RAWALPINDI: A private security guard deployed at Allied Bank branch near Hati Chowk was gunned down by robbers when he tried to stop them from entering the bank on Friday. However, the robbers escaped from the scene empty handed.

Hammad Arshad, branch manager, told the police Allah Ditta, in his 50s, was on duty when three robbers tried to force their way into the bank branch at about 12.30pm on Friday. Police quoting the bank manager said the security guard lost his life but he foiled the robbery. Till the filing of this report, the police were unable to track down the robbers.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The PML-N has urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to extend time for submission of party tickets for candidates in the first phase of coming local government elections in Punjab.

A PML-N delegation headed by Punjab Local Government Minister Rana Sanaullah met ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad on Friday to request the commission to extend the date from Sept 11 to Oct 1.

Also read: 2nd phase of LG polls in Punjab, Sindh on Nov 19

The Election Commission of Pakistan has set Sept 11 as the last date for filing nomination papers for the first phase of elections in Punjab and Sindh and the candidates are required to provide party tickets by then. Scrutiny of the nominations will be carried out from Sept 12 to 17. Sept 22 is the last date for filing appeals against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers by the returning officers and tribunals will make decisions on them by Sept 30.

Oct 1 is the last date for withdrawal of candidatures.

Meanwhile, taking note of reports that public funds are being doled out and development schemes announced in various districts by provincial governments allegedly to influence voters in violation of the code of conduct, the Election Commission of Pakistan warned that any violation would be dealt with strictly.

It reiterated that public funds could not be released nor could development schemes be announced after issuance of the election schedule.

The Election Commission of Pakistan also announced that no request for change of district returning officers, ROs and assistant ROs would be entertained.

It asked the governments of the two provinces to ensure the availability of all the DROs, ROs and AROs at the duty stations assigned to them by the Election Commission of Pakistan and ordered that none should be replaced till the culmination of the election process.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015

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KARACHI: The Rangers formally detained two Muttahida Qaumi Movement ‘missing’ workers for three months after keeping them in their illegal detention for around eight months, said a senior MQM leader on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference at the Khurshid Begum Secretariat in Azizabad, senior MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said the two workers, Mirza Zeeshan Beg and Syed Tanveer Ahmed, were the victim of enforced disappearance after they were picked up by the Rangers in January.

He said the Rangers had denied in the Sindh High Court that they had arrested the two workers during the hearing of a petition against their illegal detention. “Today, the Rangers got their remand for 90 more days after keeping them in their illegal detention for 240 days. Will the high court take suo motu notice on this?” he asked.

Dr Sattar said that illegal raids were being conducted for arresting ‘innocent’ MQM workers in the name of the Karachi operation. If the arrests were being made on the basis of intelligence and evidence, then why the authorities had released thousands of workers after having them detained for a considerable period, he argued.

He shared details of the recent arrests of the MQM workers by the Rangers and said the held workers had not been formally shown arrested yet.

The MQM leader said if the held workers were not produced in a court of law within 24 hours of their arrest, their names would be included in the list of the victims of enforced disappearance.

He said there was an unannounced ban on political and welfare activities of the MQM. “At some point, this has to be stopped. There is no militant wing in the MQM and all of our held workers are innocent.”

He said the local government elections were approaching and any attempt to snatch the MQM’s mandate would not be accepted.

‘MQM opts out of dialogue under protest’

Dr Sattar, the MQM’s parliamentary party leader in the National Assembly, said his party had held three rounds of dialogue with the federal government on the assurances of Maulana Fazlur Rehman after its lawmakers submitted their resignations.

He said there were two parts of the MQM demands — related to the prime minister’s administrative authority and the grievance redressal committee. He said the party had to quit the dialogue process after the prime minister did not bother even after the passage of three weeks to use his “administrative, legal and constitutional authority” to lift the unannounced ban on MQM activities and live telecast of MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s speeches.

Accompanied by other party leaders, Dr Sattar appealed to human rights organisations to take notice of the illegal raids and arrests. He also demanded that the authorities respect the MQM mandate.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015

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FAISALABAD: A young man had to face the terrible ordeal of illegal detention by police allegedly at the behest of a ruling party MPA after his father’s car had an ‘accident’ with the vehicle of a girl known to the politico.

The Mansoorabad police implicated Sheraz, an MSc (hons) in animal nutrition, in a theft case and allegedly tortured him during illegal detention.

PML-N MPA Tahir Jameel had a case registered against unknown persons on the allegation of stealing his mobile phone set and wallet. The very next day police arrested Sheraz who was driving the car when the accident took place.

Police torture him during illegal detention

City Police Officer Afzaal Kausar said a committee headed by Madina Town SP Malik Jameel had been constituted to inquire into the issue.

Submitting an application, the MPA said he was on his way to attend a marriage ceremony when he stopped his vehicle on Canal Road on seeing an accident. “One of the vehicles turned out to be my friend’s and I intervened to pacify the two parties,” he said.

He said as he was busy placating the parties, someone stole his mobile phone and the wallet carrying Rs60,000, three cheques, official and national identity cards.

Sheraz’s father Dr Haq Nawaz, director of graduate studies at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, told Dawn that police registered a case against his son and tortured him at the behest of the MPA. He said his son was preparing to get admission to PhD and the incident had traumatised him.

He said police first arrested his younger son Shehryar, who is an electrical engineer, at his TNT Colony residence.

“Police pressured us to produce Sheraz for the release of Shehryar. I, along with some of my neighbours, went to the police station and produced Sheraz with a request to police to release Shehryar. But they refused to do so and released him after three days,” he claimed. He said police kept Sheraz in illegal detention and a court bailiff had recovered him.

