Russia and Pakistan want stability in Afghanistan; Militants injure four policemen in ambush; Anti-Islam film protest in Peshawar; Three security forces injured by a mine blast in Mohmand agency; Five people killed in Karachi violence; 25 people arrested in Karachi; Two killed by gunfire in Quetta; Three arrested in Quetta; Member suspended from National Assembly; Flag making business booming in Pakistan.
Russo-Pakistani Relations
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Foreign Office Spokesperson Moazzam Khan said that both Russia and Pakistan are striving for peace in the Afghanistan region. Referencing the Russian foreign minister’s visit to Pakistan, Khan said the two countries can cooperate “in agriculture, energy, science and technology. During his visit, the foreign minister is expected to “call on President Asif Ali Zardari and the prime minister. Russia’s foreign minister is coming to Pakistan at the same time that Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is expected to visit Russia.[1]
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
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A militant attack on a security check post “on Frontier Road, and a police station in Matni area,” left four policemen injured on Tuesday night. Government sources said that four militants were killed in reaction. In a separate incident, a ten-kilogram bomb was defused by a bomb disposal squad on Frontier Road in Peshawar on Tuesday.[2]
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Employees of the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) staged a protest against the anti-Islam film on Wednesday in front of the building. They called for the film-maker to be punished and vowed not to take rest on using “every available platform,” to stage peaceful protests until he was castigated.[3]
FATA
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Three security forces personnel were injured by a mine blast in Baizai sub-district, Mohmand agency on Wednesday. Government sources said the men were conducting a routine patrol when they “struck a mine planted near a security checkpost.” One of the security personnel was listed as being in critical condition.[4]
Karachi
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Five people were killed in Karachi during the past 24 hours. Two political activists’ bodies were found in Karachi’s Napier area. The body of a political party activist was found in the Lasbela area. Unknown gunmen shot dead a man in the Quaidabad area. Rangers arrested an alleged extortionist in the city’s Defense area during an operation and recovered heavy arms and ammunition.[5]
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Karachi East Range police arrested 25 people in the city during the past 24 hours between Tuesday and Wednesday. The arrests occurred in different parts of the city at different times, and allegedly resulted in the recovery of eight pistols, two revolvers and “drugs in huge quantity.”[6]
Balochistan
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Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a tailor’s shop on Sariab Road in Quetta on Wednesday. The gunfire initially injured the shopkeeper and a woman in the shop. While being rushed to the hospital, the two succumbed to their injuries.[7]
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Police arrested three suspects on Wednesday in the Pashtunabad area of Quetta, recovering three pistols and ammunition.[8]
Domestic Politics
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National Assembly member from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Begum Shehnaz Sheikh was suspended on Wednesday by the Supreme Court for being a dual citizen of Pakistan and Australia. The bench also asked another member “to submit his response over the allegation that he was a Canadian national” the same day. Holding dual citizenship in parliament is against Pakistani law.[9]
Flag Business
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With anti-American sentiments running rampant in Pakistan over the “Innocence of Muslims” film, the business of printing flags has boomed. Naveed Haider, a print businessman said, “Whenever we have these demonstrations, I make 10 times as much money as normal.” Many of the religious parties, who are the most active in the protests, have started their own flag making process to supply their members with flags, “so they can voice their anger.”[10]