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Pakistan debates military involvement in Yemen

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Parliament discusses request by Riyadh for fighter jets as Saudi-led coalition continues to bomb Houthi positions.

Rival Pakistani rallies have been held for and against the Saudi-led campaign on Yemen [Reuters]

Rival Pakistani rallies have been held for and against the Saudi-led campaign on Yemen [Reuters]

by Asad Hashim, Al Jazeera

Islamabad: Saudi Arabia has asked for Pakistani fighter jets, ground troops and naval warships to join its campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen, Pakistan’s defence minister has said.

Khwaja Asif was addressing a joint session of the Pakistani parliament, which met in Islamabad on Monday to begin a debate on whether to join the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen, where air strikes against Houthi rebels have been ongoing since March 25.

Pakistan has regularly voiced support for the Saudi mission, but has so far not committed to taking material part in the air strikes against the Houthis, who are said to be backed by one of Pakistan’s neighbours, Iran.

Saudi officials and state media, however, have been citing Pakistan as one of 10 countries that are actively engaged in the military campaign in Yemen.

Asif said that while no decision had yet been taken on joining the military coalition, “any violation of Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity would elicit a strong response from Pakistan”, echoing the position publicly stated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif repeatedly in the last week.

Terming the Houthi rebels “non-state actors”, who had overthrown the “legitimate” Yemeni government, led by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, Asif stressed that Pakistan, along with regional ally Turkey, was calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

“The situation is grave and might endanger the safety and security of the whole region,” Asif said.

In the last week, more than 980 Pakistanis have been evacuated from Yemen by the Pakistani government, which has sent commercial aircraft and naval ships to aid in this effort, in conjunction with Saudi military authorities. The country is host to approximately 3,000 Pakistanis.

‘Give peace a chance’

Asif, along with Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and several high-ranking military personnel, visited Saudi Arabia on March 31 to discuss the situation in Yemen.

While there, he told parliament, the Pakistani delegation assured Saudi officials that Pakistan would protect Saudi territory if need be, but that it was pursuing the path of dialogue, and wanted “to give peace a chance”.

He confirmed that during this visit, Saudi officials had “requested us for aircraft, naval vessels and ground troops”.

PM Sharif met his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Friday, where the leaders discussed possible diplomatic solutions to the crisis in Yemen, in addition to expressing support for Saudi Arabia.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif is due to visit Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss the crisis.

Muslim-majority Pakistan is a long time ally of Saudi Arabia, which is home to Islam’s two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina. It is also a major recipient of Saudi aid.

Pakistan has been walking a tight rope on the issue, analysts say, balancing its alliance with Saudi Arabia against the possibility of military involvement souring relations with neighbour Iran and possibly inflaming sectarian tensions at home.

Pakistan’s military is also currently engaged in ongoing operations against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its allies in the country’s tribal areas, with roughly 170,000 troops committed to that fight, in addition to fighter jets, the defence minister said on Monday.

The session adjourned late on Monday without a resolution being passed, and Speaker Ayaz Sadiq reconvened the debate for Tuesday morning.

Police books Asiya Andrabi for hoisting Pakistani flag

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Asiya Andrabi, chief of Kashmiri women's separatist group speaks during news conference in Srinagar

Srinagar: Senior Hurriyat leader and Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief, Aasiya Andrabi, was booked Wednesday under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for hoisting Pakistani flag in Srinagar.

An affliate of pro-Pakistan separatist, Syed Ali Geelani’s Hurriyat, Asiya hoisted the flag on Monday when celebrations were held across Pakistan on its national day.

“A case has been registered against Andrabi at Nowhatta Police station under Section 13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act,” PTI wire, quoting an unnamed police officer, said.

The officer further said: “Investigations have started into the hoisting of Pakistani flag by the separatist leader on Monday. Further action in the case will be taken as per rules,” he told the wire agency when asked if the separatist leader will be arrested.

Aasiya is the wife of senior Hurriyat leader Ashiq Hussain Faktoo who has been incarcerated for over two decades now. She has been spearheading campaigns against moral waywardness in the region for which police has often kept her in detention.

The controversy erupted following media reports that Andrabi had hoisted flag of Pakistan and sung its national anthem on March 23.

(AM)

Govt asked me to go to Pak National Day celebration: V K Singh

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General-VK-Singh

New Delhi: Shortly after representing the Government at the national day reception at Pakistan High Commission tonight which kicked up a storm, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh issued a series of intriguing tweets defining “disgust” and “duty” indicating that he may have been unhappy at being deputed to it.

