ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) recommended on Friday a reduction by eight to 12 per cent in prices of petroleum products for the month of September.

In a summary sent to the ministries of petroleum and finance, Ogra says international prices of all oil products dropped significantly in August after oil producers increased output.

Based on existing tax rates and PSO purchases from international market, Ogra worked out a reduction of Rs6.14 per litre (8pc) in the ex-depot price of petrol to Rs70.62 from Rs76.76 and that of high speed diesel (HSD) by Rs7.60 (8.93pc) per litre to Rs77.45 from Rs85.05.

Also read: Doubts about LNG supply in winter

The price of kerosene has been recommended at Rs52.81 per litre, a reduction of Rs7.30 (12.14pc), from Rs60.11. Ogra has called for reducing the price of high octane blending component (HOBC) by Rs7.37 per litre (8.9pc) to Rs75.42 from Rs82.79 and that of light diesel oil (LDO) by Rs6.80 (12pc) to Rs49.79 from Rs56.59.

A finance ministry official said the government had also passed on partial relief to consumers last month by making adjustments in tax rates to protect its revenue target. He said the same strategy would be followed this time but without putting any additional burden on consumers.

A final decision about how much relief is to be passed on to consumers will be taken by the prime minister on the advice of the finance ministry and the Federal Board of Revenue.

At present the government is charging 20pc general sales tax on petrol, LDO and kerosene and 37pc on HSD. It is also collecting petroleum levy of Rs9.78 per litre on petrol, Rs7.03 on HSD, Rs3 on LDO, Rs6 on kerosene and Rs14 on HOBC.

Petrol and high speed diesel are two major products that generate most of the revenue from the oil sector. The monthly sale of HSD across the country stands at over 600,000 tons, petrol at about 400,000 tons and HOBC and kerosene at less than 10,000 tons.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2015

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KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain arrived here on Friday and met key politicians and leaders of opposition parties in a move to form a grand alliance against the government.

He hinted that the PML-Nawaz could face a major alliance of political parties in the next election and it would not be an easy ride for the ruling party to repeat May 2013 polls history.

While lauding the recent role of the army for the restoration of peace, he said: “The role of the army for peace is tremendous not only in Karachi but across Pakistan.”

Calls for expanding anti-corruption drive to Punjab

“The recent campaign against corruption must be appreciated and expanded to Punjab as well.

“As democracy right now is not delivering, the country is at once being run under democracy and martial law,” he said while speaking to the media after landing at Jinnah International Airport.

From the airport, Mr Shujaat with Sindh president of his party Haleem Adil Sheikh drove to the DHA residence of Pakistan Peoples Party’s estranged leader and former Sindh home minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza to offer his condolence on his father’s demise.

Later, he moved to the home of PML-Functional leader Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi where the two discussed recent political situation and prospects for alliance of different factions of Muslim Leagues.

He also separately met a key leader of the ruling party Ghaus Ali Shah and former president retired General Pervez Musharraf at their residences.

According to a statement issued by the PML-Q, the party chief visit was part of his effort to unite different factions of Muslim Leagues.

“A grand meeting is being planned of all like-minded parties to discuss the recent crisis-like situation in the country,” said the statement.

“The job which is primarily the responsibility of the political and democratic government is being done by the armed forces and their role is commendable. With this performance of the government, the ruling party’s prospects to win local bodies elections in Punjab and Sindh look slim.”

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The Lahore Bar Association (LBA) has approached the Supreme Court with a petition requesting the apex court to review its majority verdict of upholding the 21st Amendment under which military courts are established.

The LBA, one of the initial challengers of the 21st Amendment, through its president Chaudhry Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan again pleaded before the apex court to accept its review petition by declaring the 21st Amendment and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, 2015, as invalid and repugnant to the basic/salient features of the Constitution, particularly the independence of judiciary, separation of powers and fundamental rights.

Take a look: LHC bar to challenge SC verdict on military courts

Senior counsel Hamid Khan drafted the review petition which says that by validating military courts, the Supreme Court, it appears, has impliedly admitted and acknowledged that the judicial system under the constitution has failed to deliver in matters of fighting against terrorism.

“Such an implied acknowledgment could be disastrous for the judiciary as an independent organ of the State,” the petition said, adding that the independence of the judiciary has to be protected and defended by the Supreme Court at all costs to avoid any encroachment on the judicial powers by other organs of the state.

In any case the role of the judiciary to dispense justice under the Constitution cannot be outsourced to a branch of the executive organ of the state, i.e. the military.

The petition has raised a number of questions, like: when the common judgment of eight judges had held democracy, parliamentary form of government and independence of judiciary as basic salient features of the constitution, then how the same court can hold the establishment of military courts not against the salient features of the constitution.

