Special Emphasis on Terrorism (Nov – 2013)

Terrorist Activities in Pakistan

Suicide Bombings
At least 15 militants were killed and several others were injured when a suicide bomber ran a vehicle full of explosives into the headquarters of Mullah Nabi Hanfi group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in the Spin Tall area of Hangu District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on October 2. The headquarters building collapsed due to the explosion and the compound was badly destroyed. Mullah Nabi Hanfi was a ‘commander’ of the Hangu chapter of the TTP before switching sides and joining the Government’s counter-insurgency efforts. Nabi had said earlier that his group was on TTP’s hit list since the latter wanted to seize control of Hangu, Kohat, Orakzai and parts of the Kurram Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

A suicide bomber on October 2 killed eight people and wounded 16 others at the Chaman border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Qilla Abdullah District, reports Dawn. “It was a suicide bombing. We have found the severed head on the blast site,” local border force commander Colonel Haider Ali said. The senior security official said at least one Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary soldier was among the dead.

A suicide bomber on October 11 drove a car filled with explosives into a military convoy, killing at least two soldiers in the Wana town of South Waziristan Agency, reports Daily Times. The bomber crashed his white Toyota Corolla into a vehicle travelling in a military convoy in Wana.

At least 10 people, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law Minister Israrullah Gandapur, were killed and over 30 others were injured when a suicide bomber struck a festive gathering at the residence of Gandapur in the Kolachi area of Dera Ismail Khan District on October 16, reported The News. Israrullah Gandapur was elected from PK-67 (DI Khan IV) as an independent candidate during the 2013 General Elections and later joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Bomb Blasts
At least 19 persons were killed and 42 others injured when a bomb exploded on a bus carrying Government employees at Gulbela area on Charsadda Road of Peshawar (Peshawar District), the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on September 27, reports Dawn. Peshawar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) (operations) Najeeb-ur-Rehman said the bomb planted in the rear portion of the bus went off when it reached Gulbela area. The blast damaged a number of nearby shops and doors and windows of several buildings. Some people working in nearby fields were hit by shrapnel. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nasir Durrani said that the bus was taking employees of civil secretariat to their villages in Charsadda District. Bomb Disposal Unit Chief Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Shafqat Malik said high quality explosives weighing 12 to 15 kilograms had been packed in a bag.

A car bomb blast killed at least 42 persons and injured 100 others on September 29 in Qissa Khawani Bazaar of Peshawar, reports Daily Times. The blast caused major destruction, toppling a two-storey building and gutting several shops. Thick grey clouds engulfed the entire area after several shops caught fire. At least 50 shops were either damaged or completely destroyed. “It looks like the market was the target,” said Bomb Disposal Squad chief Shafqat Malik. A splinter group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the bombing, saying the attack was in response to US drone strikes in tribal areas however, TTP ‘spokesman’ Shahidullah Shahid condemned the attack.

Three persons were injured in two separate blasts in Kurram Agency on October 5, reports The News. The sources said one blast took place in Boshera Killay area where unidentified militants had placed explosives outside the house of one Rehman Ali, whose son Hidayat Ali suffered wounds in the blast. Another blast occurred in Boshera Jauzak village, where too explosives had been planted next to the wall of a house. Two persons identified as Suleman and Zaman sustained injuries in the explosion.

At least seven persons including four Policemen were killed and eight others injured as a bomb ripped through a function called to distribute anti polio material among the anti polio teams in Suleman Khel area of Union Council Bazidkhel of Badhaber area of Peshawar (Peshawar District), the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the morning of October 7, reports The News. The blast occurred at the function of the District Health Department ahead of starting the oral vaccination in the area.

At least seven people, including children, were killed and 35 others were injured in a blast in Liaquat Bazaar area of Quetta on October 10, reports The News.

At least one person was killed and injured 14 others were injured in a bomb explosion outside a restaurant in the Old Anarkali area of Lahore District on October 10, reported The News. Police said the time device with one kilogram of explosives was planted at the counter of the restaurant and an investigation had been initiated. The son of the restaurant’s owner was killed in the blast. The owner of the restaurant said that they had never received any threats.

Three khasadar officials of Khyber Agency sustained injuries when a roadside bomb targeted their vehicle on Ring Road near Achini under Pishtakhara Police Station in Peshawar in the evening of October 10. Pishtakhara Police said around 18 khasadar officials were in the vehicle en route from Akakhel of Khyber Agency where they were providing security to polio vaccinators. Police added the explosion damaged the vehicle and injured three personnel identified as Subedar Sher Hassan, Sepoy Afsar Mir and Sepoy Khan Aslam.

Targeted Killings
The dead bodies of two alleged Lyari gangsters were found from Northern Bypass within the remits of Mochko Police Station in Baldia Town of Karachi on September 26, reports Daily Times. The bodies are suspected to be that of Ghaffar Zikri, the successor of Arshad Pappu gang, who had been underground since 2009 and reportedly hiding in Balochistan, and his old companion Raja Pathan. Superintendent of Police (SP) Irfan Baloch did not confirm the news and called the reports false, stating that the Police are yet to find the bodies of both gangsters, Zikri and Pathan. On the other hand, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Javaid Udho gave a contradictory statement. DIG Udho said, “We have information about the bodies, but Police have yet to find the bodies of both gangsters.” Zikri carries head money worth PKR 0.3 million. The previous gang chief Arshad Pappu had also been killed mysteriously on March 17, 2013 in Lyari Town.

Separately, a senior advocate affiliated with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), identified as Naimat Ali Randhava, was killed and his son, Tauqir Ali, was wounded near Matric Board Office at Nazimabad No 7 within the remits of Nazimabad Police Station in North Nazimabad Town on September 26, reports The News. Randhava was recently engaged in the famous Wali Khan Babar case as a private lawyer. He was a public prosecutor in Justice Nizam case and Musharraf attack case.

In another incident, a Shia man, identified as Haider Raza, was shot dead within the jurisdiction of Mominabad Police Station in the Metroville area of Orangi Town on September 26, reports Daily Times.

Elsewhere, a Professor of Islamia College, identified as Ghulam Nabi Wassan, was shot at and injured when unidentified armed assailants opened fire at him near Jamshed Quarters in Jamshed Town on September 26, reports Dawn.

An Assistant Director of Karachi Development Authority (KDA), identified as Abdul Jabbar Mangi was shot dead and his driver, Naeem Fazal (30), was wounded when unidentified militants on motorcycles resorted to indiscriminate firing at his vehicle in Korangi area within the jurisdiction of Zaman Town Police Station in Korangi Town on September 27, reported Daily Times.

Abdul Haq, and close ally of Sheraz Comrade, was killed during a Police encounter at Baghdadi area of Lyari Town on September 27, reports Daily Times. Station House Officer (SHO) Baghdadi Munir Chandio said that Haq was wanted in a number of criminal cases, including target killings, kidnappings, extortion and Police encounters. Following the encounter, Lyari gangsters attacked Baghdadi Police Station with fire-rockets, hand grenades and RPGs. The police responded to the attack by firing back, but no casualties.

In another incident, a local leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, identified as Hakim Khan Mehsud, was killed and four others were wounded during an armed clashed between two rival groups in Gulshan-e-Buner area of Landhi Town on September 27, reported Daily Times. Hakim khan was affiliated with Baitullah Mehsud group. Later, the law enforcers raided Gulshan-e-Buner and arrested about a dozen suspects and recovered arms, pressure cooker bomb and a motorcycle from their possession.

Four security personnel were killed in separate incidents of violence in Karachi (Karachi District) on September 28, reports Daily Times.

Two Police commandos of the Rapid Response Force (RRF) of Sindh Police were killed while another wounded in an attack in Korangi locality. The incident took place when four armed riders hurled a cracker at a Police mobile of the RRF, positioned near Bilal Chowrangi in Korangi for snap checking. They resorted to indiscriminate firing and later escaped. Resultantly, three RRF personnel got injured and were rushed to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC). Two of them succumbed to their injuries, whereas one was admitted. The deceased RRF personnel were identified as Bashir and Jumma Khan, and the injured as Alamdar.

Another RRF man was killed in Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) area. Shahzad (35) was on duty at the Baba-e-Khyber Market in SITE area, when unidentified men targeted him. He died on the spot.

Similarly, another Policeman was gunned down in SITE area. Rajab Ali (45) was on duty in Metroville area when two armed men on a motorcycle opened fire. He was shot multiple times and breathed his last at the very moment.

Three people, including a man, identified as Abdul Shakoor (55), and his two sons Zahir Shakoor and Abid Shakoor were shot dead at Jhat Pat Market in the Lyari Town of Karachi District, the provincial capital of Sindh, on September 30. At least six armed assailants were involved in the attack.

Separately, two people, including a Shia property deader, identified as Hassan Ali, and his driver Majeed Rehman, were shot dead in a sectarian attack near Power House Chowrangi in New Karachi Town on September 30.

In another incident, a factory worker, identified as Saleem Rahat, was shot dead near the University of Karachi in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town of Gulshan Town on September 30.

Elsewhere, three unidentified dead bodies were found from inside a car in Gulistan-e-Jauhar area of Gulshan Town on September 30. Police said that the victims were abducted, severely tortured and then killed.

Unidentified armed assailants shot dead a Policeman, identified as Mohammad Rashid, in Metroville area of SITE Town in Karachi District, the provincial capital of Sindh, on October 3, reports Daily Times.

Separately, an unidentified dead body was found in a briefcase near Railway Line within the remits of Model Colony Police Station in Malir Town on October 3, reported Daily Times. As per initial investigations, the victim was brutally tortured and before being killed.

At least two gangsters, identified as Shahzad and Shakir, belonging to the Waseeullah alias Lakhoo group, were shot dead during a Police encounter in Kalri area of Lyari Town in Karachi on October 6, reported The News. Kalri Station House Officer (SHO) Mir Mohammed Lashari said that the Police was informed about the presence of notorious criminals of Lyari gang war in the Daryabad area. Personnel from the City Division Police were called in and as the law enforcers were cordoning the entry and exit points, the gangsters opened fire at them. After a brief encounter, the Police arrested two injured gangsters but their accomplices fled under the cover of gunfire. Later, both of them succumbed to their injuries.

Separately, Police shot dead an alleged target killer, identified as Adnan, in an encounter near Zia Morr in SITE Town on October 6, reports The News. According to SITE Superintendent of Police (SP), the Police had been informed about the presence of a notorious group of criminals in the Zia Morr area, but when the law enforcers launched a raid, the suspects opened fire at them. Police said that he was a member of a drug-peddling group and was wanted in a number of cases of target killings.

In another incident, an activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, identified as Adeel Murad (22), was shot dead near Sheesha Gali in Malir Town on October 6, reported The News.

One Anti Terrorist Force (ATF) operative and two abductors were killed during a raid for the recovery of an abducted heart specialist Doctor Munaf Tareen in Qilla Abdullah District on October 5. “Three kidnappers have been arrested. However, Dr. Tareen couldn’t be recovered yet,” Police sources said. According to Police, the ATF and other law enforcement agencies conducted a raid on a house at Kili Karez area of Gulistan for the recovery of abducted heart specialist Dr. Tareen, when unidentified armed abductors opened fire on them. As the forces returned fire, two kidnappers Sabir Khan and Waris Khan were killed on the spot while three of their accomplices Afzal, Azam Khan and Mashkey Khan were arrested. One ATF man Salahuddin also lost his life in the shootout while another Muhammad Ramzan suffered injuries.

Separately, a local leader of the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), identified as Daad Ali Bugti, was seriously wounded during a firing by incident by unidentified armed assailants on the National Highway near Khuzdar District on October 6, reported Dawn. He later succumbed to his injuries.

