KARACHI: Karachi police chief Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar conceded on Friday that unlike targeted killings and acts of terrorism, the incidence of street crime in the metropolis had not come down.

He said that for a city of over 18 million people there were only 30,000 policemen who were already battling organised criminal gangs, armed wings of political parties and militants of banned outfits.

Speaking to newsmen after signing a memorandum of understanding between the Karachi police and Voice of Karachi (VoK), a non-governmental organisation, he said due to unavailability of the required number of force, the law enforcement agency was focusing on technological support for regular policing and investigations.

“The signing ceremony today is an initiative on the same line,” he said. “We are well aware of the policing challenges in the city and for that a comprehensive strategy is being devised to fight every crime. That’s true that the ratio of street crime has not declined to that extent despite the operation in Karachi, but we hope to change the situation positively very soon.”

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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KARACHI: The construction work on the twin nuclear power plant project is moving forward with absolute disregard for the safety and well-being of 20 million people who live in Karachi. Further construction on the project must be halted, says a press statement jointly released by civil society organisations and human rights activists on Friday.

The federal and Sindh governments, it says, have failed to consider the serious risks posed by these nuclear power plants, which included a potentially devastating nuclear accident.

“The approval of this project has come without proper public consultation and involved repeated failures to uphold environmental laws that are supposed to protect the public,” says the statement that has come after construction work on one of the nuclear power plants was officially launched by the prime minister on Thursday.

According to the statement, the disregard for public consultations and legal oblig­ations could be gauged from the fact that the Environmental Impact Asse­ssment (EIA) report was initially submitted in utmost secrecy and there was no public consultation process.

“The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) became a part of this recklessness when it first approved the initial EIA report in haste without public consultation, which is required under the law. Then, it held a public hearing on the orders of the Sindh High Court in a very objectionable manner.

“The Environmental Impact Assessment process was deeply flawed. Sepa chose to overlook a number of objections raised by the public. It violated its own laws by failing to inform the public representatives why their critical comments were rejected or ignored. Its approval glossed over serious threats to public interests and the environment,” the statement points out.

The provincial environmental watchdog and the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), it says, callously overlooked the fact that the reactor spent fuel storage pool could also face an accident and that in such an event there is nothing that can stop a very high level of most lethal radioactivity to be dispersed in the direction of some of the most dense population centres of Karachi.

They complained that Sepa in giving a blanket approval to the project failed to ask the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) to explore the option for other alternative sources of electricity generation as required under the law, such as wind and solar power — currently the most rapidly growing sources of electricity generation all over the world. Even in China, annual growth in nuclear power plants is only five to 10 per cent of that in wind energy power plants.

Besides the risks to life, the project, the statement says, completely ignores the social and economic consequences of a major nuclear accident on Karachi, or how people will be evacuated. The project proponents have not considered the effect of a serious reactor accident on the industries and businesses in Karachi.

“What is most alarming is the unreasonable refusal on the part of the PAEC to accept that lethal radioactivity could breach the reactor area into the environment, putting in grave danger lives and well-being of the 20 million population of Karachi.

“Most of the time of the year wind blows from the reactor site towards the city. Yet the PAEC, Sepa and the PNRA refuse to accept the international recommendation of sitting nuclear power reactors at least 30 km away from population centres and instead deem it sufficient to protect only a sparsely populated area up to 5 km around the reactor site.

“The PAEC has no plans to protect the Karachi city population, including evacuating it, in case a severe accident happens at the reactor,” it says.

Together with the PAEC, Sepa, too, is not concerned with the impact of the large amount of heat that the four proposed reactors at the site would discharge into the sea for the next 60 years, especially on the marine life near the coast, which would severely harm the livelihood of nearby fishermen communities.

The PAEC, it says, is ignoring the fact that the reactor being imported is a new design that has never and nowhere been tested.

“The Hualong-1 design is a hybrid French technology and the first reactor of this kind being constructed in China has at least 15pc of its components imported from France. China will not be allowed to use them in the Karachi reactors.

“Instead, the Karachi reactor will have Chinese versions of these components, and hence Karachi reactors would become the first testing ground for at least 15pc supplied components. This increases the level of risk, which the PAEC and the PNRA refuse to accept,” it says.

Further construction of the Karachi reactors should be halted. Priority must be given to safeguarding the people of Karachi and the environment from a nuclear accident, however improbable.

The statement is endorsed by executive director of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) Karamat Ali, chairperson of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) Mohammad Ali Shah, Roland deSouza of Shehri-Citizens for Better Environment, senior scientist and president of the Pakistan Peace Coalition Dr A. H. Nayyar, senior architect Arif Belguami and Asad Iqbal Butt of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Karachi.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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KARACHI: The issue of government college students needing tuitions and private students not really in need of any such thing came up as the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) announced the results for Part II of Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) pre-engineering and science general groups here on Friday.

“I took tuitions. They helped me cover the course better though I tried attending college regularly,” said Adoos Khalid of Begum Amna Majeed Malik (BAMM) PECHS Government College for Women, who stood first in pre-engineering with 1,000 marks out of a total 1,100 with a 90.91 percentage. The student who was hoping to do electrical engineering from NED University said that she thought her course books were perfect.

On the other hand Urooj Nabi of Bahria College Karsaz, who bagged 999 marks to come second in the same group, said that she didn’t feel the need for taking any tuitions. “I thought it better to concentrate on what was being taught in class,” she said though adding that she found reference books more helpful than course books which she thought were outdated and substandard.

