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1,200 US Army men issued

NEW YORK: Pakistan’s embassy in the United States had issued 26 visas to American diplomats, 1,200 to US Army officials and 2,500 to civilians travelling for Afghanistan during last 15 months, the embassy spokesman told Online.

The spokesman said that since last June to September this year, 12-13,000 Pakistani-Americans were issued visas.
To a question regarding security background, the spokesman said that the Foreign Office approved the issuance of diplomatic visas, while defence department issued clearance for visas to persons related to defence department.

These visas were issued on the request of the US State Department, he said. The spokesman further said that these visas were issued for one-month time and they were issued to those persons who actually wanted to visit Afghanistan but had to stay in Pakistan for a short time.

The spokesman said that the Foreign Office of Pakistan used its discretionary power for issuing visas to VIPs who go on short notice to Pakistan and do not have sufficient time to take permission from it (FO).

Fashion

UN food centres closed in northwest Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The UN's World Food Programme on Wednesday closed distribution centres serving more than two million people in northwest Pakistan over security fears, a spokesman for the agency said.

The move affecting the Swat Valley region comes after a suicide bomber attacked a WFP compound in the capital Islamabad, killing five aid workers this month.

"We have closed all our food distribution centres in Swabi, Charsadda, Mardan, Swat, Buner, Dir and Bajaur which are the humanitarian hubs for internally displaced people in the region," said Amjad Jamal, a spokesman for WFP in Islamabad.

"We are facing problems regarding security, so it was decided last night to close these centres," Jamal told media.
The spokesman said the closures were temporary and that the decision would be reviewed later in the week.

The food centres had been giving out supplies for those displaced this year by fighting between the army and Taliban around the Swat Valley, which forced around two million people to flee.
Although most have since returned home, many remain in need and 2.2 million people received aid in the past month, said Jamal.

Akram's wife still in critical condition

CHENNAI: Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram's wife is in a critical condition at a hospital in Indian city Chennai where she was rushed after developing an "emergency situation" in an air ambulance during its scheduled refuelling at the Chennai airport.

Huma was admitted to the on advice from doctors on board the Singapore-bound air ambulance, hospital and airport sources said.

Hospital sources said Huma suffered a multiple organ failure and she was put on ventilator support.

Her pulse rate was picking up and vital parameters were better, but her condition continued to be critical, the sources said. She was originally scheduled to receive treatment in Singapore.

Sindh: all universities reopen from tomorrow

KARACHI: Government has decided to reopen all the universities in Sindh from tomorrow.

It has been decided today in a meeting of the vice-chancellors of universities with Governor Sindh Ishrat-ul-Ibad in chair.

It may be recalled that all the countrywide educational institutions had been closed till coming Sunday after the suicide blasts in International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) previous day.

However, in a meeting of the vice-chancellors of universities presided by Governor Sindh today, it has been decided to reopen all the universities in Sindh.

Meanwhile, law-enforcement officials also attended the meeting, which aimed to decide a uniform security policy for the educational institutions.

Carry Logar Bill(Page 10)

Certification- The certification required by this subsection is a certification to the appropriate congressional committees by the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, that the security forces of Pakistan–

(1) are making concerted efforts to prevent al Qaeda and associated terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, from operating in the territory of Pakistan;

(2) are making concerted efforts to prevent the Taliban and associated militant groups from using the territory of Pakistan as a sanctuary from which to launch attacks within Afghanistan; and

(3) are not materially interfering in the political or judicial processes of Pakistan.

Waiver- The Secretary of State may waive the limitations in subsections and if the Secretary determines it is important to the national security interests of the United States to provide such waiver.

Prior Notice of Waiver- A waiver pursuant to subsection may not be exercised until 15 days after the Secretary of State provides to the appropriate congressional committees written notice of the intent to issue such waiver and the reasons therefor. The notice may be submitted in classified or unclassified form, as necessary.

Annual Report- The Secretary of State, after consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report on the progress of the security forces of Pakistan in satisfying the requirements enumerated in subsection . The Secretary of State shall establish detailed, specific requirements and metrics for evaluating the progress in satisfying these requirements and apply these requirements and metrics consistently in each annual report. This report may be submitted in classified or unclassified form, as necessary.

SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON COALITION SUPPORT FUNDS.

It is the sense of Congress that–

(1) Coalition Support Funds are critical components of the global fight against terrorism, and in Pakistan provide essential support for–

military operations of the Government of Pakistan to destroy the terrorist threat and close the terrorist safe haven, known or suspected, in the FATA, the NWFP, and other regions of Pakistan; and

military operations of the Government of Pakistan to protect United States and allied logistic operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan;

(2) despite the broad discretion Congress granted the Secretary of Defense in terms of managing Coalition Support Funds, the Pakistan reimbursement claims process for Coalition Support Funds requires increased oversight and accountability, consistent with the conclusions of the June 2008 report of the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO-08-806);
(3) in order to ensure that this significant United States effort in support of countering terrorism in Pakistan effectively ensures the intended use of Coalition Support Funds, and to avoid redundancy in other security assistance programs, such as Foreign Military Financing and Foreign Military Sales, more specific guidance should be generated, and accountability delineated, for officials associated with oversight of this program within the United States Embassy in Pakistan, the United States Central Command, the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the Office of Management and Budget; and

(4) the Secretary of Defense should submit to the appropriate congressional committees and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a semiannual report on the use of Coalition Support Funds, which may be submitted in classified or unclassified form as necessary.

SEC. 8. PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN BORDER AREAS STRATEGY.

Development of Comprehensive Strategy- The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Director of National Intelligence, and such other government officials as may be appropriate, shall develop a comprehensive, cross-border strategy that includes all elements of national power–diplomatic, military, intelligence, development assistance, humanitarian, law enforcement support, and strategic communications and information technology–for working with the Government of Pakistan, the Government of Afghanistan, NATO, and other like-minded allies to best implement effective counterterrorism and counterinsurgency measurers in and near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas.

Report- Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a detailed description of a comprehensive strategy for counterterrorism and counterinsurgency in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas containing the elements specified in subsection and proposed timelines and budgets for implementing the strategy.

SEC. 9. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that the United States should–

(1) recognize the bold political steps the Pakistan electorate has taken during a time of heightened sensitivity and tension in 2007 and 2008 to elect a new civilian government, as well as the continued quest for good governance and the rule of law under the elected government in 2008 and 2009;

(2) seize this strategic opportunity in the interests of Pakistan as well as in the national security interests of the United States to expand its engagement with the Government and people of Pakistan in areas of particular interest and importance to the people of Pakistan;

(3) continue to build a responsible and reciprocal security relationship taking into account the national security interests of the United States as well as regional and national dynamics in Pakistan to further strengthen and enable the position of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally;

(4) seek ways to strengthen our countries’ mutual understanding and promote greater insight and knowledge of each other’s social, cultural and historical diversity through personnel exchanges and support for the establishment of institutions of higher learning with international accreditation; and

(5) explore means to consult with and utilize the relevant expertise and skills of the Pakistani-American community.

SEC. 10. TERM OF YEARS.

With the exception of subsections (1), (j), , and of section 5, this Act shall remain in force after September 30, 2013.

Passed the Senate June 24, 2009.

Attest:

Secretary.

