MINGORA: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is working on introducing a uniform education system in the province, says Adviser to Chief Minister on Education Ziaullah Khan Bangash.

Talking to journalists here on Tuesday evening, he said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had promised to introduce uniform curriculum in all the educational institutions of the country including government and private schools, colleges, universities and religious seminaries.

He said that prime minister in his first address to the nation promised that his government would introduce uniform education system in the country.

CM’s adviser says instead of setting up new schools, second shift to be started in existing ones

“The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has already been working on it,” said Mr Bangash. He said that the uniform curriculum would replace the existing class-based education system.

He added that for the purpose, prime minister called emergent consultation meeting of all the education ministers and advisers of the federal and provincial governments few days ago.

The adviser claimed that for the first time, transparent recruitment of physically challenged persons was made in education sector.

He said that owing to growing number of students in the government educational institutions, second shift was also being started.

He said that government had decided that children of government schoolteachers would study in the state-run schools.

“I myself have followed this principle and admitted my child to a government school. The members of all the assemblies, government officers and teachers will also abide by this rule,” he added.

Mr Bangash asked the teachers to admit their children to government schools and improve standard of education. “Beginning second shift in educational institutions is part of a comprehensive educational policy of the government,” he added.

He said that government would not construct new schools rather evening shifts would be started in the existing schools. He added that in case of non-availability of school building in an area, a rented building would be arranged by the government.

Mr Bangash also said that localised recruitment of youth as teachers in schools would be introduced.

He said that government implemented public-private partnership scheme in education sector in the localities that lacked state-run schools.

“Children will be admitted to private educational institutions and their fees will be paid by government,” he added.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2019

KARACHI: Over 300 shops constructed illegally on Karachi Development Authority (KDA) land and drains in Korangi were demolished as the grand anti-encroachment operation to retrieve illegally occupied city land was under way in the neighbourhood.

The KDA anti-encroachment staff began its operation in the morning on 1600 Road, a street in the Korangi No5½, and demolished the illegal structures constructed mainly on drains.

KDA director general Samiuddin Siddiqui, who supervised the operation, told Dawn that the anti-encroachment operation in Korangi would continue till the removal of all encroachments.

He said that almost ever shop demolished in the operation had one or two floors, which were being used as residential units.

The DG said that the KDA had identified over 6,000 encroachments on its land across the city.

He said the KDA had removed over 6,000 encroachments from its land in different parts of the city last year.

Mr Siddiqui referred to the order of the Supreme Court for removal of all encroachments in the city and said that the operation would continue till its logical end.

He said that efforts were being made for clearing all KDA property.

The KDA chief said that the city development authority had always played a main role in the uplift of the city in the past and so shall be continued.

KDA executive engineer Rasheed Solangi, director estate and enforcement Dildar Hussain Shah, demolishing officer Saeed Ahmed, assistant director estate and enforcement Khuram Shahbaz, media coordinator Akram Sattar and other were also present during the operation.

A heavy contingent of police and Rangers were also present during the action against encroachments.

Encroachments around zoo

Meanwhile, Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar said that the Supreme Court had directed the civic and municipal agencies to remove illegally-constructed shops and encroachments on city drains, footpaths and amenity plots within one month.

He said that action against encroachments around the Karachi Zoo, Lea Market and in other parts of the city would be carried out.

The mayor was speaking to a delegation of the Zoological Garden Market Association.

He said that the Supreme Court verdict was on the petition filed by former city nazim Naimatullah Khan under which no commercial activity could be carried out in parks and on drains and footpaths and subsequently all federal and provincial government organisations and KMC were directed to take the action in 15 days and submit its report.

The mayor said the action against encroachments was being carried out by all government organisations in accordance with the order of the apex court.

“KMC is not alone in this operation,” he added.

Mr Akhtar said balloting for allotment of alternative shops to affected traders would be held in the Commissioner Karachi Office next week.

“All shopkeepers who were paying rent to KMC will get alternative place for business,” he said.

He asked the delegation members to vacate their shops around the zoo by Friday as the action against unauthorised and illegally constructed structures would be taken on Saturday and Sunday.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2019

LAHORE: People in most urban and rural areas of Punjab faced the menace of loadshedding for most part of Wednesday when various power plants, transmission lines and grid stations started tripping owing to what officials said dense fog.

