Obama criticises Trump, says 'American values' are at stake

Washington, Jan 31, 2017, PTI

Barack Obama today hit out at Donald Trump, warning that 'American values' are at stake as the former president voiced his support to mass protests against his successor's controversial travel ban on Muslims and the "extreme vetting" orders.

Breaking his silence over Trump's controversial immigration policies, Obama, who left the White House just 10 days ago, said he fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.

"With regard to comparisons to President Obama's foreign policy decisions, as we've heard before the President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion," Obama's spokesman Kevin Lewis said in a statement.

This is the first press statement issued by the office of Barack Obama after he left the office 10 days ago.

Lewis said Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country.

"In his final office speech as President. He spoke about the important role of citizen and how all Americans have a responsibility to be the guardians of our democracy – not just during an election but every day," he said.

"Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected official is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake," Lewis said.

Trump's executive order bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for the next 90 days, suspends the admission of all refugees for 120 days and indefinitely suspends the Syrian refugee programme.

Former presidents walk a fine line between staying political engaged and avoiding knocking their successor, CNN said.

President George W Bush, for example, remained markedly silent on politics during Obama's eight years in office. But Obama's relationship with Trump is different, and his statement made clear that the former president will stay engaged and outspoken on political action, it said.

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Saeed's detention a 'policy decision' in Pak's interest: Army

Rawalpindi/Lahore, Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

In an unusual move, Pakistan's army today said the detention of the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed was a "policy decision in the national interest" as the government announced that the Jamat-ud Dawa leader's 90-day house arrest could be extended if required.
"The detention is a policy decision taken in the national interest. The relevant department may give more information in a day or two and the situation will become clearer," Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told reporters here.

Saeed and four other JuD leaders were put under house arrest after order of detention was issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry yesterday in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27.

His aides - Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz - were detained and placed under house arrest in Chauburji near JuD's Lahore headquarters.

"Although they belong to different districts of Punjab but the government has decided to place them under arrest in one house in Lahore," a senior police officer told PTI.

"The government has detained Saeed and four other JuD and Falaha-i-Insanyat (FIF) leaders for 90 days with effect from January 30 but this detention may further be extended on completion of this period if required," an interior ministry official told PTI.

"The government may take some further steps against the JuD and its sister organisations in coming days," he said, adding that the names of several JuD and FIF activists have been placed on Exit Control List to stop them from leaving the country.

Maj Gen Ghafoor said Pakistan wants peace with India and resolution of all issues including Kashmir through talks held on the basis of self-respect and honour, but it should not be considered as weakness.

"We want the Kashmir issue to be resolve via United Nations resolutions and dialogue, but this desire for peace should not be misconstrued as a weakness," he said.

After the Punjab Home Department declared Saeed's Jauhar Town Lahore residence as sub-jail, the JuD chief was shifted there from its headquarters Al-Qadsia Chauburji today.

First Saeed was allowed by police to hold a press conference before he left for his home along with dozens of his supporters amid high police security.

"My detention order has come from Washington and not Islamabad. If someone thinks that after placing me under house arrest will help check freedom movement in Kashmir he is living a fool's paradise. My arrest will give a fresh impetus to the Kashmiris' struggle against India," Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head, told reporters.

Saeed further said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi thinks that he would get respite in Kashmir after his (Saeed) arrest he is seriously mistaken.

"We have declared 2017 a year of solidarity for Kashmiris. All programmes we planned for Feb 5 will be held across Pakistan and (Pakistan-occupied) Kashmir," he said, and vowed to challenge his detention in the Lahore High Court.

Opposition in the Pakistan Punjab Assembly today staged a walkout to protest against Saeed's detention.

The opposition which is led by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party said the PML-N government has taken the step on the pressure of the Trump and Modi administrations.

Demonstrations were held in different cities including Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta to protest against Saeed's arrest.

His supporters also protested in Islamabad, denouncing the decision, according to an official of interior ministry who was monitoring the situation after Saeed’s arrest.
"Everyone knows here that the Nawaz government succumbs to the pressure of the Trump administration and took action against Saeed, JuD and FIF," JuD leader Hafiz Abdul Majid Bhatti said while addressing a gathering in Lahore.

"We will continue protesting the government's action against our leaders and organisations," he vowed.

According to the Punjab Home Department notification, "Both JuD and FIF are engaged in certain activities which could be prejudicial to peace and security and in violation of Pakistan's obligations to the UN Security Council Resolution. And accordingly both organisations have been placed in the Second Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997."

Similarly, it said Saeed is engaged in certain activities which could be "prejudicial to peace and security".

He is placed in the Fourth Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 and put under detention for a period 90 days.

The interior ministry in separate notification has also put JuD and FIF on the watch list for six months.

Earlier, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the state has taken certain actions against the JuD regarding its obligations to the UNSC resolution.

The News said that the government decided to put JuD and FIF into a watchlist and approved freezing of their assets, cancelling passports and arms licenses under the UN resolution 1267 to comply with the conditions of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for maintaining Pakistan on the white list.

