LAHORE: The execution of paraplegic death row convict Abdul Basit was postponed following appeals by human rights groups, officials said Tuesday.

The man's family welcomed the development with relief and urged the government to spare his life on medical grounds.

Basit, 43, who was convicted of murder in 2009, has always maintained his innocence. Basit contracted tubercular meningitis in 2010 while in prison which left him paralysed from the waist down, according to rights groups and jail officials.

Basit was due to be hanged on Tuesday, but a court delayed the execution after Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), the human rights law firm handling his case, raised concerns about how the wheelchair-bound man would mount the scaffold.

According to prison official Mohammad Safdar, a magistrate made the decision to postpone the death sentence after talking to Basit. The hanging was initially scheduled for just before dawn.

"The hanging has been postponed. A magistrate in the morning ordered the postponement because Abdul Basit is a disabled man," Usman, another official at Faisalabad jail ─ where Basit is being held, told AFP.

There were no further details on the postponement and it was unclear if another date for the executions was set. Under Pakistani law, authorities can delay executions on medical grounds but a convict can only be pardoned by the president. There was no immediate statement from President Mamnoon Hussain.

Basit's family members were waiting outside the Faisalabad prison for the sentence to be carried out so they could take the body for burial.

His sister, Shugufta Sultana, said they were "terrified and nervous".

"We were waiting for bad news but God gave a new life to my brother and his execution was postponed," she told The Associated Press over the phone from Faisalabad.

According to JPP, prison guidelines require that a prisoner stands on the gallows and the rope's length is determined by his standing height. They said in a statement last week that attempting a hang a wheelchair-bound convict may not work.

Basit's mother Nusrat Perveen also confirmed the execution delay, telling AFP that a jail official had called her to inform her "the hanging has been postponed because of Basit's sickness".

Pakistan has hanged more than 200 convicts since the federal government lifted the moratorium on the death penalty on Dec 17, 2014 in terrorism related cases only in the wake of a Taliban attack at the Army Public School in Peshawar which claimed at least 150 lives ─ most of them children.

Later, the government completely reinstated capital punishment for all offences that entail the death penalty.

Amnesty International estimates that Pakistan has more than 8,000 prisoners on death row, most of whom have exhausted the appeals process.

Supporters argue that the death penalty is the only effective way to deal with the scourge of militancy in the country. But critics say the legal system is unjust, with rampant police torture, poor representation for victims and unfair trials.

Also read: Amnesty requests government to halt execution of disabled man

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan will continue to play its due role for bringing peace and stability in the region, Radio Pakistan reported on its website on Tuesday.

Talking to media persons in London, Nawaz said Pakistan is a responsible country and is playing its due role in the region correctly.

Nawaz said the government is pursuing agenda for the country’s prosperity. He said Pakistan will continue its efforts with Afghanistan for the restoration of peace in the region.

The prime minister said both the countries are committed to jointly fight the menace of terrorism.

He said Pakistan does not want any kind of disturbance in the region. “We have introduced several changes to the foreign policy, which have produced positive results,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.

PM leaves to attend 70th UN General Assembly session

Nawaz Sharif departed for the United States (US) to attend the 70th Session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The premier will address the UNGA on September 30 besides addressing the plenary meeting of General Assembly for adoption of the post-2015 Development Agenda.

On the sidelines, Premier Nawaz Sharif will also attend global leaders meeting on gender equality and women empowerment organised by China and UN women.

He will also attend receptions hosted separately by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. and US President Barack Obama in honour of heads of states besides being taking part in a peace summit co-hosted by Pakistan, US and the UN Secretary General.

According to UN website, the Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda will take place from September 25 to September 27.

While the general debate of the General Assembly will take start from September 28 and will conclude on October 6.

In last year’s session, Prime Minister Sharif drew attention towards climatic change and its affects in Pakistan besides repeating the country’s resolve to fight home grown terror and Pakistan Army’s sacrifices in the global anti-terror war.

Sharif said he condemned terrorism of all forms including the ‘genocide of Palestinians in Gaza’.

Sharif also laid stress upon Pakistan’s desire to improve relations with its neighbours Afghanistan and rival India.

