RAWALPINDI: More than 3,000 of the approximately 5,000 private schools in Rawalpindi are not registered, a senior official of the District Education Authority said.

He explained that there is no separate authority to register and monitor private schools in the district due to which parents cannot register complaints regarding fee and the quality of education.

“Educational institutions registered with the District Education Authority are not monitored regularly due to a shortage of staff. A separate authority should be formed for registering and monitoring private schools,” he said.

In absence of a regulatory body, parents have nowhere to take their complaints

A recent survey indicates that 65pc schools in the city were not registered with the education authority which is why the provincial government cannot establish its writ in these schools.

He said that due to the absence of a separate body, the education authority only registers the institutions which submit registration applications. However, he said, it is important to register all institutions so they can be monitored by the government.

“Currently, when it receives an application from a private school, the education authority appoints [government] school principals to visit and inspect the fee structure, land, infrastructure, teachers and their salaries, other facilities such as computer and science laboratories and security measures,” he said.

The official added that private school owners are also not taking an interest in getting registered as there is no mechanism for a member of the registration committee of the education department to visit new schools and there is no system for collecting and recording data on registered and unregistered schools.

On the other hand, private school owners said they wanted to get registered with the education authority but they did not have a defined strategy. They also stressed on the need for the formation of a body along the lines of the Private Education Registration Authority in Islamabad.

Private School Owners Association President Malik Abrar told Dawn some 2,000 applications for the registration of private schools have been pending with the education authority for the last year.

“There are more than 5,000 private schools in the city for which the government formed a two-member committee comprising of principals of government schools who are to inspect and prepare a report for their registration. The committee does not have the time for the job,” he said.

He said private school owners are demanding the government should simplify the registration process and establish a separate body for looking after private education institutions.

He suggested the government include representatives of parents and private schools in the body.

Teachers of government-run schools cannot properly monitor private schools and they have not even been able to start the process in the last many years, he said, adding that the government should start the process of registering schools as the owners are ready for the initiative.

Parents have complaints about the fee structure and the quality of education but they do not have a relevant body to make the complaints to as the education authority does not have a complaints cell.

Shahmir Malik, the father of student of a private school, said the proposed authority will implement government directives and that the main problem of fee will also be resolved.

He said after the registration of schools, the education department will be able to monitor fees and the quality of education in private schools.

The non-registration of schools presents many problems for students. The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education does not issue affiliation to unregistered schools, children are not issued school leaving certificates if they want to relocate and there is no check on the curriculum being taught.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018

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ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has convened a meeting to consider Justice Athar Minallah as the next chief justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC).

A press release issued by the public relations officer of the Supreme Court on Tuesday stated: “Hon’ble Mr Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Chief Justice of Pakistan/Chairman Judicial Commission of Pakistan, has convened the meeting of Judicial Commission of Pakistan on November 1, 2018 at Supreme Court Islamabad to consider the name of Hon’ble Mr Justice Athar Minallah, Senior Puisne Judge Islamabad High Court for appointment as Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court.”

The press release ended the uncertainty that prevailed within the legal fraternity and members of the judiciary after the removal of Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui by the SJC from the post of senior puisne judge of the IHC on Oct 11 for accusing Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of interfering in the affairs of the judiciary.

Lawyers’ representative welcomes announcement but says bar councils will boycott courts for rule of law as per schedule today

Since the incumbent IHC Chief Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi is retiring on Nov 27, there were reports that a judge from Lahore High Court (LHC) may be transferred to the IHC as its next chief justice.

According to sources, the proposal was discarded after judges senior to those being considered for the top post of the IHC expressed their reservations. Subsequently, the name of Senior Puisne Judge of Balochistan High Court (BHC) Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel was considered for the post.

The lawyers’ bodies, especially the provincial bar councils, in their meeting on Oct 19 announced to boycott courts proceedings across the country on Oct 24 for independence of the judiciary and rule of law.

According to Fiaz Jandran, vice chairman Islamabad Bar Council (IBC), seven bar councils - provinces, federal capital, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan - have decided to boycott the courts proceedings. Besides independence of judiciary and rule of law, the issue related to the appointment of the next IHC chief justice was one of the agenda items of the meeting, he said.

He said the bar associations would observe the strike on Wednesday (today) as per scheduled already announced.

Mr Jandran, however, welcomed the JCP’s announcement to appoint the senior puisne judge of the IHC as its next chief justice.

Justice Minallah is the eldest son of Nasrum Minallah, who remained commissioner during 1960s and 70s. He is son-in-law of Justice Safdar Shah who was part of the bench that convicted and sentenced former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. But Justice Shah wrote a dissenting note against the conviction for which he faced the wrath of the then military dictator Gen Ziaul Haq.

Justice Minallah joined Pakistan Customs and rose to a senior position but later resigned and entered politics and started practicing law.

Following sacking of the then chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry in 2007, he joined the lawyers’ movement.

However, after Justice Chaudhry’s restoration, he became a critic of the judiciary because of the excessive suo motu cases that led to pendency of routine cases.

Justice Minallah was appointed as the IHC judge in June 2014 and since then he has authored landmark judgments in matters related to civil litigation, including real estate, criminal cases, environment and missing persons.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018

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LAHORE: The Punjab Healthcare Commission on Wednesday imposed a fine of Rs0.3 million on a Gulf-approved medical complex for giving wrong report to a man seeking job in Saudi Arabia.

