Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday, in a joint statement with his Uzbek counterpart, stated that Pakistan and Uzbekistan share a "common view" for a political settlement in Afghanistan and added that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict, Radio Pakistan reported.
In a joint press conference in Islamabad, FM Qureshi and Abdulaziz Kamilov "expressed the resolve to further enhance bilateral cooperation to promote peace and stability in the region".
FM Qureshi said: "Pakistan is ready to promote connectivity in the region for the benefit of our people".
He added that there were many opportunities for the two countries to increase "bilateral cooperation" in trade, tourism and security.
According to Radio Pakistan, Uzbekistan's FM reiterated that the two countries share a "common approach" for the peace process in Afghanistan as well as in combating terrorism.
He acknowledged the "vital role" Pakistan has played in the fight against terrorism and stability in the region, the report stated.
Kamilov said that the two had discussed strengthening "bilateral cooperation in the fields of transport, road communication, trade, economy and security".
The Uzbek FM invited his Pakistani counterpart to visit Uzbekistan and thanked him for the hospitality his delegation had received in Islamabad.
According to Radio Pakistan, Kamilov will also call on Prime Minister Imran Khan.
RAWALPINDI: Though an initial medical exam of a minor domestic worker who was allegedly tortured by an army officer and her husband had confirmed she had been tortured, an X-ray has now revealed that she also has two fractured ribs.
No injuries were found on her skull and bones in the shoulder and left arm.
Kinza Shabir, an 11-year-old domestic worker was allegedly tortured by her employers, a private doctor and his wife, who is associated with the army, has been kept in the Child Protection Bureau since was brought back to Rawalpindi from her native Faisalabad after the torture case came to light.
Army authorities had sought the case record of the young maid from the police and asked the Child Protection Bureau for an interview with the child.
However, the concerned bureau official had asked the army authorities to seek court orders for interviewing the minor as she was in their protective custody.
On the other hand, the private doctor, who is one of the suspects, was on interim bail and was included in the police’s investigation on Sunday. He has to appear before the court of an additional session judge on Nov 2 for confirming his bail.
His wife, who is associated with the army, has been nominated as the prime accused in the FIR registered with the Airport police on the complaint of a Child Protection Bureau officer. Her case has been sent to the army authorities for further proceeding as they have their own system for taking legal action.
Three cuts from a blunt instrument were first found on the child’s head along with multiple bruises on other parts of her body. After she complained of severe pain in her left arm, she was subjected to a medical exam, including a consultation with a neurologist.
The X-ray showed that she had fractures on the eighth and ninth ribs on the left side.
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused a petition filed by the government seeking permission to appoint a new inspector general of police (IGP) in Islamabad.
Instead, the court suggested the government to appoint a top cop in the capital on an interim basis in light of the current sensitive law and order situation.
IGP Islamabad Jan Mohammad was in Malaysia on ex-Pakistan leave to attend a course. He landed in Pakistan early Thursday. DIG Security Waqar Chohan had been looking after the office of the IGP Islamabad in his absence.
Earlier in the day, the government had approached the SC, requesting the court to hear the plea immediately due to the law and order situation of the country, in particular Islamabad. Subsequently, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar stated hearing the petition.
"Had we not suspended the decision of the IGP's appointment, what would you do in case the officer is on a visit abroad," the CJP asked, adding that the government would have to give the charge to someone else.
"Give additional charge to someone else," CJP Nisar said.
Talking about the ongoing protests following Asia Bibi's acquittal a day earlier, Chief Justice Nisar said that the government was responsible for maintaining the law and order situation.
"The situation around the country, including Islamabad, is sensitive and the IGP is out of the country, so owing to the situation, the court allows the government to appoint an IGP on interim basis," said the CJP, clarifying that Jan Mohammad would remain the permanent IGP.
Meanwhile, sources told DawnNewsTV that IGP Jan Mohammad has returned to home. He had visited his office but did not issue any orders as he found himself deep in the state of uncertainty, sources added. Subsequently, the IGP left his office to visit secretary interior who had summoned him.
On October 29, the CJP had suspended the 'unlawful' transfer of the Islamabad police chief after it emerged that he had been removed from the post following verbal directives from Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The CJP had taken suo motu notice in the wake of conflicting reports about the reasons behind ─ and timeline of ─ his transfer.
Local media had reported that the IGP had been transferred because he did not attend minister Azam Swati's phone calls. However, the government refused the media reports and said that the decision had been taken in the wake of rising crimes in the capital city.
PPP-Parliamentarians President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said the authorities will have to "prove that he went to open fictitious bank accounts in the name of some milkman or sweetmeat seller, only then can a case be registered against him", Geo Newsreported.
Talking to Geo News, Zardari continued by saying: "Even then, I can defend the case: 'Yes I have deposited money in this account, it is my wish'."
When the show host, Hamid Mir, repeated the same for clarification and asked the former president, "What about the poor fellow who has no idea about any of this?", Zardari responded by saying: "Then it is his fault."
Stunned by the response, when Mir inquired to be sure: "It is his fault?", Zardari replied with a quick: "It is the bank's fault."
The Supreme Court on September 6 had formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe alleged laundering of billions of rupees through fake bank accounts in connivance with bankers and others to several suspected beneficiaries, including former president Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur.
Zardari, Talpur and several of their business associates are currently being probed as part of a 2015 case regarding fake accounts and fictitious transactions — which were initially found to have totalled Rs35 billion — conducted through 29 ‘benami’ accounts in Summit Bank, Sindh Bank, and UBL.
