LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet expressed its determination on Monday to eliminate terrorism from the province and the country.

A meeting presided over by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the assassination of provincial law minister retired Col Shuja Khanzada in a suicide attack on Sunday and offered Fateha for the victims.

A resolution adopted at the meeting paid tribute to the slain minister for laying down his life in the war against terrorism and pledged to further his mission of eradicating terrorism.

The cabinet expressed sympathies with the bereaved families.

The chief minister acknowledged that the late minister had played a prominent role in the setting up of the Counter-Terrorism Force and integrated command, communication and control centre.

He said Mr Khanzada’s services for maintaining law and order and eradicating terrorism from the province would always be remembered and the federal government would be recommended to confer the country’s highest civil award on him for his invaluable services.

He said the terrorists and their facilitators would be wiped out and no effort would be spared to eradicate terrorism from Punjab and the entire country.

Mr Sharif said he himself would lead the war against terrorism.

He said the mission of Mr Khanzada would be furthered and no compromise would be made in this regard. “It is now or never.”

The cabinet resolved to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the chief minister in the war against terror.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Jamaat-i-Islami have submitted separate resolutions to the Punjab Assembly secretariat condemning the Attock suicide attack and paying tribute to the brave minister and expressing support for the ongoing operation against terrorists.

Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Mahmoodur Rashid extended PTI’s unconditional support for the war against terror and demanded a thorough probe into the suicide attack.

He urged the government to fully implement the National Action Plan till the restoration of peace in the country.

Mr Rashid led a PTI delegation to the Lahore residence of Mr Khanzada to offer condolences to the bereaved family.

Civil society activists also visited Mr Khanzada’s residence and laid floral wreaths and lit candles there as a mark of respect.

But the Pakistan Awami Tehreek criticised the Punjab government for its failure to provide adequate security to the late home minister despite the fact that he had received threats to his life.

PAT General Secretary Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said the ruling family did not provide even a single bullet-proof vehicle to the minister, while they themselves enjoyed a security cover of 2,000 policemen and never travelled without a convoy of bullet-proof jeeps.

He demanded a thorough investigation into the security lapse.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2015

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PESHAWAR: The government on Monday tabled a bill in the provincial assembly to amend the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission Act (KPECA) to make it more stringent and remove certain lacunas, which had helped several suspected outlaws secure bail from the Peshawar High Court.

A day after the Awami National Party leaders accused the provincial government of politically victimising them through the Ehtesab Commission, law minister Imtiaz Shahid tabled the much-publicised bill, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (amendment) Bill, 2015, seeking several changes to the existing law, including one for its applicability of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

In the existing law, its drafters didn’t mention the applicability of CrPC to cases and therefore, several suspects were granted bail by the high court once their physical remand with the commission ended and they were sent to prison on judicial remand.

Also, the government proposed an amendment in the law so that one convicted for an offence under this Act shall not be entitled to any remission in his sentence.

Tables bill in PA suggesting all offences covered by commission should be non-bailable

As in the existing Act, it is mentioned that all offences under this Act shall be non-bailable, the government has now tried to clearly spell out Section 23 (3) of the Act suggesting to incorporate the words, “All offences under this act shall be non-bailable and no court shall have jurisdiction to grant bail to any person accused of an offence under this Act.”

These amendments are aimed at keeping behind bars several suspects, whose petitions have been pending with the PHC, including that of provincial minister Ziaullah Afridi.

The house also passed amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act 2013 allowing the disqualification of district and tehsil members on defection.

On defection, a member of the district and tehsil council may be declared in writing by the party head to have defected from the political party, and the party head may forward a copy of the declaration to the presiding officer of the concerned council and the chief election commissioner and would similarly forward a copy thereof to the member concerned.

Similarly, through another amendment, a new section was inserted in the law regarding outsourcing of function, which states, “Government may, by notification, exclude any of the functions assigned to the city district government, district government, Tehsil Municipal Administration or Town Municipal Administration, as the case may be, and outsource these functions to any authority, firm or company on such terms and conditions as it may determine in accordance with the existing laws or rules in forces in the province.”

Earlier, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak informed the house that provision of the missing basic facilities to government schools in the province would cost Rs43 billion.

He claimed that by the end of the government’s tenure, 80 percent of the missing facilities would be provided to the public sector schools.

The chief minister was responding to several questions on basic facilities at government schools.

He said efforts were afoot to ensure provision of basic facilities, including electricity, drinking water, lavatory, boundary wall and additional classrooms, at primary and higher secondary schools.

Khattak said 20 percent of the funds allocated for local bodies would be used to ensure such facilities at middle and high schools.

Earlier, elementary and secondary education minister Mohammad Atif told the house that half of the four million students enrolled at government schools in the province had no furniture. He said Rs2 billion had been allocated for provision of furniture to such educational institutions during the previous two financial years.

The minister besides the allocated funds, the education department also needed Rs5.5 billion only for provision of furniture.

“First, furniture will be provided to high schools, then to middle schools and finally to primary schools,” he said.

Also, the house unanimously passed a resolution to condemn the deadly suicide attack on Punjab home minister Colonel (r) Shuja Khanzada and sympathise with the families of all those, who died in the terrorist activity.

