Quantcast
Channel: The Dawn News - Pakistan
Viewing all 102652 articles
Browse latest View live

Judicial commission sets timeline for various works on water, effluent plants

0
0

HYDERABAD: The Supreme Court-mandated judicial commission on water quality and sanitation in Sindh has directed the Hyderabad commissioner to determine whether the industries department or industries have to pay water charges to the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa).

The one-man commission headed by retired Justice Amir Hani Muslim met officers of the departments concerned and also visited Wasa’s reservoirs here on Sunday.

Wasa managing director Agha Abdul Raheem informed the commission that there were issues of payment with the industries department.

It was disputed by deputy chief engineer of the Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE).

Irrigation officials said that SITE was supposed to make payment against water supply directly to the irrigation department and that Wasa had nothing to do with that. However, the Wasa MD contested the claim and said there were certain industries which were being supplied water through Wasa’s pipelines and, therefore, industries department was required to make payment. Justice Muslim observed that even this position was disputed by SITE representative, saying that if Wasa had provided connection on its own to industries independently, the industries department was not obliged to make payments and Wasa should recover payments.

The commission said that instead of travelling into issues, the chairman of [the SC-appointed] task force should ask the commissioner to hear parties and fix responsibility, if any.

If commissioner concludes that industries department or industries have to pay, he will intervene and ensure recovery of water charges. This should be settled within 10 days from the date of directive.

The commission asked the task force chairman, Jamal Mustafa Syed, to interact with the industries secretary as far as the issue of Kotri’s Combined Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) was concerned. He was also asked to expedite the process. “Negligence on the part of industries of SITE will expose them to prosecution. The chairman task force is given one month’s timeline to see that things start working, failing which agencies will be assigned this task,” Justice Muslim said.

About the effluent plant of Nooriabad, the commission was informed that on Oct 25, requests for proposals (RFP) would be opened and further timeline fixed. The judge said that work should not be confined to such timeline. He said the chief secretary should personally look into these issues and ensure that proposed plant started working at an early date. He said all issues be resolved and less time was consumed on correspondence as the issue had direct nexus with the general public, which was being compelled to drink contaminated water.

The commission observed that the task force chairman through the commissioner should see that the work plan, provided by Wasa in regard to its 10MGD filtration plant, was being followed. No concession on that score shall be granted. Commissioner Hyderabad along with the Wasa MD would visit the area, the judge said.

Wasa’s executive engineers would be on visit round the clock within their areas and would be updating their MD, who would in turn update the commission every day through Whatsapp so that failure of pumping station or any other leakage and/or blunder should not recur, said the commission, adding that that plants which were rehabilitated recently by Wasa should be visited periodically by the deputy commissioner or commissioner’s representative to update whether maintenance and operation of these plants was proper or not. The MD should send periodical reports of his personal visits at least once a week, it said.

The commission was informed that Wasa’s old 10MGD plant would be made functional in December. the PC-I of the rapid gravity filtration plant (RGFP) of unit-4 filtration plant had been sent to the planning and development department. Slow sand filtration plant in Matiari had been rehabilitated and RFGP was made functional earlier.

The commission was also informed that the federal funding regarding southern and eastern sewerage treatment plants remained slow due to which the work stayed standstill. As per the commission’s earlier directive, the PC-I for their work was sent to the P&D department but some objections were raised.

The commission directed Wasa to clear these objections within seven days. The commission noted that work on Hussainabad filtration plant rehabilitation was under way and encroachments within the ‘work area’ had been cleared.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2018


Protest against Panchayat over renting out Gaushala portion

0
0

LARKANA: A group of Hindu community members on Sunday held a demonstration in front of the Bhuttos mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Bukhsh Bhutto against the Larkana Hindu Panchayat for handing over portion of a Gaushala (cows abode) to some influential figures and favourite traders on low rent.

Leading the protesters, Dr Anil Kumar, Haresh Kumar, Kalyan Das and other members of ‘action committee’ described the Panchayat’s action ‘unlawful’ and demanded eviction of the occupiers.

They raised slogans against the district Panchayat claiming that it had rented out the portion, comprising some warehouses, to the influential figures and its favourite traders at a very low rent. The encroachment resorted to by the occupiers caused congestion and other problems to the cows kept in the Gaushala, they said.

The occupiers’ presence and their activities were also affecting Gaushala’s sanctity, they said. The protesters alleged the that district Panchayat was avoiding talks or action for resolving the issue. They apprehended that the funds sanctioned by the Sindh government for the repair and renovation of the abode might lapse if the issue lingered on.

They appealed to the Sindh government to intervene and help evict the occupiers.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2018

Policeman, trader booked for ‘lynching mobile phone thief’

0
0

KARACHI: The Frere police on Sunday registered a murder case against a detained CTD policeman and a mobile shop owner for ‘lynching’ a 50-year-old labourer at the Cantonment Railway Station in the early hours of Saturday morning over a ‘mobile phone theft’ allegation, said City SSP Dr Samiullah Soomro, who is also in-charge SSP-South.

The victim’s family also levelled allegations of ‘criminal negligence’ against two policemen of the Frere police station, who allegedly instead of taking critically injured labourer Ghulam Sarwar to the hospital took him to the police station where they allegedly demanded a bribe from the family for releasing him, added the senior officer.

