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                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
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                        <description>The Express Tribune keeps you up to date with all the latest happenings from Pakistan and across the world!</description>
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			<title>PMO faces LHC gag order on judicial interference</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2475304/pmo-faces-lhc-gag-order-on-judicial-interference</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2475304/pmo-faces-lhc-gag-order-on-judicial-interference#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 30 Jun 24 01:17:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2475304</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Justice Karim issues SOPs to stop direct contact with judges]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (PMO) to instruct all civil and military agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), against contacting or approaching &ldquo;any judge&rdquo; or their staff members.

Justice Shahid Karim issued these directions in a written order&mdash;revealed on Saturday&mdash;based on a complaint filed by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge in Sargodha who reported harassment after allegedly refusing to meet officials from an intelligence agency.

Moreover, in a move to safeguard judicial independence, the LHC judge issued five standard operating procedures (SOPs) aimed at curbing interference in the judiciary.

The court stressed that the IG Punjab should also issue directives to subordinate officers to prevent interference in the judiciary. Any security measures for anti-terrorism courts must be carried out in consultation and with the agreement of the relevant judge.

Former LHC Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan had taken suo motu notice of the judge&rsquo;s complaint, filed with the registrar, and initiated proceedings. After his elevation to the Supreme Court, Justice Karim presided over the case.

At the previous hearing, Justice Karim noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was responsible for the actions of intelligence agencies as they fell under his command.

In a written order dated June 27, Justice Karim stressed that it was &ldquo;imperative&rdquo; to address recurring issues that regularly come before the court, necessitating &ldquo;directions to protect the independence of the judiciary.&rdquo;

He ordered: &ldquo;Instructions shall go out by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office to all civil or military agencies including the Intelligence Bureau as well as Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) regarding strict directions not to approach or contact any judge whether of the superior judiciary or sub-ordinate judiciary or any member of their staff in future.&rdquo;

Similar directives were issued for the Punjab police. &ldquo;Likewise, instructions shall be issued by the Inspector General of Police, Punjab to all police officers [&hellip;] not to contact directly any judge of superior judiciary or the sub-ordinate judiciary regarding the merits of any pending judicial proceedings before these courts,&rdquo; the order stated.

The order specified that security measures for ATCs across Punjab should be implemented &ldquo;with the consultation and concurrence of the learned judge of that court and not otherwise,&rdquo; warning that the inspector general and police chief would be &ldquo;held personally responsible&rdquo; and could face contempt proceedings if the order was violated.

Justice Karim also directed ATC judges across Punjab to install call-recording applications on their mobile phones. &ldquo;[They] shall be bound to record all such calls which they receive and about which the learned judges have apprehension that they have been made to influence any judicial proceedings before them,&rdquo; he stated.

&ldquo;A direction is issued to the judges of ATCs across Punjab to deal and decide the cases relating to May 9, 2023, expeditiously and on priority,&rdquo; the order added.

The court further instructed the Sargodha ATC judge and court staff to cooperate in the investigation. &ldquo;All investigation proceedings should be video recorded and the record shall be maintained by the police as also remitted to this court through the registrar,&rdquo; it stated.

The order concluded by adjourning the proceedings until July 8.

The complaint

The complaint from the Sargodha ATC judge concerned his first day in charge on June 7 when he was informed that &ldquo;some authority of ISI&rdquo; wanted to meet him in his chamber. The judge said he straightaway refused the request.

Since then, he detailed several harassment incidents targeting his family, including damage to the gas meter outside his official residence in Bahawalpur, where he was previously serving.

He also reported receiving an inflated electricity bill for the previous month, which he suspected was fake and possibly sent in connivance with the power utility company and intelligence agency members.

