ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the country may be facing challenges, but there is no crisis in the country.

“All things are manageable. There is a lot of potential for improvement in this country. We inherited an economy with the highest-ever $19 billion current account deficit,” Mr Khan said in a brief interaction with journalists in the conference room of PM Secretariat just before he went into the concluding session of a two-day envoys’ conference held here.

Take a look: These 19 developments shaped Pakistan's economic future in 2018

“We have survived the last four months,” he said and pointed out that things were not good when he came to power, giving examples such as losses in the Utility Stores, PIA, railways, etc. “Wherever I was given a briefing in my early days, I was told about nothing but losses, but now I am seeing constant improvement,” he claimed.

Claims situation is improving, promises foreign investment, export promotion and import substitution at the same time

In response to a question about the difficult conditionalities being demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the ongoing talks, the prime minister said that “we can see political factors this time” in the talks since the previous government had been dealt in a different way as evidenced by the many waivers granted during the implementation of the previous programme. “The agreement is delayed because of some conditionalities being demanded by the Fund that our government is not in a hurry to go for.”

However, he expressed the confidence that the IMF would come around to the conditions proposed by his government. “The IMF stance will change; they will come up with reasonable conditions because time is in our favour,” he said and pointed out that his government had managed to shore up reserves in the meantime, citing recent agreements with Saudi Arabia and China.

He said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed with Saudi Arabia to attract large-scale investment in the oil and gas sector, without giving details.

“I am seeing interest by investors for making huge investments in Pakistan,” he continued, pointing to the country’s youthful population and geo-strategic position. “This is our strength and will help us in attracting investments.”

Mr Khan said labour in China had become expensive, forcing them to relocate industry outside their borders. He cited the examples of Vietnam where the Chinese factories are relocating.

“On the same pattern, we are expecting similar relocation of industries in the special economic zones of Pakistan. We have entered into a new arrangement with China which will help in transfer of technology to Pakistan”, whereas the earlier focus of Pakistan’s engagement with China was on road and energy projects, he said.

In the agriculture sector, the prime minister said, Pakistan had also signed an MoU with China. “Agriculture is the only sector where we can show immediate growth in terms of promoting exports” to China, he said, adding that the focus of the incumbent government was to promote agriculture in the country, with a focus on technology from China to enhance productivity of small farmers. “This will help in fighting poverty in rural areas of the country,” he said.

“We are coming up with other special measures to facilitate investments in the country. The focus of our policies is ease of doing business. We have set up a special desk in the Prime Minister Secretariat,” he told the reporters.

PM Khan also promised further “packages for exporters” and “an unusual scheme of how to create wealth in the country” and said his government would change the culture in Pakistan where investors would be given respect.

On the money laundering issue, the premier said that a comprehensive crackdown had been initiated, adding that the voices being raised from some quarters against it were the outcome of this crackdown. He said the measures suggested by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to tackle money laundering were in favour of Pakistan. “We are ready to implement all those measures. All the measures are in our support.”

Mr Khan said his government would soon launch a poverty alleviation programme. “The impact will be visible on poverty.” He said that poverty alleviation measures taken by the previous governments were not applied to the poor people or small consumers, claiming that the track record of his government in this area would be different. “At the end of four months, things have changed and stability will come now.”

Ties with neighbouring countries

The prime minister said he had improved the relationship with neighbouring countries. However, he said due to election-re­lated pressures, India was reluctant to accept his talks offer to build a better relationship.

After this brief interaction, the prime minister left the room to deliver his address at the concluding session of the envoys’ conference taking place in the same building and Finance Minister Asad Umar and Adviser to the PM on Commerce and Industry Abdul Razak Dawood were left in the room.

Mr Umar continued the discussion, pointing to the current account deficit that he said stood at around $2 billion per month. “The priority for us is to reduce this deficit. The reduction in deficit is our primary target and growth at the moment becomes secondary,” he added.

All the measures taken earlier were not related to the IMF, he said, referring to the money bill of September, interest rate hikes and exchange rate depreciation.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2018

ISLAMABAD: The European Union (EU) on Friday signed financing agreements with the Finance Ministry, agreeing to give Pakistan a grant of €100 million and an additional €15 million will be committed by the end of the year.

According to a press release, €50 million will be spent on supporting education in Pakistan. The five-year Development through Enhanced Education Program is aimed at contributing to universal access to quality education in Sindh, enabling young people to progress and engage in productive employment or higher and vocational education.

Another €50 million will be spent on economic development in rural Balochistan and Sindh.

The additional €15 million will be spent on supporting parliamentary democracy in Pakistan, especially in the frame of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.

Speaking during the signing ceremony EU Ambassador Jean-François Cautain said: “I would like to thank all stakeholders, especially the Economic Affairs Division, who have been providing support for the preparation of this new funding. I am sure that this new grant coming from the EU’s taxpayers will positively contribute to the betterment of many citizens of Pakistan by improving access to quality education, developing rural economy and strengthening parliamentary democracy.”

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2018

LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) to complete its investigation against Khokhar brothers and also register a case against all those officials of the revenue department involved in allowing consolidation of their land.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing a suo motu case against illegal occupation of the properties of individuals by PML-N MNA Afzal Khokhar, MPA Saiful Malook Khokhar and Shafi Khokhar.

The court also got arrested consolidation collector Naveed for allowing consolidation of Khokhars’ land.