“I took tuitions for every subject that I took during my two-year studies as I couldn’t attend college regularly because of transport issues,” said Mohammad Hassaan of Adamjee Government Science College, who came third in the group with 996 marks.

Amna Salam, who stood first in the science general group with 957 out of 1,100 marks to pass with a percentage of 87 and Aiman Muneer of the same college, who got 933 marks and stood second, also said that they had taken no tuitions. Meanwhile, Sana Habib Airri of Government Degree Science/Commerce College Malir Cantt who was third in the group with 929 marks, said that she did welcome the extra coaching as the studies at her college pretty much ended around December in the final year.

“We have to look into this issue of tuitions and coaching as usually it is the college teachers themselves who are running these businesses while not doing their duty in colleges,” said BIEK chairman Muhammad Akhtar Ghori. “We will also take action on colleges persistently giving below average results,” he added.

“There is this impression that out of the four bodies conducting HSSC examinations such as BIEK, AKU Board, Federal Board and Cambridge, we happen to be the weakest as far as standard of education goes. We need to do away with this impression by working hard,” he said.

Commenting on girls bagging most top positions these days, Commissioner of Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, the chief guest on the occasion, said that he was very proud of daughters getting ahead in all fields. “Education is the only thing that will take you forward,” he stressed.

Besides, the usual prizes of books, all the top three positions holders of both groups were also presented with cash rewards of Rs50,000, Rs30,000 and Rs20,000, respectively.

Some 31,241 candidates registered for the pre-engineering exams while 30,903 appeared and 14,037 remained successful with a 45.42 percentage. Of these 1,233 got the ‘A-1’, 2,765 got ‘A’, 3,701 got ‘B’, 4,106 got ‘C’, 2,103 got ‘D’ and 129 got the ‘E’ grades.

Meanwhile, in the science general group, 2,287 candidates registered while 2,250 appeared for the exams while 987 remained successful with a 43.87 percentage. Only 17 students in general science bagged the ‘A-1’ grade as 123 got ‘A’, 290 got ‘B’, 399 got ‘C’ and 158 got the ‘D’ grades.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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KARACHI: The outgoing country director of World Bank Rachid Benmessaoud called on Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah at CM House to say farewell on Friday.

The meeting, which was also attended by additional chief secretary for development Aijaz Ali Khan, former additional CS (development) Mohammad Wasim and Principal Secretary to CM Alumuddin Bullo, was informed that the World Bank contributed a total of $1.3 billion assistance for the implementation of development projects in Sindh.Appreciating bank’s role in the execution of projects in the province, the chief minister said the WB-funded projects in the irrigation, agriculture, livestock, education sectors and public sector management reforms and skill development projects would put the province on the road to progress and prosperity. He lauded the financial assistance of Rs40 billion for the implementation on Sindh Education Reform project and said he was very much optimistic about good result of this project.

Earlier briefing the meeting, Mr Wasim said the bank approved six more projects last year with total financial support of $675 million. He said the World Bank was already financing the implementation of Rs30 billion irrigated agriculture productivity enhancement project, Rs8.6 billion agriculture growth and Rs20 billion barrage improvement projects. Also, he said, the bank agreed to provide Rs40 billion for education reforms project and Rs25 billion for disaster management and construction of small dams in Sindh. Besides, the bank was also providing Rs5.13 billion for Sindh public sector management reform project, Rs28.840 billion for water sector improvement, Rs1.732 billion for skill development, Rs3.696 billion for nutrition support programme and Rs6.710 billion for the Sindh Global Partnership for Education project, he added.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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KARACHI: Workers and supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement gathered in front of the Karachi Press Club on Friday to protest against the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority for allegedly imposing an unannounced ban on airing Altaf Hussain’s speeches on television channels.

Carrying tri-colour party flags and placards, the protesters, including women, shouted slogans against Pemra and demanded that the unannounced ban be lifted forthwith as it was tantamount to curbing the freedom of expression.

Speaking on the occasion, senior MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar declared that his party would never accept any minus-Altaf formula.

He claimed that in Islamabad certain quarters were plotting to create “a new MQM”. “We will oppose anyone who talks about minus-one [formula],” he added.

Dr Sattar said that the Pemra ban on Mr Hussain’s speeches was unjust. The freedom of expression was being blocked in Karachi as authorities were not willing to tolerate voices of dissent, he added.

He said that Mr Hussain was following the policy of reconciliation and peace.

About the Karachi operation, he said that the MQM never demanded an end to the operation.

He said that the MQM only asked the authorities to conduct an impartial and transparent operation within the legal and constitutional framework.

The MQM leader said that at present human rights and constitutional liberties were being violated in Karachi in the name of the operation.

“A worst kind of dictatorship has been imposed in Karachi in the name of democracy.”

He said that all political problems must be resolved politically without putting illegal pressure.

Other MQM leaders, including Abdul Haseeb and Gulfraz Khattak, also criticised Pemra and demanded that the “unjust ban” be lifted.

They said that the MQM was being punished for raising its voice against injustices.

Later, the participants in the protest demonstration dispersed peacefully.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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NEW DELHI: Security adviser level talks between India and Pakistan, scheduled for August 23 and 24, are in deep trouble as both nations reached a deadlock over Pakistan's insistence to hold a meeting with Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders in New Delhi on August 23 despite India’s ‘advice’ to the contrary.

According to India's government-run news agency – Press Trust of India – talks were called off by Indian authorities on Friday. But the news agency immediately toned down its rhetoric saying that talks were “unlikely” after recent developments.