The majority judgment of the Supreme Court, the review petition argues, suffers from contradiction since on the one hand military courts have been held to be valid while on the other their orders have been made subject to judicial review on the criteria of coram non judice, malafide and without jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court has failed to appreciate the true import of the rationale in the 1999 Sheikh Liaquat Hussain case, the review petition emphasises and says the 1999 verdict categorically held that military courts were outside the pale of Constitution. When something is unconstitutional, then how can it be deemed as constitutional only by making a formal amendment to the constitution, the petition says.

“What is alien to the constitution cannot be made kosher by its mere inclusion through constitutional amendment,” the petition contends.

It is the prime function of the executive to curb terrorism in the country, the petition says, adding that it is for the executive organ of the state to apprehend terrorists, investigate their activities and collect evidence and finally prosecute them before the courts of competent jurisdiction like anti-terrorism courts (ATC).

The success of fight against terrorism depends on the success/performance of these functions by the executive and not by the courts holding the trial. If the executive fails to apprehend, investigate and prosecute terrorists how can courts hearing such cases be blamed for the failure, the petition argues.

Hence, the entire emphasis of introducing military courts to curb terrorism has been misdirected and misconceived, the petition says, adding that in any case the judiciary cannot be saddled with the responsibility for the future of the executive organ of the state to apprehend, investigate and prosecute terrorists.

The review petition also emphasised that it was the duty of the state and the government to protect judges of ATC, prosecutors conducting the terrorism trial and witnesses deposing before ATC. If the government has failed to provide such protection then the judiciary cannot be blamed for the escalation of terrorist activities and incidents.

The petition also bemoans that under the 21st Amendment the right of fair trial and due process has virtually been dispensed with.

The petition pleads that fundamental rights of the citizens of Pakistan in respect of access to justice has been curtailed by the establishment of military courts under the 21st Amendment.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2015

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KARACHI: In an uncharacteristic outburst of anger, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said on Friday that interference by federal agencies in the provincial government’s affairs amou­nted to “invasion of Sindh” and that he had already lodged a protest with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

This was his first reaction after the arrest of Dr Asim Hussain, the Chairman of Sindh’s Higher Education Commission.

“The arrest of Dr Asim is a major incident. It is unfair and regrettable that the agencies concerned, which are legally bound to take me into confidence before arresting the person of such a calibre, did not inform me,” he told reporters after inaugurating the Begum Nusrat Bhutto underpass on Sharea Faisal near Mehran Hotel.

Answering a question, he said he had protested to the federal government when the FIA and NAB raided the Civic Centre and took away files of record in a truck. He said he had raised the issue with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and then with the prime minister at a recent meeting of the apex committee.

“The prime minister told me that he was not aware of the action and assured me of addressing our grievances, but even then raids on the Civic Centre are continuing,” he added.

Mr Shah, who is also President of PPP Sindh, said that soon after the arrest of Dr Asim he had spoken to the corps commander and the director general of Rangers who told him that there were serious complaints against him. “But when they sent me details of the complaints against Dr Asim I found them to be of general nature and without any concrete substance.”

He said the DG Rangers had met him earlier in the day (Friday) and briefed him on the complaints. “I told him that I should have been informed about the complaints, but this was not done,” he said, adding that the Rangers chief had assured him that he would be informed before taking such actions in future and the issue would be resolved.

The chief minister said that after his talks with the DG Rangers he was optimistic about the release of Dr Asim “with due respect” soon.

He said the complaints against Dr Asim should have been properly investigated before arresting him. “This procedure was not followed. This is not fair and it has invited the wrath of my party,” he said.

He said his party was angry with him over the action taken against Dr Asim and held him responsible because he was the chief exe­cutive of the province. “Being an elected chief minister and head of the provincial apex committee I should have been consulted,” he added.

KARACHI OPERATION: The chief minister said that as far as the Karachi operation was concerned the DG Rangers and IG police were under his command because he was responsible for the operation.

Over the past two years there had been a sharp decline in incidents of target killings, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and terrorist activities. This was conceded also by the army chief during his recent visit to Karachi when he expressed satisfaction over the law and order situation in the city.

The chief minister said that several major projects in Sindh were about to be completed and work on many others was about to be initiated.

He said the Sindh government had been assigned four tasks – to curb incidents of target killings, kidnappings for ransom, terrorism and extortion. And within two years, he claimed, the tasks had been by and large completed under the supervision of the apex committee and with the help of Rangers, police and intelligence agencies.

He said that terrorism plagued not only Karachi but almost the entire country and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the worst affected.

The underpass inaugurated by the chief minister was completed in record 130 days at a cost of Rs 588.4 million. The project financed by the Sindh government was executed by the KMC.

Commissioner and Administrator Karachi Shoaib Sidiqui briefed the chief minister on salient features of the project. He thanked Commander Karachi Vice Admiral Syed Arifullah Hussaini for his support.