Through the resolution, the assembly demanded that the federal government complete investigation into Shuja Khanzada’s assassination speedily and award exemplary punishment to the culprit.

The resolution was tabled by PPP MPA Nighat Orkazai and carried signatures of MPAs from all parliamentary parties.

Later, higher education minister Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani said a summary for the removal of the Swat University vice chancellor had been sent to Governor Mehtab Ahmad Khan for approval.

“The VC is involved in misconduct and irregularities in appointments,” he said.

Published in Dawn August 18th, 2015

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KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Monday granted permission to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Amir Khan to travel abroad for Haj.

The MQM leader was placed under three-month preventive detention following his arrest, along with dozens of others, during a raid in and around the party headquarters, Nine Zero on March 11 led by Pakistan Rangers. He was booked for allegedly providing shelter to criminals and using them for terrorist activities.

Mr Khan, who was released on bail on June 29, through his counsel moved an application seeking permission to perform Haj.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the ATC-II judge allowed the applicant to perform the religious duty, but after furnishing another surety bond of Rs1 million.

It may be recalled that the court had granted bail to Mr Khan against a surety bond of Rs1 million and also ruled that he would not leave the country till the disposal of the case.

Earlier, the defence lawyer had argued that the applicant was shortlisted in the government Haj scheme and willing to perform the religious obligation and would return after fulfilling it.

The lawyer asked the court to allow the applicant to leave for Saudi Arabia and submitted some documents to support his contention.

However, Rangers prosecutor vehemently opposed the plea and argued that the court had conditionally granted bail to the applicant by barring him from travelling abroad and contended that there was no provision in the law for a trial court to review its earlier decision.

He also expressed dissatisfaction over the documents submitted by the defence lawyer and feared that the applicant would not return if allowed to leave the country.

A case was registered against the MQM leader under Sections 11V (directing terrorist activities), 21J (harbouring any person who committed an offence under this act), and 7 (punishment for act of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 on the complaint of a Rangers official at the Azizabad police station.

Suspect released

The same court released a suspect after the police failed to collect any evidence against him in a case pertaining to the murder of a Karachi University professor.

Sami-uz-Zaman was booked for allegedly killing Dr Syed Waheed-ur-Rehman, better known by his pen name Yasir Rizvi, in a drive-by shooting near Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases in F.B. Area on April 29.

The police arrested the suspect on June 14 and obtained a two weeks physical remand for questioning. Later, the court sent him to prison and asked the investigating officer to submit an investigation report.

The investigation officer submitted a report under Section 497(2) criminal procedure code and asked the court to release the suspect by contending that no credible evidence was found during the course of the investigation to connect him with the present case.

After admitting the report, the ATC-II judge ordered the release of the suspect.

A case was registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of Anti-terrorism Act, 1997 at Jauharabad police station.

Published in Dawn August 18th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Senator Mushahidullah Khan, who lost his ministerial position because of a controversial interview that threatened to harm civil-military relations, is still in the eye of the storm.

On Monday, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking constitution of a high-level commission to investigate the controversy over an alleged audio tape containing conversation of former ISI chief Gen Zaheerul Islam.

Petitioner Advocate Tariq Asad asked the court to order the commission so constituted to fix responsibility for damaging the integrity of the country.

Know more: PM Nawaz accepts Mushahidullah's resignation

In his interview to BBC Urdu on Aug 14, Mr Khan had claimed that “telephone discussions of the former intelligence head had been recorded in which he was giving directions on how to create chaos and take over the PM House”.

The petitioner said that if the allegations levelled by the former minister were proved to be false the court should ask the Senate to deseat him under Article 62 (f and h) of the constitution.

Similarly, he said, if the same allegations levelled by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during the days of PTI’s Islamabad sit-in were proved to be false he should also be dealt with in accordance with law and deseated.

In case the tape’s existence is proved to be true, the petitioner said, strict action in accordance with law under Section 2 (1 d) of the Pakistan Army Act 1952 should be taken against Gen Islam.

Tariq Asad named the federal government through secretaries of the law and the cabinet division, Mushahidullah Khan, Khawaja Asif and ISPR Director General Asim Bajwa as respondents in the petition.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2015

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RAWALPINDI: In the first information report (FIR) registered following the terrorist attack in Attock, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) did not declare the attack a suicide bombing or mention the number of suicide bombers.

Earlier, the Inspector General of Police Punjab Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera said the attack was a suicide bombing, involving two bombers.

The FIR registered with the CTD police noted that retired Col Shuja Khanzada arrived at his dera at around 11am and a mighty explosion caused the building to collapse.

“All the people inside the building were trapped under the debris,” it said.

Punjab Home Minister retired Col Shuja Khanzada and 18 others were killed in his home town Shadi Khan, some 80 kilometres south-west of Islamabad in a suicide attack on Sunday.

NCMC issued general alert, but no specific intel regarding threat to minister

According to security sources, a general threat alert had been issued by the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) of the federal government regarding possible retaliation against the killing of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) chief Malik Ishaq on July 26.