As for the accident, he said a 20-year-old girl who was using mobile phone while driving hit rear of his vehicle on Canal Road on Aug 24. He said the girl got nervous and his wife and daughter calmed her down. “We asked the girl to call any member of her family to take her home. The girl, however, called the MPA who turned up after a few minutes and sent her to Maryyam Villas. The MPA exchanged a word with me when I insisted on repair of our damaged vehicle,” explained Dr Nawaz.

He said his neighbours advised him against handing over Sheraz to police but “being a law-abiding citizen, I ignored their advice.” A civil judge sent Sheraz on judicial remand on the police request for physical remand.

The CPO said justice would be done and the culprits brought to book irrespective of influence.

Meanwhile, the MPA stuck to his guns and said police had completed the inquiry after recording the statements of a shopkeeper at Kutchery Bazaar where Sheraz had gone to sell his (MPA’s) mobile phone. He said police found evidence of Sheraz’s involvement in theft and declared him guilty. He further claimed that Dr Nawaz’s family was asking him for reconciliation which in itself was a proof that he had done nothing wrong.

The MPA doesn’t enjoy much of a reputation as a few months ago, electricity theft was detected at his steel mill on Samundri Road. He managed transfer of two senior officers of the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company to Sukkur for conducting a raid.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to investigate the possible role of its former chairman, retired Admiral Fasih Bukhari, and other officers in extending undue benefit to property tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain in a land scam.

“NAB is directed to investigate the matter of the application submitted by then chairman NAB under section 16-A(a) of National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) before the Special Judge Anti Corruption,” said a 12-page verdict announced by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja.

The court also ordered the special judge anti-corruption to proceed with the trial of the case. The ruling, which was authored by Justice Qazi Faez Isa and reserved on Aug 31, disposed of an appeal by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Lahore, challenging the transfer of the case to NAB from the special judge anti-corruption which was investigating the fraudulent transfer of 1,401 kanals to Bahria Town in 2009. The land is situated at the revenue estate of Khanpur and Malikpur Azizal in Rawalpindi.

Fasih Bukhari allegedly transferred a land scam case from special judge anti-corruption to NAB

Initially, when ACE was probing the matter it submitted a challan to the special judge anti-corruption Rawalpindi on Nov 1, 2011. But Bahria Town moved an application with the then director general NAB on Nov 21, requesting him to investigate the matter by withdrawing it from the anti-corruption court.

Consequently, an application was moved on Nov 21, 2011, to the special judge anti-corruption by NAB under the signature of its then chairman Fasih Bukhari with a request to transfer the case to the administrative judge accountability courts, Rawalpindi. The same day, NAB also wrote to the ACE directing it to hand over the record of the land scam.

Later, NAB exonerated Malik Riaz and his son Ahmed Ali Riaz though proceedings against the revenue officials continued for their alleged collusion in transfer of the land.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court ordered NAB to investigate whether its former chairman and other officers had misused their official position by writing the application to the special judge anti-corruption.

The judgment noted that Bahria Town in its letter to NAB had admitted that the land had been illegally transferred to it by property dealer Mohammad Ashfaq on fake and forged documents. But there was nothing on record to confirm the same and the unsubstantiated statement made in the application was accepted by the then chairman NAB.

The court observed that NAB should not have exonerated the nominated accused (Malik Riaz and his son) and said the purported attempt to do so should be considered as of no legal effect. However, both will be entitled to defend the cases, the judgment added.

As these are old cases, the verdict said, “We expect that the special judge anti-corruption will proceed with them expeditiously.”

Since Fasih Bukhari is no longer the head of NAB, if the bureau deems it appropriate it may submit a fresh application for the transfer of the case to an accountability court constituted under the NAO. “And if such an application was submitted, it shall be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law and upon the transfer of the case to an accountability court it will be deemed to be a reference under section 18 of NAO.”

Referring to the repeated requests for adjournment of the case by Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, the counsel for Bahria Town, the court observed that though it was the right of the party to be heard and represented by a counsel, it cannot be permitted to defeat the cause of justice by indefinite procrastination as the Bahria Town respondents had done.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has called for an inquiry into what he has described as the soft stance of former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf on Kashmir issue.

“It needs to be investigated as to why Musharraf chose to deviate from Pakistan’s principled position (on the matter) and that too behind the back of Kashmiris and the people of Pakistan,” the former president said in a statement issued in Dubai on Friday.

He expressed concern over media reports that Mr Musharraf “secretly sought to barter away the rights of Kashmiris” without reference to the parliament and people of the disputed region.

Know more: Musharraf agreed in 2000 to low-key UN resolutions on Kashmir: US cable

“The reports that Musharraf agreed to ignore UN resolutions on Kashmir are most disturbing and the motives behind the dictator’s secret moves must be probed,” the PPP leader said.

Mr Zardari said that successive governments, even while seeking to normalise relations with India in other areas, had never given up on the principled stance on the UN resolutions.

He recalled that the late prime minister Benazir Bhutto had warned of disastrous consequences if the country unilaterally gave up its principled stance on Kashmir without quid pro quo. Responding to her apprehensions, the Musharraf regime had denied any move to ignore the UN resolutions.

The United States cables now made public under the country’s Freedom of Information Act, however, had revealed that the Musharraf regime’s denial was bogus, Mr Zardari said.

Any resolution of the Kashmir dispute must be based on the wishes of the people of Kashmir and the UN resolutions were key to it, he said.

