tribal leader Iqbal Afridi, staged the protest on the premises of the camp here. Chanting slogans against the government and camp administration, the IDPs demanded provision of quality eatables, early restoration of electricity and stoppage of forced eviction of affected families presently residing in the Jalozai camp. Dawn.
MANSEHRA: Jamaat-i-Islami, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has warned the federal government to order downing of American drones violating the country`s sovereignty otherwise they would launch a movement for its ouster. `We warn the government to hit drones violating our country`s sovereignty and killing innocent people, including women and children, otherwise we would launch an anti-government movement to dislodge the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz from power,` said provincial JI amir Prof Mohammad Ibrahim while speaking at a party meeting here on Wednesday. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: Activists of Pakistan Tehreek1-Insaf continued their antidrone campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday by restricting the movement of Nato trucks and staff of US Embassy in Kabul. According to a PTI news release issued here, activists of the party staged a sit-in at five points of the four districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to stop Nato supplies bound for Afghanistan. Dawn.
PESHAWAR, Nov 27: A two-member Peshawar High Court bench on Wednesday disposed of nine habeas corpus petitions after learning about the shifting of 10 missing persons concerned to the notified internment centres. According to the report prepared by deputy director (legal) at the ministry Major Mohammad Ali, most of the said detainees were not in the custody of the intelligence agencies. Dawn, The Express Tribune.
PESHAWAR: The Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) is coming up with new packages to boost domestic tourism for promoting soft image of the province. According to a press release, TCKP has launched many new packages since Tourism Secretary Ahmad Hassan and managing director of the corporation Mushtaq Ahmad Khan have taken charge of their respective offices two weeks ago. According to the press release, Tourism Minister Mehmood Khan has also said that TCKP would sponsor and host the fourth annual Karachi-Khyber Vintage Car Rally on November 30, 2013 in Peshawar Services Club. Dawn.
SWABI: An explosive device planted in a graveyard in a congested locality went off here on Wednesday, but no one was injured in the explosion. Bomb disposal squad officials and police reached the spot soon after the explosion and collected evidence.District police officer Sajjad Khan told this correspondent that the bomb was planted in the Kalu Khan graveyard. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: The Tribal Youth Front has accused the government of diverting funds meant for development of Fata to the settled areas and demanded of the donor agencies to ensure utilisation of the funds in the under-developed tribal region. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: Police on Wednesday foiled sabotage attempts by defusing two improvised explosive devices in limits of Sarband police station here.An official of the police rural circle said both the bombs had been planted under a bridge near Achini village to target the law enforcers, but timely information helped defuse the bombs. `We immediately called personnel of Bomb Disposal Unit who defused the explosives. Dawn.
ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Health Services Ms Saira Afzal Tarar on Wednesday admitted that a large number of children could not be vaccinated in the three-day campaign against polio. It is pertinent to mention that there are 34 million children under five of age in Pakistan but 260,000 children in the North and South Waziristan have not been vaccinated against polio since July 2012. Dawn.
ISLAMABAD: Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Tuesday evening accepted responsibility for killing five police personnel in Hyderabad. Two separate incidents of shooting at police vehicles took place in the Hyderabad city, leaving five personnel dead and injuring one.Talking to this correspondent late Tuesday evening from an undisclosed destination, the TTP Spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said, “Our people are everywhere in Pakistan and they strike wherever they find an opportunity.” He claimed more such attacks had been planned to avenge TTP chief’s killing in drone attack on November 1. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: Two people were killed while two officials were injured after security forces exchanged fire during a raid on a house in Ali Khel, Frontier Region (FR) Peshawar. Residents told that security forces raided the house of a man identified as Fazal on Wednesday morning. It is said the homeowners put up a fight and offered tough resistance. Both sides exchanged fire for several hours, following which two residents were killed and two officials were injured. The Express Tribune.
PESHAWAR: Due to a lawyers strike on Wednesday, the FATA tribunal adjourned the hearing of a review petition filed by former Khyber Agency surgeon Dr Shakil Afridi. The tribunal will now pick up the case on December 9. The Express Tribune.
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee for Law and Justice has approved the 23rd constitutional amendment bill with majority vote, while Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) opposed the bill. On Wednesday, meeting of Standing Committee for L&J was held in parliament house, under the supervision of chairman Mehmood Wardagh Bashir, and the committee mulled over 4 bills including the 23rd constitutional amendment. The Committee approved the three other bills with consensus.As per the 23rd amendment, it has been proposed in the bill to extend the quota of provinces in jobs of the federal government for the next 20 years which will benefit small and backward provinces. The Nation.
PESHAWAR : At least six persons were killed when two rival groups clashed over land dispute in North Waziristan Agency on Wednesday. Sources said that the incident occurred in Spin Wam area of North Waziristan Agency when armed persons attacked each other positions with sophisticated weapons. Both groups openly used rockets and heavy machine guns against each other. The clash resulted in killing of six persons and injuring several others.
Later Political Khasaddar intervened and arrested several persons under the FCR. The Nation.
LAKKI MARWAT: Frontier Region Lakki Assistant Political Agent Fahad Wazir has called upon the tribal chiefs to play their effective role in elimination of polio disease. “The active role on your part will help to save thousands of children of the tribal area from lifelong paralyse,” he said while speaking at a jirga held at the district headquarters complex Tajazai the other day. Wazir asked the tribal elders to take care of the health of their children especially those below the age of five years. “The crippling disease can prove fatal for kids if they remained unvaccinated,” he maintained. The Nation.