The police have registered an FIR (166/2018) under Sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of the victim’s wife, Mumtaz Bibi, against detained CTD policeman Uzair Khan and shopkeeper Rana Muhammad Aslam.

According to contents of the FIR, Mumtaz Bibi received a call from her husband’s mobile phone at 4.30am on Saturday to bring a cellphone, which her husband had mistakenly taken home from a public mobile phone charging facility at the Cantonment Station.

Later she received another call to come to the Frere police station. She came to the police station and handed over the phone to the police and asked the police to let her meet her husband, but the police asked her to come later.

The complainant said that she learnt that her husband had gone to the Cantonment Station at 3am on Saturday where shopkeeper Rana Mohammed Aslam and CTD constable Uzair and others caught hold of him and subjected him to beating for ‘stealing’ the mobile phone.

They handed over her husband to the police in an injured condition, who succumbed to his wounds.

Apart from registering the murder case against the said suspects, the complainant demanded action against the two policemen of the Frere police station, Sameer and Ahmed, who allegedly demanded Rs50,000 as a bribe for releasing her husband and ‘misbehaved’ with her.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2018

BNP protests against attack on Mengal house

0
0

QUETTA: Workers and supporters of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) staged a protest rally here on Sunday against an attack on the residence of party president Sardar Akhtar Mengal in Wadh the other day.

The participants of the rally marched on roads in the provincial capital and chanted slogans against the government. They vowed to continue their struggle for the rights of the people of Balochistan.

Addressing the protesters, MNA Agha Hassan Baloch, MPA Shakeela Dahwar, Ghulam Nabi Marri and other party leaders demanded immediate arrests of those involved in the attack on the residence of Mr Mengal.

“Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal has no political or personal enmity with anyone, but unfortunately the district administration has released attackers by labelling the attack a tribal dispute,” they said.

The BNP leaders said that instead of demanding ministries and government posts, the BNP had signed a six-point agreement with the PTI to achieve rights of the people of Balochistan and the party would not withdraw from its six-point agreement with the PTI. “We will continue our struggle for the recovery of missing people,” they said.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2018

PTI’s ‘five million houses’ project unrealistic, says Murad

0
0

HYDERABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s promise to construct five million houses is unrealistic as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will not have enough funds required for the mega project even within next five years.

“Now we’ll see how can PTI chief construct the houses within stipulated period,” as the only ‘tabdeeli’ the country had so far seen was sale of buffaloes and vehicles, he said.

The chief minister was speaking to journalists in Jamshoro and Dadu after offering condolences to party colleagues on Sunday.

He branded PTI as a ‘U-turn party’ and said the party leadership had sold dreams to people but now they were facing failure in translating them into reality. “PTI is now realising the difference between making empty claims and practically managing affairs of the government,” he said.

He said the 18th Amendment was protected by the Constitution and no one could change it. Sindh government had recorded its reaction over water shortage, talked to Indus River System Authority (Irsa) and raised the issue at the Council of Common Interests as well, he said.

Mr Shah said the government would keep raising the issue at all forums and at the same time also devise a strategy to deal with the problem.

About closure of reverse osmosis plants in Thar, the chief minister shifted the blame to caretaker regime for failing to make payments to the plants.

He said the government had written a letter to the apex court’s judicial commission on water and sanitation in this regard, seeking its permission for release of funds to the plants so that they could resume supplying water to drought-hit Tharis.

He invited people to visit Thar and note the visible change in the area. Those who had visited Thar a decade back must visit it now to see the change was evident. PPP government had built road infrastructure and provided medical facilities at par with any healthcare facility in a major city.

About corruption in Sindh University, he said that graft charges would be probed and action would be taken against the accused. Nobody was above the law and if Shahbaz Sharif was accused of corruption he must face it provided his arrest should be in line with law, he said.

Mr Shah said that Sindh government was resolving all issues in Thar. Conditions in the desert region were better now than they were 10 to 12 years back, he said.

Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani who was also in the town told journalists at Hyderabad Development Authority office that PTI was the first government which had become so unpopular within just 55 days after being elected to power.

He criticised PTI ministers and said he had seen a photo of a PTI’s minister offering prayer in office. “What is so unusual about it? I offer prayers daily but why should I release its photos? It is my job to cater to sanitation but why should I be projecting it. It may help me to some extent if my photo with a broom in the hand is published but it will definitely not cleanse the entire province,” he remarked.

About National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Mr Ghani said the anti-graft body had been used as a tool against opponents since it was created by Sharif government in 1997. Shahbaz Sharif’s arrest was controversial and the way Saad Rafiq’s name had been put on exit control list smacked of mala fide intentions, he said.

He hailed PTI government’s decision of Rs50bn package for Karachi and said the packages for Karachi and Hyderabad must be implemented and funds should also be released for other cities.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2018

SC orders forensic audit of collections at shrines

0
0

LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Sunday ordered forensic audit of the use of `Chanda’ (donations) at different shrines in Punjab.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar issued the order while hearing the case pertaining to use of donations at different shrines in the province at SC’s Lahore registry.

Speaking to Auqaf officials, the CJP remarked that people donated their hard-earned money to shrines but “you people were doling it out without any proper usage.” The prosecutor told the court that Rs 820 million were collected at shrines in Punjab. The CJP said the money should be used for providing better facilities to visitors.

The prosecutor said that the donation money was spent on paying salaries and pensions to the employees of the shrines.

