Hub Dam’s water level rose to 300 feet from 293 feet on Thursday after Dureji and Sakran areas in the southern Balochistan received heavy rainfall on Wednesday night.
Talking to The News, officials of the Hub Water Reservoir said that rains in Karachi and adjoining areas had little impact on recharging the water level but Wednesday’s rains in the catchment area contributed heavily in increasing the water level in the dam.
“Today Hub Dam received around 7 feet of water in one day and its level increased to 300 feet. Now we have enough water to last till December this year for both Lasbella District (Balochistan) and Karachi,” said Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) Hub Dam Ahmed.
He expressed hope that more rains in the current monsoon season would help in filling the dam up to its maximum capacity.
The Hub Water Reservoir has a storage capacity of 0.75 million acre feet of water and if filled to capacity, the water store would be enough to last for three years.
Karachi gets 100 million gallons of water daily while Lasbella District is provided with 60 to 70 million gallons of water daily for irrigation and drinking purposes.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Ebad rejects proposal to raise tuition fee of varsities
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, who is also the chancellor of public-sector universities in the province, has not agreed to a suggestion to increase the tuition fee.
He was chairing a meeting of the vice-chancellors of the government sector universities in the province at the Governor House here on Thursday.
Matters pertaining to the finances of public-sector universities came under discussion in the meeting.
The governor did not agree to the suggestion for enhancing the tuition fee and said that would be a burden on poor students and secondly there would be no substantial improvement in the universities’ financial position by increasing the tuition fee.
He directed that the universities should establish a special cell for coming up with a comprehensive strategy to increase the financial resources.
Ebad asked the universities to enhance the endowment fund and strengthen the liaison with the alumni.
He also instructed that evening programmes be strengthened as this would help improve the resources.
The governor said that efforts would be made for increased allocation that was required for the enhancement in the salaries to be met through the provincial financial assistance.
He asked the concerned officials to approach the provincial government in this respect.
It was pointed out that for the increase in the employees’ salaries as had been announced by the government, the public sector universities in the province would need Rs1.8 billion annually.
Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Auqaf Abdul Haseeb has said that Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan will inaugurate the 758th Annual Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalander to be held from July 31, 2010, in Sehwan Sharif.
He imparted this information at a meeting held here on Thursday to review arrangements of the Urs.
The Secretary Auqaf, Iqbal Ahsan Zaidi, and Chief Administrator Auqaf Manzoor Kanasro were also present. The minister said that Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Qaim Ali Shah will be the chief guest on the concluding day of the Urs.
Strict security arrangements will be made on this occasion by installing closed circuit cameras in and outside the shrine, he added.
He was chairing a meeting of the vice-chancellors of the government sector universities in the province at the Governor House here on Thursday.
Matters pertaining to the finances of public-sector universities came under discussion in the meeting.
The governor did not agree to the suggestion for enhancing the tuition fee and said that would be a burden on poor students and secondly there would be no substantial improvement in the universities’ financial position by increasing the tuition fee.
He directed that the universities should establish a special cell for coming up with a comprehensive strategy to increase the financial resources.
Ebad asked the universities to enhance the endowment fund and strengthen the liaison with the alumni.
He also instructed that evening programmes be strengthened as this would help improve the resources.
The governor said that efforts would be made for increased allocation that was required for the enhancement in the salaries to be met through the provincial financial assistance.
He asked the concerned officials to approach the provincial government in this respect.
It was pointed out that for the increase in the employees’ salaries as had been announced by the government, the public sector universities in the province would need Rs1.8 billion annually.
Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Auqaf Abdul Haseeb has said that Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan will inaugurate the 758th Annual Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalander to be held from July 31, 2010, in Sehwan Sharif.
He imparted this information at a meeting held here on Thursday to review arrangements of the Urs.
The Secretary Auqaf, Iqbal Ahsan Zaidi, and Chief Administrator Auqaf Manzoor Kanasro were also present. The minister said that Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Qaim Ali Shah will be the chief guest on the concluding day of the Urs.
Strict security arrangements will be made on this occasion by installing closed circuit cameras in and outside the shrine, he added.
CM not satisfied with cleanliness arrangements
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Thursday visited various localities of the city to see the situation in the aftermath of rains.
The localities included Mauripur, Gul Bai, Adam Khan Road, Lyari, Sher Shah, SITE, Metroville, Habib Bank Chowrangi, Gujar Nulla, Nazimabad, Orangabad, Liaquatabad, Gharibabad, Essa Nagri, Hasan Square, Shahra-e-Faisal, Nursery and others.
He expressed dissatisfaction over cleanliness measures in place and directed the authorities concerned to dispose of stagnated water from roads and streets at the earliest so that the people of the affected localities did not have to face hardships.
The chief minister expressed his shock over the deteriorating condition of roads in the SITE Industrial Area, SITE Town, Sher Shah, Keamari Town and other localities and directed the authorities concerned for early repair of the damaged roads and streets.
He also visited the venue of the building which collapsed on Wednesday, leaving eight persons dead.
The chief minister was apprised by the demolition staff concerned that all the trapped persons were rescued.
New US CG calls on CM: The newly appointed Consul-General of the United States in Karachi William John Martin called on Sindh Chief Minster Syed Qaim Ali Shah at the Chief Minister House. He was accompanied by Political Officer Ms Marry Elizabeth Madden.
They discussed matters of mutual interest.
Shah lauded the cordial relationship between Pakistan and the US and hoped that the same will be further strengthened in future. Asean diplomats call on CM: The heads of Asean’s mission in Islamabad comprising a 14-member delegation of nine countries called on the chief minister.
The chief minister invited the delegation to make investment in the province and they showed their willingness for the same.
The delegation included Jesus I Yades, Ambassador of the Republic of Philippines; Abdul Jalil, High commissioner of Brunei Darulsalam; Ishak Latueossuia Ambassador of Indonesia; Dato Ahmad Anwar Adnan High Commissioner of Malaysia; Marut Jitpatima Ambassador Kingdom of Thailand; Khalid Abdul Rehman, Consul General of Malaysia; Conrado B. Demdem, Third Secretary Embassy of Philippines; Ahsan Mukhtar Zuberi; Najam Choudhary and Syed Iqbal Ghazi.
The localities included Mauripur, Gul Bai, Adam Khan Road, Lyari, Sher Shah, SITE, Metroville, Habib Bank Chowrangi, Gujar Nulla, Nazimabad, Orangabad, Liaquatabad, Gharibabad, Essa Nagri, Hasan Square, Shahra-e-Faisal, Nursery and others.
He expressed dissatisfaction over cleanliness measures in place and directed the authorities concerned to dispose of stagnated water from roads and streets at the earliest so that the people of the affected localities did not have to face hardships.
The chief minister expressed his shock over the deteriorating condition of roads in the SITE Industrial Area, SITE Town, Sher Shah, Keamari Town and other localities and directed the authorities concerned for early repair of the damaged roads and streets.
He also visited the venue of the building which collapsed on Wednesday, leaving eight persons dead.
The chief minister was apprised by the demolition staff concerned that all the trapped persons were rescued.
New US CG calls on CM: The newly appointed Consul-General of the United States in Karachi William John Martin called on Sindh Chief Minster Syed Qaim Ali Shah at the Chief Minister House. He was accompanied by Political Officer Ms Marry Elizabeth Madden.
They discussed matters of mutual interest.
Shah lauded the cordial relationship between Pakistan and the US and hoped that the same will be further strengthened in future. Asean diplomats call on CM: The heads of Asean’s mission in Islamabad comprising a 14-member delegation of nine countries called on the chief minister.
The chief minister invited the delegation to make investment in the province and they showed their willingness for the same.
The delegation included Jesus I Yades, Ambassador of the Republic of Philippines; Abdul Jalil, High commissioner of Brunei Darulsalam; Ishak Latueossuia Ambassador of Indonesia; Dato Ahmad Anwar Adnan High Commissioner of Malaysia; Marut Jitpatima Ambassador Kingdom of Thailand; Khalid Abdul Rehman, Consul General of Malaysia; Conrado B. Demdem, Third Secretary Embassy of Philippines; Ahsan Mukhtar Zuberi; Najam Choudhary and Syed Iqbal Ghazi.
City mourns as bodies of crash victims arrive
The bodies of 11 victims of Airblue’s ill-fated Flight ED-202 arrived at the Karachi Airport on Thursday where moving scenes were witnessed as families consoled each other over the tragic incident.
Family members and friends of the deceased were seen in a state of shock and fought hard to control their tears as they stood united in grief. A cloud of sorrow had descended all over the city which mourned the deaths of the 152 passengers and this was highly evident at the airport.
The remains were sent to Karachi in three flights of Pakistan International Airlines, Air Blue and Shaheen Air International. Officials of Air blue, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), provincial ministers and MPAs were also present along with the officials of the Sindh government and the City District Government Karachi (CDGK).
The bodies included those of Airblue’s cabin crew Naheed Bhatti, Hina Usman, Umme Habiba and Aisha Arif, First Officer Air Blue Muntajib Ahmed, Faisal Rasheed, Atif Rasheed, Bilal Jami, Misha Dawood, Prem Chand and Waheed.
Namaz-e-Janaza of the victims was offered at the Cargo Terminal and was attended by thousands of people who had gathered to pay their respects to the ill-fated passengers.
EDO Municipal Services CDGK Masood Alam, who represented the administrator Karachi, told The News that 11 bodies arrived at cargo terminal by three different flights while bodies of 18 more victims were expected later in the day.
“We are receiving bodies at the airport, where hundreds of people including officials, are also present and after offering Namaz-e-Janaza, these bodies are being sent to their homes for burial in nearby graveyards,” he said.
Many of the passengers of doomed Airblue Flight ED-202 were residents of Karachi who were travelling to Islamabad for different purposes but could never reach their destination as the plane crashed into Margalla Hills just before landing.
Body of a victim, Prem Chand, was dispatched to Sanghar, his ancestral town for cremation.
The first flight with the three bodies arrived in the city around 4:55am. The victims included two brothers Atif Rasheed and Faisal Rasheed and Aisha Asif.
The brothers were the residents of Defence and were builders by profession. The family of the deceased said that Faisal was going to Islamabad with his younger brother Atif but could not reach their destination due to the unfortunate incident. Their funeral prayers were offered at Sultan Masjid near their residence and later they were buried at the Al-Noor Graveyard.
The body of cabin crew member Aisha, a resident of Block 2 in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, also arrived in the first cargo flight.
The second flight brought the body of First Officer Air Blue Muntajib Ahmed around 4:05pm. The deceased was the father of three children and a resident of Block 2, Gulshan-e-Iqbal. His funeral prayers were offered in Al Shehan Masjid near Cargo Office and were attended by Airblue staff, relatives and several others. He was laid to rest at the Yasinabad Graveyard.
More bodies arrived at 6:50pm through Shaheen Air. Three Youth Parliamentarian including Youth Information Minister Syeda Rabab Zahra Naqvi, Youth Minister for Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Prem Chand and Youth Shadow Minister for Information Bilal Jammaee were sent in this flight.
The bodies of airhostess Naheed Bhatti as well as Misha Dawood, Javeria Faraz and Hina also arrived in the same flight. Misha Dawood was a footballer and a resident of Defence.
Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza for the plane crash victims were also offered at various mosques throughout Karachi, including Sultan Masjid Defence, Quaid-i-Azam International Airport, F.B Area, Gulshan-e-Iqbal where thousands of people prayed for the souls of the departed.
Meanwhile, the national flag was lowered to half mast at all government installations and public buildings to mourn the incident
Family members and friends of the deceased were seen in a state of shock and fought hard to control their tears as they stood united in grief. A cloud of sorrow had descended all over the city which mourned the deaths of the 152 passengers and this was highly evident at the airport.
The remains were sent to Karachi in three flights of Pakistan International Airlines, Air Blue and Shaheen Air International. Officials of Air blue, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), provincial ministers and MPAs were also present along with the officials of the Sindh government and the City District Government Karachi (CDGK).
The bodies included those of Airblue’s cabin crew Naheed Bhatti, Hina Usman, Umme Habiba and Aisha Arif, First Officer Air Blue Muntajib Ahmed, Faisal Rasheed, Atif Rasheed, Bilal Jami, Misha Dawood, Prem Chand and Waheed.
Namaz-e-Janaza of the victims was offered at the Cargo Terminal and was attended by thousands of people who had gathered to pay their respects to the ill-fated passengers.
EDO Municipal Services CDGK Masood Alam, who represented the administrator Karachi, told The News that 11 bodies arrived at cargo terminal by three different flights while bodies of 18 more victims were expected later in the day.
“We are receiving bodies at the airport, where hundreds of people including officials, are also present and after offering Namaz-e-Janaza, these bodies are being sent to their homes for burial in nearby graveyards,” he said.
Many of the passengers of doomed Airblue Flight ED-202 were residents of Karachi who were travelling to Islamabad for different purposes but could never reach their destination as the plane crashed into Margalla Hills just before landing.
Body of a victim, Prem Chand, was dispatched to Sanghar, his ancestral town for cremation.
The first flight with the three bodies arrived in the city around 4:55am. The victims included two brothers Atif Rasheed and Faisal Rasheed and Aisha Asif.
The brothers were the residents of Defence and were builders by profession. The family of the deceased said that Faisal was going to Islamabad with his younger brother Atif but could not reach their destination due to the unfortunate incident. Their funeral prayers were offered at Sultan Masjid near their residence and later they were buried at the Al-Noor Graveyard.
The body of cabin crew member Aisha, a resident of Block 2 in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, also arrived in the first cargo flight.
The second flight brought the body of First Officer Air Blue Muntajib Ahmed around 4:05pm. The deceased was the father of three children and a resident of Block 2, Gulshan-e-Iqbal. His funeral prayers were offered in Al Shehan Masjid near Cargo Office and were attended by Airblue staff, relatives and several others. He was laid to rest at the Yasinabad Graveyard.
More bodies arrived at 6:50pm through Shaheen Air. Three Youth Parliamentarian including Youth Information Minister Syeda Rabab Zahra Naqvi, Youth Minister for Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Prem Chand and Youth Shadow Minister for Information Bilal Jammaee were sent in this flight.
The bodies of airhostess Naheed Bhatti as well as Misha Dawood, Javeria Faraz and Hina also arrived in the same flight. Misha Dawood was a footballer and a resident of Defence.
Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza for the plane crash victims were also offered at various mosques throughout Karachi, including Sultan Masjid Defence, Quaid-i-Azam International Airport, F.B Area, Gulshan-e-Iqbal where thousands of people prayed for the souls of the departed.
Meanwhile, the national flag was lowered to half mast at all government installations and public buildings to mourn the incident
Flood may hit Sindh on Aug 3
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Thursday ordered the authorities concerned to remain high alert as around 500,000 to 600,000 cusecs flood water from upcountry was likely to hit Sindh on August 3.
Chairing a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority at the Chief Minister House to discuss recent rains and their effect, Shah told the participants that the Irrigation and Power Department has estimated that around 500,000 to 600,000 cusecs water would cross Sindh on August 3, which required integrated and coordinated efforts by all departments/agencies to meet any eventuality.
He also asked administrators of Karachi, Hyderabad and other big cities to remove encroachments and illegal settlements along storm water drains.
The chief minister ordered the administrator Karachi to prepare a PC-1 plan to remove encroachments along Nullahs.
