A power cut hit large part of Pakistan on Wednesday, suspending work at factories and businesses in its industrial heartland and highlighting the challenges successive governments have faced in getting to grips with chronic power shortages.

The power cut could play into politics in the run-up to a general election, expected in July, given that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, had made ending power blackouts a central promise in its last election campaign.

Zafar Yab Khan, a spokesman for the ministry of energy, said the blackout had hit most of eastern and northern Pakistan after a major section of the national grid "tripped", or suddenly shut down.

"Due to tripping of a major plant, the north system is off," Khan said.

He said the cause was not known but was being investigated.

Khan said the problem affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the northwest and Punjab in the east, Pakistan's most populous province and its industrial and agricultural heartland.

Power in the south was not interrupted.

Punjab's capital, Lahore, was among the major cities affected. The power was also out in the national capital, Islamabad.

Khan said it was hoped power would be restored soon with "gradual restoration of grids and feeders."

Media showed pictures of people sweltering at the hottest time of the year in markets and offices.

The ruling party won the last election, in 2013, vowing to end power outages before the next polls.

Power cuts and scheduled outages, known as load shedding, in urban areas have been sharply reduced from about 12 hours a day previously to only occasional outages now.

The power cuts have suspended work at factories and businesses in its industrial heartland and highlighting the challenges successive governments have faced in getting to grips with chronic power shortages.

A power cut hit large part of Pakistan on Wednesday, suspending work at factories and businesses in its industrial heartland and highlighting the challenges successive governments have faced in getting to grips with chronic power shortages. The power cut could play into politics in the run-up to a general election, expected in July, given that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, had made ending power blackouts a central promise in its last election campaign. Zafar Yab Khan, a spokesman for the ministry of energy, said the blackout had hit most of eastern and northern Pakistan after a major section of the national grid "tripped", or suddenly shut down. "Due to tripping of a major plant, the north system is off," Khan said. He said the cause was not known but was being investigated. Khan said the problem affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the northwest and Punjab in the east, Pakistan's most populous province and its industrial and agricultural heartland. Power in the south was not interrupted. Punjab's capital, Lahore, was among the major cities affected. The power was also out in the national capital, Islamabad. Khan said it was hoped power would be restored soon with "gradual restoration of grids and feeders." Media showed pictures of people sweltering at the hottest time of the year in markets and offices. The ruling party won the last election, in 2013, vowing to end power outages before the next polls. Power cuts and scheduled outages, known as load shedding, in urban areas have been sharply reduced from about 12 hours a day previously to only occasional outages now.

Large parts of Pakistan hit by power cut

A strong earthquake rattled parts of Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday.

The quake measured with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8, struck around 8: 25 AM and was felt for 15 to 20 seconds.

Earthquake tremors were felt in parts of Peshawar, Nowshera, and Kohat, along with Swat, Malakand division, Manshera, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Abbottabad, and Mardan.

Earthquake tremors were felt in parts of Peshawar, Nowshera, and Kohat, along with Swat, Malakand division, Manshera, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Abbottabad, and Mardan.

A strong earthquake rattled parts of Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday. The quake measured with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8, struck around 8: 25 AM and was felt for 15 to 20 seconds. Earthquake tremors were felt in parts of Peshawar, Nowshera, and Kohat, along with Swat, Malakand division, Manshera, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Abbottabad, and Mardan.

Strong 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattles Pakistan's Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Much milder and measuredly less charismatic than his predecessor Raheel Sharif, Pakistan's new army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa took to the stage on April 12 to address an investiture ceremony at the army's General HQ in Rawalpindi. General Bajwa took this opportunity to denounce a protest movement that had been dominating public discourse in the country for the two preceding weeks despite a media blackout - the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) or Pashtun Protection Movement.

