LAHORE: A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday directed the Kasur police to ensure protection of the suspects facing trial in the child abuse scandal.

The bench passed this order while disposing of a petition filed by the widow of Shafiur Rehman. The petitioner alleged that police killed her husband in a fake encounter and there was a likelihood that other suspects could be killed in the same manner.

She said some other members of her family were also in police custody for their alleged role in the scandal. Saying that their lives were in danger, she asked the court to ensure protection of all the suspects.

The bench disposed of the petition and directed police to protect the lives of the suspects. It also allowed wife of another suspect to amend her petition filed against inclusion of the Anti-Terrorism Act provisions in the FIRs.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2015

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QUETTA: The Pakistan Army has assured the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) of its support in carrying out polio eradication campaigns along the border with Afghanistan, particularly at the Friendship Gate crossing in Chaman.

The assurance came during a meeting held at the EOC office here on Wednesday to review the strategy of vaccinating children at permanent transit points. It was presided over by EOC Coordinator Dr Syed Saifur Rehman and attended by the representative of Southern Command, Maj Inam Haider, Dr Abdul Aziz of Unicef, the World Health Organisation’s Dr Sarfraz Jamaldini, Dr Anwar of the Extended Programme for Immunisation and others.

Dr Jamaldini told the meeting that there were 57 permanent transit vaccination points in Balochistan but only 46 were functional. Six points are located along the Afghan border and 16 along Balochistan’s borders with other provinces.

The facilities available at the Friendship Gate were not up to the mark, he said and called for setting up a permanent transit point there to improve the vaccination coverage.

The meeting was informed about lack of shades and umbrellas for field staff, poor maintenance of cold chain for vaccines, security concerns and validation of vaccination data.

Dr Rehman said an improvement in the coverage in areas along the Afghan border would significantly help in eradicating poliovirus.

“It is a national cause as important as maintaining law and order,” he said.

Maj Haider said the army realised the importance of the polio eradication campaigns and assured the meeting that the army would support the drive.

The meeting decided that army officials would visit the Friendship Gate to review the situation and take steps to improve the coverage. Polio workers will be placed at a better location to get access to more children crossing the border.

A meeting will be held between the border security forces and EOC officials on a monthly basis to improve coordination between them.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2015

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LARKANA: “Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker Rashid Godil had indeed been provided police guards for his personal security, but he transferred their services to someone else without informing the competent authority,” claimed Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal while speaking to the media after presiding over a meeting of SSPs and other officers of the Larkana range police on Wednesday.

He was asked for his comment on an alleged security lapse leading to an attempt on the life of Mr Godil in Karachi on Tuesday and the fact that the MNA was without any police or private guard when he was targeted by armed men riding a motorcycle in an upscale busy area of the city. The MNA had served as the MQM parliamentary party leader in the National Assembly and was replaced with Dr Farooq Sattar 10 days before he was attacked.

The home minister was of the view that the motive for the assassination bid was to shatter the peaceful atmosphere obtaining in Karachi. However, he said, the government was firm in its resolve to frustrate the evil designs of Mr Godil’s attackers. “They will be brought to justice,” he added.

Insisting that the government was not to blame for the lawmaker’s remaining exposed to threats, Mr Siyal said adequate personal security to him would certainly have been provided had he asked for it. “All MQM lawmakers are being provided adequate security and they remain in touch with me in the face of threats they are exposed to,” he added.

Mr Siyal said that ministers were supposed to keep police informed about their movement so that the SSP concerned could ensure their safety. All SSPs had already been directed to ensure proper security arrangements for ministers, he said.

Speaking at the meeting of senior police officers of the Larkana range, the home minister said that more sophisticated weapons would be procured during the current financial year and provided to police personnel to counter terrorists.

“A team of police officers proficient in law are working on a draft meant to improve the Police Order (PO),” he said, adding that once the draft was given the final shape, it would be tabled in the assembly for approval. The aim was to remove all lacunae in the PO.

The minister said the performance of the police department was improving as law and order in Sindh had become better than other provinces.

Sources privy to the meeting said that it decided in principle to launch another big operation against dacoits in the Larkana range.

Larkana DIG Dr Saen Rakhiyo Mirani told the meeting that crime rate in this region was on the decline as reflected in facts and figures. Since Jan 1 till date, 225 murder cases were reported as compared to 351 reported in the corresponding period of last year. The honour killing cases also declined to 34 as against 67, he added.

The DIG said that despite facing serious threats from dreaded dacoit gangs led by Wishoon Chandio, Sulto Shar and others, the Larkana range police would launch an operation against them.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: In a move that has blocked the disbursement of the next tranche of Coalition Support Fund (CSF), the United States has told Pakistan that it would not be certifying to the Congress that its (Pakistani) counter-terrorism operation in North Waziristan damaged the Haqqani network.

This was conveyed by the US Department of Defence to the Pakistani mission in Washington as well as to the authorities in Islamabad, according to a highly placed source.

The Foreign Office did not immediately reply to a question about the US communication, but a senior official based at the FO, speaking in private, said they had been informally told about the decision.

Obama administration refuses to certify to Congress that the group was damaged in Zarb-i-Azb operation

The US move is politically more damaging for Islamabad than its financial impact, which is significant nevertheless for being an important source for narrowing the current account deficit. More importantly, it coincided with the deterioration in ties with Afghanistan because of Kabul’s allegations that Islamabad continued to harbour Taliban bases from where attacks were being launched.

The US decision is also likely to sour ties in the run-up to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s scheduled visit to White House in October.

The US has been reimbursing Pakistan for operations and maintenance costs incurred in direct support of its operations in Afghanistan since 2001. So far $13 billion has been reimbursed to Pakistan under this arrangement.

The CSF arrangement was supposed to end with the completion of the drawdown in Dec 2014, but the US government late last year extended the programme for another year through legislation which envisaged additional conditions, including a requirement for certification by the defence secretary that military operations in North Waziristan have significantly disrupted the safe haven and freedom of movement of the Haqqani network in Pakistan.

