DAWN/The News International, KARACHI 17 December 2007, Monday, 6 Zilhaj 1428
www.karachipage.com (click on underlined key-words/dates to get more details)
Surgeon turns politician
Fighting for the Punjabi Christians
2 killed for resisting dacoits
Body found
Hakeem shot dead; 7 vehicles burnt
Chief secretary’s son found dead (more)
Bring stranded Pakistanis back, speakers demand (more)
164 candidates eye 20 NA seats (more)
373 vie for PA seats from Karachi (more)
Osama hiding around Bajaur: Musharraf (more)
ANP manifesto stresses autonomy (more)
3 Army men injured in attack on convoy (more)
Militants seek end to Army operations (more)
3 killed in Kurram clash (more)
Attempt to blow up college (more)
Explosion damages CD shops (more)
Rauf’s escape shrouded in mystery (more)
Surgeon turns politician

Renowned orthopaedic consultant surgeon, Dr M Ali Shah has expressed his determination to try and quash the impression painted against the Muttahaida Qaumi Movement (MQM). He wants people to know that the party is not fanatical, but is an organisation that is providing a real service to the people of Karachi.

M Ali Shah, who is contesting the provincial assembly elections for PS 103 (Paposhnagar, Nazimabad and a part of North Nazimabad), said this while talking exclusively to The News at his clinic, on Monday.

When asked what were his reasons for joining MQM, despite being a famous surgeon, Shah said, “By virtue of my profession I have been in contact with various prime ministers and chief ministers, they were all good but never did any real or practical work for Karachi.”

While praising the City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, he said, “He has given a solid infrastructure to this city, which is essentially the backbone for the development of any mega city.”

M Ali Shah claimed that the funds of Karachi were being utilised the way they should have in the past and all the development in this city was mostly because of the current leadership. He went on to say that the present government has made a lot of developments in the city and the problems that had been pending for the last 60 years have been resolved and people were now able to lead a decent life.

He cited another reason for joining MQM was that he had met various leaders but only found Altaf Hussain to be straight forward, who never did any kind of backbiting; he had always been patriotic towards the well-being of Pakistan and was without ethnic prejudices.

He maintained that the party did it’s best to help every corner of the city. “As is evident, the water problem in Lyari has finally been resolved by the city government while the area’s patron, the PPP, was not able to resolve this long and pending issue.”

Dr M Ali Shah said that if he got a chance to serve the people of the city, he would not raise the slogan of “Roti, kapra aur makan”, but instead, he would try to solve the genuine problems of the aggrieved.

He said it was visible to everyone that a successful road network has been built in the city which took only two years. However in another five years, they hoped to do much more in order to change the face of Karachi.

When asked how he could take time out for politics when he was already a busy surgeon and involved in sports, he replied, “I have had a lot of time on my hands since my two sons returned from London. They are medical graduates who now handle all the major operations under my guidance.” He then added, “While I talk to you, they are busy in their operation theatres.”

He went on to say that the area he is contesting has produced a lot of cricketers like Shahid Afridi etc and so he would try his utmost best to promote sport activities by opening play grounds and even introduce indoor games in Paposhnagar and Nazimabad.

He was of the opinion that sports was one area that produced a lot of talented people from our country and this was also a great source to get people involved in healthy activities which was essential for any society.

When asked that since he was a known surgeon his voters would expect a lot from him in problems vis-à-vis his own field, to which he said that Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) was his dream and he would make this hospital as good as any private hospital of any cadre.

Ali Shah said that this hospital had a lot of funds ranging around billions of rupees which was needed for proper utilisation and hopefully would help change the shape of ASH.

To another question Dr M Ali Shah said that in between 1988 to 89 he came in contact with Altaf Hussain for the first time and since then he has been in constant touch with him. He further said that under his leadership, he would try to improve the life of the middle class people which was the basic vision of the MQM.

Fighting for the Punjabi Christians

The Christian community in Siraj Colony and Hasan Colony (UC-10 and UC-2 Liaquatabad Town) has high expectations in Stephen Asif Peter, a minority candidate nominated for the reserved seat of MQM. Siraj Colony and Hasan Colony are two of the several squatter settlements across the city that is home to over 5, 000 Christian families. Despite being cramped in close quarters, this tightly knit community of Punjabi Christians refuses to shift to another locality fearing harassment and intimidation. This is something Peter wants to fight.

“The women belonging to this section of the Christian community are harassed on a daily basis. They cannot step out of their homes without the company of a male escort. It is very disturbing to see their helplessness since the harassment has confined the women to their homes and also forced many to quit education,” disclosed Peter.

He says the first step he would take if elected would be to meet with the Home Department officials and persuade them to set up pickets in cooperation with the police in all minority neighborhoods. “People from Frontier province living in the city harass our women while the local thana looks the other way. So there is no point of lodging a complaint at the local police station. The minority councilor of the town, Colombus Bashir, who also resides in the same colony, has been of no help either,” claims Peter.

Not all problems are from other communities. This candidate also wants to eliminate the discriminatory attitude where most schools running under the Catholic Board deny admissions to Punjabi Christian children.

In this, he is hopeful of support from Reverend Father Joe Paul, the Principal of St. Patricks Campus so that his section of the community has the opportunity to enter missionary schools and colleges.

Stephen Peter laments the fact that most Punjabi Christians are employed in menial jobs like sweeping due to lack of education. He aims to change this and knows education is the only way for them. “I have been victim to the same discrimination because I too am from the same background. The only difference is unlike most parents, despite being a sweeper, my father encouraged me and my siblings to study,” he says.