The medico-legal officer (MLO) of the Qatar Hospital, identified as Dr Irfanuddin Qureshi (54), was shot dead by unidentified armed assailants while he was seeing patients at his private clinic, Nizam Medical Centre near Kali Pahari area of Orangi Town in Karachi on October 7, reports The News. Orangi Town Station House Officer (SHO) Ghulam Nabi Afridi said, “We don’t know the motive yet but we are investigating to ascertain the cause behind his killing.” Doctor Qureshi was a member of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Separately, a cleric of Misbahul Uloom seminary, identified as Maulana Ghulam Nabi was shot dead while his colleague Maulana Abdul Wudood was injured when unidentified armed assailants opened fire at them in Orangi Town on October 7, reported The News.

In another incident, a Police informer, identified as Islam (52), was shot dead near Peela School at North Karachi in North Nazimabad Town on October 7, reports The News. Police said the victim had been receiving threats from a group, which had claimed that he was informing law enforcers about them.

Three unidentified dead bodies were found near Rangers Headquarters on Super Highway within the limits of Gadap City Police Station in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town of Karachi on October 8, reports Daily Times. Separately, an alleged extortionist, identified as Himesh Khan, was killed and two others, identified as Badshah Khan and Jafar, were wounded in a firing incident near New Sabzi Mandi on Super Highway within the limits of Sohrab Goth Police Station in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town on October 8, reported Daily Times. Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammad Shoaib said that all three of them belonged to an extortionist group and they had a dispute with the rival group over collection of extortion from New Sabzi Mandi. He added that their rival group members were behind the killing.

Elsewhere, a man was killed in a sectarian target killing at Ath Chowk in Lyari Town on October 8, reports Dawn. According to Police, the killing was of a sectarian nature.

At least eight persons, including four Policemen were injured when unidentified militants hurled a hand grenade at New Sariab Police Station in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan on October 8, reported The News.

Separately, unidentified armed assailants abducted two people, including a high school teacher Mehboob Ali and his colleague from Yakmach area of Chagai District on October 8, reports Daily Times.

Two activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), identified as Kamran Raja and Saeed Bangash, were killed and another, Ayub Mumta, was injured in a gun attack on a party’s unit office in Korangi Town of Karachi on October 9, reports The News. Police said the MQM activists were members of party’s Hazara Organising Committee.

Separately, two Police officials were killed in a drive-by shooting by unidentified armed assailants near Habib Masjid in Anda Morr of North Karachi locality in North Nazimabad Town on October 9, reported The Express Tribune. Station House Officer (SHO) of the Sir Syed Police Station, Syed Irfan Haider and Station Investigation Officer (SIO) of the New Karachi Police Station and Sub-Inspector (SI) Shahbaz Ali were targeted in North Karachi locality. According to details, Haider belonged to the Shia community

In another incident, a watchman at a government school, identified as Nisar Ahmed (43), was shot dead on Mewa Shah Road near new Kumhar Wara in Lyari Town on October 9, reports The News.

In a separate incident, a factory worker, identified as Janan Khan (22), was shot dead near Hospital Chowrangi in Gulshan-e-Buner area of Quaidabad area in Baldia Town on October 9, reported The News.

Elsewhere, three unidentified dead bodies of blindfolded men were found on a river bed near Haji Abdul Karim Goth area in Gadap Town on October 9, reports The News. Gadap City SHO Imtiaz Niazi said, “The victims appear to be Katchis or Urdu-speakers.”

Jama’at-e-Ulema Islam (JUI) leader, identified as Maulvi Fateh Muhammad, was shot dead when unidentified armed assailants opened indiscriminate fire in Sanjavi area of Ziarat District on October 9, reported Daily Times. In another incident, unidentified armed assailants barged into a house and shot dead a man, identified as Muhammad Hayat in Kohlu District on October 9, reports Daily Times. The assailants escaped from the scene after the killing him. Separately, three people, identified as Nazeer Ahmed, and his two companions, were wounded when militants opened fire on a vehicle on National Highway in Khuzdar District on October 9, reported Daily Times.

Elsewhere, Baloch militants on October 9 attacked Security Forces (SFs) and Government officials engaged in relief operation in earthquake-stricken areas of Awaran and Kech Districts, reports Dawn. Official sources said that Army and Levies personnel were attacked by militants in Mashkay area of Awaran District. The militants intercepted the vehicle in Jhaljaho area of Mashkay area, beat up Levies personnel after snatching their weapons and then escaped.

In another attack in Mashkay, militants fired rockets and bullets on army personnel distributing relief goods among earthquake-hit people. Balochistan Assembly Deputy Speaker Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo said that militants fired two rockets at an Army relief camp in Mashkay, but one of the rockets exploded in a house. As a result of the rocket explosion, one man was killed and two others were seriously injured.

A former councilor of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was shot dead in Banaras area of Orangi Town in Karachi on October 11, reports Daily Times. Police said that deceased Waqar Ahmed Siddiqui (52), son of Mukhtar, was on the way on his motorcycle when unidentified armed riders intercepted and killed him on the spot. Station House Officer (SHO) Ghulam Nabi Afridi said that the deceased lived in Mujahid Colony area of Orangi Town and was the former councilor of UC-12. SHO Afridi said that the victim was associated with the MQM’s unit 130 in Orangi Town.

Unidentified assailants shot dead a local journalist Ayub Khan Khattak in his native Warana village in Takht-e-Nasrati tehsil (revenue unit) of Karak District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11, reports The News. Police sources said unidentified assailants opened fire on Ayub Khattak and he died on the spot. The slain journalist was working for various Urdu papers and a news agency.

A trader belonging to the Bohra community, identified as Uzeefa (30), was shot dead and his nephew, Muhammad Dani (12), was injured in a sectarian attack at a shop in the Chaba Gali area of Jodia Bazaar in Saddar Town of Karachi District, the provincial capital of Sindh, on October 13, reports The News.

Separately, an unidentified woman was killed and three people were injured in an explosion near Zain Medical Centre in the Muzaffarabad Colony of Landhi Town on October 13. Police officials said that the explosion was a caused by a cracker blast and was a result of an extortion case. People at the medical centre said they were receiving threats from extortionists. In another incident, a man, identified as Ali Muhammad (48), was shot dead when unidentified armed assailants opened fire on him in the Soomar Goth area within the remit of Steel Town Police Station in Bin Qasim Town on October 12, reports The News. In a separate incident, one Hanif (30), was shot at and injured by unidentified armed assailants within the remit of Site B Police Station in Baldia Town on October 12, reports The News.

Unidentified armed assailants shot dead a Station House Officer (SHO), identified as Nisar Ahmed Mengal, while he was on his way to the Police Station in Khuzdar District on October 14, reported Dawn. Police said SHO was on way to the Police Station when armed motorcyclists opened fire at him on the District’s Hospital Road.

A local leader of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), the front organisation of Sipah-e-Sheba Pakistan was shot dead in Gulberg area of Karachi on October 15, reports Daily Times. Police said that deceased, Abdul Hameed (42), son of Fajruddin was sitting at his milk shop in Gulberg Block-5, where armed riders shot him dead.

Separately, an unidentified dead body of a young man was found near Crown Cinema within the jurisdiction of Kalri Police Station on October 15, reports Daily Times. As per the Police, the torture-marked body was in a gunny bag. Initial inquiry also revealed that the man was shot.

Drone Strikes
A US drone strike killed at least six suspected militants in the Dargamandi area, seven kilometers north of Miranshah, the headquarters of the North Waziristan Agency (NWA), in Federally Administered Tribal Areas on September 29. “Four US drones had been circling a militant compound around 11am,” a security official said. “One of them launched two missiles at the target, killing six militants and injuring three others,” he added. According to the official, the suspected militants belonged to the Qari Abbas faction of the Punjab chapter of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Meanwhile, US drones fired missiles at a residential compound in Char Khel area of Boya in NWA near Afghan border on September 30 killing at least three suspected militants and injuring another one. Sources said that four drones were still hovering over the area. Identities of the deceased were not known

Miscellaneous
Security Forces killed five militants in a retaliatory fire after the militants attacked their camp with rockets in the Janni Khel area of Bannu District on September 25, reports Daily Times. One trooper was injured in the incident.

The Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Major General Mohammad Saeed Aleem escaped a rocket attack targeting the helicopter that was carrying him in Mashkay tehsil (revenue unit) Awaran District on September 26, reports Dawn. A security official, on condition of anonymity, said that militants fired two rockets at the helicopter of NDMA Chairman in the earthquake affected Awaran District. “The NDMA chairman is safe”, the official added. No outfit claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Security Forces (SFs) blame Baloch guerrilla ‘commander’ Doctor Allah Nazar Baloch for carrying out the attacks. Balochistan Chief Minister Doctor Malik Baloch made an appeal to Allah Nazar to cooperate with aid agencies to support earthquake survivors.

Elsewhere in the District, Intelligence officials said that unidentified militants attacked a convoy of paramilitary troops on September 26, reported Dawn. The official, on condition of anonymity said that that armed assailants opened fire at a convoy of Frontier Corps (FC) near Awaran town of the District. He said the FC personnel were engaged in relief work when attacked by militants. “The attack was followed by an exchange of fire,” the official said. The militants sped away in their vehicles. No outfit claimed responsibility for the attack.

Two Lyari gang war criminals, identified as Owais Tipu and Amin, were arrested at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on September 25, reported The News. Sources in Intelligence Agencies said that they were allegedly involved in the armed gang-wars in Lyari Town of Karachi District in Sindh. “We received word from reliable informers that some gangsters, who fled the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi, have travelled to Lahore and from here they will try to leave for the overseas”, said the sources. They added that following this tip-off the surveillance at the Lahore airport was put on high alert.

The Swat chapter of TTP on September 29 claimed responsibility for the killing on September 15 of Major General, Sanaullah Khan, Lieutenant colonel, Tauseef, and an Army soldier, reports Dawn. The two officers and the soldier lost their lives when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Upper Dir. The claim was made in a 20-minute video, which is exclusively available with Dawn. It purports to show a military jeep driving up a mountainous track while a TTP cameraman tracks the shot. Suspected militants can be heard in the background praying for “success”.

The video also shows an interview with Mullah Fazlullah, the reclusive leader of the TTP’s Swat chapter, in which he says that he would abide by the orders of his outfit’s supremo, Hakimullah Mehsud, and those of the Shura, over negotiations with the Government. “The government of Pakistan is a slave and not sovereign. It has not fulfilled a single agreement in the past and has instead accused us of violating the agreements. As far as the present talk of negotiations is concerned, we will abide by whatever is decided by our respected Amir (Chief), Hakimullah Mehsud, and the Shura (council),” he said in the interview. Mullah Fazlullah claimed that the TTP was getting support not just from some members of the general public but also from “powerful members of the state”.

Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP) Crime Investigation Department (CID), Tufail Baloch while talking to media in Islamabad on September 29 said that the Police arrested three suspects belonging to a banned outfit who were allegedly involved in target killing and extortion in Karachi from a nearby village in Garhi Afghanan within the jurisdiction of Saddar Police Station at Wah Cantt in Islamabad, reports Daily Times. The Police, on a tip off, raided and arrested the most wanted proclaimed offenders. The arrested criminals were also wanted by the Karachi Police in several cases. The police have recovered eight mobile SIMs, three fake national identity cards, three fake passports, walkie talkie sets, automatic pistols with bullets, and millions of rupees from their possession.

At least four militants were killed in an encounter with Police on Hub River Road in Baldia Town of Karachi while huge cache of firearms and explosives were also recovered from their possession, on October 2, reports The News.