Complainant Sheraz Ahmed Jalib had alleged that the Iqra Medical Complex had issued him a wrong medical report, declaring him a patient of tuberculosis. As a result, he lost a job opportunity in Saudi Arabia while test reports of other laboratories declared him healthy.

Investigation by the PHC found the complainant’s allegation to be true and the commission imposed Rs0.3 million fine on the medical complex. The PHC Board also directed the authorities concerned to approach the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for suspending services of Iqra Medical Complex, seeking its deregistration, suspending services for medical examination, besides re-examining, revisiting and assessing its testing capacity.

Moreover, the GCC may be informed about the issues related to malpractices in the Gulf-approved medical centres, with specific reference to the complaints received by the PHC and asked it to take steps in this regard.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018

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SUKKUR/LARKANA: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday rejected the allegation that his government was not cooperating with the joint investigation team (JIT) formed by the apex court to probe corruption and fake bank accounts allegedly involving Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders, their frontmen and elements within the provincial government and bureaucracy.

“We are fully cooperating with the JIT because we had done nothing wrong and we have nothing to hide; why should we conceal the official record, which is available with the department concerned and could be made available to anyone?” he said while speaking to the media in Thull town of Kandhkot-Kashmore district.

Speaking to local reporters in Thull and later at Jakhrani House in Jacobabad, Mr Shah explained that the process of providing the required records to the investigators was slow because the JIT had sought detail of all contracts awarded over the last 10 years. The details included the companies and contractors concerned whose number was several hundred, he added. Obviously, this was a task impossible to accomplish within a few days, he argued.

‘Rolling back 18th Amendment, changing NFC nomenclature will be unconstitutional’

The chief minister visited Thull and Jacobabad to condole with the bereaved families over death of nine persons in a train-Qingqi crash near the Ogahi Laro area of Kandhkot town last week.

He said that details of 36-40 schemes undertaken by the irrigation and works and services departments had been provided to the JIT as was required.

Earlier, CM Shah flew into Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto, where he offered fateha and placed wreaths on the grave of Begum Nusrat Bhutto, as well as those of other members of the Bhutto family buried there, in connection with her 7th death anniversary.

Several ministers, lawmakers and senior PPP activists, including Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Mir Shabbir Bijarani, Dr Sohrab Sarki, Mir Mumtaz Jakhrani, Sardarzada and Suleman Khan Panhwar accompanied Mr Shah during his visit.

In Thull the CM offered condolence to the heirs of 10 victims who were killed in the train accident and announced compensation for them from the Sindh government.

Speaking to the reporters present there, the chief minister said that recent statements of Prime Minister Imran Khan and his cabinet colleagues appeared focused on rolling back the 18th Constitutional Amendment and amending the nomenclature of the National Finance Commission (NFC). Such moves would be unconstitutional, he warned.

When asked would he see the PTI government under the obtaining conditions complete its tenure, Mr Shah said “we pray for assemblies to complete their tenure; an in-house change, if [it] comes, will also be a part of democracy”.

“The Constitution is very clear about the NFC, which advocates enhancements in provincial shares but the PTI-led government is talking about curtailing their shares. This is unconstitutional,” he said.

In reply to a question about Anwar Majeed’s medical treatment, the chief minister said he was unaware of Supreme Court’s directives on the issue but the Sindh government would provide due facilities admissible for a prisoner or an ill prisoner as per the relevant laws.

When asked how he viewed the recent hike in gas and electricity tariffs, the CM said it was the federal government’s policies that had drastically affected prices. “In the wake of price hike, it’s provincial government that has to face people’s reaction as it’s we who remain in touch with the masses”.

About fixing of paddy’s support price, the chief minister said it could not be given at this juncture. “The procurement price of paddy is fair enough,” he said, added that he himself was a paddy grower.

School opened

In his visit to Sukkur, CM Shah inaugurated the Deaf Reach School, jointly built by the Sindh Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority (Stevta) and Deaf Reach organisation under the public-private partnership.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, he said the school was the best example of service delivery through the public-private partnership. He noted that Stevta and Deaf Reach were currently running such schools in Karachi, Nawabshah and Sukkur in this province.

Deaf Reach founder Richard Geary briefing the CM about his organisation’s achievements and said that it had established six such schools in the country.

MNA Noman Islam Shaikh, MPA Syed Farrukh Shah, Deputy Mayor Tariq Chauhan and other prominent personalities attended the ceremony.

Responding to questions posed by local reporters and other people present there, CM Shah said there was no provision of “governor’s rule” in the Constitution.

He said his government and party were serving Karachi and looking after it efficiently because it was heart of the country. “We expect the Centre to look after Karachi and provide it due assistance,” he said, adding: “Such assistance should not be like the one [ousted prime minister] Nawaz Sharif had pledged; he had announced a Rs25 billion package for Karachi and provided not even Rs25”.

Describing the just launched ‘Naya Pakistan Housing Progra­mme’ of the PTI government, Mr Shah said its estimated cost was put at $180 billion which meant it was five times bigger than the gigantic CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor). “It’s beyond anyone’s comprehension as to how the PTI government [will] arrange for such a huge amount of money,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018

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PESHAWAR: The ‘manhandling’ of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan during an official ceremony in Swat echoed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly here on Tuesday with an opposition member demanding inquiry into it.