Shah instructed the officials concerned to take all necessary precautionary measures for safety of residents of the coastal areas.
He issued instructions for preparing a comprehensive plan to avoid natural disasters and activation of district disaster management institutions.
The Food Department was instructed to take precautionary measures at its godowns to save stocked wheat from rains.
Chief Secretary Sindh Fazalur Rehman told the participants that the number of boats was being increased in Karachi and in case of any eventuality, school buildings would be turned into relief camps.
He said that more de-watering pumps were being purchased to drain out accumulated rainwater in the city.
Minister for Revenue Jam Mehtab Dahar, IG Sindh Baber Sultan Khattak, CM’s Principal Secretary Syed Sohail Akber Shah, Special Secretary Home Kamran Dost, Secretary Local Government Khurshid Naeem, Secretary Food Naveed Kamran Baloch, Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority Mohammed Salih Farooqui and others attended the meeting.
Chairing a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority at the Chief Minister House to discuss recent rains and their effect, Shah told the participants that the Irrigation and Power Department has estimated that around 500,000 to 600,000 cusecs water would cross Sindh on August 3, which required integrated and coordinated efforts by all departments/agencies to meet any eventuality.
He also asked administrators of Karachi, Hyderabad and other big cities to remove encroachments and illegal settlements along storm water drains.
The chief minister ordered the administrator Karachi to prepare a PC-1 plan to remove encroachments along Nullahs.
Shah instructed the officials concerned to take all necessary precautionary measures for safety of residents of the coastal areas.
He issued instructions for preparing a comprehensive plan to avoid natural disasters and activation of district disaster management institutions.
The Food Department was instructed to take precautionary measures at its godowns to save stocked wheat from rains.
Chief Secretary Sindh Fazalur Rehman told the participants that the number of boats was being increased in Karachi and in case of any eventuality, school buildings would be turned into relief camps.
He said that more de-watering pumps were being purchased to drain out accumulated rainwater in the city.
Minister for Revenue Jam Mehtab Dahar, IG Sindh Baber Sultan Khattak, CM’s Principal Secretary Syed Sohail Akber Shah, Special Secretary Home Kamran Dost, Secretary Local Government Khurshid Naeem, Secretary Food Naveed Kamran Baloch, Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority Mohammed Salih Farooqui and others attended the meeting.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Zardari for use of Google Earth in anti-encroachment drive
President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday ordered a survey of all those areas which had been encroached upon, suggesting the authorities to use Google Earth to check the status of encroachments in Goths in Karachi.
He said all the encroached areas would be cleared of the encroachers. “We welcome all those who are coming to Karachi, as it is their constitutional right, but we will not tolerate Qabza groups,” he said.
Speaking at the ceremony of the 11th draw of Waseela-e-Haq and Smart Cards programmes of the Benazir Income Support Programme, he said the government would fulfil the vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.
He said all the encroached areas would be cleared of the encroachers. “We welcome all those who are coming to Karachi, as it is their constitutional right, but we will not tolerate Qabza groups,” he said.
Speaking at the ceremony of the 11th draw of Waseela-e-Haq and Smart Cards programmes of the Benazir Income Support Programme, he said the government would fulfil the vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.
Social sector projects govt’s priority: president
President Asif Ali Zardari performed the ground-breaking of the Cadet College (Dadu), the garment city (Karachi) and the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Chair and Convention Centre at the Sindh University (Jamshoro) at the Chief Minister’s House here on Friday and directed the government to complete these projects on time.
The president also chaired the balloting of Waseela-e-Haq programme to help 700 families.
According to a spokesperson, the president said that the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto chair at the Sindh University would provide an opportunity to the scholars to study the political philosophy of the first Muslim woman prime minister, which needed to be collected and collated before it was misplaced or damaged by the vagaries of time.
Seldom before had a victim been transformed into a legend so soon after departing from this world, the president said of Benazir Bhutto and complimented the University of Sindh for establishing the chair and the convention centre as a homage to her ideals and to her memory.
The spokesman said that the president had also called for exploring the possibility of setting up such research chairs in the universities of other Islamic countries.
The president said that the best form of paying homage to the memory of late Benazir Bhutto would come through empowering the women of Pakistan, adding that the Benazir Income Support Programme had been launched precisely for achieving that objective.
In addition, the government had decided to give state lands in the command areas of the new proposed dams to the poor women of the area free of cost, he said.
Moreover, a law for protecting women against harassment had also been enacted, he said.
Noting that girls from the rural areas were unable to join universities because of lack of hostel facilities, the president directed the provincial government to set up a Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Girls’ Hostel at the University of Sindh.
President Zardari recalled that Benazir Bhutto had always advocated investment in people by improving the quality of education and healthcare instead of building war machines. He said that the government would honour Benazir’s vision by investing more in the social sector.
He said that the public-private partnership model had been adopted for the economic and industrial development of the country and the garment cities in Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad were the result of this policy.
“The setting up of the Cadet College in Dadu shows our emphasis on quality education,” he said.
TRADE: Addressing some businessmen on the occasion, the president said that the war against militancy had cost Pakistan over 45 billion dollars over the last eight years.
“We have urged the international community to help us in our economic development through trade, not aid, for fighting the menace of militancy,” the president told the businessmen.
“We have impressed upon the West that market access will create employment opportunities in Pakistan and wean the frustrated, jobless youths off joining the extremists and the militants,” the president said.
The president said that in order to assist the textile industry, a limit had been set on exports of low valued yarn so that the raw material was made available in the domestic market for value addition in the textile sector.
The president said that as a result of the government’s policies, the economy had turned around and the stock exchange had bounced back. Moreover, the investors were showing their confidence in the economy by investing in the infrastructure projects while foreign investors were showing interest in the stocks and in the power sector.
Discussing the Thar coal project, the president said, “We need to find out-of-box solutions and work for a right energy mix to meet our power needs.”
The president also chaired the balloting of Waseela-e-Haq programme to help 700 families.
According to a spokesperson, the president said that the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto chair at the Sindh University would provide an opportunity to the scholars to study the political philosophy of the first Muslim woman prime minister, which needed to be collected and collated before it was misplaced or damaged by the vagaries of time.
Seldom before had a victim been transformed into a legend so soon after departing from this world, the president said of Benazir Bhutto and complimented the University of Sindh for establishing the chair and the convention centre as a homage to her ideals and to her memory.
The spokesman said that the president had also called for exploring the possibility of setting up such research chairs in the universities of other Islamic countries.
The president said that the best form of paying homage to the memory of late Benazir Bhutto would come through empowering the women of Pakistan, adding that the Benazir Income Support Programme had been launched precisely for achieving that objective.
In addition, the government had decided to give state lands in the command areas of the new proposed dams to the poor women of the area free of cost, he said.
Moreover, a law for protecting women against harassment had also been enacted, he said.
Noting that girls from the rural areas were unable to join universities because of lack of hostel facilities, the president directed the provincial government to set up a Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Girls’ Hostel at the University of Sindh.
President Zardari recalled that Benazir Bhutto had always advocated investment in people by improving the quality of education and healthcare instead of building war machines. He said that the government would honour Benazir’s vision by investing more in the social sector.
He said that the public-private partnership model had been adopted for the economic and industrial development of the country and the garment cities in Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad were the result of this policy.
“The setting up of the Cadet College in Dadu shows our emphasis on quality education,” he said.
TRADE: Addressing some businessmen on the occasion, the president said that the war against militancy had cost Pakistan over 45 billion dollars over the last eight years.
“We have urged the international community to help us in our economic development through trade, not aid, for fighting the menace of militancy,” the president told the businessmen.
“We have impressed upon the West that market access will create employment opportunities in Pakistan and wean the frustrated, jobless youths off joining the extremists and the militants,” the president said.
The president said that in order to assist the textile industry, a limit had been set on exports of low valued yarn so that the raw material was made available in the domestic market for value addition in the textile sector.
The president said that as a result of the government’s policies, the economy had turned around and the stock exchange had bounced back. Moreover, the investors were showing their confidence in the economy by investing in the infrastructure projects while foreign investors were showing interest in the stocks and in the power sector.
Discussing the Thar coal project, the president said, “We need to find out-of-box solutions and work for a right energy mix to meet our power needs.”
Rain lashes parts of city
Under a monsoonal weather system from Eastern (Indian) side, some parts of the city received rain while others just a drizzle on Friday.
The brief rain spell in the city set alarm bells ringing for the civic and land controlling agencies of the city, especially the City District Government Karachi and cantonment boards, which had announced to have taken elaborate arrangements to face any emergency situation emerging out of the monsoon rains. There were reports of inundation of streets with rainwater in some parts of the city where a major rain spell occurred.
The Meteorological Department in Karachi recorded maximum 53 millimeters rain in the city at its North Karachi observatory. At its Karachi Airport observatory, 11 mm rain was recorded, at PAF Base Faisal 02 mm and at Model observatory in Gulistan-e-Jauhar 1.2 mm rain was recorded till 5 pm.
The Met office recorded 29.0 degree Centigrade minimum and 36.0 degree Celsius maximum mercury levels in the city with 70 per cent humidity.
Weather turned pleasant and cloudy after the brief rain spell in the afternoon as people thronged the seaview and parks in large numbers. Wind from southerly direction, having a maximum speed of 05 Knots, blew across the city.
According to Chief Meteorologist in Karachi Mohammad Riaz, the low-pressure area from the Indian side marked well the start of the monsoon season in the lower Sindh region. He said the weather system would persist in the region at least for another 24 hours and under its influence heavy falls could occur, especially in areas of Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad districts.
He said that more rain spells could also occur in the city and there are also chances of thunderstorm accompanied with rain. Heavy to moderate falls could largely occur in isolated areas of the southern Sindh region in the next 24 hours, he said.
The Meteorological Department has forecast a partly cloudy/cloudy weather with chances of rain/thunderstorm in the city on Saturday (today). The maximum temperature may range from 34 degree to 36 degree Celsius.
According to a press release issued by Islamabad headquarters of the Pakistan Meteorological Department on Friday, the Met office predicted more rains at scattered places of† Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Mithi, Umerkot, Sanghar, Chachro and the adjoining areas on Saturday and Sunday.
The brief rain spell in the city set alarm bells ringing for the civic and land controlling agencies of the city, especially the City District Government Karachi and cantonment boards, which had announced to have taken elaborate arrangements to face any emergency situation emerging out of the monsoon rains. There were reports of inundation of streets with rainwater in some parts of the city where a major rain spell occurred.
The Meteorological Department in Karachi recorded maximum 53 millimeters rain in the city at its North Karachi observatory. At its Karachi Airport observatory, 11 mm rain was recorded, at PAF Base Faisal 02 mm and at Model observatory in Gulistan-e-Jauhar 1.2 mm rain was recorded till 5 pm.
The Met office recorded 29.0 degree Centigrade minimum and 36.0 degree Celsius maximum mercury levels in the city with 70 per cent humidity.
Weather turned pleasant and cloudy after the brief rain spell in the afternoon as people thronged the seaview and parks in large numbers. Wind from southerly direction, having a maximum speed of 05 Knots, blew across the city.
According to Chief Meteorologist in Karachi Mohammad Riaz, the low-pressure area from the Indian side marked well the start of the monsoon season in the lower Sindh region. He said the weather system would persist in the region at least for another 24 hours and under its influence heavy falls could occur, especially in areas of Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad districts.
He said that more rain spells could also occur in the city and there are also chances of thunderstorm accompanied with rain. Heavy to moderate falls could largely occur in isolated areas of the southern Sindh region in the next 24 hours, he said.
The Meteorological Department has forecast a partly cloudy/cloudy weather with chances of rain/thunderstorm in the city on Saturday (today). The maximum temperature may range from 34 degree to 36 degree Celsius.
According to a press release issued by Islamabad headquarters of the Pakistan Meteorological Department on Friday, the Met office predicted more rains at scattered places of† Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Mithi, Umerkot, Sanghar, Chachro and the adjoining areas on Saturday and Sunday.
Two Muttahida supporters gunned down
Two supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and an activist of the Punjabi-Pakhtoon Ittehad (PPI) were shot dead in different parts of the city, while the bullet-riddled body of an unidentified man was recovered on Friday.
The bullet-riddled bodies of Rizwan alias Razu and Faisal alias Chitta were found from Natha Khan Goth and Chakoor Nala areas in the Shah Faisal Colony police limits.
According to police, unidentified criminals kidnapped the deceased, tortured them to death and threw their bodies in the area.
Faisal was said to be an activist of the PPI, while unconfirmed reports suggest that deceased Rizwan was a supporter of the MQM. Both of them were the residents of Shah Faisal Colony.
In another incident, the bullet-riddled body of an unidentified man was found stuffed in a gunny bag lying in Shadbagh Society in the Al-Falah police limits. Police shifted the body to a hospital. The hands and feet of the deceased were tied with a rope and he was badly tortured. He was fired on his head and stomach. His identity could not be ascertained.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Inaam (35-40), a supporter of the MQM was shot dead and his friend Farhan sustained injuries in Sector-50, Tessar Town, Surjani Town police limits.
Deceased Inaam and his friend Farhan were sitting outside their house due to load shedding late Thursday-Friday night when two armed men entered the lane and opened fire on them.
The criminals had parked their motorcycle at a short distance from Inaam’s house and they fled after completing their task. They were shifted to the hospital, where Inaam was pronounced dead. The deceased received seven bullets on different parts of his body, while Farhan received a single bullet wound on his left arm.
The deceased was a plumber by profession and he has left behind a widow and four children. He was said to be a supporter of MQM.
Tension gripped the area after the incident as some people resorted to aerial firing. The areas that were affected due to target killings included Shah Faisal Colony, Malir, Surjani, Saudabad and Al-Falah where incident of aerial firing and forceful closure of shops were witnessed.
Sources said that the Shah Faisal Town police launched a crackdown late Thursday-Friday night and rounded up more than 20 suspects and shifted them to investigation units. Raids were carried out in Shah Faisal Colony and Al-Falah, Malir, and most of the suspects were being held by the Al-Falah police.
The bullet-riddled bodies of Rizwan alias Razu and Faisal alias Chitta were found from Natha Khan Goth and Chakoor Nala areas in the Shah Faisal Colony police limits.
According to police, unidentified criminals kidnapped the deceased, tortured them to death and threw their bodies in the area.
Faisal was said to be an activist of the PPI, while unconfirmed reports suggest that deceased Rizwan was a supporter of the MQM. Both of them were the residents of Shah Faisal Colony.
In another incident, the bullet-riddled body of an unidentified man was found stuffed in a gunny bag lying in Shadbagh Society in the Al-Falah police limits. Police shifted the body to a hospital. The hands and feet of the deceased were tied with a rope and he was badly tortured. He was fired on his head and stomach. His identity could not be ascertained.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Inaam (35-40), a supporter of the MQM was shot dead and his friend Farhan sustained injuries in Sector-50, Tessar Town, Surjani Town police limits.
Deceased Inaam and his friend Farhan were sitting outside their house due to load shedding late Thursday-Friday night when two armed men entered the lane and opened fire on them.
The criminals had parked their motorcycle at a short distance from Inaam’s house and they fled after completing their task. They were shifted to the hospital, where Inaam was pronounced dead. The deceased received seven bullets on different parts of his body, while Farhan received a single bullet wound on his left arm.
