December 18, 2014

PAKISTAN MEDIA DIGEST

RESEARCH CENTRE

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Pakistan Media Digest

December 18 2014

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Contents Highlights ........................................................................................................................................ 2

......................................................................................................................................................... 3

„End of moratorium to affect those convicted under anti-terror laws‟ ................................... 3

Owner of vehicle used in school attack arrested .................................................................... 5

Inadequate security leaves schools vulnerable to attack ...................................................... 6

Conviction rate slow in anti-terrorism courts in Pindi, Islamabad ......................................... 8

For unity’s sake, Imran ends sit-in ................................................................................................ 11

National plan against terrorism soon: PM .................................................................................... 13

Pak-Afghan joint hunt for Fazlullah on the cards ......................................................................... 15

RAW trained Fazlullah, says Mush .............................................................................................. 16

Kabul, ISAF promise action against TTP sanctuaries .................................................................. 18

Aftershocks: Capital schools’ administration told to enhance security ........................................ 19

Pak-China trade volume touches $12.8bn mark in 10 months: Envoy ......................................... 21

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Highlights

1. The government’s decision to lift the moratorium on the death penalty will pave the

way for the execution of 7,135 condemned prisoners. However, some legal experts

believe that except for terrorists and those convicted by the military court, other

convicts may not be affected by the government’s latest decision.

2. The capital police took into custody owner of the vehicle used by terrorists in their

attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, officials said on Wednesday.

3. While Islamabad police and Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) directed all

school administrators on Wednesday to ensure security of students, there are over

50 schools in the federal capital which do not have boundary walls.

4. The lack of progress on tackling terrorism is evident from the fact that in 2014, the

conviction rate in the three ATCs of the twin cities –Rawalpindi and Islamabad –

remained low.

5. In the backdrop of gruesome Peshawar school massacre, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

(PTI) Wednesday announced to end its 126-day long sit-in at the Constitution

Avenue of the capital to give a clear message that the whole nation stands united

against terrorism.

6. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that to eliminate menace of

terrorism, it has been unanimously decided to form a parliamentary committee to

chalk out a national plan of action in seven days and present it before the national

leadership.

7. The disputed chief of outlawed TTP, Mullah Fazlullah and his close associates are

most likely to be hunted down by Pak-Afghan joint efforts soon, as actions on this

count have been accelerated to the full extent, it is reliably learnt.

8. Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has blamed India for the dastardly

attack in which over 140 people mostly schoolchildren were killed in Peshawar by

the Taliban. 9. There are 1,422 condemned prisoners in 32 prisons of Punjab at present, awaiting

execution, of whom about 400 prisoners were sentenced on terrorism charges.

10. Pakistan has secured a crucial assurance from Kabul and the US-led International

Security Assistance Force (Isaf) regarding elimination of sanctuaries of the Tehreek-

e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Afghan soil a day after the grisly violence at the Army

Public School and College in Peshawar.

11. The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) at a meeting on Wednesday reviewed

security measures at capital schools and colleges following the attack on the Army

Public School at Peshawar.

12. Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong Wednesday said trade volume between Pakistan

and China was registered at $ 12.8 billion during the last 10 months, showing 10

percent increase than the corresponding period of last year.

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‘End of moratorium to affect those convicted

under anti-terror laws’ These figures were provided to the Supreme Court by the federal government submitted in the Supreme Court in a petition filed by Barrister Zafarullah seeking the release of the condemned prisoners who had completed 18 years imprisonment. The government figures are however contested by independent observers. According to Amnesty International, the number of prisoners on death row is over 8,000.

According to figures provided by the government, there are 6,424 death row prisoners in Punjab, 355 in Sindh, 183 in the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP), 79 in Balochistan and 15 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

As per detail, in Punjab, 4,981 appeals against death sentences are pending in the Lahore High Court (LHC), 15 in the Federal Shariat Court (FSC), 893 in the Supreme Court (SC); in addition three such appeals are also pending at the General Headquarters (GHQ).

Punjab has most prisoners on death row, highest number of pending appeals

The mercy petitions filed before the President are 463 while executions have been stayed in 69 cases.

In Sindh, 266 appeals against the death sentence are pending in the Sindh High Court (SHC), five in the FSC, 48 in the SC, three in GHQ, 27 mercy petitions are lying with the Governor and executions have been stayed in six cases.

The three petitions from Punjab that are lying with the GHQ are separate from the ones from Sindh.

