Pakistan Security Brief
Wassan: U.S. offered help in Karachi; U.S. issues travel warning for citizens in Pakistan; Six militants killed in Orakzai; Zardari will sign reforms to FCR; Gilani meets with Saudi king; Gilani: cannot rule out MQM and JUI rejoining government; Bhatti may have been killed by rival family; Imam’s son denied bail in Miami; 150 suspects arrested in connection with Quetta policemen killing; Bomb wounds four in Turbat.
Karachi
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On Tuesday, Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan briefed U.S. Consul General William Martin on the security situation in Karachi. According to Wassan, the U.S. has offered “equipment and other expertise” to support Pakistan’s efforts to stabilize the city. At least eight people were killed Monday night in Karachi. Interior Minister Rehman Malik announced that new “computerized” gun licenses would now be required to prevent Karachi residents from purchasing more than five guns, the legal limit, on the same license.[i]
U.S. State Department Travel Warning
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On Monday, the U.S. Department of State released a travel warning detailing the difficulties and dangers of traveling in Pakistan. The warning notes an increase in the number of U.S. citizens detained and harassed for overstaying their visas. The State Department also warns that terrorist groups operating within Pakistan still pose a threat to Americans traveling in the country.[ii]
FATA
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On Monday, security forces killed six militants in upper Orakzai Agency. The militants were killed when security forces shelled their positions.[iii]
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President Asif Ali Zardari will reportedly sign off on reforms to the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) on August 14 that will allow political parties to operate in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The reformation or abolishment of the FCR has long been a discussion in the government.[iv]
Gilani in Saudi Arabia
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On Tuesday, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani met with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz in Jeddah. Gilani and King Abdullah discussed cooperation between the two nations and shared interests such as “interfaith harmony.” Gilani reportedly “reiterated” Pakistan’s desire to sell Saudi Arabia “heavy defense equipment, including tanks and armored vehicles.”[v]
Party Politics
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After he returned to Pakistan from Jeddah on Tuesday, Prime Minister Gilani announced said that he would not rule out the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Jamiat Ulema Islami (JUI) rejoining the ruling coalition. The Awami National Party (ANP) is reportedly considering quitting the government in response to the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) decision to reinstitute the local bodies system in Sindh, alleging it would divide the region according to linguistic and ethnic lines and pit ethnic communities against each other.[vi]
Bhatti Assassination
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Investigators have found that the assassination of former Minorities’ Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti may have been connected to a family rivalry rather than religious intolerance. Bhatti, a Christian, was killed on March 2. His murder has previously been linked to Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI) leader Ilyas Kashmiri, who was likely killed in a drone strike on June 3. The Punjabi Taliban also initially took credit for the assassination. The report claims that new evidence points to a family in Bhatti’s hometown of Khushpur that had a long-standing dispute with Bhatti.[vii]
Taliban Backer Denied Bail
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On Friday, a Miami judge denied bail to Irfan Khan, who is accused of conspiring to materially support the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Khan, his brother and his father are all charged with conspiring to support the TTP. Khan’s father and brother are imams in mosques in Florida. The judge said Khan was a “flight risk” and, therefore, could not be granted bail.[viii]
Balochistan
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Around 150 people have been arrested in connection with the killing of three police officers over the weekend in Quetta. One of those killed was Station House Officer (SHO) Manzoor Tareen.[ix]
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On Tuesday, a remote-controlled bomb wounded four security personnel in Turbat. Nearby buildings were also damaged.[x]