As the conversation turned to the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and the prime minister's recent speech where he had vowed "no corrupt person will get an NRO", Zardari quipped: "He [PM Imran Khan] has a habit of saying things."
When Mir remarked in a questioning tone: "[Has he] gone too far and said too much?", Zardari responded by reiterating that the prime minister "is habitual of saying too much".
"We had told him to behave like an executive and to desist from opposition politics and let us worry about the opposition," Zardari told Mir.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday praised China for the way it tackled poverty and corruption, saying China’s expertise will help Pakistan to resolve the issues currently faced by the country, Radio Pakistan reported.
“Corruption is the biggest enemy of Pakistan, we need special skills to track the white collar crime,” the premier said during an interaction with media persons before leaving for China on a three-day official visit.
PM Khan said poverty reduction was the “most important segment of the PTI’s manifesto and the policies implemented by China to lift its people from poverty can guide us in devising indigenous policies in this regard”.
He said Pakistan wants to increase its exports in order to curtail the current account deficit. “Our main export is textile and China’s help in adding value to our products will improve our prospects of exporting finished products in the world market,” PM Khan said.
Pakistan was endowed with rich natural resources that have not been utilised, he added.
The prime minister said CPEC was a whole-encompassing idea which was “moving into next phases”. He said investment in industrial zones as well as in the socio-economic development was very important for improving the overall economy.
Earlier this week, the Chinese foreign ministry had said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s upcoming visit to China would provide an opportunity for leaders of the two countries to open a new chapter of development of bilateral relations under new circumstances.
During the visit, PM Khan would hold talks with President Xi and Premier Li. He will also attend China International Import Expo (CIIE) being held in Shanghai.
LAHORE: Tension gripped many parts of Punjab amid protests and road blockades over the Supreme Court’s decision in Aasia Bibi case and sporadic action by police on Thursday.
In Lahore, the demonstrators kept the metro buses off the track, train traffic suspended and the exit points of the motorway choked.
There was a sense of fear as stick-bearing people, especially youngsters, appeared on roads and markets in the city. Many traders were forced to pull their shutters down. The city also remained in the grip of rumours about impending operation against the protesters.
The media reported that Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had authorised operation against the protesters, with police forming the first line (for arresting the protesters) and the Rangers backing it up and the army supporting both. However, the talks of operation lost steam by evening as Islamabad started making claims of negotiations with the protesters and said the use of force would be the last option.
A section of the media also reported success of talks and end of protests shortly. However, the reports were quickly rubbished by TLP chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi who took to the Tweeter to claim: “All these reports were planted ones. The sit-ins and demonstration would not stop come what may. The only authorised announcement would be made from the Lahore sit-in and workers should not lend ears to any propaganda.”
All wholesale and retail markets and educational institutions were closed. Those who had to attend offices faced inconvenience of adopting alternative routes. The major roads were blocked and crossing the agitating activists appeared risky. The activists blocked various portions of the canal bank roads from Thokar to Jallo by burning branches of trees and tyres. The Mall housing many government offices was totally blocked from Governor’s House to the PMG office.
Rail service between Lahore and Karachi besides Lahore and Rawalpindi remained disrupted throughout Thursday, delaying the arrival and departure time of major trains.
An official of Pakistan Railways at its headquarters here said that the worst-hit train was the Khyber Mail (20-Down) which reached Karachi from Peshawar Cantt 13 hours and 45 minutes late than its scheduled time.
Tezgam (7-Up) reached Rawalpindi from Karachi Cantt 7 hours and 43 minutes late than its scheduled time. Khushhal Khan Khattak Express (20-Down) could reach 4 hours and eight minutes, Awam Express (14-Down) 3 hours and 30 minutes and Allama Iqbal Express one hour and 43 minutes late.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson said all trains were leaving Karachi for various upcountry destinations according to their scheduled time.
The protesters led by activists of the religious parties torched vehicles and public property at many places. In Sheikhupura, fifteen police constables deployed on the motorway to perform duties suffered injuries when a mob pelted them with stones.
In Toba Tek Singh, the Home Department issued detention orders for one month of 36 activists. The city police registered a case against six others.
More than 200 people, 25 of them nominated, were booked for blocking roads and hooliganism in Okara, 34 people were arrested in Chiniot, more than three dozen in Faisalabad and many in Kasur.
The Sargodha city police registered a case against 250 people including the Anjuman-i-Tajran president for blocking main roads.
WASHINGTON: Karachi has improved the transparency of land registration process by publishing online the fee schedule and the list of documents necessary to complete any property registration, says a World Bank report.
The report, released on Wednesday, also highlights various steps Pakistan has taken in the last 10 years to improve the business environment. The report includes a comparative study of business environment in Karachi and Lahore, underlining the reforms undertaken since 2008.
The report notes that in 2018, Pakistan made starting a business easier by enhancing the online one-stop registration system, replacing several forms for incorporation with a single application and establishing information exchange between the registry and the tax authority. This change applied to both Karachi and Lahore.
Lahore made registering property easier by streamlining and automating administrative procedures, and by increasing the transparency of its land administration system. Karachi made registering property easier by increasing the transparency of the land registry.
Pakistan made resolving insolvency easier by introducing the reorganisation procedure and improving the continuation of the debtor’s business during insolvency proceedings. This change applies to both Karachi and Lahore.
During 2017, Pakistan made starting a business easier by replacing the need to obtain a digital signature for company incorporation with a less costly personal identification number. This change applied to both Karachi and Lahore.
Karachi lists online the documents necessary to complete any property registration.
