LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday directed the Interior Ministry to submit their reply on the trial and investigation of convict Sabir Shah who was earlier awarded the death sentence by a military court.

The two-member bench headed by Justice Abdul Sami issued a notice to the Interior Ministry to respond within 48 hours with details on how the trial and investigation were conducted by the military court.

Laila Bibi, the mother of the convict, challenged Sabir Shah's death sentence, stating in her petition that her son was a juvenile (below 18 years) and was not given the right to fair trial.

She said his family members were not allowed to meet him, and that he had not been given a chance to engage counsel to plead his case.

Bibi also asked the court to set aside the military court’s verdict claiming that the sentence awarded to her son was "unjust and unfair".

The petitioner requested a stay order on the execution, but the LHC refused to grant a stay order until the Interior Ministry was able to shed light on the case.

The hearing was adjourned until Sept 10.

Sabir Shah, believed to be a member of a proscribed organisation, was convicted for his suspected involvement in the sectarian killing of lawyer Syed Arshad Ali in Lahore.

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif had confirmed his death sentence last week.

Also read: Military court verdict challenged in high court

The claim follows the execution of Shafqat Hussain, a death-row prisoner who was hanged to death in Karachi after a prolonged trial.

Hussain had been arrested and sentenced to death in 2004 for the kidnapping and murder of a seven-year-old boy who lived in a Karachi apartment building where Shafqat worked as a security guard.

Hussain's counsel maintained that he had been a minor at the time of sentencing, following which the Federal Investigation Agency had been directed to investigate the case.

Shafqat Hussain was hanged on Aug 4 after his black warrant was issued for the fifth time on July 27.

Also read: Shafqat Hussain executed at Karachi Central Jail

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday issued directives for audit of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Lahore.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed Chief Justice Jawad S. Khawaja heard the case and ordered the the auditor general of Pakistan (AGP) to conduct the audit.

It is pertinent to mention that DHA Lahore was among 19 organisations refusing the AGP to conduct an audit into their financial affairs.

The case at hand involves the possession of 156 kanals of land, which DHA Lahore has dubbed ‘Phase 7’, despite the fact that the individual from whom it purportedly purchased the land for Rs920 million did not own the property. In fact, the court was told that the title belonged to one Nusrat Jehan Khatoon.

In addition, the ownership of this piece of land was already under dispute and a civil court had issued a status quo on April 2, 2004. But DHA, Lahore, not only acquired the land in 2006, even though the title was not in its name, but also issued notifications under relevant laws, announcing that the land had been acquired by the authority.

The court in an earlier hearing (on September 3) also took exception to DHA’s claims of immunity from an audit of their accounts under Article 170 of the Constitution, as a result of which, their accounts had never been audited.

The court observed that after the 18th Amendment it had now become the responsibility of the auditor general of Pakistan to audit the accounts of all institutions.

Related: Is the DHA accountable to the government, asks SC

MINGORA: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has said that terrorists will not be allowed to return to the Swat valley from where they have been driven out by committed soldiers of the Pakistan Army.

Addressing a large gathering of elders of Swat and tourists from across the country on the concluding day of the Swat tourism and trade festival at Kalam on Monday, the army chief praised the sacrifices rendered by the people of Swat and the positive role played by them in support of security forces in the war against terrorists and their efforts to restore peace in the valley.

Also read: Cold or hot start, army ready for anything: COAS

“Holding a tourism festival in Swat is an open message to the world that peace and normalcy have returned to the valley and it has become possible because of joint efforts and sacrifices of the people of Swat, security forces and civil forces,” the army chief said.

He said that the dark era of terrorism and extremism which had prevailed in Swat and other parts of the region in the past made it impossible to hold such major events and functions in the valley.

“The sacrifices and firm commitment of the Pakistan Army and civil forces and complete support of the local people have led to elimination of the ugly face of terrorism from here forever,” the army chief said.

“The Pakistan Army will always stand by the people of Swat to help build and streamline civilian institutions,” he declared.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2015

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PESHAWAR: Two new polio cases were been reported in Khyber Agency on Tuesday, taking the total number of registered polio cases in Pakistan this year to 32.

According to the Chief Minister's Polio Control Cell in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Abdullah son of Mohibullah, a resident of a village in the Shah Khan Khel area of Landi Kotal, was confirmed to have polio virus.