In typical Pakistani fashion, General Bajwa called the protests "engineered". As is pitifully often the case, the allusion was that there was a "foreign hand" behind these protests and Pakistani military pages on social media blamed CIA, R&AW, NDS and even Mossad of all agencies of supporting the movement's leader Manzoor Pashteen. These allegations are perfectly in line with the victimhood narrative that is painfully prevalent in Pakistan. As former US Ambassador Husain Haqqani puts it, painting any unflattering analysis as "foreign inspired" or "anti-state" shuts the door for course correction. And lo and behold, there is much course correction needed as far as the PTM's demands are concerned.

Originally founded in 2014 in Pakistan's FATA region, the PTM has been protesting against forced disappearances of Pashtuns, stereotyping of Pashtuns as militants, their harassment at excessive military checkposts and curbing of civilian life in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, removal of landmines responsible for countless deaths in FATA and Pashtuns being part of collateral damage in the war waged by the Pakistan Army against the Taliban and other militants in Pakistan's North-West. The discontent amongst Pakistan's Pashtuns had been bubbling for quite some time and burst on to the scene after being catalysed by the extra-judicial murder of a young FATA native in Karachi by the name of Naqeebullah Mehsud. Mehsud's murder allowed this movement to burst onto the mainstream under the leadership of its charismatic young leader Manzoor Pashteen in a country where ethnic and religious minorities have often complained of discrimination. However, despite a mammoth rally held in Peshawar on the April 8 with tens of thousands in attendance, there was no media coverage for the movement. Ostensibly on instruction of the Pakistani military the movement got no coverage on any mainstream media outlets. This was a classic example of the ruthless and unjust media censorship often undertaken by Pakistan's armed forces.

Op-ed pieces in national dailies on the topic of the PTM were rejected as Pakistani intelligentsia took to Twitter to denounce the censorship. The Daily Times, a leading national daily saw its website blocked after printing articles about the movement. Any and all discussion about the PTM's demands was bulwarked on primetime television and coverage of the movement remained restricted to social media. Even so, those who gave light to the movement on social media were described as "foreign agents" or "anti-state elements" in a style so very becoming of the typical schizophrenic conservative Pakistani mindset.

The PTM has not endeared itself to the military with slogans such as "The uniform is behind terrorism" and "General, Colonel Terrorist!" but one must realise the angst that these Pashtuns hold in their hearts. For years, theirs has been a war-ravaged land with indiscriminate action against "terrorists", with the military's ISPR doing the only official reporting of casualties in the operation against militants. Thousands of Pashtuns have been displaced and even more have been whisked away by military agencies under suspicion of being militants. Moreover, FATA's status as an autonomous region keeps it outside the constitution where few Pakistani laws are applied and courts have no jurisdiction. The PTM presses for these regions to be brought on equal footing with the rest of the country but unfortunately this has not been the case due to political reasons far beyond the scope of this article. After attracting hordes in Peshawar, the PTM took to Punjab to attract more support. But its April 22 protest in the city did not receive the required 'No Objection Certificate' from the government. Protests are to go ahead despite this rejection. Only time will tell what becomes of this gathering.

Whilst there is no doubt that the demands of the PTM are legitimate, the problem lies in the deafening paranoia of the Pakistani populace who are calling this movement "foreign inspired". By calling their Pashutn counterparts Indian agents not only are they alienating them, they are also closing the door for any constructive discourse to take place on the matter. The military has played a major role in shaping this narrative with the very chief of the armed forces calling the protests engineered. This narrative of labelling any and all criticism as anti-state has to change for any real progress to take place in Pakistan. As far as the PTM is concerned, they must stick to their guns and move forward with their genuine demands.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

Originally founded in 2014 in Pakistan's FATA region, the PTM has been protesting against forced disappearances of Pashtuns.