KP BY-ELECTIONS: Former prime minister and PPP Secretary General Raja Pervez Ashraf has expressed apprehensions that the PTI-led coalition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa might be tempted to exert pressure on the administration in Upper Dir to manipulate the by-elections in the provincial assembly’s constituency of PK-93.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, he said the ruling parties in the province would desperately seek to win the seat to avenge the embarrassment of deseating of its MPA by the Election Commission.

By-elections in PK-93, Upper Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have been scheduled for Sept 15. The electoral contest has turned out to be a straight fight between the ruling coalition in the province, represented by the Jamaat-i-Islami candidate, and the PPP, supported by the opposition parties, including the ANP, JUI and PML-N.

“As you are aware, the area of Dir is also plagued with serious law and order issues. Indeed it is infested with militancy, having witnessed a number of suicide and militants attacks in the recent past,” including one in which the brother of a Peoples Party MPA, Zamin Khan, died along with several other people, he said.

“The PPP apprehends that in its desperation the ruling coalition will be tempted to pressure the local administration to manipulate the election process and results.”

Mr Ashraf expressed the fear that “any attempt at manipulation by the ruling coalition is likely to provoke a backlash from the opposition parties that will only exacerbate the already precarious law and order situation in the area”.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015

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KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered two FIRs against the brother of a London-based MQM leader, a banker and several officials of an exchange company for illegally transferring money out of Pakistan through fake bank accounts and Hawala to the UK and the UAE, it emerged on Friday.

They allegedly transferred between Rs50 million and Rs60m generated through land grabbing, particularly China-cutting — the illegal carving out of smaller residential plots, less than 120 square yards, from a big amenity plot — to London, Dubai and Sharjah from 2013 to 2015, according to FIA officials and documents obtained by Dawn.

According to the FIR (44/2015) registered by the FIA commercial banks circle on behalf of the state, Syed Iqbal Rasheed allegedly abused his official position as branch manager of the NIB Bank, Stadium Road, and the UBL Bank Ltd, SMCHS branch to provide ‘illegal benefit’ of banking services to Mohammad Ahsan, alias Chunnu Mamu, pertaining to laundering the proceeds obtained from unlawful business of China-cutting abroad.

The FIR did not mention the affiliation of Mohammad Ahsan, alias Chunnu Mamu, with any political party, but FIA director Shahid Hayat in his recent letter to the Sindh government stated that Mohammed Ahsan alias Chunnu Mama was ‘brother of Muhammad Anwar of MQM, London’.

The FIA claimed that from November 2013 to September 2014, Iqbal Rasheed being NIB Bank branch manager opened at least five bank accounts in the name of Mohammad Ahsan and his family members. These accounts were opened “illegally and fraudulently with fake and forged signatures in collusion with accused Mohammad Ahsan in order to provide illegal services of transfer of proceeds of crimes to the latter from Karachi to London, Sharjah and Dubai,” according to the FIR.

Similarly, the FIA said that while being UBL Bank branch manager from October 2014 to July 2015, Iqbal Rasheed illegally and fraudulently opened four bank accounts with fake and forge signatures in collusion with Mohammad Ahsan alias Chunnu Mamu in order to provide illegal services of transfer of proceeds of crimes to him from Karachi to London, Sharjah and Dubai.

“Since the year 2013, Mohammad Ahsan alias Chunnu Mamu and his family members have not been residing in Pakistan but illegally and fraudulently got opened the above bank accounts in connivance with accused Syed Iqbal Rasheed and received proceeds of crimes in the bank accounts being maintained abroad,” as per the FIR copy.

The FIR mentioned the account numbers of Mohammad Ahsan and his family members maintained in six banks in Edgware London namely Hailfax Bank and Natwest Bank branches and two banks in Sharjah and Dubai, respectively, where the money was transferred through the alleged fake accounts in Karachi.

The FIA believed that Iqbal Rasheed abused his official position as bank manager and provided illegal banking services to accused Chunnu Mamu and others. The banker “dishonestly, fraudulently and illegally laundered proceeds of crimes abroad to the tune of millions of rupees obtained from illegal business of land grabbing and thereby committed offences punishable with Sections 409, 420, 468, 471, 109/34 of Pakistan Penal Code.”

According to the other FIR (45/2015) registered by the FIA on a complaint of deputy director of exchange policy department, the State Bank of Pakistan, Mohammad Ahsan alias Chunnu Mamu and his wife Ms Sikandar Ahsan in collusion with the banker remained involved in illegal purchase of foreign currencies and sending remittances out of Pakistan through Hawala through a director of Gohar Exchange Company, Syed Mohammad Ashfaq, and his associates/employees namely Mohammad Masoom-ul-Hassan, Amjad Iqbal, Imran Iqbal and others.

The FIA claimed that Ashfaq had been running ‘illegal business of Hawala’ and illegal sale/purchase of foreign currencies under the cover of Gohar Exchange. Its (exchange) branch is located at room No 82, Old Building, Karachi Stock Exchange and established under the licence of the SBP and thus ‘violating the rules and regulations of the SBP’.

According to the FIR, Iqbal Rasheed illegally purchased foreign currencies from Gohar Exchange Company and deposited the same in such bank accounts that were opened ‘dishonestly and fraudulently’ with the collusion of Ahsan alias Chunnu Mamu for onward transfer of illegally deposited funds out of Pakistan.

The FIR contained the account numbers of Mohammad Ahsan in two branches of NIB and one UBL, which the FIA believed were opened and operated with ‘mala fide intentions’.