The certification has to be made by the US defence secretary to congressional committees after every six months.

The last tranche of $337 million was received by Pakistan last month. The non-certification will affect the disbursement of the next instalment.

It comes at a time when the US is discussing the future of CSF post-2016.

Doubts have been expressed in the past by both the US and Afghanistan that the Haqqani network has been spared in the Operation Zarb-i-Azb. But it’s the first time that the US has taken such a harsh step.

It also shows how seriously the Americans take the continuing threat posed by the Haqqani network, whose current chief Sirajuddin Haqqani earlier this month took over as Taliban’s deputy chief during the succession in the insurgent group that followed the disclosure about Taliban chief Mullah Omar’s death.

Pakistani military has, however, been insisting that “terrorists of all shades” were targeted in Zarb-i-Azb launched in June last year.

The operation is in its final phases and the ground offensive for clearing Shawal valley is expected soon.

The military has over the past few days stepped up air strikes against terrorist targets in Shawal, killing dozens of terrorists and “damaging their (terrorist) infrastructure, including an ammunition dump”.

Despite differences over the Haqqani network, the US has been appreciative of the North Waziristan operation.

Some US officials have, however, been cautious in media comments regarding their assessment about the impact of operation on the Haqqani network as they say: “We welcome Pakis­tan’s public commitment that the operation is and would be indiscriminate.”

But they wouldn’t be more specific about their assessment.

They further say that it is important that terrorist safe havens do not re-emerge in the area.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2015

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LAHORE: Federal Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan on Wednesday ruled out trade with India “unless diplomatic relations” improve between the two neighbouring countries.

At a seminar entitled “Engineers: the complete solution provider,” hosted by the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Pakistan, he said Pakistan had neither any dialogue nor any progress was made on trade with India since 2014.

He said Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz would visit India for security talks on Aug 23 and hoped that diplomatic relations with Delhi would improve as a result of the visit. If so, the trade ties between the two countries could also improve correspondingly, he added.

On the issue of energy crisis and the role Kalabagh dam could play to overcome it, he stressed the need for developing a consensus on the “technical aspects of the dam, because it was being opposed by three federating units on political and technical grounds”.

“It is time to take up and resolve technical issues related to the dam. How much water is available for the dam and which city, if any, would submerge with its construction. Once technical issues are resolved, it would be much easier to develop (so far) elusive political consensus on it,” he said.

He said since three provincial assemblies have passed resolutions against the dam, it would not be wise to build it without political consensus. There were always more than one ways to deal with a crisis, he said, adding that the energy crisis of Pakistan also should have multiple solutions. Though Kalabagh dam was crucial, it was one of the many options available to the country, he said, adding that was why the PML-N government was working on other options – Dasu and Bhasha dams.

“The government is working on generation of electricity which is cost effective,” he claimed.

In the end, he pledged his support to the community of engineers and promised to help solve their problems.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has succeeded in persuading the government and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to hold direct talks on issues which led to the resignation of Muttahida legislators.

Talking to reporters after meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here on Wednesday, the Maulana said the talks between the MQM and the premier or his nominated team would be held in Islamabad in a few days.

“I have put all the issues raised by the MQM before the prime minister and his response was positive,” said the JUI-F chief who had returned to Islamabad from Karachi on Tuesday evening after holding talks with MQM leaders at the party’s Nine Zero headquarters.

When contacted, MQM’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar confirmed that the Maulana had called him after his meeting with the prime minister and informed about the government’s willingness to hold direct talks with the party.

Muttahida demands security for its leaders and lawmakers

“We are ready for it, but at the moment we can’t give the schedule for our Islamabad visit because we are busy in looking after Rashid Godil,” Dr Sattar said. Most probably, he added, the party would be able to say something on Thursday or Friday.

Rashid Godil was critically injured in an attack near his Bahadurabad residence in Karachi on Tuesday. The attack coincided with the meeting between MQM leaders and Maulana Fazl.

Answering a question, Dr Sattar denied that the MQM had handed over any formal demand to the JUI-F chief during the meeting. In fact, he added, the party had provided details of the 137 missing MQM activists as well as the “issues” the party was facing in Karachi in the ongoing operation, along with “their solutions”.

Maulana Fazl expressed the hope that the MQM would soon return to the assemblies because both sides had shown flexibility. He said the government wanted to see the MQM in the assemblies whereas the latter also was willing to continue to play its role in parliament. Therefore, he said, he was hopeful that the issues would be resolved soon.

The JUI-F chief said the progress in talks had been affected by the attack on Mr Godil.

In reply to a question, he said he did not think that the formation of a committee to monitor the Karachi operation should be a problem for the government. “It is not a big thing and I think the government will agree to it.”

He said the MQM was not against the operation but complained that one political party was being targeted.

Although Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also had been in direct contact with the MQM since the submission of resignations by its legislators, the prime minister asked the JUI-F chief to play the role of a mediator and try to bring them back to the assemblies.

According to an official handout issued by the Prime Minister’s House, Maulana Fazl apprised Mr Sharif of the progress in his talks with the MQM. It said the prime minister had praised the JUI-F chief for his role in connection with political harmony, stability and reconciliation.

The MQM legislators had submitted their resignations from the National Assembly, Senate and Sindh Assembly last week, citing reservations over the Rangers-led operation in Karachi.

SECURITY: Meanwhile, the MQM’s Coordination Committee has called upon the government to provide security to Muttahida leaders and lawmakers.

It said in a statement that the MQM leaders and legislators had been receiving threats and Tuesday’s attack on Mr Godil proved that their lives were under threat and they immediately needed security.

The committee also urged the government to take serious notice of the “arrests of our innocent workers”. “On the one hand, the MQM leaders are being attacked and, on the other, law-enforcement agencies are apprehending our workers, instead of arresting terrorists of banned organisations,” it regretted.