Much milder and measuredly less charismatic than his predecessor Raheel Sharif, Pakistan's new army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa took to the stage on April 12 to address an investiture ceremony at the army's General HQ in Rawalpindi. General Bajwa took this opportunity to denounce a protest movement that had been dominating public discourse in the country for the two preceding weeks despite a media blackout - the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) or Pashtun Protection Movement. In typical Pakistani fashion, General Bajwa called the protests "engineered". As is pitifully often the case, the allusion was that there was a "foreign hand" behind these protests and Pakistani military pages on social media blamed CIA, R&AW, NDS and even Mossad of all agencies of supporting the movement's leader Manzoor Pashteen. These allegations are perfectly in line with the victimhood narrative that is painfully prevalent in Pakistan. As former US Ambassador Husain Haqqani puts it, painting any unflattering analysis as "foreign inspired" or "anti-state" shuts the door for course correction. And lo and behold, there is much course correction needed as far as the PTM's demands are concerned. Originally founded in 2014 in Pakistan's FATA region, the PTM has been protesting against forced disappearances of Pashtuns, stereotyping of Pashtuns as militants, their harassment at excessive military checkposts and curbing of civilian life in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, removal of landmines responsible for countless deaths in FATA and Pashtuns being part of collateral damage in the war waged by the Pakistan Army against the Taliban and other militants in Pakistan's North-West. The discontent amongst Pakistan's Pashtuns had been bubbling for quite some time and burst on to the scene after being catalysed by the extra-judicial murder of a young FATA native in Karachi by the name of Naqeebullah Mehsud. Mehsud's murder allowed this movement to burst onto the mainstream under the leadership of its charismatic young leader Manzoor Pashteen in a country where ethnic and religious minorities have often complained of discrimination. However, despite a mammoth rally held in Peshawar on the April 8 with tens of thousands in attendance, there was no media coverage for the movement. Ostensibly on instruction of the Pakistani military the movement got no coverage on any mainstream media outlets. This was a classic example of the ruthless and unjust media censorship often undertaken by Pakistan's armed forces. Op-ed pieces in national dailies on the topic of the PTM were rejected as Pakistani intelligentsia took to Twitter to denounce the censorship. The Daily Times, a leading national daily saw its website blocked after printing articles about the movement. Any and all discussion about the PTM's demands was bulwarked on primetime television and coverage of the movement remained restricted to social media. Even so, those who gave light to the movement on social media were described as "foreign agents" or "anti-state elements" in a style so very becoming of the typical schizophrenic conservative Pakistani mindset. The PTM has not endeared itself to the military with slogans such as "The uniform is behind terrorism" and "General, Colonel Terrorist!" but one must realise the angst that these Pashtuns hold in their hearts. For years, theirs has been a war-ravaged land with indiscriminate action against "terrorists", with the military's ISPR doing the only official reporting of casualties in the operation against militants. Thousands of Pashtuns have been displaced and even more have been whisked away by military agencies under suspicion of being militants. Moreover, FATA's status as an autonomous region keeps it outside the constitution where few Pakistani laws are applied and courts have no jurisdiction. The PTM presses for these regions to be brought on equal footing with the rest of the country but unfortunately this has not been the case due to political reasons far beyond the scope of this article. After attracting hordes in Peshawar, the PTM took to Punjab to attract more support. But its April 22 protest in the city did not receive the required 'No Objection Certificate' from the government. Protests are to go ahead despite this rejection. Only time will tell what becomes of this gathering. Whilst there is no doubt that the demands of the PTM are legitimate, the problem lies in the deafening paranoia of the Pakistani populace who are calling this movement "foreign inspired". By calling their Pashutn counterparts Indian agents not only are they alienating them, they are also closing the door for any constructive discourse to take place on the matter. The military has played a major role in shaping this narrative with the very chief of the armed forces calling the protests engineered. This narrative of labelling any and all criticism as anti-state has to change for any real progress to take place in Pakistan. As far as the PTM is concerned, they must stick to their guns and move forward with their genuine demands. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Of Pashtuns and provocation

Expressing concerns over the alleged human rights violations against the minorities in Pakistan, a US-based Mohajir group has urged all ethnic and religious groups to unite and form a &quot;greater alliance&quot; against the government&#39;s discriminatory policies.

Throwing its weight behind the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, the &#39;Free Karachi &#39; campaign, launched by Muhajirs in the US to raise awareness about the plight of Muhajirs, said religious minority and ethnic groups in Pakistan were increasingly becoming victims of gross human rights violations perpetrated by the security forces.

