DERA ISMAIL KHAN: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday vowed to eradicate militant violence from the country after a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a security checkpoint in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing four policemen and one security personnel while injuring others.
The incident occurred near Mir Ali, a settlement in the volatile North Waziristan tribal district, where security forces have conducted several intelligence-based operations, though the militants’ capacity to launch deadly attacks has not been fully degraded.
The area has frequently been targeted by the banned militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whose leadership is reportedly based in neighboring Afghanistan.
“Terrorists will never succeed in their evil designs,” the president said in a statement quoted by the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan, expressing sorrow over the attack.
He condemned the incident as a “cowardly act,” paying tribute to those who lost their lives.
Speaking to Arab News, District Police Officer in North Waziristan Rohanzeb Khan confirmed the bomber used his explosive-laden car to target a checkpoint jointly manned by police and security forces.
“The attack on the security check post took place at around 12:30 PM,” Khan said over the phone. “One security official and four policemen were martyred, while five others suffered multiple injuries.”
He added that a heavy police contingent rushed to the area soon after the incident to begin the investigation.
KP has seen a surge in militant attacks since a fragile ceasefire between the government and the TTP collapsed in November 2022.
Earlier in the day, unknown militants targeted the residence of former Senator Saleh Shah in South Waziristan.
A day earlier, militants killed a 19-year-old Pakistan Military Academy cadet in his hometown of Lakki Marwat during evening prayers at a mosque.
According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, last year saw more suicide attacks than any since 2014, with 29 such incidents claiming 329 lives, making it Pakistan’s deadliest year in a decade.
The provincial administration of KP also condemned the Mir Ali attack.
Pakistan president vows to eradicate militancy after suicide attack kills five in northwest
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Pakistan president vows to eradicate militancy after suicide attack kills five in northwest
- The incident in Mir Ali happened as a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle in a security checkpoint
- Unknown militants also targeted the residence of a former senator in Pakistan’s South Waziristan
Pakistan’s deputy PM calls for equitable global financial system at Commonwealth meeting
- Dar says Pakistan wants to spend on health, education but lacks access to global financial markets
- He maintains the world should prioritize debt relief and restructuring along with climate financing
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar called for an equitable global financial architecture during the Executive Session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, state-owned media reported on Saturday, stressing the need to support developing countries in meeting their economic needs.
Dar, who also holds the foreign ministry portfolio, is leading Pakistan’s delegation at the Commonwealth gathering, which began on Monday, to present Islamabad’s stance on key global issues.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent nations, with roots tracing back to the British Empire. Today, any country can be part of it, with Gabon and Togo being the most recent members, joining in 2022.
“Addressing the gathering, he said the global community should prioritize debt relief and restructuring, sustainable investments in resilient infrastructure, enhanced access to climate financing and digital and financial inclusion in addition to strengthening multilateral cooperation,” Radio Pakistan reported.
“Ishaq Dar said Pakistan recognizes the pressing need for investments in health, education and infrastructure, yet it faces significant challenges due to the limited access to international financial markets and impacts of climate change,” it added.
Dar also highlighted Pakistan’s active participation in Commonwealth working groups on the digital economy and sustainable finance, saying it reflecting the country’s commitment to integrating innovative solutions into its economic strategy.
He also engaged with the heads of delegations from other Commonwealth member states on the sidelines of the conference.
Three paramilitary troops injured in explosion in Pakistan’s Balochistan province
- Police confirm FC soldiers were moving in a convoy near Duki when an IED blast happened
- Earlier this month, unknown militants also killed 20 coal miners in the area with heavy weapons
QUETTA: Three Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on Saturday, confirmed a police official, saying the incident took place in an area located 15 kilometers from Duki in Loralai Division.
Earlier this month, unidentified militants killed at least 20 coal miners in the area, using heavy weapons, sparking protests from labor organizations and halting mining operations amid heightened fear.
The attack in Duki occurred slightly over a month after separatist militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) carried out a series of coordinated assaults in the province, killing more than 50 people, including highway commuters.
Hamayoun Khan, Station House Officer at the Duki police station, confirmed the paramilitary troops were targeted while traveling in a convoy through the mountainous area.
“Three soldiers of the paramilitary FC force were injured in the attack,” he told Arab News. “Some unknown individuals planted an IED in the steep Manday Tak area of the mountain.”
While no group has claimed responsibility for this attack, Baloch separatists have often targeted security forces in the region.
Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has been the site of a low-level insurgency by separatist militants who accuse the government of exploiting the province’s mineral resources without benefiting local residents.
The government denies this and asserts it has launched several high-profile projects for the region’s development.
Skipper Shan Masood says Pakistan need stability after famous England win
- Pakistan thrashed England by nine wickets in the third Test inside three days for a 2-1 series win
- Masood tenure as captain was tainted by a string of defeats until Pakistan won against England
RAWALPINDI: Captain Shan Masood said Pakistan need stability to build on Saturday’s memorable victory over England, their first home Test series win in nearly four years.