Our Staff Reporter in Karachi adds: The MQM said on Wednesday that efforts to bring its legislators back to parliament might not bear fruit if “illegal raids and arrests” and targeted killings of its workers were not stopped.

Addressing a press conference, MQM leader Mohammad Hussain also demanded strict action against “extremists and religious terrorists” in the city’s Orangi Town area.

He said the MQM lawmakers would not like to return to a parliament where no party was raising its voice for the security of life and property of the common man. He said the law and order situation in Karachi was worsening but police and Rangers were “illegally and without any reason” arresting MQM workers and supporters “in the name of the so-called operation”.

Mr Hussain said that over the past one and half years several Muttahida workers and supporters had been targeted by the “terrorists of banned outfits” in Orangi Town, but not one of the killers had been arrested.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2015

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NEW DELHI: The August 23-24 meeting between the national security advisers of India and Pakistan appeared to be delicately poised on Wednesday amid reports that Pakistan’s representative would meet Hurriyat leaders in Delhi and India’s officials saying there would be an appropriate response.

Local reports said the Pakistan High Commission has invited leaders of the Hurriyat to meet Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz during his stay in Delhi.

The Hindu said that invitations had gone to key leaders of the Hurriyat, including chairperson Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and his rival Syed Ali Shah Geelani for a reception hosted by the High Commission.

The Bharatiya Janata Party offered a face-saving spin, which could tone down the toxicity of a Hurriyat-Aziz meeting that would be felt in Indian official circles.

The party is of the view that the NSA-level meeting is different from a diplomatic engagement, and as such it is being constructed as an “operational meeting” invol­ving elements of the security apparatus on both sides.

Another point now stressed is that the Hurriyat leaders would be meeting Mr Aziz after his official engagement that too at a public reception, as distinct from a one-to-one meeting. In August 2014, India had called off talks between the foreign secretaries in Islamabad over the Pakistan High Commissioner’s meeting with Hurriyat leaders in Delhi, pointing to “new red lines” in engagement.

“This is a red line we have drawn,” the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson had explained at the time. “We have told Pakistan — you either talk to us, or to them (Kashmiri resistance).”

Mr Aziz too had admitted that the “timing of the Hurriyat talks” could have been better. “It remains to be seen whether the reaction from the government this year will be similar, given that Mr Aziz is expected to meet the Hurriyat leaders at the reception after, and not before his scheduled talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval”, The Hindu said.

However, the invitation to the Hurriyat will also be seen in the context of a series of developments many inside the government see as “provocations” from Pakistan ahead of the talks, The Hindu said.

“The latest invitation to the Hurriyat will be seen as a reaffirmation that Pakistan wants to include the Kashmir resolution issue in NSA talks that are at present only mandated to discuss “all forms of terrorism”.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2015

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LAHORE: An HRCP-AGHS fact-finding mission says it has received credible testimonies indicating large-scale sexual abuse of children over many years in Husain Khanwala village of Kasur district. It is clear that a heinous crime has been committed against children.

The references made to a land dispute in the village are irrelevant and nothing can justify avoidance of impartial investigation and prosecution, says the report released here on Wednesday.

The fact-finding team agrees that the crime remained concealed largely because the victims’ families paid extortion money and they were also intimidated.

The police ignorance about the video clippings freely circulating in the area and their failure to take action lends support to charges of policemen’s collusion with the culprits, it says.

Led by Hina Jilani, HRCP Executive Council member and director of AGHS Child Rights Unit, and formerly UN Secretary-General’s Representative for Human Rights defenders, the team found the role of political parties very distributing.

HRCP-AGHS fact-finding report stresses impartial probe

The children abuse scandal surfaced after a clash between the police and protesting families in Kasur earlier this month which left two dozen protestors and 28 police injured.

The media reported existence of several hundred video clips that showed scenes of sexual abuse involving almost 300 children.

A nine-member fact-finding team visited Kasur on Aug 11, the day when the chief minister formed a joint investigation team to probe the issue, and interviewed the local police, families of the victims and local social activists assisting the complainants.

The new SHO appointed at Ganda Singhwala police station as well as the Kasur DPO declined to meet the team or receive its phone calls.

The police station moharrir told the team that police visited the village on May 26 on a tip-off that the residents were planning to hold a demonstration against sexual abuse, making videos and blackmailing of those abused.

Some notables of the village affirmed the report saying the case emerged during a panchayat regarding a dispute on a piece of state land but the police “found no clue to the video clippings”, moharrir Amin reported.

The police decided “to take an appropriate action” only if a direct complaint of such activity was received, Amin said, denying media reports that the police had received a complaint of one incident of sexual abuse against the same accused in 2013 from one Mst Bashiran, whose son was also a victim, or that the woman had been tortured by the accused in the police station.

The investigation officer of the rank of sub-inspector acknowledged that the number of objectionable clippings were in the hundreds but not the number of victims.

The team met some victims and their families, media persons gathered there and Mubeen Ghaznavi, a resident of the village who claims to be a local social activist and the spokesperson for the complainant families, and got first-hand information.

Quoting accounts of all these people the team believed that credible testimonies indicate that not only a large number of children had been sexually abused and exploited by the accused, but the ugly activities were continuing at least since 2010.

Most of these children were between 10-16 years of age when they were first abused and several hundred video clippings of the sexual activities exist. That the incidents involved several children from the same village and neighborhoods, in some cases, is sufficient to make this a heinous crime against children, it said.

Noting the police comment that it was uncertain whether the children were abused or they were the abusers, it said that owing to the age of the children their involvement in any act of this nature will be viewed as abuse and exploitation by those who were filming the act.

Referring to reports of a land dispute, it said the issue becomes irrelevant in the presence of “clear” and “convincing” evidence that a heinous crime against children has occurred.

Although some persons with ulterior motives may be using this scandal to further their interests it should in no way overshadow the urgent need to ensure an honest and impartial investigation and prosecutions against those named as accused. The team finds no need to explore the merits of the land issue in the context of the present fact-finding.