Pashtun Tahafuz Movement or PTM is a social movement for Pashtun human rights and is based in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and Balochistan.

The term Muhajir is used to describe the Urdu-speaking immigrants who left India in 1947 and came to Pakistan. A large chunk of them settled in the Sindh province.

Nadeem Nusrat, spokesperson for the &#39;Free Karachi &#39; campaign, urged all ethnic and religious minorities in Pakistan to form a &quot;greater alliance&quot; against Pakistani state&#39;s inhuman policies in Sindh, Balochistan, KPK, FATA and Gilgit Baltistan.

Strongly condemning the false cases registered against the Pashtun leadership on raising their voice against the discriminatory policies of the Pakistan Army, Nusrat termed the acts as a violation of fundamental rights.

&quot;Thousands have disappeared after being picked up by the Pakistani security forces and their families are living in a state of an unending fear and helplessness with no knowledge of the whereabouts of their kins,&quot; Nusrat said.

Just like Naqeebullah Mehsud, thousands of young Pashtuns, Balochs, Mohajirs, Gilgiti and Hazaras have been extrajudicially killed, he claimed.

The policies of the current US administration have given a new zeal to freedom-loving religious and ethnic communities in Pakistan, he said.

Nusrat asserted that Mohajirs were committed to seeing a stable South Asia and they will continue to play their important role in achieving this goal.&nbsp;

A US-based Mohajir group has urged all ethnic and religious groups to unite and form a 'greater alliance' against the government's discriminatory policies

Expressing concerns over the alleged human rights violations against the minorities in Pakistan, a US-based Mohajir group has urged all ethnic and religious groups to unite and form a "greater alliance" against the government's discriminatory policies. Throwing its weight behind the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, the 'Free Karachi ' campaign, launched by Muhajirs in the US to raise awareness about the plight of Muhajirs, said religious minority and ethnic groups in Pakistan were increasingly becoming victims of gross human rights violations perpetrated by the security forces. Pashtun Tahafuz Movement or PTM is a social movement for Pashtun human rights and is based in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and Balochistan. The term Muhajir is used to describe the Urdu-speaking immigrants who left India in 1947 and came to Pakistan. A large chunk of them settled in the Sindh province. Nadeem Nusrat, spokesperson for the 'Free Karachi ' campaign, urged all ethnic and religious minorities in Pakistan to form a "greater alliance" against Pakistani state's inhuman policies in Sindh, Balochistan, KPK, FATA and Gilgit Baltistan. Strongly condemning the false cases registered against the Pashtun leadership on raising their voice against the discriminatory policies of the Pakistan Army, Nusrat termed the acts as a violation of fundamental rights. "Thousands have disappeared after being picked up by the Pakistani security forces and their families are living in a state of an unending fear and helplessness with no knowledge of the whereabouts of their kins," Nusrat said. Just like Naqeebullah Mehsud, thousands of young Pashtuns, Balochs, Mohajirs, Gilgiti and Hazaras have been extrajudicially killed, he claimed. The policies of the current US administration have given a new zeal to freedom-loving religious and ethnic communities in Pakistan, he said. Nusrat asserted that Mohajirs were committed to seeing a stable South Asia and they will continue to play their important role in achieving this goal.

US-based Mohajirs seek alliance of ethnic minorities in Pakistan

Pakistan&#39;s opposition Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by former cricket hero&nbsp;Imran&nbsp;Khan, swept to a comfortable by-election victory on the edge of the northwestern city of Peshawar, through its majority was trimmed by new hardline religious parties.

PTI candidate Arbab Amir Ayub clinched 45,631 votes, about 34.8 percent of the total, on Thursday to ensure PTI kept the parliamentary seat in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) that it governs.

The by-election was seen as a litmus test of PTI&#39;s popularity in KP, where it has focused on police, health and education reforms in contrast to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party betting on road and energy infrastructure projects.

Khan, the PTI chairman, touted the victory as a direct vote of confidence&nbsp;in his party&#39;s performance governing KP since the 2013 election, when it won the National Assembly seat, known as Peshawar NA-4, with a majority of about 40 percent.