Tensions between the two countries mounted after national security adviser level talks were called off in August as India refused to discuss Kashmir during the meeting.

Talking at a foreign ministers’ forum earlier this month, Prime Minister’s adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan has “already prepared, evidence of Indian interference and subversive activities across the border and will present a dossier at the United Nations.

Aziz added that the copies of the dossier will also be handed over to Indian authorities.

Related India's role in promoting terror in Pakistan no secret: Aziz

KARACHI: The management of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Tuesday terminated the service of a flight steward who was caught by United Kingdom authorities at the Heathrow airport while trying to smuggle mobile phones through a PIA flight on Monday afternoon.

According to a PIA’s press release, flight steward Khurrum Shehzad was caught at the airport while he was boarding the flight PK 786 for Islamabad.

Sources said that Khurrum was arrested by UK authorities at the airport and after an overnight investigation he was released on Tuesday noon.

Know more: PIA sacks five crew members 'questioned' by London authority

Responding to Dawn queries, PIA spokesperson Aamir Memon said that the flight steward was on duty. During checking at the airport three mobile phones were found in his possession.

One of the mobile phones was allegedly a stolen one.

He said PIA had zero tolerance for corruption and illegal activities.

To a question if UK authorities would take any action against PIA in this regard, he said PIA had already informed UK authorities that it did not support illegal acts of its employees and such acts were an individual’s responsibility.

PIA had taken stern action against its employees whenever they were found involved in illegal activities, the spokesperson added.

The sources said that this was not the first time that PIA staffers had been caught for smuggling of electronics items, particularly mobile phones in foreign countries.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd , 2015

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PESHAWAR: Security forces on Tuesday claimed to have arrested two individuals working for Indian intelligence agency RAW from Parachinar in Kurram tribal agency.

The alleged Indian agents were reportedly arrested on September 19, but presented in front of the media today.

The alleged RAW agents were arrested after an intelligence based operation (IBO) was carried out by security agencies.

Read: Muharram terror bid foiled as four ‘RAW-linked men’ arrested from Karachi: SSP

“During investigation the arrested individuals have confessed to working for the Indian agency RAW,” said Shahidullah, Assistant Political Agent of Kurram agency.

He further added that the arrested individuals were involved in terrorism related activities and sectarian attacks in Kurram agency.

“We also recovered $300 and INR178,000 from them, including uniforms of the armed forces,” stated the assistant political agent of Kurran tribal agency.

Last week, Dawn newspaper reported that two alleged agents of the Indian intelligence agency RAW were arrested at Wagah.

Earlier in August, law enforcement agencies had claimed to have arrested four suspects linked to India's RAW spy agency Lahore.

The military’s top brass in May accused RAW of supporting terrorism in Pakistan. A previous ISPR statement on a meeting of the Corps Com­manders held at the General Headquarters said: “The conference also took serious notice of RAW’s involvement in whipping up terrorism in Pakistan.”

While RAW has been blamed by Pakistani authorities in the past, it is unusual for a corps commanders’ conference to directly point fingers at the hostile intelligence outfit.

Also read: RAW instigating terrorism, says army

In private conversations military officers say that besides Balochistan, RAW’s footprints have been found in Fata and Karachi. Confessio­nal statements of some criminals they had arrested recently, they said, point towards RAW’s growing activities. To support their claim they also refer to a statement made by Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval almost a year ago about the Indian strategy to weaken Pakistan by promoting terrorism and separatism.

Earlier this year, however, the government decided to take a tougher approach towards India and forcefully raise its concerns over alleged Indian involvement in acts of terrorism in the country. The change had been forced by Delhi’s continued terrorism allegations for building a narrative that India was a victim of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

KARACHI: Before letting your imagination run wild with recipes, spices, barbecues and skewers after bringing home your goat, lamb, cow, bull or camel, think first about what you are going to feed them during their brief stay with you. These days there are several roadside shops selling a variety of feed for livestock to help you in that department.

A chaff cutter stands in one corner of the shop. It is used for cutting straw or maize stalks into small pieces for cows and bulls to chew on easily. A little goat brought to the shop by its owner turns away from the straw and maize, as it is more interested in the grass-like fresh green leaves, known as jantar, which its owner quickly bought for Rs15 per kilogramme.