Minister for Local Bodies Nasir Hussain Shah praised the efforts and hard work of the KMC.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2015

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Curious to know more about Mehreen Jabbar's next feature film, Dobara Phir Se?

The shoot of Dobara Phir Se, which is set in New York, moved to Westport, Connecticut for a scene, where director Jabbar dished a tidbit or two about the film to the local press.

She revealed that her film included a character of a divorced Pakistani woman based in New York who visits an upscale Connecticut suburb to visit her estranged ex-mother-in-law.

Jabbar's films are sure to complement a gripping story with the right visual experience. For this scene, she had a vintage Cadillac brought in:

— Photograph courtesy WestPortNow.com

The scene was shot on the William F. Cribari Bridge in Westport, which was selected for its picturesque quality. “It’s quaint and small and surrounded by water,” she said. “It provides an ideal backdrop in the film for an entrance to a beautiful town.”

A nearby Dunkin Donuts outlet served as their make-up room, the local community news site Westport Now reported. Here's make-up artist Nida Khan putting the final touches on Hareem Farooq's look for the scene:

— Photograph courtesy WestPortNow.com

The film stars Adeel Hussain, Sanam Saeed, Hareem Farooq, Ali Kazmi, as revealed by Tooba Siddiqui in an Instagram post:

Fawad Khan will return to his musical roots in his Bollywood next, Kapoor & Sons.

While he plays a writer in the film, in which he co-stars with Siddharth Malhotra (who plays his brother) and Alia Bhatt (who is said to play their mutual love interest), the main trio has also been roped in to sing an original song in their own voices.

According to the source, "They are looking for a fun track with a young, energetic vibe like the film," reports Mumbai Mirror.

Director Shakun Batra confirmed the news as well: "Yes, currently we are in the process of locking a track. [The producer] Karan [Johar] has some exciting ideas for the promotional unit and I am looking forward to getting to shoot with all of them again."

While Fawad was first famous in Pakistan as the frontman of rockband eP, Alia has two songs to her credit for her films Highway and Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. For Siddharth, however, this will be his first time singing.

The song will be recorded and picturised next month.

ISLAMABAD: Rejecting the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) demand to remove four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the PML-N said on Friday that the party would contest the by-elections on three recently-vacated seats of the National Assembly in Punjab.

The PML-N added that it would also move the Supreme Court to set the record straight.

The PML-N led government fears that the PTI may initiate another countrywide agitation campaign to secure the removal of four ECP members and has decided to block every move aimed at destabilising the government.

“The demand to remove four members of the election commission is tantamount to sabotaging local government elections in Punjab and other provinces. We cannot accept it,” said PML-N leader Daniyal Aziz at a joint press conference.

He added that the Punjab government had announced the schedule for local government (LG) polls and if any member of the ECP was removed, it would sabotage the entire LG election process.

The PTI chairman Imran Khan has shown complete mistrust in all members of the ECP except the chief election commissioner (retd) Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan. The PTI chief recently called for removal of four ECP members before by-elections for NA-122 (which was won by Sardar Ayaz Sadiq), NA-125 (of Khawaja Saad Rafiq) and NA-154 (of Siddique Baloch).  

Mr Aziz said the PTI chief sought removal of ECP members who conducted the LG elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in May, cantonment elections throughout Pakistan in April and 36 by-elections on national and provincial assemblies’ seats. “Why did Imran Khan not question the credibility of these members when they conducted these elections?” asked Mr Aziz.

He claimed that the KP government was involved in corruption worth billions of rupees. “Under the [hydel] project, the KP government had to install 3,260MW hydel power facility, but only a 19MW plant has been set up so far,” he said.

Federal Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir, who was also present at the press conference, told Dawn that the government hoped the PPP would not field its candidate in the by-election in NA-122.

Regarding the PTI’s demand to remove ECP members, he said the party should follow the right and constitutional way to meet its demands instead of maligning the institutions.

Privatisation Commission Chairman Mohammad Zubair said the PTI should take its case to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) to get the ECP members removed. He, however, added: “Imran Khan will not be able to provide credible evidences against these members to substantiate his demand.”

Another PML-N leader Maiza Hameed claimed that the PTI government in KP had failed to deliver and only 23 per cent of last year’s development budget was utilised while the rest of the money was returned to the centre.

The status of the former railway minister, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, vis-a-vis contesting in the by-elections is still uncertain as he has not withdrawn his petition from the SC.

“Khawaja Saad Rafiq is not in the country these days and a decision to contest the polls or not will be taken by him after he returns,” said the information minister.

He said in case Mr Rafiq was asked by the party to take part in the elections, he would have to withdraw his case from the apex court.Mr Aziz, however, said that even if Mr Rafiq withdrew his petition it would be up to the SC to allow him to contest the polls or not. “Once the case is filed in the court, it becomes the court’s property and now the court will decide whether he can contest the elections or not,” he said.