In the first of the five quick tweets, Singh, a former Army Chief, said, “To offend the moral sense, principles, or taste of”.

This was immediately followed by another which said, “To sicken or fill with loathing”.

While the third tweet said, “A job or service allocated,” the fourth one said,”The force that binds one morally or legally to one’s obligations”.

The last tweet said,”A task or action that a person is bound to perform for moral or legal reasons”.

Earlier tonight, Singh told reporters after attending the reception that he was asked by the government to represent it at the function.

“The Government of India has to send an MoS. They sent me and I went there and came back,” he said replying to a question about his presence at the reception.

Asked specifically whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to attend the event, he said, “The Government of India asked me to go there.”

Singh attended the event where several Kashmiri separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Yaseen Malik were also present.

The Minister’s visit to the Pakistani High Commission came on a day India and Pakistan sparred over Hurriyat leaders’ meeting Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit with government making it clear that there was no role for a third party.

Mirwaiz, Chairman of Hurriyat Conference, along with Abdul Gani Bhat, Maulana Abbas Ansari, Bilal Gani Lone, Aga Syed Hassan, Mussadiq Adil and Mukhtar Ahmad Waza had held talks with Basit last night.

Basit, who invited them to the Pakistan National Day celebrations, said that India was not against these interactions. However, India hit out, saying “the Government of India prefers to speak for itself”.

(PTI)

AFSPA can't be revoked in Kashmir on political considerations, says BJP's Jitendra Singh

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Protest-AFSPA

Srinagar: Asserting that Pakistan is not ready to mend its ways, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh on Saturday maintained that Centre was following zero-tolerance towards terrorism and said any decisions of AFSPA cannot be taken on the political considerations.

“I think, this is also an occasion for us to do some re-thinking and rise above the political lines and learn that any decisions regarding sensitive issues, like for example Armed Forces Special Powers, to maintain it or withdraw it, to continue it or discontinue it, has to be essentially based on the wisdom and inputs of the security agencies, instead of getting tempted to political considerations,” said Singh, who is a minister of state in the Prime Minister’s Office.

He hit out at Pakistan for for failure to mend ways to foment trouble in Jammu and Kashmir.

“It is certainly evident that Pakistan is not ready to mend its ways but as the Prime Minister has already stated even on the floor of the House that India, under the present government, follows the policy of zero-tolerance towards terrorism and we are committed to that,” Singh said.

“The Centre is fully-equipped to deal with such a situation”, Singh said, who rushed from New Delhi to visit the injured in the terrorists attack for the second time in as many days, at GMC hospital in Jammu. Singh, who condemned these terror attacks, said that Centre and the present set up in New Delhi is fully equipped to deal any kind of situation.

“I wish to pay my homage to the brave soldiers who lost their lives yesterday and are also fighting out today,” he added.

Union Minister appealed to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to see if the amount of compensation to the family members of the martyred soldiers could be increased. The state Health Minister Choudhary Lal Singh, Choudhary Lal Singh, today said that it was not proper to start the process of lifting AFSPA in the state at a time when militant attacks are on the rise.

“How is it possible (to lift AFSPA) when situation has worsened even in the otherwise peaceful districts of Kathua and Samba,” he said. He said that time has come to give them a befitting reply.

Blaming security forces for the lapses, he said adding “how is it possible the infiltration has taken place along International Border”.

The State Chief of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and MLA, Ravinder Raina also hit out those demanding revocation AFSPA, saying “these twin attacks are eye opener for those who are advocating the revocation of AFSPA. it should not be lifted at all”.

(PTI)

Pakistan releases 57 Indian fishing boats

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FISHING-Boats

Islamabad: As a goodwill gesture, Pakistan today released 57 Indian fishing boats that were in its custody.

In a statement, Foreign Office (FO) said the decision to release the vessels was taken in May last year.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited India at that time to attend the oath-ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

An eight-member Indian delegation visited Karachi from March 9 to finalise modalities for the repatriation of boats with officials of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), the statement said.

“While the PMSA had kept the boats in good condition, it extended full support to the visiting team in making the boats seaworthy after minor repairs. Subsequently, the boats were towed to the maritime boundary today, where these were physically taken over by the Indian side,” it said.

Indian fishermen and boats are often apprehended by PMSA authorities when they violate Pakistan territorial waters.

Usually the boats are not in seaworthy condition and are not returned.