Another case was confirmed by the cell in the Mastak Tehsil, where 18-month-old Sahar Gul was diagnosed with the crippling disease.

The cell said there are now 10 registered cases of polio in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, 13 in KP, five in Balochistan and four in Sindh.

Fata along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was declared hub of polio virus, which poses risk to children in the countries that had long declared polio-free.

Fata recorded 179 polio case and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 68 cases of the 306 countrywide cases in 2014 while they reported 65 and 11 cases respectively of the total 93 cases registered at national level in 2013. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa registered 27 and Fata 20 polio cases in the totally nationwide tally of 58 in 2012.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where the polio virus remains ende­mic,

QUETTA: Chief of the proscribed Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) Dr Allah Nazar Baloch has been killed in an operation by security forces, according to unverified reports, Balochistan Home Minister Safraz Bugti disclosed on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference at Civil Secretariat Quetta, Bugti said, "According to unverified reports Dr Allah Nazar has been killed ... I say unverified because we have not yet received any evidence of his being alive ever since the Frontier Corps conducted a series of operations. There has been no human intelligence, no sign of life."

The separatist leader's killing has been rumored since July 18 this year, when security forces conducted an operation in Balochistan's Awaran district, however, the reports were denied by a BLF spokesman at the time.

Know more: Situationer: Who's who of Baloch insurgency

Bugti also announced that security forces destroyed a communication network of terrorists in an operation in Balochistan's Dalbandin region.

He said seven terrorists along with weapons were arrested during the operation.

"Security forces seized 600 mobile sims, 1000 antennae and ammunition from the communication center," Bugti said.

Bugti revealed that the suspected terrorists were using Indian, Afghan, Iranian and European sims to carry out subversive activities in the province.

He said the arrested terrorists were being interrogated by security agencies with regard to their involvement in terror acts in Balochistan.

Dr Allah Nazar Baloch had been leading the banned BLF in various parts of Balochistan targeting security forces, vital national installations and pro-government personalities for over a decade.

Nazar belonged to a middle-class family from Mashkay in the Awaran district. He is the only leader of the main insurgent groups who is engaged in fighting on the ground in Balochistan.

The BLF has previously claimed responsibility for the murder of 20 labourers in Turbat on April 11.

Read: 20 labourers gunned down in Turbat

The group's area of operations stretches largely across Awaran, Panjgur, Washuk, Turbat and Gwadar districts in southern Balochistan.

Following the earthquake in Awaran in late 2013, the Army has made considerable headway in accessing parts of the district that were hitherto ‘no-go areas’ due to risk of insurgent attacks.

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Tuesday chaired a meeting of Corps Commanders at the General Headquarters (GHQ), reviewing the internal and external security situation including the ongoing and future operations against terrorism in the country.

A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said an exhaustive review of professional matters was also carried out in the meeting.

Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Maj Gen Aamer Riaz took the conference into confidence over his recently-held talks on security matters with Afghan authorities in Kabul.

Read: Aziz meeting with Ghani fails to break the ice

The meeting also reviewed the security situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary which has remained tense for the past two months due to 'unprovoked firing' by Indian forces.

Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved in the ongoing Zarb-i-Azb operation in North Waziristan and said the operation would continue till the complete elimination of terrorism from the country.

Also read: DG Rangers-BSF chief dialogue will help reduce tensions along LoC: Sartaj

Salman Danish, chief executive officer of TV ratings company, Medialogic Pakistan, on Tuesday claimed that the Express Media Group – a private media organisation – is involved in ‘malpractices’ to increase television ratings for its TV channels.

Danish made the claims while addressing members of the media fraternity.

According to the press conference given by the CEO of Medialogic, they had earlier served a notice to the Express Media Group, accusing it of indulging in malpractice and bribery to increase TV ratings.

“They were bribing Medialogic employees to increase their TV ratings,” said Danish, while presenting what he said were cheques and drafts received by Medialogic employees from individuals connected to the Express Media Group.

The CEO further claimed that the TV channels had profited by upto Rs450 million from the altered TV ratings at the behest of the entire electronic media industry.

Danish went on to say that his company was endorsed by Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), adding that a complaint along with evidence against Express had already been filed with the relevant authority.