The situation forced the distribution companies (Discos) to observe forced loadshedding and load management on an hourly basis in most parts of the province. Many areas in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Toba Tek Singh, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhelum and Rawalpindi faced power shutdowns.

In Deepalpur and Chunian, says a report, there was no electricity for 12 hours or so.

“There is already power shutdown for about eight to 10 hours a week on the pretext of maintenance but Wednesday’s situation was the worst as there was no power for about four hours (7:30 to 11:20 am). This was followed by regular loadshedding on an hourly basis besides low voltage,” said a resident of Township.

A source said Wednesday was a very tough day for the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) and offices in other parts of Punjab. “Officials including the engineering staff of Fesco, Mepco, Iesco and Gepco remained busy in managing the load after many grid stations stopped working one by one due to tripping of the plants and lines,” said the source. He said the situation started improving after 3:00pm after some of the plants resumed operation.

“The 1,200MW Bhikki plant (Sheikhupura) is also closed these days due to non-provision of LNG and other technical issues,” he claimed.

According to an official, the foggy weather first made Guddu plant idle, followed by breakdown of its 500kV transmission, 1,200MW RLNG-fired Balloki plant (Kasur) which is connected with the 500kV Sarfraznagar (Phoolnagar) and 220kV New Kot Lakhpat transmission lines, Nishat Power and Nishat Chunian plants and several 132kV transmission lines and grid stations of Lesco, Mepco, Fesco and other companies.

“In Lahore alone, 26,132kV grid stations and their transmission lines tripped one by one. Similarly 500kV Safraznagar grid (New Lahore) and its line connecting the New Kot Lakhpat also tripped due to cascading effect of the breakdown, leaving several parts of Lahore and other cities of the province without light,” the official explained.

However, an engineer posted at a plant claimed that the Balloki plant resumed the power generation of over 1,200MW after 12 noon. “Since the 1,200MW Havaili Bahadur Shah (Jhang) plant was already closed owing to non-provision of the RLNG from the SNGPL, Balloki plant also stopped generation due to tripping issue. However, it resumed the operation after 12 noon,” he added.

A senior official of the National Transmission & Dispatch Company said the NTDC’s lines tripped owing to dense fog. They included Guddu-Rahim Yar Khan, Yusafwala-Sheikhupura, Ghazi and Kot Lakhpat.

“Fog is a natural phenomenon that reduces insulation level of the transmission lines. It also causes sparking in the discs, tripping the lines,” NTDC Managing Director Zafar Abbas said.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2019

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday directed the defence secretary to file comments by January 22 on a petition filed by the mother of chief of outlawed Peoples Amn Committee Uzair Jan Baloch seeking his production before trial courts.

A two-judge SHC bench headed by Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro expressed displeasure over a federal law officer for not filing comments despite the directives issued on the previous hearing.

Uzair Baloch, now in the custody of military authorities, has been facing over 50 cases, including the murder of his arch-rival Arshad Pappu, before antiterrorism and sessions courts.

A deputy attorney general informed the bench that a letter was sent to the ministry of defence seeking comments, but its response was still awaited.

The lawyer for the petitioner argued that the petition had been pending since September 2018, but the authorities concerned had yet to come up with their response.

The counsel also submitted that the authorities also did not arrange a meeting of the held suspect with his family despite issuance of a court order.

The bench directed the defence secretary to file comments by the next hearing. It also asked the authorities to arrange a meeting of the detained suspect with the petitioner and other family members.

A Rangers’ law officer submitted that the Lyari gangster was not in the custody of the paramilitary force.

On a previous hearing, the jail authorities through a report informed the bench that Uzair Baloch was shifted from the Karachi central prison to the Army’s V Corps in Karachi on April 11, 2017 in the presence of the civil judge and judicial magistrate-XI (south) to face trial before a military court.

Earlier, the judicial magistrate had also deposed before the ATC concerned that the army had moved an application for the custody of the suspect for a trial before a military court, adding that while allowing the application, he had directed the jail authorities to hand over his custody to military officials.

Uzair Baloch was detained under 90-day preventive detention by the Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, and then handed over to police following his mysterious arrest in January 2016. In April 2017, the army announced that it had taken his custody in connection with charges of “espionage”.