During the session chaired by Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, Khushdil Khan of the Awami National Party raised the issue insisting that the privilege of the house was breached.

He said a video went viral showing the men in uniform hold the chief minister and lead to a vehicle.

Spokesman tells PA Mahmood Khan was ‘surrounded’ by personnel due to security reasons

“Strangely, the personnel in uniform did not let an elected representative talk to his people,” he said asking the treasury to explain position on the incident.

A senior lawmaker told Dawn that the opposition benches had planned to stage a walkout against the incident but the plan was dropped at the eleventh hour.

The video showed the security personnel tightly hold Chief Minister Mahmood Khan by arms and take him to the vehicle after he spoke at the ceremony held at the Saidu Sharif Airport on Monday for the transfer of powers from the Pakistan Army to the civil administration.

The video sparked speculations about the treatment meted out to the chief minister and his health forcing the government to clarify the situation.

The chief minister’s spokesman, Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, insisted that the personnel encircled the chief minister due to security reasons.

Law and parliamentary affairs minister Barrister Sultan Mahmood ignored Khushdil’s point of order and didn’t respond to the matter.

Meanwhile, the house continued debate on the demands for grant on the second consecutive day.

It passed six demands for grant worth Rs104 billion.

Speaking on his cut motion, Khushdil Khan said the chief minister held a total of 21 portfolios but didn’t attend the budget session.

He said the leader of the house held important departments and therefore, he should ensure presence in the assembly.

Malik Zafar Azam, who presented a cut motion on the grant for home and tribal affairs department, said after the merger of seven tribal agencies with the province, funds were being used by the civil secretariat for the defunct Fata.

He said the post of political agent had been re-designated as the deputy commissioner after the constitutional amendment but the role of the home department had yet to be extended to the area.

The lawmaker said the department could not justify its expenditure due to its limited role.

MPA Inayatullah Khan said the home and tribal affairs department had become toothless and its role had been confined.

He asked the treasury to explain the role of research and analysis wing working in the home department.

Mr Inayatullah also asked the government to give timeframe for the formal merger of tribal region with KP and introduction of police system there.

Sardar Hussain Babak pointed out that there was no need for a separate civil secretariat after merger with the province.

He proposed that the federal government launch five million housing schemes in militancy- affected tribal districts, where one hundred thousand houses and other private properties had been demolished.

The lawmaker said construction material for damaged houses had been either stolen or auctioned, while a large number of internally displaced persons couldn’t return to native lands due to the presence of the terrorists’ hideouts.

He said there were reports about the presence of Pakistani Taliban militants in some areas and therefore, the people did not go there.

The excise and taxation department also came under fire with the members terming its performance unsatisfactory.

They said the department had failed to eradicate menace of drug trafficking and its use in the province.

The lawmakers said the people were registering their vehicles in Islamabad and Punjab instead of KP posing lack of confidence in the department.

Law minister Barrister Sultan said the government would introduce an anti-narcotics bill in the assembly after the budget session.

He said the control of drugs had become a provincial subject and the government would legislate on it.

Mr Sultan said the government would propose stringent punishment for the dealers of ice drug in the bill.

He defended the performance of the excise and taxation department saying the revenue collection had improved.

The minister said the department had collected Rs2.5 billion in the first quarter against the total target of Rs15 billion for the current financial year.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018

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KARACHI: A district court on Monday directed the station house officer of the Manghopir police station to register a case against officials of the Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) over killing of a political activist in an alleged ‘fake’ encounter.

Three police officials — Inspector Shahzad Ali Khan, Sub-Inspector Waqas Anwar, in-charge of ACLC zone West SHO Chaudhry Mohammad Saleem — along with some other persons have been blamed for abducting Asadullah Umrani and later killing him in a fake encounter.

The district and sessions judge (West) pronounced the order, which was reserved earlier after hearing arguments from both sides.

The judge directed the SHO of Manghopir police station to record statement of the applicant and proceed with the matter in accordance with law.

The court disposed of an application moved by applicant Ali Akbar under Section 22-A of the Criminal Procedure Code seeking direction for the Manghopir SHO to record his statement for registration of a criminal case against three police officials and some others for allegedly kidnapping and killing his brother Asadullah Umrani in “staged encounter” on Oct 15.

In the application, it was submitted that Inspector Shahzad Ali Khan, Sub-Inspector Waqas Anwar, in-charge of ACLC zone West SHO Chaudhry Mohammad Saleem and other persons came in plainclothes in different vehicles along with one police mobile van and abducted Umrani. Later, the applicant came to know that his brother was killed in an alleged encounter.

The applicant’s counsel, Shahid Hussain Soomro, argued that there were several witnesses to the alleged kidnapping of the victim, whose vehicle (registration number BLV-520) was still parked at the PS Manghopir. The deceased was a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party-Shaheed Bhutto.

It was further claimed in the application that there were torture marks visible on the body of the deceased, who was father of three.

The counsel produced photographs of the victim and argued that the nature of the injuries did not support the police’s claim of encounter, adding that even a post-mortem examination was conducted without adopting proper procedure.

Advocate Soomro argued that this was a case similar to Naqeebullah Mehsud and Intizar Ahmed murder cases.

He further argued that registering a case of the incident was a constitutional right of the applicant as investigation could prove whether or not the allegations of abduction and killing were correct.

