Ten Shia community members killed in Pak sectarian violence

PTI | 10:03 PM,Mar 13,2011

A Muhammad Peshawar, Mar 13 (PTI) Ten members of the minority Shia community were killed and seven more injured when unidentified gunmen attacked a bus in an area in northwest Pakistan that has been hit by sectarian violence in recent months, officials said.The gunmen targeted the bus near Mammo Khwar area in Hangu district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.No group claimed responsibility for the attack.Eight persons in the bus were killed instantly.Two of the nine persons injured in the attack died later in hospital.All the victims were members of the Shia Turi tribe.Police chased the attackers and killed three of them, officials said.Four attackers were arrested, they said.The bus was coming from Parachinar, the main town of Kurram tribal region, to Hangu city.Hangu district borders the lawless Kurram Agency, where hundreds of people have died in sectarian clashes over the past three years.Hangu too has witnessed several attacks on the minority Shia sect.The Peshawar-Parachinar road, which connects the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Kurram Agency, was closed for almost three years due to sectarian tension in the region.It was recently reopened to traffic after clearance by the administration.Following today�s attack, authorities closed the road for all traffic, officials said.Turi tribesmen of Kurram Agency staged a protest against the killings and demanded that the government should bring the killers to justice.

 

SOURCE: 

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/ten-shia-community-members-killed-in-pak-sectarian-violence/609174.html

8 killed in attack on van in Pakistan,

8 killed in attack on van in Pakistan, police say

From Nasir Habib, For CNN

March 13, 2011 -- Updated 0933 GMT (1733 HKT)

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Suspected militants opened fire on a commuter van in northwest Pakistan on Sunday, killing eight people, police said.

The attack took place in the Hangu district of the Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa province, said district Police Chief Abdul Rasheed.

The van was traveling from Kurram Agency, one of seven districts that make up the country's tribal region, to Hangu, when five to six gunmen fired on it, he said.

 

SOURCE: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/13/pakistan.shooting/

NW Pakistan ambush kills 9, threatens peace deal

NW Pakistan ambush kills 9, threatens peace deal

(AP) – 2 hours ago

PARACHINAR, Pakistan (AP) — Gunmen ambushed a van and killed nine civilians Sunday in a stretch of northwestern Pakistan covered by a new peace deal among tribes from rival Muslim sects. Security forces responding to the attack killed three alleged gunmen, police said.

The clash does not bode well for the future of the peace accord in the Kurram tribal region, which ended a four-year conflict that cost hundreds of lives.

Police official Mir Chaman Khan said the attack occurred in Hangu district along the main road from Kurram to the city of Peshawar. The road had recently reopened after the Shiite Muslim Toori and Bangash tribes inked the deal with the Mangal and other Sunni Muslim tribes.

The clash occurred in a Sunni-dominated area. The van was coming from Parachinar, a Shiite-dominated town in Kurram.

Khan declined to speculate on who was behind the attack.

But tribesmen in Kurram also have reported that the Haqqani network, a fiercely independent branch of the Afghan Taliban and a major enemy of U.S. and NATO forces, had cut a deal with the Shiites so it could use Kurram as a staging ground for fighting in Afghanistan.

There have been reports that Taliban militants planned to take advantage of the peace deal to gain more territory along the Afghan border.

The Taliban, who adhere to a hard-line interpretation of Sunni Islam, have at times exploited sectarian and tribal feuds to spread their influence along the Pakistan-Afghan border.

Pakistan's tribal belt is a hotbed of Islamist militant groups, many linked to the al-Qaida terrorist network. The Pakistani army has launched offensives in several areas, and the United States has fired hundreds of missiles at suspected militants using unmanned aircraft in the region.

On Sunday, Pakistani intelligence officials said three suspected U.S. missile strikes in the country's tribal regions killed seven alleged militants and wounded five more.

One of the missile strikes missed a target in Azam Warsak, South Waziristan.

A missile landed near a car carrying militants, who managed to flee before another missile hit the vehicle, two intelligence officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk with reporters.

They said six missiles in two other strikes hit a vehicle and a compound in neighboring Spalgah village near Miran Shah in North Waziristan, killing seven militants and wounding five more. They suspected the insurgents killed in the two strikes belonged to the Pakistani Taliban holed up in the compound.

North Waziristan is home to several militant groups focused on fighting U.S. and its allied NATO forces across the border in Afghanistan.

