QUETTA: The Commander Southern Command, Lt Gen Naseer Khan Janjua, has again called upon angry Baloch leaders to join the mainstream and work in cooperation with the government to serve the country.

Speaking at a function held to pay tribute to martyrs at the Samungli Airbase here on Sunday, he asserted that peace would be restored in Balochistan. “We are ready for negotiations with all those who believe in federation and development of Balochistan. But we will not spare the elements fighting against the country,” Gen Janjua added.

Also read: Political, military leaderships vow to eliminate terrorists

He said the nation would not forget the sacrifices rendered by the troops fighting terrorists and anti-state elements. He paid homage to the martyrs who had sacrificed their lives while protecting the motherland and its people.

He said Sept 6 was a day of great significance in the nation’s history when the armed forces and the people defeated the three-time larger enemy. “We should pledge on this occasion that we will remain united for development and prosperity of the country.”

Gen Janjua said the people who had gone to the mountains and were fighting against the state should abandon their armed struggle and join hands with the government for development of the country and welfare of its people. But, he warned, if they did not join the mainstream they would have to face the security forces.

“We would not allow anyone to disturb peace,” he said, adding that security forces would chase the elements trying to create unrest in Balochistan “at the behest of their foreign masters”.

Speaking at another function organised on Saturday night by the Frontier Corps Balochistan at Ghaza Band Scouts Headquarters, Gen Janjua lauded the sacrifices rendered by FC officers and soldiers for restoring peace in Balochistan.

He said that some self-seeking elements had been using the people of Balochistan for a long time for their personal interests, but the situation had now changed and they would not be able now to deceive the masses. The efforts for development and prosperity of Balochistan would not be abandoned.

He said the future of Balochistan was bright and it would play an important role in future development of the country.

FC Inspector General Maj Gen Sher Afgan said that about 650 officers and soldiers of Frontier Corps had sacrificed their lives for restoring peace in Balochistan. More than 3,500 civilians have also lost their lives.

“We cannot forget the sacrifices of these civilians because peace in Balochistan has been restored with the help and cooperation of people,” he said, adding that because of their sacrifices and efforts even the people who had gone to the mountains were now talking about peace.

The FC chief said the enemies wanted to carry out “subversive activities” in Balochistan on national days, but security forces had foiled their designs. He paid tribute to watchman Talib Hussain who had sacrificed his life but did not allow a suicide bomber to enter Hazara Town a day before Eid.

“A handful of terrorists will not be allowed to hold the nation hostage and carry out subversive activities,” he said.

Balochistan IG Mohammad Amlish also attended the function.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Defence Day featured a bout of inconvenience for many of the city’s residents after they were caught in a traffic jam due to the diversion of traffic around F-9 Park.

A traffic police official said that the Prime Minister and the President, as well as other figures, were travelling to F-9 Park to watch the air show.

“Traffic police diverted traffic from all around the park. Those who wanted to from F-10 to F-7 were diverted to Huqman Luqman Road in front of Karachi Company. Similarly, traffic on other sides of the park was diverted to service road,” the official said.

‘Another reason for the rush was the number of people coming to see the air show. Since the main routes were closed, people got stuck in traffic,” he added.

“A number of people who were stuck in traffic went to green belts and watched the air show from there,” the official said, adding that the roads were opened once VIP movement had ceased.

“People were able to enter and leave from all over the park after security clearance, so they only faced a problem for a few minutes. It was a big day, and this is the first time it was celebrated with so much enthusiasm, so people must have enjoyed the show even if they couldn’t reach the park,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2015

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PESHAWAR: The rehabilitation of the flood-affected people and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure in Chitral district would cost the provincial kitty Rs1.403 billion.

The damage assessment report, prepared by the Chitral deputy commissioner office, a copy of which is available with Dawn, shows that more than 75 per cent losses are related to destruction of roads in the district.

The reconstruction of roads and bridges will require Rs1.106 billion of which Rs635.2 million will be needed for reconstruction of damaged roads and Rs470.85 million will have to be spent on rebuilding of the destroyed bridges.

Besides, compensation for the damaged houses would cost Rs122.460 million, rebuilding of irrigation channels across the district will need Rs63 million and rehabilitation of water supply schemes will require Rs103.109 million.

Report says more than 75pc losses during floods are related to destruction of roads

The 107 pages report says that floods wreaked havoc in different areas of Chitral from July 15 till August 2. It says that district witnessed low to very high level flooding in at least 48 streams.

The report says that flood was first reported in Broze village stream on July 15 and then an unusual and unprecedented torrential rain and series of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) hit the district.

“The rain was followed by thunderstorm and cloud outburst while the intensity of the thunderstorm triggered the occurrence of GLOF events, which destroyed the infrastructure,” it says.

According to the report, the floods affected about 307,000 people as roads linking Kalash valleys, Lotkuh tehsil and Upper Chitral with rest of the district were washed away. The residents of the area remained stranded for three weeks.

The floods killed 36 people across Chitral and an amount of Rs12 million was paid to their legal heirs as compensation. A total of 803 houses were destroyed completely and 683 others were damaged partially.

The floods also damaged about 28 state-run schools, 11 micro-hydel power stations, seven mosques, two Jamat Khana, 37 watermills, 56 shops, 13 vehicles and three private educational institutions.

Besides, 1,455 trees including 2,832 fruit bearing and 8,623 non-fruit bearing trees were also washed away by the raging torrents.

The report also looks into reasons that caused these unprecedented floods and notes that only 4.7 per cent area is covered with forests in southern parts of the district. It urges the government to reassert its control in face of merciless chopping of trees.

It says that free grazing without rules and regulations was another major problem and suggests regulations and rotational grazing through community involvement to overcome the problem.

The report notes that GLOFs emerged as the most significant climate change related events with specific reference to Chitral and aggravating mountain hazards.

The analysis of past disaster trends reveals an upward trend for GLOF events during the past two decades, it says.

The report notes that controlling and managing of the Chitral River, which snakes across the district for 260 kilometres after originating in Baroghil valley close to the Pamir, was a big question mark.