The judicial officer also reported that his relatives were &ldquo;teased&rdquo; by unknown men about his personal information.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>LHC orders PMO to stop agencies from interacting with judges</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2475112/lhc-orders-pmo-to-stop-agencies-from-interacting-with-judges</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2475112/lhc-orders-pmo-to-stop-agencies-from-interacting-with-judges#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 29 Jun 24 08:09:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2475112</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Justice Shahid Karim issued 5-point SOPs to prevent interference in the judiciary]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court (LHC) has instructed the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (PMO) to issue directives to all civil and military agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), prohibiting them from contacting or approaching &quot;any judge&quot; or their staff.

Justice Shahid Karim issued five SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) in a written order which surfaced on Saturday, in response to a complaint lodged by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge in Sargodha.

The judge alleged harassment after reportedly declining to meet officials from an intelligence agency.

Former LHC Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan had taken notice of the judge&#39;s complaint, filed through the registrar, and initiated proceedings. Justice Karim assumed jurisdiction over the case after Chief Justice Khan was appointed to the Supreme Court.

During a previous hearing, Justice Karim had observed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif bore responsibility and accountability for the actions of intelligence agencies, which fell under his authority.

In a written order dated June 27, the judge noted that it was &ldquo;imperative&rdquo; to proceed on certain issues that &ldquo;regularly come before this court&rdquo; and regarding which &ldquo;directions are necessary to be issued in order to protect the independence of the judiciary&rdquo;.

&ldquo;Instructions shall go out by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office to all civil or military agencies including the Intelligence Bureau as well as Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) regarding strict directions not to approach or contact any judge whether of the superior judiciary or sub-ordinate judiciary or any member of their staff in future,&rdquo; he ordered subsequently.

Similar directions were also issued for the Punjab police.

The order further wrote &ldquo;Likewise, instructions shall be issued by the Inspector General of Police, Punjab to all police officers [&hellip;] not to contact directly any judge of superior judiciary or the sub-ordinate judiciary regarding the merits of any pending judicial proceedings before these courts.&rdquo;

The judge emphasized that actions concerning the security of ATCs throughout Punjab would solely be implemented &quot;with the consultation and agreement of the respected judge of that court and not otherwise&quot;. He cautioned that the inspector general and police chief would be &quot;held personally accountable&quot; and face contempt proceedings if they disregarded the directive.

Justice Karim further instructed ATC judges throughout Punjab to install call-recording apps on their mobile phones. He wrote &ldquo;&ldquo;[They] shall be bound to record all such calls which they receive and with regard to which the learned judges have apprehension that they have been made to influence any judicial proceedings before them.&rdquo;

The judges&rsquo; order also wrote &ldquo;A direction is issued to the judges of ATCs across Punjab to deal and decide the cases relating to May 9, 2023, expeditiously and on priority.&rdquo;

The LHC also ordered the ATC judge in Sargodha and the court staff to collaborate in the investigation as it said &ldquo;All investigation proceedings should be video recorded and the record shall be maintained by the police as also remitted to this court through the registrar.&rdquo;

The order concluded that the proceedings were adjourned till July 8.

The issue stemmed from when the Sargodha ATC judge on his first day in charge on June 7 complained that he was informed that someone claiming to represent the ISI wanted to meet him in his office.

The judge stated that he immediately turned down the request.

Since then, he detailed several instances of harassment aimed at his family. These included tampering with the gas meter outside his official residence in Bahawalpur, where he worked before being transferred to Sargodha.

Additionally, he mentioned that his family received an unusually high electricity bill for the previous month, which he believed to be fake. He suspected the possibility of collusion between the power company and members of the intelligence agency.

The judicial officer also reported that unknown individuals had teased his relatives by disclosing personal information about him.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Cache of explosive materials belonging to TTP recovered</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2269466/cache-of-explosive-materials-belonging-to-ttp-recovered</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2269466/cache-of-explosive-materials-belonging-to-ttp-recovered#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 20 07:58:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[NEWS DESK.]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2269466</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA['Explosives were likely to be used in terrorist activities in Zhob and Quetta']]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Security forces recovered a cache of explosive materials, likely to be used in terrorist activities in Zhob and Quetta, in an operation conducted in Qamar Din Karez against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Thursday.