India’s External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Friday said unilateral imposition of new conditions and “distortion of the agreed agenda cannot be the basis for going forward,” after Pakistan officially rejected India's advice of not holding a meeting with separatist Hurriyat leaders in Delhi.

Indian Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan J P Singh on Friday visited the Foreign Office and delivered a copy of the statement made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs regarding the upcoming talks.

“We have conveyed the decision of our Ministry of External Affairs,” said Singh after his visit.

According to diplomatic sources, India has demanded that the Kashmir issue be dropped from the agenda, and Pakistan cancel its meeting with Hurriyat leaders.

Responding to India's statement, the Foreign Office in a news release said: “We are deeply disappointed at the statement of the spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, putting forth pre-conditions for official talks to take place with Pakistan at the level of the National Security Advisers.”

The Foreign Office said Pakistan's invitation to the Kashmiri Hurriyat leadership to a reception in honour of the Sartaj Aziz on August 23 was an “established practice and tradition” and “sees no reason to depart from it.”

“After all, the Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders are genuine stakeholders in efforts to find a lasting solution of the Kashmir dispute.”

Pakistan said India's refusal to engage in talks with Pakistan on this pretext was a repeat of what it did when it cancelled foreign secretary level talks in August last year. “This is the second time that India has chosen to go back on a decision mutually agreed upon between the two prime ministers, to engage in a comprehensive dialogue, by coming up with frivolous pretexts,” said the FO statement.

Also read: India calls off foreign secretary level talks with Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, while talking to Dawn.com, said: “Pakistan will not drop Kashmir from its agenda nor will it cancel the meeting with Hurriyat leaders.” He went on to say that the future of these talks was in India's hands since it was the host.

“Pakistan is willing to participate in the talks but without any pre-conditions.”

Earlier today, Pakistan had conveyed to India it would not cancel Sartaj Aziz's meeting with Hurriyat leaders, according to a statement published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

The message was conveyed to the Indian High Commissioner by Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry.

Read: Pakistan rejects Indian 'advice' on meeting with Hurriyat leaders

Pakistan's reply was in response to the Indian statement on Friday which said that National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz should not hold any meeting with All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) representatives on his visit to India, and termed any such a meeting as “inappropriate”.

Pakistan had proposed and conveyed to India a comprehensive agenda, reflecting the broad understanding reached between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian premier Narendra Modi in Ufa, that all outstanding issues, including Kashmir and other disputes, as well as, terrorism issues and other confidence building measures will be discussed between the two countries.

Last year, the Indian government had called off foreign secretary talks after Pakistan had "consulted" with Kashmiri separatists before the talks.

The statement came after three Kashmiri separatist leaders were placed under house arrest but were later freed.

The meeting between the two countries' security advisers was supposed to signal the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan.

Read more: India proposes security advisers’ meeting

Since the meeting between the two premiers in July, militant attacks and border skirmishes have poisoned the atmosphere between Islamabad and New Delhi.

The invitation for dialogue came from New Delhi and in the shadow of the July 27 militant attack in Gurdaspur, which some Indian leaders have blamed on Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: Two days after announcing that the first phase of local government elections in Punjab and Sindh will be held from Oct 12, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided on Friday to put them off till Oct 31.

The decision was taken at the request of the two provincial governments which cited the flood situation and involvement of district administrations and law-enforcement agencies in rehabilitating the affected people and maintaining law and order during Muharram.

Know more: LG polls in Punjab, Sindh from Oct 12

Accepting the plea about the need to maintain peace during Muharram, the ECP extended the time for the beginning of the electoral process and made some changes in the tentative schedule announced earlier.

Process for first of three phases to begin on Oct 31

The lists of districts where the elections will be held in each phase have also been changed.

The 12 districts of Punjab where the polls were to be held in the first phase under the plan announced earlier were Lodhran, Vehari, Okara, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Toba Tek Singh, Sargodha, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujrat, Rawalpindi and Attock. Under the tentative schedule released on Friday, Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, Attock and Toba Tek have been replaced with Lahore, Bhakkar, Pakpattan and Chakwal.

The number of districts in Sindh selected for the first phase has been reduced from 13 to eight. Under the previous announcement, Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Khairpur, Larkana, Shikarpur and Qambar Shahdadkot were to be covered during the phase. And now Larkana, Khairpur, Shikarpur and Qambar Shahdadkot are the only four districts left unaffected and Sukkur, Ghotki, Jacobabad and Kashmore have been added to the list.

The schedule for the first phase, which was to be announced on Friday, has been delayed and now will be announced on Aug 26. A public notice will be issued by returning officers on Sept 1 about nomination papers which will be submitted from Sept 7 to 11 and scrutinised from Sept 13 to 18.

The announcement of the schedule for the second phase in both provinces is planned for Sept 3 and Nov 19 will be the polling day under the tentative schedule.

The polls in 12 districts of Punjab and 15 of Sindh will take place in the second phase. These are Khanewal, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Attock and Jhelum in Punjab and Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushero Feroze, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tharparkar in Sindh.

The schedule for third phase will be announced on Sept 21 and polling will be held on Dec 3. The final round will cover 12 districts of Punjab and six of Sindh -- Layyah, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Jhang, Khushab, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Narowal, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan and all the six districts of Karachi division.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has conveyed to India that it would not be possible for it to accept the Indian government's advice regarding the National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz's meeting with Hurriyat leaders, according to a statement published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

The message was conveyed to the Indian High Commissioner by Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry.