Frontier Corps (FC) and Police arrested 10 militants from different areas of the Quetta on October 1, reports Daily Times.

Two people, including a local leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) Mashwar Bangash and his companion, identified as Waheed Khan, were shot dead at Cantt Bazaar area in Shah Faisal Town of Karachi, the provincial capital o Sindh, on October 2, reports Daily Times.

Separately, a Police constable, identified as Ghulam Abbas (43), was shot dead in SITE Town on October 2, reports Daily Times. According to official details, Abbas was posted to SITE B Section Police Station, and left for some work when two armed unidentified armed assailants opened fire at him.

In another incident, a cadre of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi, identified as Adil (30), was shot dead inside his house in Lines Area, within the precincts of Brigade Police Station in Jamshed Town on October 2, reported Daily Times.

Elsewhere, an unidentified dead body of a man was found dead from Mewa Shah Graveyard in SITE Town on October 2, reported Daily Times. According to Police, the victim was killed after kidnapping and torture.

In separate incident, two alleged Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants were killed during a targeted raid carried out on a hideout of one of TTP’s splinter groups with the Rangers and the Police in Manghopir area of Gadap Town on October 2, reports The Express Tribune. Weapons including sub-machine guns, pistols and grenades were seized from them. According to the Rangers spokesman, the two terrorists were part of a group who had arrived in the city to carry out attacks against government and military installations.

In addition, four Policemen were injured during a raid by the Police at the hideout of TTP militants in Maymar Complex area of Sohrab Goth in Gadap Town on October 2, reports Daily Times. However, the terrorists managed to escape. Following the attack, an extra contingent of law enforcers including the Rapid Response Force reached the site and conducted a door-to-door search operation. They arrested around 22 suspects, official uniforms of security agencies as well as weapons, including, Kalashnikovs and pistols.

Unidentified militants opened fire at a Police car, killing a constable in Khwaja Ganj Bazar area of Mardan town (Mardan District) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) at 10:20am on October 4. Swabi Circle Investigation Officer Niaz Muhammad told the Police he had come to Mardan to appear before Anti-Terrorism Court as a witness along with two Police officials. Muhammad added they were passing through the bazaar when unidentified militants opened fire at them, injuring Constable Muhammad Arshad, who was driving the car. Muhammad Arshad later succumbed to his injuries at hospital.

Further, a constable, Sajjad Ahmad, was shot dead by an unidentified motorcyclist at Mardan Road area of Charsadda town (Charsadda District) at around 7:30am on October 4. He was employed as a security officer in the District Police office and was commuting to work on his motorcycle when the assailants attacked him. A passer-by identified as Shaheed, a minor, was also shot at in the incident.

Separately, a Sub-Inspector (SI) of Pishtakhara Police was injured in a remote-controlled bomb blast on Ring Road in Peshawar (Peshawar District), the provincial capital of KP on October 4, reports. A police mobile was on routine patrol at around 9:45am when the bomb went off. SI Namdar Khan sustained injuries and the vehicle was also damaged in the explosion. Police said at least two kilogrammes of high intensity explosives were used in the attack.

Elsewhere, two suspected militants were arrested and a large cache of weapons was recovered from their possession in Darra Adam Khel town of Kohat District on October 4. A security official said both suspects were arrested at around 12:30pm when a car was stopped at Akhurwal check post for a routine check. 11 submachine guns (SMGs), one Kalashnikov, one AK-47, 20 magazines, 2,500 bullets, a telescope and a burqa (veil) were found hidden inside the car. The suspects were identified as Naveed Ahmad Afridi, a resident of Jwakai, and Ali Afridi, a resident of Turkey Ismail.

Unidentified armed men opened fire at a vehicle of a political agent, injuring one Levies’ personnel in Lower Orakzai Agency on October 4, reports The Daily Times. Political Agent Mehmood Aslam Wazir was on way in his car when some unidentified armed men opened fire at his car.

Police arrested at least 10 suspects, including five women, of the Lyari-based gangs and seized a cache of weapons in Haji Mureed Goth area of Gulbahar in Liaquatabad Town in Karachi on October 6, reported The News. The Police were tipped off about the presence of gangster Saleem Bikik alias Chocolatee, said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Central Amir Farooqi. The Gulbahar SHO along with a police team raided the area but came under fire from the criminals. After a brief encounter, 10 suspects, including five women, were arrested, who were identified as Rehan, Narayan, Ehtisham, Owais, Prem, Sana Sheikh, Saibah, Soniya, Mehreen and Saima. The police also seized two repeater rifles, one 8mm rifle, four 9mm pistols and two walkie-talkie sets. The gang took the women along with them during attacks and after committing the offences, they handed over their weapons to the women, who hid the guns in their bags and fled easily. The suspects were said to be wanted in a number of target killing and extortion cases.

In addition, the Rangers, in the ongoing targeted operations, detained 47 suspects, including alleged gangsters and political and religious activists, and seized a number of weapons from them, reports The News. The Rangers spokesman said intelligence-driven joint targeted raids were carried out in Nava Lane, Singo Lane, New Karachi, North Nazimabad, Orangi Town, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Mehmoodabad, Frontier Colony and Landhi. During the raids, 23 suspects, including political activists and Lyari-based gangsters, were arrested and weapons found on them.

In Pathan Colony of Orangi Town, at least 12 suspects, including cadres of banned religious outfits, were arrested in a raid and 38 guns, including submachine guns, were seized. The suspects were said to be involved in many terrorist activities.

In Gulshan-e-Buner area of Quaidabad in Baldia Town, Rangers detained 13 suspects and seized pistols during the raid. The arrested criminals were wanted for their involvement in several cases of sectarian killing.

Three alleged terrorists were killed while planting explosive material on Manghopir Road in Orangi Town of Karachi on October 10, reported The News. Police said that the two of the militants were identified as Rafiullah and Asmatullah, who belonged to Qilla Abdullah District of Balochistan. Separately, Ranger on October 10 arrested at least 36 suspects in targeted operations in different parts of Karachi, reported Dawn. The operations were conducted in Lyari Town, Bin Qasim Town, Landhi Town, Machar Colony in Kiamari Town, North Karachi in North Nazimabad Town, FC Area in Liaquatabad Town, Surjani Town area in Gadap Town, Baldia Town and Malir Town. The suspects were also in possession of SMG rifles, along with other weapons.

The Bomb Disposal Squad defused a bomb in Sector F-5 of Hayatabad area in Peshawar on October 17, reports Dawn. Station House Officer (SHO) of Hayatabad Police Station, Abdul Majeed Khan, said that BDS personnel defused a roadside-planted bomb after receiving information of a suspicious package lying on the roadside. At least three kilograms of explosives were used in the making of the bomb which was also fitted with a remote-controlled detonator.

The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) officials on October 18 neutralized a three-kilogrammes bomb packed in a ghee tin, in Phase-6 area of Hayatabad Residential Society under Tatara Police Station in Peshawar, the provincial capital of KP, reports Daily Times. The bomb was planted in the Goal Chowk and on a tip-off from a local boy, the BDS squad was called by Police and it defused the time device successfully.

Pakistan

Tehreek-e-Taliban should be allowed to open an office for peace talks, says PTI Chairman Imran Khan
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on September 25 said that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan should be allowed to open their office so that peace talks can progress. He argued that if the United States (US) could open offices for the Afghan Taliban in Qatar, why Pakistan shouldn’t do the same. The PTI Chairman also said nine years ago there was only one group of Taliban, but now there are around 35 such groups.

TTP will have to abide by the Constitution: PM Sharif
Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif on September 26 said that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan would have to accept if his Government proceeded with a peace deal with the group, demanding that they lay down arms and recognize Pakistan’s constitution, reports The News. PM further said that Pakistan will proceed with a plan to build a gas pipeline from Iran, despite objections from the United States, and that he plans to raise the issue of American drone strikes in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly. In an interview in New York with The Wall Street Journal, Nawaz Sharif also spelled out the conditions that TTP would have to accept if his Government proceeded with a peace deal with the militant group, demanding that they lay down arms and recognize Pakistan’s constitution. At the same time, he voiced fears that continued US drone attacks would wreck his policy to negotiate with the TTP.

Pakistan raises drone issue in UNSC meeting
The adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said at the United Nations (UN) on September 27 that drone strikes needed to be halted immediately, stated a Ministry of Foreign Affairs release. Speaking at the high level meeting of the UN Security Council, Aziz said that the strikes violated international law, including international humanitarian law and were counter-productive to Pakistan’s efforts of fighting terrorism. Agreeing with the UN Secretary General’s earlier observation in his report, Aziz said that that drone strikes resulted in child casualties and had a negative impact on their psycho-social health. The meeting was convened in Australia to discuss the issue of small arms and light weapons.

155 people killed in Karachi in September 2013
The death toll in Karachi during September, 2013 was 155, despite regular raids and targeted operations by Rangers and Police, in which Police claimed to have arrested a total 3,976 alleged criminals and terrorists, reports The Daily Times on October 5. Unidentified men killed at least one Pakistan Navy, one Rangers personnel and 17 Policemen in targeted ambush in September, 2013.

Afghan Taliban financing militants in Pakistan
The Afghan Taliban is financially supporting the Pakistani militants and providing sanctuary to them in Afghanistan, the ‘spokesman’ for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Shahidullah Shahid has said on October 5, reports Dawn. “The Afghan Taliban is our jihadi brothers. In the beginning, we were helping them, but now they are strong enough and they don’t need our help, but they are now supporting us financially,” he said, adding, the Afghan Taliban was also providing sanctuary for a prominent TTP ‘commander’, Mullah Fazlullah, in eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province. Pakistan has long been accused of pursuing a policy of differentiating between the Afghan and Pakistan Taliban as so-called ‘good’ and ‘bad’ militants.

Number of kidnapping cases highest in Karachi in 2013, reveals CPLC official statistics
The News while quoting official statistic on October 6 reported that there have been more kidnapping-for-ransom cases in Karachi this year – 148 – than any other in the last two decades. According to data compiled by the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), 129 of these cases have been solved. The kidnapping cases in the city have risen sharply in the last few weeks – the abductees mostly businessmen and children. The CPLC says that in most of the cases, the kidnappers are residents of rural Sindh or Hub in Balochistan. To tackle this problem, Police, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary personnel have been deployed at several check points on the city’s exit points. In some cases when the ransom is not paid, the kidnap victim is killed and the body dumped along the highway.

The most disturbing aspect of the CPLC report is that some dismissed police officials are also involved in a few cases. The CPLC chief says that there are five major groups responsible for the majority of the kidnapping for ransom cases. “The kidnappings usually occur in the city’s suburbs or the Old City areas,” explains Ahmed Chinoy. “These gangs usually kidnap people returning from French Beach, the Northern Bypass, Hawkes bay Road and traders in Old City areas including Timber Market, Lea Market, Kharadar and Jama Cloth Market.” The official said the kidnappers mostly arrived in pick-ups or on motorcycles and managed to kidnap traders despite the presence of security guards at the markets.

“These groups target the bankers, estate agents and traders and their children. They demand somewhere between PKR 0.1 and PKR 0.3 million and if the families don’t pay, they kill the victims and dump their bodies in the area near the Northern Bypass that lies within the jurisdictions of the Surjani and Manghopir Police Station or other places that fall within the remit of the Sohrab Goth, Sachal, Bin Qasim, Quaidabad Police Stations.”