Born and raised in Hasan Colony, Karachi, Stephen Peter says he has been working on the issues of his community since his student days. He completed his Intermediate from Islamia College in 1982 after which he took a break for two years to financially support his family. He then resumed his studies in 1984 and completed his Bachelors in Commerce in 1986. Although his father was not very pleased with his decision to quit studies and take up a job as a typist at the YMCA, Peter felt it was his responsibility to support his family too since his father did not earn much.

After his graduation he also worked in the Idara Amn-o-Insaf as a sub-inspector. This was a job he had to fight for because the government refused to offer him any vacancy other than a sweeper despite being educated. “Since my father was a sweeper they insisted that I take his job but I resisted.” The Idara later stopped functioning in 2002 after a brutal murder of seven staff members in a terror attack.

“Harassment of members of my community has always bothered me since my college years. I remember there was a group of drug addicts who seized plots of the poor in our community. People from this low income neighbourhood did not have enough money for rations but despite this the group tempted them to mortgage their property in return for a few thousand rupees and a better lifestyle. The uneducated lot from our community usually signed the stamp paper without reading and suffered later when they were unable to pay the interest,” he recalls.

The MQM hopeful also informed that some young men from other communities would jump into their houses because of their low walls and assault the women.But the oppressed community would not voice their complaint fearing dishonour and ridicule.

It was then when Stephen Peter took a conscious decision to join politics. He went on to form the Christian Welfare Association with a group of boys and set up an office in the neighbourhood. Despite the fact that this office was attacked by the police and some religious groups, he did not give up.

Peter later joined the Minority Movement led by Saleem Khursheed Khokhar, a former MPA, who encouraged various youngsters to actively participate in community development for the betterment of their people. “However, Khokhar gradually distanced himself from the community and drifted from our collective ideology.” Stephen admits that most Christians belonging to the Punjabi community have lost hope in leadership because most of the minority representatives failed to deliver in the past.

“All the representatives we elected gradually grew attracted towards the luxuries of life and forgot their own people and areas where they were born and raised,” confirmed Pastor Anwar Jawed Saeed a resident of Siraj Colony.

However, Stephen promises a change this time. He is contesting for a reserved seat in the general elections for the first time but this is not his first election. In 2001, he was elected as one of the six town councilors during Nazim Naimatullah Khan’s tenure. “The joint electorate system had recently been introduced at that time and 40 councilors had won on minority seats so Naimatullah Khan requested us to join hands with them in return for eight seats in the general set up, including two city councilors and six town councilors.”

Due to what he saw as discrimination in that party, Stephen Peter parted ways and chose to join the MQM in the same year. “This decision perhaps offended the former City Nazim and party workers refused to elicit my opinion on various issues and rejected my development plans.”

Peter says that the MQM really seeks “to empower all”. “Their claim that they aim to serve the 98 per cent of the population of the country who are actually under privileged is what inspired me join the party. I had also been observing the change they brought about in Karachi after coming into power in 1987 and positive development.”

Even though the priority list for reserved seats has been issued to the Election Commission, the MQM Rabita Committee has not made the list public. Supporting this decision by the committee, Stephen Peter explains, “The ongoing development work by the party would be affected. The announcement of a priority list would discourage the party workers whose names are at the end of the list. They might not be as motivated to work if they find out now that they stand no chance of winning a seat,” he explains.

The joint electorate system, he feels, has been beneficial for the minority candidates, who today have the liberty to voice their opinion in general body meetings instead of being pushed aside as a minority. “This system has given us a chance to prove ourselves. We have to work hard at winning the trust of everyone, not just the minority and I aim to do that.”

Among the other candidates of MQM for reserved seats for minorities are Yaqub Mughal from Karachi, Hurgan Das Ahuja from Larkana, Rasheed Khan, Dr Pratab Singh from Mmerkot, Arif Masih from Khairpur, Diwan Chand Chawla from Sukkur, and Surinder Rathore from Badin.

2 killed for resisting dacoits

Two persons, including a teenaged boy, were shot dead on resistance with dacoits. Shahzad, 17, a resident of Sharah-e-Faisal was shot dead in Korangi Town in PNTC Colony. Sources said that the deceased came to meet his cousin, Anwer Shah, in PNTC Colony, Korangi when some armed bandits riding a motorcycle approached him and on resistance shot and killed him and fled. The deceased was a student. However, when contacted the Korangi, Zaman Town and Korangi Industrial Area police stations refused to confirm the incident.

Yasir, son of a police officer, was shot dead by bandits in Boating Basin police limits. Waseem, a friend of the deceased present at the hospital, said that they were residing in Frere Lines.

On Sunday they came to an international fast-food chain in Boat Basin, on a motorcycle while returning some bandits who appeared to be Baloch tried to rob them at gunpoint but they accelerated their motorcycle, on which the bandits opened fire due to which Yasir sustained two bullet wounds and died on the spot. While the bandits escaped. A case was reported at the Boating Basin police station.

Body found

An unidentified dead body was found from the Sharea Faisal police limits. The police said that the deceased was unidentified and was between 22-25 years old.

Hakeem shot dead; 7 vehicles burnt

A Hakeem was shot dead in the Moachko police limits, while a teashop owner was stabbed to death in the Jackson police limits.

Liaque Zaman, 30, along with his father Mohabi Gul, brothers Tariq and Mohammed Hussain was sitting in their Matab, in Sarhad Mohallah, Moachko police limits, when unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire on them as a result of which they received bullet wounds. Zaman received three bullets on his chest and died on the spot while the other injured received single bullets. A case was lodged at the police station concerned.

