According to the media reports, 16 militants were killed in the aerial strike in Central Kurrum Agency. Two hideouts of the militants were also destroyed.
In Upper Orakzai Agency‚ eight militants were killed in the air-strike and their three hideouts were also destroyed.
Meanwhile‚ in Khyber Agency‚ two women were killed and two others injured in a road side bomb blast in the Mendi Kass area on Saturday.
Three children have been killed in the same area as a mortar shell hit their home.
Official sources said that the aircraft bombed the hideouts of militants in various areas of Upper Orakzai Agency including Bermela, Khadizai, Mamozai, Samabazar and adjoining areas destroying four hideouts of the militants.
They said that jets were sent to bomb hideouts of the militants after intelligence reports that militants from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) led by TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud, were hiding in the mountainous region bordering Afghanistan.
Sources said that death toll may rise further as several militants were reportedly trapped under the rubble of destroyed hideouts while condition of those injured was also reported to be serious.
The political administration and official sources have also confirmed the air strikes and causalities.
However, independent confirmation of the death toll was not immediately possible as the lawless tribal region is barred for journalists.
Most of Upper Orakzai is in Taliban hands and is the scene of frequent clashes between security forces and militants while government troops are in control of its lower reaches.
A similar air strike early this month left 20 militants dead, officials said.
According to US media reports, Mehsud ‘might have been killed’ in a drone strike that took place on January 12 in Datta Khel area of Miranshah, North Waziristan, that had targeted a vehicle, killing six people.
Pakistani intelligence officials said they had intercepted militant radio communications indicating that the Pakistani Taliban’s leader may have been killed.
“It is not yet 100 per cent sure that Hakimullah was killed but we are investigating the matter,” the officials told The Express News 24/7.
However high ranking Pakistani officials said that Mehsud’s death could neither be denied nor confirmed.
Our Ameer is very much alive: TTP spokesperson
A newly appointed TTP spokesperson, Asimullah Asim Mehsud denied the reports of the group’s chief’s death, claiming Mehsud was not in the area where the drone strike occurred.
“Our Ameer (Chief) is very much alive and in full contact with our groups”.
Asim also claimed responsibility for the attack on the District Police Officer’s (DPO) office in Dera Ismail Khan. “They were our suicide bombers, and our reaction will intensify with the passage of time,” he said while completely denying any peace talks with the government.
Talking to The Express News 24/7, a resident from the area, where the drone strike had occured, said that Mehsud’s presence has been reported from the surrounding area.
This is not the first time reports have surfaced of Hakimullah Mehsud’s death.
In 2010, local and US officials both claimed that a missile strike had killed the local Taliban leader. However, the reports proved false as videos of Mehsud surfaced in the following days proving he was still alive.
Reports of Mehsud’s death comes at a time when ‘secret talks’ between Pakistan’s security agencies and the local Taliban – who have reportedly splintered down into many different groups – had entered a decisive phase.
Publicly, the military denies having any talks with the militants.
Senior TTP leaders had also confirmed that these covert talks with the military establishment were reaching a climax and said there were several indications of things moving ahead.
In an earlier report , a young militant commander Raqeebullah Mehsud had said that Hakimullah was not aware of these talks and he, along with a core group following his hard-line positions on talks with the government, was aware of these negotiations.
A security official had also confirmed that the military was now rigorously chasing Hakimullah and his small group, into the Shawal Valley on the border between South and North Waziristan.
He said it was encouraging to note that the traditional Pak-China friendship was being translated into economic cooperation for mutual benefit of the two countries.
The President said Pakistan attaches great importance to enhancing economic and trade links with China. He said that numerous areas such as energy, mining, infrastructure, information technology, telecom, agriculture, irrigation, railway, communication, finance and banking provided excellent opportunities for the peoples of two countries to take advantage and further promote mutual collaboration.
The President called for the need of currency swap agreement between the two countries as it would provide impetus to the existing level of mutual trade by facilitating business community. He also mentioned recently signed Currency Swap agreement with Turkey.
The President said that Chinese investors, businessmen were most welcome to undertake business ventures in Pakistan and take benefit of business-friendly policies and incentives offered by Pakistan Government.
Seeking more investments by Chinese companies in Pakistan, the President stressed upon the need for making efforts to realize full potential of bilateral trade.