His mother, Razia Begum, through her lawyer Shaukat Hayat submitted that her son was picked up by personnel of law enforcement agencies in January 2016 and he had remained in their custody since then.

The lawyer argued that Uzair was booked and chargesheeted in dozens of cases pending before ATCs, adding that he was shifted from the central prison and since then he had not been brought before any court while the family of the detainee was also not being allowed to meet him.

The petitioner’s counsel maintained that the detainee had the right to a fair trial and requested the SHC to issue a directive for his production before the trial courts.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2019

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) is installing thermal scanners at airports and other points of entry to prevent cross-border disease transmission.

While visiting Islamabad International Airport (IIA) on Wednesday, NHS Minister Aamer Mehmood Kiani said the PTI government is emphasising the strengthening of health departments and the Directorate of Central Health Establishment (CHE) at all points of entry, particularly airports.

“Funds have been allocated by the Ministry of NHS for improvement in infrastructure and uniforms at health departments at all international borders,” he said.

The CHE is responsible for the implementation of the 2005 International Health Regulations across the country, and takes various measures to protect people from communicable diseases coming via international borders. Polio, yellow fever and meningitis vaccinations are carried out for this purpose.

All international flights are also screened for endemic disease, suspected passengers are quarantined and all ports are kept in sanitary condition to control the spread of disease.

Mr Kiani said Prime Minister Imran Khan signed a memorandum of understanding during his visit to China to prevent cross-border disease transmission, after which thermal scanners have been made operational at airports in Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi. They are being installed at all points of entry into the country.

The minister also said the CHE will soon be equipped with improved networking. A website to raise awareness among passengers about health-related problems regarding international travel will be launched soon, and quarantine and isolation facilities will be provided at all airports.

Polio vaccinations are being provided to those travelling abroad in an emergency, and the visibility of this facility has been increased through public messaging.

The minister also directed for measures to be taken to improve health security at all international borders and issued instructions for better health facilities at ports and land crossings.

He said funds were allocated by the NHS ministry for improvement in the infrastructure, equipment and uniforms at the health department.

There are a number of diseases that can spread from one country to another. In 2014, the Ebola virus spread in Africa and international airlines were instructed to follow standard operating procedure regarding passengers with a travel history of West Africa.

Polio is another such virus, regarding which Pakistan has been advised by the Independent Monitoring Board on Polio to ensure everyone exiting Pakistan is vaccinated. Similarly, in 2016 a travel advisory was issued for Brazil regarding the Zika virus, which spread through mosquitoes.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2019

KARACHI: Facebook and WhatsApp have the worst track record when it comes to cases of online harassment and misuse of data in Pakistan, according to a report released by the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) on Wednesday.

The report highlights data collected by the DRF cyber harassment helpline during the last two years and contains recommendations for public bodies to improve their institutional response to online harassment.

Take a look: Understanding harassment

The toll-free helpline (0800-39393) received a total of 2,781 complaints from Dec 1, 2016, till Nov 30, 2018, with an average of 91 calls each month. Out of the 2,781 calls, 2,190 were first-time callers whereas 591 calls were classified as follow-ups, made by people who were either seeking additional assistance or providing updates regarding the status of their cases.

According to a breakdown of the data, half of all calls came from the most populous province, Punjab — 57 per cent. The helpline received 18pc calls from Sindh, Khyber Pakhtun­khwa (5pc), Balochistan (2pc), Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (1pc) and Islamabad (5pc).

Explore: The media cover-up?

The report noted that 59pc of the calls were made by women, whereas 41pc of the callers were men. However, it added, it was important to note that several men were calling on behalf of women. In terms of age distribution, a majority of the helpline callers (21pc) were young — between the ages of 21 and 25 years.

In terms of platforms being used for online abuse, the report found that a majority of the complaints were about harassment on Facebook. According to the report, 660 of the complaints (29pc) related to Facebook.

Recently, however, the helpline experienced an influx of calls relating to mobile-based scams that prey on the trust of individuals on WhatsApp. Cases regarding the messaging application have risen from 2.6pc to 9.5pc in the past six months (with the total number of cases rising from 29 to 220), it found.

One of the most common types of complaints involved deception to gain WhatsApp codes of mobile users, which in turn leads to the hacking of their WhatsApp account. The scammers claim to be from legitimate organisations, ranging from television game shows, Pakistan Army, government departments such as the Benazir Welfare Programme and telecommunication companies, the report observed.