The statement also said Pakistan is willing to go ahead with the meeting of the NSAs but no pre-conditions will be accepted in this regard.

The press release said India's insistence to introduce conditionalities and restrict the agenda for the dialogue demonstrates 'lack of seriousness to engage with Pakistan'.

Read: Pakistan invites separatists for meeting 'to irritate India': Indian analyst

The statement further said that Kashmir is a disputed territory as per the UN Security Council resolutions which are yet to be implemented. It added that Pakistani leadership has always interacted with representatives of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), during their visits to India there is no reason to depart from this routine practice.

The Hurriyat leaders are true representatives of the Kashmiri people of India-held Kashmir and regarded by Pakistan as genuine stakeholders in the efforts to find a lasting solution of the Kashmir Dispute, according to the press release.

Pakistan has proposed and conveyed to India a comprehensive agenda, reflecting the broad understanding reached between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Premier Narendra Modi in Ufa, that all outstanding issues, including Kashmir and other disputes, as well as, terrorism issues and other Confidence Building Measures will be discussed between the two countries.

Read: Pakistan's meeting with Hurriyat representatives not 'appropriate': India

Earlier today, Spokesperson of Indian Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup in a series of tweets had said that Sartaj Aziz should not hold any meeting with All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) representatives, and termed any such a meeting as "not appropriate".

Sartaj Aziz and his Indian counterpart are scheduled to meet in New Delhi for the first time on August 23 to discuss terrorism-related issues.

The meeting between the two countries' national security advisers was decided upon when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi held a meeting in Russia last month.

Ball is in India's court: Pervaiz Rashid

Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, has said on Friday that the ball is in India's court as far as the talks between National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval are concerned.

"We are prepared to hold talks for holding talks, but we will not compromise on our rules and principals," said Rashid.

"Our stance is that talks should definitely be held, all issues between the two countries need to be resolved through a dialogue process," added Rashid.

The minister also stated that it was agreed between the two premiers at Ufa that talks would be held to resolve outstanding issues between Pakistan and India, and as Pakistan we look forward to it.

"We want to hold talks, but we do not want any restrictions on the dialogue process," stated the federal minister.

Last year, the Indian government had called off foreign secretary talks, reason being that Pakistan had "consulted" with Kashmiri separatists before the talks.

Yesterday in a statement, Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah clarified: "there is nothing unusual in such meetings and it has been normal practice for Pakistan to consult Hurriyat leaders prior to high level meeting with India".

The statement came after three Kashmiri separatist leaders were placed under house arrest but were later freed.

More on this: Kashmiri leaders' house arrest comes to an abrupt end: Indian media reports

The meeting between the two countries' security advisers signals the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan after a one year hiatus.

Since the meeting between the two premiers in July, militant attacks and border skirmishes have poisoned the atmosphere between Islamabad and New Delhi.

The invitation for dialogue came from New Delhi and in the shadow of the July 27 militant attack in Gurdaspur, which some Indian leaders have blamed on Pakistan.

India is also planning to raise the issue of the trial of the alleged plotters of the Mumbai attacks by a Pakistani court and the bail for Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the principal accused in the case.

Pakistan would, meanwhile, want to flag its concerns about alleged Indian involvement in terrorist activities in Karachi, Balochistan and the country's tribal areas. The Kashmir issue is also on the agenda of the talks between the security advisers of the two countries.

KARACHI: Liaquat National Hospital (LNH) spokesman Anjum Rizvi on Friday said Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Rashid Godil's condition has been improving, but will not be considered out of danger and is under observation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The MQM leader was critically wounded after unidentified armed men opened fire on his vehicle near his residence in Karachi's Bahadurabad area Tuesday.

Speaking to media personnel during a press conference, the spokesman said that Godil's heart rate and blood pressure is normal and his condition had remained stable throughout Thursday night.

"His condition will be out of danger when he is shifted out of the ICU, but the doctors do not plan to shift him any time soon," Rizvi said.

"When doctors checked his reflexes he moved his hands and feet," Rizvi said. "According to doctors, this is called mental alertness, meaning that he has his memory and is able to recognise as well as respond through his reflexes."

When asked if Godil will be able to tell law enforcement agencies about his attackers, the spokesperson said that he is not in the condition to give statements and the doctors will decide in the next 3 to 4 days if he has the strength, as his condition is still critical. He added that Godil will be kept under observation for another few days.

Read more: Godil weaned off ventilator to 60pc: LNH spokesman

Earlier this week, Godil was weaned off the ventilator after his situation stabilised. The spokesman had said that Godil had been weaned off the ventilator to approximately 60 per cent. Rizvi had said that Godil's mental and kidney functions were normal but his lungs had been badly affected.

The MQM leader underwent emergency surgery following the attack, and is currently in critical condition at LNH. He suffered five bullet wounds ─ two in the neck and three in the chest.

A bullet had entered a lung from one side and exited through the other, Anjum Rizvi had said. The spokesman said Godil's wounded lung had been medicated, and the bullet in his jaw had been removed.

The attack occurred as Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was in talks with senior MQM leaders regarding the party's resignations from the federal and provincial assemblies, and the Senate last week.

Take a look: MQM's Rashid Godil critical after Karachi attack

KARACHI: Police investigators on Friday said that they have focused on political rivalry and terrorism for destabilisation as possible motives behind the attack on Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) legislator Abdul Rashid Godil. It was also suggested that a nexus might exist between the two elements.

The security forces had previously considered both motives separately, this is the first time that a possible nexus has been suggested.

During the last two days, security forces have conducted search operations in different areas of the city and detained over 30 people for questioning.