“Now it is up to PBA to further investigate this matter and find out the veracity of our claims that Express Media Group has illegally profited by Rs450 million,” stated the CEO of Medialogic.

Earlier today, in a report published in The Express Tribune, the media group had claimed that the ratings agency was trying to extort Rs450 million from it.

The media group claims that the ratings agency chose its own employee, Shaista, and asked her to testify that Express News had pressurised households to tune into their channels — an attempt that resulted in an increase in its overall ratings.

On Shaista’s refusal to cooperate with Medialogic, The Express Tribune claimed that she and her family were harassed by Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) officials in Rawalpindi, adding that the victim is seeking justice from relevant authorities.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday ordered the Interior Ministry to remove the names of Baloch rights activists Farzana Majeed and Mama Qadeer from the Exit Control List (ECL), a report published on the BBC Urdu website said.

A division bench comprising Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh and Farooq Ali Shah heard the petition filed by the two rights campaigners.

The petition questioned the law enforcement agencies’ conduct of stopping Qadeer, Chairman of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), and the organisation's general secretary Farzana from boarding a US-bound flight.

During today's hearing of the petition, the Interior Ministry and the Federal Investigation agency (FIA) had also submitted their replies citing alleged ‘anti-state’ activities as the reason behind adding the rights activists’ names on ECL.

The deputy attorney general had accused Qadeer of inciting Baloch youth against the Pakistan Army and the state. However, Qadeer’s counsel Wazir Khoso maintained that if his client campaigned for the rights of his community within legal parameters, it did not mean that he was revolting against the army or the state.

The court questioned the deputy attorney general if there was a case registered against Qadeer, to which the law officer did not respond.

Upon that, the bench ruled that Qadeer and Farzana were peaceful citizens and no restriction could be placed on their travel abroad.

Related: Qadeer barred from going US

Earlier in March 2014, Qadeer, along with Farzana and another rights activist, was barred from traveling to the United States to attend a seminar on the alleged violation of human rights in Pakistan.

Related: Mama Qadeer urges human rights watchdogs to probe authorities’ actions

Mama Qadeer said FIA personnel had told the three that they were allegedly involved in ‘anti-Pakistan’ activities and their names had been on the ECL.

The Baloch rights activist had at the time said that World Sindhi Congress had invited them to attend a seminar in New York on March 7 on the alleged violation of rights in Sindh and Balochistan.

ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday said Pakistan would raise the issue of 'unprovoked' Indian firing across the Line of Control and the Working Boundary during a dialogue between the Director-General Pakistan Rangers and Indian Border Security Force chief in New Delhi tomorrow.

The meeting, he said, is being held in accordance with the Ufa declaration and will help reduce tensions along the LoC and Working Boundary.

He said earlier NSA-level talks with India were cancelled due to inflexibility shown by India, as no dialogue with India can be successful without the Kashmir issue as part of the agenda.

"Narendra Modi contested elections on anti-Pakistan platform and now wants to dictate terms for the dialogue with Pakistan but we will never accept this and we have already conveyed it to New Delhi," Aziz said while talking to media in Islamabad.

He said Kashmir will be part and parcel of any agenda of talks with India and that the international community has accepted Pakistan’s point of view in this regard.

Aziz said that no one could dare to launch any attack inside Pakistan and if anyone did so, he would get a befitting response.

He said that Pakistan would not be pressured by Indian threats of an attack at any time, adding that if India even thought of attacking, Pakistan would provide a befitting response.

The prime minister`s adviser on foreign affairs and national security said there had been an issue of security at the Pakistani embassy, but the government had been assured that security was increased.

He said that there would be less worry of security at the embassy as anti-Pakistan statements were expected to decrease following the meeting between the DG Rangers and BSF chief.

Responding to a question on his recent trip to Kabul, Aziz said the visit was aimed at building trust and confidence between the two neighbours. He said the visit had been successful as the Afghan president Ashraf Ghani had a better understanding on security issues with Pakistan.

As a result of the talks with Afghan leadership, he said a memorandum of mutual trust will be signed by both sides soon.

Sartaj Aziz said Afghan Finance Minister would pay a visit to Pakistan in the first week of November.

The NSA also rubbished claims that Dawood Ibrahim was hiding in Pakistan.

During a meeting in Ufa, Russia earlier this year, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi agreed that both India and Pakistan have a collective responsibility to ensure peace and promote development.

