TEHELKA PAKISTAN

HRCP has deep concern at Sindh University situation

2012-02-12T00:28:00.000+05:00

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has strongly condemned the recent developments atSindh University where, following the killing of Professor Bashir Channar on January 2, unjustified action has been taken against protesting teachers.

A statement issued by the Commission on Thursday said: “HRCP notes with alarm that the services of two representatives of Sindh University Teachers’ Association, Dr. Arfana Mallah and Dr. Azhar Ali Shah, have been terminated and show-cause notices issued to other teachers. The university had only reopened a few days ago on the assurance of the Sindh Governor that the vice-chancellor of Sindh University, who is past the age of retirement, would be replaced in accordance with the demands of the teachers.

“HRCP also has serious reservations over the authorities’ apathetic approach towards acknowledging and addressing teachers’ concerns. It defies reason why the teachers must protests for weeks upon weeks before their concerns register on the official radar. The teachers have protested long and in a peaceful manner for demands that are not unreasonable: a judicial probe into the assassination of Professor Bashir, withdrawal of police and Rangers from the campus, restoration of student unions and removal of the vice chancellor.

“It is regrettable that Sindh University and most other universities in the province are headed by academics who have crossed the retirement age. In a recent meeting with the HRCP vice-chairperson for Sindh and members of HRCP Council, the Sindh Governor had agreed to look into the issues concerning the Sindh University. HRCP calls upon the Governor, in his capacity as chancellor of Sindh University, to rescind the decisions regarding the dismissal and issuance of show-cause notices to teachers and take effective steps to fulfil the government’s obligation to ensure an atmosphere free from intimidation and conducive for academic progress at the university.”

NGOs to sue channel for Maya Khan dating raid episode

2012-02-03T00:15:00.001+05:00

While many berated her and called her team ‘vigil aunties’ and her tactics a ‘witch hunt’, Maya Khan has also come under fire from four local non-governmental organisations for her morning show episode aired on 17th January. These NGOs have taken the matter to the Supreme Court and plan to file a suit against a private TV channel concerning a morning show episode. Maya Khan, the former host of a morning show, ‘hunted’ down dating couples in a Karachi park along with a group of about 15 women and a cameraman for an episode of her show. Her actions sparked outrage across the country, forcing the channel to fire her after she refused to issue an apology. (Pakistan Today)

Earn Quick, Easy Money: Be Careful

2012-01-13T15:51:00.000+05:00

“Earn Quick, Easy Money.” The headline has caught the attention of many internet users that fall for the trap of numerous mega online scams operating in the country. In the name of online home-based businesses, a significant number of fraudsters have been fleecing innocent people, Pakistan Today learnt on Thursday. Due to absence and poor implementation of cyber-crime laws, the scam operators have set up well-furnished corporate offices in the heart of big cities, including Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, while a few of them have penetrated in to the relatively small towns or rural suburbs. Interviews with a number of alleged scam operators reveal that they pocket millions of rupees by fleecing innocent people in a couple of months only.
A conservative estimate suggests that an online franchise operator that registers about 100 members each month bags over a million rupees per month. Their standard modus operandi provides them an opportunity to sail smoothly for four to five months without paying a single penny to their members, who deposit them subscription fee ranging from Rs 5,500 to Rs 18,000. In most cases, people complain that these fraudsters vanish away in six to eight months by fleecing Rs 5 to Rs 10 million and start a new business with a new identity in other cities.
How it operates?
Speaking to Pakistan Today, operator of a similar business, Imran, claimed that his company was an authorised franchisee of a Canadian firm that dealt in online advertisement. “We get advertisement posting jobs from the Canadian company and sublet the contract to local individuals against a membership of Rs 5,500 to Rs 18,000, depending on the size and rate of return on the job,” he maintained.
Responding to a question, he said, “Though, it is an online advertisement posting business but it mainly depends on conventional advertising. We spend nearly Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per month on banners, newspaper and cable advertisements to attract new members.” He disclosed that he had been in this business for over a year and had been registering around 35-40 members every month.
However, Imran failed to substantiate his claim that his firm was affiliated to some Canadian company as he could not produce any documentation or registration certificate. His company’s website, quickearnonline.com, does not show any registration or affiliation information either. The website does not have any postal address of the company, except for two addresses of the Lahore-based franchisees.
What is the business?
The ad-posting business is similar to the controversial multi-level marketing (MLM) model, as most companies operating in the country have parent foreign company, master-franchisees, franchisees, sub-franchisees and ad-posters or individual members. All these franchisees offer attractive packages, usually in US dollars, along with the comfort of working from home. They market it as a home-based business, with returns ranging from Rs 9,000 to Rs 35,000 per month, after having paid a membership fee. In addition, if a franchisee or an individual introduces a new franchisee or member, they offer him the money equivalent to $10 to $100 per member, while a franchise costs around $500 to $800.
After registering with a franchisee, the ad-poster’s job starts. The so-called franchisee gives a piece of code, usually in the hypertext mark-up language (HTML), to its new members, which they have to paste on classified websites and forums. Usually, this code posts advertisements of their own company or some unknown local products, which clearly indicates that the entire scheme has no relationship with any foreign firm.
How is it a scam?
A simple inquiry can find thousands of victims since it employs chain marketing strategies. Several victims of this ad-posting business told Pakistan Today that they invested their hard-earned savings for supplementing their income, but could not even get their investment back.
They revealed that at the time of registration, these companies offered lucrative packages but after completing the massive task of posting around 50,000 to 80,000 ads on various websites, they were refused prompt payments. One of the victims said, “These companies maintain a corporate environment and have separate account sections. The Accounts’ staff usually point out mistakes in the completed jobs and try to deduct a lion’s share from the promised remuneration. And when someone agrees even on the deducted amount, they ask him for a month or two for processing. They present the excuse that all transactions are processed through the parent company, which is based in some foreign country.”
They pointed out that several companies, including visiononline.com, homebasedmoney.com and earnonline.com, had vanished during the past few months, without paying to their members. The victims indicated that the scam operators operate on rented premises mostly and leave no clue behind them.
What do the experts say?
Speaking to Pakistan Today, Director of Pakistan’s pioneer IT company, BrainTel, Amjad Farooq Alvi said that although the country had laws related to cyber-crimes, their implementation was questionable. Citing the example of the internet service providers and telephone pre-paid calling cards, he said that both businesses had failed in the country because there were no regulations. Several companies disappear after selling calling cards worth millions of rupees but no action has been taken against them yet, he lamented.
Amjad pointed out that IT had changed the strategies of all businesses, including the advertisement industry. Earlier, advertisement was done through conventional media, including the newspapers, radio and TV, however advertisement is done on the internet now. He said that this turnaround had created various opportunities that did not exist in the past, but at the same time, it required new legislation and improved implementation.
He concluded that both the advertising and IT industries had to play their role along with the law enforcement agencies to curb this menace and save the industry’s reputation.(Pakistan Today)

HRCP slams murder of coordinator in Khyber Agency

2011-12-09T20:16:00.001+05:00

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has condoled and condemned the brutal killing of Zarteef Afridi, HRCP coordinator in Khyber Agency, and called upon the government to apprehend his killers and address growing threats facing human rights defenders in the region.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commission said: “HRCP is grieved at the murder earlier today of Zarteef Afridi in Khyber Agency. Zarteef was a tireless human rights defender who dedicated his life to promoting human rights, tolerance and peace in a region beset with conflict. Repeated threats to his life had failed to deter him from his work. In his death, the civil society has lost a committed campaigner for the cause of human rights. HRCP is grieved at his death and condoles with Zarteef’s family at their loss.

Zarteef’s murder also underscores the escalating threats that those working for human rights face in Pakistan, particularly in the tribal areas. HRCP calls upon the government to realize its duty to do everything within its power to apprehend Zarteef’s killers and show through its actions in the next few days its commitment to protect and facilitate human rights defenders.”

Shoaib Akthar’s Controversially Yours launched in New Delhi

2011-09-27T23:37:00.003+05:00

Former Test cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s autobiography titled Controversially Yours, sparking controversy right away, was released in New Delhi, India, on September 23.

The book was launched at a hotel in the Indian capital and the ceremony was also attended by Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Shahid Malik.

The Pakistan speedster has confessed to having tampered with the ball and also questioned the class and temperament of India's batting icons, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

“Almost all Pakistani fast bowlers have tampered with the ball. I may be the first one to openly admit to it but everybody is doing it. To be honest, every team in the world tampers with the ball. We probably started it but no team is innocent and virtually every fast bowler does it. That is the only way to survive because the wickets are so slow. I have tampered with the ball on many occasions,” he admitted.

Shoaib offered a solution to the problem of ball tampering by writing that the only way to stop this is for the ICC to ensure that at least some pitches are prepared in favour of the bowlers.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has distanced itself from Shoaib’s remarks, saying he was no longer associated with the board and was free to do whatever he wants.

Shoaib, who was a genuine match-winner, remained at the centre of many controversies in his stormy career which finally came to an end with the Cricket World Cup 2011 in which Pakistan reached the semifinals.

Shoaib engineered quite a few victories for Pakistan in every format of the game but many people believed that he could have given more to country if he disciplined himself and refrained from uncalled for controversies.
(Jumbopublishing.com)

Altaf Hussain has appealed to the President and Prime Minister to stop the killings of innocent people in Karachi

2011-08-02T21:20:00.001+05:00

MQM Chief Altaf Hussain has appealed to the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to stop the killings of innocent people in Karachi. In a statement he has asked them to restore peace and stop killings in 48 hours and if not, the people of Karachi will be free to exercise their right to protect themselves. He informed them that the terrorists and criminals are roaming around scot-free, they have been allowed to kill at will, loot, plunder and attack the residences of common people, factories, shops etc. Armed terrorists on motorcycle are seen attacking and burning the properties. Mr Hussain has said that he gives a 48 hour notice to the government otherwise the people of Karachi will arrange for their protection.

He reminded that despite all his sincere efforts and even his appeal for peace, the limits have arrived and valuable innocent lives are being lost. Referring to the migration by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Mecca to Medina, he said that attacks on his companions continued - and after that the Battle of Badar, Uhad and Khandaq took place. If today the infidels have decided to attack Medina again and again the following the path of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) will be as per the Sunnah. Time will decide if the righteousness will succeed or not.

PTI Strongly Condemns Shahbaz Bhatti's Murder

2011-03-04T01:15:00.000+05:00

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has strongly condemned the brutal murder of Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, saying the incident shows government’s total failure in curbing terrorism within the country. How a government that cannot protect its ministers be expected to provide security to its people, they questioned. In a joint statement issued here on Wednesday, the PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Secretary General Dr Arif Alvi, Brig (r) Samson Simon Sharaf, Information Secretary Omer Cheema and Women wing president Fauzia Kasuri, they also condemned the government for showing a criminal neglect by not providing the late Shahbaz Bhatti with proper security and housing in Ministers Enclave despite his voicing security concerns especially in the wake of thew Taseer murder. The continuing government neglect of his pleas shows the careless approach it has towards its minorities. It is sad that the present government used Shahbaz Bhatti to project a soft image of Pakistan internationally, and yet showed criminal neglect in providing him security, the PTI leader commented.

This brutal act of terror is a blot on the Pakistani nation and we must all unite to expose and punish those responsible, they added.

Meanwhile the Spokesperson of the PTI for religious affairs Ejaz Chaudhry, in a separate statement also condemned Bhatti's murder and said it was a deep-rooted conspiracy to belittle Pakistan in the eyes of the world and isolate it in the world community. Islam, he said, provides maximum protection to the minorities. He also demanded of the government to expose the hidden hand behind Bhatti's murder.

HRCP urges govt to ensure Siddique Eido’s release

2011-02-11T00:12:00.000+05:00

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called upon the Balochistan government to ensure safe recovery of HRCP activist Siddique Eido, who was abducted in Gwadar by men wearing official uniforms on December 21 last.

In a letter to the Balochistan chief minister, HRCP expressed concern that despite the lapse of 50 days no progress had been made in securing the release of Mr Eido. The Commission said: “At the very least, statements of the four policemen of Pasni Police Station accompanying Mr Eido at the time of his abduction must be recorded and they should be asked to provide as much information as they can about the identity of his abductors.”

HRCP expressed serious concern that Mr Eido may be tortured in custody and that his life was in grave danger. It called upon the government to ensure the safe and immediate recovery of Mr Eido and order that any personnel who had any role in abducting or illegally detaining Mr. Eido be brought to justice.

Guilty National heroes should be treated with an iron hand

2011-02-09T16:12:00.001+05:00

Salman Butt

By MOHAMMAD KHAN SIAL
Karachi

Our three cricket national heroes, Salmaan Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir have been proved guilty of corruption with heavy punishments resulting in debarring them from cricket for the next 10 years, seven years and five years respectively. Nonetheless, they have immensely defamed the country internationally for their own vested interests. Such an act is no less than treachery.

Mohammad Asif

Mohammad Amir

I believe that such cases should be treated with an iron hand without any leniency. It was an act of treachery and should be referred to the courts of law. Nevertheless, some influential people will always, for one reason or the other, protect these people who are determined to defame the country worldwide, which is why such cases always resurface.

US Calls for Pakistan to Adhere to Legal Obligations: Illegally Detained Diplomat Has Full Diplomatic Immunity

2011-02-05T00:41:00.000+05:00

Islamabad - The United States Government once again calls upon the Government of Pakistan to abide by its obligations under international and Pakistani law and immediately release the American diplomat illegally detained in Lahore. The U.S. Embassy reiterated to the Government of Pakistan today that his continued detention is a gross violation of international law.

The U.S. Government has repeatedly communicated to the Government of Pakistan that the illegally detained diplomat enjoys diplomatic immunities under the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations (1961).

The U.S. Government notified the Government of Pakistan on January 20, 2010 that the American diplomat was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad as a member of the administrative and technical staff. Under the Vienna Convention and Pakistani domestic law, he is entitled to full criminal immunity and cannot be lawfully arrested or detained.

This morning, the American diplomat was remanded in court without notice to the U.S. government, without his lawyer present, and without translation assistance. He was denied due process and a fair hearing.

We deeply regret that the January 27 events in Lahore resulted in the loss of life following an attack on the diplomat by armed assailants. However, the Government of Pakistan must comply with its obligations under international and Pakistani law and ensure that he has immunity from criminal jurisdiction.

We look forward to working with the Government of Pakistan toward the expeditious resolution of this incident. Responsibility for the safety and well-being of the illegally detained diplomat rests with the Government of Pakistan and Punjab provincial authorities.(PR)

Earthquake in Pakistan: Tremors felt in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Multan, Hyderabad and other Cities

2011-01-19T02:04:00.001+05:00

7.4 Magnitude Tremors felt in all major cities of Pakistan on wednesday. Epicentre of earthquake is afghanistan border. Quake also felt in New Delhi and Dubai.

We are fast running towards our end: Feryal Ali Gauhar

2011-01-07T01:08:00.000+05:00

I feel sorry for governor and his family. may his soul rest in peace.I feel sorry to call myself a Pakistani A country where every voice which is against mullah brigade is eliminated A country where no one knows the meaning of tolerance. a country where there is no concept as free speech.i guess time is not far when this God forsaken country would b in a blood bath we are fast running towards our end.

R.I.P Mr. Taseer

HRCP concerned over case against military farm tenants

2010-11-15T23:31:00.001+05:00

Lahore, November 15: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concern over reports of registration of a criminal case against 175 tenants of military farms in Okara, for allegedly resisting a contractor from taking possession of 100 acres of land leased to him.

A statement issued by the commission on Sunday said: “It is a matter of concern that tensions have once again risen in the villages of military farms in Okara. The tenants’ claim that a number of tough men had accompanied the contractor to take possession of land that had previously been under the tenants’ cultivation is a matter of concern. Media reports suggest that the tenants had overpowered and handed over to the police at least one proclaimed offender. In the circumstances, registration of a case against the tenants necessitates a transparent inquiry.

HRCP must emphasise that no one must be allowed to take the law into his own hands. The movement of Okara tenants for their rights has been characterised by non-violence. HRCP hopes that the legal process will not be used to victimise anyone.

The Commission also has apprehensions about the living conditions of tenants in six villages of the Okara military farms—villages 11/4L, 15/4L, 16/4L, 24/4L, 25/4L, and 26/4L—in the Okara cantonment limits. Credible reports suggest that no development work has taken place in these villages for a decade. Basic facilities such as roads and sewerage in the six villages have fallen apart due to lack of allocation of funds.

Furthermore, HRCP has received with alarm reports that although National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had issued National Identity Cards (NICs) to residents of the six villages, and that these cards bear the address of these villages, now the NADRA authorities in Okara say that no such villages exist and that they have no record of the six villages. This despite the fact that in the last general elections voters from the villages had exercised their right to vote on the basis of NICs issued by NADRA.

The tenants also say that four years earlier the authorities had stopped the construction of a primary school building for boys in village 26/4L, and village children were facing difficulties as the incomplete building only needed a roof. Meanwhile, measures to prevent tenants’ children from attending school in the cantonment area, if true, can only be strongly denounced.

To state the obvious, the tenants are as entitled to development in their area as residents of any other part of the country and a systematic denial of development funds gives credence to the apprehension of the tenants that they are being punished for demanding their legitimate rights and that such tactics are a device to force them out of their villages.

HRCP demands that the military farm tenants must be allowed to exercise all the rights that the law of the land provides and that they must not be targeted through abuse of the legal process. They must also not be denied their identity documents nor the right to peacefully live, work and prosper on land that they and their forefathers have brought under cultivation through their sweat and toil.”

172 journalists got plots in Islamabad

2010-11-10T17:34:00.001+05:00

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is in possession of a list of 172 journalists who were given plots in the federal capital in line with their two per cent quota in G-13 and G-14 sectors. The names of journalists who were given plots against payments were:

Sarwar Munir Rao

Sohail Iqbal

Ayesha Haroon

Syed Fahd Hussain

Shakeel Ahmed Turabi

M Najeeb

Sarmad Salik

Sheikh Zamir Ahmed Qadri

Rana Qaiser

Absar Alam (he later returned the plot)

Hanif Sabir

Muhammad Malick

Nazir Naji

Shoaib Bhutta

Mustansar Javed

Kh Sharif Ahmed

Sami H Zubari

Aslam Javed

M. Ziauddin

Zafar Rashid

Muhammad Ilyas Bhatti

Noor Faizi

Khan Zaman Malik

Shaukat Ali

Syed M Qasim

Tahir Khan

Ikram Hoti

Syed Qamar Abbas

Shamim Sherrei Sardar

Shakil Sheikh

Abdul Aziz Muhammad

Abrar Ali Saeed

Syed Farhan Bokhari

Muhammad Ashraf

Muhammad Ishaq

Ch. Muhammad Ilyas

Rashida Begum Butt

Iftikhar Nazar

Muhammad Sarwar Awan

Muhammad Afzal Nadeem

Aqeel Ahmed

Ejaz Malik

Muhammad Fayyaz

Altaf Hussain Bhatti

Muhammad Ehsan Elahi

Ali Raza

Shahid Mahmood Malik

Zafar Malik

Wajih Siddiqi

Farman Ali

Muhammad Bilal

Arif Rana

Syed Itrat Hussain

Rana Ghulam Qadir

Saleem Khilji

Abdul Saleem

Safdar Hussain

Imran Nallam Ahmed

Abdur Rauf

Masood Majid Syed

Zahid Khawaja

Muhammad Akram

Syed Zargoon Shah

Kunwar Rashid Habib

Anis Ahmed

Waseem Akthar

Rao Khalid

Abdul Manan Haid

Jehangir Raja

Shaukat Rehman Malik

Muhammad Javed Akhtar

Akthar Munir

Muhammad Javed

Muhammad Nawal

Nasir Chishti

Malik Safdar

Abrar Mustafa

Muhammad Latif

Suleman Hidyat

Murad Shaz Khattack

Attaur Rehman Tahir

Maqsood Mehdi

Muhammad Jamil Khan

Kh Javed Bhatti

Kaleem Ahsan Shah

Khadim Husain

Muhammad Javed Iqbal Khakwani

Mazhar Ali Khan

Syed Qasir Sherazi

Karim Madad

Ghulam Hussain

Zia Shahid

Azam Ahmed Khan

Khalid Awan

Khalid Mahmood

Tanveer Shahzad

Seema Mir

Najumul Islam Usmani

Khalid Mustafa

Saleem Usmani

Syed Ali Nasir Jaffiri

Shahid Butt

Zulfikar Ghuman

Abdul Razak

Ali Imran

Syed Raza Shah

Muhammad Aslam

Shabir Khamid Bukhtawari

Shagufta Jabeen

Bashir Ahmed Shad

Syed Aswad Ulfat

Agha Mahrooz Haider

Nasir Iqbal

Masood Abdul Raheem

Raja Mahmood Bashir Usmani

Muhammad Ilyas Khan

Muhammad Mushtaq Ghuman

Mashkoor Hussain Shah

M Taimur

Masroor Mohsin Gilani

M Ibrahim Khan

M Shahbaz Khan

Amir Sajjad

Mumtaz Alvi

Azhar Jamal

Shakil Awan

Tanveer Alam

Habibur Rehman

Naveed Akram

Syed Azhar Hussain

Mubashir Raza

Arif Hussain

Jabbar Zakriya

Muhammad Farooq Khan

Rahat Naseem

Saeed Murad

Ali Imran Javed

Ejaz Khan

Munir Aziz

Muhammad Riyaz Akhtar

Rahat Munir

Jahanzeb

Muhamamd Afzal Malik

Afzal Nadeem

Muhammad Jameel Mirza

Abdul Mateen Khan

Hamidur Rehman

Saadat Bashir

Akhtar Ali Khan

Abdul Jabbar Khan

Khalid Mahmood

Muhammad Rizwan Khan

Rafiq Hussain Khan

Malik Muhammad Ilyas

Sohail Nashir

Uzair Khan

Zahid Hussain Hashwani

Four journalists Rauf Klasra, Amir Mateen, Khaleeq Kiani and Javed Ch were given plots in light of the Lahore High Court decision of 2006 in their favour after their names were deleted from the final list on the orders of the then prime minister Shaukat Aziz.

The list also contains the names of PTV employees who were given plots. They include Nazir Tabsum, Qamar Mohiuddin, Nisar Baloch, Syed Javed Ali, Khalid Iqbal Warriach, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Ayub Minhas, Asmatullah Khan Niazi, Muzamil Ahmed Khan, Majeed Afzal Khan (Sajan Khan), Awaid Butt, Rashid Baig, Ramzan Khalid, Muhammad Arshad Saleem, Muhammad Zakariya, Musadiq Kaleem, Arif Mahmood.(ET)

Average Value of MNAs’ Assets increases three folds since 2002; the current National Assembly twice as rich compared to the previous one

2010-09-14T15:50:00.000+05:00

A comparative analysis of the assets declared by MNAs belonging to the 12th and the 13th National Assembly of Pakistan reveals that the average value of an MNA’s assets has increased three folds in six years from 2002-2003 to 2008-2009. The average value of an MNA’s Assets in the 12th National Assembly was just below Rs. 27 million in 2002-2003 which has increased to almost Rs. 81 million in 2008-2009, a 3-fold increase in six years, according to a PILDAT Analysis of the Declarations of Assets submitted by MNAs. The analysis also indicates that an average MNA of the current (13th) National Assembly is twice as rich compared to his/her counterpart in the previous (12th) National Assembly.