Law enforcement agencies had been directed to tighten security around government and military installations.

While no specific alert had been issued regarding a threat against the Punjab home minister, the CTD had issued an alert on August 13 and participants of a high level meeting had been informed that prominent leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz could be targeted in Rawalpindi during the next few days.

“No alert was issued regarding any specific federal or provincial minister of the ruling party in Punjab,” a security official told Dawn.

Col Khanzada was a retired intelligence officer, who was leading the campaign against terror groups and had created the CTD in Punjab.

He was also supervising the implementation of the National Action Plan in the province.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the blast victims were shifted to the mortuary at the District Headquarters Hospital in Rawalpindi. Severed limbs, suspected to belong to an attacker were also shifted to the hospital.

Investigators collected finger prints of two unidentified bodies, one of whom is also suspected to be a suicide bomber.

“Forensic evidence, including finger prints was collected by the investigators and sketches were drawn with help of information provided by the injured victims. The concerned authorities are also working on geo-fencing the area to trace all calls made from mobile phones,” a source close to the investigation revealed.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2015

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FAISALABAD: Police subjected to torture some candidates for lady constable slots who staged a protest demonstration on Sargodha Road against what they called “unjust” treatment meted out to them in the race test on Monday.

As many as 200 females had applied for 40 lady constable slots in the police department. To test physical fitness of the candidates, a race was held at the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) City on Sargodha Road.

However, as soon as the race finished some of the candidates started shouting slogans against the police authorities, alleging that despite announcing 10-minute race for covering a distance of one mile, they were given just eight minutes for the task.

The protesting candidates also alleged that they were “tricked” to give advantage to some “favourites” among them.

Talking to reporters, the protesters said when they questioned the “unjust” practice, the race organisers paid no heed to them and told them to leave the venue.

Left with no other option to get attention of the police high-ups, the affected candidates staged a protest demonstration on Sargodha Road.

On being informed of the protest, the Sargodha Road police, including some lady constables, arrived at the protest venue and started thrashing the protesters.

Police bundled the protesters into a vehicle and drove them away from the spot.

Police also dragged some of the protesters on the road who resisted and tried to continue the protest.

The protesters were detained at the women police station for sometime and were later released.

Police officials denied any irregularity in the race and said there was no violation of merit. — Staff Correspondent

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2015

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KARACHI: A day before talks between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the chief of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), an MQM leader has said that his party does not want the Karachi operation to be rolled back.

“We never asked [the federal government] to wind up the Karachi operation... [but] it should be brought under the constitutional framework,” MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi told a private news channel on Monday.

Know more: Fazl arrives in Karachi to push for MQM's return to Parliament

The MQM was being criticised by its detractors that it had resigned from parliament and the Sindh Assembly because it wanted to stop the Karachi operation.

But Mr Rizvi’s remarks were seen as a clear message from the MQM to the establishment and the federal government that it did not want to set any ‘unrealistic’ conditions for a formal dialogue to be held on Tuesday (today) between MQM and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at Nine Zero, the party’s headquarters.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had asked Maulana Fazl to persuade the MQM leadership to withdraw its parliamentarians’ resignations.

Mr Rizvi told the anchor that the JUI-F chief was coming to Nine Zero as a mediator and formal talks would start after he heard their grievances. “We want our reservations addressed,” he said.

He claimed that the MQM had supported operation Zarb-i-Azb and the Karachi operation. “We believe better results can be achieved if the [Karachi] operation is carried out within the legal framework,” said the MQM leader.

Mr Rizvi added that the MQM had resigned from parliament in protest because no one was listening to their grievances.

However, he made it clear that the resignations did not aim at creating a political crisis in the country.

Mr Rizvi, who until recently was keeping a low profile, said that “no minus-Altaf [Hussain] formula would succeed”.

He explained that he was keeping a low profile due to security fears and on the instructions of the party’s high command.

He said that MQM leaders Babar Ghauri and Faisal Subzwari were out of the country and would return home soon.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has approved the agenda for talks between national security advisers of India and Pakistan scheduled to be held in New Delhi next week, sources told Dawn.

The approval was given by the prime minister on Monday during a meeting with key members of his cabinet dealing with internal and external policies.

The meeting lasted over three hours. It was attended by Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Assistant to the PM on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry.

Also read: Nawaz vows to pursue NAP with full force

A participant told Dawn that the meeting was an amalgamation of both internal security and foreign policy matters. He said Mr Aziz gave a presentation about the agenda prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the talks with India. He said the agenda had been finalised and was now being sent to New Delhi.

Sharif asks interior minister to bring to justice perpetrators of attack on Khanzada

Moreover, he said, the recent statements by Afghan officials, including President Ashraf Ghani, about Pakistan’s alleged role in sponsoring terrorism inside Afghanistan were also discussed. “A strategy has been prepared to counter such statements as well as to remove concerns of Afghanistan,” he added.

Besides this, he said, the participants deliberated upon the forthcoming visit of the prime minister to the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly session.

Sartaj Aziz recently told reporters after attending a function in Islamabad that Pakistan would send its agenda to India with a confirmation letter for the coming talks so that there could be no misunderstanding or ambiguity “about what has to be discussed”.