Furthermore, Iqbal Rasheed sent remittances out of Pakistan through Hawala and the ‘illegal services’ were provided by the exchange company director, Ashfaq, through the employees.

Hotel in Bur Dubai

The FIA said they traced that Iqbal Rasheed with the collusion of Ahsan alias Chunnu Mamu sent 300,000 dirham to Dubai through Hawala in May 2015 by availing illegal services of Gohar Exchange and the cash was received there.

“The funds were illegally transferred through Hawala for purchase of Grand Midwest Hotel, Bur Dubai, the UAE,” stated the FIR.

Earlier in February 2014, Iqbal Rasheed in collusion with Ahsan alias Chunnu Mamu sent remittances to London through Hawala by availing ‘illegal services’ of Gohar Exchange and cash amount was deposited in two banks in the UK.

According to the FIR, 5,000 pounds transferred through Hawala was deposited in an account (number 00610070) in Hailifax Bank, Station Road Branch, Edgware London, the UK (SORT Code 11-02-69) and the account belonged to Mohammad Ahsan. Similarly, 2,000 British pounds was deposited in an account (80647782) of Natwest Bank, Station Road Hale Lane Branch, Edgware London, the UK (SORT code 52-10-33). The FIA claimed that this bank account belonged to Ms SikandarAhsan, the wife of Ahsan alias Chunnu Mamu.

The FIA also alleged that Gohra Exchange had been conducting illegal business of Hawala since long in clandestine manner and had been providing illegal services of Hawala to their other clients as well.

“The whole illegal business is run under the knowledge and consent of Hanif Gohar, one of the directors of the exchange company and major shareholder,” according to contents of the FIR.

“His role is being determined and will be finalized during the course of investigation.”

The FIA said that Ahsan alias Chunnu Mamu, his wife and Iqbal Rasheed illegally purchased foreign currencies and also sent remittances out of Pakistan through Hawala through Gohar Exchange.

“The illegal act of said accused persons and others constitute offences punishable under Sections 4, 5, 8, 22 and 23 of the Foreign Exchange Regulations Act.”

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015

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Star Plus UK is set to join the ranks of other Indian TV channels like Colors and Zindagi UK with the airing of the first Pakistani drama in its broadcast history.

Mehreen Jabbar's Mera Naam Yousuf Hai enjoys the distinction of being the first TV serial from Pakistan to be aired on the Star network. The broadcast will begin on October 18th, according to BizAsia.

Mera Naam Yousuf Hai is a convoluted romantic drama, which stars Imran Abbas, Maya Ali, Waseem Abbas and Hina Bayat. It was first aired earlier this year on Pakistan's A Plus and was a very popular show.

Also read: TV drama Mera Naam Yousuf Hai plays the filmi card and wins

Star Plus UK's move to broadcast Pakistani content is said to be done to meet a growing demand for it. Other Indian TV channels like Colors and Rishtey broadcast Pakistani shows to great response, and ZEE TV launched the Zindagi channel exclusively for Pakistani dramas in June last year.

Read more: Zindagi Gulzar Hai: Pakistani drama serials win hearts in India

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Friday was told that the investigators were still unable to trace the prime suspect in the murder case of Orangi Pilot Project Director Parveen Rehman, although he has continually been under technical surveillance since September last year.

“He is a very shrewd character and keeps on changing his cell numbers as well as IMEIs [international mobile equipment identity]”, said a progress report of police filed before a two-member bench of the apex court at the Karachi Registry.

The bench comprising Justices Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Amir Hani Muslim was hearing a suo motu case along with the application of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and other petitioners on the murder of the social worker.

Parveen Rehman, a media-shy social worker who devoted her life to the development of the impoverished neighbourhoods across the country, was gunned down near her office in Orangi Town on March 13, 2013.

The very next day, police killed a Taliban operative named Qari Bilal in an encounter and claimed that he was the murderer, resulting in a closure of the case.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on April 15, 2014 ordered the authorities to conduct a fresh probe into the murder after a judicial inquiry revealed that police officers had manipulated the investigation.

Later, the HRCP, through Zohra Yousuf, moved a plea in the apex court requesting it to initiate disciplinary action against police officers involved in manipulation of the investigation into the murder case.

On Friday, the DIG-West placed on record the progress report stating that efforts were being made to track down the prime suspect, Rahim Swati, whose son, Imran, was already arrested in the case.

The report said suspect Imran told the investigators that his father had gone to the UAE. It said that the Federal Investigation Agency reported that the suspect had not travelled abroad.

The progress report said that the suspect Swati originally hailed from Malakand Agency and the local police had been contacted for his arrest.

It said that the Malakand police chief was being moved to distinguish and ascertain whether suspect Said Rahim and suspect Muhammad Rahim Sawati was the same person or otherwise.

The progress report quoted a report of the Regional Police Officer, Malakand as stating that Said Rahim was associated with terrorists and the Taliban and during the past insurgency, he along with his family moved to some unknown place, while his house was demolished by the security forces.

The progress report said that suspect Swati shall be monitored technically with the assistance of other intelligence agencies.

It said that the suspect had changed as many as 10 cell numbers and eight IMEIs since his technical surveillance.

The report said that cell numbers of Swati’s son and other family members would be obtained and analysed to track him down.

The court was also informed that SSP Pir Muhammad Shah, who was nominated as the investigation officer of the case by the apex court, had been transferred and posted as Khairpur SSP.

The DIG asked the court to nominate SSP-Operation Karachi West as the IO to conduct further investigation.

The court granted the request and ordered the investigators to gear up their efforts for the arrest of the prime suspect.