The team heard credible testimonies that the crime remained concealed largely because extortion money was paid either by the children or their families to the accused though no specific names of persons receiving this money or details of any payment could be elicited from the persons interviewed.

Intimidation of the complainant families by the accused is also borne out by the statement of several persons from the village and the repeated complaints by the victims’ families to the police.

The team was told by multiple sources that the Ganda Singhwala SHO had on one occasion filmed the complainants who had come to register their complaint against the accused and had given that video to the accused persons.

Referring to police neglect of duty and collusion, it says the wide circulation of the video clippings and rumours going around the village preceding the registration of cases could and should not have escaped the notice of the police for so many months.

The incident involving Mst Bashiran indicates both collusion of the police and the conduct of former SHO Shah Waliullah is certainly suspected, while the police who spoke to the team were visibly on their guard and unwilling to give full information on the investigation of the case and the way the abuse reports were dismissed by police in May.

The team noticed the absence of any effective investigation by the police till the time of the fact-finding visit. “No witnesses had been examined. No evidence had been collected from the reported sites of abuse. Even the objectionable videos that were circulating in the village had not been confiscated.”

The team could not collect any specific information that political influence was used to manipulate the police investigation in favour of the accused, though the behaviour of the police and public statements by some PML-N leaders casts a doubt on their commitment to ensure that justice is done to the victims. Rana Sanaullah, for instance, tried to dismiss the whole incident as a fabrication instigated by persons with a vested interest in a land dispute.

The potential for opportunistic use of the incident for political purposes did exist as the lead in determining the course to be taken by the complainants in pursuing their complaints was being charted out by other than those directly affected, it said.

The team found the role of the political parties and their leadership very disturbing as their leaders and workers made inflammatory speeches against the provincial government, paying little attention to the need for protection of the children against abuse and exploitation, better legislation or policy for child protection.

The team concluded that their main aim was to use the situation to discredit the government instead of playing any constructive role in assuring justice for the victims.

The team found none, including the parents, were concerned about physical and psychological impact of the abuse on the victims. Suggestions by team about proper medical attention and psychological counseling of the children were given no serious attention, it lamented.

There was no discussion in the village on what needed to be done to assure that such criminal activity was to an end and never repeated, while no NGO or expert in dealing with the trauma of abuse was engaged in rehabilitative programme in the village.

The team recommends that the investigation progress should be monitored with meeting the JIT after a week, and following the case till filing of the challan.

A follow-up visit should be conducted to the village to ascertain intimidation of victims and their level of satisfaction with the progress of investigation.

It also seeks cooperation of NGOs and practitioners for holding counseling and awareness sessions in the village.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Polling for the first phase of local government elections in Punjab and Sindh will take place on October 12.

A meeting held at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wed­nesday, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) retired Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, decided that the schedule for the first of the three phases would be announced on Friday, Aug 21.

An ECP official told Dawn that the schedule for the remaining two phases would be announced at a later date.

Also read: ECP and Sindh, Punjab to defend phased LG polls plan in court

However, he was confident that the whole electoral exercise will be completed in the two larger provinces before the end of the year.

Schedule for remaining two phases will be announced at a later date

The official said that districts that were neither affected nor face any threat of flooding this year have been chosen for the first phase where polls will be held in 12 districts in Punjab, namely Lodhran, Vehari, Okara, Bahawalpur, Bahawalna­gar, Toba Tek Singh, Sargodha, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujrat, Rawalpindi and Attock.

In Sindh, elections in the first phase will be held in 13 districts — Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Khairpur, Larkana, Shikarpur and Qambar Shahdadkot.

According to the proposed schedule in both provinces, returning officers will issue public notices on August 24, while nomination papers can be filed from Aug 28 to Sept 1.

Returning officers will scrutinise nomination papers between Sept 3 and 8, while Sept 12 has been set as the last date for filing appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers.

The last date for a decision on such appeals will be Sept 17, and candidates will be allowed to withdraw until Sept 18.

The final list of candidates will be published the next day and polling will take place on October 12.

According to the relevant laws of the two provinces, local governments in Punjab and Sindh will have a term of five and four years, respectively.

Age limit

Under the Punjab local government law, a person is qualified to contest the elections if he is not less than 25 years old on Sept 1.

However, this minimum limit does not apply to candidates for youth councillor.

By contrast, this age has been set at 21 years by the Sindh government.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Thursday that it was talking to the United States over Coalition Support Fund (CSF) disbursement, which has been affected by Obama administration’s refusal to certify that Pakistani military operation in North Waziristan has disrupted the Haqqani network.

“The two sides are engaged in consultations on various issues including the CSF,” FO spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said at the weekly briefing while responding to multiple questions about the reports of US refusal to certify.

Take a look: US govt to continue seeking funds for reimbursing CSF

He emphasised that militants of all shades were being targeted. “Under the ongoing military operation Zarb-i-Azb, action is being taken across-the-board against all enemies of Pakistan and Afghanistan. There are no good or bad terrorists.”

He further said: “The success achieved by the operation in eliminating terrorists will benefit the entire region.”

Qazi Khalilullah said a legislation on CSF disbursement to Pakistan for the financial year 2015 requires US defence secretary to certify to the relevant Congressional committees that “Pakistan has undertaken military operations in North Waziristan that have contributed to significantly disrupting the safe haven and freedom of movement of the Haqqani network in Pakistan; and Pakistan has taken steps that have demonstrated a commitment to ensuring that North Waziristan does not return to being a safe haven for the Haqqani network”.

In case of non-certification $300 million will be withheld out of the annual allocation of $1 billion. The amount is paid to Pakistan as a reimbursement of the expenditures it had incurred on operations conducted in support of the US operation in Afghanistan. The arrangement has been continuing since 2001, but the certification requirement was added last year when the programme was extended for 2015.

Pakistani diplomats in Washington are trying to convince the US Department of Defence that Haqqani network has been uprooted from its sanctuary in North Waziristan.

Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Mr Sartaj Aziz had earlier at a media interaction said: “The release of Coalition Support Fund is always subject to certain conditionalities, and this time they have withheld their, sort of, certification pending certain discussion. We have had some discussion and we are continuing, so I hope that these conditionalities or whatever questions they have raised will be resolved before the financial year. American financial year ends on Sept 30, so the remaining funds can be released.”

Gen John Campbell, Commander of the Operation Resolute Support and United States Forces in Afghanistan, had in a discussion earlier this month at Brookings Institute in Washington shared the US concerns about Pakistani military not doing enough to uproot the Haqqani network.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Pakistan over the years has probably not done enough to be able to help us get after the Haqqani threat,” the Voice of America had quoted Mr Campbell as saying.

The US move can have serious implications for Pakistan and could sour ties ahead of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the White House in October.

KASHMIRI LEADERS: The spokesman said that Pakistan expected India not to hinder a meeting of Kashmiri leaders with Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz during his Delhi visit later this week for talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.

“Pakistan expects India to allow Kashmiri leaders to meet the Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs. Kashmiris are important stakeholders in the context of Jammu and Kashmir dispute and efforts to seek its peaceful settlement in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions,” the spokesman said while replying to a question regarding the reported detention of Kashmiri leaders.

Kashmiri leaders have been invited by Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit to attend a reception at the High Commission in Delhi on Aug 23.

Qazi Khalilullah said inviting Kashmiri leadership to the High Commission was a longstanding practice.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: At a time when the country is combating the scourge of terrorism, the Supreme Court was surprised on Thursday when it was informed that the total annual budget of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for chasing culprits and investigating crimes was a measly Rs1.6 million.

“We are talking about technology to track crimes and terrorism in this modern world and you are giving only Rs1.6m for the entire country,” Justice Qazi Faez Isa regretted while pointing to Interior Secretary Shahid Khan, who was summoned by the court to explain the situation.

“Do you think one lac rupees a month are enough for investigations in a country which is fighting terrorism? Is this how the government functions,” he wondered.

Take a look: FIA’s ‘transgression’ criticised

“Effectively, the FIA is a dead body,” said Justice Isa, a member of the three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja, which had taken up an appeal filed by Raja Mohammad Farooq seeking cancellation of bail for Azhar Iqbal allegedly involved in human trafficking.

Azhar Iqbal, along with Ali Raza and Walid Raza, is accused of illegally sending people to Greece through sea. Amjad Hussain, one of the victims who was smuggled to Greece in 2011 after a payment of Rs800,000, was later killed over a money dispute after reaching Turkey.

The interior secretary informed the court that the government had allocated Rs1.6 billion for the FIA in the budget for 2015-16. Of this, Rs1.3bn (80 per cent) was establishment (salary and others) cost and the rest (20pc) operational cost. The allocation was for 20 heads, of which Rs1.6m was earmarked for investigation of cases.

The secretary said that during 2014-15 the FIA had received 11,384 complaints and conducted investigations into 7,303 cases, adding that the entire information was being misconstrued and misunderstood as whenever the FIA fell short of money, the government provided it supplementary grants to meet its expenses.

The secretary said that during the current year the FIA had approached the interior ministry for an increase in the allocation for investigations to Rs110m, but the ministry revised it to Rs30m and sent it to the finance department, which further reduced the allocation to Rs3m.

At this the chief justice recalled a case in which FIA’s budget got exhausted because it had to spend Rs1.7m to bring a culprit from Ecuador. “We were told earlier in some other matter how 18,000 high-profile cases had to be dumped because of lack of funds,” he regretted.

How the FIA was carrying out its functions under the National Action Plan (NAP) with such meagre funds, Justice Dost Mohammad wondered.

“For God’s sake don’t play with the fate of the country,” he said, adding that people went abroad with great difficulty but they still managed to send $18bn annually as remittances. “But instead of facilitating them our finance minister visits Dubai and Qatar to arrange $2bn form international lenders that has to be paid in four years with interest,” Justice Dost Mohammad regretted.

Citing an example of Chaman, a town in Balochistan bordering Afghanistan, Justice Isa said that there was no official record of thousands of people crossing into Pakistan daily because of lack of monitoring by the FIA’s immigration wing.

“Are our borders secured? Everything is going up in this country, but not the amount meant for investigations. This shows that fighting crime is no priority for the government,” he regretted.

While adjourning the case to Friday, the chief justice asked Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt to submit a report explaining that the Supreme Court should shut the case because all was well and the FIA was working efficiently with such a meagre amount for investigations and did not need fund because it was adequate.

The report should also explain why the culprits involved in human smuggling were not being brought back by issuing red warrants through the Interpol.

“We actually have no compassion,” the chief justice said, adding that people were dying every day while leaving the country, but “we live in ivory towers”.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2015

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PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Thursday passed a bill to amend the Ehtesab Commission Act for barring all courts, including the Supreme Court, from granting bail to the suspects held under that law.

“All offences under this (Ehtesab Commission) Act shall be non-bailable and no court shall have jurisdiction to grant bail to any person accused of an offence under this Act,” said Section 23 (II)(3) of the Ehtesab Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which was unanimously passed by the assembly.

Certain amendments were made to the existing law to make accountability process more aggressive.

PA passes amendments to law to make accountability process more stringent

Opposition leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman, who belongs to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, opposed amendments and asked the government to refer the bill to the House’ committee before the passage stage. He was of the view that constant amendments in the laws were no good practice.

Speaker Asad Qaisar said the government could make such legislation under Rules 82 and 83 of the assembly’s Procedure and Conduct of Business Rules and gave floor to the law minister Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi to move reso9lution for the passage of the bill.

The government had tabled the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2015, on Tuesday to remove certain gaps from the law.

Several suspects arrested under this law have got bail from the Peshawar High Court prompting the government to make amendments to it to ensure applicability of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Minerals and mines development minister Ziaullah Afridi is already in the custody of the Ehtesab Commission. A petition filed by his brother seeking Ziaullah’s release has been pending with the high court.