The deceased was a plumber by profession and he has left behind a widow and four children. He was said to be a supporter of MQM.
Tension gripped the area after the incident as some people resorted to aerial firing. The areas that were affected due to target killings included Shah Faisal Colony, Malir, Surjani, Saudabad and Al-Falah where incident of aerial firing and forceful closure of shops were witnessed.
Sources said that the Shah Faisal Town police launched a crackdown late Thursday-Friday night and rounded up more than 20 suspects and shifted them to investigation units. Raids were carried out in Shah Faisal Colony and Al-Falah, Malir, and most of the suspects were being held by the Al-Falah police.
Two Muttahida supporters gunned down
Two supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and an activist of the Punjabi-Pakhtoon Ittehad (PPI) were shot dead in different parts of the city, while the bullet-riddled body of an unidentified man was recovered on Friday.
The bullet-riddled bodies of Rizwan alias Razu and Faisal alias Chitta were found from Natha Khan Goth and Chakoor Nala areas in the Shah Faisal Colony police limits.
According to police, unidentified criminals kidnapped the deceased, tortured them to death and threw their bodies in the area.
Faisal was said to be an activist of the PPI, while unconfirmed reports suggest that deceased Rizwan was a supporter of the MQM. Both of them were the residents of Shah Faisal Colony.
In another incident, the bullet-riddled body of an unidentified man was found stuffed in a gunny bag lying in Shadbagh Society in the Al-Falah police limits. Police shifted the body to a hospital. The hands and feet of the deceased were tied with a rope and he was badly tortured. He was fired on his head and stomach. His identity could not be ascertained.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Inaam (35-40), a supporter of the MQM was shot dead and his friend Farhan sustained injuries in Sector-50, Tessar Town, Surjani Town police limits.
Deceased Inaam and his friend Farhan were sitting outside their house due to load shedding late Thursday-Friday night when two armed men entered the lane and opened fire on them.
The criminals had parked their motorcycle at a short distance from Inaam’s house and they fled after completing their task. They were shifted to the hospital, where Inaam was pronounced dead. The deceased received seven bullets on different parts of his body, while Farhan received a single bullet wound on his left arm.
The deceased was a plumber by profession and he has left behind a widow and four children. He was said to be a supporter of MQM.
Tension gripped the area after the incident as some people resorted to aerial firing. The areas that were affected due to target killings included Shah Faisal Colony, Malir, Surjani, Saudabad and Al-Falah where incident of aerial firing and forceful closure of shops were witnessed.
Sources said that the Shah Faisal Town police launched a crackdown late Thursday-Friday night and rounded up more than 20 suspects and shifted them to investigation units. Raids were carried out in Shah Faisal Colony and Al-Falah, Malir, and most of the suspects were being held by the Al-Falah police.
The bullet-riddled bodies of Rizwan alias Razu and Faisal alias Chitta were found from Natha Khan Goth and Chakoor Nala areas in the Shah Faisal Colony police limits.
According to police, unidentified criminals kidnapped the deceased, tortured them to death and threw their bodies in the area.
Faisal was said to be an activist of the PPI, while unconfirmed reports suggest that deceased Rizwan was a supporter of the MQM. Both of them were the residents of Shah Faisal Colony.
In another incident, the bullet-riddled body of an unidentified man was found stuffed in a gunny bag lying in Shadbagh Society in the Al-Falah police limits. Police shifted the body to a hospital. The hands and feet of the deceased were tied with a rope and he was badly tortured. He was fired on his head and stomach. His identity could not be ascertained.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Inaam (35-40), a supporter of the MQM was shot dead and his friend Farhan sustained injuries in Sector-50, Tessar Town, Surjani Town police limits.
Deceased Inaam and his friend Farhan were sitting outside their house due to load shedding late Thursday-Friday night when two armed men entered the lane and opened fire on them.
The criminals had parked their motorcycle at a short distance from Inaam’s house and they fled after completing their task. They were shifted to the hospital, where Inaam was pronounced dead. The deceased received seven bullets on different parts of his body, while Farhan received a single bullet wound on his left arm.
The deceased was a plumber by profession and he has left behind a widow and four children. He was said to be a supporter of MQM.
Tension gripped the area after the incident as some people resorted to aerial firing. The areas that were affected due to target killings included Shah Faisal Colony, Malir, Surjani, Saudabad and Al-Falah where incident of aerial firing and forceful closure of shops were witnessed.
Sources said that the Shah Faisal Town police launched a crackdown late Thursday-Friday night and rounded up more than 20 suspects and shifted them to investigation units. Raids were carried out in Shah Faisal Colony and Al-Falah, Malir, and most of the suspects were being held by the Al-Falah police.
One killed as MQM office attacked in Gulistan-e-Jauhar
Unidentified armed men attacked a unit office of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on Thursday, killing a Muttahida activist and injuring several others.
After the incident, violence broke out in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan towns, Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad, Shah Faisal and other areas where armed men resorted to aerial firing and forced shops to close down.
Protesters torched a bus near Jauhar Chowrangi and killed its driver, an unidentified 28-year-old man. A mini-bus of route W-18 was also torched in Taimuria while an Edhi ambulance (EA-3691) was snatched near Jauhar More. Its driver, Nadeem, was injured. Besides, a rickshaw driver was killed near Shareefabad Pathak.
Miscreants also set ablaze several furniture shops near Kamran Chowrangi. They torched two carpet shops and a hardware shop in the area between Jauhar More and Jauhar Chowrangi.
The deceased MQM activist was identified as Rizwan Shah, a resident of Gulistan-i-Jauhar.
According to the police, MQM’s unit office in Block 18 at Gulistan-e-Jauhar was attacked where party activists and an MPA were present. Five MQM activists sustained injuries while the MPA, who could not be identified till our going to the press, escaped unhurt.
The injured were immediately shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed and Jinnah hospitals. Rizwan Shah, the MQM activist, died during his treatment at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Sources said that after the attack, activists and leaders of the MQM converged on the hospitals where their party men were being treated and demanded of the authorities to arrest the attackers.
Reports of aerial firing in the whole locality of Gulistan-i-Jauhar were coming in till late night.
According to the fire office, their tenders were stopped near Jauhar Chowrangi for security purposes but they soon got police protection under which they moved on.
Police sources said that violence had also spread to the Pehlwan Goth, the University Road and the Abul Hassan Ispahani Road, where armed men made forceful closure of shops and resorted to aerial firing.
The DIG East, Ameer Sheikh, confirmed to The News that the attack at the MQM unit claimed the life of an activist whereas a bus driver was killed in the subsequent violence in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.
The DIG said that he had dispatched several battalions to Gulistan-i-Jauhar immediately to control the situation there.
Meanwhile, people in several marriage halls at Jauhar Chowrangi and Jauhar Bridge were stranded there after the incident as, according to some eyewitnesses, armed men had taken charge of the area till the time police arrived and moved them to safer places from where they proceeded towards their houses.
The eyewitnesses added that due to the tense situation in Gulistan-i-Jauhar and a blockade of Jauhar Chowrangi and Jauhar More, a long queue of vehicles had piled up. The situation in the area was tense till our going to the press.
After the incident, violence broke out in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan towns, Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad, Shah Faisal and other areas where armed men resorted to aerial firing and forced shops to close down.
Protesters torched a bus near Jauhar Chowrangi and killed its driver, an unidentified 28-year-old man. A mini-bus of route W-18 was also torched in Taimuria while an Edhi ambulance (EA-3691) was snatched near Jauhar More. Its driver, Nadeem, was injured. Besides, a rickshaw driver was killed near Shareefabad Pathak.
Miscreants also set ablaze several furniture shops near Kamran Chowrangi. They torched two carpet shops and a hardware shop in the area between Jauhar More and Jauhar Chowrangi.
The deceased MQM activist was identified as Rizwan Shah, a resident of Gulistan-i-Jauhar.
According to the police, MQM’s unit office in Block 18 at Gulistan-e-Jauhar was attacked where party activists and an MPA were present. Five MQM activists sustained injuries while the MPA, who could not be identified till our going to the press, escaped unhurt.
The injured were immediately shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed and Jinnah hospitals. Rizwan Shah, the MQM activist, died during his treatment at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Sources said that after the attack, activists and leaders of the MQM converged on the hospitals where their party men were being treated and demanded of the authorities to arrest the attackers.
Reports of aerial firing in the whole locality of Gulistan-i-Jauhar were coming in till late night.
According to the fire office, their tenders were stopped near Jauhar Chowrangi for security purposes but they soon got police protection under which they moved on.
Police sources said that violence had also spread to the Pehlwan Goth, the University Road and the Abul Hassan Ispahani Road, where armed men made forceful closure of shops and resorted to aerial firing.
The DIG East, Ameer Sheikh, confirmed to The News that the attack at the MQM unit claimed the life of an activist whereas a bus driver was killed in the subsequent violence in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.
The DIG said that he had dispatched several battalions to Gulistan-i-Jauhar immediately to control the situation there.
Meanwhile, people in several marriage halls at Jauhar Chowrangi and Jauhar Bridge were stranded there after the incident as, according to some eyewitnesses, armed men had taken charge of the area till the time police arrived and moved them to safer places from where they proceeded towards their houses.
The eyewitnesses added that due to the tense situation in Gulistan-i-Jauhar and a blockade of Jauhar Chowrangi and Jauhar More, a long queue of vehicles had piled up. The situation in the area was tense till our going to the press.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
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Anti-encroachment drive hits snags
The much trumpeted anti-encroachment operation started in Karachi with the consensus of three coalition partners — the PPP, MQM and ANP — hit snags when serious reservations cropped up at a high-level meeting chaired by Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan at the Governor House on Wednesday.
Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman apprised the governor that the parties need to sort out their differences instead of blaming the government officials, adding only then specific orders to this effect could be implemented.
Controversy also erupted over the issuance of a notification for the committee to monitor the operation, as the CS said he could not notify a committee comprising political parties’ nominees.
The meeting participants also included Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Agha Siraj Durrani, Senior Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq, MQM’s federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Dr Farooq Sattar, federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Ghauri and ANP’s Shahi Syed and Amin Khattak.
Dr Farooq Sattar told the meeting that launching a massive anti-encroachment operation was a big challenge but the definition of encroachment and rehabilitation should be determined and the legal position of encroachment and land-grabbing should be clearly defined.
Political will and consensus have to be evolved and confidence has to be built to regain the confidence of the masses, he said, adding that each and every party should be prepared for collateral damage since land-grabbing has become a challenge for all the parties.
Farooq Sattar also mentioned that the Kachi Abadis regularised till 1985 were accepted by each and every party and this consensus was still being maintained.
He urged the PPP ministers to estimate as to how many Goths have cropped up since 1985, adding the relevant law had been misused and one should accept that land-grabbing was a crime and it has become a major issue in Karachi.
Farooq Sattar said that some law has to be made for shifting the people and providing them alternate land and added that the government should do away with providing alternate land to land grabbers.
Federal Minister Babar Ghauri said that the Board of Revenue needed to determine as to which Yousuf Goth was genuine, as Yousuf Goths have cropped up in many areas of the city.
He said that the MQM wanted this operation to be carried out at all costs despite the fact that the party’s name has been mentioned in the list of influential land grabbers.
Responding to Shahi Syed’s speech, Babar Ghauri asked him not to give ethnic colour to the anti-encroachment operation and warned that land mafia would no more be allowed to operate in Karachi.
Sindh Minister for Health Dr Sagheer Ahmed demanded that alternate land be provided to the people living at both the sides of Gujajar Nullah.
Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Agha Siraj Durrani endorsed the views of Dr Sagheer Ahmed and put up this demand before Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.
The PPP and ANP expressed serious reservations over the manner of the operation carried out so far, while Sindh Revenue Minister Jam Mohammed Daher directly accused police and Revenue officials for land-grabbing.
He said he had been asking the Revenue Department to provide a list of encroachments for the last one-and-a-half months, but it was not provided which created doubts and reservations about the operation.
Before conducting operation, the police and revenue officials use to inform the encroachers and they use to stage demonstrations against the government, he added.
Agha Siraj Durrani asked EDO Revenue Roshan Ali Sheikh, who had made a four-month operation plan, to provide a complete list of areas where such operations would be carried out.
Durrani lashed out at the EDO Revenue for the use of his and Dr Zulfiqar Mirza’s name by various officials.
ANP President (Sindh) Shahi Syed had serious reservations over the Baldia Town operation as well as about the committee constituted earlier to monitor the whole operation.
On the occasion, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan constituted a committee of five members to monitor the whole operation. The committee is headed by Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Agha Siraj Durani, and it comprises PPP President (Karachi) Najmay Alam, MQM members Waseem Aftab and Raza Haroon, and ANP’s Bashir Jan.
Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah told the meeting that President Asif Ali Zadari wanted the operation to be successful.
Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman apprised the governor that the parties need to sort out their differences instead of blaming the government officials, adding only then specific orders to this effect could be implemented.
Controversy also erupted over the issuance of a notification for the committee to monitor the operation, as the CS said he could not notify a committee comprising political parties’ nominees.
The meeting participants also included Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Agha Siraj Durrani, Senior Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq, MQM’s federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Dr Farooq Sattar, federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Ghauri and ANP’s Shahi Syed and Amin Khattak.
Dr Farooq Sattar told the meeting that launching a massive anti-encroachment operation was a big challenge but the definition of encroachment and rehabilitation should be determined and the legal position of encroachment and land-grabbing should be clearly defined.
Political will and consensus have to be evolved and confidence has to be built to regain the confidence of the masses, he said, adding that each and every party should be prepared for collateral damage since land-grabbing has become a challenge for all the parties.
Farooq Sattar also mentioned that the Kachi Abadis regularised till 1985 were accepted by each and every party and this consensus was still being maintained.
He urged the PPP ministers to estimate as to how many Goths have cropped up since 1985, adding the relevant law had been misused and one should accept that land-grabbing was a crime and it has become a major issue in Karachi.
Farooq Sattar said that some law has to be made for shifting the people and providing them alternate land and added that the government should do away with providing alternate land to land grabbers.
Federal Minister Babar Ghauri said that the Board of Revenue needed to determine as to which Yousuf Goth was genuine, as Yousuf Goths have cropped up in many areas of the city.
He said that the MQM wanted this operation to be carried out at all costs despite the fact that the party’s name has been mentioned in the list of influential land grabbers.
Responding to Shahi Syed’s speech, Babar Ghauri asked him not to give ethnic colour to the anti-encroachment operation and warned that land mafia would no more be allowed to operate in Karachi.
Sindh Minister for Health Dr Sagheer Ahmed demanded that alternate land be provided to the people living at both the sides of Gujajar Nullah.
Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Agha Siraj Durrani endorsed the views of Dr Sagheer Ahmed and put up this demand before Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.
The PPP and ANP expressed serious reservations over the manner of the operation carried out so far, while Sindh Revenue Minister Jam Mohammed Daher directly accused police and Revenue officials for land-grabbing.
He said he had been asking the Revenue Department to provide a list of encroachments for the last one-and-a-half months, but it was not provided which created doubts and reservations about the operation.
Before conducting operation, the police and revenue officials use to inform the encroachers and they use to stage demonstrations against the government, he added.