PM-AYAZ SADIQ MEETING: Mr Sadiq, who was recently removed as speaker of the National Assembly when his victory in NA-122 was voided by an election tribunal, called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss political matters in the backdrop of the PML-N’s strategy for the coming by-elections.

A press release issued from the PM’s office said: “The prime minister appreciated the role of Sardar Ayaz Sadiq as the speaker of the National Assembly and the grace and courage shown by him during the trial of the case in election tribunal.”

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2015

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NEW YORK: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi has invited the American business community to the country, which she said offers “the most investor-friendly policies in the [South Asia] region”.

Speaking before the New York’s Nasdaq bell ringing ceremony on Friday to mark Pakistan’s 69th Independence Day, Ms Lodhi said, “Pakistan’s strategic location gives it a pivotal role in promoting regional connectivity.”

On China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), she informed the business leaders that “plans are under way to make Pakistan a regional economic hub, providing trade, energy and communication corridors linking Central Asia to South and Southwest Asia and beyond”.

“Pakistan today has a functioning democracy, an independent judiciary and a free and lively media,” she understated.

The ambassador observed that the country’s economy has “staged an impressive recovery while our security situation is improving by the day.”

“Pakistanis are not only making a mark in their countries of adoption but sending back remittances which are at a record level today,” she said.

Earlier, top officials of Nasdaq — Andew Hall and David Wicks — congratulated the government and people of Pakistan on the Independence, after Hall introduced Ms Lodhi, said a press release.

Pakistan Consul General Raja Ali Ejaz, Pakistan-American Business Asso­ciation (PABA) Chairman M. Siddique Sheikh and its President Keith Segerson also attended.

“This year’s Indepen­dence Day coincides with a remarkable recovery in Pakistan’s economy.” Seger­son said in a statement. “This is a very exciting time for Pakistan to attract foreign investment and for US-based companies to benefit from lucrative incentives this country offers.”

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2015

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KARACHI: The Pakistan Rangers informed an anti-terrorism court on Saturday that the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Managing Director of the Sui Southern Gas Company's (SSGC) Shoaib Warsi and two other senior officials associated with the organisation, Zohair Siddique and Kamran Nagi, were under preventive detention for 90 days.

The personnel of the paramilitary force produced the three detainees in the chamber of ATC-I judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso.

Rangers officials contended that the SSGC officials had been detained for a 90-day preventive remand for inquiry under Section 11-EEEE of the Anti Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997. They said the measure was taken upon receiving credible information about the officials' involvement in offences that came within the ATA's ambit.

Rangers officials said the detainees were produced along with a detention order and a jail warrant for the court's information in accordance with Section 11-EEEE(3) of the ATA.

Today’s development comes a day after Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said that interference by federal agencies in the provincial government’s affairs amounted to “invasion of Sindh” and that he had already lodged a protest with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The uncharacteristic outburst of anger was the chief minister’s first reaction after the arrest of Dr Asim Hussain, former federal minister and Chairman of Sindh’s Higher Education Commission.

Rangers submit Dr Asim Hussain's medical report in ATC

Personnel from the paramilitary force also produced a medical report of Dr Asim in ATC-III today.

Also read: Rangers’ mandate

Dr Asim was placed under a 90-day preventive detention in Rangers custody earlier this week under Section 11-EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 for questioning.

Court sources had told Dawn that the Rangers had contended in the court that they had credible information regarding Dr Asim's involvement in terrorism-related activities as well as embezzlement of funds.

The court had previously asked the Rangers to submit a report on Dr Asim's health condition. Subsequently, a medical check-up was carried out by a senior doctor associated with the Rangers. According to the report prepared by the Rangers' medical officer, Dr Asim's sugar and blood pressure are at normal levels and there were no medical complications.

Dr Asim is currently in detention at the Meetha Ram Hostel sub-jail and has a doctor and two nurses at his disposal 24-hours a day, the court was informed.

Previously, Dr Asim's wife Dr Zareen had written a letter to Inspector General Sindh that her husband suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure and relied on medication. She had asked for permission to be allowed to meet Dr Asim in order to monitor his condition.

ISLAMABAD: US national security adviser Susan E. Rice is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on Sunday on a day long official visit, it has been learnt.

According to details, Rice is expected to meet Pakistan's political and military leadership during which discussions will be held on bilateral relations and the regional security situation.

Rice will be accompanied by a high-level delegation and will hold important talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tomorrow.

Moreover, a top military source said that the US national security adviser will hold a separate meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters, where the regional security situation will come under discussion.

Rice's visit comes on the heels of cancellation of talks between India and Pakistan's national security advisers. Expressing disappointment at the cancellation of the proposed talks between the NSAs of the two countries, the United States had urged the neighbours to soon resume formal dialogue.