The government has issued instructions to all concerned departments, including the State Bank of Pakistan, commercial banks, law enforcement agencies at the federal level including Federal Bureau of Revenue, Federal Investigation Agency as well as provincial governments to implement all these orders.

Pakistan will submit its compliance report to FATF today on account of implementing money laundering laws in an effective manner, which will be a pre-requisite to maintain the country in the white list of FATF, the paper said.

In case of non-compliance, Pakistan might have slipped into grey and negative and danger zone in terms of labelling it in the negative list on account of terrorism financing.

The FATF, an inter-governmental body, was founded by the G-7 Group in 1989 to set standards for AML/CTF. It had placed Pakistan on its grey list in Feb 2012, meaning that the country was not fully compliant with standards set by the FATF for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

There have been reports that Islamabad has immense pressure from new US administration to take action against Saeed and his organisations.

Saeed was also put under house arrest after Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008 but he was freed by court in 2009.

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My arrest will give fresh impetus to Kashmiris struggle: Saeed

Lahore, Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

A defiant JuD chief Hafiz Saeed said his detention would give a "fresh impetus" to the Kashmiris' "struggle against India" as the Mumbai attack mastermind was placed under a 90-day house arrest which the government today indicated could be extended.

Saeed was detained yesterday at JuD's Lahore headquarters at Masjid Al-Qudsia Chauburji and was later shifted to his Jauhar Town residence which has been declared as a sub-jail by authorities in Punjab province.

"The government has detained Saeed and four other JuD and Falaha-i-Insanyat (FIF) leaders for 90 days with effect from January 30 but this detention may further be extended on completion of this period if required," an Interior Ministry official told PTI.

The government may take some further steps against the JuD and its sister organisations in coming days, the official said, adding that the names of several activists of JuD and FIF, a charity run by Saeed, have been placed on Exit Control List (ECL) to stop them from leaving the country.

Saeed and four other JuD leaders were taken into custody and put under house arrest following order of detention was issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry yesterday in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27.

"Although they belong to different districts of Punjab but the government has decided to place them under arrest in one house in Lahore," he said.

Saeed, who was allowed to hold a press conference before he left for his home along with dozens of his supporters amid high police security, said, "My detention order has come from Washington and not Islamabad."

"If someone thinks that placing me under house arrest will help check freedom movement in Kashmir he is living in a fool's paradise. My arrest will give a fresh impetus to the Kashmiris' struggle against India," he said.

68-year-old Saeed further said if Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi thinks that he would get respite in Kashmir after his arrest he is seriously mistaken.

"We have declared 2017 a year of solidarity for Kashmiris," he said adding that all programmes planned for February 5 will be held across Pakistan and PoK.
He vowed to challenge his house arrest in the Lahore High Court.

Opposition in the Pakistan Punjab Assembly staged a walkout to protest against Saeed's detention.

The opposition, led by cricketer-turned-politican Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, said the Sharif government has taken the step on the pressure of US President Donald Trump and Modi government.

According to the Punjab Home Department notification, "Both JuD and FIF are engaged in certain activities which could be prejudicial to peace and security and in violation of Pakistan's obligations to the United Nations Security Council Resolution. And accordingly both organisations have been placed in the Second Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997."

Similarly, it said JuD chief Saeed is engaged in certain activities which could be prejudicial to peace and security.

"He is placed in the Fourth Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 and put under detention for a period 90 days," it said.

The interior ministry in separate notification has also put JuD and FIF on the watch list for six months.

Earlier Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the state has taken certain actions against the JuD regarding its obligations to the UNSC resolution.

There have been reports that Islamabad has immense pressure from new US administration to take action against Saeed and his organisations.

Punjab government's action comes amidst pressure on Pakistan from the Trump administration that it must take action against JuD and Saeed to avoid sanctions.

JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of November 26,2008, which was masterminded by Saeed.

Saeed has already been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014 and is carrying a USD 10 million bounty on his head.

Earlier too Saeed was put under house arrest after the Mumbai attack, but was released about six months later in June 2009 after a court order.

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ran warns US not to 'create new tensions' over missiles

Tehran, Jan 31, 2017 (AFP)

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif today warned the United States against "creating new tensions" with Tehran over ballistic missile tests.

"We hope that Iran's defence programme is not used by the new US administration... as a pretext to create new tensions," Zarif said in a televised press conference with visiting French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault.

The UN Security Council is due to hold emergency talks called by Washington today on Iran's recent test-firing of a medium-range missile, which Tehran has not confirmed.

Zarif said Washington -- under former president Barack Obama -- and Paris had "repeatedly confirmed" that Iran's missiles are not part of a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers.

Iran says its missiles do not breach United Nations resolutions because they are for defence purposes and not designed to carry nuclear warheads.

"We have always declared that we will never use our weapons against others except in our defence," Zarif said.

Ayrault said France had expressed its concerns over the missile tests.

"France has expressed its concern at Iran's continuation of its ballistic missile tests on several occasions," he said.