It says that the river has eaten away large tracts of lands along its banks at 18 places spreading over several kilometres across the district, which it terms as ‘danger zones.’

It says that the district government would ask provincial and federal government and NGOs to help reclaim this land.

The report says that unplanned buildings in riverbeds and catchment areas were more vulnerable and sustained major damages. It says that encroachments would be removed following completion of assessment by irrigation department.

The report also suggests detailed study of flooding in Broze stream and Rumboor valley to ascertain the exact nature of flood and possible triggers behind it.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: In a pointed response to his Indian counterpart’s threat of a short war, Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif said on Sunday that his forces were fully ready to thwart any external aggression.

“If the enemy ever resorts to any misadventure, regardless of its size and scale – short or long – it will have to pay an unbearable cost,” Gen Sharif said at a grand ceremony held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) to commemorate 50 years of the 1965 war with India.

In his speech, the army chief touched upon all issues of concern to the military – terrorism, Karachi, the peace process in Afghanistan that it has been facilitating, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. But the primary focus remained on the threat from India, something which he mentioned on two separate occasions during his 11-minute speech.

Gen Sharif’s curt comments came against the backdrop of Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag’s remarks earlier this week, where he said his troops were ready for the “swift, short nature of future wars”. Indian Army’s 2 ‘Kharga’ Strike Corps had, in April, also carried out large scale war games codenamed ‘Brahmashira’ to rehearse “swift multiple offensives”.

The increasing ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary, where some 20 Pakistanis have been killed over the past three months, reinforced fears in Pakistan that India was planning a brief incursion.

Gen Sharif, while seemingly calling India’s bluff, said: “[The] armed forces of Pakistan are fully capable of dealing with all types of internal and external threats, may it be conventional or sub-conventional; whether it is cold start or hot start. We are ready!”

He said his army was among “the most battle hardened armies of the world, which has no parallels”. He went on to say that despite the ups and downs witnessed by the country over the past 50 years, it was much stronger now.

The army chief also emphasised the resolution of the longstanding Kashmir issue, which he described as an “unfinished agenda of partition” and warned against putting it on the backburner.

The choice of Northern Light Infantry, which received two Nishan-i-Haider decorations during the 1999 Kargil war, for presenting the guard of honour at the ceremony carried symbolism in it. The regiment’s predecessor, the Gilgit Scouts, is also credited with the liberation of Gilgit Agency from Dogra Raj.

ZARB-I-AZB: The Zarb-i-Azb operation in North Waziristan, which is flaunted by the army as the biggest success under Gen Sharif’s command, was the centrepiece of the ceremony.

The ceremony was sequenced in a way that the thrust seemed to be on the war on terror and historical references to the Indo-Pak war of 1965 did not surface until the army chief’s speech. The only reference to the Line of Control came in one of the documentaries screened, which mentioned the active fronts the military was currently engaged on.

The ceremony began with a vigil by the heirs of fallen soldiers and the story of Capt Akash, the first officer killed in this action. It then moved to the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, in which displaced persons were promised a better place on their return.

In fact, most of the short re-enactments of forces operations that were screened at the event were also focused on current operations against militants fighting the army in tribal areas.

Several family members of fallen soldiers were also invited to speak on the occasion and a documentary showcasing the sacrifices of the brave martyrs of operation Zarb-i-Azb was also screened, which moved several members of the audience to tears.

Renewing his commitment to carry on the counter-terrorism operations to the logical end, Gen Sharif said: “I reiterate the resolve that we shall not relent until all terrorists, their financiers, abettors, facilitators and sympathisers are brought to justice.”

Gen Sharif, who had arrived at the ceremony alongside Chief Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja, reminded the audience that all state institutions would have to join hands to complete the task of eliminating terrorism.

“To make this success comprehensive and enduring, all organs of the state will have to earnestly play their part to achieve the objectives of National Action Plan in the earliest possible time,” he said. He said peace had been restored in Karachi to a great extent through combined efforts of civilian and military law enforcement agencies.

AFGHANISTAN: The army chief expressed concern over the aggravating security situation in Afghanistan and hoped that the situation would not affect bilateral ties.

“I must highlight that the aggravating security situation in Afghanistan is a point of serious concern. We have strong historical and blood ties with Afghanistan and no power on earth can disrupt this relationship,” he said.

Recalling the peace process Pakistan tried to facilitate, the general said: “We have made concerted and sincere efforts for bringing peace in Afghanistan but certain inimical forces are bent upon undermining our efforts.”

HAQQANI NETWORK: Although the army chief did not directly refer to the renewed concerns in the US and Afghanistan about the Haqqani network not having been uprooted, he made a point to dispel the notion, saying that the counter-terrorism operations undertaken by the army had also contributed to regional and international peace.

“We hope that the international community acknowledges our extreme sacrifice and would assist us in this endeavour without any prejudice,” he maintained.

The ceremony was also attended by ministers Khawaja Asif, Ishaq Dar, Pervaiz Rashid and Abdul Qadir Baloch, as well as Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani and Leader of the Opposition in the Natio0nal Assembly Khursheed Ahmed Shah and other dignitaries.

Earlier in the day, a display of military hardware was organised at the Qasim Base in Dhamial, Rawalpindi, while PAF planes and ordnance were put on display at the Nur Khan Airbase.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Senior officers in the Balochistan police are facilitating the smuggling of billions of rupees worth of petrol and diesel from Iran, documents available with Dawn reveal.

According to a letter from the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) of the Balochistan government, addressed to the Establishment Division, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ashfaq Anwar, and his subordinates were facilitating oil smuggling from Iran to different cities of Pakistan and earning millions of rupees per month in the process.

The Balochistan government has asked the Establishment Division secretary to suspend SSP Anwar and initiate departmental proceedings against him.

Departmental inquiry ordered against SSP’s alleged ring in Balochistan

According to petroleum dealers, between 15-20 per cent of the total fuel consumed in Pakistan is being smuggled in from Iran. The smuggled petrol and diesel are mostly used in Balochistan and some cities of Sindh, including Karachi.

Oil sector experts agree. They estimate that around 0.7 million litres of oil is being smuggled from Iran to Pakistan every day.