The shop owner, Mohammad Naveed, smiles and says: “Yes, we get plenty of sacrificial animal owners bringing in the animal to select food for itself as they are not really sure as to what to feed them.

“These animals are all herbivores i.e. strictly vegetarian. You may allow them to graze on your lawn, feed them grass or vegetable leaves such as spinach leaves but that doesn’t mean they can be fed anything besides meat that you may have to offer them at home. For instance, your goat cannot easily digest cooked roti or naan. And if you think you are helping it by giving it water to easily wash down that roti, it will result in indigestion instead. Then the goat’s stomach will swell and it will most probably die,” explains the fodder shop owner.

Fresh jantar for your goat.

Many shops have packed one-kilo bags of dried wheat, barley and oats glume or dried outer shells of pulses and lentils. The bags are usually plastic bags, which the buyers better remove and throw away to keep it out of the reach of the animal as it may choke them to death. “Sometimes it happens that you keep a bag full of such feed near your goat that may decide to help itself by tearing up the bag while also swallowing pieces of it,” Shakir Ali, another shopkeeper warns.

“To save money, some folks get a small sacrificial animal and then buy lots and lots of feed to make them eat more so that they grow bigger. It doesn’t work that way if you buy an animal just a week or a few days before Eid. Overfeeding, too, may kill it. This may only work if you got an animal months ahead, not days,” he added.

The feed is nice, but plastic bags dangerous.

The feed is brought to Bakra Peeri from Thatta, Sujawal and also from Sakran in Balochistan. “We pick up our supply in bulk from Bakra Peeri. Mostly we pick fresh, green leaves, be they maize or jantar, because the goats and other animals that have been brought to the city have also been brought up on green stuff,” says Jamil Khan.

“Grain at Rs45 to Rs50 a kilogramme is expensive if compared to the greens and people who buy an animal for thousands of rupees do not spend much on feeding them expensive stuff. Their justification lies in the thinking that they are not looking for feed to get strong teeth and bones for the animal,” he laughingly adds. “But they should be feeding them grain as well to make the diet balanced,” he argues.

Published in Dawn September 23rd, 2015

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UMERKOT: Aasoo Kolhi, also known among her people as the ‘Malala of Umerkot’, shed tears of joy at the prospect of leaving for the US to attend the world premiere of the documentary film He named me Malala. Directed by Davis Guggenheim, the film is about Malala’s life, from childhood till the attack on her by the Taliban.

A poor peasant girl who set up a school in her village of Meena Je Dhani, near Umerkot, Aasoo’s efforts attracted the attention of Malala Yousufzai who invited her to New York. She will also attend the launch of the ‘Stand With Malala’ campaign.

Aasoo is also to meet American President Barack Obama and is set to attend other educational events in the US, where she will share her experiences regarding girls’ education.

She spoke to Dawn about how no politician was ready to let her visit his office and offer her a job. She called it a day of joy to have been invited by Malala Yousufzai as she believes no one cares about the poor peasants, especially the scheduled caste like the Kolhis.

Aasoo said she was the only peasant girl from her village to have received formal education. “The Kolhis are marginalised and work in fields. As they have to keep changing their residence and landlords, their children are not enrolled in any school,” she added.

The week-long event will be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York and Aasoo is a special guest from Pakistan.

Aasoo told Dawn that it was only after the media recognised her efforts that the Sindh government announced their complete support for her mission. Government officials made several promises including making an announcement during the assembly session at the school that all students would be provided one meal a day.

The provincial government also promised the construction of a road to her village, a school building, an RO plant and two vocational centres for her village but nothing has been done as yet.

“Only one room has been made,” she told Dawn.

After being administered an injection by a quack, Aasoo became physically impaired at the age of five.

Her disability became the reason why her father decided to enrol her in a school as she was unable to work in the field and no one would be willing to marry her.

Aasoo’s older brother, Samero, will also accompany her and attend the events.

Published in Dawn September 23rd, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday said that the security agencies were quite clear that the mastermind of Badaber terrorist attack was operating from Afghanistan.