He said the continued tests are "contrary to the spirit" of the Security Council resolution which enshrined a landmark July 2015 nuclear deal between world powers and Iran, and "hamper the process of restoring the confidence established by the Vienna agreement."

The two top diplomats also criticised Trump's recent executive order banning citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, among them Iran, from entering the US for 90 days.

Zarif slammed the new administration's "shameful act of denying entry to people holding legal visas for that country which suffers from a poor international status", referring to the United States.

Ayrault had said after arriving in Tehran last night that it would be "common sense" for Trump to scrap the travel ban. 

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Saeed's detention sparks protests in Pakistan

Islamabad, Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

JuD chief Hafiz Saeed's detention may help ease Indo-Pak tension, media here said today even as supporters of the Mumbai attack mastermind launched protests across major cities against the government's decision which they say was taken under pressure from the US and India.
Saeed, who was detained yesterday at his Lahore headquarters, has been shifted to his residence which has been declared as a sub-jail by authorities in Punjab province.

The provincial authorities have also started to remove the banners of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) from the roads of Lahore.

National flags have been hoisted at the JuD offices in Lahore, instead of party flags, on the directives of the provincial home department.

As he was placed under house arrest, his supporters launched protests in cities like Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.

"The detention of Hafiz Saeed could help ease tensions between nuclear-armed foes Pakistan and India, although New Delhi has not yet responded," Express Tribune commented.

It said that the 2008 Mumbai attack brought Pakistan and India to the brink of war after 10 gunmen killed 166 people in a rampage that included attacks on two luxury hotels, a Jewish center and a train station.

Saeed has denied any role in the attack and has distanced himself from LeT, while leading his charity JuD.

Supporters accused Nawaz Sharif government of succumbing to the wishes of the US, which has offered a USD 10 million reward for information leading to Saeed's arrest.

"This government has buckled under the pressure," JuD spokesperson Nadeem Awan said who also accused India of pressurising the government.
Another spokesperson, Farooq Azam, announced protests in Karachi by "different religious and Kashmiri leaders".

The paper said a senior Pakistani defence ministry official said Islamabad had not been contacted by the new administration of US President Donald Trump but had been feeling US pressure on the issue.
"Trump is taking hard decisions against Muslim countries, there is open talk of actions against Pakistan also. So yes, this was a consideration," said the official.

Other government officials have said recently that a broader diplomatic campaign – pushed by India – to isolate Pakistan has taken a toll, even involving pressure from longtime ally China.

Four days back, Punjab's Ministry of Interior had included names of Saeed and four others -- Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz -- in the Watch List as per UNSC 1267 Sanctions and ordered their preventive detention.

Ubaid, Iqbal, Abid and Niaz were also also taken into preventive custody, Pakistani media reported.

Punjab government's action comes amidst pressure on Pakistan from the Trump administration that it must take action against JuD and Saeed to avoid sanctions.
JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of November 26,2008, which was masterminded by Saeed.

JuD has already been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014.

Earlier too Saeed was put under house arrest after the Mumbai attack, but was released about six months later in June 2009 after a court order.

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Trump replaces acting Immigration Enforcement head

Washington, Jan 31, 2017, (PTI)

US President Donald Trump today fired acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Daniel Ragsdale amid controversy surrounding his executive order on immigration.
The Homeland Security Secretary Gen (rtd) John Kelly said the US President Donald Trump has appointed Thomas D Homan as acting ICE director.

"I am confident that he will continue to serve as a strong, effective leader for the men and women of ICE. I look forward to working alongside him to ensure that we enforce our immigration laws in the interior of the United States consistent with the national interest," Kelly said.

Kelly's statement did not mention Ragsdale, who was the second federal official whose job was affected by the Trump administration on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Trump fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates after she defied him by refusing to have the Justice Department defend his executive order on immigration and refugees in court.

Since 2013, Homan has served as the executive associate director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

In this capacity, he led ICE's efforts to identify, arrest, detain, and remove illegal aliens, including those who present a danger to national security or are a risk to public safety, as well as those who enter the US illegally or otherwise undermine the integrity of our immigration laws and our border control efforts, a media release said.

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Bilawal warns US govt against including Pakistan in travel ban

Washington, Jan 31, 2017, (PTI)

Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has warned the Trump Administration against including his country in the list of travel ban nations, saying such a move will create a "host of hostilities" between the two countries.
Bilawal's remarks came as the White House is seeking to expand the list of seven Muslim-majority countries whose citizens have been barred from entering the US.

"As far as the ban is concerned, I believe it only has detrimental effects on the countries it has included and if that is extended to Pakistan it will create a whole host of hostilities," Bilawal told a Washington audience yesterday.

He was responding to a question on whether Pakistan can be included in a list of seven nations as per an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump last week.

Bilawal said including Pakistan in such a list "would also be a very negative indicator that the United States is turning away from those very ideals that it stood for", adding that, "I hope that this is not the new normal."

Zardari said there was a lot of uncertainty and externally about what the future policies are going to be and he would like to hold on to the wait and see approach.

The top Pakistani leader said the alleged Muslim ban "seems to be extremely controversial decision" of the current administration.