According to security sources, items were most likely transported recently from Afghanistan to Pakistan by ex-TTP elements, through the Ghudwana enclave, and were further being moved to carry out some terrorist activity in Zhob or Quetta.



&nbsp;

Eight fully ready improvised explosive devices (IEDs) weighing six to eight kilograms each and a bag comprising 12 to 15 kilograms IED and other accessories including remotes, detonators, ball bearings and detonating cord were recovered in the operation.



PHOTO: EXPRESS]]>
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			<title>UN agencies pit forces for Beirut blast crisis</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2258572/un-agencies-pit-forces-for-beirut-blast-crisis</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2258572/un-agencies-pit-forces-for-beirut-blast-crisis#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 08 Aug 20 07:27:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2258572</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[UN office for humanitarian assistance mobilises agencies to aid Beirut's beleaguered population after killer blast]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[UN agencies said Friday they are working full out to assist Beirut&#39;s beleaguered population with food and medical supplies for a country that imports 85% of its food and has had its hospitals badly hit after this week&#39;s lethal blast.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) is working with humanitarian agencies and political authorities for the Beirut crisis, UN Information Service spokesperson Rheal Leblanc said at a virtual briefing for Geneva UN journalists.

A fire at a warehouse at the Port of Beirut led to a massive blast on Tuesday, leaving at least 154 dead and around 5,000 injuries and causing massive material damage in several neighborhoods of the capital.

&quot;WFP is concerned that the explosion and the damage to the port will exacerbate an already grim food security situation that has worsened because of the financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lebanon imports nearly 85% of its food,&quot; said Elisabeth Byrs, the spokesperson for World Food Program Geneva Office.

WFP is currently providing 107,000 Lebanese with WFP food e-cards, and that 1 million people in Lebanon are living below the poverty line, Byrs noted.

World Health Organisation (WHO) spokesperson&nbsp;Christian Lindmeier said more than 50% of Lebanon&#39;s total population is vulnerable and below the poverty line, and that the casualty toll could rise.

He stressed that the immediate focus is on the trauma care and the search and rescue as there are still people under the rubble, some of them alive, according to media reports.

&quot;Hospitals are all overwhelmed with injured patients as a result of the blast as we all just mentioned, three hospitals in Beirut are non-functional,&quot; Lindmeier said.

Beirut has 500 beds lost, and casualties have been moved outside the Lebanese capital, as far as possible - to Sada in North Tripoli.

The blast happened in an area that is very poor already with 100,000 vulnerable people, said the WHO spokesperson.

&quot;The already weak health system in Lebanon due to the refugee crisis, Covid-19, the economic and political crisis, and the lack of personal protective equipment for health workers is a huge issue,&quot; said Lindmeier.

UNICEF Geneva spokesperson Marixie Mercado said the UN Children&#39;s Agency estimates up to 100,000 children might be among those whose homes were damaged or destroyed.

&quot;The Assameh Birth and Beyond Pediatric Unit in Karantina Hospital, which had a specialised unit treating newborns who require critical care, was destroyed.

&quot;Sixteen other primary healthcare centers serving some 160,000 people have sustained some damage,&quot; she said.

Also, Mercado said 10 containers of personal protective equipment, including hundreds of thousands of gloves, gowns, masks, just procured by the Health Ministry for the Covid-19 response were destroyed.

Olga Algayerova, the executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), said: &ldquo;UNECE stands ready to share its expertise and experience developed through years of cooperation on improving the safety of the management of industrial facilities and the storage, transport and handling of dangerous substances.&rdquo;

She said the Beirut blast was the latest in a string of accidents involving ammonium nitrate, such as the fertiliser plant explosions in Texas (2013) and the Tianjin explosions in China (2015), and a deadly blast in Toulouse in 2001, among others.]]>
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			<title>US spy agencies monitor coronavirus spread, concerns about India: sources</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2165986/us-spy-agencies-monitor-coronavirus-spread-concerns-india-sources</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2165986/us-spy-agencies-monitor-coronavirus-spread-concerns-india-sources#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 28 Feb 20 07:54:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2165986</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[India's available countermeasures and the potential for the virus to spread is a serious concern]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[US intelligence agencies are monitoring the global spread of coronavirus and the ability of governments to respond, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday, warning that there were concerns about how India would cope with a widespread outbreak.