Foreign Secretary Pakistan Aizaz Chaudhry said both leaders were prepared to discuss all outstanding issues.

The Aug 24 NSA level talks last month were to be held to discuss a schedule for discussions on "all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, Siachen and SIr Creek, in keeping with the understanding of the Ufa statement," according to the Foreign Office (FO).

However, the talks were cancelled citing New Delhi’s refusal to allow an expanded agenda and a meeting with Kashmiri leaders.

"The scheduled NSA-level talks cannot be held on the basis of the preconditions set by India," the FO said in a statement. A meeting held under conditions set by India "would not serve the purpose" of "reducing tensions and restoring trust as a first step towards normalisation."

Also read: NSAs’ talks cancelled over Indian conditions

─ With additional reporting from Irfan Haider.

An earlier version of the story had erroneously mentioned the Afghan Foreign Minister would be paying a visit to Pakistan. The error is regretted.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed federal and provincial governments to adopt Urdu as official language in the country.

Announcing the verdict on petition filed by Advocate Kokab Iqbal, pertaining to promotion and implementation of Urdu language, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Jawwad S Khawaja directed the government to fulfill its constitutional obligation.

"In the governance of the federation and the provinces there is hardly any necessity for the use of the colonial language which cannot be understood by the public at large."

Even for many civil servants and public officials, who may have received education in English, this language would in most cases, not be the language most used by them, read the SC's verdict

It went on to read that "many officials are therefore forced to spend time on attempting to initiate and take decisions in a language which they are not entirely comfortable with".

"The time thus spent is quite wasteful because a lot of energy is dedicated to deciphering the language of the noting (which could have been easily drafted in the Urdu language) itself rather than understanding its content or substance.

"This wasteful exercise at times results in absurd and farcical outcomes which would be wholly avoided by use of the National language," read the SC judgement.

The bench has directed both the federal and provincial governments to strictly follow the timeline presented in the court for implementation of Urdu as official language.

The judgment is also binding on the statutory and regulatory bodies of the federal as well as provincial governments.

The court ordered that copies of this Judgment be sent to all the federal as well as provincial secretaries, who are to take immediate steps for enforcement of Article 251 in line with Article 5 of the Constitution.

The court further ordered that the the concerned federal and provincial secretaries shall submit reports showing compliance with the above orders.

The first report of progress should be fixed in Court within three months.

Related: PM. President to deliver speeches in Urdu, SC told

The short term measures

During an earlier hearing on July 11, the federal government informed the Supreme Court that an executive order had been issued to make it mandatory for the president, prime minister, federal ministers and other official representatives to deliver their speeches in Urdu while within the country or abroad.

The secretary, information and broadcasting also also submitted a ‘short-term’ strategy report before the Supreme Court.

According to short-term measures, federal government departments have been asked to translate their policies and rules in Urdu in three months. The forms relating to all the government and semi-government institutions will be in Urdu and at key public places like courts, police stations, hospitals, parks, educational institutions and banks the information signs will be in Urdu besides the English language.

Likewise, contents of utility bills, passports, driving licences and various documents of the Auditor General’s office, Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue and Election Commission of Pakistan would also be in the national language.

The final verdict today directs that these time-lines which are given by the Government itself must be considered for implementation in line with Article 251 of constitution.

Article 251 of the Constitution

(1) The National language of Pakistan is Urdu, and arrangements shall be made for its being used for official and other purposes within fifteen years from the commencing day.

(2) Subject to clause (1), the English language may be used for official purposes until arrangements are made for its replacement by Urdu.

(3) Without prejudice to the status of the national language, a provincial assembly may by law prescribe measures for the teaching, promotion and use of a provincial language in addition to the national language.

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday announced head money for the eight absconders in the Safoora Goth carnage case.

The chief minister has set Rs2.5 million as head money for eight of the absconders connected to the Safoora Goth attack.

Read: Eye-witnesses identify Saad Aziz and Tahir Hussain in Safoora attack

Those with head money of Rs2.5 million are Hafiz Muhammad Umar alias Hafeez, Ali Rehman alias Tona, Abdullah Mansoori, Mistri Pathan, Ijteba alias Dawood, Mehmood, Tayyab and Abdullah bin Yousuf alias Saqib.