During this period, both Karachi and Lahore took steps to provide protection to minority investors by making it easier to sue directors in case of prejudicial transactions with interested parties.
The two cities also made importing and exporting easier by developing a new container terminal and enhancing its customs platform for electronic document submission.
During 2016, Karachi and Lahore improved the quality of land administration by digitising ownership and land records. They also improved access to credit information guaranteeing by law borrowers’ rights to inspect their own data. The credit bureau also expanded its borrower coverage.
Pakistan also made exporting and importing easier by enhancing its electronic “Web Based One Customs Platform”.
During 2015, Karachi made the process for getting an electricity connection faster as the distribution utility improved the stock of material for the external connection works.
During 2014, Pakistan made trading across borders easier by introducing a fully automated, computerised system for the submission and processing of export and import documents.
During 2011, Pakistan increased the profit tax rate for small firms.
In 2010, Pakistan made property transfer more affordable by reducing the stamp duty rate. Pakistan also reduced the time to export by improving electronic communication between the Karachi Port authorities and the private terminals, which have also boosted efficiency by introducing new equipment.
In 2009, Pakistan introduced an electronic registration system, allowing online registration for sales tax and eliminating the requirement to make the declaration of compliance on a stamped paper.
During 2007, Pakistan made registering property more expensive by increasing the capital value tax. Pakistan’s private credit bureau began distributing positive as well as negative credit information, and its public credit registry eliminated the minimum threshold for loans included in its database.
ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has recommended the appointment of senior puisne judge of the Islamabad High Court as its next chief justice.
The JCP convened its meeting on Thursday at the Supreme Court building.
The Supreme Court had on Oct 23 issued a press release which 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 the Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court.”
As per Article 175-A of the Constitution, the Parliamentary Committee on Judges’ Appointment will consider the JCP’s recommendation and will forward its endorsement to the president in a fortnight.
Justice Minallah will assume the office of the IHC chief justice on Nov 27 as the incumbent Chief Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan is attaining the age of superannuation on Nov 28.
Justice Minallah is the eldest son of Nasrum Minallah, who remained commissioner during the 1960s and 70s. He is the son-in-law of Justice Safdar Shah, who was part of the bench that convicted and sentenced former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, but wrote a dissenting note against the conviction for which he faced the wrath of then military dictator Gen Ziaul Haq.
Justice Minallah joined the Pakistan Customs and rose to senior positions, but later resigned and started practising law. Following the sacking of then chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, he joined the lawyers’ movement for restoration of the judiciary.
However, after Justice Chaudhry’s restoration, he became a critic of the judiciary because of excessive suo motu cases which led to pendency of routine cases.
Justice Minallah was appointed IHC judge in June 2014 and is considered as one of the finest judges of the superior judiciary.
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has ruled that the recent terrorism convictions by the military courts in the province were wrongful and were based on ill-will and not evidence.
In its 173-page detailed judgment on the recently-accepted 75 petitions of military court convicts, a bench consisting of Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Lal Jan Khattak ruled that while exercising their power of judicial review in light of the judgments of the apex court, it accepted all petitions, set aside the impugned convictions and sentences, being based on malice in law and facts, and directed respondents, including federal and provincial governments, to free all convicts and internees if they’re not wanted in any other case(s).
“The way all convicts have been proceeded against right from their arrest in different parts of the country in the custody of the agencies and landing them in the internment centres for months/ years, are not appreciated at all for the purpose of convictions,” it ruled.
Issues detailed judgment on 75 petitions, rejects ‘confessional statements’ of terror convicts
After the end of three days marathon hearing on Oct 18, the court had accepted the petitions filed mostly by close relatives of the military court convicts majority of whom were sentenced to death on account of different acts of terrorism.
Issuing the detailed judgment, the bench rejected confessional statements of all convicts by elaborately discussing the flaws in them.
It also discussed whether the right to fair trial under Article 10-A of the Constitution was extended to the convicts.
The bench observed that the entire judicial confessional statements recorded in Urdu were ‘in one and the same handwriting and in one specific tone/style’.
“It is admitted at the bar that for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa there were in all three Field General Court Martial courts and each and every document on file would show that all the three courts were functioning on one and the same pattern not even a single accused has deviated differently to the questions put on him,” it pointed out.
The bench said the questions put to all accused were one and the same with exactly the same answers in all cases and even for the purpose of engaging private counsel, the same format would reflect there were planned proceedings in all the said three courts.
“It is observed from the record, so produced that they have erased each and every date, the names of the prosecution’s witnesses, their designations, and many other things.
“The perusal of entire record in each and every case would show that none of the convict was ever, by name mentioned or nominated in any of the report, so formulated or registered by the prosecution. In majority of the cases there is no FIR or any authentic report of the Pata/ Fata authorities in this respect,” it said.
The court ruled that even in the secret reports of the prosecution, army and intelligence agencies, no one had been named till the time, someone was arrested and he was shifted to the internment centre, where each and every one who had been arrested from anywhere in the down country was framed in a particular charge.
It added that after years of confinement, the arrested man was abruptly produced before the authorities for recording of confessional statements and that too in the same tone and language and then before the Field General Court Martial.
Pointing out flaws in the prosecution cases, the bench ruled that the proceedings after the arrest of each and every convict were exactly the same to a question where one of the convict had said ‘No’ or ‘Yes’ the same was up to the last convict.
“No one has deviated from the principle stand of the prosecution where under they are required to produce the evidence, recorded the confessional statement, except the grievance of private counsel nominated by the prosecution, etc. and finally the plead guilty statement.”