ACE Director General Hussain Asghar told the bench that Shafi and Saif were summoned but they did join the investigation. He also complained that the town municipal administration was not extending its cooperation to the ACE.

At this, the chief justice summoned Mayor retired Col Mubashar Ahmad and adjourned hearing after Friday prayers.

The mayor made his appearance during the second phase of hearing and told the bench that all the required record had been given to the ACE soon after he received information of the proceedings. He assured the court of full cooperation in the investigation being held by the ACE.

Asks DC to review wedding functions’ timings

Meanwhile, the Lahore Development Authority’s legal adviser told the bench that the team which went to Khokhar Palace in Johar Town was not allowed to inspect the property. He said the four approved maps possessed by the Khokhars did not belong to the land where they had built their palace.

At this, ACE DG Asghar pointed out that the maps of the palace’s land were not approved as Khokhars did not have property rights.

The bench directed the ACE head to complete the investigation within a week and also allowed him to take legal action against the Khokhars, if required.

During the course of hearing, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar directed the mayor to take steps to control traffic mess in the city especially during timings of wedding functions. The top judge suggested him to review the 10pm time limit for the marriage functions.

However, Mubashar Ahmad complained that he was a powerless mayor as he could not even order construction of roads or installation of streetlights in the city.

“I enjoy my office whenever I go abroad but here I have no power,” the mayor added. He said the deputy commissioner had the power to change the timings of marriage halls.

At this, the CJP asked DC Saleh Saeed, also present in the court, to take notice of the people’s sufferings and review, if she could, the wedding functions’ timings.

The chief justice observed that he witnessed the commuters being stuck on roads during peak hours in the city.

The bench also asked the mayor to move a separate application if he had any complaint of having no authority. The bench remarked that the local government system should be strengthened.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2018

PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court bench on Friday stopped the Bannu Medical Teaching Institute from continuing recruitment process of 120 male nurses against the posts for which earlier other persons had already been selected by the recommendation committee.

The bench of Justice Ijaz Anwar issued notices to the respondents including provincial chief secretary, Board of Governors of the MTI and the hospital director and others, directing them to explain their position over a writ petition jointly filed by around 30 of the candidates, who were earlier selected for the said posts but instead of appointing them a fresh advertisement was issued.

Next date for hearing the petition will be fixed later, but the court directed that till further orders the process of selecting fresh candidates against the said posts should be stopped.

Issues notices to chief secretary, BoG and hospital director

Advocate Arif Jan appeared for the petitioners including Mohammad Adnan and others and said that the Bannu MTI included three institutes namely Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital, the district headquarters hospital and Bannu Medical College.

He stated that in February 2018, an advertisement was published in newspapers for the recruitment of 120 male nurses in BPS-16. He added that the petitioners and several other candidates applied for the posts in the light of the advertisement.

Mr Jan said that after written tests and interviews, the petitioners and others were recommended by the recruitment committee for appointments against those posts in July 2018. In the meantime, he stated that the MTI’s Board of Governors was dissolved and a new board was constituted.

The counsel contended that instead of appointing the petitioners, the BoG published a fresh advertisement on Dec 20, 2018, seeking applications for the said 120 posts.

The counsel contended that no reason was assigned for publishing the fresh advertisement. He pointed out that the previous and fresh advertisements were one and the same and there was no logic behind issuing the fresh one. He contended that there was no justification to appoint the petitioners, who had already cleared the test and interview.

NOTICES: A bench of Justice Ijaz Anwar Khan issued notices to the deputy commissioners of Mardan and Kohat, asking them to give their viewpoint in five writ petitions challenging continuation in detention of some members of Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) under section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO).

The bench fixed December 31 for next hearing of the petitions filed by the detainees named Sarbiland Khan and Sikander Khan of Mardan and Abid Hussain, Mamoor Khattak and Badshah Hayat of Kohat.

Advocates Gul Hussain Khilji, Amin Khattak Lachi, Shabir Hussain Gigyani and Asfandyar Khan represented the petitioners and contended that last month several members of TLP were taken into custody on the order of the respective deputy commissioners for a period of 30 days under section 3 of the MPO.

They stated that the said detentions orders expired on December 22, but the respective deputy commissioners extended their detention period for 30 more days.

Gul Hussain contended that in Mardan, the police station concerned had also registered an FIR against the members of TLP for staging a protest. He stated when an FIR had already been registered then how the detainees could be arrested under the MPO as well.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2018

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday defended the apex court's judicial activism, explaining that the judiciary is the "guardian of the fundamental rights of the people of Pakistan" by the law and thus "duty bound to ensure that the rights of the people are protected".

The chief justice, during his speech at a graduation ceremony for medical students at the Islamia University Bahawalpur's historic Abbasia campus, discussed the areas the top court paid special attention to during his time in the office, which is set to conclude in January 2019.

Referring to his suo motu notices regarding sky high fees charged by private medical colleges and lack of facilities at several hospitals, the chief justice said that he was trying to "end the exploitation [of people]".

He said that it was his "judicial duty" to lay down a criterion for medical colleges to ensure that they don't exploit students and parents.

"Did I exceed my jurisdiction by laying down criteria [which ensures] that tertiary hospitals have enough number of doctors, staff and drugs, in order to discharge the obligation of the guardianship [imposed upon the judiciary]?" he asked.

The chief justice narrated his observations during his visits to hospitals across all four provinces and regretted that medical facilities in the country were not satisfactory.