Agha Siraj Durrani asked EDO Revenue Roshan Ali Sheikh, who had made a four-month operation plan, to provide a complete list of areas where such operations would be carried out.
Durrani lashed out at the EDO Revenue for the use of his and Dr Zulfiqar Mirza’s name by various officials.
ANP President (Sindh) Shahi Syed had serious reservations over the Baldia Town operation as well as about the committee constituted earlier to monitor the whole operation.
On the occasion, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan constituted a committee of five members to monitor the whole operation. The committee is headed by Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Agha Siraj Durani, and it comprises PPP President (Karachi) Najmay Alam, MQM members Waseem Aftab and Raza Haroon, and ANP’s Bashir Jan.
Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah told the meeting that President Asif Ali Zadari wanted the operation to be successful.
Minimum pension amount increased
The Sindh government has approved an increase in pensions of government servants.
The employees who have retired before 2001 would get a 20 per cent increase in their pensions whereas those after 2001 a 15 per cent increase.
Allah Bachayo Memon, a spokesman for the chief minister, told The News on Wednesday that the chief minister had approved two summaries at a meeting on Tuesday, one about increasing salaries and the other about increasing pensions.
Another official told The News that the increase in the amount of pension would cost the provincial exchequer several billion rupees as there were estimated to be 120,000 retired Sindh government employees.
This figure did not include those of local governments and autonomous bodies.
The chief minister, who is also in charge of the Finance Ministry, had announced a 50 per cent increase in the salaries of government servants in his budget speech.
He, however, had not said anything about whether the government intended to give some relief to the pensioners or not.
This had made the retired employees a bit restless since the other three provinces had announced an increase in pensions.
Some of the legislators had criticised this decision in the budget session.
The chief minister, while summing up the budget debate, had said then that an increase in pensions would further increase the deficit in the province’s budget. However, he had formed a committee to look into the matter.
The employees who have retired before 2001 would get a 20 per cent increase in their pensions whereas those after 2001 a 15 per cent increase.
Allah Bachayo Memon, a spokesman for the chief minister, told The News on Wednesday that the chief minister had approved two summaries at a meeting on Tuesday, one about increasing salaries and the other about increasing pensions.
Another official told The News that the increase in the amount of pension would cost the provincial exchequer several billion rupees as there were estimated to be 120,000 retired Sindh government employees.
This figure did not include those of local governments and autonomous bodies.
The chief minister, who is also in charge of the Finance Ministry, had announced a 50 per cent increase in the salaries of government servants in his budget speech.
He, however, had not said anything about whether the government intended to give some relief to the pensioners or not.
This had made the retired employees a bit restless since the other three provinces had announced an increase in pensions.
Some of the legislators had criticised this decision in the budget session.
The chief minister, while summing up the budget debate, had said then that an increase in pensions would further increase the deficit in the province’s budget. However, he had formed a committee to look into the matter.
Monday, July 19, 2010
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Most of the big search engines use a software to calculate your web-site ranks.
Search engines know the number of web-sites are linking to your website; more links and hits
higher rank for your web-site.
Get Higher Rank...
Get More Visitors, Get More Sales!!!
With no day-to-day current of visitors you cannot have reliable everyday sales.
It's not possible to get sales if no one visits your web-site. You need customers
to see your business, every day, 24 hours!
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You can get more income by receiving thousands of real interested customers to see your web-site.
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Astrologer casts his vote on Katrina and Salman
Okay, so there is some weirdness going around in Bollywood with astrologers taking a keen interest in Katrina and Salman's love life.
Astrologer Bhavikk Sangghvi did his special thang for Kats on her birthday and came up with an answer to the problem that is the Salman-Katrina relationship. They will not marry, he says. We think he means they should not marry because their combined expenses for collagen and hair weaves will probably impoverish them. Actually, Mr Fortune Teller Man probably means to say they should not get married because if they do, the union will end faster than you can say trout. His words, not ours, (except for the trout of course!)
This explains a lot. For instance, why Salman has suddenly decided he doesn't want Katrina in his next film, Bodyguard. Yep, Salman told the director of the film, Atul Agnihotri that he thinks Kats is not fit for the role and Deepika Padukone should be cast as his leading lady instead. The funny thing is that up to this point Atul had decided that Katrina was perfect for the role and was hell-bent on casting her. However, as soon as his bro-in-law told him to drop Kats, Atul did. Yay! One for Team Deepika!
Now while Salman might not be paying heed to the astrologer's um, very valid and true predictions, he might just be a little pissed off about the fact that Katrina had recently expressed a desire to find love before her next birthday. Does all of this pieced together mean that Kats and Salman are no more? Only time will tell.
On the other hand, Katrina will be facing health problems in the coming year according to her friend the astrologer.
“Katrina's professional life will be further strengthened this year. However, she will have some health problems due to tons of work,” he says.
Astrologer Bhavikk Sangghvi did his special thang for Kats on her birthday and came up with an answer to the problem that is the Salman-Katrina relationship. They will not marry, he says. We think he means they should not marry because their combined expenses for collagen and hair weaves will probably impoverish them. Actually, Mr Fortune Teller Man probably means to say they should not get married because if they do, the union will end faster than you can say trout. His words, not ours, (except for the trout of course!)
This explains a lot. For instance, why Salman has suddenly decided he doesn't want Katrina in his next film, Bodyguard. Yep, Salman told the director of the film, Atul Agnihotri that he thinks Kats is not fit for the role and Deepika Padukone should be cast as his leading lady instead. The funny thing is that up to this point Atul had decided that Katrina was perfect for the role and was hell-bent on casting her. However, as soon as his bro-in-law told him to drop Kats, Atul did. Yay! One for Team Deepika!
Now while Salman might not be paying heed to the astrologer's um, very valid and true predictions, he might just be a little pissed off about the fact that Katrina had recently expressed a desire to find love before her next birthday. Does all of this pieced together mean that Kats and Salman are no more? Only time will tell.
On the other hand, Katrina will be facing health problems in the coming year according to her friend the astrologer.
“Katrina's professional life will be further strengthened this year. However, she will have some health problems due to tons of work,” he says.
Musharraf plans return, looks to Army for security
Former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf finally kicked off his campaign to return to Pakistan as he launched an attack on Saturday from Dubai against his political rivals — Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari — and their poor governance and said the Army would provide him security on his return within coming months.
Musharraf said if the military was under any constraints not to provide him security, he would raise his own private security on his return to Pakistan in the coming months to face both Nawaz Sahrif and Asif Ali Zardari.
General Musharraf told his top aides in a six-hour-long marathon meeting in Dubai on Saturday that he was willing to face any legal proceedings against him and would even face jail if a fair trial was conducted. “I have many top legal minds assisting me and they will come to my aid if I need them,” he was quoted by sources as saying during the crucial meeting.
Top sources told The News in London that Gen Musharraf had convened a meeting at his flat in downtown Dubai, which was attended by former foreign minister Khurshid Kusuri, Hamid Nasir Chattha, Ishaq Khan Khakwani, Raza Hiraj, Ch Shahbaz, Barrister Saif, Ch Fawwad, Dr Amjad, Lt Gen (retd) Muzaffar, ex-QMG, and Maj Gen (retd) Rashid Quershi. The meeting lasted for over six hours. The deteriorating law and order situation and economic meltdown in Pakistan was discussed in detail.
Sources said General (retd) Musharraf vowed to return to Pakistan in the Dubai meeting aimed at chalking out his return strategy. This was first time he held a serious meeting with his aides to stage a comeback to Pakistan and face his main rival Nawaz Sharif.
During his discourse, Musharraf made it clear whatever he did in curtailing the activities of extremist elements, he did it in his capacity as the president and Army chief. “This is exactly in the same manner as the current set up: the chief executive, the army chief and the corp commanders of Peshawar and Rawalpindi were carrying out their duties,” he told his aides.
One source said that Gen Musharraf actually sent a message to present Pakistani leadership and his key opponents who wanted to put him on trial that even present military leadership was busy in the same activities as it was the call of duty.
Sources said that the timetable for the return of Gen Musharraf to Pakistan and launching of the political party also came under discussion. Many views were exchanged on all the subjects. Musharraf was said to be very confident about his return to Pakistan. During his meeting with his former colleagues he addressed the concerns and questions, which might have been in their minds. Musharraf emphasized that it was the duty of the government, the armed forces and the paramilitary forces to contain the extremists and protect the people.
He said he had served the country well (much and far better than the bad governance and misrule of the last two and a half years rule of the PPP and the PML-N). He said that the people were in far better position than they were in now. He stated that he got hundreds of messages everyday in praise of his years in office. He further deliberated that after serving for nine years and attaining the highest offices in the army and as head of the state, he was not really aspiring for any personal political gain, but wanted to help Pakistan from sliding further down. He said the present political leadership of the country was not capable to serve the people and their repeated coming to office, for the third and fourth time, in the past two decades had shown that they were void of any acumen to provide good governance or even learnt anything from their past mistakes.
The sources said Musharraf appreciated the efforts of the leaders of various factions of the Muslim League uniting against the PML-N and wished them well. He stated that he was not against the Chaudhrys of Gujrat and would be very happy to receive them. He further reiterated that his doors were open for all his former colleagues and called upon them to shun their differences.
Musharraf said if the military was under any constraints not to provide him security, he would raise his own private security on his return to Pakistan in the coming months to face both Nawaz Sahrif and Asif Ali Zardari.
General Musharraf told his top aides in a six-hour-long marathon meeting in Dubai on Saturday that he was willing to face any legal proceedings against him and would even face jail if a fair trial was conducted. “I have many top legal minds assisting me and they will come to my aid if I need them,” he was quoted by sources as saying during the crucial meeting.
Top sources told The News in London that Gen Musharraf had convened a meeting at his flat in downtown Dubai, which was attended by former foreign minister Khurshid Kusuri, Hamid Nasir Chattha, Ishaq Khan Khakwani, Raza Hiraj, Ch Shahbaz, Barrister Saif, Ch Fawwad, Dr Amjad, Lt Gen (retd) Muzaffar, ex-QMG, and Maj Gen (retd) Rashid Quershi. The meeting lasted for over six hours. The deteriorating law and order situation and economic meltdown in Pakistan was discussed in detail.
Sources said General (retd) Musharraf vowed to return to Pakistan in the Dubai meeting aimed at chalking out his return strategy. This was first time he held a serious meeting with his aides to stage a comeback to Pakistan and face his main rival Nawaz Sharif.
During his discourse, Musharraf made it clear whatever he did in curtailing the activities of extremist elements, he did it in his capacity as the president and Army chief. “This is exactly in the same manner as the current set up: the chief executive, the army chief and the corp commanders of Peshawar and Rawalpindi were carrying out their duties,” he told his aides.
One source said that Gen Musharraf actually sent a message to present Pakistani leadership and his key opponents who wanted to put him on trial that even present military leadership was busy in the same activities as it was the call of duty.
Sources said that the timetable for the return of Gen Musharraf to Pakistan and launching of the political party also came under discussion. Many views were exchanged on all the subjects. Musharraf was said to be very confident about his return to Pakistan. During his meeting with his former colleagues he addressed the concerns and questions, which might have been in their minds. Musharraf emphasized that it was the duty of the government, the armed forces and the paramilitary forces to contain the extremists and protect the people.
He said he had served the country well (much and far better than the bad governance and misrule of the last two and a half years rule of the PPP and the PML-N). He said that the people were in far better position than they were in now. He stated that he got hundreds of messages everyday in praise of his years in office. He further deliberated that after serving for nine years and attaining the highest offices in the army and as head of the state, he was not really aspiring for any personal political gain, but wanted to help Pakistan from sliding further down. He said the present political leadership of the country was not capable to serve the people and their repeated coming to office, for the third and fourth time, in the past two decades had shown that they were void of any acumen to provide good governance or even learnt anything from their past mistakes.
The sources said Musharraf appreciated the efforts of the leaders of various factions of the Muslim League uniting against the PML-N and wished them well. He stated that he was not against the Chaudhrys of Gujrat and would be very happy to receive them. He further reiterated that his doors were open for all his former colleagues and called upon them to shun their differences.
100 acres land being given to Masroor Cantt Board
A proposal has been moved to transfer over 100 acres of residential and commercial land of Hawksbay from the Lyari Development Authority (LDA) by forming a new Masroor Cantonment Board.
According to the sources, besides the Naval Colony and Journalists Colony, this land, which is situated at the coastal strip, also includes commercial land which has been allocated for the construction of five-star hotels of international standard, clubs, shopping malls and the residential schemes.
The sources said that the purpose of forming new cantonment board on the name of Masroor Cantonment Board is to stop irregular construction on the coastal stripe, which includes godown of chemicals and factories, which are making the atmosphere of the Karachi ugly.
The sources further said that Minora Cantonment Board could be given the possession of the land before at the earlier stage afterwards it might be transferred to Masroor Cantonment Board to stop rapid irregular construction.
After reviewing the situation emerging from the filling of under construction low lying areas with soil taken from uncultivated land including the Journalist Colony and Government Officers Colony through trucks and the poor performance of Liyari Development Authority, the officials have sent a report to Military Land Department.
According to the sources, the Military Land Department has been requested to provide protection to the Naval Colony and vicinity of uncultivated land of PF Masroor and to halt the theft of soil and sand from there.
According to the sources, besides the Naval Colony and Journalists Colony, this land, which is situated at the coastal strip, also includes commercial land which has been allocated for the construction of five-star hotels of international standard, clubs, shopping malls and the residential schemes.
The sources said that the purpose of forming new cantonment board on the name of Masroor Cantonment Board is to stop irregular construction on the coastal stripe, which includes godown of chemicals and factories, which are making the atmosphere of the Karachi ugly.
The sources further said that Minora Cantonment Board could be given the possession of the land before at the earlier stage afterwards it might be transferred to Masroor Cantonment Board to stop rapid irregular construction.
After reviewing the situation emerging from the filling of under construction low lying areas with soil taken from uncultivated land including the Journalist Colony and Government Officers Colony through trucks and the poor performance of Liyari Development Authority, the officials have sent a report to Military Land Department.
According to the sources, the Military Land Department has been requested to provide protection to the Naval Colony and vicinity of uncultivated land of PF Masroor and to halt the theft of soil and sand from there.
Top stories of the week
• Two killed as ‘encroachers’ clash with police in Baldia—Two persons were killed and several others were injured in a clash between police and suspected encroachers when a heavy contingent of police along with officials of the anti-encroachment cell launched an operation to vacate the land reserved for a cottage industry in the Itehad town area in Baldia on Thursday.
• Protests at JPMC intensify as rumours cast a nasty shadow—Work came to a halt on Thursday at the Jinnah Post Medical Centre (JPMC) when the nurses’ protest, initially scheduled for two hours, lasted for the whole day with the paramedical staff joining in to show their support. The staff chanted slogans against the administration and refused to work.
• Report suggests JPMC nurse was gang-raped—The “preliminary” medical examination report of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) third-year nursing student suggests that the young woman was raped and tortured by six men, including the protagonist of the saga, Medico-Legal Officer (MLO) Dr Jabbar Memon.
• Nurse allegedly raped at JPMC—A third-year nursing student in the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) was found unconscious with a head injury near 96 Doctors’ Backyard Mess on Tuesday. There were unconfirmed reports that she had attempted suicide after allegedly being sexually harassed by a doctor.