The hearing was adjourned to a date to be later announced by the court’s office.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau has seized the record of two energy-related deals — import of $1.18 billion pipe for Iran-Pakistan pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal agreement — from the offices of Interstate Gas Company (ISGC), a subsidiary of the petroleum ministry.

Informed sources said the move was meant for expansion of investigations related to former minister Dr Asim Hussain. During his tenure the ISGC processed the import of $1.18bn “line- pipe” for Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline, but it was blocked by some top executives of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) for being too expensive.

They said the role of some ISGC officials in the award of terminal agreement for LNG imports was also under scrutiny. “We have seized some record from the ISGC,” a NAB official confirmed.

The physical remand of PPP leader Dr Asim Hussain on terrorism-related charges had more to do with securing sufficient time for completing investigation and questioning the former minister, the sources said.

Also read: Rangers seize record from Dr Asim’s hospital in three-hour-long stay

The ISGC had advised the pre-qualified companies in March 2012 to collect tender documents for supply of 42-inch line pipe for the Iran-Pakistan pipeline project. Twelve of the companies purchased the documents while five submitted technical and financial bids by the due date.

Based on technical evaluation, only one firm, Panyu Chu Kong Company (PCK), was qualified and a financial bid was opened on Sept 24, 2012. PCK offered to supply the required quantity of line pipe for $1.181bn, including $88.382 million as cost for transporting the pipe from Karachi to various dump sites.

The ISGC managing director had in Oct 2012 suggested procurement of the pipe, but some of the board directors viewed the price to be on the higher side. One of the directors reported that SNGPL had invited tenders for 42-inch diameter line pipe and the price quoted by local and international bidders should be treated as a reference point.

The board chairman constituted a sub-committee to look into the matter. The sub-committee, comprising Javed Hussain, Raja Irfan Nasar, Azeem Iqbal Siddiqui and Arif Hameed, along with technical staff from the two gas companies, examined the evaluation report of technical and financial bid of line pipe prepared by the consultant (ILF-NESPAK), its comparison with market rates vis-a-vis estimates given by the consultant and reported 21 deviations.

Director Javed Hussain reported that the price quoted by PCK for ex-works bare line pipe was $1800 per ton — $500 higher than the consultant’s estimate —, while a similar bid by SNGPL a year ago had attracted $960 per ton and that of SSGC for 12 inch grade X-70 line pipe and FOB price fetched $997.

On the basis of all parameters, the sub-committee concluded that the prices quoted by the bidders were very high.

HIGH PRICE DEFENDED: The board, therefore, sought a legal opinion if a single bid which had attracted high price could be accepted. The ISGC management attributed the high price to high premium on insurance, cost of performance bond due to long tenure of contract, interest charges relating to booking raw material and currency exchanges risk unique to the IP project.

The bidder offered some discount but against increasing down payment from 15 per cent to 30pc.

Some directors, particularly Javed Hussain and Arif Hameed, were not satisfied with the details provided by the consultant and again sought price supported by evidence with name of the manufacturers and independent price audit. They resisted the deal even though the then minister, who was not a member, attended the board meetings.

Secondly, the ISGC also processed the bids for evaluation and award of LNG terminal to Engro Elengy, although bids were issued by SSGC and it should have processed it.

Gasport Ltd and Engro Elengy participated in the bid. Gasport was technically disqualified but the contract was awarded to Engro, being the single bidder.

NAB is investigating if the previous tender was scrapped for political reasons because Gasport had qualified technical evaluation. The bureau is also investigating why LNG was now being sold at a price higher than that of furnace oil and why the NTDC had refused in writing to allocate LNG for various IPPs when it can run them on cheaper furnace oil.

The sources said the SSGC board had approved only the initial draft of LNG supply agreement (LSA) with Engro on the condition that PSO would be responsible for all obligations in case of failure to import LNG while idle charges would not be billed to SSGC.

But PSO did not give the undertaking to SSGC, whose then chief Zuhair Siddique was pressured into signing the agreement while the SNGPL chief ran away. Now SSGC is being billed millions of dollars for idle capacity of the terminal as PSO has failed to ensure continuous supplies while the ISGS could not resolve issues with Port Qasim owing to which Qatar Qflex ships cannot enter the country’s sea channel.

NAB is examining how Engro, which invested $150m in setting up of the terminal, will be able to mop up $ 1.8bn in 15 years contract after recovering full investment in 18 months.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Afghan Presi­dent Ashraf Ghani conveyed on Friday mixed signals to Pakistan on resumption of rapprochement that was disrupted last month after terrorist attacks in Kabul.

As Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz returned to Islamabad after a day-long trip to the Afghan capital it wasn’t clear if a thaw in ties after weeks of estrangement was in the offing or the tensions would persist.

Take a look: ‘Pakistan and Afghanistan need each other’

Addressing the participants of the sixth edition of Regional Economic Confere­nce on Afghanistan (RECCA-VI) in Kabul hours after he had held an hour and half long one-to-one meeting with Mr Aziz, President Ghani reiterated his policy of good neighbourly ties with Pakistan, but at the same time pointed fingers at unnamed elements within Pakistan who, in his view, were opposed to peace in his country (Afghanistan).

Adviser carries five key messages to Afghanistan

It looked from the statement as if the meeting between Mr Ghani and Mr Aziz, which was being keenly followed, failed to achieve any major breakthrough.

Mr Aziz was leading the Pakistani delegation to the regional conference, which in addition to foreign ministry officials, included Director General Military Operations Maj Gen Aamer Riaz.