Furthermore, Justice Nisar talked about female doctors who abandon practice after getting their degrees. "If you sit at home and become housewives [after receiving medical education], you violate the oath that you swore today, which is to help the miserable."

He said that the Constitution had ended the quota system where women were allotted lesser seats than men, so that admissions are given on the basis of merit. It is detrimental to the society, he said, when female doctors abandon their profession.

The chief justice urged female students to convince their families to facilitate them so they can serve as doctors and repay the resources provided to them by the state.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has recommended to the Supreme Court to close the Asghar Khan verdict implementation case citing its inability to gather evidence required to launch criminal proceedings, it emerged on Saturday.

The FIA, in its report submitted in the apex court, states that the case is more than 25 years old and therefore relevant banks do not have the details of deposits made at the time.

The report, a copy of which is available with Dawn, further says that the statements of important witnesses in the case contradict each other, whereas the accused politicians have denied receiving any payments.

Subsequently, the agency said that it does not have enough evidence to restart criminal proceedings, suggesting that the case's file be closed.

The apex court is scheduled to hear the case on Monday.

Asghar Khan case

In 1996, Air Marshal Khan had filed a human rights petition in the SC of Pakistan, accusing the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of doling out money to a group of politicians in the 1990s.

The case was initiated by the air marshal after Benazir Bhutto's interior minister, retired general Naseerullah Babar, had disclosed in the National Assembly in 1994 how the ISI had disbursed funds to purchase the loyalty of politicians and public figures so as to manipulate the 1990 elections, form the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI), and bring about the defeat of the PPP.

16 years after the petition was filed, the SC in its judgement — penned by then chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry — ruled that the 1990 general elections had been polluted by dishing out Rs140 million to a particular group of politicians only to deprive the people of being represented by their chosen representatives.

The court had, however, thrown the ball back to the then PPP government by directing it to take necessary action under the Constitution and law against former army chief Beg and former director general of ISI Durrani for their role in facilitating the group of politicians and political parties to ensure their success against their rivals in the 1990 elections.

In May 2017, PTI had announced its decision to file in the Supreme Court a petition seeking implementation of the orders of the already decided case.

Zain Malik, Abdul Ghani Majeed and Anwar Majeed, three of the several suspects in the fake bank accounts case, on Saturday rejected the findings of a report compiled by the joint investigation team (JIT) probing the scam.

The JIT report had claimed that Zain, the son-in-law of property tycoon Malik Riaz, maintained Bahria Town accounts through which about Rs10.2bn were allegedly laundered.

Zain, in his response in the Supreme Court today, rejected the JIT's claim, saying that its report had "misread and misconceived" the documents provided by Bahria Town.

According to Zain's response, Bahria Town had entered into a joint venture with Zardari Group, that owned a plot measuring 6,813.74 square yards in Karachi's "prime commercial area" and was "ideal for development as a building project which would include hotels, shops, offices and residential flats".

The reply refutes claims that Bahria Town had awarded Rs1.2bn to the Zardari Group as kickbacks, adding that "the manner and mode in which Zardari Group utilised the sum of Rs1.22bn has neither any nexus nor Bahria Town is responsible for the same".

Furthermore, JIT's allegation that Bahria Icon Tower was built on controversial land and encroached upon a large portion of the Bin Qasim Park were also rejected as "based on surmises, conjectures and assumptions".

Omni Group's Anwar and Abdul Ghani, meanwhile, said that the JIT report did not include records that it was given, and neither did it mention the names of the 924 people whose statements were recorded.

The response said that the JIT had no "basis" to recommend that the case be sent to the National Accountability Bureau for investigation.

LAHORE: Federal Water Resources Minister Faisal Vawda says there is no plan to impose governor’s rule in Sindh and sees MQM founder Altaf Husain’s hand in the murder of Ali Raza Abidi, while Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid wants the Sindh chief minister to resign.

“There’s neither any talk (in federal government circles) of imposing governor’s rule on Sindh nor dissolving the provincial assembly. What apparent is unrest in the PPP. Some (PPP) people are contacting us for making a forward bloc but we don’t want to become part of the game,” he said at a press conference with Mr Rashid on Friday.

He asserted that Mr Husain was directly involved in the murder of Mr Abidi and claimed that an internal fight among the criminals in Karachi was going on to take the control of the port city.

The minister said he hoped that the chief justice also take notice of the murder that an attempt was made to impose some criminals having murder cases against them, on the city after a “dry-cleaning process”.

He said the most remnants of the MQM supremo had been eliminated and work was on to flush out the remaining ones.

About Indus Water Commissioner Mehr Ali Shah alleged dubious role in talks with his Indian counterpart, Mr Vawda said he was taking briefings from various stakeholders on the issue and would take a decision on the future of the slot without accepting pressure from any side.

He, however, alleged that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was the real friend of his Indian counterpart Modi and defamed the judiciary and armed forces to appease his friend across the borders.

Mr Rashid demanded that Sinch Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah resign after he was blamed for having facilitated money laundering by the PPP leaders.

Asked if he would also support action against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in corruption cases, the railways minister said he was in favour of accountability of all the corrupt people and added that he would rather approve 14 years imprisonment for those elements in the PTI government found guilty of corruption against seven years jail term given to the former prime opposition minister.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2018

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission was dissolved after the provincial assembly repealed the Ehtesab Commission Act, 2014, on Friday amid desk-thumping by MPAs of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

The bill says that on coming into force of this Act, all inquiries, investigations and references initiated by the defunct commission shall be transferred to Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE). Regular employees of the body and Ehtesab courts shall be given an option to continue their services as surplus employees or accept the golden handshake, offered by the government as per its policy.