Read: MQM's Rashid Godil critical after Karachi attack

“Three suspects are being questioned in relation to the identity and motive of the attackers,” said a senior police officer, who is part of the investigation team.

“CCTV footage showed that the suspects chased the lawmaker after he left his residence, the suspects who shot and critically injured Godil and killed his driver did not appear to be the same,” stated the police official.

"It appears that one group chased the legislator while another group attacked him," added the police official.

Security officials investigating the case have obtained CCTV footage from multiple locations, but are unable to identify the attackers or the registration numbers of the vehicles used in the attack.

“We have decided to seek assistance from both local and foreign experts,” remarked the police official.

Another police official who wished to remain anonymous said that the district police was focusing on possible involvement of activists of two political parties while special units of the police were focusing on the possible involvement of militant elements.

“Rashid Godil was targeted because he belonged to MQM, was a lawmaker and more importantly he appeared to be a soft target,” said an investigator of the case.

The police official also added that Godil was targeted in Bahadurabad as it was easy to escape from the area.

“A newly-formed militant group has targeted MQM workers recently and some of their members have been found residing in the same vicinity of Bahadurabad,” stated the police official.

MQM 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 at the Liaquat National Hospital (LNH).

Also read: Attackers chased Godil’s car from Baloch Colony area

The attack occurred as Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was in talks with senior MQM leaders regarding the party's resignations from the federal and provincial assemblies, and the Senate last week.

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

SARGODHA: The Sargodha police registered on Friday water theft cases against at least 50 landlords of suburban villages but they (police) were reluctant to disclose their identities.

Earlier, the canal department had reportedly submitted several written complaints regarding water theft, but the police did not register any case due to the alleged involvement of some politicians.

A local landlord, Hakim Khan, alleged that officials of the canal department were indulged in corruption and were patronizing water thieves.

He said officials did not take any interest in plugging of breaches and the de-silting of canals.

He said that both sides of the Mitha Luk drain were brick-lined but they were broken from most of the spots to steal water, particularly for car washing. “Officials don’t bother to take any action against those involved in damaging the public property. They are only interested in usurping the funds allocated for brick-lining and desilting of the canal,” he said.

ARRESTED: The Shahpur police arrested on Friday two persons and recovered 1,200kg putrefied meat from their custody.

Police said that accused Imran Suhail and Ibrahim were transporting the unhygienic meat to Rawalpindi from Shahpur in a vehicle when they were arrested.

Police said their accomplice managed to escape from the scene.

It is learnt that the group is also involved in selling meat of dead chickens in the local market and transporting their wings and skins to Faisalabad where they are used for manufacturing cooking oil.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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THATTA: Floodwater passing through the Indus River for several weeks washed away a big portion of yet another protective bund in Thatta district and caused damage to 20 other bunds in Thatta and Sujawal districts on Friday forcing several hundred families living in over 60 villages to run to safety in order to escape the resultant flooding.

The Koka dyke at RD2/6 in Thatta district sustained a 250-foot-wide breach as floodwater smashed most of it and made its way into an area having several densely populated villages in the surrounding areas of Sajjan Wari town. Standing crops on hundreds of acres were also washed away.

The deluge also caused breaches in 20 other dykes in the Maachki Naali irrigation channel within the coastal taluka of Shah Bunder in Sujawal district in the early hours of Friday.

Pakistan Navy personnel rushed to the affected area and started relief and rescue work. They were followed by the former district nazim Syed Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi and his volunteers. Sindh Minister Mohammed Ali Malkani and Sujawal Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Ali Shah accompanied by some officials and government employees also arrived, though too late.

People in large numbers were seen wading through floodwater to reach safe places and in some relatively less-affected areas families were trying to retrieve household articles from their houses. Herds of cattle head were also seen floating in floodwater.

Efforts were under way to apply cuts in roads to give alternative way to floodwater in order to save vulnerable populated areas.

Reports from the two districts suggested that Haji Jummo Khaskheli, Haji Jummo Samoo, Ismail Jat, Ibrahim Mallah, Mohammed Rahim Mallah, Ibrahim Chaang, Haji Allah Dino Soomro, Mole Dino Otho, Ghulam Hussain Mallah, Mohammed Solangi, Patel Mohammed Mallah, Murad Parherri, Nakho Soomar, Mohammed Rahim Jat, Bachal Mallah and Allah Dino Mallah villages had completely submerged.

Hundreds of displaced villagers struggled the whole day to reach highlands but most of them found no volunteers present there to help them out. They were waiting for relief goods and other things for survival till last reports came in at around midnight.

A sizeable population of Sajjan Wari town as well as Khalifa, Ghorabari, Dhandhari, Faqir Jo Goth and Agheemani villages and the Sonda-Hillaya katcha area was also among the displaced people. After reaching the Thatta section of the National Highway, they held a protest demonstration against the provincial authorities’ failure to provide food, drinking water, tents and other essential goods to them.

Representing the victims, Ismail Mallah, Ghulam Hussain Mallah, Moosa Jakhro, Siddique Shah and Nazir Jakhro told the media that all the displaced people gathered at the site had managed to move to safety on their own as no official or non-governmental agencies, said to be on high alert for weeks, came to their rescue. They said that floodwater had played havoc with civic infrastructure and trapped several hundred families who were yet to be rescued.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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KARACHI: With five days left in a deadline set by the Supreme Court to remove all ‘dangerous’ billboards and signboards in the city, the various land controlling agencies in Karachi have yet to remove thousands of giant iron structures installed on pavements and busy thoroughfares.