He also produced pictures of the victim’s car which had visible bullet marks in the front and back windscreens and pointed out that on the contrary the victim had received bullets in his abdomen from left side and the same had pierced through the right side.

Mr Soomro submitted that the police officials concerned were not paying heed to the request of his client for registration of a case against the police officials and requested to direct the SHO of PS Manghopir to record statement of the victim’s brother and register a case in accordance with the law.

On the other hand, the defence counsel for the police officials argued that all the three persons, who were killed in a genuine encounter, had a number of criminal cases registered against them.

He mentioned that four cases were registered against co-accused Shahzado and Ashok Kumar, alias Doctor, while three to four cases were registered against Asadullah.

However, the counsel informed that after hearing the news regarding the encounter the SSP concerned had already constituted a committee for probing the supposed encounter.

Therefore, he pleaded not to issue any direction for registration of the case against the police officials and dismiss the present application.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018

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KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau on Tuesday booked eight officials of the state-owned Pakistan State Oil (PSO), including a former managing director, and a private petroleum firm in a Rs23 billion corruption case.

The suspects belonging to PSO and Byco Petroleum Pakistan Limited were booked in a reference pertaining to alleged corruption in the sale and purchase of petroleum products.

The anti-graft watchdog nominated former PSO chief Naeem Yahya Mir, former general manager (supply) Akhtar Zameer, former GM (retail and consumer business) Syed Zulfiqar Ali Jaffri, director general (oils) Sabir Hussain, a former director of the ministry of petroleum and natural resources and others in the reference, which was filed before the administrative judge of the accountability courts in Karachi.

The administrative judge while issuing the warrants for the arrest of suspects Mir, Hussain and the chief executive officer of the private firm sent the case to Accountability Court-IV for trial.

According to the prosecution, the former PSO officers and the former director of the ministry of petroleum and natural resources had misused their official authority while serving on their official posts and got involved in corruption and corrupt practices in connivance with the officers of Byco.

It alleged that the suspects had caused losses worth Rs23bn to the national exchequer.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018

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KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Tuesday indicted six leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) in 21 cases pertaining to allegedly facilitating a hate speech of party founder Altaf Hussain, conspiracy against the state and law enforcers, terrorism and other charges.

Several senior leaders, including Dr Farooq Sattar, now Mayor of Karachi Wasim Akhtar, Rauf Siddiqui, Khwaja Izharul Hasan, Qamar Mansoor, Rehan Hashmi, Amir Khan, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Rashid Godil, Gul Faraz Khattak, Salman Mujahid, Abdul Qadir Khanzada, Khushbakht Shujaat, Shahid Pasha, Qamar Mansoor and Kunwar Naveed, with nearly 200 party workers, have been booked in identical cases.

Perpetual arrest warrants for the MQM founder have been issued in some of these cases.

Several senior leaders with 200 party workers are booked in identical cases

Around 26 identical FIRs were registered against them under sections 120-A (definition of criminal conspiracy), 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan), 122 (collecting arms, etc, with intention of waging war against Pakistan), 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war), 123-A (condemnation of the creation of the state, and advocacy of abolition of its sovereignty), 109 (abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), Section 25 of the Telegraph Act read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 at different police stations in the city.

On Tuesday, the ATC-I judge was set to frame charges in 21 cases against around 20 MQM leaders, who had been named by the complainants. Six of them — Dr Farooq Sattar, Wasim Akhtar, Rauf Siddiqui, Khwaja Izharul Hasan, Qamar Mansoor and Rehan Hashmi — were present.

The judge read out the charges against them. All of them pleaded not guilty and opted to contest the charges. The court summoned the witnesses on the next date to record their testimonies and fixed the case on Nov 13.

In the meanwhile, the court also confirmed interim pre-arrest bail of Dr Sattar, Rauf Siddiqui, Amir Khan, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Khwaja Izharul Hasan and Mayor Wasim Akhtar, who was on post-arrest bail, in these cases.

In the last hearing, the court had amalgamated 21 identical FIRs on the request of the defence since the same set of allegations was levelled against the party leaders. According to the prosecution, the MQM Rabita Committee leaders had allegedly facilitated and listened to highly provocative speech of the London-based MQM chief against the security establishment and sovereignty of the country, inciting the people to seek support and arms from India and its spy agency Research and Analysis Wing to wage war against the state and others.

The MQM chief had allegedly made such a speech at a function organised by the Rabita Committee at the party’s headquarters, Nine Zero, on July 12, 2015, it added. All the FIRs are said to have been registered three days after the speech.

Indictment deferred

Separately, the ATC-II judge once again deferred indictment of the MQM leaders and workers in two identical cases pertaining to allegedly listening to the provocative speech of the MQM chief on Aug 22, 2016 outside the Karachi Press Club that triggered a violent protest, arson attacks and ransacking of media houses.

On Tuesday the court was set to frame charges. MQM leaders, including Dr Farooq Sattar, Amir Khan, Kunwar Naveed, Qamar Mansoor and Khawaja Izharul Hasan, were present, but co-accused Ashraf Noor, Hasan Alam, Jahangir, Arshad and others were absent.

This visibly irked the judge, who cautioned that he would order arrest of all the suspects to ensure their presence before the court, in case they failed to show up on the next date of hearing.