The services of contractual employees of the commission shall stand terminated while assets and liabilities of the now defunct body shall be deemed to be assets and liabilities of the government.

Contractual employees of body stand terminated as PA repeals law

Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal MPA Malik Zafar Azam walked out of the house when his amendments were not accommodated in the bill while Awami National Party MPA Salahuddin withdrew his amendments after the treasury benches opposed the same.

The bill was passed with majority.

The Ehtesab commission established in 2014 was a brainchild of PTI chairman Imran Khan, who wanted speedy and even handed accountability of corrupt elements in the province. But the commission failed to convict a single person during the last three years despite spending over Rs800 million of taxpayers’ money.

“Regrettably, PTI was taking credit when the commission was constituted and now the party’s MPAs are thumping desks to celebrate its dissolution,” remarked ANP MPA Sardar Hussain Babak. He said that the ruling party had misused powers by creating accountability commission in the province at the cost taxpayers’ money.

The House passed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Continuation of Laws in Erstwhile Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) Bill, 2018. Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MPAs from Malakand division boycotted the bill, while other parties of the opposition abstained from the legislation.

The bill was introduced in the provincial assembly on December 12 to give legal protection to all laws and regulations, including Action (in Aid of Civil Power) Regulation, 2011, in former Pata, which was merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the wake of 25th Amendment in the Constitution in May last.

MMA MPA Inayatullah Khan, before boycotting the sitting, asked the government to constitute committee to study previous regulations, laws, notifications and other legal documents before the amendment. He asked the government to give time frame in the bill for the continuation of existing regulations and laws promulgated in Malakand during the last few decades.

“If Action (in Aid of Civil Power) Regulation, 2011 is so viable and effective, then why it was not introduced in Peshawar,” argued Mr Khan, adding that the bill did not carry details of laws and regulations. Other opposition members also opposed the bill and urged treasury to provide list of the regulations and laws, which were being continued.

Law Minister Sultan Mohammad Khan attempted to persuade opposition to withdraw its amendments and insisted that the government had no bad intention behind continuation of laws and regulations. He said that omission of Article 247 from the Constitution created vacuum in the area. He said that government had no intention to extend federal and provincial taxes to Malakand.

During question hour, the ruling party was on defensive when ANP lawmaker Sardar Hussain Babak challenged the government to request National Accountability Bureau to probe Kendal Dam project or refer it to the House committee.

He said that cost of the project had increased from Rs817.719 million to Rs2.33 billion. He alleged that he knew people, who allegedly received kickbacks in the project. The federal government-funded project executed in Swabi in 2014.

“The government should accept my challenge and ask NAB to probe this project,” said Mr Babak.

Ministers Sultan Mohammad and Shaukat Ali Yousafzai asked opposition member to go to NAB with all documents. “PTI is against corruption and the MPA should approach NAB instead of challenging the government,” said Mr Yousafzai.

The government’s contention was that cost of the project was increased after detailed design of the dam. In a written reply, the irrigation department said that command area of the dam had increased from 5,000 acres to 13,200 acres after detailed design. The question was admitted for detailed discussion.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Sardar Aurngzeb Nalotha asked the government to arrest culprits involved in the rape and murder of three-year-old girl in Abbottabad and register case under anti-terrorism law. He also appealed to chief justice of Supreme Court to take suo moto notice of the barbaric incident.

The House also admitted two identical adjournment motions regarding Bus Rapid Transit project for detailed discussion.

Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani read order of the governor to prorogue the session.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2018

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has rejected reports of a forward bloc in the Sindh Assembly to succeed his party’s government.

“This is mere wishful thinking like having pipe dreams,” he said while talking to the media after expressing his condolence with Syed Akhlaq Hussain Abidi over the death of his son, former MNA Ali Raza Abidi, at his residence on Friday.

Ali Raza Abidi, belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, was assassinated outside his home recently. The CM was accompanied by Law Adviser Murtaza Wahab and special assistants Rashid Rabbani and Waqar Mehdi.

Replying to a question, the chief minister said that the opposition was very weak in the Sindh Assembly but they were making tall claims.

“The people of rural areas of Sindh totally rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf but they got some seats in Karachi and everyone knows how they had won,” he said, adding that in the recent local government by-elections the people of Karachi had also rejected the PTI.

“They [PTI] do not deserve to be responded to their futile statements,” he said.

He said during the previous tenure of the assembly he was told by someone that a forward bloc was being formed and 18 members were parting ways with the PPP. “I challenged him to get the loyalty of one MPA from PPP changed and I’ll give remaining 17 MPAs,” he said.

“These people are empty minded and they cannot assess the ground realities,” he said.

To another question about rumours of Governor’s rule in Sindh, the chief minister said that there was a very clear direction in the Constitution for imposition of the Governor’s rule.

“The provincial assembly was empowered to call for imposition of the [Governor’s] rule, otherwise it was impossible. We are in majority and have enough strength, experience and capability to run the government and serve the people of Sindh,” he said and urged the media not to listen to the rumour-mongering people.