The city may have more hoardings and signboards than it has trees, which are quite often chopped off to make way for more billboards. That’s the reality of urban life of Karachi where advertisements are placed to lure customers for all kinds of things from mobile phones, clothes, food, detergent, engine oil and whatnot through these signboards.

Though not strikingly noticeable as yet, there is some change in the city landscape with the Supreme Court ordering all such advertising encroaching footpaths — and even roads — and obstructing people, especially drivers’ view, removed by Aug 26. Following the directive there has been a drive to remove the advertising.

However, there was confusion between the various civic agencies about whose hoardings and signboards they actually are and who put them there.

“We have taken down some 2,800 outdoor advertisements by now and are busy removing the others as well,” a spokesman of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation told Dawn on Friday.

However, the KMC official pointed out that even though they were responsible for a bigger portion of the city, they could not be held accountable for all the hoardings and signboards there. “We have 33 per cent of Karachi but there are other areas, too, that fall under other authorities such as the Faisal, Malir, Korangi and Clifton cantonments, Defence Housing Authority, Civil Aviation Authority, Pakistan Coast Guards, the Karachi Port Trust, Railways, etc.,” he said. “For instance, Sharea Faisal is full of such outdoor advertising and they don’t fall under us,” he added.

It was also said that there wasn’t one kind of billboard. “Some are big, some small. But not all are coming down as we have been told to only take down the ones that are proving dangerous and encroaching on footpaths, pavements and roads. Some that are in danger of falling down are also being removed as are the ones that have fallen behind on their payments,” he shared.

DHA Public Relations Officer retired Major Aurangzeb Unar said they would do as ordered by the Supreme Court, but they didn’t have so many signboards to begin with anyway. “There are a few odd boards here and there that may not fulfil the guidelines for billboards, which will come off, of course,” he said. “But the rest that you may see in DHA are not our doing. Please speak to the cantonment or agency responsible for them,” he added.

Meanwhile, Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui held a meeting with all the authorities involved regarding this matter. “We are not being too harsh as we understand the role of these billboards in promoting businesses, generating revenue, helping people earn livelihoods, etc., but KMC’s by-laws should be respected, too.

“If something is a cause for danger it cannot be permitted. It is good that nothing has happened so far but that doesn’t mean that nothing would happen in the future too so taking precautions and removing these is the right thing to do. The pavements and footpaths are for pedestrians to walk on and not for billboards while people manoeuvre around them or get on the roads to avoid crashing into them.”

It is true that many of the boards, especially those covering footpaths, have already been removed. In their place now remain only the remnants of small square metal base with the rusting rivets sticking out. One wonders if they have been left there as seedlings from where the ‘metal tree’ in the concrete jungle may be allowed to grow again.

“Well, that remains to be seen. Right now we are all removing them but you never know if someone may try to bring them back after things blow over. There is a tug of war where money is concerned and these hoardings generate revenue of course,” said an official requesting anonymity. Asked then who would win the tug of war in the end, he smiled and said: “Pressure from the citizens concerned who file petitions and the Supreme Court, of course.”

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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LAHORE: A thought-provoking travelling poster exhibition-competition against terrorism, titled Sympathy to Victims of Terrorism, by students of various colleges and universities will be exhibited across Punjab from the first week of September, officials at Punjab Council of Arts told Dawn.

Organised by the council, the exhibition is part of the National Action Plan. The art show, featuring works of 120 artists, aims at sending out a vital message to the nation against terrorism. It will first be showcased in Lahore for which the venue is being decided. One of the options for the venue is the City Heritage Museum. After that the exhibition will be taken to all major cities of Punjab.

Through this art show young artists have shared their feelings with the nation regarding terrorism and the impact it has left on their minds.

Naeem Ehsan, the Punjab Council of Arts deputy director (fine arts), while highlighting the art project told Dawn that a lot of labour had been put into this exhibition by students from different educational institutes. He said students participating in the show came from the University of Punjab; Government Technical College Township, Lahore; Government College University, Lahore; Fatima Jinnah University, Rawalpindi; Bahauddin Zikriya University, Multan; Post Graduate College, Islamabad; Samanabad, Gulberg and Kinnaird colleges in Lahore.

Most posters to be displayed would be created from computer graphics, a prevalent art form across the world but less practiced here in Pakistan, Ehsan said, adding that the exhibition was all about ideas, their execution, composition and introduction of computer graphics as a serious art form.

The exhibition is also a competition: the jury comprises Shahnawaz Zaidi, artist and former principal of the College of Art and Design, University of Punjab; Professor Amjad Pervaiz, head of graphic design at the University of Punjab; and Professor Bushra Akhtar, deputy general manager, Technical Educational and Vocational Training Authority (Academics).

The first prize is Rs50,000; second Rs30,000; third Rs20, 000 as well as five consolation prizes worth Rs10,000 each along with shields and certificates.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has sought more time from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to respond to allegations levelled by one of the founder members of the PTI regarding corruption in the party.

A four-member bench of the ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza heard the case filed in November last year by PTI’s former information secretary Akbar S. Babar who had alleged corruption and violation of laws in collection of donations and managing party funds.

Also read: Wajih-led tribunal reports misuse of funds, divisions within PTI

The petitioner’s lawyer Ahmed Hasan gave detailed arguments against the PTI’s stance, questioning the jurisdiction of the ECP to hear the case. He said organising political parties under the law was part of the electoral process to ensure a fundamental right of citizens. He quoted laws that provided specific powers to the commission to scrutinise accounts of parties and confiscate them in case of violation of rules regarding source of funding. He claimed that the PTI’s position of terming the already submitted accounts as a past and closed transaction was not tenable under the law.