"For my generation as a progressive Muslim in the world it is really discouraging to see countries responding to the fear of the other in such a way. We have learned through history that this is not the way to deal with such issues," he said.

"I know by interaction, by finding common ground, studying in other peoples universities, learning about a shared culture, history we find the common ground. A few criminals should not be allowed to spoil the situation for everyone," he said.

"It is very discouraging for those out there in the Muslim world fighting radical extremism because people (put) their lives on the line on a daily basis to do so, to fight for what they believe in, not Americans ideals or freedom," he said.

Bilawal said he was extremely encouraged to see in what he described as another side to America.

"The outpouring of support for the people affected by this ban is a very positive message sending to the world. I do hope that this issue will be shorted out very soon. Because this is sending a wrong message and is shrinking the space for those of us out there fighting Islamic extremism on the front lines," he said.

"I feel for the citizens of all these countries who have been thrown into chaos through these (executive orders)," he said. 

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Trump's new executive order to clamp down on H1B visas

Washington, Jan 31, 2017, (PTI)

US President Donald Trump is expected to sign a new executive order aimed at strangulating work-visa programmes, including the H1B and L1 visas used by Indian IT professionals, as part of a larger immigration reform effort, a top White House official has said.
The executive order drafted by the Trump Administration not only strangulates H-1B and L1 visas, but also increases inspector raj and ends employment authorisation cards to spouses on such work visas, which was recently introduced by the previous Obama Administration.

The draft of the order was leaked and published by some news websites yesterday.
"I think with respect to H1Bs and other visa is part of a larger immigration reform effort that the President will continue to talk about through executive order and through working with Congress," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily news conference.

"You've already seen a lot of action on immigration and I think whether it's that or the spousal visas or other type of visas, I think there's an overall need to look at all of these programmes. You'll see both through executive action and through comprehensive measures a way to address immigration as a whole and the visa programme," Spicer said.

As per the leaked draft order, Trump would reverse Obama's extension of the duration of the optional practical training work visas, which allowed foreign students to stay in the US a bit longer after completion of their studies.

Within 90 days of the signing of the executive order, the Secretary of Homeland Security would have to review all regulations that allow foreign nationals to work in the US and determine which of those regulations violate the immigration laws or are not in the national interest of America.

It would also immediately terminate all parole policies.

The executive order will also ask the Secretaries of Labour and Homeland Security to restore the integrity of employment-based non-immigrant worker programmes and better protect US and foreign workers affected by these programmes.

The draft order seeks the administration to "consider ways to make the process of allocating visas more efficient and ensure that beneficiaries of the programmes are the best and the brightest."

It also proposes to establish a commission or advisory committee to analyse the nation's current immigration policies and their impact on the American society, economy, work force, and the foreign policy and national security interest of the United States.

The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year.

Trump signed an executive order banning foreign nationals from seven predominantly Muslim countries to enter the US on Friday. 

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Trump sacks 2 top officials in rift over his immigration order

Washington, Jan 31, 2017, PTI

In a dramatic move, US President Donald Trump today fired two top officials, including Acting Attorney General Sally Yates who refused to enforce his controversial and executive order banning citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations from entering America that has triggered protests across the world.

"(Yates) has betrayed the Department of Justice," the White House said in a statement announcing the removal of the Obama Administration appointee.

Trump did not call Yates to dismiss her, she was informed by hand-delivered letter.

The move came soon after Yates told Justice Department lawyers not to make legal arguments defending Trump's executive order on immigration and refugees.

"At present, I am not convinced that the defence of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful," Yates wrote in a letter to Justice Department lawyers.

The White House said, "Ms Yates is an Obama administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration."

"It is time to get serious about protecting our country. Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country," it said.

The White House named Dana Boente as the new Acting Attorney General till time its nominee Senator Jeff Sessions is confirmed by the US Senate.

"I am honoured to serve President Trump in this role until Senator Sessions is confirmed. I will defend and enforce the laws of our country to ensure that our people and our nation are protected," Boente said.

Boente also rescinded Yates' guidance and instructed the Justice Department to "defend the lawful orders of our president."

Hours after firing Yates, Trump replaced acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Daniel Ragsdale with Thomas D Homan.

The Homeland Security Secretary Gen (rtd) John Kelly said, "I am confident that he will continue to serve as a strong, effective leader for the men and women of ICE. I look forward to working alongside him to ensure that we enforce our immigration laws in the interior of the United States consistent with the national interest."

Kelly's statement did not mention the reason for replacing Ragsdale.

Trump's executive order bars citizens of seven Muslim- majority countries from entering the United States for the next 90 days, suspends the admission of all refugees for 120 days and indefinitely suspends the Syrian refugee program.

The sudden dismissal of Yates reflected the sudden political forces unleashed in Washington in the early days of the Trump administration as the President seeks to impose his authority on the federal government and shows little patience for those who would block him from implementing core campaign pledges, CNN commented.

