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Pakistan Security Brief

Contributors: Adam Tohn (current), Zeeshan Mithani (current), Kim Hoffman, Cody Brown (current), Laila Khan (current), Christian Conroy, Sarath Ganji, Asmaa Ahmed, Thomas Smith, Christine Johnson, James Marino, Sam Worby, Alex Della Rocchetta, Eric Carrino, Nicholas Patella, David Kahan, Benjamin Schultz, Brian Wolfe, Jonathan Frist, and Reza Jan (current).

May 17, 2013

PML-N has 124 seats, PPP has 31, PTI has 27 in final count; ECP refuses to recount votes in NA-122 or re-poll all of NA-250; Imran Khan expected to leave hospital in two weeks; Votes will be re-counter or re-run for eight national assembly seats; Sharif says corruption will not be tolerated; Kayani wants parliament to serve the people and says army will support further re-elections; ANP to sit in opposition and condemns violence that hindered his party's activities; PML-N invited JUI-F to join coalition; Ashraf appeared before NAB for rental power projects case; Fifteen killed in two mosque bombs; NATO truck driver killed; Head of kidnapping ring arrested; Peace body head killed; Market explosions kill four in North Waziristan; Former JI Nazim killed; Five security personnel killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; 100,000 tons of wheat to be exported to Iran in payment for electricity; Pakistan to release 51 Indian fishermen.

May 15, 2013

 Nawaz Sharif visits Imran Khan in hospital to make peace; Coalition agreed open for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government; Independent legislators join PML-N in national and Punjab assemblies; PTI claims evidence of rigging, holds sit-in against vote rigging in Attock; Seven arrested in connection with ballot rigging; Thousands displaced from Kurram; Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan claims responsibility for Quetta suicide attack; Seven shot dead in Karachi; MQM holds protest against alleged vote rigging in Karachi; Musharraf cannot be tried under Anti Terrorism Act; Kayani calls Imran Khan to inquire after health; PPP to reach out to allies; Top U.S. AfPak official to leave Pentagon; U.S. officials reach out to Sharif; British police investigate Hussain's comments.

May 14, 2013

 Many parties stage protests and sit-ins across the country because of alleged election rigging; PTI has first right to a coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Sharif sets goals for first 100 days; Observers pronounce election free and fair; Independents join PML-N in national assembly; Coalitions being worked out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Punjab governor resigns from politics; Zardari calls to congratulate Sharif; MQM candidate demands do-over of election in all of Karachi; NAB summons Ashraf in RPP case, who fails to appear; Ex-PM Gilani takes responsibility for the PPP's defeat; Written agreement barring women from voting surfaces; Musharraf's judicial remand extended; Multiple dead in violent incidents; Security clampdown in Karachi; PML-N will allow Zardari to finish term; Ambassador Sherry Rehman resigns; Death toll from Quetta attack rises to eight; Economists outline steps for new government; Pakistan sends $500 million of exports to India; Remittances to Pakistan total $11.5 billion, trade deficit falls; Sharif reiterates high hopes for cooperation with India; PM Singh turns down invitation to Sharif's oath-taking ceremony; U.S. Ambassador visits Sharif; Afghan Taliban call border skirmishes a conspiracy; Afghan official says Pakistan leadership change represents an opportunity; David Cameron calls Sharif to congratulate him.

May 13, 2013

 Pakistan votes in historic polls; Sharif's victory speech names key targets for improvement; PML-N likely will not need to form coalition government with rivals PTI or PPP; PTI to become main opposition party and lead Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Nawaz Sharif discusses his priorities, including international ties and economic issues; Sharif names Ishaq Dar as next finance minister; Allegations of foul play in Karachi and Lahore; Voting to be re-run in parts of Karachi; Turnout estimated at 60 percent; PPP strong performance only in Sindh; 29 people killed in Election Day violence; Blasts targeting ANP in Karachi kill eleven; Six killed in suicide attack in Balochistan; Polling in FATA peaceful; EU observers: 64 killed on Election Day; Obama congratulates Pakistan on free election; Reporter Declan Walsh expelled from Pakistan; Indian PM congratulates Sharif and hopes for better relations; Cautious optimism in India over Sharif's win; Karzai congratulates Sharif and hopes for peace and brotherhood; Pakistani stock exchange surges in response to Sharif's victory.

May 10, 2013

 Imran Khan gives his last speech from his hospital bed; Report: coalition government likely given close polling between PML-N and PTI; PPP chairman addresses last rally via video link; Mainstream parties agreeing to block women from voting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Two MQM candidates withdraw their candidacies in favor of the PTI; Baloch politicians will be running after boycotting last elections; Baloch National Front calls for strike; Caretaker prime minister issued a contempt notice; Internal TTP letter reveals plans for Election Day violence; Five killed in Miran Shah bombs; Security personnel killed during attack on convoy carrying election papers; IED targeting PPP injures five people in Quetta; Militants blow up Balochistan polling stations; Five injured in Balochistan bomb attack on independent candidate; Blast at JUI-F rally kills one; President Zardari condemns Gilani kidnapping; Army will deploy troops at most sensitive polling stations; Five killed in attack on police van; Militant attack on check post kills three.