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In KP, 102 appeals have been filed in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), 49 in the SC, while 29 mercy petitions have been sent to the governor and execution have been stayed in three cases.

From Balochistan, 29 appeals against conviction are pending in the Balochistan High Court (BHC), one in the FSC, and 41 in the SC. There are also 13 mercy petitions.

Recently, in a case in the LHC, a lawyer, Rana Kashif, produced an official letter from the President Secretariat before the court which disclosed that 78 mercy petitions have been rejected by the president.

The death moratorium dates back to the PPP regime.

President Asif Ali Zardari imposed the moratorium in 2008, unofficially.

It has lasted till present even though the PPP has been replaced by the PML-N and Zardari no longer occupies the presidency.

However, there was one exception – in 2012, one death row prisoner was sent to the gallows. The convicted was a soldier who had been court-martialed.

According to military sources, the soldier, Mohammad Hussain, was sentenced to death for murdering the wife of a senior officer.

It is said that in this case, the civilian leadership could not stop the sentence from being carried out because the military was involved.

Some observers also link the moratorium to Pakistan‟s success in securing the General Scheme of Preference (GSP+), under which Pakistan will get preferential trade access to the European Union.

However, the GSP status does not stop the execution of death penalty awarded to terrorists.

Barrister Zafarullah who filed the petition against the execution of the death penalty is of the view that the government announced the limited execution of the condemned prisoners in order to ensure its GSP+ status in the European Union.

“But the 170 convicted in the terrorism cases whose sentences have attained finality, can still be executed.”

However, as the government was reluctant to provide its reasoning or policy, there were also reports that the PML-N government was averse to carrying out the death penalty because it feared a backlash from the militants.

Former Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the army, retired Brigadier Wasaf Khan Niazi is of the opinion that the military court awards death sentence to those accused of sedition, mutiny and espionage.

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“Since these offences are identical with some sections mentioned in the Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) therefore those convicted under these sections of the ATA can also be executed.”

Amjad Iqbal Qureshi, former judge of Islamabad High Court (IHC), told Dawn that many civilised countries had already abolished the capital punishment as they believe awarding death sentence is against the human rights. He said the lifting of moratorium may put Pakistan‟s status of GPS+ at stake. He however said that the international community should be taken into confidence on this matter if the lifting is indispensible.

The cases in which military officials are on death row include the GHQ attack case. These included soldier Imran Siddiq who was convicted in connection with the GHQ attack in 2009.

In another case, a soldier, Ghulam Nabi, was also awarded the death sentence by a military court for aiding the suicide attack at the National Bank in November 2009 on Mall Road. The bank was located near the GHQ and army personnel used the branch to withdraw their salaries. Six former officials of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) were also convicted by the PAF court for attacking Gen Musharraf in 2003.

A civilian, Aqeel alias Dr Usman, was also awarded the death sentence by the military court for the GHQ attack. His appeal against the sentence was rejected by the LHC last year.

All these prisoners are currently imprisoned.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2014

Owner of vehicle used in school attack arrested

The officials said the man had been under investigation to determine if he had any links with terrorists. When contacted, Inspector General of Police Tahir Alam Khan confirmed that the suspect had been arrested and gave credit to Superintendent of Police (SP) retired Capt Mohammad Ilyas for the success.

According to the officials, intelligence agency personnel had given the vehicle‟s registration number (NE-187) to Islamabad police and requested them to arrest the suspect.

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With the help of records of the Excise and Taxation Office, SP Ilyas succeeded in identifying the vehicle‟s owner and also traced his whereabouts to the capital‟s G-7/3 sector.

With the help of records of the Excise and Taxation Office, SP Ilyas succeeds in

identifying the vehicle’s owner and also traces his whereabouts to the capital’s G-

7/3 sector

A raid was carried out in the sector which revealed that a relative of the suspect was residing there.

The relative later helped police arrest the suspect, the sources said.

Meanwhile, some sources said the suspect worked at a government department but police officials declined to confirm or deny this. Other sources said the suspect and his son ran a travel agency which had office on the University Road in Peshawar.

They said that during interrogation it was revealed that the vehicle was in the suspect‟s possession for the last five years.

However, the suspect expressed ignorance about the vehicle‟s use by the terrorists and said that one of his relatives had borrowed it from him.