He said China was like a second home to him and he was keen to learn from Chinese experience of development and progress.
The President thanked Chinese Government for inviting new generation of Pakistan to visit China and witness the unprecedented progress made by China.
He also thanked the Party for the warm reception and hospitality, extended to Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in his recent visit to China.
Hao congratulated the President on Pakistans’ election to the United Nations Security Councils’ non-permanent seat and said that it demonstrated recognition by world community the constructive role played by Pakistan in promotion of international peace.
The President thanked the Chinese government for supporting Pakistan for the UN Security Councils’ non-permanent seat.
Discussing recent developments and war against militants, Mr. Hao appreciated Pakistan’s countless sacrifices in making this world a safer place to live.
He said China greatly values scarifies made by Pakistani people in the war against terror.
The President said China is a factor of peace development, stability, and Pakistan condemns any attempt to undermine the sovereignty and integrity of China.
He also lauded that the two counties shared perception against the menace of terrorism and their resolve to cooperate with each other to eliminate this threat.
Hao thanked the President for meeting and assured continued support of their Chinese brothers to the people of Pakistan.
He also invited President Zardari to visit Gansu province, which the president agreed to consider.
Hao was of the opinion that both political parties should play their role in promoting harmony.
The President called for the need of currency swap agreement between the two countries as it would provide impetus to the existing level of mutual trade by facilitating business community. He also mentioned recently signed Currency Swap agreement with Turkey.
The President said that Chinese investors, businessmen were most welcome to undertake business ventures in Pakistan and take benefit of business-friendly policies and incentives offered by Pakistan Government.
Seeking more investments by Chinese companies in Pakistan, the President stressed upon the need for making efforts to realize full potential of bilateral trade.
He said China was like a second home to him and he was keen to learn from Chinese experience of development and progress.
The President thanked Chinese Government for inviting new generation of Pakistan to visit China and witness the unprecedented progress made by China.
He also thanked the Party for the warm reception and hospitality, extended to Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in his recent visit to China.
Hao congratulated the President on Pakistans’ election to the United Nations Security Councils’ non-permanent seat and said that it demonstrated recognition by world community the constructive role played by Pakistan in promotion of international peace.
The President thanked the Chinese government for supporting Pakistan for the UN Security Councils’ non-permanent seat.
Discussing recent developments and war against militants, Mr. Hao appreciated Pakistan’s countless sacrifices in making this world a safer place to live.
He said China greatly values scarifies made by Pakistani people in the war against terror.
The President said China is a factor of peace development, stability, and Pakistan condemns any attempt to undermine the sovereignty and integrity of China.
He also lauded that the two counties shared perception against the menace of terrorism and their resolve to cooperate with each other to eliminate this threat.
Hao thanked the President for meeting and assured continued support of their Chinese brothers to the people of Pakistan.
He also invited President Zardari to visit Gansu province, which the president agreed to consider.
Hao was of the opinion that both political parties should play their role in promoting harmony.
“The US drone fired two missiles,” one of the officials told AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media.
“Four militants were killed in the attack, they were all in the vehicle,” he added.
The identities of the dead were not clear, but the village is a stronghold for militants fighting against US troops in Afghanistan.
Covert CIA drones are the chief US weapon against Taliban and al Qaeda militants who use Pakistan’s lawless tribal areas as launchpads for attacking US troops in Afghanistan and plotting attacks on the West.
A US official in Washington described a commander in the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network who was killed on Thursday as “the most senior Haqqani leader in Pakistan to be taken off the battlefield”.
Pakistani officials reported 10 militants killed in two US drone strikes on Thursday and named the Haqqani commander as Jamil Haqqani, a coordinator for the Afghan Taliban faction in North Waziristan.
The US official said he was known as Jamil and as Janbaz Zadran, accusing him of having “played a central role in helping the Haqqani network attack US and coalition targets in Kabul and southeastern Afghanistan”.
Pakistani officials said the slain commander was not a relative of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the Afghan warlord who founded the Taliban faction, but had been close to his son Sirajuddin Haqqani, who now runs the network.
The United States blames the Haqqanis for fuelling the 10-year insurgency in Afghanistan, attacking US-led Nato troops and working to destabilize the Western-backed government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
The US military has accused Pakistan’s premier intelligence outfit, the ISI, of having close ties to the network and of being involved in a 19-hour siege of the American embassy in Kabul on September 13.