India invited Mr Aziz earlier this month to a meeting with his counterpart Ajit Doval in New Delhi on Aug 23 and 24. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi had agreed during their talks in Russia last month on convening a meeting of the national security advisers to discuss issues relating to terrorism.

The sources said Pakistan had decided to press for a discussion on Indian involvement in unrest in Balochistan, Karachi and tribal areas.

KHANZADA’S DEATH: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar briefed the meeting on reports by security and intelligence agencies on Sunday’s terrorist attack in Shadi Khan village near Kamra in which Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada and 19 others lost their lives.

According to the sources, the prime minister directed the interior minister not to spare the perpetrators of the attack and bring them to justice as early as possible. The prime minister vowed to pursue the National Action Plan (NAP) and said there would be no compromise on the issue of war against terrorism.

MUSHAHIDULLAH’S RESIGNATION: Earlier in the day, Mushahidullah Khan formally handed over his resignation as minister for climate change to the prime minister over his controversial interview to the BBC in which he had claimed that “the former head of ISI Gen Zaheerul Islam had hatched a conspiracy to remove the elected government” during last year’s sit-ins by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek of Dr Tahirul Qadri.

This interview, run by the BBC on the Independence Day, drew criticism from almost all political parties and sections of society, forcing the prime minister to take the extreme step of sacking the minister.

Nawaz Sharif did not even wait for the return of Mushahidullah Khan from the Maldives, where he had gone to attend an international conference on climate change. The minister was asked to return and submit his resignation.

Talking to Dawn after his meeting with Mr Sharif, Senator Mushahidullah said he had formally handed in his resignation on the premier’s directive.

He said he had told the prime minister that the interview had been recorded almost a week before the Independence Day. In reply to a question by the interviewer, “I had only said that we had been receiving information about the involvement of the ISI in the PTI protest sit-in”.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner on Monday to lodge a strong protest against the recent ‘unprovoked ceasefire violations’ by Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nakial sector (Kotli).

The Foreign Office in a statement released on Monday, said that it has asked the Indian government to investigate the incident and share the probe findings with Pakistan.

“The Indian Deputy High Commissioner was called in by the Director General (South Asia and SAARC) at the Foreign Office to lodge a protest against the unprovoked ceasefire violations on August 15 and 16 by Indian troops at the Line of Control (LoC) in Kotli,” said FO Spokesman Qazi Khalilullah.

Know more: Woman dies in 'unprovoked Indian firing' across LoC, daughters injured

"The Indian firing resulted in the martyrdom of three civilians, Shafi Khan, 55, Shahpal Khan, 56, and Sara Khatoon, wife of Mohammad Ashraf,” he said, adding that “15 civilians were also injured as a result of the Indian fire”.

The spokesman added that the Indian envoy was conveyed that the Indian side must investigate the incident and share the findings of the investigations with Pakistan.

The FO also asked India to “instruct its troops to respect the ceasefire in true letter and spirit, and maintain peace on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir."

“Pakistan notes with regret and deep concern that during the last two months, so far, there have been 70 ceasefire violations from the Indian side of the LoC and the working boundary,” the Indian envoy was told.

Also read: Nisar slams India, global community for silence on Swami Aseemanand's bail

Meanwhile, a meeting between the national security advisers of the two countries is scheduled for August 23 and 24 in New Delhi.

ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan makes edges towards the eradication of polio by moving from the oral polio vaccine (OPV) to the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), the number of families that refuse to vaccinate their children has yet to allow the dream to come to fruition.

According to estimates from the Polio Programme, every vaccination campaign fails to vaccinate approximately 360,000 children, and around 40,000 parents refuse vaccinations.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in five children globally do not receive routine life-saving immunisations, and an estimated 1.5 million children die of preventable diseases. The main causes of hesitation on the part of parents are reportedly vaccine safety, and inaccurate beliefs that vaccinations can cause infertility, amongst other ailments.

The head of the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) Dr Rana Safdar told Dawn that IPV will be introduced in Pakistan by the end of 2015 following WHO recommendations.

“IPV has been launched in Punjab and it is expected that the other provinces will start administering IPV by the end of September. However, the IPV launch ceremony will be held on 20th August,” he said.

“Since IPV is an injectable vaccine, to administer it requires training, better cold chain systems, injections and so on. The Global Alliance of Vaccine Immunization (GAVI) has been asked to provide these facilities free of cost until 2018,” he added.

“We hope to ensure that not a single child is missed, so that once all children are vaccinated polio will be eradicated in the country,” he said.

Approximately 29 polio cases have been reported in Pakistan this year. 306 cases were reported in 2014.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2015

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Abdul Rashid Godil was born in Karachi on September 7, 1960, and belongs to the business-savvy Memon community.

He started working for social causes in 1985, and actively strived towards resolving issues faced by the people of the city.

In 1991, Godil was elected as a member of the All Pakistan Memon Federation (APMF). Three years later, he was elected as the President of the Dhoraji Association. As president of the association, he furthered the commercial interests of his community and handled all affairs related to commercial stakeholders in the area.