TTP vows to attack Malala again
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan on October 7 said schoolgirl campaigner Malala Yousafzai had “no courage” and vowed to attack her again if they got the chance, reports Dawn. TTP tried to kill Malala on her school bus on October 9, 2012. She amazingly survived being shot in the head and has become a global ambassador for the right of all children, girls as well as boys, to go to school. Having spread a message of “education for all” across the globe, the 16-year-old is now among the favourites for the Nobel Peace Prize, which will be awarded on October 11. But Shahidullah Shahid, ‘spokesman’ of TTP, slammed Malala and said they would try again to kill her. “She is not a brave girl and has no courage. We will target her again and attack whenever we have a chance,” Shahid said.

However, in an interview with the BBC, Malala dismissed the threats against her life and repeated her desire to return to Pakistan from Britain, where she was flown for treatment after the attack and where she now goes to school, reports Dawn.

Further, Malala said that dialogue is the best way to fight militancy in Pakistan, reports Dawn. “The best way to solve problem and to fight against war is through dialogue, and is through peaceful way,” she added. “But for me the best way to fight against terrorism and extremism is a simple thing – educate the next generation.” She added further that issues of terrorism are “not an issue for me, that’s the job of the government…and that’s also the job of America”. Malala said it was important that the Taliban discussed their demands. “They must do what they want through dialogue,” she said. “Killing people, torturing people and flogging people…it’s totally against Islam. They are misusing the name of Islam.”

Bhatta mafia active in Islamabad in connivance with Police, reveals inquiry report
The News on October 9 (today) reported that an inquiry report confirmed that ‘bhatta mafia’ (extortionists) were active in Sabzi Mandi area of Islamabad indicating that they collected extortion under the protection of Police and the relevant section of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), while the CDA officials were also found depriving the vendors of fresh fruit and vegetables to provide them to their high-ups to please them.

The reports said that on the basis of documentary evidence available in shapes of First Information Reports (FIRs) and in the light of statements recorded by the team, it appears that there are two groups — Nasir Khan Group (consisting of Marshal, Qari and others, allegedly patronised by Safdar Siddique) and Amanullah alias Shino Group (consisting of Mir Vais, Riaz and others) — involved in collecting extortion from Sabzi Mandi.

In order to probe the issue at least five teams headed by upper subordinates were constituted, with the direction to visit the Sabzi Mandi and record statements of vendors, transporters, workers, fruit sellers, with a view to ascertain the presence and modus operandi of extortionists if any. The teams including Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Industrial Area visited Sabzi Mandi in uniform as well as in civil clothes in order to know the factual position of the issue.

The report revealed that during the inquiry it was also stated by the concerned persons that Inspector Aurangzeb Satti, in connivance with other CDA officials was involved in taking illegal gratification from fruit sellers. He used to confiscate fruit and vegetable stall arbitrarily.

Al Qaeda suspect arrested from Punjab University Campus was the mastermind of Denmark Embassy suicide attack, reveals interrogation
The al Qaeda terrorist, who was arrested from the hostel of Punjab University (PU) Campus in Lahore District on September 11, 2013, revealed that he was the mastermind of suicide attack on Denmark embassy in Islamabad on June 2, 2008, reported The News on October 10. Sources said, on the basis of information gathered from this fighter, 17 others have been arrested and the network of this group has been busted.

Islamabad Police bust al Qaeda’s drone project
The Islamabad Police and intelligence agencies, in a joint venture, have discovered a drone project, an invention of the al Qaeda chapter in Pakistan, sources said on October 11, adding that the joint team of the Islamabad Police and intelligence agencies timely intervened and halted the al Qaeda’s ambitious project, reports The News. “Yes, the al Qaeda Pakistan chapter had acquired drone technology and was in the final stages of implementing the plan when intercepted,” sources said. The Islamabad Police, during a recent raid in the Kashmir Housing Society in G-15 area, recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition. The house belonged to Professor Imtiaz Gilani, a graduate in electronic engineering from Ghulam Ishaq Khan (GIK) University who has also served in the Air Weapons Complex, Kamra. After leaving the job at Kamra, Irtyaz served as a lecturer at the International Islamic University, Islamabad, teaching electronics.

Gilani managed to dodge the raiding team and is still at large, intelligence agency sources said, while some other sources claimed that he had been held and shifted to an unknown place for thorough investigation. Police investigators have recovered evidence of his links with al Qaeda. Evidence also suggested that Tanveer, a most wanted terrorist of al Qaeda, had been staying at Gilani’s place since January 2013 till the recovery of VBIED from Bhara Kahu. During the raid, it was observed that the house was purposefully built, having a dedicated lab in the basement which was being used to develop the ambitious project. The Police found the layout of drone technology, which they believe was acquired from different sources.

Talks with militants must be held within constitutional parameters, says Army Chief
Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani on October 14 said that military fully backs the Government’s move to hold peace talks with banned militant groups but these parleys must be held within constitutional parameters, reports The Times of India. “… To deal with it, the national leadership chose the option of giving talks a chance. The Pakistan Army supports this move. The people and the political leadership have to decide the limits for these talks…It is very important that this process leads to unity among the people and not divisions. It is necessary to find a solution to this problem within the Constitution of Pakistan.” The use of force is the last option and the army is fully prepared to exercise this option if necessary, Kayani said. There is an opinion that the Government was forced to go in for talks with militants because of the failure of military operations but this is far from the truth, he said.

Also, he criticized the Indian military leadership, saying their remarks about the Pakistani military and Inter-Services Intelligence’s (ISI) support to terrorism were “unfortunate, unfounded and provocative”. Reacting to these allegations, Kayani reiterated Pakistan’s stance that incidents on the Line of Control (LoC) should be investigated by the United Nations (UN). “Rather than hurling such baseless accusations, India would be well advised to respond positively to Pakistan’s suggestion for holding joint or impartial investigation into the LoC incidents, preferably by the United Nations,” he said.

Federal Minister of Interior’s Secret Fund abolished
The Secret Fund of the Federal Ministry of Interior has been placed at the disposal of the subordinate National Crisis Management Cell (NDMC) and it has been decided to entrust the audit of expenditure of PKR 425 million Secret Fund to the Auditor General, The News reported on October 16. The policy has been changed on the instructions of Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to enable the Ministry to provide the entire details of spending of the Secret Fund. The PKR 425 million Secret Fund was spent through the NDMC in the last five years. According to sources, during the first year of the PPP rule (2008-2009), a sum of PKR 50 million was spent from this head. Similarly, the expenditure was PKR 110 million in 2009-10, PKR 49 million in 2010-11 and PKR 96 million in 2011-12, whereas in 2012-13 — the last year of the PPP Government — PKR 12 million was spent out of the Interior Ministry’s Secret Fund.

The NDMC had refused to furnish the necessary information about the spending of the fund to the Auditor General. In this respect, Director General Audit addressed a letter to secretary Interior Ministry on October 11 this year quoting the July 8, 2013 the Supreme Court’s order calling for the audit of the secret fund of the NDMC. Taking immediate notice of the situation, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has ordered the Auditor General to audit the expenditure of the NMDC Secret Fund. With the order of the minister, the policy of Secret Fund audit has been changed. The sources further said that the NDMC will place all the necessary record of use of Secret Fund before the Auditor General. Ch Nisar Al Khan had issued instructions only a day earlier to all the attached departments of the Interior Ministry to get their accounts audited.

PM Sharif orders ‘zero tolerance’ against enemies of the State
Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif on October 18 said that there should be zero tolerance against the enemies of the State and they should be dealt sternly, reports Daily Times. PM Nawaz Sharif said that the state has the right to take pre-emptive steps for protection of its citizens and a special counter-terrorism force (SCTF) would be formed soon in Punjab. He said this while chairing a meeting in which he was given a presentation on SCTF in Punjab. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab Inspector General (IG) Khan Baig and officials of various law enforcement agencies also attended the meeting. The PM said that the new force should be raised immediately with a new command structure. He said it should be professionally sound, competent and adequately paid. Nawaz said anti-terrorism force structure would be separate from that of Police. The PM said a new force is needed to deliver in the right direction and he expects that this (new force) will help in eliminating extortionists and target killers. “Law enforcement agencies need to show zero tolerance towards heinous crimes,” Nawaz said.

HRCP for talks with Baloch insurgents
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on October 18 called upon the Government to hold immediate talks with Baloch insurgents, both within and outside the country, without any impunity to individuals among them causing grave human rights violations, reports Dawn. Launching a report of its fact-finding mission to Balochistan at Lahore, the commission also urged the insurgents to respect the wishes of people supporting restoration of normalcy and political stability, stop attacks on innocent civilians and give peace a chance. The report titled “Balochistan: Giving the people a chance” was launched at a news conference by former HRCP chairperson Asma Jahangir. It was attended by the commissions current Chairperson Zohra Yusuf, General Secretary I.A. Rehman and members of the mission Justice Malik Saeed Hassan and columnist Kamran Shafi. Ms Jahangir said the situation in Balochistan could improve if the Federal and Provincial governments and law-enforcement agencies were of the same mind. Militancy could not be condoned in any form. The Baloch insurgents should hold negotiations as their elders had always waged political struggle (to secure their rights), she added.

Around 400 civilians killed by drone strikes in Pakistan: UNHR investigator
The Government of Pakistan has confirmed that of some 2,200 people killed by drone strikes in the past decade, at least 400 were civilians and an additional 200 victims were deemed “probable non-combatants,” an United Nation (UN) human rights investigator said on October 18, reports The News. Ben Emmerson, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, also urged the United States to release its own data on the number of civilian casualties caused by its drone strikes. Emmerson says that preliminary information gathered for a report released on October 18 indicated that more than 450 civilians may have been killed in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen. It says more work needs to be done to confirm these figures. Emmerson said Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry told him it had recorded at least 330 drone strikes in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Pakistan’s largely lawless region bordering Afghanistan, since 2004.

In an interim report to U.N. General Assembly released, Emmerson said Pakistani Government records showed that drone strikes had killed at least 2,200 people and seriously wounded at least 600 since 2004. He said Pakistan had confirmed that “at least 400 civilians had been killed as a result of remotely piloted aircraft strikes and a further 200 individuals were regarded as probable non-combatants.” “Officials indicated that, owing to underreporting and obstacles to effective investigation, those figures were likely to be an underestimate” of civilian deaths, Emmerson said.

PPP rejects Anti-Terrorism Ordinance
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on October 23 rejected the new ordinance, Pakistan Protection Ordinance 2013, that was promulgated on October 20, 2013, and gave extraordinary powers to Law-Enforcement Agencies to curb terrorism, terming it as “an assault on the fundamental rights” of citizens, reports Dawn. Under the law, anyone found guilty of resisting enforcement of any law or legal process will have to spend 10 years behind bars. The law proposes setting up of special courts and safe houses to detain hardened criminals. Under the ordinance, personnel of law-enforcement agencies will be able to enter and search any premises without warrants and the arrested suspects will not be entitled to bail.

“The law is a direct assault on the fundamental rights of the citizens as enshrined in the constitution,” said PPP’s Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Raza Rabbani, questioning the logic behind the Government’s act of doing legislation through ordinances in presence of an elected Parliament. “This is a very important law and it should have been brought through the Parliament.”

“The ordinance in its present form is not acceptable,” he said. Answering a question, Rabbani, however, said the PPP had no plan to challenge the ordinance in a court of law. He said the party would oppose it when the Government brings it to the Parliament in the form of a bill. He explained that any matter that could be settled politically and in Parliament should not be challenged in the court.