After that attack, which killed 14 Afghans, Washington significantly stepped up demands on Pakistan to take action against the Haqqani network.
But Pakistan has refused to launch a sweeping ground offensive in North Waziristan, the Haqqanis’ leadership base, leaving American response largely limited to US drone strikes.
More than 50 have been reported in Pakistan so far this year including dozens since Navy SEALs killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad, close to the capital Islamabad, on May 2.
Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said for the first time that the United States was waging “war” in Pakistan against militants, referring to the covert CIA drone campaign that Washington refuses to discuss publicly.
Jehlum police has arrested four people including three Germans from GT Road Saturday,Express News 24/7reported.According to DSP Saddar Ghulam Mustafa, three foreigners along with a local driver were traveling towards Jehlum from Rawalpindi who have been arrested.The arrested persons were transferred to Dinah police station for further investigation while their traveling documents will also be verified.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani has sent a notice of defamation to Nawa-i-Waqt Group of publications for publishing a column that alleged that he is a US citizen.The notice sent by Haqqani’s lawyer, Advocate Akhtar Awan, states that on September 26, the daily Nawa-i-Waqt published a defamatory column that claimed, among other things, that Pakistan’s ambassador to the US held a nationality other than the nationality of Pakistan. The states that the column written by Muhammad Ajmal Niazi was defamatory and propagated a deliberate lie with the view to malign the Pakistani ambassador. According to Article 8 of the Defamation Ordinance 2002, publishing an untrue claim is subject to libel and defamation proceedings.
According to Haqqani’s lawyer, the false allegation had damaged his reputation and his ability to function for the good of Pakistan as its representative in the United States at a critical juncture. The legal notice stressed that Husain Haqqani had never held, obtained or applied for citizenship status in the United States or any country other than Pakistan, had sometimes worked overseas like millions of patriotic Pakistanis while maintaining his commitment to and citizenship of Pakistan. The notice asked the writer, Ajmal Niazi, Editor-in-Chief Majid Nizami, and Printer-Publisher Ramiza Majid Niazmi to publish a prominently placed apology or present proof, if they have any, to substantiate their allegation within 14 days of the receipt of the notice.
Haqqani’s lawyer concluded by saying that if an apology was not published within the stipulated period, the writer of the defamatory article, as well as the editor, publisher and printer, would be pursued in the courts of Pakistan and in other countries, where the publication may be read online or otherwise, for damages to the tune of one billion rupees.Husain Haqqani has taken over as Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States in Washington, DC. A trusted advisor of former Pakistani Prime Minsiter, Ms Benazir Bhutto, Ambassador Haqqani is known as a Professor at Boston University and former Director of the Center for International Relations. He is also the Co-Chair of the Hudson Institute's Project on the Future of the Muslim World as well as editor of the journal ‘Current Trends in Islamist Thought' published from Washington DC.
Haqqani came to the U.S. in 2002 as a Visiting Scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington DC and an adjunct Professor at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University. He is a leading journalist, diplomat, and former advisor to Pakistani Prime ministers. His syndicated column is published in several newspapers in South Asia and the Middle East, including Oman Tribune, Jang, The Indian Express, Gulf News and The Nation (Pakistan).Haqqani started his journalism career with work as East Asian correspondent for Arabia - The Islamic World Review and Pakistan and Afghanistan correspondent for the Far Eastern Economic Review . During this period he wrote extensively on Muslims in China and East Asia and Islamic political movements. Covering the war in Afghanistan enabled him to acquire deep understanding of the militant Jihadi groups.Haqqani has contributed to numerous international publications, including The Wall Street Journal , The New York Times , International Herald Tribune, Foreign Policy, The Los Angeles Times, The New Republic and The Financial Times . He regularly comments on Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Islamic politics and extremism on BBC, PBS, CNN, NBC, Fox News and ABC.Haqqani also had a distinguished career in government. He served as an advisor to Pakistani Prime ministers Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Nawaz Sharif, and Benazir Bhutto. From 1992 to 1993 he was Pakistan's ambassador to Sri Lanka.Mr Haqqani's 2005 book ‘Pakistan Between Mosque and Military' has been praised in major international journals and newspapers as a path-breaking book on Pakistan's political history. The book received favorable reviews in Foreign Affairs , Wall Street Journal , Boston Globe, and academic journals and has sold more copies than any other book on Pakistan in the last decade.Other recent publications include Pakistan: Avoiding the Traps of the Past (Policy brief, Carnegie Endowment, 2002); The Gospel of Jihad (Foreign Policy magazine, September-October 2002); Islam's Medieval Outposts (Foreign Policy, November-December 2002; The American Mongols (Foreign Policy, May-June 2003); Islam's Weakened Moderates (Foreign Policy, July-August 2003); Political Islam beyond the Middle East: Pakistan and Afghanistan (in ‘Political Islam: Challenges for U.S. Policy', Aspen Institute, July 2003), Think Again: The Causes of Islamist Terrorism (Foreign Policy, January 2006).