Talking to media in Islamabad, the interior minister said “the mastermind's accomplices have been identified as five out of the 14 terrorists killed in the attack were from Pakistan while the rest were foreign citizens”.

Nisar said the government has decided to share all evidences with Afghanistan about the terrorists involved in the PAF camp attack, mentioning that terrorists were operating from Afghan soil.

“The security agencies have got information about the whereabouts of terrorists, where they had stayed and from where they came, as some clues had surfaced and things were moving forward quickly in this regard,” he added.

Know more: Ghani denies Afghan involvement in PAF camp attack

The interior minister said that Pakistan had taken numerous measures to tackle the menace of terrorism and it expects the same from the Afghan side which needs to do more in this regard.

“Pakistan was desirous for peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and this should be realised by the Afghan side as well,” the minister added.

Nisar said he would suggest it to the prime minister to constitute a mutli-faceted committee comprising representatives of Federal Investigation Agencies (FIA), Financial Management Unit (FMU), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and other major institutions to chalk out a clear plan to counter financing of terrorists.

Earlier, the minister chaired a meeting to review the ongoing tasks by the ministry.

He lauded district administration in Islamabad for conducting raids against hotels, restaurants, medical stores, quacks and other food outlets providing sub-standard food items, medicines and health services.

The chief commissioner and deputy commissioner of Islamabad informed the participants of the meeting that the administration has also fined Rs2.3 million on violators with strict warnings for maintaining their services as per rules and regulations for the safety of general public.

During the meeting, the interior minister directed IGP Islamabad to ensure fool-proof security arrangements during Eid with appropriate monitoring and patrolling system at various public places in the federal capital.

He also directed them to ensure full security for mosques and other religious places on the eve of Eidul Azha and said that officers should themselves visit the places.

To a query regarding the proposed Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf public meeting in the Federal Capital, he said the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration had written a letter to PTI Chairman Imran Khan asking him the purpose.

QUETTA: The Commander Southern Command, Lt General Muhammad Naseer Janjua, stressed the need for establishing SOS villages and social welfare institutions like shelters for homeless children and elderly people in Balochistan.

Gen Janjua was speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of a home for old women on Tuesday.

The project would initially house 24 women which would be raised to 50 once the project was completed. Besides accommodation, the women would get food and medical facilities.

Also read: Balochistan no more in state of fear, says Gen Janjua

The Commander Southern Command lauded the efforts of the SOS organisation.

Peace was returning to Balochistan where people now felt safe, he said.

Retired Brigadier Abdul Razaq Baloch, head of the SOS village, briefed Lt General Janjua and lauded efforts made by him for restoring peace and order in Balochistan. Ms Raheela Durrani MPA and Mrs Surayyia Allahdin, a social worker also spoke at the function.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd , 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The National Accounta­bility Bureau (NAB) refuted on Tuesday allegation levelled by Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashhood that “an unjustified action” had been initiated against him.

The allegation was rejected in an official announcement made in response to a letter sent by the minister to NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry a couple of days ago.

Know more: Mashhood blames NAB officer for code violation

“While the letter addressed by Mr Mashood to the NAB chairman is being processed in accordance with the law and SoPs, NAB wishes to assert that any proceedings against anybody are conducted strictly in accordance with the law, with utmost objectivity and without any consideration of fear or favour to anybody. A person alleged to have committed a cognisable offence is provided ample opportunity of defence and hearing before an appropriate forum,” it said.

Bureau asks Pemra to provide video that implicates minister in bribery case

Although the provincial minister had, in his letter, accused NAB Punjab DG retired Maj Syed Burhan Ali of harbouring a personal grudge against him, the NAB announcement did not comment on his role.

On August 23, 2014, a private TV channel had telecast a video showing the minister taking bribe in the name of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

But, Mr Mashhood rejected the allegations and claimed that the TV footage was ‘fabricated’.

The footage allegedly showed the minister receiving bribe from Asim Malik, the manager of Future Concerns, who is wanted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on human trafficking charges.

Meanwhile, sources said that NAB had asked the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to provide footage from the private TV channel that had aired the video of the provincial minister receiving bribe from a wanted man.