Godil stepped into the political arena in 2005. The same year, with the help and support of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), he became Union Council Nazim.

Read: MQM's Rashid Godil critical after Karachi attack

During the 2008 general election, he was elected a member of the national assembly (MNA) on an MQM ticket from NA-252, Karachi. He retained his NA membership from the same constituency in the 2013 general election.

He has also been a member of MQM’s Karachi Rabita Committee since November 2013. Godil presents somewhat a softer image of the party whose activists have in the past been accused of strong-armed tactics.

He was among at least 11 key members of the MQM in Karachi who had claimed to have received extortion letters from the TTP in October 2014.

As an MNA, he is a member of two standing committees – Finance, and Revenue and Textile. He is also MQM’s deputy parliamentary leader in the lower house.

Godil, is often also seen as a vocal critic of the government, judging by the speeches he has made on the house’s floor.

The MQM, which portrays itself as a secular champion of Pakistan's middle class working against feudalism, dominates Karachi's politics.

The party has been the target of several bomb and gun attacks by Taliban militants in the past, with at least three MQM leaders killed in such attacks

Godil was shot five times and was critically injured on August 18, 2015, after which he underwent emergency surgery at a private hospital. He is currently undergoing medical treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of Karachi’s Liaquat National Hospital where doctors have termed the next 24 hours crucial as his life hangs in the balance.

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Rashid Godil was critically wounded after unidentified armed men opened fire at his vehicle near his residence in Karachi's Bahadurabad area on Tuesday following which he underwent emergency surgery and is currently in critical condition at the Liaquat National Hospital.

Hospital sources said that the MQM leader suffered five bullet wounds on his chest, head and arm.

After the attack, Godil was shifted to a nearby hospital where his condition was stated as critical owing to excessive loss of blood. He underwent surgery at a private hospital and was later put on ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit of Liaquat National Hospital, according to Anjum Rizvi, the spokesperson of Liaquat National Hospital.

Rizvi added that said that Godil's driver, who was also injured in the incident, was shifted to the Aga Khan University Hospital where succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Godil was travelling with his driver and a family member when the attack took place. Details of the family member's condition are not known.

Read: Abdul Rashid Godil: A profile

Gulshan SP Abid Qaimkhani told Dawn that unidentified motorcycle-riding armed men intercepted Godil's vehicle and fired eight bullets after identifying the Muttahida leader.

He added that eight spent bullet casings of a 9 mm pistol were recovered from the spot.

A view of eight 9mm bullet casings recovered from the attack site by police. — DawnNews screengrab

Fear and panic gripped the city as markets and shops closed down their businesses in different areas after the attack.

MQM leader Syed Ali Raza Abdidi tweeted that Godil's condition was stable and wished a speedy recovery of the wounded leader.

Addressing a press conference, MQM leader Farooq Sattar, who was flanked by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, condemned the 'cowardly terrorist attack' on Rashid Godil. He said that condemnations against the tragic incident had poured in from within the party and other political quarters.

Sattar said that the incident is being considered as an attempt to sabotage the peace of Karachi and hoped that those behind the attack would be arrested soon and made to face justice.

A view of the joint press conference with MQM leader Farooq Sattar (R) and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. — DawnNews screengrab

Maulana Fazlur Rehman appreciated MQM's reaction to the incident and praised the party's attitude in the face of the tragic circumstances.

The attack took place while JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was visiting the MQM headquarters, Nine Zero, to hold talks with a Muttahida delegation over the issue of MQM legislators’ resignations.

The talks, which were under way in a pleasant atmosphere, were abruptly suspended as the news of the attack on Godil reached the MQM headquarters.

A large number of MQM leaders, supporters and activists began gathering at the party's Nine Zero headquarters where they were holding prayers for the speedy recovery of the wounded party leader.

Police have formed a joint investigation team (JIT) under the supervision of DIG East Munir Shaikh to probe the incident. SSP East Javed Jiskani, SSP East Investigation Zulfiqar Meher and SSP SIU Farooq Awan will be the members of that team.

A press release issued by Rangers also condemned the attack on MQM leader Rashid Godil and wished for his speedy recovery. The statement added that probe into various aspects of the incident was under way and those responsible for the attack would be brought to justice soon.

The Rangers press release also appealed to citizens to provide any information regarding the attack on the Rangers 1101 helpline.

MQM leader Wasay Jalil tweeted in support of his wounded colleague.

Rashid Godil had served as MQM's deputy parliamentary leader in the National Assembly until MQM lawmakers' recent submission of resignations from parliaments. He was elected as a Member of National Assembly from Karachi's NA-252 constituency during the 2013 general elections.

Sindh's senior Minister Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party, talking to DawnNews condemned the attack on Rashid Godil and termed the incident an attempt to ruin the atmosphere of the city.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf spokesperson Shireen Mazari also issued a tweet condemning the attack.

PTI leader Imran Ismail, in a tweet, also expressed shock and prayed for Godil's speedy recovery.

JUI-F leader Jan Muhammad Khan Achakzai also tweeted a condemnation message.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah took notice of the incident and sought an immediate report from IG Sindh Police Ghulam Hyder Jamali.

