Bin Laden not in Parachinar: Pakistani MP

Bin Laden not in Parachinar: Pakistani MP
Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:14:37 GMT

Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden

A member of Pakistan's National Assembly has rejected a report that al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is hiding in the Kurram Agency.

Earlier, a research team led by geographer Thomas Gillespie of the University of California, Los Angeles said that Bin Laden was most likely hiding in Parachinar town of the Kurram Agency.

"I strongly contradicted the report, as Parachinar is completely different from the other tribal areas with majority of the population of Shia community, who are known as anti-Taliban," said Sajid Hussein Turi.

Thomas Gillespie's report suggested that Osama might be hiding in one of the three compounds in Parachinar, 12 miles from the Afghan border.

Turi said that it was impossible for the al-Qaeda leader to seek refuge in an area dominated by an anti-militant population, a Press TV correspondent reported.

The people of Kurram Agency are peace-loving people opposed to the terrorist activities in the region, the Pakistani MP added.
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SOURCE: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=86694&sectionid=351020401

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Pakistan moves against Shia killings

Pakistan moves against Shia killings
Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:29:22 GMT

Interior Ministry Chief Rehman Malik

Islamabad gives its security forces orders to protect Shia Muslims after hundreds of community members were killed by the Taliban allied groups.

"The provincial government has been asked to divide the Dera Ismail Khan into zones and undertake house-to-house search operation to unarm the people who were behind the deadly attacks in the town" Interior Ministry Chief Rehman Malik told reporters in Islamabad, a Press TV correspondent reported Tuesday.

Malik's remarks come after thirty people were killed and 65 others injured on Feb.26 in a bomb blast in the troubled town close to northwestern tribal region.

In early February, at least 35 Shia Muslims were killed and 50 others injured after a bomb exploded in the town of Dera Ghazi Khan in the central Punjab province.

Also today, unidentified armed men have reportedly opened fire at a passenger bus in Pakistan's lawless Kurram Agency, kidnapping 14 Shia Muslims.

Taliban-linked militants in Parachinar, Hangu district and much of the Kurram tribal agency have killed 25 to 30 people on a daily basis during the last six months, according to Pakistani local media reports.

Moderate Pakistani Sunni groups believe that leaving Shias at the mercy of the Taliban is a conspiracy against the country.

Taliban has established its rule in the restive Swat valley and its influence is also rapidly increasing its grip on the major cities and even the so-called settled areas of the country.

Some reports have cited grave human rights abuses against Shias in the northwestern Pakistani city of Parachinar.

Shias make up one-third of Pakistan's 160 million-strong population. Since the 1980s, thousands of people have been killed in violence-related incidents in Pakistan by extremist groups.

The developments come after Tehran cautioned Islamabad over the 'silent massacre' of its Shia community by the Taliban, in the country.

"The incidents that have occurred against Pakistan's Shia community are a plot to create conflict between the region's Sunni and Shia population," Ali Larijani said.

"We have warned Islamabad over the incidents and we will pursue the matter," he added.

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SOURCE: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=86673&sectionid=351020401

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Osama’s presence in Kurram Agency far-fetched idea: Turi

 

Osama's presence in Kurram Agency far-fetched idea: Turi

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 By Iftikhar Marwat ISLAMABAD: While rejecting the reports about Osama bin Laden's presence in a walled compound in Kurram Agency, MNA from the area Sajid Hussain Turi has categorically said such reports are baseless and it is impossible that Osama is hiding in Kurram Agency. Talking to journalists, Turi, who also heads the National Assembly Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions (Safron), strongly contradicted the report presented by a research team led by geographer Thomas Gillespie of the University of California, Los Angeles, that al-Qaeda's top leader Osama bin Laden is most likely hiding in Parachinar. Basing their conclusion on night time satellite images and other techniques, the scientists suggested that Osama may well be in one of three compounds in Parachinar, a town just 12 miles from the Afghan border. The research incorporates public reports of Osama's habits and whereabouts since his flight from the Tora Bora region of Afghanistan in 2001. "I strongly contradict the report as Parachinar is completely different from the other tribal areas with its majority Shia population and known as anti-Taliban region," he commented, adding, in such situation when the entire population is anti-Taliban and anti-al-Qaeda, how is it possible that the top leaders will be hiding in this area? The MNA further elaborated that the geographical findings by Thomas Gillespie are not based on facts, saying that Tora Bora does not adjoin the Kurram Agency area, but that of hilly parts of Orakzai and Khyber agencies. He said people in Kurram Agency from both Sunni and Shia sects are peace-loving and against any terror activity in their region. He regretted that some hidden elements are behind the law and order in Kurram Agency. He termed these elements agents of RAW and KGB and said that they have held captive the minority population of some Sunni tribes from where the Shia tribes are ambushed. The MNA also strongly criticised the role of the local administration, saying that the peace accord has been breached for the fourth time since it has been signed last year following unprecedented efforts of the elders and public representatives but the administration is completely playing a role of the silent spectator over the situation. Sajid Turi also urged the Taliban leaders — Maulana Gul Bahadur, Mulla Nazeer and Baitullah Mehsud — to play role for permanent peace and tranquillity in the Kurram Agency besides ensuring lives and properties of the people travelling on Thall-Parachinar Road. The MNA demanded of the government to restart PIA flights to Parachinar at the earliest. He further urged he government to play sincere role to restore durable peace and rehabilitate the displaced families of the last year's bloody sectarian clashes. Responding to a question, he supported selective military operation against those creating law and order situation in Kurram Agency, saying that local people will completely support the government action. "Terrorism is a disease that needs a permanent cure — military operation," he said. SOURCE: http://www.thenews..com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=20578

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Recovery of 12 Tori men sought

 

Recovery of 12 Tori men sought

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 By Our correspondent

PARACHINAR: The jirga of Toori tribe Tuesday demanded the safe recovery of 12 persons kidnapped on Monday. The jirga demanded of the government to make highways secure for the travellers and expressed concern over the government failure to provide security to people. Also, one Ashtar Hussain was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard. He was killed while trying to escape.

 

 

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