Earlier in July, five eye-witnesses had identified suspects Saad Aziz and Tahir Hussain for their involvement in the Safoora Goth carnage.

The witnesses had rightly picked up the accused during the identification parade held in the court of a judicial magistrate in Malir and assigned them their roles in the commissioning of the offence.

The chief minister, while briefing media earlier in May had said that those arrested in connection with the Safoora Goth carnage and killing of rights activist Sabeen Mahmud, are “well-educated” militants.

He added that the arrested individuals had also confessed to grenade attacks on schools, bomb attacks on police vans, a naval officer and a Rangers brigadier, a gun attack on an American educationist and targeted killing of police officials.

Read more: 43 killed in attack on bus carrying Ismailis in Karachi

On May 14, at least 43 people were killed and 13 others were wounded when armed men opened fire inside a bus carrying members of the Ismaili community near Safoora Chowk in Karachi.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has decided to follow case proceedings of the NA-122 case in the Supreme Court following a plea filed by Sardar Ayaz Sadiq challenging the verdict of the election tribunal, which deseated the former National Assembly speaker from Lahore's NA-122 constituency.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan has asked Hamid Khan to follow case proceedings in this regard, following which Hamid Khan has submitted a formal application before the SC, asking permission to become a litigant in the case.

Giving details in this regard, PTI Central Information Secretary Naeemul Haq said his party had decided to contest the case in the Supreme Court.

Know more: NA-122 deseating case: Ayaz Sadiq approaches SC over tribunal’s verdict

Earlier, former NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq had challenged in the apex court the decision of an election tribunal that had ordered re-election in his constituency (NA-122).

In an appeal filed at the Lahore registry of the SC through advocates Khwaja Saeeduz Zafar and Shahid Hamid, the deseated MNA asked the court to set aside the election tribunal’s order for being against facts and law. Sadiq did not seek stay order as per the party policy which had decided to contest the re-poll.

The tribunal (Kazim Ali Malik) on Aug 22 had annulled the result of NA-122 allowing a petition of PTI chief Imran Khan and ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold by-election in the constituency. Imran had lost 2013 general election against Ayaz Sadiq.

The appellant stated that a bare perusal of the interim orders passed during the course of the proceedings by the tribunal showed the bias of the presiding officer (Kazim Malik).

He said the tribunal did not decide the issue of maintainability even after recording evidence despite its own order to this effect. He said the tribunal unjustly penalised him for not filing reply within three days despite knowing that he was abroad.

Sadiq said the attitude of the tribunal was summed up in the remark made in para 7 of impugned decision “that time has come to speak out bitter truth in utter disregard of the doctrine of necessity-cum-expediency” is yet further confirmation of the bias.

KARACHI: Three unknown gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire at a Geo TV Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) vehicle Tuesday night in the Bahadurabad area of Karachi, killing a Geo News employee and injuring another, said police.

Ferozabad Station House Officer (SHO) told Dawn that the news van was parked near the busy Naheed Store when unknown assailants fired shots and fled the scene.

There were four persons in the van; two of them had left the vehicle when motorcycle riding men emerged and fired shots at the two personnel still inside the van.

Initially, the two injured media workers – a technician and a driver – were taken to a hospital where Arshad Ali Jaffery succumbed to his injuries. Anees, the driver, is said to be in a stable condition.

The slain media worker was shot seven times, while the driver was shot twice in his shoulder, said police. Officials said the incident appeared to be a targeted attack, but it was not clear whether the target was Jaffery or Geo News.

Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal has taken notice of the attack and summoned a report from DIG East Muneer Shaikh, ordering immediate arrest of the suspects.

This is not the first attack of its nature, targeting media workers. Early last year, three employees of Express News channel were shot dead in North Nazimabad in an attack claimed by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

Karachi Central SSP Amir Farooqi had at the time said four armed men on two motorbikes emerged at the Board Office traffic intersection where the van of the news channel was stationed. Two of the assailants got off the bikes and opened indiscriminate fire on the van. The assailants, wearing shalwar qameez, escaped after the shooting.

Take a look: Three workers of TV channel killed.

ISLAMABAD: For a key lawmaker of the ruling party, the ongoing campaign against government institutions is meant to “demonise democracy and the current set-up and to replace it with some other system”.