The judge also ordered arrest of suspect Arshad for appearing late and sent him to jail. The court adjourned both the cases and directed all the suspects to appear on Nov 13, when their indictment is likely.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018

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ISLAMABAD: A three-judge Supreme Court bench will commence on Wednesday (today) the hearing of the appeals filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) challenging the Sept 19 order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for suspension of the jail terms awarded to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law retired Capt Mohammad Safdar in the Avenfield reference.

Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, the bench will also consist of Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel.

Meanwhile, the CJP has taken serious notice of false news items aired by some news channels that Justice Umar Ata Bandial has recused himself from being part of the bench and asked these channels’ chief executive officers or owners to appear before the special bench at 2pm to clarify and explain the reasons for airing such news items.

A clarification issued by the Supreme Court termed the news items as totally baseless, concocted and false.

It also explained the factual position by stating that Justice Bandial was not feeling well and therefore the CJP reconstituted the bench.

Apex court clarifies that Justice Bandial is not part of bench because he is not feeling well

Later, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) also issued a WhatsApp message highlighting that the apex court had taken notice of the airing of the fake news by all news channels and has fixed hearing on Wednesday at 2pm.

In its notice the apex court has directed the owners of all news channels to appear in person or through authorised director news/bureau chiefs before the court with a direction that the compliance of the apex court’s orders was requested in letter and spirit, Pemra said.

Suspension of sentences

In its appeals which was filed through NAB’s special prosecutor Akram Qureshi, the bureau pleaded the apex court to set aside the high court order and recall the relief of suspending the sentence and the grant of bail to all the accused.

On Sept 19, a division bench of the high court had set free Mr Sharif, Ms Maryam and Mr Safdar after accepting the petitions seeking suspension of sentences awarded to them by the accountability court on July 6.

Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir convicted Mr Sharif, Ms Maryam and Mr Safdar in the Avenfield apartment reference and awarded 10 years, seven years and one year imprisonment to them, respectively.

In its appeal NAB contended that the high court had failed to appreciate that through its order, it had seriously prejudiced the case of the prosecution by holding that the trial court judgement suffered from obvious and glaring defects and infirmities and that the convictions and sentences handed down to the accused might not sustain ultimately.

NAB argued that the conviction of the Sharifs was based on cogent and tangible evidence thus the offence of corruption and corrupt practice stood proved. The appeal emphasised that Mr Sharif was the chairman of Messers Capital FZE Ltd and the chief financier of the acquisition of the upscale Avenfield Apartments in London through two offshore companies namely Nescoll Enterprises and Nielson.

According to the NAB’s appeals, the high court did not appreciate the settled proposition of the law that questions of facts could not be raised in the constitutional jurisdiction. It said the counsel representing the Sharifs indulged into the same exercise of referring to evidence contained in the proceedings of the trial court.

Thus, it was clear and unambiguous that in the garb of their case before the high court, an attempt was made on part of them to argue the appeal and seek re-appraisal of evidence which was not permissible in the exercise of the constitution jurisdiction of the high court, the appeals said.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018

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RAWALPINDI: A senior clerk from the Central Jail Adiala, who claimed that grocery items brought for prisoners were being sold in the market, has filed a complaint with the city police officer (CPO).

Javaid Iqbal said in his complaint that he intercepted a van loaded with rice, ghee and pulses at Gate No.5 of Adiala jail Monday night. The good were being transported from the jail store to a private go-down located opposite the jail’s gate, he added.

He claimed the transportation of the goods could be seen on CCTV and in a video circulated on social media.

He added that he was followed by individuals in a white car on his way home, and took refuge in the jail colony house. He said two hours later, the owner of the go-down and two others came to his home and tried to arrest him.

He said that when he saw the go-down owner, he left his home and spent the night in an under-construction house on the jail premises.

In his complaint, he said he was being victimised for unearthing the theft of grocery items brought for prisoners.

After the incident came to light, the Inspector General Prisons Shahid Saleem Baig ordered an inquiry and deputed the DIG Rawalpindi to report within three days.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018

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LAHORE: Acquisition of hundreds of acres in Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Dasu hydropower project’s main civil works has become complicated after the people, who had received compensation for surrendering their land to the government for the Diamer-Bhasha dam, started investing in the Dasu area in an attempt to claim hefty amounts in compensation, sources said on Tuesday.

The situation pushed Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), which had started civil works last year at the available land in Dasu Town, to ask the federal government to acquire the land on an urgent basis, failing which the project’s cost and completion time would continue to escalate.

“Sigloo, Kass and Sheikhabad are the areas where we urgently need over 500 acres for launching main civil works of the Dasu project. But the residents/owners are creating a do-or-die-like situation whenever they are contacted for acquiring of their land.

Recent investments in Sigloo, Kass and Sheikhabad complicate prices, land category issues

“Another factor, which is making the situation more and more tough, is that some of those who received compensation against their land for Bhasha dam also started investment in these areas [Sigloo, Kass and Sheikhabad] by constructing buildings and other infrastructure in a bid to get handsome payment from the government in lieu of Dasu dam project,” an official source told Dawn.

According to a senior Wapda official, Prime Minister Imran Khan had been requested in a recent meeting to personally look into the issue and ensure acquisition of land for the project at the earliest. The locals demand that the government change the category of their land and rates of compensation.

“And it is up to the government what final decision it takes,” the official said.

He said the PM had assured Wapda officials weeks ago that the government would soon resolve the issue.