However, following instructions from the Prime Minister to return these boats, special efforts were undertaken by the PMSA to ensure that the boats are returned to their owners, the statement added.

Pakistan and India frequently arrest rival fishermen for violating the sea waters.

(PTI)

Cricket World Cup 2015: Australia beat Pakistan to reach semi-finals

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steve_smith

by Sam Sheringham, BBC Sport

Australia withstood a pulsating spell of fast bowling from Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz to set up a meeting with India in the World Cup semi-finals.

Australia’s hopes of chasing 214 looked in peril when Riaz removed David Warner and Michael Clarke to leave them 59-3.

But Steve Smith countered with a measured 65 and Shane Watson capitalised on a dropped catch to steer Australia home with an unbeaten 64.

Earlier, Josh Hazlewood took 4-35 as Pakistan slid from 97-2 to 213 all out.

Australia’s victory keeps them on course for a fifth World Cup victory and sets up a chance to avenge their 2011 quarter-final defeat by India in Sydney next week.

For a short period, however, their progress was in serious doubt as Riaz rattled their top order with a hostile spell of left-arm fast bowling that had Kevin Pietersen and Allan Border purring in the Test Match Special commentary box.

Sending the ball down at over 90mph, Riaz had Warner caught off a mistimed uppercut before Clarke was undone by a throat-high bouncer that lobbed up off the splice into the hands of Sohail Maqsood at short midwicket.

With Pakistan on top, Watson was given a working over by the fired-up Riaz, who also took every opportunity to direct verbal barbs at the struggling batsman.

He almost became Riaz’s next victim when he top-edged a pull shot to fine leg where Rahat Ali got right underneath the ball only to let it slip through his grasp.

It looked a pivotal moment at the time and so it proved as Watson grew in confidence and began to drive and pull Pakistan’s less pacey bowlers to the boundary.

At the other end, Smith was calmness personified as he stroked his way to a run-a-ball fifty.

His dismissal, trapped lbw by Ehsan Adil, briefly gave Pakistan another sniff of an upset but once again their outfielding let them down as Sohail Khan dropped Glenn Maxwell on five.

Australia did not look back after their second reprieve as Maxwell bludgeoned 44 off 29 balls before Watson drove Khan down the ground for the winning runs.

Hazlewood had earlier justified his selection ahead of Pat Cummins with four wickets as Pakistan wilted after winning the toss.

After both openers fell to sharp slip catches, captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Haris Sohail added 73 for the third wicket before Maxwell’s spin made the breakthrough.

Having twice planted the spinner into the stands, Misbah attempted a slog-sweep but got a top edge to Aaron Finch at deep midwicket.

A combination of disciplined bowling and reckless shots followed as several Pakistan batsmen were unable to capitalise on good starts.

Their total looked well short of par, only for Riaz to briefly bring the contest to life before Smith and Watson’s telling riposte.

Pakistan carries out mass executions

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At least 10 convicts hanged, marking highest number in a single day since lifting of moratorium on capital punishment.

Human rights group Amnesty International estimates that Pakistan has more than 8,000 prisoners on death row [EPA]

Human rights group Amnesty International estimates that Pakistan has more than 8,000 prisoners on death row [EPA]

by Al Jazeera

Pakistan has hanged at least 10 convicted murderers, the highest number in a single day after the government lifted a six-year-old moratorium on capital punishment, officials said.

Eight of the convicts were hanged in the Punjab province on Tuesday, while two others were hanged in the southern metropolis of Karachi, according to prison officials.

The latest hangings bring to 37 the number of convicts hanged since Pakistan resumed executions in December after Taliban fighters gunned down 154 people, most of them children, at a school in the restive northwest.

The partial lifting of the moratorium, which began in 2008, only applied to those convicted of terrorism offences, but was last week extended to all capital offences.

Only one person was executed during the period of the moratorium – a soldier convicted by a court martial and hanged in 2012.

Human rights group Amnesty International estimates that Pakistan has more than 8,000 prisoners on death row, most of whom have exhausted the appeals process.

Critical voices

Supporters of the death penalty in Pakistan argue that it is the only effective way to the deal with the scourge of rebel groups in the country.

But rights campaigners have been highly critical, citing problematic convictions in Pakistan’s criminal justice system, which they say is replete with rampant police torture and unfair trials.

“This shameful retreat to the gallows is no way to resolve Pakistan’s pressing security and law and order problems,” Rupert Abbott, Amnesty International’s deputy Asia-Pacific director, said last week.