Also read: Arrival and sale of Iranian petrol, diesel decline

Abdul Sami Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association, told Dawn that the quantity of smuggled oil may even be far more than has been estimated.

“In addition to vehicles, smuggled oil is also being consumed in factories, offices and shops to run generators and other equipment,” he said.

According to him, nearly half of all smuggled oil is consumed within Balochistan, while the rest is transported to Karachi via Dera Ghazi Khan. He alleged that law enforcement personnel were involved in this smuggling.

A former law officer from Balochistan, on condition of anonymity, told Dawn that the Iranian government had allowed Baloch people living in the vicinity of Iran’s border to visit Iranian cities; these Pakistani visitors brought petrol and diesel back with them. He said Turbat was the venue where the smuggled oil was filled into oil tankers for onward transportation to different areas.

According to him, the smugglers paid bribes at the border, at different check posts as well as the entry and exit points of different cities, in order to get the oil to their desired destination.

No wonder then that the charge sheet against SSP Anwar alleged that he was receiving “Rs27,000 per oil tanker and Rs7,000-8,000 per passenger coach” through his subordinates.

In addition, he is also accused of receiving “Rs8,000-10,000 on account of posting/transfer of police constables and head constables”.

The charge sheet also alleged that in order to show that the security situation within his jurisdiction was under control, SSP Anwar had strictly instructed the station house officers of his jurisdiction not to register any FIRs without his express permission.

The statement of allegations against the officer states: “You (SSP Ashfaq Anwar) were involved in promoting smuggling of Iranian petrol/diesel. For this purpose, you were patronising a special team of junior police officers who collected bribes on your behalf and promoted smuggling of Iranian petrol/diesel. The average monthly bribe from this illegal trade was more than Rs3 million per month.”

Ashfaq Anwar was appointed as assistant superintendent of police in 1997. He was a superintendent (SP) in Rawalpindi when former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated at Liaquat Bagh. He was the head of the 36-commando team deputed for the security of Ms Bhutto.

He was on duty at Liaquat Bagh on Dec 27, 2007, when an attacker opened fire on the convoy of Nawaz Sharif at the Islamabad Expressway. Anwar was sent to help secure Mr Sharif and in his absence, Ms Bhutto was assassinated. He is also a prosecution witness in the Benazir murder case.

The last posting of SSP Anwar was in Jaffarabad, Balochistan, which borders five districts – Larkana and Jacobabad in Sindh and Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi, and Dera Bugti in Balochistan.

A senior officer of the federal government claimed that most of the Iranian oil is smuggled to Sindh through Jaffarabad. He said that senior Sindh police officers were involved in this illegal trade. He said they had been identified and inquiries were being conducted against them.

When contacted, SSP Anwar – who has been suspended in connection with the charges levelled against him – denied these allegations. He said that a departmental inquiry had been ordered against him and he would defend himself before the inquiry committee.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2015

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LAHORE: As many as 215 convicts, including 15 dreaded terrorists, have been executed in Punjab since the lifting of the moratorium on the capital punishment in December 2014, and around 40 more are likely to be hanged to death in near future.

According to sources on Sunday, every week the province was receiving intimation from the interior ministry about the rejection of mercy appeals of 30 to 40 convicts.

“Yes, the pace has been accelerated under the National Action Plan (NAP) in the aftermath of the Peshawar Army School attack and the lifting of the moratorium on death as a result,” an official told Dawn.

According to sources, black warrants for nearly 40 convicts have been issued. Dates of the execution of some of them have also been fixed. And procedure for the fixation of the hanging date of the rest of them has been duly started. All of them are likely to be executed in different Punjab jails the next week, sources say.

They said all of these condemned prisoners were convicted for murder, murder for ransom, kidnapping and other heinous crime tried by anti-terrorism courts.

Sources said out of the 24 hardcore terrorists who were awarded death sentence, 15 had been executed after the rejection of their mercy appeals by the president since January this year. The remaining terrorists were convicted by the military courts and they had filed petitions in the Supreme Court on different grounds against their conviction. The nine included those who had allegedly attacked a National Bank branch in Rawalpindi in 2007.

The mercy petitions of those who are awarded death sentence are sent to the interior ministry through the superintendents of jails where they are kept. The ministry forwards the petitions to the president through the office of the prime minister. The rejected mercy petitions are returned to the province concerned through express letters following which they (the provinces) adopt the legal procedure for their execution.

Meanwhile, the record of the anti-terrorism courts in Punjab indicates that the courts have since January this year announced convictions in 266 cases tried by them. The number of convicted persons in these cases is 424. As many as 58 convicts have been awarded death sentence and 60 life imprisonment.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2015

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PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Sunday that his party has serious reservations about the raids on religious seminaries in the country.

Talking to mediapersons following the party meeting at JUI-F provincial secretariat here, Mr Fazl said that the seminaries were being linked with terrorism and extremism under a western agenda.

He said that almost all religious seminaries were registered and even the federal interior minister had said that only a small percentage of them had issues. He said that despite all this about 800 religious seminaries were raided across Punjab during the past few days. He called for implementation of the 2010 agreement in this regard and said that madaris should not be harassed.

The JUI-F chief said that action being taken against mosques and madaris was a question mark over the Islamic identity of the country and inimical to the Constitution.

Says almost all seminaries are registered

He said that he had tried to play the mediator’s role in talks between the government and Muttahida Qaumi Movement and that he had a responsibility to bring both the sides to the negotiating table. He, however, said that he was not aware of what led to the failure of talks. He said that all contentious issues should be resolved through a dialogue.

Mr Fazl also appreciated the Pakistan Army’s role in restoring peace in the country and said that the security forces’ action against anti-state elements had improved its image. He appreciated the government’s economic performance as positive and said that benefits of economic stabilisation should reach common people so that unemployment and inflation could be controlled.

The JUI-F chief appreciated $46 billion Chinese investment for the construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He demanded early start of work on Mianwali-Mughalpur section of the route as per the agreement reached in the all-party conference.

He also asked the government to take immediate steps for repatriation of internally displaced persons. Answering a question about the arrest of Pakistan Peoples Party leaders, he said that arrests of politicians on the charges of corruption and without any evidence should be stopped.