According to a source, Wapda actually needs a total of 9,875 acres for the entire project. Of this, it requires around 2,000 acres for civil works and a colony, while the remaining 7,888 acres are needed for the reservoir and other purposes.

Official rates, land categories

The source said the land had been categorised as urban, semi-urban, rural, barren, cultivated, residential, commercial and their rates had been fixed accordingly. The executive committee of the national economic council (Ecnec) had approved compensation rates for the land in different categories some three years back.

“On Nov 14, 2015, Ecnec had approved compensation rates for acquiring the land for Dasu project by dividing the land into various categories such as urban, semi-urban, rural, barren, cultivated, residential, commercial etc.

However, locals not only rejected the rates but also the nature/categorisation of the land the government had done,” the source explained.

“Now they are demanding compensation more than that [had been] decided by Ecnec in 2015.”

The project being constructed along the River Indus, seven kilometres upstream of Dasu Town, is vital not only for KP but also for the entire country, as it will trigger a new era of socio-economic development in remote areas of the province and stabilise economy by providing low-cost hydel power.

The source said the area where the priority land existed was sort of semi-tribal, having no land/ revenue record. While mountains were usually considered state owned, here such areas [mountains] were owned by individuals, they explained.

Land acquisition law

Due to various such issues, the government has not even managed to start a survey of the land it required for the project despite enforcement of Section 4 of Land Acquisition Act, which empowers the government to notify the area/land required for various projects in public interest — about seven years before.

An official said whenever revenue teams visited the areas for survey purposes, the residents offered severe resistance. The official added the government must resolve this issue on a top priority basis rather than waiting to see the situation getting out of control.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018

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Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday took notice of police allegedly baton charging and using water canons against Pakistan Quarters residents protesting against their evictions from the residential colony.

The Supreme Court in July ordered the eviction within 10 days of alleged illegal occupants from Pakistan Quarters, Martin Quarters, Jamshed Quarters, Clayton Quarters, Federal Capital Area, and others ─ all residential areas for federal government employees. Since then, heavy contingents of police have attempted to vacate the 'illegal occupants' by force.

A large number of residents came out to protest against the eviction operation from the housing colony for a second consecutive day.

Television footage showed police officials in riot gear armed with batons charging at protesters to push them back. Water canons were also deployed to knock protesters over and keep them at bay.

The protesters chanted slogans against the government and appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar to take suo motu notice of the incident.

Political party leaders, including MQM's Dr Farooq Sattar, arrived at Pakistan Quarters to express solidarity with the protesters.

MQM leaders Farooq Sattar, Kanwar Naveed Jamil and Amir Khan demanded that the evictions be stopped.

Khan said that they would stand with the Pakistan Quarters residents and appealed to the CJP to take suo motu notice of the incident.

According to an Express Tribune report, a report submitted in court by the deputy attorney general said that some 4,168 government quarters have been illegally occupied, of which 639 houses are in Martin Quarters, 301 in Patel Quarters, 49 houses in Garden and Pakistan Quarters.

More details to follow

Four school children were injured on Wednesday in Killi Shabo area of Quetta when unidentified motorcyclists opened fire at the gate of an educational institute, DawnNewsTV reported citing police sources.

The incident happened with unidentified gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on the gate of Danish Kadah School — a private establishment located in the city suburbs.

Four children received bullets on their legs as a result of firing. They were rushed to the Civil Hospital, and are now in stable condition.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Saleem Ahmed Khosa condemned the firing incident, adding: "The elements involved in this incident will be apprehended soon.

"[We] will not let Balochistan's peace be unsettled under any condition."

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday agreed to extend the deadline for the eviction of Pakistan Quarters residents in Karachi for another three months after a court-ordered eviction operation against 'illegal occupants' resulted in clashes between police and civilians.

The Supreme Court in July had ordered the eviction within 10 days of alleged illegal occupants from Pakistan Quarters, Martin Quarters, Jamshed Quarters, Clayton Quarters, Federal Capital Area, and other residential areas in Karachi for federal government employees. Since then, heavy contingents of police have attempted to vacate the 'illegal occupants' by force.

As protests against the eviction operation from the federal residential colony went on for the second day on Wednesday, baton-wielding policemen clad in riot gear charged at protesters to push them back and employed water canons to knock them over and keep them at bay.

According to DawnNewsTV, the protesters allegedly pelted stones at police officials in retaliation, and chanted slogans against the government as Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MPA Jamal Siddiqui arrived at the site of the clashes. They appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar to take suo motu notice of the operation.

A police spokesperson said the protesters had attacked the policemen and pelted them with stones, injuring four personnel identified as Muhammad Rizwan, Munir Ahmed, Zaman Abbas and Tanvir Ahmed. He added that the wounded policemen had been transported to a hospital for medical treatment.

MQM-P leaders Farooq Sattar, Kanwar Naveed Jamil and Amir Khan were among the first political leaders to arrive at Pakistan Quarters, where they expressed solidarity with the protesters. They demanded the evictions be halted and that the CJP take notice of the incident.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Shah, taking notice of the clashes, had ordered the immediate withdrawal of police from the area and expressed anger over the reports of police action against protesters.

Explaining his decision while speaking to journalists, CM Shah said he had intervened in the matter since it was the Sindh government's obligation to maintain law and order. He added that he would consult the provincial Law Department, advocate general and administration ─ and approach the top court if necessary ─ in order to find a resolution to the "humanitarian" issue.

