Tag: intelligence agency

  • Sindh High Court sets deadline for investigation report on Sakrand Village killings

    Sindh High Court sets deadline for investigation report on Sakrand Village killings

    The Sindh High Court (SHC) has instructed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Shaheed Benazirabad police to oversee the ongoing investigation into the killing of four villagers during a law enforcement raid in Sakrand.

    The court has set December 1 as the deadline for the submission of the investigation report.

    Headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, the two-judge bench also directed the inquiry committee established by the Sindh government to present its findings at the next hearing.

    In the previous court session, the SHC had instructed the in Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Shaheed Benazirabad to produce both the complainants from the First Information Reports (FIRs) and the legal heirs of the deceased villagers.

    SSP Haider Raza appeared at the hearing and submitted a report indicating that notices had been served to one of the complainants, Rajab Ali.

    However, Ali failed to appear before the SHC, prompting the bench to reissue notices and instruct the SSP to ensure the presence of the complainant and legal heirs in the next hearing.

    Representing the petitioners, Advocate Syed Haider Imam Rizvi submitted that a fair investigation was not being conducted in the cases.

    The bench in its order said, “After hearing learned counsel for the parties, DIGP, Shaheed Benazirabad, is directed to supervise further investigation of the cases/FIRs mentioned in this petition and report shall be submitted before the trial court as well as before this court on the next date of hearing. Enquiry committee, constituted by the government of Sindh, shall also submit the report on the next date of hearing”.

    At the previous hearing, the SHC was also informed that the Sindh government had notified compensation for the legal heirs/families of victims.

    Tahmasp Rasheed Razvi and two other lawyers had petitioned the SHC and submitted that in order to harass the villagers and save their own skin, the law enforcement agencies had lodged two FIRs in violation of the apex court’s judgment.

    The Case

    The operation carried out by law enforcement agencies on September 9 aimed to apprehend militants associated with the banned Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SUA).

    In the course of the operation, four individuals were killed, and nine others, including four Rangers personnel, sustained injuries.
    A Rangers spokesman released a statement mentioning that the operation was intelligence-based and targeted high-value individuals.

    However, Sindh United Party (SUP) Secretary General Roshan Burriro claimed that those killed were supporters and revealed that a confrontation had ensued between security forces and villagers.

    The situation escalated when law enforcement officers opened fire, resulting in tragic deaths and injuries.
    Subsequently, grieving villagers staged a protest and blocked a section of the National Highway while carrying the coffins of the deceased individuals.

    Protests by the families and relatives of the deceased villagers came to an end after the initiation of the judicial inquiry and the registration of a First Information Report (FIR).

    The FIR was filed under Sections 302 (intentional murder) and 324 (murder attempt) of the Pakistan Penal Code based on the complaint of Rahib Jalbani, the brother of one of the deceased individuals.

    According to the FIR, the security officials arrived at a house in the village and accused those present of being terrorists before opening fire. The complainant’s brother and another individual died on the spot, while several others were injured.

    SUP President Syed Zain Shah clarified that the deceased villagers were not politically affiliated.

  • Inquiry launched into killing of four villagers during operation in Sakrand

    Inquiry launched into killing of four villagers during operation in Sakrand

    Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, has on Saturday initiated an inquiry into the tragic incident in Sakrand, where four villagers lost their lives during a law enforcement operation. The CM has called for a comprehensive report on the incident within four days.

    The operation, carried out by law enforcement agencies, aimed to apprehend militants associated with the banned Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army. In the course of the operation, four individuals were killed, and nine others, including four Rangers personnel, sustained injuries. A Rangers spokesman released a statement mentioning that the operation was intelligence-based and targeted high-value individuals, as per Dawn.

    However, Sindh United Party (SUP) Secretary General Roshan Burriro claimed that those killed were supporters and revealed that a confrontation had ensued between security forces and villagers. The situation escalated when law enforcement officers opened fire, resulting in tragic deaths and injuries.