Under the amended law, anyone convicted for an offence under this Act shall not be entitled to any remission in his sentence.

The amended law empowers the government to declare any place a police station for the purposes of this Act, in terms of clause(s) of sub-section (1) of Section 4 of the code.

“Provided that in exigencies, which requires immediate action, the Director General, or an officer duly authorized by him, may declare and notify any place to be a police station or a sub-jail, for the purpose of arrest or efficient investigations, in the interest of justice.”

Making amendment to Section 42(1) the law said notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, each matter brought before the court under this Act, shall be disposed of within three months from the date of reference being made.

After framing of charges for the trial of a suspect, the court shall hear the case on day-to-day basis.

The amended law said it would be the responsibility of the commission and suspects to arrange legal representation and presence of its attorney or pleader on each hearing, failing which the Court shall proceed in the absence of attorney or pleader.

The house also passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government (Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2015, which was tabled by local government minister Inayatullah Khan.

Amended Section 79 of the law said provided that the nazim and naib nazim of the district or tehsil or town council, as the case may be, shall be elected by votes of the majority of the total members of the respective district council or tehsil or town council.

The house also passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2015.

After amendment, the services of employees will become pensionable and made the institution-based practice optional for doctors and staff of Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex and Abbottabad’s Ayub Teaching Hospital.

Under the amended law, the employees opting for the private practice within the premises of the hospital, clinics, imaging facilities and laboratories of the MTI, may be entitled to such increase in salary, adjustment, bonuses or other ancillary benefits.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2015

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KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) expressed “disappointment” over Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Karachi on Thursday and said he did not respond to questions raised by the party about the operation launched in the city by law-enforcement agencies.

Speaking at a press conference at the MQM’s headquarters, Dr Farooq Sattar alleged that while Mr Sharif was chairing a meeting held to review the progress made in the operation, the law-enforcement agencies were busy arresting MQM workers.

“We are extremely disappointed that the prime minister did not come up with answers to our questions (about the operation),” he said.

“It seems that Mr Sharif was presented a gift of arrest of more MQM workers. Since the constitutional violations were taking place under the prime minister, how can one expect anything good to emerge (from the operation)?”

Dr Sattar said that under Article 10 of the Constitution it was mandatory for law-enforcement agencies to state reasons for arresting someone, reiterating his party’s claim that MQM workers were being detained illegally in the ongoing operation.

“It’s no longer a secret that MQM is being cornered,” he said.

“On the one hand live telecast of Altaf Hussain’s speeches has been banned, in line with the minus-Altaf formula, on the other MQM workers are being arrested without any defined charges. Who will inform us about the charges against our 160 workers who have been arrested recently?”

He announced that a demonstration would be organised outside the Karachi Press Club on Friday against the “ban” imposed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on live telecast of MQM chief’s speeches.

“The unannounced ban on live telecast of Mr Hussain’s speeches is illegal and we are going to move the court against this ban by Pemra,” he said.

“After moves to... split the party into different factions failed, various moves are being made to corner MQM. This Pemra ban is one of them,” Dr Sattar added.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee approved on Thursday a bill for the establishment of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child. It also okayed amendments to existing laws, changing the definition of a ‘child’ to someone who was “under 14 years of age”.

The only exception to this definition will be under the new Section 377-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), pertaining to unnatural acts or sexual abuse against a child, under which a child would be defined as someone at the age of “18 or younger”.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights, met at Parliament House to discuss amendments to various sections of the PPC, 1860 and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1898 aimed at improving protections for minors against exploitation.

JI MNA disputes definition of ‘child’; says commission will be a burden on exchequer

Chaired by MNA Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk, the committee decided to reduce the punishment for crimes under Section 377-A from life imprisonment to seven years. The new amendment also has a broader description for ‘sexual abuse’. Following objections by Syed Naveed Qamar, the term “below the age of 18 years” was added to the sub-section.

The committee also approved amendments in sections 292A (Exposure to seduction) and 292B (Child Pornography). The punishments suggested in the bill for these crimes and in other sections, such as 328A (Cruelty to a Child) is seven years in prison.

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) MNA Ayesha Syed strongly objected to the cap on this sentence, arguing that it should be open-ended. She also said that Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) should be consulted to define terms and prescribe punishment according to Sharia law.

The MNA referred verses from the Holy Quran and said that the holy book was clear on the punishment for sexual offenses, but four witnesses were required to prove those allegations.

Her arguments were opposed by several committee members and MNA Mumtaz Tarar said that the Quranic stipulation of four witnesses was not jurisprudentially sound.

“Why would a criminal commit such an act in front of four people?” he asked.

PTI MNA Ali Mohammad Khan added that modern means of evidence collection, such as DNA testing may also be used to prove such allegations.

The chair then implored lawmakers to not be emotional and demonstrate cautiousness and judiciousness. He said that not prescribing a maximum sentence would leave a judge with too much power, which was not good for the system.

“For instance, a judge may give a sentence of 20 years, which is even more than life imprisonment,” he said.

Commission on Child Rights

Discussion on the establishment of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) also drew criticism from JI MNA Ayesha Syed, who argued that the commission would be a “burden on the national economy”.

She argued that issues related to children’s rights could be dealt by the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR).

“Usually, a mother and a child are under one roof,” she said.

The establishment of the NCRC was also opposed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Syed Naveed Qamar, who argued that after the 18th Amendment, children’s rights were a provincial matter.

However, law ministry officials reminded the committee that a body to protect children’s rights was required under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, compelling the committee to approve the bill.

The NCRC Bill 2015 seeks to establish an independent commission which would monitor, protect and promote children’s rights.

The independent commission will have 18 members and hold the powers equal to a civil court. The members would include a chairperson, a member from each province, a member from Islamabad Capital Territory and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), two women members and a minority member. The commission will also include a child member and secretary, both of whom would be appointed by the federal government.