Most of the cases reported were related to non-consensual usage of information. These cases involve using, sharing, disseminating, and manipulating data such as photographs, phone numbers, contact details, and other personal information on social media platforms or other websites such as classifieds or networking sites without consent of the individual which violate right to privacy.

The second most common calls involved blackmailing, which often entail using an individual’s personal information.

Accor­ding to DRF founder Nighat Dad: “Our callers have reached out to us from far-flung areas of the country which goes to show that the negative use of online tools has impacted lives equally. Our aim for the coming year is to increase our capacity and reach out to a wider audience so that the internet can be a safe space for all.”

The report called for investigation officers and prosecutors to be trained in cybercrime laws, internet governance, criminal procedures and trauma counseling. “At least 33pc of the investigation officers and prosecutors should be women and the entire staff of the NR3C should be given training in gender sensitivity.”

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2019

RAWALPINDI: Following the directives of the federal government, the police have re-opened the case of the kidnapping of Chinese engineer Pingzhi Liu, who went missing under mysterious circumstances while working on a tunnel linked to a river at the Karot Power Project, Kahuta on Dec 20, 2017.

A kidnapping case was registered with the Kahuta police, who had closed the file.

Sources said a deputy superintendent of police has now been assigned the investigation.

Pingzhi Liu had gone missing in Dec 2017 while working on the Karot Power Project

The police suspected that Mr Liu may have gone back to China via land and made all efforts to track him down. The investigation was stopped when they could not find any clue.

The interior ministry has now directed the police to reopen the case and track down the missing engineer.

When Mr Liu went missing, the immigration authorities at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport were alerted but according to the immigration record, he had not left the country by air.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Operation) Abdul Qadir Qamar on Wednesday visited the Karot Hydropower Project and checked the security arrangements in place for the protection of the project and its workers.

In addition to the army, 450 to 500 personnel of the Special Protection Unit (SPU), established for the security of foreigners and 35 personnel of the Rawalpindi police have been deployed at the power project.

The Punjab Home Department had already asked the police and SPU to review security checking at the project following the disappearance of the Chinese engineer from the project without a clue.

However, the Chinese builders of the projects view the present security arrangements as a hurdle in the momentum of the construction work.

Since Mr Liu has gone missing, the police, intelligence agencies and SPU personnel have launched searches in and around the construction site and rough areas.

The Chinese government has also taken notice of the difficulties being faced by the project company in regards to security issues including checking and vetting of local staff before hiring.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2019

The Federal Investi­gation Agency (FIA) has confiscated properties worth Rs3.5 billion owned by the Khid­mat-i-Khalq Foundation (KKF) of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, sources in the agency said on Thursday.

MQM's London-based founder Altaf Hussain along with other party leaders, including former federal minister Babar Ghauri, former senator Ahmed Ali, Karachi Deputy Mayor Arshad Vohra, Khawaja Sohail Mansoor and Khawaja Rehan have been booked in a case pertaining to alleged money laundering.

At least 29 properties in the possession of KKF — MQM's charity wing — and located in various areas of Karachi have been seized, FIA sources told DawnNewsTV.

They alleged that the properties had been establishment with funds collected through extortion.

The funds raised through the properties, by way of rent, used to be sent to the United Kingdom through six or so facilitators, which allegedly included Ghauri, Mansoor and Ali, among others.

According to the FIA sources, transactions related to the properties were also conducted using fake names.

The funds raised through rent on the properties were utilised for two chief purposes, the sources said, without elaborating.

One of the uses of the money was to make payments to the families of the deceased and detained MQM workers.

And while the investigating agency has seized KKF's properties, the payments being made to the families of MQM members have not been stopped, the sources told DawnNewsTV.

Money laundering case

FIA sources had told Dawn in November that the KKF was established in 1988 and the MQM mostly generated/distributed funds through it. These funds were ‘misused’ and an estimated Rs5-6 billion was sent to the MQM leaders, including Altaf Hussain, in London.

The FIA took cognisance of the matter and got a First Information Report registered against Hussain and some other party leaders in 2017.

The case was subsequently transferred from FIA's Karachi office to the FIA Islamabad, where a special team of the agency’s counter-terrorism wing was dealing with it.