The CJP inquired who was the minister of Auqaf. He was told that the government had not yet appointed minister and the director general was heading it. He asked the Aukaf secretary when he last visited the Data Darbar shrine and what measures he had taken for its betterment.

The secretary replied that he had visited Data Darbar six days ago and they were looking into different issues.

Orders formation of JIT to recover missing relic

The CJP again inquired from secretary about his visits to other shrines during the last six months. Rejecting official report, the CJP ordered forensic audit of donations spending.

JIT: Hearing another case, the CJP ordered formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) comprising three members to probe into alleged theft of Nalain Mubarak (shoe) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from the gallery of Badshahi Mosque. The chief justice was hearing an application moved by Pir S.A. Jafri questioning inefficiency of the government authorities to fix responsibility.

The CJP was not satisfied over the report submitted by the Auqaf Department and rejected it.

Secretary Auqaf Zulifqar Ali Ghuman and other officials appeared before the court.

The CJP questioned the authorities was there anything valuable than the shoe of the Prophet which you people could not protect?

The legal counsel for Auqaf told the court that 10 investigations had been carried out till today but nothing could be found.

Additional advocate general told the court that the relic had been taken to Brunei in 2001 for displaying it in an exhibition. After that it was placed in Badshahi Mosque.

Later, some visitors revealed in 2002 that the relic had been missing from its actual place.

Petitioner Pir Jafri had also been filing several petitions at district and sessions court level in past seeking the recovery of the relic. Police, submitting its progress report in those petitions, claimed a lot of progress had been made and different committees were formed under senior officials.

The officials said the investigation had been carried out from different angles but they remained clueless. The petitioner had sought case against 94 respondents, including around 40 police officials, for failing to recover the relic which was stolen in 2002.

On March 5,2014, Rangers Deputy Superintendent Muhammad Sarwar, Lance Naik Noshad Khan and others were interrogated and they said the relic was taken to Brunei under the supervision of Captain Jawad Cheema in 2001.

When the Pakistani delegation returned in September of the same year, they boarded a Ranger’s truck and went to Wagah boarder, adding that the relic was neither brought nor placed at the Badshahi Mosque under their supervision.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2018

Plea to revive Steel Mills by appointing professionals

0
0

ISLAMABAD: The stakeholders of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) have asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to immediately appoint a professional management team to revive the mill closed for more than three years and stop Rs5 million per hour financial bleeding.

In a letter to the prime minister, the stakeholders group of PSM employees, pensioners, suppliers, dealers and contractors has accused the previous PML-N government of criminal negligence for the closure of the mill in June 2015. They said the total losses and liabilities of the mill had gone beyond Rs465 billion, besides about $2.5bn foreign exchange loss per annum to the country because of steel imports which should have been produced at the PSM.

“Once a symbol of excellence and pride for the nation, PSM is completely dysfunctional since June 10, 2015 due to the inept and unprofessional polices of the last government,” wrote convener of the PSM Stakeholders Group (PSG) Mumrez Khan to the prime minister.

As a result, not only the employees, retired as well serving, have fallen victims, but the suppliers, dealers and all those having a stake in the successful operation of the mill continue to suffer immensely.

Unchecked corruption, inefficiency, over-employment blamed for disaster

The group has put up a claim of Rs70bn on the mill and has offered to turn around the organisation by reviving its existing plant and expand its capacity three times to three million tonnes to stop its further bleeding, reduce foreign exchange loss and help support the domestic industry and economy.

It said the group had presented ‘workable proposals’ in this regard between September 2017 and August 2018, but were not responded to by the federal government. The demands were also not heeded to for transparent accountability and process and appointment of professional management with injection of funds required for the mill’s revival.

The letter said the PSM reached the current situation “due to unchecked corruption, inefficiencies, over-employment and lukewarm attitude of the governments to its revival” as reported in a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet that sought Rs28bn package for its revival in August 2013 but was rejected by then finance minister Ishaq Dar.

The PSG said Mr Dar, while rejecting the summary, had called for a “workable proposal” which never came about in those five years but cost Rs265bn to the national exchequer from June 2013 to August 2018.

The group demanded investigation as to what benefits accrued to the country and PSM because of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani sacking a former chairman, the suo motu notice taken by then chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry when the losses of the mill stood at Rs28bn and what was the status and outcome of investigations by the National Accountability Bureau.

It said the Supreme Court had ordered completion of investigation in three months that could not be completed in more than six years.

It said now that total debt and losses of the mill had touched Rs465bn as of Aug 30, 2018, its performance audit was also desired. It said there was no management structure at the PSM at present and the posts of its chief executive officer and eight directors and 24 general managers were vacant.

The PSG said that financial bleeding of the PSM could be stopped by appointing a professional management with the consultation of former federal secretaries Dr Akram Shaikh and retired Lt Gen Sabeeh Qamaruzaman who successful managed the country’s once largest industrial unit.

“Revival of PSM is one of the many challenges warranting immediate attention of the PTI government,” said Mumrez Khan, who welcomed a statement by Finance Minister Asad Umar that privatisation of PSM proposed by the PML-N was not the solution but a professional management team to turn around the mill for long-term benefits of job creation and economic activity.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2018

PTI signs MoU to boost ties with Communist Party of China

0
0

ISLAMABAD: The Pakis­tan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Communist Party of China have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen party-to-party relations.

During an event held at the Foreign Office, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chinese minis­ter Song Tao signed the MoU.