Efforts are under way to verify the suspect‟s claims, according to the sources. The information collected by police have been forwarded to the intelligence agency for further investigations.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2014

Inadequate security leaves schools vulnerable to

attack Following the attack on a school in Peshawar, FDE through an official letter told schools to deploy guards at the entrance gates and equip the guards with metal detectors to frisk visitors, keep gates closed and keep a record of private transporters who provide

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pick and drop service to students. “We were asked to protect our students but I can‟t do much when my school is open from almost all sides,” said a school principal, requesting not to be named.

Sources in the FDE told Dawn there were 52 schools in Islamabad where boundary walls have collapsed over the years but the department never bothered to reconstruct them.

FDE‟s planning director Taj Bhatti confirmed this information and said that in February this year Departmental Developing Working Party (DDWP) approved Rs46.92 million for reconstruction of school boundary walls but later the government refused to release funds.

Rawalpindi authorities ask schools to make their own arrangements; 52 schools

in the capital without boundary walls

“I agree that this is an important issue, but without funding we cannot start reconstruction,” he said.

While Rawalpindi administration and police failed to make security arrangements for public and private schools in the garrison city asking schools to make their own arrangements by deploying watchmen, fixing barbed wires and raising boundary walls of schools.

Panicked parents urged the authorities to protect their children.

“After the incident, we are concerned about security around schools especially those located on the main roads,” said Mohammad Asif, a resident of Peshawar Road.

Private Schools and College Association President Malik Abrar told Dawn some schools had already made security arrangements and watchmen had already been deployed at gates.

“We requested the local administration to give us armed licenses for security guards but the request was turned down,” he said.

Rawalpindi Schools and Colleges Management Association President Malik Naseem told Dawn that management at more than 110 private schools and colleges in cantonment area have made security arrangements but the government should also deploy policemen.

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Commissioner Rawalpindi Zahid Saeed said administrators of educational institutions had been asked to issue identity cards to students and keep record of visitors especially at hostels.

He also directed the traffic police to make arrangements during school timings.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2014

Conviction rate slow in anti-terrorism courts in

Pindi, Islamabad In the two ATCs of Rawalpindi, 205 cases were heard but there were convictions in less than ten. However, even this was a success compared to the Islamabad ATC which did not convict a single accused.

The weakness of Pakistan‟s prosecution and judicial system is once again in the limelight as political leaders gathered in Peshawar in the wake of the heinous terrorist attack on the army school.

In the hours that followed the news of the attack, more than one politician and analyst spoke forcefully of the need to reform the laws so that terrorists would be held accountable in the courts.

There is no simply one reason to explain why terrorists are rarely convicted by the courts. Be it the flawed investigation, the lack of evidence or the fear of the terrorists, all these reasons lead to those accused of terrorism being freed by the courts.

In 2014, the ATC Rawalpindi acquitted Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) chief Malik Ishaq

from three cases of terrorism for want of evidence

Since 2007, over 2,000 alleged terrorists, who have been accused of having been involved in high profile terrorism cases, have been freed by the Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) of the country. And if the security agencies are to be believed, a large number of them have rejoined terrorist outfits. Just take 2014.

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More importantly, the ATC Rawalpindi acquitted Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) chief Malik Ishaq from three cases of terrorism for want of evidence.

Ishaq was facing three charges under separate FIRs registered under sections 9 and 11 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (which deal with whipping up sectarian hatred) and section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).

The three FIRs were registered by the Attock, Chakwal and Jhelum police in 2012 and 2013.

Ishaq, originally a member of the proscribed Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), broke away to form the LeJ, which was banned by the Pakistan government soon after its inception in the early 1990s.

In February 2014, the United States added Ishaq to its list of most wanted terrorists and put the LeJ on a list of international terrorist organisations.

Ishaq has earlier faced charges of killing more than 100 people, most of them Shia, and was also accused of involvement in the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on March 2009.

In another acquittal, the ATC exonerated the suspects allegedly involved in the killing of officials of Military Intelligence - Major Afaq Ahmed, Hawaldar Mazhar Abbas, Naik Faiz Muhammad, Lance Naik Waqas Ahmed and civilian Afsar who were gathering information on militant hideouts in Pir Chambal mountains.

On November 12, 2011, these officials were killed while on duty at Pir Chambal hills, between Chakwal and Jhelum.

However, none of these acquittals have raised any eyebrows.

The courts traditionally end up releasing the accused – for a number of reasons that vary from a weak case based on poor investigative facilities and skills of the police to the fact that terrorist organisations are able to intimidate the lawyers and judges.

As a result, the list of those freed by the courts is long.