Speaking at a press conference at the Press Information Department here on Tuesday, which was actually meant to criticise the PTI for its proposed seat adjustment with the PPP in local government elections in Punjab, Daniyal Aziz of the PML-N impetuously said: “It’s very unfortunate that day in and day out politicians are being stigmatised in the name of corruption, even though they are not as corrupt as the rest of the lot in the country.”

Also read: Seven opposition parties team up against PML-N for LG polls

Mr Aziz, who earned fame as chairman of the National Reconstruction Bureau during retired Gen Musharraf’s regime, had a point to defend his argument. “If read closely, in the fabled 29 cases of mega corruption recently presented by the National Accountability Bureau before the Supreme Court, 0.18 per cent corruption has allegedly been committed by the politicians while the rest is blamed on bureaucracy and others,” he said.

Mr Aziz joined the PML-N before the last general elections. Of late, he has emerged as a frontline defender of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his policies. His chief duty at present, along with MNA Talal Chaudhry and Privatisation Commission Chairman Mohammad Zubair, is to take on the PTI leadership at every given opportunity. The latter two were also present at the press conference.

Mr Aziz said he was surprised by the spate of calls being made from different corners to bring in a new system because the present one had failed to deliver.

Asked if by defending politicians he was also speaking for the PPP leadership which has been currently embroiled in corruption cases, he said: “Nobody is for corruption and whosoever has committed it must be taken to task, but to say that democracy has failed is outrageous.”

He didn’t specify on whose behalf, according to him, the ‘anti-democracy campaign’ is being conducted.

Referring to a recent report by the Transparency International, Mohammad Zubair claimed that corruption in high places had been on the decline since the PML-N came to power. The TI had declared the present government cleaner than its predecessors, he added.

SEAT ADJUSTMENT: The three PML-N leaders, one after another, took the PTI leadership to task for joining hands with the PPP in Punjab for the forthcoming local government elections.

They showed video clips of PTI Chairman Imran Khan pulverising PPP leaders during the sit-in last year for their alleged corrupt practices and vowing never to form an alliance with the party. “Once again Imran Khan has proved that he is master of U-turns,” Daniyal Aziz said.

During his visit to Sindh last week, the PTI chief didn’t miss any chance to hit out at the PPP for gulping public money and ignoring poor Sindhis. But in Punjab, Talal Chaudhry said, PTI leaders were hand in glove with the PPP, exposing Imran’s “devious politics”.

“Our increasing popularity has forced all political parties in Punjab to jointly contest elections against us because on their own they cannot defeat us,” he added.

He said the PTI had lost its ideological ground as its founding members like Justice Wajihuddin Ahmad had been shunned and replaced by “opportunists like Jahangir Tareen and Abdul Haleem Khan”.

Mr Zubair said the PTI had lost its direction and was only doing “traditional politics”, contrary to its slogan of change.

Both the PPP and PTI have clarified that they did not seal any election alliance, but only seat adjustments at the local level.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2015

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LANDI KOTAL: A banned militant group killed six kidnapped pro-govt volunteers in the Khyber tribal region on Tuesday.

According to sources, militants of the Lashkar-i-Islam had captured 11 volunteers of the pro-government Zakakhel peace committee in Sanda Pal area when they were going to Maidan in Tirah valley three days back.

Know more: Militants kill five peace committee volunteers

Five of the captured men were killed on Monday, while the bullet-riddled bodies of the remaining six were found in Kamar Khel on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the militants told local reporters that the volunteers were helping the security forces against them.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2015

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SUKKUR: A man, Ghulam Rasool Katohar, along with four children aged between three and eight years appeared in front of the Jacobabad press club on Tuesday to offer all of them against Rs1.6 million, claiming that he was under immense pressure from his rivals to pay the amount as fine imposed by a Jirga (tribal court) held on Sunday.

Mr Katohar told the media that a family belonging to the Khoso tribe of Jacobabad had accused his son, Ghulam Shabbir Katohar, of having an extramarital affair with a woman belonging to that tribe about two years ago.

He said the aggrieved family eventually took the matter to the Jirga on Sunday which held its proceedings in Liaquatabad village. It was chaired by the Khoso chieftain in Jacobabad Mohabbat Khoso, he said.

Mr Katohar, a resident of Abdul Karim Katohar village located near Jacobabad, said that the Jirga found his son guilty and imposed a fine of Rs1.6 million to be paid to the rival side to settle the dispute.