PTI secretary general Arshad Dad, Senator Dr Shahzad Waseem and other party leaders were present on the occasion.

“Witnessed MoU signing ceremony between Communist Party of China and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf to further strengthen party to party relations,” Senator Shahzad Waseem tweeted after the event.

Mr Qureshi tweeted: “China is an all weather friend and strategic partner. We start a new chapter in our relations with the signing of an MoU between PTI and the Communist Party of China. A regular exchange of ideas will help both countries and political parties to combat the challenges we face today.”

The two parties also agreed to exchange high-level delegations to further understand each other, bring the two nations closer to each other and to address the issues.

Earlier on Saturday, the Chinese delegation visited the PTI secretariat where it was received by Arshad Dad.

China has been playing an important role in addressing the issues of Pakistan. Tens of billions of dollars have been in­­vested in Pakistan under the CPEC which is a framework of regional connectivity. The CPEC will not only benefit China and Pakistan but will also have a positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan, India, Central Asian Republics and the region.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2018


Judicial commission to record Musharraf's statement in treason case

0
0

After former military dictator retired Gen Pervez Musharraf ─ who has been out of the country since March 2016 ─ declined to record his statement in a treason case via video link, a special court on Monday ordered the formation of a judicial commission that will go abroad to record his statement in accordance with Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The former president's lawyer told a special court bench comprising Justice Yawar Ali, Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Nazar Akbar seized with a high treason case initiated against Musharraf for suspending the Constitution on Nov 3, 2007 ─ an offence for which he was indicted on March 31, 2014 ─ that his client was was unable to record his statement via video link since he is indisposed.

Justice Ali asked the lawyer whether Musharraf had been diagnosed with cancer, to which the counsel responded that the former military ruler had been diagnosed with heart problems.

Read more: Musharraf 'growing weaker rapidly' from unspecified illness: Dr Amjad

"He says he is not a coward. He wishes to appear before the court himself and present the evidence in his defence," the lawyer added.

Justice Yawar Ali deliberated whether the case could proceed in the absence of a statement recorded by Musharraf under Section 342 and asked the prosecution lawyer if it was possible to do so.

"The accused is in a foreign country right now. According to his lawyer, he is very ill," Justice Ali noted.

"Pervez Musharraf's previous record is before us," the prosecution lawyer said. "He is not ready to record a statement via video link."

"We are told that Pervez Musharraf cannot appear in court due to his illness," the bench observed. "He wishes to record his statement in the treason case."

Subsequently, the court decided to order the formation of a judicial commission that will travel abroad in order to record Musharraf's statement in the case.

The members of the commission and its scope will be decided later, the bench maintained, adding that if anyone had objections, they could challenge the formation of the commission before the high court.

This is also Justice Ali's last hearing of the case, as he will be retiring soon. Future case proceedings will either be heard by a new special court bench or by the high court, DawnNewsTV reported.

The case was adjourned until Nov 14.

Talks with UK on data sharing in Dar case soon

0
0
SHAHZAD Akbar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability, addressing a press conference.—INP
SHAHZAD Akbar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability, addressing a press conference.—INP

ISLAMABAD: With a concrete plan in hand to fix the missing link of a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) law for obtaining evidence from other countries about financial crimes, the government will hold talks with the British authorities next week to seek details of assets of the Pakistani politicians, including former finance minister Ishaq Dar, who allegedly stashed their money in the United Kingdom (UK). Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Accountability Shahzad Akbar, who will soon leave for the UK for this purpose, told a press conference on Sunday that he would also request for repatriation of Mr Dar and other accused in high-profile cases.

“I am going to the UK next week to hold talks with the head of the UK National Crime Agency to ink a memorandum of understanding on sharing of information on money launderers and tax evaders,” said Mr Akbar.

During his talks with the British authorities, he said, he would highlight the need for signing of an extradition treaty between Pakistan and the UK. But he added, “One of the hindrances in signing of extradition treaties between Pakistan and other countries is lack of proper Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) laws in the country. Whenever we ask other countries for the treaty, they regret because we do not have laws on MLA.”

PM’s aide says ordinance on MLA on anvil to expedite evidence collection in financial crimes

The PM’s special assistant said the government had recently finalised a law on MLA to obtain evidence from foreign jurisdictions about financial crimes and corruption cases involving Pakistanis.

“The law will soon be placed before the cabinet. It will be brought first through an ordinance and then presented before parliament,” he said.

Mr Akbar, who is a former deputy prosecutor general of National Accountability Bureau, expressed the hope that the law would further empower NAB and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to carry out the investigations as per international treaties.

Pakistan had already inked treaties of information sharing with 70 countries, he said, adding that the government was going to refresh them with those countries. Besides, he said, fresh agreements would also be signed with China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the exchange of information.

Mr Akbar said a bilateral treaty was again being ratified with the Swiss authorities which would enable the country to get details of the bank accounts opened by Pakistani nationals. He said the government would also approach Germany to seek information about assets of Pakistanis in Switzerland, as German authorities had already acquired such details through some leaks in 2011.

He said: “The government has expedited its efforts for repatriation of politicians, including former finance minister Ishaq Dar, who were allegedly involved in money laundering.

“The Supreme Court has already asked government departments concerned to find a way of getting the former finance minister extradited so that he could be produced in court.”