The next general election is due in mid-2018 but&nbsp;Khan&nbsp;has called for early polls after PML-N leader and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was toppled in July by a Supreme Court disqualification over an undeclared source of income.

Analysts say&nbsp;Khan&#39;s chances of becoming prime minister have been boosted by Sharif&#39;s ouster, and the sportsman has doubled down on his populist message by saying he will pull the country away from infrastructure spending towards improving schools, hospitals and the lives of the poor.

&quot;Most of the youngsters like&nbsp;Imran&nbsp;Khan&nbsp;and believe he can steer the country out of crisis and stop corruption,&quot; said Zahid Hussain, a government contractor.

Awami National Party (ANP) candidate Khushdil&nbsp;Khan&nbsp;secured 24,830 votes, or 18.9 percent of the total, to pip PML-N&#39;s Nasir&nbsp;Khan&nbsp;Musazai, who won 23,169 votes to finish third.

Khushdil&nbsp;Khan&#39;s showing will hearten the ANP, whose candidates barely campaigned in 2013 as the Pakistani Taliban targeted and killed many of its leaders and activists in KP.

But it was the performance of two new hardline religious parties that caught the eye of political observers.

Muhammad Shafiq Ameeni, a candidate for the Tehreek-i-Labaik party, won 7.6 percent of the ballot campaigning on a platform of support for Pakistan&rsquo;s strict blasphemy laws that are already some of the world&#39;s harshest.

Labaik supporters have spread their hardline message, including the notion that those who commit blasphemy against Islam should be killed, through mosques and seminaries.

Syed Moharram Shah, a Labaik activist, said the party was surprised it captured 9,060 votes because it wasn&#39;t fully prepared for the election.

&quot;This is our first attempt but look at people&#39;s response. It&#39;s very much encouraging,&quot; he said.

Alhaj Liaqat Ali&nbsp;Khan, an independent candidate backed by the Milli Muslim League (MML) party, loyal to Hafiz Saeed, an Islamist under house arrest, obtained 3,557 votes.

Washington accuses Saeed of being the mastermind behind the 2008 attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai that killed 166 people, and has placed a $10 million bounty on his head. Saeed denies the charge.

Last month, candidates backed by Labaik and MML won about 11 percent of the ballot in a by-election for Sharif&#39;s vacated seat in a by-election in the eastern city of Lahore.

PTI candidate Arbab Amir Ayub clinched 45,631 votes, about 34.8 percent of the total, on Thursday to ensure PTI kept the parliamentary seat in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) that it governs.

Pakistan's opposition Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by former cricket hero Imran Khan, swept to a comfortable by-election victory on the edge of the northwestern city of Peshawar, through its majority was trimmed by new hardline religious parties. PTI candidate Arbab Amir Ayub clinched 45,631 votes, about 34.8 percent of the total, on Thursday to ensure PTI kept the parliamentary seat in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) that it governs. The by-election was seen as a litmus test of PTI's popularity in KP, where it has focused on police, health and education reforms in contrast to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party betting on road and energy infrastructure projects. Khan, the PTI chairman, touted the victory as a direct vote of confidence in his party's performance governing KP since the 2013 election, when it won the National Assembly seat, known as Peshawar NA-4, with a majority of about 40 percent. The next general election is due in mid-2018 but Khan has called for early polls after PML-N leader and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was toppled in July by a Supreme Court disqualification over an undeclared source of income. Analysts say Khan's chances of becoming prime minister have been boosted by Sharif's ouster, and the sportsman has doubled down on his populist message by saying he will pull the country away from infrastructure spending towards improving schools, hospitals and the lives of the poor. "Most of the youngsters like Imran Khan and believe he can steer the country out of crisis and stop corruption," said Zahid Hussain, a government contractor. Awami National Party (ANP) candidate Khushdil Khan secured 24,830 votes, or 18.9 percent of the total, to pip PML-N's Nasir Khan Musazai, who won 23,169 votes to finish third. Khushdil Khan's showing will hearten the ANP, whose candidates barely campaigned in 2013 as the Pakistani Taliban targeted and killed many of its leaders and activists in KP. But it was the performance of two new hardline religious parties that caught the eye of political observers. Muhammad Shafiq Ameeni, a candidate for the Tehreek-i-Labaik party, won 7.6 percent of the ballot campaigning on a platform of support for Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws that are already some of the world's harshest. Labaik supporters have spread their hardline message, including the notion that those who commit blasphemy against Islam should be killed, through mosques and seminaries. Syed Moharram Shah, a Labaik activist, said the party was surprised it captured 9,060 votes because it wasn't fully prepared for the election. "This is our first attempt but look at people's response. It's very much encouraging," he said. Alhaj Liaqat Ali Khan, an independent candidate backed by the Milli Muslim League (MML) party, loyal to Hafiz Saeed, an Islamist under house arrest, obtained 3,557 votes. Washington accuses Saeed of being the mastermind behind the 2008 attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai that killed 166 people, and has placed a $10 million bounty on his head. Saeed denies the charge. Last month, candidates backed by Labaik and MML won about 11 percent of the ballot in a by-election for Sharif's vacated seat in a by-election in the eastern city of Lahore.