PM Sharif urges US President Obama to end drone strikes in Pakistan
Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif said on October 23 that he urged US President Barack Obama to end drone strikes in Pakistan, touching on a thorny subject in relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Sharif and President Obama were speaking after a 90-minute long one-on-one meeting at the White House’s Oval Office. “I also brought up the issue of drones in our meeting, emphasising the need to end … such strikes,” said PM Nawaz Sharif. For his part, Obama made no mention of drones and remained silent over the issue. Obama, however, said he wanted to prevent security cooperation from being a source of tension between the US and Pakistan. Sharif said he brought up the issue of US drone strikes in Pakistan and told the American President that the strikes need to end.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post, citing secret documents, reported on October 23 that Pakistan for years secretly approved of US drone attacks on its territory despite public denunciations. The purported evidence of Islamabad’s involvement came as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited the White House and urged an end to the attacks, which are widely unpopular with the Pakistani public. Pakistani support for drone attacks has long been widely suspected, although strikes reported by the Post involved several years up to 2011 — before a slowdown in strikes and Sharif’s election in May. The newspaper said that top-secret documents and Pakistani diplomatic memos showed that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had drafted documents to share information on drone attacks with Pakistan. At least 65 drone strikes were marked for discussion with Pakistan, including through briefings at its embassy in Washington and in materials sent physically to senior officials in Islamabad.

REGIONAL

Bangladesh – Internal Dynamics

JeL-ICS cadres trigger several explosions in Dhaka
Cadres of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir carried out several explosions in Dhaka during a brisk procession, reports Daily Star. However, no casualty was reported. JeI-ICS activists were demanding release of their leaders and activists.

Meanwhile, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a long sought-after leader of ICS along with his seven accomplices and seized firearms and explosives, in an ICS-run university admission coaching centre in Rajshahi city on September 26, reports Daily Star. Saifuddin Yahia, ‘general secretary’ of Rajshahi University unit of ICS, is wanted for 42 cases related to murder, attacks on Police, and Shibir-sponsored criminal activities, said Rab-5 Director, Lieutenant Colonel, Anwar Latif Khan, describing the raid. RAB seized a .9mm pistol loaded with eight bullets from Yahia, 13 cocktails, two machetes, two cameras, eight mobile phones, leaflets, banners and Jihadi books. The other arrestees were identified as Abu Sayem (23), Motiur Rahman and Minhajul Islam, Ariful Islam, Abdul Kader Bappi, Kobir Hossain Sumon and Arifur Rahman.

18 injured as BNP-JeI cadres clash with AL activists in Pirojpur District
Eighteen people were injured as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) cadres clashed with ruling Awami League (AL) activists at Balipara Bazar in Pirojpur District on September 27, reports The Daily Star. Around 200 activists of BNP and JeI brought out a procession carrying sticks, local weapons and firearms at Balipara Bazar. From the procession some unruly activists threw brickbats at some AL activists in front of local AL office, resulting in a clash between the two groups in the market area.

Meanwhile, Police arrested five cadres of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of JeI from a house at Daulatpur village of Chittagong District on September 28, reports The Daily Star. The arrestees are Muhammad Hanif, Osman Gani, Muhammad Faruk, Ataullah and Yahya Morshed. Police said that they all are accused in a case for vandalism filed on August 26. Police also seized books on jihad and leaflets from the house.

Separately, ICS cadres blasted several homemade bombs, ignited tyres and brought out processions during the dawn-to-dusk hartal (general strike) they called in Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna and Chapainawabganj Districts on September 29 demanding release of eight ICS cadres, reports The Daily Star. On September 26, eight ICS cadres were arrested during a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) raid in ICS-run Coaching Center in Rajshahi city’s Malopara. A pistol, eight bullets, and 13 cocktails were also seized.

PCB-Red Flag faction cadre killed in Pabna
A cadre of Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP)-Red Flag faction was stabbed to death in Santhia sub-District of Pabna District on October 6, reports The Daily Star. The deceased is identified as Muhammad Akul Pramanik. Police said he was accused in a number of cases including one for murder.

One killed and six others injured in bomb blast in Chittagong District
One of the seven students injured in a bomb blast at a Hefajat-e-Islam (HeI) leader’s madrasa (religious seminary) in Chittagong city of Chittagong District on October 7 succumbed to his injuries on October 8 (today), reports The Daily Star. The deceased is identified as Habib and the injured persons as Nurun Nabi, Muhammad Karim, Muhammad Amanullah, Muhammad Jabbar, Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Khalek, all students of fatwa department of the madrasa. After the explosion, Police visited the spot and found traces of huge explosives, including more than 30 hand grenades in the room where the explosion took place. The madrasa was established by HeI Nayeb-e-Ameer (Deputy Chief) Mufti Izharul Islam Chowdhury, also suspected cadre of banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested four leaders and cadres of HuJI-B along with fire arms and explosives from Ashulia, an outskirt of Dhaka city on October 7, reports The Independent. The arrested persons are identified as Khalilur Rahman alias Shahriar, a central leader of the banned outfit, Sharifuzzaman Milton, finance secretary of the organization, Abdul Quader, a cleric and Masudur Rahman, a cadre of HuJI-B. RAB also recovered one foreign-made pistol, 32 bullets, and 1,135 rounds of SMG (Sub-Machine Gun) bullets, five detonators, one kilogram of high-powered explosive and blasting equipment from their possession.

Jamiatul Ulum Al Islamia Madrasa student succumbs to injuries
Jubair Ahmed, a student of Jamiatul Ulum Al Islamia Madrasa injured in an explosion on October 7, succumbed to his burn injuries at Chittagong Medical College and Hospital in Chittagong District on October 9 (today), reports The Daily Star. Earlier on October 8, Muhammad Habibur Rahman (24), another student of the madrasa who sustained burn injuries died at the hospital. At least seven students were injured when the blast took place at the madrasa. Police on October 9 (today) arrested Harun bin Izhar, son of Hefajat-e-Islam (HeI) Nayeb-e-Ameer (Deputy Chief) Mufti Izharul Islam Chowdhury and publicity secretary of HeI. Police said that Harun is one of the prime accused of the bomb blast case in the madrasa.

Meanwhile, a leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League (AL) was stabbed and a former activist of the organisation shot in an attack by cadres of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) at Dharampur area in Rajshahi city of Rajshahi District on October 8, reports The Daily Star. The injured persons are identified as Shariful Islam Saddam (25), organising secretary of BCL Rajshahi University (RU) unit, and Golam Rabbani Tufan (35), a former activist of the organisation’s city unit.

Separately, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested three leaders of Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), an Islamist militant outfit, at Rajanpur Bazar under Gomastapur sub-District of Chapai nawabganj District on October 8, reports New Age. The arrested leaders are identified as Mohammad Ibrahim (35), Faruk Hossain (32) and Sadequl Islam (33). RAB also recovered two CPUs and monitors, 26 CDs, and books propagating extremism during the drive. Major Shafiqul Islam, Company Commander of Crime Prevention Company-1 of RAB-5 at a press briefing informed that earlier the arrested were the cadres of Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), another banned militant outfit. The arrestees, now the followers of Mufti Jasim Uddin Rahmani, leader of Ansarullah Bangla Team, were working as local leaders for Ansarullah Bangla Team in Chapainawabganj area, he added.

BNP will stop war crimes if voted to power, warns Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on October 10 seeking vote for the Awami League in the next election said that Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will stop war crimes trial if voted to power, reports Daily Star. “I seek vote for the Awami League….we’ve initiated the trial of the war criminals and the trial will continue and Insha-Allah, we’ll complete the trial. If the BNP-Jamaat [JeI] returns to power they will stop the trial of the war criminals,” she said. Hasina said: “The BNP-Jamaat does not understand anything except for killing, looting, corruption, bombing, grenade attack, killing police, and violating mothers and sisters. They always obstruct the country’s development as they want the destruction of the country.” In an attack on the opposition leader’s “relentless falsehood”, Hasina alleged that before the general election in 1996, Khaleda Zia used to say there would be no “azan” in the mosques if the Awami League was voted to power. “But that proved false.

Meanwhile, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1)would decide about indictment of JeI Assistant Secretary General A.T.M. Azharul Islam on war crimes charges on October 28 as charge-framing arguments ended on October 10, reports Daily Star. The three-member tribunal headed by Justice A.T.M. Fazle Kabir fixed the date after the defence completed their arguments. The prosecution pressed six charges for abduction, confinement, torture, rape, looting, arson, inflicting severe injury, murder and genocide allegedly committed by Azharul during the Liberation War.

Further, a counsel of BNP Member of Parliament Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and four to five others were involved in leaking Chowdhury’s draft verdict a day before the tribunal delivered the war trial judgement, a detained court staff told a court on October 10, reports Daily Star. Noyon Ali, detained staff of ICT-1, gave his confessional statement before the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate in Dhaka. Ali was arrested on October 4 for his alleged involvement with the leak. The ICT-1 awarded the BNP lawmaker death penalty on October 1 for committing war crimes during the country’s Liberation War in 1971. Soon after the tribunal sentenced the verdict, his wife and other family members claimed on the court premises that the verdict had been leaked hours before the court pronounced it.

2 killed and 25 injured in a clash between activists of AL and BNP in Kishoreganj District
At least two persons were killed and 25 others injured in a clash between the activists of Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Nikli sub-District of Kishoreganj District on October 11, reports The Daily Star. The clash took place between the supporters of Abdul Hashim, the president of Awami Krishak League of No. 6 ward of Singpur union, and Harun, secretary of BNP Singpur union unit. The deceased were identified as Kanchan and Waskuruni, supporters of Abdul Hashim. Police said the clash was a sequel to a political feud between the two groups.

Meanwhile, a sense of unease is growing over the political situation as both the ruling AL and its archrival BNP are organizing a show of strength in Dhaka city on October 25, reports The Daily Star on October 12. The AL has decided to hold a rally in front of its central office on Bangabandhu Avenue on October 25 to highlight Government’s successes and seek public mandate in the next parliamentary polls. BNP have also announced that the same day they will stage a rally to press for the restoration of a non-party Caretaker Government (CG) to oversee the next general polls. But the party is yet to get permission for holding the rally in Suhrawardy Udyan or Paltan. The BNP sources said if it does not get the permission, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia might announce a seven-day nonstop hartal from October 26. AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said if the BNP holds a peaceful rally the Government would rather help the party. If the BNP tries to create any chaos, the law enforcers will take action.

BCL leader killed in Rajshahi
Aminul Islam Royal, a leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student front of the ruling Awami League (AL) was killed by unknown assailants in Rajshahi District on October 14, allegedly over political rivalry, reports The Daily Star. Aminul is a cousin and assistant of local AL lawmaker Kazi Abdul Wadud Dara. Dara said Aminul named some of his killers on his way to hospital and all the named persons were his political rivals belonging to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI). Dara further said “He was active in politics and always stayed with me. The killers actually threatened me with murdering him as the parliamentary election is around the corner.”

India – Internal Dynamics
Suspected militants in the evening of September 23 shot dead a trader, Altaf Hussain Barbhuiya (35), at Chairaibak village near Ramnathpur locality in Hailakandi District, reports Times of India. Sources said that Zakir Bahini, a faction of United Democratic Liberation Army (UDLA) which consist of Bru (Reang) and Muslim militants, may be responsible for the killing.

Two SF personal killed in Assam
Suspected IK Songbijit faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland militants ambushed a vehicle carrying SF personals killing a Police officer and his driver in between Mainaguri and Malatijhora under Kazigaon Police Station Kokrajhar District on September 26, reports The Telegraph. The killed SF personals were identified as in-charge of Rupshi Police Outpost, Narayan Chandra Barman and his driver Madan Roy, constable Sajahan Miya was injured in the attack. Sources said Barman and his team were on their way to Malatijhora in a police van to collect information on Ranjan Daimary faction of NDFB (NDFB-RD) cadres at the time of the attack. The injured Police Constable Sajahan Miya said that that they were in the area to collect and verify the names of cadres of NDFB–RD to be submitted ahead of their transfer to designated camps. State Director-General of Police (DGP) J.N. Choudhury told The Telegraph that checking the activities of the Songbijit group was a “priority” now.

