Pakistan expands North Waziristan operation, tells residents of Shawal and Eidek areas to evacuate; Five thousand PAT protestors camp out near in Lahore; Lahore police cordon off neighborhood to close access to PAT locations; Punjab government requests deployment of Rangers personnel to Lahore; Islamabad government imposes section 144, banning protests or gatherings; Islamabad police cancel leave for all personnel until August 14; Prime Minister Sharif summons emergency session of national security council in Islamabad; U.S. Department of State amends terrorist designation of militant group Harakat-ul-Mujahidin; U.S. Ambassador says U.S. will stay neutral if political standoff results in change in government by “constitutional means;” Pakistani government condemns U.S. drone strike; Arrested Indian Border Security Force soldier released.
North Waziristan Offensive
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The Pakistani government on August 6 asked residents to evacuate Shawal sub-district and the Eidek area of Mir Ali sub-district of North Waziristan as the ground offensive expands beyond the cities of Mir Ali and Miram Shah. The government had previously exempted Eidek and Shawal from evacuation. A government official in Bannu said that evacuation of Shawal will begin on August 8 and that the evacuation of Eidek began on August 6 with 4,000 Eidek families heading for Bannu. Residents and elders in Shawal and Eidek have strongly criticized the government for backing out of its commitment to allow the locals to stay.[1]
Crackdown on PAT Marchers
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On August 7, Lahore police blocked entry and exit to and from Lahore’s Model Town area to prevent protestors from accessing Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri’s residence and the PAT’s headquarters, the Minhajul Quran Secretariat. The Express Tribune reported that almost 2,000 PAT protestors armed with makeshift sticks and shields have camped out near Qadri’s Model Town residence. Despite police efforts, hundreds of PAT protestors reportedly reached the party’s headquarters on August 7. PAT officials said that 3,000 protestors have reportedly gathered at the PAT’s Minjahul Quran Secretariat. Police also enhanced security on the roads leading to the Prime Minister’s residence. According to police officials, Punjab police have arrested 500 PAT protestors from different parts of the province. PAT officials cited higher numbers, reporting the arrest of 800 PAT protestors from parts of Punjab not including Lahore.[2]
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On August 7, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s Central Information Secretary Dr. Shireen Mazari said that the PTI strongly criticized the Punjab Police and its attempt to block PAT protestors from reaching PAT chief Dr. Tahirul Qadri’s residence.[3]
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On August 8, the Punjab government requested the deployment of five companies of Punjab Rangers to Lahore until August 14 to protect sensitive installations and government buildings. In an August 8 press report, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) officials asserted that the Pakistani government deployed Rangers and army personnel to Punjabi cities to prevent terrorist reprisals following Operation Zarb-e-Azb.[4]
PTI March
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On August 8, the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad issued a notice that section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been imposed in Islamabad. This notification comes as the chiefs of the PAT and the PTI prepare for rallies in Islamabad. Section 144 bans weapons and four or more people from gathering for the purpose of protesting. The Express Tribune reported that Islamabad will be sealed off by August 12 and that 900 containers will be used to block roads within the city.[5]
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On August 8, Inspector General of the Islamabad Police Aftab Ahmed Cheema announced that leave has been canceled for all Islamabad police personnel until August 14.[6]
National Security Conference
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif summoned an emergency national security conference to take place on August 9 in Islamabad. The conference will address the domestic security situation and the military operation in North Waziristan and will be attended by all four provincial chief ministers, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence Lt. General Zahirul Islam, and parliamentary leaders of different political parties.[7]
New U.S. Terrorist Designation
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In an August 7 statement, the U.S. Department of State amended the designation of the Pakistan-based militant group Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HuM) to include the group’s newer alias, Ansar ul-Ummah. The Department of State has designated HuM a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group. In the statement, the U.S. Department of State said that HuM frequently changes its name to avoid sanctions and recently created Ansar ul-Ummah as a front organization for its terrorist activities. HuM operates in Afghanistan but executes most terrorist operations in Kashmir, India and Pakistan. According to the Department of State, HuM runs terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and has launched many operations targeting Indian troops and civilians in Kashmir. According to the Long War Journal, HuM operates openly in Pakistan with the approval of the Pakistan military and intelligence establishments and has conducted numerous attacks, including an Indian airplane hijacking, an attack on the U.S. consulate in Karachi, and the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl. The group’s leader, Fazle-urRahman Khalil lives freely in Islamabad and maintains strong links to al Qaeda.[8]
Pakistan-U.S. Relations
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Dawn reported on August 8 that U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson has informed government, opposition and military leaders that the United States will stay neutral if the current political situation results in a change of government by “constitutional means” but will oppose a coup.[9]
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On August 7 the Pakistani Government condemned the August 6 U.S. drone strike in Datta Khel. The Pakistani government interpreted the drone strike as a breach of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.[10]
Pakistan-India Relations
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The Indian Border Security Force soldier who was detained in Pakistan after he was swept onto the Pakistani side of border when his vessel capsized in the River Chenab on August 6 was released to Indian authorities on August 8. The soldier said that he had a comfortable time in Pakistani custody.[11]
Militancy
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The News reported that eleven civilians were wounded in the August 7 improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in Turbat, Balochistan. Dawn had previously reported that six passerbys were injured. The IED was remotely detonated.[12]
PTI Electoral Victory Retracted
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On August 7, a Karachi election tribunal invalidated the election of PTI Sindh Assembly member Syed Hafeezuddin following allegations by the runner-up candidate from the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Abdul Razzaque, of election rigging.[13]
Vice Chief of Air Staff Appointed