July 28, 2002	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 17,1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

FAISALABAD, July 27: The Punjab police high-ups at a ceremony on Saturday disbursed a sum of US $58,725 among 500 policemen as a cash award for ‘successful’ crackdown on Al-Qaeda and arresting Osama Bin Laden’s deputy Abu Zubaidah in Faisalabad.

Information gleaned by this correspondent revealed the United States hailed the joint manhunt by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Punjab police on March 28 to arrest Abu Zubaidah and his associates. The US administration provided a sum of $250,000 to the Government of Pakistan for distributing it among the policemen who arrested the ‘much-wanted’ men.

The US government termed the operation a major success as the alleged terrorists, they claimed, were planning more attacks on American embassies in various countries. Abu Zubaidah took over as Al-Qaeda’s military operations chief from Muhammad Atef, who was killed in the American carpet bombing on Afghanistan.

The raiding party claimed having recovered computers from the hideouts of the alleged terrorists and scanned vital information which led to the arrest of more members of the Al-Qaeda in various parts of the country.

Some 13 police officials, including DIG, DPO and city police superintendents, had been awarded Rs50,000 each while 83 inspectors, sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors were given Rs10,000 each. The government awarded Rs5,000 each to 404 head constables and constables. However, none of the officials had been awarded appreciation letter or certificate due to reasons best known to the high-ups. The officials who received cash awards were reportedly asked to sign white papers.

The police high-ups have awarded a small portion of the cash given by the US. When contacted, the officials concerned were reluctant to give any details.

They said this was a top-level matter which only the ‘big bosses’ could clarify.

The American FBI agents, Punjab Elite Force and Faisalabad police teams raided hideouts in Faisal Town, Samanabad, Mansoorabad, Muslim Town, Madina Town and Chak 201-RB and arrested 19 alleged terrorists, including Abu Zubaidah.

During their raid in Faisal Town on March 28, one of the terrorists was killed while four grievously injured besides two policemen.

SHOT DEAD: Four people, including a girl, were shot dead in separate incidents in the district on Saturday.

Reports said one Muhammad Idrees shot dead a panchayat’s two members, Abdul Aziz and Rana Liaquat, in Chak 67-JB on the Faisalabad-Jhang Road.

Basheeran was shot dead by one Ghulam Farid in Chak Jhumra reportedly due to her mother’s refusal to marry her to the accused.

A young man, Bukhara alias Baggo, was shot dead by his rivals in Bahlak when he was coming back home after attending a marriage.