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 962

AN ACT

Kerry Lugar Bill -‏ read yourself (page 9)

1) NOTICE OF ASSISTANCE FOR BUDGET SUPPORT- The President shall notify the appropriate congressional committees not later than 15 days before obligating any assistance under this section as budgetary support to the Government of Pakistan or any element of such Government and shall describe the purpose and conditions attached to any such budgetary support.

(2) SEMIANNUAL REPORT- Not later than 90 days after the submission of the Pakistan Assistance Strategy Report pursuant to subsection (j), and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the assistance provided under this section. The report shall include–

a description of all assistance provided pursuant to this Act since the submission of the last report, including each program or project for which assistance was provided and the amount of assistance provided for each program or project;

a description of all assistance provided pursuant to this Act, including–

the total amount of assistance provided for each of the purposes described in subsection ; and

(ii) the total amount of assistance allocated to programs or projects in each region in Pakistan;

a list of persons or entities from the United States or other countries that have received funds in excess of $100,000 to conduct projects under this section during the period covered by the report, which may be included in a classified annex, if necessary to avoid a security risk, and a justification for the classification;

an assessment of the effectiveness of assistance provided pursuant to this Act during the period covered by the report in achieving desired objectives and outcomes, measured on the basis of the criteria contained in the Pakistan Assistant Strategy Report pursuant to subsection (j)(4);

a description of–

the programs and projects for which amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection are proposed to be allocated during the 180-day period after the submission of the report;

(ii) the relationship of such programs and projects to the purposes of assistance described in subsection ; and

(iii) the amounts proposed to be allocated to each such program or project;

a description of any shortfall in United States financial, physical, technical, or human resources that hinder the effective use and monitoring of such funds;

a description of any negative impact, including the absorptive capacity of the region for which the resources are intended, of United States bilateral or multilateral assistance and recommendations for modification of funding, if any;

any incidents or reports of waste, fraud, and abuse of expenditures under this section;

the amount of funds appropriated pursuant to subsection that were used during the reporting period for administrative expenses or for audits and program reviews pursuant to the authority under subsection ;

(J) a description of the expenditures made from any Chief of Mission Fund established pursuant to subsection (3) during the period covered by the report, the purposes for which such expenditures were made, and a list of the recipients of any expenditures from the Chief of Mission Fund in excess of $10,000; and

an accounting of assistance provided to Pakistan under this Act, broken down into the categories set forth in subsection (j)( 8 ).

Government Accountability Office Report- Not later than one year after the submission of the Pakistan Assistance Strategy Report under subsection (j), and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains–

(1) a review of, and comments addressing, the Pakistan Assistance Strategy Report; and

(2) recommendations relating to any additional actions the Comptroller General believes could help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of United States efforts to meet the objectives of this Act.

Sense of Congress on Funding of Priorities- It is the sense of Congress that, as a general principle, the Government of Pakistan should allocate a greater portion of its budget to the recurrent costs associated with education, health, and other priorities described in this section.

Consultation Requirement- The President shall consult the appropriate congressional committees on the strategy in subsection (j), including criteria and benchmarks developed under paragraph (4) of such subsection, not later than 15 days before obligating any assistance under this section.

SEC. 6. LIMITATION ON CERTAIN ASSISTANCE.

Limitation on Certain Military Assistance- Beginning in fiscal year 2010, no grant assistance to carry out section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763) and no assistance under chapter 2 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2311 et seq.) may be provided to Pakistan in a fiscal year until the Secretary of State makes the certification required under subsection .

Limitation on Arms Transfers- Beginning in fiscal year 2012, no letter of offer to sell major defense equipment to Pakistan may be issued pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) and no license to export major defense equipment to Pakistan may be issued pursuant to such Act in a fiscal year until the Secretary of State makes the certification required under subsection .

Kerry Lugar Bill -‏ read yourself (page 8)

Use of Funds- Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out this section shall be utilized to the maximum extent possible as direct expenditures for projects and programs, subject to existing reporting and notification requirements.

(j) Pakistan Assistance Strategy Report- Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, or September 15, 2009, whichever date comes later, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing United States policy and strategy with respect to assistance to Pakistan. The report shall include–

(1) a description of the principal objectives of United States assistance to Pakistan to be provided under this Act;

(2) the amounts of funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection proposed to be allocated to programs or projects designed to achieve each of the purposes of assistance listed in subsection ;

(3) a description of the specific projects and programs for which amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to subsection are proposed to be allocated;

(4) a list of criteria and benchmarks to be used to measure the effectiveness of projects described under subsection , including a systematic, qualitative, and where possible, quantitative basis for assessing whether desired outcomes are achieved and a timeline for completion of each project and program;

(5) a description of the role to be played by Pakistani national, regional, and local officials and members of Pakistani civil society and local private sector, civic, religious, and tribal leaders in helping to identify and implement programs and projects for which assistance is to be provided under this Act, and of consultations with such representatives in developing the strategy;

a description of all amounts made available for assistance to Pakistan during fiscal year 2009 prior to submission of the report, including a description of each project or program for which funds were made available and the amounts allocated to each such program or project;

(7) a description of the steps taken, or to be taken, to ensure assistance provided under this Act is not awarded to individuals or entities affiliated with terrorist organizations; and

( 8 ) a projection of the levels of assistance to be provided to Pakistan under this Act, broken down into the following categories as described in the annual ‘Report on the Criteria and Methodology for Determining the Eligibility of Candidate Countries for Millennium Challenge Account Assistance’:

Civil liberties.

Political rights.

Voice and accountability.

Government effectiveness.

Rule of law.

Control of corruption.

Immunization rates.

Public expenditure on health.

Girls’ primary education completion rate.

(J) Public expenditure on primary education.

Natural resource management.

Business start-up.

Land rights and access.

Trade policy.

Regulatory quality.

Inflation control.

(Q) Fiscal policy.

Notification Requirements-

Kerry Lugar Bill -‏ read yourself (page 7)

(1) IN GENERAL- Funds appropriated pursuant to subsection shall be used for projects intended to benefit the people of Pakistan, including projects that promote–

just and democratic governance, including–

police reform, equipping, and training;

(ii) independent, efficient, and effective judicial systems;

(iii) political pluralism, equality, and the rule of law;

(iv) respect for human and civil rights and the promotion of an independent media;

(v) transparency and accountability of all branches of government and judicial proceedings;

(vi) anticorruption efforts among bureaucrats, elected officials, and public servants at all levels of military and civilian government administration;

(vii) countering the narcotics trade; and

(viii) the implementation of legal and political reforms in the FATA;

economic freedom, including–

sustainable economic growth, including in rural areas, and the sustainable management of natural resources;

(ii) investments in energy and water, including energy generation and cross-border infrastructure projects with Afghanistan;

(iii) employment generation, including essential basic infrastructure projects such as roads and irrigation projects and other physical infrastructure; and

(iv) worker rights, including the right to form labor unions and legally enforce provisions safeguarding the rights of workers and local community stakeholders;

investments in people, particularly women and children, including–

broad-based public primary and secondary education and vocational training for both boys and girls;

(ii) food security and agricultural development to ensure food staples and other crops that provide economic growth and income opportunities in times of severe shortage;

(iii) quality public health, including medical clinics with well trained staff serving rural and urban communities;

(iv) vocational training for women and access to microfinance for small business establishment and income generation for women; and

(v) higher education to ensure a breadth and consistency of Pakistani graduates to prepare citizens to help strengthen the foundation for improved governance and economic vitality, including through public-private partnerships; and

long-term development in regions of Pakistan where internal conflict has caused large-scale displacement.