The bill stipulates that all adult members would be required to have 10 years of experience in child rights but does not specify the criteria for the selection of the child member.

The chairperson and every member other than ex-officio members will hold office for three years, extendable for a second term of three years, but for no more than two terms.

The NCRC will deal with all issues related to children’s rights and all crimes which infringe upon a child’s rights such as violence, abuse, exploitation, trafficking, pornography, prostitution.

The commission is mandated to examine international instruments and undertake periodical review of existing policies and programmes on child rights and make recommendations for their effective implementation.

The bill for the establishment of the NCRC and the amendments to existing laws will be tabled to the lower house. If approved, the bill and the amendments will be reviewed by the National Assembly the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice before being presented to the Senate.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2015

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BADIN: Dr Arif Alvi, central leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, has lashed out at Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman for ‘his hypocritical role’ in government efforts to bring back to the assemblies Muttahida Qaumi Movement parliamentarians who had recently tendered resignations together.

Maulana had always been after perks and privileges as he could not live without power, said Dr Alvi while addressing party workers and later talking to journalists here late on Wednesday.

He said that dirty politics of the JUI-F chief had now come out in the open for everyone to see. Maulana’s followers and voters should ask him what principles his politics was based on.

He supported the ongoing operation in Karachi and said he hoped the law enforcement agencies conducting operations against terrorists and criminals would not disappoint people this time.

Dr Alvi said that Reham Khan had been restrained from playing any role in party affairs after media heaped severe criticism on her and held her responsible for defeat in the recently held by-election in Haripur. The PTI believed in clean politics and it would firmly adhere to its principles, he added.

He held both the Pakistan Peoples Party and MQM responsible for the worst law and order situation and backwardness in Sindh and said because of massive corruption the province was reeling under abject poverty which was forcing people to commit suicide.

He believed the PTI would emerge as the most popular party in Sindh as party chief Imran Khan was now taking a keen interest in core issues of the province.

He would soon visit different parts of Sindh to awaken people. Only the PTI could rid Sindh people of massive corruption being committed by PPP leadership who only believed in plundering resources of the province and siphoning them off to other countries, he said.

Dr Alvi said that his party was encouraging youths to actively participate in politics and help build a better Pakistan. The PTI might make an electoral alliance with clean people in the forthcoming local bodies polls in Sindh, he said.

Answering a question, he demanded a thorough inquiry into disclosures of the former federal minister for climate change about the country’s leading spy agency and an in-depth probe into the murderous attack on MQM legislator Rashid Godil.

He said that if an impartial probe was conducted into the attack it could bring to surface many facts that might help law enforcement agencies in their ongoing operation in Karachi.

Local PTI leaders Syed Tahir Ahmed Shah, Junaid Khan Nizamani and Allah Dad Nizamani also spoke at the gathering while Zubair Fazli, local leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, announced joining the PTI on the occasion along with his colleagues.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2015

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QUETTA: Commander of Southern Command Lt Gen Mohammad Nasser Khan Janjua said on Thursday that operation Zarb-i-Azab would continue till the elimination of the last terrorist.

He was speaking as chief guest at a speech competition on “Jeeway Bal­ochistan, Jeeway Pakistan” organised by the Balochistan Debating Society and Devote Balochistan organisation at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engine­ering and Management Sciences.

He said the operation was fully backed by the nation because it wanted to see restoration of peace in the country. People also have fought terrorism with courage.

Now the atmosphere of fear was over and people were feeling a positive change which had boosted their morale, he said.

He urged students to shun fear as things had changed and were improving with the passage of each day. He called Pakistan a gift of God which could not be snatched by anybody.

Gen Janjua urged students to continue their mission to promote patriotism.

He said he agreed with the student speakers that the country’s bright future was linked to a developed and prosperous Balochistan.

He said the spirit of patriotism reflected in the students’ speeches showed that nobody could harm Balochistan and Pakistan.

Vice Chancellor Farooq Ahmed Bazai said that over the past 13 years, the university had produced around 7,500 graduates who were serving in different parts of the country.

Salma Mohammad Hasni, chairperson of Devote Balochistan, said her organisation was working on rehabilitation of victims of terrorism.

Gen Janjua announced prizes of Rs100,000, Rs50,000 and Rs25,000 for the students who secured first, second and third positions in the contest.

Hira Mehmood of the Iqra City College won first position, Hammad Shakeel of the Al Hamd University second and Shaista Gulfam of the BUITEMS third position.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2015

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KARACHI: The chief minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, opposed a monitoring committee for the Karachi operation and claimed that they never needed one. During an interview with a private news channel on Thursday night, Mr Shah said that being chief minister he was “captain” of the Karachi operation and the proposed monitoring committee was never needed as elected representatives were looking after the law enforcement agencies’ actions.

“There is no need of any committee to monitor the operation,” he said. “I am captain of this entire exercise and I am the elected representative of the people. So when the democratic set up is in place there is no need of such committees.” He added that even the federal [government] agreed with this argument.

Take a look: Federal agencies 'unnecessarily aggressive' in Sindh, Qaim tells Nawaz

Mr Shah’s thoughts were in opposition to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) demand for a monitoring committee. The MQM argued that the Karachi operation so far had been impartial as law enforcement agencies were only targeting its workers by calling them criminals, terrorists and extortionists.

However, the chief minister was critical when asked about recent actions carried out by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, against senior officials and provincial institutions over alleged corruption.

Mr Shah said he strongly objected to actions taken by these agencies. He added that when he raised the matter with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he said he was unaware about actions being taken by federal agencies against provincial departments. Qaim Ali Shah likened raids by FIA, NAB and Rangers to an invasion.

The chief minister categorically denied any association with Uzair Jan Baloch. He claimed that he had never met the man nor was Uzair Baloch a member of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party. “He [Uzair Baloch] was caught in Dubai,” said Mr Shah. “Then our police team went there to gain his custody but it could not materialise for unknown reasons. Now I don’t know if he is still in custody in Dubai or has been released.”