The bench ruled there was no witness to the occurrence or for the presence of the convicts, even the injured were never produced in any of the case reflecting that all the proceedings conducted by three such courts established, had a clear mindset.
“All cases, in view of the above facts and figures are cases of no evidence, if the alleged confessional statements are subtracted, pulled out of the entire proceedings. The alleged confessional statement with no independent advice after months/ years of confinement with military and internment centres is a manufactured story obtained and subscribed one, totally reflecting the intention to fill in the blanks, by way of untraced cases.”
The bench ruled in all those cases, the plea of the convicts was that confessional statements were recorded with unexplained delay and was a result of torture.
“We have before us the confessional statements of almost all the convicts and we appreciate with naked eye that all of them are recorded in one and the same handwriting. All these statements have thumb impressed by the accused/ convicts with no mention of identity card number, etc.”
The court ruled that these confessional statements were recorded after much delay from the date of arrest, confined in internment centre, when they were having no facility to meet their relatives even the parents and close blood relations.
QUETTA: The newly elected president of the National Party, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, has said that the country needs major changes in economic, foreign and educational policies to tackle the ongoing political and economic crises.
Speaking at the first central committee meeting of the party, he said that the country’s leadership has not learnt lessons from their past mistakes which forced them to repeat similar errors, causing the downward spiral the nation finds itself in.
Former president of the party, Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, newly elected Secretary General Mir Jan Muhammad Buledi and other office bearers were also present in the meeting. The central committee took important decisions for reorganising the party.
Dr Baloch, who is also a former chief minister of Balochistan, while referring to the prevailing situation in the country said that the country was facing an anarchy-like situation, which was worsening with the government’s flawed policies.
“The country is facing economic crisis, chaos, extremism and intolerance due to the government adopting negative and anti-people policies,” he said, adding that the entire country was in the grip of terrorism and extremism but the leadership was not changing their policies.
Dr Baloch alleged that Islamabad was trying to rollback the 18th Amendment and wanted to deprive the provinces from their legitimate and constitutional rights. He warned that any such attempt would be resisted.
He said the National Party believed in the supremacy of democracy — and democratic institutions — and would continue its struggle for the supremacy of the Constitution. “Making Pakistan a welfare state is our desire and we will continue to work for that goal,” Dr Malik said.
He said the successful national congress of the party upset some quarters and they had launched a propaganda campaign against the party and its leadership. They were trying to find out “Baynami” property to initiate an investigation against Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo and him. “We are ready to go to jail but we will not bow down or compromise on the party’s agenda, which is to fight for the rights of the people of Balochistan,” he announced.
While referring to party affairs, Dr Baloch said that there was a need to prepare integrated policies to reorganise the party. He urged party workers to maintain discipline and cooperate with each other.
“Only a strong and organised party could work for the welfare of the people,” Dr Malik added.
GILGIT: The 71st Independence Day of Gilgit-Baltistan celebrated on Thursday across the region with traditional zeal and fervour.
Different events were held in various parts of the region to mark the day. The government had announced official holiday in the region on the occasion.
Rallies taken out and functions were organised by various political parties, educational institutions and civil society organisations in 10 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan on the occasion.
National flags, banners and pictures of the heroes of independence war were displayed on buildings and roads to pay homage to them.
The flag hosting ceremony was held at Yadgar-i-Shuhada in Chinarbagh Gilgit. Governor Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon, Chief minister Hafeezur Rehman, Commander FC NA Maj Gen Ehsan Mehmood Khan along with war veterans and civil and military officials attended the ceremony.
The officials laid floral wreath at Yadgar-i-Shuhada and offered Fateha for the martyrs. A contingent of police presented guard of honour on the occasion.
The people of Gilgit Baltistan had won liberation from Dogra rule in 1947 with help of Gilgit Scouts.
Speakers at various functions said seven decades had passed after the liberation but the people of the region were yet to be accepted as equal citizens of the country.
The war veterans from all 10 districts of the region, ministers, legislators, students, families of the martyrs, folk singers, musicians and officials of army, GB Scouts, Pakistan Rangers, Frontier Crops and police attended the main function.
The local singers performed and students wearing traditional dresses danced to the tune of traditional music and national anthems.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon said that they should start self-accountability and play their role for a strong Pakistan. He demanded of the international community to play to stop Indian atrocities in Kashmir.
Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman said that owing to violation of United Nations resolution by India, the constitutional status of the region was still unsettled. He said that people of the region enjoyed complete independence.
Speaking on the occasion, Maj Gen Ehsan Mehmood Khan said that Gilgit-Baltistan was a part of Pakistan and would remain its part. He said that internal and external enemies were hatching conspiracies against Pakistan. He said that such conspiracies would be foiled.
ISLAMABAD: The government of Punjab has rejected the proposal of property tycoon Malik Riaz for the construction of Dadocha Dam as the Bahria Town-led joint venture (JV) proposed over Rs26 billion for acquisition of land against Rs2.8 billion worked out by the government.
Additional Advocate General (AAG) Punjab Qasim Nawaz Chuhan informed a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar that the proposal regarding the future water reservoir for Rawalpindi was not acceptable for the government and the provincial authorities would execute the project on their own.
CJP Nisar showed his displeasure over the ‘negative’ response and said the Malik Riaz-led JV were constructing the dam for free.
Bahria Town-led joint venture seeks Rs26bn for acquisition of land against Rs2.8bn worked out by govt, SC informed
“It is not free sir, they are charging Rs26.7 billion as land acquisition cost,” replied Mr Chuhan.