(2) FUNDING FOR POLICE REFORM, EQUIPPING, AND TRAINING- Up to $100,000,000 of the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection should be used for police reform, equipping, and training.

Preference for Building Local Capacity- The President is encouraged, as appropriate, to utilize Pakistani firms and community and local nongovernmental organizations in Pakistan, including through host country contacts, and to work with local leaders to provide assistance under this section.

Authority To Use Funds for Operational and Audit Expenses-

(1) IN GENERAL- Of the amounts appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to subsection –

up to $10,000,000 may be used for administrative expenses of Federal departments and agencies in connection with the provision of assistance authorized by this section;

up to $30,000,000 may be made available to the Inspectors General of the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, and other relevant Executive branch agencies in order to provide audits and program reviews of projects funded pursuant to this section; and

up to $5,000,000 may be used by the Secretary to establish a Chief of Mission Fund for use by the Chief of Mission in Pakistan to provide assistance to Pakistan under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) to address urgent needs or opportunities, consistent with the purposes outlined in subsection or for purposes of humanitarian relief.

(2) AUTHORITY IN ADDITION TO EXISTING AMOUNTS- The amounts authorized under subparagraphs and of paragraph (1) to be used for the purposes described in such subparagraphs are in addition to other amounts that are available for such purposes.

Kerry Lugar Bill -‏ read yourself (page 6)

(10) to encourage and promote public-private partnerships in Pakistan in order to bolster ongoing development efforts and strengthen economic prospects, especially with respect to opportunities to build civic responsibility and professional skills of the people of Pakistan; and

(11) to encourage the development of local analytical capacity to measure progress on an integrated basis across the areas of donor country expenditure in Pakistan, and better hold the Government of Pakistan accountable for how the funds are being spent.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDS.

Authorization- There are authorized to be appropriated to the President, for the purposes of providing assistance to Pakistan under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), the following amounts:

(1) For fiscal year 2009, up to $1,500,000,000.

(2) For fiscal year 2010, up to $1,500,000,000.

(3) For fiscal year 2011, up to $1,500,000,000.

(4) For fiscal year 2012, up to $1,500,000,000.

(5) For fiscal year 2013, up to $1,500,000,000.

Availability of Funds-

(1) IN GENERAL- Of the funds appropriated in each fiscal year pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection –

none of the amounts appropriated may be made available after the date of the enactment of this Act for assistance to Pakistan unless the Pakistan Assistance Strategy Report has been submitted to the appropriate congressional committees in accordance with subsection (j); and

not more than $750,000,000 may be made available for assistance to Pakistan in any fiscal year after 2009 unless the President’s Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan submits to the appropriate congressional committees during that fiscal year–

a certification that assistance provided to Pakistan under this Act to date has made or is making substantial progress toward achieving the principal objectives of United States assistance to Pakistan contained in the Pakistan Assistance Strategy Report pursuant to subsection (j)(1); and

(ii) a memorandum explaining the reasons justifying the certification described in clause .

(2) MAKER OF CERTIFICATION- In the event of a vacancy in, or the termination of, the position of the President’s Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, the certification described under paragraph (1) may be made by the Secretary of State.

Waiver- The Secretary of State may waive the limitations in subsection if the Secretary determines, and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees, that it is in the national security interests of the United States to provide such waiver.

Sense of Congress on Foreign Assistance Funds- It is the sense of Congress that, subject to an improving political and economic climate in Pakistan, there should be authorized to be appropriated up to $1,500,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2014 through 2018 for the purpose of providing assistance to Pakistan under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

Sense of Congress on Security-related Assistance- It is the sense of Congress that security-related assistance to the Government of Pakistan–

(1) should be provided in close coordination with the Government of Pakistan, designed to improve the Government’s capabilities in areas of mutual concern, and maintained at a level that will bring significant gains in pursuing the policies set forth in paragraphs , (7), and ( 8 ) of section 4; and

(2) should be geared primarily toward bolstering the counter-insurgency capabilities of the Government to effectively defeat the Taliban-backed insurgency and deny popular support to al Qaeda and other foreign terrorist organizations that are based in Pakistan.

Use of Funds-

Kerry Lugar Bill -‏ read yourself (page 5)

(4) FATA- The term ‘FATA’ means the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan.

(5) NWFP- The term ‘NWFP’ means the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, which has Peshawar as its provincial capital.
PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN BORDER AREAS- The term ‘Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas’ includes the Pakistan regions known as NWFP, FATA, and parts of Balochistan in which the Taliban or Al Qaeda have traditionally found refuge.
(7) SECURITY-RELATED ASSISTANCE- The term ‘security-related assistance’ means–

grant assistance to carry out section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763);
assistance under chapter 2 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2311 et seq.);
assistance under chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2347 et seq.);

any equipment, supplies, and training provided pursuant to section 1206 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109-163; 119 Stat. 3456); and

any equipment, supplies, and training provided pursuant to section 1206 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181; 122 Stat. 368 ).

( 8 ) SECURITY FORCES OF PAKISTAN- The term ‘security forces of Pakistan’ means the military and intelligence services of the Government of Pakistan, including the Armed Forces, Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, Intelligence Bureau, police forces, levies, Frontier Corps, and Frontier Constabulary.

(9) MAJOR DEFENSE EQUIPMENT- The term ‘major defense equipment’ has the meaning given in section 47 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2794).

SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

It is the policy of the United States–

(1) to support the consolidation of democracy, good governance, and rule of law in Pakistan;
(2) to support economic growth and development in order to promote stability and security across Pakistan;
(3) to affirm and build a sustained, long-term, multifaceted relationship with Pakistan;
(4) to further the sustainable economic development of Pakistan and the improvement of the living conditions of its citizens, including in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, by expanding United States bilateral engagement with the Government of Pakistan, especially in areas of direct interest and importance to the daily lives of the people of Pakistan;
(5) to work with Pakistan and the countries bordering Pakistan to facilitate peace in the region and harmonious relations between the countries of the region;

to work with the Government of Pakistan to prevent any Pakistani territory from being used as a base or conduit for terrorist attacks in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, or elsewhere in the world;

(7) to work in close cooperation with the Government of Pakistan to coordinate military, paramilitary, and police action against terrorist targets;
( 8 ) to work with the Government of Pakistan to help bring peace, stability, and development to all regions of Pakistan, especially those in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas, including support for an effective counterinsurgency strategy;

(9) to expand people-to-people engagement between the United States and Pakistan, through increased educational, technical, and cultural exchanges and other methods;

Kerry Lugar Bill -‏ read yourself (page 4)

(14) According to consistent opinion research, including that of the Pew Global Attitudes Survey (December 28, 2007) and the International Republican Institute (January 29, 2008 ), many people in Pakistan have historically viewed the relationship between the United States and Pakistan as a transactional one, characterized by a heavy emphasis on security issues with little attention to other matters of great interest to citizens of Pakistan.

(15) The election of a civilian government in Pakistan in February 2008 provides an opportunity, after nearly a decade of military-dominated rule, to place relations between Pakistan and the United States on a new and more stable foundation.

(16) Both the Government of Pakistan and the United States Government should seek to enhance the bilateral relationship through additional multi-faceted engagement in order to strengthen the foundation for a consistent and reliable long-term partnership between the two countries.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES- The term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means the Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

(2) COUNTERINSURGENCY- The term ‘counterinsurgency’ means efforts to defeat organized movements that seek to overthrow the duly constituted Governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan through violent means.