Besides attending the conference and meeting President Ghani, the adviser met a number of Afghan leaders, including Foreign Minis­ter Salahuddin Rabbani, National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar, Second Deputy to Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Mohaqiq and Ustad Atta Muhammad Noor. He also attended a reception hosted by Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

The focus of Mr Aziz’s discussions in Kabul was on finding a way to end the acrimony in the relationship that became more pronounced after last month’s attacks in Kabul.

Significantly, there was no joint communiqué at the end of the visit. No statement was issued on the meetings Mr Aziz had held with Afghan leaders in Kabul.

According to an analyst, the best indicator of what transpired in Kabul vis-a-vis the bilateral ties was the speech that Mr Ghani delivered at the conference.

Afghan president said: “Pakistan’s leaders express the desire for peace but face the challenge of controlling those forces that believe that an unstable and weakened Afghanistan is better than a strong and confident neighbour.”

The veiled reference to the ‘spoilers’ and anti-peace elements within Pakistan neutralised the positivity generated by the reiteration of the Afghan president’s policy of normalisation of ties with Pakistan.

About his government’s policy on ties with Islamabad, Mr Ghani said: “Our economic strategy is inextricably bound up with our political strategy of building ties with our neighbours, above all with Pakistan.”

He further said: “We are confident that an accommodation can be reached that lets both Pakistan and ourselves develop the economies that we need to provide prosperity to our people.”

But at the same time, he cautioned: “The path forward will not be smooth. There will be setbacks.”

On reconciliation process, Mr Ghani said: “The quest for peace would continue.” He denied the perception about division within the National Unity Government on the issue and said: “Dr Abdullah and I have been united in this quest for peace”.

He recalled that his government had reached out to Taliban both through “state-to-state contacts and through people-to-people exchanges”. “Although more civilians were killed by Taliban attacks than at any time since 2002, for the first time peace is a real prospect,” he added.

FO BRIEFING: During the weekly media briefing earlier in the day, Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said Mr Sartaj Aziz had carried five key messages to Kabul.

He listed the messages as: “(i) Good wishes from the people and the leadership of Pakistan to the people and the leadership of Afghanistan; (ii) Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining friendly, brotherly and good neighbourly relations with Afghanistan; (iii) Need to stop anti-Pakistan campaign that has been visible for some time now at various levels in Afghanistan, as it was counter-productive and did not serve the best interests of the peoples of the two countries; (iv) Pakistan’s concerns relating to security of its embassy personnel under the prevailing charged anti-Pakistan atmosphere in Afghanistan; and (v) Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process.”

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015

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Is it a wish come true or wishful thinking?

Fawad Khan fans may expect a brief appearance by the actor in the upcoming Karan johar production, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

The film, which stars Aishwarya Rai, Anushka Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor, was initially rumoured to also feature Fawad as Aishwarya's husband – that too on the request of Karan's mother.

Although the rumour has since died down, there may have been some element of truth to it.

According to a source of Bollywood Life, “Fawad is a part of ADHM and has a cameo in the film. ”

Karan Johar has already roped in Fawad Khan for a role in Kapoor & Sons.

Also read: Meanwhile in India... Fawad Khan parties with Kapoor & Sons!

Perhaps his charming 'on set' presence convinced Karan to give him a part in ADHM after all?

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to “take notice” of the escalating incidents of firing by Indian troops across the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region and along the Working Boundary in which a large number of civilians have been killed and injured, it was officially stated Friday.

In a letter to the President of the UNSC, Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia, who holds the rotational presidency of the 15-member body for the month of September, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi emphasised that India should be asked to abide by the 2003 ceasefire agreement.

In doing so, Ambassador Lodhi has taken the issue of India's “provocative” actions to the highest levels of the United Nations.

Also read: After Ufa

In her letter, the Pakistani envoy gave details of breaches of the ceasefire, and pointed out that there had been a spike in such violence in the last couple of months. These violations have involved the use of small arms as well as heavy mortar fire, and had targeted innocent civilians, including women and children, the letter said.

She requested the UNSC president to circulate the letter as an official document of the Security Council.

In July 2015, a Pakistan Mission press release said Indian security forces committed 36 violations of the ceasefire, resulting in five civilians being killed and six injured. In August 2015, it said, the number increased significantly, with ceasefire violations reaching 90, leading to 20 civilians being killed and 97 injured.

Over the past several weeks, Pakistan has been raising the issue of violations by India along the LoC in Kashmir and the Working Boundary at the UN with top officials in the Department of Political Affairs and Peacekeeping Operations, the handout said.

In this connection, Ambassador Lodhi briefed the senior UN leadership, including Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson, about Indian violations which “deliberately targeted the civilian population” and called for the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to investigate these violations.

In her meeting with Jan Eliasson, Lodhi had informed him of India's rejection of dialogue by setting pre-conditions for the first-ever official talks between the National Security Advisers of the two countries, which led to the cancellation of the meeting, the press release said. Earlier, India had also cancelled the Foreign Secretary level talks last year, it said.

Pakistan remains committed to peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, the release said.

One would think it's lucky to have a legend for an uncle, but for artistes like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, it can be quite a daunting experience.

He recently spoke to Hindustan Times about his jitters during his practice sessions with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan back in the day:

“Bahut khaufnaaq mahaul banta tha (It used to be terrifying). After he would sing a line, he would ask me to repeat, and I used to get petrified. But he always appreciated my work. He was very strict when it came to music. Whenever he was angry with someone, he would not talk to the person for weeks and months,” he recalls.

Rahat also said that his uncle's stardom made his rise as a singer "even more difficult [for him]."