Meanwhile, Democrats reacted with outrage to the dramatic events, warning that it called into question the independence of the Justice Department in the Trump administration.

"Trump has commenced a course of conduct that is Nixonian in its design and execution and threatens the long-vaunted independence of Department of Justice," Michigan Democratic Representative John Conyers tweeted.

"If dedicated gov officials deem his directives to be unlawful & unconstitutional, he will simply fire them as if gov is a reality show," Conyers said.

Yates was fired as the administration was still recovering from the fury surrounding Trump's hardline immigration measures, including stinging criticism from some congressional Republicans who said the administration's process was far from smooth.

"They know it could've been done in a better way and my guess is they're going to try to clean it up," Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, told reporters.

"They probably learned that communication and the inter- agency process would probably be helpful."

Trump's immigration order has triggered one of the more significant moral and constitutional controversies in recent memory. But on a more fundamental level, it is raising basic questions about how Trump's White House will function, CNN commented.

"These sort of amateur hour hijinks are costing President Trump precious political capital ahead of his aggressive legislative push," it quoted Howard Schweitzer, a former high- ranking official in Republican and Democratic administrations as saying.

"The Public Relations debacle and failure to circulate this plan with leaders in Congress or our allies was a costly error and overwhelms any of the legitimate policies behind his order," Schweitzer added. 

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Hafiz Saeed, 4 others put under detention

Lahore, Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

With the Trump administration mounting pressure, Pakistani authorities tonight put Mumbai attack mastermind and Jammat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed and four others under detention under an Anti-Terrorism Act. Saeed was at Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji in Lahore when police descended there to implement the order of detention issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry yesterday in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27, JuD activists and Pakistani media said.

He "is at Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji and a heavy contingent of police has surrounded the JuD headquarters," JuD official Ahmed Nadeem, who was present at the premises of the outfit, told PTI by phone. "The commanding police officer told us that he has with him the house arrest order of the JuD chief issued by the Punjab Home Department," Nadeem said.

"We are going to shift Hafiz Saeed from Masjid Al-Qudsia Chauburji to his Jauhar Town residence to place him under house arrest on the order of the government," a senior police officer told PTI. Saeed's residence has been declared sub-jail, he said. National flags were hoisted at the JuD offices in Lahore, instead of party flags, on the directives of provincial home department, local media reports said.

The provincial authorities have also started to remove the banners of JuD from the roads of Lahore, the reports said. Nadeem said the Pakistani government had been under pressure from the United States to take action against Saeed or face sanctions. "This government has buckled under the pressure," he said.

Three days back, Punjab's Ministry of Interior had included names of Saeed and four others -- Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz -- in the Watch List as per UNSC 1267 Sanctions and ordered their preventive detention.
Ubaid, Iqbal, Abid and Niaz were also also taken into preventive custody, Pakistani media reported.

Punjab government's action comes amidst pressure on Pakistan from the Trump administration that it must take action against JuD and Saeed to avoid sanctions. JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of November 26,2008, which was masterminded by Saeed.

In a notification issued on January 27, Pakistan's Interior Ministry had said "...on the basis of report sent by Ministry of Foreign Affairs ..., the Federal government, having reasons to believe, that Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) organisation is engaged in certain activities which could be prejudicial to peace and security and in violation of Pakistan's obligations to the United Nations Security Council Resolution No 1267."

It directed the Punjab government to put the organisation on the Watch List. In a similar order, the Federal government directed putting Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) on the Watch List for a period of 6 months, which is extendable.

Citing these directives from the Federal governent, Punjab's Ministry of Interior had issued an order yesterday, in which it "placed Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and Jamaat-Ud-Dawa (JUD) on the Watch List and have listed these organizations in the Second Schedule of the ATA 1997 (as amended)". Under this section of ATA, the government has the power to arrest and detain suspected persons.

"Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz are reportedly active members of the aforementioned organizations within the meaning of Section 11EEE(1) of the ATA 1997 (as amended). As such, they must be placed under preventive detention," the order said.

The notification asked the Home Secretary to "kindly direct the concerned agencies to move and take necessary action" as the matter "is most urgent". Earlier during the day, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the PML-N government was taking steps to "fulfil our obligations" with regard to JuD.

“The organisation [JuD] has been ‘under observation’ since 2010-11. Since it has also been listed by the UN Security Council [Sanctions Committee], we are bound to take some steps. We are taking those steps to fulfill our obligations,” he told reporters after inaugurating a passport office in Islamabad. JuD has already been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014. Saeed also carries a reward of USD 10 million announced by the US for his role in terror activities.

A few hours before his detention, Saeed said he does not care if his organisation faces any "curbs" for raising voice for "oppressed Kashmiris". "I don't care if the government places some curbs on us on the pressure of the United States and India. India is putting pressure on Pakistan through the US to take action against us," Saeed said while talking to a group of senior journalists here at a local hotel this afternoon.

He warned the Nawaz Sharif government that the JuD would move court if any curbs were placed on it. Saeed said the JuD would hold a march from Lahore to Islamabad and Karachi to Islamabad to put pressure on the government to raise the issue of Kashmir at international fora.

