Malik fears terror attacks in Karachi, D I Khan during Ashura

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik feared that terrorists could strike Karachi and Dera Ismail Khan during Ashura, saying Islamabad and the two cities would remain on red alert on Monday and Tuesday, FTNews reported.

A high-level meeting was being held under Malik’s chairmanship on Monday.

He said there was information of the possibility of a terrorist attack in Karachi. Those who targeted the residence of senior police official Chaudhry Aslam could become active again, he added.

Speaking to media representatives in Islamabad, Malik said Mansoor Ijaz, the US businessman who played the central role in the memogate scandal, had tried to destabilise Pakistan by ‘telling lies’.

He suggested that Ijaz should be taken to courts.

Action would be taken against Ijaz and all relevant record for the purpose had been sent to the legal branch of the interior ministry, he added.

He said that orders related to putting Husain Haqqani’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL) had been received.

However, Haqqani’s name was not added to the list just yet and paper work was underway, said Malik.

The minister said he would see when the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) would go to courts against the American businessman.

Read more »

Posted in: REGIONAL

Wasan says over 10,000 personnel deployed for Ashura in Karachi

KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan on Monday said the province was at risk of experiencing terrorist attacks for 72 hours, out of which 24 hours had passed and the remaining 48 hours would also pass peacefully, FTNews reported.

Speaking to media representatives at Sukkur airport, Wasan said 10,000 police personnel along with additional force were deployed in Karachi.

He said more than 3,000 personnel were also deployed in Rohri for the 9th Muharram procession.

Wasan further said that similar to the pattern employed in Karachi, 300 streets were also sealed in and the army in Karachi was also placed on high alert.

He said authorities were making efforts to arrest those involved in the havoc created in Karachi on 1st Muharram and stated that a witness protection scheme had also been initiated in this regard.

Responding to a question related to the memogate scandal, the provincial home minister said that if anyone tried to conspire against President Asif Ali Zardari in a manner similar to the case against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, they would face full blown resistance from Sindh.

Read more »

Posted in: REGIONAL