PPP co-chairpersons Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former president Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the attack on Rashid Godil according to a press release and tweet issued by the party's media cell.

Chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain also issued a statement strongly caondemning the attack on party leader Rashid Godil.

MQM leader Mohammad Anwar also posted a tweet praying for the MQM leader's recovery.

MQM leader Mustafa Azizabadi tweeted praying for speedy recovery of Godil.

Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ibad also issued a tweet condemning the incident and sought a report over the incident from IG Sindh police.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in a statement, also condemned the attack on MQM's Rashid Godil and prayed for his recovery.

— This is a developing story and will be updated as facts are ascertained.

KARACHI: In a startling development, ARY Digital Network Founder and Chief Executive Officer Salman Iqbal announced the media group has taken over the BOL media network.

According to BOL's website, it is a complete media enterprise consisting of platforms including television, digital media, print media, cinemas & movies, theater and radio.

Speaking today at a ceremony arranged at the BOL TV office, Iqbal said the upcoming channel will start its broadcast in three weeks.

The ARY CEO further said that clearing the pending salaries and unpaid dues of BOL employees would be a key priority. He also vowed to keep the remuneration packages offered to BOL employees as promised.

“The driving force behind this decision was our mission to try and ease the difficulties faced by media persons,” said Iqbal.

He said, “I have created Pakistan’s largest TV channel – so I thought why not take that dream to BOL.”

We are not here to start any confrontation, our reasons are purely aimed to benefit the journalistic community, said Iqbal. “We have always fought for the betterment of journalists.”

ARY Digital Network CEO Jerjees Seja also confirmed on Twitter that ARY has taken over the BOL Network.

Know more: Bol TV asked to wait for clearance of Axact

Earlier, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had ordered the management of Bol Television in May to stop their transmission until the directors of their parent company Axact were exonerated from charges of fraud and money laundering.

Axact’s directors are currently facing charges in the wake of a massive fake degree scandal, which was exposed by The New York Times.

The information ministry had issued directions to Pemra to stop the transmission of Bol TV.

Editorial: Bad decision by Pemra

The letter, titled ‘Policy advice under Section 5 of the Pemra Act 2007’, directed the authority to “ensure stoppage of transmission of Bol channel through any distribution network for the time being (sic).”

Senior journalists associated with Bol Network — the sister organisation of Axact — had announced their resignations from the company just days after the explosive NYT story raised questions about Axact's involvement in a fake degree scam.

A detailed NYT report titled "Fake Diplomas, Real Cash: Pakistani Company Axact Reaps Millions" had outlined how Axact — referred to as a "secretive Pakistani software company" — allegedly earned millions of dollars from scams involving fake degrees, non-existent online universities and manipulation of customers.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has included on the top of its agenda the issue of Indian interference in Pakistan, including that country's alleged support for terrorists activities in the upcoming talks with India that are scheduled to take place in New Delhi on August 23 and 24.

Following yesterday's in-depth consultations between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his close aides, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel Sharif and Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar called on the premier on Tuesday at the Prime Minister House to discuss the upcoming visit of Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to New Delhi.

Also read: PM okays agenda for talks with India

The meeting was also attended by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Sartaj Aziz and Prime Minister's Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.

During the meeting, the military leadership gave its input on the subject of alleged Indian interference and emphasised that Pakistan must present its view point on core issues during the talks in a forceful manner.

The meeting also decided to keep 'unprovoked' Indian firing at the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary and the killing of Pakistani civilians on the agenda of the upcoming meetings in New Delhi.

Highly-placed sources confirmed that Pakistan will stress on laying out a counter-terrorism mechanism between the two countries during next week's talks.

Qatar armed forces chief calls on PM Nawaz

Chief of Staff Qatar Armed Forces Major General Ghanim bin Shaheen Al Ghanim with Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at the PM House, Islamabad — PID

Chief of Staff Qatar Armed Forces Major General Ghanim bin Shaheen Al Ghanim called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House on Tuesday, said a statement issued by the PM House.

According to the statement, matters relating to bilateral relations were discussed in the meeting.

The prime minister emphasised the importance of Qatar in the region and expressed satisfaction that Pakistan has always had a close relationship with Qatar, the strong foundations of which have been laid by the leadership of the two countries, the handout issued by the PM House said.

The premier also stated his preference for bilateral relations to be strengthened further, especially in fields with a high potential of cooperation, such as defence and industry.

During his visit, the chief of Qatari armed forces also shared his desire for warm ties between the two countries to further grow in all fields of bilateral cooperation, the statement said.

ISLAMABAD: Justice Noorul Haq N. Quershi of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday admitted a petition filed by the former chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) against alleged harassment by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and sought a reply from its (the agency) director general.

The sacked Pemra chief, Chaudhry Rashid Ahmed, in his petition has, in fact, challenged the registration of a case by the FIA. In his petition said FIA had registered the case to force him to withdraw the petition he had filed against his termination.

Chaudhry Rashid was sacked on December 15, 2013 but was reinstated by the IHC on December 26, 2013. In April, the government after conducting an inquiry found him guilty of misconduct and terminated his contract in April 2014.