• Three more political activists gunned down—A doctor affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and two students belonging to the Punjabi-Pakhtoon Ittehad (PPI) were shot dead on Tuesday in the continuing spate of target killings in the city.
• Gilani vows support for Thar coal project—Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the federal government would extend all-out support to the provincial government in carrying out the Thar coal project, as it was of immense importance for the country as far as power generation was concerned.
• Poverty forces parents to abandon infant daughter—Rising poverty is forcing people to abandon their children, as an infant girl was found in a cradle outside the Edhi Centre in Korangi on Tuesday, officials told The News.
• Protests at JPMC intensify as rumours cast a nasty shadow—Work came to a halt on Thursday at the Jinnah Post Medical Centre (JPMC) when the nurses’ protest, initially scheduled for two hours, lasted for the whole day with the paramedical staff joining in to show their support. The staff chanted slogans against the administration and refused to work.
• Report suggests JPMC nurse was gang-raped—The “preliminary” medical examination report of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) third-year nursing student suggests that the young woman was raped and tortured by six men, including the protagonist of the saga, Medico-Legal Officer (MLO) Dr Jabbar Memon.
• Nurse allegedly raped at JPMC—A third-year nursing student in the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) was found unconscious with a head injury near 96 Doctors’ Backyard Mess on Tuesday. There were unconfirmed reports that she had attempted suicide after allegedly being sexually harassed by a doctor.
• Three more political activists gunned down—A doctor affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and two students belonging to the Punjabi-Pakhtoon Ittehad (PPI) were shot dead on Tuesday in the continuing spate of target killings in the city.
• Gilani vows support for Thar coal project—Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the federal government would extend all-out support to the provincial government in carrying out the Thar coal project, as it was of immense importance for the country as far as power generation was concerned.
• Poverty forces parents to abandon infant daughter—Rising poverty is forcing people to abandon their children, as an infant girl was found in a cradle outside the Edhi Centre in Korangi on Tuesday, officials told The News.
Proper diet helps reduce cancer risk
Up to 30 per cent of all cancers are linked to poor diet — a frightening statistic, until you think of how much power you have to control it.
Diet is one of the few controllable risk factors for developing cancer. Studies demonstrate that people who eat a plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains have a significantly lower risk of developing many types of cancers.
The unfortunate reality is that few people eat the minimum recommended servings of five fruits and vegetables daily, and even fewer consume the nine servings recommended for cancer prevention. The top anti-cancer foods include tomatoes, broccoli sprouts, berries, soybeans and other soy foods, green and black teas, pumpkin, spinach, garlic, pineapple and apples.
Diet is one of the few controllable risk factors for developing cancer. Studies demonstrate that people who eat a plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains have a significantly lower risk of developing many types of cancers.
The unfortunate reality is that few people eat the minimum recommended servings of five fruits and vegetables daily, and even fewer consume the nine servings recommended for cancer prevention. The top anti-cancer foods include tomatoes, broccoli sprouts, berries, soybeans and other soy foods, green and black teas, pumpkin, spinach, garlic, pineapple and apples.
Adulteration in food a cognisable and non-bailable offence
Adulteration in food is a “cognisable offence” under the Pure Food Ordinance (PFO), and hence an FIR should be lodged in cases of transgression instead of filing a direct complaint, declared District Judge (DJ)-South Faheem Ahmed Siddiqui in his judgment in a criminal review petition filed by food inspectors of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK).
Officials of the CDGK Health Department had moved the court against 14 men involved in supplying impure food. The judgement in the case is unique, since interpretation of law has made provision for registration of an FIR for PFO offences.
In his single order to decide the matter, DJ Siddiqui said that adulteration in food is not only a cognisable offence, it is also a non-bailable one. While observing that it is necessary to provide guidelines for registration of a case under the PFO, the judge ordered that after the registration of an FIR against the accused, the matter is thoroughly investigated.
These cases were previously dealt with by the executive magistrates of the defunct Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, where these cases were tried as non-cognisable offences. Greater stress was put on handing down alternate punishment of a meagre fine, which was easily paid by the person engaged in the business of impure food, the court observed.
DJ Siddiqui said that by lodging an FIR, the entire chain of impure food supply can be detected and busted, and the licenses of those found involved be cancelled, and would face dismissal. He said that this practice would curb food adulteration, and also act as a deterrent. The order said that by enhancing the punishment under PFO, the intention of the legislature was to curb the evil of adulteration, but unfortunately the law is not being implemented.
The order has been circulated to all civil judges and judicial magistrates of District South, with the direction to discharge/dispose of all pending cases of PFO filed through direct complaint according to the new judgement. Similarly, CDGK authorities have been ordered to the procedures as ordered in respect of cases under PFO.
The criminal review petitions lodged by the CDGK include Crl Rev 10/2010 Food Inspectors Tariq Javed versus Hom Parakash s/o Heera Noath; Crl Rev 13/10 Food Inspector CDGK Mohammed Zubair versus Hazrat Mohammed and Raheem Dad; Crl Rev 14/10 Food Inspector Tariq Javed versus Imran Ali; Crl 15/10 Food Inspector Shaukat Ali versus Zahid Ali and Shaukat Ali; Crl 16/10 Food Inspector Javed Ali versus Liaquat Ali; Crl Rev 17/10 Food Inspector Tariq Javed versus Abid; Crl Rev 18/10 Food Inspector Shahnawaz Soomro versus Mohammed Zahid; Crl Rev 19/10 Food Inspector Shahnawaz Soomro versus Tahir Yousuf; Crl Rev 20/10 Shahnawaz Soomro versus Mohammed Aslam and Abdul Hanan; Crl Rev 21/10 Food Inspector Shahnawaz Soomro versus Fayyaz Ahmed; Crl Rev 36 Food Inspector Tariq Javed versus Ehsan s/o Mohammed Iqbal; Crl 37/10 Food Inspector Tariq Javed versus Sadaqat Mohammed Anwer; Crl Rev 38/10 Food Inspector Shahnawaz Soomro versus Mohammed Ameer s/o Ghulam Mustafa; Crl Rev 39 Food Inspector Shahnawaz Soomro versus The State.
All complaints were filed before Judicial Magistrate II, who refused to take cognisance in the cases, and dismissed the complainants on the ground that food samples were not sent to an independent laboratory and the witnesses of the complainant were his subordinates.
It was also the opinion of the magistrate that raids conducted on the shops of the accused/respondents were in transgression of Rule 42 of the Pure Food Rules. Another interesting thing observed in Criminal Revision 39/2010 is that the magistrate dismissed the complainant along with the others on the ground that there was an amendment in Section 32 in Pure Food Ordinance, 1960. According to the magistrate, the changed section is as, “the offences under this Ordinance shall be cognisable and non-bailable”
According to the magistrate, as per the amendment, the cases of the Food Ordinance are now cognisable, and as such, an FIR ought to be lodged in these cases instead of direct complaint. The order said that considering this aspect as important and unique, a notice was issued to the respondents and Masroor Ahmed Wasti Advocate was requested to act as Amicus Curie in the matter.
The legal director of CDGK, Manzoor Ahmed, submitted in his arguments that the provincial legislature has not made any amendments to Section 32 of the Pure Food Ordinance. He cited the amendment in Section 31 of the Pure food Ordinance, which deals with the procedure of trial to be followed.
As per the judgment, the CDGK counsel said, there is no need to lodge an FIR, and a complaint by the authorised inspector is fully competent in Sindh.
In this respect, he also referred to Section 23-A of the Ordinance, contending that the complainants in all cases are authorised persons and such authorization is notified under the Gazette. When crossed, he said that the cases under PFO are not cognisable in Sindh, as no amendments have been made to Section 32 in Sindh.
Mansoor Wasti contended that there a gross illegality was committed by the trial court. He said that the trial magistrate cannot brush aside the evidence of the subordinates of the complainant, merely because they are officials working under him. He cited Article 85 of Qanoon-e-Shahadat, which is very clear. He said that being a special law, the procedure provided in the PFO is to be followed, adding that the complainant has produced the authorisation and thus, the complaint was competently filed.
After hearing the arguments, the judge said that it is not Section 32 of the PFO, but Section 23 of PFO which decides that cases under the said Ordinance are cognisable, and that Section 23 was substituted by the Pure Food (Sindh Amendment) Act IX of 1973.
The judge also reproduced Section 23 of the PFO 1960 which reads:
(1) Whoever contravenes the provisions of Section 12 or 21 shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.
(2) Whoever contravenes for provisions of Section 7,8,9,10,11 or 18 shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years or with fine or with both but the term of imprisonment shall not be less than six months and fine shall not be less than five hundred rupees”.
The order regretted that the same procedure of dealing these cases as ‘non-cognisable’ was continued ever after separation of judiciary from executive adding that due to late investigation majority of cases are ended on acquittal and the trade of adulterated and impure food reached to an alarming stage.
All the citation and references proved that after the amendment of 1973, the punishment provided under law has been enhanced, and ranged between three years and seven years imprisonment. Under the cognisable offences provided under Section 4(1)(f) of the Criminal Procedure Code, “cognisable offence” is defined as a case in which a police officer may, in accordance with the second schedule or under any law for the time being in force, arrest culprits without warrants.
The cases under the PFO fall under the category of ‘Other Laws’ of the second Schedule of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Hence it is now palpable that offences under PFO are ‘cognisable’ as such an FIR should be lodged instead of a direct complaint.
Officials of the CDGK Health Department had moved the court against 14 men involved in supplying impure food. The judgement in the case is unique, since interpretation of law has made provision for registration of an FIR for PFO offences.
In his single order to decide the matter, DJ Siddiqui said that adulteration in food is not only a cognisable offence, it is also a non-bailable one. While observing that it is necessary to provide guidelines for registration of a case under the PFO, the judge ordered that after the registration of an FIR against the accused, the matter is thoroughly investigated.
These cases were previously dealt with by the executive magistrates of the defunct Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, where these cases were tried as non-cognisable offences. Greater stress was put on handing down alternate punishment of a meagre fine, which was easily paid by the person engaged in the business of impure food, the court observed.
DJ Siddiqui said that by lodging an FIR, the entire chain of impure food supply can be detected and busted, and the licenses of those found involved be cancelled, and would face dismissal. He said that this practice would curb food adulteration, and also act as a deterrent. The order said that by enhancing the punishment under PFO, the intention of the legislature was to curb the evil of adulteration, but unfortunately the law is not being implemented.
The order has been circulated to all civil judges and judicial magistrates of District South, with the direction to discharge/dispose of all pending cases of PFO filed through direct complaint according to the new judgement. Similarly, CDGK authorities have been ordered to the procedures as ordered in respect of cases under PFO.
The criminal review petitions lodged by the CDGK include Crl Rev 10/2010 Food Inspectors Tariq Javed versus Hom Parakash s/o Heera Noath; Crl Rev 13/10 Food Inspector CDGK Mohammed Zubair versus Hazrat Mohammed and Raheem Dad; Crl Rev 14/10 Food Inspector Tariq Javed versus Imran Ali; Crl 15/10 Food Inspector Shaukat Ali versus Zahid Ali and Shaukat Ali; Crl 16/10 Food Inspector Javed Ali versus Liaquat Ali; Crl Rev 17/10 Food Inspector Tariq Javed versus Abid; Crl Rev 18/10 Food Inspector Shahnawaz Soomro versus Mohammed Zahid; Crl Rev 19/10 Food Inspector Shahnawaz Soomro versus Tahir Yousuf; Crl Rev 20/10 Shahnawaz Soomro versus Mohammed Aslam and Abdul Hanan; Crl Rev 21/10 Food Inspector Shahnawaz Soomro versus Fayyaz Ahmed; Crl Rev 36 Food Inspector Tariq Javed versus Ehsan s/o Mohammed Iqbal; Crl 37/10 Food Inspector Tariq Javed versus Sadaqat Mohammed Anwer; Crl Rev 38/10 Food Inspector Shahnawaz Soomro versus Mohammed Ameer s/o Ghulam Mustafa; Crl Rev 39 Food Inspector Shahnawaz Soomro versus The State.
All complaints were filed before Judicial Magistrate II, who refused to take cognisance in the cases, and dismissed the complainants on the ground that food samples were not sent to an independent laboratory and the witnesses of the complainant were his subordinates.
It was also the opinion of the magistrate that raids conducted on the shops of the accused/respondents were in transgression of Rule 42 of the Pure Food Rules. Another interesting thing observed in Criminal Revision 39/2010 is that the magistrate dismissed the complainant along with the others on the ground that there was an amendment in Section 32 in Pure Food Ordinance, 1960. According to the magistrate, the changed section is as, “the offences under this Ordinance shall be cognisable and non-bailable”
According to the magistrate, as per the amendment, the cases of the Food Ordinance are now cognisable, and as such, an FIR ought to be lodged in these cases instead of direct complaint. The order said that considering this aspect as important and unique, a notice was issued to the respondents and Masroor Ahmed Wasti Advocate was requested to act as Amicus Curie in the matter.
The legal director of CDGK, Manzoor Ahmed, submitted in his arguments that the provincial legislature has not made any amendments to Section 32 of the Pure Food Ordinance. He cited the amendment in Section 31 of the Pure food Ordinance, which deals with the procedure of trial to be followed.
As per the judgment, the CDGK counsel said, there is no need to lodge an FIR, and a complaint by the authorised inspector is fully competent in Sindh.
In this respect, he also referred to Section 23-A of the Ordinance, contending that the complainants in all cases are authorised persons and such authorization is notified under the Gazette. When crossed, he said that the cases under PFO are not cognisable in Sindh, as no amendments have been made to Section 32 in Sindh.
Mansoor Wasti contended that there a gross illegality was committed by the trial court. He said that the trial magistrate cannot brush aside the evidence of the subordinates of the complainant, merely because they are officials working under him. He cited Article 85 of Qanoon-e-Shahadat, which is very clear. He said that being a special law, the procedure provided in the PFO is to be followed, adding that the complainant has produced the authorisation and thus, the complaint was competently filed.
After hearing the arguments, the judge said that it is not Section 32 of the PFO, but Section 23 of PFO which decides that cases under the said Ordinance are cognisable, and that Section 23 was substituted by the Pure Food (Sindh Amendment) Act IX of 1973.
The judge also reproduced Section 23 of the PFO 1960 which reads:
(1) Whoever contravenes the provisions of Section 12 or 21 shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.
(2) Whoever contravenes for provisions of Section 7,8,9,10,11 or 18 shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years or with fine or with both but the term of imprisonment shall not be less than six months and fine shall not be less than five hundred rupees”.
The order regretted that the same procedure of dealing these cases as ‘non-cognisable’ was continued ever after separation of judiciary from executive adding that due to late investigation majority of cases are ended on acquittal and the trade of adulterated and impure food reached to an alarming stage.
All the citation and references proved that after the amendment of 1973, the punishment provided under law has been enhanced, and ranged between three years and seven years imprisonment. Under the cognisable offences provided under Section 4(1)(f) of the Criminal Procedure Code, “cognisable offence” is defined as a case in which a police officer may, in accordance with the second schedule or under any law for the time being in force, arrest culprits without warrants.