A teashop owner Akram, 22, was stabbed to death in his shop in Shireen Jinnah Colony, in the Jackson police limits.

The deceased was running a teashop in the area and at about 3pm, one, Tariq and his colleagues went to the shop for having tea and asked the deceased (Akram) to serve them tea in Rs10, which he refused.

Tariq got angry and went to his house and came back with a dagger and stabbed the Akram to death.

Later, the area people caught the accused and handed him over to the police.

The police lodged an FIR against the accused. The deceased was a permanent resident of the Hazara division.

Seven vehicles burnt: Another fire erupted late Saturday night, the fire office said. The fire office received information that a fire erupted in vehicles in M P Hostel.

One fire tender moved to the spot and extinguished the fire after an hour.

As a result of fire, seven vehicles were burnt. The vehicles were the property of Excise & Taxation Department.

Chief secretary’s son found dead

KARACHI, Dec 16: A son of the chief secretary of Balochistan and former CS of Sindh, K.B. Rind, was found dead with a bullet hole in his head on Sunday morning in the Defence Housing Authority.

His car was found parked in a desolate area of the DHA Phase VIII, close to the under-construction Chinese consulate.

Aged between 30 and 35 and posted as a DDO in the Revenue Department at Nawabshah, Shahzad Rind was found dead in the driving seat of his maroon Corolla (AKV-002). One of the three sons of the chief secretary, he was earlier posted as a section officer in the Sindh home department.

“His head leaned forward between the steering and the door and a holy Quran recitation cassette was playing in the car’s stereo. Both his hands were on his pistol while his left thumb was stuck in the trigger loop,” the SP Investigation, South, Niaz Khosa, stated.

However, a difference of opinion over the entry and exist points of the bullet persisted between the medico-legal officers and police investigators.

Going by the forensic textbook instances, the deceased was shot from behind as the hole was smaller than the hole found in the forehead, a senior police officer remarked. However, the medico-legal officers who carried out the postmortem examination were of the opinion that the victim was shot from point blank range in the forehead, creating a large entry point, and exited from the back of his head, making a small exit point.

The latter opinion seemed to carry weight as police found an impression of a bullet-slug on the headrest of the driving seat. Similarly, a bullet-slug was also found on the car’s floor.

Police found the family’s clothing in the rear seat of the car, a briefcase containing some files and documents were also found in the car’s boot, police said.

Quoting a watchman of an under-construction site, a senior investigator said he saw the car at around Saturday midnight. However, in the morning when the engineers arrived at the construction site, they reported the matter to police.

“Confusion prevails at the moment. We can’t term it a suicide, nor can we describe it a murder at this point of time,” said SP Niaz Khosa.

Police have collected the deceased’s cellphone to retrieve the call details which could help establish that who was the last caller or what was the last dialed number. A senior police officer, quoting the family, said that Shahzad along with his family had returned to the city on Saturday evening.

First they went to their apartment in the Boating Basin area but could not open the door lock, which had developed some fault. Then Shahzad along the family went to the official residence of his father in Bath Island, where he tasked a servant to take care of the lock problem.

At around 11pm, the servant told the family that the lock had been fixed, and the family returned to their apartment, the officer said.

Quoting Shahzad’s wife, the senior police officer said that after reaching their house, Shahzad went out saying that he was going to withdraw some cash from an ATM.

It was the last time the family saw him, the officer said.

Burial in Nawabshah:The body of Shahzad Ali Rind was brought here from Karachi and buried in his ancestral graveyard in Kaley Bux Rind village on Sunday evening.

A brother of the deceased, Sikandar Hayat Rind, denied that Shahzad had committed suicide. He, however, said that he or any of his family members had no enmity with anyone. He said that investigations were under way and the cause of the death would soon be ascertained by police.

A large number of people, including Chief Minister of Balochistan Sardar Mohammad Saleh Bhootani, IG of Balochistan Masood Gohar, Brigadier Masood, Brigadier Saboor (retd), former MPA Dr Bahadur Dahiri, Secretary Sindh United Party, Syed Zain Shah, former DIG Ghulam Hyder Jamali, former secretaries Abdul Qadir Mangi, Ashique Hussain Memon, DCO Nawabshah Abdul Razzaq Qureshi and other relatives and officials attended the funeral.

A large number of people including Sindh Chief Secretary Fazalur Rehman, former chief secretary Aslam Sanjrani, Pemra Chairman Iftikhar Rasheed, Secretary for Labour Wahid Bux, Gen Asif Abbasi, Gen Anis Abbasi and the Military Intelligence DG offered telephonic condolences to K.B.Rind.

Former MNA Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah and former MPA Ghulam Qadir Chandio of the PPP also offered condolences to K.B.Rindh on behalf of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari.

 Bring stranded Pakistanis back, speakers demand

The rulers should make immediate arrangements to bring stranded Pakistanis languishing in several camps in Bangladesh since 1971 back to the country, speakers at a seminar demanded Sunday.

The seminar was organised by the Tehreek-e-Mehsoorin-e-Mashraqai Pakistan (TMMP) at the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA) on Sunday.

Justice (retd) Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui noted that it was shameful negligence on the part of successive rulers who failed to bring back about 250,000 stranded Pakistani from Bangladesh and urged the opinion makers and politicians to make concerted efforts to take into account the miseries of the stranded Pakistanis.

Lt-Gen (retd) Abdul Qayyum noted that the stranded people were true Pakistanis and it was the duty of the civil society members to use their good offices to bring these people back and settle them down in Pakistan.

Dr Jameeluddin Aali expressed deep concern over the failure to find any solution regarding the stranded Pakistanis. He declared that he was ready to represent these people at every forum.