Responding to a question, the PM’s special assistant said his team had earlier decided to investigate 100 high-profile cases of money laundering. But initial investigations revealed that number of such cases was far higher than the initial estimate, he added.

He also announced that the assets recovery unit of the government would first go for civil proceedings against the Pakistanis allegedly involved in money laundering in UK courts. He said civil cases were decided earlier than the cases of money laundering in which two governments were involved, he said, explaining that civil cases were decided within18 months in the UK.

Earlier this month, the government had claimed to have detected over 10,000 properties of Pakistanis worth billions of rupees in the UK and the UAE.

Complaints against journalists

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Media Affairs Iftikhar Durrani, who accompanied Mr Akbar in the press conference, expressed ‘displeasure’ over some media reports and announced that he would take up the issue with journalists’ associations.

“Some of the reporters do angling in their reporting and I will talk to the unions of journalists on this,” he said, adding that the government had earlier filed complaints with Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority on two recent reports.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2018

Political parties urged to resist attempt to undo 18th Amendment

0
0

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and other speakers at a session of the Asma Jahangir Conference 2018 on Sunday called upon all political parties to resist attempts to undermine or undo the 18th Amendment so as to protect civil liberties and rights of the provinces hard won through this change in the Constitution.

Many federal subjects were devolved to the provinces through this amendment which had also plugged constitutional spaces for martial laws and their validation by courts. Its withdrawal or undermining would directly impact provincial autonomy and civil liberties. Therefore, all attempts against the amendment should be foiled, the speakers said.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said the PPP had always respected the Constitution and its authority, adding that by bringing the 18th Amendment the party had sought to protect the Constitution and rule of law while strengthening the federation and giving the provinces their due share. He warned against rolling back the 18th Amendment and the National Finance Commission Award.

Praising Asma Jahangir, he said “when injustice took place, her voice was the loudest and now there is deafening, deafening silence”.

“As the son and political heir of Benazir Bhutto, I hold Asma’s principles as a shining light, and promise to fight for constitutional empowerment. This is a debt that we owe to both Benazir Bhutto and Asma Jahangir and we will succeed, lest we be left at the mercy of dangerous duffers.”

Bilawal, other speakers praise Asma Jahangir for her fight against injustice

The PPP chairman also spoke about an array of issues that he said were plaguing the country. “Today a ‘selected’ government desperately seeks to lose all the democratic milestones we have covered,” he said. “Our media is under assault and is facing unprecedented censorship; human rights are in danger and rule of law has been discarded thanks to populism. Theatrics have triumphed over substance.”

He said democracy faced serious threats not only from unelected sources but also from “so-called democrats”. The supremacy of parliament and the sanctity of the Constitution were under attack, he said.

He mentioned the ‘unlevel playing field’ given to almost all parties during the 2018 elections which he said ended up in giving the country an ‘incompetent government’ that dabbled in ‘Chandanomics’, pushing the country to instability. Politics had been replaced by hysteria and abuse, he added.

“There is lack of policy and inconsistency, and through constant U-turns have failed to inspire confidence,” he said. “The objective of the present government seems to be to establish a fascist one-party dictatorship where criticism is treated as a crime and opposition is threatened with intimidation.”

Mr Bhutto-Zardari also criticised the judiciary, saying that it was unfortunate how they were more concerned by trivialities rather than giving people justice.

“The Constitution does not begin or end with the judges and the courts would do well to remember this,” he said. “We need to re-examine the same judiciary and the vast powers given to judges under Article 183-4 need to be questioned.”

Former senator and rights activist Afrasiab Khan Khattak said the subcontinent was divided twice — first in 1947 (partition) and then in 1971 (fall of Dhaka) on the provincial autonomy issue. Pakistan used the colonial model of nation building till 1971 and the democratic model afterwards. Politicians made the 1973 Constitution, but it was never accepted by the establishment as it wanted centralisation.

He said the 18th Amendment that empowered the provinces came in the light of the Charter of Democracy of 2006. It empowered the provinces, Senate and Council of Common Interests, protected human rights and disallowed Constitution’s subversion, suspension or holding it in abeyance and court validation of such actions. The major thing nevertheless was an increase in provincial share in the federal divisible pool and this was hurting the quarters concerned, he added.

“If you subvert the 18th Amendment, we will demand the instrument of parity which was used for Bengal. We would demand more seats in parliament on the basis this principle of parity,” he said, praising Asif Ali Zardari for surrendering president’s powers to dissolve the assembly.

PPP’s Farhatullah Babar mentioned the reported statement of the army chief on the 18th Amendment and said there were apprehensions that the powers given to the marginalised provinces under the 18th Amendment could be reversed. He said the steps that raised eyebrows started in 2015 when Rs100 billion was spared for defence, adding that courts were questioning the 18th Amendment whereas the Constitution did not provide for it. He feared that the 18th Amendment and the NFC Award under it, which had increased provincial allocations, might be bulldozed.

Hasil Bizenjo of the National Party praised Mr Zardari and former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani for the 18th Amendment and said that an earlier such instrument could have prevented dismemberment of Bangladesh.

He said the establishment never accepted the 18th Amendment and claimed that politicians were not left independent. They would have to decide whether they should live under the silent takeover or not. Their silence would eliminate them. They should fight against the takeover on political front. The spaces provided by the 18th Amendment were being quietly encroached upon, he said.