Despite calling himself “captain” of the Karachi operation, the chief minister admitted that he was not in the loop when Rangers raided the MQM headquarters Nine Zero in March.

The chief minister claimed investigators probing the attack on MQM legislator Abdul Rashid Godil were moving fast and a breakthrough was expected within three days.

“Recently our law enforcement agencies have carried out major operations against terrorist outfits in Karachi that led to the killing of key Al Qaeda men,” he said. “You will see the same spirit in this case as well.”

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2015

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RAWALPINDI: Heavy rainfall prevented Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from travelling between the twin cities via helicopter after arriving from Karachi on Thursday evening.

From the airport, Mr Sharif was taken to his Islamabad residence by road. The prime minister’s movement has been a source of concern for the security establishment after a security alert was issued for senior political figures.

Normally, the senior superintendent of police (security) supervises the security arrangements during VVIP movements.

However, in view of the Attock suicide attack, Regional Police Officer Mohammad Wisal Fakhar Sultan Raja and City Police Officer Israr Ahmed Abbasi personally supervised the security arrangements during the movement of the prime minister’s convoy.

Roads leading to the airport were blocked while sharp shooters were deployed on rooftops and sniffer dogs used to inspect the route.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: An event for the launching of a report on the tobacco industry, published by non-governmental organization (NGO) TheNetwork, was inaugurated by cancer patients on Thursday.

The report, titled “Smoky Truth”, highlights the tactics used by the tobacco industry to maximize profits and mislead government around the world, and discusses the importance of corporate social responsibility.

The cancer patients attending the launch narrated their personal experiences with smoking and cancer.

Mohammad Ziakat, 31, worked in Dubai and was a chain smoker, before he was diagnosed with throat cancer. “I quit smoking and began treatment immediately. So far, cancer treatment has cost me Rs.400,000, and I lost my job in Dubai because I could not return in time,” Ziakat told the audience.

Feroz Din, 55, a blacksmith from a small village in the Haripur district, said he smoked for 45 years and had to quit after he was diagnosed with throat cancer.

“Because of the disease, I had to sell my property and belongings to pay for the treatment. Smoking has destroyed my life, and I hope others do not take up this habit as it causes the whole family suffering,” he said.

Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Faisal Sultan said cigarette smoking is a major cause of lung cancer.

“A smoker is 17 times more at risk of having lung cancer than a non-smoker. In addition to cancer, smoking also causes heart disease. It has been established that as soon as a smoker quits, his chances of survival increase,” he said.

Pims Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram said that smoking needs to be discouraged at every forum.

“The government needs a strong regulatory framework to ensure more people do not pick up the habit. Religious scholars should issue fatwas against smoking, like other drugs,” he said.

The Pims Vice Chancellor said a study should be conducted into the Federal Bureau Revenue’s (FBR) statistics to draw a comparison between earnings from taxes on tobacco products and the health costs to the country.

“The health cost is definitely higher than the revenues collected by the tobacco industry,” he said.

Human rights activist Nasreen Azhar said “I have been a victim of passive smoking. We need to send a collective message to the government to make the tobacco industry accountable for attracting people to smoking,” she said.

TheNetwork Executive Coordinator Nadeem Iqbal said collecting information and compiling the report was challenging. He said that this report is just the tip of the iceberg.

“The report should be seen in the context of national and international tobacco control laws, where the industry is going into litigation against tobacco control regulations. This report will help develop legal arguments against the industry,” he said.

“The report also calls for the health community to create awareness among patients, and urge them to quit smoking as soon as possible,” he added.

He called upon doctors and lawyers to encourage cancer patients to sue the tobacco industry and to claim damages. He said lawyers should provide free legal aid to such patients.

Health Services Academy representative Dr Shahzad Ali Khan said the tobacco industry is more influential and resourceful than tobacco control advocates.

“We need to design a strategy according to the influence and power of the tobacco industry,” he said.

International Islamic University Professor Dr Aziz-ur-Rehman said the tobacco industry uses litigation as a tool. He discussed the case of Australia, where tobacco control advocates fought against the tobacco industry until plain cigarette packs were introduced in the country.

Nuclear Medicine Oncology and Radiology Institute (NORI) Head of Oncology Dr Mohammad Faheem warned that tobacco would become the leading cause of deaths, globally, by 2020.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2015

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SUKKUR: Two youths belonging to the Jogi community declared ‘insane’ and tied to different trees with chains within the compound of a shrine near Rohri for about five months attracted attention of many people when they talked and behaved normally insisting that they had never suffered from any mental disorder. They begged for help pleading that their families harboured misconceptions leading to such treatment being meted out to them.

Wazir Jogi, a resident of Bagarji village of Sukkur district, and Jumman Jogi, a resident of Jamro village of Shikarpur district, were brought to the Dost Mohammed Shah shrine within a graveyard near Rohri town by their respective families about five months ago with an identical plea that they needed spiritual treatment for their mental disorder.

Dhani Bukhsh Buriro, the custodian of the shrine, tied them to two different trees assuring their families that they would get rid of the ‘malady’ in due course of time. Since then the ‘patients’ have been undergoing the treatment and their families waiting for divine help. Some of the regular visitors to the shrine said the patients were among the many given the same treatment at the shrine in the past.

However, a group of people gave a hearing to the two patients and seemed convinced by their arguments. Jumman, speaking patiently, stated that he was forced by his family to marry an elderly woman to which he objected and insisted that his bride must be younger than him. He said he defied the family’s decision and reacted violently when they implemented their decision. He said his life was spoiled and he turned psychopath. “Resultantly, they brought me here to undergo such an inhuman treatment,” he said in a normal tone. The other youth, Juman Jogi, said that he was brought here after high fever affected his brain in 2010. He recalled that due to inappropriate treatment, he started behaving strangely and harmed his family members under the influence of pain and other disorders. He said his family felt he had gone mad and needed spiritual treatment.

Both the men urged the sympathetic crowd to help them get rid of the inhuman treatment.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2015

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