The lawyer said the party had committed to provide all the details regarding sources of funding as ordered by the commission on April 1 and had sought time to submit the information. However, subsequently the PTI decided to change its lawyer and once again questioned the jurisdiction of the commission, he added.

The ECP adjourned the hearing till Sept 15 because PTI’s senior lawyer and former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan is in the United States for medical treatment.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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LAHORE: After Tarbela Dam, which was filled on Aug 9, Mangla Dam also hit the maximum level of 1,242 feet on Friday.

Given the flow trend, the Indus River System Authority had planned filling of both dams between Aug 10 and 15, but later delayed Mangla Dam filling in order to accommodate unexpected inflows because of highly wet cycle in the country and persistent downpour in catchment areas.

Also read: Irsa wants Wapda to fill Mangla to the maximum

With both dams filled, the country now holds over 14 million acre feet of water, with Tarbela lake storing 6.45maf, a raised Mangla Dam 7.4maf and Chashma lake 0.24maf.

With Mangla raised by 30 feet in 2009, the storage level of the reservoir went up to 1,242 feet above mean sea level, increasing its storage capacity from 4.6maf to 7.4maf and turning it into the country’s largest lake. The raising added 2.88maf of water, enough to generate 644 million units of cheap electricity.

“Things went according to planning this year with healthy inflows of water,” says an official of the Punjab Irrigation Department.

With the country now hopefully out of wet cycle, Irsa decided to fill the dams, he said.

“In fact, it was double advantage this year,” says another official. Continual rains in catchment areas generated additional water and downpour in the plains reduced demand for water.

In addition to storing water, a healthy amount of water was sent downstream Kotri barrage to check sea intrusion. Even on Friday, more than 550,000 cusecs of water was released downstream Kotri barrage.

Had the country another dam like Tarbela, it could have also been easily filled this year. From today onwards, the entire river flows would go waste to the sea. On Friday, Indus was flowing at 202,500 cusecs, River Kabul at 40,500 cusecs, River Jhelum at 29,400 cusecs and River Chenab at 75,000 cusecs. It was in addition of over 60,000 cusecs flowing into Pakistan from Sutlej, which has also been breaking its banks at certain points.

The official said it was time to have a long-term water storage policy to capitalise on situations like this one, and transfer water from wet to dry cycles and seasons.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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LAHORE: Field teams of the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Saturday sealed several food production units, outlets, restaurants, eateries and imposed fine on others for flouting hygiene standards and regulations.

A special team headed by director operations Ayesha Mumtaz sealed Zenith meat production unit on Raiwind Road for running business without license, medical fitness certificates of food handlers, poor cleanliness on premises, personnel hygiene and other issues. The situation was so pathetic that the team got three persons arrested besides lodging an FIR against them.

A Ravi Town team sealed Fast Pizza Hutt in Shahdara over poor sanitation, non-compliance of instructions, absence of medical fitness certificates of the staff and use of rancid oil.

It also sealed Haji Burger, Butt Tikka, Baba Farid Paan Shop and imposed a heavy fine on Lahore Broast in Shahdara. A Shalimar Town team sealed Fiaz Bakery and imposed fine on Al-Fareed Hotel in China Scheme. The fine was also imposed on Fazal Sweets and Cakes and Bakes near Neelam Cinema (Chowk Nakhuda).

A PFA team based in Aziz Bhatti Town imposed fine on Fazal Sweets and Bakers in Dharampura.

According to officials, the sealed food units, outlets and eateries would be de-sealed after one week subject to gravity of offence and fulfilling of the food safety and handling requirements as per rules and regulations.

sacrificial animals: The City District Government of Lahore on Friday decided to set up six sale points for sacrificial animals, directing the respective town municipal administrations to ensure provision of all necessary facilities for buyers and sellers.

The sale points are Bakar Mandi at Shahpur Kanjran (Multan Road, near Jinnah Bus Terminal), Bismillah Housing Scheme (GT Road), LDA Avenue-I (Raiwind Road), Bankers Society near Kahna Interchange, area near Saggian overhead bridge and Bilal Town.

“We have to ensure sale/purchase of sacrificial animals strictly at these points alone. And the TMAs will be required to take action against those selling animals at the places other than the designated points,” District Coordination Officer retired Capt Muhammad Usman said while presiding over a meeting. He directed the officials concerned to complete all arrangements related to lighting, sheds, water, fodder, tenting, bank booths etc at these points before the start of animals’ sale.

Meanwhile, various price control magistrates on Friday had arrested 48 shopkeepers for overcharging.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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KASUR: Victims of Hussain Khanwala child abuse scandal continued their boycott of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on the fifth consecutive day and refused to appear before it to record their statements on Friday.

They said they would continue their boycott till the cancellation of cases against them.

Mobeen Ghaznavi, a representative of the victims, and Advocate Latif Sara told a press conference on Friday that the decision of long march would be taken after meeting Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Meanwhile, the Ganda Singh police registered another case against an accused for forcing a complainant family to withdraw the case.

Sakina Bibi had a case registered claiming that Kalsoom Bibi, wife of accused Yahya, and other members of the family thrashed her and forced her to withdraw the case.

This is the 23rd case against any accused and the first one for pressuring an affected family to withdraw the case. Police had already registered cases against 800 villagers for attacking and injuring policemen. Four villagers have been booked for allegedly killing a relative of an accused. Police have yet to register a case against a victim who is accused in a video (victim in one video and accused in another).