(3) COUNTERTERRORISM- The term ‘counterterrorism’ means efforts to combat al Qaeda and other foreign terrorist organizations that are designated by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1189), or other individuals and entities engaged in terrorist activity or support for such activity.

Kerry Lugar Bill -‏ read yourself (page 3)

ii) an attack at the Marriott hotel in Islamabad on September 9, 2008;

(iii) the bombing of a political rally in Karachi on October 18, 2007;

(iv) the targeting and killing of dozens of tribal, provincial, and national holders of political office;

(v) an attack by gunfire on the U.S. Principal Officer in Peshawar in August 2008; and

(vi) the brazen assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on December 27, 2007.

(9) In the 12-month period ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, Pakistan’s security forces have struggled to contain a Taliban-backed insurgency that has spread from FATA into settled areas, including the Swat Valley and other parts of NWFP and Balochistan. This struggle has taken the lives of more than 1,500 police and military personnel and left more than 3,000 wounded.

(10) On March 27, 2009, President Obama noted, ‘Multiple intelligence estimates have warned that al Qaeda is actively planning attacks on the U.S. homeland from its safe-haven in Pakistan.’.

(11) According to a Government Accountability Office Report (GAO-08-622), ‘since 2003, the administration’s national security strategies and Congress have recognized that a comprehensive plan that includes all elements of national power–diplomatic, military, intelligence, development assistance, economic, and law enforcement support–was needed to address the terrorist threat emanating from the FATA’ and that such a strategy was also mandated by section 7102(3) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-458; 22 U.S.C. 2656f note) and section 2042(2) of the Implementing the Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 22 U.S.C. 2375 note).

(12) In the past year, the people of Pakistan have been especially hard hit by rising food and commodity prices and severe energy shortages, with two-thirds of the population living on less than $2 a day and one-fifth of the population living below the poverty line according to the United Nations Development Program.

(13) The people of Pakistan and the United States share many compatible goals, including–

combating terrorism and violent radicalism, both inside Pakistan and elsewhere;

solidifying democracy and the rule of law in Pakistan;

promoting the economic development of Pakistan, both through the building of infrastructure and the facilitation of increased trade;

promoting the social and material well-being of Pakistani citizens, particularly through development of such basic services as public education, access to potable water, and medical treatment; and

safeguarding the peace and security of South Asia, including by facilitating peaceful relations between Pakistan and its neighbors.

Kerry Lugar Bill -‏ read yourself (page 2)

The struggle against al Qaeda, the Taliban, and affiliated terrorist groups has led to the deaths of several thousand Pakistani civilians and members of the security forces of Pakistan over the past 7 years.

(7) Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, more al Qaeda terrorist suspects have been apprehended in Pakistan than in any other country, including Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, and Abu Faraj al-Libi.

( 8 ) Despite the sacrifices and cooperation of the security forces of Pakistan, the top leadership of al Qaeda, as well as the leadership and rank-and-file of affiliated terrorist groups, are believed to be using Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and parts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Balochistan as a haven and a base from which to organize terrorist actions in Pakistan and globally, including–

attacks outside of Pakistan that have been attributed to groups with Pakistani connections, including–
(ii) the massacre of approximately 165 people in Mumbai, India, including 6 United States citizens, in late November 2008; and

Kerry Lugar Bill -‏ read yourself (Page1)

AN ACT

To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to promote an enhanced strategic partnership with Pakistan and its people, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The people of Pakistan and the United States have a long history of friendship and comity, and the interests of both nations are well-served by strengthening and deepening this friendship.

(4) Economic growth is a fundamental foundation for human security and national stability in Pakistan, a country with over 175,000,000 people, an annual population growth rate of 2 percent, and a ranking of 136 out of 177 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index.

(5) Pakistan is a major non-NATO ally of the United States and has been a valuable partner in the battle against al Qaeda and the Taliban, but much more remains to be accomplished by both nations.

Firdous Aashiq Awan ( DR ) Replying to Media

Ferdos Ashiq Awan Silly talks

All educational institutions closed due to security threats

LAHORE: Intermediate examinations have been postponed until next orders across Punjab including Lahore, whereas hostels of all the educational institutions have been vacated.

According to sources, supplementary examinations under Board of Intermediate have been postponed for indefinite period due to security concerns besides threats delivered to the educational institutions.
Punjab Board spokesman said schedule for the remaining papers would be issued later.

Government has directed to have hostels of all the educational institutions – including Punjab University – vacated in Lahore.

University Regional Campus will remain closed till October 25th, Regional Director, Allama Iqbal University, Pir Saber said.

All educational institutions closed due to security threats

LAHORE: Intermediate examinations have been postponed until next orders across Punjab including Lahore, whereas hostels of all the educational institutions have been vacated.

According to sources, supplementary examinations under Board of Intermediate have been postponed for indefinite period due to security concerns besides threats delivered to the educational institutions.

Punjab Board spokesman said schedule for the remaining papers would be issued later.

Government has directed to have hostels of all the educational institutions – including Punjab University – vacated in Lahore.

University Regional Campus will remain closed till October 25th, Regional Director, Allama Iqbal University, Pir Saber said.

Shah Memmood Quershi's son Zain H.Qureshi JohnKerry's Employ(What you think about ?)

Shah Memmood Quershi's son Zain H.Qureshi JohnKerry's Employ

Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi

Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi, born on June 22, 1956 in Murree, was elected on a PPPP seat.An agriculturist by profession, he completed a B.A degree in 1978 from University of the Punjab followed by an M.A in 1983 from Cambridge University. During his political career, he has been elected MPA Punjab from 1985 to 1988, 1988 to 1990 and 1990 to 1993. He has also been elected Chairman District Council Multan from 1987 to 1991, MNA from 1993 to 1996 and District Nazim Multan from 2001 to 2002. He served as Provincial Minister of Finance Punjab from 1990-1993 and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs from 1994-1996.

He has also been associated with organisations such as Farmers Association Pakistan (FAP) in 1991, SOS in 1997 and Gymkhana Club in 1992. Married and father of a son and two daughters, Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi has travelled to the U.S.A, U.K, Germany, Spain, Austria, Belgium and several countries in the Far East and Middle East. His hobbies include reading and watching T.V.

Candidate's Party Affiliation
Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP)

Competitors as per Elections 2002
Constituency: NA-148
Sardar Muhammad Akram Sandhu • Makhdoom Syed Ghulam Yazdani Gillani • Javed Hashmi

Contact Information
Bab-ul-Quresh Daulat Gate
Multan, Punjab

Phone No(res): 061-514666
Mobile No: 0303-7968630
Email: smhq148@hotmail.com

In Power
He elected as member of National Assembly in 2002 elections from NA-148 , Multan-I

Current Status
Areas of Legislative Interest
• Foregin Affairs
• Education
• Finance
•Health
• Sceince & Technology
• Communication
• Agriculture
Membership of National Assembly Committees
• Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges

Contact Information in Islamabad
A-109, Parliament Lodges
Islamabad
Phone No(off): 051-9222167

32 new planets found outside solar system

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

WASHINGTON: Astronomers have found 32 new planets outside our solar system, adding evidence to the theory that the universe has many places where life could develop.

Scientists using European Southern Observatory telescopes didn’t find any planets quite the size of Earth or any that seemed habitable or even unusual. But their announcement increased the number of planets discovered outside the solar system to more than 400.