Last year, the ATC acquitted Rana Faqir, who was accused of attacking the convoy of former president retired General Pervez Musharraf in 2001.

Those accused of targeting a bus of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) in 2007 were also released two years ago.

The seven accused who were released in 2012 were facing charges of attacking a 72-seater bus of the ISI parked in front of the Hamza Camp (Ojhari Camp) in Rawalpindi on November 24, 2007. The attack claimed the lives of 32 officials of the ISI.

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Those acquitted due to lack of evidence included Dr Niaz Ahmed, Mazharul Haq, Shafiqur Rehman, Syed Abdul Saboor, Syed Abdul Majid, Syed Abdul Basit and Mohammed Amir.

Four years ago in 2010, the ATC acquitted four men who had been accused of planning and abetting a deadly suicide attack on Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on September 20, 2008.

The same year, the courts also acquitted Mohammad Ilyas alias Qari Jamil and Mohammad Rizwan alias Shamsul Haq, who were accused of attacking the Danish embassy, and killing a serving army general, surgeon general Mushtaq Baig.

It is noteworthy that in what was a rare occurrence, the ATC had convicted those accused of planning (and not carrying out) an attack on the Army House in 2008; life imprisonment was awarded to six - Zafar Ali, Intikhab Abbasi, Abid Khan, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Kabeer and Qamar Zaman in 2010.

In the same case, the court declared Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitulllah Mehsud the mastermind of the attack. He was declared an absconder as were his colleagues. The convicted appealed against the sentence which was dismissed by the Lahore High Court (LHC) in 2012.

It is tragic that the special prosecutor in this case, Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali, was also gunned down on May 3, 2013 while he was going to the ATC for the hearing of the Benazir Bhutto murder case that he was arguing. Gen Musharraf is an accused in this case.

In most cases, the courts acquit the suspects because the evidence provided by the prosecution is insufficient. For example, the prosecution in Gen Musharraf attack case produced about 100 witnesses to support its case but they were found to be irrelevant during the cross examination.

Likewise, in the case of Surgeon General Mushtaq Baig killing, the prosecution could not produce the car the suspect allegedly used to target the General.

Laeeq Swati, who has represented terrorist suspects in a number of cases, said that the cases are based on “flawed and false investigation”.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2014

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For unity’s sake, Imran ends sit-in

Taliban attackers on Tuesday killed 146 people, 132 of them schoolchildren, in a

cowardly attack that has brought all the political parties on the same page as they also

resolved to put in all energies against terrorism at national moot convened by Prime

Minister Nawaz Sharif in Peshawar on Wednesday.

“After the Corps Commander Peshawar‟s briefing of today (on terrorism attack on

Peshawar school) in which we were sensitised about the whole situation, I have come

to the conclusion that keeping in view the situation of the country, we will have to end

the sit-in,” PTI chief Imran Khan said while addressing from the top of his container

parked at the D Chowk of the Constitution Avenue.

But at the same time, Khan asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that he should

immediately sit with his party and form the judicial commission to launch an

investigation into the rigging of last general election. “Now PM Nawaz Sharif should

move a step ahead,” Khan said and warned the government that otherwise they would

again be forced to come on roads to get justice.

Some of the PTI supporters present at protest venue became infuriated over this

announcement and scuffled with one another. They said that they would not allow Imran

Khan to go from there as they had been protesting for the last four months but party

chief ended the sit-in without achieving the objectives.

Though some political observers see the announcement of Imran as his retreat and a

face saving saying that most of the party leadership had got tired of the sit-in that had

started on the night of August 15 in Islamabad, yet Khan gave the impression he was

doing this as the nation needed unity at this critical juncture of time.

Before making this announcement, Imran Khan convened the Core Committee of the

party inside his shipping containers and PTI sources said that all the leaders were

unanimous that party should end the sit-in keeping in view the situation emerging out of

the deadly terrorist attack in Peshawar. Earlier, Khan had summoned the Core

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Committee meeting on Wednesday evening at his residence in Bani Gala but he before

leaving for Islamabad from Peshawar asked all the members of the committee to come

at his container for the meeting.

“It is the need of the hour that the government should not be opposed at this moment,”

Khan said, adding that now Nawaz Sharif should come to the expectation of the masses

who wanted investigation into rigging in last general elections. “We want resumption of

talks from where these were ended,” he said. The masses want that Nawaz Sharif

should immediately form commission and investigate the matter, he said and added the

democracy would move ahead with this step.