PPP’s former senator Taj Haider wondered if institutions in Pakistan were being replaced by different form of fascism, adding that the slogans of change were hollow and false and those raising them knew that it could not honour their claims.

He said the 18th Amendment provided equal rights to the provinces on oil and gas reserves, but the powers that be were saying that this clause was applicable to new finds which had never been made ever since. There was a mention of federal government’s financial constraints. The share of the provinces in the divisible pool could not be reduced under the 18th Amendment, but it was being said that the president could do it under the Constitution, he added.

“We sacrificed many people mainly Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto in our long struggle. We must declare that the gains we have made through the 18th Amendment shall never be compromised,” he said.

Advocate Salman Raja said the establishment’s recent dissatisfaction over the 18th Amendment, court judgements on powers of the Centre and the provinces, attempts to realign jurisdiction of the federal government and the procedure for appointment of superior court judges were significant. These issues were settled in the 18th Amendment but were once again touched upon, he added.

Advocate Akhtar Hussain said the Constitution needed further fine-tuning because it denied equal rights to all citizens. Courts could not make laws, they were to interpret these, he added.

In reply to questions, Mr Khattak said the de facto was trying to overpower the de jure in Pakistan at present. “And we are attempting to check this as this would create manifold problems for the country. All the political parties must frame a new charter of democracy to protect the de jure powers.”

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2018

LHC accepts petition to remove Sharjeel Khan's name from ECL

0
0

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday accepted cricketer Sharjeel Khan's petition to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL), DawnNewsTV reported.

Justice Shahid Waheed heard the petition to decide the maintainability of the case. The petition, filed on Khan's behalf by his counsel Ejaz Ahmed, says that the cricketer was unable to go to perform Umrah and meet his brother in Dubai due to travel restrictions placed on him. It further argues that the interior ministry illegally placed Khan's name on the ECL.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), interior ministry and the Federal Investigation Agency have been nominated as respondents.

The high court office had earlier dismissed the petition as non-maintainable. The LHC, however, overturned that decision. Even if a petition is declared as non-maintainable by court office, the case is sent to a judge.

Khan was slapped with a five-year ban from playing cricket by a PCB-appointed Anti-Corruption Unit last year after he was found guilty of spot-fixing in the second edition of the Pakistan Super League.

Degrees of Radio Pak, PTV employees appointed after 2008 to be verified

0
0

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry announced that the relevant authorities have been directed to verify the authenticity of the degrees of Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television employees appointed after 2008, Radio Pakistan reported on Monday.

According to the information minister, a three-member board headed by the director general of internal publicity wing of the Information Ministry will carry out the verification process.

The process of verification is expected to be completed within a month and a member of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) will also assist the board in the process.

Chaudhry said that the verification process would begin with senior officials.

In case the degrees of any of the officials are not verified by the HEC, they will be liable to re-deposit the salaries they received in the bank.

The officers responsible for the appointment of people whose degrees have not been verified will also be sent notices.

ECP, Nadra to hold meeting to decide fate of votes cast by overseas Pakistanis in by-polls

0
0

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will reach a final decision about the inclusion of votes cast by overseas Pakistanis in the by-poll results after a meeting with National Database and Registration Authority authorities on Monday, Radio Pakistan reported.

ECP Spokesman Nadeem Qasim said that the decision to include overseas voters' ballots will be taken once the election body is fully satisfied that they are valid.

Out of 7,364 registered overseas Pakistanis votes, 6,233 polled their votes through i-voting software in Sunday's by-polls. The ECP had allowed overseas Pakistanis to vote in the by-polls on an experimental basis on the directives of the Supreme Court.

Though the ECP has not released a statement about the turnout in the by-polls — that were held on 24 provincial assembly seats and 11 National Assembly constituencies — an official said the estimated turnout was between 35 and 40 per cent.

Pakistan hopes Turkey, Saudi Arabia will jointly probe Khashoggi's disappearance

0
0

The Foreign Office (FO) on Monday said that Pakistan hopes that both Turkey and Saudi Arabia will jointly probe the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi, a US resident and The Washington Post columnist critical of Riyadh’s policies, disappeared on Oct 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkey believes he was murdered in the building and his body removed. Saudi Arabia has denied the accusations.

FO Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal, while responding to a question about the journalist's disappearance, said: "We understand that the investigation is ongoing and it would therefore be appropriate to await its outcome."

Pakistan, which enjoys friendly relations with both Turkey and the kingdom, welcomed Saudi and Turkish efforts to resolve the issue.

According to Arab News, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has praised the Turkish-Saudi initiative of forming a joint working group and bringing together specialists from both countries to investigate the circumstances of Khashoggi’s disappearance.

"The two countries are capable of presenting a model of bilateral cooperation in the most difficult circumstances, as well as the means to produce results that translate into their good intentions and the depth of good inherent in their leadership," OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef Al Othaimeen said.

Meanwhile, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Jordan and Yemen have all come out in support of Saudi Arabia, Arab News reported on Monday.

Late Sunday, Saudi King Salman spoke by telephone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about Khashoggi. Turkey said Erdogan “stressed the forming of a joint working group to probe the case". Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, said King Salman thanked Erdogan “for welcoming the kingdom’s proposal” for forming the working group.

The king also said Turkey and Saudi Arabia enjoy close relations and “that no one will get to undermine the strength of this relationship”, according to a statement on the state-run Saudi Press Agency. While Turkey and the kingdom differ on political issues, Saudi investments are a crucial lifeline for Ankara amid trouble with its national currency, the Turkish lira.