50 Indians among 130 killed in Kenya mall attack
At least 50 Indians among 130 persons were killed at the Nairobi mall in Nairobi city of Kenya which came under terror attack on September 21, reports The Times of India on September 26. Al Qaeda linked militant group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

PLA attacks Assam Rifles camp
Militants of the People’s Liberation Army, the military wing of the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) on September 28 launched a well coordinated attack against the camp of 44 Assam Rifles (AR) at Kongkan village in Ukhrul District, reports The Hindu. PLA claimed that it had killed six AR personnel and smashed two barracks. However, Police, quoting the AR, said that one AR personnel was wounded and one barrack was damaged.

Police inspector killed and two suspected members of Islamic Liberation Front arrested in Andhra Pradesh
Following a 12 hours operation, two persons, identified as Panna Ismail and Bilal Malik, suspected to be involved in murders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary auditor Ramesh and Hindu Munnani leader Vellaiyappan, were arrested from a house at Puthur (Chittoor District) in Andhra Pradesh on October 5, reports The Times of India. One Police Inspector, Lakshman, died of knife injury in the incident. The operation was launched on the basis of information provided by one Fakruddin, who was arrested from Chennai in Tamil Nadu on October 4.

The three arrestees, along with Abu Bakr Siddique, who is still at large, were also wanted in connection with crude bomb blast of October 29, 2011, on the yatra route of BJP leader L. K. Advani near Thirumangalam in Madurai District of Tamil Nadu. They are suspected to be associated to Islamic Liberation Front (ILF), which in turn is linked to al-Umma, a banned terror outfit in Tamil Nadu.

7 workers engaged in railway project injured in bomb blast
The Sangai Express reports that seven labourers of Coastal Project Limited engaged in the Jiribam-Tupul railway project have been injured when unidentified persons triggered a bomb blast near Kambiron in Tamenglong District in the morning of October 6. According to one of the victims, a similar blast took place about 12 days ago although there were no casualties.

Maoists kill villager in Jharkhand
Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres killed a villager, identified as Kameshwar Bhuiya, in an unspecified location of Palamu District, reports ANI on October 7. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), P Murugan said a case has been registered in this regard. A relative of the deceased villager said he was killed by the Maoists when he tried to save the lives of two other villagers from them.

Jharkhand State Intelligence feels that despite carrying out lesser number of attacks the Left-Wing Extremists (LWEs) are not loosing strength in the State, reports The Times of India on October 7. The Intelligence Bureau has reported that a total of 270 LWE attacks have taken place in Jharkhand since January 2013 till September 15, 2013. The number of LWE attacks in the same period last year (2012) was 370. The data was presented at a meeting organized by the LWE Division of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA). “If we consider the Latehar incident in January (2013) and the attack on the Pakur SP convoy in July (2013), the rebels have been successful in damaging morale,” said a Police Officer in the Police headquarters. Police Spokesperson SN Pradhan said “The rebels” organizations have got scattered and are disoriented. Even then they have been able to strike and it is a matter of concern.”

Maoists sighted again in Wayanad in Kerala
The Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres were sighted again in Wayanad District on October 5, reports The Hindu. Seven persons, including a woman, reached the house of Appachan, a farmer at Mundakkai, near Meppadi, around 6.15 p.m. on October 5, introducing themselves as Maoists. They requested rice and other groceries and collected nearly 2.5 kg of the grain and disbursed pamphlets on Maoists ideals to the family members. Later, a 12-member team of the same group looted nearly 50 kg of rice and other provisions, such as cooking oil, sugar and vegetables, from a nearby tea estate office around 7 p.m., the Police said. Though a team, led by S. Prabhakaran, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kalpetta sub-division, made a search at night, they could not trace anyone, District Police Chief K.K. Balachandran told The Hindu. A platoon of Thunderbolts commandos reached the District on October 6 and searched the periphery of the forests.

This was the seventh such incident reported in the district since February 15. The Police had identified the presence of militants in four of the incidents from evidence collected from the public. It was also reported that a similar group of militants visited the Karim Kanikunnu Kattunayakan colony, an isolated tribal colony on the banks of the Banasura sagar dam, near Thariyode, a few weeks ago and distributed pamphlets to the members of the colony after collecting food materials.

Security Force personnel escape IED blast triggered by GNLA in Meghalaya
The Shillong Times reports that two Police vehicles with armed security personnel travelling to Williamnagar town narrowly escaped an improvised explosive device (IED) blast triggered by suspected Garo national Liberation Army militants at Chisobibra village (East Garo Hills District) in the morning of October 8. The incident took place when six State Police personnel led by a sub-Inspector and two drivers were heading to Williamnagar from Tura (West Garo Hills District) to bring back under armed escort a GNLA militant, Rahul in connection with some militancy cases. The hardcore GNLA cadre Rahul had been arrested in North Garo Hills District sometime ago and was lodged in Williamnagar District jail. East Garo Hills District Police chief, J F K Marak said that the GNLA militants opened a few rounds of fire from the thick jungle nearby before fleeing.

Maoists hack police constable to death
Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres hacked to death a 45-year-old Police Constable and injured another Policeman in Dantewada District, on October 12, reports The Hindu. “The Naxals attacked Police Constable Gautam Pande with an axe and also injured Police Sub-inspector Satyawadi Sahu (35). They took away Pande’s SLR [rifle],” Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) Narendra Khare said. The Naxals, dressed as villagers, attacked the Policemen.

Three policemen killed in Maoist attack
Three Police personnel were killed in a Communist Party of India-Maoist attack near Gyarabatti area of Gadchiroli District in the wee hours of October 17, reports The Times of India. “Three jawans (troopers) have been killed in the Naxalite [Left-Wing Extremist-(LWE)] attack on a Police patrolling party in Kurkheda taluka (administrative unit) of Gadchiroli,” a Police official said.

Seven killed as Maoists trigger bomb in Bihar
Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres on October 17 detonated a cane bomb – a trademark Improvised Explosive Device (IED) used by them – to blow up a vehicle, killing all its seven occupants near Pathara village in Aurangabad District, reports The Times of India. The victims included Sushil Pandey, suspected Ranvir Sena (Militia of upper caste landowners) activist and husband of Zilla Parishad (district level local self-Government institution) member Usha Devi. The Maoists targeted the vehicle when Pandey was on way to his village Pisai. The Maoists suspected Pandey’s hand in the killing of their cadres in the Magadh region (Bihar) by the Sena. The attack comes barely a week after the Patna High Court (HC) acquitted all the accused in the Laxmanpur Bathe (Arwal District) massacre case for lack of evidence. Maoists hold Ranvir Sena responsible for the Laxmanpur Bathe massacre that claimed the lives of 58 dalits on the night of December 1, 1997. State Principal Secretary, Home Affairs, Amir Subhani said as per initial reports, six persons including Pandey, were killed in the incident.

Maoists kill Sarpanch in Odisha
A Sarpanch (village level local-self-government institution head) was killed by Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres in Malkangiri District on October 24, reports NDTV. The Maoists allegedly killed the 40-year-old Soumendra Betti suspecting that he was giving information to Police and Security Forces (SFs) involved in anti-Maoist operations in the region. The Sarpanch was reportedly called out of his home in village Materu near the border with Chhattisgarh. Betti was reportedly taken to the outskirts of the village, where over a dozen Maoists were waiting. In April, 2013, a Sarpanch was dragged out of his home by around 30 armed Maoists, including women cadres, and shot dead.

Monthly Fatalities
The following deaths related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period Sept 26 to Oct 25, 2013:

	Civilian	Indian Security Personnel	Militant	Total
Assam	02	02	07	11
Bihar	06	00	01	07
Manipur	00	03	00	03
Meghalaya	05	00	00	05
Nagaland	02	00	01	03
Left-wing	14	04	02	20
Total	29	09	11	49

Nepal – Internal Dynamics

Murder convicts cannot conduct polls
The Supreme Court (SC) on September 26 ordered the government and the Election Commission (EC) to not allow convicted persons from contesting Constituent Assembly elections, reports Nepal News. A special bench of Justice Sushila Karki, Girish Chandra Lal, and Prakash Wosti issued an order to this effect in response to a writ petition filed at the SC against the Prime Minister’s Office and the EC demanding that the murder convicts as well as those against whom charges of heinous crimes have been framed by a court of law be debarred from contesting the Constituent Assembly (CA) polls.

The SC also scrapped the September 23 stay order by SC Justice Tarka Raj Bhatta that effectively allowed murder convicts to contest elections.

The latest SC verdict has now barred all murder convicts, including Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist leader Bal Krishna Dhungel, to file candidacy for the November 19 elections to the second CA.

CPL-UML candidate Mohammad Alam shot at and injured in Bara District
Unidentified assailants opened fire at Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) first-past-the-post (FPTP) candidate Mohammad Alam on October 4 in Bara District, reports Nepal News. An eye witness said that two unidentified persons riding on a motorcycle with Indian number plated shot at Alam. He was hit on his head and was rushed to National Medical Collage in Birgunj town of Parsa District. Bara’s Chief District Officer Kailash Bajimaya said “The reason behind the firing has not been ascertained and Police are investigating the incident.”

JTMM ‘district commander’ arrested
Police arrested Muneshwar Mandal alias Manish, the District Commander of the Jwala Singh-led Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) in Saptari District on October 6, reports The Himalayan Times. Police said that Mandal had allegedly played a lead role in four kidnapping cases, a murder and bus arson. He had allegedly gunned down Shailesh Kumar Mandal (25) of Launiya-1 in Saptari District on April 13, 2010.

4 NC activists and a schoolteacher injured in Rukum district
Four Nepali Congress (NC) activists and a schoolteacher were injured when they were attacked by a group of masked men at Bafikot village in Rukum District on October 17, reports Kantipuronline.com. NC District Secretary Haksingh Khatri claimed that the assailants belonged to the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist youth wing, the Young Communist League (YCL). According to the District Police Office, NC activists Kali Bahadur Bohara, Gana Bahadur Bohara, Harku Oli, Birjit Pariyar and school teacher Purna Bahadur KC were injured in the incident.

Sri Lanka – Internal Dynamics

Canadian faces 15-year sentence in US for helping LTTE
Prosecutors in the United States (U.S.) asked a Canadian man to serve the maximum sentence of 15 years after he admitted to helping Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror on September 27. Suresh Sriskandarajah, who earned university degrees in Waterloo, Canada, pleaded guilty in July in New York, U.S., to conspiring to provide material support to the LTTE. He was arrested in 2006 and freed on bail three years later before his extradition to the U.S. in 2012. While in Canada, Sriskandarajah helped research and acquire aviation equipment, submarine and warship design software, night vision equipment and communications technology for the LTTE.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court issued notice on September 27 on Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Secretary General Mavai Senathirajah to appear in court on October 2 to show cause in respect of the TNA election manifesto circulated during the recently concluded Provincial Council elections, reports Daily News. The Supreme Court issued the notice after considering an application filed in Court against the TNA manifesto by Attorney at Law Unawatuna Thotawatte Aruna Laksiri Handapangoda. The respondent cited in the petition is TNA Secretary General Mavai Senathirajah. The petitioner had sought a court declaration that the TNA manifesto seeks to promote ‘self government’ with the end view of dividing the country.