“If it is proved that the election was not rigged, we will accept you the PM and if rigging

proved then re-election would have to be held,” he said. “If the culprits of election

rigging are brought to book and electoral reforms are introduced, new Pakistan will

come into being,” he said. He said that they would not sit idle until juice is achieved.

“This (ending sit-in) is our (positive) gesture and if we did not get justice, it would be

difficult for the government to run its affairs,” he warned.

“Why we passed our four months and a week here (at the Constitution Avenue) and

struggled hard to get justice in election rigging,” he asked and then himself replied, “We

did this after all doors of justice were closed for us.” He said it was their conviction that

as long as culprits involved in the rigging are not brought to justice no electoral reforms

would be ensure transparent elections in future.

“We demanded resignation of PM then withdrew it and after this decided to shut down

three cities... We have street power and we can shut down cities (again),” he reminded

and added that party membership has grown so large in the last four months that they

can shut down cities whenever they want.

PTI chief informed his supporters that Corps Commander in its briefing informed about

the whole scenario and also told that the terrorists from across the border were involved

in the attack on school. He condemning the terrorist act said he had never seen such an

incident where children were killed intentionally through planning. „Such incidents

happen in the countries like US but mad persons used to kill children.” He said that

human mind could not even think the way these children were killed.

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Khan said that in principle they should not have accepted the invitation of PM to attend

Wednesday‟s parliamentary parties meeting because the government had been badly

mistreating them during their protests. “But the demand of time is that country should be

united and because of the same reason I attended the meeting,” he said.

PTI chief said that they had fully supported the government on the issue of fight against

terrorism and they were ready to support it in future. “We will contribute in the

committee that will give its final program to the government within seven days to end the

menace of terrorism,” he said. Imran Khan said that during the last four months, the

nation had woken up and the people have understood their rights. Before concluding his

speech, he thanked his supporters including women and children for participating in the

sit-in “The time will tell that your struggle had changed Pakistan... now the people are

ready to stand against injustice... we will come on roads if we did not get justice, “ he

concluded.

National plan against terrorism soon: PM The committee would finalise suggestions for preparing a “Plan of Action” that would be approved by the political and military leadership and shared with the nation. He said the committee, headed by the interior minister, would submit suggestions in seven days. It would include one member from each party having representation in the parliament and representatives of the armed forces. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif read out a written statement agreed upon by the political leadership of the country, specifically gathered here at the Governor House to deliberate upon a course of action following the horrific act of terrorism at Army Public School and College (APSC) that left over 146 people dead, including 132 children. The prime minister flanked by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah and PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that “we express deep grief over Peshawar tragedy and today‟s national conference has decided to draft an action against terrorists and act upon it immediately.” The national conference, which lasted for more than 6 hours, had been convened to discuss the prevailing situation in the aftermath of the deadly attack by militants on Army Public School and College on Warsak Road the other day. The Premier said they in the meeting agreed that the war against extremism and terrorism needed to be fought with national consensus and determination. The plan includes strengthening the intelligence network, he explained. He said that the conference stressed countering terrorism on every platform. “At no

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stage there would be any discrimination between the good and bad Taliban and all would be equally dealt with an iron hand.” the PM added. Prominent among those who participated in the conference were Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Leader of the Opposition in NA Khurshed Shah, PPP‟s Atazaz Ahsan, JUI-F‟s Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Akram Khan Durrani, ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan, QWP Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, JI Ameer Sirajul Haq and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. The attendants also included Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Mehtab Ahmad Khan, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Balochistan CM Dr Abdul Malik, Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, KP CM Pervez Khattak, PML-N leaders Iqbal Zafar Jaghra, Ameer Muqam and Raja Zafarul Haq, PML-Z leader Ejazul Haq, Mushahid Hussain Syed of PML-Q, MQM‟s Rasheed Gudail and officials of security agencies. The prime minister said a number of terrorists had escaped towards Afghanistan and measures were afoot to apprehend them so that justice could prevail. While answering a question, he said that the leaders of the neighbouring countries have also expressed a resolve to not let their land be used to harm others. The meeting noted the supreme sacrifices of the law enforcement agencies during the operation Zarb-e-Azb and observed the attack on the school seemed to be an act in desperation by the fleeing terrorists. He said the operation Zarb-e-Azb was going on with success and had achieved many of its stated objectives. The prime minister said the hideouts and sanctuaries of the terrorists had been destroyed and they were on the run. He said that national leadership has unanimously expressed the resolve to continue war against terrorism till elimination of last terrorist from the country‟s soil. “We want peace in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the entire region,” he said and added that he would “not let anyone use Pakistani soil against others”. “Similarly, we will seek Afghanistan‟s help to flush out terrorists.” Nawaz Sharif said that they are people of democratic thought. “We will address all our concerns together. Responding to a question regarding PTI‟s postponement of its countrywide shutdown, PM Nawaz said, “I am thankful to Imran Khan for attending this meeting and I have invited him on tea... Dialogue can resolve all sorts of issues in democracy.” To a question about his discussion with PTI chief, the prime minister said it was a beauty of democracy that all issues could be discussed and resolved amicably. He especially thanked Imran Khan for attending the meeting at a critical juncture while setting aside his differences. The prime minister, when asked about the setting up of a judicial commission, said he himself had written a letter to the Supreme Court and also mentioned the recent decision of the apex court. The matter, he added, needed to be resolved amicably with consensus and to the satisfaction of the parties concerned. Nawaz Sharif said that he had to go to the hospital to inquire after the injured; otherwise, he too would have joined Imran on the container. On the occasion, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that the issue between the government and PTI is not of ego, it is about supremacy of the democracy in the country. They want to take the process of strengthening democracy ahead, he added. Khan said he wanted to make this clear to the nation that the issue between the two sides is a separate issue and they stand with each other against the terrorists.