Saudi media backs state

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump had threatened “severe punishment” if it turned out that Khashoggi was killed in the consulate, though he said Washington would be "punishing" itself if it halted military sales to Riyadh. The next day, Saudi Arabia warned that if it “receives any action, it will respond with greater action, and that the kingdom’s economy has an influential and vital role in the global economy”.

The statement did not elaborate.

However, a column published in English a short time later by the general manager of the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya satellite news network suggested Saudi Arabia could use its oil production as a weapon. Benchmark Brent crude is trading at around $80 a barrel, and Trump has criticised OPEC and Saudi Arabia over rising prices.

Saudi media followed on from that statement in television broadcasts and newspaper front pages on Monday.

The Arabic-language daily Okaz wrote a headline on Monday in English warning: “Don’t Test Our Patience”. It showed a clenched fist made of a crowd of people in the country’s green color.

The Saudi Gazette trumpeted: “Enough Is Enough” while the Arab News said: “Saudi Arabia ‘will not be bullied".

The Arab News’ headline was above a front-page editorial by Dubai-based real-estate tycoon Khalaf al-Habtoor, calling on Gulf Arab nations to boycott international firms now backing out of a planned economic summit in Riyadh later this month.

“Together we must prove we will not be bullied or else, mark my words, once they have finished kicking the kingdom, we will be next in line,” al-Habtoor said.

Already, international business leaders are pulling out of the kingdom’s upcoming investment forum, a high-profile event known as “Davos in the Desert”. They include the CEO of Uber, a company in which Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars; billionaire Richard Branson; JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Jamie Dimon; and Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford.

News that the CEO of Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, would pull out of the conference drew angry responses across the region. The foreign minister of the neighboring island kingdom of Bahrain, Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, tweeted Sunday night that there should be a boycott of the ride-hailing app both there and in Saudi Arabia.


LHC approves Khawaja Saad Rafique and Salman Rafique's request for bail

0
0

A two-member bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi approved Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Salman Rafique's request for protective bail on Monday.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Oct 11 had turned down petitions filed by the senior PML-N leader and his brother seeking protective bail and legal protection against alleged harassment by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The bench had asked why Khawaja Saad had not approached the LHC which was the appropriate forum for him to seek protective bail.

Khawaja Saad's lawyer expressed fear that his client would be arrested if returns to Lahore.

"We have reached here after a lot of difficulty," he added, suggesting that the ex-minister would approach LHC once he had been granted protective bail by the IHC.

After the IHC's rejection of their request for protection bail, the two brothers went to the LHC.

On Monday, the LHC told NAB not to make an arrest until Oct 24 and issued a notice to the bureau asking for a reply in the matter.

Justice Najafi said that there was a case against Khwaja Saad Rafique in NAB, to which his lawyer said that there was ongoing inquiry relating to the Paragon City.

NAB had summoned the brothers on Oct 16, who submitted their request for protective bail to the LHC through lawyer Amjad Pervez.

The court asked each of the brothers to submit Rs500,000 in surety bonds.

"NAB calls people for an inquiry and arrests them in their office," Pervez remarked during Monday's hearing.

In the request, the brothers asked for protective bail and bail before arrest warrants were issued.

The petition also asked for details relating to the arrest warrant to be provided.

The request stated that whatever records NAB had asked for had been provided to them and the petitioners were worried that they would be arrested by the bureau.

According to the request, the brothers felt that NAB could make the arrest on an unconstitutional basis and should be stopped from making a potential arrest.

It added that they were cooperating with the bureau.

Mansha 'Bomb' arrives at SC to surrender himself, wants to meet CJP

0
0

Suspected land grabber Mansha 'Bomb', who is wanted by police in over 80 criminal cases in Lahore, surrendered himself to authorities for arrest on Supreme Court premises on Monday.

Mansha 'Bomb', while speaking to the media, said that he had hidden from the police so that he could appear before Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, adding that he would wait for the top judge.

He claimed that he had come to the SC of his own accord so that he could surrender himself for arrest as per the law.

"I am a family man and I have not grabbed anyone's land," he claimed.

Mansha 'Bomb' denied being part of any land mafia, adding that he inherited the properties.

The suspected land grabber said that PML-N leaders Shahbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif had been unfair to him.

An ATC had earlier issued arrest warrants for Mansha and his three sons in a case registered by Johar Town police on charges of attacking a team of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA).

According to the FIR, Mansha and his sons Faisal, Tariq and Asim, were accused of attacking an LDA team during an anti-encroachment operation in Johar Town area.

The suspects neither appeared before the court nor joined police investigation.

On Oct 4, an investigating officer told the court that the suspects had gone underground since the Supreme Court ordered a crackdown on land grabbers in Johar Town.

The IO asked the court to issue warrants for the arrest of the suspects. The court accepted the request and issued warrants for the suspects and directed the police to produce them on Oct 10.

Amjad Javed Saleemi assumes charge as IGP Punjab, welcomed with guard of honour

0
0

Amjad Javed Saleemi — who had been appointed as the inspector general of police (IGP) for Punjab last week — took charge of his post on Monday, DawnNewsTV reported on Monday.

He was presented a guard of honour on his arrival at the IG office in Lahore.