Masood’s team thrashed England by nine wickets in the third and final Test inside three days in Rawalpindi for a 2-1 series win.
England destroyed Pakistan by an innings in the first Test, before the hosts roared back with their spinners doing most of the damage.
“Like London buses they come together,” a relieved Masood told reporters.
“The first win came after a long time and it was backed up by a series win. It’s special.”
Until Pakistan levelled the series in Multan last week, Masood’s tenure had been tainted by a string of six successive defeats, including a 2-0 loss at home to Bangladesh.
He faced loud calls for his resignation.
Pakistan cricket has been struggling in all formats recently, with a revolving door of leadership overseeing chopping and changing among both players and management.
“For me the biggest thing is progress,” said Masood.
“The Pakistan team needs stability at the moment,” he added. “But when we think that changes are necessary to put the team on a winning track, we will do so.”
Spinners Noman Ali grabbed 6-42 and Sajid Khan 4-69 to bowl England out for 112 in 37.2 overs.
The duo did not feature in the first Test, which saw England post a record first innings score of 823 and led to the axing of star players Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Noman and Sajid combined for a spectacular 39 wickets in the subsequent two Tests, tearing through the England batting and delivering a famous series triumph.
“Noman and Sajid were outstanding, like they were in the second Test,” said Masood. “To be here and standing as the winning team, it’s the most special thing for us.”
Between the duo’s spin wizardry across both England innings, Pakistan were buoyed by a gritty century from middle-order batter Saud Shakeel, ensuring they had vital runs to defend.
“People have grown in stature,” said Masood. “It’s about the whole team and its spirit.”
Saturday’s match ended with Masood smashing Shoaib Bashir for six to chase down the 36-run target in 3.1 overs before lunch.
Pakistan next play a two-Test series in South Africa in December.
Pakistani province seeks to boost projects with Beijing amid concerns over Chinese safety
- Sindh CM calls for greater collaboration with China in transport, energy sectors
- He meets a top diplomat from Beijing after a blast killed two Chinese in Karachi
KARACHI: The chief executive of Pakistan’s Sindh province on Saturday expressed his administration’s desire to bolster collaboration with Beijing in transport, energy and agriculture sectors during a meeting with a top diplomat, nearly three weeks after two Chinese engineers were killed in an explosion in the city.
The two countries jointly initiated a series of energy and infrastructure development projects under the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to aid Pakistan’s development.
However, militants have persistently targeted Chinese nationals in different parts of the country, raising concerns about the safety of these workers and the prospects of the economic collaboration between the two nations.
Only a day earlier, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong urged the local authorities to apprehend the perpetrators of the violent attacks on Chinese citizens.
“China is a key partner in electricity, coal and other projects in Sindh,” Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was quoted in a statement circulated by his office after the meeting with Chinese Consul General Yang Yundong in Karachi.
“With China’s help, the Sindh government aims to improve agriculture, transport and other projects,” he added.
The meeting comes at a time when Pakistan has been reeling from a prolonged economic crisis and has sought to enhance bilateral trade and investment cooperation with friendly countries like China to bolster its fragile economy.
Earlier this month, Pakistani state media reported that a Chinese development association would invest up to $13 billion in a free trade zone in Pakistan in the next five years.
The Chinese consul general also noted that businesses in his country were interested in collaborating with the provincial administration on a number of projects.
Pakistan lifts prison visit ban at Adiala after pushback from Imran Khan’s legal team
- Restriction was imposed by Punjab provincial administration on October 4, citing security reasons
- Khan’s lawyers moved the court on Thursday, which ordered authorities to facilitate their meeting
ISLAMABAD: The government has lifted a temporary restriction on prisoner visits at Central Jail Rawalpindi, commonly known as Adiala Prison, following resistance from the legal team defending former prime minister Imran Khan, who is incarcerated there, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party confirmed on Saturday.
The restriction was imposed by the Punjab provincial administration on October 4, citing security concerns ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in the federal capital, which hosted top government officials from several regional states on October 15 and 16.
Due to the trust deficit between the government and opposition, the restriction, which applied to all inmates, raised concerns about the ex-premier’s health. PTI leaders threatened to march on Islamabad unless Khan’s medical team and lawyers were granted access to him in prison.
PTI lawyers also moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday, prompting a judge to order the government to facilitate a meeting between Khan and his legal team, which took place later that day.
“Jail authorities have lifted a ban on meeting with prisoners in Adiala Prison, Rawalpindi,” the party said in a brief message to the media. “Ban was imposed on Oct 4, citing security concerns and lifted today, Oct 26.”
“IHC judge, Justice Sardar Ijaz had ordered to submit concrete evidence on possible security concerns during the hearing of a petition challenging ban on meetings with the Former Prime Minister Imran Khan,” it added. “So far, the authorities have not given a reply. However, the ban is now lifted and hopefully schedule of meeting with Imran Khan will resume.”
Khan’s party members had a brief meeting with him while the restriction was in place to discuss the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which the government passed earlier this week on Monday.
Pakistani authorities also conducted drills at the prison facility recently to prepare for potential militant attacks.