Imran Khan's PTI retains seat in bypoll, but new religious parties gain

&nbsp;Suicide bombers attacked a court complex in Pakistan on Tuesday, killing five people and wounding 20, police officials said, the latest incident in a new surge of Islamist violence.

A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban&#39;s Jamaat-ur-Ahrar faction claimed responsibility for the attack in the northwestern town of Charsadda.

All three of the attackers were carrying hand grenades and AK-47 assault rifles, Ijaz Khan, police chief in the northwestern district of Charsadda, told Reuters.

&nbsp;

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Pakistani Taliban&#39;s Jamaat-ur-Ahrar faction claim responsibility for suicide attack in Pakistan&#39;s northwestern town of Charsadda, killing at least four. Here&#39;s more to this story. (WION)
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Besides lawyers and judges, hundreds of litigants visit the building every day.

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People transport an injured man in the Charsadda blast to a hospital in Peshawar. (Reuters)
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The district administration had earlier said at least four people were killed. A witness told Reuters he had seen &quot;many&quot; dead bodies at the scene.

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Charsadda blasts: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash">#Pakistan</a> media reports that three attackers have been killed
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Four killed and 17 injured in multiple explosions in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Charsadda?src=hash">#Charsadda</a>: Pakistan media.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/833944251524280320">February 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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A string of bombings in Pakistan over the past 10 days has killed more than 100 people.&nbsp;Town resident Mohammad Shah Baz told Reuters he was inside the judicial complex when the suicide bombers stormed it.

&quot;I escaped towards the canteen and climbed the wall to save my life. But there were many people dead and injured,&quot; he said.

District police chief Sohail Khalid said at least one of the attackers blew himself up and another opened fire at the main entrance of the court compound before they were shot and killed.

Jamaat-ur-Ahrar spokesman Asad Mansoor claimed responsibility for the attack in a message to journalists.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban's Jamaat-ur-Ahrar faction claimed responsibility for the attack in the northwestern town of Charsadda

Suicide bombers attacked a court complex in Pakistan on Tuesday, killing five people and wounding 20, police officials said, the latest incident in a new surge of Islamist violence. A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban's Jamaat-ur-Ahrar faction claimed responsibility for the attack in the northwestern town of Charsadda. All three of the attackers were carrying hand grenades and AK-47 assault rifles, Ijaz Khan, police chief in the northwestern district of Charsadda, told Reuters. Pakistani Taliban's Jamaat-ur-Ahrar faction claim responsibility for suicide attack in Pakistan's northwestern town of Charsadda, killing at least four. Here's more to this story. (WION) × Besides lawyers and judges, hundreds of litigants visit the building every day. People transport an injured man in the Charsadda blast to a hospital in Peshawar. (Reuters) × The district administration had earlier said at least four people were killed. A witness told Reuters he had seen "many" dead bodies at the scene. Charsadda blasts: #Pakistan media reports that three attackers have been killed — ANI (@ANI_news) February 21, 2017 × Four killed and 17 injured in multiple explosions in #Charsadda: Pakistan media. — ANI (@ANI_news) February 21, 2017 × A string of bombings in Pakistan over the past 10 days has killed more than 100 people. Town resident Mohammad Shah Baz told Reuters he was inside the judicial complex when the suicide bombers stormed it. "I escaped towards the canteen and climbed the wall to save my life. But there were many people dead and injured," he said. District police chief Sohail Khalid said at least one of the attackers blew himself up and another opened fire at the main entrance of the court compound before they were shot and killed. Jamaat-ur-Ahrar spokesman Asad Mansoor claimed responsibility for the attack in a message to journalists. (Reuters)