A resolution was adopted at the seminar that called for establishing a three-member committee representing people from Pakistan, Bangladesh and stranded Pakistanis.

Haq Nawaz Akhtar, Mumtaz Ansari, Himayun Zafar and leader of TMMP Haider Ali Haider also spoke. Haider Ali also set up a seven-member committee to find solutions to the problem in question.

164 candidates eye 20 NA seats

KARACHI, Dec 16: The final lists of candidates contesting election for the national and provincial assemblies from Sindh were issued on Sunday.

According to the data compiled by the election commission, 164 candidates are vying for 20 National Assembly seats in Karachi. Following is the list of candidates seeking their election to the National Assembly seats from Karachi:

NA 239 KARACHI-I: Iftikhar Hussain (Boat), Amanullah Paracha (Bicycle), Professor Umer Farooq Khan Advocate (Torch), Haji Zahoor Ahmed (Fan), Dr K.S. Mujahid Khan Baloch (Kite), Zar Bali Syed (Brush), Sardar Ghulam Mustafa Khashkhali (Elephant), Syed Hafeezuddin (Tiger), Abdul Ghani Balouch (Brick), Abdul Qadir Patel (Arrow), Ali Akber (Bus), Qari Muhammad Usman (Book), Capt. Haleem Ahmed Siddiqui (Tap), Kanwar Qutubuddin Khan (Rickshaw).

NA 240 KARACHI-II: Asghar Khan (Bell), Khawaja Sohail Mansoor (Kite), Shafiq Butt (Advocate) (Rickshaw), Abdullah Baloch (Arrow), Qari Muhammad Usman (Book), Malik Jahanzaib Khan Advocate (Inkpot with Pen), Malik Matloob Ali Awan (Table Lamp).

NA 241 KARACHI-III: Ameer Zada Khan Yousaf Zai (Almirah), Jameel ur Rehman (Fountain), Dr Ismail (Gun), Dr Muhammad Shakir Alam (Arrow), Rujhanullah Afridi (Hukka), Zarbali Syed (Lantern), Syed Akhtar-ul-Iqbal Qadiri (Kite), Shakeel Ahmed (Mountain), Gulzar Ahmed Khaliqi (Television), Muhammad Yaqoob (Slate), Wazeer Afridi (Lion).

NA 242 KARACHI-IV: Dr Abdul Qadir Khanzada (Kite), Sohail Baig Noori (Table Lamp), Saifuddin Khalid (Wrench), Shafi Ahmed (Crown), Muhammad Afaque Khan alias Shahid (Arrow), Moulvi Iqbal Haider (Hockey).

NA 243 Karachi-V: Abrar Khan Baloch, (Fan), Syed Ajazul Hassan Jilani, (Bell), Tariq Mahboob, (Ring), Zafar Ahmed Siddiqui Advocate, (Arrow), Abdul Waseem, (Kite), Farah Awan Advocate, (Tiger).

NA 244 Karachi-VI: Khizarul Islam, (Lamp), Shaikh Salahuddin, (Kite), Ashique Hussain Qureshi, (Bell), Ghulam Qadir, (Arrow), Meer Wali, (Book).

NA 245 Karachi-VII: Jumma Khan Babar, (Lantern), Din Muhammad, (Whistle), Farhat Muhammad Khan, (Kite), Qazi Muhammad Bashir, (Arrow), Muhammad Aslam Khan Khattak, (Tiger).

NA 246 Karachi-VIII: Saifullah Advocate, (Bell), Sufyan Yousuf, (Kite), Sohail Ansari, (Arrow).

NA 247 Karachi-IX: Dr Nadeem Ehsan, (Kite), Saathi Ishaque Advocate, (Arrow), Azeemuddin Khan, (Bell), Muhammad Ilyas Siddique Advocate, (Book), Masood Ahmed, (Fan).

NA 248 KARACHI-X: Ibrahim Rais Advocate (Book), Ameer Khan Chandio (Crown), Shaikh Maqsood Ahmed (Tiger), Shakoor Shad (Football), Muhammad Tahir (Table Lamp), Muhammad Asim Ahsan (Clock), Mukhtar Ali (Scooter), Nabeel Ahmed Gabol (Arrow), Wasiullah Lakhoo (Kite).

NA 249 KARACHI-XI: Dr Muhammad Farooq Sattar (Kite), Shabbir Abu Talib (Book), Abdullah Balouch (Football), Abdul Habib Memon (Arrow), Muhammad Asif Siddiqui (Inkpot with Pen).

NA-250 KARACHI-XII: Begum Salma Ahmed (Ring), Javaid Ahmed Chhatari Advocate (Rickshaw), Khurram Muhammad Qamar (Key), Khush Bakht Shujaat (Kite), Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig (Arrow), Saleem Zia (Tiger), Tahir Khan (Jug), Abdul Wahab Baloch Advocate (Car), Captain Haleem Ahmed Siddiqui (Boat), Muhammad Ejaz Alam (Crown), Muhammad Hanif (Table Lamp), Muhammad Farooq Bangash (Lantern).

NA 251 KARACHI-XIII: Choudhri Umar Hayat Sandhu (Arrow), Shamim Ahmed (Wrench), Sabir Gola (Elephant), Irfanullah Khan Marwat (Rickshaw), Qadir Bux (Basket), Mushahidullah Khan (Tiger), Waseem Akhter (Kite).

