10 militants killed, 4 soldiers injured in Kurram clashes

KURRAM AGENCY: At least 10 militants were killed and four soldiers sustained injuries in clashes in Central Kurram Agency on Saturday.

According to sources, security forces attacked the militants in the Masozai area of central Kurram Agency.

Earlier on Friday, an attack launched by security forces on militant hideouts in Kurram Agency left 35 militants dead and 10 others wounded, security officials said.

Security forces claim that they have killed over 120 militants and injured 40 in Orakzai Agency over the past week. They also claim to have regained control of Akhund Kot, Chapar and Dapar Killay areas.

An operation was launched in Orakzai Agency in March last year, while the Kurram operation was launched this summer. However, this past week, security forces have increased their advance in both agencies.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa rally: Imran Khan insists he has no hidden backers

PESHAWAR:

At his rally on Friday, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan reiterated that his party is not supported by “hidden elements.”

“We have no unseen backers, the PTI belongs to the entire country,” Imran said, adding the ‘PTI tsunami’ has reached Peshawar and no one can stop it.

While the party’s spokesperson claimed that a 100,000 people had attended the rally, intelligence sources put the number at 10,000.

However, the young participants at the rally seemed to be unmoved by Imran’s ambitions of a corruption-free Pakistan, as after the rally thousands of young activists attacked sugarcane fields near the venue. This led to scuffles between the farmers and PTI activists, who eventually managed to steal sticks of sugarcane.

“We want a new Pakistan, where old politics, parties and lies will not exist,” Khan said.

He added that his party will hold political meetings in Multan, Ghotki and Karachi.

Imran promised uniform education and financial equity, adding that he will liberate the masses from the clutches of inflation. However, no clear method was given on how this was to be done.

“We will take both wickets of Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif in a single ball,” the cricket hero said to cheering participants.

PPP member joins PTI

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Iftikhar Khan Jhaghra formally joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Friday. He announced his move to resign from the PPP Central Executive Committee and join the PTI at a public rally in his home town Jhaghra, on the outskirts of the provincial capital.

Meanwhile, Saleem Jan Khan, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan’s first cousin, also joined the PTI when Imran Khan visited his residence on Friday.

Saleem Jan said he had made the decision after reading Imran Khan’s book. He added that Wali Khan and Baacha Khan were his elders and he still respects them, but does not agree with the present policies and leadership of the ANP. Saleem Jan also presented details of his assets to Imran Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2011.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa rally: Imran Khan insists he has no hidden backers

PESHAWAR:

At his rally on Friday, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan reiterated that his party is not supported by “hidden elements.”

“We have no unseen backers, the PTI belongs to the entire country,” Imran said, adding the ‘PTI tsunami’ has reached Peshawar and no one can stop it.

While the party’s spokesperson claimed that a 100,000 people had attended the rally, intelligence sources put the number at 10,000.

However, the young participants at the rally seemed to be unmoved by Imran’s ambitions of a corruption-free Pakistan, as after the rally thousands of young activists attacked sugarcane fields near the venue. This led to scuffles between the farmers and PTI activists, who eventually managed to steal sticks of sugarcane.

“We want a new Pakistan, where old politics, parties and lies will not exist,” Khan said.

He added that his party will hold political meetings in Multan, Ghotki and Karachi.

Imran promised uniform education and financial equity, adding that he will liberate the masses from the clutches of inflation. However, no clear method was given on how this was to be done.

“We will take both wickets of Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif in a single ball,” the cricket hero said to cheering participants.

PPP member joins PTI

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Iftikhar Khan Jhaghra formally joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Friday. He announced his move to resign from the PPP Central Executive Committee and join the PTI at a public rally in his home town Jhaghra, on the outskirts of the provincial capital.

Meanwhile, Saleem Jan Khan, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan’s first cousin, also joined the PTI when Imran Khan visited his residence on Friday.

Saleem Jan said he had made the decision after reading Imran Khan’s book. He added that Wali Khan and Baacha Khan were his elders and he still respects them, but does not agree with the present policies and leadership of the ANP. Saleem Jan also presented details of his assets to Imran Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2011.

From people’s representative to envoy: Sherry Rehman gives up NA seat

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan’s ambassador-designate to the US and former information minister Sherry Rehman resigned from the National Assembly on Friday to take charge of her new post.

Rehman was appointed the new ambassador to the US following the resignation of Husain Haqqani in the aftermath of memogate. She served as a legislator for nine years on a reserved seat.

“It is with a heavy heart that I send my resignation as member National Assembly with effect from November 24, 2011,” Rehman wrote in her resignation letter forwarded to Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza. “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the people of Pakistan as their representative, and I
am grateful to God and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, and President Asif Ali Zardari for giving me this opportunity more than once,” read the resignation letter. “I hope to continue serving my beloved country and the Government of Pakistan in my next assignment to the best of my abilities.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2011.