“The political leaders are being nabbed on the charges of corruption since Pervez Musharraf days, while religious leaders are targeted since the 9/11 incident,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2015

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The road to buying or selling a used car is hardly a smooth one in any corner of the world, but it is especially bumpy in Karachi.

If you are interested in buying a used car, the first rule is to not trust anyone, even if the seller has a halo on his head and looks more masoom than Puss in Boots. As long as you remember that most sellers are going to lie to you through their teeth, the following steps may help you make it through the experience with your money’s worth.

Step 1: Figure out which second-hand car is the least offensive

Decisions, decisions: Finding a good buy in the limited available options is a task and a half — AFP

In Pakistan we have as many options to choose from between vehicles as guys have dating choices in an all-boys school, which is to say, not much.

Unfortunately, due to various government policies, only Suzukis, Hondas, and Toyotas are available amongst locally manufactured characters, and with limited models at that. As a result of this monopoly we are stuck with pricey cars which have long been obsolete overseas.

The best person to ask which cars require the least amount of work is a car mechanic working at a very busy garage. After being disappointed with the performance of Nissans and Suzukis, I asked around and was wholeheartedly recommended the Honda City.

The medium-sized sedan from Honda certainly hits the sweet spot in terms of price and performance. While its spare parts are pricier than those of a Suzuki, even after crossing 100,00kms in Karachi, a well-kept Honda City will serve better than a far newer Suzuki Alto or Suzuki Cultus which start running into issues at half the distance. This is purely because the quality of Toyota and Honda components are far better than those of a Suzuki. As a result, the Hondas and Toyotas depreciate slower in value.

Another excellent alternative are the various imported Japanese cars which have flooded the market such as the Toyota Vitz and the like. But be warned, while these vehicles provide more modern engineering than our locally manufactured offerings, one should be careful about opting for more obscure models as their spare parts are likely to be very expensive.

Avoid the Suzuki Liana like the plague.

Initially charmed by the Liana when looking for a new car, I soon began to wonder why its price was depreciating so much faster than its counterparts from Toyota and Suzuki.

They say that some things are too good to be true, and no vehicle exemplifies this more than the Suzuki Liana. Initially I was charmed by this vehicle when looking for a new car, but soon began to wonder why its price was depreciating so much faster than its counterparts from Toyota and Suzuki.

Every other ad I saw for a Suzuki Liana featured a beautiful looking car in seemingly prime condition having done as few as 40,000kms, and priced as ridiculously low as between 500,000 and 600,000 rupees. When I asked my mechanic, who speaks with a colorful vocabulary, he replied animatedly, “Oh bhai. Is b** c*** ko cher na hi nahi. Is say ziada koi garee nahi ate yahan kam kay liya*.”

As it turns out, the Liana can be something of a nightmare. Three of my friends who owned the vehicle shared various horror stories, which started when the vehicle hit close to 50,000kms. A Suzuki representative I spoke to explained that only Lianas maintained by roadside mechanics suffered from issues, but two of my friends had their vehicles managed by authorized Suzuki dealerships.

A close relative of mine shared her story, “While I was riding with my cousins in their Liana on a bridge, out of the blue the car’s AC turned off. Next thing you know, there was some sort of electrical failure, and the car simply shut down as we rolled down the bridge. It was pretty scary. Later they told me this was a regular problem with their fairly new Liana.”

Step 2: Hit the right spots to buy and sell

Decide where you want to browse your options: Pakwheels, OLX or the good old fashioned car bazaar? — Screengrabs/The New Times

The website Pakwheels.com is the best place to trade. Not only is the community helpful and knowledgeable, but the website itself offers a robust interface. What’s more, Pakwheels.com, in my experience, offers the greatest percentage of genuine buyers and sellers.

For some reason, OLX is a better place when it comes to finding deals. I’ve found the prices here to be more reasonable. At the same time, I’ve found across far more fake adverts on OLX, where it is usually one friend trying to prank another.

My biggest concern with OLX is that criminals have been using the space to target unsuspecting users. On the Facebook page Halaat Updates, various people have reported being swindled by nefarious people who used OLX to hunt for victims.

The best thing to do is to show up with a mechanic. If you can make the journey, you are sure to find a seller selling a car in excellent condition for a bargain price

If you want to go old-school, a great option is the newspaper. Dawn’s Sunday Classifieds are easily the best bet.

Perhaps the most magical option is the Sunday Car Bazaar which takes place on the outskirts of Karachi.

Here, you are almost guaranteed to find a deal as only the most desperate sellers in need of a quick sale bring their cars. Of course, this also requires vigilance as some of these cars have major problems. The best thing to do is to show up with a mechanic. If you can make the journey, you are sure to find a seller selling a car in excellent condition for a bargain price.

Step 3: Follow these tips for buyers

Don't forget to take your trusty mechanic when you go to check out the car! — AFP

1. Always examine a vehicle in daylight, when you have the best chance to notice any flaws in the car.

2. When you first start the car, watch out for any engine or gearbox check lights. If you see one, run like the wind!

3. Never buy a car without giving it a proper road test with an experienced mechanic. Often, the most glaring issues present themselves when a car is moving at speed. Be particularly wary of sounds of rattling or tapping from under the hood. Make sure the car is braking and changing gears normally. Most automatic vehicles require transmission fluid maintenance, and for some reason, many Pakistani drivers tend to neglect this. This can result in expensive repairs. Also, be weary of powerful automatic cars with CNG kits, which is never a good combination for a car’s longevity. Finally, check out the tires. If they are misaligned, it could mean issues with the car’s suspension.

4. After your road test is complete, while the engine is running, have a look at the exhaust. If the smoke is dark or grey, it could be signs of an engine problem.

5. While the amount of kilometers a car has covered is a decent indicator of its condition, it should be taken with a grain of salt. For one, the digits can be manipulated. Yes, even the digital odometer, according to a Pakistani car importer. But more importantly, a car which has been driven lovingly for 30,000 kilometers will be in far better condition that a vehicle abused for 10,000 kilometers.