NA 252 KARACHI-XIV: Syed Asghar Hussain (Arrow), Abdul Hameed Qureshi (Bus), Abdul Rasheed Godil (Kite), Muhammad Yousuf Kureshy (Butterfly), Wajid Nazeer (Crown), Hidayat-ur-Rehman (Book),

NA 253 KARACHI-XV: Aijaz Ali (Comb), Hamid Idrees (Table Lamp), Khadim Hussain (Boat), Khawaja Ghulam Hussain (Fist), Durre Shahwar Pervez (Gun), Dr Muhammad Imtiaz Subhani (Television), Saboohuddin Malik (Tiger), Sultan Shahab Jahangir (Bicycle), Syed Asghar Hussain (Scooter), Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi (Kite), Syed Rizwan Ahmed (Wheel), Syed Faisal Raza Abidi (Arrow), Shaikh Qasim Shah (Fan), Qadir Khan Mandokhail Advocate (Rickshaw), Col. (retd) Abdul Jabbar Abbasi (Sewing Machine), Muhammad Bakhsh Lashari Advocate (Coat), Moulana Dr Muhammad Asad Thanwi (Bell), Moulana Abdul Karim Abid (Book).

NA 254 KARACHI-XVI: Dr Muhammad Ayoub Shaikh (Kite), Syed Sohail Abrar (Arrow), Abdul Sattar Channa (Fan), Allama Shafqatur Rehman (Bus), Muhammad Javed Qadri (Table Lamp), Malik Akhtar Hussain Awan (Tiger), Mansoor Khan (Bell), Moulana Abdul Hafiz (Fish).

NA 255 KARACHI-XVII: Javed Iqbal Khanzada (Water Cooler), Haji Nafees Usmani Advocate (Arrow), Syed Asif Hasnain (Kite), Shahjahan (Crown), Atta Mohammad Ansari (Bucket), Mir Humayun Zaidi (Mango).

NA 256 KARACHI-XVIII: Iftikhar Anwer Khan (Clock), Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan (Kite), Brig (retd) Umair Ahmed Siddiqui (Gun), Zain ul Abidin Ansari (Tiger), Shazia Batul (Lantern), Muhammad Siddiq Rathor (Book), Mirza Maqbool Ahmed (Arrow).

NA 257 KARACHI-XIX: Riaz Hussain Lund Baloch (Arrow), Zahid Iqbal (Bell), Sajid Ahmed (Kite), Sultan Khan Mandokhel (Lantern), Sohail Shahzad (Fist), Syed Hassan Ahmed (Bus), Faheem Advocate (Tiger).

NA 258 KARACHI-XX: Abubakar Memon (Boat), Inam-ul-Haque (Sewing Machine), Hafiz Zardullah Khan Hassan Zai (Lantern), Dr. Muhammad Ayoub Baloch (Bullock Cart), Saleemullah Khan Turk (Book), Syed Shabir Hussain Shah Lukyari (Elephant), Syed Tariq Ali (Inkpot with Pen), Syed Marghoob Hussain Abidi (Loudspeaker), Sher Muhamad Baloch (Arrow), Abdul Razzaq Raja (Flower Vase), Abdul Sattar Laghari (Gun), Faheem Ahmed Awan (Tumbler), Muhammad Uris Khero (Bicycle), Muhammad Younus (Football), Maulana Iqbalullah (Hukkah), Nisar Ahmed Soomro (Suitcase), Nisar Ahmed Shar (Kite).

 373 vie for PA seats from Karachi

KARACHI, Dec 16: A total of 373 candidates are contesting for the 42 Sindh Assembly seats from Karachi, according to the data compiled by the election commission.

Following is the list of candidates seeking their election to the provincial assembly seats from Karachi:

PS 89 KARACHI-I: Akhtar Pervaiz (Bicycle), Akhtar Hussain Jadoon (Arrow), Hafiz Muhammad Kifyatullah (Fish), Hukum Badshah (Football), Zar Bali Syed (Lantern), Subhan Khan (Inkpot with Pen), Shaikh Muhammad Feroze (Kite), Farooq Aziz (Fan), Qadir Khan Mandokhail Advocate (Boat), Lal Badshah Jadoon (Bus), Muhammad Asif Khan (Tap), Mohammad Siddique Rathor (Book), Mohammad Arif Jadoon (Ring), Muhammad Faisal Idrees (Brick), Mushtaq Ahmed Godrah Awan (Tiger), Moulana Samiullah (Iron).

PS 90 KARACHI-II: Ishfaq Ahmed Mangi (Kite), M. Arif Baloch (Boat), Sardar Ghulam Mustafa Khaskhali (Elephant), Sultan Ahmed Ansari (Tiger), Syed Hafeez Uddin (Coat), Shagufta (Garland), Umer Saddique (Book), Qazi Abdul Habib (Fan), Muhammad Tariq Hassan (Bicycle), Malik Khair Muhammad (Bus), Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto (Arrow).

PS 91 KARACHI: Hafiz Muhammad Naeem (Book), Saeed Ahmed Dehlvi (Torch), Syed Muhammad Javed Qadri (Clock), Abdul Hayat (Lantern), Liaquat Ali Khan (Arrow), Muhammad Aslam Malik (Flower Vase), Muhammad Hanif Sheikh (Kite), Muhammad Munsif Jan Advocate (Tumbler).

PS 92 KARACHI: Amanat Ali (Table Lamp), Sultan Ahmed Ansari (Tiger), Sayed Arshad Hassan (Radio), Sathi Ishaque Advocate (Gun), Shabbir Qureshi (Arrow), Abdul Haseeb (Kite), Manzoor Shaikh (Telephone).

