Tag: KP

Shafi Jan, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Information and Public Relations, faced criticism after referring to a drone intercepted over Kohat as “suspicious” without naming the Afghan Taliban.

In a post on X, Shafi Jan wrote: “The police’s special team took timely action and neutralized a suspicious drone using an anti-drone system, the police said. The on-duty special police squad noticed the flight of a suspicious drone in the area and immediately acted. Using anti-drone technology, the team jammed the drone’s signals, causing its motor to stop and forcing it to fall to the ground, DPO Kohat Shahbaz Elahi stated.”

The incident occurred amid repeated cross-border drone activity linked to the Afghan Taliban. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), two children were injured in Quetta, while one civilian was hurt in Kohat and another in Rawalpindi.

The statement said the attacks appeared intended to spread fear among the public and reflected what it described as the Afghan Taliban’s terrorist mindset.

The ISPR further said that while the Afghan Taliban attempt to portray themselves as victims to gain international sympathy, they continue to target civilians through proxies and drone attacks.

“Pakistan’s people and its Armed Forces are absolutely clear about the true nature and intentions of the terrorist militia-for-hire that rules Afghanistan,” the statement added.

Shafi Jan’s description of the drone as “suspicious” prompted strong reactions online. One user wrote, “They were not suspicious; they came from Afghanistan, which the Afghan Taliban government openly announced. But how dare you even mention their name?” 

Another commented, “No city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, big or small, is safe, not even at the village level. Therefore, pay special attention to terrorism in your province.”

Some reactions focused on the technological threat, saying, “These drones have reached Islamabad—this is the state of Afghanistan’s drones, who don’t even have such special technology. We should learn from the Iran-Israel war and further improve our own technology.” 

Others criticized government action, writing, “Why don’t you go to funerals anymore? Ever since you’ve been in government, you’re scared of terrorists. What revolution will you bring?”

The Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has generated Rs470.3 million on Saturday during its second auction of personalised vehicle number plates.

The auction was held at Arena Hall, Qayyum Sports Complex, where 30 selected number plates were put up for bidding. Several of the plates featured names of tribes and districts written in transliterated English.

According to official figures, DAWAR 1 received the highest bid of Rs175 million. The plate was purchased by Inzamam-ul-Haq. Officials said it is the highest amount paid for a personalised number plate in the province to date.

ORAKZAI 1 was the second most expensive plate, sold for Rs41 million to former senator and MPA Aurangzeb Khan.

Other plates that attracted high bids included WAZIRISTAN 1, sold for Rs40.6 million; BAJAUR 1 for Rs33.5 million; MOHMAND 1 for Rs32.1 million; MEHSUD 1 for Rs22 million; KHYBER 1 for Rs20.1 million; GUJJAR 1 for Rs16.3 million; and PASHTUN 1 for Rs13.2 million.

Additional plates auctioned during the event included BUNER 1, which fetched Rs9.5 million; JADOON 1 for Rs7.1 million; MARDAN 1 for Rs6.8 million; DIR 1 for Rs6.7 million; KHALIL 1 for Rs6.5 million; KHATTAK 1 for Rs6.1 million; and TAJ 1 for Rs4.2 million.

The auction was supervised by the Director General of Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control, Abdul Haleem Khan and attended by senior officials of the department. Participants included members of business and tribal communities.

Officials said the auction was part of a revenue generation initiative by the provincial government.

In 2024, the Sindh Excise Department auctioned the premium number plate A 1 for Rs100 million. Muzammil Kareem placed the highest bid. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon handed over the ownership certificate to Mazhar Kareem.

In the same year, the number plate 786 was auctioned for Rs26.5 million. A businessman named Sarosh placed the highest bid, while Provincial Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah presented the ownership certificate to him.

Security forces have killed 19 terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij in three separate operations carried out between September 9-10 across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said in a statement on Thursday.

According to the military’s media wing, an Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) was conducted by the security forces in the general area of Guluno, Mohmand District, on the reported presence of terrorists. 

“During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location, and after an intense fire exchange, fourteen Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell,” said the ISPR.

Military’s media wing further stated that another IBO was conducted in the general area Datta Khel, North Waziristan District and in the ensuing fire exchange, “four more Khwarij were neutralized” by the security forces.