According to a senior administration official quoted in the report, it was safe to assume that the Haqqani network was discussed during the secret meeting and that the Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani was stressed towards taking a direct action against the militant network.
Earlier, the US officials met with the leaders of Haqqani network in efforts to talk the militant organisation into ending the war in Afghanistan. According to the NYT report, both the meetings were an indication of “Obama administration’s complicated and seemingly contradictory policies in Afghanistan and Pakistan”, as well as the efforts of the US to rebuild its deteriorating relationship with Pakistan.
The report states that the US State Department is willing to designate the Haqqani network as a “Foreign Terrorist Organisation,” but some military commanders are holding back the decision fearing that it might “alienate the Haqqanis and drive them away from future talks.”
The US-Pakistan relationship strained after Admiral Mike Mullen, the former chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, accused Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of supporting the Haqqani network and for helping them carry out the attack on US embassy in Kabul on September 10. Pakistan’s top military officials and other leaders have met with US officials in several meeting following the accusations to assure them of Pakistan’s fight against the militants.
The recent allegations have become a major stumbling block in improving the relationship between the two countries which has been on a steady decline since the May 2 US raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
The six hour long emergency Corps Commanders meeting chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani concluded in Rawalpindi on Sunday. Sources said no formal declaration of the meeting will be issued.
Chairman joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC) General Khalid Shamim Wynne expressed concern over the recent statements made by the US, and said that Pak-US relations need to be improved.
Sources said the military top brass decided that every decision is to be taken in Pakistan’s interest and that attacks from Afghanistan on the Pak-Afghan border will not be tolerated in the future.
An emergency meeting of Corps Commanders was called by General Kayani in the wake of the prevailing security situation and tension in relations with the United States.
An Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said the meeting was being chaired by Kayani. Issues regarding national security are on top of the agenda.
All corps commanders and principle staff officers attended the meeting.
According to sources, recent allegations leveled by US military chief Mike Mullen that Pakistan has links with the Haqqani network will also be discussed.
The Pakistan Army has denied accusations by senior US officials that Pakistan’s intelligence service supports the Haqqani network, saying it is based in Afghanistan.
However, spokesman for the ISPR Major General Athar Abbas did acknowledge that the ISI had contacts with the Haqqanis.
He told CNN that any intelligence agency prefers keeping contacts with opposition groups and terrorist organizations for some sort of positive outcome.
He stressed that this does not mean the ISI supports or endorses the organization.
Abbas also added that Pakistan is not the only country which maintains contacts with the Haqqanis.
He also expressed his shock at Mullen’s assertion that Pakistan was complicit in recent attacks against the US Embassy in Kabul.
In an earlier statement, Kayani termed the comments by Mullen as ‘unfortunate’, and ‘not based on facts’.
In the first official reaction to the slew of public statements made by various levels of the US administration against the ISI and suspected links between the Haqqani network and the Pakistan establishment, Kayani said that he had held a constructive meeting with Admiral Mullen in Spain last week.
He termed the statements following that meeting as very disturbing.
On the question of contacts with Haqqani network, Kayani said that Admiral Mullen knows well which countries are in contact with the Haqqanis. Singling out Pakistan as the chief protagonist is neither fair nor productive, he said.
‘Self-defeating blame game’
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday rejected US allegations linking Islamabad with the Haqqani terror network, saying the “blame game is self-defeating”.