About placing of his name on the Exit Control List, he said it was a surprising decision for him and “let them [PTI government] be happy with their absurd decisions”.

He added that he was not fond of undertaking foreign visits since in his last tenure as the chief minister he had visited China to attend a meeting on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, went to perform Umrah and visited Karbala. And in this term, he recently went to attend another meeting in Beijing, he added.

“I am very clear that my name has deliberately been included in the JIT; otherwise thee is no reason,” he said, adding PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had already declared the JIT report a pack of lies.

‘Important arrest’ at airport in Abidi murder case

To another question about Abidi’s murder, Mr Shah said that it was a shocking incident and he was not given intelligence reports about such threats.

He said that after the Landhi blast, attacks in Gulistan-i-Jauhar and at Chinese consulate genera,l he had convened a law and order meeting to discuss the overall situation.

“It was our failure that terrorists had managed to reach the consulate and took three innocent lives,” he said, and added that he had given clear instructions to all law enforcement agencies to beef up security in the city.

He said an important arrest relating to the murder of Ali Raza Abidi was made at airport.

He said that a well-concentrated and strong investigation was going on into the incident so he could not disclose more details.

He assured the media that Abidi’s killers would be brought to book very soon.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2018

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader MNA Khwaja Saad Rafique faces another ‘major embezzlement’ investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in railways land lease.

NAB Chairman retired justice Javed Iqbal has authorised an inquiry against Mr Rafique, former railways minister, after the bureau’s investigators reportedly detected his alleged involvement in leasing out ‘precious commercial land’ of railways for ‘financial gains’.

“Commercial land of railways located at Lahore, Kasur and Faisalabad was illegally leased out for 33 years without due diligence. The land also includes precious state land specifically for filling station sites and commercial shops. The lease agreements signed are dubious and terms and conditions are vague,” an official source told Dawn on Friday.

“Railway land is the state land which cannot be leased out in any case but then railways minister Saad Rafique leased it out in violation of rules through companies constituted by Railways such as REDAMCO (Railway Estate Development and Marketing Company Pvt Ltd)) etc,” he said.

The source further said there were certain instances where the land was leased first to some limited company but subsequently the same was illegally transferred in the names of ‘front men’ of Rafique.

The NAB Lahore on Dec 11 arrested Saad Rafique and his brother former Punjab health minister Khawaja Salman Rafique in connection with the Paragon Housing Society scam. Both are in NAB custody on physical remand.

The NAB has also initiated income beyond means probe against the Khwaja brothers. Besides, the bureau is also looking into some contracts of buying locomotives during the tenure of Saad Rafique as railways minister.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2018

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday raided the office of an entertainment company running a cinema in Karachi’s Saddar area, seizing its record and detaining one of its employees while investigating a case related to money laundering through hawala.

Sources said officials from the FIA’s anti-corruption circle raided the company’s office in a building which also housed its cinema and seized its financial records. They also detained the company’s staff member who looked after its key affairs, added the sources.

“The FIA has recently booked and arrested a suspect who was involved in Hawala/Hundi activities,” said a source. “During the course of a probe, names of several people emerged whose businesses benefited from the money laundering. The company has allegedly laundered over Rs100 million through Hundi and was also found to be actively involved in illegal transfer of money over the past few years.”

Later, the spokesman for Mandviwalla Entertainment while talking to a private news channel confirmed the FIA raid. “The company is a law abiding organisation and it is cooperating with the agency,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2018

The Supreme Court on Saturday ordered the formation of a committee to ensure the provision of land or payment of compensation to the affectees of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) City mega housing project.

The directives were given during a suo motu hearing conducted by a two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, at the Lahore registry.

The court ordered that the committee — which comprised the Punjab chief secretary, the provincial housing minister, the officials of National Accountability Burea (NAB), and others — should submit a report within 10 days regarding the resolution of the issue.

"If the LDA City case did not concern widows and orphans, then today all bureaucrats involved and owners of the [development] companies would have been in jail," remarked the chief justice.

He said Paragon City, Alfa Estate, and other [development] companies were acting like "pimps". "I have used a stinging word on purpose so that these people realise [their wrongdoing]," he added.

Explore: Lahore — a city of gardens, now a city of concrete

The counsel representing the mega city project, Advocate Ahsan Bhawan, said the development companies will provide land for LDA City within two to three years. He recommended that the time should be reduced for the provision of land.

At this, the chief justice said if the four companies required to provide land, including Alfa Estate, do not do so within a year, then the contract with them should be cancelled.

Chief Justice Nisar urged that the land should be acquired expediently and be allotted to the affectees. The counsel said that the land acquired so far had been transferred to LDA City's name.

The counsel further informed the court that the companies had sold 9,000 registration files in excess and that 20,000 kanals of land was still needed so it may be allotted to the affectees.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan, the other member of the bench hearing the case, said: "Why doesn't LDA complete the project on its own? It is such a big company. It should complete the project itself."

To this, the counsel for LDA responded by saying that the company "does not have the required funds to do so".

The chief justice remarked: "Trust is a major factor in such matters. With this, trust in LDA will be completely terminated."

Examine: Who pays the price for mega projects in Pakistan?

The counsel said that 19,000 kanals of existing land was "scattered" (in different locations) to which the chief justice immediately responded by saying: "This has been done on purpose. LDA's former employees and the companies were all in connivance. If it were me, I would have personally conducted a trial of these people."

