Wednesday, December 3, 2008



Afghan refugees arrested for violence in Pakistan's Karachi
Time is GMT + 8 hoursPosted: 3-Dec-2008 03:05 hrs
Pakistani paramilitary troops busy in a search operation at an Afghan refugee camp in Karachi. Pakistani authorities on Tuesday arrested 24 men at an Afghan refugee camp on suspicion of involvement in recent riots that killed 35 people and injured more than 200, officials said.

Pakistani authorities on Tuesday arrested 24 men at an Afghan refugee camp on suspicion of involvement in recent riots that killed 35 people and injured more than 200, officials said.
."We have arrested 24 men who were either directly involved in the violent acts or harboured the criminals," Sohail Zafar Chattha, a senior police official, told AFP.
.Police and paramilitary forces also seized weapons and ammunition from the suspects in the operation aimed at securing Pakistan's largest city, which was gripped with violence from Saturday until Monday.
.The incidents were mainly blamed on activists from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pashtun nationalist Awami National Party (ANP). Leaders from both the parties denied their members were involved in the violence.
."Most of the suspects we have arrested are Afghan refugees. Some of them are locals," Chattha said.
.During the two days of deadly disturbances, troops were authorised to use guns to quell the violence in which rioters set shops and houses on fire.
.Police and paramilitary Rangers were still patrolling the city streets and affected areas to maintain peace Tuesday evening, paramilitary spokesman Major Mohammad Ali told AFP.
.Karachi has experienced unrest in the past from tensions between the influential MQM and Pashtuns from the North West Frontier Province, who have settled in Karachi for jobs. — AFP
Pakistani authorities on Tuesday arrested 24 men at an Afghan refugee camp on suspicion of involvement in recent riots that killed 35 people and injured more than 200, officials said.
."We have arrested 24 men who were either directly involved in the violent acts or harboured the criminals," Sohail Zafar Chattha, a senior police official, told AFP.
.Police and paramilitary forces also seized weapons and ammunition from the suspects in the operation aimed at securing Pakistan's largest city, which was gripped with violence from Saturday until Monday.
.The incidents were mainly blamed on activists from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pashtun nationalist Awami National Party (ANP). Leaders from both the parties denied their members were involved in the violence.
."Most of the suspects we have arrested are Afghan refugees. Some of them are locals," Chattha said.
.During the two days of deadly disturbances, troops were authorised to use guns to quell the violence in which rioters set shops and houses on fire.
.Police and paramilitary Rangers were still patrolling the city streets and affected areas to maintain peace Tuesday evening, paramilitary spokesman Major Mohammad Ali told AFP.
.Karachi has experienced unrest in the past from tensions between the influential MQM and Pashtuns from the North West Frontier Province, who have settled in Karachi for jobs. — AFP
Pakistani authorities on Tuesday arrested 24 men at an Afghan refugee camp on suspicion of involvement in recent riots that killed 35 people and injured more than 200, officials said.
."We have arrested 24 men who were either directly involved in the violent acts or harboured the criminals," Sohail Zafar Chattha, a senior police official, told AFP.
.Police and paramilitary forces also seized weapons and ammunition from the suspects in the operation aimed at securing Pakistan's largest city, which was gripped with violence from Saturday until Monday.
.The incidents were mainly blamed on activists from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pashtun nationalist Awami National Party (ANP). Leaders from both the parties denied their members were involved in the violence.
."Most of the suspects we have arrested are Afghan refugees. Some of them are locals," Chattha said.
.During the two days of deadly disturbances, troops were authorised to use guns to quell the violence in which rioters set shops and houses on fire.
.Police and paramilitary Rangers were still patrolling the city streets and affected areas to maintain peace Tuesday evening, paramilitary spokesman Major Mohammad Ali told AFP.
.Karachi has experienced unrest in the past from tensions between the influential MQM and Pashtuns from the North West Frontier Province, who have settled in Karachi for jobs. — AFP
Pakistani authorities on Tuesday arrested 24 men at an Afghan refugee camp on suspicion of involvement in recent riots that killed 35 people and injured more than 200, officials said.
."We have arrested 24 men who were either directly involved in the violent acts or harboured the criminals," Sohail Zafar Chattha, a senior police official, told AFP.
.Police and paramilitary forces also seized weapons and ammunition from the suspects in the operation aimed at securing Pakistan's largest city, which was gripped with violence from Saturday until Monday.
.The incidents were mainly blamed on activists from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pashtun nationalist Awami National Party (ANP). Leaders from both the parties denied their members were involved in the violence.
."Most of the suspects we have arrested are Afghan refugees. Some of them are locals," Chattha said.
.During the two days of deadly disturbances, troops were authorised to use guns to quell the violence in which rioters set shops and houses on fire.
.Police and paramilitary Rangers were still patrolling the city streets and affected areas to maintain peace Tuesday evening, paramilitary spokesman Major Mohammad Ali told AFP.
.Karachi has experienced unrest in the past from tensions between the influential MQM and Pashtuns from the North West Frontier Province, who have settled in Karachi for jobs. — AFP

Immigrant boat intercepted off WA
Posted Wed Dec 3, 2008 2:51pm AEDT Updated 11 hours 19 minutes ago

Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus says the boat is believed to have travelled from Sri Lanka. (ABC News: Damien Larkins)
The Federal Government has confirmed that a boat carrying 35 passengers and five crew has been intercepted off the coast of Western Australia.
The boat was spotted by a surveillance plane yesterday afternoon near Ashmore Island, and then intercepted by the Border Protection Command.
The Government says those on board will now be transferred to Christmas Island to be detained and processed.
Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus says the nationalities of the people on board are not yet known.
"There has been five vessels in the last two months, four coming from Indonesia and one coming we suspect, though the intelligence is still being analysed, directly from Sri Lanka," he said.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans says the nationality of those on board is yet to be determined.
He says the Government is committed to to border protection.
"We continue with those efforts as vigorously as we can, throwing all the resources we can at preventing it," he said.
"But it is true to say that people smugglers change their tactics in response to disruption and prevention activities."
Editor's note: The ABC originally reported that the boat was of Sri Lankan origin, however the nationalities of the passengers on board are not yet known.