The agency had last year prepared a list of 726 persons who allegedly gave donations, ranging between a few thousands to millions of rupees, to the KKF.

A court in Tando Adam on Thursday sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MPA Dewan Sachanand to three years in prison after he was found guilty of issuing a fake cheque, which was dishonoured by the bank due to insufficient funds in his account.

The judicial magistrate of the court, Kamran Kalhoro, sent the Sindh Assembly lawmaker to a sub-jail in Tando Adam following the verdict.

In 2013, Sachanand had given a cheque for Rs10 million to an individual named Mohammad Ayub Rajput in Sanghar district in a deal for agricultural land.

After failing to resolve the case through lawmakers in the area, Rajput had filed a case against the MPA.

Rajput passed away during the litigation process after which his son Mohammad Ali pursued the case in court. In light of the evidence, including the dishonoured cheque and other documents, Sachanand was found guilty and taken into custody.

During the general election in July 2018, Sachanand was elected as a member of the Sindh Assembly on the ticket for PTI's minority seat.

While speaking to journalists following his arrest, Sachanand said he would file a petition against the conviction in the Sindh High Court.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday embarked on a two-day official visit to Turkey on the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Radio Pakistan reported.

The premier will discuss the "entire spectrum of bilateral relations as well as [the] regional and international situation" with President Erdogan. During his stay in Ankara, Prime Minister Khan will address a business forum and hold meetings with Turkish businessmen and potential investors.

"The visit will help explore new avenues of cooperation and collaboration between the two countries, particularly in the areas of economic, trade and commercial relations," added Radio Pakistan.

This is Prime Minister Khan's first visit to the country after assuming office.

A high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar and Adviser to the Prime Minister Abdul Razak Dawood, is accompanying the premier on the trip.

The prime minister has visited several countries — including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, China and Malaysia — after his election to the top office in an effort to strengthen bilateral and economic relations and secure foreign investment for the country.

Pakistan and Turkey have enjoyed close ties over the years. In February, during the vote on US's motion to ‘grey list’ Pakistan at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary meeting, the only country left opposing the motion was Turkey. In August, even before he had taken the oath of the prime ministerial office, Imran Khan had extended his support to Ankara, which at the time was embroiled in an intense trade dispute with the United States.

In October, President Arif Alvi and his Turkish counterpart Erdogan had agreed to further strengthen mutual cooperation between the two "brotherly countries" during the former's visit to Turkey.

Twitter on Thursday sent a notice to senior journalist Mubashir Zaidi, informing him that it has received a complaint through 'official correspondence' that one of his tweets regarding the murders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa SP Tahir Dawar and MQM leader Ali Raza Abidi was "in violation of Pakistani law".

On December 25, Zaidi had questioned the status of the investigations into Abidi and SP Dawar's murders.

"What happened to the inquiry of Tahir Dawar?" he had tweeted. "The cold blooded murder of #AliRazaAbidi will also remain unresolved like many before him."

The micro-blogging site today informed Zaidi that the content of his tweet "has been mentioned in a complaint" it has received — however, it did not mention who specifically the complainant was or which law was allegedly being violated.

The site's legal team, however, clarified that the "notice is not legal advice" and that Zaidi can "consult legal counsel" or approach Twitter if he believes "we have contacted you in error".

Zaidi, who is a co-host of DawnNewsTV show Zara Hut Kay, said that he was "appalled because they [Twitter] are saying that they have received official correspondence from Pakistan".

"How does my tweet violate Pakistani law?" he asked.

Twitter serving notices to its users informing them that their tweets could be in violation of Pakistani law is a growing trend; other social media users local and international have also shared receiving correspondence from Twitter's legal team over 'complaints'.

Last month, a spokesperson for Twitter told AFP: "In our continuing effort to make our services available to people everywhere, if we receive a valid requests from an authorised entity, it may be necessary to withhold access to certain content in a particular country from time to time."

The spokesperson added: "We notify users so that they have the opportunity to review the legal request, and the option to take measures to protect their interests."

In August last year — during the caretaker government set-up — it had emerged that the micro-blogging website was in danger of being banned because of the government’s inability to force the tech giant to bend to its notions of what is suitable for public consumption or falls within the constitutional realm of legitimate free speech.

At the time, the then PTI information secretary Fawad Chaudhry had said that his party was against any kind of censorship on free media.