While there are only a few known cases in India, one source said the country’s available countermeasures and the potential for the virus to spread given India’s dense population was a focus of serious concern.

US intelligence agencies are also focusing on Iran, where the country’s deputy health minister has fallen ill during a worsening outbreak. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday the United States was “deeply concerned” Tehran may have covered up details about the spread of coronavirus.

A US government source said Iran’s response was considered ineffective because the government only has minimal capabilities to respond to the outbreak.

Two coronavirus cases emerge in Pakistan

Another source said US agencies were also concerned about the weak ability of governments in some developing countries to respond to an outbreak.

The US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee has received a briefing on the virus from the spy agencies.

“The Committee has received a briefing from the IC (intelligence community) on coronavirus, and continues to receive updates on the outbreak on a daily basis,” an official of the House Intelligence Committee told Reuters.

“Addressing the threat has both national security and economic dimensions, requiring a concerted government-wide effort and the IC is playing an important role in monitoring the spread of the outbreak, and the worldwide response,” the official added.

A source familiar with the activities of the Senate Intelligence Committee, led by Republican Senator Richard Burr and Democratic Senator Mark Warner, said the panel was receiving daily updates.

Karachi on alert after first coronavirus case in metropolis

The role of US intelligence agencies in responding to the coronavirus epidemic at this point principally involves monitoring the spread of the illness around the world and assessing the responses of governments.

They are working closely with health agencies, such as the US Center for Disease Control, in sharing information they collect and targeting further intelligence gathering.

One source said US agencies would use a wide range of intelligence tools, ranging from undercover informants to electronic eavesdropping tools, to track the virus’ impact.]]>
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			<title>US and Iran to clash at UN nuclear watchdog</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2010352/us-iran-clash-un-nuclear-watchdog</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2010352/us-iran-clash-un-nuclear-watchdog#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jul 19 10:23:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2010352</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[US says the international community must hold Iran's regime accountable]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The United States will use an emergency meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog's board on Wednesday to raise pressure on Iran over breaches of its nuclear deal, but diplomats expect no concrete action as parties to the deal considers their next move.

In the past two weeks, Iran has breached two limits central to the deal, which as a whole was aimed at extending the time Iran would need to obtain enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon, if it chose to, to a year from around 2-3 months.

Iran says it is responding to the punishing economic sanctions Washington has imposed on Tehran since it pulled out of the deal a year ago. While Washington says it is open to talks on a more far-reaching deal, Iran says it must first be able to sell as much oil as it did before the U.S. withdrawal.

With the two sides apparently deadlocked, Iran says it will continue to breach limits of the deal one by one until it receives the economic windfall the deal promised. Washington meanwhile is seeking to isolate Iran to force it to negotiate.

"The international community must hold Iran's regime accountable," the United States said in a statement explaining its decision to call the Board of Governors meeting.

Any country on the board can call a meeting under the International Atomic Energy Agency rules. The meeting begins at 2:30 p.m. (1230 GMT).

Diplomats from many other countries on the board, however, said that while there was likely to be fiery exchanges between the Iranian and U.S. envoys at the closed-door meeting, they did not expect the board to take any concrete action.

 SANCTIONS SHIELD 

That is partly because while Iran has breached the terms of the deal which the IAEA is policing, the IAEA is not a party to the deal and Iran has not violated the Safeguards Agreement binding it to the agency.

"We did not want this meeting," a European diplomat said, before adding wryly: "It's a chance for everyone to express themselves." Iran has been calling on the European parties to the deal - France, Britain, and Germany - to shield its economy from the US sanctions, and they have set up a vehicle for barter trade that will be able to handle small amounts.