The bureau will also seek the assistance of electronic media experts to ascertain the authenticity of the video and may also seek the assistance of the FIA as they also are investigating the matter.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd , 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday asked the government officials to explain the announcement of farmers' relief package by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ahead of the upcoming local body polls in Sindh and Punjab.

ECP spokesperson Khursheed Alam told Dawn.com that the commission's secretary Babar Yaqub has issued notices to the secretary of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the secretary of Ministry of Food Security and Research to explain the announcement of farmers' development package by the premier after the LG polls' schedule was already announced.

The commission termed the move a violation of ECP code of conduct.

Earlier in a press release, the ECP also trashed rumours that the body has given clean chit to PM Nawaz, who also heads his own political party Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N).

The rumour was carried as a news item by some local media houses.

"It is clarified that such news do not have any substance and no statement in this behalf was either issued by or asked from the commission", read the press release.

Related: LG Polls: ECP bans transfer of officers in Punjab, Sindh

According to a report published in Dawn on September 16, Nawaz announced a relief package of Rs341 billion to revive the farm sector.

The package provides a direct benefit of Rs147 billion to small farmers across the country, whereas an additional loan of Rs194 billion will be available to the agriculture sector. The federal cabinet has approved the package.

While the ECP had already announced the schedule of first phase of polls on August 27 and that of second phase on September 3.

The ECP code of conduct for LG polls in Sindh and Punjab categorically states that the political parties and candidates participating in the elections shall not offer or announce any financial help to any person or institution after the announcement of schedule for elections.

Major opposition parties had already rejected the package for farmers and termed it a ‘pack of lies’ and gimmickry of the PML-N government aimed at influencing coming LG elections.

Through the aforementioned package, the government has decided to provide a cash support of Rs5,000 with immediate effect to the growers of cotton and rice as a direct relief.

The amount will be disbursed among the farmers owning a maximum of 12.5 acres of land. It will cost the government Rs20bn. The amount will be equally shared by the provincial government concerned.

ISLAMABAD: The Islam­abad High Court asked the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Tuesday to explain under what authority it hired the National Testing Service (NTS) for recruitment on its vacant posts.

The directive was issued by a single-member bench comprising Justice Athar Min­allah during the hearing of a petition filed by one Mohammad Anwar Khan challenging the hiring of the NTC for recruitment in the board.

The petition has cited the federation of Pakistan through the finance secretary, the FBR chairman, the managing director of the Pakistan Public Procurement Authority (PPRA) and the chief executive officer of the NTS as respondents.

It says that an advertisement about vacancies of some posts of BPS-4 to BPS-14 in the FBR appeared in newspapers on Sept 12. “The advertisement was published on behalf of the NTS, which is in sheer violation of the PPRA rules... It not only impinged on the legality of the awarding of test (for the jobs) to the NTS but also impacted on fundamental rights of citizens.”

The advertisement directed candidates to download job applications from NTS website and deposit fees of different amounts for different posts, it says.

The petition claims that giving the NTS the authority to conduct recruitment is illegal, which has been done in the absence of open competitive bidding.

It has challenged legality and constitutionality of the awarding of the test for the jobs to the NTS as well as the actions and decisions of the respondents to seek to confer legality on the test on an ex-post facto basis.

The petitioner has requested the court to declare that awarding the NTS the project to conduct test of candidates seeking employment in government department is sheer violation of the PPRA rules and injustice with other competitors and candidates.

He also requested the court to investigate against officials of the FBR who conceived, aided and abetted the collusive awarding of the test/screening project of appointments in the board.

The court issued noticed to all respondents while making the recruitment subject to the final adjudication.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd , 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The main opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has objected to President Mamnoon Hussain’s participation in a PML-N meeting despite a ban on his taking part in political activities by the court.

“The PPP is surprised that unlike former president Asif Zardari, the incumbent president is no longer restrained by the court order from participating in partisan political meetings”, said PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar in a statement on Tuesday.

Also read: Presidency not to be used for politics, says govt

He said former president Zardari had been “restrained by the court observations from participating in PPP meetings, which were regarded a political activity not in keeping with the dignity and non-partisan nature of the office of the head of the state.”