“Those who do not wish to see objectionable and offensive content should not search for such content. Social media is not just for recreation and entertainment. There are jobs and households associated with the business. Blocking social media websites will have both social and economic impacts,” said Chaudhry.

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on Thursday resumed the hearing into a complaint of misconduct lodged against Justice Muhammad Farrukh Irfan Khan of the Lahore High Court.

Justice Irfan is facing the reference on misconduct after his name surfaced in the list of those having properties abroad in the 2016 Panama Papers leaks. He was issued a show-cause notice by the SJC in February 2017.

The council is the only constitutional forum invoked under Article 209 of the Constitution for removing superior court judges.

Headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, the five-member SJC took up the reference against the judge after accepting his application seeking a public trial of the case pending adjudication against him.

The prosecution lawyer informed the council that the regional tax officer had issued a notice to Justice Irfan for allegedly not declaring an offshore company in his tax returns.

Also, a representative of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) while appearing before the council presented the record of five companies held by the judge in Pakistan.

"It has been recognised that the judge set up the companies," remarked Justice Nisar, the SJC chairman, adding that foreign properties had been purchased through offshore companies.

"Where did the money come from to purchase the property abroad?" the top judge questioned. He also inquired whether the funds had been earned abroad or transferred from Pakistan.

"The judge has to explain the money trail himself [... and] be answerable for his purchase of properties abroad," Justice Nisar stressed.

After Regional Tax Officer Sarmad Qureshi presented Justice Irfan's tax returns before the council, Advocate Hamid Khan, who was representing the judge, argued that the SJC had asked for tax returns from the years 2010, 2011 and 2012.

The SJC, however, dismissed Advocate Khan's objection after the prosecution lawyer stated Justice Irfan's tax returns beyond 2010 were available on record.

The prosecution lawyer revealed that Qureshi had brought with him the judge's tax returns from 2001 and 2002, along with records of his wealth tax. Justice Irfan had not filed tax returns between 2003 and 2006, he added.

After hearing the officials, the SJC allowed Justice Irfan's lawyer until the next hearing to present records showing his money trail. The hearing of the reference was adjourned until January 8.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested former deputy commissioner of Malir, Kazi Jan Muhammad, for his alleged role in the illegal disposal of 27 plots that belonged to the government, a press statement by the anti-graft watchdog said on Thursday.

The former deputy commissioner was arrested from Karachi's DHA Phase-VII.

Muhammad had allegedly issued orders to allot the land — located in Sector 31 of Karachi's Scheme-33 — to a fake settlement by the name of Abdullah Shah Gazi Block F-II "in connivance with other revenue officials", said the press release. The land disposed is worth Rs2.5 billion.

The bureau said that Muhammad — who is among the 172 officials whose names were placed on the exit control list by the federal cabinet last month on Dec 28 — is also nominated in several other NAB cases.

NAB produced the former deputy commissioner before an accountability court today and requested for his physical remand. The court granted Muhammad's remand to the bureau until January 14.

Incarcerated PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif on Thursday asked the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to suspend his sentence in Al-Azizia corruption reference case till the high court decides on his plea against the verdict.

On December 24, 2018, the Accountability Court 2 of Islamabad had handed a seven-year rigorous imprisonment to Sharif along with a fine of Rs1.5 billion and $25 million in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills/Hill Metal Establish­ment reference. It had, however, acquitted him in the Flagship Investment reference case.

The accountability court, as part of the Al-Azizia Steel Mills judgement, had also barred Sharif from holding public office for 10 years after completing his sentence. It had also ordered confiscation of Hill Metal Establishment and issued perpetual warrants for the arrest of his sons, Hussain and Hassan, who were declared proclaimed offenders.

According to the application, Sharif had already challenged the sentence in the high court. The petition claimed that the accountability court had convicted the petitioner on the basis of unacceptable evidence while the court also avoided to respond to the objections being raised by the defendant in the case.

The application claimed that putting Sharif in jail on the basis of the Dec 24 verdict would be a violation of basic rights of the petitioner.

The IHC was urged to grant bail to Sharif until a decision on the appeal against the verdict is not decided.

Prime Minister Imran Khan travelled to Turkey on Thursday on a two-day official visit on the invitation of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Radio Pakistan reported.