Associated Press writer Ishtiaq Mahsud in Dera Ismail Khan contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iYgAphWIC4P1wczZ9PHgW-q_xJvA?docId=7b6f5900a7a0467e9e4358570a8c28a8

 

SOURCE: 

source: 

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/429522.php

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20110313/as-pakistan/

• March 13, 2011

source:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/breakingnews/pakistan-says-spy-chief-to-get-extension-of-his-term-117850628.html

Gunmen kill 10 passengers in Hangu

Gunmen kill 10 passengers in Hangu

Published: March 13, 2011

Masked gunmen open fire on passenger bus travelling from Kurram to Hangu, killing eight people.

Masked gunmen opened indiscriminate fire on a passenger bus travelling from Kurram Agency to Hangu, killing 10 people, on Sunday.

According to Express 24/7 correspondent Iftikhar Firdous, the bus was passing through the area of Tehsil Doaba, which is known to have been a conflict intensive region in the past.

Officials confirmed that that three people died on the spot, while seven others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Five other passengers were also injured in the incident.

The DPO of the area informed that search for the culprits had begun, which would be concluded soon.

source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/132003/gunmen-kill-8-passengers-in-hangu/

Eight killed, seven injured in attack on bus in Hangu

 

Eight killed, seven injured in attack on bus in Hangu

The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital where officials said that two were in a critical condition. – (File Photo)

PESHAWAR: Militants opened fire on a passenger van in a lawless northwestern Pakistani town on Sunday, killing at least eight Shia Muslims and wounding seven others, police said.

The incident took place in Hangu district, 150 kilometres southwest of Peshawar, the capital of insurgency-hit Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province.

"Militants intercepted a passenger van at Mamoo Khwar village in Hangu district and opened fire, killing eight passengers and wounding seven others," senior local police official Abdul Rashid told AFP.

He said, "It seems to be a sectarian incident, as all those killed in the firing were Shia Muslims."

He said that the militants, who numbered six, fled the scene but police later launched an operation in the area and killed three rebels.

"A search operation has already been launched to arrest the remaining ones," he said.

Police spokesman Fazal Naeem also confirmed the incident and casualties in Hangu, a town that regularly suffers from sectarian violence and a Taliban-linked insurgency

 

SOURCE:  

http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/13/seven-killed-in-attack-on-bus-in-hangu.html

Four die in roof collapse

Four die in roof collapse 

By our correspondent

PARACHINAR: Four persons of a family were killed and five others sustained injuries in a roof collapse incident on Friday, tribal sources said. The sources said family members of Mohammad Ali Khushi were asleep in their house in the Pesh Imam Colony in Parachinar city, headquarters of Kurram Agency, when the roof of a room collapsed. Three sisters and their lone brother, Sher Agha Khushi, were killed while another five persons sustained injuries in the tragedy. 
 

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8.5% GST on goods made in KP, FATA and PATA

Saturday, March 12, 2011

8.5% GST on goods made in KP, FATA and PATA

By Sajid Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has fixed 8.5 percent general sales tax (GST) against standard rate of 17 percent on supply of goods manufactured in areas Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) to the tariff areas of Pakistan.

To this effect, the FBR authorities issued SRO 117 (I)/2011 on Friday to facilitate the industrial sector and manufacturing units of the KP, FATA and PATA.

According to the notification, federal government has announced that the goods produced or manufactured in such areas, where the Sales Tax Act, 1990, is not applicable but are included in the Prime Minister's Fiscal Relief to Rehabilitate the Economic Life in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA and PATA, namely, Bajaur Agency, Mohamand Agency, Khyber Agency, Orakzai Agency, Kurram Agency, North Waziristan Agency, South Waziristan Agency, Malakand Agency, District Swat, District Buner, District Shangla, District Upper Dir and District Lower Dir, shall be charged to fifty percent of the sales tax, if supplied to a person in any area where the Sales Tax Act, 1990, is applicable. This concession shall not be applicable to cement, sugar, beverages and cigarettes sectors. The notification shall deem to have taken effect from March 10, 2010.

In the past, the board had issued an SRO 165(I)/2010—under which the government has exempted 50 percent of leviable rate of sales tax on supplies of goods, other than cement, sugar, beverages and cigarettes, by the registered persons located in districts of Hangu, Bannu, Tank, Kohat, Chitral, Charsadda, Peshawar, Dera Ismael Khan, Batagram, Lakki Marwat, Sawabi and Mardan.

