Tag: kpk

  • Mosque suicide attack: Police arrest officer linked to attacker

    Mosque suicide attack: Police arrest officer linked to attacker

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police arrested a cop involved in facilitating the suicide bomber behind the blast at the police line mosque in Peshawar last year.

    Inspector General (IG) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Peshawar, revealed that a policeman named Mohammad Wali was arrested a few days ago from Jamil Chowk, and two suicide jackets were recovered from him.

    “It was revealed during the investigation that the suspect belonged to the police department,” KP IGP said.

    The incident took place on January 2023 at the Central Hall mosque, located in the Police Line area, leading to over 100 casualties.

    The suicide attacker was reportedly present in the first row of the prayer during Zuhur time when he exploded himself.

    The Fitna al Khawarij (formerly Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) had taken the blast responsibility in 2023.

    IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stated that following Mohammad Wali’s contact with the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) in 2021, he travelled to Afghanistan, where he met with terrorists, including Mohammad Khurasani, spokesperson of JuA.

    Moreover, IGP unveiled that Wali transported the suicide bomber on January 20, 2023, identified as Qari, an Afghan national, from Charsadda Mosque to the Police Line mosque for reconnaissance.

    Wali took the bomber on a motorcycle to Rahman Baba Cemetery, where the bomber was given a police uniform and a suicide vest. Wali then left “suicide attacker near the Police Line,” IGP added.

    Additionally, Akhtar Hayat Gandapur claimed: “Mohammad Wali did this in exchange for Rs 2 lac, received via hawala-hundi at Chowk Yadgar,” further noting that the suspect was also involved in the Warsak Road bomb blast.

    A video was shown in which Wali confessed to his horrific crimes during a press conference.

    He stated that after his arrest by Afghan forces, a Jamaat-ul-Ahrar member, Junaid, helped secure his release.

    He further confessed that he contacted the JuA’s member Junaid through social media in 2021, noting, “I personally expressed my intent to join Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, support it, and work for it.”

    Mohammad Wali maintained that he joined the police department on December 31, 2019.

    He, however, mentioned that following the suicide blast at the police line, he was then posted to the BRT.

  • Ali Amin Gandapur kay baal katnay ka waqt aa chukka hai: Faisal Vawda

    Ali Amin Gandapur kay baal katnay ka waqt aa chukka hai: Faisal Vawda

    Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur’s recent statement of answering a bullet with a bullet has been met with criticism, including former Senator Faisal Vawda who has said, “Gandapur kay baal katnay ka waqt agya hai.”

    Appearing on the ARY News programme OFF THE RECORD, Vawda said, “Courts ko Ali Amin Gandapur kay controversial bayanat par intervene karna chahiye thaa. (Courts should have intervened on his controversial statements.)”

    Lambasting the controversial conduct of former judges of Pakistan, he said, “It’s not the job of the judges to regulate vegetable prices and to demolish Nasla Tower.”

    “The impression that the division among Supreme Court judges benefitting the PTI is also incorrect,” Vawda added.

    In the same show, former Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar maintained that CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur’s statement regarding the direct talk of the KP province with the Afghanistan government was baseless.

    Responding to the proposed constitutional amendments regarding the formation of the Federal Constitution Court (FCC), he emphasised the need for reforms in session courts, as the majority of cases are pending in lower courts.

  • PTI is a foreign-funded party: Attaullah Tarar

    PTI is a foreign-funded party: Attaullah Tarar

    Federal Minister for Broadcasting and Information Ataullah Tarar has said in a press conference that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Raouf Hassan’s conversation with an Indian journalist has revealed the party’s anti-state agenda.
    ‘’PTI is a foreign-funded party that compromises the country’s sovereignty and seeks help from its foreign masters,’’ Tarar stated

    He pointed out that, ‘’Cypher was a conspiracy which significantly undermined the integrity of our country’s foreign policy, posing a potential threat to national security.”

    While labelling PTI anti-state, the minister alleged that Raouf Hassan’s conversation with an anti-Pakistan Indian journalist was a true reflection of the party ideology.
    “Their clamor for a bloody revolution in the country proved that the PTI had received foreign funding from India for the purpose. This was also revealed by the investigation into the prohibited funding case.”

    Tarar also accused PTI of resettling terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).

  • Complete ban on cutting of forests, transportation of timber in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    Complete ban on cutting of forests, transportation of timber in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has imposed a complete ban on cutting of trees in forests and transporting timber in the province.

    Provincial Forest Minister Fazal Hakim Khan stated that monitoring teams have been formed to protect forests, emphasising that illegal logging will not be tolerated.