The PILDAT report series titled How Rich are Pakistani MNAs? has analysed assets declared by MNAs for the years 2002-2003 to 2005-2006; 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 through 3 separate reports. The latest of this series of PILDAT reports, comparing assets declared by MNAs belonging to the 13th (current) National Assembly of Pakistan, has used data contained in the Gazettes published by the Election Commission of Pakistan on October 15 2008 and October 27 2009.

The report depicts that the current average value of assets held by an MNA stands at Rs. 80.89 million, based on the 2008-2009 declarations. This figure demonstrates a modest increase of 9.5% from the 2007-2008 figure of Rs. 73.92 million. The average value of assets owned by non-Muslim MNAs, Rs. 20.35 million, is 75% lower than the overall average of almost Rs. 81 million, based on 2008-2009 figures.

In terms of individual wealth, the 2008-2009 declarations reveal the wealthiest MNA to be Mr. Mehboob Ullah Jan (NA-23, Kohistan, KP, PPPP) with total assets of Rs. 3.288 billion. He is followed by Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (NA-50, Rawalpindi-I, Punjab, PML-N), with total assets of Rs. 1.627 billion, Mr. Jahangir Khan Tareen (NA-195, R.Y.Khan-IV, Punjab, PML-F) with total assets of Rs. 1.095 billion, Mr. Saeed Ahmed Zafar (NA-162, Nankana Sahib-II Old Sheikhupura-VII, Punjab, IND) with total assets of Rs. 1.030 billion, and Ms. Nuzhat Sadiq (NA-277, Punjab-V, PML-N) with total assets of Rs. 912.81 million.

In 2007-2008 declarations reveal the wealthiest MNA to be Mr. Mehboob Ullah Jan (NA-23, Kohistan, KP, PPPP) with total assets of Rs. 3.252 billion. He is followed by Ms. Nuzhat Sadiq (NA-277, Punjab-V, PML-N), with total assets of Rs. 1.514 billion, Chaudhry Zahid Iqbal (NA-162, Sahiwal-III, Punjab, PPPP), with assets amounting to Rs. 1.248 billion, Chaudhry Nazir Ahmed Jatt (NA-167, Vehari-I, Punjab, PML) (who later resigned while facing charges of processing a fake degree; Chaudhary Asghar Ali Jatt is re-elected on this seat in by-election 2010), with assets worth Rs. 843 million and Mr. Jahangir Khan Tareen (NA-195, R.Y.Khan-IV, Punjab, PML –F), with assets amounting to Rs. 716 million.

At the other end of the assets spectrum, the least wealthy MNAs in 2008-2009 is Mr. Saeed Iqbal Chaudhary (NA-81, Faisalabad-VII, Punjab, PPPP) with approximately Rs. 29 million net liabilities, followed by Mr. Roshan Din Junejo (NA-236, Sanghar-III, Sindh, PPPP), Sheikh Rohale Asghar (NA-124 Lahore-VII, Punjab, PML-N), Mr. Ghulam Farid Kathia, (NA-161 Sahiwal-II, Punjab, PPPP), Minister of State for Education, and Mr. Ayaz Amir (NA-60 Chakwal-I, Punjab, PML-N).

Ms. Nuzhat Sadiq (NA-277, Women Punjab-V, PML-N), has remained the richest female MNA in 2008-2009 and 2007-2008, with assets worth Rs. 912.81 million and Rs. 1.514 billion respectively. The second richest female MNA in the current National Assembly is Mrs. Asma Arbab Alamgir (NA-325, Women KP-IV, PPPP) with assets of 515.25 million and 682.05 million in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 respectively while Ms. Belum Hasnain (NA-292, Women Punjab-XX, PPPP) with assets of 332.50 million in 2007-2008 and 298.40 million in 2008-2009 is the third richest female MNA.

Mr. Mohammad Kamran Khan (NA-40, Tribal Area-V, FATA, IND) proved to be the most effective asset manager whose assets grew 42 times from over the period of a year, followed by Maulana Muhammad Qasim (NA-10, NA-10 Mardan-II, KP, MMA), with a 12 time increase in assets and Mr. Bilal Yaseen (NA-120, Lahore-III, Punjab, PML-N) whose assets increased 9 times during the period.

In 2008-2009, the PML-F is the richest or on top of the list in terms of the average wealth of its MNAs (average assets per MNA: Rs. 239 million), followed by the NPP Rs. 122 million, the independents Rs. 108 million; the PPPP Rs. 102 million; the PML-N Rs. 75 million; the PML Rs. 62 million; the ANP Rs. 61 million; the PPP-S Rs. 37 million; the MQM Rs. 25 million; the BNP Rs. 14 million and the MMA Rs. 6 million. These figures demonstrate a 42 fold difference between the average wealth of the MNAs in the party with the greatest average wealth and that with the least. From 2002-2006, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) topped the list in terms of average wealth of its MNA as its lone MNA Mr. Imran Khan (NA-71, Mianwali-I, Punjab, PTI, 12th NA) held assets worth Rs. 85 million at that time, followed by the PML-N (average assets per MNA at Rs. 61 million); PML Rs. 56 million and the PPPP Rs. 34 million.

In geographical terms, the differences in average wealth are significant. In 2008-2009, MNAs from Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) have the highest average value of assets per MNA followed by those from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, FATA, Sindh and Balochistan respectively. Similarly, in 2007-2008, MNAs from the ICT headed the list. This trend has been maintained earlier from 2002-2006 when on average an MNA from the ICT was the richest followed by an MNA from Punjab, FATA, Balochistan, Sindh and KP.

In terms of the percentage share of the combined value of assets in the year 2008-2009, Punjab tops the list, with a share of 54 % (down from 73% in 2002-2006); followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) 31 % (up from 4% share in 2002-2006); Sindh 10 % (down from 11% in 2002-2006); FATA maintaining its 3 %; ICT 1 % (down from 5% in 2002-2006) and Balochistan at 1 % (down from 4% in 2002-2006).

HRCP alarmed over labour leader’s murder

2010-07-10T20:42:00.001+05:00

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed serious concern over the murder of labour leader Mustansar Randhawa and his brother in Faisalabad and called upon the government to track down and try the culprits and to prevent violence against those raising their voice for labour’s rights.

In a statement issued on Friday, HRCP said: “The murder of Mustansar Randhawa, a leader of textile and power loom workers in Faisalabad, and his brother, Naseer, is a stark reminder of the risks labour leaders and human rights defenders face in Pakistan.

The state is under an obligation to protect the lives of all human beings, but individuals that are exposed to specific threats deserve additional protection measures. Mustansar had been receiving death threats reportedly from power looms and textile mill owners for several days, apparently because of his role in orgainzing workers in the area.

The labour movement in Pakistan has long been protesting in a peaceful manner for the rights of workers who find themselves squeezed by the economic downturn, lack of benefits, poor and unsafe working conditions, and wages that bear no relation with the escalating cost of living and inflation. The government is duty-bound to ensure not only that workers get their rights, but also that they are not prevented from raising their voice for such entitlments.

The government must ensure that the killers of Mustansar and his brother do not enjoy impunity. Failure to apprehnd and punish the killers would convey the message that the barrel of the gun is the most effective means to further one’s interests. It is in the interest of the state to do all it can to prevent that message from taking root.”

Lahore rocked, 2 suiciders kill 42,175 hurt at Data Darbar blasts

2010-07-02T17:07:00.000+05:00

Lahore—Forty Two people were killed and 175 others injured as a result of twin suicide attacks inside Data Darbar and the third blast outside the shrine here late Thursday night.

A hand grenade has been found near Wazoo Khana of Shrine while police has cordoned off the area.

The injured, some of them in critical condition, have been shifted to nearby hospitals.

According to bomb disposal squad the two blasts inside the shrine were suicidal while the nature of the third blast is yet to be ascertained.

Data Darbar has five doors out of which four were closed. The only door kept open had a scanner installed with it and it is still unknown how the bombers made their way inside the shrine.

Earlier, the Punjab Government had decided to launch operation against terrorists in various areas of provincial capital and in South Punjab.

The decision to this effect was made in a High-level meeting held on Thursday morning. It was chaired by Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.

The CM was briefed regarding security situation in the province. The meeting had decided to initiate operation against terrorists in the provincial capital and in South Punjab that would be jointly participated by police and secret agencies. (PO)

Indian lady diplomat Madhuri Gupta charged with espionage

2010-04-28T23:41:00.000+05:00

India arrested its diplomat, working in the Indian Embassy in Pakistan for passing secret information to Pakistan, Indian news channel claimed yesterday.

The female diplomat Madhuri Gupta, who was arrested from New Delhi, has been charged with giving secrets to Pakistan for at least two years.

She was second secretary in Press and Information Wing.

Second Secretary-level woman diplomat working in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad has been arrested for allegedly passing on information to Pakistani intelligence agencies.

Simultaneously, the station head of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in Islamabad R K Sharma has also come under the scanner, official sources said.

A promote officer of Ministry of External Affairs, 53-year-old Madhuri Gupta, was arrested here four days back after she was summoned to Delhi on the pretext of discussions on the current SAARC summit meeting held in Thimpu, Bhutan, the sources said.

The officer, a Second Secretary working in the Mission for nearly three years, is alleged to have been passing on information from the Mission to her contacts in ISI till her movements came under surveillance of Intelligence Bureau sleuths.

Home Secretary G K Pillai said Gupta had been passing information to Pakistani agencies.

Shoaib ordered not to leave Hyderabad Deccan

2010-04-05T23:38:00.002+05:00

Ayesha Siddiqui and Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik cannot leave Hyderabad Deccan without permission, Hyderabad police chief said yesterday.

Indian immigration officials have been requested to stop Shoaib Malik from leaving India, Indian police said. Hyderabad police’s move came after the father of Ayesha Siddiqui, the alleged wife of Shoaib Malik, lodged an FIR with the police against Malik. ACP Ravender Reddy said a case has been registered against Shoaib Malik.

However, he said no interrogation has far been initiated against Malik.

Govt withdraws presidential notifications

2010-02-18T14:18:00.003+05:00

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani yesterday announced formal withdrawal of the two suspended presidential notifications following his meeting with Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at the PM House.
PM said a fresh notification will be issued to elevate Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and Justice Asif Saeed Khosa of Lahore High Court (LHC) to the Supreme Court (SC) while Justice Khawaja Mohammed Sharif would continue as LHC Chief Justice.
Following an over three-hour long meeting here at the Prime Minister House, Gilani announced the decision superseding the earlier notification of the President for appointment of Justice Khawaja Mohammed Sharif as judge of the Supreme Court and Justice Saqib Nisar as acting Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court.
The Prime Minister also announced that Justice (Retd) Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday who retired as judge of the Supreme Court last month would also be appointed as ad-hoc judge of the Supreme Court for a period of one year.
Gilani said the meeting was “part of the consultative process for the appointments in the superior judiciary which has to be participatory, and consensus oriented.”
About the court’s verdict on appointment of Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Gilani said “leave the decision about the NAB to the government.”
He said during the meeting important decisions were taken under which two permanent and one ad-hoc judge would be appointed in the Supreme Court and all vacant seats in the judiciary would be filled in immediately.
He said the process for the elevation of judges in the Lahore High Court and the Sindh High Court was finalized and appointments would be made after observing procedural requirements.
According to a press release issued by the Prime Minister House, the meeting took stock of institutional framework as enshrined in the Constitution and it was reiterated that the rule of law “forms the basis for the functioning of all the state organs to ensure greater welfare of the people”.
“It was decided that judiciary would be further strengthened to provide cheap and immediate justice to the public at their doorsteps.”
The Chief Justice of Pakistan said the judiciary would continue to play its role for upholding the rule of law and constitution to strengthen the democratic system for the greater glory of Pakistan. (NC Report)

160 Policemen of Punjab Police successfully completed specialized anti terrorism training

2010-01-31T20:11:00.008+05:00

Jhelum - January 31, 2010: An impressive passing out parade of police personnel, who had successfully completed their special anti terrorism training, was held at Padhar Training　Centre near Jhelum. As many as 160 Policemen of the Punjab Police completed the specialized anti terrorism training under auspices of the Pakistan Army at Padhar Training Centre. Brigadier Tariq Mahmood,　Brigade Commander reviewed the parade. This training is a sequel to ongoing special anti terrorism training which is being imparted by Pakistan Army to the Police personnel in all the four provinces. It may be mentioned here that prior to this 792 personnel of Punjab Police have already been trained by Pakistan Army while over 8400 personnel of the NWFP Police have also 　been trained so far in various Army units since July 2007.

Speaking on the occasion Brigadier Tariq Mahmood congratulated the passing out personnel and emphasized the importance of specialized training to combat prevailing menace of terrorism. He expressed confidence　and hoped that special anti terrorism training imparted by dedicated Army personnel will go a long was in improvement of professional acumen of Law Enforcement Agencies. He urged the passing out police personnel to maintain the standard of marksmanship, physical fitness and mental robustness which they have attained during the course of training.

Later, Chief Guest awarded the prizes to those Policemen who distinguished themselves during training period. First prize was awarded to Constable Qaiser for being over all best in all training events. ASI　 Faisal won the 2nd position prize while ASI Abdul Rehman won the 　3rd position.

A scintillating demonstration of anti terrorism drill was also presented by the passing out Police personnel which was appreciated by all. Among others the ceremony was also attended by SSP Jhelum Dr Azam Khan and SP Rawalpindi Muhammad Ishfaq.

No proof found to link Pakistani teen Nauman Arshad to terror

2010-01-23T14:33:00.005+05:00

AMRITSAR: The Border Security Force (BSF) of India, which had branded teenaged Pakistani national Nauman Arshad as a potential suicide bomber, has not been able to support its claims despite all top investigating and intelligence agencies jointly interrogating him over the past six days, TOI reported on Saturday.

His police remand over on Wednesday, Arshad, 18, has been shifted to the jail now. He was found in India by the BSF without any valid travel documents on January 14 and booked under various sections of the Indian Passport Act and the Foreigners Act at Gharinda police station. However, no incriminating evidence has been found since to link him to a terror group. The BSF had claimed that Arshad was on a recce mission of the border to monitor movements and find holes in barbed wire fencing for facilitating infiltration of seven suicide bombers, including three females, to carry out a bombing spree this side of the border.

Highly-placed sources on Friday informed TOI that sustained interrogation has revealed that Arshad was under immense pressure from his mother, Tahira Ramzan, a teacher in Cantt Girls Middle School, Manawan, 8km from the Indo-Pak border, to perform well in studies since he had scored badly in December examinations of Class IX. Unable to excel in studies like his brother and sister, the youth had left home to meet his uncle — a Pakistan Ranger posted at Wagah (Pakistan) border. It so happened, that his uncle was not at the border the day Arshad landed there and then crossed the international border inadvertently, they added.

AMERICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL ANNOUNCE RS. ONE BILLION AID TO VICTIMS OF ASHURA INCIDENT

2010-01-12T23:38:00.006+05:00

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has thanked American Business Council for Rs.01 billion aid to the affectees of Ashura incident. Attending the meeting of ABC Executive Board in a local hotel he said that the blast on Ashura was a big incident in which dozens of people were martyred or injured after that the conspirators set on fire the city’s busiest commercial area.

The members of American Business Council in the meeting discussed the modus operandi for dispatch of Rs.01 billion aid to the affectees.

City Nazim on this occasion said that City Government had started work for rehabilitation of affectees just after the incident. He said that Karachi was the only city that had peace and stability in the country and the secret hand has targeted Karachi only to hurt the national economy.

Nazim Karachi further informed the council about the repair and reconstruction work in the affected area. He said that city government has already completed 40 percent work of the repair work on 9 buildings that had been cleared by the KBCA. He said that the restoration work will continue till the last trader is rehabilitated.

City Nazim also invited members of executive board of American Business Council to visit the affected area on which the council members said that they will soon visit the area.
Earlier President of American Business Council Arif Usman welcomed city nazim.

U.S. Remembers Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto

2009-12-29T23:48:00.003+05:00

The United States Embassy in Islamabad extends its condolences to the government and people of Pakistan on the second anniversary of the death of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson noted on the anniversary, "Benazir Bhutto gave her life in defense of the development of Pakistan's democratic institutions. The United States will continue to stand with the people and the government of Pakistan in defense of democracy."

Are We trying to become God?

2009-12-27T21:06:00.010+05:00

By Sabina Rizwan Khan

Few weeks back, I was strolling down my email subscribed newsletters from different universities world wide, when I came across an advertisement, of a US local University newsletter, which stated: “Needs an egg-donor, for a sterile couple, the candidate must be aged between 20-25, 5’6’’, pleasant looking, dark straight hair, intelligent, with a GP score of an average 3.9, creative, nationality no barrier, will receive $ 40,000/-“

Reading that advertisement, I took about a minute to compose back my jumbled possible thoughts and raised my eye brow to the maximum height it could reach so. Being an addition to my bewildered world of knowledge, on the other hand, my mind flashed back to the headline of Scottish scientists cloning “Dolly” the Sheep, in 1996,. From there a new world of desire came into being, where under privileged people in their own way, asked ‘Can you help us?’ and the medical specialists anticipated, ‘Yes, We can!’

The era of cloning which is not unknown to us, came as whole vibrant ray of optimism to infertile couples who longed for their own child. Also, chances of finding cures of ailments like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s cancer rose. The basic idea was to celebrate the gift of life given by nature and to over rule its amendments…but was it that easy?

With the talk of human cloning, ethicists eventually advocated about how much man should mess with the order of nature. Whether life is a gift of nature or an industrial product was the concern raised. It surely became the talk of the town, a topic that made its way to kitchen tables to media places, pulpits to politician’s desks.
However, from the medicinal perspective, an infertility expert at Bayer College of Medicine, Houston suggested that the whole issue is not ethical but medical, giving joys to many. Its always gives a feeling of accomplishment and contentment, when you see a sad couple smile again when they know they can finally have their own child.

So rewarding as this may seem, it’s important to also understand that how much is this all true. So far attempts made for animal cloning has 98% failure rate or survival with multiple deformation risk. The realistic question remains, are we ready to take in such horror of human cloning? It reportedly took 104 attempts before the first in-vitro (test tube) baby, Louis Brown, was born. Are we pragmatically ready to kill thousands of embryos because they are just experimental failures? And should we be wrong if in matter of fact way, we call it a Mass murder?

I believe, all these questions are easy to rise but hard to answer. Well there are majority of people who view the prospect as a vague alaram with an un easy sense of an insight that science is dragging us into dark woods with no way back. To what extent do we want to go down the path of using reproduction technologies to shape our children genetically?

Now, coming all the way back to advertisement, it came in a university’s newsletter, which can be viewed in many campus’s newspapers and newsletters. In fact, Yale University, a renowned institute in USA, is quite known for such practices. Students in need of money for their semester fee and other expenditures are always available as donors. Amazingly, Yale’s donor’s list majorly comprises of Asians having high IQ level as some couples wants their kids to be geniuses. This actually leads to huge variety of choices you choose for your future to be baby. Whether the child will have black or white, curly or straight hair, you decide whether your kid could be next Tom cruise or Latin version of Angelina Jolie, or be a knock out brainy like Einstein.

Also, in Europe, people have started to save genetical matter of their loved ones, like their nails or hair, so that when they die, they can clone them in near future possible.

Here, now what is needed to understand is that we, with our limited knowledge have no idea regarding cloning’s consequences. We can’t overlook the fact such technology can be immorally used. What if the cloned person born with an evil perspective? Should we look forward to a society where criminals can easily clone themselves and run away as now shown in movies? It is absolutely possible that the clone may come up with modifications that are deformations due to technical disorder, will he be loved as its originator was, I mean its human psychology we are dealing here which is as intriguing as this whole matter is.

Messing with the God’s order of nature is not a good game to play, at least when you are not aware of the risks involved. It’s just a meager question but holds a lot of depth on which maybe our next generation and its ideology stands, by choosing our human race, are we trying to become God?

This power of producing replicas is a door way to a real illusion world with unexplainable dimensions. We must choose our destiny wisely, we must accept that life is an optimum mixture of havs and hav nots, we must realize that no matter what, we are mortal. It is the infused sense of materialism which has penetrated in us that we are valuing what is bound to go to dust some day. Our body has no value. We must acknowledge the fact that it is fine if you are not born, and it is fine if you die, if only you know how to live in this world, you will not need your own clone to live forever. Its compassion that surpasses our material existence, which enables us to live in others hearts and memories forever.

Syed Mustafa Kamal - Karachi's action man

2009-12-13T23:51:00.006+05:00

By Mashaal Gauhar

When Karachi’s roads were being constructed by labourers working tirelessly into the night, passers by in cars caught a brief glimpse of a familiar face standing by them – Karachi’s city mayor: Syed Mustafa Kamal.
Once heaving with endless traffic, the newly built signal free roads have transformed the city. Poor infrastructure, political instability and civil strife have been the classic hallmarks of the city but Mustafa Kamal believes that the best way to bring about peace is by serving the people.
He is committed to lifting the disregarded people of Karachi from their urban squalor, which is why he constructed a water pipeline to Lyari, providing the residents with a direct water supply for the first time ever. Despite this, he is still haunted by the image of people taking to the streets with buckets and pots demanding water in the scorching heat. Though this had become a cruelly regular feature for the last five decades, their cries had fallen on deaf ears. Though Lyari is not an MQM stronghold, Mustafa Kamal made providing access to safe drinking water a top priority. The help and assistance extended to the citizens of Karachi irrespective of their political affiliations has won the hearts of the people and made Mustafa Kamal a hero.
His unprecedented success in revolutionising Karachi has gained him international renown. Perhaps this is because he symbolises the indomitable spirit of the people; he stands with the people who build the roads and clean the streets to keep body and soul together. In spite of the myriad challenges he faces, his dauntless spirit emerges from his love and commitment to the city of Karachi which he describes as his passion.
In his candid conversation with Blue Chip, he talks about his eventful tenure and pays tribute to the people of Karachi for their courage and resilience

Foreign Policy magazine described you as one of the best mayors in the world, in fact, the second best. What were your thoughts when you discovered this?
Mustafa Kamal: “Let me clarify. Foreign Policy had not described me as the second; my name was just on serial number two. When I got this news, I was very surprised and humbled. But some elements of the media criticised me for it, our political enemies wrote to Foreign Policy saying that they had no right to categorise the mayors. Foreign Policy said that they hadn’t meant to categorise it. But, it was a very pleasant surprise for me and I felt that I had not only been acknowledged by my country but also by the world.”

