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Posts published in June 2013

Nanga Parbat massacre ; Editorial in The Nation, June 25

The gunning down of nine foreign tourists, of whom three were Chinese, and has been explained by the Foreign Office as a conspiracy to disrupt Pak-China relations. The majority of those killed, six, were Ukrainian citizens. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman has roundly condemned the attack, and asked Pakistan not only to apprehend the culprits, but also ensure the safety of all Chinese citizens in Pakistan. Pakistan stands united in grief with our Chinese, Ukranian…

Chief secretary, IGP suspension not acceptable, says GB CM

by Tahir Khalil  in the News,June 25 ISLAMABAD: Reacting to the suspension of Gilgit-Baltistan chief secretary and Inspector General of Police (IGP) by the federal government over the killing of nine tourists and a Pakistani national, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah on Monday said the action was not acceptable to him. Mehdi has sent a letter to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in which he pointed out a number of problems facing his government. He…

Nanga Parbat massacre: Thousands protest against the ‘unprecedented’ incident

By Shabbir Mir in Express Tribune, June 25 GILGIT: Thousands of people participated in a demonstration in Chilas town on Monday against the vicious massacre of foreign tourists near the base camp of Pakistan’s second highest peak – Nanga Parbat. “We strongly condemn the brutal act which defamed the entire country especially Diamer valley,” said Taifoor Shah, a local leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, as he addressed the rally. Tourism is one of the…

Search operation leads to a ‘suspicious car’

DIAMER: The killing of 10 foreign tourists at the foot of Nanga Parbat, Gilgit-Baltistan has led to a massive search operation being conducted in the region, Express News reported. Initial reports from the law-enforcing agencies suggest that the militants escaped in small groups which has made it difficult to track them down. A car, which the officials claimed looked suspicious has been taken into custody for investigation. Meanwhile, rest-houses where senior officials are residing have…

37 held in Diamer search operation: by FAROOQ AHMED KHAN in Dawn, June 25

GILGIT: Troops carried out a search operation on Monday, along with personnel of the Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, Frontier Constabulary and police, in the area where 10 foreign mountaineers had been killed in an armed attack on Sunday and took into custody 37 suspects. “The joint operation by the army, paramilitary troops and police will continue,” Diamer Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ajmal Bhattee told Dawn. He said evidence was being gathered to help trace the attackers. He said…

Footprints of Asmatullah Moavia found in Nanga Parbat killings: by Azaz Syed in the News, June 25

ISLAMABAD: The police and law enforcement agencies have found solid clues to the involvement of the Asmatullah Moavia group in the gruesome killing of 10 mountaineers at the base camp of Nanga Parbat, Gilgit-Baltistan. “We know them and we are looking for six key activists and local leaders who have played a major role in this incident. We have some evidence and some eyewitnesses have also given us a good input,” said a senior police…

Major terror attacks on foreigners in Pakistan since 9/11

by Sabir Shah in the News, June 24 LAHORE: The recent killing of nine international tourists at the base camp of the world’s ninth tallest mountain of Nanga Parbat near Gilgit by Taliban to avenge the death of one of their leaders killed in a drone strike, is not the first time when foreigners, their worship places, business houses, work places, embassies and other installations have been targeted in Pakistan since the September 11, 2001…

Gilgit incident terrifies foreign tourists: by Sabir Shah in the News, June 24

LAHORE: Already wary of non-professional tourist guides, touts and the ever-deteriorating law and order situation in Pakistan, members of reputed international travel forums like Couch Surfing, Hospitality Club, Virtual Tourist and the Thorn Tree Lonely Planet etc have reported that following the killing of foreign trekkers near Gilgit late on Saturday night, the local police had not allowed vehicles carrying foreigners to proceed up the Karakoram Highway (KKH) from the checkpoint near Dubair, about 20…

Foreign tourists’ murder: Tour operators urge authorities to seal the area

By Waqas Naeem in The Express Tribune, June 24 ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO) has condemned the brutal killing of nine foreign tourists near Nanga Parbat in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and urged the military and government authorities to immediately seal the area and search the gunmen. “It takes 18 hours on foot to reach the road,” PATO President Amjad Ayub said, adding that 18 hours have not passed since the incident and if…

Tour operators assail security agencies: by IKRAM JUNAIDI in Dawn, June 24

ISLAMABAD: Tour operators criticised the law-enforcement agencies on Sunday after the Gilgit-Baltistan base camp attack and said they did nothing except checking buses on the Karakoram Highway. They accused security personnel of not making efforts to apprehend the attackers who could not have reached the road in less than 18 hours because of the difficult terrain. Talking to Dawn, Ghulam Nabi, owner of the Fairy Meadow Tours, said there were three zones in the mountains…

China asks Pakistan to guarantee safety of its citizens

Beijing: China on Sunday asked the Pakistani government to “guarantee the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese citizens in Pakistan” as it condemned the attack on foreign tourists in Gilgit-Baltistan, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported. In a pre-dawn attack, gunmen dressed as paramilitary forces killed nine foreign tourists in an unprecedented attack in Gilgit-Baltistan. At least three Chinese and five Ukrainian climbers were killed in the attack on the base camp. “The Foreign Ministry on…