On his arrival, Imran Khan was received by Konya Governor Cüneyit Orhan Toprak, Deputy Mayor Mithat and Pakistan ambassador Syrus Sajjad Qazi at the airport.

Imran Khan and his delegation visited the mausoleum of great Sufi saint Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi. The premier laid floral wreath on Rumi’s grave and offered fateha.

In his brief meeting with the Konya governor, Imran Khan said the people of Pakistan have a feeling of great affection for the people of Konya and hold Maulana Rumi in great reverence. “The spiritual message of Maulana Rumi has served to unite humanity from all religions and all walks of life,” the premier was quoted as saying.

Later, the premier travelled to Ankara where he met Turkey's Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekjan and exchanged views on mutual issues.

During his visit, the premier is said to discuss the "entire spectrum of bilateral relations as well as [the] regional and international situation" with President Erdogan. During his stay in Ankara, Khan will address a business forum and hold meetings with Turkish businessmen and potential investors.

"The visit will help explore new avenues of cooperation and collaboration between the two countries, particularly in the areas of economic, trade and commercial relations," added Radio Pakistan.

This is Prime Minister Khan's first visit to the country after assuming office.

A high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar and Adviser to the Prime Minister Abdul Razak Dawood, is accompanying the premier on the trip.

The prime minister has visited several countries — including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, China and Malaysia — after his election to the top office in an effort to strengthen bilateral and economic relations and secure foreign investment for the country.

Pakistan and Turkey have enjoyed close ties over the years. In February, during the vote on US's motion to ‘grey list’ Pakistan at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary meeting, the only country left opposing the motion was Turkey. In August, even before he had taken the oath of the prime ministerial office, Imran Khan had extended his support to Ankara, which at the time was embroiled in an intense trade dispute with the United States.

In October, President Arif Alvi and his Turkish counterpart Erdogan had agreed to further strengthen mutual cooperation between the two "brotherly countries" during the former's visit to Turkey.

A young woman committed suicide in Karachi's Punjab Colony area on Thursday after her parents allegedly did not allow her to marry the man of her choice and instead "forced" her into an engagement with somebody else, police said.

The 22-year-old woman was found hanging from the ceiling inside her home in Punjab Colony, Frere police said. The body was shifted to the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre to fulfil legal formalities.

Frere Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammed Ibrahim said the woman had developed a friendship with a youth when the family lived in Machar Colony; her parents, however, did not approve of the relationship.

They recently moved to Punjab Colony, after which the parents snatched the woman's cell phone from her and placed restrictions on her movement.

The father also had her engaged to a relative against her wishes recently.

Late on Wednesday night, when he returned home from the fishery, he heard his daughter reciting the Holy Quran with the room's door locked from inside. Also, although the woman usually used to prepare tea for her father at 6am, she did not get up to do so today, police told Dawn.

At around 11 in the morning, the mother broke the door and found her daughter hanging from the ceiling fan. She allegedly committed suicide using her dupatta.

The SHO revealed that the woman had acquired another cell phone a few days ago which was seized by the police after her death. Call data from the phone showed that she had remained in touch with her boyfriend from Machar Colony between 3pm and 8pm on Wednesday.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court office has returned a petition moved to seek an order for the establishment of the Lahore High Court’s new benches in some major cities of Punjab. The registrar office did not entertain the petition on the grounds that the petitioner had not approached any other appropriate forum available to him under the law and he also failed to justify directly approaching the apex court.

The petition was moved by a senior member of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), Raheel Kamran Sheikh, for the establishment of new benches of the LHC in cities like Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sargodha and Sahiwal.

Moved in December last year against the backdrop of protests by the lawyers community for over a month, the Supreme Court was approached to immediately intervene for the resolution of persistent boycotts by lawyers in these cities.

Members of different district bar associations were on strike and members of the legal fraternity were not appearing in the courts of their respective divisions — a practice which is severely affecting dispensation of justice.

Even some elements in the bar resorted to violent protests against the refusal to establish new benches in these cities. They even threatened district administrations, damaging property and locking up court rooms, the petition said. Footage of such ugly violent demonstrations has been widely broadcast and is also available on social media, the petition argues, adding now the Punjab Bar Council has joined these protests by announcing strike in their support and calling upon lawyers of the province to refuse to appear in courts to show their solidarity and support.