Gilani said such accusations would only benefit the militants, and added that they showed US policy in Afghanistan was in “disarray”.
“We strongly reject assertions of complicity with the Haqqanis or of proxy war,” he said in a policy statement issued by his office amid a growing rift with the United States.
“Blame game is self-defeating… It will only benefit the enemies of peace. Only terrorists and militants will gain from any fissures and divisions.”
The White House demanded Friday that Pakistan “break any link they have” with the Haqqanis, the al Qaeda-linked Taliban faction blamed for the recent attack on the US embassy in Kabul.
A day earlier top US military officer Admiral Mike Mullen directly accused Pakistan’s intelligence service of supporting the network’s attack on the embassy and a truck bombing on a NATO outpost.
“The allegations betray a confusion and policy disarray within the US establishment on the way forward in Afghanistan,” Gilani said.
In another incident a young man was gunned down in Orangi Town number-10. Firing in Rahim Shah Colony, Urdu Chowk and Faiz Alam Colony were also reported to hear.
Unidentified men opened fire at a vehicle in Nagin Chaurangi area, killing Anwar and a minor injured and in another firing incident in Godhara area when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a bus in which a man Abdul Sattar was killed.
An armed clash broke out between two gangs in Orangi Town that triggered panic in the area.
Meanwhile, at least 24 suspected persons were taken into custody when law enforcement agencies launched a late night crackdown against the volatile law and order situation in parts of Orangi Town.
It may be mentioned here that many areas lie in Orangi Town have been presenting a look of battleground for many days due to the reports of shootout between political rival groups whereby a large number of innocent people have been killed and several others injured.
The areas came under search operation included Old Sabzi Mandi, Qasba Colony, PIB Colony, Kati Pahari, Ali Garh and others. Police also searched suspected houses amid operation.
Search operation is still underway as more suspects have reportedly been taken under arrest but the actual number of apprehended men is not clear at this point of time.
According to police officials, many houses were raided and searched as part of targeted operation against the armed miscreants after the incidents of firing from houses were reported.
He said this during his meeting with US ambassador Cameron Munter who called on him at the presidency on Saturday.
Sources said a set of issues including Pakistan-US bilateral ties, strategic dialogue, war against terrorism and other matters came under discussion in the meeting.
The sources said that Zardari made it clear that overlooking the sacrifices of Pakistan in war against terrorism be stopped. Bilateral cooperation was must for improving the relations between the two countries, he urged.
Pakistan had been affected more than any other country in the world in war against terrorism; he said adding that Pakistan had defeated terrorists in this war.
The sources further said that President Zardari apprised US ambassador about his concerns over the recent statements given by US authorities about Pakistan hoping US would deliver its pledges made with Pakistan.Pakistan on Friday warned its cooperation in the US-led war on al Qaeda was at risk after heavily criticising the top US military officer for suggesting it could have approved a journalist’s murder.
Journalist Saleem Shahzad’s body was found just outside Islamabad on May 31, bearing marks of torture. On Monday, the New York Times quoted US officials as saying that the ISI ordered the killing to muzzle criticism after Shahzad wrote about links between rogue elements of the military and al Qaeda. Admiral Mike Mullen waded into the fray on Thursday by saying, “I haven’t seen anything that would disabuse that report” when asked about media reports that the government had approved Shahzad’s killing. Nevertheless, when asked if Pakistan’s intelligence service had been involved, Mullen said he could not confirm the allegation. Regardless, the remarks aggravated relations already strained by a covert US raid in May that killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and the killing of two men by CIA contractor Raymond Davis in Lahore in January. “If someone has given such a statement then it is extremely irresponsible,” Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan told a news conference.
Problems
“The statement by Admiral Mike Mullen regarding Pakistan will create problems and difficulties in the bilateral ties,” she said. “It will also impact our joint efforts in war against terrorism,” Firdous added, refusing to elaborate but saying the Foreign Office would issue another statement.
Complicated relationship:
Meanwhile, the White House said Washington’s relationship with Pakistan was complicated but at the same time very important in the fight against terrorism, Online reported.
Police said the bungalow in DHA Phase VII, Khayaban-i-Rahat, had been rented by one Faisal and the party had been organised by a person named Saif.
The organisers had sought security assistance from a political party.