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While answering a question, he said that he would leave for his container in Islamabad where the party members would offer funeral prayer in absentia of the martyrs of the Peshawar attack. Khan also said that is was customary on them to get united after such a tragic incident. The country was passing through a critical juncture and the entire leadership was together on one platform to address the issue of extremism and terrorism. He said if judicial commission was set up, his party would accept whatever decision it took without any objection. Both the leaders shook hands at the end of the press conference.

Pak-Afghan joint hunt for Fazlullah on the cards

Fazlullah‟s gang had claimed the responsibility of the Peshawar Army Public School

massacre, the most horrific terror incident in the history of Pakistan and world.

Highly-placed contacts close to the security establishment told The Nation on

Wednesday that special counter terror teams attached with the state‟s premier secret

services have stepped up efforts to the maximum by getting time-to-time assistance of

their Afghan counterparts to nail down Fazalullah and key members of his group.

They informed that the security services have provided some concrete actionable

information to their counterparts on the other side of the Durand Line about the

Fazlullah‟s network of terror. They claimed that both neighbours would launch efforts to

use their contacts among the Afghan Taliban to isolate Fazlullah and his band of killers

in a bid to hunt them down.

They added that Afghan security services have spotted some recent movements of

Mullah Umar in the province of Nangarhar and Kunar but Pakistani secret services

believe that he is in Kunar.

The contacts informed that secret services have pinned down a link of couriers of

Mullah Umar network, which divulged information about his locations in Afghanistan,

while the most strong intelligence information suggests that he is in Kunar.

Interior department officials confirming the developments told this correspondent that

the hunt for Fazlullah and his accomplices would be launched soon. However, they

declined to share the information about the tentative dates for hunt. Pak-Afghan joint

efforts to neutralise the terror networks have been agreed between the two sides during

the recent visit of Afghan President to Pakistan. Fazlullah has been marked as the

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„number-1 target‟; however, his top associates are also on the list of which some belong

to the deadly breed of foreign militants of Tajik, Uzbek and Turkmenistan origin.

Fazalullah, nicknamed “Mullah Radio” became the TTP chief after the killing of

Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike in November 2013 while hiding in the bordering

area of Pakistan with Afghanistan. He escaped to Afghanistan in an injured condition

during military operation in Swat where he was the TTP chief of the valley.

However, Fazlullah was never accepted as chief by the entire TTP, which was founded

by the Mehsud tribe and remained under the tight grip of this tribe until the death of

Hakimullah Mehsud. Fissures emerged among the TTP shortly after the command of

Fazalullah and fierce gun battles started between his supporting and opposed factions

in South Waziristan.

RAW trained Fazlullah, says Mush “Do you know who is Maulana Fazlullah? He is the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan

commander.

He is in Afghanistan. And I am reasonably sure that he was supported by former Karzai

government and RAW to carry out terror attacks in Pakistan,” Musharraf told CNN-IBN

in an exclusive interview. The former Pakistan president said the perpetrators of the

crime were those trained by India.

Taliban‟s commander was supported by Afghanistan and India to carry out terrorist

attack in Pakistan, Musharraf said.