At the heart of the protest is the LHC’s full court meeting of July 2016 which had unanimously rejected the demand for the establishment of new additional benches in these cities.

The petition before the Supreme Court pleaded that as a result of the deadlock, the enforcement of fundamental rights of ordinary citizens was being paralysed and every civilised notion of the rule of law was facing threat of annihilation.

And if the Supreme Court does not intervene at this juncture, in exercise of powers conferred upon it by Article 184(3) of the Constitution, the loss may become irreparable and irreversible and may lead to aggravated use of violent means at the hands of the protesting lawyers or law enforcement agencies.

The petitioner intends to challenge the registrar office’s decision before the apex court.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2019

LAHORE: A delegation of Indian lawyers on Thursday called on Lahore High Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan and also visited the high court bar association.

The delegation congratulated Chief Justice Khan for assuming the office and applauded the beauty of the historical building of the LHC. The chief justice briefed the delegation about the principal seat of the LHC and its regional benches. The judicial systems as well as common laws of both countries were also discussed at the meeting. The Indian lawyers expressed their gratitude to the chief justice saying they could never forget the hospitality and honour.

Chairman of Haryana Bar of Indian Punjab Partab Singh led the 32-member delegation that arrived Lahore the other day on a five-day visit.

During their meeting with Lahore High Court Bar Association President Noor Samand Khan and other office-bearers, the visiting advocates dispelled misconception about Pakistan and urged both countries to come forward to promote peace.

Mr Singh said during his visit he realised that what he had heard about Pakistan was merely propaganda. He said the love and affection they received in Lahore was an unforgettable event.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2019

LAHORE: Punjab Senior Minister Aleem Khan says Turkish companies in the solid waste management sector are not delivering much to the satisfaction of people.

The brotherly relations between Pakistan and Turkey have no replacement but business companies need to deliver without compromise on results.

“The Ozpak and Albayrak should come forward and help us recycle the garbage and produce fertiliser, gases and other usable items,” the minister said on Thursday at a meeting of the Solid Waste Management Company (SWMC) as well as Ozpak and Albayrak officials.

He expressed reservations over the performance of Turkish companies and asked them to submit details of resources, machinery and manpower involved in the process along with contract terms and conditions.

Gradually, he said, dumping sites in different cities should be transformed into recycling plants so that people could breathe in a better atmosphere.

In future, Mr Khan said, local and foreign companies would be given equal opportunities to bid for the cleanliness work in the major cities of Punjab adding that favoritism would be shunned while awarding contracts.

In the past, he said, required results could not be achieved just because of a weak administrative system and political interference. Referring to media criticism, the minister stressed the SWMC as well as Ozpak and Albayrak should improve the situation.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2019

KASUR: The father of Zainab Ansari, a victim of Kasur’s grisly rape-murder incident, has demanded that the government dedicate a day (Jan 10) to her memory one year on.

Amin Ansari had earlier demanded that he should be allowed to meet the perpetrator but officials allegedly failed to fulfill the promise. He could only have a glimpse of the killer when he was brought to the gallows. Zainab’s family and other residents of Kasur had also sought public hanging of convict Imran Ali.

Mr Ansari told Dawn that he had arranged a gathering on Jan 10 in remembrance of Zainab and would like the government to observe it as ‘Zainab Day’ so that it could highlight the urgency to ensure safety and rights of children. He said child abuse incidents were on the rise and it’s time the state showed its resolve to track down the perpetrators.

Six-year-old Zainab went missing on Jan 4, 2018 and her body was found on a heap of trash at Roadkot, a place at a stone’s throw from her house, five days after her abduction.

‘Justice For Zainab’ started trending on the social media and the incident also drew attention of the national and international media, forcing the authorities to form a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to trace the killer of little Zainab.

The ensuing riots resulted in casualties including killing of two protesters by police officials deputed at the deputy commissioner’s office. The protesters had earlier set the offices of local PML-N parliamentarians and scores of vehicles ablaze.

Law enforcers collected the DNA profiles of more than 1,150 suspects and finally it was the DNA No 184 that solved the mystery on Jan 20. Police took into custody Imran Ali who worked as a mason in Kasur and had earlier evaded arrest by feigning heart problem.

Ali, as suggested by the DNA profiling, turned out to be the rapist and killer of Zainab and seven other minor girls. He was executed on Oct 17 last.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2019