The LDA's counsel further stated that the development companies had given them 'C' grade land which prompted the chief justice to say: "They had their vested interests. You should file a case against these companies."

Advocate Bhawan said that 300 kanals of expensive land had been given to LDA but it has not been transferred yet. He said that if 5,000 kanals more land could be arranged then phase-1 of LDA City could be completed.

Hearing all this, the chief justice grew highly exasperated and asked for the owner of Paragon City. "Where is Nadeem Zia?" he asked in annoyance.

The NAB's investigation officer present in the court informed that Zia had become an absconder in an inquiry pending against him and that red warrants for his arrest would be released soon.

"Do you know where he is hiding?" asked Justice Ahsan to which the NAB officer replied in negative, however, providing assurances that his whereabouts would be ascertained soon by the corruption watchdog.

LDA City project

The LDA launched and developed a number of housing schemes such as Gulberg, Model Town (Extension), Muslim Town, Garden Town, Shadman, Allama Iqbal Town, Sabzazar, Johar Town, Mustafa Town, Jubilee Town, Mohlanwal, Faisal Town and Township (Quaid-i-Azam Town) in the provincial capital during the last 40 to 50 years. The schemes including LDA Avenue-1 and LDA City are in the land acquisition and development phase.

“All the schemes launched and developed by the LDA are facing minor and major issues. And the main issue is non-transfer of land, acquired for these schemes, in the name of LDA. This is either a blunder or corruption on part of senior officials concerned, especially those who joined the LDA as Land Acquisition Collectors (LACs) in different periods and were supposed to complete the entire process right from acquisition to transfer under the law,” an official had earlier told Dawn.

KARACHI: A lawyer on Saturday asked an antiterrorism court conducting trial in the Perween Rahman murder case to grant time to file an appeal against its order before the Sindh High Court.

Ayaz Shamzai alias Swati, Mohammad Amjad Hussain Khan, Ahmed Khan alias Ahmed Ali alias Pappu Kashmiri and Mohammad Imran Swati, Mohammad Raheem Swati have been charged with allegedly killing Ms Rehman, director of the Orangi Pilot Project, on Manghopir Road in March 2013.

On the previous hearing, the judge of ATC-13, who is conducting the trial at the judicial complex inside the Karachi central prison, dismissed an application filed by the lawyer for complainant, Salahuddin Panhwar, under Section 540 (power to summon material witness) of the criminal procedure code asking the trial court to call the members of a joint investigation team (JIT) which reinvestigated the case as witnesses.

The trial court had rejected an application to call members of the joint investigation team as witnesses

Since, the prosecution had examined all important witnesses the counsel for the complainant requested the trial court to grant time to file an appeal against its order before the SHC.

The lawyer also said that an application had also been filed before the Supreme Court for the arrest of the absconding accused. The court adjourned the hearing till Jan 5.

The prosecution said that some of the detained accused during interrogations confessed to their involvement and said that local leaders of the Awami National Party had hired Taliban militants to assassinate Ms Rahman.

Ayaz and Raheem, local leaders of ANP, were residing near the OPP office and tried to obtain a designated area to construct a Karate centre, but Ms Rehman refused, it added.

The prosecution further said that all the accused persons were present in a meeting held in January 2013 at the residence of Raheem in which they planned the assassination of Ms Rahman, adding that they hired a local TTP commander, Moosa, and Mehfoozullah alias Bhaloo to assassinate the OPP head.

The investigating officer stated that two other accused in the case — Qari Bilal and Mehfoozullah — had already been killed while Bilal Ahmed alias Tension had been released after his arrest for lack of evidence. Moosa, Shaldar Khan and others are still at large.

A case was registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Pirabad police station. Later, Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 was incorporated in the case on a directive of the Supreme Court of Pakistan that also had ordered a judicial inquiry into the case.

The judicial inquiry report, placed before the apex court in 2014, had recommended that the murder be reinvestigated by an efficient, independent and honest police officer. It expressed dissatisfaction over the probe stating that the police investigators had not hesitated to manipulate key aspects of the investigation.

A JIT was constituted to review the investigation on the directive of Supreme Court, which was approached by Aquila Ismail, sister of the slain Ms Rahman, and Zohra Yousuf of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan for reinvestigation into the case.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2018

KARACHI: Inspector General of Sindh Police Dr Syed Kaleem Imam has ordered a campaign to thoroughly check motorcyclists, especially pillion riders, in the wake of recent acts of terrorism and targeted killings in the metropolis, Dawn learnt on Saturday.

The provincial police chief through a notification directed all range/zonal DIGs to immediately start a campaign/drive with full force against the motorcyclist with a pillion rider (middle/young aged male) especially sporting a dust/surgical mask/helmet/ cap till Jan 15.

“Such riders must be checked/ physically searched thoroughly and then bikes be also searched properly for any hidden weapon and then checked of any violation.”

The officers have been asked to initiate ‘snap checking’ at different times (especially at night/rush hours) at different places particularly at ‘black spots’ (which are places where most crimes take place), entry/exit points or routes emerging from/to notorious areas on a daily basis and report regarding the action taken on daily basis to the office of the IG.

According to a notification issued by the AIG-operations, Captain Faisal Abdullah, in the city and other parts of the Sindh province, the most common vehicle used to commit any crime or any act of terrorism was a motorcycle with a pillion rider.