Additional Inspector General Dr Ameer Sheikh confirmed that the court-ordered operation had been halted on the orders of the Sindh government, a police spokesperson told Dawn, adding that ambulance services, volunteers and other relief agency officials were present at the site of the incident.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail tweeted shortly after, saying that CJP Nisar had, in a telephonic conversation, "kindly consented to hold the evacuation process for 3 months".

Speaking to the media, Ismail said that the federal Housing Ministry and other departments would try to put their heads together to resolve the issue and reach an amicable settlement in which the writ of law is upheld and adequate arrangements are made for the displaced persons. "I feel alternate housing will be the solution," he said.

The police spokesperson said that a committee ─ comprising the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Amin Yousufzai and DIG East Amir Farooqi ─ would be set up to probe the incident.

According to an Express Tribune report, a report submitted in court by the deputy attorney general said that some 4,168 government quarters have been illegally occupied, of which 639 houses are in Martin Quarters, 301 in Patel Quarters, 49 houses in Garden and Pakistan Quarters.

A petition had earlier been filed seeking eviction of families living in these areas even after the retirement or death of an allottee — a government servant to whom a quarter is allotted.

After this, residents of these neighbourhoods met and pleaded their case with CJP Nisar. Some said that they had been gifted the quarters after their retirement, while others said they were still government employees and had the legal right of living there.

All were then asked to produce documents by July 31 to prove that they were living there rightfully.

Six PML-N MPAs, who were elected to the Punjab Assembly in the recent by-polls, swore oath for their seats on Wednesday, two days after declaring they would not join the assembly.

The oath was administered to the newly elected lawmakers by Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.

Sohail Shaukat Butt, Saiful Mulook Khokar, Owais Lesghari, Malik Iftikhar, Jafar Hocha and Nasir took their oaths in the assembly.

On Monday, the PML-N MPAs had said they would not take oaths for their provincial assembly seats until Elahi reinstated the six lawmakers that had been suspended for allegedly spreading chaos in the house.

During the PA budget session last week, Speaker Pervaiz Elahi had issued show-cause notices to half a dozen PML-N MPAs for allegedly attacking the assembly staff, vandalising furniture and using abusive language about the government, and had banned their entry to the assembly during the ongoing budget sessions.

Today, the PML-N lawmakers clarified that they had taken their oaths by the permission of the party but would continue their protest by not taking part in the proceedings until the reinstatement of the suspended members.

They said that PML-N's victory in the by-polls, held more than two months after the general election, was a sign that the public had "rejected" the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government.

The strength of PML-N members in the provincial assembly has now gone up to 168.

Meanwhile, opposition parties in Punjab Assembly boycotted a committee formed to investigate the ruckus during the budget session, complaining of inadequate representation.

PML-N leader Khawaja Imran Nazeer said that no one from his party will join the committee as it showed the "complete bias" of the government. He said that members from the PPP and journalist community should also be part of the committee.

Talking to DawnNewsTV, Nazeer termed the committee as a "dhandla committee", adding that it included 10 government lawmakers and only two from the PML-N, while PPP had no representation at all.

"This is a biased committee and we cannot expect justice from it," he said.

Firefighters on Wednesday put out a blaze that engulfed the Press Information Department (PID) offices in a building near Zero Point in Islamabad.

According to officials from the rescue department, it took eight fire hydrants and two hours to put the fire out after it started around 1.30pm.

The also said that the building was fully evacuated soon after the fire started and no casualties were reported. However, four people sporting minor injuries were sent to Polyclinic Hospital.

The building is owned by Benevolent Funds (BF) and also houses the offices of PID and the Director General of Federal Audit.

Upon visiting the site earlier in the day, Secretary of Information Shafqat Jaleel told the media that firefighters were trying to put the fire out. He did not comment on the number of records that may have been destroyed by the fire.

However, Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry told the media that the PID records are safe. "The electric system in the old building is outdated and that causes such incidents," he said.

The information minister also said that a committee has been made to ascertain the cause of the fire. A large contingent of army and Rangers personnel were also seen at the site once the fire was put out.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will address the nation today evening at 8:15pm, according to a tweet by Special Assistant to Prime Minister of Pakistan on Media Iftikhar Durrani.

During his address, the premier is expected to take the people into confidence on the country's economic status, DawnNewsTV reported.

The address follows his return from Saudia Arabia, a trip he undertook on the invitation of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud to attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference.

Late Tuesday the government announced that Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide Pakistan $3 billion in foreign currency support for a year to address its balance-of-payments crisis.

The Kingdom has also agreed to provide Islamabad with a one-year deferred payment facility for import of oil, worth up to another $3 billion.

Former president retired General Pervez Musharraf is said to be suffering from a rare disease amyloidosis, DawnNewsTV reported on Wednesday, citing All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Overseas President Afzaal Siddiqui.

Last month, former APML chairperson Dr Muhammad Amjad had revealed that Musharraf was "growing weaker rapidly" due to an unspecified illness and cannot return to Pakistan to face the treason case against him.

The APML leader had then refused to provide details about Musharraf’s new ailment, saying the party would soon submit medical documents to Chief Justice Saqib Nisar.

However, Siddiqui disclosed Musharraf's illness on Wednesday, saying the former general's condition has "weakened his nervous system", and that he is currently being treated in London.