“We are disappointed that the talks will not happen this weekend and encourage In­­dia and Pakistan to resume formal dialogue soon,” State Department spokesman John Kirby had said.

The region also recently saw suspension of the Afghan peace talks after news of Mullah Omar's death surfaced and it is likely that the subject may come under discussion during tomorrow's talks.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday accused the Indian government of trying to sabotage efforts for peace and put the regional security and stability at stake.

Talking to United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in London, Chaudhry Nisar said that the government of Pakistan had a very clear view regarding peace in the region and having friendly relations with the neighbouring countries, but unfortunately the same had not been reciprocated from the other sides, said a press release issued here.

He said the Indian government’s objection over consultation with Kashmiri leaders was unjustified. The Kashmir issue was the major hurdle in the normalisation of relations between the two countries and establishment of peace in the region, he added.

He said India must understand that the dialogue process could not proceed further without discussion on the Kashmir issue.

About Afghanistan, the interior minister said the government and security institutions of Pakistan had facilitated the dialogue process in the war-torn country. But, Pakistan’s efforts did not receive a positive response from regional countries as well as the international community, he added.

Rejecting criticism of Pakistan, he said the countries in the region needed to avoid blaming Pakistan for their own weaknesses and negligence.

The interior minister said Pakistan would continue its efforts for peace in the region, but it would never accept hegemony or dominance of any country.

Chaudhry Nisar said Pakistan greatly valued its friendly ties with the UK and desired to further strengthen these relations. He said the two countries shared policy on various issues.

The UK foreign secretary agreed to the point of view of the interior minister and said that Pakistan and the UK had special relations and there was no room for any misunderstanding in their bilateral relations.

Mr Hammond appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for peace in the region and said his country appreciated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s vision for peace.

He especially appreciated Pakistan’s contributions towards facilitating dialogue process in Afghanistan.

He expressed the hope that dialogue process in Afghanistan would not be affected and would further proceed. In this context he assured UK’s full cooperation and support.

The UK foreign secretary expressed concern over suspension of dialogue process between Pakistan and India, saying that the UK reiterated that the two countries should resolve all their issues at the negotiating table.

Registration of NGOs, mutual cooperation in the fight against terrorism and other matters of mutual cooperation were also discussed during the meeting. There was complete unanimity of views over all these issues.

The Pakistan’s high commissioner in the UK and senior officials from British foreign office attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: At least 14 suspected militants were killed and their sanctuaries destroyed as military planes bombed the Shawal area of North Waziristan tribal region, the military’s media wing stated on Saturday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), fourteen "terrorists" were killed in precise aerial strikes in North Waziristan's Shawal valley.

The military planes reportedly pounded militant hideouts in Shawal, during which infrastructure, including ammunition depots, managed by "terrorists" was destroyed.

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

Know more: Ground offensive in Shawal; Zarb-i-Azb enters final phase

The final phase of Operation Zarb-i-Azb in North Waziristan is currently under way with the army having launched a ground offensive in Shawal last week. Shawal is one of the last strongholds of militants in the region.

The terrorists, except for those who have fled to Afghanistan, are said to be holed up in Shawal. One of the reasons the fleeing militants chose Shawal as their refuge was a perception that Shawal was inaccessible.

Shawal is also considered to be an Al Qaeda sanctuary and a stronghold of Gul Bahadur, a warlord once considered pro-government.

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

The air strikes in this region have been going on for the past few weeks in which scores of suspected militants have been killed, according to official claims. However, these claims could not be verified from independent sources.

There are reports that air strikes have triggered displacement of civilians from areas adjacent to Afghanistan.

KARACHI: The director general of Sindh Rangers, Major General Bilal Akbar, said the paramilitary force would set up a task force to provide protection to lawyers.

He stated this on Saturday while talking to a delegation of Karachi Bar Association which met him to lodge protest against the killing of their colleague, Advocate Amir Hyder Shah.

Earlier, the lawyers also staged a demonstration outside Rangers headquarter to protest the killing of Shah, who was gunned down on Friday evening.

“In order to handle the threats being received by lawyers, a special task force headed by a lieutenant colonel is being formed to address the concerns,” the DG Rangers told the lawyers present in the meeting.

The force spokesperson said that a six-member delegation of Karachi Bar Association headed by President Naeem Qureshi called on DG Rangers at the headquarters of Rangers Sindh, Jinnah Courts.

Lawyers stage a demonstration outside Rangers headquarter. —DawnNews screengrab

The Bar delegation discussed security concerns with special reference to the investigation and arrest of culprits who killed lawyer Haider Shah.

Major General Bilal Akbar assured the lawyers of full support and said that killers will be brought to justice. Lawyers’ delegation showed their full confidence on Rangers initiatives, according to the Rangers statement.

Shah, an advocate of Sindh High Court, was shot dead in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Karachi on Friday evening.

