ISLAMABAD: Authorities on Sunday initiated a crackdown to zero in on and penalize all individuals responsible for damaging property, as part of three-day protests against a Supreme Court’s verdict to acquit a Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, accused of blasphemy.
The protests ended on Friday after the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) -- a hardline religious political party and the main group leading the demonstrations -- inked a five-point deal with the government to end the sit-ins.
After analyzing the damage caused by the protests, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Shehryar Afridi, tweeted on Saturday evening that the government of Pakistan wouldn't spare anyone responsible for damaging public property.
He added that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had been instructed to provide the necessary forensic data for evidence. “State is concerned for the loss of citizens, we will leave no stone unturned to identify the source of vandalism. Will stand for all the citizens who suffered from the ppl who vandalized the property of innocent ppl (People). Pakistan has to rise & such anonymous forces will be unveiled.” Afridi's tweet read.
According to the five points of the agreement, a “legal process will be initiated” to put Bibi’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL) which would effectively bar her from leaving the country. It would further ensure that the government does not oppose a petition filed by the TLP to review the judgment in Bibi’s case. The two sides also agreed to take immediate legal action over any casualties that may have occurred during the protests, with an understanding to release all those arrested on October 30 or thereafter with immediate effect.
The TLP -- which emerged as a new political force in Pakistan after bagging more than 2.2 million votes in the July general elections -- “apologized to anyone whose sentiments were hurt” during the protests. Activists criticized the deal, accusing the government of giving in to the extremists, adding that it was “not a good sign for the state”.
“HRCP is seriously concerned at how quickly the government capitulated to the demands of extremist-led mobs, despite its earlier vow to preserve the writ of the state,” the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a statement on Sunday.
Government vows to penalize vandals
Government vows to penalize vandals
- Orders authorities to collect forensic data for evidence
- Follows three-day protests against SC verdict to acquit Christian woman accused of blasphemy
Turkish agents capture senior Daesh member on Afghanistan-Pakistan border
- The Turkish citizen was allegedly tasked with suicide bombings in Turkiye, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Europe
- It was not clear when the operation took place or whether Afghan and Pakistani authorities were involved
ANKARA: Turkish intelligence agents have captured a senior member of the Daesh (Islamic State) group in an area along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, allegedly thwarting planned suicide attacks in Turkiye and elsewhere, Turkiye’s state-run news agency reported Monday.
Anadolu Agency said the suspect was identified as Mehmet Goren and a member of the group’s Afghanistan-based Daesh-Khorasan (IS-K) branch. He was caught in a covert operation and transferred to Turkiye.
It was not clear when the operation took place or whether Afghan and Pakistani authorities were involved.
The report said the Turkish citizen allegedly rose within the organization’s ranks and was given the task of carrying out suicide bombings in Turkiye, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Europe.
Daesh has carried out deadly attacks in Turkiye, including a shooting at an Istanbul night club on Jan. 1, 2017, which killed 39 people.
Monday’s report said Goren’s capture allegedly also exposed the group’s recruitment methods and provided intelligence on its planned activities.
