KABUL: A Nato civilian contractor was killed by three people wearing Afghan security force uniforms yesterday, in the latest suspected “insider attack” to target the international military coalition.
“The civilian died when three people driving an Afghan security force vehicle forced their way into the base in eastern Afghanistan,” a spokesman for the Nato-led force said. He said the attackers were killed by Afghan and ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) troops.
Further details were not available as an assessment of the attack was under way. The incident occurred in the Tagab district of Kapisa province.
A text message from the Taliban did not claim responsibility but claimed that two Afghan army soldiers had killed nine American soldiers.
The militants regularly exaggerate death tolls and Nato officials say that most “insider attacks” stem from personal grudges and cultural misunderstandings rather than Taliban plots.
The threat of insider attacks has become so serious that foreign soldiers working with Afghan forces are regularly watched over by so-called “guardian angel” troops to provide protection.
Afghan soldiers and police are taking on responsibility for battling the militants from 100,000 NATO troops who will leave by the end of next year -- more than a decade after a US-led invasion brought down the Taliban regime.
Parliament lodges for legislators
ISLAMABAD: In a generous gesture the government of Pakistan has allowed the members of the National Assembly and federal ministers of the outgoing cabinet to stay in the Parliament Lodges till the holding of the polls.
Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Khan Kundi has conveyed to the members of the lower house of the Parliament regarding the concession given to them. They are required to pay the rent of the lodges in advance and it also includes the other expenses.
The members are supposed to vacate the residences within a week of the cessation of their membership but the deputy speaker has relaxed the restriction.
Well-placed sources said yesterday that members of the Parliament had approached Faisal Karim Khan Kundi for allowing them to continue to occupy the Parliament Lodges accommodation till the next general elections.
Ministers face gas disconnections
ISLAMABAD: In a radical departure from the past practices, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) of Pakistan has cut off the gas supply of six ministers for non-payment of bills by Pakistan Works Department (PWD).
Security staff of other 16 defaulter-ministers, however, resisted this move pushing back the gas officials. The ministers owe SNGPL outstanding dues to the tune of Rs5,974, 589.
As many as 22 ministers have been declared SNGPL’s defaulters thanks to PWD whereas those facing suspension of supply included five ministers as well as Deputy Chairman Senate Sabir Baloch, confirmed the SNGPL officials in Islamabad.
Female prisoner obtains degree
KARACHI: It was not easy for Zainab to sift through complicated foreign policy notes and history books behind locked doors and the iron-grilled windows.
It got even harder when other women inmates engaged in raucous catfights, or when children threw tantrums.
Yet, despite all odds, the 26-year-old accomplished what no one expected her to she became the first female inmate at Karachi’s jail for women to attain a master’s degree
Agencies