KARACHI: A three-member observer team of the United Nations (UN) visited the Working Boundary at Kundanpur village in Sialkot on Saturday to review damages caused by firing at the border, said a report published on Radio Pakistan.

At least 11 civilians — eight Pakistanis and three Indians — were killed and several others wounded on Friday during an exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani border troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and Working Boundary in Sialkot's Charwah, Harpal, Chaprar and Sucheetgarh sectors.

Read: At least 11 killed as Indo-Pak border troops exchange fire

According to Punjab Rangers spokesman Major Waheed Bukhari, the United Nations Military Observers group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) team observed damages and losses caused during the exchange of fire.

Yesterday, the UN observers had visited the Thathi Khurd village in Sucheetgarh and had met locals affected by Indian shelling. During that visit, they had sought details from them about fresh hostilities on part of the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel. Both sides have been claiming that the other side had opened fire first.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had expressed concerns over firing along the Working Boundary. He had also expressed condolence over the loss of eight civilian lives and injuries to 47 others during the firing.

Following yesterday's firing, the Foreign Office had summoned Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan T.C.A. Raghavan and had lodged a strong protest with him "over continued LOC/working boundary violations".

Also yesterday, Raghavan was told that India had to honour the ceasefire agreement of 2003 between the two countries.

The developments come days after the first high-level peace talks in years between the two countries collapsed.

Last week, the first high-level peace talks in years between the two country's national security advisers were cancelled after a dispute over the agenda for those talks.

In December 2013, the two countries had pledged to uphold the 2003 ceasefire accord which had been left in tatters by repeated violations that year. The truce breaches had put the nascent bilateral peace dialogue on hold.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since becoming independent nations in 1947, two of them over Kashmir, which both claim in full but rule in part.

New Delhi has for years accused Pakistan of backing separatist Muslim militants in Indian-held Kashmir. Pakistan denies the allegations and blames India for fomenting unrest inside Pakistan.

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan announced on Saturday to hold a sit-in in front of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in Islamabad if its members do not tender their resignations by October 4.

Imran Khan, who was addressing a public gathering after chairing a party meeting in Lahore, said “there was no justification for the ECP members to hold their posts after 21 political parties had claimed that rigging took place during the 2013 elections".

"We will stage a sit-in on October 4 infront of the ECP's office in Islamabad if the current members do not resign from their posts," said Imran Khan.

Imran on the occasion, invited all his party activists and supporters to join the planned sit-in.

Read: Imran Khan says will come out on streets against ECP

The high-level party meeting was held in Lahore to decide the future course of action and policies regarding the upcoming by-polls in the constituencies where elections tribunals have ruled in favour of PTI.

"For the upcoming by-polls, we will install cameras in every polling station and will train our polling staff to ensure a free and fair election," said Imran while referring to the upcoming by-polls.

“Jehangir Tareen will contest the polls from Lodhran, and from Lahore we will field Shoaib Siddiqui and Aleem Khan," added Imran.

"We do not have any faith in the current members and officials of the ECP as they are PML-N's B team," stated Imran.

Referring to the elections held in 2013, Imran said “We contested the elections as for the first time in Pakistan there was an independent judiciary."

He added that his political party would not have taken to the streets if their earlier demand of opening four constituencies had been entertained by then chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

“After the judiciary under Iftikhar Chaudhry refused to open the four constituencies, it became clear to us that everyone was involved in the rigging,” stated Imran.

Also read: ECP provincial officials have no moral standing left and should resign: Imran

“I had asked for only for four constituencies, and I knew that they would not have obliged me as they were protecting those who had rigged the elections,” added Imran.

Imran Khan speaks to his supporters in Lahore. -DawnNews screengrab

Imran Khan also said that he respects Justice Nasirul Mulk, as he constituted a free and fair Judicial Commission, and that he accepted the report issued by the commission which claimed that there were 'illegalities and malpractices' during the 2013 elections.

Earlier this week, Imran Khan had warned all members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to transparently answer the questions he raised or he will take to the streets once again.

He had criticised the reply he had earlier received from the body over a letter he had sent questioning its shortcomings in light of the Judicial Commission report, Khan said it was his right to pose questions not only as a Pakistani but also as the chairman of a major political party.

Last week, while addressing a press conference, Imran Khan had said that the ECP provincial officials have no legal or moral standing left and they should immediately resign.

He had also stated that the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) chairman should also tender his resignation as he was part of covering-up the rigging that took place in the general elections of 2013.

Further reading: Imran confident of more decisions against PML-N soon

The ECP on August 22 had de-notified National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq after receiving a copy of the decision announced by Punjab election commission's tribunal.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had defeated PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the 2013 general elections from NA-122 after which PTI had challenged the results.

Imran, earlier in July had accepted the judicial commission's report, which was constituted to probe alleged rigging during the general elections of 2013.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to complete all projects by December 2017, other than those which are scheduled for earlier completion.

