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Pakistan:132 killed in two terror attacks on election rallies
Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam Sharif sent to jail on return
In one of the bloodiest days in Pakistan, around 132 people were killed and 180 injured in two separate terrorist attacks during election gatherings in Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, the day when former PM Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Sharif were arrested on their arrival at Lahore airport.
The fast moving developments in the country are somehow related to the forthcoming general election for national assembly and state assemblies to be held on 25 July. Currently the federal and state governments are headed by caretaker Prime Minister and Chief Ministers.
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Nawabzada Siraj Raisani, the Baloshistan Awami Party (BAP) candidate for the provincial assembly seat was among 128 killed in the suicide attack on an election gathering in the Mastung area, 60 km south-west of Quetta.
In another terror attack four people died when remote-controlled explosive device was used to attack Akram Khan Durrani,a Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) candidate for national assembly in Bannu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Thirty people were injured in the attack. Durrani survived the attack.
Reports say that the blast occurred when Durrani boarded his vehicle after addressing a public meeting. The explosive-rigged motorcycle was parked near his vehicle.
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Nawabzada Siraj Rasani was the younger brother of Nawab Aslam Raisani, the former chief minister of Baloshistan. Elder brother is contesting for national assembly.
According to Dawn, Haji Lashkari Raisani, another brother of Siraj Rasani confirmed saying, “My younger brother has been martyred in the suicide attack” adding that he was critically injured in the attack and succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the hospital.
Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan’s Gazi force Lal Masjid” wing in a Whatsapp message has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack. All hospitals in Mastung and Quetta were kept on emergency to help the survivors.
A large number of people sitting in the gathering died on the spot and many were injured. The dead included some relatives of the slain BAP leader Siraj Raisani.
Qaim Lashkari, the Deputy Commissioner of Mastung said, “It was a suicide attack”. Another senior police official said, “It seems the target of the suicide attack was Siraj Raisani.”
An injured survivor said, “The suicide bomber blew himself up when local leaders were speaking at the gathering. The suicide bomber went near the stage where Siraj Raisani and other leaders were sitting and detonated the explosive-laden jacket he was wearing.”
Aslam Tareen, the Director General Civil Defence also confirmed that it was a suicide attack saying that around 8 kg explosives, ball bearing and nails were used in the suicide jacket saying “We have collected evidences from the explosive site.”
The bodies of the identified victims were handed over their relatives. However, large number of bodies remained unidentified. Allauddin Marri, the caretaker chief minister of Balochistan, has strongly condemned the suicide bombing and termed it a barbarian act. He said that terrorists involved in the attack would be brought to justice.
There have been several minor and moderate attacks on election related gatherings. However, the casualties remained highest in a single day on Friday. Rockets were reportedly fired at the house of Zahoor Buledi, another BAP candidate some two weeks ago.
Read More: Ousted Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif sentenced to 10 years in prison
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz were arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials upon their arrival from London to Lahore on Friday night. They were subsequently whisked away to Islamabad on a chartered flight.
Nawaz and Maryam had been convicted by the accountability court in the Avenfield corruption reference last Friday and handed jail term of 10 years and seven years respectively. Former PM was found guilty of owing assets beyond known income, while his daughter was convicted for aiding and abetting her father in covering up a “conspiracy”.
Read More: Pakistan: Supreme Court disqualify Nawaz Sharif for life
At the time of conviction, both were in London for taking care of bed-ridden PM’s ailing wife. They announced that they would return to Pakistan to appeal against the sentence. Before leaving London Nawaz said that he had decided to return to the country to fulfil his pledge to ‘honour the vote’, “despite seeing the bars of prison in front of my eyes”.
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Canadian High Commission asks Centre to ensure safety, security of its diplomats, staff in India
The High Commission affirmed that all consulates in India are open and operational and will continue to serve clients.
Amidst rising tensions between India and Canada, the Canadian High Commission on Thursday asserted that some of its diplomats have received threats on social media. It urged India to provide security for Canadian diplomats and consular officers in the country. The High Commission further revealed that it has decided to temporarily adjust its staff presence in the country.
The High Commission also affirmed that all consulates in India are open and operational and will continue to serve clients. It added that in the view of the current environment where tensions have heightened, they are taking action to ascertain the safety of their diplomats. It further underlined that Global Affairs Canada is continuously supervising the safety and security of their missions and personnel as they maintain a strict security protocol to respond to any events.
