ISLAMABAD: Approving the constitution of the National Intelligence Directorate (NID) and highly trained and properly equipped rapid response forces at the federal and provincial levels, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif asked the Taliban to deal with the militant groups opposing the federal government’s peace dialogue with them. The News, The Express Tribune, Dawn, Daily Mashriq.
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the political and military leadership was on the same page on the issue of national security. The News.
ISLAMABAD: A general amnesty, release of Taliban prisoners, withdrawal of the army and its replacement by the Frontier Corps and other law-enforcing agencies and rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected tribal areas are being discussed in official circles as the possible final demands of the TTP to shun militancy. The News, The Express Tribune, Daily Mahriq.
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief, Altaf Hussain, has said that the army should rebel against the rulers if they take a decision to undermine the national security. The News.
ISLAMABAD: Head of the Taliban dialogue committee Maulana Samiul Haq has said the army is with us for the success of talks and the Taliban have not yet put up their demands.
PESHAWAR: The World Bank is likely to suspend or terminate its $16 million healthcare project, Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF), in the militancy-plagued Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province due to differences among the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders over nomination of non-governmental organizations for execution of the huge funds in six crisis-affected districts. The News.
PESHAWAR: The 11 villagers, who were kidnapped from Mashokhel village four days back, were released by the captors, police officials said. Armed men, coming in two vehicles, had kidnapped them on March 15. The News, Daily Mashriq.
MINGORA: A woman and her two children were killed and four other persons sustained injuries when the roof of a house collapsed in the Kabal tehsil of Swat district due to heavy rain, police officials said The News, Dawn.
PESHAWAR: A man was killed by unidentified armed men in the jurisdiction of Tehkal Police Station. The Frontier Post.
PESHAWAR: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Engineer Shaukatullah approved launching of GSM mobile service in Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA). The Frontier Post.
PESHAWAR (APP): The allocation of massive Rs.18.5 billion development outlay carrying 1.92 billion foreign components with major thrust on promotion of education, health and communication sectors for the current fiscal 2013-14 in FATA was all set to bring the tribal people into mainstream of national development. The Frontier Post.
KOHAT / PESHAWAR / NORTH WAZIRISTAN: A mortar shell exploded in Shawal tehsil of the area in North Waziristan early, killing six people including women and children.
In a separate incident, a blast in Kurram Agency outside the house of a political clerk left three people injured. Among the injured was the political clerk himself, a woman and a child.
In another incident, a blast took place on Sarki Road in Peshawar, injuring two people. The Express Tribune.
MANSEHRA: A jirga pledged its support to the government in its efforts to curb movement of miscreants crossing over into the Hazara division from Malakand, using Torghar district. Dawn.
ABBOTTABAD: ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain opposed the Tehreek-i-Taliban`s call for the creation of a peace zone for dialogue with the government and said his party would never allow anyone to play with the solidarity of the Pakhtun soil. Dawn.
KHAR: Local tribesmen have urged MNA Shahabuddin Khan to play his role in overcoming shortage of doctors and other basic facilities at the health centres across Bajaur Agency. Dawn.