Speaking at a meeting, the prime minister said that unprecedented infrastructure development activity under the NHA Road portfolio is underway in the country, and it will change the landscape of Pakistan across its length and breadth.

Read: Completion of CPEC projects by end of 2017 ordered

“China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects are spread across all the provinces and the whole country will benefit from the fruits of this huge endeavour,” said the prime minister.

The prime minister was also briefed on the occasion and informed that an investment of $1 billion from the private sector will be achieved by the end of September for road infrastructure projects. It was also added that the construction activity would contribute 1 per cent to 1.5pc to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The current construction activity would add 1,272 kilometres of roads to the existing motorway network in the country.

The prime minister instructed the NHA to prepare comprehensive plans for extending Pakistan’s road network to enhance connectivity with Central Asian states in the first phase and later expanding roads links to South Asia during the second phase.

Read more: Raheel vows to complete CPEC at all costs

Pace and quality of the work by the NHA was also appreciated by the premier on the occasion and he directed to maintain international standards in the quality of road construction.

The 3,000-km corridor running from Pakistan's southern Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea to China's western Xinjiang region, was launched in April during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Islamabad despite India’s strong objections

WASHINGTON: Pakistan takes its responsibilities for securing its nuclear stockpile quite seriously, says the White House.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest made these remarks while commenting on a report by a US think-tank, also published in The Washington Post, which claimed that in 10 years Pakistan would have the third-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world after the US and Russia.

“We continue to be confident that the government of Pakistan is aware of those responsibilities and takes those responsibilities quite seriously,” said Mr Earnest.

Pakistan has rejected the report as “utterly baseless”.

Mr Earnest said he had seen the think-tank report but did not have any official government assessment to share with the media.

He said that President Barack Obama had a long-term goal of “a world without nuclear weapons”. He convenes an international summit every couple of years to promote this goal.

“And that continues to be a top foreign policy priority of his,” he said and noted that the next nuclear summit would be held in Washington next year.

“The second thing is — and this applies not just to Pakistan but to countries around the world that have a nuclear stockpile — that they have a responsibility for securing that nuclear stockpile,” said Mr Earnest.—Correspondent

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: US Natio­nal Security Adviser (NSA) Susan Rice arrived here on Saturday for discussions on a range of issues before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Washington in October.

She will meet the prime minister, Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz and army chief Gen Raheel Sharif on Sunday in preparation for the PM’s visit, a foreign ministry official said.

During the meetings, Ms Rice will finalise the agenda for the PM’s White House visit, which is likely to include counter-terrorism cooperation, Afghanistan and nuclear security.

Issues of interest to Pakistan are trade, economic assistance and deteriorating relations with India.

On the regional plane, tensions in Pakistan-Afghan ties after months of improvement, suspension of Afghan reconciliation process and the aggravating impasse in Pakistan-India relations, inc­luding the situation along the Line of Control and Working Boundary, are some of the issues of concern for the US.

According to an American source, Ms Rice is expected to convey US concerns about the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan that had thrown Pakistan-Afghanis­tan ties into disarray.

Ms Rice has come to Islamabad from Beijing, where she tried to fine-tune the agenda for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington next month. Peace and stability in Afghanistan is likely to be one of the issues common to both President Xi’s and Nawaz Sharif’s agendas for their White House visits.

Mr Sharif’s upcoming trip is being described by the American side, in their private conversations, as a working visit. Pakistani officials are, however, trying to turn it into an official visit.

It will be Mr Sharif’s second visit to the White House during his current tenure. His last visit took place in Oct 2013, which helped reset the ties weighed down by events of the preceding years.

About Ms Rice’s visit, a Pakistani diplomat said the relations were “on a much better footing now” and that Ms Rice’s visit to Islamabad and Mr Sharif’s subsequent Washington trip would further strengthen the ties and pave the way for a “long-term and sustained relations”.

The prime minister had sent his special assistant Tariq Fatemi to the US last month to prepare for his October trip.

During his stay in Washington, Mr Fatemi had met senior officials of the Obama administration and Congressional leaders, besides speaking at think tanks.

A statement issued after Mr Fatemi’s meeting with the US national security adviser had said: “While recognising the significance of continued high-level engagements between the two countries, both sides agreed to work closely to sustain and further build the momentum in high-level exchanges to further solidify mutual trust and confidence.”

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Although Saturday is an off-day for most government departments in the capital, uncertainty over the future of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) kept healthcare professionals and medical practitioners busy, as they scrambled to get more information about the unexpected presidential ordinance, through which the PMDC executive committee was dissolved on Friday night.

Most interested parties were keen to find out whether elections to the executive council would be held within 120 days and whether the government would be able to get the newly-promulgated ordinance through parliament.