Separately, Campaign for a Free and Fair Election (CaFFE), the local election monitoring group issued a statement saying that “frequency and gravity” of post-election violence have increased in the last few days, reports Colombo Page on September 28 (today). The monitoring group said that the highest number of incidents have been recorded from the Kurunegala District in North Western Province. According to CaFFE five incidents have been reported from the Kurunegala District of which four incidents involved supporters of governing party members Dayasiri Jayasekara and Johan Fernando. CaFFE said there were reports of intimidation and violence against Jayasekara’s supporters from Fernando’s supporters in several areas. The election monitors called on the law enforcement authorities and leaders of political parties to take the necessary steps to prevent the incidents of violence.

No withdrawal of army from north: President
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in an interview to Al-Jazeera said that there will be no withdrawal of the army from the north, reports The Hindu on October 1. Explaining his position, the President asked “Then, if the other Provincial Councils also asked me to withdraw their army camps all over the country where can I have the army?” The statement has raised concerns about the Government’s intention as regards its demilitarization. Ever since the ethnic war ended in 2009, different sections in the country have repeatedly raised issues of heavy militarization in the north and east and the interference of the army in civil matters. The Government’s argument against demilitarization is often centered on the question “Where is the space for accommodating the troops?”

SL urged to protect Muslims
The government is downplaying and protecting the groups who spread hatred and violence against minorities, particularly Muslims in Sri Lanka, the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay told a UN Human Rights assembly. In her statement at the 24^th United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva, Pillay said that she was “alarmed” at the recent surge in incitement of hatred and violence against religious minorities. She added that attacks on churches and mosques, and “the lack of swift action against the perpetrators” were disturbing.

Since her visit to Sri Lanka last month, the UN Human Rights chief said she has received a compilation of 227 incidents of religious attacks, threats, incitement to hatred against Muslims alone that were recorded between January and July 2013. The details will be shared with the government of Sri Lanka, said Pillay. She told the Human Rights council that while she welcomes President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s comments on the need for religious tolerance since her visit to Sri Lanka, he needs to maintain a zero tolerance rate for religious intolerance.

Pillay was in Sri Lanka on a week-long fact finding mission in September, at the end of which she said that Sri Lanka was heading towards a dictatorial rule.

At the ongoing UNHRC, the High Commissioner also followed up on a number of other human rights concerns expressed by the Human Rights Council. In response to Pillay’s report, Sri Lanka said that its government has at no time downplayed allegations of attacks against minorities, and “strongly rejects accusations of state patronage or protection given to extremist groups.” Addressing the council, Sri Lanka’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasinha said that Pillay’s “generalisations lack credibility.”

Religious violence, particularly targeting Muslims has been escalating in the Buddhist majority island since the past year. Several Buddhist organisations, led by the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) or the Buddhist Task Force, continue to incite the Buddhist community against Muslims with public hate speeches. The government has been accused of not punishing the perpetrators most of whom are Buddhist monks.

Over the past year, a wave of attacks on mosques and Muslim establishments have been escalating, causing concern among the minority which makes up just 10 per cent of the population.

Military demolishes underground bunker of slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in Mullaitivu District
Military on October 4 demolished an underground bunker of slain Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in Pudukuduirippu town of Mullaitivu District, reports Colombo Page. Military Spokesperson, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya told that the bunker was detonated and destroyed as it is useless to keep LTTE monuments. The well-fortified bunker had four stories under the ground. The camouflaged bunker was discovered after the Army ended the offensive in 2009. It was built to keep the LTTE leader and other senior LTTE leaders protected from Government forces.

Meanwhile, Lord Rogan of the United Kingdom, a Member of the House of Lords while meeting President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees in Colombo on October 4 said “The military presence in the North is substantially less than what has been often portrayed,” reports Daily News. Hev said “During my visit to all parts of the country, North, East, South, and West I was able to speak freely and openly with Ministers, Government officials, religious leaders, and most importantly ordinary citizens from all sections and walks of life. What struck me particularly was that the military presence in the North was substantially less than what has been often portrayed.”

NFF accuses TNA of establishing a provincial council based on a separatist agenda
Mohammad Muzammil, spokesperson of National Freedom Front (NFF), an ally of the governing party United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) on October 15 said that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has established a provincial council in the North based on a separatist agenda, reports Colombo Page. Muzammil told that the TNA was continuing with the agenda of forming an Eelam through a new programme. He noted that the TNA’s victory at the Northern Provincial Council will be used to push the separatist agenda once again. According to Muzammil, new Northern Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran’s comments indicated that the Northern Province would join with the Eastern Province as the first step in forming the Eelam. He added that the TNA was using its manufactured internal battles to carry out its agenda.

Canadian LTTE supporter pleads guilty in U.S. after working as arms supplier for LTTE
Seven years after he was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Toronto, Canada Piratheepan Nadaraja (37), a Canadian Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam supporter on October 17 (today) pleaded guilty in New York, United States (U.S.) to conspiring to buy anti-aircraft missiles for LTTE, reports Daily Mirror. Three other Canadians are already serving sentences of at least 25 years for their roles in the same procurement network that was caught trying to buy $1-million worth of missiles in New York. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in a statement said “Nadarajah and his associates attempted to acquire these weapons at the direction of senior LTTE leadership in Sri Lanka. The anti-aircraft weapons were to be used by the LTTE to shoot down aircraft used by the Sri Lankan military.”

Meanwhile, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake on October 15 said there will be no room for separatism on Sri Lankan soil in the future, and those who advocate separatism will be dealt with severely, reports Daily News. The Army Commander stated “No one will be allowed to step outside the boundaries of democracy to promote extremism and separatism. The world saw how we responded to those who attempted to do things this way in the past.”’

Separately, Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran on October 16 noted that the importance of unity between Tamils and Muslims in the Northern Province and calls for the Muslims and Tamils to join hands, reports Colombo Page. He has made this comment after attending a prayer at a mosque organized by the Muslims in the North. Wigneswaran has said that it is time now to cast aside religious differences and to make the people live together in harmony. He added that he was keen to work with the Muslims noting that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had appointed a Muslim to the People’s Movement for Good Governance to address issues faced by the Muslims.

INTERNATIONAL

Court upholds Taylor’s 50-year sentence
A UN-backed appeals court on Thursday, Sept 26 upheld Liberian ex-president and warlord Charles Taylor’s 50-year sentence for arming rebels during Sierra Leone’s brutal 1990s civil war.

“The appeals chamber… affirms the sentence of 50 years in prison and orders that the sentence be imposed immediately,” judge George King told the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) in The Hague.

The landmark ruling marks the end of the road for the former west African strongman’s marathon seven-year trial.

Taylor sat impassively as the judgement was read out, wearing a dark suit, golden tie, gold cufflinks and gold-rimmed sunglasses. He will now most likely spend the rest of his life in a foreign prison, possibly in Britain.

Bomb attacks kill 23 in Iraq
Bombs ripped through outdoor markets in and near Baghdad on Thursday, Sept 26killing at least 23 people and wounding dozens, the latest in a deadly wave that has hit Iraq in recent months, officials said. Three bombs went off simultaneously in the village of Sabaa al-Bour, about 30-km north of the Iraqi capital. Police said the explosions two at the market entrance and one inside the shopping area went off as the place was packed with shoppers, killing 16 people and wounding 41 there.

Three women and two children were among those killed in the village market, according to police and hospital officials. Several shops and cars were damaged in the blast. The attack came shortly after a bomb blast hit the al-Athorien market in Baghdad’s southern neighborhood of Dora. Police said that seven people, including two women, were killed there and 17 people were wounded.

Insurgents in Iraq often target crowded places such as markets, cafes and mosques in order to inflict huge casualties. More than 4,000 people have been killed in violence during the past few months. All officials giving the casualty tolls for Thursday’s attacks spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to the media.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks but they bear the hallmarks of al-Qaeda’s local branch in Iraq, known as the Islamic State of Iraq.

‘Israel must declare nuclear bomb’
Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani on Thursday, Sept 26 called on Israel to admit it has a nuclear bomb ahead of a landmark meeting between Iranian and western foreign ministers. Rouhani also said he believed a deal could be struck with the international community on his own country’s controversial nuclear drive within three to six months.

The Iranian president spoke at a UN nuclear disarmament conference just before Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Mohammad Zarif was to hold landmark talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry and ministers from Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.

The meeting was called to discuss western allegations that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons capability and was to be one of the highest level Iran-US encounters since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Rouhani said Iran’s arch-foe Israel should join the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which aims to contain the spread of nuclear weapons. Israel has never declared a nuclear arsenal, but is widely assumed to have several bombs.

Rouhani, speaking as current leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, highlighted the failure of attempts to organise a Middle East nuclear free zone. “Israel, the only non-party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty in this region, should join thereto without any further delay,” Rouhani told the meeting. He said “all nuclear activities in the region” would then be subject to International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

Iran is in dispute with the UN’s atomic watchdog, which says it has still not given definitive proof that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Iran denies it seeks a bomb. Kerry met early on Thursday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and the two men agreed “that Iran should cooperate and should respond positively to the offer on the table,” a US official told reporters.

The group, dubbed the P5+1, made a new offer to Iran earlier this year, before Rouhani’s election, on how to overcome a current stalemate in the nuclear dossier. It is believed to have offered an easing of the international sanctions which have crippled the Iranian economy, in return for a slowdown in Iran’s controversial uranium enrichment program. Western officials say they are still waiting for a response. “No nation should possess nuclear weapons, since there are no right hands for these wrong weapons,” insisted Rouhani, who also met Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday.

“As long as nuclear weapons exist, the risk of their use, threat of use and proliferation persist. The only absolute guarantee is their total elimination,” he said.

Rouhani told the Washington Post he wants a quick deal on the nuclear standoff adding he has the full backing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “The only way forward is for a timeline to be inserted into the negotiations that’s short — and wrap it up,” said Rouhani. “If it’s three months, that would be Iran’s choice, if it’s six months, that’s still good. It’s a question of months not years.”

Zarif will be the first Iranian minister to sit down with western counterparts to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle also discussed the Iranian nuclear programme with Wang on Thursday, and both agreed the new Iranian government must be taken at their word, and called for “swift progress.” While US officials say no bilateral talks are planned between Kerry and Zarif, an unofficial encounter is possible.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard unveils drone
Iran unveiled on Friday, Sept 27 an unmanned attack aircraft it described as its most sophisticated drone to date that can reach much of the Middle East, including Israel. Revolutionary Guard chief, Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, called the missile-carrying plane a “strategic asset’’ for the military to protect Iran’s borders. The military says the Shahed-129, or Witness-129, has a range of 1,700-km, a 24-hour non-stop flight capability and can carry eight bombs or missiles capable of hitting both stationary and moving targets.

Iran frequently makes announcements about strides in military technology, but it is virtually impossible to independently determine the actual capabilities or combat worthiness of the weapons it produces.

State TV showed video of the drone flying. It said Jafari has ordered mass production of the unmanned plane. “This smart technology (drone) can do the job of thousands of soldiers, military posts and border guards … and protect the security of the borders,’’ the website quoted him as saying.

Jafari also said Guard experts have finished reverse-engineering a top secret CIA RQ-170 Sentinel drone that Iran captured intact in December 2011. Iran has also claimed to have captured at least three American ScanEagle drone aircraft that violated the Iranian airspace. Jafari said an Iranian copy of the RQ-170 Sentinel drone will be built soon.

“In the near future, you will hear good news on the building of an Iranian replica of the RQ-170,’’ he said. A senior Revolutionary Guard commander, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, said the Shahed-129 was capable of monitoring for up to 200 kilometers. Hajizadeh, who heads the Guard’s aerospace division, said the attacking drone has also civilian uses such as taking aerial photos for agricultural and environmental purposes.