During your tenure you have done a lot for the city of Karachi. What steps have you taken to reduce violence and increase foreign investment?
MK: “If you evaluate the condition of the country today as far as peace and stability is concerned, I can vouch that there is no better place than Karachi in this whole region: Karachi is the economic hub, it is an economically vibrant city and it is politically vibrant as well. Despite all the challenges, the different ethnicities, all the political factions; the city continues to progress.
Incidents have been taking place for so many years but life doesn’t stop here in Karachi. I think this has been the greatest success of Karachi. This has not just been achieved through lip service – action speaks louder than words. I am a firm believer of action.
When this responsibility was given to me by my leader Mr. Altaf Hussain, he told me to serve each and every soul in this city. When the election was over, he called me to congratulate me. He told me that I am no longer the Nazim of MQM or an MQM candidate but the Nazim of the whole of Karachi. He said that I have to serve the whole of Karachi and be responsible for everyone in the city. He broadened my vision.
I started serving poor areas and providing them with the basic necessities of life. When I took up this responsibility four years ago, there was no master plan for the city. We made the first master plan for the city. You can well imagine: Karachi’s population had grown to 18 million people but the biggest city of Pakistan didn’t have a master plan, even after 58 years since the inception of Pakistan. Therefore, one can only imagine the magnitude of the problem! When I took over this responsibility, 40% to 45% of Karachi did not have a system of water and sewage, let alone any access to water. People were getting water through tankers and throwing their sewage on the road. Today, by the Grace of God, Lyari town now has direct access to water. There is a picture printed in my mind from childhood – during every hot season, we used to see pictures in the newspapers of the people of Lyari – men, women and children holding pots and buckets coming out onto the streets, protesting and blocking roads, demanding water. They have been doing this for the last four decades. Not one single union council member of my party lives there. Lyari is, in fact, a diehard PPP area. Even the late Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had participated in elections from that constituency. Even today, the MPA, Town Nazim and MNA are PPP but they have never provided water supply. During these four decades, there have been chief ministers, prime ministers; but the people of Lyari could not get water. It is us; it is this haq parast government that has provided water. We have provided water to the people of Lyari through a six million gallon water supply line which was brought from 53km away to Lyari. Now, there is water available in each and every house of Lyari. There may still be some small difficulties as it is a difficult project. Prior to this, there was no main line bringing water to Lyari let alone a distribution system. We had to work on the main line and the distribution system simultaneously and by God’s Grace, we achieved this. There are also islands in Karachi which have been inhabited for 300 years before Pakistan’s inception that have not had direct access to water until now. The inhabitants of these islands would bring water from 7km away by traveling in small boats on the sea with containers. In fact, we have made a documentary on this. There used to be a tanker at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) where there was one tap from which 60,000 people would take water – they would travel everyday out to sea to do this. Since they had been deprived of water for generations, they had forgotten even to demand this as a basic right. They had accepted this as their destiny. We have provided them with water. We have laid down the water line under the seabed. We have given them water after 300 years. For the first time, they are getting water in their homes. Not one single union council member of my party lives there. I can go on and on giving you examples of how we have served Karachi without any discrimination.
To answer your question, this is what we have done to bring peace. Terrorism cannot be fought through guns and ammunition. Instead, give people a sense of ownership; give them a sense that somebody cares for them. At the end of the day, actions must speak. If families don’t have water, do not have a sewage system, are stuck on the road for two or three hours, you can use those people for anything. All the evil forces can prey on those frustrated people. We have created a model in Karachi which can be replicated in other parts of the country.”
The citizens of the more affluent areas like Defence and Clifton have also praised you for the City Government’s help in relief efforts after heavy rainfall.
MK: “I am very grateful to them.”

You have also initiated a project to make Karachi greener; can you elaborate on this?
MK: “We have planted over 900,000 trees in Karachi in areas where there were only concrete structures. Today, you will see that green belts and huge trees have come up. We have not only planted trees, but we have also protected them. We have created a sense of belonging in the hearts and minds of the people. I have told the people that I can plant a tree but I cannot protect a tree. You have to be the owners of those trees. The psyche is that our own property is not beyond the boundaries of our homes. The trees in front of your house are your property; the street is your property. Today we lack ownership. We started this campaign in the third year of my tenure. In the first year, I did not speak a word to the people of Karachi. I told my people that let’s not speak to people and tell them what to do; instead just focus on the job. People initially mistrusted the government because they have seen countless slogans, heard endless speeches, yet nobody comes forward and admits to corruption – they make big promises but deliver nothing so the people are quite naturally disillusioned. Therefore, I did not utter a single word. For three years, they saw my actions. Criticism was heaped upon me when we started digging up the roads in Karachi. At one point, I had dug up almost all of Karachi! But I had no choice. My city is an international city. I had to bridge the gap between Karachi and the other cities of the world. That is why we started projects simultaneously. If 40% of Karachi does not have water, we had to dig up the line to provide the water supply. After the people had seen our actions; when bridges were built, when signal free corridors had been constructed, when parks were made, when street lights were put up, when waste disposal mechanisms were installed; then we went to the people of Karachi. On 14 August, 2007 we launched the ‘I Own Karachi’ campaign. 28,000 people enlisted and all I asked was for them to come and listen. If I plant a tree but somebody cuts it down, what can I do? If I am making roads and somebody drives the wrong way, what can I do? People came and sacrificed two hours of their time.”

Your innovation against great challenges you have faced has gained global recognition. What factors do you think have contributed to your success?
MK: “I am not from the stereotypical feudal family. I did not spend a penny to get this post. I have been the MPA, then the Provincial Minister and then the Nazim of the biggest city in Pakistan, seventh largest city in the world – I did not spend a single penny to get this seat. I was a street worker of the MQM. My leader picked me up from the street and put me in front of 18 million people. There were question marks surrounding my selection as I was young – my predecessor was my grandfather’s age – so people had doubts in their mind. I was young and unknown. I had to prove that my leader’s decision was right. I think my dedication and honesty… I have dedicated my life to this cause. I have to prove the philosophy of my party and my leader that a middle class person without a big family name can run Karachi successfully. This is not in keeping with the traditional perception of the country where the position of mayors, governors, chief ministers and prime ministers are kept for feudal sons who study in the UK or America and take over from their fathers. If I failed, my party’s philosophy would have failed – that middle class literate youths do not have the potential to run the affairs of the city. They can be the followers, not be the leaders. By the Grace of God, I have proved this wrong.”

You must have made a lot of enemies.
MK: “Yes, I have. Doing something right is the toughest job. If you are willing to do something wrong you will make many friends here. One of the keys to my success is that you should know how to offend people; you must have the courage to offend people as you cannot please everybody. I can talk straight in front of anybody.”

You studied in Karachi and you have grown up in Karachi. What makes the city so special for you?
MK: “I can’t put it into words. It’s the whole atmosphere of the city. It’s a resilient city. It’s a crazy city. I can give you an example: When a cyclone comes and there is an announcement from the government to evacuate the seaside, everybody leaves the seaside and goes to safety. But, in Karachi, if there is an announcement of a cyclone or a flood, there are traffic jams in Clifton because everybody is rushing to the seaside to see the cyclone! People are on motorbikes with their families. That is what Karachi is all about: the great people. Resilience is a small word to describe them. That’s why despite the challenges Karachi has faced, the city has never gone down.”

What was your experience in Malaysia like? Were you inspired by the organisation there?
MK: “In Malaysia, different cultures and religions live together. The thing that inspired me was that everybody minds their own business. They respect everybody regardless of religion and ethnicity. People live in harmony and contribute to the wellbeing of their country. There are temples, churches and mosques, but people live in peace and with tolerance and that is what I was inspired by.”

What was your experience like as Sindh IT minister?
MK: “In the 2002 election, I was given the ticket for Member Provincial Assembly. I was the MPA in the previous government. After one year, I was given the responsibility of the Cabinet as well, then I was made IT minister. It was a newly created ministry. I can declare that the Sindh IT department made its presence felt all over Pakistan. During this time, we developed the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry which is a $200 billion global industry. 80% of this goes to India. If we can even get a fraction of this, we wouldn’t need any Kerry Lugar Bill or foreign aid. The unfortunate part is that we have the potential, we have the best human resources available for the BPO industry, and our youth can speak good English unlike the rest of the region. In India, every three months, a population the size of Islamabad gets jobs in BPO industry. Can you imagine what a huge opportunity for job creation this would be, not to mention the billions of dollars of foreign investment coming in? Since we have not been able to capitalise on this, business is going to the Philippines and South Africa. Why am I talking about it and why isn’t my Prime Minister? I have limitations; I have limited powers and I cannot speak on behalf of the country or the whole province. I am building an IT tower for a 10,000-seat call centre. This will be the largest call centre. This means that 30,000 youths will be employed because one seat carries three jobs. It will be a white collar job.”

You have also spearheaded parking projects and announced mega projects worth Rs. 1.7 billion for development to improve the city’s infrastructure in the shortest possible time.
MK: “We made the first parking plaza of Pakistan. Previously, there wasn’t any concept of parking plazas. We conceived these for all the crowded areas and incorporated them into our master plan. When I was responsible for the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA), I made the rule that no building can be constructed without a parking plaza. The first parking plaza was inaugurated on the busiest street of Saddar where there is a 1,100 car-parking plaza. Seven more are being constructed.
As far as infrastructure development is concerned, we have spent over Rs. 30 billion in order to provide a water and sewage system all over Karachi. We have spent over Rs. 200 billion on road infrastructure. We have constructed roads of over 15,000 km in Karachi. We have constructed 32 flyovers and bridges. One flyover or bridge used to take 11 years to complete. When we conceived the first signal free corridor in which there were three underpasses and three flyovers – the biggest in Pakistan – it was over a 15km stretch, we conceived and completed it in just eight months time. Our second signal free corridor comprises five flyovers and one underpass, which was completed in just one year over a 25km stretch of road. The third signal free corridor again has five flyovers and one underpass, which was completed in just six months time. These three projects were completed in record time when previously constructing just one bridge took 11 years. In three years altogether, we have completed all three signal free corridors. There is an international case study on Karachi. Everyday, hundreds of new cars are coming onto the streets. Had we not done this the city would have been choked, there would have been riots on the streets because of the traffic jams.”

What have been the other highlights of your tenure?
MK: “We have launched a complaint management system which is unique in the world. The 18 million people of Karachi didn’t have the right to speak up or to even lodge a complaint to their authority. If you had no water, there was no number to reach your authority. There was no phone number to call your mayor or local administration to clean your street or fix your streetlights. Thousands of people do not get water everyday. I know exactly what the situation the city is in: I know how many people are suffering from water and sewage problems. The system is based on a 50-seat call centre. Highly trained youths have been appointed to speak to the people. They have been told that the people of Karachi are your bosses so you have to be respectful. When you call 1339, it’s all computerised; it goes to 18 towns simultaneously, which have offices, which are equipped and linked directly through Wimax so they are on real-time. The DCO’s offices are linked on real-time as well as the Water Board’s. My office is also linked up to the system on real-time. The moment the complaint has been entered on the system, there is a four-digit reference number which you can go back to or you can refer back by calling them. The complaint is stored in the database and will appear on the office screen of that town where the complaint was made. Therefore, the authorities immediately know what problem you are facing. I also receive this information on a real-time basis. I know about the whole city and where the complaints are coming from. This is what I am really proud of. The people of Karachi are finally able to pour out their grievances and frustrations. They have a channel to do that now. We are the only government organisation in Pakistan to have ISO 9000/1 certification. Without this system, there is no way that these people could reach out to me and tell me about their problems. There is a system to ensure that my people on the ground are resolving their problems so there is a check on them as well. I can also see how many problems have been resolved. There are three categories: active complaints, done jobs and unresolved jobs. The chief engineer has to come back to the office and enter the information. There is a third party to ensure that the information is accurate. So far 178,717 people’s problems have been resolved. This is how I have established a system of accountability on my own people and for the first time the people of Karachi have a voice. This is what I am really proud of.
We have also developed a command and control centre where we can see 25% of the city. We are expanding this across different parts of the city.”

Who are your role models?
MK: “Altaf Hussain. He is my leader. Without him I would not be sitting in this position. My father is not an industrialist nor is he a politician that under his name people would give votes to me. Nobody knew Mustafa Kamal three years ago. There were so many questions surrounding my selection. Whatever I have been able to deliver is because of Mr. Altaf Hussain, because he put his trust in me. He gave me the strength. I was very nervous. I still have sleepless nights. I cannot rest and always have a fear that what if something bad happens and people call Mr. Hussain and say who have you chosen as the Nazim of the city.”

What are your plans for the future?
MK: “I am a street worker of the MQM and I will continue preaching MQM’s philosophy. I will be the advocate of Mr. Altaf Hussain’s philosophy. I will be one of the ambassadors of Mr. Hussain.”

Tell us about Karachi, the Kohinoor?
MK: “This is a pictorial book comparing the Karachi of four years ago to the present day.”

You have achieved so much, what has kept you so humble?
MK: “I have endured the difficulties of the common citizen. I have traveled in overcrowded buses; I know how it feels when the bus conductor is rude to you; and I know how it feels to go to a government school. My parents always emphasised education but I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I am a product of this society and I can feel the pain of the people. I am not doing this because it’s just my job – it’s my passion and my party’s philosophy: to make this administration the best administration. Today, we have established a success model. This has been our first chance to deliver. Now we don’t have to speak because the results speak for themselves.”
(Source: Blue Chip Mag)

CITY GOVT. ACHIEVED MIRACULOUS RESULTS ON EID-UL-AZHA. NAZIM KARACHI

2009-12-01T23:22:00.012+05:00

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that city government has achieved hundred percent targets in the three day operation of disposal of offal on Eid-ul-Azha and the city has been cleaned thoroughly. Achievement of such miraculous results is good news to people of Pakistan that all of their problems could be solved with the available resources providing you have purity of intentions and sincere leadership. Performance of city district government Karachi has now become a role model for other cities of Pakistan.

He expressed these views while addressing a press conference at Civic Center on Tuesday. DCO Karachi Javed Hanif and EDO Municipal Services Masood Alam were also present on this occasion.

City Nazim said that city government has this year performed even better if compared to previous year’s performance which has been appreciated by whole country. One the biggest success we have got this year has been the active involvement of citizens of Karachi in the whole operation who took their time and personally helped us in the swift lifting and disposal of offal.

Nazim Karachi said that the cantonment boards and other municipal agencies working in the city were also taken on board before Eid-ul-Azha and they have also implemented our code of conduct for the disposal of offal. Unlike past not single offal was dumped by cantonment boards and other organizations at the landfill sites.

He said that he had received the phone call of Base Commander Masroor, Base Commander Faisal and Air vice Marshal Arshad Quddus of Southern Air Command who has thanked all city government officials for successful undertaking of the operation.

Nazim Karachi said that we have not procured any new machinery for lifting of offal and only used the available resources. Effects of such a successful operation might have been reached to other cities of Pakistan as the media and people residing there would ask their elected representatives to follow the example of City District Government Karachi.

Replying a question he said that he tried his best to give cash reward to lower grade officials of city government but he could not do it owing to the financial constraints. “Anyway I will try my best to do something for them”, he added.

GHQ Operation successful, 39 hostages released

2009-10-11T20:26:00.002+06:00

The General Head Quarters (GHQ) Operation has been completed successfully, Dunya News Sunday reported. The forces got 39 hostages released while four terrorists got killed and three hostages embraced martyrdom in the operation. One hostage was injured. On early morning today, the blast and firing sounds were heard from the security building of the GHQ.

The operation was done from all the four directions while choppers kept monitoring the GHQ building during it. The head of terrorists Aqil alias Dr. Usman has also been arrested in injured condition. ISPR DG Major General Athar Abbas told Dunya News when Dr. Usman was arrested, he blew up the gathered explosives injuring himself and five other security officials. Two SSG commandos also got injured in the operation. He said that 39 detainees had been freed. He told that four terrorists were killed and two of them were wearing suicide jackets.

The Major General informed that hostages were in better condition and had been shifted to the safe location. Some eight to 10 terrorists clad in military uniform attacked the first check post of the GHQ in the most sensitive area of Rawalpindi and threw hand grenades. Six officials including a Brigadier and Lt. Colonel were martyred in the operation. Escaped terrorists were surrounded by the forces near the second check post on the other side of the GHQ where terrorists held 28 people hostage. Careful strategy was adopted during the operation to minimize the loss of lives.

CHIEF JUSTICE DIRECTS PPO SINDH TO RECOVER ABDUCTEE

2009-10-08T00:13:00.005+06:00

Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took suo moto notice on an application of a lady resident of Gujrawala who is under illegal confinement of an influential in Pano Aqil, Sukkar, Sindh. She alleged in her application that Saifullah S/o Inayatullah Cheema betrayed and raped her. She wanted to lodge FIR against him but his brother Amanat threatened her of dire consequences. He kidnapped and sold her to an influential in Sindh. She further alleged that she was forcibly married with Saifullah against her will and consent and she is still under captivation.

Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has directed PPO Sindh to recover the abductee and produce her before the Court on 13.10.2009 and has further directed PPO Punjab to explain whether any case of her abduction has been registered in Gujranwala or not and report be sent on 13.10.2009.

Ansar Burney Trust bringing back bodies of 17 Pakistanis

2009-10-03T15:15:00.003+06:00

The Ansar Burney Trust contacted the Iran Government on humanitarian grounds to bring back the dead bodies of 17 trafficked Pakistanis died in an accid...ent in Iran on 11th of September, when their vehicle fell off a hill and since their dead bodies are now lying at Imam Reza Hospital, Sham Hospital and two other Hospitals in Tehran.

Mr. Fahad Burney, Vice Chairman of the Ansar Burney Trust is now in contact with the Iran Government to bring these dead bodies to Pakistan so that their family members would be able to see their faces before burrial as per their Islamic traditions in Pakistan.

Fahad Burney said that these all were belongs from Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujranwala and other parts of Punjab.

Ansar Burney Trust said that as per reports 43 Pakistanis were going illegally to Turkey via Iran to go to Europe after paying Rs. 600,000 to an Agent in Pakistan. The criminal Agent after taking 600,000 from each Pakistani arranged visa (fake) to take them to Europe on a promise of better future.

The Expert Advisor on Human Rights in the United Nations at Geneva and Chairman of the Ansar Burney Trust, Mr. Ansar Burney has demanded the Government of Pakistan to bring these cruel and criminal Agents to Justice to stop further human trafficking from Pakistan.

The Ansar Burney Trust will bear all the expenses to bring these back to pakistan, purely on humanitarian grounds as these families sent their loved ones for a better future in Europe after taking loans on interest.

In this regard Mr. Fahad Burney is also requested with the family members of the berieved families to contact Ansar Burney Trust at Wassiamal Building, Arambagh Road, Karachi or phone number: (021) 32623382, 32623383 or direct to Mr. Ansar Burney on mobile 0300-8243460

Battle Over a Book

2009-09-27T01:34:00.006+06:00

From Jyoti Malhotra in New Delhi

China banned Alice in Wonderland for several years because the animal kingdom was upgraded to human form, England banned D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterly’s Lover until 1960 for its sexually explicit content (E.M. Forster was among those who defended the book at the trial), but India has now gone one step further and allowed the banning of former foreign minister Jaswant Singh’s book Jinnah: India-Partition-Independence in the state of Gujarat.

Turns out that the book is being secretly smuggled into Gujarat from nearby Rajasthan, probably because Gujaratis really want to know what the fuss is about. They’ve watched Jaswant Singh live on television, every muscle and twitch, expressing deep anguish and betrayal at being expelled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – the political party he loved and served ever since it was formed in 1980 – for writing a book on the partition of India in which Mohammed Ali Jinnah plays the lead role.

Singh seeks to right the balance on the pride of place that Jawaharlal Nehru occupies in the Indian pantheon, right there on top along with all the gods, and Jinnah’s somewhat murky positioning as he stormed out of the Hindustani Undivided Family in 1947.

History, which seems to have such a grip on the irony business, records of course that three days before the partition of the subcontinent in which more than a million people died and nearly eight million lost their homes and hearth, Jinnah went to the Constituent Assembly and delivered his now-famous speech on how Pakistan was going to be a secular state, in which Hindus could go back to their temples and Muslims to their mosques and none of it would impact their lives as Pakistani citizens.

But as Stanley Wolpert, Jinnah’s other noted biographer writes, “What was Jinnah thinking of?” Having played a key role in souring and spilling the milk, in splitting the country along communal lines, Jinnah was now turning the other cheek? This is the question that Jaswant Singh seeks to answer in his book.

“It saddens me that I have been expelled on the grounds of writing a book,” Singh told journalists soon after he was told on the phone that the BJP had thrown him out for his attempt at de-demonising Pakistan’s national hero. The party’s attempt at disciplining one of its senior-most members would have been farcical if it wasn’t so serious. By doing what it did, the BJP sent a message to the country that it wasn’t going to brook dissent and allow any deviation from the party line.

But what is the party line? That Sardar Vallabhai Patel, a senior Congress leader and independent India’s first home minister, is a central BJP icon because of his no-nonsense approach towards the country’s Muslims (in opposition to Nehru’s wishy-washy secular nonsense, claims the BJP). But as Jaswant Singh points out, it would be unfair to paint Patel in such colours, not only because he was often “far off the mark” on several occasions, including the division of India, but also because he was first of all a Congress leader and only then a right-wing one.

So when Singh rhetorically asked his now-former party, through the press, what they thought of the fact that it was their beloved Patel, who after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in January 1948, had banned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) (another banning, this time wholly necessary), the question echoed around the country but found no takers within the RSS family, the mother lode of the BJP.

Clearly, Jaswant Singh’s writing of Jinnah, the banning of the book and the subsequent unrest within the BJP – another ideologue and close confidante of senior leader L.K. Advani, Sudheendra Kulkarni has quit and journalist-turned-BJP member and former telecom minister Arun Shourie has dubbed the party, ‘Alice in Blunderland’ – marks its gravest crisis in years.

It reflects the party’s lack of introspection over its recent debacles and its refusal to ask why it lost India both in the 2004 and the 2009 elections. The obvious answer to that is the party’s unwillingness to find a moderate leader who can represent all of the country, somewhat along the lines of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Jaswant Singh, with his refusal to become a primary member of the RSS (believing that his stint in the Indian army was good enough to make him a patriot) and his studied lack of hypocrisy (his enjoys his daily evening drink, a mixture of wine and soda), was one such option, even though his refusal to be a fellow-traveller of the RSS ultimately made him a political lightweight.

On the other, the BJP book ban on Jinnah underlines that the debate around the idea of India still continues, 62 years after partition. Is India, then, the largest democracy in the world with its attendant ideals of free speech and expression, or is it an incoherent state that remains unable to fulfill its own promises despite elections every five years?

Considering that it was the BJP under Vajpayee which repeatedly extended its hand of peace to Pakistan – despite Kargil in 1999, the attack against parliament in 2001, the attack against the Kaluchak army camp in 2002 and Operation Parakram in 2003, when both armies were eyeball-to-eyeball for nine months along the border – Jaswant Singh’s long eye on history has fallen on rough soil.