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Hafiz Saeed put under house arrest in Lahore

Lahore, Jan 30, 2017 (PTI)

Jammat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of Mumbai terror attack, was tonight placed under house arrest in Lahore, his outfit said. Punjab government's Home Department has issued detention order of Saeed and Lahore Police have reached JuD headquarters in Chauburji to implement the order, it said.

He "is at Masjid-e-Qadsia Chauburji and a heavy contingent of police has surrounded the JuD headquarters," JuD official Ahmed Nadeem, who is present at the premises of the outfit, told PTI by phone. "The commanding police officer told us that he has with him the house arrest order of the JuD chief issued by the Punjab Home Department," Nadeem said.

Punjab government's action comes amidst pressure from the Trump administration to act against terror. The US has clearly told Islamabad that in case of not taking action against JuD and Saeed, it may face sanctions.

JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of November 26,2008, which was masterminded by Saeed. JuD has already been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation’ by the United States in June 2014.

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Google launches fund to donate $4 mn to immigrant rights organisations

San Francisco, Jan 30, 2017 (PTI)

Tech giant Google has created a crisis fund that could raise up to USD 4 million for four immigrant rights organisations, including American Civil Liberties Union and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Set up with an initial funding of USD 2 million, the campaign will see Google employees matching the amount in donations. The funds will go toward the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the International Rescue Committee and the UNHRC.

A Google spokesperson confirmed the development. The USD 2 million crisis campaign is the largest ever for the Mountain View-based company. Since 2015, Google has given over USD 16 million to organisations focused on humanitarian aid for refugees on the ground, WiFi in refugee camps, and education for out of school refugee children in Lebanon. The spokesperson said the four organisations were chosen for their efforts in providing legal assistance and support services for immigrants, as well as for their efforts on resettlement and general assistance for refugees globally.

Last week, US President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order to suspend the arrival of refugees and impose tough new controls on travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, as part of new measures to "keep radical Islamic terrorists" out of America. Google's India-born CEO Sundar Pichai had criticised Trump's controversial order saying it will create "barriers" to bringing great talent to the US. The Internet search giant also ordered its travelling staff to return to America.

Pichai, in an email to staff, said the US ban on foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries will hit nearly 200 Google employees. "It is painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues. We're upset about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that could create barriers to bringing great talent to the US," Pichai had said. 

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Trump denies immigration restriction caused airport chaos

Washington, Jan 30, 2017 (AP)

President Donald Trump today denied his immigration order was to blame for the chaos at nation airports over the weekend, instead pointing to computer glitches, protesters and even the "tears of Senator Schumer."

"There is nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter the country," Trump wrote in a series of early morning tweets. "This was a big part of my campaign. Study the world!"

In another tweet, Trump defended his decision to take swift action on his proposed travel ban, saying there are "a lot of bad 'dudes' out there." "If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the 'bad' would rush into our country during that week," Trump said.

Trump's order temporarily suspends all immigration for citizens of seven majority Muslim countries for 90 days. But he enters his second week in office amid a global backlash to his policies. European Union officials denounced his immigration order as a dangerous embrace of isolationism and inequality, while the international aid group Doctors Without Borders accused Trump of keeping people "trapped in war zones, directly endangering their lives."

In Iraq, two lawmakers there said the Iraqi parliament has approved a "reciprocity measure" restricting the entry of Americans into Iraq.

Meanwhile, it's unclear how Trump's order would make the nation safer. The order does not address homegrown extremists already in America, a primary concern of federal law enforcement officials. And the list of countries in Trump's order doesn't include Saudi Arabia, where most of the Sept. 11 hijackers were from.

The president tweeted early Monday that only 109 out of 325,000 "were detained and held for questioning" following his executive order to bar individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries.

The Homeland Security Department has used 325,000 as the number of international air travelers who arrive every day to the US. "Big problems at airports were caused by Delta computer outage, protesters and the tears of Senator Schumer," he added.

Trump was referring to a Delta systems outage Sunday night that led to departure delays and cancellations of at least 150 Delta flights. However, the chaos started Saturday as protesters packed some of the country's major airports to demonstrate against the executive order.

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Jihadist groups hail Trump's travel ban as victory: report

Washington, Jan 30, 2017, PTI

Jihadist groups, including Islamic State sympathisers, have hailed the Trump administration's ban on travel to the US from seven Muslim- majority nations saying it would persuade American Muslims to side with the extremists, according to a media report.

Comments posted to pro-Islamic State social media accounts predicted that US President Donald Trump's executive order would persuade American Muslims to side with the extremists, The Washington Post reported.

One posting hailed Trump as "the best caller to Islam," while others predicted that Trump would soon launch a new war in the Middle East.

"(Islamic State leader Abu Bakr) al-Baghdadi has the right to come out and inform Trump that banning Muslims from entering America is a 'blessed ban,'" a posting to a pro- Islamic State channel on Telegram, was quoted as saying.