“The former president, respecting the court orders, avoided attending meetings of PPP legislators and workers in Presidency even though he had reservations over it,” Mr Babar added.

Gathering not held in Presidency, says minister

The PPP’s reaction came in response to an official handout issued by the Prime Minister House stating that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had “co-chaired” a meeting with President Hussain with office-bearers of the Sindh chapter of the Pakistan Muslim League-N at the PM office on Monday.

Mr Babar said the press release had implied that the restraint did not apply to the incumbent president and vindicated the PPP’s position on the issue.

But Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal rejected the PPP’s criticism and said that the president had maintained the decorum of his office as the meeting had not been held in the Presidency.

Mr Iqbal, who also attended the Monday’s meeting, said that the criticism did not suit the PPP since Mr Zardari was the party’s co-chairman while he was president and he used to hold meetings of even the party’s central executive committee and so-called core committee in the Presidency.

He said President Hussain had been invited to the meeting at the request of PML-N members from Sindh since he had worked as the president of the party’s provincial chapter.

Replying a question, the minister said it seemed that the official handout had mentioned that the president had “co-chaired” the meeting with the prime minister only as mark of respect for Mr Hussain.

But Mr Babar said the press release had said that the general secretary of the PML-N’s Sindh chapter had briefed President Hussain and Prime Minister Sharif on the establishment of district committees in the province, which were asked to launch mass contact campaigns. The participants of the meeting and office-bearers of PML-N, according to the press release, were asked to intensify public contact and submit recommendations, he said.

“The PPP wonders how and why the act of President Hussain to preside over meetings and calling for the setting up of district committees of his party is not politicking but Mr Zardari’s addresses to PPP legislators and workers in the Presidency were a political activity,” Mr Babar said: “Wonders do not cease in the country as only the PPP leaders are judged.”

The Lahore High Court (LHC) had ruled on May 12, 2011 that the then president Asif Zardari should relinquish the post of PPP co-chairman and the Presidency should not be used for political activities.

“The use of Presidency for political activity is inconsistent with its sanctity, dignity, neutrality and independence. Therefore, it is expected that the president of Pakistan would cease the use of the premises of Presidency for political meetings of his party,” the four-judge bench of the LHC had said in its order on a petition challenging the holding of political office by Mr Zardari.

Senior lawyer A.K. Dogar had filed the petition on behalf of the Pakistan Lawyers Forum. The court had issued an ex parte verdict since the panel of lawyers representing the federation had withdrawn in protest during the hearing and no one had represented Mr Zardari.

Mr Babar said the PPP always believed that the president was elected by parliament, which was created through a political activity and had members from political parties. The president, he said, was an integral part of parliament and required by the constitution to address a joint session of parliament every year to deliver a political sermon.

But, he said, despite the obvious political nature of the office of the head of the state, Mr Zardari had discontinued meeting PPP parliamentarians and workers in the Presidency out of respect for the court ruling.

He said double standard being practised in respect of a PPP president and a non-PPP president were part of déjà vu as the party had endured the practice in the past,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd , 2015

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LAHORE: Heavy rain lashed different towns and cities of Punjab, upper parts of the country and Azad Kashmir on Tuesday. In Punjab, a woman died and 29 other people suffered injuries when roofs of their houses collapsed.

Heavy to very heavy rain was also reported over the catchments of eastern rivers and the Flood Forecasting Division said high to very high flood was expected in rivers Jhelum and Chenab over the next 24 hours.

But it said the monsoon dep­ression which had lost its severity and became a well-marked low pressure might fizzle out on Wednesday. As a result, the spell of heavy to very heavy rain would be over, said FFD chief Riaz Khan.

Also read: Thar poses a gloomy picture despite heavy rains

But before that, he added, there were ample chances of more heavy to very heavy rain in Punjab, Azad Kash­mir and upper catchments of Chenab and Jhelum, especially on Tuesday late night. There may be even cloudbursts (short duration driving rain) over the upper catchments of Chenab.

“The system is moving out. At present it is located over Indian Punjab, east of Lahore. It is expected to be defused by tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon,” Mr Khan said.