There’s a third irony in this continuing story: the book is doing brisk business, the controversy ultimately helping it to sell even more widely than the author could have hoped. In a few weeks he will wend his way to Pakistan – to more stories on the front pages of newspapers. (Newsline)

More than 25 People killed, several injured in Kohat suicide blast

2009-09-18T18:06:00.005+06:00

The death toll in a suicide attack at a market in Kohat town has hit 25 while the casualties were feared to be increased further, a private TV reported. The attack occurred at Kacha Paka bazaar at Hangu road on Friday where a suicide bomber on foot detonated explosives next to a small hotel, leaving at least 25 dead and 35 others wounded. A suicide car bomb tore through a Pakistan market, killing up to 14 people and gutting shops on Friday as families stocked up on supplies for a major religious festival, police said.

The explosion destroyed vehicles and shops near a bus stop in Ustarzai, a small mountain town in the northwest which lies between the garrison city of Kohat and Hangu, another Shiite-dominant town with a history of sectarian violence, police said. The area was packed with shoppers buying food and delicacies for the weekend and the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which Pakistanis expect to start on Monday with the sighting of the new moon after the fasting month of Ramadan. "A suicide bomber blew up a car filled with explosives in the market. Ten people were killed and many wounded," said Ali Hasan, a local police officer on the ground in Ustazai. Police spokesman Fazal Naeem in nearby Kohat said: "We have recovered 14 dead bodies. Many people were wounded.

The suicide bomber was sitting in a car." Police said the attack occurred near a bus stop where passenger buses and coaches arrive and depart from other towns across northwest Pakistan, where the United States has branded Islamist militants an existential threat. Police said the explosion caused heavy damage and officers were frantically organising efforts to rescue the dead and wounded. The attack was the second in two days in Kohat, a rough town in the region bordering Afghanistan with a history of sectarian and other militant violence. A bomb wounded six people Thursday.

Heavy contingent of police arrived at the scene soon after the incident and cordoned off the site. Near 32 shops at the market caved in due to the blast's impact and the rescuers put hard efforts to pull victims from the rubble, a news agency said citing a local police official. The agency quoted local area nazim Syed Mehtabul Hassan as saying that the death have reached 25 while several others were also wounded. He says that 25 bodies have been pulled out of the rubble of the hotel and nearby shops. Emergency was declared in all the major hospitals of the city while the paramedical teams also carried out emergency relief activities at the attack site. Most of the critically injured were rushed to district hospital Kohat. Hangu Road was blockaded by the forces for all kinds of traffic following the attack. Police were collecting the remains of the bomber for DNA test. (Nation)

Osama bin Laden requested meetings with former Pakistan PM

2009-09-09T14:49:00.004+06:00

A former official of Pakistan’s intelligence service has claimed former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif met Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden five times.

The claim, which has been hotly denied by Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, was made on the “Eleventh Hour” TV program by Khalid Khwaja, the former ISI official and now chairman of the Defence of Human Rights organisation.

Khwaja told the interviewer he arranged meetings between bin Laden and Nawaz Sharif at bin Laden’s request and would provide solid evidence if necessary, saying he was hopeful Nawaz Sharif would not tell any lies about the meetings.

He told ARY News in Pakistan he had personally met the Al Qaeda chief many times prior to the 9/11 incident, but had not seen him since.

Nawaz Sharif’s political party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, has accused Khwaja of making baseless claims.

Musharraf in London

2009-08-20T17:02:00.005+06:00

By Ayesha Ijaz Khan

As a commando, Musharraf was probably taught to act first and think later. And that is precisely what he has done by choosing to make London his interim home. I use the word "interim" because I am sure that had he thought rationally about permanent relocation, he would have opted for one of the Gulf States. The UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia offer fancier lifestyles with villas, well-priced cooks, drivers and maids. Hobnob with the royalty and other favours may also be granted, such as use of private aircraft, a privilege Musharraf is said to have availed of often. For those so inclined, there is also no dearth of music parties, even in Saudi Arabia, where I spent twelve years as a child. Not to mention, in Musharraf's case, far better protection from the law in Pakistan and immunity from trial in general.

In London, by contrast, flats are generally small, house help is paid by the hour, and although at the moment Musharraf is being provided state security, questions are being raised about it in Parliament and efforts made by the likes of Lord Nazir to contact the lawyers who had helped extradite Chile's Pinochet. By all accounts, Musharraf's future in London is bleak and a significant downgrade from what he was accustomed to in Pakistan. Why, then, would he have chosen London?

The only reason that I can think of is that London is politically active. The Gulf states, on the other hand, are comfortable but politically dead. When he left Pakistan, he must have been certain of his return and, moreover, of his political revival. He must not have seriously considered the Supreme Court asking him to appear and explain the actions of Nov 3, 2007.

As someone who criticised Musharraf harshly and continually ever since he deposed the chief justice in March 2007, I find it odd now that he resides about a twenty-minute walk from me. And although I have neither seen him nor met him in London, in spite of the fact that I regularly run errands in and around Edgware Road and often pass by his building, Indian acquaintances claim that they saw him working on his biceps at the local gym. They could very well be pulling my leg.

I have been informed by a well-connected Pakistani visiting London this summer that Musharraf paid 1.4 million pounds sterling for a three-and-a-half bedroom flat off Edgware Road. For those not familiar with the London property market, a half-bedroom is one where a single bed can fit, but not a double bed. If in fact Musharraf did pay that amount, all I can say is that he has been royally ripped off!

The flat in question should have cost no more than a million pounds, and the price being quoted is a third too much. Edgware Road is a decent locality, but by no means the most expensive in London. Had the property been situated in nearby Mayfair or St John's Wood, it could have easily fetched the price being quoted, but on Edgware Road, unless one is selling to a recent immigrant who needs an urgent foothold in London and is unaware of the going rate, values tend to be lower than several other central-London localities.

London does, of course, have its share of Nigerian generals, Thai politicians and Russian intelligence bosses trying to secure their place in exile, although the Russians have far too much money and often gravitate around the more expensive Belgravia. In fact, London's property market is more reliant on foreign money than perhaps any other in the world. The most expensive property in London was purchased two years ago by the Emir of Qatar for a whopping 110 million sounds. His super-posh One Hyde Park address is reputed to have its own private tunnel linking it to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in prestigious Knightsbridge. Sheikh Hamad's 2007 purchase outdid Indian businessman Lakshmi Mittal's 2004 purchase of a Kensington mansion, which he bought for 70 million pounds and allegedly spent another 20 million on refurbishment.

The building identified to me as Musharraf's, on the other hand, is average by London standards, not posh. Far from a palace in Surrey or a mansion in Jeddah, the building in question, along with the one in front of it, are popular with visitors from South Asia and the Arab world. It is also perhaps worth mentioning that several Pakistani politicians and businessmen and/or their children owned flats in those buildings prior to Musharraf's purchase. It may also be noted that the leaders of some of our political parties, including Mian Nawaz Sharif, President Zardari, and Imran Khan's children live in far better localities in London or New York (as the case may be) and in more expensive properties. I am not at all suggesting that owning expensive properties is proof of any wrongdoing, but, if asked, the owner in question should be prepared to explain the source of wealth and present proof of taxes paid commensurate with the value of his\her assets.

The idea of this piece is by no means to present a defence of Musharraf, for I feel strongly that he must face the courts in Pakistan foremost for acting against the judiciary and violating the sanctity of the Constitution. But if we choose to speak of financial corruption, then we must be fair and maintain perspective. That is what justice demands of us. (The News)

The writer is a London-based lawyer-turned-political commentator. Website: www.ayeshaijazkhan.com

Baitullah Mehsud is alive, still holding command of Taliban fighters: Hakimullah Mehsud

2009-08-08T17:11:00.001+06:00

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, a coalition of various Taliban groups, has refuted the reports about killing of Taliban supremo Baitullah Mehsud in a drone strike. Hakimullah Mehsud, an influential Taliban commander while refuting the reports has said the Taliban will release a video of Baitullah Mehsud. He said Baitullah Mehsud was alive and still holding the command of Taliban fighters. He promised to release a recorded video of Mehsud within two to three days.

Baitullah Mehsud is dead

2009-08-08T17:08:00.002+06:00

* Foreign minister says govt pursuing ground verification
* Interior minister says operation will continue until Mehsud’s group is eliminated
* TTP deputy chief says he can neither confirm, nor deny Baitullah’s death * Hakeemullah Mehsud, Waliur Rehman Mehsud, Azmatullah in close race to emerge as new TTP chief

ISLAMABAD: Quoting intelligence reports on Friday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi confirmed that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone attack in South Waziristan.

“Based on information gleaned from intelligence reports, the news of Baitullah’s death is correct. But we are going for ground verification, and when the information has been confirmed, then we will be 100 percent sure,” he told reporters at a local hotel after addressing the Youth Parliament. He also told BBC Radio that it was “pretty certain” that the Taliban chief was dead, Reuters reported. A Taliban commander and aide to Baitullah Mehsud, meanwhile, told the Associated Press that the TTP chief was killed in the US strike. “I confirm that Baitullah Mehsud and his wife died in the American missile attack in South Waziristan,” Taliban commander Kafayatullah said by telephone. He would not give any further details.

No end in sight: Mehsud was allegedly killed in a drone attack on Wednesday while visiting his father-in-law Maulana Ikramuddin’s house. The attack also resulted in the deaths of one of his wives, Ikramuddin’s daughter, and over half-a-dozen guards. “Information is coming from that area that he is dead,” said Interior Minister Rehman Malik. “I am unable to confirm unless I have solid evidence,” he said. He said the military was determined to finish off the Taliban in Pakistan. “It is a targeted law enforcement action against Baitullah Mehsud’s group and it will continue until Baitullah Mehsud’s group is eliminated forever,” he said.

He urged the Taliban to lay down their arms and urged them to come into the mainstream, saying the new TTP chief would face the same fate as Baitullah. He said the TTP is a banned outfit and there was no possibility of talks with them, the Online news agency reported.

No confirmation: TTP deputy chief Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, meanwhile, told Daily Times he could neither confirm nor deny Baitullah’s killing in the drone attack. “Baitullah Mehsud was killed in the drone attack,” Ikramuddin’s neighbours told Daily Times. Military and intelligence sources told Daily Times the best confirmation would be from the Taliban. “To be frank, the Taliban themselves can confirm their leader’s death. Otherwise, the lack of a proper government in the area prevents us from taking definitive action,” the intelligence officials added.

However, an intelligence officer in South Waziristan told Reuters that Mehsud’s funeral had already taken place. “He was killed with his wife and he was buried in Nargosey,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Online news agency quoted a private TV channel as reporting that the government could make the official announcement with regard to Baitullah’s death within the coming week. It said the Interior Ministry had received a fax from South Waziristan Political Agent Syed Shahab Ali Shah confirming Baitullah’s death.

New TTP chief: Meanwhile, intelligence officials and Taliban sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, have said that Taliban commanders were meeting in the Tribal Areas on Friday to choose a successor. It was unclear when they might reach a decision.

Three Pakistani intelligence officials said the likeliest successor was Mehsud’s deputy, Hakeemullah, a commander known for recruiting and training suicide bombers. Two other prominent possibilities, the officials said, were Azmatullah and Waliur Rehman, also close associates of Mehsud.

SC orders warrants for Hamesh Khan

2009-08-04T16:26:00.004+06:00

The Supreme Court has ordered to issue warrants for the arrest of former president Punjab Bank Hamesh Khan and owner of the Haris Steel Mill Sheikh Afzal.
The three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary while hearing the Haris Steel Mill case also asked the government to use diplomatic channels for bringing these defaulters back home from abroad.
The Supreme Court directed the FIA to issue arrest warrant for Hamesh Khan, in Rs 9 billion Bank of Punjab loan scam. The bench which was also comprised Justice Ch Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Jawwad S Khawaja adjourned the hearing of the case till August 10.
The apex court again directed the three main accused in the case Hamesh Khan, Shaikh Afzal, owner of Haris Steel and his son Haris Afzal to appear before the court and also directed that appearance of the accused was a must as their non-appearance was creating a wrong message.
The Chief Justice directed Director General FIA, Tariq Khosa to use diplomatic channels for the arrest of Hamesh Khan, former President Bank of Punjab.

Omar Abdullah submits resignation over sex scandal

2009-07-29T20:03:00.003+06:00

Indian-held Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah resigned on Tuesday over what he called “baseless” allegations of his involvement in a sex scandal. In response, Governor NN Vohra asked Abdullah to continue his duties as chief minister. Vohra said he would not accept the resignation until he had fully investigated the allegations and verified the claims.

Abdullah has been accused by a former finance minister of being party since 2006 to a prostitution racket, which involved 40 women and underage girls whose clients allegedly included politicians, bureaucrats, security officials and businessmen in IHK. The case is being investigated by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation, which has charged several former state ministers and top security officials in the scandal.

Katreena won’t marry Salman, claims astrologist

2009-07-26T21:56:00.002+06:00

An astrologist in India has predicted that Bollywood actress Katreena Kaif would not marry Salman Khan.

Heart-throb with pleasant smile, Katreena was born on July 16, 1984 in London and thus her number is seven while Salman’s number is nine.

Indian astrologist Bhawik Sanghvi said that this year would prove the best year for Katreena.

Predicting about Katreena’s personal life, he said that katreena would not marry Salman as there is not only their ideas and concepts differ but their likes and dislikes are also contradicting with each other’s.

Sufi Mohammad arrested in Peshawar

2009-07-26T21:46:00.002+06:00

A prominent religious leader in Pakistan's Swat valley has been arrested after allegedly speaking against the government and encouraging violence.

Maulana Sufi Mohammed, who brokered a failed deal with Islamabad that would have seen a stricter interpretation of sharia - or Islamic law - in Swat was seized on Sunday in the city of Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

"The government has arrested Maulana Sufi Mohammed. A formal case against him will be registered soon," Mian Iftekhar Hussein, the information minister for NWFP, said.

"He killed a lot of people. Again he was planning for this. We will not allow anyone to destroy peace at Malakand and Swat."

Sufi Mohammed's two sons, Ziaullah and Rizwanullah, were reportedly arrested with him during a police raid. His third son, a teacher, was killed in a Pakistani military bombardment in May.

"Many people here will tell you that Sufi Mohammed was an arbiter of peace," Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder, reporting from the capital, Islamabad, said.

"There has been much disagreement over who broke the [peace] deal."

Pervez Musharraf summoned in judges case

2009-07-23T00:15:00.003+06:00

The 14-member larger bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday summoned former President Pervez Musharraf to defend charges leveled against him for imposing emergency on November 3, 2007.

The larger bench issued a notice to Pervez Musharraf to appear in person or through counsel on July 29.

The PCO judges case hearing was adjourned till July 29.

A 14-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry heard the case relating the promulgation of emergency on November 3 and the appointment of judges of higher judiciary.

Giving his remarks, the CJ said justice will not meet its demands, if the court gives verdict without giving explanation chance to Musharraf; thereupon, Sindh High Court Bar counsel Hamid Khan retorted former Gen Yahya Khan appeared before court in Aasma Gilani case.

The CJ said the case is highly important.

CJ Chaudhry queried Hamid Khan Advocate regarding the repercussions of the verdict of this case, adding, ‘We will have to muse seriously why July 5, 77 happened, what effects judicial rulings had on national life.’

‘The case may have effects on our judges ranks, we will have to spot repercussions of the case ruling outside the courtroom.’

Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday said in his remarks that the judges who took oath on PCO on November 3, 2007, ran foul of the order of 7 SC judges.

FIA detects forged ATM card scam

2009-07-14T16:34:00.002+06:00

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has unearthed illegal bank transactions through forged Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) cards and arrested a senior banker allegedly involved in the scam.

FIA sources told that though not big in terms of the money involved, the scam had to be investigated thoroughly because it was the first crime of its kind in the country.

Detectives of the FIA found that Rs820,000 was siphoned off from different banks last month using forged cards at the ATM installed at the Bank Al Habib, Gulbarg branch, in Lahore.

A case has been registered against Khawaja Muhammad Usman Ghani, manager of operations at the bank, and two residents of Lahore --- Muhammad Imran Butt and Suleman Maqbool.

The scam came to light when representatives of the Allied Bank, Habib Bank, United Bank and National Investment Bank visited the FIA’s Cyber Crime Cell in Lahore with complaints that cheats had hacked into their security systems and withdrawn amounts from their clients’ accounts using forged ATM cards, wreaking havoc through their online business.

Subsequent investigations revealed that white plastic cards, widely available in the market, had been used by criminals to produce counterfeit ATM cards with relevant data of bank account holders provided by an insider.

Every customer using the machine gets a printed receipt showing details of his/her transaction from the machine. A copy of the same transaction is printed inside the ATM for the bank. Its officer deputed to feed the machine takes the prints at the time of reloading currency and compares the balance with this report. This process is linked with the bank’s main server online.

According to the complaints filed by the HBL, the data of their six ATM cards had been skimmed by the culprits and on the basis of this data, six illegal transactions had been carried out by transferring the data over white plastic cards and subsequently using this card at ATMs. It was further reported that in two cases, the amounts were illegally transferred to different bank accounts.

Three illegal transactions totalling Rs559,000 were traced to the bank account of accused Muhammad Imran Butt and Rs50,000 to the bank account of accused Suleman Maqbool.

Camera recording of Bank Al Habib showed that the accused obtained PIN codes from Khawaja Muhammad Usman, operations manager of the bank. In order to obtain the PIN code the accused, with the help of the same bank officer, mounted a small wireless camera inside the ATM booth and skimmed the data from there and carried out a number of illegal transactions from the accounts of a number of card holders.

Accused Khawaja Muhammad Usman Ghani was arrested on Tuesday. During interrogation, he disclosed that to date he had provided details of 1500 PIN codes of different ATM cards to one Hafiz Waseem.

He disclosed that his share in the funds amassed through the illegal transactions was 50 per cent.
Teams have been constituted for the arrest of Muhammad Imran Butt and Suleman Maqbool who are at large.

Cyber frauds, depositor’s risks

2009-07-14T13:49:00.002+06:00

by Sher Baz Khan

The hacking of the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) system of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) believed to have involved withdrawals of over Rs84million from the industrial zones of Punjab alone, has added a new risk to the country’s banking system.

The two ATM cards of another bank with zero balance accounts were misused by a gang of well-organised hackers in Multan, Lahore, Faisalabad and Sialkot to defraud the state-run bank.

Primary investigations indicate the alleged involvement of an employee of the cyber wing of the bank’s headquarters in Karachi who knew about tons of ATM related data and the bank’s online money supply security system. Now he has vanished from the scene. The gang seems to have mastered the whole security modules of the bank’s online money supply service and cracked its codes to the level that they even made the ATM machines respond positively to commands for which the machines are programmed to respond negatively.

More shockingly, the gang withdrew just within hours millions of rupees through these machines which were programmed for not issuing any amount beyond Rs20,000 in a single day.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) suspects that committing such cyber-cum-financial crimes was not easy without involvement of those who served as the administrators of the bank’s One-Link – the NBP’s ATM sharing service with 14 other banks. The agency has also arrested a retired employee of another bank, whose zero-balance account was mis-used. The search is on for the suspected head of the gang, Ali Hassan alias Bacha. The FIA has also warned other banks of similar cyber robberies if they fail to improve their security systems for online money transactions. The news has sent shock waves across the country as bank account holders now feel more vulnerable.. The question arises as to who will be responsible (the bank management or the client?) in case, a client’s cash card is misused.

ATMs are vulnerable because many of them are in isolated locations. Those in safer locations are still vulnerable to surreptitious damage — so even under observation it should be impossible to tell who was sabotaging the ATM equipment..

Now, the questions being asked is: Are the banks capable to win this battle against cyber gangs? The frequency of cyber crimes involving financial institutions and the general public has increased. However only few know about the existing anti-cyber crimes law and where to lodge a complaint in case any such crime was committed. .

It was in December last year that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Ordinance, 2007 was promulgated. Under the ordinance, the FIA’s National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes (NR3C) is empowered to enforce the law. The NR3C was established in the FIA in March 2003 Till the formation of NR3C, Pakistan mainly relied on the US Central Investigation Agency (CIA) for detecting cyber crime and militant websites.

The NR3C now deals with 14 major categories of cyber crimes including, financial crimes, email treating, denial of service attack and DDOS attack, virus/worm attacks, internet time thefts, unauthorised access, credit card frauds, anti Pakistan/Islam material on websites, ATM frauds, mobile communication, theft of systems, web SMS, pornography and Interpol cases.

Those involved in crimes of stealing codes and misusing online data or hacking can be punished for three to five years imprisonment if found guilty by special tribunals.

Syed Ammar Jafri, head of the NR3C told Dawn that the agency has started an awareness campaign against cyber crimes by organising workshops and seminars on cyber security challenges and solutions. The NR3C provides single point of contact for local and foreign organisations for matters related to cyber crimes It is imparting training and related security education to persons of government/semi-government and private sector organisations.

Mr Jafri however warned that what happened at the NBP could happen at any other bank. The NBP was targeted for the lack of security. He said cyber crime was a reality. In majority of the developing countries, where cyber crimes are on the rise, the clients have been demanding of the banks to bear the burden of money fraudulently withdrawn from its ATMs by mis-using a client’s cash cards.

The business community in Hong Kong has demanded that in cases where the gross negligence of the account holders was not involved, banks must bear the full loss incurred. Otherwise, it may undermine customers’ confidence in the use of ATMs. It is in the interests of banks to prevent ATM frauds and bear the losses where the clients are not responsible for any negligence.

There is also a need to take precautionary measures for giving greater protection to ATMs, particularly those located in less secure areas. It is, of course, for the individual banks, exercising their own judgement, to determine the appropriate precautionary measures needed. The security features of ATMs can be ensured by monitoring these machines continuously after installing closed-circuit television; implementing a mechanism that records relevant information on

ATM cards or credit cards so that banks can determine whether an unauthorised ATM transaction is carried out through a counterfeit card; patrolling ATMs more frequently during and after office hours; encouraging customers to report any suspicious devices detected on ATMs and providing them with the relevant telephone number to do so at the ATMs; and alerting customers if any unusual transaction patterns are noted.

There is a need also for depositors to exercise greater care in protecting their cards and PINs. For handling cases involving customers who may have the bad luck to be victims of ATM frauds, banks must introduce complaint handling procedures. They should have systems in place to ensure that customer complaints are promptly investigated and resolved in a satisfactory manner. While the FIA should be notified as soon as possible, given the suspicion of fraud involved, the internal investigation of the banks should be conducted promptly and the complainants kept informed. (Courtesy PBA)

Larceny case registered against MPA Shumaila

2009-07-13T13:37:00.002+06:00

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed police authorities to take legal action against MPA Shumaila Rana by registering the larceny case against her for stealing credit cards.