PS 93 KARACHI-V: Akhtar Pervaiz (Parrot), Ameer Nawab (Lantern), Rujhanullah Afridi (Rabbit), Saleem Baig (Torch), Syed Ahmed Ali Khan (Telephone), Syed Muhammad Izharul Haq (Bicycle), Siddique Akber (Basket), Sallahuddin (Kite), Qari Abdul Hafeez (Football), Abdul Sadique Tanooli (Bed), Muhammad Shakeel Khan (Crown), Muneer Uddin Khattak (Arrow), Wazir Khan Afridi (Lion).

PS 94 KARACHI-VI: Rashid Ali (Book), Syed Raza Haider (Kite), Syed Rais Ahmed Kazmi (Arrow), Tahir Anis (Suitcase), Gul Raj Khan (Lantern).

PS 95 KARACHI-VII: Syed Muhammad Zia Alam Advocate (Arrow), Syed Manzar Imam (Kite), Shafi Ahmed (Crown), Muhammad Tariq Iqbal (Fish).

PS 96 KARACHI-VIII: Ameer Nawab (Lantern), Sohail Baig Noori (Table Lamp), Siddique Akber (Arrow), Muhammad Amir (Boat), Mazahir Ameer Khan (Kite).

PS 97 KARACHI-IV: Baboo Abdul Khalique Mirza (Arrow), Jumma Khan Baber (Lantern), Khalifa Nawaz Ali (Clock), Dr. Naseeruddin Sawati (Book), Sajjad Hussain Shah (Bell), Syed Sakhawat Ali (Bucket), Aisha Jabbar (Typewriter), Muhammad Adil Khan (Kite).

PS 98, Karachi-X: Dr. Muhammad Nasir Khan, (Arrow), Syed Arshad Hassan, (Bell), Syed Danish Wahaj, (Table Lamp), Urooj Mushtaq, (Fan), Muhammad Moin Khan, (Kite).

PS 99, Karachi-XI: Arshad Shah, (Bell), Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan, (Kite), Sohail Sami Dehlvi, (Arrow), Shaikh Farrukh Hussain Advocate, (Book).

PS 100 Karachi XII: Syed Azam Ali, (Bell), Abdul Baqi, (Book), Abdul Qudus, (Arrow), Muhammad Adil Saddiqui, (Kite), Malik Matloob Ali Awan, (Lamp).

PS 101 Karachi XIII: Syed Ghayoor Ahmed Naqvi, (Clock), Atif Mushtaq Baloch, (Arrow), Abdul Latif, (Crown), Abdul Moid Siddiqui, (Kite), Col. ® Abdul Jabbar Abbasi, (Football), Muhammad Qasim Abbasi, (Lamp), Muhammad Mirza Khan, (Radio).

PS 102 Karachi XIV: Imam-ud-Din Shahzad, (Kite), Jalaluddin, (Book), Tariq Wasi, (Bell), Abdul Karim Mohiuddin Nizam, (Lamp), Azra Magsi, (Clock), Muhammad Tahir Khan, (Arrow).

PS 103 Karachi XV: Ajmal Naseeb, (Torch), Doctor Syed Muhammad Ali Shah, (Kite), Ali Asghar, (Arrow), Muhammad Aslam Mandokhail, (Lantern), Muhammad Tariq, (Tiger), Moulana Hafiz Shahjehan Kiyani, (Book).

PS 104 Karachi-XVI: Dr. Mehboob Ahmed, (Arrow), Rehan Zafar, (Kite), Syed Hassan Kashif Zaidi, (Bell).

PS 105 Karachi XVII: Khalid Bin Vilayat Advocate, (Kite), Sohail Talib, (Clock), Shahid Ali, (Bell), Shakil Ahmed, (Arrow), Adeel Ahmed Khan, (Tiger).

PS 106 Karachi XVIII: Anwar Alam, (Kite), Jan-e-Alam Advocate, (Arrow), Muhammad Mustaqim Qureshi Noorani, (Book).

PS 107 Karachi-XIX: Syed Shoaib Ahmed Bukhari Advocate, (Kite), Ghazi Ghulam Mustafa Ali, (Arrow), Mehmood Khan Askari, (Book), Nadir Ali Khan, (Boat), Nafees Akhtar, (Bell).

PS 108 KARACHI-XX: Afshan Imran (Boat), Javed Nagori (Bell), Dilshad Khan Tanoli (Rickshaw), Shamsuddin Panhwar (Fist), Abdul Razzaque (Bus), Muhammad Hanif Chhattani Advocate (Kite), Muhammad Saleem Hingoro (Arrow), Muhammad Shaban Abdul Manan Farooqui (Spectacles), Muhammad Shahid (Torch), Muhammad Arif Bhadalia (Table Lamp), Malik Muhammad Riaz (Tiger).

PS 109 KARACHI-XXI: Tajuddin Siddiqui (Book), Siraj Ahmed Baloch (Glass), Sultan Bahadur Khan (Tiger), Abdul Rasheed (Rasheed Haroon) (Football), Imran Khan (Racket), Mohammad Rafiq Advocate (Arrow), Nadya Gabol (Kite).

PS 110 KARACHI-XXII: Ameer Ali Mansoori (Trowel-Karandi), Habib Jan (Arrow), Rasheeda Khan (Chiragh, Lamp), Sultan Mehmood Tajwani (Takhti), Shabbir Abu Talib (Book), Irfan (Gun), Muhammad Asif Siddiqui (Inkpot with Pen), Muhammad Shoaib (Kite), Muhammad Shafiq (Table Lamp).