Suicide bombers hit court complex in Pakistan, 5 dead

Former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari has hit out at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provincial government for allocating public funds to a privately-owned Islamic seminary known for &quot;its links with the Taliban and other militant groups&quot;. 
 
The provincial government, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in its budget for fiscal 2016-17, has reportedly set aside Rs 300 million for the Nowshera-based Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary of Maulana Sami-ul Haq. 
 
&quot;This is nothing but legitimisation of militancy and militant Taliban that will undermine the nation&#39;s resolve to fight militants to the finish,&quot; the Express Tribune quoted him, as saying. Zardari`s statement was released by his spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar. 
 
Babar said Zardari, also the Co-Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party,has expressed concern over the use of public money for a private seminary which is reportedly known for promoting private jihads.&nbsp;&quot;The resources should have been spent on human development instead of on a seminary whose claim to fame lies in its promotion of militant Islam and the worldview of Islamic militants,&quot; Zardari said. 
 
Zardari pointed out that the current head of the seminary is an acknowledged sympathiser and undeclared spokesperson of the Taliban. He was of the opinion that in the wake of Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor`s killing in a U.S. drone strike in Balochistan, it appears that some elements are reviving the &#39;jihadi project&#39;. 
 
&quot;Recently, conservative religious parties led by a proscribed organisation held congregations in Islamabad protesting Mullah Mansoor&#39;s death. Now a privately owned pro-Taliban madrassa has been given Rs300 million,&quot; he added. However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has last week defended the decision to allocate money to the seminary, noting that about 2.2 million students in the province studied in seminaries as compared to 800,000 in English-medium schools.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)&nbsp; 
 
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Asif Ali Zardari pointed out that the current head of the seminary is an acknowledged sympathiser and undeclared spokesperson of the Taliban

Former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari has hit out at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provincial government for allocating public funds to a privately-owned Islamic seminary known for "its links with the Taliban and other militant groups". The provincial government, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in its budget for fiscal 2016-17, has reportedly set aside Rs 300 million for the Nowshera-based Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary of Maulana Sami-ul Haq. "This is nothing but legitimisation of militancy and militant Taliban that will undermine the nation's resolve to fight militants to the finish," the Express Tribune quoted him, as saying. Zardari`s statement was released by his spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar. Babar said Zardari, also the Co-Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party,has expressed concern over the use of public money for a private seminary which is reportedly known for promoting private jihads. "The resources should have been spent on human development instead of on a seminary whose claim to fame lies in its promotion of militant Islam and the worldview of Islamic militants," Zardari said. Zardari pointed out that the current head of the seminary is an acknowledged sympathiser and undeclared spokesperson of the Taliban. He was of the opinion that in the wake of Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor`s killing in a U.S. drone strike in Balochistan, it appears that some elements are reviving the 'jihadi project'. "Recently, conservative religious parties led by a proscribed organisation held congregations in Islamabad protesting Mullah Mansoor's death. Now a privately owned pro-Taliban madrassa has been given Rs300 million," he added. However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has last week defended the decision to allocate money to the seminary, noting that about 2.2 million students in the province studied in seminaries as compared to 800,000 in English-medium schools. (ANI)

Former Pak President calls funding to private seminary in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 'legitimisation of millitancy'