"Agar fankar saccha ho (if an artiste is honest)," he said, referring to his uncle, "tou uske fans bhi sacche hote hain; aur...woh kisi aur fankar ko accept nahi karte (he or she will have loyal followers, who don’t accept anyone else easily.)”

Read more: Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan fondly remembered by nephew

The seeds of 'honest' music, which were sown during his time with Khan sahab, still bear fruit. Talking about the difference between Pakistani and Indian music today, Rahat said that "I think raw material is more in Pakistan. Due to lack of modern technology, the music is still rooted in the land, which is a blessing."

He added that composing for Bollywood is difficult because "proving your music in today’s times is harder. But I am sure that things will change, and art will again be the most important thing to be associated with an artiste. "

But one thing's for sure - he won't be singing an item song.

"I don’t think my voice will suit an item number," he said with a laugh, "I might just start applying classical genres to it."

PESHAWAR: A district councillor affiliated with the Awami National Party (ANP), Malik Mumtaz Khan, was killed and three others sustained injuries in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Hangu district on Saturday, police said.

Police sources told DawnNews that the ANP councillor was travelling in his car when the IED — which had been planted on the roadside in Hangu's Tora Warai area — targeted his vehicle.

As a result of the blast, councillor Mumtaz Khan was seriously injured. He was being shifted to the District Hospital Hangu where he later expired.

Three others who sustained injuries in the explosion were also shifted to the district hospital and their condition was stated as stable.

Police sources said a search operation was launched in the area following the blast.

LAHORE: Police said Saturday they have arrested and imprisoned a Christian man accused of blasphemy in Punjab’s Kasur district.

Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in Pakistan, with even unproven allegations often prompting mob violence, and acquittals in court are rare.

“A Christian labourer named Pervaiz Masih was arrested earlier this week and sent on judicial remand for passing derogatory remarks against the Prophet (PBUH),” a local police official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Ali Hussain, a senior police official in the area, confirmed the incident.

He said the accused, a labourer, was working with several Muslim colleagues when the incident occurred.

“They were working on a small construction site, one Muslim fellow was listening to religious speech while the accused was working,” he said, adding that when the accused told his colleague to get back to work they had an argument during which the Christian man made derogatory remarks about the prophet of Islam.

“We have registered a case under section 295C against the accused. The alleged incident occurred in Kasur district, around 54 kilometres (34 miles) southeast of Lahore.”

Under Pakistan's stringent blasphemy laws, insulting the Prophet (PBUH) carries the death penalty, though the country has never executed anyone for the crime.

But anyone convicted, or even just accused, of insulting Islam, risks a violent and bloody death at the hands of vigilantes.

Bonded labourer Shehzad Masih and his pregnant wife Shama Bibi were beaten by a mob of 1,500 people then thrown into a furnace last year in a crazed reaction to rumours they had thrown pages of the Quran into the garbage.

Read: Christian couple beaten to death for 'desecrating Quran': police.

Critics, including European governments, say Pakistan's blasphemy laws are often misused to settle personal scores.

Christians, who make up around 1.6 per cent of the country's 200 million people, are often discriminated against and marginalised by the Muslim majority.

GUJRANWALA: At least five people were killed as the roof of a flour mill collapsed following a boiler explosion in Punjab's Gujranwala district on Saturday.

At least 70 labourers were working in the factory when the boiler exploded causing the roof to collapse. Sources told DawnNews that the roof collapse left five dead and at least 30 injured.

Out of those wounded, 10 critically injured workers were shifted to Lahore while the rest were provided first-aid on the site.

Around 10 to 15 labourers are still trapped under the rubble, rescue sources said.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and demanded an inquiry report while expressing grief over the loss of life and property.

Police took the mill's owner and its manager into custody and initiated a probe into the incident.

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said on Saturday that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) should cleanse itself from "terrorists and criminals" who are behind the disrupting of Karachi's peace.

Speaking to media representatives after participating in the passing out parade of Railway police recruits as chief guest, the minister maintained that policy of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) towards disgruntled MQM legislators over the issue of resignations was the same as it was towards lawmakers from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

“We even endured their (PTI's) accusations and lies with patience, just so we could bring them back to parliament for greater national interest...a country waging war on ideological, military and economic fronts cannot bear political instability," said Rafique.

The PML-N leader said that the federal government's prime objective was to end of all sorts of terrorism and agitation in order to bring about the country's speedy economic recovery.

"While some elements do not want foreign investment to flow inside Pakistan, the PML-N government is committed to take the bull by its horns for the country's financial well being...including any measures needed to ensure the effective execution of the all important China Pakistan Economic Corridor," the minister said.

On this occasion, Rafique praised what he called the commitment and honesty of the Railway police in carrying out their duties. The gathering also paid homage to former Inspector General (IG) Syed Ibn-i-Hussain and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Munir Chishti of Railway police, as pioneers of reforms in the department.

Challenging NA-125 verdict 'party decision'

When asked about the tribunal's decision regarding the elections in NA-125, the constituency he represents, the PML-N leader claimed that he wanted to contest the by-polls but will challenge the tribunal's decision in Supreme Court as his party had decided to opt for the move.

When asked about his opponent Sheikh Rasheed’s desire to contest by-polls against him in NA-125, he maintained that Rasheed could willfully take that step.

“I will welcome him if contests against me," said Rafique.

An election tribunal had in May annulled the results of the election in NA-125 and had ordered a re-poll on the seat won by Saad Rafique against his opponent PTI’s Hamid Khan in the 2013 general election.