According to Rescue 1122, Gul Bibi, 45, of Sabzazaar’s Dubbanpura locality, died when the roof of her house caved in during heavy rain in Lahore. Her three children were injured.

Six people were injured in Nawab Town and four in Sha­hdara Town after the roofs of their houses collapsed.

Our district correspondents said that eight people, four women among them, were injured in Vehari and four each in Gujranwala and Bahawalpur in similar incidents.

Meanwhile, rain which started in the wee hours of Tuesday continued to lash Lahore almost the entire day. It was particularly heavy in the morning and in the early afternoon.

The Met office recorded 145mm of rain at the airport and 64mm at its Jail Road observatory. Streets turned into rivulets and there were massive traffic jams on the flooded roads being repaired or remodelled everywhere in the city.

Rain was taken as a bad omen by the sellers of sacrificial animals sitting under the open sky with their stocks. Prices of animals which were skyrocketing until Monday dropped to some extent, but rain kept the buyers at a bay.

According to the Met office, Bahawalnagar received 110mm of rain, Okara 100mm, Bahawalpur 87mm, Sahiwal 84mm, Shorkot 66mm, Sialkot 60mm, Faisalabad 57mm, Mangla 82mm, Chhor 45mm, Mandi Bahauddin 58mm, Toba Tek Singh 43mm, Jhelum 67mm, Gujrat 50mm, Kotli and Kasur 38mm each, Gujranwala 41mm, Parachinar 35mm, Murree 57mm, Sargodha 45mm, Rawalakot 75mm, Garhi Dupatta 43mm, Kakul 24mm, Muzaffarabad 22mm, Skardu 29mm, Jhang 42mm, Chakwal and Astore 27mm each and Skardu 29mm.

The FFD forecast widespread thunderstorm/rain with heavy falls at scattered places and very heavy falls at isolated places in upper catchments of Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej, along with Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions over the next 24 hours.

Scattered thunderstorm/rain with isolated heavy falls is expected over Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan and Kohat divisions, along with upper catchments of the Indus. High flood situation is also expected in the nullahs of Ravi and Chenab in Sialkot region.

There is a chance of cloudburst due to influence of the persisting westerly wave, especially over the upper catchments of Chenab.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd , 2015

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LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on a petition of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) challenging a code announced by the commission that bars parliamentarians from participating in campaign for by-elections being held in various constituencies.

Justice Ayesha A. Malik heard initial arguments of Advocate Hamid Khan and admitted the petition for hearing. PTI’s candidate from PP-147, Shoaib Siddiqui, filed the petition.

The counsel argued that the impugned ban was in sheer violation of the fundamental rights and norms of democracy. He said Imran Khan, the PTI chairman, was a member of the National Assembly and by virtue of the impugned ban he could not visit the area of any constituency where by-elections were being held.

Also read: ECP questions govt over announcement of farmers' package before LG polls

He said it was integral to an electoral campaign that the party leaders visit the constituencies and address the electorate and meet party workers. He said the ECP code muted the electioneering plans of the party by curbing its political activism, which was at the core of any parliamentary democracy.

He argued that the restriction on parliamentarians was unconstitutional and violated fundamental rights. He asked the court to strike down the code for being unconstitutional.

The judge would resume hearing on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd , 2015

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf alleges the ruling PML-N is attempting to cover up Rs200 billion corruption committed by the local governments between 2001-14 by avoiding presenting the audit reports in the Punjab Assembly.

“Financial irregularities worth Rs200 billion were committed in local governments during 2001-14 in Punjab but the chief minister is avoiding to put the audit reports (of the period) before the House,” opposition leader Mahmoodur Rashid said in a press conference here on Tuesday.

He announced bringing a privilege motion against those creating hurdles in the accountability and said he had also written to Shahbaz Sharif in this regard.

He claimed the auditor general had requested the Punjab governor and chief minister for tabling the audit reports before the House but to no avail.

He said it showed that 80 percent of the elements who did corruption during Musharraf regime had joined the PML-N and perhaps under their pressure the Shahbaz government was concealing the audit reports.