Talei Bugti, police said, entered the bungalow after agreeing to leave his armed escort outside. Clifton SP Tariq Dharejo said: “The shootout began after a heated argument between Mr Bugti and the organisers first inside the bungalow and later outside.”
Mark Joseph, Kamran Shafi, Dr Iqbal and Kamran Gul died on the spot while Mr Bugti who suffered gunshot wounds in the chest was taken to a private hospital where he died.
Another injured man, Ziauddin, died in a hospital on Sunday afternoon.
According to a law-enforcement official, the party was well organised with paid entry. The organisers had made arrangement for valet parking.
The official, who visited the house after the bodies and injured had been removed said there were spots of blood all over the place because the injured might have rushed inside. There were traces of blood in the swimming pool as well.
The arrangement for the party, he said, was quite elaborate with two bars and a DJ system.
He said the owner of the bungalow, Nasir Khan, was there when the firing took place.
He told police that he had rented the premises to Faisal and Saif for the night for Rs20,000.
The SP was not sure if any weapon had been seized from the place or from some people detained by police. “We are verifying” details, he said.
Another police official claimed that the sound system and some cars and motorcycles had been impounded from the premises.
Spent bullet casings of 9mm pistols and AK-47 rifles had been found, police said.
Although police claimed to have detained nine suspects from the place, sources said no-one involved in the firing as among them. The source said a number of injured people and four bodies had been taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre at about 3am.
According to hospital sources, almost all of them had been hit by bullets fired from a close range.
The funeral prayers of Talei Bugti were held in Sultan Masjid and he was buried in the Phase IV graveyard.
Although the organisers claimed that they had the Defence Housing Authority’s permission to hold the party, law-enforcement officials said the permission was for a private party, not for a commercial event.
Gizri police registered an FIR on Sunday night under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 324(attempt to murder), 147 (punishment for rioting) and 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons) of the Pakistan Penal Code on behalf of the state against Arif Roger and others.
Election for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly raised the political temperature across the country, with three main parties accusing each other of rigging and poll-related clashes claiming lives of two political workers.
The Pakistan People`s Party (PPP) accused the Punjab government of using its administrative machinery, holding presiding officers hostage and creating rumpus in order to manipulate polling for all nine seats in the province.
The N-League levelled similar allegations against the PPP and claimed that the elections had been held on bogus voter lists.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) boycotted the polls in an aggressive manner and threatened to again part ways with the ruling coalition.
The party decided to file a petition in the Supreme Courts of Pakistan and the AJK against postponement of election in some constituencies on the pretext of law and order.
The AJK election commissioner postponed the polling for LA-37 (Valley 2) — one of two seats in Lahore – because of poor security situation. Elections for LA-30 (Jammu) had been postponed earlier.
“We are being asked by party workers to leave the government,” MQM leader Zahid Mehmood said.
When asked about media reports that MQM leaders in the federal cabinet had presented their resignations to party chief Altaf Hussain, he said: “No, it has not been done so far.”
But he hinted that MQM leaders could resign from the cabinet in two or three days. “We had rejoined the government recently because we wanted to safeguard democracy, but the regime has proved that it has nothing to do with democracy,” he said.
Mr Mehmood alleged that Interior Minister Rehman Malik had put pressure on the MQM for adjustment on several seats in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab where, he said, there were strong possibilities of victory of the party`s candidates. “Mr Malik asked the MQM to cede the LA-30 and LA-36 seats,” he claimed.
PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooq alleged that in order to manipulate the polls, the PPP had made three voters` lists and “the fourth list, which was handwritten, was distributed among workers and polling staff on the election day”.
“Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Mazoor Wattoo, had accepted that voter lists were bogus and agreed at a recent meeting that the date of the election would be extended for 10 days to ratify them. But the polls were held with the same bogus lists,” he said.
Mr Farooq alleged that a cell set up in the presidency and comprising Mr Malik, Mr Wattoo and PPP leader Babar Awan was supervising the rigging.
He said offices of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) remained open for the whole day on Sunday so that PPP`s voters could get their national identity cards to cast votes.
“But unfortunately there was no prior official announcement about the opening of Nadra office and thus workers of PML-N and other parties could not benefit from the facility,” he said.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said she had no information that her party and its coalition partners, including the MQM, had any understanding for the elections.