According to Punjab Government spokesman, the CM directed police to expedite investigations against her and take disciplinary action in the light of the investigations.

Earlier, Shahbaz Sharif asked for the details of MPA Shumaila Rana larceny case.

Meantime talking to Geo News, Senior Adviser and PML-N Punjab President Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa said this is a plain case of theft and Shumaila Rana will have to resign like former MNA Haji Pervez.

Khosa said in case the theft is confirmed, then legal action will be taken against her; also, she will have to face disciplinary action from party.

CPLC to launch new database in Central Jail Karachi

2009-07-11T13:26:00.002+06:00

The Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) has recently introduced a jail up gradation project called Prison Management Information System which will manage the records and history of those imprisoned in local jails, The News has learnt.

CPLC Chief Sharfuddin Memon said that CPLC is planning to upgrade other prisons in Sindh phase-wise, thereby providing law enforcement agencies with a comprehensive record of a suspect or convict, which would help them with investigations.

The Prison Management Information System (PMIS) was initially developed by the CPLC in 2001, under which a jail information system was developed. This was been implemented and computerised to integrate all functions of Sindh jail at all levels. The PMIS software is the latest and state-of-the-art information technology available to help the management, at all levels, including planning, critical analysis, monitoring, decision-making and execution of day-to-day operation.

The requirements of the prison department were reanalysed after the implementation of the PMIS system. Subsequently, the new automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS)-based integrated software was developed with different modules set to perform particular functions, including profile of inmates, prisoner information, prisoner property, prisoner medical information, prisoner enrolment (capturing of fingerprint & image), crime detail, court history, remission system, release diary, search engine, prisoner identification / verification, visitor monitoring – access control system, user privileges, data import export module and dial up module.

Due to the lack of such a system, convicts would often be released earlier than their stipulated term with the help of false names and release orders.

A senior officer, on the condition of anonymity, told The News that the government is interested in adopting newer technologies to help coordinate investigations and share intelligence, thereby addressing long-standing issues of security. There are also suggestions that the scope of this system would soon be broadened to turn it into a country-wide database.

In Sindh, over 3,000 inmates are confined in 21 jails of the province, out of which two-thirds are under trail. Sources said that information about these inmates would not only be computerised, but access to this data would be provided to the judiciary, thereby reducing the number of adjournments granted by judges and magistrates. It is also expected that email links to defence lawyers would expedite advance disclosures and reduce the number of adjournments granted.

Since fingerprints are viewed as the most reliable method of establishing identification, AFIS will be a constituent part of the new system, and access to this would be made available to custody and investigation units where timely identification is critical. The availability of standard-based wide-area network means that all AFISs can be linked together, providing on-line access to all fingerprints stored in the database.

The police officer informed The News that the software would compile the complete record of an inmate, making it difficult for him to be released on a false identity.

The system would also curtail the escapes from courts, as jail police would have complete information of the escapees enabling them to catch the suspects easily.

The system would also help increase court production of prisoners, and maintain a record of the prisoner’s appearances in court. The system would also maintain records of a prisoner’s jail meetings along with their medical history.

The police officer said that often, release orders are issued for inmates after they complete their terms or are even exonerated, but jail staff demand a handsome bribe to release them. If the inmate fails to deliver the amount, then their release is further delayed and the matter turns into one of illegal detention.

Through this system, however, whenever the court issues release orders, the information would come on record and instances of corruption would be reduced. Similarly, a record of items which the inmate was carrying when he was lodged in jail would also be maintained, and these items would be returned to the inmate on his release.

Ebad, Malik and Kamal in Dubai for talks on Local Bodies

2009-07-11T13:15:00.007+06:00

The major legislators of MQM including Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan and city Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal have also rushed to Dubai.
Reports are pouring in that Interior Minister Rehman Malik is also present there and they all have gone to attend a wedding ceremony but some vital decisions are to take place there also in a closed door meeting regarding the placement of administrator for Karachi while the local governments have been dissolved.
Other issues to be discussed include funds promised by the President Asif Ali Zardari for the development of Karachi.
Dr Asim Hussain, who was also scheduled to leave for Dubai but could not leave due to his other engagements, said that now it is the prerogative of provincial government to appoint a political administrator or one from the bureaucracy. When asked whether Mustafa Kamal will be retained as administrator Karachi as he is also present in Dubai, he said that it is now in the power of provincial government.

POL prices cut on SC order

2009-07-08T16:50:00.002+06:00

* Petrol price now Rs 50.58 per litre, HOBC Rs 62.54, kerosene oil Rs 52.89 and light diesel oil Rs 51.46

ISLAMABAD: The government reduced the prices of petroleum products on Tuesday after the Supreme Court temporarily suspended the implementation of the carbon surcharge and directed the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) earlier in the day to issue a notification.

According to an OGRA notification issued late on Tuesday, the government has withdrawn the carbon tax and reduced POL prices that would come into effect today (Wednesday).

According to the notification, petrol prices have been reduced by Rs 11.55 per litre to Rs 50.58 from 62.13, a reduction of 18.6 percent; HOBC prices by Rs 16.24 per litre to Rs 62.54 from 78.78, a reduction of 20 percent; kerosene oil prices by Rs 6.46 per litre to Rs 52.89 from Rs 59.35, a reduction of 11 percent; and light diesel oil prices by Rs 3.48 per litre to Rs 51.46 from Rs 54.94, a reduction of 6.33 percent.

Earlier on Tuesday, a three-member bench – headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry – said the implementation of the carbon tax would remain suspended until a final decision in the case, and then adjourned proceedings until July 9.

PPP Senator Rukhsana Zubairi and PML-N Secretary General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra had filed separate petitions challenging the increase in petroleum prices.

In its short order, the court said as the government had made no effort to protect the environment through carbon tax, it had no right to charge people for the facility.

The court also summoned the environment secretary at the next hearing for an explanation on whether the ministry had proposed the carbon tax.

Appearing on notice, Attorney General Latif Khosa told the court that the government had to impose the tax in order to overcome the budget deficit.

The chief justice, however, observed that such decisions were not in accordance with good governance.

A judicial commission had earlier presented its interim report on rising oil prices in the country and proposed a “fair and proper cut” in petroleum prices.

Bail plea in forex scam case dismissed

2009-07-07T17:43:00.005+06:00

KARACHI: The SHC dismissed bail applications of the three directors of M/s Khanani and Kalia International in a money laundering case on Monday.

A division bench comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Safdar Ali Bhutto pronounced the order, which was earlier reserved on the applications of Muhammad Hanif Kalia, Abdul Munaf Kalia and Javed Khanani. Their counsel M Farogh Naseem stated that a challan was submitted in the case tried by the sessions court in Karachi functioning as tribunal under the Foreign Exchange Act. He said that FIA forcibly recorded statements of witnesses which had glaring contradictions, adding that in the light of the sessions court judgement, statements of the witnesses recorded by the prosecuting agency US161 CrPC were not admissible in court of law. Special Prosecutor Shahab Sarki opposed the plea stating that investigations were still in progress and grant of bail at this stage will hamper probe, he added.

The court order stated that at this stage it finds it premature to interfere with the impugned order. In its view, the prosecution has made out a prima facie case against the applications and as such bail is denied to applicants. ppi

Minor girl molested, killed; 2 police men arrested

2009-07-06T16:31:00.002+06:00

KARACHI: A minor girl was allegedly molested, tortured, killed and her body was thrown into a sewerage water drain, from where it was taken out, in the city yesterday.
Two police men were arrested on charges of kidnapping and killing the child and a case was registered against them. The accused persons are scheduled to be presented in court today for permission to take their physical remand.
Sindh Minister for Human Rights Nadia Khan Gabol yesterday took serious notice of the case and directed CCPO Karachi to conduct transparent inquiry into the matter and bring accused before justice.
According to details, the dead body of Sana, a three-and-half year old daughter of Qasim Bengali, was missing for about last three days from Zaman Town and was found from a sewerage drain near Gora Qabristan, Defense, near Shahrah-e-Faisal yesterday.
It was also said that when the two traffic police men entered in their house in neighborhood, a five-year old girl, reportedly a friend of the said minor girl Sana, told people that she had seen the missing girl with them. The angry residents of the area caught the accused persons and started beating them. Police men reached to the spot and arrested the accused persons who were later locked up at Zaman Town police station.
The accused persons claimed they did not kill the child and found the body in the water tank of their house and out of fear they had thrown the dead body in a sewerage drain. Police and Edhi volunteers on indication of the accused persons, found the body from there.
Police said that the incident occurred in Noorani Basti, Chakra Goth, Korangi-2 1/2, Zaman Town, that they have arrested Noor Mohammed and Basheer Ahmed, traffic police constables, and a case was registered at the police station.

FEMALES UNDER THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS

2009-07-04T12:36:00.005+06:00

By Faraz Ahmed Munis

Significance of efficient traffic control can not be denied because of the complicated traffic flow in the metropolitan cities like Lahore. To improve the complex traffic flow the department decided to introduce new personnel consisting of both males and females. The novelty in the whole process was the recruitment of females in the Traffic Police Department. However, the induction of females is not the sole factor to ensure a better traffic pattern but it is one of the important means to achieve the goal. The induction of females in Traffic Police Department is entirely a new phenomenon introduced in Pakistan. Different societies have different tendencies towards the females joining those jobs which are labeled as “men’s job”. Society like Pakistan has different opinions regarding females’ jobs.

It is appeared that majority of the lady traffic wardens belong to medium income category, so salary, rank and designation turned out to be three significant features in the job that led females to join this arduous job. Lady Wardens and their families considered the job prestigious, but the level of public acceptance is not reasonable which creates hurdles for females in deciding to pursue the job or not. This low level of public acceptance might be because of low literacy rate and the prevailing pre-conceived notions (like women should stay at home or at the most should do office jobs) in our society. It can also become a traumatic factor for females to get prestige which can affect their professional commitment.

Public acceptance is a decisive factor in joining a job for females. Lady Wardens have the view point that literacy level is a distinctive factor for a better public acceptance level. Moreover, the cultural and religious notions attached with working women are a barrier for them to be accepted by the masses. Moreover, public acceptance is a factor that directly or indirectly influences the prestige and authority of the female workers.

Keeping in view the Pakistan’s society the recruitment of females is a radical change, where public is not ready to accept this drastic change abruptly. Although lady traffic wardens are fully facilitating the public in traffic affairs, also educating them about traffic rules and regulations even then the department has not achieved the consent of the general public as far as accepting women as traffic controllers is concerned. The deep rooted pre-conceived notions have restricted females in gaining a respectable and honorable status in our society. As we all have an egalitarian perception that traffic police department is the most corrupt in its nature and uncivilized in behavior, it can substantially affect the performance of lady traffic wardens and it’s a very hard job to get rid of such malicious image.
Induction of women in Traffic Police Department, which is primarily a male-dominated sector, is a new observable fact for masses. The job encompasses both pros and cons for women willing to enter and who are engage in the job. Positive aspect is that it is a new dimension for women empowerment, which can open new paths for women to step on and can explore their abilities and skills. Moreover, if they can compete with men and can go along in the professional field, which is male-oriented. However, the negative side to it is the dire need of satisfactory public acceptance. Poor public acceptance can severely cripple the morale of lady traffic wardens and of the women aspiring to enter in the job.

Giving a new opportunity to women and then receiving warm response from them clearly indicated they have a desire to gain authority and prestige from the job. They also get inclined to those jobs, which are prestigious and authoritative in nature. The lack of opportunity for those jobs, which include prestige and authority, might be the reason they did not opt for any such occupation. Furthermore, the introduction of this new concept woman controlling the traffic on roads is a social change, which will take some time to be properly accepted by the public because radical changes brings about radical reactions and this step was one of those. Conclusively, it is a positive step towards the women empowerment. It is a source of inspiration for upcoming women.

There are certain recommendations for the improvement of the departmental structure. In order to facilitate the lady traffic wardens, policies can be devised for the positive influence on the prestige and authority of lady traffic wardens also how public consent can be achieved which can eventually help the authorities in making the department a better institution.
1. Department should raise public acceptance through different means like arranging seminars, publishing articles, advertisement on print and electronic media and orientation to community people.

2. Lady traffic wardens should be provided better facilities while standing at the roads to prevent themselves from the extensive weather conditions and pollution.

3. Renovation and the construction of the sectors is a dire need as it will provide them more comfort and improve the efficiency of the work.

4. While standing on the point of duties, lady traffic wardens should be given proper security by the department to prevent them from the harassment of public.

5. Discrimination from the seniors should be reduced as they are not fully satisfied with the behavior of higher authority.

6. The official work should switch to digital system i.e. computerized system from the manual system, it will make official working more efficient.

7. To increase the authority, lady traffic wardens should be provided with weapons to defend themselves and public in any mishap but with the proper training of how to use the weapons.

Email:fraz.ahmed@hotmail.com

Chief Justice approached for taking note of PCB irregularities

2009-07-03T16:08:00.006+06:00

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary, has been approached for taking suo motto action against the former officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) having been found guilty of massive financial irregularities by the Auditor General of Pakistan.

Razaullah Khan, the longest serving council member of the PCB, who has been known and feared for calling a spade a spade, has once more taken the initiative of bringing to book the people having been engaged in malpractices of the highest order.

“Yes I have submitted a request to the Chief Justice for taking a suo motto action against Dr Nasim Ashraf, Shafqat Naghmi and others who have been found involved in the embezzlement of funds to the tune of Rupees seven billion,” Razaullah Khan remarked in an interview recently.

“Alongwith my application to the Chief Justice I have submitted a copy of the report of the Auditor General of Pakistan that details the corrupt practices of the PCB officials. I have also brought the matter to the notice of Chaudhary Nisar Ali, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, by sending him a copy of the same report,” he added.

Razaullah Khan, who has been associated with the game of cricket in various capacities for nearly half a century now, did not mince words in stating that he has had to approach the Chief Justice after having failed to get any response from the government agencies.

“I have communicated to the Chief Justice that I have approached him after having knocked at the various doors without any response. The people in the government have their own reasons of not initiating action against the former PCB officials even though the report of the Auditor General of Pakistan has found them guilty,” Razaullah Khan said.

“The Auditor General of Pakistan has compiled the report after they had been assigned the task by the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, who is also the Patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board,” the former PCB Council member revealed.

“Now when the report has come out and it has been very clearly pointed out that the former officials of the PCB were guilty of financial embezzlement there is no reason why they should not taken to task. I have appealed to the Chief Justice to take suo motto action and register a case against them,” Razaullah Khan stated.
“Exemplary punishment must be given to the PCB officials for having misused the public money and having derived huge personal benefits besides having obliged their near and dear ones,” he pleaded.

“It was a common belief that Dr Nasim Ashraf and Shafqat Naghmi were running the affairs of the PCB at their whims. The recent report by the Auditor General of Pakistan has only confirmed that they have deprived the nation of billions of rupees,” Razaullah Khan believed.

He didn’t expect the present officials of the PCB to move against their predecessors because in his opinion there still were quite a few employees in the Board having sympathy with their former masters.

Dormant and flawed curriculum of Punjab a cause of concern

2009-06-24T13:25:00.004+06:00

By Fraz Ahmed Munis

Being a student of sociology, I have observed a lot of follies in our Punjab Text Book Board curriculum. If I go into the detail, about the existing course contents of intermediate there are a lot of things that reflect poorly.

It is shocking that since 1987 to 2008, the date of birth and death of Faiz Ahmed Faiz was incorrect. All the textbooks and helping books are the example of this disgraceful act and it is humiliating for those who are considered the ‘mentors’ and are selected for the accomplishment of curriculum.

What sort of message do we extract from such careless and irresponsible educationists? Such types of blunders indicate that our curriculum is neither scrutinized nor authenticated.

Apparently the technical, experienced and skillful teachers are being ignored and are being denied the opportunity to impart their services for the construction of the course content or the resource material for the textbooks.

The fabrication of our curriculum is illogical and it contains the poisonous ingredients which are becoming a colossal menace to the structure of education and requirements of the learners and society.

If we read the course contents of Urdu and English in intermediate, it is pathetic, ridiculous and disgusting. How we are brutally treating our educational system is revealed when we see the Urdu poems, fictions and short stories translated into English and being included in English textbook.

The stories written by Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi and Ghulam Abbas have not been completely reproduced. Obviously the incomplete story cannot covey the message in totality.

I fail to comprehend what’s the need to have the stories of Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi and Ghulam Abbas both in English and Urdu textbooks. What great our planners expect by repeating the same things?

The translation should have been avoided in prose as well as poetry. The verses are completely depleted with their actual spirit and essence. These verses are translated in such hilarious way that their original context and meanings have been completely lost.

What on earth compels our policy makers to do such childish acts as reveal their sheer ignorance and incompetence? The English literature is replete with shining and appealing writers, then, why we do inculcate our local literature into English irrationally. Every language has its own aesthetics and the inclusion of the translated pieces humiliate the sanctity of the languages and make it ugly.

There is a chapter Tashkeel-e-Pakistan in Urdu textbook, covering the Freedom Movement of Pakistan which is totally the same as being taught in Pakistan Studies too.

Why this repetition is? Has the Urdu literature nothing more informative to teach? Or the Urdu literature lacks depth? The repetition and irrelevant amendments in the curriculum should be avoided while promoting the educational culture.

The curriculum of any educational system is the symbol of “Justification for Existence” and “Mental Integration”, but we appear to be using it as an agent of social disintegration and mental fixation.

Three things are very important while designing a curriculum; Structure and nature of knowledge, need of learner and need of society.

There is a dire need for the construction of logical curriculum which truly reflects the presentation of philosophy of education leading towards goals and aims, specific instructional objectives and outcomes, task analysis and appropriate content selection and availability of genuine learning ecologies.

Now, it is the time for the serious speculations and prompt decisions for the planning of our curriculum. We should have to exempt the blurred and irrelevant contents. Subjects like biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics are very lengthy according to their time span, because from mid September to the end of March, these subjects cannot be injected into the minds of the students.

It can be made possible only because of teachers’ chauvinism and agony. Students have to carry this heavy load because if they refuse to carry this weight they will be declared as the deviants.

We have to avert the growing false perception about the irrational dichotomy of education and productive works. There is urgent need to take some timely measures to make our curriculum, ‘Demand-oriented’. “Academia liaison” with industry should be made possible in the course contents. Accessibility of updated texts, references, materials and degree of availability of novel studies should be induced.

Education plays its role in transmitting two different ways of thinking; the subject matter or discipline content of course( what to think) and the correct way to understand and evaluate this subject matter ( how to think).

But unfortunately in Pakistan, the respective academic disciplines cannot be set on the basis of proper thinking, sincerity, commitment and coordination. Our policy makers and curriculum setters go inconsistent and never bother to take a serious look on the deteriorated and dilapidated educational system. And, by the way, why do they take a headache for the betterment of education because their own children are mostly too far away from this miserable education system. Isn’t it?

Drug smuggling: accused remanded in police custody

2009-06-23T17:09:00.001+06:00

KARACHI: Judicial Magistrate of a local court of Karachi Tuesday remanded in police custody till June 27, the three alleged accused involved in deceitfully smuggling drugs into Saudi Arabia—Sarwat Hussain, his wife Shafia and son Faraz Hussain.

All three accused were presented to the court belatedly in the afternoon. Special Public Prosecutor and investigative officers told the court that all three accused belonged to an organized coterie involved in smuggling drugs abroad, adding their activities earned bad name for Pakistan.

The officials said the investigations with these people aimed at nabbing the other people of their group, therefore, they demanded for 14-day remand.

The accused opined that Al-Huda Travel Agency has nothing to do with this, nor are they involved in the drug smuggling.

They told that Az-Zohra Trust provided the slippers to the pilgrims and they are responsible for the whole episode.

The court remanded the accused into police custody till June 27 for further investigation.

Surprise dope test of Shahid Afridi

2009-06-22T13:08:00.001+06:00

LONDON: The officials of International Cricket Council (ICC) conducted surprise dope test of Shahid Afridi at the end of T20 World Cup. The test is a part of ICC routine and any player could be call for the test. This time Shahid Afridi was called for the test. Afridi had an ankle injury and will return home after treatment.

Frenchmen killed in Karachi ‘over submarine money’:

2009-06-20T14:58:00.003+06:00

CHERBOURG: A probe into the 2002 killing of 11 French engineers in Pakistan is focusing on France’s failure to pay a commission for the sale of submarines to Pakistan; a lawyer for the victims’ families was quoted as saying, claim a report of a foreign news agency.
The lawyer, Olivier Morice, said former president Jacques Chirac and former premier Edouard Balladur had been mentioned in the decision to halt the payments.
Morice spoke after two French anti-terrorist investigating magistrates had met with families of the engineers killed in the attack on May 8, 2002 in Karachi. A car packed with explosives was driven into a minibus carrying the Frenchmen, all engineers working for a French state firm, DCN, which was building submarines for Pakistan. The 11 engineers and three Pakistanis were killed.
Investigators had been looking into an Al-Qaeda link to the attack.
But Morice told media: ‘The Al-Qaeda track has been totally abandoned. The motive for the attack appears linked to the non-payment of commissions.’
Morice said the payments were stopped when Chirac became president in 1995 because he wanted to stop part of the money financing the campaign of Balladur, who was his political rival on the French right at the time.
Magali Drouet, a daughter of one of the men killed, quoted one of the anti-terrorist judges, Marc Trevidic, as telling the families that this theory was ‘cruelly logical’.
She added that according to this scenario, the attack was carried out because the special payments were not made by France to Pakistani government officials.
High-ranking politicians would likely be called in to testify, said Morice. Details of the payments emerged in 2008 as part of an investigation into French arms sales.
Police seized documents from the French firm, now known as DCNS, which discussed the companies used to pay fees in connection with arms sales.
One unsigned document spoke of Pakistan intelligence services using militants.-

Bulls return to Karachi Stocks, KSE 100 Index surges by 203 points

2009-06-17T18:17:00.001+06:00

KARACHI: Bearish trend ended at Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) on Wednesday as fresh buying pushed the benchmark KSE-100 Index up by 203 points to close at 7,075.

The stock market opened upbeat and the major Index remained in the green throughout the session as investors took fresh positions in various stocks.

The trade volume improved to 90 million shares today.

OGDC emerged as today’s volume leader which gained Rs2.58 to close at Rs72.75.

KSE-30 Index surged by 259 points to finish the day at 7,539.

Meeting with arrested Pakistanis today

2009-06-17T14:32:00.000+06:00

JEDDAH: Acting Ambassador of Pakistan in Saudi Arabia Muhammed Sarfraz Khan Wednesday said that consular access to the arrested Pakistanis at Jeddah airport will be given today.

Talking to Geo News, he said he received information regarding heroin recovered from the Pakistani family, after which the Pakistan embassy requested the Saudi officials for consular access to the arrested Pakistani family.

‘We have not contacted the affected family as yet,’ he said.

Noting could be said regarding the timeframe for the release of the arrested Pakistani family, as such cases take a long time in Saudi Arabia, the acting Pakistani ambassador added.

