Pakistan offers reward for information on Taliban spokesman

Ehsanullah Ehsan (center), photo from thenewstribe.com

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik Tuesday offered a reward of 200 million rupees (2.1 million U.S. dollars) for anyone who provides information about the Taliban spokesman, local media reported.

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson, Ehsanullah Ehsan, routinely claims responsibility for attacks, according to the reports.

In his recent statement the TTP spokesman claimed responsibility for assassination plot of renowned anchorperson Hamid Mir. Police in Islamabad Monday found and defused explosives attached to the car of Hamid Mir, who hosts a famous talk show on Geo television.

Announcing the highest reward, the interior minister told reporters in Islamabad that he does not consider Ehsan as the spokesperson of TTP and does not pay heed to his statements.

The minister vowed that he would soon reveal real facts about Ehsan who is working for external elements to destabilise Pakistan.

Ehsan has even threatened the media, Malik said, adding that the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) would soon capture him.

Earlier, the minister had offered a cash reward of 50 million rupees for anyone with information about who was responsible for planting a bomb under the car of Hamid Mir.

Giving a second chance to terrorist organisations, the minister had announced lifting a ban on some proscribed organisations that are no longer involved in terrorist activities.

He had also asked TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud, his deputy Waliur Rehman, Punjabi Taliban chief Maulana Ismatullah Muawiya and pro-Pakistan Taliban leader Mullah Nazir to surrender for the sake of peaceful future for their children.

"I knew where the TTP receives its weapons. I would advise TTP leaders to surrender before our brave security forces catch your people," the interior minister declared.

from XINHUA
2012-11-27 23:28:04

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6 killed, 20 injured as blast hits religious procession in NW Pakistan

Map of Pakistan (Photo credit: Omer Wazir)

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and 20 others injured when a blast hit a religious procession in Pakistan's northwest district of Dera Ismail Khan on Saturday morning, police said.

Qazi Jamil-ur-Rehman, deputy inspector general police of Dera Ismail Khan, a district lying some 300 km southwest of the country 's capital Islamabad, said four people were killed right on spot in the blast and two others later died at hospital.

The killed include two kids, he said, adding that four out of the 20 injured are in critical condition, indicating a possible further rise in the death toll.

The blast took place at about 9:55 a.m. local time when a bomb hidden under a roadside garbage heap in the suburban Thoya Fazil area of the district hit a small group of some 30 Shia Muslims passing by on the way to join a main procession to mark the 9th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar year.

The bomb was detonated by a remote control device, police said.

Bomb disposal squad officers said that the bomb contained an estimated eight to 10 kg of explosives placed inside a high pressure cooker and ball bearings were also used in the bomb.

The blast caused a great panic among the crowd, sending people flee in all directions, local media quoted eyewitnesses as saying.

All the injured have been shifted to the local district headquarters hospital. Some of the seriously wounded have been referred to a hospital in Multan city in central Punjab, with better medical facilities, hospital sources said

Following the blast, the army has been called in to maintain order in the district and a suspect has reportedly been arrested in the nearby area.

Both Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Ashraf condemned the attacked and called for the best possible medical treatment to the injured.

Saturday marks the eve of Ashura, an anniversary marking the death of the prophet's grandson Hussain Ibn-e-Ali who was killed some 1,300 years ago.

Muhrram is considered a very sensitive period in Pakistan. Many attacks on the Shia Muslims by extremist Sunnis have been reported in the country in the past.

Since the first day of Muhrram which fell upon Nov. 16, at least five major attacks on Shia Muslims have been reported in the country, which have killed over 38 people and wounded 121 others, according to Xinhua's tally.

On Wednesday night, a twin bomb attack hit a Shia mosque in the country's southern port city of Karachi, leaving three people dead and 13 injured. Hours late, a suicide bombing hit a Shia religious procession in Rawalpindi, a sister city of Islamabad, killing at least 24 people and wounding 63 others.

To avoid further attacks, the Pakistani government has ordered suspension of mobile services in 49 cities across the country starting from Friday to Sunday.

Militants and attackers often use mobile phones to coordinate their planned attacks, said Pakistani Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik.

from XINHUA
By Misbah Saba Malik
2012-11-24 15:08:38

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Pak Taliban says 'jamming cell phone services will not stop them'

(photo: telecompk.net)

A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban has claimed that suspending mobile phone services in the country will not stop them from carrying out their activities.