“In another encounter that took place in Bannu District, one more Khwarij was neutralized by the security forces. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from Indian sponsored killed Khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in these areas,” it added.

Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other kharji found in the area, as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian Sponsored Terrorism from the country.

Pakistan has been experiencing a surge in terrorist incidents, particularly in KP and Balochistan. After withdrawing from a ceasefire agreement with the government in November 2022, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) intensified assaults on security forces, police, and other law enforcement personnel.

Fitna al Khwarij is being used to refer to terrorists belonging to the outlawed TTP, while Balochistan-based groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.

Last week, six soldiers embraced martyrdom while security forces killed five militants in repelling an attack on the Federal Constabulary (FC) Headquarters in Bannu district. In August, security forces eliminated 50 militants during a four-day counterterrorism operation in Balochistan.

At least seven people died in a shooting targeting a protest outside a military installation, held in response to the killing of a girl in the Tirah Valley of Khyber district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), on Sunday.

Following the incident, security officials met with tribal elders, announcing compensation for the victims, and assured that medical treatment would be provided to the injured. The provincial government has also announced separate compensation for the deceased and wounded.

According to media reports, hundreds of tribesmen had brought the body of a girl, who they claimed was killed in a mortar strike in the Darbar locality of Peer Mela in Zakhakhel a day earlier, to the Brigade Headquarters in Bagh-Maidan Markaz early on Sunday morning.

Citing eye-witnesses, reports stated that the situation turned violent when an enraged mob, comprising mostly young men, acted against calls by local elders to remain calm, and initially torched an excavator parked outside Brigade Headquarters, and then attempted to force open the garrison’s main gate.

Security personnel guarding the installation reportedly opened fire to control the crowd.

Videos circulating on social media of the incident show an excavator on fire. Some protesters can also be seen pelting stones at the Brigade Headquarters while attempting to forcibly open the main gate. In the footage, protesters could be seen running for cover as gunshots rang out.

Citing security officials, reports claimed that the local sector commander met with elders in Tirah and assured them of his full support in meeting their legitimate demands.

Apart from financial assistance to the deceased families, the elders also demand to file a case against those involved in the death of the girl; vacation of the occupied houses of local citizens, end to unnecessary harassment at the security check posts.

On the elders’ demand, security forces announced compensation for the families of the deceased and the injured.

A statement issued from the KP chief minister’s secretariat said the provincial government was grieved over the loss of lives in Tirah and the deceased will be given Rs10 million and Rs2.5 million to the injured.

The statement read that the KP government was committed to sustainable peace, mutual respect and public safety, adding it had called a jirga comprising tribal elders and public representatives to address their issues.

“The district administration and institutions have been directed to strengthen communication with the public and maintain law and order situation,” the statement quoted the Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur as saying.

Shocking new disclosures have rocked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as details, photos and videos of luxury vehicles and properties have emerged in the mega Rs40 billion Kohistan corruption scandal.

According to reports, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has escalated the case by turning the inquiry into a formal investigation, signaling major crackdown on corruption.

Reports quoted NAB as saying that it had also recovered and frozen assets worth whopping Rs25 billion in said case. Interestingly, the assets included a luxury bungalow featured in the popular drama serial Parizaad.

Among the seized assets are also 77 high-end vehicles, including Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche Taycan, Toyota Land Cruiser, Fortuner and Hilux Revo, worth Rs940 million.

Over Rs1 billion in cash, foreign currency and more than three kilogrammes of gold have also been taken into custody by NAB.

While a total of Rs5 billion across 73 bank accounts has been frozen, the anti-graft watchdog has also confiscated 109 properties across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Abbottabad and Mansehra. These include four farmhouses, 12 commercial plazas, two commercial plots, 30 houses, 12 shops and food courts, 25 flats and penthouses, and 175 kanals of agricultural land.

The estimated value of these properties is around Rs17 billion. 

While the accused are said to have acted with chilling audacity, allegedly siphoning off billions of rupees from the public exchequer without drawing the attention of any financial regulatory authority, arrests of key figures are expected within the next few hours, reports quoted officials as saying.