Chaudhry Rashid, however, challenged his termination from the service and the matter is with the IHC.

In the recent petition, Chaudhry Rashid said the FIA had booked him on charges of releasing ‘unlawful’ payment to an advertising agency while working as PIO in the information ministry.

Under the rules inquiry against him could not be conducted without bringing the matter into the knowledge of the competent authority, the former Pemra chief said.

IHC Justice Qureshi issued a notice to the FIA DG and adjourned the proceedings till August 25.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2015

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KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) on Monday arrested Shabbir Abu Talib, said to be associated with the Jamiat-i-Ulema Pakistan (JUP), on charges of money laundering and fraud, from his residence in Karachi's Clifton area, DawnNews reported

FIA’s Corporate Crime Circle claims in the First Information Report (FIR) registered against him that Talib laundered more than Rs800million.

According to the FIA, the accused had been involved in money laundering since many years, a practice he had started during his employment at a money exchange company.

Sources also said Talib had set up an office at a leading trade center in the metropolis.

Moreover, a concerned department of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) issued a written complaint with the FIA against Talib shortly after his arrest.

The Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan represents people of the Barelvi school of thought and the party had a strong following, especially in Karachi and Hyderabad, till the formation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement in 1980s.

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the progress of investigation and prosecution of cases in courts, particularly those in anti-terrorism courts in Sindh, and constituted a four-member committee to monitor the performance of all court cases.

In a meeting at the CM House on Tuesday, attended by senior government officials, the chief secretary told Qaim that in the month of June, 2015, all 19 anti-terrorism courts disposed off 101 cases – of them, accused in 77 cases were acquitted while those in 24 cases were convicted.

“This shows a 23.7 per cent conviction ratio,” said Memon.

The meeting was attended by provincial chief secretary Siddique Memon, chief minister's adviser on Law Murtaza Wahab, principal secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo, Secretary Home Mukhtiar Soomro, prosecutor general Sindh, secretary law and others.

The CM was further told that in all 27 district courts in Sindh, 2,075 cases were disposed off in June – acquittal was granted in 1,472 cases and conviction in 603 cases, which translates into a conviction ratio of 29.6 per cent.

The chief secretary said there were 1,618 cases pending in four anti-corruption courts, which disposed off eight cases in June, 2015, granting acquittal in seven cases and conviction in one case. The conviction rate in anti-corruption cases comes out to 12.5 per cent.

Following the briefing, the chief minister expressed displeasure over the pace and strength of prosecution and investigation.

“This practice cannot be tolerated. The culprits are arrested after a lot of hard work and sacrifices of police, Rangers and other agencies, but poor investigation and prosecution washes away the entire exercise,” he said.

Shah directed the the Inspector General of Sindh police to task the most senior and seasoned policemen with investigations.

“This is a serious business, and it cannot be left at the mercy of inefficient and unwilling workers. From now on action would be taken against the concerned SHOs and investigation officers if a terrorism case is lost in the court of law,” Qaim said.

Sindh Police IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali said he had posted his 23 most experienced inspectors to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) to investigate terrorism cases. “This move is bound to produce good results,” he said.

The chief minister directed the prosecutor general to appoint more prosecutors purely on merit.

“I would give them additional allowances and also grant them additional salary as a reward when they win a case,” Qaim said.

The CM then ordered the constitution of a four-member committee comprising Home Secretary Mukhtiar Soomro, Prosecutor General Sher Mohammad Shaikh, the secretary law and a DIG to be nominated by IG police. The committee will hold monthly meetings to monitor the performance of prosecution and investigation.

The chief minister's adviser on the occasion said most of the prosecutors were inefficient. “Their performance in the courts is very poor,” he said.

To this the CM ordered evaluation of every prosecutor's performance on a monthly basis, adding that action must be taken against those who fail to perform.

On the suggestion of the home secretary, the chief minister ordered regular meetings between the SSP Investigation and the prosecutor general to address issues related to investigation and prosecution.

The chief minister also expressed his displeasure on the release of the accused allegedly involved in the murder of Karachi University professor Dr Waheedur Rehman. “This was also a weakness of the investigation and prosecution team,” he said.

MUZAFFARABAD/UNITED NATIONS: “Unrelenting and indiscriminate” shelling by Indian troops from across the Line of Control killed an elderly man and wounded six others, including three siblings, in Nakyal sector of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

Munshi Khan, 70, was killed late in the evening after a mortar shell landed in his house in Bani Lanjot village in the southern Kotli district, a police official told Dawn from the area.

Residents said a shrapnel pierced through the victim's neck, killing him on the spot. Two other members of his family were wounded.

Earlier in the day, the official said, a shell landed in the courtyard of a house in Datot village, injuring three siblings identified as Ambrina, 20, Rozina, 17, and Sheraz, 16.

Separately, another person was also injured in the same village.

According to officials, all vulnerable educational institutions in Nakyal sector had been closed due to “unrelenting and indiscriminate shelling.”

AJK minister for food, Javed Iqbal Budhanvi, who represents Nakyal in the legislative assembly, told Dawn that around 60,000 residents had been affected by Indian shelling in his constituency.