Justice Nisar remarked: “Visibly Punjab government could not complete the dam despite lapse of years.”
He added: “Malik Riaz offered construction of dam on a build, operate and transfer basis and the Punjab government took time to consider the proposal. Flimsy reasons are given [for not availing the offer] which shows the government does not want to complete the dam.”
Justice Nisar also highlighted the importance of water reservoirs owing to existing water scarcity which would aggravate in future.
When the court asked how much time the provincial government would take to complete the project, the AAG said two years.
The CJP directed the government to submit a report on the construction of the dam along with the probable date of its completion by Monday.
The AAG requested the court to expunge the word ‘flimsy’ from the order sheet.
But Justice Nisar dictated: “It is my perception that the response of government of Punjab was flimsy, baseless.”
He then asked the fellow judge to suggest a suitable superlative degree and got another word “unsubstantiated” which he incorporated in the order sheet.
When the counsel requested the court to at least let him argue the case, the CJP directed him, “you will not appear before this court especially bench 1 [headed by CJP] from tomorrow”.
Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing without considering the “report of the committee regarding unsolicited proposal” of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Bahria Town and Habib Rafique (DBH) for the construction, operation and maintenance of the dam.
The report noted that instead of the government rate for the land, the DBH JV had estimated the price of the land on the basis of its investment in the housing scheme, DHA Valley, which was lying dormant for over a decade.
The cost of the project was to be borne by the JV and the government of Punjab, it added.
As per the PC-I, the land acquisition was to cost Rs2.8bn whereas the DBH-JV had proposed Rs26.7bn which was to be borne by the provincial government. Moreover, the JV would bear Rs3.5 billion cost for the construction of the dam.
The JV has submitted that that out of the 18,556 kanals proposed for the project, 15,896 kanals was owned by DBH-JV partners and that in view of the joint venture the government should not initiate fresh land acquisition proceedings.
It said: “The JV invested Rs6.5 billion for the purchase of the land now subject to proposed acquisition for the dam. Further, DBH-JV spent about Rs1.7 billion on the development of 1,444 residential plots, 451 commercial plots and other facilities for the purpose of its scheme on the land.”
The committee rejected the proposal of DBH-JV since it did not submit the details of its legal, technical, managerial and financial capability, and also did not indicate the amount it wanted to earn from the water obtained from the dam.
Moreover, JV did not submit proposals related to economic viability of the project which was mandatory under the Public Private Partnership Act 2014.
The feasibility study for the dam was approved in 2013-14 after which the irrigation department hired consultants for the purpose.
In 2002, a pre-feasibility study of the site was carried out by the Small Dams Organisation which remained under consideration for the construction of the dam, the report stated, adding a notification under section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act 1894 was issued on Nov 3, 2010, to secure the land.
The area is part of Kahuta, Kallar Syedan and Rawalpindi tehsils of Rawalpindi district.
KARACHI: Normal life in the metropolis was adversely affected for a second consecutive day on Thursday as business centres and educational institutions remained closed and thin traffic was seen on roads as sit-ins at over a dozen main traffic intersections continued against the Supreme Court’s acquittal of Aasia Bibi.
The protesters, mostly belonging to certain religious parties, continued their sit-ins at main roundabouts. Resultantly, traffic was diverted onto alternative routes. Most of the fuel stations were either closed or did not have fuel. No untoward incident was reported from any area.
“Protesters did not resort to damaging public property on Thursday, therefore, law enforcers preferred the policy of containing them,” said Amir Farooqi, deputy inspector general of East zone, where most of the sit-ins took place.
Twice, the protesters tried to stage a sit-in on the railway tracks in Malir, but the police prevented them from doing so, said the DIG. However, the protest disrupted the schedule of trains.
Public, private schools to stay closed today
Three major sit-ins were held — on the Superhighway near Sohrab Goth, at Numaish Chowrangi on main M.A. Jinnah Road and at Stargate on Sharea Faisal, where a few hundred people continued the sit-in, forcing traffic suspension.
A Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) spokesperson, Ali, said that their party workers continued protest at around 15 spots in the metropolis. He added that the same would continue till “further orders” by their party leadership.
According to the office of the commissioner Karachi, protest sit-ins took place at at least 23 spots across the metropolis on Thursday, attended by a few hundred people.
In South district, sit-ins took place at Natives Jetty bridge/Tower, Teen Talwar, Garden and Boat Basin while protest was also held outside Karachi Press Club.
In East district, sit-ins took place at Numaish Chowrangi, Baloch Colony Expressway, Sohrab Goth, Teen Hatti and Lasbela Chowk while Jamaat-i-Islami held a rally at mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam.
In Central district sit-ins were held at Power House Chowrangi, Sindhi Hotel, Liaquatabad No. 10, Nazimabad No. 2, 4K Chowrangi, Masjid-i-Shuhada New Karachi Industrial Area. Three sit-ins were held in district West at Orangi Town No. 5, Bara Board and Baldia No. 4, four sit-ins in Korangi district took place at Landhi Nos. 6 and 4, Korangi No. 2 1/2 and Korangi No. 5 while a sit-in was held in Malir district at Stargate.
All major shopping centres remained closed owing to fear and uncertainty.
As there were some reports of riots while one shop at Burnes Centre was “ransacked”, most shopkeepers dealing in essential goods chose to close their businesses.
On Wednesday morning, soon after the Supreme Court judgement acquitting Aasia Bibi, protesters belonging to religious parties staged sit-ins at over a dozen major spots on main roads and highways.