Extremists buying children to use as bombers: Rehman Malik

2009-06-16T14:09:00.002+06:00

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said the government is determined to continue the war against terrorism till the Taliban are flushed out of the country. He said that the terrorists were using children for their barbarous terrorist activities, adding a suicide bomber was paid Rs500,000 to Rs2.5 million from terrorist outfits.
He was speaking at an award distribution ceremony for martyred and other police officials at the National Library Auditorium here on Monday. The minister said the government has decided to increase the police strength, and 20,000 more personnel would be recruited in the Capital Police to overcome the shortage of the force.

He said the Chinese government would provide security equipment to the tune of $280 million to Pakistan for capacity building of the law-enforcement agencies. He said the Chinese government has made this commitment during his recent visit to China. He said gadgets would include vehicular scanners, mobile scanners and other items required for security purposes. He said different donors have pledged to give an amount of $65 million for capacity building and improvement in the police department. He said weapons and ammunition were being supplied to terrorists from Afghanistan and the government of Pakistan had taken up this matter with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. He appreciated the performance of the police department, especially, the Capital Police, for curbing the incidents of terrorism and for nabbing the potential terrorists.

He paid tribute to ‘Shuhada’ of suicide attack on Rescue 15 in Islamabad and said he would request the prime minister to bestow Quaid-i-Azam Police Award upon them. He announced plots in Islamabad for the families of police officials who embraced ‘Shahadat’ during the last 10 years and payment of full salary to their families up to the age of 60. He said duty hours of the Capital Police will be reduced and they would be given uniform allowance, vehicles for pick and drop and APCs.Earlier, the minister distributed medals, certificates, and cash prizes among police officers and officials for their outstanding performance.

Police officers and officials received prizes included: SP Nasar Aftab, SP Sajjid Kiyani, SP Saqib Sultan, ASPs Muntazir Mehdi, Liaquat Ali Malik, Farukkah Rashid, DSPs Liaquat Hayat Niazi, Ehasanullah (CID), Bashir Ahmed Noon (CIA), Inspectors, Ashraf Shah, Abdul Razzaq, Arshad Ali, Muhammad Auqab, Muhammad Baqir, Tahir Hussain, SIs Munir Jaffery, Muhammad Sharif, Shahid Mehmud, Muhammad Yasin, ASIs Nadeem Mughal, Ansar Mehmud, Muhammad Rashid, HCs Raza Ahmed, M. Arif, Fida Hussain, Wajid Ali Shah, Atif, Constables Mehtab Hussain and Noor Ahmed.

The minister also distributed shields among Islamabad Chief Commissioner Fazeel Asghar, DIG (operations) Bin Yameen and SSP (traffic) Dr Sultan Azam Temuri. Speaking on the occasion, Islamabad IG Syed Kaleem Imam said the Capital Police were committed to protecting the life and property of the citizens. He said despite deficiency of staff and resources, including transport and accommodation, the Capital Police were showing best performance. He, however, called for more facilities for the police department, including provision of modern equipment, to enable them cope with terrorism. He expressed his thanks to the prime minister and the interior minister for giving raise in salaries of police officials and provision of other facilities.

Agencies add: Rehman Malik said terrorists were targeting innocent people and they have no link with Islam. Every citizen having Pakistani passport were being considered as terrorists in the world. The terrorists have tarnished the image of Islam and Pakistan, he added.

Anti-state elements were buying children and making them suicide bombers, he said and added the terrorists were using civilian as human shield. “We had two options either to surrender before the terrorists or fight with them and now terrorists were bound to run from Swat, Dir and Buner,” he said. He warned the terrorists to lay down their arms otherwise they would be killed.

Impact of mobile phones on our youth

2009-06-15T16:35:00.004+06:00

By Fraz Ahmed Munis

Globalization has many aspects. It contains important discursive aspects in the form of ideologically charged narratives that put before the public a particular agenda of topics for discussion, question to ask and claims to make.

The whole world is accepting and adopting the ways towards the advancement of technology. The youth is playing a vital role in this rapid pace. The strong and mighty cultures are toppling the frail ones.

Unfortunately the countries like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh have strong cultural values, norms and customs that are easily fettered by the western cultural onslaught. Our youth is concentrating on some bad choices.

In this global village, firstly our youth was allured to divert their attention towards the internet. They have changed a lot by the usage of internet. A few of them have inclined for knowledge, information, awareness and exposure but the majority of them appear to have misused the internet.

To some extent, people were done up and vexed with internet but due to the ensconsment of cellular technology all gaps have been bridged for the destruction of youth.

The telecommunication companies in our country have been inclined towards introducing new and attractive packages for youth like Mobilink (ladies first, happy hours), Warid (zem series), Ufone (public demand, prepay life panch ka pandra, u circle) Telenor (talkshawk Aone, djuice) and Zong’s life package.

The question arises why these companies are introducing these packages without the social mobilization to check the mindset of the youth. Are they trying to facilitate the common man or only youth? I think except on very urgent occasions ordinarily no one would like to talk after midnight.

All necessary and normal interactions can be dealt with during daytime but the companies offer the packages that start after end of family or business communication. My feeling is that these packages are more likely to spoil and ravage our youth than to do anything else.

In our youth segment the majority is student community that is spell bounded by these packages. They are losing the essence of their profession/studies. They are derailing and deviating themselves. They are getting away from their goals, destinies and motives. Their minds are becoming stagnant and static. Creativity and innovation is blocked by the consistent telephonic conversations spread over the whole of night.

They are losing their interest towards the interactions and sociality. Alienation is increasing within small community or groups of people. In one room four roommates are strangers to one another. They never try to tie up the relation because they don’t have a pinch of time.

By talking whole night with opposite sex, they are getting psychologically weak and pressured. There are many other physical distortions also arising due to spending the precious time which is needed compulsory rest, relaxation, relief and mental health.

Due to spending whole nights the absenteeism is skyrocketing in every profession. They are going far and far away from the hold of families. They tell lies and have false communication with their parents.

They are betraying the decisions, trust and expectations of their parents. They are traveling towards the lone parent family system in which one is not accountable to anyone and he is the only decision maker. Such kind of behavior is leading towards the social fragmentation and terrible decline of moral values in which respect is core one.

They are crossing the restraints and limitations, very essential for the well integrated society. Due to the bogus projection of the companies their effectiveness and determination is diminishing if we put a furtive glimpse on the chart of protests and rallies conducted against the negative policies, the ratio of youth’ contribution is at minor level and seems vanished because they have engrossed in making affairs and spending their potential and energy to locate the suitable packages.

Their mental approach is revolving around sexual satisfaction. Other emotions and sentiments are pushed oblivion, there are forgetting that there are so many matters that need their kind attention.

They have obsessed devoid of manners and healthy attitude to other requisites and needs. It is obliterating the mental capacity and concentration of the youth like plague.

There is a critical and pathetic state prevailing over the sky of our nation. The whole nation is passing through the chaos, disturbance and mental incapacitation. We are not realizing that what is worth of our youth? That’s why we ourselves are paving the way for our youth towards the devastation and shoving them into fire.

The mobile companies have every right to work out innovative packages offering greater value of money to their customers. But they should not making profits by compromising on the interests of the young generation.

Operation Rah-e-Rast launched to bring astray people on track: COAS General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani

2009-06-15T14:07:00.002+06:00

ISLAMABAD: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani said we do not need foreign advice about the ongoing operation ‘Rah-e-Rast’ which is launched to bring the astray people on the right track (Rah-e-Rast).

Talking to media, army chief said no one could understand our country better than us and the best possible result could be evolve in the present situation for long term betterment. There is a difference between conventional war and present war. In the ongoing war, it is difficult to distinguish friends and enemies.

General Kayani said this is not the war of Islam and Baitullah Mahsud and Fazllulah are not religious scholars. Pakistan was created in the name of Islam, its base is Islam and it would remain exist. Our sacrifices could be successful if Malakand affectees return back to their homes.

Air Chief Rao Qamar Suleman at this occasion said enemies are targeting our children, elders and scholars. The extremists are trying to impose their philosophy on the country. Pakistan Air Force’s performance is exemplary in war against extremism.

Dr Sarfraz Naeemi among 5 martyred in Lahore blast

2009-06-12T17:53:00.001+06:00

LAHORE: At least five people including Jamia Naeemia principal Dr Sarfraz Naeemi were martyred and eight others injured in a suicide blast at Jamia Naeemia situated in Garhi Shahu area of Lahore, Geo News reported Friday.

The blast occurred after the Friday prayers when the people were making their way out of the mosque after offering the Friday prayers. A lot of people were present in the mosque at the time of blast.

Jamia Naeemia principal Dr Sarfraz Naeemi was present at his office at the Jamia Naeemia at the time of blast, the eyewitnesses said adding he was meeting with the people and students at his office; in the meantime, the suicide bomber blew himself up.

The blast was so powerful that the outer walls of the Jamia Naeemia Masjid collapsed and he nearby buildings were harmed in the blast.

The injured Maulana Naeemi was rushed to the hospital; however, he succumbed to the injuries on the way to the hospital.

The deceased include his close associate Dr Khalilur Rehman.

The personnel of the security forces cordoned off the area and started the relief operation.

The injured were rushed to the Meo Hospital. Emergency has been declared in the hospitals of the Lahore.

The security forces are searching the building on the apprehension of another bomb.

DCO Lahore Sajjad Bhutta said the Maulana was provided with the proper security.

35 hurt in Bolan Express blast

2009-06-11T14:29:00.001+06:00

NASEERABAD: At least 35 others were injured in the blast in Bolan Express, Geo News reported Thursday.

Bolan Express was on way from Karachi to Quetta. The blast occurred in coach-3.

The relief workers arrived on the spot and the injured are being rushed to the hospitals. An injured is in critical condition.

According to railway officials, the blast occurred in Bolan area of Colpur.

11 killed in Pearl Continental blast in Peshawar

2009-06-10T14:32:00.003+06:00

* Attackers fire at security guards from one vehicle, blow up second inside hotel’s compound
* 60 injured, 2 foreigners including Russian UN official among dead

PESHAWAR: A massive truck bomb ripped through the five-star Pearl Continental hotel in Peshawar on Tuesday killing 11 people and wounding 60.

The attackers entered the compound on two vehicles at about 10:30pm, spraying the security guards at the hotel gate with bullets from one and blowing up the other in the hotel parking.

“It was a suicide attack,” city police chief Sefwat Ghayur told AFP. “There are two foreigners among the dead,” provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said. He did not reveal their nationalities.

A witness said he first heard shooting and then there was loud bang that left the area in thick smoke. The explosion was followed by a power failure.

Forty vehicles parked in the compound were destroyed and the building was seriously damaged. A large crater was seen in the parking area. A portion of the building was completely destroyed.

The explosion was heard several kilometres away from the site and shook nearby buildings, shattering the windows of many of them.

Khyber Road is a sensitive locality with the NWFP Assembly and several government and military buildings.

A number of foreigners, most of them associated with aid agencies, were staying in the hotel.

UN official: A private TV channel said the dead included UNHCR official Alexander Joseph from Russia. Sixteen other UNHCR officials were injured and one was missing. The injured also included an official from the World Food Programme, another from the World Health Organisation and two from UNICEF, it said. Another TV channel said a foreign female journalist was also injured.

Edhi sources claimed receiving dead bodies of three foreigners.

News channels said that hotel manager Kamal Ahmad was missing. Two PIA hostesses were also injured and a captain was missing.

A Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) official told reporters at least 500 kilogrammes of explosives were used in the attack.

Police cordoned off the area following the explosion and closed Khyber Road for traffic. The hotel was evacuated and an emergency was imposed in Peshawar’s hospitals.

There were unconfirmed reports that employees of a private American company had hired a portion of the hotel.

The NWFP information minister condemned the attack and told a private TV channel it would not affect his government’s resolve against the Taliban.

Most of the injured were hotel employees and were taken to Lady Reading Hospital.

The Associated Press said US officials were in negotiations to make the premises an American consulate. Citing two senior US officials in Washington, it said the State Department had been in negotiations with the hotel’s owners to either purchase the facility or sign a long-term lease there to house a new American consulate in Peshawar. The officials said they were not aware of any sign that US interest in the compound had played a role in it being targeted.

Lou Fintor, spokesman for the US Embassy in Islamabad, said all diplomatic personnel were accounted for. “At this point we have no reports that any Americans were at the scene,” he said.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the attack and grieved the loss of innocent lives, and resolve to continue the government’s commitment to eradicate terrorism.

Pak military has the capability, capacity to crush insurgency in Swat, adjoining areas: Masood Khan

2009-06-09T17:20:00.002+06:00

The Pakistan army has the capacity and capability to protect the sovereignty, independence of its mother land as well as to crush the threat of terrorism, said Ambassador Masood Khan in a television interview here. Participating at CCTV Asia Today’s programme on Monday, while responding to a question, he made it clear that it is wrong to say that we have succeeded to recapture the Swat valley or Malakand areas. In fact, the valley and all parts of the region were always with us. What the army did was to confront the elements who had challenged the writ of the state.
“As the defiance from militants became too aggressive, too outrageous, the government decided to send army into these areas to flush them out”, he said.

Khan said that local government had a peace agreement with the militants, but they defied it. As a last resort it was decided to take them out as well as to dismantle the apparatus that was supporting them.

“We are determined to eliminate militants from our soil to ensure peace and stability” as these outlaws were posing threat not only to Pakistan, but to the entire neighborhood.

Regarding continuous bomb attacks by militants, in spite of the fact that army is achieving successes in Swat valley, Khan said these acts on the part of militants were in retaliation to the army operation.

“Militants are targeting civilians and government institutions. Our security forces are vigilant. Security arrangement has been strengthened”, he said.

He said that government is working on 3-pronged strategy to face the threat of militancy: anti-militancy operation; humanitarian relief for the internally displaced persons; and win over the moderate but misguided elements who were supporting the Taliban.

On displaced persons, he said that the figure of IDP had reached a staggering 3.3million and was growing.

However, Khan said, Pakistan is determined to provide food, shelter, health, education and to meet their daily needs, but it was so massive, that my country could not manage it by its own resources, therefore Pakistan had asked the international community for help.

In this regard, he specially mentioned the Chinese government and the people for coming forward in a big way to elevate the suffering of the IDPS.

He said that to meet by our own resources, the Pakistan Embassy here had also organized a Meena Bazaar Fundraiser on Sunday, and the Chinese as well as member of the international community participated in it in a big way.

The anchor person of the programme Zhou meanwhile said that Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has expressed the resolve to flush these elements which is a good sign for Pakistan .

Sindh Cabinet discusses ongoing spate of target killings

2009-06-09T12:33:00.002+06:00

KARACHI: The ongoing spate of target killings in the city had so far claimed 31 lives, Sindh Cabinet which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Syed Qaim Alil Shah, was informed during discussion on obtaining law and order situation.
Briefing newsmen about the Cabinet proceedings, Sindh Minister for Information Shazia Marri said the Cabinet expressed concern over continued target killings in the city and said the Provincial Home
Minister Dr. Zulfikar Mirza will be holding a meeting with IGP, CCPO and heads of other law enforcing organizations to review the situation. She said the Chief Minister, too, has convened a meeting to be held today at 5 p.m. to solely focus on law and order. The Home Minister, she said, told the Cabinet that situation has remained sensitive since June 1 and those 31 killed so far belonged to various political parties.
She said that government effort is to assure strict monitoring in various areas through the meetings of Core Committee and help improve the law and order situation.
She said that situation had been quite disturbing in Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony and Malir areas where police deployment has been increased from 2000 to 3000 cops besides an increase in the number of Rangers as well. Shazia Marri said that the Cabinet was of the view that there is need to improve the political reconciliation process and for this purpose it was imperative that all the political parties which are part of Sindh Government take a united stand to control law and order. She said the Chief Minister asked all the political parties to strive together to overcome law and order situation.

Why Taliban cannot take over Pakistan

2009-06-09T12:30:00.001+06:00

* For reasons of geography, ethnicity, military inferiority, and ancient rivalries, Taliban represent neither the threat often portrayed, nor the inevitable victors that the West fears

The Taliban are within 60 miles of Islamabad, it was reported. And David Kilcullen, a counter-insurgency expert, said that Pakistan could collapse within six months. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said if the country were to fall, the Taliban would have the “keys to the nuclear arsenal”. Senator John Kerry warned: “The government has to ratchet up the urgency.”

The military has since launched a major counteroffensive that has sent nearly 3 million people fleeing their homes. Yet Pakistani analysts and officials believe that the infamous threat of an imminent Taliban takeover is overblown.

True, the Taliban threat remains serious. They maintain a presence in more than 60 percent of the northwestern Pakistan and control significant sections along the Afghan border.

But even if the current operation stalls, or the Taliban return to the areas they’ve been ousted from, a Christian Science Monitor report concludes, they may not significantly expand their footprint in the country anytime soon. For reasons of geography, ethnicity, military inferiority, and ancient rivalries, they represent neither the immediate threat that is often portrayed, nor the inevitable victors that the West fears.

“The Taliban have been able to operate in certain [mountainous areas] because of the terrain and the sympathy factor,” says Rifat Hussain of Quaid-e-Azam University. “The moment they begin to move out of the hideouts, they are exposed. If you have 100 truckloads of Taliban on the Peshawar Highway, all you need is two helicopter gunships” to wipe them out.

Coming down from the hills would also expose the Taliban to a more secular, urban world that views them as “a bunch of mountain barbarians”.

It’s a common saying these days that all Taliban are Pashtuns, but not all Pashtuns are Taliban.

The grievances that the Taliban exploit, such as unemployment and tribal feudalism, are not as prevalent even in Haripur. Lush farmland and an industrial centre support relative prosperity.

The notion of a Taliban conquest of Pakistan also bumps up against some simple arithmetic. The Taliban in Swat numbered 5,000, and the total from all factions in Pakistan is estimated in the tens of thousands, at most. The Pakistani military, meanwhile, numbers more than half a million. Until the latest counteroffensive, some analysts questioned the military’s resolve in fighting the insurgency. But the counteroffensive in Swat has convinced many that the Army is serious. The mass displacement of civilians offers grim confirmation of heavy engagement.

Karachi target killings toll reaches to 19

2009-06-08T12:26:00.003+06:00

(Updated at: 0915 PST)

KARACHI: A slew of gun attacks and sporadic incidents of violence claimed 3 more lives in the provincial metropolis on Sunday night.

According to police sources, a man shot dead near Gol Market in Nazimabad whereas two others killed in Azizabad and Liaquatabad. The toll of target killing reaches to 19 during the past two days.

TNSM naib ameer Muhammad Alam and spokesman Ameer Izzat Khan killed in militants attack

2009-06-06T15:09:00.002+06:00

RAWALPINDI: The naib ameer of Tahreek-e-Nifaz Shariat Muhammadi(TNSM) Maulana Muhammad Alam and spokesman Ameer Izzat Khan have been killed during clash between security forces and militants in Sakhakot on Saturday morning.

According to ISPR, a security forces convoy carrying prisoners including Maulana Muhammad Alam and Ameer Izzat Khan attacked by militants in Sakhakot. The prisoners were being shifted from Malakand to Peshawar.

A non-commissioned officer of Pakistan army has been martyred and five other personnel hurt during intense trade of fire between security forces and militants. Maulana Alam and Ameer Izzat Khan were also killed during firing.

39 Taliban arrested among IDPs

2009-05-30T13:52:00.002+06:00

ISLAMABAD: Police have arrested 39 suspected Taliban fighters hiding among Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) from a military offensive against militants from Pakistan’s Swat Valley region, a senior officer said yesterday.
The arrests, made in the past few days, were the first of alleged militants among more than 2 million people who have fled the fighting.
Syed Akhtar Ali Shah said the 39 suspects had shaved off the beards that many conservative Muslims consider a sign of piety.
Officials had previously warned that fleeing insurgents may try to take refuge among civilians.
One dozen of the suspected Taliban were arrested in IDPs camps south of the Swat region, while the others were picked up in houses where refugees were staying with relatives or were renting, said Syed Akhtar Ali Shah, the police chief in Mardan, a town that hosts some of the roughly one dozen camps.
“These Taliban have mixed up themselves among the refugees,” Shah told a reporter by telephone.
They had cut their hair short and shaved their beards in a bid to disguise themselves from authorities and blend in with civilians, he said. Many conservative Muslims believe men should grow their hair and beards long as a sign of piety.

Mullen says Iran closer on nuclear weapons

2009-05-25T17:18:00.002+06:00

WASHINGTON: Iran is clearly moving closer to acquiring a nuclear weapons capability but military strikes to counter the program would have serious unintended consequences, the top US military officer said yesterday.
“I think the unintended consequence of a strike against Iran right now would be incredibly serious, as well as the unintended consequences of their achieving a weapon,” Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
“That’s why this engagement, dialogue is so important,” he said in an interview, referring to President Barack Obama’s aim to engage Iran diplomatically.
Mullen said the United States would approach Iran “with all options on the table.”
Mullen said he did not believe Iran’s claims that it is developing its nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes, but he said the aim of diplomacy would be “to really bring out whether that is how the senior leaders feels.”
“Certainly from what I’ve seen in recent years, Iran is on a path to develop nuclear weapons,” he said.

Al Qaeda planning attack on US: Obama

2009-05-22T17:15:00.001+06:00

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama has claimed that the al-Qaeda is planning to attack US again, maintain that the fight against the organization is a long war, reports media yesterday.
Speaking at the National Archives, which houses the US Constitution and other documents embodying America’s system of government and justice, the president promised to work with Congress to develop a safe and fair system for dealing with those Guantánamo detainees who cannot be prosecuted “yet who pose a clear danger to the American people.”
Confessing that the Guantanamo was a misguided experiment, Obama maintained that US would not release anyone from Guantanamo Bay detention center who according to him endangers US national security.
He said that harsh interrogative methods undermined US efforts to counter militancy. He said that the US must show that its values were more resilient to hate ideologies.

Obama confessed early immature decisions
WASHIGTON: U S President Barack Obama confessed that U S Government make decisions in hurry after carnage of Nine Eleven, he addressing to American Security Council.
US lost its strategy against terrorism, we are establishing new partnerships to defeat Al’Qaida, he added.

‘Pak Army is aware of internal threats’ We are capable of handling present crisis by ourselves: COAS

2009-05-09T13:48:00.002+06:00

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that Pakistan is a sovereign state and the people of Pakistan under a democratic dispensation, supported by the Army, are capable of handling the present crisis in their own national interest
He expressed these views while chairing the 118th Corps Commanders’ Conference at General Headquarters on Thursday. The conference was a part of regular monthly meeting.
In his opening remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that present security situation requires that all elements of national power should work in close harmony to fight the menace of terrorism and extremism. COAS said that Pakistan is a sovereign state and the people of Pakistan under a democratic dispensation, supported by the Army, are capable of handling the present crisis in their own national interest.
The participants were given a comprehensive briefing on prevailing security situation in the region. The matters of operational preparedness and professional interest were discussed in the meeting. COAS expressed his satisfaction at the standard and conduct of on going training in the filed formations as part of ‘Year of Training’.