According to an official statement from the National Health Services (NHS) ministry, retired Maj-Gen Azhar Kiyani was designated the new chairman of the executive committee. On Saturday, it emerged that he had left the country, leading to speculation that he may be unwilling to accept the responsibility. However, it was later revealed that the visit had been scheduled beforehand and that Maj-Gen Kiyani would be back in the country by Sept 6.

Doctors, PMDC and ministry officials were also curious about the status of the council, as well as the status of the medical colleges sanctioned and the decisions taken by the previous management.

PMDC staffers were also plagued by uncertainty regarding who the current registrar would be. They didn’t know that whether the current registrar, Dr Shaista Faisal, would continue or would Dr Ahmed Nadeem Akbar, who appeared before the Supreme Court claiming to be the sole PMDC registrar, would replace her. There was even talk of the possibility of someone non-controversial being appointed the new registrar.

A PMDC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that under Section 36-B of the PMDC act, the new management committee has all the powers of the council so it will be able to remove staff, open or close colleges and even take audit decisions.

“There is complete uncertainty right now and everyone is anxiously looking forward to Monday, when the PMDC office will reopen after the weekend. The health minister is also scheduled to hold a press conference, which will tell us more,” he said.

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Secretary General Dr Mirza Ali Azhar told Dawn, “[The council] has been struggling for years. The outgoing management compromised heavily on standards for medical colleges and on their watch, the number of medical and dental colleges mushroomed from 50 to 140,” he said.

He also advocated slashing the size of the executive committee. “In the UK, a 36-member committee regulates medical and dental colleges and over 50 per cent of them are elected members. In Pakistan, there were once over 100 members of the executive council and, after retirements and stays, there were 81 members as of Friday,” he said. He vowed that PMA would ensure that elections were held within the stipulated time period.

PTI MNA Nasir Khan Khattak, who owns a medical college in Peshawar and had been involved in a legal battle with the PMDC in the past, told Dawn he had suggested to the NHS minister that the provinces be given equal representation in the council.

“The Sindh lobby has been dominating the council and those elements were creating hurdles when it came to establishing colleges in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. After the 18th amendment, provinces can make their provincial councils. If one province establishes its own council, PMDC will become dysfunctional or ineffective,” he said.

“Colleges should be established in rural areas and for that, the PMDC should announce incentives for faculty members who work in rural areas, such as early promotions. Although I own a college myself, but I believe that private colleges’ representation in the council should be reduced and the quality of education should be ensured,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The Peoples Party will boycott the coming by-polls in Lahore and Lodhran if members of the Election Commission (ECP) do not quit office.

The party also said that it was ready to make seat adjustment with all parties, except the PML-N, in local bodies’ elections being held in Punjab in October.

The PPP made the disclosure during a media briefing at Zardari House on Saturday. Sherry Rehman, the party’s vice president, Secretary General Latif Khosa and Manzoor Wattoo, who heads its Punjab chapter, took part in the briefing.

The announcement from the PPP leaders came at a time when the PTI Chairman Imran Khan was giving a call to his workers in Lahore to reach Islamabad on October 4 for a sit-in to press for the resignation of ECP members.

“We will field our candidates conditionally. We will withdraw our candidates, if the four members of the ECP do not resign by that time,” declared Manzoor Wattoo.

Mr Wattoo also announced that on the pressure of party workers and activists, the PPP leadership had decided to end its policy of reconciliation. “Though, the policy of reconciliation benefited the country and democracy, it has also caused huge damage to the party,” he said.

Sherry Rehman reminded that the party, soon after the polls, had dubbed 2013 general elections as “the elections of the ROs (returning officers)”. She said the party accepted the results for the sake of “continuation of democratic set-up.”

Ms Rehman said it would be difficult to hold elections at national level under the present ECP setup.

It will be in nation’s interests, if the ECP members step down, she said adding the PPP does not want to opt for street agitation.

Former Punjab governor Latif Khosa alleged that the ECP has failed in performing its constitutional duty under Article 218 of the Constitution which was evident from the recent report of the poll inquiry commission and the decisions of the election tribunals.

Mr Khosa was of the view that the ECP members should have resigned when then chief election commissioner, retired Justice Fakharuddin G. Ebrahim had submitted his resignation after the political parties held the ECP responsible for rigging and mismanagement in the 2013 elections.

He said the PPP did not believe in the boycott of elections, but if all these four members of the ECP did not resign, they would have no option but to withdraw their candidates.

Replying to a question, the PPP leaders ruled out the possibility of boycotting the local government elections in any case. Mr Khosa said the local government polls would be held under the provincial act and since it was the responsibility of the provincial government, the PPP would take part in them.

Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari continued to hold meetings with party representatives and office-bearers for sixth consecutive day.

On Saturday, he met representatives of the People’s Youth Organisation (PYO) and the People’s Students Federation (PSF).

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2015

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