He said although the fine money was supposed to be paid by his Katohar tribe collectively, the amount was usually paid in three instalments by the family of the guilty. He said he was not in a position to afford the burden and had to sell out his two daughters, Fauzia, 8, and Shahida 6, and two granddaughters, Rabia, 4, and Zahida, 3, to raise the fine amount and save his family from violent vengeance probably murder of his son by the rival side permissible under the tribal norms.

Senior officials in the district police, when contacted for their comment, said that they were aware of the Jirga ruling and Mr Katohar’s woes but it was necessary to investigate the matter before taking action against all those responsible for issuing such non-judicial rulings and threatening the life and property of citizens.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2015

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KARACHI: “One life and two shipments gone, burnt!” said a boiler operator at J.B. Industries in SITE area while speaking to Dawn about the fire that broke out in the top-floor warehouse of the garment factory on Tuesday morning.

For a while as the firefighters tried putting out the blaze, there was a big confusion as to who had died in the fire. Some said it was the guard, others believed it was his friend resting in his quarters.

“I don’t know the guard personally, as there is no interaction between the various departments of the factory. We also enter through separate gates but we heard that there was an overweight elderly man and a younger more agile one in the quarters at that time. Both were tired and asleep when the fire broke out. Then realising what had happened, they must have tried to get out. The agile one escaped leaving behind the other who suffocated,” said the boiler operator.

Asked why didn’t the young man help the other one, the boiler operator, who declined to give his name, shrugged and said: “It’s human nature to save oneself at such a time. He must have thought that the other would also be able to make a getaway like him, which sadly didn’t happen.”

Another factory employee, sitting under a little tree outside and watching the firefighters wrapping up their equipment after successfully putting out the fire, pointed to the warehouse on the top floor. “The walls had to be broken down by the firefighters to get the smoke out. Its shuttering plates above the walls were bluish hue but have now turned grey or black from the smoke. Most of us were lucky to have escaped with our lives though our [factory] owners will have to bear monetary losses,” he said.

“Two entire shipments of double-knit shirts that were supposed to be loaded in two containers today were burnt to ashes,” he said.

It was not clear as to how the fire started. “It was still pretty early when it happened. We were already here and working. The moment we smelt smoke we ran downstairs through the exit points and back stairs. We don’t know what started it,” said another worker before excusing himself to help with cleaning the premises.

A police constable said he believed it was a short circuit on the top floor. “A wire broke, too, and the sparks started a fire when that wire fell on top of the garments,” he said. But when it was pointed out to him that there were no electricity wires or poles at that height, he said that perhaps there was a short circuit in the internal wiring.

The owner of the business, Jawed Bilwani, who also happens to be president of the SITE Association of Industry, told Dawn that they were still trying to determine as to what started the fire. About the casualty, he said their guard had a guest who suffocated. “And he was in the guardroom upstairs while our guard was downstairs. It is unfortunate that one person died, because we have several fire exits and a sprinkler system in place in the building. We also have our own fire tender,” he said.

Asked about the monetary loss they suffered, Mr Bilwani confirmed to Dawn that two shipments were burnt. “Yes, garments for two containers were lost but we send out two to four such shipments every week. What is more sad is the life lost,” he concluded.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2015

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LAHORE / ISLAMABAD: On a call given by all factions of the All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajiran (APAT), traders across the country would observe on Wednesday another strike in protest against imposition of 0.6 per cent withholding tax on banking transactions exceeding Rs50,000, it was announced on Tuesday.

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said it supported the strike call.

Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Naeem Mir of his own faction of the APAT, accompanied by members of the association’s Ashraf Bhatti group, said that traders were now united and that no tax could be imposed on them forcibly.

Take a look: Traders united against withholding tax, divided in their protest

The traders would no longer hold talks with the government on the issue, he said.

Traders’ association threatens to march on Islamabad if its demands are not met

“If the government does not accept our demands we will observe a series of shutter-down strikes ... in the four provinces and in each and every small and big city in protest against the cruel taxation measures of the so-called business-friendly government,” he said.

Mr Mir announced that traders would observe their fifth strike on October 7 if the tax was not withdrawn by then. The traders would also mount a march on Islamabad.