At least 133 students and nine staffers were killed when the attackers wearing para-

military Frontier Corps uniforms stormed the Army Public School on Warsak Road and

started indiscriminate firing on them on Tuesday.

Though the prime minister has lifted the seven-year moratorium on hangings, but the

Ministry Interior and the Prison Department will have to take a number of steps before

taking the first condemned prisoners to gallows. An officer of the Prison Department

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said that after lengthy consultations with legal experts, it transpired that as per the high

court rules and orders, after rejection of a mercy petition of a convicted prisoner by

President of Pakistan, the Ministry of Interior will play its role. The Ministry of Interior will

inform the provincial home department of the rejection of the mercy petition and the

home secretary will forward the same to the sessions judge concerned who will issue

black warrants for the said prisoner and will be duty-bound to execute him within 14 to

21 days.

Capital punishment is legal in Pakistan, but there had been a moratorium on executions

since 2008. At least 241 people were sentenced to death in Pakistan in 2005 while 31

were executed, – the fifth highest number in the world. Pakistan ranked fifth after

People‟s Republic of China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States. The moratorium

expired on June 30, 2013, and the government announced it had no plan to extend it.

The government stated there would be no general amnesty for the convicts awaiting

execution. On July 4, 2013, Amnesty International estimated there were more than

8,000 prisoners on death row in Pakistan.

At least 27 convicts, including several terrorists, carry the death penalty in Pakistan.

At present, there are 1,419 male and three female convicted prisoners in Punjab jails.

There are 174 such prisoners in Central Jail, Lahore, 96 in Central Jail, Gujranwala, 97

in Sahiwal, 49 in District Jail, Kasur, 54 in Shahpur, 83 in Sialkot, 131 in Central Jail,

Rawalpindi, 52 in Attock jail, 44 in Gujrat, 37 in Jehlum, 22 in Mandi Bahauddin, 120 in

Central Jail, Faisalabad, 69 in Mianwali, 43 in Jhang, 49 in Sargodha, 24 in TT Singh,

82 in Multan, 69 in Bahawalpur, 39 in DG Khan, 14 in district jail Multan, 20 in Rahim

Yar Khan and 34 such prisoners are in Vehari jail.

Last year, Pakistani courts sentenced 226 people to death, the lowest number in over

10 years, but still the highest number death penalty convictions in the world, according

to Amnesty International.

Sharif had previously lifted the moratorium in August 2013, but quickly withdrew his

decision once it was clear that executions could result in the loss of preferential trade

terms with the European Union.

Pakistan has since secured those trade terms – General Scheme of Preference (GSP+)

– but the deal will be up for review in Brussels in 2016.

458 CONDEMNED

PRISONERS IN SINDH

NNI adds: There are 458 prisoners currently in the jails of Sindh. At least 378 appeals

are filed in the Supreme Court. Twenty six of them are still pending with President

Mamnoon Hussain. 47 appeals filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan are unsettled

whereas 6 prisoners have been issued black warrants.

However, the criminal proceedings couldn‟t take place for last several years because of

the ban on sentence to death.

Pakistan Media Digest

December 18 2014

18

Following the orders of the PM to lift temporary ban on death penalties, action would be

taken against the convicted terrorists.

Kabul, ISAF promise action against TTP sanctuaries

The assurance was given by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Isaf Commander General John F Campbell to army chief General Raheel Sharif, who rushed to Kabul on Wednesday to discuss the implications of the massacre of 148 people, mostly children.

But it came only after Gen Raheel warned that his country would be compelled to end anti-terror cooperation with Afghanistan if „decisive and prompt‟ action was not taken against the TTP hideouts and the group‟s fugitive chief Mullah Fazlullah inside Afghanistan, said a security official.

The army chief, who was also accompanied by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt-Gen Rizwan Akhtar, handed Afghan and Isaf officials „dossier‟ containing evidence linking Tuesday‟s dastardly attack with the TTP safe havens inside Afghanistan.

The official told The Express Tribune that intelligence information was shared with Afghan authorities and Isaf about involvement of the Mullah Fazllulah group in the Peshawar terrorist attack. He added that Gen Raheel told the Afghan president that Pakistan‟s military could eliminate TTP sanctuaries in Kunar and Nuristan on its own but was showing restraint due to Afghanistan‟s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Express Tribune has learnt that a possibility of joint operation against TTP sanctuaries was also discussed. Sources revealed that the army chief offered Pakistan‟s help in eliminating terrorists if Afghan security forces face any capacity issues.