6. Thanks to the CPLC, you can now easily tell if the car ever ran into any legal issues. A professional can also help you determine if the car’s file is both complete and genuine.

7. The more repainted parts on a car, the lower its value. Check every panel of the car. Do the colors match? Waves, ripples, or bubbling usually indicate a repaint. Is the texture smooth? A repainted car piece can feel rougher than the others. In a city with traffic as congested as Karachi, cars tend to get scratched, and it is natural to expect some owners to repaint some of the parts. That being said, this could also be a sign of an accident.

8. Pop open the hood and check for signs of rust. Check to see if all the bolts on the engine are in place and if there are any stains, which would indicate leaking. I once came across a deal on a Honda Civic, which seemed too good to be true. The owner lied and said he was selling his car at a 150,000 below market value as he was leaving the country. As it turned out, his driver had been careless with managing the water in the radiator, and the car had overheated. Later, it had gone through an engine overhaul.

9. Insist that your mechanic check the car from below. Have him look for signs of leaks. Also, ask him to examine the frame of the car. A damaged frame points to an accident.

Step 4: Keep an eye out for these frequently spotted used-car characters

Be wary of the guy with posse! Your prospective buyer's car inspection crew shouldn't be more than a couple of people — AFP

The early bird: If you are like me, you believe that Sundays were made for sleeping in. Unfortunately, on a day you’ve listed a car ad in a newspaper, some enthusiastic buyer will call you at seven in the morning. Your best bet is to leave your phone on silent and return all the missed calls after you’ve cleared the cobwebs.

This won’t be appreciated by everyone though. Some people will feel you are obligated to answer 24/7, “I’ve been calling you since seven in the morning! It is ten now. Why weren’t you picking up?”

Who are you, my mother?

The aggressive bargainer: Your best bet is to set a realistic price after examining the market so the process is smoother. Even so, some buyers will start haggling before they’ve seen the car. Some will even go to strange lengths, “My niece is coming to visit me from Dubai. And I can’t afford your asking price. Can you please drop the price down? Think of my little niece.”

What? You are buying my car to show off to your niece?

The guy who can only pay in installments:“I like your car, but I am still waiting for some money to come in… how about I pay you half now, and the other half two months later?”

How about I saw the car in half, and give you half now, and the other half two months later?

The guy who can’t understand directions: Sometimes you’ll tell someone to take a left at the signal and stop by the red house next to the school, and instead, they will end up in Siri Lanka. Some will also get angry, “This is not the street you told me or I would have gotten here sooner!”

“Yes, I deliberately misled you for a frustrating thirty minutes because I take pleasure in wasting time. Your tears nourish my soul.”

The guy with the posse: There is always the buyer who brings in seven of his friends to check out your car. Look buddy, you can bring a couple of friends, but seven is a bit much.

The shady buyer:“Hi, is it OK if I pay in cold hard cash? Also, please don’t transfer the car to my name. Can we do the sale now as I am traveling tomorrow to KPK.”

Uhhh…

The showoff:“Did you know I have a garment business? I export shirts to all over Europe.”

“Hey I just met you, and this is crazy, but I don’t care about your garment business.”

Happy buying!

LAHORE: Seven opposition parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the PPP, have decided to cooperate in the forthcoming local government elections in Sindh and Punjab and reach seat-sharing arrangements at the district level.

The parties have authorised their district office-bearers to finalise seat adjustments in order to give a tough fight to the PML-N. The opposition parties at a meeting held here on Sunday expressed resolve to eliminate terrorism, solve farmers’ problems, press for transparent elections and foil attempts to rig the elections. It supported and praised the army for its operation against terrorists.

The meeting was attended by PTI’s Punjab organiser Chaudhry Sarwar, PPP Punjab president Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Jamaat-i-Islami secretary general Liaquat Baloch, Pakistan Awami Tehreek secretary general Nawaz Gundapur, Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen secretary general Raja Nasir Abbas, PPP’s south Punjab president Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan secretary general Pir Ijaz Hashmi. The Sunni Ittehad Council was also represented.

Take a look: 2nd phase of LG polls in Punjab, Sindh on Nov 19

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Chaudhry Sarwar said the opposition parties demanded that the four provincial election commissioners who had been involved in rigging in the last general elections must resign.

He said the parties had agreed to exercise all options, including protests, against the “PML-N’s rigging plans in league with police and other government institutions”. They called for an across the board campaign against corruption, he added.

When asked that the PTI had been criticising the PPP for its ‘alliance’ with the PML-N in “corruption and looting of national wealth and defending each other”, Chaudhry Sarwar said the PTI was ready to work in cooperation with all parties agreeing to solve problems faced by the people and the country.

“Even if the PML-N is willing to remove the provincial election commissioners, PTI will be ready to talk to its leadership,” he said, adding that if the ruling party tried to rig the elections it would face strong resistance.

Manzoor Wattoo said the opposition parties had decided to support the marginalised segments of society, adding that farmers and traders had already taken to the streets. He asked the Punjab government to make public Justice Baqir Najfi’s report on the Model Town tragedy and bring to justice the elements responsible for killing innocent people.

He claimed that the Punjab government was paying Rs20 million to each PML-N candidate contesting the local bodies’ elections which was the worst form of rigging. He called upon the Election Commission of Pakistan to take notice of the matter and disqualify such candidates.

Referring to the Model Town killings, PAT’s Nawaz Gundapur said no diyat could be accepted unless the accused confessed to their crime. “The PAT has neither accepted nor will accept any diyat in the Model Town case.”

Liaquat Baloch said free and fair elections could not be held without electoral reforms and reconstitution of the ECP.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit has said that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and does not have aggressive designs against anyone.

Addressing a ceremony held in New Delhi on Sunday in connection with the 50th anniversary of Defence Day, he said that 1965 War was a proof of our determination to defend the motherland against foreign aggression.

Mr Basit said the armed forces and the people of Pakistan had demonstrated the spirit of patriotism during the war.

The high commissioner said every Pakistani was ready to render any sacrifice to defend every inch of the motherland.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: At least three suspected militants were killed while a militant hideout was destroyed in Shawal valley of North Waziristan in the first ever air strike by a Pakistan made drone "Burraq".

