KARACHI: Six of the 11 Iranian nationals arrested from the Turbat Airport a few days ago have been moved to the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) counter-terrorism wing in Karachi for further investigations, a senior FIA official said on Thursday.
“Eleven Iranian nationals were arrested from Turbat Airport in Balochistan on their arrival from Muscat for obtaining fake Pakistani identity in cognizance of the National Database and Registration Authority’s officials,” Abdul Hafeez Jakhrani, a senior FIA official in Quetta, told Arab News.
“Five of the arrested accused persons were shifted to the provincial capital, Quetta, where a judicial magistrate remanded them into our custody whereas six have been moved to the counter-terrorism wing of the FIA in Karachi,” Jakhrani said.
The FIA official added that the arrested Iranian nationals were detained for possessing fake Pakistani identity cards and passports which they had been using to travel to the Middle East since 2014.
According to the FIA official, the passports had been issued in the Gwadar and Turbat cities of Balochistan. “Arrests in Immigration and Passport Department, and National Database and Registration Authority are expected in the aftermath of the arrest of these Iranian nationals,” DawnNews, a Pakistani News channel which broke the story first, quoted an FIA official as saying. “The number of arrested Iranian nationals is 11 and not 7 as reported,” Jakhrani told Arab News.
“Investigations are underway and anything further can be shared on the conclusion of the probe,” he said.
Last Saturday, the Foreign Office (FO) summoned the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan and lodged a strong protest against the killing of six Pakistani soldiers along the Pakistan-Iran Border. On Friday, six Pakistani soldiers were killed when nearly 30 terrorists attacked a convoy which was on patrolling duty along the Pakistan-Iran border, a statement released by the FO read.
“In the cowardly terrorist attack, 14 other soldiers were also injured. In exchange of fire four terrorists were killed,” the statement said, adding that the government of Iran “was urged to carry out an effective operation against the terrorist group responsible for the attack on its side of the border”.
“The need for an effective border coordination mechanism to prevent such incidents in the future was also underscored,” the statement said.
Six arrested Iranians moved to Karachi as part of terror probe
Six arrested Iranians moved to Karachi as part of terror probe
- 11 of them had been arrested for possessing fake ID cards, official tells Arab News
- Pakistan had summoned Tehran’s envoy to protest against the killing of its soldiers along the border
Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on alert amid forecast of heavy rain, snowfall
- Pakistan’s Met Office says westerly wave expected to trigger heavy rain, snowfall in northern areas from Jan. 25-27
- Disaster management authority urges district administrations to ensure that precautionary measures are in place
PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province issued a public advisory on Sunday, calling on district administrations and the tourism department to ensure precautionary arrangements are being undertaken as the province braces for heavy rains and snowfall this week.
Pakistan’s Meteorological Department this week warned that a westerly wave is likely to approach the country’s western parts from Jan. 25 and likely to grip Pakistan’s northern areas on Jan. 26. It warned that this system would trigger heavy rain and snowfall in these parts till Tuesday.
Administrations in Pakistan’s northwestern districts of Khyber and Swat carried out rescue operations on Thursday night after several vehicles were stranded in various parts of these areas. Footage on social media showed officials helping people as heavy snow blanketed vehicles on Tirah Road, Malam Jabba Road and in Nathia Gali.
“The advisory directs district administrations to ensure continuous monitoring of roads, highways, and tourist destinations, keep emergency response teams on alert, and maintain coordination between control rooms and the Provincial Emergency Operations Center (PEOC),” the PDMA said in a press release.
“In addition, hotels and guest houses have been instructed to inform tourists about potential risks and to issue timely alerts related to snowfall and landslides.”
It warned that rain and snowfall may lead to road blockages, slippery conditions, landslides, avalanches, and flash floods in various areas from Jan. 25-27, affecting the general public and tourists.
The PDMA advised people to avoid unnecessary travel, urging tourists not to visit upper and remote areas during the current period of snowfall and heavy rain.
The disaster management authority reassured citizens that it was monitoring the situation closely, urging them to contact the PDMA on its helpline at 1700 in case of any emergency.
Thousands of tourists from all over Pakistan flock to scenic spots in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, KP and Punjab during snowfall
Citizens often disregard warnings by disaster management authorities of deteriorating weather conditions and roadblocks, leading to emergency situations.
In January 2022, at least 21 people were killed when they were left trapped in their cars during a snowstorm in the Pakistani hill station of Murree.
