Pakistan - Bomb kills three soldiers in South Waziristan Agency

A roadside bomb killed three paramilitary soldiers in South Waziristan Agency (NWA) on Monday.

The improvised explosive device went off as the officials were on patrol on a motorcycle in Toikhola village.

"Three FC (Frontier Constabulary) soldiers were martyred in a bomb blast during a patrol in South Waziristan," a senior security official said, adding that the bomb had been detonated remotely.

The attack came as Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa visited the district, the military said, confirming the soldiers had died.

The bodies were shifted to a hospital while heavy contingents of security forces reached the scene and started a search operation.

South Waziristan is one of the seven semi-autonomous tribal areas where the army has for more than a decade been battling militants linked to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

The army launched an operation in June 2014 in neighbouring North Waziristan to wipe out terrorist bases.

As a result security has improved. Attacks still take place, but fewer than previously.

Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar condemned the bombing.

Nawaz said, “We have achieved success in war against terrorism through the sacrifices of our valiant soldiers.  Pakistan has broken the back of terrorists and we will soon eliminate the remaining terrorists and win the war against terrorists completely.” 

http://dailytimes.com.pk/pakistan/13-Feb-17/bomb-kills-three-soldiers-in-nwa

Pakistan's PRO SAUDI REGIME, IHC prohibits any kind of Valentine's Day celebration

Islamabad High Court (IHC) has banned any kind of celebration in concern with Valentine's Day in the country immediately after a citizen filed a petition.

Justice Shaukat Aziz told the Federal Ministry of Information, Pemra and the Islamabad High Commission to submit their replies regarding the ban.

On the other hand, both print and electronic medias have been warned and ordered PEMRA to send out notifications banning any such promotions. The petitioner is a citizen Abdul Waheed who maintained in his petition that the ongoing promotions on the mainstream and social media for Valentine's Day are "against Islamic preaching and should be banned immediately."

No public celebration regarding Valentine's day will be tolerated according to the orders.

http://nation.com.pk/national/13-Feb-2017/ihc-prohibits-any-kind-of-valentine-s-day-celebration

Pakistan - Former President Asif Ali Zardari condemns Lahore blast

Former President of Pakistan and President Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians Asif Ali Zardari has strongly condemned blast in Lahore and instructed Party leaders and office bearers to reach hospitals and donate blood to help injured.

Former President said that terrorism can only be eliminated after terror nurseries are eradicated.  Innocent people were targeted in this terror activity and two senior police officers Deputy Inspector General Police Ahmed Mobin and Senior Superintendent Police Zahid Gondal were martyred. Former President said that PPP and its leadership are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. He also prayed for early recovery of injured.

https://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/

Bilawal Bhutto Condemns Lahore Blast

Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has strongly condemned

bomb blast in Lahore resulting in loss of precious human lives and termed the terrorist as a coward act. In a press statement issued here Monday, the PPP Chairman said martyrdom of senior police officials and common people in blast in front of Punjab Assembly was the most heinous act and those who planned and executed it should be ferreted out and punished. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said terrorism was a monster and there should be no good or bad monsters for the safety of the people and future generation. PPP Chairman asked the Party leaders and workers in Lahore to participate in rescue and relief operations.

http://www.pakistanpoint.com/en/pakistan/news/bilawal-bhutto-condemns-lahore-blast-101564.html

Pakistan: Deadly bomb blast rips through Lahore rally

Bomb blast in the centre of the Pakistani city of Lahore kills at least 11 people and wounds dozens, officials say.

A powerful bomb blast on Monday ripped through a protest in the Pakistani city of Lahore, killing at least 11 people and wounding dozens, according to officials.

The explosion went off in Lahore's busy Mall Road during a rally attended by hundreds of pharmacists protesting against a new government law outside the provincial assembly building.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a Pakistani Taliban-linked armed group, claimed responsibility for the attack, which also wounded at least 30 people, including media personnel covering the protest.

Witnesses told Al Jazeera that the blast occurred near the Punjab assembly building when a suicide bomber on a motorcycle rammed into a police vehicle. Two senior police officials were reportedly killed in the explosion.

"The explosion was heard for several kilometres. It was a very powerful explosive device," Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder, reporting from the blast site in Lahore, said. Several ambulances arrived at the scene after the blast, while security forces cordoned off the area on Mall Road, one of Lahore's main arteries.

"The road has been sealed off; right now ambulances are evacuating the wounded, and also the police and security forces have gathered at large numbers around the assembly buidling," Hyder said.

Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's prime minister, condemned the attack and vowed to step up the fight against armed groups in the country.

"Terrorism isn't a novelty for us. Our story has been one of constant struggle against its grasp and a fight for the soul of Pakistan," he said in a statement.

"We have fought this fight against the terrorists among us, and will continue to fight it until we liberate our people of this cancer and avenge those who have laid down their lives for us."

Lahore, in eastern Pakistan, was the site of an Easter Day bombing that killed more than 70 people in a public park last year.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for that attack, as well as for a bombing at a hospital in Quetta that killed 74 people in August last year.


http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/pakistan-powerful-bomb-blast-rocks-lahore-170213133330696.html