As uncertainty gripped the metropolis, traders and shopkeepers also closed their markets, particularly in Saddar and Old City areas.
As protests created disturbances, the Sindh government imposed Section 144, banning rallies and motorcycle pillion riding from Oct 31 to Nov 10.
Furthermore, the Sindh home department also established a control room to maintain a liaison with law enforcers and to monitor the prevailing law and order situation, according to a notification.
Law enforcers patrol a market.—White Star / Online
A senior member of the Karachi Transport Ittehad sounded unsure about the smooth operation of buses on Friday fearing the situation would not remain normal even on the third day. He said that several organisations had called for protests in different parts of the city.
“We have not yet decided or announced officially about Friday’s operation, but have left it to the transporters to decide on their own. But I think as a precautionary measure, a large number of transporters would not go for normal business,” he added.
Schools’ situation in city
Late on Thursday evening the Sindh government announced that all public schools would be closed on Friday, but only in Karachi. The private school associations had already decided not to risk opening schools for yet another day, making it a four-day long weekend for the students and staff of their schools.
The private school associations include the All Pakistan Private Schools Federation, All Sindh Private Schools Association and All Private Schools Management Association Sindh. The convent schools of the Catholic Board and other schools which come under the Church of Pakistan had already decided to keep their schools closed on Friday too.
Meanwhile, in view of the prevalent situation of uncertainty, NED University postponed its tests for its masters and PhD students, which were to take place on Friday. The Institute of Business Administration also postponed the launch of its job portal scheduled for the same day.
Medical institutions
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has declared ‘high alert’ in all its medical institutions and hospitals citing the current law and order situation in the metropolis.
It said on Thursday the mayor had directed all heads of the KMC-run hospitals to make arrangements to deal with emergencies in the respective hospitals ensuring the presence of staff.
Leave of staffers has been cancelled and those who are on leave had been directed to report to their respective department, officials said.
Two killed in ‘straight fire’
Two young men were shot dead while 12 others, including two teenagers, wounded during a “clash” in New Karachi late on Wednesday night, officials said.
The clash erupted between workers of the TLP, who had staged a sit-in in the Bilal Colony police limits against the acquittal of Aasia Bibi, and participants in a Chehlum procession.
A police official said that when the procession arrived there, the TLP workers had already blocked the passage. A clash erupted between them. Initially, they pelted stones and then “aerial firing” was also resorted to, resulting in the killing of two men and injuries to 12 others, said the official. The police also resorted to tear-gas shelling to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
“Two men, Mohammad Shahid, 30, and Mohammad Shahbaz, 26, were brought dead with bullet wounds,” said additional police surgeon of the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Dr Saleem Shaikh.
The hospital official added that two teenagers among 12 persons were also brought with various injuries mostly caused by gunshot. However, among the injured persons, one was “suffocated due to shelling”.
None of them sustained life-threatening wounds, said Dr Shaikh.
The injured were identified as Ahmed Raza, Afsar Ibrahim, Mohammad Zubair, Mohammad Bilal, Yasin, Abdul Wahab, Riasat Ali, Naveed, Akram, Kamran, Ihsan and Mohammad Iqbal.
However, TLP spokesperson Ali told Dawn that both the dead and injured belonged to their party.
The TLP official alleged that their workers were shot dead and injured by police who resorted to “straight firing” on them following the clash.
New Karachi SP Shabbir Baloch told Dawn that a case would be registered about the incident but added that so far no one had approached the police for lodging an FIR.
LAHORE: PML-N senior leader Ahsan Iqbal has reminded the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government of its own stance on the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) Faizabad (Islamabad) sit-in in November 2017, saying what goes around comes around.
“What goes around comes around. How some elements try to take political advantage in every situation,” former interior minister Iqbal tweeted and tagged the statement of Imran Khan in which he had demanded resignation from then prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and interior minister (Iqbal) for mishandling the situation during operation against the TLP to disperse them on the issue of Khatam-i-Nabuwat.
Mr Iqbal had suffered a bullet injury in May last in an apparent assassination attempt in a pre-election rally in Narowal by a TLP activist Abid Hussain who was later handed down a 30-year imprisonment. Hussain said in his statement that he targeted Mr Iqbal over the issue of Khatam-i-Nubawat.
PML-N leader reminds Imran of his stance on TLP’s Faizabad sit-in
Ahsan Iqbal also said: “PML-N believes Khatam-e-Nabuwat is an incontestable article of our faith, however the party supporters are advised to be careful in making comments on social media as a lot of material being spread is based on misinformation, and don’t share any material which is anti-state.”
The TLP workers were also allegedly involved in throwing a shoe and ink at former premier Nawaz Sharif and ex-foreign minister Khwaja Asif during the PML-N government on the issue.
PML-N president and opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif was also critical of the PTI saying [that] the way Imran Khan’s party used the [past] sit-ins to stoke religious sentiments for its political gains the PML-N would not follow suit.
“Sanctity of the state institutions should not be undermined. The country’s survival is dependent on supremacy of the Constitution,” he tweeted.
PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said: “Imran Khan is today reaping what he had sown.”
Khwaja Asif also held Imran Khan responsible for the current situation in the country. “Imran Khan had sown the seeds of hatred, discord and violence. Today the whole nation is reaping its fruit. We do not know how many generations will have to pay the price for this,” he said.