The cases under the PFO fall under the category of ‘Other Laws’ of the second Schedule of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Hence it is now palpable that offences under PFO are ‘cognisable’ as such an FIR should be lodged instead of a direct complaint.
Citizens warned against fake housing schemes
Sindh Minister for Environment and Alternative Energy Shaikh Mohammed Afzal has shown deep concern over fake housing schemes in the city and said that stern action should be taken against those deceiving innocent people.
He expressed these views while talking to different delegations during his visit to various parts of Korangi. He was accompanied by relevant town officers.
He said it was the need of the hour to take action against the owners of fake housing schemes, cooperative societies and land grabbers so that the masses of the province including Karachi could be saved from suffering heavy losses.
He said that fake housing schemes had a network in the cities of Sindh who operators were looting the people. It was the responsibility of the citizens to seek confirmation from the relevant offices of the government before making investment in such schemes, he added.
He asked the press and electronic media not to publish the commercial advertisements of the fake housing and cooperative schemes without their permission.
He expressed these views while talking to different delegations during his visit to various parts of Korangi. He was accompanied by relevant town officers.
He said it was the need of the hour to take action against the owners of fake housing schemes, cooperative societies and land grabbers so that the masses of the province including Karachi could be saved from suffering heavy losses.
He said that fake housing schemes had a network in the cities of Sindh who operators were looting the people. It was the responsibility of the citizens to seek confirmation from the relevant offices of the government before making investment in such schemes, he added.
He asked the press and electronic media not to publish the commercial advertisements of the fake housing and cooperative schemes without their permission.
MQM launches ‘Muttahida Social Forum’
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has announced to establish the “Muttahida Social Forum” comprising people from all walks of life, including journalists, intellectuals, poets, scholars, doctors and sportsmen, to serve the country.
This was announced by Deputy Convener MQM Rabita Committee Dr Farooq Sattar while addressing a press conference at Khursheed Memorial Hall here on Sunday. Rabita Committee member Wasay Jalil was also present on the occasion.
Sattar said that the MQM was gaining popularity with the passage of time and people from different walks of life, including advocates and journalists, ex have exressed their desire to come under the flag of MQM under the leadership of Altaf Hussain to wage struggle against the obsolete feudal lord system.
Sattar said that MQM wants Pakistan to become a welfare state where people were empowered.
“MQM is now being considered as a third option for Pakistan and for this reason this forum has been established so that people should play their political role from this forum,” he added.
Replying to a question about the fake degree holders sitting in the parliament, he said: “Let me assure at this forum that MQM will not allow fake degree holders”.
On the occasion, he invited people from all walks of life, particularly journalists, to join this forum. He also announced that the Shohda-e-Haq event would now be held on July 26, which would also be addressed by MQM chief Altaf Hussain.
This was announced by Deputy Convener MQM Rabita Committee Dr Farooq Sattar while addressing a press conference at Khursheed Memorial Hall here on Sunday. Rabita Committee member Wasay Jalil was also present on the occasion.
Sattar said that the MQM was gaining popularity with the passage of time and people from different walks of life, including advocates and journalists, ex have exressed their desire to come under the flag of MQM under the leadership of Altaf Hussain to wage struggle against the obsolete feudal lord system.
Sattar said that MQM wants Pakistan to become a welfare state where people were empowered.
“MQM is now being considered as a third option for Pakistan and for this reason this forum has been established so that people should play their political role from this forum,” he added.
Replying to a question about the fake degree holders sitting in the parliament, he said: “Let me assure at this forum that MQM will not allow fake degree holders”.
On the occasion, he invited people from all walks of life, particularly journalists, to join this forum. He also announced that the Shohda-e-Haq event would now be held on July 26, which would also be addressed by MQM chief Altaf Hussain.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
100 acres of Revenue Dept land vacated in Bin Qasim
A team of the Anti-Encroachment (AE) Police Station faced stiff resistance on Saturday when it launched a crackdown to vacate 100 acres of Revenue Department land in the Bin Qasim area occupied by the land mafia.
Moreover, the police arrested five people for resisting the anti-encroachment drive. Some policemen and others were also injured in the clash.
SHO Anti-Encroachment Police Station Nayyar-ul-Haq said that a complaint was received that some land grabbers had occupied more than 100 acres of land belonging to the Revenue Department in the Bin Qasim Town area.
He added that the land mafia, after occupying the land, named it as Sommar Goth. The land grabbers had claimed that the Goth was established 50 years ago. However, according to the record, the land was occupied about 11 months back and it was then named as Soomar Goth. They had then built structures on the occupied land.
The SHO said the AE police team, government officials and revenue authorities launched a crackdown on the land mafia on Saturday morning. On reaching the area, they faced resistance from the encroachers. A clash ensued in which some police personnel were injured. On this, more police force was called and more than 100 acres of Revenue Department land was vacated. Besides, five people were arrested for creating a law and order situation.
Moreover, the police arrested five people for resisting the anti-encroachment drive. Some policemen and others were also injured in the clash.
SHO Anti-Encroachment Police Station Nayyar-ul-Haq said that a complaint was received that some land grabbers had occupied more than 100 acres of land belonging to the Revenue Department in the Bin Qasim Town area.
He added that the land mafia, after occupying the land, named it as Sommar Goth. The land grabbers had claimed that the Goth was established 50 years ago. However, according to the record, the land was occupied about 11 months back and it was then named as Soomar Goth. They had then built structures on the occupied land.
The SHO said the AE police team, government officials and revenue authorities launched a crackdown on the land mafia on Saturday morning. On reaching the area, they faced resistance from the encroachers. A clash ensued in which some police personnel were injured. On this, more police force was called and more than 100 acres of Revenue Department land was vacated. Besides, five people were arrested for creating a law and order situation.
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Saturday, July 10, 2010
Merits of joint family system highlighted
The joint family system is a source of moral training, character-building and mutual love and understanding, and it should not be opposed without realising its merits. The blind adopting of Western values is damaging the social and moral fabric of our society, and we must save our positive values, culture and social heritage for our coming generations.
This was said by the speakers at the meeting of Shura Hamdard on Thursday evening on the theme “Present circumstances in the light of spiritual and moral values”, presided over by Justice (retd) Haziquel Khairi at a local hotel. President, Hamdard Foundation Pakistan, Sadia Rashid, was also present at the meeting.
The speakers urged the people to restore spiritual and moral values and joint family system in the society, because spiritual and moral values create spiritual power which is a multiple power and joint family system is a source of moral training, character building and mutual love and understanding.
Speaking as the guest speaker, ex-MNA, novelist, writer and Deputy Speaker, Shura Hamdard Lahore, Bushra Rehman said, “Spiritual and moral values were very important for our society and all social and political ills, prevailing in our society, was the result of their deteriorative condition. Political leaders, in power or out of power, should take spiritual training from spiritual saints. We should not confuse to the new generation by narrating the disputed aspects of Pakistan movement and creation of Pakistan”.
Those leaders, who created Pakistan, were very clear in their minds. They had good intentions and made a beautiful map for the solidarity, safety and progress of Pakistan in their minds. But unfortunately they had gone soon and power was captured by those people who had done nothing in creation of Pakistan. However, people like Hakim Said were present in the country and it had survived and progress, defying prophesy of Indian leaders of Congress that Pakistan would survive for six months only, she added.
“A relay race is being held in our country and every outgoing ruler gives flag to another person, who may not chase him, but run forward in order to save his skin”, she said, adding that “We should prepare a new crop of youth to take control of the country’s affairs and to avoid this race of power”.
Ex-Chairman, Pakistan Steel Mills, Haq Nawaz Akhtar, said that for the restoration of spiritual and moral values in society, abolition of feudalism and “mullaiyat” and re-establishment of joint family system was essentially needed. Justice (retd) Haziqul Khairi said that Pakistan Movement was not grounded in religion; it was a movement for attaining the economic and political rights of Indian Muslims. That’s why no leaders of Pakistan movement were deeply religious. If it was a religious movement the Indian Communist Party would have definitely opposed it, he added.
Former ambassador of Pakistan, Mahdi Masud said that political integrity in political leadership, which had vast meanings and covered all aspects of human character, restoration of confidence among the masses, who were the victim of insecurity, was quite necessary for the betterment of the country. Above all establishment of social justice was supreme in this connection, he added. He said that Pakistan was not an ordinary country and among the UN’s 180 members’ states, it was elected to the many of its important institutions. Among the 42 countries, which were facing terrorism, Pakistan was the only country, which suffered more fighting against terror, he added.
Commodore (retd) Sadeed Anwar Malik while highlighting the importance of Pakistan said that in 1951 when Japan, then a conquered country, was allowed to restore its diplomatic relations to only ten countries, Pakistan was among those 10. “Spiritual power is a power which multiplies others’ power”, he maintained. M.A. Sabzwari, Syed Muzzaffarul Hasan, Dr Amjad Ali Jaffery, Nusrat Nasarullah and Azhar Hashmi also spoke.
This was said by the speakers at the meeting of Shura Hamdard on Thursday evening on the theme “Present circumstances in the light of spiritual and moral values”, presided over by Justice (retd) Haziquel Khairi at a local hotel. President, Hamdard Foundation Pakistan, Sadia Rashid, was also present at the meeting.
The speakers urged the people to restore spiritual and moral values and joint family system in the society, because spiritual and moral values create spiritual power which is a multiple power and joint family system is a source of moral training, character building and mutual love and understanding.
Speaking as the guest speaker, ex-MNA, novelist, writer and Deputy Speaker, Shura Hamdard Lahore, Bushra Rehman said, “Spiritual and moral values were very important for our society and all social and political ills, prevailing in our society, was the result of their deteriorative condition. Political leaders, in power or out of power, should take spiritual training from spiritual saints. We should not confuse to the new generation by narrating the disputed aspects of Pakistan movement and creation of Pakistan”.
Those leaders, who created Pakistan, were very clear in their minds. They had good intentions and made a beautiful map for the solidarity, safety and progress of Pakistan in their minds. But unfortunately they had gone soon and power was captured by those people who had done nothing in creation of Pakistan. However, people like Hakim Said were present in the country and it had survived and progress, defying prophesy of Indian leaders of Congress that Pakistan would survive for six months only, she added.
“A relay race is being held in our country and every outgoing ruler gives flag to another person, who may not chase him, but run forward in order to save his skin”, she said, adding that “We should prepare a new crop of youth to take control of the country’s affairs and to avoid this race of power”.
Ex-Chairman, Pakistan Steel Mills, Haq Nawaz Akhtar, said that for the restoration of spiritual and moral values in society, abolition of feudalism and “mullaiyat” and re-establishment of joint family system was essentially needed. Justice (retd) Haziqul Khairi said that Pakistan Movement was not grounded in religion; it was a movement for attaining the economic and political rights of Indian Muslims. That’s why no leaders of Pakistan movement were deeply religious. If it was a religious movement the Indian Communist Party would have definitely opposed it, he added.
Former ambassador of Pakistan, Mahdi Masud said that political integrity in political leadership, which had vast meanings and covered all aspects of human character, restoration of confidence among the masses, who were the victim of insecurity, was quite necessary for the betterment of the country. Above all establishment of social justice was supreme in this connection, he added. He said that Pakistan was not an ordinary country and among the UN’s 180 members’ states, it was elected to the many of its important institutions. Among the 42 countries, which were facing terrorism, Pakistan was the only country, which suffered more fighting against terror, he added.
Commodore (retd) Sadeed Anwar Malik while highlighting the importance of Pakistan said that in 1951 when Japan, then a conquered country, was allowed to restore its diplomatic relations to only ten countries, Pakistan was among those 10. “Spiritual power is a power which multiplies others’ power”, he maintained. M.A. Sabzwari, Syed Muzzaffarul Hasan, Dr Amjad Ali Jaffery, Nusrat Nasarullah and Azhar Hashmi also spoke.
Two killed in separate incidents
Two people were killed in separate incidents in the city on Friday. Ahmed was shot dead in Sharea Noor Jehan police limits. Police said that the deceased was a watchman at the house of Naseem, a bank officer residing in Shadman No-2, Sharea Noor Jehan. On Friday morning, Ahmed had a quarrel with a security guard Peer Bux, who took out his pistol and shot him. The victim died on the spot while Bux managed to flee. The deceased and the killer both hail from Sukkur. A case was registered and investigation is underway.
In a separate case, Abdullah, 32 was shot dead in Sohrab Goth police limits. Police said that the incident occurred in Dhani Bux Goth where Abdullah and Ali Gul had an ongoing land dispute. Due to indiscriminate fire, Abdullah, Rehan, Gul Sher and one unidentified man were injured. The injured were shifted to a hospital where Abdullah succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
In a separate case, Abdullah, 32 was shot dead in Sohrab Goth police limits. Police said that the incident occurred in Dhani Bux Goth where Abdullah and Ali Gul had an ongoing land dispute. Due to indiscriminate fire, Abdullah, Rehan, Gul Sher and one unidentified man were injured. The injured were shifted to a hospital where Abdullah succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
KCR to be back on its feet soon: senator
The chairman of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Railways, Senator Gul Naseeb Khan, had alleged that the current railways minister as well as two of his predecessors had been equally responsible for the mismanagement and corruption in the railways.
“I believe that the three ministers, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Shaikh Rashid Ahmed and Javed Ashraf Qazi, are equally responsible for mismanagement and corruption in the railways,” the senator told a group of journalists here at the Qasr-e-Naz.
The senator, who is in the city to meet the people concerned on getting the Karachi Circular Railway back on its feet and to look into the issues of the employees colony, dispelled the “propaganda” that the railways was going through a crisis.
“Some officers of the Pakistan Railways are trying to prove it as a dead organization so that it could be privatized,” alleged the senator.
“I’m not in favour of privatization. The standing committee, however, will recommend to the government to make the organization an autonomous body,” he said.
The JUI-F senator said that he had been shocked to learn the extent of encroachments on the railway’s lands, an issue he would raise in the senate.
A sub-committee would present a comprehensive report on the grabbing of railway’s land and on the revival of the KCR, he said.
Maulana Gul Naseeb claimed that the revival of the KCR was now a matter of days as all the stake-holders had given their nod and that they only needed to sort out some legal issues pertaining to the lands owned by the railways.
He said that corruption, mismanagement and political interventions were some of the major issues haunting the organization.
He also said that lack of locomotives was also a major issue that needed to be resolved urgently.
The senator claimed that the factories of the Pakistan Railways, especially the one at Risalpur, could produce up to 75 per cent of the total number of locomotives required.
The chairman of the standing committee said that they had suggested to the government to constitute a commission over the fate of the railway lands retrieved from the encroachers.
He said that the committee would also suggest to the government to close all those routes that were a financial disaster.
The senator accused Shaikh Rashid Ahmed of deriving “political benefits” from the organization during his tenure as minister.
He picked out delays in departures and arrivals, luxuries enjoyed by the railway officers and unhygienic and uncomfortable trains as the chronic issues bedeviling the organization.
Regarding security to the railways installations and tracks, the senator said he would raise the issue in the senate.
Meanwhile, leaders of Pakistan Railways Mehnatkash Union called on Senator Gul Naseeb Khan and apprised him of their demands and issues.
They demanded of the senator to fix 50 percent quota in the organization for the children of employees and disband PRACS which was proving to be a white elephant and restore PNS Shifa on the railways panel.