Later, election tribunals also ruled against two other PML-N lawmakers, Ayaz Sadiq and Siddique Khan Baloch, and ordered re-election in the constituencies that they had been elected from — NA-122 and NA-154 respectively.

The PML-N leadership had on August 27 announced that it will contest by-elections in the NA-122 and NA-154 constituencies while vowing to move the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the NA-125 case.

ISLAMABAD: Security forces have arrested a suspected terrorist who was planning to carry out attacks in Quetta on the occasion of Defence Day.

The suspected terrorist was arrested from Quetta in an intelligence-based operation, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The statement issued from the army’s General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi said that security forces recovered a remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED) from the suspect’s possession. Moreover, some six kilogrammes of explosives and nuts and bolts were also recovered from the arrested man.

Also read: 1965 and after

The ISPR said security personnel defused another IED that had already been planted at the site from where the man was arrested. It added that during the preliminary probe, the suspected terrorist, whose name has not been revealed, had confessed to having links with India’s premier intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

During questioning, the man also confessed to planting IEDs in Quetta on two occasions in the past, incidents in which several people were killed.

Terror bid foiled in Peshawar

The provincial police force of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Saturday foiled a terror bid and arrested three suspected terrorists.

A special unit of KP police claims to have arrested three wanted terrorists after receiving intelligence information regarding their movements.

According to police sources, a vehicle was stopped in Mathra area of Peshawar and a explosive device weighing five kilogrammes with a timed detonator was seized.

Police sources added that the arrested individuals belonged to a proscribed organisation and were involved in attacks on polio vaccination teams and kidnapping for ransom.

Two suspected TTP commanders arrested

Security agencies, in a separate raid conducted on Saturday arrested two suspected commanders of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Balochistan’s Zhob district.

“Officials of a security agency conducted a raid in Gwal Ismail Zai area of Zhob and arrested two key TTP commanders,” said a security official, who declined to be named.

Security officials also recovered arms and ammunition from the arrested individuals, added the security official.

The arrested individuals were shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.

“The militants were planning on carrying out subversive activities in Quetta during the upcoming Defence Day,” added the official.

The arrests come as the country prepares to pay homage to the martyrs of the 1965 War, an occasion where the nation will reaffirm its resolve to defend the country as it did that year in case of a similar threat in the future.

Pakistan will be observing the 50th anniversary of the war this year, with a one-minute silence to be observed across the country from 9:29am to 9:30am on Sunday (Sept 6), and special prayers to be held for the martyrs along with special programmes to commemorate them.

KARACHI: Though terror-related incidents have been reduced up to 60 per cent in the two years since the commencement of the Karachi operation, sleeper cells of terror outfits still exist in the metropolis and law enforcers are making concerted efforts to eliminate the same, Karachi Police AIG Mushtaq Maher told media on Saturday.

Sharing gains made during the two years of the Karachi operation at the Karachi Police Office (KPO) along with a senior Rangers official, Maher claimed that about 232 police personnel including officers embraced martyrdom during the Karachi operation while 23 Rangers personnel laid their lives fighting terrorists in the city.

The city police chief said 3,000 hardcore criminals had been arrested, while 246 terrorists, 38 kidnappers and ten extortionists had been killed so far in police encounters.

He further claimed that car-snatching incidents reported in the city were the lowest in the past 15 years while motorcycle-snatching incidents were on the rise, which he said will be curtailed.

Also Read:43pc decrease in target killings after Karachi operation, says Nisar

Rangers spokesman Colonel Amjad maintained that 913 terrorists including 550 target killers were nabbed while 15,400 illegal weapons were recovered from the custody of criminals operating within the city.

Related:Karachi operation 'apolitical' and 'indiscriminate'

Curbing street crime ‘a challenge’

Maher was of the view that the biggest challenge facing law-enforcement agencies within Karachi is curbing street crime, especially ‘cellphone snatching incidents’

"There are 34 roundabouts where such incidents are the highest, so we are considering installing CCTV cameras and emergency response centres there," he said.

Talking about police reforms, Mehr told media that the department will now maintain a computerised record of criminals arrested or punished.

"A biometric verification will take place once they enter the lock up, then each time when they will be presented in court, followed by a record if they are punished."

The police chief maintained that the the LEAs have requested the government to increase the number of Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) in Karachi, adding that high-profile cases shall be sent to military courts.

He said accountability processes in the police have been initiated and at least 1,000 ‘black sheep’ have been identified in the force who would not be sent on field postings.

Responding to a question, Maher said that in past, operation against criminals had been stopped two or three times in Karachi; but now "every State institution has decided that there is no point of return."

The Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) chief while speaking on the occasion requested citizens to help LEAs in curbing crime.

Representatives of trade bodies were also present who stressed for a ‘sustainable’ operation and demanded depoliticisation of police.

The ‘operation’ against criminal elements in Pakistan’s commercial hub was initiated back in September 2013 after the federal cabinet empowered Rangers to lead a targeted advance with the support of police against criminals already identified by federal military and civilian agencies for their alleged involvement in targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism in Karachi.

A high-level apex committee meeting chaired by the Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif on May 14, 2015 decided to implement effective policing and surveillance in the "vast suburbs of Karachi", to prevent what the military spokesperson said were "sneaking terrorist attacks".

At the meeting, Gen Sharif vowed to continue "across the board operations" at an increased pace and hunt down terrorists who commit heinous acts.

Military spokesman Asim Bajwa announced that the meeting had assessed ongoing operations against terrorists, and touched upon directing intelligence agencies to assist in the "exploitation of existing leads" in all operations.