European Union diplomats have also raised the issue of capital punishment – and the case of one man who was condemned to death as a teenager in particular – in meetings with Pakistani officials focused on trade and human rights.

The EU granted Pakistan the much coveted “GSP+” status in 2014, giving the country access to highly favourable trade tariffs, conditional on Pakistan enacting certain commitments on human rights.

 

"Stop killing our Christian brothers"

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by Dawn

Horror and anger dominated protests across Pakistan on Monday, as members of the Christian community took to the streets in Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala and other urban centers following Sunday’s Taliban attack on two churches.

The protests turned violent in Lahore when demonstrators clashed at different points during the day with dozens of baton-wielding policemen. One protester was killed while several were injured when a car hit them at Ferozpur Road.

People from the Christian community attend a protest, to condemn suicide bombings which took place outside two churches in Lahore, in Peshawar. — Reuters

People protest holding placards which asks for peace in Pakistan.— Reuters

Policemen carry bamboo sticks during a protest by Christians mourners in Lahore.— AFP

Christians chant slogans during demonstration to condemn the suicide bombing attack on two churches.— AP

People from the Christian community attend a protest, to condemn the suicide bombings.— Reuters

Members of the Pakistani Christian community chant slogans during a protest rally in Peshawar. — Reuters

People from the Christian community attend a protest to condemn suicide bombings.— Reuters

Christians pray for victims of suicide bombings that struck two churches the day before, in Lahore.— AP

Christians pray for victims of suicide bombings that struck two churches the day before, in Lahore.— AP

Protesters blocked roads Monday in protest over the bombings that killed more than a dozen people in the latest attack against religious minorities.— AP

Pakistan court orders release of Mumbai attacks plotter

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Islamabad High Court declares detention of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi under Maintenance of Public Order void.

Lakhvi is accused of being the mastermind of the 2008 gun and bomb attacks in Mumbai which claimed the lives of 166 people.

Lakhvi is accused of being the mastermind of the 2008 gun and bomb attacks in Mumbai which claimed the lives of 166 people.

by Asad Hashim, Al Jazeera

Islamabad: A Pakistani court has declared the continued detention of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the operational chief of the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) and alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, void.

The Islamabad High Court accepted an appeal from Lakhvi that challenged his detention under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Act during a hearing on Friday.

It is unclear if Lakhvi, who has been in prison since 2009, will be released, as the government has challenged similar judgments in the past. He is currently in custody at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail.

Lakhvi is accused of being the mastermind of the 2008 gun and bomb attacks in Mumbai which claimed the lives of 166 people and left more than 300 injured. The assault, which lasted more than 60 hours, was one of the worst attacks in India’s history, and badly affected India-Pakistan relations.

While no group claimed responsibility in the aftermath, India blamed it on the banned LeT, and in 2009 Pakistan responded by charging Lakhvi and others with responsibility.

On December 18, an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi granted Lakhvi bail in a casewhere he was named as the “mastermind” of the Mumbai attacks.

The government, however, challenged the court’s decision to grant bail, and held Lakhvi under the MPO. When Lakhvi challenged his detention under that law, which allows authorities to hold suspects for up to 90 days without a warrant, the Supreme Court sided with the government in maintaining his detention, saying the Islamabad High Court had rushed the decision to release Lakhvi.

On Friday, the High Court, after holding hearings on the matter, returned the same verdict. The government continues to challenge the original decision to grant Lakhvi bail, in a petition whose hearings are pending before the same court. In the petition, the Federal Investigation Agency’s special prosecutor states that prosecutors and witnesses have been threatened in connection with the case, Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported.

Lakhvi had also been granted bail on January 9 in another case pertaining to the 2009 kidnapping of Anwer Khan, an Afghan citizen, from a suburb of Islamabad.

Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar to be questioned in Sunanda murder case

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Mehr_Tarar

New Delhi: Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar is likely to be questioned in connection with the murder of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, police said on Thursday.

“Tarar is a relevant person in the case… If necessary, she will be examined,” said Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi.

Tarar’s friendship with Tharoor had reportedly led to a row between Tharoor and Pushkar.

Delhi Police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after registering a murder case against unknown people on January 1. Pushkar was found dead in a luxury hotel room on January 17, 2014 under mysterious circumstances.

The SIT probing the case has so far questioned at least 15 people, including Tharoor, his staff members, close friends of the couple and the staff of Leela Palace hotel where Pushkar was found dead.

(IANS)

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