PS 111 KARACHI-XXIII: Javed Hussain Balouch (Torch), Shakeel Ahmed (Table Lamp), Shahbaz Hussain (Wrench), Arif Salam (Fan), Abdul Shakoor (Football), Muhammad Aslam Bhutta Advocate (Tiger), Muhammad Iqbal Cheepa (Spectacles), Muhammad Asif Siddiqui (Inkpot with Pen), Muhammad Subiyal Ahmed Khan (Bus), Muhammad Tahir Qureshi (Kite), Mohabat Khan Niazi (Arrow), Malik Muhammad Khan (Elephant).

PS 112 KARACHI-XXIV: Anwar Saeed (House), Afaquddin (Bus), Taimur Ali (Truck), Chaudhry Haji Tariq (Tiger), Khalid Khan (Lantern), Syed Najmi Alam (Arrow), Abdul Ghaffar Owasi (Railway Engine), Fazal Karim Dada Bhoy (Football), Mohammad Ejaz Alam (Crown), Muhammad Siddique Rathore Advocate (Book), Muhammad Tariq Hassan (Elephant), Muhammad Aaqib Rajpar Advocate (Car), Moqueem Alam (Kite).

PS 113 KARACHI-XXV: Khurram Muhammad Qamar (Key), Zulfiqar Ali Qaim Khani (Arrow), Rashid Hussain (Telephone), Saleem Zia (Tiger), Syed Asif Ahmed Rizvi (Flower Vase), Syed Rashid Ahmed (Waistcoat), Shahbaz Akhtar (Teapot), Sheikh Ismail Azeem (Boat), Abdul Latif (Table Lamp), Askari Taqvi (Kite), Allama Shafqatur Rehman (Book), Qamar Iqbal Advocate (Tumbler).

PS 114 KARACHI-XXVI: Khalil-ud-din (Bus), Doctor Syed Muhammad (Fan), Sajjad Malik (Iron), Sardar Abdul Rahim (Tiger), Sikandar Hayat Janjua (Trowel-Karandi), Saleem Murad (Hand Pump), Shahid Saeed Bhatti Advocate (Bullock Cart), Tahir Bashir Bhutta Advocate (Arrow), Irfanullah Khan Marwat (Rickshaw), Muhammad Aslam Khan (Mughal) (Truck), Muhammad Abdul Rauf Siddiqui (Kite), Muhammad Nadeem (Jug).

PS 115 KARACHI-XXVII: Basharat Mirza (Umbrella), Zahida Syed (Table Lamp), Abdul Qadir Shaikh (Bell), Qadir Bux (Rickshaw), Liaquat Ali Advocate (Loudspeaker), Mohtasham-ul-Haq Thanvi (Fan), Mefooz-un-Nabi Khan (Tiger), Mohammad Raza Haroon (Kite), Mohammad Shahid (Wrench), Mohammad Imran Khan (Book), Muhammad Mushaffay Ahmed (Arrow), Mohammad Nasir Khan (Torch).

PS 116 KARACHI-XXVIII: Aftab Qamar (Bowl), Rehman Gul (Tiger), Syed Sardar Ahmed (Kite), Imran Sarwar (Rickshaw), Farid-ul-Hassan Abbasi (Arrow), Moulana Saif-ur-Rehman (Book), Nadeem Ahmed (Inkpot with Pen).

PS 117 KARACHI-XXIV: Peer Abdul Rasheed (Arrow), Jafar Ali Subhani (Book), Dr Sagheer Ahmed (Kite), Syed Athar Ali (Wrench), Ghulam Mustafa Advocate (Tiger), Muhammad Mushaffay Ahmed (Truck).

PS 118 KARACHI-XXV: Khadim Hussain (Boat), Khawaja Ghulam Hussain (Fan), Rahat Moin (Ring), Zahid Khan (Tiger), Syed Waqar Haider (Adnan) (Charpai), Shaikh Khalid Shah (Football), Qazi Iftikhar Ahmed Qureshi (Arrow), Muhammad Arif Mithani (Bowl), Muhammad Muzammil Qureshi (Kite), Mufti Mahboobur Rehman Farooqui (Book).

PS 119 KARACHI-XXXI: Afaq Alam Siddiqui (Bell), Dr Nadeem Maqbool (Kite), Syed Ahmer Ali @ Amir Shah (Arrow), Ali Akber (Tiger), Fateh Muhammad Sand (Boat), Muhammad Haleem Khan Ghori (Book), Muhammad Farooq Bungash (Lantern).

PS 120 KARACHI-XXXII: Ahmed Waseem Alvi (Arrow), Muhammad Arshad Khan Jadoon (Tiger), Ejaz Ahmed Bhatti (Railway Engine), Hassan Ahmed (Loudspeaker), Syed Masroor Alam (Table Lamp), Muhammad Saqib Mujeeb Khan (Telephone), Mazhar Iqbal Chaudhry (Rickshaw), Nishat Muhammad Zia Qadri (Kite), Navaid Anwer Dhaloon (Drum).

PS 121 KARACHI-XXXIII: Jalal Uddin Gabool (Table Lamp), Hashmat Ullah Farooqi (Tiger), Robana Arif (Tumbler), Zahid Muhammad (Arrow), Syed Nadeem Razi (Inkpot with Pen), Waseem Ahmed (Kite).

PS 122 KARACHI-XXXIV: Hafiz Mohammad Kifayatullah (Fish), Siraj Ahmed Advocate (Arrow), Syed Khalid Ahmed (Kite), Mohammad Arif Khan Arif (Table Lamp), Mir Humayun Zaidi (Mango).

PS 123 KARACHI-XXXV: Dr Shakeel Ahmed (Arrow), Shaikh Mohammad Afzal (Khalid Umar) (Kite), Abdul Aziz Meu (Book), Mohammad Saleem Qureshi (Torch), Mohammad Shahid Siddiqui Advocate (Spectacles).