“Though some families have moved to safer areas in the rear, but by and large people are demonstrating extreme courage in the face of unrelenting shelling by Indian troops,” he said.

Elsewhere, in Kerni village of Haveli district, a shell hit the building of a high school, but there was no physical loss. The school had also been closed as a precautionary measure, another official said.

After Tuesday's casualties, the death toll in the latest bout of trans-LoC shelling has risen to five in Nakyal sector, while one death was recorded in Haveli district.

At least two dozen people have received minor or critical wounds.

UN chief urges restraint after Kashmir clashes

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged India and Pakistan to show restraint following clashes in the disputed region of Kashmir that have caused deaths on both sides.

Ban said an upcoming meeting of security chiefs on August 23-24 could help bolster dialogue between the two countries, which have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir.

Six civilians also died over the weekend in occupied Kashmir after firing and shelling by Pakistani troops from across the border, according to Indian police.

Ban expressed “serious concern about the recent escalation of violence” and urged both India and Pakistan “to exercise maximum restraint and take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of civilians.” India and Pakistan often accuse each other of violating a 2003 ceasefire agreement in Kashmir.

Earlier in August, Pakistan had lodged a strong protest with India over the ceasefire violations across the LoC and also strongly condemned the death of civilians on the Pakistani side due to firing across the LoC.

The Indian envoy was asked to ensure that the Ceasefire Understanding of 2003 should be adhered to in order to create peace and tranquility along the LoC.

Pakistan Army had also lodged a strong protest with the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) over unprovoked firing by Indian troops.

Read: Pakistan moves UNMOGIP over unprovoked Indian firing along LoC

Ceasefire violations along the LoC and working boundary between Pakistan and India continue intermittently, with casualties reported on both sides.

Official sources say unprovoked firing by Indian troops on the working boundary has been continuing for the past many weeks.

Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan by the UN-monitored de facto border of LoC but is claimed in full by both the countries.

ISLAMABAD: Fresh air strikes in North Waziristan on Tuesday killed at least 18 suspected terrorists in Shawal Valley, said the military in a statement.

The area is generally off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to independently verify the number and identity of the dead.

According to Radio Pakistan, jet fighters pounded terrorists' hideouts and destroyed several of them.

Today's strikes come a day after the military said it had eliminated at least 65 militants on Monday in air raids conducted in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency.

Take a look: Blitz in North Waziristan, Khyber kills at least 65 'suspected militants'.

On Sunday, in a similar statement, the army had said it killed 40 terrorists in air strikes in the country's tribal belt, shortly after an attack in Attock that killed Punjab home minister Shuja Khanzada.

The army says it is conducting the final phase of Operation Zarb-i-Azb to flush out Taliban terrorists from their remaining strongholds along the border with Afghanistan.

A large number of militants fleeing the operation in other parts of North Waziristan are believed to have taken refuge in Shawal Valley, which is considered to be an Al Qaeda sanctuary and a stronghold of Gul Bahadur, a warlord once considered pro-government.

Shawal has also been the focus of US drone attacks this year with multiple strikes hitting targets in the valley in which dozens of suspected militants were killed.

Pakistan Army launched Operation Zarb-i-Azb, a grand operation in the North Waziristan tribal region, following a Taliban attack on the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi in June 2014.

Since the beginning of Zarb-i-Azb, militants have fled to other tribal regions, including Khyber and its Tirah Valley and Shawal, all of which border Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON: The United States, which seems determined not to allow further deterioration of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, has once again urged the two neighbouring states to work jointly to defeat terrorism.

“We continue to think it’s important for the two sides to look for ways to cooperate and to communicate and to work towards a better solution here, which, again, we believe is through the reconciliation process,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan improved rapidly after the election of a new government in Kabul last year and both sides pledged not to allow their territories to be used for launching terrorist attacks against the other.

But last week’s terrorist attacks in Kabul, that left more than 50 people dead, disturbed the process of normalisation.

The situation worried policymakers in Washington who want to promote better relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as they believe that there could be no peace in Afghanistan until relations between Kabul and Islamabad improved.

At a news briefing in Washington, Mr Kirby reminded the two states that tensions between neighbours was not unique but they must continue to fight terrorists who had killed so many Pakistanis and Afghans.

“There have been and there will continue to be tensions across that border because it’s such a safe haven for extremists,” the US official said.

“Pakistan has suffered deeply from Taliban attacks inside their country, and their soldiers have bled just like Afghan soldiers have bled.”

The State Department official also urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to continue to take forward the process of reconciliation with the Afghan Taliban, with the aim of ending violence in the region.

“The United States welcomes the dialogue and the cooperation that has taken place between the two countries,” Mr Kirby said.

He said he did not know when would the next round of reconciliation talks be held but it’s important to continue this process.

The State Department official also offered to help Pakistan investigate the terrorist attack that killed Punjab Home Minister Colonel Shuja Khanzada on Sunday.

“Such blatant disregard for human life is unacceptable and contrary to the aspirations of the Pakistani people for a secure, stable, and prosperous nation,” Mr Kirby said.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2015

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