    The Minister highlighted the inseparable link between forests and tourism, underscoring the province’s commitment to extensive reforestation efforts.

  • How many tourists visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during Eid?

    How many tourists visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during Eid?

    Pakistanis celebrated Eid-ul-Azha from June 17 to 19. During this extended break, more than 400,000 tourists reportedly visited various tourist spots in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    Over 174,000 tourists visited Naran Kaghan, 162,000 tourists traveled to Galiyat, 46,000 visited Malam Jabba, and 23,000 explored Upper Dir.

    According to the tourism department, 2,920 tourists visited Upper Dir, 1,830 visited Lower Chitral, and 570 explored Upper Chitral during this period.

  • Illegal Afghan citizens banned from entering Peshawar during Eid, Muharram

    The government has decided to ban illegal Afghan citizens from entering Peshawar during Eid-ul-Adha and Muharram.

    Speaking to Geo News, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Qasim Ali Khan stated that this decision has been made due to security concerns and in order to control crime.

    He emphasised that ensuring a peaceful religious festival is the top priority, and during Eid and Muharram, illegal Afghan citizens will not be allowed to enter the city.

    Qasim Ali Khan further mentioned that security at sensitive locations and places of worship will be reassessed, and additional security measures will be implemented during Eid and Muharram.

    The CCPO added that practical steps will be taken to curb street crime.

  • ‘Bilawal tera governor bhi KP house mein nai ghusse ga,’ threatens CM Gandapur

    ‘Bilawal tera governor bhi KP house mein nai ghusse ga,’ threatens CM Gandapur

    The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur has threatened former foreign minister and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, saying, “Bilawal tera governor bhi KP house mein nai ghusse ga, [Bilawal, your Governor will not be able to enter KP House]” after a KP minister was allegedly not allowed to enter Sindh House.

    “I will show you here [KP] that your governor won’t be able to come here to KP House,” exclaimed Gandapur.

    The CM said that Pakistan is not the private property of Bilawal. Furthermore, he said, “If you continue to adopt this attitude then I will challenge you to even enter the Governor House here.”

  • Girls in Dir stopped from attending political events

    Girls in Dir stopped from attending political events

    The Government Postgraduate College in Timergara, Dir, has formally issued a directive telling female students not to “take part in political gatherings, birthday parties and other extra-curricular activities” on the way to the campus and returning home.

    The directions issued by the college’s chief proctor, Prof Riaz Mohammad, asked the parents of girl students to stay in contact with the administration to help improve academic standards.

    Prof Riaz Mohammad justified the move while talking to Dawn, saying it was in the “best interests” of girl students and in line with local customs. He said several unpleasant incidents were reported in some colleges with co-education, so his college took the initiative to prevent them altogether.

  • ‘Members of TTP are in contact with me’, Barrister Saif wants dialogue with banned group

    ‘Members of TTP are in contact with me’, Barrister Saif wants dialogue with banned group

    Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Advisor to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information, has once again reiterated the need to start a dialogue with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as the country reels from a surge in terror attacks.

    Saif stated that the recent significant loss of lives on “both sides” should prompt Pakistan to opt for a peaceful way to get out of this mess.

    “We must consider the possibility of dialogue if terrorists are willing to renounce terrorism. The situation must be approached realistically. Lives are being lost on both sides, and the only way to halt this is to pursue peaceful means. This does not imply any form of surrender to the terrorists.”

    The statement comes a few days after CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur also said that the country needs to open a dialogue with terrorists because “Whatever we have done has gained us nothing.”

    The Advisor also revealed that the terrorists are in contact with him, “Members of the TTP have been in contact with me, discussing their issues. At times, when the TTP has issues with the Pakistan army, they communicate it through me.”

    Social media reactions were mostly critical of Barrister Saif.

  • Two TTP terrorists killed in Punjab while crossing over from KP

    Two TTP terrorists killed in Punjab while crossing over from KP

    The Khorasan Diary has reported that two terrorists were killed in Bhakkar, Punjab while entering the province from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    Their post read, “Two militants have been killed in Bhakkar, Punjab in an exchange of firing with Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab, according to officials the militants were trying to cross over from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: CTD Punjab.”

    Recently, the Chief Minister of KP Ali Amin Gandapur said in a conference about the increasing cases of terrorism that “terrorists can access Punjab too but it is due to the sacrifices of KP police that this is not happening.”

    The Khorasan Diary also reported, “The militants have been identified as the affiliates of Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan. They were entering Punjab for an attack. A grand search and sweep operation had been launched to arrest the other militants: CTD Punjab”