The armed drone was used for the first time since its development in November 2013.

Director General of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa announced the first ever use of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on his Twitter page adding that a terrorist compound was hit and three militants were killed in the air strike carried out by "Burraq"

Related: Pakistan successfully tests first indigenous armed drone

This information, however, could not be independently verified as reporters have limited access to the restive agency.

Pakistan already has several types of unarmed surveillance drones in operation, but ‘Burraq’ and ‘Shahpar’ were the first surveillance drones to be developed locally.

‘Burraq’ was developed alongside ‘Shahpar’ in cooperation with the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), which is a civilian controlled Pakistani scientific research organisation.

Pakistan Army had tested ‘Burraq’ armed with laser-guided ‘Barq’ missile for the first time on March 14, 2015. Both Burraq drone and Barq missile, according to the army, have been indigenously developed.

The trials were witnessed by Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif who said it was a “great national achievement and momentous occasion”.

Pakistan had long aspired to have armed drones for bolstering its counter-terrorism capacity, but was only offered surveillance drones.

The efforts to indigenously develop drone capability were first reported in 2009.

BALOCHISTAN: At least 4,443 cases of refusal vaccination refusal were recorded in Balochistan's Quetta, Pishin and Killa Abdullah districts and the children who were documented will be administered polio vaccines, according to Coordinator of the Emergency Operation Cell Balochistan Dr Syed Saifur Rehman.

Dr. Syed Saif Ur Rehman said that the list of parents refusing vaccine for their children has been thoroughly documented.

He held a meeting to review the investigation of newly emerged polio case in Quetta which brought the total number of cases in Balochistan to five in this year of 2015.

Read: Balochistan's fifth polio case of the year confirmed in Quetta

Ghulam Mustafa, the father of the affected five-year-old girl Gul Afsha, is a medical technician who had never administered polio drops to his children citing religious beliefs. The girl lives outskirts of Quetta.

"It is very tragic that a medical technician in Quetta has been refusing vaccination for his children. It has resulted in a life-long paralysis of his daughter," Dr. Saif Ur Rehman told reporters.

He said it is unimaginable that a medical technician who often deals with suffering patients could refuse administration of polio vaccine to his children. "I think it is an offence," he said.

The father should have been jailed because he was the sole person responsible for paralysing his five-year-old daughter, according to Balochistan's ECO coordinator.

"The fight against the polio is very difficult and we have to win this war," Dr. Saif Ur Rehman further said.

"The health workers and experts have documented each and every child in Quetta, Pishin and Killa Abdullah who have not been vaccinated," he said.

Coordinator of the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Balochistan, Dr. Syed Saif Ur Rehman has said there were 44 per cent refusal cases out of total 25 polio virus cases reported in 2014 in Balochistan, while this year three out of five reported cases are refusals which make more than 50 per cent.

Out of the 4,443 refusal cases, around 1,762 cases have been reported in Zarghon, 1,219 in Quetta's Chiltan Town, 719 in Pishin Tehsil, 133 in Karezat Teshil of Pishin district while 159 cases were recorded in Chaman Town which borders Afghanistan, and 153 cases in Tehsil Killah Abdullah of Killah Abdullah district, the official of Unicef 's Communication Network (COMNet) said.

Also read: 4,000 parents in northern Balochistan refuse polio vaccination

"There are 4,443 children and 1,541 houses in Quetta who have not administered polio vaccine," Dr. Syed Saif Ur Rehman said. "The person refuses to administer polio drops should be treated as a criminal and offender."

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world which have not been able to eradicate the polio-virus while no case of polio virus was reported in Nigeria over a year.

Refusal on the part of some parents and attacks at polio workers and volunteers remain the main reasons behind failure to eliminate the virus. Polio campaigns are usually postponed and suspended owing to security reasons in Quetta.

The government had declared a polio emergency throughout the province to root out the crippling virus from the region

RAWALPINDI: Naheed Khan, former political secretary of slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, on Monday filed a request with a Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) to be included as a prosecution witness in the Benazir murder case.

Khan also filed a request to obtain court records of case proceedings and a written statement of Javed Rehman, a witness in the case, who maintained that the estranged PPP activist had asked the slain former prime minister to wave to the crowd at the Liaquat Bagh rally on Dec 27, 2007.

Last week, Javed Rehman, a driver of Zardari House, testifying in front of the ATC claimed that Naheed Khan had asked Benazir's servant Razzaq Mirani to open the escape hatch of the vehicle and encouraged her to wave hands to PPP workers and supporters.

The driver, who is currently serving at Zardari House in Islamabad, claimed that Khan herself tried to open the escape hatch but failed and then asked Mirani to do it.

Judge Rai Ayub Marth was overseeing today's court proceedings, and had earlier adjourned the case proceedings to Sept 14.

Speaking to the press outside the ATC, Naheed Khan said a record of court proceedings so far had been requested, and that "all matters will be discussed in court".

"Whatever has been attributed to me, it is my legal right to argue my defence and my legal team will advise me on this and then I will decide how to proceed," Khan said, referring to the petition filed in court today.

Referring to the request for documents regarding court proceedings in the case, Khan's legal counsel said that any citizen can obtain a public document according to law by "applying with a simple copy".

"The judge has issued notices to the complainant and special prosecutor and summoned the entire record to be handed over on Sept 14."

"For reasons best known to the learned court, they asked us to submit a petition for this, so we did. The case has been adjourned for arguments till Sept 14," he said.

Naheed Khan's statement was recorded by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in 2009, but the FIA did not disclose the information received during investigations. A total of 140 witnesses had their statements recorded by the agency.

Although a large number of the witnesses were produced in court and had their statements recorded, Naheed Khan's statement was not recorded. The former political secretary's name with regards to the case was taken in court for the first time last week.

Reacting to Javed Rehman's statement, Naheed Khan said last week that she could not understand why such things were being presented before the court after about eight years of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Khan said she had neither advised Benazir to wave hands nor asked anyone to open the escape hatch.

“The revelations have been made by a witness who is still a personal servant of Mr Asif Ali Zardari. I will surely respond after examining his statement,” she said.