It has been pointed out that in recent past, a wave of terrorism/ targeted killings have been observed and in almost all incidents, motorcyclists along with pillion riders committed these crimes.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2018

RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government is yet to release funds for the feasibility study and detailed design of the Ring Road project to the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).

The Planning and Development Department gave the administrative approval for the project early this month and asked the RDA to start the homework.

A senior official of the RDA told Dawn that the project’s feasibility study would take more than three to four months. The identification of land to be procured for the road would be made after the feasibility study and detailed design are prepared, he added.

Land procurement will be started after detailed design of road is prepared, official

He said the government had allocated Rs90 million for the feasibility study and design and the project would be submitted to the Planning and Development Department for final approval.

The official said the RDA had made some changes but the actual size of the road would be finalised after the detailed design was prepared. The land procurement would be made with the help of the district revenue department.

“There are some administrative problems in the new mega projects as the Punjab government has appointed the divisional commissioner as the project director ignoring the chairman of the RDA’s board of directors and its director general,” he said.

Officials of the RDA, the executing agency, would report to the divisional commissioner instead of politically appointed chairman and administrator of the organisation.

“Same administrative issue occurred in Leh Expressway project where the RDA was declared the executing agency but Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was appointed as the focal person,” he said.

The RDA is not working on the Leh Expressway project and two months ago it sent suggestions to increase the route of the expressway from Soan River to 9th Avenue.

“At present, there is no work on development projects. The work would be started after getting funds,” he said.

When contacted, RDA Chairman Arif Abbasi said the provincial government would soon release the funds, adding work on the feasibility of the Ring Road project would start next month.

In reply to a question, he said the commissioner would be the head of the project management unit to procure land for the construction of the road.

He said the government wanted to utilise the land revenue department to purchase land from private owners and the process would be led by the administrative head of the division to make it transparent.

He said after the feasibility study, the government would announce the price of land which would be procured for the project. Mr Abbasi said a committee would be formed soon to assess the market value of land.

However, he said the government should freeze the sale and purchase of land in the area otherwise the price of the land would increase.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2018

LAHORE: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Saturday declared the post-graduation degree of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore Director General Shahzad Saleem genuine.

Quoting an HEC spokesperson, the NAB Lahore said: “The HEC on Saturday verified Mr Saleem’s degree (MSc Computer Sciences) and found it 100 per cent genuine and valid (from the Azad Jammu and Kashmir in 2000-02).”

The HEC verified his degree following an order of the Supreme Court after the media reported the degree was fake. On Dec 24, the NAB had written to the HEC regarding the verification/attestation of Mr Saleem’s degree.

The PML-N had also demanded verification of Mr Saleem’s degree and submitted a privilege motion against him in the National Assembly for conducting a “media trial” of lawmakers.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2018

DERA GHAZI KHAN: The PML-N will launch a movement for the establishment of south Punjab and Bahawalpur provinces in assemblies and on the street in the early days of the upcoming year.

PML-N MPA Awais Leghari told a press conference on Saturday that his party would strive for the province consisting of Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions as his party was in the favour of two provinces -- Bahwalpur and south Punjab.

He said the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf was not serious in making the province and for that reason, it did not discuss the issue in the assembly.

He said Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi acted like a dictator when he rejected his three moves regarding the provinces. He demanded the speaker include his moves on the establishment of south Punjab province, and the closure of of the South Punjab Forest Company and the Fort Munro Development Authority on the agenda.

He said the PML-N would present constitutional amendments to both national and provincial assemblies on Bahwalpur and south Punjab provinces.

He supported across-the-board accountability from 1970, saying they rejected the on-going selected accountability.

He advised Prime Minister Imran Khan to see audit reports of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar’s tehsil nazim eras and he would think twice before praising the chief minister.

He demanded the establishment of joint investigation teams to probe into the matters of Aleema Khan and Aleem Khan.

He said mills were deducting 10pc of the weight of sugarcane crops being supplied to them by farmers whereas the government had yet to take any action. He demanded a probe into the installation of sugar mills in south Punjab’s cotton belt, without mentioning the court orders under which sugar mills of the Sharif family, set up in south Punjab, were declared illegal.

CONTRACT: The Ghazi University has signed the contract of its master plan and supervision of the construction of campus with the National Engineering Services Pakistan.

At present, the university is housed in the Postgraduate College of Dera Ghazi Khan.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2018

ISLAMABAD: Even after the lapse of six days, the accountability court has not issued its judgement in the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) reference about Flagship Investment against Nawaz Sharif in which the former prime minister has been acquitted of all charges.

On Dec 24, Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik announced in the court that “he didn’t find anything against Nawaz Sharif in reference No 18 [Flagship Investment] and the accused is acquitted in this case”.

However, announcing his decision in the Al-Azizia/Hill Metal Establishment (HME) case, he convicted Mr Sharif and awarded him seven years’ imprisonment and imposed a heavy fine.

Zubair Khalid, a counsel for Mr Sharif, on Saturday termed the delay in the issuance of the judgement in the Flagship Investment reference “unusual”. “I have never experienced such a delay... after pronouncement of a judgement by a trial court,” he said.

While the verdict in case of a conviction is handed over to the accused at the time of its pronouncement, the judgement in case of acquittal is provided to him/her on request.

Nawaz’s counsel terms delay ‘unusual’

According to Mr Khalid, the accountability courts across the country provide a written judgement the same day or a day after pronouncing it in the court. He said they had asked for the judgement the day it was handed down.

