Posts published in “Day: January 12, 2016”

When looked at without taking account of the specific factors involved, the Rs17 billion DHA land scam is essentially no different to the dozens others similar to it that take place across the country. It is the people involved who make it different, with the action taken now opening up the possibility of more to follow. Essentially, while the scam had been known about for years, NAB’s failure to act has been attributed to the…

It is refreshing to find a positive development in the battle against corruption in Pakistan, where all too often wealth, privilege and ‘connections’ insulate the most corrupt from investigation or prosecution. Thus we welcome the investigation launched by NAB into the affairs of the brother of former army chief General (retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. It appears that the investigation has the blessing of the current Chief of the Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif, in itself…

ISLAMABAD: Although the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has proceeded against the private parties involved in the DHA City (Lahore) scam, no action has been taken against the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) management against whom the Bureau also received innumerable complaints in the same case. Sources in NAB said the Bureau has ignored the lapses and wrongs of the DHA management which resulted in the present situation. It is said that while one of the parties…

Brigadier (r) Amjad Kayani, a brother of former Pakistan Army chief Gen (r) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, on Monday claimed that a conspiracy was being hatched against the former army chief by dragging his name into the DHA Lahore City scam unnecessarily. Talking to Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami on his talkshow DNA on Channel 24, Amjad Kayani said that his Gen Kayani was being maliciously involved in conspiracies, but he stopped short of naming those…

The writer is author of The Prospect of Nuclear Jihad in Pakistan On January 9, 2016, Afghan parliament summoned key security officials to explain the growing threat of Taliban and Islamic State (IS) as the Afghan National Army (ANA) failed to professionalise counterinsurgency operations across the country. Defence Minister Muhammad Masoom Stanekzai, Interior Minister Noorulhaq Uloomi and Director General NDS Major Masood Andrabi failed to positively respond to the questions of parliamentarians about the capability…

Senior Pakistani, Chinese and US officials joined Afghanistan in key talks in Islamabad on January 11, 2016 to explore options to bring the stalled peace process back on track. There are limited expectations forF this four-nation process. After the stalling of the Murree talks, a second round of meetings has been initiated to find a roadmap to bring the bloodshed to an end in Afghanistan. According to the Afghan government’s spokesman, Pakistan has prepared a…

The Afghan government has been duly elected and enjoys the backing of the major powers. The Afghan Taliban control the largest area of the country since the overthrow of their government in 2001 and have displayed the ability to continue attacks in winter when fighting normally ends till the snows start melting on the passes. The post-Taliban Afghan constitution envisages a parliamentary republic which promises equal rights for women and religious minorities. The Taliban, on…

A coordinated suicide attack has been foiled by the Afghan national security forces in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, the Afghan Intelligence – National Directorate of Security (NDS) said Monday. A statement by NDS said a group of six heavily armed insurgents including 2 suicide bombers were arrested by the Afghan intelligence operatives before they execute the coordinated attack. The statement further added that the group was looking to carry out the attack in Jalalabad,…

At least three school students lost their lives and eight others were wounded in a rocket attack by anti-government armed militants in southeastern Khost province of Afghanistan. The Ministry of Education (MoE) said the incident took place this morning in Bak district after a mortar round landed in a primary school. A statement by MoE said two female students were among those killed in the attack, urging the Afghan security institutions to take immediate steps…

222 militants have been killed in the newest airstrikes conducted by Afghan Air Force in eastern and southern parts of Afghanistan. A statement released by the Ministry of Defense states that based on the coordinates provided by the 201st Selab Military Corps in the country’s east, Afghan Air Force targeted positions of Daesh militants in Achin District of Nangarhar province leaving 18 militants killed. The airstrikes were carried out by helicopters equipped with MD-530 and…