Dawn – Al Qaeda says it is holding US hostage in Pakistan

2 December 2011

Islamabad: Al Qaeda claimed responsibility Thursday for the kidnapping of a 70-year-old American aid worker in Pakistan in August, and issued a series of demands for his release.

In a video message posted on militant websites, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri said Warren Weinstein would be released if the United States stopped airstrikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. He also demanded the release of all al-Qaida and Taliban suspects around the world.

”Just as the Americans detain all whom they suspect of links to al Qaeda and the Taliban, even remotely, we detained this man who is neck-deep in American aid to Pakistan since the 1970s,” al-Zawahri said, according to a translation provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant messages.

Weinstein was abducted by armed men from his house in the eastern city of Lahore on 13 August.

Police and US officials have not publicly said who they believed was holding him, but Islamist militant groups were the main suspects.

Weinstein, who has a home in Rockville, Maryland, worked in Pakistan for several years and spoke Urdu.

He was the country director in Pakistan for J.E. Austin Associates, a US-based firm that advises a range of Pakistani business and government sectors.

The company has said Weinstein is in poor health and provided a detailed list of medications, many of them for heart problems, that it implored the kidnappers to give him.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/02/al-qaeda-says-it-is-holding-us-hostage-in-pakistan.html

Dawn – Shahbaz Taseer [Salman Taseer's son] kept near Pakistan-Afghan border: Malik

17 October 2011

Islamabad: Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik on Monday said the abductors have kept Shahbaz Taseer near adjoining areas of Pakistan-Afghanistan border and he is alive.

“As per intelligence information, the kidnappers have kept the son of late Governor Salman Taseer in Pakistan-Afghan border areas, but I want to tell the terrorist that their coward action cannot weaken the government’s commitment against extremism and terrorism,” he said.

Shahbaz Taseer was kidnapped from Lahore few months ago when he was proceeding to his office.

The Minister was talking to mediamen at a ceremony organized here by workers of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) at its Headquarters.

Replying to a question, Rehman Malik said VIPs in the government were facing threats from the banned outfit, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al Qaeda.

There was an information about two weeks back that both the banned organizations had also planned to abduct Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

“All necessary steps are being adopted to foil their nefarious designs,” he added.

The minister appreciated Islamabad Police, which under the leadership of Inspector General, Bani Amin have averted many terrorist threats in Capital.

Answering another query, the Minister clarified that he has nothing to do with Black Water, a US based private security agency.

Earlier, addressing a ceremony, he read out a notification that services of all contract employees of NADRA in different categories have been regularized.

He also announced a housing scheme for more than 14,000 employees of the organization under which 50 per cent finances would be provided by NADRA as advance while the remaining would be arranged through banks.

The advance amount would be deducted from the employee’s salaries.

The Minister highlighted manifesto of PPP which is to ensure employment for unemployed people.

He said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani faced jails to fight for the rights of people.

“Provision of employment is our priority and PPP government will continue its policy to facilitate people,” he added.

He also appreciated performance of NADRA and said this organization had achieved a lot since its inception.

Chairman NADRA, Ali Arshad also spoke on the occasion.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/17/shahbaz-taseer-kept-near-pak-afghan-border-rehman.html