Over 70 Rohingya homes torched
President Thein Sein toured Myanmar’s conflict-torn west on Tuesday, Oct 1 as anti-Muslim violence once again gripped the state of Rakhine, with Buddhist mobs killing a 94-year-old Muslim woman and torching more than 70 homes, officials and panicked residents said. With attacks reported in at least two other villages on the outskirts of Thandwe, where tensions have been mounting for days, the number of causalities could rise.

More than 700 rioters, some swinging swords, took to the streets in Thabyuchaing, about 20 kilometres north of the coastal town, on Tuesday afternoon, said police officer Kyaw Naing. An elderly Muslim woman died from stab wounds in the clashes that followed, the officer said, putting the number of houses set on fire at between 70 and 80. Smoldering buildings — and several injured Buddhist Rakhines — were seen by The Associated Press in Shwe Hlay. And a police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity because he did not have authority to speak to the media, said Linthi also was hit by rioters.

A heavy security presence failed to deter the attackers, however, with witnesses saying soldiers and police made no efforts to step in. A 6pm curfew was imposed.

Sectarian clashes that began in Rakhine in June 2012 have since morphed into an anti-Muslim campaign that has spread to towns and villages nationwide. So far, more than 240 people have been killed and more than 140,000 have fled their homes, the vast majority of them Muslims. Thein Sein, who has been praised for making moves to transition from half a century of military rule, has been criticised for failing to contain the unrest and protect the country’s embattled Muslim minority.

Many of those targeted so far have been ethnic Rohingyas, considered by many in the country to be illegal migrants from Bangladesh, though many of their families arrived generations ago. But in the latest flare-up, the victims were Kamans, another Muslim minority group, whose citizenship is recognised.

The trouble started on Saturday, when a Buddhist taxi driver alleged he’d been verbally abused by a Muslim shop owner while trying to park his vehicle. Hours later, rocks were thrown at the man’s home. And by Sunday, as anger spread, two houses owned by Muslims were burned to the ground.

Muslims, who account for about 4 per cent of Myanmar’s roughly 60 million people, have been the main victims of the violence since it began. But most criminal trials have involved prosecutions of Muslims rather than members of the Buddhist majority.

DPRK blames ‘hostile’ US policy for tensions
North Korea is blaming the “hostile policy’’ of the United States for continuing tension on the divided Korean Peninsula. Vice foreign minister, Pak Kil Yon, told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Oct 1 the US is aiming at military domination of Northeast Asia and has designated North Korea as “its first attack target.’’

Pak also contended that the US was abusing the power of the UN Security Council, and that a January resolution that tightened sanctions on the North for a long-range rocket launch was unfair.

Pak did not mention the subsequent nuclear test explosion that was also condemned by the council and deepened concern over the North’s weapons programs.

Egypt suspends tourism with Iran
Egypt’s Tourism Minister Hisham Zazou said on Tuesday, Oct 1 that tourism links with Iran had been suspended for reasons of “national security”, state television reported.

Flights bringing Iranian tourists to Egypt began under now ousted president Mohamme Mursi, amid a thaw in relations between Cairo and Tehran. But they were met with strong opposition from hardline Salafists and suspicion from security services in Egypt, who had long accused Iran of meddling in the country.

In April Egypt suspended all tourist visits from Iran following objections by the ultra-conservative Islamists to any rapprochement. The moratorium was lifted in May.Zazou said “the suspension of tourism with Iran is related to national security,” state television reported.

Egypt and Iran severed ties after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, which was deeply hostile to Cairo’s peace treaty with Israel.

Mursi, an Islamist, opposed Iran’s role in the Syrian conflict but believed the state should be included in regional diplomacy. Since his bloody ouster on July 3, the new military-installed authorities have indicated they preferred a more traditional foreign policy.

Man arrested after device found at Florida airport
Authorities arrested a suspect after finding two suspicious packages — including one they described as destructive — at Florida’s Jacksonville International Airport. Zeljko Causevic, 39, was booked into the Jacksonville County Jail early Wednesday, Oct 2 and was being held without bond on charges that include making a false report about planting a bomb or explosive and manufacturing, possessing, selling or delivering a hoax bomb. He was scheduled to appear in bond court in Jacksonville at 1 p.m.

The airport was shut down for nearly five hours and all passengers were ordered to leave the terminals around 6 p.m. Tuesday. One of the packages was found in the terminal and another was in a parking garage. The airport reopened just before 11 p.m. Michael Stewart, who handles external affairs for the Jacksonville Airport Aviation Authority, said another suspect was arrested Tuesday and questioned by authorities. That suspect, whose name hasn’t been released, was not believed to be connected to the airport shutdown, he said. The airport was back to normal operation Wednesday morning.

During a late-night news conference, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office spokesman Shannon Hartley said one of the packages “had some destructive nature” and was taken offsite. He did not elaborate. Passengers and people who arrived at the airport to pick them up were stranded for hours as officials investigated.

Authorities said some incoming planes were held up on the tarmac until buses arrived to pick up passengers. The passengers were shuttled to nearby hotels. With the airport reopening late Tuesday, Stewart said individual airlines would determine how to restart their operations.

Israeli threat desperate: Iran
Iran’s top general on Wednesday, Oct 2 rejected Israel’s threat of military strikes as an act of “desperation” after Tehran’s charm offensive to repair ties with the West.

“Today the choice of military option is rusted, old and blunt. It is put on a broken table that lacks stability,” said armed forces chief-of-staff Hassan Firouzabadi, quoted by Fars news agency. Such remarks stem out of desperation,” he said, slamming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “warmonger”. Benjamin Netanyahu told a UN summit Tuesday that the Jewish state was ready to act alone to halt Iranian efforts to build a nuclear bomb, a charge Tehran vehemently denies.

“Israel will not allow Iran to get nuclear weapons. If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone,” Netanyahu said in an attack on overtures made by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani.

Iran’s new president has vowed to engage the international community in constructive dialogue, ease tensions with the West and increase transparency on the Islamic state’s nuclear activities.

Firouzabadi, a hardline military figure, appeared to back Rouhani’s diplomatic initiative, which has been well received in the West.

Iraqi helicopter shot down
Militants shot down an Iraqi military helicopter on Wednesday, Oct 2 killing four security forces members, as nine people died in other violence, officials said. The helicopter was shot down during a large-scale operation against militants in a desert area west of Baiji, a town north of Baghdad, killing two crew members and two soldiers who were on board, army officers said.

Iraqi helicopters are periodically hit by gunfire during operations, including one last month in which a pilot was wounded. In the northern city of Kirkuk, a car bomb detonated near the governorate headquarters, killing two people and wounding 15.

Attacks in Nineveh province, also in northern Iraq, killed three people, while violence in Diyala province left two more dead and two wounded. And a bomb exploded near a vegetable market southeast of Baghdad, killing two people and wounding six.

Violence has reached a level unseen since 2008, and there are fears Iraq is slipping back toward the intense Sunni-Shiite bloodshed that peaked in 2006-2007 and killed tens of thousands.

Two Libyans killed in Russia embassy attack
Two assailants were killed when protesters attacked Russia’s embassy in Tripoli, a Libyan minister said on Thursday, Oct 3 while denying Moscow’s claims that it had evacuated the embassy on his request. “Two Libyans were killed in the attack” late Wednesday, said Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdelaziz, adding that he had urged embassy staff not to spend the night in the compound for fear of a second attack.

Abdelaziz gave no further details on the deaths in the attack, which appeared to have been triggered by reports that a Russian woman killed a Libyan army officer. Moscow said Thursday it had evacuated its embassy staff from Libya after Abdelaziz told the ambassador that Tripoli was unable to guarantee their safety and that they should be pulled out.

“This is not true. We cannot make such a recommendation,” said Abdelaziz, adding that he had “asked the Russian ambassador to leave the embassy and spend the night in a hotel or in a similar place.” “After a lengthy discussion, the ambassador received orders (from Moscow) not to leave the embassy and to leave the country in the morning, so we facilitated their departure,” the minister said. Moscow summoned a Libyan diplomat over the unrest, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone to Abdelaziz, demanding that Tripoli guarantee the protection of Russian nationals and embassy property.

Earlier on Thursday all embassy staff and their family members crossed safely into Tunis, Russia’s foreign ministry said, adding that they planned to fly back to Moscow on Friday. A Tunisian security official said 47 men, women and children had crossed the border and were staying in a hotel on the nearby island of Djerba. They were to fly out on a charter plane early Friday, the official said.

Clashes erupt across Egypt
Egyptian police fired live rounds into the air and tear gas at Islamist protesters in Cairo as supporters and opponents of ousted president Mohammed Mursi clashed in the capital and elsewhere after Friday (Oct 4) prayers. Fighting erupted in Cairo as protesters from the Muslim Brotherhood, to which Mursi belongs, marched in defiance of an ongoing crackdown by the authorities against Islamists. Police fired live rounds into the air and tear gas to prevent protesters from entering Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square, an AFP correspondent reported. They were acting against several hundred people who were chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is Greatest), the correspondent reported.

The warning shots succeeded in dispersing the protesters from Abdel Moneim Riad Square, which is close to Tahrir, pushing them back towards nearby Ramses Square. But clashes continued in the vicinity of Tahrir Square, the focal point of the 2011 popular uprising that drove Mursi’s predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, from office.

Eight people were reportedly wounded in those clashes, head of emergency services Khaled al-Khatib told AFP. The army closed all the entrances to Tahrir Square, and most shops in downtown Cairo remained shut, while protesters were also marching towards the defence ministry.

Fighting between the two groups also erupted in the Maniyal, Shubra and Dokki districts of the capital, witnesses and AFP reporters said, and thousands of pro-Mursi supporters marched in the Nasr City district. An AFP correspondent said tens of thousands of Mursi supporters marched in Nasr City, which houses Rabaa al-Adawiya Square—one of two sites of an August 14 crackdown by security forces on Mursi backers in the capital. Thousands died that day after clashes erupted at Rabaa and Nahda squares, as well as elsewhere in the country.

15 Libyan soldiers killed
Gunmen killed at least 15 Libyan soldiers in an attack on a checkpoint near the city of Bani Walid, a former stronghold of supporters of Moamer Qaddafi, officials said on Saturday, Oct 5.

Two years after Qaddafi was overthrown and killed in a civil war, the north African country’s fragile central government is struggling to control rival militias competing for influence in the aftermath of the conflict.

The ambush happened on the road between Bani Walid and the town of Tarhouna, where the army had a checkpoint.

Current Threat Levels:

City/ Region	Threat	Level
Islamabad	Level 2	**
Karachi	Level 2	**
Lahore	Level 2	**
Punjab	Level 2	**
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa	Level 3	***
Peshawar	Level 2	**
Quetta	Level 2	**
Upper Balochistan	Level 3	***
Lower Balochistan	Level 2	**
Upper / Rural Sindh	Level 2	**
Gilgit and Northern areas	Level 3	***
Tribal areas, close to Afghan border	Level 3	***

Index to Threat Level Perceptions
Threat Level 1 *
Indicates there is no threat to foreigners although there may be isolated incidents involving petty crime. No security precautions are required

Threat Level 2 **
Indicates there is no specific threat to foreigners; however because of the overall general law & order situation, some security precautions are advised if traveling.

Threat Level 3 ***
Indicates that law and order situation is cause for concern and travel should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Level dictates that foreigners should rehearse plans for evacuation.

Threat Level 4 ****
Indicates complete breakdown of civil administration and law & order leading to anarchy. All foreigners advised to remain indoors and confined to their own city. Families and staff not required to be evacuated retaining only a skeleton staff.

Threat Level 5 *****
Indicates complete breakdown of law and order, enemy action/hostilities, invasion /occupation by enemy.