WASHINGTON: Pakistan has started the process for the appointment of a new ambassador in Washington, the second in less than six months, diplomatic sources told Dawn.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters in Islamabad last week that the government was sending a new envoy to Washington to replace Ali Jahangir Siddiqui, who was appointed by the previous government. The proposed replacement, Dr Asad Majeed Khan, is a career diplomat currently serving as ambassador to Japan.
The embassy received Dr Khan’s agrément days after the announcement and on Friday forwarded it to the US State Department.
Although the department usually takes more than a month to approve an agrément, Mr Siddiqui’s papers were approved within weeks.
Mr Siddiqui also got his accreditation in a record time. He arrived in Washington on May 28 and presented his credentials to President Donald Trump on June 22.
Dr Khan, who would be Pakistan’s 29th Ambassador to the United States, is not new to Washington. He served as Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires ad interim to the United States from May 2013 to January 2014 and as Deputy Chief of Mission from March 2012 to September 2015.
Welcoming his nomination, a former Pakistani ambassador, Senator Sherry Rehman, said she “strongly cheered” this development. “He held the job for six months after I had resigned and even while I was serving, (he was) a stellar, upright and smart diplomat, able to move with the times and challenges,” she tweeted.
Yet, the appointment will be a major challenge for Dr Khan, as much has changed since he last served here. Pakistan is no longer on the US list of close allies. The Trump administration has suspended security assistance to Pakistan after blaming it for allowing cross-border militant attacks into Afghanistan.
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday granted pre-arrest interim bail to opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz and restrained the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting him.
Hamza appeared before a two-judge bench along with his counsel Azam Nazir Tarar to plead bail petitions in three inquiries being conducted by the NAB.
The counsel argued that the bureau summoned a person in one case but made arrest in another case as it did the same with opposition leader in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, also father of the petitioner.
He said the NAB initiated three inquiries against the petitioner including Punjab Saaf Pani Company, Ramzan Sugar Mills and assets beyond means. He also questioned the jurisdiction of the anti-graft watchdog to probe the matters.
However, he said, the petitioner had been appearing before the NAB investigation teams and providing them with all the required information and documents.
Advocate Tarar told the bench that the petitioner was due to appear before the NAB on Friday (today) and there was a possibility that the interrogators might arrest him. Therefore, he asked the bench to grant interim bail to the petitioner and restrain the NAB from arresting him.
After hearing the arguments, the bench comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Masud Abid Naqvi granted pre-arrest interim bail to Hamza Shahbaz till Nov 13 and restrained the NAB from arresting him. The bench also directed the petitioner to furnish two surety bonds of Rs1 million each. The NAB had also issued summons to Hamza’s brother Salman Shahbaz in inquiries into Ramzan Sugar Mills and assets beyond means. However, he is abroad nowadays.
KARACHI: A 15-year-old domestic servant was tortured and strangled to death in a bungalow in Clifton area, police and hospital officials said on Thursday.
Initially, the teenager’s death had been treated as “suicide” and doctors at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) had also declared it as a case of “hanging”, but re-examination of the body by a medical board on the request of police revealed that he was killed, said additional police surgeon Dr Qarar Ahmed Abbasi.
Clifton SHO Javed Abro said Mohammad Imran, 15, was found dead in a bungalow owned by a factory owner in Block-8 of Clifton at midnight between Oct 30 and 31.
The body was shifted to the JPMC at around 4.30am where doctors termed his death “caused by hanging”.
However, when on Wednesday morning the investigators visited the bungalow, they were informed that the boy had hanged himself by attaching his belt with a pipe in the wall, which was four feet high, said the area SHO. It raised doubts among the officers.
In the meantime, the house owner was trying to shift the body to Peshawar through a plane as the victim originally hailed from Dir. The police rushed to the airport, approached the cargo office and brought the body to cold storage for re-examination to ascertain the exact cause of death.
On the police request, a medical board, comprising Prof Farhat Mirza, police surgeon Dr Aijaz Khokhar and additional police surgeon Dr Qarar Ahmed Abbasi on Thursday morning re-examined the body and declared the case as that of murder.
“There were torture marks on his body,” said Dr Abbasi, adding that the teenager was strangled to death.
The house owner denied his involvement in the murder, the police officer said.
Later, the police handed over the body to his cousin who took it away to his native place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for burial. “We are waiting for relatives to initiate further probe to ascertain the identity and motive of the killer(s),” said SHO Abro.
The Supreme Court on Friday mulled proceeding against Minister for Science and Technology Senator Azam Swati under Article 62 during hearing of a suo motu case regarding the 'unlawful' transfer of the Islamabad police chief Jan Mohammad, and ordered the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the matter.
The CJP had taken suo motu notice of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Jan Mohammad's transfer on Monday in the wake of conflicting reports about the reasons behind his transfer.
Local media had reported that the IGP was transferred because he did not attend minister Azam Swati's phone calls, but Swati has denied this.
The government also rejected the reports, saying that the decision had been taken because the IGP's performance was not satisfactory.
Justice Nisar had earlier suspended the IGP's transfer after it emerged that he had been removed from the post following verbal directives from Prime Minister Imran Khan.
As the CJP resumed hearing of the case today, Swati's lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar submitted an apology on behalf of the minister in court.
The court, however, rejected the apology and said that it would form a JIT to probe the transfer of the Islamabad police chief.
The JIT can include officials from the National Accountability Bureau and the Federal Investigation Agency, he said.
"We will also examine Article 62(1)(f) in this matter," the CJP said. "We have great respect for the Parliament. Power should not be misused this way."
He remarked that Swati should resign from his post immediately.