    Subsequently, grieving villagers staged a protest and blocked a section of the National Highway while carrying the coffins of the deceased individuals.

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) took to X (former Twitter) to demand an independent investigation into the incident, emphasizing the importance of justice for the affected families.

    “The deaths of at least four people, killed allegedly by law enforcement agencies during a security operation in a village near #Sarkand in Sindh, must be investigated independently. While the government should take all possible steps to improve law and order in the province, this in no way excuses extrajudicial killings, which HRCP has always opposed. We urge the caretaker chief minister to take notice of this incident. Those families currently protesting in Sarkand deserve justice. Additionally, the whereabouts of Liaquat Jalbani, a student initially in the custody of law enforcement personnel, who was brought to the village when this incident took place, must be established.”

    CM Baqar firmly stated that such incidents should not occur and formed a three-member committee to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter, with a mandate to deliver its findings within four days.

    The Sindh Home Department has issued an order appointing Hyderabad Commissioner Khalid Hyder Shah to lead the inquiry committee, assisted by the Shaheed Benazirabad deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and Karachi DIG Special Branch. The committee’s task is to ascertain the causes behind the clash that resulted in the loss of lives and injuries to law enforcement personnel.

    Protest by the families and relatives of the deceased villagers came to an end after the initiation of the judicial inquiry and the registration of a First Information Report (FIR).

    The FIR was filed under Sections 302 (intentional murder) and 324 (murder attempt) of the Pakistan Penal Code based on the complaint of Rahib Jalbani, the brother of one of the deceased individuals. According to the FIR, the security officials arrived at a house in the village and accused those present of being terrorists before opening fire. The complainant’s brother and another individual died on the spot, while several others were injured.

    SUP President Syed Zain Shah clarified that the deceased villagers were not politically affiliated, and their bodies will be laid to rest following a funeral in the village. He also mentioned that the villagers agreed to end their protest after authorities committed to conducting a judicial inquiry.

    SUP leaders highlighted that the villagers were ready to visit and inquire about the health of injured Rangers personnel, expressing concern that labeling the villagers as terrorists was a significant stigma. Law enforcement officers had claimed they had acted based on information about miscreants in the area.

  • PTI to form JIT to determine intelligence agency behind ‘bugging’ PM House and audio leaks: Khan

    PTI to form JIT to determine intelligence agency behind ‘bugging’ PM House and audio leaks: Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday said that his party intends to approach courts over the matter of audio leaks and will seek the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe which intelligence agency is involved in the “bugging” of the Prime Minister House and Office.

    Khan took to Twitter and said, “The Audio Leaks are a serious breach of national security as they call into question the entire security of the PMO, PMH. As PM my secure line at my residence was also bugged. We intend to go to Court to estab authenticity of Leaks & then form JIT to investigate which Intel agency is responsible for the bugging & who is leaking out the audios many of which are edited/doctored.” [sic]

    “This is critical bec sensitive security issues are & have been illegally recorded & subsequently hacked, implying confidentiality of Pak’s national security has been exposed globally,” [sic] said Khan.

    The comments made by the former premier in the purported audio suggested that it was recorded before the voting on the no-confidence motion was held against him.

    Khan said that it is a critical matter as “sensitive security issues are and have been illegally recorded and subsequently hacked”, which implies that the confidentiality of the country’s national security has been “exposed” globally. 

    The federal cabinet has already formed a committee to investigate the breach of security. 

  • ‘Did National Security Committee declare197 National Assembly members as traitors?’ Bilawal asks ISPR

    ‘Did National Security Committee declare197 National Assembly members as traitors?’ Bilawal asks ISPR

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has demanded a clarification from Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Babar Iftikhar, asking if the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting declared 197 Members of the National Assembly (MNA) as traitors.

    Bilawal tweeted, “Will @OfficialDGISPR clarify did NSC meeting declare the 197 members of NA traitors and part of a foreign plot? Can the foreign office or defense ministry produce any official correspondence between 7-27th on foreign sazish.”