She said complaints were being received about rigging in different areas of Punjab. “In Delaywala in Headmarala police limits, MPA Rana Iqbal and his son stopped polling for half an hour and manhandled the PPP agent,” she claimed. The Kashmir Affairs minister accused Punjab police of stopping Rangers from discharging their duties.
He alleged that PML-N workers had captured all polling stations at 8am. “The credibility of polling for nine seats in Punjab is dubious,” he said.
“The PML-N has violated the sanctity of elections and undermined our efforts to show the world free, fair and transparent elections for the AJK Legislative Assembly,” he said.
An activist of N-League was reportedly killed in a clash with PPP workers in Samani valley of Bhimber district.
PPP`s information secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira said PML-N workers had attacked Zikria Butt, media adviser to Punjab PPP chief Raja Riaz. “The PML-N should accept the result of the elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Punjab Governor Latif Khosa told journalists that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had refused to attend a telephone call made by the governor. According to later reports, Mr Sharif called Mr Khosa and discussed the law and order situation during polling in the province.
The Pakistan People`s Party (PPP) accused the Punjab government of using its administrative machinery, holding presiding officers hostage and creating rumpus in order to manipulate polling for all nine seats in the province.The N-League levelled similar allegations against the PPP and claimed that the elections had been held on bogus voter lists.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) boycotted the polls in an aggressive manner and threatened to again part ways with the ruling coalition.
The party decided to file a petition in the Supreme Courts of Pakistan and the AJK against postponement of election in some constituencies on the pretext of law and order.
The AJK election commissioner postponed the polling for LA-37 (Valley 2) — one of two seats in Lahore – because of poor security situation. Elections for LA-30 (Jammu) had been postponed earlier.
“We are being asked by party workers to leave the government,” MQM leader Zahid Mehmood said.
When asked about media reports that MQM leaders in the federal cabinet had presented their resignations to party chief Altaf Hussain, he said: “No, it has not been done so far.”
But he hinted that MQM leaders could resign from the cabinet in two or three days. “We had rejoined the government recently because we wanted to safeguard democracy, but the regime has proved that it has nothing to do with democracy,” he said.
Mr Mehmood alleged that Interior Minister Rehman Malik had put pressure on the MQM for adjustment on several seats in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab where, he said, there were strong possibilities of victory of the party`s candidates. “Mr Malik asked the MQM to cede the LA-30 and LA-36 seats,” he claimed.
PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooq alleged that in order to manipulate the polls, the PPP had made three voters` lists and “the fourth list, which was handwritten, was distributed among workers and polling staff on the election day”.
“Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Mazoor Wattoo, had accepted that voter lists were bogus and agreed at a recent meeting that the date of the election would be extended for 10 days to ratify them. But the polls were held with the same bogus lists,” he said.
Mr Farooq alleged that a cell set up in the presidency and comprising Mr Malik, Mr Wattoo and PPP leader Babar Awan was supervising the rigging.
He said offices of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) remained open for the whole day on Sunday so that PPP`s voters could get their national identity cards to cast votes.
“But unfortunately there was no prior official announcement about the opening of Nadra office and thus workers of PML-N and other parties could not benefit from the facility,” he said.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said she had no information that her party and its coalition partners, including the MQM, had any understanding for the elections.
She said complaints were being received about rigging in different areas of Punjab. “In Delaywala in Headmarala police limits, MPA Rana Iqbal and his son stopped polling for half an hour and manhandled the PPP agent,” she claimed. The Kashmir Affairs minister accused Punjab police of stopping Rangers from discharging their duties.
He alleged that PML-N workers had captured all polling stations at 8am. “The credibility of polling for nine seats in Punjab is dubious,” he said.
“The PML-N has violated the sanctity of elections and undermined our efforts to show the world free, fair and transparent elections for the AJK Legislative Assembly,” he said.
An activist of N-League was reportedly killed in a clash with PPP workers in Samani valley of Bhimber district.
PPP`s information secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira said PML-N workers had attacked Zikria Butt, media adviser to Punjab PPP chief Raja Riaz. “The PML-N should accept the result of the elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Punjab Governor Latif Khosa told journalists that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had refused to attend a telephone call made by the governor. According to later reports, Mr Sharif called Mr Khosa and discussed the law and order situation during polling in the province.
