How a jilted Karachi woman saved Pak N-programme

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Brig Imtiaz reveals 30-year-old secret
By Rauf Klasra
ISLAMABAD: As the nation celebrates the eleventh anniversary of Pakistan’s nuclear tests today (May 28), a shocking 30-year-old secret has been exposed. It reveals how a young woman college lecturer, feeling betrayed after a romance with a nuclear scientist of the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP), had given a lead to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in 1978, which in turn had led to the dramatic arrest of 12 Pakistani scientists and engineers, planning to sabotage Pakistan’s nuclear sites at the behest of a superpower.

The startling spy ring was exposed by this female college lecturer of a Karachi Memon family to the then head of ISI Sindh Brig Imtiaz Ahmed (Operation Midnight Jackals fame), only because she wanted revenge from her lover for being unfaithful. The expose led to the arrest of Pakistani scientists who were later given death and life imprisonment sentences by the special tribunal set up by the then president General Ziaul Haq.

Brig (retd) Imtiaz Ahmed broke his silence of over 30 years to share this amazing operation with The News on the eve of the 11th annual celebration of Pakistan going nuclear. He said that while many people take credit for saving our nuclear programme, no one actually knows how an unsung jilted girl had actually ended up saving Pakistan’s nuclear project out of sheer vengeance.

Brig (retd) Imtiaz Ahmed served as director in charge Internal Security ISI for several years in Islamabad and later director general Intelligence Bureau (IB) in the first government of Nawaz Sharif. The then prime minister Benazir Bhutto had put him in jail for about three years on charges of being part of the operation to oust her in 1989 during her first government. Later, General Musharraf also put him in jail for four years till his acquittal by the Lahore High Court. He is the only spymaster of Pakistan who was jailed for eight years, after serving 15 years in the ISI and the IB.

Brig Imtiaz recalled that as a lieutenant colonel he was posted as chief ISI Sindh in 1978. One day he received a telephone call from the sister of A K Brohi, who was a psychologist in Karachi. She informed him that she was treating a female young patient who was suffering from a disease called “secret concealment” wherein a patient could not be cured unless he or she shared this secret with someone.

The lady doctor had confessed to Brig Imtiaz that she had failed to make the girl reveal the secret and thought maybe he could help her. He then went to meet the woman at the clinic. She was very beautiful and had done her Masters in English Literature and was teaching at a local college.

Head-Money For Fazlullah Raised -Malik

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Federal Minister for Interior Affairs, Rehman Malik has said that the reward against information leading to arrest or death of the head of Tehrik-e-Taliban Swat (TTS), Maulvi Fazlullah has been increased from Rs 5 million to Rs 50 million.

Talking to newsmen before his departure to Islamabad at Quaid-I-Azam International Airport Karachi, the interior minister said that war against Taliban would continue till the elimination of last militant.

” Intelligence agencies have succeeded in breaking the network of terrorist in Swat and other troubled areas forcing them to flee under the guise of displaced persons”, Malik observed.

He said that Taliban leaders were hiring tribal youths against 60 dollars per day and training them to fight against army and conduct suicide attacks in the country.

” But this will not continue for a long period. The nation has got united against these terrorists, who have nothing to do with Islam or Jihad”, Malik maintained.

PTCL Inter-Media Cricket: 4 matches due today

Four matches will be held on the second day of on going PTCL Inter-Media Cricket Championship organised by National Press Club (NPC) and Islamabad Gymkhana cricket club here at MNA hostel cricket ground on Friday.

Daily Ausaf will face Nawai-e-waqt in the first match while second match will be played between Dawn and daily Jinnah.

According to schedule APP and Waqt News will face each other and last match will be played between ARY one world and The News.

Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Parvaiz Ashraf will be chief guest on Friday.

NATO copter violates Pak air space

The military helicopter of Nato on Thursday violated again the airspace of Pakistan in Landi Kotal, sub-division of Khyber Agency, causing panic among the locals.

According to media reports reaching here said that the copter intruded 5km into Pakistani area and hovered for seven minutes.

It may be mentioned here that this is the second intrusion by Nato copter during the last days. Earlier, it violated the airspace four days ago by intruding 5km and hovered for ten minutes.

However, the government is silent on the issue but the locals have urged the government not to compromise on the integrity and solidarity of the country.

Rumors of leopard cubs at Margalla hills irk visitors

The people visiting Daman-e-Koh and Pir Sohawa have been irked by the rumors that leopard cubs had been seen in the forests of Margalla hills.

Sources in CDA told Online here on Thursday that it is just a rumor because security guards had been deployed in the forests in adjacent areas of Daman-e-Koh and Pir Sohawa areas.

However, Director Zoo Raja Javed Ahmad said when approached that he had no knowledge about such rumor.