    “A plot of this scale would have been uncovered by our own intelligence agencies and other institutions, not just an ambassadors cable?” questioned Bilawal.

    “Imran’s ego is not more important than Pakistan,” said Bilawal hitting at the prime minister.

  • Ex-ISI chief was working for India’s RAW?

    Ex-ISI chief was working for India’s RAW?

    The Ministry of Defence has opposed a request seeking removal of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general (DG) Lt Gen (r) Asad Durrani’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL), saying he had been “interacting with hostile elements” including Indian intelligence agency RAW since 2008 and was likely to be involved in future publications against the interest of Pakistan, Dawn reported.

    The spymaster had landed in trouble after co-authoring a book, “The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace”, with Amarjit Singh Dulat, the former head of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), in 2018.

    After the book’s publication, the Military Intelligence (MI) had written to the interior ministry to put Durrani’s name on the ECL and the same was done in May 2018. The former spymaster challenged the move in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in 2019.

    In its para-wise comments submitted in response to Durrani’s petition in the IHC on Wednesday, the Defence Ministry said the ex-ISI chief’s name was placed on the no-fly list for “his involvement in anti-state activities”. It said a perusal of the book The Spy Chronicles revealed that it contained “certain contents concerning [the] national security of Pakistan, being in contravention of the provisions of the Official Secrets Acts, 1923”.

    “It is further highlighted that there are [a] number of such publications on the way, supported by hostile elements which contain content to create misperception, confusions, question marks against the top leadership circles at country level and to target the common people,” reads the ministry’s response.

    It added that Durrani had been “affiliated/interacting with hostile elements especially Indian RAW since 2008”, saying although he had submitted an affidavit “committing to refrain from such activities” to the government, the same had still not been seen “in tangible terms”.

    According to the ministry’s reply, Rule 2(c) of the Exit from Pakistan (Control) Rules, 2010, authorised the federal government to prohibit a person from exiting Pakistan for a foreign destination if the said person is involved in “‘acts of terrorism or its conspiracy’, ‘heinous crimes’ and ‘threatening national security’”.

    Moreover, it said Articles 15 and 19 of the Constitution clearly stated that the “freedom of movement and freedom of speech are subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by [the] law in the public interest and integrity, security or defence of Pakistan”.

    It said Durrani’s name could not be removed from ECL “at this stage” because inquiries being conducted against him were being finalised. It said the former ISI chief wanted to travel abroad with the intention of participating in international conferences, forums and talks which will have “serious national security implications as evident from the recently published book ‘Honour Among Spies’” — which was also authored by Durrani and published “through Indian publishers/RAW supported elements”, according to the defence ministry.

    “Moreover, the petitioner also appeared on social media on October 12 and 13, 2020, and expressed his views which of course cannot be well received by any patriotic citizen,” the ministry stated, continuing to defend the placement of Durrani’s name on ECL.

    The ex-ISI chief’s petition is expected to be taken up again by the IHC next month.

  • PM approves national intelligence body for effective coordination among spy agencies

    PM approves national intelligence body for effective coordination among spy agencies

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved the formation of the National Intelligence Coordination Committee for effective coordination among the over two dozen intelligence organisations in the country.

    According to a report in Dawn.com, the committee will be headed by Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed. According to the report, though the terms of reference of the body have yet to be finalised, the proposal for the body was submitted to the premier after a thorough discussion between the intelligence agencies.

    The move is part of the long-awaited reform of the intelligence apparatus, which aims at clarifying the role of respective agencies, improving their coordination, and optimising their capabilities, said the report.

    In past, the civilian government made multiple attempts to reform intelligence agencies, but to no avail, specifically due to differences over the leadership of the new body.

    In 2008, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government placed the ISI and Intelligence Bureau (IB) under the “administrative and financial” control of the Ministry of Interior, but the notification was retracted following a backlash from the military officials.

    Similarly, attempts by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government to reform the intelligence agencies of the country failed.