He said that traders belonging to all the markets in Lahore — particularly the Anarkali Bazaar, Urdu Bazaar, Kashmir Bazaar, Ichhra Bazaar, Shahalmi Bazaar, Liberty Market, Rang Mahal Market, Badami Bagh Bazaar, Auto Market, Akbari Mandi, Dabbi Bazaar, Moti Bazaar and those along Mall Road, Hall Road, Beadon Road, McLeod Road, Brandreth Road, Ferozepur Road, Multan Road, Jail Road and Circular Road — had agreed to join the strike.

He said that Attique Mir, chairman of the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI), and traders of some 500 markets in Karachi had agreed to support the strike. Therefore, the main markets in Karachi, especially those in Saddar, Tariq Road, Clifton, Defence, old city areas, Haji camp, Bohrapir, Liaquatabad and Nursery, would remain closed on Wednesday.

Mr Mir said that under the banners of the APAT and AKTI, the traders would also march from the Quaid’s mausoleum to the Karachi Press Club via the Mereweather Tower.

The Central Union of Traders of Islamabad had agreed to support the strike call, he said, adding that the traders in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would also be on strike on Wednesday.

He added that the traders would lay a siege to the parliament if the government did not withdraw the tax.

Khalid Pervez of his own faction of the APAT told reporters that the strike would be observed from Karachi to Khyber. “The traders are still peaceful but the APAT will not be responsible in case some of them resorted to violence in future,” he said.

Mr Pervez said he had written a letter to the army chief, requesting Gen Raheel Sharif to intervene in the matter and arrest the corrupt elements in the government.

In a statement, LCCI President Ijaz A. Mumtaz said his association had decided to support the strike call.

He urged the government to withdraw the tax because the officials didn’t have “authentic data to differentiate between the filers and non-filers of income tax returns”.

Earlier, the APAT group led by Naeem Mir had called a strike on August 1 and their rival faction, the Khalid Pervez group, on August 5 but the strikes failed to achieve the desired results. Now, however, the two groups have joined hands in an effort to force a withdrawal of the tax.

Meanwhile, an official of the finance ministry described the strike call as “an uncalled for move” and said: “Why can’t they become filers of income tax returns? The traders themselves had agreed to this condition,” he said.

Manufacturers and industrialists have remained aloof from the local politics of the business community and a spokesman for the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) said in Islamabad that an agreement had already been reached between the business community and the finance ministry over the matter.

“The agreement was signed in July when the traders had agreed that the withholding tax would be reduced to 0.3 per cent and they would avail themselves of the three-month window to file income tax returns,” FPCCI spokesman Malik Sohail said.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2015

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LAHORE: Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Amin Wains says that the crime graph has dropped significantly due to the successful launch of beat system in the provincial capital.

While handing over Rs300,000 cash to a Chinese citizen who was robbed in a street crime incident, he on Tuesday appreciated the performance of the investigation wing of police for arresting the criminals involved in the incident.

Mr Wains said the arrested criminals, identified as Amir and Shafiq, had also robbed many local citizens in various incidents.

He further said the Lahore police had arrested 3,034 criminals during the last eight months and recovered from their possession looted money worth over Rs350 million.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2015

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CHINIOT: A man, who received a severe electric shock, succumbed to his injuries here at DHQ Hospital on Tuesday owing to alleged non-provision of oxygen and out-of-order generator.

Reports said welder Wasim Ahmad, 23, of Ghafoorabad locality was working at his shop on Faisalabad Road when he received a severe electric shock. He fell unconscious and was rushed to DHQ Hospital in a critical condition, but neither the life-saving drugs were available nor oxygen system could be made operational due to loadshedding and broken-down generator. As a result, Waseem succumbed to his injuries.

Later, the family staged a demonstration in front of the hospital gate alleging negligence of the administration. The protest resulted in a traffic blockade on Chiniot-Sargodha Road.

It merits mentioning that the slot of the medical superintendent has been lying vacant for the last one month. Since then EDO (Health) Arshid Mahboob Tabassum has been looking after the hospital affairs. The generator could not be repaired for the last one month.

When contacted, EDO Arshid Mahboob, who has additional charge of medical superintendent, said: “I am in Lahore for the last two days for an official meeting and doesn’t know what happened at the hospital.”

He suggested contacting Deputy MS Dr Jamshed who did not attend his phone despite repeated attempts.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2015

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