Wednesday, July 7, 2010
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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