20 Uzbek terrorists reportedly enter Punjab

2009-03-24T18:23:00.001+05:00

LAHORE: It has been reliably learnt that 20 Uzbek terrorists have entered Punjab, Geo news reported on Tuesday.

According to Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sargodha region, Mukhtar Gondal, nearly 20 suspected Uzbek terrorists have entered Punjab who could target Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Bhakkar and Sargodha.

Gondal said that security has been beefed up following the tip-off and search operation is underway. He said Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsood has dispatched the Uzbeks.

Guard killed in suicide attack at Police station

2009-03-24T17:32:00.002+05:00

By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—At least two persons including a police constable and suicide bomber were killed and five others injured in a powerful blast at the gate of Special Branch of Police station in Sector G-7 near Sitara Market here on Monday, police and eye witnesses said.
A suspected bomber around 8:00 P.M tried to enter into the Special Branch of Police where he was barred by guards at a checkpoint at the gate as a result he blew himself up, killing one police constable on the spot, witnesses said. The police constable who was killed in the suicide bombing was identified as Faisal. The blast was so loud that it shattered the window panes of the surrounding buildings.
Ambulances and rescue teams reached the scene and initiated rescue operations soon after the attack and collected scattered limbs for forensics and other evidences from the scene. The injured were shifted to Government Services Hospital and Pakistan Institute of Medical sciences were emergency have been declared. “So far only one person had been brought to the Polyclinic hospital whose name is said to be Muhammad Karim”, said doctors engaged with his medical treatment. He, however, said that Karim is out of danger.”
Injured Muhammad Karim is stated to be a computer operator in the building where usually 100 to 150 officers work Advisor Interior Rehman Malik who reached at the scene confirmed that it was suicide attack. He said there were authentic reports of carrying out subversive activities to the intelligence agencies in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The police Cop Faisal, he said scarified his life but he averted a big loss had the suicide bomber entered into the building, Malik added. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani condemned the suicide bomb attack on the offices of special branch police at Sitara Market in Islamabad.In their statements, the President and the Prime Minister said the perpetrators of the heinous terrorist attack will not go unpunished.They ordered the Interior Ministry to hold immediate inquiry into the incident.They directed the hospital authorities to provide best possible medical care to the injured.
Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman A Malik said the suicide blast at a police station near Sitara Market was carried out by one among the `series of bombers’ who sneaked into the Capital before Long March. “We had a very authentic information that some 15-20 Uzbek suicide bombers were sent by Baitullah Mehsud following a meeting of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),” the Interior Advisor told media on Monday. Malik said a police constable named Faisal embraced martyrdom while trying to stop the suicide bomber who tried to force his way into the premises. “I salute this brave policeman for showing such an act of gallantry,” Malik said. Meanwhile, five other persons were reported wounded in the blast.
The Interior Advisor said security in Islamabad was put on high alert as they had information of today’s attack. Asked as to how could the suicide bomber could make it if elaborate security cover was in place, he said “no effective mechanism has so far been developed anywhere in the world to preempt suicide bombing” (Daily Mail)

Balcohistan PA passes motion against potential drone attacks

2009-03-21T17:27:00.002+05:00

QUETTA: Balochistan Assembly on Saturday unanimously passed a motion against probable U.S. drone attacks.

According to sources, the resolution presented by Jamiat Ulema Islam (F) urged federal government and other institutions to play their due role against possible U.S. drone attacks in Balochistan.

Senior Minister of JUI (F) Maulana Abdul Wasaay said federal government and other bodies should brief United Stated and Nato forces about efforts made against terrorism and tell them that their reservations are baseless.

Attorney general Latif Khosa directs deputy to file review petition

2009-03-16T16:57:00.002+05:00

ISLAMABAD: Attorney General Latif Khosa has directed deputy attorney general to file a review petition in Sharif brothers’ eligibility case.

According to sources, Khosa said petition would be filed soon after the detail decision. Deputy Attorney General Agha Tariq will file the petition.

Agha Tariq said he got the message of attorney general regarding petition, which will be filed after reviewing the legal points of previous decision.

India hands over replies to Pakistan

2009-03-13T17:50:00.002+05:00

NEW DELHI: In a major development, India has handed over its reply to the 30 questions raised by Pakistan after studying the 26/11 dossier. The Indian dossier runs in 401 pages.

The reply includes CDs and voice intercepts of terrorists.

Speaking on the issue, Home Minister P Chidambaram said, "All of Pakistan's 30 questions related to Mumbai terror attacks have been answered. These replies have been backed with evidence like forensic reports."

Chidambaram also said that if Pakistan is serious, these answers provide them solid base to prosecute.

The Home Minister handed over the replies to Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee who in turn handed it over to Pakistan.

Bilawal Bhutto, son of the late Benazir, is said to be planning to run for treasurer in the student elections

2009-03-06T16:33:00.003+05:00

News arrives that the Oxford Union Society is indulging in its second favourite pastime Bilawal Bhutto, the 20-year-old son of the late Benazir, is said to be planning to run for treasurer in the student elections next week. His mother was, of course, the first Asian female president of the society in 1976.

“The fact his mother was president is certainly a factor,” a student mole reports. “Bilawal, who’s in his second year reading history at Christ Church, wants to emulate her and there’s a sense of a dynasty. They say his father wanted him to run when he first came to Oxford, but he’s always said he’s going on to do serious work later in life, so he might as well enjoy himself first.”

And what does Bhutto himself say? When cornered at a student party, he offered an enigmatic “Maybe.” Apparently he is wary about the society’s reputation for being brutal and bitchy. If he is hoping to follow in his Mum’s footsteps and become prime minister of Pakistan, you’d think dealing with a few braying undergraduates would be a doddle. (Times online)

Pakistan arrests 3 people on attacks on Sri Lankan cricket team

2009-03-04T17:16:00.001+05:00

ISLAMABAD, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani police have arrested three people in connection with the terror attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team in eastern city of Lahore, local television reported on Wednesday.

The three people have been arrested for providing assistance in the attacks, private Geo TV channel said.

Habibur Rehman, a police officer in Lahore, also told reporters that the raids to capture the suspects are underway and good news will be revealed soon.

At least seven persons including five policemen were killed and 19 others including seven Sri Lankan cricket players were injured in the terrorist attacks.

Pakistan Attack Puts 2011 Cricket World Cup Matches in Jeopardy

2009-03-03T16:36:00.007+05:00

March 3 (Bloomberg) -- Cricket’s run of near misses with terrorists ended today when gunmen injured Sri Lanka players and killed at least five policemen in Pakistan, casting doubt over future matches in the region including the 2011 World Cup.

“This is the first time that cricketers have been attacked,” said N. Srinivasan, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, in an interview.

Two players received gunshot wounds as 12 terrorists carrying rocket launchers and grenades targeted a team bus 500 yards from the Qaddafi stadium in Lahore, where Sri Lanka was due to face Pakistan today. None of the players was seriously injured, team officials said.

Sri Lanka was only playing after India scrapped a visit because of security fears following the Mumbai attacks in November. Terrorists then targeted foreigners, including a hotel used by England’s team weeks earlier. The 2011 World Cup is scheduled for India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

“That tournament is now in jeopardy,” said Ramachandra Guha, a cricket historian, in a telephone interview from Bangalore. “No one will agree to go to Pakistan. That will be a massive blow to cricket in the entire subcontinent.”

Sri Lanka canceled its tour after today’s attack and President Mahinda Rajapaksa berated a “cowardly” act on “goodwill ambassadors.” Nations including Australia have refused to play in Pakistan in recent years and the International Cricket Council first postponed and then took away its Champions Trophy from Pakistan originally scheduled for last September.

‘Death of Cricket’

“It’s the death of cricket in Pakistan,” said Shaukat Qadir, a security analyst and retired Pakistani army brigadier general, in an interview. “Only Sri Lanka had the courage to come and play here.”

Sri Lanka was contesting the first Test series to take place in Pakistan since South Africa’s visit in October 2007. New Zealand quit a 2002 series after a bomb near the team hotel in Karachi killed 11 people.

ICC Chief Executive Officer Haroon Lorgat told the BBC no World Cup games will take place in Pakistan without “dramatic changes” in security. He will hold a news conference in London.

“There obviously have been breaches and the security has not been good enough,” Lorgat told Times Now.

The next team scheduled to visit Pakistan is New Zealand, in December, while England is due to travel to the Asian nation in February 2010. Pakistan was awarded one of the semifinals at the Cricket World Cup in two years’ time.

‘Saddest Day’

“This is the saddest day for all sportsmen,” former Pakistani cricket captain Javed Miandad told GEO TV. “The future of cricket in Pakistan doesn’t look good.”

The attack won’t alter plans to hold the Indian Premier League from next month, Srinivasan said. During last year’s event, players sought assurances after bombs in the northern Indian city of Jaipur killed as many as 60 people in a market frequented by cricketers.

England’s cricket team flew home from India immediately after the November attacks in Mumbai before later returning. The inaugural Champions League Twenty20 competition was postponed because of those attacks.

“Every part of the world has to learn to deal with terrorism,” Srinivasan said. “We had concerns about safety (in Pakistan) and also it was after the Bombay attacks so we decided to scrap the tour.”

Pakistan won’t host international teams for at least a year, said cricket historian Guha, while former Australia player Brendon Julian predicted an impasse lasting two years when speaking on Fox Sports today.

‘Rebuild Confidence’

“It is a big dent,” Pakistan’s Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani said in an interview. “It will take a coordinated effort to rebuild confidence.”

India and Pakistan used cricket to improve relations when they resumed playing each other in 2004 in the so-called Friendship Series, two years after being on the brink of war. Further matches look unlikely any time soon, former Pakistan cricket captain Asif Iqbal said.

India blamed terrorist “elements” from Pakistan for the Mumbai assault that killed 164 people. It presented a dossier on its evidence to Pakistan in January. After studying the document, the government in Islamabad asked India to answer 30 questions on the findings.

“Nobody can give any assurances when people are prepared to go to these extremes,” Asif said on NDTV from London.

Fallout of the verdict

2009-03-02T17:48:00.005+05:00

By Talat Masood

The way events are unfolding in Pakistan it appears our national failure has been programmed and the political software written by our leaders, whether it was the erstwhile military regime or the current civilian leadership, leaves little scope for recovery. In the face of multiple challenges that the country is confronted with, the need is to develop a broad consensus. Instead President Zardari regrettably is pursuing, the politics of “winner takes all” and Nawaz Sharif is taking his fight to the streets. When the country is facing an expanding insurgency in FATA and parts of NWFP, a nationalist uprising in Baluchistan, an economy in deep distress, increasing tensions with India and acute problems of governance it is mind boggling why any leader should try to destabilize Punjab.

The implications of the court decision are going to be far reaching on the body politic and economy of the country. First, in the short term it would deflect the attention of the government from combating insurgency and counter terrorism. For the government to place reliance on the recent peace deals in Swat and elsewhere would be premature and misleading, as the situation is still tenuous and uncertainClearly, PML-N is the most important political force in Punjab and the second largest national party and it is imprudent to antagonize them at this juncture, when owning the fight against insurgents and mobilizing public opinion against them is crucial. Moreover, PML-N has been taking a moderate and balanced approach toward fighting insurgency in FATA and advocating a firm policy of controlling militants that are destabilizing Pakistan and creating serious problems with India.

It is likely that political expediency may push PML-N in a close alliance with rightist and hard line parties and fight against militancy will weaken. The opposition cannot be expected to remain silent in the face of President Zardari’s effort to impose PPP rule throughout the country. What is more politically significant is that PML-N joining the lawyers’ movement will give a new momentum to it! And as other opposition elements join the band wagon it may result in building a critical mass sufficient to unhinge the government that already is so weak.

PPP regrettably, ever since the tragic death of Benazir Bhutto has been factionalized, its democratic character marred by the authoritarian style of its new leadership and is unlikely to provide the motivation to resist the emerging countervailing political forces. The opposition parties may also succeed in driving a wedge between Prime Minister Gilani and President Zardari. Their relationship is already under stress as most of the government powers rest with the prime minister but are being exercised by President Zardari.

Lack of credibility and popular perception about the legitimacy of the higher courts and of President Zardari, makes the court’s decision to disqualify the Sharif brothers and the imposition of governor’s rule difficult to stick. In any case disqualification of Sharif brothers has been a great setback to democracy and pluralism.

If confrontation is not avoided soon the economic problems will get compounded and political instability will increase. Domestic and external investments will further dry up and overall productivity will fall. Our dependence on IMF, international donor agencies and US assistance which is already high will increase. US influence which is pervasive could become overwhelming. Poverty levels will rise, causing hardship to large cross sections of people. It has been experienced that financially and bureaucratically weak governments create an environment that favours militant recruitment and poorer countries suffer longer insurgencies.

For democracy to endure in a poor country as ours, economic growth is essential. Economic development allows middle class to gain economic and political power as private business and civil society gains strength. All these possibilities would be lost if the political foes do not reconcile their differences.

India will take full advantage of Pakistan’s internal dissensions and will step up its diplomatic pressure.

Military leadership so far has been trying to stay away from politics, but may be constrained to intervene if conditions deteriorate to prevent country’s slide into chaos. And politicians have to remind themselves that every military intervention has been berthed in gratitude albeit the honeymoon has been short lived as they too have failed miserably in solving the country’s myriad problems.

The way to prevent the country from a downward spiral is for President Zardari and Nawaz Sharif to move from confrontation to reconciliation and develop a framework for coexistence and tolerance for each other. Punjab must return to PML-N, just as the PPP government at the centre should be allowed to complete its full term. Any unjust dispensation of political power will accelerate the downslide. We have the experience of 90’s in front of us and President Musharraf’s blunders fresh in our memory. His lack of understanding of the value of institutions be it judiciary, parliament, political parties or bureaucracy brought the country to the brink of a chasm.

Similarly, PPP and PML leaders in the 90’s tried to undermine each other and weakened democratic institutions. It seems they have not learnt from their past mistakes despite the assurances they were giving to the electorate before the elections. It is time that the political leaders diverted their energies toward building the country and wrapping up their convoluted ambitions. They have to draw strength from the people and be accountable to them if they have to stay in power and ensure an enduring democracy.

The writer is a retired lieutenant-general. Email: talat@comsats.net.pk

(The News)

Naval chief denies Kasab entered India from Pakistan

2009-02-28T12:23:00.002+05:00

* Admiral Bashir says ‘if Kasab did go from here, when he entered Indian waters, where was the Indian Navy?’
* India rejects claim

KARACHI: Naval Chief of Staff Admiral Nauman Bashir said on Friday he had no proof that Ajmal Kasab – the lone surviving gunman arrested after the Mumbai attacks –used Pakistani waters to reach India.

“I do not have any proof, so I cannot confirm that claim,” said Nauman while addressing a press conference on upcoming multinational naval exercises, to be hosted by Pakistan. “The Indian navy is much larger than ours, and if Ajmal Kasab had gone from here, then what were their coastguards doing and why they did not stop the terrorists?” the naval commander was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. Nauman declined further comment on the Mumbai attacks. “There are many questions about the Mumbai attacks which need to be answered and until then, we cannot make any comment.”

Indian rejection: According to the Times of India, New Delhi on Friday rubbished the Pakistan Navy chief’s claim. “The dossier handed over to Pakistan was irrefutable and solid on facts,” Home Minister P Chidambaram was quoted as saying at a press conference.

According to AFP, India’s junior foreign minister, Anand Sharma, also rejected the naval chief’s claim, and said Pakistan was engaging in ‘multiple speak, duplicity and denial’ and had ‘created this confusion’.

Indian police have charged Kasab with murder and ‘waging war’ against India.

General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani honored at US Army College

2009-02-27T16:47:00.002+05:00

WASHINGTON: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who is on an official visit to USA, today visited Command and General Staff College at Fort Leaven Worth, Kansas.

On arrival Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell, IV Commandant US Army Command and General Staff College received him. Later a simple and graceful “International Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony” was held.

In this prestigious ceremony, photograph of COAS was placed in US Army International Hall of Fame. General Kayani is the 4th Pakistani graduate of US Army Command and General Staff College who has been conferred upon this honour on obtaining 4 star rank. At the end of the ceremony National Anthem of Pakistan was also played.

Fire Erupts in Marriott Hotel Islamabad

2009-02-26T18:09:00.003+05:00

ISLAMABAD: Fire erupted in two floors of five-star Marriott Hotel here in capital, A Pakistan news reported on Thursday.

Four fire brigades of Capital Development Authority (CDA) immediately reached the scene.

Fire fighters are tackling the blaze which firstly erupted at basement and then moving to upper floors and basement. The hotel has been evacuated after the fire.

No motive behind the fire eruption has been ascertained as yet, however reportedly there was wooden work underway at the basement.

Three persons were injured while tackling the blaze, later they were rushed to hospital.

No active system to tackle the blaze has been witnessed during the incident even after the deadly fire of September 2008 which fully destroyed the five-star hotel.

The hotel was opened a month back after its renovation and rebuilding.

Sharif brothers declared ineligible, Shahbaz no more Punjab CM

2009-02-25T13:15:00.001+05:00

ISLAMABAD: The three-member Bench of Supreme Court has disposed off Sharif brothers’ electoral eligibility case by declaring them ineligible for contesting elections in its two-line short order announced here.

Shahbaz Sharif under this verdict has lost his seat in the provincial assembly and being no longer member of the Punjab House, he is no more Punjab chief minister, as SC has annulled the earlier notification about his being chief minister.

This case was under hearing of the SC three-member Bench headed by Justice Musa K. Laghari for the last eight months, in which, the Attorney General of Pakistan, Latif Khosa giving his arguments said that Punjab chief secretary and speaker were not the party in the case. Attorney General said that all the judges have taken oaths under the constitution and talking about the oath of the interim constitution was irrelevant.

He said that Nawaz Sharif’s proposer and seconder could become parties in the case if the court permits them and their becoming parties was not necessary. He further said that it was the discretion of the judge to withdraw from the Bench and no one could direct him to pull out.

On conclusion of the arguments, after a short break, the Bench disposing off the Sharif brothers’ eligibility case declared them ineligible.

Following the verdict, Sharif brothers’ lawyer, Akram Sheikh told media that the decision was as expected, as the government was giving dictation to the judges. He said that Sharif brothers were declared ineligible on the orders of President Zardari. He said that the judges would be made accountable on the Day of Judgement. Akram Shiekh said that now it was up to the people to decide if the verdict was on merit. He said that he couldn’t comment on the incomplete two-line judgment. This decision would be presented as bouquet to President Asif Zardari on his return from the China tour.

ML-N workers in sizable number were present on the occasion of the announcement of verdict raising slogans in favour of long march and Sharif brothers. Security arrangement remain tightened in the capital city here. (The News)

Nawaz claims to have taken Kargil war blame to save army image

2009-02-21T17:39:00.001+05:00

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League (N) Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has revealed that the Kargil operation was planned and executed by the army under the then COAS General Parvez Musharraf’s leadership without his knowledge.

Addressing PML (N) General Council meeting at Raiwind on Saturday, Nawaz Sharif said Musharraf launched the Kargil operation soon after the visit of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Lahore.

Nawaz said he established contact with the then United States President Bill Clinton when Indian PM Vajpayee informed him of the Kargil operation. He said despite his busy schedule, Clinton met wit me (Nawaz). Nawaz said he claimed the blame of Kargil war to save army’s image.

PML (N) chief said he was fortunate to have loyal workers in the party. On lawyers’ movement, Nawaz said success of this movement would ensure prosperity and security of Pakistan.

Bid to bomb Karachi bank foiled

2009-02-21T17:20:00.001+05:00

KARACHI: Security guards of a bank foiled a suicide attack in New Sabzi Mandi area of the city here.
The suicide bomber wanted to enter into the bank but the security guards gunned him down. According to DIG East Zafar Bokhari, the suspected bomber was killed in a police encounter.

Google Earth Exposes Secret U.S. Drones at Pakistan Base in 2006

2009-02-19T16:27:00.002+05:00

Despite denials from Washington and Pakistan, satellite imagery captures what appear to be three U.S. Predator drones outside a hangar at the Shamsi airbase in Pakistan's southwest.

The U.S. was secretly flying unmanned drones from the Shamsi airbase in Pakistan's southwestern province of Baluchistan as early as 2006, according to an image of the base from Google Earth, the Times of London reported Thursday.

The image -- that is no longer on the site but which was obtained by The News, Pakistan's English language daily newspaper -- shows what appear to be three Predator drones outside a hangar at the end of the runway.

The Times also obtained a copy of the image, whose coordinates confirm that it is the Shamsi airfield, also known as Bandari, about 200 miles southwest of the Pakistani city of Quetta.

The Times reported yesterday that the CIA was secretly using Shamsi to launch the Predator drones that observe and attack Al Qaeda and Taliban militants around Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.

U.S. special forces used the airbase during the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, but the Pakistani Government said in 2006 that the Americans had left and both sides have since denied repeatedly that Washington was using Pakistani bases.

Two senior U.S. defense officials told FOX News that no Predator unmanned aerial vehicles are currently or have recently been based on Pakistani territory, despite a statement by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, at a recent Congressional intelligence hearing.

However, they could use the Shamsi air base if they needed to. The base is well known to the U.S. military and was used by the Americans in 2001 and 2002 at the beginning of the war in Afghanistan.

One U.S. official told FOX News the U.S. has been flying "Predators or UAVs" in Pakistan since 2002.

There have been 30 strikes since August with 11 top leaders of Al Qaeda taken out, according to intelligence reports.

Senior officials also confirm that Pakistan has been aiding the U.S. in its Predator unmanned aerial vehicle strikes in Pakistan's tribal areas, despite its leaders very public protests that they see the strikes as a breach of sovereignty.

Both President Asif Ali Zardari and General Ashraf Kayani, the head of Pakistan's army, have turned a blind eye to the strikes. According to the officials, these two leaders have launched no protests behind the scenes to U.S. officials about the strikes.

Any public protests have been for public consumption inside Pakistan. One official, however, says that not all elements of the Pakistani government are aware of this cooperation or support it - suggesting other civilian leaders may not be onboard.

(Fox News Report)

NWFP govt., TNSM ink Nizam-e-Adal Accord

2009-02-16T16:35:00.001+05:00

PESHAWAR: The North West Frontier Province (NWFP) government and Tahrik-e-Nifaz Shariat Muhammadi, after finalization of an accord for the enforcement of Nizam-e-Adal in Malakand, have inked a Nizam-e-Adal accord at the end of the Jirga here on Monday.

Following the Jirga, NWFP Chief Minister, Amir Haider Khan Hoti, who was presiding over the Jirga, told the media that the enforcement of Nizam-e-Adal was a historic moment and it would come in force forthwith.