On the other hand, the Vancouver Police Department has tightened security outside India’s Consulate amid planned threats from proscribed group Sikhs for Justice after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that Indian government agents were responsible for the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Const. Tania Visintin, the department’s media relations officer, noted that Vancouver police are not aware of any specific threats to Indian consular officials, but have increased police presence at the downtown Vancouver consulate.
In a shocking claim on Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed the country’s security agencies were investigating a link between the Indian government and the killing of Nijjar. Following this, both India and Canada have been engaged in a diplomatic standoff. Earlier on Thursday, India suspended visa services for Canadian nationals until further notice owing to operation reasons.
In a meeting that was held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly conveyed strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada, promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship.
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Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi claims responsibility for Sukhdool Singh’s killing in Canada
Terming Sukhdool Singh, a drug addict, Bishnoi’s gang claimed that he destroyed the lives of many people and that he was untimely punished for his sins.
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has reportedly claimed responsibility for the killing of terrorist Sukhdool Singh in Canada’s Winnipeg city. According to reports, in a Facebook post, Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang stated that Sukhdool Singh, aka Sukha Dunuke, had played a pivotal role in the killings of gangsters Gurlal Brar and Vicky Middkhera. They further alleged that the murders were plotted by Sukhdool Singh when he was staying abroad.
Terming Sukhdool Singh, a drug addict, Bishnoi’s gang claimed that he destroyed the lives of many people and that he was untimely punished for his sins. Lawrence Bishno’s gang also alleged that Sukhdool Singh, a member of Davinder Bambiha, also got Sandeep Nangal Ambiya, another gangster, killed. They added that it gave a stern warning to their enemies, stating they would not be able to live in peace, even if they hide in India or any other country.
The Killing of Sukhdool Singh came amid growing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada over the killing of another Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British California. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was wanted in India, was gunned down outside a gurdwara in June.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Bishnoi is currently behind bars in Ahmedabad in a drugs smuggling case probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). In addition, he is also an accused in the Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala murder case.
Sukhdool Singh is reportedly an A-category gangster, who hailed from Punjab’s Moga and earlier escaped from his state to Canada. He was an aide of Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala. As far as reports are concerned, in 2017, Sukhdool Singh alias Sukha Dunuke obtained a passport and a police clearance certificate on forged documents to flee to Canada despite having seven criminal cases lodged against him.
Reports suggested that Sukhdool Singh, an aide of Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, was killed in an inter-gang rivalry.
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May 9 violence: Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan charged with criminal conspiracy
Khan is charged with storming the city’s Askari Tower and Lahore Corps Commander House on May 9 along with many PTI leaders and employees.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been accused of masterminding the attack on army sites and encouraging the populace to mutiny, a charge that carries a possible sentence of the death penalty, a senior Punjab Police official said on Wednesday.
Following Khan’s May 9 arrest by the paramilitary Rangers in a corruption case, Pakistan saw widespread anti-government demonstrations on a large scale. Later, 70-year-old Khan was released on bond.
During the riots, several of military facilities and government structures, including the military headquarters in Rawalpindi, were destroyed or set on fire. More than 100 police and other security agency vehicles caught fire.
Khan is charged with storming the city’s Askari Tower and Lahore Corps Commander House on May 9 along with many PTI leaders and employees.
Anoosh Masood, a senior investigating officer with the Lahore police, announced at a press conference that Khan and other PTI leaders and employees have been charged with criminal conspiracy for encouraging supporters to destroy military and government facilities on May 9.
The PTI chairman was masterminding the attacks on military posts and instigating people to violence, according to the police investigation into the events of May 9 in Lahore, she claimed.
Along with violating Section 120-B, Khan and others will also be held accountable for nine more offences, including inciting riots, encouraging mutiny, and attempting to wage war against Pakistan. The police detectives and prosecutors have filed a challan for the case, which will be delivered to the Anti-Terrorism Court Lahore, Masood added.
Since August 5, 2023, Khan has been detained in the Punjab province’s Attock Jail. He was detained in connection with the Toshakhana (gifts) case, and a three-year sentence was subsequently imposed. After the higher court postponed the judgement, he was later given bail in the case. He was detained once more under the Official Secrets Act in the cypher case, nevertheless.
Khan has applied for post-arrest bail in the cypher case before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