Saleemi's appointment was announced by the Establishment Division last week but he could not assume charge as the Election Commission of Pakistan suspended the notification since it came days before Sunday's by-polls. According to the ECP rules, government is not allowed to make new appointments or transfer any government official before elections.

Saleemi, who replaced Mohammad Tahir, is Punjab's second IGP in two months. He was previously serving as the commandant of National Police Academy.

Talking to the media after assuming charge, Saleemi said that he meant to work with senior police officers, including Nasir Durrani — formerly head of police reforms commission — to introduce reforms in Punjab police.

"He (Durrani) has resigned from the commission but he is still a senior police officer," said the police chief. "We will ask him for advice whenever it is needed."

The sudden appointment of Saleemi as Punjab's police chief stirred controversy which was fueled by Durrani's immediate resignation from his position. Police officers close to him had told Dawn that Durrani appeared upset in the wake of the news about Tahir’s departure from IG’s office.

Tahir’s removal is said to have come about after a growing realisation in the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf circles that he was unable to carry out the task required of him by the rulers during the tone-setting period of the Imran government.

Saleemi, in his media talk today, vowed that he will work hard in order to improve the performance of the police. He admitted that there was corruption in the police department but promised to root it out by strengthening the internal accountability system.

The IGP observed that first information reports (FIR) of many reported crimes were not registered as the process was complicated.

"We have to improve [process of registering FIRs]. I will ensure all FIRs are lodged even though it would seem like crime in the province has grown," he said.

Saleemi further said that at least 10 per cent of his police force will be in training institutes so that they can perform better. He said leading a force of 190,000 was like leading the world's biggest police force, but he was ready to face the challenge.

Panamagate JIT head Wajid Zia records statement in Flagship reference against Nawaz

0
0

Panamagate joint investigation team (JIT) head Wajid Zia recorded his statement in the Flagship corruption reference against ousted premier Nawaz Sharif before an accountability court on Monday.

Zia, in today's hearing, told the court that he was nominated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) after the Supreme Court ordered the formation of a JIT to investigate the Panama Papers case.

The top court had ordered the JIT to probe the ownership of Flagship Investments, as well as the source of the money used to set up the company, Zia said.

The investigation team was also supposed to find out if Nawaz's sons, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, were his dependants in 1989-1990, he added.

The JIT wrote to United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities to request Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) and received a response from the latter, Zia said.

He then submitted the statement of Sharif's cousin Tariq Shafi in the court. Nawaz's counsel Khawaja Haris, however, objected and said that the statement was inadmissible in the case as Shafi was neither a suspect nor a witness in the case.

Haris also pointed out that Shafi's statement was not verified as is required by law and could not be submitted as testimony.

Zia said that it would take two to three days to submit complete evidence in the case.

The hearing was adjourned for half an hour. Sharif, who was in court for the hearing, was allowed to leave.

According to the charge-sheet against the former premier, Nawaz told the JIT that he was a shareholder in 15 companies, including Flagship Invest­ments, Hartstone Properties, Que Holdings, Quint Eaton Place 2, Quint Saloane, Quaint, Flagship Securities, Quint Gloucester Place, Quint Paddington, Flagship Developments, Alanna Services (BVI), Lankin SA (BVI), Chadron, Ansbacher, Coomber and Capital FZE, Dubai.

The court was told that his sons, Hassan and Hussain were his dependents in 1989 and 1990. However, Sharif, submitted a record of assets for Hassan from 1990-1995, the charge-sheet read.

Sharif was indicted in the corruption case last year.

Historic results

While talking to the media on his way out from the accountability court, Sharif said that the results of Sunday's by-polls were a first in history.

"The public has given us a bigger victory than we expected," he said. "Such a [victory] in first 50 days of the government is a first in history."

He said that despite the restrictions on the PML-N leadership, people had voted for the former ruling party.

PML-N won 10 out of 35 seats in the by-polls.

President Alvi hopes Pakistan, India can agree upon framework for strategic stability

0
0

President Arif Alvi on Monday said that he hoped India and Pakistan could agree upon a framework for strategic stability.

He was speaking at a conference, titled 'The Global Non-Proliferation Regime: Challenges and Responses', at the Strategic Studies Institute in Islamabad.

"While Pakistan will continue to demonstrate restraint and responsibility, no one should doubt our resolve to deny any space for war to those seeking such an opportunity, despite the existence of nuclear weapons in South Asia," he said, adding "nobody should doubt Pakistan's capability to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty".

Alvi called on the international community to take "serious note" of talks of 'surgical strikes and limited war', which he said "just tends to up the postures of both countries", reported Radio Pakistan. He, however, regretted that "our postures for peace have been reciprocated with belligerence".

"The proponents of such reckless fantasies will bear the responsibility for any consequences."

He urged the United Nations to play a role in facilitating resolutions in long-standing disputes, such as Kashmir, which he described as "underlying factors for instability".

"Pakistan is committed to objective strategic stability in South Asia."

In his speech, Alvi said that prior to 1998, Pakistan had "relentlessly" pursued a policy to keep South Asia free of nuclear weapons but that 1974 detonation in the region, as well nuclear tests conducted by the country's neighbour in 1998, ended any prospects for a nuclear-free zone in the region.

"We were forced to respond through our own tests to restore the strategic balance in the region," he said.

"Pakistan has, however, not given up the pursuit of meaningful engagement with India for confidence building, avoidance of arms race and risk reduction."

Viewing all 102652 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images