Six of the newly found planets are several times bigger than Earth, increasing the population of so-called SuperEarths by more than 30 per cent. Most planets discovered so far are far bigger, Jupiter-sized or even larger. Two of the newly discovered planets were as small as five times the size of Earth and one was up to five times larger than Jupiter.

Astronomer Stephane Udry of the University of Geneva said the results support the theory that planet-formation is common, especially with certain type of common stars. “I’m pretty confident that there are Earth-like planets everywhere,” Udry said in a Web-based news conference from a conference in Portugal. “Nature doesn’t like a vacuum. If there is space to put a planet there, there will be a planet there.”

World's fastest man Bolt gets Order of Jamaica

JAMAICA: Jamaica sprinter and world record-holder Usain Bolt, centre, signs autographs for his fans after being decorated with the Order of Jamaica, the country's fourth-highest honour, Monday.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man, has received one of his native country's highest honours.
Bolt received the Order of Jamaica during Monday's heritage celebrations in the capital, Kingston.

At 23, Bolt is the youngest person to receive the honour.
In recent weeks, Jamaica has also re-named a highway after the Olympic and world champion and record-holder.

Bolt ran 9.58 seconds in the 100 metres at the world championships in Berlin in August.

He ran 19.19 in the 200, breaking the records he set at the Beijing Olympics.

Waziristan: 6 more extremists killed in operation, 11 wounded

WANA: Six more extremists have been killed and 11 others wounded in ongoing operation Rah-e-Nijat in Northern Waziristan Tuesday.

According to sources, security forces are advancing to extremists bases in Makeen and Ladha from the area of Razmak.
Gunship helicopters, jet planes and ground troops are taking part in the operation.
Extremists death tally has mounted to over 80 and more than 30 hideouts have been destroyed in the continuing operation for last four days, state sources added.

Meanwhile, security forces are facing severe resistance on part of the extremists in some areas.

Bomb blast wounds 24 in Thai south

YALA: A bomb attack Monday on a crowded market in Thailand's troubled south wounded 24 people including three soldiers, local police said.

The device, hidden in a motorcycle parked in front of the market in Yala town, went off at 7:30 am as customers were shopping for food.

A bitter separatist insurgency in Thailand's Muslim-majority southern provinces has claimed more than 3,900 lives over the past five years. The shadowy militants target Buddhists and Muslims, with victims ranging from teachers and security forces to rubber plantation workers.

Iran suicide blast toll mounts to 49

TEHRAN: The death toll in a suicide bomb attack in Sistan area in Iran has risen to 49.

Earlier 35 people were killed by a suicide bomber including seven senior Revolutionary Guards commanders and other notable people in one of the deadliest attacks on Iran's elite military institution.

The attack occurred early on Sunday in the Pishin district of Sistan province in the country's southeast near the border with Pakistan and injured several dozen as officers were preparing to stage a meeting.

Two high-ranking commanders among those dead included the deputy head of the Guards' ground forces, General Nourali Shoushtari, and the Guards' commander in the Sistan-Baluchistan province, General Rajabali Mohammadzadeh.

Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani accused the United States of being involved in the explosion, but the White House denied any involvement and condemned the attack.

Media reports said that Jundullah hiding in Pakistan claimed responsibility for the blast.

The Revolutionary Guards is an elite force loyal to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader.

Jackson's white glove sold for $66,000

The iconic white glove worn by pop legend Michael Jackson on his 1984 'Victory tour' has sold at auction for a staggering $66,000.

The glove, which was illuminated by 50 tiny lights embroidered into the material, was described as the "ultimate piece of Jackson memorabilia", media reports said.

The Profiles in History auction in Calabasas, near Los Angeles, featured other Jackson items including a yellow tie-dye shirt worn by the star on TV in 1971, which sold for $16,500.

A red sweater and a white fedora hat, donned by Jackson at the 1981 American Music Awards, sold for $44,250.

The auction also featured memorabilia from other artists including a guitar played by Rock and Roll icon Elvis Presley during his final Las Vegas performance, which was sold for $106,200.

Over 100,000 migrated from Waziristan

WANA: More then 100,000 people have been migrated so far from South Waziristan since start of operation in the area.

According to Army Support Group Colonel Wasim Shahid100, 000 people migrated to Tank and different districts of Dera Ismail Khan. At least 80,000 people had already left the area before launch of operation whereas 22,000 people of 1500 families migrated from South Waziristan during last two days. The officials said more families would likely left the affected areas in coming days.

The sources of United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) confirmed that more then 100,000 migrants have been registered.

Commander among 8 militants killed in S Waziristan fight

WANA: Eight militants including a militant commander have been killed and several others wounded as operation ‘Rah-e- Nijat’ is on in South Waziristan.

According to sources, clashes continued between security forces and militants in Khesor and Shahvangi areas. A militant commander among eight militants killed during forces offensive.

Security forces pounding militants’ positions by gunship helicopters, fighter jets and heavy artillery in Laddha, Makken, Sam and other adjoining areas. The death toll of militants killed during three-day action has risen to 33.
On the other hand, mass evacuation from the affected areas. However, people migrating towards safer places facing difficulties due to non-availability of transport because of the curfew.

Migration on in S Waziristan

WANA: The evacuation of people from different areas of South Waziristan is underway and people are shifting to Bannu, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan through North Waziristan.

After launch of security forces operation against militants, massive migration from Shakoi and Zangra areas of South Waziristan is going on. Local residents have established makeshift at Mir Ali for the displace persons. The entry of the migrants is carrying out at Khajori check post. Some of the people hired houses; however, no arrangements have been made by political administration for the affectees.

Will Punjab CM make way for a free and impartial enquiry into the Lahore terror incidents?

The provincial capital came under attack on Thursday as terrorists unleashed coordinated raids on three law-enforcement facilities, killing at least 19 people, including 14 security officials and 41 others sustained injuries, in fierce fighting, before security forces brought the situation under control. All nine attackers were also shot dead by security personnel, officials said.

The three attacks were launched within an hour of each other – starting 9.30am with a raid on the building that houses FIA offices and followed by assaults on the Manawan Police Academy and the Elite Force Training Centre at Bedian Road. The brazen attacks on tightly guarded security sites came just six days after a highly organized attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. A TTP faction – the Amjad Farooqi group – has claimed responsibility for the attacks, reported a private TV channel.

Thursday’s attack on three different sites was the fifth major terror incident in the city during the current year. At least 50 people were killed in the previous four attacks. On June 12-- Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi, a leading anti-Taliban cleric, was assassinated, with six other people killed and five injured, when a suicide bomber detonated himself at the Jamia Naeemia madrassa in Garhi Shahu. On May 27--suicide bombers detonated a vehicle loaded with 100kg explosives near the offices of the capital city police officer (CCPO) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Around 27 people were killed and 326 injured. On March 30--around 10 terrorists entered the Police Training School Manawan. Eight cadets and one civilian were killed while 93 cadets and civilians were injured. On March 3--twelve terrorists armed with hand grenades and sophisticated weapons attacked the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team near the Liberty Roundabout. Six cricketers were injured, while six policemen and two civilians were killed.

The attacks in Lahore took place despite warnings from intelligence agencies that this would happen. Some of these warnings had appeared in the media. In spite of that the Punjab government, it seems, didn’t take it seriously, yet it found an opportunity making use of it for their political purposes and forced postponement of the by-elections already scheduled by Election Commission. If we are unable to stop the militants despite such precise intelligence, there is quite obviously something that is very wrong. We need to find out where these oversights or lapses or negligence are occurring and why. In times of war there can be no room for mistakes, especially ones that lead to death and destruction on this scale.