"Today an agreement has been signed between the government of NWFP and Maulana Sufi Mohammed," provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told reporters here.

"All laws against sharia will be abolished and sharia will be enforced under this justice system," he added.

The agreement will cover Malakand area, one of the districts of NWFP, which includes the Swat valley.

"It is my hope that the armed people will disarm themselves, give up the path of violence and work for restoration of peace in Swat," NWFP chief minister, Amir Haider Hoti said.

Twenty-nine delegates from the Movement for the Enforcement of Islamic Sharia, led by Maulana Muhammad Alam, attended the meeting today.

US, NATO and Afghan officials have criticised previous peace deals in Pakistan, saying that they have led to an increase in suicide attacks on international and Afghan forces across the border in Afghanistan.

Despite 26/11, cross border marriages are taking place

2009-02-14T15:47:00.002+05:00

Vivek Shukla

New Delhi—Even after gory Mumbai attack of 26/11, the cross border marriages between Indian boys and Pakistani girls or vice-versa are still taking place. The divided Muslim families of cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Bhopal, Rampur, Mordabad, Aligarh, Amroha, Ujjain still don’t mind marrying their kids in Pakistan.

According to M. Ahmad of Khuda Rafiq Trust who knows the affairs of Muslims from both Delhi and UP as back of his right hand, says that even though getting citizenship for both Indians and Pakistanis in each other’s country is a huge task, still divided families are marrying their kids across the border. “ I can safely say that around 10 cross-border marriages took place during the last two months or so in Delhi, Meerut and Saharnpur alone,” says Ahmad. President of the prestigious Delhi based Indian Islamic Centre, Mr. Sirajuddin Qureshi says that as marriages between cousins are very much permitted in Islam, the divided families of the partition happily marry their kids across the border. “ Such marriages were very common after a few years of partition.

However, the number of cross border marriages have come down over the years due to various factors.

It may be recalled that when an ex-career Pakistani diplomat and former President of Pakistan Cricket Board married his son Ali to a girl from Bhopal a few years ago lots of eyebrows were raised. Many people in both India and Pakistan questioned his wisdom to find match for his son in India.

Qureshi, whose many cousin sisters are married in Pakistan, says those who question the wisdom of Khan should know that these people are doing yeoman service in their own way in order to cement the relations between the two bitter neighbours. It is said that the number of such marriages were reduced as whenever there is a chill in the relations. When things normalize, marriages start taking place with all the fanfare. Known educationist of Delhi, Maulana Umer Ilaysi says that it is true that cross border marriages are still on, but their number has gone as down compared to yesteryears. Reason? He feels that there are two major reasons for this thing to happen. First, the fast dwindling population of those elders who were divided across the border in the wake of partition. Till they were alive they used to ensure that their kids marry with each-other. As the number of those people reduced, the frequency of such marriages came down. Second, the governments in both Delhi and Islamabad are very choosy in granting citizenship to the nationals of these two countries. That is the major reason that people avoid marrying their kids across the border.

Pashtun influx fuels Karachi tensions

2009-02-14T13:00:00.003+05:00

By Syed Shoaib Hasan

BBC News, Karachi

"We are doing our best to prevent them from taking over," says Mohammad Rafiq earnestly as he sits in the crowded room in Karachi.

He is referring to Taleban militants who have come to the city from Pakistan's tribal areas such as North and South Waziristan who "want to take over Karachi".

Rafiq, a primary school teacher, is a resident of Baldia town, a suburb of Karachi.

He is also a member of a neighbourhood, or sector, office of the MQM (United National Movement) political party for his area.

'Bully and kill'

Karachi, on the coast of Pakistan's southern Sindh province, is the country's largest city.

It is also the South Asian nation's financial capital and main port.

The MQM, which is allied to Pakistan's ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP), is politically in control of Karachi.

The party draws its strength from a mainly middle class electorate, made up of Urdu-speaking people, descendants of migrants from India after partition in 1947.

Its detractors have often complained that it has used its political strength to bully and even kill opponents.

The MQM, however, strongly denies this allegations.

"Our job is to find solutions for neighbourhood problems at the local level," says Farooq Sattar, a central government minister and senior MQM leader.

"We also inform the top leadership if there are matters here that are beyond our control."

Of late these have been primarily to do with what the MQM has called the "Talebanisation" of Karachi.

It says that more and more people are migrating to Karachi from different parts of Pakistan, especially from the tribal areas.

"The Taleban don't want to be concentrated in the northern areas and are looking for other options," says Dr Sattar.

De facto rulers

Urban experts agree, pointing out that there has also been a substantial rise in migrants into Karachi from the North West Frontier Province's Pashtun community.

It is perhaps this fact which is most galling for the MQM, which stormed into control of Karachi following ethnic riots which began in the mid-1980s.

At that time, disagreements over the identity question led to clashes between the Urdu-speaking and Pashtun-speaking communities.

The MQM rose to power on the back of these riots which left hundreds of people dead and established the party's position in Karachi.

But critics have accused the party of using the "ethnic card" to keep control over Karachi.

Ethnicity remains a touchy topic in the metropolis and since 2007 there have been rumblings of a return to the problems of before.

In November, more than 40 people were killed in two days of ethnic-related killings.

"Riots and violence did take place between 1985 and 1988, but our leaders met and reached a conclusive peace accord," says Aminullah Khattak, secretary general of the Sindh chapter of the mostly Pashtun Awami National Party (ANP).

"We wanted to end it, and it did end at that time."

'Menial activities'

But Mr Khattak now says that the issue has once again reared its head, this times he feels because of economic factors.

"The thing that has started it again is that the Pashtuns living over here have progressed economically," he says.

"Some people believe that they will remain watchmen or labourers, or remain engaged in menial economic activities all their lives.

"But they've become well educated, they've progressed economically, they want to get better jobs."

The ANP argues that "Talebanisation" is not a problem in Karachi, but just a ruse for a movement against upwardly-mobile Pashtuns.

Evidence of that movement is all too clear to Azmatullah Khan, a pharmacy student, as he stands on the ruins of his family business which was burnt to the ground in December.

"Four armed men came to the back of the market on two bikes," he says.

"They threw some kind of chemicals... and started a fire which spread if water was thrown on it.

"You can see yourselves, they only targeted Pashtun businesses," he says while bitterly pointing to nearby timber shops which remain intact and open.

"If you look at the situation in Karachi now, it is the Pashtun community which is facing the brunt of the problems," says Ismail Khan, a member of the ANP provincial executive committee.

"Pashtun areas are the least developed in terms of basic amenities, as well as facilities such as hospitals and schools.

"In addition, Pashtuns are said to be the root of all troubles."

'Taleban ideas'

Ismail Khan believes that the MQM is behind this, and its principal motive is to get Pashtuns to give up the land they hold in Karachi.

There has been a substantial rise in migrant numbers

"We are the only threat to their power, and that is why they have used the spectre of Talebanisation."

But Mohammad Rafiq and many others believe that it is the realities on the ground which have forced the MQM to move matters.

"We had no problems with the Pashtun community which has been settled here for a long time," he says.

"But we do have a problem with those who are extremists and have come here to spread Taleban ideas."

There seems little outward signs that the fundamentalist movement is taking over this most cosmopolitan of cities.

Karachi's problems remain largely ethnic despite claims by the MQM.

Pakistan's current debilitating security scenario however means that this is no less of a threat.

"Karachi remains Pakistan's jugular vein and its microcosm," says Aminullah Khattak.

"Any descent into violence here could cripple the country economically, and have grave consequences for national unity."

Failure to nab perpetrators of Shia killings worries HRCP

2009-02-13T15:43:00.001+05:00

Lahore: The recent string of target-killing of Shias in Balochistan and the government’s failure to bring any of the perpetrators to justice is a cause for growing alarm, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said on Wednesday.

A press statement issued by the Commission said: “The killing of Shia notables in Quetta has sadly become a frequent occurrence. Some of the killings have been owned by an extremist organization flying a religious standard. The number of the Shia community members killed there over the recent years has exceeded 300. The government’s failure to track down the culprits has understandably enraged the targeted community, and it has also emboldened the perpetrators to kill with impunity. Besides religious figures, liberal politicians, businessmen and government officials have been targeted.

The government must surely now know that the community is exasperated with the government’s inability to perform one of its basic functions, that of ensuring that the lives of the people are protected. The Sunni population also fears that unhindered killings of the Shias might cause sectarian strife in an area where the sects have generally coexisted peacefully for centuries.

HRCP fears that the state agencies’ consistent failure to track down the killers may prompt the targeted community to retaliate against members of other sects, which is perhaps the sort of violence those behind the target-killings want to trigger.

The province, which has been in the grip of an insurgency for many years and now faces a growing threat from the Taliban, cannot afford that. The government must act decisively to investigate the killings in an efficient manner before the situation slips into further chaos.”

Part of Mumbai conspiracy took place in Pakistan: Rehman Malik

2009-02-12T14:26:00.001+05:00

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has registered a case that could lead to prosecution of the people behind the killing of 179 people in the Indian city of Mumbai last November, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik said on Thursday.

"Some part of the conspiracy has taken place in Pakistan," Malik told a news conference here.

"We have lodged an FIR into the case," he said, referring to a police complaint, generally known as a first information report (FIR). Malik said Pakistan had assured India of its full cooperation in the investigations of Mumbai attacks and that Pakistan had been a victim of terrorism since long.

7 female hostages freed from hotel in Lahore: police

2009-02-10T17:17:00.002+05:00

LAHORE: Lahore Police claimed recovering seven girls from a hotel located in Loyair Mal area in Lahore on Monday, police sources said.

According to sources, as many as seven girls were seized in a hotel in Lahore whom police freed following a raid on the hotel. Police sources added, they have sealed the hotel.

Police conducted a raid along with Geo News media team and found hotel owner and administration missing from there meanwhile, they heard girls scream from a locked room of hotel. Police broke the door and took girls under their custody.

Police informed media, several abduction cases had been registered against the hotel owners in past and added, two brothers of hotel owner work in police.

Sexual harassment charges leveled against lady FBI officer

2009-02-10T17:10:00.001+05:00

NEW DELHI: The FBI probe into the Mumbai terror attack took an unusual twist with Faheem Ansari, one of the accused, leveling sexual harassment allegations against a lady officer of the American agency who had reportedly interrogated him here.

Faheem has moved the court with his lawyer Ejaz Naqvi filing an application before an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate alleging that a lady FBI officer, who had interrogated the accused, had "sexually harrassed him all through the night." The court issued a notice today to the city police's crime branch and directed it to file their reply to the application by February 26.

The application also made a plea for Faheem to be sent for medical check-up as he has developed "itches and wounds in his private parts and all over his body".

"Faheem had been interrogated by three FBI officers out of which one of them, a lady officer, had sexually abused him," Naqvi told the court.

‘Internal hand involved in Mumbai attacks’

2009-02-09T17:40:00.003+05:00

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Singh Modi criticises ruling Congress for not taking action against any local group

NAGPUR: Indian Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Singh Modi hinted on Sunday that the Mumbai terror attacks could not have been carried out without internal help – comments that are in sharp contrast with claims by other Indian officials who hold Pakistan solely responsible for the attacks.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said, “If we single out that one incident (Mumbai attacks) and ask any person in this country ... with basic information and knowledge, they will say that such a big terror attack on India cannot take place without any internal help from the nation itself.”

Criticism: He criticised the Congress-led coalition government for not taking action against any local groups involved in the Mumbai attacks.

Modi’s new theory contradicts India’s official position, and came just hours ahead of Pakistan’s reply to an Indian dossier of information given to Islamabad.

Addressing a BJP convention here, the Gujarat chief minister also slammed the policies of the ruling Congress party.

According to Hindustan times, Modi also made a scathing attack on the Gandhi-Nehru family, alleging that a conspiracy had been hatched to promote the family, posing a danger to the future of the country.

“A conspiracy to promote one family’s past is posing a danger for the future of the country,” Modi said without directly naming the Gandhi-Nehru family, but the indication was obvious.

Dubai real estate collapse

2009-02-06T16:39:00.003+05:00

Pakistani investors suffer losses

By Mansoor Ahmad

LAHORE: The real estate industry’s collapse in Dubai has caused more damage to the Pakistani elite than the losses they are facing in their industries in Pakistan. Around $72.35 billion worth of property projects are stated to have stalled in Dubai.

Rumours are ripe in Dubai that these projects, undertaken by some renowned real estate developers, have been put to an indefinite hold. There is no official word from the developers about the stoppage of work but those who visit Dubai could see that work on over 50 building projects costing $3.8 million to $70 million has come to a standstill. Out of this, cancellation of work on real estate projects worth $3.275 billion has been confirmed.

Investors from around the globe had booked apartments in these projects by paying advance payments to the developers. They do not know whether they would get back their investment. Most of the capital flight from Pakistan in the recent past landed in Dubai for investment in real estate. The flight of capital during the past 12 months has been admitted even by the Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance, Shaukat Tarin.

There is no real figure about the exact investment by Pakistani entrepreneurs in Dubai’s real estate. The money was sent through back channels and the Federal Investigation Agency estimates a minimum outflow of over $3 billion during the first few months of the current government, which sent the rupee to over Rs83 against the dollar. The recovery of the rupee started after International Monetary Fund’s standby arrangement in November last year.

Dubai has remained a favoured destination for Pakistani investors. However, until a year ago only the richest invested their resources in the most enterprising Gulf state. Last year, even medium-sized entrepreneurs panicked by deteriorating economic conditions in the country rushed to invest in real estate in Dubai which was booming at that time.

The Dubai government then introduced the condition of one apartment for one family. Under this rule, the definition of family was husband, wife and children. Sisters, brothers or other relatives were not permitted to stay in the same apartment. This caused turmoil in the real estate business in Dubai as these apartments were occupied by a large number of workers who shared high rent. Individual workers could not afford to pay for separate apartments and vacated them causing a sharp decline in rents and real estate prices.

The investors are in a fix. Those who got possession of their property find the rent very low but cannot dispose of the property because prices are very low. However, most of them who invested in real estate during the last one year have not even got possession of their property and now construction of most of the projects is on hold with real possibility that these would be abandoned.

The cancelled projects in Dubai include $1.3 billion Nad El Sheeba race course which was being built by Mayden LLC. The $680 million Falcon City of Wonders undertaken by ETA Star has also been scrapped. The Dubai Exhibition City project worth $450 million has also been cancelled. Desert Gate Hotels and Towers being built at an estimated cost of $350 million by Bawadi LLC has been abandoned. Pikington Emirates has announced cancellation of its $200 million Float Glass Factory project. Walter’s Edge (Business Bay), a $125 million project of Damac Properties, has also been called off. The same builder has stopped a $100 million Dolphin Tower project. Nadra Tower (Business Bay), a project of Tanweel, has also been cancelled. It was to be built at an estimated cost of $70 million. (The News)

Cantt Station on candid camera

2009-02-06T16:05:00.002+05:00

By Asadullah

The Pakistan Railways has introduced a much-needed security feature to the Karachi Cantonment Railway Station, and the close circuit television (CCTV) network has been made functional with the proper installation of 26 cameras.

The Karachi Cantonment Railway Station, which also enjoys heritage status, has been equipped with a CCTV network after having a control room established within the police help centre at the station. The Railway Police have been tasked with monitoring the eight platforms of the station, hosting arrival and departure of 48 trains every 24 hours.

“The CCTV franchise operation has been under way since January 17 under railway police supervision,” a senior railway police officer told The News. “We are now monitoring the station with 26 cameras, including a high-speed dome camera installed in the parking lot of the station.”

Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Railway Minister, had told the media that CCTV cameras would be installed at the Karachi, Rohri and Lahore railway stations in the first phase.

Pakistan Railway authorities, however, took time to come up with an authentic answer to the CCTV project when they finalised the bids for installing cameras. They managed to fit cameras at different points, but these remained idle due to the paucity of trained hands in the control room.

Sources said that twelve police constables and six female constables have undergone a six-month training period to work in the CCTV control room in eight-hour shifts round the clock. “We have enough memory for 25 days of video footage,” explained a police officer. “The 26th day will automatically erase the first day’s memory and record over it.”

Sources said that the installation of CCTV cameras in Karachi, Lahore and Rohri at an accumulative cost of Rs10.5 million is part of a greater security and surveillance project, which will also cover railway workshops, to have a check on theft and employees’ presence. Walk-through security gates have already been installed at the Karachi Cantonment Railway Station.

Sources informed The News that the Pakistan Railway headquarters in Lahore have finalised the CCTV Network at three railway stations, including Karachi Cantonment, in the first phase of the security measures to be taken at railway stations and trains across the country. Lahore-based Champions Traders has installed the cameras at Karachi, too.

“The high-speed dome camera installed at the parking lot of Karachi Cantonment Railway Station is unique amongst the cameras installed to cover eight platforms,” observed a police officer. “This particular camera can be rotated as per your requirement, enabling you to keep a watchful eye on the huge open space around the parking area.”

According to Baqar Gilani, the Station House Officer of the Karachi Cantonment Railway Police Station, the establishment of CCTV control room under the railway police’s supervision is indeed a right step toward improved policing at the century-old railway station where 90 percent of the up-country railroading originates.

Within the Cantonment Railway Police Station’s limits, the theft of railway material and property tops the incidents of crime, followed by pick pocketing and luggage-lifting.

“Another most serious crime that we deal with is poisoning of people in a bid to rob them,” said Gilani.

No official, including Muzzafar Ali Sheikh, Railway Police SP, could confirm the cost of the cameras and other necessary arrangements that have been made to finalise the CCTV network. Mir Mohammed Khaskheli, Divisional Superintendent Railway Karachi, appeared ignorant as far as the actual cost of the CCTV Network at Karachi alone was concerned. (The News)

Obama says Pakistan must not be destabilised

2009-02-04T17:53:00.003+05:00

WASHINGTON, Feb 3: Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are the main cause of concern for US President Barack Obama and his military chiefs who have vowed not to allow the destabilisation of Pakistan because that will allow the militants access to weapons of mass destruction.

“What we can do is make sure that Afghanistan is not a safe haven for Al Qaeda. What we can do is make sure that it is not destabilising neighbouring Pakistan, which has nuclear weapons,” said Mr Obama in an interview to NBC television.

His military chief, Admiral Mike Mullen, went a step ahead and pledged not to allow Al Qaeda safe havens in Pakistan’s tribal areas either.

“We cannot accept that Al Qaeda leadership which continues to plan against us every single day — and I mean us, here in America — to have that safe haven in Pakistan nor could resume one in Afghanistan,” Admiral Mullen said.

The two statements coincided with a Pentagon report, partly made available to the media on Tuesday, which recommended a broader effort to train and equip Pakistani security forces to conduct counter-insurgency operations in the tribal areas.

The report also urges the Obama administration to lower its goals in Afghanistan. The report by the joint services chiefs seeks to apply pressure on Pakistan’s military and intelligence services to sever their ties with militants.

Amid growing concern about the stability of Pakistan, the report calls for putting renewed focus by the US government on ensuring that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons remain under its government’s control. Though that has long been a US aim, the report suggests a way to focus new attention on the problem in case militant groups threaten Pakistan’s stability.

The report concedes that the United States cannot establish a “lasting democracy” and a “thriving economy” in Afghanistan — the two objectives touted vociferously by the Bush administration. Instead, the Pentagon urges the Obama administration to focus on ensuring regional stability and eliminating Taliban and Al Qaeda safe havens in Pakistan.

The recommendations will soon be shown to President Obama as part of a review of Afghanistan strategy announced by the new administration. The report is one of several that Mr Obama is expected to review before finalising his strategy.

Gen David Petraeus, Commander US Central Command, and Richard Holbrooke, special US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, are also preparing similar reports.

The chiefs’ recommendations have been approved by Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and seen by Defence Secretary Robert Gates. The report reflects the Pentagon’s concern that sending thousands of additional American troops to fight could lead to a lengthy conflict in Afghanistan.

While Mr Obama is sending three additional brigades, the chiefs’ report rejected the recommendation for an even larger “surge” for Afghanistan.

In their report, the chiefs concluded that the existing American goals in Afghanistan, established by the Bush administration, were overly broad and ambitious.

With insurgent violence in Afghanistan worsening significantly during the last year, the report argues for setting more concrete objectives that are achievable and realistic in the short-term.

In a separate quarterly report to Congress on security conditions in Afghanistan, the Pentagon reports that “the spring and summer of 2008 saw the highest levels of violence” since the US invasion in 2001. “The Taliban regrouped after its fall from power and has coalesced into a resilient and evolving insurgency.”

Between January and December 10, 2008, 132 US personnel in Afghanistan died as the result of hostile action, up from 82 in 2007.

Dozens killed in Pakistan army raid

2009-02-03T18:13:00.005+05:00

At least 35 opposition fighters have been killed in a fresh raid by the Pakistani military in the Swat valley, the army has said in a statement.

The military operation on several hideouts took place in the Khawazakhela district overnight, according to the statement released on Tuesday.

The Pakistani military has been battling fighters loyal to Maulana Fazlullah, a religious leader considered to be close to the Taliban, in recent months.

More than 20,000 people across the Swat valley are believed to have fled their homes to escape the fighting.

Targeted attacks

Wajid Ali Khan, a provincial minister, has said "the fighting in the valley has made it almost impossible for civilians to stay there".

Government forces and other state employees are bearing the brunt of many attacks by Fazlullah loyalists, Kamal Hyder, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Pakistan, said.

The decapitated bodies of policemen - complete with notes warning the authorities of further such attacks - have become a common sight on streets in Swat, Hyder said.

The raids came after Yusuf Reza Giliani, the Pakistani prime minister, pledged to restore peace to the Swat valley.

"We are finding a way out. We do not want to disclose the strategy right now, but soon Swat will be peaceful, like the rest of the country," Gilani said on Monday.

Bridge destroyed

Hours after the latest raids in Swat valley, suspected Taliban-linked fighters blew up a bridge in Pakistan's Khyber Pass, severing the main route for supplies to Western troops in Afghanistan, Pakistan government officials said.

The 30-metre iron bridge, which lies about 23km from the city of the northwestern city of Peshawar, was destroyed shortly after midnight, Rahat Gul, a government official, said.

"Militants blew up the bridge and it's going to take some time to fix it," he said on Tuesday.

There has been an increase over the last year in attacks on the Khyber Pass road, with most of them aimed at preventing international forces fighting the Taliban of receiving supplies.

The road through Pakistan's mountainous border territory into Afghanistan has been briefly closed twice since September due to attacks.

The US military and Nato's force in Afghanistan have tried to find alternative supply routes in the face of the attacks on the Khyber Pass.

About 75 per cent of supplies to the US military in Afghanistan come through or over Pakistan, including 40 per cent of the fuel for its troops.

The attacks on the Khyber Pass come as the US military prepares to send about 60,000 extra soldiers to Afghanistan in the next few months.

General David Petraeus, the head of the US Central Command, said last month that agreements had been reached for new routes into northern Afghanistan through Central Asian states and Russia. (Al Jazeera. net)