However, they say there is little they can do to ensure the vital oil sales Iran seeks.

IAEA inspectors verified on July 1 that Iran's stock of enriched uranium had gone over the 202.8 kg limit set by the deal, and on Monday that Iran had enriched uranium beyond the deal's 3.67% purity limit.

That is still far below the 20% it enriched to before the deal and the roughly 90% needed to make uranium weapons-grade.

Having warned Iran against breaching the deal, the European
parties on Tuesday expressed "deep concern" but stopped short of taking action like initiating a process that could lead to the re-imposition of sanctions lifted under the deal.

Instead, they said all parties to the deal should meet urgently.]]>
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			<title>Police search 120 houses</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2007862/police-search-120-houses</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2007862/police-search-120-houses#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jul 19 05:34:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2007862</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Police conducted search operations]]>
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				<![CDATA[&nbsp;

The police and other law enforcing agencies (LEAs) carried out a search operation in different areas within the remits of Airport Police Station. The agencies went door-to-door and searched 120 houses and checked the identity papers of up to 3,414 people. During the operation, though no one was arrested, the LEAs conducted biometric verification of all the people investigated. The sources in the police said police, elite commandoes, ladies policemen and other LEAs took part in operation.  

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2019.]]>
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			<title>Prince William delves into UK's secretive spy world</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1945366/prince-william-delves-uks-secretive-spy-world</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1945366/prince-william-delves-uks-secretive-spy-world#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 19 06:00:10 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1945366</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Spends the last three weeks working with the security services including MI6]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The name's Windsor. William Windsor.

As one of the most recognisable public figures in the world, Britain's Prince William would not make as effective a 007 as legendary fictional spy James Bond.

But that did not stop the heir to the British throne spending the last three weeks working with the security services, including in Bond's own foreign intelligence unit MI6.

The Duke of Cambridge ended the top-secret attachment - which also included a week with domestic intelligence service MI5 and cybersecurity agency GCHQ - on Saturday, according to Kensington Palace.

UK minister sees Brexit deal with Labour, opposition wants flexibility

"Spending time inside our security and intelligence agencies, understanding more about the vital contribution they make to our national security, was a truly humbling experience," William said in a statement.

"These agencies are full of people from everyday backgrounds doing the most extraordinary work to keep us safe."

The prince, who has a military background, began the secondment at the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) - better known as MI6 - whose spies work around the world gathering information and furthering British interests.

William, 36, "got to see first-hand how SIS helps the UK identify and exploit opportunities as well as navigate risks to its national security, military effectiveness and economy," Kensington Palace said.

The father-of-three then switched over to the Security Service - MI5 - to observe how counter-terrorism teams conduct investigations, including surveillance.

The duke finished his foray into spycraft at the communications monitoring agency GCHQ in Cheltenham, in western England.

There he spent time "with those using cutting-edge technology, technical ingenuity and wide-ranging partnerships to identify, analyse and disrupt threats," the palace added.

Britain's opposition Labour Party holds Welsh parliamentary seat

GCHQ's head of counter-terrorism operations, whose name was given only as David, said the prince had worked "exceptionally hard to embed himself in the team".

He added William had "comfortably held his own amongst some highly skilled analysts and operators".

The prince is no stranger to the world of security.

After graduating in 2005 from university in St Andrews in Scotland, he spent seven and a half years in the military, before completing active service as a search and rescue helicopter pilot.]]>
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			<title>Govt ducks question on Ehsan’s terror activities</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1617949/questions-ex-ttp-spokesperson-ehsanullah-leaves-interior-ministry-mum</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1617949/questions-ex-ttp-spokesperson-ehsanullah-leaves-interior-ministry-mum#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jan 18 15:30:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Danish Hussain]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1617949</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Senator seeks details of former TTP spokesperson publicly claimed terror activities]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The government on Thursday finally expressed its inability to place before the Senate the details of terror-related activities claimed publically by former Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan.