Expressing doubt over the investigation and prosecution, Ms Khan said it was an exceptional case because the prosecution did not record statements of those who were sitting in the vehicle with Benazir Bhutto.

She said besides her, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and her spouse Safdar Abbasi were also travelling in the vehicle, but investigators never approached them to record their statements.

Earlier this year, Naheed Khan and her spouse had formed a new party ─ the Pakistan Peoples Party Workers (PPP-W) ─ in a bid to "save the legacy of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and its former chairperson Benazir Bhutto".

Khan's spouse and PPP-W President Safdar Abbasi while addressing a press conference earlier this year said "We believe that PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari is solely responsible for the party’s worst defeat in the 2013 general elections and the prevailing ‘disintegration’ in the party," adding, “We want accountability of those who are responsible for the downfall of PPP.”

The PPP in 2009 and 2010 suspended the party membership of Safdar Abbasi and Naheed Khan respectively after they criticised party leadership.

PESHAWAR: Five members of a pro-government peace committee were shot dead by unknown gunmen in Qamber Khel area of Khyber Agency.

Security sources told DawnNews suspected militants abducted the members of Bara peace committee and later shot them dead.

Sources further said that the militants belonged to the proscribed Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) group and added that security forces had begun a search and strike operation in the area after the shooting.

Peace committee members in the country's northwestern region have been targeted by militants numerous times in the past.

Khyber links several agencies to each other, serving as a north-south route within Fata. The region has been long fought over by a mix of militant organisations, including the TTP, the Ansarul Islam and Mangal Bagh’s Lashkar-i-Islam.

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has rejected rumours of its possible alliance with other political parties for the upcoming local body polls to be held in Punjab and Sindh province, party's Central Information Secretary Naeemul Haque said on Monday.

In his Twitter message, Naeemul Haque clarified that PTI is not going to form any alliance with other political parties for Local Body elections .

Haque however added that seat adjustment at local level will be permitted wherever necessary.

Earlier PTI's Sindh organiser Dr Arif Alvi also said in a Twitter message that his party is not entering into an alliance for local government elections in Sindh province adding that it has been wrongly reported in the newspapers.

"How can we," asked Alvi.

Later Alvi also rejected the prospects of an alliance with the Asif Zarfari-led PPP in Punjab province as well.

A section of media on Sunday reported that PTI is entering into a grand anti-PML-N alliance with PPP and other political parties in Punjab and Sindh province.

The reports came after a joint meeting attended by PTI’s Punjab organiser Chaudhry Sarwar, PPP Punjab president Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Jamaat-i-Islami secretary general Liaquat Baloch, Pakistan Awami Tehreek secretary general Nawaz Gundapur, Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen secretary general Raja Nasir Abbas, PPP’s south Punjab president Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan secretary general Pir Ijaz Hashmi.

However, the opposition parties reportedly expressed resolve to eliminate terrorism, solve farmers’ problems, press for transparent elections and foil attempts to rig the elections while praising the army for its operation against terrorists.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on August 26 announced the schedule for the first phase of local body elections in Punjab and Sindh, the process of which will commence in September and will come to an end with polls scheduled for October 31.

District Returning Officers (DROs), Returning Officers (ROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) have already been appointed by ECP for this purpose, and they have been asked to fulfill their duties in accordance with the provision of law and rules and maintain neutrality and impartiality.

KARACHI: A federal anti-corruption court here on Monday granted interim pre-arrest bail to former prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani until Oct 12 in a multi-billion rupee scam case in the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

Gilani and PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim, along with certain former and serving officials of TDAP, were booked for their alleged involvement in the approval and disbursement of fraudulent trade subsidies worth billions of rupees to several fake companies through fictitious claims and backdated cheques during the PPP's latest tenure at the centre.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had registered 23 FIRs in the case against Gilani. The former prime minister was granted bail in 12 of these cases last year while he was granted interim pre-arrest bail in 11 cases until Oct 12 on Monday (today).

Accompanied by supporters, Gilani appeared before the anti-corruption court today — the last day of his protective bail granted by the Islamabad High Court.

His counsel, Farooq H. Naek, had moved pre-arrest bail applications in court contending that the same allegation had been levelled against his client in 12 cases relating to the TDAP scandal.

The court granted him interim pre-arrest bail in 11 cases until Oct 12 against a surety bond of Rs100,000 each.

A large number of PPP loyalists gathered outside the court and showered rose petals upon Gilani after he was granted pre-arrest bail.

Talking to media representatives outside the court, Gilani termed the approval of his pre-arrest bail a "moral victory".

He said he respected the courts and would continue to do so.

The anti-corruption court had on Aug 28 ordered the arrest of Gilani, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and others.

Know more: PPP breathes fire as warrants issued for Gilani, Fahim

Around 70 cases pertaining to a trade subsidy scam against two former chairmen, the former chief executive and other senior officials of TDAP and other individuals are pending before the same court. Gilani and Fahim were charge-sheeted in 12 of these cases last year, but both obtained bail.

KARACHI: Stocks plummeted by almost three percent Monday over fears of a crackdown on brokers by anti-corruption agencies.

The benchmark Karachi Stock Exchange index of 100 shares lost 2.67 percent or 905 points to close at 32,986 points – during the day, shares had lost more than 1,000 points before making a slight return to close 905 points lower than yesterday.

The index had shed 4.11 percent during last month's international turmoil sparked by fears over China's slowing economy, and had recovered little ground since then.

“Today the rumours about the potential arrests of stock (market)-related people intensified the panic,” said Mohammad Sohail, an analyst and the chief of Topline Securities.

Authorities have in recent months embarked on an anti-corruption drive, with former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who held office from 2008-2012, facing 24 graft charges.

He was Monday granted bail in 12 of the cases after a court issued an arrest warrant for him last week.

Former petroleum minister Asim Hussain, a close aide to ex-president Asif Ali Zardari, was also remanded into the custody of Rangers over another corruption case.

Officials of the state-run Sui Southern Gas Company, one of the exchange's blue chips, were also being questioned by anti-corruption officials.