"Due to amyloidosis, broken protein starts getting deposited in various organs," he explained. "[As a result] Pervez Musharraf has difficulty in standing and walking."

The APML said that amyloidosis can lead to "arteries of heart and brain to choke up, which could prove to be life-threatening".

Siddiqui said that doctors have "managed to stop the production of broken protein" in Musharraf's system and "are now trying to cleanse his body".

He further said that Musharraf's treatment could continue up to five or six months, adding that the former president has "appealed to the nation to pray for him".

Upon his full recovery, Siddiqui said, Musharraf intends to return to Pakistan.

On March 31, 2014, Musharraf was indicted for suspending the Constitution on November 3, 2007. He, however, left the country in March 2016, for Dubai to "seek medical treatment" and hasn't returned since.

Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the nation through a video message on Wednesday, reassuring people regarding the steps taken by his government to tackle the economic hardships faced by the country.

Speaking about the financial package the government has secured from Saudi Arabia, he said: "We were trying for many days to get rid of this burden placed on us of the debt. We had to pay back our debts otherwise we would have been faced with default."

"We got an amazing package from Saudi Arabia which has taken off the burden."

He said had the government approached the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout directly, it would have to borrow more money that would result in an increased burden on the poor segments of society.

"So our efforts were geared towards getting monetary assistance from friendly countries," he said, adding that now even if the government goes to the IMF, it won't need much from the lender.

Khan said his government will approach two more "friendly countries" for financial assistance.

He also announced that Pakistan will try to play the role of a mediator in the Yemen war involving Saudi Arabia.

"I also want to share with you... we were trying to play a role in ending the Yemen war," he said. "We will try our best to play a mediatory role... in bringing all the Muslim nations together."

'No corrupt man will go scot-free'

In a reference to the PPP and PML-N, PM Khan said the opposition parties that are accusing his government of 'incompetence' are doing so because they fear that "their corruption will be unearthed when we do an audit".

He said the PTI government hasn't even begun implementing its policies as yet, but is busy "cleaning up the economic mess" of the last 10 years left by the previous governments.

"They just want an NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance] from us," he said.

"I want to give them a message: 'open your ears and hear this: you can come out on the streets. We will give you containers and give you food. You can do whatever you want in the assemblies... [But] no one will get an NRO'."

"No corrupt man will be let go," Khan said, recalling that he had promised the nation that he will "put the corrupt people in jails".

The premier said the country has no future until and unless corruption is rooted out.

"The fake bank accounts... where is all this money coming from? The money is being stolen [from the nation].

"The country's leaders then have to go and ask for loans abroad... because dollars are laundered out of the country."

He said the entire burden of loans taken by corrupt officials falls on the nation. Taxes are imposed and prices are raised in order for the country to be able to pay back the loans.

"This is the cycle that is functioning in Pakistan... a small class is growing wealthier, while the people are becoming poorer."

In order to break this cycle, Khan said, the government will ensure accountability is carried out "no matter what anyone does".

He said the cases the opposition parties are accusing the PTI government of backing were all started during the tenures of previous administrations.

"These are old NAB cases against them, which they are using to blackmail [us]."

'Don't worry at all'

Once again urging the nation to not be dismayed by the economic difficulties, he said his government was cracking down against corruption and money laundering.

"Don't worry at all," he told the nation, adding that people who tolerate a corrupt leadership, unfortunately, have to pay the price for it.

He said the government is making all-out efforts to prevent stolen money from flowing out of the country.

The government is also taking steps to make exports competitive, create one-window operations to attract foreign investment and facilitate overseas Pakistanis in sending remittances through banking channels.

Coming to his affordable housing initiative, Khan said the government plans on constructing five million homes in the country. He noted that 40 other industries will experience a boost when construction starts for the housing scheme and employment opportunities will be created.

The prime minister also said he will announce a special package for proverty alleviation in the country in the coming days.

Confusion over timing

Earlier, there had been some confusion about the timing of the premier's address.

The official Twitter account of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had tweeted earlier in the day that the address would take place at 7:15pm.

Later, Special Assistant to Prime Minister of Pakistan on Media Iftikhar Durrani took to Twitter to inform the public that the address would take place an hour late, at 8:15pm.

However, it didn't end here, as PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan then made another announcement through Twitter saying that "the revised time of prime minister's address to the nation is 7:45pm".

The address follows his return from Saudia Arabia, a trip he undertook on the invitation of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud to attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference.

Late on Tuesday, the government announced that Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide Pakistan $3 billion in foreign currency support for a year to address its balance-of-payments crisis.

The Kingdom has also agreed to provide Islamabad with a one-year deferred payment facility for import of oil, worth up to another $3 billion.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday chaired a meeting to monitor the progress on converting the Prime Minister House into university and directed to constitute a committee, headed by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman, to review the draft charter of the proposed university, Radio Pakistan reported.

The meeting, held in the federal capital, was attended by Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, HEC Chairman Tariq Banuri and other officials of the commission.

It also approved constitution of separate committees for evaluation of the draft charter for the university and selection of its vice-chancellor. The minister concerned for education would head the search committee for the selection of vice-chancellor.

The meeting decided that the HEC chairman would head a committee tasked with the operational affairs and design of the university.

A conference titled 'Emerging Challenges for Pakistan and the Region' will be held at the new educational institution in December this year.

The meeting also approved the establishment of the Institute of Advanced Studies in the first phase of the university.