Ehsan is currently in custody and in a video message released in 2017 he confessed to committing terrorism in Pakistan with the support of the top Indian spy agency.

In June 2017, PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar asked if it was a fact that the former spokesperson for the TTP and the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar had publicly claimed responsibility for “several terrorist attacks on security forces, civilians and state institution” in the country.

'Ehsanullah Ehsan should be given same punishment as Jadhav'

He had further asked: “If so, the details of those incidents and the number of persons martyred and injured in each of the same; (b) whether any case(s) has been registered against the said person regarding those incidents, if so, the details thereof; and (c) whether the said cases registered against that person will be tried in military courts, if so, when and if not, the reasons thereof?”

In September 2017, the interior ministry informed the Senate that it had sent the question to the Ministry of Defense for answer but “defense ministry refused to accept that question”.

The same answer was placed before the house a couple of times during last seven months.

Former spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan rips apart TTP in confession video

On Thursday, the interior ministry claimed that it had sent that question to law enforcement agencies working under its administrative control and those agencies had answered that the issue was not related to them.

“[The] interior ministry’s reply (to this question) may be treated as nil,” the written reply placed before the upper house of parliament on Thursday reads.

However, about second part of the question, the ministry admitted that a petition had been lodged in the Peshawar High Court by advocate Fazal Khan, who is father of Sahibzada Umer Khan who was martyred in the Army Public School incident.

“The respondents in this case are the federal government, government of K-P, ministries of defence, human rights, and law and justice, the ISI and the GHQ.

“The PHC disposed of the petition and directed the authorities concerned not to release Ehsanullah Ehsan without the court orders,” the house was informed.

About the third part of the question whether the cases registered against Ehsan would be tried in military courts and if so then when and if not then the reasons thereof, the interior ministry replied, “On receiving the case and recommendations of the concerned home department of province, the case of Ehsanullah Ehsan will be placed before the committee constituted in the Ministry of Interior. If approved by the subject committee, the case will be trailed in the military court”.

To another question, the government also informed the Senate that 636 Pakistanis, including civilians and personnel of law enforcement agencies, were killed while 2,052 received injuries in as many as 681 terrorism-related incidents reported across the country during 2017.

The death scale was the lowest during the last five years since the incumbent government took over reins of the country.

During last five years – 2013 to 2017 – some 5,244 Pakistanis lost their lives while 14,209 injured in 5,992 reported terrorism incidents.

Through his written replies, the federal interior minister told that the government had been working on developing a counter narrative against extremism and terrorism, and for the purpose the National Internal Security Policy had tasked the National Counter Terrorism Authority to construct a robust national narrative on extremism, sectarianism, terrorism and militancy.]]>
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			<title>Security in and around Peshawar airport put on high alert amid terror threat</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1564344/security-around-peshawar-airport-put-high-alert-amid-terror-threat</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1564344/security-around-peshawar-airport-put-high-alert-amid-terror-threat#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Nov 17 12:55:41 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[umer.farooq]]>
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				<![CDATA[Airport authorities cautioned of a possible attack over a passenger plane – most likely on an international flight]]>
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				<![CDATA[Intelligence agencies have alerted airport authorities at the Bacha Khan International Airport (BKIA), Peshawar of a possible terror attack over passenger plane – most likely on an international flight.

This is not for the first time a threat alert has been issued, but unlike previous cautions, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said an ‘international’ flight could be targeted, officials privy to the threat alert told The Express Tribune.

CAA senior officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the airport management has taken foolproof measures and is in contact with law enforcement agencies including the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Pakistan Army and Airport Security Force (ASF) besides other relevant authorities to thwart any possible attack.

Senators want additional roads for Bacha Khan airport

“We receive such alerts in routine and they are always taken seriously, but this time, extra precautionary measures have been taken,” a senior CAA official said.

Another CAA official said the alert was not only for BKIA but all such facilities across the country. However, since BKIA fell within their domain, necessary steps have been taken to ensure safety of passengers, installations and the facility.