Recalling the 2008 claim by Shahbaz about recovering the looted local governments money from the corrupt, he lamented that the same chief minister was now reluctant even to bring the matter before the House.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani pilgrim gave birth to a baby boy in Mina on Tuesday, the first day of the annual pilgrimage of Haj.

Dr. Muhammad Malaibari, director of Mina Al-Wadi Hospital, said that the delivery was normal and the mother and infant are in good health.

The nursing director at the hospital said that the mother is a diabetic and hence she has been given special medical care.

This is the first birth at the holy site after pilgrims moved to the tent city. The baby was named Muhammad Ali, a private news channel reported.

More than 1.2 million pilgrims have already arrived in the past few days with nearly two million more expected in preparation for what will for many be the highlight of their spiritual lives.

Pilgrims also make their way to Mount Thor where Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and his companion Abu Bakr Al-Sadeeq started their journey from Makkah to Medina.

It is believed Mount Thor is where Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) hid from the people of Quraish before his Hijra (migration) to Medina.

The Saudi officials said earlier, the Haj pilgrimage will go on despite the construction crane crash that took place at Makkah's Grand Mosque due to stormy weather killing at least 107 people and injuring 238.

KARACHI: In order to avoid competition of collecting hides of sacrificial animals during the Eid days among different political and religious parties, social organisations, welfare institutions and religious seminaries in the province, the Sindh government has notified a code of conduct in this regard.

The code of conduct issued by the home department allows only those registered political and religious parties, social and welfare institutions and seminaries to collect hides that have a prior permission in writing from the commissioner or deputy commissioners concerned.

However, even these institutions will not be allowed to set up any camp and will have to sign the code of conduct to strictly follow all the rules mentioned in it.

Legal action will be initiated against the institution and its worker if they are found collecting hides without the written permission or violating rules of the code of conduct.

The conditions for collecting hides include that the institutions or bodies are not allowed to use the loudspeaker and any flag on their vehicle to make announcement from mosques, seminaries or offices.

Similarly they will not be allowed to ask to donate hides through display of posters or banners.

The purpose of the restrictions is to protect the basic right of people to hand over the hide to the organisation of their choice with their free will and without any pressure or coercion.

No one is allowed to go door to door to collect hides.

People could go to the mosque, seminary or any welfare organisation to donate the hide.

The volunteers of parties before shifting the collected hides to other place must possess their computerised national identity card, card of the institution of their affiliation and a copy of the permission letter issued from the commissioner or deputy commissioner otherwise law enforcement agencies personnel have right to seize the hides.

Every institution or seminary who will have permission to collect hides will have to submit a comprehensive plan to the deputy commissioner concerned and the SSP in writing about shifting of hides from one place to other so that their vehicles can be provided due security.

There will be a ban on carrying any sort of weapon, baton, stick or iron rod during the Eid days. This ban will also be applicable to holders of licensed arms and in order to ensure its strict enforcement the law enforcement agencies personnel will be allowed to stop and check motorcycles and vehicles to carry out search.

All parties, organisations, institutions and seminaries will ask their workers to fully cooperate with the personnel of law enforcement agencies in this connection.

The government has also set up a control room at the home department under the supervision of special home secretary Riaz Hussain Soomro which will start functioning round the clock on Sept 24 for three days for collecting information about law and order situation and transmit the same to higher authorities.

Published in Dawn September 23rd, 2015

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QUETTA: Seventeen people, among them three suspected militants involved in bomb attacks and other acts of subversion, were arrested in a search operation conducted by security forces in different areas here on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the paramilitary Frontier Corps said that police and FC personnel conducted raids in Kharotabad and nearby areas on the outskirts of the provincial capital and rounded up 14 suspects.

Know more: Over 40 Afghans arrested around Quetta PAF base

“The FC handed over 14 suspected persons to police for interrogation,” the spokesman said.

He said security forces arrested a suspected militant for his involvement in the motorcycle bomb blast that occurred in Lehri bazaar last month.

Two other militants were picked up from Kohlu and Mach areas for their suspected involvement in acts of subversion, he said.

Investigation against the suspects was under way, the spokesman said.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2015

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