According to a private TV channel report, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, said in telephone conversation that the banned group did not carry out bombings using cellular phones as detonators.

"The Taliban cannot be stopped by jamming mobile phone services. We would achieve our targets in any case," Ehsan added.

The militant group's claim came on a day of cellular service suspension in several parts of the country, with the Interior Minister Rehman Malik announcing services would be blocked again Saturday morning for the next two days after a few hours of restoration Friday midnight, the Nation reports.

According to the paper, the move came as Malik recently claimed that 90 per cent of the bombs set off by militants in the country had been detonated using mobile phones.

The paper also said that Ehsan accused Malik of blocking cellular services for "his own personal business interests". (ANI)

from  Afghanistan News.Net
Saturday 24th November, 2012

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Suicide attack near Rawalpindi Imambargah; 12 dead, 36 injured

People run away after a blast in Karachi on Wednesday. – Photo by AP

ISLAMABAD: A suicide attack near an Imambargah on Misrial Road in Rawalpindi on Wednesday has left at least 12 people dead and 36 others injured, DawnNews reported.

Police officials said that a suicide bomber had tried to enter a procession near the Imambargah, where the bomber detonated the explosives after being stopped by security forces.

The injured have been taken to a nearby hospital. However, due to area being heavily populated, rescue workers were reported to be having difficulties.

The bodies of five people killed in the blast have been taken to the DHQ Hospital Rawalpindi.

The Misrial Road area was put on high alert by the authorities during the Muslim holy month of Muharram.

Electricity within the vicinity of the area in which the explosion took place has reportedly gone.
Emergency has been declared at all hospitals of the city. The army along with the police and other security agencies have cordoned off the area.

The attack came hours after two bomb blasts killed at least two people near a gathering of Shias in Karachi and a remote-control blast killed at least five in Quetta. 

The violence erupted a day before Pakistan hosts a summit of developing nations attended by the leaders of Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia and other countries. Some of the presidents have already arrived.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the attacks were designed to create the impression that the government is incapable of providing adequate security for the summit.

“We are trying to build relationships, get investment in Pakistan and these groups are trying to derail the process,” he told Reuters.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has strongly condemned the bombing. In an official statement the prime minister said that the country was united and would never submit to terrorism.

He also said that those injured in the blast be provided with the best medical attention.

President Asif Zardari, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, MQM chief Altaf Hussain and Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad have also strongly condemned the attack.

from DAWN,
5 hours ago

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9 killed, 4 injured in police station attack in NW Pakistan

Image via Wikipedia

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people including two policemen and three suicide bombers were killed on Saturday when militants attacked the office of a senior police officer in northwestern Pakistani city of Dera Ismail Khan, reported local Urdu TV Samaa.

According to the report, the attack that lasted for more than one hour was launched on Saturday afternoon when about ten armed militants stormed the office of Khalid Sohail, District Police Officer of the city.

The attackers who were reportedly wearing police uniforms entered the building from the main entrance. One suicide bomber blasted himself soon after entering the main gate while his nine accomplices including two suicide bombers hurled hand grenades at the people inside the building.

After the explosion, fierce exchange of firing took place between militants and the police. The D.P.O was present inside his office with other police officers when the attack took place. Two of the attackers tried to enter inside his office but the police succeeded in stopping them from targeting senior police officers including D.P.O.

Another suicide bomber detonated his suicide vest during the shootout while the third suicide bomber was shot dead by the police.

There were an estimated 50 people inside the building when the attack happened. Six people including two policemen were killed at the spot.

Army and police stationed in nearby area were called in when the attack was reported.

Three militants were killed and three others were arrested in an injured state by the police while others escaped successfully.

Later, talking to media, Interior Minister Rehman Malik condemned the attack and said that during the last few months security forces remained the main target of militants. Militants are trying to demoralize them by repeated attacks on law enforcement agencies.

Malik also rejected the media reports that the Pakistani government is having peace talks with local Taliban leaders.

Following the attack, security was beefed up in Dera Ismail Khan and provincial capital Peshawar.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.

Saturday's attack is the third of its kind in Dera Ismail Khan. Earlier on Nov. 23 last year, three policemen were killed and four others injured when 14 militants attacked a police station in the same area.

On June 25 last year, ten policemen were killed while 12 others injured when a police station on the outskirts of the city was attacked by a group of Taliban militants.

Read more: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/14/c_131360514.htm

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