“Our measures to secure people, facility and installations are not threat based but we have been working on it for over two years and have deployed over 600 Frontier Constabulary personnel in the funnel area alone,” a senior security official dealing with the airport security told The Express Tribune.

An airport security policy, he also said, was adopted in 2015 since high level threat alerts were shared for Peshawar as well as Quetta airports, adding that the ASF was supposed to secure airports from inside where other law enforcement agencies to protect the facility from outside areas surrounding the airports.

Passenger left behind and found unconscious at BKIA

“But despite having been adopted in 2015, we are collectively putting all our efforts and 100% counter measures have been adopted,” the official informed, adding, "You don’t have to worry about thing since we are prepared."

None of the CAA officials agreed to be quoted for an official version despite repeated requests at all levels.

Night operations have already been suspended since June 2014 after gunmen fired on a Pakistan International Airline (PIA) passenger plane as it was landing at BKIA killing a woman and injuring two others, including a crew member.

On November 8, the CAA refused to allow a Shaheen Air flight to land at the BKIA and the flight NL-724 was diverted to Lahore.]]>
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			<title>Sharing data with agencies will 'consolidate fear, anxiety in minds of students': Raza Rabbani</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1499243/sharing-data-agencies-will-consolidate-fear-anxiety-minds-students-raza-rabbani</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1499243/sharing-data-agencies-will-consolidate-fear-anxiety-minds-students-raza-rabbani#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Sep 17 09:15:15 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Writes letter to KU chancellor expressing concerns]]>
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				<![CDATA[Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani has written a letter to the chancellor of Karachi University to express his concerns regarding the authorities’ decision to share data, belonging to the students of the varsity, with intelligence agencies.

“I am abhorred by news reports that the record of students at the University will be handed over to the intelligence agencies,” the senator wrote in his letter on Wednesday.

Law enforcement agencies plan to collect data of university students

“These institutions are the hard face of the state, an interaction with them will further consolidate the anxiety and fear in the minds of the students,” he added, maintaining that he is writing as a concerned citizen of Pakistan and not as the senate chairman.



Amid growing concerns over the involvement of young individuals in militancy and terrorism, the authorities of KU have reportedly decided to cooperate with the national security agencies. In this regard, some decisions were taken at an emergency meeting held at KU on Tuesday which was chaired by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan.

Radicalisation: Universities – incubators of fanatical minds?

The decision came after it was discovered that the mastermind behind the attack on Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan was a student of the said varsity. He was enrolled in the Applied Physics department of the KU.

Law enforcement agencies are still on the look out for, Sarosh Siddiqui, the suspected KU student and alleged commander of terror group Ansarul Shariah Pakistan.

The senate chairman went on to say that immediate steps are to be taken in order to control growing extremism in educational institutions.

Rabbani says there is a need for “a total review of the curriculum and implementation of the Senate of Pakistan’s Resolution on restoring students unions, as diverse literary and academic activity will produce a counter paradigm”.]]>
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			<title>Law enforcement agencies plan to collect data of university students</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1498702/law-enforcement-agencies-plan-collect-data-university-students</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1498702/law-enforcement-agencies-plan-collect-data-university-students#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Sep 17 05:46:27 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[faraz.khan]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Authorities at varsities decide to cooperate with security agencies]]>
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				<![CDATA[After failing to comb the data of seminaries students, law enforcement agencies are now planning to comb the data of student enrolled in the city's universities. But according to insiders, they have yet to develop some mechanism and strategy to implement such a plan, The Express Tribune learnt.
Amid growing concerns about young individuals' involvement in militancy and terrorism, the authorities of the University of Karachi (KU) have reportedly decided to cooperate with the national security agencies. In this regard, some decisions were taken at an emergency meeting held at KU on Tuesday which was chaired by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan.