Following is the text of the notification issued on Friday: In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, the Federal Government is pleased to direct that the goods produced or manufactured in such areas, where the Sales Tax Act, 1990, is not applicable but are included in the Prime Minister's Fiscal Relief to Rehabilitate the Economic Life in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA and PATA, namely, Bajaur Agency, Mohamand Agency, Khyber Agency, Orakzai Agency, Kurram Agency, North Waziristan Agency, South Waziristan Agency, Malakand Agency, District Swat, District Buner, District Shangla, District Upper Dir and District Lower Dir, shall be charged to fifty per cent of the rate leviable under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, if supplied to a person in any area where the Sales Tax Act, 1990, is applicable.

 

SOURCE: 

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C03%5C12%5Cstory_12-3-2011_pg5_1

Action sought against peace accord violators

 

Action sought against peace accord violators

 

Thursday, March 10, 2011

 

SADDA: The tribal elders residing in lower tehsil of Kurram Agency have asked the peace-brokering grand jirga and the political administration in the area to save the Islamabad Peace Agreement reached between the two rival communities.

The elders of the six clans residing in lower tehsil of Kurram Agency in a press conference on Wednesday asked the political administration and members of the grand jirga who had inked the peace agreement in Islamabad last month for the reopening of roads to take steps against those people who were violating the nascent peace agreement. They said owing to the Islamabad Peace Agreement, all roads in Kurram Agency were reopened for vehicular traffic and commuters. However, they resented that despite the agreement, the Teri Mangal-Parachinar road was not yet reopened for the Zadran and Kharoti tribesmen movement in the area.

They said the residents of the mentioned area were reaching Peshawar and Kohat for their works or medical treatments through the Afghan territory and then enter via Torkham in Khyber Agency to reach Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The elders who included Fazal Qadir, Fazal Rahman, Abdul Karim, Abdul Wali, Haji Ghilji, Karim Khan, Shaho Khan, Din Muhammad, Subedar Wali Muhammad, Malik Ajab Khan, Zarghoon Shah, Muhammad Sharif, Malik Jannat Khan and Malik Zaman accused the rivals of violating the peace agreement more than six times. They said the political administration and the jirga members had been informed about the violation of the peace agreement by the rival tribes.

 SOURCE: http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=35359&Cat=7

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Forces killed 6 terrorists in Kurram Agency

Forces killed 6 terrorists in Kurram Agency

PESHAWAR: Security forces on Saturday targeted terrorists' position near Afghan border in Kurram Agency killing six terrorists, officials said. According to details, the forces pounded terrorists' hideouts with artillery in central Kurram. Resultantly, six terrorists were killed and their two hideouts were destroyed in the shelling. In a separate incident, terrorists on Saturday attacked a police checkpost with hand grenades injuring one policeman in an area on the border between Peshawar and Khyber Agency, police said. The policeman was injured as the terrorists lobbed hand grenades at the checkpost at Bara Shaikhan in the outskirts of Peshawar. The security forces rushed to the site after the attack and cordoned off the entire area. A combing operation had been started to apprehend the culprits involved in the attack. app

source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C03%5C06%5Cstory_6-3-2011_pg7_9

Six terrorists killed in Kurram tribal agency KURRAM AGENCY: Six militants were killed when security forces pounded their hideouts in central Kurram Agency early Saturday morning. Two militant hideouts were also destroyed by the security forces. According to a private TV channel, the security forces targeted militant positions in Chanarak and Supeerkait towns of restive Kurram region, killing six militants. According to sources, Security forces also arrested an important commander of the militants and recovered important documents and weapons from him.

SOURCE:  http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=175984

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22 flood protection spurs completed in Kurram Agency

Thursday, March 03, 2011, Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1432 A.H

22 flood protection spurs completed in Kurram Agency

PESHAWAR (APP): The political administration of Kurram Agency has completed construction of twenty two flood protection spurs in different areas of Upper Kurram, which will protect the agriculture lands from future flooding. A press release issued by the Directorate of Information FATA on Wednesday, said that the Political Administration of Upper Kurram has constructed twenty two flood protection spurs in Yardah, Sragala, Rajakot, Battakot Jani Khel and Matta areas. The facility will benefit 3600 individuals of these villages. The flood protection spurs will also protect hundreds of acres of prime agricultural land. The political authorities prioritized the scheme and completed construction of flood protection spurs in a short period of time. The press release said that the project has covered construction of twenty two spurs of 15 meters each. Moreover, it said that the local community took active participation in the construction, which resulted in timely and quality completion of the project. In addition, local labour was also hired from the community to ensure a sense of ownership among the people. The press release added that the government is focusing on addressingthe basic needs of the remote and backward areas with an aim to improve the standard of living and ensure basic facilities for the population of these areas.

 

SOURCE:  http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=cn&nid=996&ad=03-03-2011