The writer compared the executive order to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, which Islamic militant leaders at the time hailed as a "blessed invasion" that ignited anti- Western fervor across the Islamic world.

Several postings suggested that Trump was fulfilling the predictions of Anwar al-Awlaki, the American born al-Qaeda leader and preacher who famously said that the "West would eventually turn against its Muslim citizens," the report said. Awlaki was killed in a US drone strike in Yemen in 2011.

Another posting on the Telegram channel "Abu Magrebi" said Trump’s actions "clearly revealed the truth and harsh reality behind the American government’s hatred toward Muslims."

Leaders of the Islamic State have spoken frequently of their intention to drive a wedge between Western governments and their Muslim populations, and have welcomed outside help -- intentional or not -- in fulfilling that goal.

In a 2015 essay in the Islamic State's English-language magazine Dabiq, the group said that its motivation for launching terrorist attacks in Europe was to provoke an anti- Muslim backlash that would force ambivalent Muslims to enlist with them.

"Jihadists would have to argue to lengths that Obama, Bush, and others held anti-Islam agendas and hated the religion — not just radical terrorists," said Rita Katz, founder of the SITE Intelligence Group, a private organisation that monitors jihadist websites.

"Trump, however, makes that argument a lot easier for them to sell to their followers," Katz was quoted as saying.

The reaction to the ban from Islamic State sympathisers came as current and former US officials also expressed concern that the temporary ban would undermine the global fight against violent Islamic militants.

"The effect will probably in some areas give ISIS some more propaganda," Senator John McCain told CBS News.

Trump last week issued a controversial executive order banning immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Syria and Somalia.

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Online plea to cancel Trump's UK State Visit crosses 1 mn mark

London, Jan 30, 2017, (PTI)

An online petition seeking cancellation of US President Donald Trump's State Visit to the UK following his controversial immigration ban has quickly crossed the one million signature-mark to be considered for a debate in British Parliament even as Prime Minister Theresa May dismissed any plans to withdraw the invitation.

The petition titled 'Prevent Donald Trump from making State Visit to the United Kingdom' on the UK Parliament website had been created on Saturday afternoon and rapidly collected over 100,000 signatures needed for it to be considered for a debate in the House of Commons.

The issue will be discussed in the House of Commons tomorrow for a date to be set for the debate.

"Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen," the petition reads.

"Donald Trump's well documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him from being received by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Wales. Therefore, during the term of his presidency Donald Trump should not be invited to the United Kingdom for an official State Visit," it adds.

The Prime Minister had communicated the invitation to Trump on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II during her US visit last week.

The Downing Street today dismissed any plans to withdraw the invitation for the state visit, which involves lavish pomp and ceremony, often with a stay at Buckingham Palace hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.

"The Prime Minister extended an invitation on behalf of the Queen, and she was very happy to do so. The US is one of this country's closest allies, and we look forward to hosting the president later this year," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

UK Opposition parties have also called for a postponement of the visit, scheduled for June this year.

"Theresa May would be failing the British people if she does not postpone the state visit and condemn Trump's actions in the clearest terms. That’s what Britain expects and deserves," Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn said.

Buckingham Palace has so far declined to comment on the controversy gathering momentum in the wake of the US President's executive order that temporarily suspends all immigration for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.

UK foreign secretary Boris Johnsonhas secured assurances from the White House that the vast majority of British citizens with dual nationality of countries on the list will be exempt from the new US travel ban.

Trump has provoked a fierce backlash after his ban on people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from travelling to America. 

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Trump travel ban illegal, 'mean-spirited': UN rights chief

Geneva, Jan 30, 2017 (AFP)

US President Donald Trump's travel ban on citizens from mainly Muslim countries is illegal and "mean-spirited", the United Nations human rights chief Zeid bin Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein said today.

Zeid, who rarely communicates on Twitter, said in a tweet that "discrimination on nationality alone is forbidden under human rights law", adding that "the US ban is also mean-spirited and wastes resources needed for proper counter-terrorism."

Trump on Friday signed an executive order suspending the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and barring citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.

The measures introduced a week after his inauguration were fiercely criticised over the weekend, although UN reactions were largely tepid.

The UN bodies most directly engaged with migration -- the UN refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) -- issued a statement on Saturday which made no mention of the executive order and stopped far short of condemning it.

Instead, the agencies urged the US to "continue its strong leadership role and long tradition of protecting those who are fleeing conflict and persecution."

They also vowed "to engage actively and constructively with the US Government... to protect those who need it most".

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72-yr-old Sufi woman found with throat slit in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Jan 30, 2017 (PTI)

A 72-year-old woman, believed to be a Sufi mystic, was found with her throat slit in her house in Dhaka, police said today, amid a series of systematic assaults in Bangladesh targeting minorities, Sufis and bloggers.

Nurjahan Begum, who lived alone, was found dead in her tin-roofed house near the Martyrs' Graveyard in the capital's Mirpur last evening, police officer Farukul Islam said.
"Her throat was slit," the Daily Star newspaper quoted Islam as saying.

