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.

Newsletter: November 26, 2011

Today's Headlines

November 26, 2011

National Reconciliation Ordinance: Case closed, SC dismisses govt's appeal Qaiser Zulfiqar Two years after the Supreme Court's verdict on the National Reconciliation Ordinance, the case has finally concluded. _______________________________________________  National/City 'Mullah Omar is pushing TTP to reconcile with govt' Zia Khan Afghan Taliban supreme commander Mullah Muhammad Omar is pushing Pakistani militants based in the tribal areas to strike a peace deal with the government and has advised the chief of the Haqqani network to mediate between them. Bahrain commission report: Expats subjected to 'physical, psychological torture' Saba Imtiaz Around 8,110 complaints and statements of various human rights abuses were received, and a "systematic practice of physical and psychological mistreatment" was uncovered when the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) began an investigation in July into protests that took place in the Gulf Kingdom earlier this year. NATO helicopters attack checkpost on Pak-Afghan border Iftikhar Firdous An early Saturday morning attack by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) helicopters killed eight security personnel and injured four soldiers on a Pakistani checkpost in Salala, which is located on the Pak-Afghan border of Tehsil Bayzai in Mohmad Agency, sources said. Jumping in: Parliamentary panel to probe memogate Our Correspondents Regardless of whether or not the Supreme Court will take up the petition calling for a judicial probe into the memogate, and when and if the prime minister comes around to forming his 'high-level' committee to look into the matter, the parliamentary panel on national security will be conducting its own investigation. 16 days: 'Gender violence is everyone's problem' Sehrish Wasif Gender-based violence is not and never has been a women's issue. It is a human issue, a fundamental issue of human dignity and human rights. Gas pipeline: Munter against Pak-Iran deal Ali Usman Iran is "an unreliable partner" and Pakistan should not engage in a gas pipeline deal with the country, US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter said on Friday. _______________________________________________ Business Bailout: Govt promises guarantees for fresh Pakistan Steel loans Shahbaz Rana The government has decided to provide guarantees to Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) in its bid to acquire Rs6 billion loans from a consortium of banks required to run the once profitable enterprise that incurred losses of over Rs40 billion from 2008 through 2010. Pak, India agree to provide multiple entry business visas Our Correspondents Accepting the long-standing demand of businesspersons, the Home Ministry of India and Interior Ministry of Pakistan have agreed to give one-year multiple entry visas to prominent businesspersons of the two countries. _______________________________________________ Sports Misbah, Afridi earn Pakistan Twenty20 win AFP A cameo performance from Shahid Afridi and some mature batting from Misbahul Haq saw Pakistan win the only Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka to sweep all the honours in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Down but not out, says Aisam Natasha Raheel The ATP World Tour Finals loss has disappointed Aisamul Haq Qureshi but the Pakistan tennis ace has vowed to bounce back and reminded everyone of the wins he registered throughout the year. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Sharad Kapoor: In Pakistan and loving it Sher Khan "People have this desire to live vicariously through an actor," remarks Sharad Kapoor who has been a stalwart veteran villain of the Indian film industry. "Actors are the most popular people in India because they connect with the masses." Good Balan gone bad Our Correspondents Bollywood actor Vidya Balan's daring bare-act in her upcoming film The Dirty Picture is the talk of the town. The actor, who has previously been recognised for her girl-next-door roles, confesses that in the beginning it was not easy for her to play the ultra-sensuous role, reports IANS. _______________________________________________

Opinion The Haqqani affair and its aftermath Najmuddin A Shaikh Beloved leaders and others Amina Jilani The making of the modern maulvi Ajmal Kamal Greeks in Pakhtunkhwa? Salman Rashid Vertical expansion — at a cost Zahrah Nasir Blogs When grown men fight, Mirza,our nation dies Dr Mohammad Ali Rai Polio is not a US conspiracy Mariam Ishaq The spy that 'danced' me Vaqas Asghar Is Imran Khan peaking too soon? Michael Kugelman Poll Has Misbahul Haq played a satisfactory role as the Pakistan cricket team's captain? No  (23%, 112) Yes (77%, 370) Total respondents: 482 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

The Express Tribune, 5 Expressway Off Korangi Road, Karachi, Sindh 75500, Pakistan You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.

News Beat with Fereeha Idrees Nov 24, 2011

Sindh floods: ‘Mismanagement and irregularities’ cloud relief efforts

KARACHI: A survey has revealed that a majority of flood survivors in the worst affected districts have not received their Pakistan cards worth Rs20,000 apiece.

The ‘Civil Society Flood Situation Report’ shows that the distribution of cards by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has been rather slow. This, coupled with alleged extortion, has led to concern over the National Disaster Management Authority’s work. The Peoples Accountability Commission on Floods (PACF) Pakistan, a network of flood-affected communities, volunteers and humanitarian activists, conducted the survey and the report was released on Thursday.

People have to queue at card distribution centres for six to eight hours which is taking its toll on the people. The women and elderly in particular, are worse off for the long waits and there have been reports of ill people dying while they wait their turn in line.

Meanwhile, new distribution systems have evolved. They are operated by agents that require people to pay bribes of Rs500 to Rs1,500 for each card. More often than not, NADRA officials ask the flood survivors to contact these agents for the cards.

The NDMA’s mess

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also came under criticism in the report. The PACF claims that the authority violated international humanitarian laws with their decision that humanitarian aid would not be required when the floods first began. They banned cash support by humanitarian agencies and are now being blamed for increasing food insecurity among the flood-affected communities.

The report says that flood-affected communities are still suffering the setback this decision caused. International humanitarian organisations are not yet up to speed with their efforts while many of them have decided not to help at all after the NDMA first rebuked them.

The report slammed the NDMA’s ‘anti-people policy’ decision. “NDMA has issued a policy decision banning the distribution of cash grants amount among flood affected communities by national and international organisations,” it claimed. This move deprived the poorest of poor, the sick, widows, and households headed by women from basic funds and quick support that they could have spent on food and medicine, the report added.

Inadequate support

The report expresses dissatisfaction when it comes to the sanitation, food and shelter being provided. It estimates that tents and shelter have only been provided about 35 per cent of the flood-affected households.

Clean drinking water is another missing necessity in many areas. The report claims that there has been a 10 per cent decrease in the number of people receiving water from protected sources in some districts.