PESHAWAR: Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister for mines and mineral development, Ziaullah Afridi, who was arrested in July by the provincial anti-corruption body, said on Monday he will not work out a compromise with KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak for his release, claiming the latter had “framed false charges” against him.

The jailed former Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader, who is undergoing treatment at the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, was flanked by dozens of party workers and newly-elected councilors when he told DawnNews that he had received “some messages from Khattak” but his fate will now be decided by the courts.

Read: Ziaullah Afridi remanded in KPEC custody in another case

“I want to clarify that no negotiations will be held with Pervez Khattak for my release,” Ziaullah Afridi said while claiming his innocence along with that of the former director general of the mines and minerals department.

“We are paying the price for our actions taken against the people who are under the umbrella of the chief minister,” he said.

Read: PTI suspends basic party membership of Ziaullah Afridi

Afridi said he is a loyal and senior worker of the PTI and chairman Imran Khan should not have blindly trusted actions taken by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission.

“The only grievance I have against my party chairman is that he should have formed a party committee to probe the corruption allegations against me,” the former PTI leader said.

Meanwhile, sources told DawnNews that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar had issued a conditional production order for Ziaullah Afridi .

A four-member parliamentary delegation comprising Advisor to Chief Minister Amjad Afridi, Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha, Syed Mohammad Ali Shah Baacha and Opposition leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman held a meeting with Ziaullah Afridi on Monday, according to sources.

The delegation conveyed the speaker's message that the production order would be issued if Afridi does not speak against Chief Minister Pervez Khattak in the KP Assembly, claimed sources.

Sources further said that after the offer, Afridi is likely to participate in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Session this week.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and Additional Attorney-General Naseer Ahmed Bhutta to implement a ban on the broadcast of images and speeches of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain across all electronic and print media till further orders.

A three-judge LHC bench headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and comprising Justice Mazhar Iqbal Sidhu and Justice Erum Sajjad Gull was hearing separate cases initiated by Advocate Aftab Virk, Abdullah Malik and others against the MQM supremo.

A petition filed by Advocate Aftab Virk in the LHC earlier this year pleaded that the 'anti-army' remarks made by Altaf Hussain fell under the category of treason, and that a treason case should be registered against him.

A petition filed by advocates Abdullah Malik, Aftab, Maqsood and others, called for a lifetime ban on the live telecast of Altaf Hussain's speeches, maintaining the MQM leader was in violation of Article 5 which asks for showing loyalty to the state and obedience to the constitution, and that a case of treason should be registered against Altaf under Article 6 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The LHC directed the Interior Ministry secretary to verify Altaf Hussain's nationality and Director-General Operations Pemra to report whether the 'blackout' had been implemented.

Responding to the LHC’s directives Director-General Operations Pemra told the court that the print media did not fall under the jurisdiction of the regulatory body.

Subsequently the bench directed Additional Attorney-General Naseer Ahmed Bhutta ensure implementation of the ban in the print media by conveying the court’s order to the chairman Press Council of Pakistan.

Ordering a complete ban on the broadcast of images and speeches of the MQM supremo till the court announced its final verdict of the case regarding to treason allegations against Hussain, the bench adjourned the next hearing until Sept 18.

Last week, the bench heard petitions filed by Virk, Malik and others seeking a ban on the media coverage of Altaf Hussain’s speeches because of his alleged remarks against state institutions, including the army and Rangers.

The petitioners had argued that Altaf was a British national and no foreign citizen could head a political party in Pakistan under the Political Parties Act. He had no right to deliver speeches on television channels in Pakistan, they had said.

During last week's hearing, a law officer had informed the court that Pemra had already banned the live telecast of Altaf Hussain’s speeches.

Also read: LHC seeks report on implementation of ban on Altaf speeches

MQM announces protest against LHC directives

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Monday announced that the party will stage a protest against the LHC order banning the broadcast of images and speeches of MQM chief Altaf Hussain in all electronic and print media.

In a meeting held after the announcement of the court's directives, MQM's Rabita Committee pondered over the situation which arose after the LHC ban and decided to stage a protest against what they called a 'partial' ban on broadcast of MQM supremo's images and speeches outside Karachi Press Club (KPC) on September 7 (today).

The party, in a statement urged all party workers, supporters to participate register their protest against the LHC verdict.

MQM website further says that the party's Rabita Committee will hold an emergency press conference at 5 pm at the Karachi Press Club after the protest.

QUETTA: Hundreds of intermediate students in Quetta, who were declared failed in intermediate examinations, staged a violent protest outside the Balochistan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BBISE) on Monday against the alleged irregularities in the recently announced F.A. and F.Sc. results.

The enraged students, who demanded that their examination papers be scrutinised, pelted stones and smashed windows of the building.

They tried to enter the BBISE premises but when stopped they took to burning car tyres to vent their anger at the authorities.

Two students and a police official sustained injuries during the demonstration.

Police resorted to baton charge and tear gas to disperse the unruly mob. The group of students which tried to enter the BBISE office were pushed away by police and security guards.

The injured were rushed to Civil Hospital Quetta where doctors said that their condition was out of danger.

According to the announced results, only 7,710 candidates passed out of the 26,883 students who appeared in the examination.

Shaukat Ali, the Secretary Education BBISE announced that "due to technical reasons, there are faults in the results of 500 candidates".

Earlier, the Balochistan government launched an anti-cheating drive in Quetta and other parts of the province to ensure quality of education. However, candidates complained that the education department enforced strict rules against cheating only in Quetta, while unfair means were still rampant in other districts of Balochistan.

One of the protesting students told Dawn.com during the demonstration that the board of education had 'deliberately' awarded them failing marks.

A huge contingent of police reached the scene and baton-charged the protesting students before things went out of hand.

Later, the protesting students blocked Hockey Chowk near the chief minister's secretariat and Governor House, where law enforcement demonstrated aerial firing to disperse the protesting students.

Police took more than 50 students into their custody to normalise the situation.

The BBISE secretary Shaukat Ali however assured students that their grievances would be addressed and the technical faults would be rectified immediately.

Most of the protesting students complained that most "influential" candidates were provided cheating-material, which made it easier for them to pass while the others were left to fail the examination.