Will the Punjab chief minister being the chief executive of the province own this responsibility and make way for a free and fair enquiry into the matter, as the general public including the aggrieved people would like some heads must roll for the criminal lax and laxity on the part of the authority. We must find out why it has occurred and come up with ways to stop the other bombers, who even now may be chalking up their plans and detecting security weaknesses they can exploit.

Concerns on Kerry-Lugar Bill resolved: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said concerns on Kerry-Lugar Bill have been resolved.

Talking to the media at airport on return from the US, Qureshi said he will brief Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and the Army Chief Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani about his current visit of US and the clarifications given about Kerry-Lugar bill.

Foreign minister said US has raised our economic assistance through KLB that will help our economy grow further. He said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit Pakistan soon and announced. She will announce a comprehensive package for energy sector, he added.

Suicide bomber kills 11 at mosque in Iraq

BAGHDAD: A suicide bomber opened fire on worshippers Friday at a mosque in northern Iraq and then blew himself up, killing 11people and wounding 42, police and hospital officials said.

The attacker fired shots from AK-47 rifle at a Sunni mosque in the city of Tal Afar, a local police official said. When the shooter ran out of ammunition, he detonated his explosives belt, the official said.

An official with the Tal Afar hospital confirmed the casualty count. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media.

Tal Afar, about 90 miles (150 kilometers) east of the Syrian border in Ninevah province, has been the scene of a number of horrific insurgent attacks.

In July, a coordinated attack by two suicide bombers killed 38people there.

58th death anniversary of Liaquat Ali Khan observed

ISLAMABAD: The 58th death anniversary of Pakistan' first Prime minister Nawazada Liaquat Ali Khan was observed on Friday.

Liaquat Ali was born on October 1, 1896 in India and assassinated on October 16, 1951 in Rawalpindi, various TV channels reported.

In 1921, he obtained a degree in Law from Oxford and was called to Bar at Inner Temple in 1922.

After independence, Quaid-i-Azam and Muslim League appointed Liaquat Ali to be the head of Pakistan government. Being the first Prime Minister of the country, he had to deal with a number of difficulties facing Pakistan in its early days.

Liaquat Ali Khan helped Quaid-i-Azam in solving the riot and refugee problem and setting up an effective administrative system for the country.

After the death of Quaid-i-Azam, he tried to fill the vacuum created by the departure of the Father of the Nation. Under his premiership, Pakistan took its first steps in the field of constitution making, as well as foreign policy.

He presented the Objectives Resolution in the Legislative Assembly. The house passed it on March 12, 1949. Under his leadership a team also drafted the first report of the Basic Principle Committee.

His efforts in signing the Liaquat-Nehru pact pertaining to the minority issue in 1950 reduced tensions between India and Pakistan.

In May 1951, he visited the United States and set the course of Pakistan's foreign policy towards closer ties with the West. On October 16, 1951, Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated. He had been scheduled to make an important announcement in a public meeting at Municipal Park, (Now Liaquat Bagh) Rawalpindi.

The security forces immediately shot the assassin, who was later identified as Said Akbar. Killing the assassin erased all clues to the identity of the real culprit behind the murder. Liaquat Ali Khan was officially given the title of Shaheed-i-Millat, but the question of who was behind his murder is yet to be answered.

Jacobabad: 19 foreigners arrested from passenger busses

JACOBABAD: Kashmor Police have arrested 19 foreigners from two passenger busses en-rout to Karachi from Peshawar.

Security has been high alerted at Punjab-Sindh border following recent deadly terrorist activities in the country, Kashmor police said.

Police arrested 16 Afghan nationals from one bus and 3 Tajiks from another. These men were traveling without proper documents.

They were shifted to Gudu Police Station for investigation.

Ban on pillion riding in Karachi, Hyderabad

Ban on pillion riding in Karachi, Hyderabad

Updated at: 1900 PST, Friday, October 16, 2009

KARACHI: Sindh government has once again imposed a ban on pillion riding in Karachi and Hyderabad for one month.The ban will be effective from Thursday midnight for the next 30 days.

Women, elderly, children, security personnel and journalists are exempted from the ban, said the notification issued by Sindh Home Department.

Kerry-Lugar Bill won't harm Pakistan sovereignty: Qureshi

Kerry-Lugar Bill won't harm Pakistan sovereignty: Qureshi

Updated at: 1740 PST, Friday, October 16, 2009

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday that Kerry-Lugar Bill would not harm the sovereignty and solidarity of Pakistan.
The bill would not entail interference in internal affairs of the country, rather it is a manifestation of the fact that Washington desires to build long-term partnership with the people of Pakistan, he said while winding up a debate in the Senate.

The minister said that he conveyed the concerns of the people of Pakistan and the two Houses of the Parliament to the US leadership, which acted within 24 hours and attached two documents with it to ally "fears about it."

"During my meeting with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton I categorically told her that we will never compromise on national interests and never allow micro-management of our country," he said emphatically.

Qureshi said during his meetings with Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar and other top US leaders he minced no words in highlighting Pakistan's stance.

He also said that he plainly told them that Pakistan has changed now and "we are a democratic government answerable to our people. "I told them that they were used to one-window operation in Pakistan but those days are gone when they used to deal with one person, said the minister.

The minister quoted Senator Kerry and Lugar as writing in the attached documents. "We want to emphasize that the legislation does not seek to compromise on Pakistan's national security and impinge on national security or micro-manage any aspect of Pakistan's military or civilian matters".

He said that they also told him that any interpretation that does not respect the sovereignty would be against the congressional intent.
The foreign minister said that for the first time the United States has decided to support a democratic government and the bill was passed unanimously by both Houses of the Congress, which manifests that Washington wants long-term partnership with the people of the Pakistan.

Triple terror attack: Women join Taliban to strike Lahore

Lahore: Five days after striking at the heart of the Pakistani military headquarter, the Taliban laid siege to this cultural capital of the country Thursday, staging simultaneous and "multi-directional" attacks at three police establishments that have killed at least thirty seven people, police and eyewitnesses said.

Pakistani volunteers remove a body as they walk past an attackers body (R) at the premises of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) - criminal police building after gunmen attacked in Lahore on October 15, 2009. Eleven people, including six security officials, died after gunmen stormed three police buildings in Pakistan's eastern city Lahore on October 15, a senior police official said. AFP PHOTO/ARIF ALI

Armed men dressed in military uniform stormed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the training centre of the Elite Force and the Manawan police training school that is just 12 km from the India-Pakistan border. There were women in those who carried out the attack. There was heavy exchange of fire in all three establishments. Loud blasts and gunshots could be heard, eyewitnesses said. Helicopters hovered above to keep a watch on the terror drama unfolding across the city.

Lahore Commissioner of Police Khusro Pervez told Dawn News that it was a "multi-directional attack".

Taliban owns up assault
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) that had claimed responsibility for the audacious assault on the Pakistani General Headquarters (GHQ) in the garrison town of Rawalpindi Saturday, owned up Thursday's attacks.

Pervez said seven people were killed in the attack on the FIA building and three people injured. These included two terrorists - a third was taken into custody, media reports said. The FIA, Pakistan's federal law enforcement agency, is located close to a school.

An official of the Ganga Ram Hospital confirmed that the dead bodies have been transferred to the facility.