A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that „vital elements of intelligence‟ were shared with Afghan authorities regarding the Peshawar attack. The military‟s media wing said the Afghan president assured Gen Raheel that the use

Pakistan Media Digest

December 18 2014

19

of Afghanistan‟s soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan would not be allowed and any signature found in this regard would be immediately eliminated.

The Isaf commander also assured Gen Raheel of his complete support in eliminating terrorists in his area of responsibility, the statement added. The army chief on his part assured the Afghan president of full support to the unity government in all spheres, including joint efforts against terrorists.

On his return, the army chief met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Peshawar and briefed him about the outcome of his crucial talks with the Afghan leadership as well as the Isaf commander.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2014.

Aftershocks: Capital schools’ administration told to enhance

security

“The FDE realised through electronic and print media that the terrorists may hit educational institutions in the capital,” an official privy to the meeting told The Express Tribune.

It was decided at the meeting that all educational institutes under the administrative control of the FDE „may adopt‟ certain measures for the security and safety of students, staff as well as public property.

Heads of the institute will be responsible for obtaining and retaining record of private transporters for picking and dropping students at their institutes.

The meeting decided that watchmen at schools where needed may be adjusted temporarily and permanently; school gates will remain closed to avoid any mishap and all the watchmen will be in proper uniform.

Among other steps, it was decided that visiting hours would strictly be observed and a visitor‟s log be properly maintained. Metal detectors will be used and an information desk „may be‟ established at the main gates to facilitate public.

Pakistan Media Digest

December 18 2014

20

FDE Director General Asif Khawaja addressed a morning assembly at Islamabad Model School for Boys in G-7/4, saying he had written a letter to the deputy commissioner requesting him to deploy Rapid Response Force nearby educational institutes for the safety and security of the students and staff.

Meeting of the FDE came in response to a letter written by Senior Superintendent of Police Asmatullah Junejo to the management of educational institutes warning them of a possible attack on school vans and students.

In the letter issued on December 16, the SSP stated that it has been learnt through reliable resources that some terrorist organisations were planning to place „magnetic explosive devices‟ in vehicles carrying students. “In this regard, reportedly a separate team of terrorists has so far been dispatched to the Islamabad Capital Territory to carry out such activity,” he stated.

Following these threats, Junejo directed management of all schools and colleges to enhance security of vehicles that carry students to and from their respective schools.

He directed that the vehicles submit their registration numbers, name of owners or drivers with their mobile phone numbers, valid driving licences and the operational area of each vehicle within three days.

The managements have also been requested to arrange mirror reflectors for checking any „magnetic explosive devices‟ that could be placed underneath the vehicles.

Junejo further directed that physical checking of vehicles should be carried out by the security staff of the institution concerned itself and compliance should be sent to the SSP office within seven days after receiving the letter.

The SHOs are also responsible for the security of students in their areas. “The matter of safety and security of the students is of top importance,” the letter states, “It merits top priority.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2014.

Pakistan Media Digest

December 18 2014

21

Pak-China trade volume touches $12.8bn mark in 10 months:

Envoy

Addressing students and faculty members during his visit to the National University of Science and Technology

(NUST), he said that Pak-China relations were an example for the other countries. "Our friendship is stronger than

iron friendship and it's based on mutual respect and trust."

The ambassador said that Chinese companies were only investing in Pakistan's energy sector and not considered

that as a loan. Currently China was investing in hydropower, coal power, and wind power projects to overcome the

energy problem.

On Pak-China people-to-people relations, he cited one incident, which happened in 2008 Beijing Olympic that

Pakistan team was the only team which got a standing ovation by Chinese people and considered them there only

true friends.

He said China was currently become the largest on-line retail market as E-commerce activity exceeded to $ 1.6

Billion. "In the recent years China promotes innovation in the products and emphasize on its quality," he added.

He said China was still the largest developing country as its two million people were living below poverty line.

Referreing to the Peshawar school tragedy, the ambassador said China was deeply shocked and saddened on it and

continued to render firm support to the government and people of Pakistan in fight against terrorism and unremitting

efforts in maintaining national stability and people safety.

The ambassador praised NUST staff for making the university as one of the best in Pakistan and in Asia also.

Earlier, the ambassador held a meeting with Rector NUST Engineer Muhammad Asghar. He was given a briefing on

NUST and its achievements in the higher education sector.

Editorial Board

Executive Editor Mukhtar Ahmed

Editor Nauman Shahid