The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College morgue for an autopsy. Citing locals, the paper said Nurjahan was known as Kheta Pagli and she had quite a following for the last eight years. Her followers considered her a "pir" or Sufi mystic. They built her the house and many of them gave her food and money.

Locals said her followers had been looking for her since early afternoon. Failing to find her, they pushed the partly open door of her room in the evening and found her body covered in a blanket.

There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh in recent years specially targeting minorities, secular bloggers, intellectuals and foreigners.

Over a dozen Sufi Muslims have been found with their throats slit in Bangladesh since 2013. The authorities blamed homegrown Islamist extremists for the killings.

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Hitting back at Trump's order, Starbucks to hire 10K refugees

New York, Jan 30, 2017 (PTI)

Global coffee giant Starbucks has said it will hire 10,000 refugees over next five years as it vowed to not "stand silent" in the face of US President Donald Trump's order to ban people from seven Muslim-majority nations and assured it will continue to nurture the human spirit.

"I write to you today with deep concern, a heavy heart and a resolute promise. We are living in an unprecedented time, one in which we are witness to the conscience of our country, and the promise of the American Dream, being called into question," Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz said in a message in the wake of Trump's order that has upended lives in the US as well as across the globe.

Schultz said the company will take specific actions to ensure people around the world that it will "neither stand by, nor stand silent as the uncertainty around the new Administration's actions grows with each passing day."

The Starbucks Chief announced that the company has had a long history of hiring young people looking for opportunities and a pathway to a new life around the world.

"This is why we are doubling down on this commitment by working with our equity market employees as well as joint venture and licensed market partners in a concerted effort to welcome and seek opportunities for those fleeing war, violence, persecution and discrimination," he said.

Schultz said Starbucks is developing plans to hire 10,000 refugees over five years in the 75 countries around the world where it does business, including India. "And we will start this effort here in the US by making the initial focus of our hiring efforts on those individuals who have served with US troops as interpreters and support personnel in the various countries where our military has asked for such support," he said.

Starbucks will also strengthen its business in the "critically important market" Mexico, which has been a target of Trump's policies. Schultz said the company has been open for business in Mexico since 2002, and have since opened almost 600 stores in 60 cities across the country, which together employ over 7,000 Mexican partners.

"We stand ready to help and support our Mexican customers, partners and their families as they navigate what impact proposed trade sanctions, immigration restrictions and taxes might have on their business and their trust of Americans. But we will continue to invest in this critically important market all the same," he said.

He also outlined Starbucks' plans to ensure healthcare coverage to its employees in the wake of Trump's plans to scrap Obamacare. "We are in business to inspire and nurture the human spirit, one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time – whether that neighborhood is in a Red State or a Blue State; a Christian country or a Muslim country; a divided nation or a united nation. That will not change. You have my word on that," Schultz said.

Trump's executive order, which imposed a minimum 90-day ban on immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen; refugees from Syria have been barred indefinitely), has sparked an outpouring of criticism.

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Canada PM dubs Quebec mosque shooting a 'terrorist attack'

Quebec City, Jan 30, 2017 (AFP)

Six people died and eight were injured after gunmen opened fire at a Quebec City mosque, a shooting that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned today as a "terrorist attack."
Police spokeswoman Christine Coulombe told journalists that two suspects were arrested following the attack, that police were also treating as an act of terrorism.

Trudeau said in a statement that "we condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a center of worship and refuge."

"Muslim-Canadians are an important part of our national fabric, and these senseless acts have no place in our communities, city and country."

According to witnesses interviewed on local television, two masked gunmen entered the cultural center around 7:15 pm yesterday.

The motive of the attack was not immediately clear. Police quickly set up in the mosque's vicinity.

Coulombe said those killed were between ages 35 and 70.

Police did not rule out the possibility of a third suspect who had fled the scene.
"It is heart-wrenching to see such senseless violence," Trudeau said. "Diversity is our strength, and religious tolerance is a value that we, as Canadians, hold dear."

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said in a series of Twitter posts that the government was "mobilized to ensure the security of the people of Quebec."
"Quebec categorically rejects this barbaric violence," he wrote. "Solidarity with Quebec people of Muslim faith."

Police stationed near the mosque told AFP that they had been preparing for this type of attack "because it's happening all over the world."

"I don't understand why here -- it's a small mosque," said a man who was inside the center at the time of the attack. "It's not Montreal or Toronto."

The mosque has already been the target of hate: a pig's head was left on the doorstep last June during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Other mosques in Canada have been targeted with racist graffiti in recent months.

The attack comes as Canada has vowed to open its arms wide to Muslims and refugees after US President Donald Trump's controversial immigration ban Friday sparked travel chaos and outrage around the world.

Canada will offer temporary residence permits to people stranded in the country as a result of Trump's order, the immigration ministry said Sunday.

"Let me assure those who may be stranded in Canada that I will use my authority as minister to provide them with temporary residency if needed as we have done in the past," Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said at a news conference.

Trump has suspended the arrival of all refugees to the US for at least 120 days and barred entry for 90 days to people from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. 

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