"The FIA building has been cleared and search operations are being carried out in the surrounding areas," Pervez said, adding that a suicide jacket had been recovered.

At the Elite Force headquarters at Bedian Road, 10 terrorists, including three women, barged into the premises, lobbing grenades and firing indiscriminately. Police said the exchange of fire was still on and the complex had been encircled.
Six armed terrorists stormed into the Manawan academy, located five km from the Elite Force establishment, lobbing grenades and firing from automatic weapons.

According to Pervez, security forces were still searching for the terrorists. This was the second attack on the establishment this year after the March 30 assault that left 13 people dead.

Lahore under terror siege, three more places under attack

LAHORE - The eastern Pakistan city of Lahore appeared to be under siege from terrorists on Thursday morning, with at least four security installation under attack.While senior police officials confirmed the end of the attack on the FIA building as short while ago, three other places- the Elite Police Center, the Manawan Police trining Academy and the main police station in the Civil Lines area were being attacked.

Television reports said heavily armed attackers stormed into the Manawan Police Academy on the outskirts of Lahore. Reports of firing at the Elite Police Center (EPC) were also received.

Unconfirmed reports said eight to ten terrorists had targeted the EPC, and an intense gun battle was still on till the reports last filtered in.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has also confirmed that commando operations were on at both of these two places.

Earlier, militants raided the FIA building, situated on Temple Road, and took several officials hostage.

Five persons, including two terrorists were killed in the rescue operation which followed.

Senior police officials confirmed that the 20-25 hostages were rescued room the building, which houses several government and private offices.(ANI)

Lahore under attack: Multiple attacks rock Lahore,20 people killed

Once again terrorists attacked three security forces buildings in Lahore today. As per reports, unidentified terrorists targeted Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) building, Manawa Police Training Centre and Eliot Force Training Centre situated at Bedian Road. In the first incident, unidentified terrorists targeted FIA building situated at Temple Road. According to the SP Civil Lines, Dr Haider, 5 persons have been killed in the incident, however the building is reported clear now. Geo News Nadeem Alvi said three FIA men have been martyred, whereas a terrorist killed, while a dead body is yet to be identified. On the other hand Ganga Ram Hospital Administration confirmed that seven dead bodies have been transferred to the health facility. Unidentified terrorists also attacked the Eliot Force Training Centre situated at Bedian Road and Manawan Police Training Centre.

According to reports six armed terrorists, wearing militia uniforms, barged in the Bedian and Manawan training centres and opened gunfire after throwing hand grenades.
Exchange of gunfire continues in both the buildings, whereas loud blasts are also being heard.
Police Jawans are battling bravely with the terrorists and helicopters continue aerial surveillance.
It may be recalled that Manawa training centre is situated some five kilometre away from Bedian and FIA building, Eliot Force Training Centre and Manawa Police Training Centre have today been targeted simultaneously.

Lahore under attack: Multiple attacks rock Lahore,20 people killed

Lahore under terror siege, three more places under attack

Thu, Oct 15 11:15 AM

Lahore, Oct.15 (ANI): The eastern Pakistan city of Lahore appeared to be under siege from terrorists on Thursday morning, with at least four security installation under attack.
While senior police officials confirmed the end of the attack on the FIA building as short while ago, three other places- the Elite Police Center, the Manawan Police trining Academy and the main police station in the Civil Lines area were being attacked.

Television reports said heavily armed attackers stormed into the Manawan Police Academy on the outskirts of Lahore. Reports of firing at the Elite Police Center (EPC) were also received.
Unconfirmed reports said eight to ten terrorists had targeted the EPC, and an intense gun battle was still on till the reports last filtered in.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has also confirmed that commando operations were on at both of these two places.Earlier, militants raided the FIA building, situated on Temple Road, and took several officials hostage.
Five persons, including two terrorists were killed in the rescue operation which followed.Senior police officials confirmed that the 20-25 hostages were rescued room the building, which houses several government and private offices.(ANI)

US embassy looking into disappearance of weapons: spokesman

Thursday, October 15, 2009

By Ansar Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: The US embassy has been found involved in importing sophisticated weapons to Pakistan without the permission and knowledge of the authorities here.

The Foreign Office and the Commerce Ministry denied having authorised the US or any other foreign mission to import huge quantity of weapons. However, the fact remains that the US embassy in Islamabad has brought to Pakistan at least two consignments of modern weapons during this year.

The Foreign Office, which is the main coordinating federal agency in any such deal of foreign missions, and the Commerce Ministry, which issues no objection certificates (NoC) for such imports, have no clue as how did and from where the US embassy get the weapons in these two cases uncovered by The News.

In one case, the US embassy imported 30 PKM Machineguns and 25 Barrel Grenade Launchers in a shipment coming from Sofia, Bulgaria. The embassy has not offered any explanation where did these weapons go. The embassy spokesman said that he did not have any information about this.

In the second case, the US embassy has admitted importing automatic weapons for Inter-Risk, the banned local security agency, having security contracts with DynCorp and the US embassy in Islamabad. However, there was no explanation as if the arms were imported or smuggled from Afghanistan.

However, the most intriguing part of this case is that the Deputy Commissioner Office Islamabad did not confirm the provision of even a single weapon by the US embassy to Inter-Risk. Instead, all the weapons registered in the licences issued to Inter-Risk were gifted by a tribal chief of Bannu. It raised the fundamental question about the whereabouts of the weapons that the US admitted to have got for Inter-Risk.

Authorities in Pakistan have now woken up to realise what General Musharraf did to this country and how much liberty he had given to US diplomats and officials at the cost of national security.

Background interaction with officials of the foreign, defence, interior and commerce ministries reveal that the government of Pakistan is absolutely clueless about the quantity of weapons brought to Pakistan by the US embassy. There is also no information with the government that where did these arms go.

Repeated incidents of arms display in public by US diplomats and the red-handed nabbing of Dutch diplomats with weapons and bombs have compelled the Foreign Office to issue a letter to all foreign missions, requesting them to declare the details of the weapons in their possession and get authority letters for the arms they want for security.

Although the letter is issued to all foreign missions and embassies, what is in the mind of the authorities here is the US embassy.

In the meantime, all US officials and diplomats are being made from today (Oct 15) to go through normal airport checks at the Islamabad airport as the government has withdrawn the extraordinary concession offered to them after 9/11 by Pervez Musharraf. Under the concessions, the US officials and their vehicles enjoyed completely unchecked arrivals and departures.

Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit and Secretary Commerce Suleman Ghani, when approached by The News, denied to have given any permission to any embassy to import weapons in bulk. Both were of the view that there were cases of individual requests for import of hunting guns etc but there was no permission given for major import of weapons to any embassy.

Ghani said that he had checked the past two years record of the ministry and he did not find any case of the issuance of NoC for large quantity of import of arms by any embassy. The Interior Ministry spokesman, who was asked by this scribe for details on the subject, simply vanished and never came up with the details.

While the FO and the Commerce Ministry are in complete dark, a letter dated March 26, 2009 and signed by Doyle R Babe, Lt-Col of the US embassy, talks of the shipment/transportation of 30 PKM Machineguns and 25 GP-30 40mm under Barrel Grenade Launchers from Sofia, Bulgaria to Islamabad, Pakistan.