8 killed, 100 injured in Peshawar twin-blast

At least eight persons were killed and 100 others wounded in twin bomb blast in city’s renowned and historical market “Qisa Khawani Bazaar” on Thursday evening.

While on the other hand, two terrorists were killed and two others arrested in police commando operation against the terrorists soon after the incident.

Eyewitnesses told that explosion occurred in a car parked in Qisa Khawani Bazaar while others were of the view that bomb was planted in a motorbike, killing eight persons and wounding 100 others. Soon after the blast another explosion was also heard in another, Kabari Bazaar. Death toll could rise, as rescue workers are busy in removing the rubble.

The first blast, which took place in Kabari Market followed by other one in Qisa Khawani market, were two powerful explosions o that destroyed several shops mostly DVDs, CDs and mobile phone shops.

The injured were shifted to different city’s hospitals while more than 100 injured of the explosion were brought to Lady Reading Hospitals, told hospital administration. Ten of the injured are reported to be in critical condition; sources in hospital revealed, that a minor child and a police official were among the deceased.

Five of the deceased were identified as Saifullah, Bacha Khan, Imtiaz, Naeem Khan and Muhammad Javed while the identification of three other deceased is yet to be ascertained
City government has declared emergency in all the hospitals after attack in Peshawar.

There are also reports that one person died as a result of the firing soon after the incident, whence terrorists fought pitched battle with law enforcement in streets. IG NWFP, Malik Naveed and CCPO Peshawar, Siffat Ghayoor while talking to media told that police have killed two terrorists while two suspected arrested who were hiding in nearby buildings. However, they avoided giving details about these two persons

They further told that miscreants used 15-kg explosive in the Qisa Khawani bazaar and Kabari Market.

It is also reported that terrorists hit a police picket set up at Kohat Road near Matni. According to the initial reports, two security personnel died in the suicide attack.

Meanwhile, Provincial information minister, Mian Iftikhar and DCO Peshawar talking to media confirmed four deaths and have strongly condemned the incidents. He said that such elements were losing their battle in Swat and now they have restarted such acts as a desperate retaliation.

He further said that such actions have taken place in the past and “we expect more in the future. We have foiled so many such attempts. It is because of our security agencies that the frequency of such attacks is under control, “ he added.

Similarly, he said that provincial government was trying to improve intelligence and security, clarifying that it was difficult to prevent suicide attacker. “If you try to stop him he will below himself up. We have to improve our strategy to control such terrorists,” he added.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Federal Information Minister, Qamar Zaman Kaira Governor NWFP and Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti, have all strongly condemned the Peshawar blast

India condemns Lahore blast

Condemning the blast in Lahore, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Wednesday hoped that Islamabad and New Delhi can join hands to fight ”this spectre of terror.”

He said India is monitoring the situation arising out of the bomb attack. “I feel sorry that an incident has taken place in Lahore… We condemn this attack in Lahore,” Krishna told reporters here.

“My heart goes out to the people and the families in Lahore who have lost their lives,” he added.

“We hope Pakistan and India can join hands to fight this spectre of terror,” Krishna said.

5 terrorists including mastermind of Lahore blast arrested

Five terrorists including mastermind of Rescue 15 building suicide attack have been arrested here Wednesday.

Police officials told one person was spotted firing and running towards Ganga Ram Hospital on Wednesday morning after suicide attack on Rescue 15 building.

Police besieged and arrested him. On interrogation, the detained person told his name as Muhammad Attique. He disclosed during the investigation that total 13 attackers including him were involved in the attack. One bomber was riding in a white colored ambulance, 2 were walking alongside the ambulance and remaining were seated in another vehicle.

The arrested terrorist further disclosed one person was residing in Sheikhapura and provided them the map of the targeted location.

Police arrested the mastermind of suicide attack from Sheikhapura. Police told 5 terrorists including their mastermind had been arrested and the remaining fled from the scene in a vehicle. Search operation was continuing to capture them. Police told more revelations were likely to be made by the mastermind.

Meanwhile Islamabad police had arrested 3 terrorists on Wednesday morning who were stated to be hailing from district Buner. These terrorists had entered federal capital to target buildings. Police had recovered vehicles and explosive jackets from them.

Pictures of Lahore Bomb Blast

Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships for Journalist

**The application deadline for the 2010 program is August 1, 2009**
In 2010, the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships will be working exclusively with our partner institutions—the Daniel Pearl Foundation, the Nation Media Group of East Africa, Money Today in Seoul, South Korea and China Daily in Beijing, China. We only will accept applications from journalists at these three media companies or Muslim journalists from the following countries who are eligible for the Daniel Pearl Fellowships: Read More