Just a few days ago, MNA Malik Rasheed Khan and MPA Malik Ahmed held a meeting with the victims and their representatives at their outhouse at Fatehpur village.

They assured the victims that justice would be done, urging them to avoid long march which was not a solution.

They also promised that he would try to arrange a meeting between them and the chief minister.

A press conference to announce the date of long march on Thursday was cancelled after an assurance about meeting with the chief minister.

Police have established a post (chowki) in the village and hundreds of officials have been deployed to avoid any untoward situation.

District Police Officer Ali Nasir Rizvi told Dawn that first priority of police was to maintain peace in the area. He said police had taken all stakeholders on board to ensure peace and justice.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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QUETTA: With their concerted efforts, the army and the provincial government have taken guns from the youths of Balochistan and given them pens. To a large extent they have brought the province out of the mayhem and chaos it had been facing a couple of years ago.

This was stated by Adviser to Chief Minister on Education Sardar Raza Muhammad Barech and Commander of Southern Command Lt Gen Muhammad Naseer Khan Janjua while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a hostel for students of the FC Public Boys School at Ghazaband Scouts headquarters here on Friday.

Take a look: Army to back Balochistan’s quest for peace, progress

The hostel building comprises 12 rooms, each for 50 students, a mosque, a library, a dining room and a recreation room.

Addressing the gathering, Sardar Barech said the government had increased its educational budget by up to 24 per cent to provide maximum educational facilities to youths of the province and to bring them on a par with youths of the other provinces of the country.

He said that because of these efforts, the number of government schools in the province had increased to 13,000, leading to a corresponding increase in the number of enrolled students.

He said the province still needed about 14,000 more schools because a large number of students still could not go to schools because of absence of educational institutions in their areas. He said the government would continue these efforts and more schools would be built across the province as quickly as possible to bring about an educational revolution in the province.

He lauded the efforts of the Frontier Corps and the army for establishing schools and colleges in different areas of the province where the government could not provide such facilities because of its meagre budget resources.

He said the government was also concentrating on giving technical education to students and, with the joint efforts of the army and the provincial government, problems of the education sector would be solved.

Commander of Southern Command Lt Gen Muhammad Nasser Khan Janjua said the army and the provincial government had jointly taken guns from the youths and given them pens.

He said a large number of youths were now taking interest in acquiring education and excelling in different fields.

He said that backwardness could not be removed from Balochistan without spreading education. “The way of development passes through education and we have to equip our youths with education,” Lt Gen Janjua said, adding that army, the FC and the Balochistan government had all joined hands to promote education in the province.

He said that national flags of the country, which used to be burnt a couple of years ago, were now being hoisted across the province and all the people of the province celebrated with fervour the recent Independence Day of the country.

He paid rich tribute to the people of Balochistan for playing a significant role in steering the province out of the gloom, crisis and chaos.

“We appreciate the people of Balochistan who have played a great role in making their province peaceful,” he said.

Earlier, Frontier Corps DIG Brigadier Tahir Mehmood gave a detailed briefing about educational services being provided by the FC in different areas of the province.

He said that 40 schools and colleges had been set up by the FC in different areas of Balochistan including Quetta, Khuzdar, Dera Bugti, Sui, Muslim Bagh and Zhob. The 40 educational institutions include six colleges.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The capital police had to apologise for arresting four Chinese nationals on the charge of their involvement in illegal activities after the intervention of the Chinese embassy.

Officials in the police, interior ministry and the Foreign Office on the condition of anonymity told Dawn that the arrests were made on July 26 from F-8/3 and F-8/4 over which the embassy showed displeasure and lodged a complaint with the Foreign Office. In response, the Foreign Office approached the interior ministry and asked it to resolve the issue.

Later, the police were directed by the interior ministry to release the foreigners and also tender apology to them. But by the time these orders reached the police, a case had already been registered against the Chinese nationals. They were produced in a local court from where they were sent to jail.

“The Chinese were arrested on Sunday and shortly afterward they were shifted to the jail on judicial remand,” the police officials said. It took two more days to get them released on bail.

The officials said one of the arrested Chinese nationals was carrying her two-and-a-half-year-old baby who was also shifted to the Margalla police station. The police could neither keep the baby in the lock-up nor shift her to the jail along the mother. On the request of the mother, the baby was handed over to her uncle.

After their release, when the police were asked to apologise to the Chinese nationals, a senior police officer met them and tendered an apology. However, it did not satisfy those who had asked for the apology. Later, two female police officials visited the Chinese at their residences taking bouquets and sweets and apologised for their arrest.

The police were also directed to investigate the matter as the Chinese nationals were arrested mistakenly, the officials added.

In the inquiry conducted twice, the Chinese were found innocent and the police admitted their mistake, the officials said. Later, the interior minister was informed about the findings of the investigation and told that the case would be quashed soon.

“The minister was satisfied with the inquiries and gave the police a go-head to quash the case.”

It may be mentioned that the four Chinese were arrested along with 16 other people during separate raids conducted at F-8/3 and F-8/4.

The release on bail of the foreigners also helped the 16 other people to obtain bail from the court.

When contacted, Liu, a Chinese embassy spokesman, confirmed that the four Chinese were released after the authority concerned was approached.

“The Chinese people are innocent and the arrest was just a mistake and the police have apologised for it,” he added.

FO spokesman Qazi Khalilullah did not comment on the matter.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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