The senator assured the delegation, comprising Abdul Majeed Solangi, Muqadar Zaman and Aurangzeb Tanoli, that he would personally take the matter up with the railways minister.
The chairman of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Railways, Senator Gul Naseeb Khan, had alleged that the current railways minister as well as two of his predecessors had been equally responsible for the mismanagement and corruption in the railways.
“I believe that the three ministers, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Shaikh Rashid Ahmed and Javed Ashraf Qazi, are equally responsible for mismanagement and corruption in the railways,” the senator told a gThe chairman of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Railways, Senator Gul Naseeb Khan, had alleged that the current railways minister as well as two of his predecessors had been equally responsible for the mismanagement and corruption in the railways.
“I believe that the three ministers, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Shaikh Rashid Ahmed and Javed Ashraf Qazi, are equally responsible for mismanagement and corruption in the railways,” the senator told a group of journalists here at the Qasr-e-Naz.
The senator, who is in the city to meet the people concerned on getting the Karachi Circular Railway back on its feet and to look into the issues of the employees colony, dispelled the “propaganda” that the railways was going through a crisis.
“Some officers of the Pakistan Railways are trying to prove it as a dead organization so that it could be privatized,” alleged the senator.
“I’m not in favour of privatization. The standing committee, however, will recommend to the government to make the organization an autonomous body,” he said.
The JUI-F senator said that he had been shocked to learn the extent of encroachments on the railway’s lands, an issue he would raise in the senate.
A sub-committee would present a comprehensive report on the grabbing of railway’s land and on the revival of the KCR, he said.
Maulana Gul Naseeb claimed that the revival of the KCR was now a matter of days as all the stake-holders had given their nod and that they only needed to sort out some legal issues pertaining to the lands owned by the railways.
He said that corruption, mismanagement and political interventions were some of the major issues haunting the organization.
He also said that lack of locomotives was also a major issue that needed to be resolved urgently.
The senator claimed that the factories of the Pakistan Railways, especially the one at Risalpur, could produce up to 75 per cent of the total number of locomotives required.
The chairman of the standing committee said that they had suggested to the government to constitute a commission over the fate of the railway lands retrieved from the encroachers.
He said that the committee would also suggest to the government to close all those routes that were a financial disaster.
The senator accused Shaikh Rashid Ahmed of deriving “political benefits” from the organization during his tenure as minister.
He picked out delays in departures and arrivals, luxuries enjoyed by the railway officers and unhygienic and uncomfortable trains as the chronic issues bedeviling the organization.
Regarding security to the railways installations and tracks, the senator said he would raise the issue in the senate.
Meanwhile, leaders of Pakistan Railways Mehnatkash Union called on Senator Gul Naseeb Khan and apprised him of their demands and issues.
They demanded of the senator to fix 50 percent quota in the organization for the children of employees and disband PRACS which was proving to be a white elephant and restore PNS Shifa on the railways panel.
The senator assured the delegation, comprising Abdul Majeed Solangi, Muqadar Zaman and Aurangzeb Tanoli, that he would personally take the matter up with the railways minister.roup of journalists here at the Qasr-e-Naz.
The senator, who is in the city to meet the people concerned on getting the Karachi Circular Railway back on its feet and to look into the issues of the employees colony, dispelled the “propaganda” that the railways was going through a crisis.
“Some officers of the Pakistan Railways are trying to prove it as a dead organization so that it could be privatized,” alleged the senator.
“I’m not in favour of privatization. The standing committee, however, will recommend to the government to make the organization an autonomous body,” he said.
The JUI-F senator said that he had been shocked to learn the extent of encroachments on the railway’s lands, an issue he would raise in the senate.
A sub-committee would present a comprehensive report on the grabbing of railway’s land and on the revival of the KCR, he said.
Maulana Gul Naseeb claimed that the revival of the KCR was now a matter of days as all the stake-holders had given their nod and that they only needed to sort out some legal issues pertaining to the lands owned by the railways.
He said that corruption, mismanagement and political interventions were some of the major issues haunting the organization.
He also said that lack of locomotives was also a major issue that needed to be resolved urgently.
The senator claimed that the factories of the Pakistan Railways, especially the one at Risalpur, could produce up to 75 per cent of the total number of locomotives required.
The chairman of the standing committee said that they had suggested to the government to constitute a commission over the fate of the railway lands retrieved from the encroachers.
He said that the committee would also suggest to the government to close all those routes that were a financial disaster.
The senator accused Shaikh Rashid Ahmed of deriving “political benefits” from the organization during his tenure as minister.
He picked out delays in departures and arrivals, luxuries enjoyed by the railway officers and unhygienic and uncomfortable trains as the chronic issues bedeviling the organization.
Regarding security to the railways installations and tracks, the senator said he would raise the issue in the senate.
Meanwhile, leaders of Pakistan Railways Mehnatkash Union called on Senator Gul Naseeb Khan and apprised him of their demands and issues.
They demanded of the senator to fix 50 percent quota in the organization for the children of employees and disband PRACS which was proving to be a white elephant and restore PNS Shifa on the railways panel.
The senator assured the delegation, comprising Abdul Majeed Solangi, Muqadar Zaman and Aurangzeb Tanoli, that he would personally take the matter up with the railways minister.
HRCP report terms 2010 ‘very violent’ year for Karachi
The year 2010 is turning out to be an extremely violent one for the city, as around 889 people have been murdered and some 260 killed in target killing incidents during the last six months, says a report released by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). Last year, 884 murders and 156 targeted killings were reported.
The report states that the HRCP is deeply concerned over the rising incidents of murders and target killings despite repeated assurances by the government that all steps would be taken to control the spate of killings.
Among the victims of the target killings, 139 were affiliated with political parties while 105 were apolitical. The figure also includes 16 people killed in different incidents of sectarian violence.
The data states that 34 workers of the MQM-Haqiqi have been killed in the last six months, followed by the Muhattida Qaumi Movement with 22 workers. The Awami National Party had lost around 16 party workers while 11 members of the Pakistan People’s Party have been killed. The Sunni Tehreek has lost four of its members, while three each from the Sipah-e-Sahaba and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have been killed.
Meanwhile, some 889 murders have been reported over the last six months, which includes 99 women and 39 children. A majority of the murders took place in June when 181 people were killed.
The East Zone of the city has witnessed more bloodshed than any other zone with 274 murders, followed by 204 in the South, 187 in West, 154 in Central and 70 in Malir district.
Around 113 people have been killed in incidents of personal enmity, 77 kidnapped and killed, 47 killed during robbery, 40 people in the Lyari gang war, 27 dead in bomb blasts, and19 killed by stray bullets, five killed by police torture, four killed in jails, and others.
Violent incidents against women have also been on the rise during the last six months as around 42 women have been killed in the first six months of the year as compared to 42 women killed in 2009. Meanwhile, 39 children in different incidents have been killed so far.
The report states that the HRCP is deeply concerned over the rising incidents of murders and target killings despite repeated assurances by the government that all steps would be taken to control the spate of killings.
Among the victims of the target killings, 139 were affiliated with political parties while 105 were apolitical. The figure also includes 16 people killed in different incidents of sectarian violence.
The data states that 34 workers of the MQM-Haqiqi have been killed in the last six months, followed by the Muhattida Qaumi Movement with 22 workers. The Awami National Party had lost around 16 party workers while 11 members of the Pakistan People’s Party have been killed. The Sunni Tehreek has lost four of its members, while three each from the Sipah-e-Sahaba and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have been killed.
Meanwhile, some 889 murders have been reported over the last six months, which includes 99 women and 39 children. A majority of the murders took place in June when 181 people were killed.
The East Zone of the city has witnessed more bloodshed than any other zone with 274 murders, followed by 204 in the South, 187 in West, 154 in Central and 70 in Malir district.
Around 113 people have been killed in incidents of personal enmity, 77 kidnapped and killed, 47 killed during robbery, 40 people in the Lyari gang war, 27 dead in bomb blasts, and19 killed by stray bullets, five killed by police torture, four killed in jails, and others.
Violent incidents against women have also been on the rise during the last six months as around 42 women have been killed in the first six months of the year as compared to 42 women killed in 2009. Meanwhile, 39 children in different incidents have been killed so far.
Most Sindh MPs hold genuine degrees: KU
Most members of the Sindh Assembly hold genuine degrees, in sharp contrast to those of Punjab, University of Karachi (KU) Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr Nasiruddin Ahmed Khan told The News on Friday.
Khan also expressed satisfaction over the verification process of the MPAs degrees that is nearing completion.
Dr Khan, who is a member of the Degrees Verification Committee, informed The News that other members of the committee, including Registrar Prof Kaleem Raza Khan and Chairman Department of Computer Science Dr Aquil Burney, had employed very careful methods to make the verification process free of errors and omissions. “We have checked the degrees in an organised way, going through the records and minimising the chances of mistake.”
The committee, tasked with the verification of 104 degrees of the MPAs issued by KU, has checked them all and found them to be genuine. The committee members are in the process of finalising the checking procedure in order to make the process flawless.
Dr Aquil Burney pointed out that the oldest degree that they checked was from the year 1952 and the results were not very clear but they did it finally. “We have questioners from the Election Commission that have to be answered and every answer takes two minutes and there are many questions. It is a cumbersome job but we did it with precision and care.”
Dr Khan refuted the news appearing in some Urdu newspapers that the degree of Stephen Arif from PS 166 was fake.
“No, it is not. We have checked it and I can say that it is authentic. The case of Yaqub Bizenjo is different. His degree is not a fake one. What he (Bizenjo) did was that he managed to get a degree one month before the KU issued the degrees of that year. It resulted in some discrepancies appearing on the degree. We cannot comment on the case because it is in the court of law,” Dr Khan informed.
In the meantime, many senior professors of the KU ridiculed the statements by politicians that were supporting the fake-degree holders and trying to put blame on the media, judiciary and Army. One professor from the Faculty of Science especially mentioned the statement of a member of the Punjab Assembly and said, “He laid the blame of three “Js” — Journalists, Judiciary and Generals. Instead of accepting the fact that they did something that was morally wrong, they were trying to blame others. It is simply disgusting!”
Khan also expressed satisfaction over the verification process of the MPAs degrees that is nearing completion.
Dr Khan, who is a member of the Degrees Verification Committee, informed The News that other members of the committee, including Registrar Prof Kaleem Raza Khan and Chairman Department of Computer Science Dr Aquil Burney, had employed very careful methods to make the verification process free of errors and omissions. “We have checked the degrees in an organised way, going through the records and minimising the chances of mistake.”
The committee, tasked with the verification of 104 degrees of the MPAs issued by KU, has checked them all and found them to be genuine. The committee members are in the process of finalising the checking procedure in order to make the process flawless.
Dr Aquil Burney pointed out that the oldest degree that they checked was from the year 1952 and the results were not very clear but they did it finally. “We have questioners from the Election Commission that have to be answered and every answer takes two minutes and there are many questions. It is a cumbersome job but we did it with precision and care.”
Dr Khan refuted the news appearing in some Urdu newspapers that the degree of Stephen Arif from PS 166 was fake.
“No, it is not. We have checked it and I can say that it is authentic. The case of Yaqub Bizenjo is different. His degree is not a fake one. What he (Bizenjo) did was that he managed to get a degree one month before the KU issued the degrees of that year. It resulted in some discrepancies appearing on the degree. We cannot comment on the case because it is in the court of law,” Dr Khan informed.
In the meantime, many senior professors of the KU ridiculed the statements by politicians that were supporting the fake-degree holders and trying to put blame on the media, judiciary and Army. One professor from the Faculty of Science especially mentioned the statement of a member of the Punjab Assembly and said, “He laid the blame of three “Js” — Journalists, Judiciary and Generals. Instead of accepting the fact that they did something that was morally wrong, they were trying to blame others. It is simply disgusting!”
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
KANUPP shut down for repairs
The Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) has been shut down for at least two weeks for scheduled maintenance, an official from the power plant said.
With KANUPP going offline, some 80 megawatts (MW) supply has been suspended, further increasing the problems of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) which is struggling to meet the power demand of the city.
On Monday the peak electricity demand of the city faced by the KESC was 2,366 MW. This was relatively low, as compared to the figures of peak summer season, due to the pre-monsoon shower.
According to a KANUPP official, the nuclear power plant went offline around midnight between Monday and Tuesday. He said that the maintenance schedule was prepared beforehand in view of electricity demand during the upcoming holy month of Ramazan.
Meanwhile, several areas of the city were affected by power failures in the aftermath of intermittent drizzle on Tuesday. A KESC official claimed that only 10 feeders tripped during the rain on Tuesday and were normalised with an hour. The localities of North Karachi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, parts of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, PECHS Block-2, Shadman Town, Orangi, Old areas, Lyari, PIB Colony, Model Colony, faced prolonged and frequent power failures.
In related developments, the Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the KESC in a contempt application.
The petitioner, Iqbal Kazmi, a representative of Human Rights Commission South Asia, submitted that despite SHC’s order to KESC for announcing the load-shedding schedule, unannounced power outages were still continuing.
He submitted that no proper arrangements were made by the KESC for the upcoming monsoon season, and prayed the court to direct the KESC to make underground arrangement for power supply.
After conducting preliminary hearing of the petition, the SHC issued notice to KESC’s Chief Executive Officer for not complying with the court order and also directed the court office to tag the petition with identical petition regarding unannounced loadshedding.
With KANUPP going offline, some 80 megawatts (MW) supply has been suspended, further increasing the problems of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) which is struggling to meet the power demand of the city.
On Monday the peak electricity demand of the city faced by the KESC was 2,366 MW. This was relatively low, as compared to the figures of peak summer season, due to the pre-monsoon shower.
According to a KANUPP official, the nuclear power plant went offline around midnight between Monday and Tuesday. He said that the maintenance schedule was prepared beforehand in view of electricity demand during the upcoming holy month of Ramazan.
Meanwhile, several areas of the city were affected by power failures in the aftermath of intermittent drizzle on Tuesday. A KESC official claimed that only 10 feeders tripped during the rain on Tuesday and were normalised with an hour. The localities of North Karachi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, parts of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, PECHS Block-2, Shadman Town, Orangi, Old areas, Lyari, PIB Colony, Model Colony, faced prolonged and frequent power failures.
In related developments, the Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the KESC in a contempt application.
The petitioner, Iqbal Kazmi, a representative of Human Rights Commission South Asia, submitted that despite SHC’s order to KESC for announcing the load-shedding schedule, unannounced power outages were still continuing.
He submitted that no proper arrangements were made by the KESC for the upcoming monsoon season, and prayed the court to direct the KESC to make underground arrangement for power supply.
After conducting preliminary hearing of the petition, the SHC issued notice to KESC’s Chief Executive Officer for not complying with the court order and also directed the court office to tag the petition with identical petition regarding unannounced loadshedding.
Awareness campaign on sexual abuse of children
Aahung, a Karachi-based NGO, launched a nation-wide radio campaign on Tuesday to highlight prevention of child sexual abuse (CSA). The drive is targeted at parents and caregivers, and will run till July 30.
“A number of myths and misconceptions suggest that only girls, and children from lower socio-economic groups are abused.
However, it is estimated that between 15 – 20 per cent of girls and boys from all socio-economic groups in Pakistan are exposed to sexual harassment and abuse before they turn 18,” said Aahung representative, Farhat Firdous.
