PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister Information Minister Shah Farman claimed that peace talks between the government and the Taliban were underway, and wished that the talks would succeed. `If peace talks succeed, that will be a defeat to the political elements, who are opposing them,` he told visitors at his office here, says a handout. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: Taliban are now using more toxic chemicals in their explosive devices to inflict lethal injuries on the survivors of their bomb and suicide attacks, according to officials. Quoting the relevant doctors, they said that the people who sustained injuries in Taliban attacks developed complications due to presence of toxins in the explosives. `The survivors of Taliban`s bombs suffer from chronic wounds that leave scars on skin and don`t respond to antibiotics with proven efficacy in other surgical infections,` they told this scribe. The officials said that the explosives used by Taliban left lasting effects on the injured people. `Taliban have now mastered the science of manufacturing bombs that cause more than the intended casualties as they are imparted training regarding use of potassium, nitrogen, sugar, urea and glycerine etc in the bombs,` they said. The officials said that terrorists used phosphorus in explosives that destroyed human cells. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly has been convened for Wednesday on the requisition of the opposition to discuss the killing of law and parliamentary affairs minister Sardar Israrullah Gandapur. Acting Speaker Imtiaz Shahid summoned the session after receiving requisition submitted by the combined opposition on Monday seeking debate on the assassination of Mr Gandapur, according to a statement issued here. The assembly`s additional secretary Kifayatuallah Afridi said that 32 lawmakers of the opposition had signed the requisition. He said lawmakers of Pakistan Muslim League-N, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F, Awami National Party and Pakistan Peoples Party had signed the requisition which was aimed at discussing one point agenda of lawmaker`s murder. Mr Afridi said that MPA Nighat Orakzai of PPP had suggested convening of the session. Mr Gandapur along with seven others was killed in a suicide attack inside his residence in Kulachi, Dera Ismail Khan on October 16. Mr Gandapur joined Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf after winning May 11 elections. This is the second time that assembly session has been convened in less then three weeks. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: Alleged CIA collaborator Dr Shakil Afridi has filed a review petition demanding that a fresh trial be conducted to give him full opportunity to defend himself against the charge that he helped the Americans track down on al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in May 2011.The Express Tribune.
GHALLANI: Politicians and officials from the tribal areas are divided over the governor’s decision to create the posts of judicial assistant political agents (APAs) to streamline the legal system of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). Under this system, Jirgas will continue to listen to and resolve people’s grievances and disputes, but the main authority to hand punishments would rest with the judicial APA. However, a senior official from Fata there was a dire need for proper prosecution of cases and evidence gathering in the region, but the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) is the biggest hindrance to the process as it arrives at a verdict through a jirga.The Express Tribune.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Home and Tribal Affairs Department has finalized the functions of the Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF), which will be responsible for intelligence, operation and investigation of terrorism cases in the province. ATF personnel will not perform ordinary policing duties, but will be the lead force against terrorism, said a senior government official on Monday. He added the force will receive incentives and remain on standby to act within minutes of an emergency. The ATF will have two departments, a Research and Analysis unit and a technical wing.The Express Tribune.
PESHAWAR: In order to avoid jailbreak incidents in future, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has formally decided to establish a separate ‘Prisons Security Force’. “The move comes in pursuance of the decision of the provincial cabinet taken in its meeting held on October 17 last, wherein it was decided to raise a dedicated force “Prisons Security Force” for the security of prisons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said a statement issued by the KPK Home and Tribal Affairs Department.The Nation.