Naureen was not recruited by terrorists from university: LUMHS VC

Similar meetings were also held in other varsities including NED University of Engineering and Technology and Dawood University of Engineering and Technology (DUET). The varsities' administrations have decided to enhance security checks and increase the number of closed-circuit television cameras on the entrance and exit gates of the campuses.
It was learnt that the meetings also decided that the records of students would be scrutinised and a compulsory 'character certificate' would now be required from students seeking admission in the universities.

CTD invites 11 VCs to counter terrorism

However, a KU spokesperson clarified that, "We have only decided to cooperate with the intelligence and law enforcement agencies and we will help them whenever they approach us," said KU spokesperson.
There are number of varsities in Karachi, particularly in private sector, having enrolment of thousands of students. " At KU alone 33, 000 students visit daily so how would it be possible to monitor all of them at one time, having a security staff of 130 members and one wing of the Rangers?," asked KU's security officer.
"It is the duty of the security agencies to develop a mechanism. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) had a meeting with VCs of universities a couple of months ago on the same issue but they seemed to have failed to develop any mechanism."

Terrorist attacks in 2016 'considerably more deadly': study

CTD officials said that they are working on some mechanism. "We have shortage of staff and with that manpower we cannot monitor everyone," said a senior CTD official. "We can only work on case to case basis as we had done in the past."
Law enforcement agencies are still looking for Sarosh Siddiqui, a KU student and alleged commander of a terrorist group Ansarul Shariah Pakistan, who is the suspect behind the attack on Khawaja Izharul Hassan, the opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly.

Extremism leading to terrorism

Not only Sarosh Siddiqui, but one of the attackers, Ahsan Israr, was killed in an alleged encounter with the police shortly after he was trying to escape after attacking the opposition leader. He was also highly qualified, having a PhD degree and associated with a private engineering university as a professor.
This is not for the first time when highly qualified people have been found involved in terrorism and the gang involved in the Safoora Carnage was busted by the Counter-Terrorism Department in 2015. The gang comprised highly qualified members from the different varsities.

HEC calls meeting to discuss campus violence

At least six militants inspired by the Islamic States (IS) shot dead 45 members of the Ismaili community aboard a community bus in Safoora Goth, on the outskirts of Karachi in May 2015.
The CTD also busted a group of facilitators of the Safoora Carnage in 2015, which were also highly qualified. Adil Masood Butt was a highly educated man who had graduated from Indiana University in the United States of America before completing an MBA from Fordham University. He is a member of the board of governors of the College of Accounting and Management Sciences (CAMS) in Karachi, holding around 50% shares of the institution. A former engineer of the Pakistan International Airlines, Khalid Yousuf Bari, was also arrested by CTD over the facilitation charges.]]>
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			<title>Nawaz has been winning elections with the help of 'agencies': Kaira</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1484896/nawaz-winning-elections-help-agencies-kaira</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1484896/nawaz-winning-elections-help-agencies-kaira#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 18 Aug 17 14:21:26 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[PPP leader criticises former PM for not appearing before NAB]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Qamar Zaman Kaira claimed on Friday that deposed PM Nawaz Sharif had been winning elections with the assistance of "agencies".

"Nawaz Sharif has always robbed PPP of its mandate ," he told reporters outside Bilawal House, Lahore.

Kaira maintained that Sharif arbitrarily ran his government and also formed personal ties with institutions.

"Nawaz Sharif was insisting that everything was going fine and well until he was in power. Now that he has been disqualified, he's saying that democracy and the system in the country is about to collapse," the PPP leader remarked.

NAB seeks Sharif’s bank details from SBP

Kaira criticised Sharif for not appearing before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) earlier in the day despite being summoned.

"He [Sharif] claims that he did not receive a notice from NAB, next he will say that he's sick and then he'll come up with some other excuse," he added.

Kaira also criticised the former PM for his "harsh criticism" of the judiciary following the latter's disqualification by the top court.

To a query about the PPP supporting Sharif in the wake of his ouster, Kaira said his party would not talk to an individual.

"We will talk on a party-to-party basis if we do," he added.

The PPP leader said democracy in Pakistan faced no threat and his party was busy preparing for the next elections.]]>
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