The letter clearly said that the final destination of the consignment is Islamabad. Although the FO spokesman said he was not aware of this shipment, a letter dated September 7, 2009 addressed to the deputy collector Customs Islamabad airport by one Col (retd) Shahid Latif informs the Customs authorities that the consignment has arrived and the consignee is the US embassy. It also talked of Customs exemption certificate to have been issued by the Foreign Ministry.

According to a source, Musharraf had given so much liberty to the Americans after 9/11 that different government departments and agencies started directly dealing with the Americans. As a result, nobody knew what the other was doing. This situation, it is said, led to the governmentís ignorance about what the US embassy was doing.

US embassy spokesman Richard Senlsire, when approached, initially said that he did not know anything about this case. When requested to check, he promised to call back. After a while, when The News contacted him again, he said the embassy is looking into this case.

About the mystery relating to the Inter-Risk weapons, Rick also promised to check the facts from the officials concerned in the embassy. He was also asked to share with The News the details about the weapons imported by the US embassy during the recent years and as to where do such weapons go.

In case of Inter-Risk, the US embassy spokesman was told that the Islamabad deputy commissioner office record clearly show that the prohibited bore weapons registered against the PB licences, issued to Inter-Risk on US embassyís influence, were gifted to Inter-Risk not by the US embassy but by one Malik Khan Zada Wazir, who is chief of Wazir Sain Khel tribe of Daryoba Agency in FR Bannu. The arms gifted by Wazir to Inter-Risk were 50 Bore 5.56 weapons and with each weapon 1,000 rounds and six magazines. These apparently gifted weapons are American made and sources here allege that the same weapons have been smuggled by the US embassy from Afghanistan and given to Inter-Risk through Malik Khan Zada Wazir.

The facts as reflected on the official record challenges the US embassyís claim that it had brought arms for Inter-Risk, and raises the question about the real destination of the arms claimed to have got in the name of Inter-Risk if it has nothing to do with the gifted weapon of Malik Wazir.

The US spokesperson was also asked to comment on the allegations by some here that the US embassy had been involved in providing arms and ammunition to terrorist groups targeting Pakistani security agencies and the people here. Rick expressed his surprise over this question and asked this correspondent to go and visit Bara Peshawar where one can find all sorts of US weapons.

World must stop Indian intervention in Pakistan: Malik

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Says arms supply to terrorists coming from Afghanistan; ‘we gained nothing from playing close ally role in terror war’

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Wednesday demanded of the international community to pressure India to stop intervention in Afghanistan and Pakistan to ensure establishment of peace in the region.

“India is increasing its intervention in Pakistan through Afghanistan. Pakistan-Afghanistan border must be sealed and international community must help stop Indian intervention,” said the minister while talking to newsmen at the Parliament House.

ìIn my speech at Interpol, I had informed the international community that ammunition supply to terrorist elements is coming from Afghanistan where Indian intervention is increasing with every passing day as a conspiracy to destabilise Pakistan.î

He said Pakistan has always been termed close ally but it is inevitable that international players play their role to end Indian intervention for positive results. “We gained nothing from playing close-ally role in the war on terror. After Afghanistan-Russian war, we received millions of Afghan refugees still staying in the country. After 9/11, we got suicide attacks in our country,” he said and added that we had been calling for early repatriation of these refuges.

He said one should think a while as why only Pakistan is suffering during the prevailing situation in the region and the security situation would persist until the Indian intervention is stopped in Pakistan. The minister categorically rejected the apprehensions from the West alleging the presence of the Taliban leadership in Pakistan and described such statements as baseless. “Today, I categorically reject the statement that the Taliban leadership, including Osama Bin Laden and Mulla Omer, are present in our area. Talks about Quetta Shura are totally baseless,” he clarified.

Regarding the decision to launch operation in South Waziristan, the minister said it would be finalised after the return of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani from foreign visit and taking all stakeholders into confidence. “Neither the timing of the operation has been finalised nor has the duty been assigned to anyone for operation in South Waziristan,” said the minister. He said security forces operation in Swat and Malakand was successfully completed as it had the backing of the people and the political leadership as the government took along all the political leaders, including those of Tehrik-e Insaaf and the Jamaat-e-Islami into confidence.

Malik said the probe into the terrorist attack at the GHQ, Rawalpindi, is underway and the investigation report would be made public after it is finalised. He said the Army has its own investigation set-up and other agencies, too, are involved in probing into the GHQ attack and added the capital police also worked shoulder-to- shoulder with the Army in this whole episode.

He said Pakistan’s security as well as integrity is linked with the Pakistan Army and one should not try to create hatred among the institutions. “No one should create hatred among institutions. This was not only the attack on the GHQ, rather the whole country, the people,” said Malik.

Russia to support resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Putin ready to play proactive role in economic development of Pakistan

By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir

BEIJING: Russia has announced its support for the resumption of the composite dialogue between Pakistan and India while Pakistan and Russia have decided to re-engage in comprehensive process of dialogue through re-launching of the inter-governmental commission of the two countries by December next.

The commission will cater to revamping and building of infrastructure, energy, rail links, heavy industries, trade and expansion of the Pakistan Steel Mills.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have agreed to strengthen Pakistan-Russia bilateral ties in an unscheduled meeting here on the sidelines of the 8th heads of the government conference of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) here in the Chinese capital.

The meeting took place at the state guesthouse, where the Russian prime minister is staying and it lasted about 90 minutes against the allocated half an hour. The meeting took place in exceptionally cordial atmosphere and the two prime ministers had an exchange of views in a relaxed manner. Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Pakistan’s envoy to China Masood Khan assisted the prime minister in the meeting.

Sources told the media after the meeting that the two leaders developed personal friendship chemistry and had candid exchange of views on various aspects of mutual interest, including the fight against terrorism and extremism. Prime Minister Gilani urged the Russian prime minister to exercise his clout over India to bring it to the negotiating table. Putin supported the idea and said Moscow is keen to see normalisation of relations between Pakistan and India since it could help Russia in maintaining cooperative relations with the two countries. It would be useful for the regional peace and progress and well-being of the people of the region, he said.

The sources said Pakistan and Russia agreed to adopt regional approach towards dealing important challenges. Prime Minister Putin supported Pakistan’s stance on the war on terror and offered to increase the capacity building of its law-enforcement agencies. The Russian prime minister agreed to pursue the policy of counter-terrorism for ensuring regional peace. Prime Minister Putin acknowledged Pakistan’s role in overcoming domestic challenges of terrorism and extremism, and expressed sympathies for the loss being incurred in this regard.

Both leaders engaged each other on entire system of Pak-Russia relations and pledged to take actions to make it more productive.

Putin said Pakistan was an important country in the region and Russia would support Pakistan and India’s composite dialogue.The Russian prime minister said his country could play an important role in eradicating regional terrorism and extremism.

Putin agreed to support Pakistan’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The two prime ministers agreed that collective regional efforts were required to eliminate terrorism from the region to usher in peace and stability, and redirect all energies towards economic interaction among the SCO members.

Both leaders agreed to hold the first meeting of the already established Inter-Governmental Commission in the coming December.Putin said Moscow would be interested in exploring cooperation in the fields of oil and gas and would be supportive for the completion of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.

Both leaders said although the relations between Pakistan and Russia had developed over a period of time, yet there was a need to increase the volume of trade between them.“Russia agreed that it would actively support projects to upgrade Pakistan Steel Mills and to lay new railways tracks in Pakistan,” the ambassador said. Premier Putin said Russia would like Pakistan to play a pro-active role in resolving regional issues.

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