Diplomats carrying unlicensed weapons: Rahman Mallik
Lahore: Daily Jasarat, December11, 2009. Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik denied the presence of Blackwater in Pakistan, but admitted that foreign diplomats routinely use false vehicle number plates and carry unlicensed weapons. Senior police officials recently recovered smoke grenades from a vehicle belonging to the Dutch Embassy. Embassy officials sated in the vehicle, however, could not be arrested since they enjoy diplomatic immunity. The Minister was speaking on the subject of "How to counter terrorism and change the clergy’s character".
He told the audience that while the US withdrew after the Soviets were defeated in Afghanistan in 1989, Pakistan was left alone facing increased drug trafficking and the Kalashnikov culture. He said that there are only 411 Americans in Islamabad, out of which 289 are US embassy staff, and that 179 houses are in their possession. He lauded the security forces for arresting 74 wanted terrorists, but cautioned against more terrorists working with foreign embassies.
16000 cases of human rights abuse
Karachi: Daily Takbeer, December 11, 2009. The human rights organization ’Madadgar’ said in its annual report that 16,286 cases of human rights abuse were registered during the last ten months. 6202 cases were related to violence against women, including 850 killings, 310 cases of gang rape, 1,145 cases of human trafficking and 997 cases of suicide.
Human Right activist Zia Ahmad A’wa’n said that 5,564 children were victimized which included 612 victims of physical torture and 358 victims of rape. 4,515 men were victimized for marrying without the family’s consent, 340 for violating the Shariah, 974 were gunned down in police encounters without due investigations, whereas 547 men were killed in extrajudicial custody. 385 people were extradited to unknown countries.
Nobel Peace Prize to a warrior Obama
Islamabad: Daily Khabrain, December 10, 2009. The Nobel Peace Prize-2009 has been given to US President Barak Hussein Obama even as he escalates the fight against Muslims in Afghanistan. The US President adopted traditionalist policies by sending 30 thousands more troops to strengthen NATO forces. He himself admitted that innocent people were dying in the war against terror. If killing and suffering has increased in Iraq and Afghanistan, how sound is the decision to award the Warrior President with the peace award?
Jamaat-i-Islami fights against US policy
Karachi: Daily Jasarat, December 14, 2009. Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leader Qazi Hussein Ahmad said that the US will be defeated in Afghanistan and that resistance from Muslims should not cease. He was addressing a rally on Sunday (December 13) at City National Park. JI leaders called Muslims to unite against the government’s policy to promote American interests. Men and Women from different walks of life ?traders, teachers, students, labours, advocates and doctors - attended the rally.
JI chief Munawwar Hussein said that for the current government to stay in power, it must reverse its pro-American foreign policy. Otherwise the leader warned that the incumbents will be ousted. Sindh JI chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rahman accused India of planning to capture Pakistan’s nuclear assets with US assistance, and urged Pakistanis to come out of their houses and save the nuclear arsenal. The rally was broadcast on www.raah.tv, the newly launched JI television network.
Taliban will fight US
Islamabad: Daily Ausaf, December 08, 2009. Maulana Fazlullah of Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan said that the Taliban will fight the newly arrived US forces with even greater zeal. He quoted Taliban spokesperson Yousuf Ahmadi, and said that Obama will witness the destruction of his forces in Afghanistan and that he will meet the same fate as the Russians did when they tried to subdue Afghanistan.
PoK will be turned into World Trade Centre
Mirpur: Daily Ausaf, December 12, 2009. Pakistan Occupied Kashmir will be turned into World Trade Center on the lines of the International Trade Centre and SAARC Trade Centre, Mohammad Naeem, President of the Central Business Foundation of Pakistan said. He was addressing the audience during a ceremony on Saturday at Meerpur. Kashmir Chamber of Commerce president Jawed Iqbal hosted the event after the conclusion of the first cricket tournament held in Meerpur. A five member delegation led by Mohammad Ramazan Dutt, Master Allah Dutta and Zulfiqar Ali of Anglos Association were the guest of honour.
Shahid Raheem is a media researcher with ORF |