May 9, 2013

 Former prime minister’s son abducted; Imran Khan to address final rally via video link; Taliban leader's letter detailing plans for election attacks obtained by press; Afghan border police seek improves weaponry in fight against Pakistan; ANP withdrawing Sindh candidates; Peshawar High Court orders compensation of drone victims; Zardari approves absentee voting; IMF bailout for Pakistan likely; Copper company drops mining plans, seeks compensation; political violence continues across country; Pamphlets in North Waziristan warn women not to vote; Army finalizes security plans for Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, tribal areas; 96,000 security personnel deployed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal regions; Zardari complains to about security at rallies; Pakistani prisoner dies in Indian custody; Two TTP-affiliated militants arrested; Three police injured in blast in Dera Ismail Khan; Handout from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police reports on anti-militant crackdown; Three killed in gun battle between militants and security forces; Five Levies personnel kidnapped in Balochistan; Four killed in blast targeting police station; 19 injured in Hangu Bazaar blast.

May 8, 2013

 Nawaz Sharif intends to improve ties with India; Imran Khan injured after fall at rally but expected to recover completely; New poll shows PTI and PML-N very close; 18 killed in Northwestern Pakistan election-related bomb blasts; Two killed in blast targeting ANP; Karachi officer requests reinforcements for Election Day; Kayani urges cooperation for security on Election Day; Gunmen open fire on PTI target; Four injured in attack on PML-N candidate; Three killed in suicide attack on police station; Two killed by IED in Hangu; Militants release 13 hostages; Bomb targeting NATO convoy defused; negotiations with Taliban “necessary” says senior politician; ECP: All ballots have been printed, many distributed; 6,000 Frontier Corps to be stationed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Two power lines blown up, 17 districts in Balochistan without power; Pakistan rejects claims that Pakistani soldiers crossed into Afghanistan; Musharraf's trial temporarily adjourned; Pakistani U.N. peacekeeper killed in Congo.

May 7, 2013

 Twenty killed in attack on JUI-F candidate at rally; Imran Khan injured after falling off the stage at a rally; Eleven killed at JUI-F rally in Hangu; Six killed by roadside bomb at PPP rally; 2,674 dead in Pakistani violence since January 2013; Sindh province facing serious terrorist threats on election day; Protests filed by Afghanistan and Pakistan against each other after border skirmishes; New extremist magazine asks for help in combating drones; Militants distribute anti-voting leaflets; Karachi head of LeJ arrested; PPP Senator claims to have proof of money laundering by Sharif brothers; Indian foreign minister: Singh is setback in Indo-Pakistani relations; Pakistan issues travel advisory against India; Hand grenade targeting ANP candidate injures one; Two injured in attack on National Party chief; Militants target house of PML-N candidate with a bomb; PML-N candidate reportedly extremist and criminal; Supreme Court says no excuse for military overtaking civilian powers; U.S. Senator calls for ending aid to Pakistan over Dr. Afridi case; Pro-government elder shot by militants; Security forces arrest six; Rail track blown up in Quetta.

May 6, 2013

 Nawaz Sharif discusses openness to Taliban negotiations and other plans for after election; Imran Khan voices opposition to drones and pawns of US; Renewed fighting on Afghanistan-Pakistan border; Karzai suggests Taliban focus on Pakistan; Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan says that Pakistan is not seeking “strategic depth”; 25 killed in attack on JUI-F rally; Risk of campaigning for targeted parties; Extremist groups field candidates in election; Fake ballots seized and investigated; NAB to have its own police force; PML-N fields convicted murderer as candidate; Maulana Fazlur Rehman declares voting for PTI haram; Musharraf’s house arrest extended by two weeks; 23 militants and two soldiers killed in Tirah; Eight militants killed in Orakzai; Punjab; IED kills two soldiers in North Waziristan; Firefight in Quetta kills two Frontier Corps personnel and 13 criminals; Two bomb disposal personnel killed by IED; Three killed and 40 wounded in Karachi from blasts targeting MQM; Multiple attacks on political parties across country; Four suspected militants arrested in Karachi; Four injured in IED attack on PTI; PPP’s election office bombed, injuring one; Four polling stations in Balochistan destroyed by IEDs; Sarabjit Singh was Research and Analysis Wing spy; First polio case in a year reported in North Waziristan.

May 3, 2013

 Prosecutor in charge of Bhutto assassination case assassinated; Pakistani prisoner attacked in Indian jail; ANP candidate and son shot dead; Bilawal Bhutto Zardari leaves country until after elections; MQM office targeted in blast; TTP warns people not to vote; Musharraf's APML party to boycott elections; Demonstrations marking bin Laden's death held; India thanks Pakistan for cooperation after Singh's death; India asks for probe into LeT connections to Singh's death; Sharif's prioritizes countering extremism; Five dead in attack on checkpost in South Waziristan; PPP Secretary General is open to PTI alliance; Karzai says he will not allow foreign checkposts in Afghan territory; Obama names James Dobbins special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan; Khassadar force member and family members killed; Body of Baloch activist found in Karachi; Arrests made in anti-polio workers' attack case; Four killed in Karachi.