The prosecuting agency, NAB, has already decided that it will file an appeal against the judgement in the Flagship reference. The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by NAB chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal soon after the verdict’s announcement in the court.

Under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), an appeal against the verdict of the accountability court may be filed within 10 days of receipt of a written order of the court.

Sources in the prosecuting agency said that evidence in the two references — Al-Azizia/Hill Metal Establishment and Flagship Investment — were identical.

The Supreme Court in its verdict of April 20, 2017 had ordered the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) headed by an additional director general of the Federal Investigation Agency and asked it to answer multiple questions including those relating to the setting up of the Al-Azizia/Hill Metal Establishment (HME) and Flagship Investment.

The apex court had also asked the JIT to probe into any transactions from the Gulf Steel Mills (GSM) through which the Sharif family had allegedly acquired the Avenfield properties, HME and Flagship Investment as well as other companies.

Subsequently, the alleged money trail of the Sharif family started from AED12 million from GSM which was invested with a Qatari family and drawn for Avenfield properties, HME and Flagship Investment.

In its report submitted to the Supreme Court in July 2017, the JIT rejected the said money trail. Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir in the verdict in the Avenfield properties reference and Judge Arshad Malik both remained unconvinced about the financial source from which the Sharif family was said to have acquired properties and started businesses in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

The difference between the HME and Flagship Investment references was that in the former, the prosecution has brought on judicial record that Mr Sharif received US$10.2 million and 1.26m euros from the HME whereas no such amount was remitted in the name of Mr Sharif from the Flagship Investment and other companies owned by Hassan Nawaz in the UK.

While a detailed verdict about Flagship Investment has yet to be issued, the accountability court in its decision on the HME reference noted that from perusal of the letters submitted to the Supreme Court by Qatari Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani — in which he had confirmed the AED12m investment — the prince’s information was based on “hearsay” as the alleged investment was made with his late grandfather.

In other words, the accountability judge rejected the money trail but his decision was in line with section 14(C) of the NAO that says “the court shall presume, unless the contrary is proved, that the accused is guilty of the offence”.

The court order read: “The statutory presumption under section 14(C) of the ordinance also validly applies and is invoked and drawn against the accused [Nawaz Sharif] who has manifestly failed to provide any satisfactory and credible explanation.”

The judgement in the HME reference further noted: “The prosecution has successfully established all the ingredients of the offence of corruption and corrupt practices against the accused.”

According to a senior lawyer, the court established the ownership of the company on the basis of the amount Mr Sharif received from HME’s profits.

He said there was a difference between establishing a business and receiving something from the profit of a running business and such recipients might not be presumed as the real owners, rather as “abettors”.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2018

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Saturday announced the establishment of economic zones in tribal districts of the province and ordered the early finalisation of the matters about the Rashakai Economic Zone.

He was chairing a meeting at the Chief Minister’s House here, where adviser to the chief minister Abdul Karim, head of Strategic Support Unit Sahibzada Saeed, industries secretary, and Peshawar commissioner Shahab Ali Shah were in attendance.

According to a statement, the participants discussed the opening of a road to link Afghanistan with the Central Asia to make the region an economic hub in light of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

CM orders early finalisation of matters for Rashakai Economic Zone

They focused their discussion on the province’s mega projects, including the finalisation of concessional agreement, financial model and the infrastructure development for the Rashakai Economic Zone, the energisation of CRBC for power production and agricultural productivity, hydel power generation in Malakand and Hazara regions, the provision of cheap electricity to local industries, boosting of trout production, establishment of a model village in erstwhile Fata, and other relevant matters.

The chief minister said all needs for the Rashakai Economic Zone should be fulfilled to get the approval of the federal government for the purpose by Jan 15, 2019.

He ordered the finalisation of the plan for the provision of electricity produced locally in Malakand division for food processing and agro-based industrialisation and tourism-related activities.

Mr Mahmood said the CPEC project had brought multifaceted challenges along and therefore, strong commitment was needed to meet those challenges.

“We will train our youths to cope with the growing challenges of producing skilled manpower,” he said.

The chief minister said the tribal districts would get economic zones under the CPEC project for which all public sector institutions should take necessary measures.

He said the electricity generated by Matiltan and other hydropower stations would be provided to the food processing, agro-based, livestock and tourism-related industries at cheaper rate, which would ensure the socioeconomic development of northern districts of the province.

Mr Mahmood said peace was the basic prerequisite for economic growth.

“Once peace is there, the region will have the bright prospects for growth,” he said asking stakeholders to prepare themselves for availing themselves of the growing opportunities created by the CPEC project.

The chief minister asked the IT and science and technology department to prepare an ‘integrated dashboard’ for the one-window operation to facilitate investors, traders and industrialists in the province.

PANEL FORMED: The CM has constituted a committee to propose ways for doing business easily in the province.

A statement issued here said the chief minister will be the patron-in-chief of the committee, which will be headed by special assistant to the chief minister Kamran Khan Bangash and will comprise special assistant to the chief minister on industries, the secretaries of planning and development, finance and excise and taxation departments, and chief of the KP Board of Investment and Trade as members.

The committee members will prepare recommendations for departments and stakeholders, interact with members of the KP chamber of commerce and industries, Federal Board of Revenue and Securities and Exchange of Commission of Pakistan, and produce a detailed report on a one-window solution for the facilitation of businesses and industries.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2018