The IGP's transfer took place after Swati's son had registered a case against slum dwellers allegedly trespassing on the family's land. Five people, including two women, were arrested for trespassing and beating Swati's guards.
However, they were released on Tuesday after a day's detention, as police sources said a settlement had been reached between the minister and the detained family.
The court today said it did not recognise resolutions carried out by jirgas.
The affected family appeared in court. One family member told the bench: "I am a poor man, but I forgave Azam Swati for Pakistan's sake."
"You can forgive him if that suits you, but we will investigate the matter," the CJP told him. "Swati should own up to his wrongdoing."
"Let's leave the JIT aside for now," the CJP said. "Let's proceed under Article 62 instead," he said, as the minister had misused his influence. "We need pious people to run this country," the CJP commented.
The court subsequently issued a notice to Swati.
IGP Jan Mohammad also appeared in court today. The CJP asked him why he hadn't filed a complaint, to which the police chief replied that it was because he was abroad.
The CJP asked whether another complaint could be filed in the matter, and directed that, if possible, it should be filed today.
The IGP appeared reluctant to resume charge of his duties in Islamabad, after which the court also removed its earlier suspension of the directives for the IGP's transfer.
The court eventually decided to form a JIT to probe the matter of the IGP's transfer. The JIT will comprise three officials ─ one each from the FIA, NAB and the Intelligence Bureau.
LAHORE: India is likely to fulfill its commitment of getting its two hydropower projects -- 1,000MW Pakal Dul and 48MW Lower Kalnal — inspected by Pakistani experts next month after the local (Punchayat) elections in the held Kashmir end by Dec 15.
On the other hand, Islamabad is also set to send a reminder in-writing to New Delhi in a day or two, urging it again to fulfill its promise of allowing Pakistani experts inspect the projects at Chenab and Jhelum basins, according to a senior official of the ministry of water resources.
“We approached India’s Commissioner for Indus Waters Pradeep Kumar Saxena by phone a couple days ago and urged him to give us schedule for our tour to the Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnal projects. He replied that it is not possible during first or second week of December due to local Punchayat elections in the state,” Pakistan’s Commissioner for Indus Waters Mehar Ali Shah told Dawn on Thursday.
“Following conversation with my counterpart, I am of the view that they (India) will surely get the projects at Chenab basin inspected by us after the elections. I am still very optimistic since India is legally and morally bound to do this under the treaty. So they cannot ignore this,” the commissioner maintained. About Kishanganga inspection, the official said it might be possible during next year.
Under the Indus water Treaty, both Pakistan and India are bound to inspect projects, share data related to water flow, storage and releases, floods.
The treaty also empowers the two countries to mutually resolve their water related issues on their own or through arbitration and appointment of independent experts and other relevant forums.
India had earlier agreed during 115th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission held between the two countries from Aug 29 to 30 in Lahore to allow Pakistani experts inspect the projects at Chenab basin by end of September last. It also agreed to schedule visit of Pakistani experts for inspection of the Kishanganga project at a later stage.
Similarly Islamabad had agreed to allow New Delhi to carry out inspection of the Kotri barrage over the Indus after September. As a result, India agreed to a scheduled programme (Oct 7 to 11) for the visit of Pakistani experts. But, later, it postponed the same on the pretext of some local bodies elections.
Pakistan had also asked India during last month’s first week to immediately share the data showing inflow and discharge of water at the Kishanganga dam and water flows in different rivers. However, India is yet to do so.
According to the minutes of the 115th meeting of the PCIW held between the two countries in Lahore, Pakistan had also asked India to share information about potential projects at the planning stage for examination.
Prime Minister Imran Khan met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday while on his first official visit to China, Radio Pakistan reported.
In the meeting between Khan and Jinping, both leaders will reinforce their shared commitment to taking their all-weather and time-tested Pak-China friendship to new heights,and will further strengthen the existing multifaceted equation of the two countries for theirs and the regions's benefit.
The entire gamut of Pak-China strategic relations will be discussed during the meeting.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is accompanying the PM, met his counterpart, Wang Yi.
The PM's four-day visit is aimed at reviewing the entire range of bilateral relations and to participate in the First China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Both sides are also expected to sign several agreements and MoUs of cooperation in diverse fields.
He is also scheduled to meet Premier Li Keqiang, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Jin Liqun, and Minister for International Department of the Central Committee Communist Party of China Song Tao.
On Thursday, Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bukhtiar said that Pakistan would not seek rescheduling of about $2.7 billioin in Chinese loans due for repayment this year but expected a good economic package, including expansion of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to another level.
The prime minister separately told Chinese journalists that he hoped the scale of Chinese partnership would help Pakistan bridge its current account deficit and build foreign exchange reserves. He said his government had been working on two paths, including an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme and support from friendly countries.
He noted the assistance agreed to by Saudi Arabia, and said that China's support would allow Pakistan to avoid a large IMF loan that may attract tough conditionalities which ultimately lead to inflation, squeeze the economy and put additional burden on the people.
The premier is accompanied by Bakhtiar, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Industry and Investment Abdul Razzak Dawood, and Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Mir Kamal on his trip to China.
PM Khan was received at Beijing Airport by China’s Minister for Transport Li Xiaopeng, Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing, and other senior government officials. Pakistan's Ambassador to China Masood Khalid was also present.
The premier is expected to visit Shanghai to participate in the First China International Import Expo in Shanghai, where Pakistan is exhibiting a wide range of export products.
He will be a keynote speaker at the inauguration of the Expo, and will hold meetings with other world leaders on the sidelines of the event.
