U.S.-Pakistan relations “back on track”; U.S. calls for Pakistan to control fertilizer used in IEDs; Pakistan envoy to UN criticizes U.S. stance; Musharraf defends military and ISI; Pakistan urges caution in Afghan-Indian relations; Afghan officials arrest six men in plot against Karzai; SC announces verdict on Karachi case; Authorities arrest MQM-H leader on kidnapping charges; German national killed in drones strike; Abbottabad Commission interviews bin Laden wives and ISI chief; Five killed by gunmen in Quetta; Former Baloch IG stresses danger of Balochistan chaos; Soldier killed by militants in SWA; Bomb squad removes bomb from school; KP Minister of Education calls on teachers to fight extremism; Qadri files appeal.

U.S.-Pakistan Relations

Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations

Karachi Violence

  • The Supreme Court announced its verdict on the case on violence in Karachi on Thursday. The ruling, read by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, stated that it will be difficult for the government in Karachi to stay in power if targeted killings continue. Chaudhry also noted that Rangers testified before the Supreme Court that the situation in Karachi was worse than in Waziristan. The court formed a committee to monitor the city’s evolving security status.[7]

Pakistani Politics

  • Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) leader Afaq Ahmed was arrested on kidnapping charges relating to an abduction case from ten years ago on Thursday. Ahmed was recently released from jail on bail after being charged for the 2009 murder of an activist in the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Ahmed’s arrest comes one day after MQM, a rival party of MQM-H, announced that it would rejoin the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The strength of the PPP was also bolstered on Wednesday by the announcement of Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain that his party would remain in the country’s governing coalition. This move assuaged fears that PML-Q would leave the PPP following the resignation of several PML-Q members from federal and provincial seats on Tuesday.[8]

Drone Strike

 Abbottabad Commission

  • The Abbottabad Commission, which is investigating the May 2 raid by U.S. Special Operations Forces on the compound of deceased al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, announced Wednesday that it had conducted an “exhaustive interview” with bin Laden’s widows and daughters.  The Commission also revealed that it had interviewed ISI spy chief Ahmad Shuja Pasha and indicated that it would question Pasha again on Thursday, an action regarded as particularly rare given that “the power of the army [traditionally] outstrips that of civilian[s].”[10]

Balochistan

FATA

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

  • Provincial Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sardar Hussain Babak, said Wednesday that “the future of around 4.5 million students” was “in the hands of teachers” who must not only provide students a quality education but must also discourage students from joining the country’s insurgency by condemning extremist tendencies in society.”[15]

Taseer Murder


[1] “Relations with US improving: Gilani,” Dawn, October 5, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/05/relations-with-us-improving-gilani.html
“Tackle Militants? Pakistan is More Likely to Make Peace With Them,” TIME, October 4, 2011. Available at  
[3] “US allegations against Pakistan ‘appalling’, says Hussain Haroon,” Dawn, October 6, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/06/us-allegations-against-pakistan%e2%80%98appalling%e2%80%99-says-hussain-haroon.html
[4] Huma Imtiaz,” Haqqani sahib should not use Pakistan territory for wrong activities,” Express Tribune, October 6, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/268050/haqqani-sahib-should-not-use-pakistans-territory-for-wrong-activities-says-musharraf/
[5] “Pakistan warns Afghanistan after pact with India,” Dawn, October 6, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/06/pakistan-warns-afghanistan-after-pact-with-india.html
“Kabul-Delhi pact won’t affect Pakistan: Khar,” Dawn, October 5, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/05/kabul-delhi-pact-wont-affect-pakistan-khar.html
[6] “Afghans say Karzai assassination plot foiled,” BBC, October 6, 2011. Available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15187069
[7] “SC announces verdict on Karachi unrest case,” Dawn, October 6, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/06/sc-announcing-verdict-on-karachi-unrest-case.html
[8] “MQM-H chief arrested... again,” Express Tribune, October 6, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/268124/mqm-h-chief-arrested-again/
Hafeez Tunio and Irfan Ghauri, “Political masterstroke: After assuaging PML-Q, PPP wins back MQM,” Express Tribune, October 6, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/267398/coalition-mqm-delegation-to-meet-ppp-leaders-in-karachi/
[9] Shaan Khan, “Sources: German al-Qaeda member killed in 9/11 drone attack,” CNN, October 5, 2011. Available at http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/05/world/asia/pakistan-germany-al-qaeda/index.html
[10] “Abbottabad commission questions Bin Laden widows, daughters,” Express Tribune, October 5, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/267472/abbottabad-commission-questions-bin-laden-widows-daughters/
[11] “Quetta firing kills three people including police officials,” Dawn, October 5, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/05/quetta-firing-kills-three-people-including-police-officials.html
Muhammad Ejaz Khan, “Five killed in Quetta violence,” The News, October 6, 2011. Available at
“Foreign hand behind Balochistan unrest, NA committee told,” Dawn, October 6, 2011. Available at
[12] Tariq Khosa, “Balochistan at the edge of precipice, slipping into chaos Perspective,” The News, October 6, 2011. Available at  http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=71135&Cat=2
[13] “Soldier killed in SWA attack,” The News, October 6, 2011. Available at
[14] “Bomb disposal squad foils terror bid in Khyber,” Dawn, October 6, 2011. Available at
[15] “Wednesday that 4.5m students to be educated against militancy: KP minister,” The News, October 6, 2011. Available at  http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=71139&Cat=2
[16] Obaid Rehman, “Taseer murder case: Qadri appeals death sentence,” Express Tribune, October 6, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/268141/taseer-murder-case-qadri-appeals-against-death-sentence/
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