Story Highlights
Karachi Tragedy
Arrests have been made in connection with Karachi tragedy in which atleast 46 people, belonged to Ismaeili sect, were killed by gunmen in a bus near Safoora Chowrangi area. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has claimed that four key suspects in the bus attack have been arrested after a crackdown in different areas of Nawabshah in Sindh. He said the detained persons have confessed to their crime during the preliminary investigation. Chief Minister also vowed to continue with the anti-terror operation until the elimination of the last terrorist. Meanwhile Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called Sindh Chief Minister and appreciated the law enforcement agencies for arresting persons responsible for the heinous crime. He said that the arrest of culprits in such a short time is a proof that the Karachi operation was going in the right direction and the law enforcement agencies had the capability of handling such challenging tasks.
Moreover, the mastermind of the Safoora Chowrangi carnage was arrested in Bahawalpur, who according to media reports, is affiliated with a global terrorist outfit. According to Interior ministry chief suspect of Karachi terror attack was arrested with the coordinated efforts of Sindh police and security and intelligence agencies. Talking about development in the case, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali said that terrorist organizations were together to harm Pakistan and some of the groups had collaborated to conduct this terrorist attack. The minister also said that enemies are now attacking soft targets which shows that operation against terrorists in Karachi was successful.
Axact Scandal
A major IT company in Pakistan came under scrutiny when a New York Times report unearthed a scam carried out by the company, involving fake degrees. The detailed NYT report titled “Fake Diplomas, Real Cash: Pakistani Company Axact Reaps Millions” was written by New York Times Pakistan bureau chief Declan Walsh in which he outlined how a Pakistan- based IT company, Axact, allegedly earned millions of dollars from scams involving fake degrees and non-existent online universities. The report claims that Axact created a series of fake websites involving fake teachers and students who were in fact paid actors.
Pakistan Interior Ministry came into action after the report and ordered Federal Investigation Agency to probe the matter. While talking to media about the scandal, Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar said it was a sensitive issue that brought a bad name to Pakistan.
Meanwhile FIA has sent initial report of Axact scandal to Interior ministry after conducting two raids in two days at the Axact Rawalpindi office. Media reports quoted FIA Deputy Director Tahir Tanveer as saying that two Axact offices in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were sealed and that around 27 employees were taken into custody. Meanwhile, a team of the FIA’s corporate crime unit also visited Axact’s Karachi offices, questioned their employees and confiscated manuals, records and computers as evidence.
Earlier, FIA had issued an official notification ordering Axact chief executive officer (CEO) Shoaib Ahmed Sheikh to appear before the department for interrogation. Axact CEO, in return sent a written statement to the Federal Investigation Agency in which he denied involvement in any illegal activities and claimed the allegations are entirely baseless. Meanwhile in a statement on its website, Axact accused media rivals of colluding with the New York Times to plant a false story in order to harm its business.
War Against Terror
Counter terrorism operation continues in tribal as well as in urban areas of Pakistan including Karachi. On Thursday Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif visited the Command and Staff College in Quetta where he addressed the army officers. In his address he said that noteworthy achievements in operation Zarb-e-Azb have created space for a decisive surge against terrorists in urban areas. Army chief said that the military is determined to bring peace back to Karachi and maintained that the ongoing operation in the city will remain across the board, indiscriminate and will continue till its logical conclusion. He said Karachi operation was bringing relief in terms of decrease in target killing and extortion. Earlier Corps Commander Karachi Lt. General Naveed Mukhtar had said that Karachi operation is completely apolitical and will continue until peace is restored in the city and all types of terrorism and facilitators are eliminated. Lt General Mukthar also cautioned that terrorists might try to regroup but Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies will not let them succeed.
Meanwhile a drone strike had killed four suspected militants in Shawal area of North Waziristan. According to media reports, a US spy plane fired two missiles at a house and a vehicle killing four militants while injuring two. Earlier, in a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had termed US drone strikes in Pakistani territory a “clear violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” and demanded their immediate cessation.
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