The Aahung representative maintained that many cases go under reported or undetected, but it is safe to assume that the statistics are probably much higher. Through this campaign, Aahung wants to dispel some of the prevalent myths, and provide parents and caregivers with simple strategies that can go a long way in the prevention of child sexual abuse
“A number of myths and misconceptions suggest that only girls, and children from lower socio-economic groups are abused.
However, it is estimated that between 15 – 20 per cent of girls and boys from all socio-economic groups in Pakistan are exposed to sexual harassment and abuse before they turn 18,” said Aahung representative, Farhat Firdous.
The Aahung representative maintained that many cases go under reported or undetected, but it is safe to assume that the statistics are probably much higher. Through this campaign, Aahung wants to dispel some of the prevalent myths, and provide parents and caregivers with simple strategies that can go a long way in the prevention of child sexual abuse
Coalition to clamp down on encroachments
the first phase of which will commence from Karachi and run for four months.
The operation is backed by the three coalition partners — Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party (ANP).
An announcement in this regard was made on Tuesday at a joint press conference of Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, at the Governor’s House. The press conference was arranged after a meeting of the coalition partners at the Governor’s House.
The action has been finalised after the expected promulgation of the Sindh Public Property (Removal of Encroachments) Ordinance-2010.
A comprehensive plan for removal of encroachments on lands of the Board of Revenue and of the City District Government Karachi has also been chalked out under the plan.
The operation would be carried out in coordination with the police, the Rangers and the CDGK, the governor said.
The governor and the chief minister lauded the gestures of President Asif Ali Zardari and the MQM founder, Altaf Hussain, for taking some vital decisions for this operation.
Earlier during the meeting of the coalition partners, the EDO (Revenue), Roshan Ali Sheikh, told the governor that within two days of the operation, encroachments spread over 800 acres of the state land would be removed.
The governor said that encroachments in the city had been a big issue and that there had been a law against them, but it was not implemented in letter and in spirit and the land mafia took advantage of this apathy.
He said that the government had made a firm decision this time round to remove the encroachments on the state land.
The governor also announced a code of conduct for the operation and said this operation would not be restricted to Karachi, but it would also cover other districts of the province.
The governor also advised the political leaders to remove party flags from the areas under their influence as this issue had also been creating a rift among different people.
The governor said that the land mafia had been involved in target killings, but the political parties got blamed for those acts.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that land was a provincial subject and the main source of income, and that “we all are here today to begin the anti-encroachment operation through a political will and a vision”.
He said President Asif Ali Zadari had suggested removal of encroachments and the MQM founder, Altaf Hussain, had been a source of tremendous help in starting this operation in Karachi.
Shah said that the coalition partners were working harmoniously in the Sindh Assembly for the development of the province, and that the government would not tolerate anyone encroaching on the state land and the ones encroached upon would be vacated at any cost. He said that the law-enforcement agencies would help political parties in making this operation a success.
Shah regretted that some federal government departments had occupied the land of the Sindh government and that the provincial government would approach the federal government to seek its help on this issue.
The chief minister said that the government would also provide alternative land to the people who were living at either side of the nullahs in the city, including the Gujjar Nullah.
MQM’s Dr Farooq Sattar said that encroachments must be considered as crimes.
Shahi Syed of the ANP said that the bone of contention between different parties were the flags hoisted in different areas of the city.
He also suggested making institutions stronger which would also make the country stronger.
Amin Khattak, also of the ANP, reminded Dr Farooq Sattar that a former prime minister, Mohammed Khan Junejo, had stated that the katchi abadis up to the date of March 23, 1985, stood notified, so under this operation they should be taken care of.
During the meeting, the representatives of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) briefed the participants about their problems and made certain suggestions.
However at some stages differences cropped up among different ministers over the definition of encroachments.
Pir Mazharul Haq and some other ministers represented the PPP while the Muttahida was represented by the Federal Minister for Port and Shipping, Babar Ghori, the Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Dr Farooq Sattar, and the Sindh Minister for Health, Dr Sagheer Ahmed. Shahi Syed and Amin Khattak represented the ANP.
A senior member of the Board of Revenue, Ghulam Ali Pasha, the Inspector-General of Police, Salahuddin Babar Khattak, and the CCPO of Karachi were also present on the occasion.
The operation is backed by the three coalition partners — Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party (ANP).
An announcement in this regard was made on Tuesday at a joint press conference of Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, at the Governor’s House. The press conference was arranged after a meeting of the coalition partners at the Governor’s House.
The action has been finalised after the expected promulgation of the Sindh Public Property (Removal of Encroachments) Ordinance-2010.
A comprehensive plan for removal of encroachments on lands of the Board of Revenue and of the City District Government Karachi has also been chalked out under the plan.
The operation would be carried out in coordination with the police, the Rangers and the CDGK, the governor said.
The governor and the chief minister lauded the gestures of President Asif Ali Zardari and the MQM founder, Altaf Hussain, for taking some vital decisions for this operation.
Earlier during the meeting of the coalition partners, the EDO (Revenue), Roshan Ali Sheikh, told the governor that within two days of the operation, encroachments spread over 800 acres of the state land would be removed.
The governor said that encroachments in the city had been a big issue and that there had been a law against them, but it was not implemented in letter and in spirit and the land mafia took advantage of this apathy.
He said that the government had made a firm decision this time round to remove the encroachments on the state land.
The governor also announced a code of conduct for the operation and said this operation would not be restricted to Karachi, but it would also cover other districts of the province.
The governor also advised the political leaders to remove party flags from the areas under their influence as this issue had also been creating a rift among different people.
The governor said that the land mafia had been involved in target killings, but the political parties got blamed for those acts.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that land was a provincial subject and the main source of income, and that “we all are here today to begin the anti-encroachment operation through a political will and a vision”.
He said President Asif Ali Zadari had suggested removal of encroachments and the MQM founder, Altaf Hussain, had been a source of tremendous help in starting this operation in Karachi.
Shah said that the coalition partners were working harmoniously in the Sindh Assembly for the development of the province, and that the government would not tolerate anyone encroaching on the state land and the ones encroached upon would be vacated at any cost. He said that the law-enforcement agencies would help political parties in making this operation a success.
Shah regretted that some federal government departments had occupied the land of the Sindh government and that the provincial government would approach the federal government to seek its help on this issue.
The chief minister said that the government would also provide alternative land to the people who were living at either side of the nullahs in the city, including the Gujjar Nullah.
MQM’s Dr Farooq Sattar said that encroachments must be considered as crimes.
Shahi Syed of the ANP said that the bone of contention between different parties were the flags hoisted in different areas of the city.
He also suggested making institutions stronger which would also make the country stronger.
Amin Khattak, also of the ANP, reminded Dr Farooq Sattar that a former prime minister, Mohammed Khan Junejo, had stated that the katchi abadis up to the date of March 23, 1985, stood notified, so under this operation they should be taken care of.
During the meeting, the representatives of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) briefed the participants about their problems and made certain suggestions.
However at some stages differences cropped up among different ministers over the definition of encroachments.
Pir Mazharul Haq and some other ministers represented the PPP while the Muttahida was represented by the Federal Minister for Port and Shipping, Babar Ghori, the Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Dr Farooq Sattar, and the Sindh Minister for Health, Dr Sagheer Ahmed. Shahi Syed and Amin Khattak represented the ANP.
A senior member of the Board of Revenue, Ghulam Ali Pasha, the Inspector-General of Police, Salahuddin Babar Khattak, and the CCPO of Karachi were also present on the occasion.
CCPO asked to probe case of extra-judicial killing
The Additional District and Sessions Judge (South), Abdul Razzaq, has directed the Capital City Police Officer to determine if the police had arrested an innocent man in a case of extra-judicial killing.
The judge, citing the arguments of the defence counsel that the Station Investigation Officer, Yaseen, had been negligent and reckless and that ASI Ehsanullah was not involved in the extra-judicial killing of Abdul Sattar Baluch, ordered the CCPO to submit his report on this issue within a week.
ASI Ehsanullah Khan, who had been working in the ACLC department of Sindh police, was arrested on 31 May on the charge of being a member of the CIA team that had raided the house of Abdul Sattar Baluch, a Lyari resident, and subsequently tortured him to death.
When the court inquired from the complainant’s counsel, Omar Sial, what he had to say on the defence version that the case had been one of mistaken identity, the counsel replied that he did not want to see an innocent man suffer in jail.
However, the arrest had been made by the police, and there must have been some grounds for the police to say that Ehsanullah Khan was involved in the murder of Abdul Sattar Baluch, he added.
The complainant’s lawyer suggested that the CCPO Karachi be directed to hold an inquiry into this matter, a suggestion that was also supported by the deputy district public prosecutor.
The court, after hearing the two sides, passed an order directing the CCPO to have an inquiry done by an officer not below the rank of an SP and to submit the report by 14th of July. The hearing was then adjourned till the 17th of July.
The judge, citing the arguments of the defence counsel that the Station Investigation Officer, Yaseen, had been negligent and reckless and that ASI Ehsanullah was not involved in the extra-judicial killing of Abdul Sattar Baluch, ordered the CCPO to submit his report on this issue within a week.
ASI Ehsanullah Khan, who had been working in the ACLC department of Sindh police, was arrested on 31 May on the charge of being a member of the CIA team that had raided the house of Abdul Sattar Baluch, a Lyari resident, and subsequently tortured him to death.
When the court inquired from the complainant’s counsel, Omar Sial, what he had to say on the defence version that the case had been one of mistaken identity, the counsel replied that he did not want to see an innocent man suffer in jail.
However, the arrest had been made by the police, and there must have been some grounds for the police to say that Ehsanullah Khan was involved in the murder of Abdul Sattar Baluch, he added.
The complainant’s lawyer suggested that the CCPO Karachi be directed to hold an inquiry into this matter, a suggestion that was also supported by the deputy district public prosecutor.
The court, after hearing the two sides, passed an order directing the CCPO to have an inquiry done by an officer not below the rank of an SP and to submit the report by 14th of July. The hearing was then adjourned till the 17th of July.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Personal reward’, nepotism or violation of rules?
The Executive Director, Directorate of Parks and Horticulture
Department, City District Government Karachi (CDGK),
Liaqat Ali Khan has been promoted from grade 20 to 21 as
a “personal reward for his services” despite the fact that no
such grade exists in the department.
Despite the fact that several complaints were lodged against
Khan at the Anti-Corruption Establishment last year and
that the Local Fund Audit had raised objection over his
promotion, the man is drawing a salary of a grade 21 official.
According to documents available with The News, Karachi
Administrator Fazlur Rehman, in the official memorandum,
had approved the promotion of Liaqat Ali Khan to grade 21
as a ‘personal reward’ for his services on April 30, 2010.
Another document, dated April 28, 2010, which is signed by
the administrator, states that “Liaqat Ali Khan
(Tamgha-e-Imtiaz) has been serving as director/head of Parks
and Horticulture Department (CDGK) for the last 35 year”.
However, sources informed this scribe that Khan was appointed
as head of the department during the tenure of former
city Nazim Naimutullah Khan. Before him, Hanif Nasir had
served as director general Parks and Horticulture for around
20 years.
The sources said that during the period of Hanif Nasir,
Liaqat Ali Khan served as his deputy. The officer in question
was hired during the period of A K Khan in grade 16, the
sources said, adding his entire service career was even less
than 35 years.
When contacted, Khan confirmed that he was promoted to
grade 21 as a reward for his “prolonged services”. When he
was reminded of “any possible misunderstanding” about his
tenure as the head of the department, he said the word
“director” was equivalent to ‘head’ and that he had been
the director of the department during the said period.
He said that he was promoted to the present scale two
months back.
The Local Fund Audit (LFA), which approves the salaries
of government employees, had raised objections over the
three resolutions passed by the administrator, CDGK
entrusted in him vide Government of Sindh notification
No SO-A (LG)/4 (23)/2010 dated 09-04-2010. In a letter
dated May 10, 2010, the LFA had raised some objections
over the promotion of Khan and two other cases of promotions
and up-grading.
It had stated there was ban on the government for “recreation,
re-designation and up-gradation” of posts. “The Finance
Department GOS circular letter # FD (SR-IV)2-43/2008,
dated 14-09-2009, is also referred with regard to the ban,”
the letter added.
It also stated that City Council could only approve the number
of posts under Section 39(n) of the SLGO, 2001, on the
recommendation of the city government as part of the budget
statement, which is subject to the approval of the government.
“In view of above, it is requested that approval of the
government should please be obtained before issue of
implementation orders by taking any action on the above
resolutions,” the letter added.
According to the sources, two other such cases of promotion
could not succeed but Khan’s case finally got success and
he is drawing his salary as per the approved mentioned
resolution.
Department, City District Government Karachi (CDGK),
Liaqat Ali Khan has been promoted from grade 20 to 21 as
a “personal reward for his services” despite the fact that no
such grade exists in the department.
Despite the fact that several complaints were lodged against
Khan at the Anti-Corruption Establishment last year and
that the Local Fund Audit had raised objection over his
promotion, the man is drawing a salary of a grade 21 official.
According to documents available with The News, Karachi
Administrator Fazlur Rehman, in the official memorandum,
had approved the promotion of Liaqat Ali Khan to grade 21
as a ‘personal reward’ for his services on April 30, 2010.
Another document, dated April 28, 2010, which is signed by
the administrator, states that “Liaqat Ali Khan
(Tamgha-e-Imtiaz) has been serving as director/head of Parks
and Horticulture Department (CDGK) for the last 35 year”.
However, sources informed this scribe that Khan was appointed
as head of the department during the tenure of former
city Nazim Naimutullah Khan. Before him, Hanif Nasir had
served as director general Parks and Horticulture for around
20 years.
The sources said that during the period of Hanif Nasir,
Liaqat Ali Khan served as his deputy. The officer in question
was hired during the period of A K Khan in grade 16, the
sources said, adding his entire service career was even less
than 35 years.
When contacted, Khan confirmed that he was promoted to
grade 21 as a reward for his “prolonged services”. When he
was reminded of “any possible misunderstanding” about his
tenure as the head of the department, he said the word
“director” was equivalent to ‘head’ and that he had been
the director of the department during the said period.
He said that he was promoted to the present scale two
months back.
The Local Fund Audit (LFA), which approves the salaries
of government employees, had raised objections over the
three resolutions passed by the administrator, CDGK
entrusted in him vide Government of Sindh notification
No SO-A (LG)/4 (23)/2010 dated 09-04-2010. In a letter
dated May 10, 2010, the LFA had raised some objections
over the promotion of Khan and two other cases of promotions
and up-grading.
It had stated there was ban on the government for “recreation,
re-designation and up-gradation” of posts. “The Finance
Department GOS circular letter # FD (SR-IV)2-43/2008,
dated 14-09-2009, is also referred with regard to the ban,”
the letter added.
It also stated that City Council could only approve the number
of posts under Section 39(n) of the SLGO, 2001, on the
recommendation of the city government as part of the budget
statement, which is subject to the approval of the government.
“In view of above, it is requested that approval of the
government should please be obtained before issue of
implementation orders by taking any action on the above
resolutions,” the letter added.
According to the sources, two other such cases of promotion
could not succeed but Khan’s case finally got success and
he is drawing his salary as per the approved mentioned
resolution.
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