PS 124 KARACHI-XXXVI: Imtiaz Ali Khoro (Fan), Allama Shafqatur Rehman (Book), Ghazanfar Ali Shah (Boat), Ghulam Mustafa Memon (Arrow), Qamar Iqbal Advocate (Table), Muhammad Javed (Table Lamp), Muhammad Alimur Rehman (Kite), Moulana Bashir Ahmed (Fish), Mian Muhammad Ilyas Rasheed (Tiger).

PS 125 KARACHI-XXXVII: Rao Muhammad Sharif Advocate (Bell), Rehmatullah Farooqui (Boat), Saeed Ahmed Khan Khattak (Lantern), Syed Ghous Bux Shah (alias Syed Ghous Ali Shah) (Arrow), Muhammad Moin Aamir Pirzada (Kite), Mufti Faqir Muhammad (Book), Moulana Abdul Hafiz (Fish), Nadir Hussain (Tiger).

PS 126 KARACHI-XXXVIII: Aijaz Ali (Comb), Ameer Bukhsh Bhambro (Gun), Ameer Nawab (Lantern), Haleem Adil Shaikh (Bicycle), Sirajuddin Khan (Wrist Watch), Sultan Shahab Jahangir (Almirah), Syed Intizar Hussain (Loudspeaker), Syed Faisal Ali Sabzwari (Kite), Shaukat Ali Sahto (Tiger), Shaikh Qasim Shah (Book), Abdul Hakeem Baloch (Arrow), Abdul Ghafoor @ Danish Channa (Inkpot with Pen), Qadir Khan Mandokhail Advocate (Rickshaw), Kaleem Ahmed (Slate), Mujahid Hussain (Crown), Mahboob Ali (Car), Muhammad Bakhsh Lashari Advocate (Coat), Muhammad Saadat Mahmood (Takhti), Muhammad Shafiq Qaim Khani (Table), Mirza Asif Baig Advocate (Telephone), Moulana Dr Muhammad Asad Thanwi (Bell), Moulana Muhammad Ghayas (Waist Coat), Moulana Muhammad Latifullah (Letter Box), Nisar Ahmed Soomro (Brick), Naeem Adil Shaikh (Football).

PS 127 KARACHI-XXXIV: Allah Dad Khaskhali (Elephant), Ghulam Murtaza Baloch (Fan), Muhammad Ishaq Baloch (Flower Vase), Muhammad Rafiq (Arrow), Muhammad Saleem (Hand Pump), Nisar Ahmed Panhwar (Kite), Nazeer Ahmed Memon (Boat), Yasir Hussain Mangi (Inkpot with Pen), Yasir Haider (Ring).

PS 128 KARACHI-XXXV: Ahsanullah Ashraf Hazarvi (Book), Ashfaq Ahmed (Torch), Amanullah Khan Mahsood (Lantern), Bostan Ali Hoti (Clock), Taj Muhammad (Ring), Javed Iqbal Khanzada (Water Cooler), Sardar Khan (Kite), Tariq Khan (Tiger), Faheem Ahmed Awan (Tumbler), Muhammad Anwar Shahbaz (House), Muhammad Saleem (Crown), Mufti Abdul Munaim (Basket), Mufti Ferozuddin Hazarvi (Arrow).

PS 129 KARACHI-XXXVI: Iqbaldin Khan (Bowl), Haji Muzaffar Ali Shujra (Arrow), Hafiz Muhammad Yahya (Rickshaw), Doctor Shehnaz Akhtar (Tiger), Doctor Muhammad Akbar Gondal (Clock), Zarbali Syed (Lantern), Sultan Shahab Jehangir (Gun), Suhail Shehzad (Fist), Shahid Irshad (Tumbler), Zaffar Ahmed (Waist Coat), Gul Muhammad Mengal (Kite), Muhammad Rafiq (Ring), Muhammad Arif Khan Arif (Table Lamp), Muhammad Umar Jatt (Crown), Muhammad Haroon Khan Khattak (Truck), Mehmood Alam Jamot (Boat), Masood Khan Mandokhel (Suitcase), Moulana Iftikhar Ahmed Naqshbandi (Flower Pot), Moulana Abdul Sattar (Slate), Moulana Muhammad Ghayas (Book), Naseer Muhammad Advocate (Scissors).

PS 130 KARACHI-XXXVII: Syed Shabir Hussain Shah Lukyari (Elephant), Syed Tariq Ali (Inkpot with Pen), Muhammad Ishaque Baloch (Scissors), Muhammad Akram Shah (Book), Muhammad Ramzan Advocate (Tiger), Muhammad Sajid Jokhio (Arrow), Muhammad Uris Khero (Scooter), Muhammad Younus (Football), Munawar Hussain Nakshbandi (Ring), Nisar Ahmed Soomro (Suitcase), Noor Hassan (Bus), Noor Hassan Jokhio (Truck), Noreen Naz Advocate (Clock), Waseem Shah Mashwani (Lantern), Wali Muhammad Abro (Car), Yousuf Muneer Shaikh (Kite).

 Osama hiding around Bajaur: Musharraf

WASHINGTON, Dec 16: President Pervez Musharraf has for the first time identified an area where he thinks Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden may be hiding.

When asked where he thinks the 9/11 mastermind could be, Mr Musharraf said in an interview to The Washington Post that he could be in the area that borders Pakistan’s Bajaur tribal agency and Afghanistan’s Kunar province.

In the past, whenever the president was asked where he thought Bin Laden or Al Qaeda leaders might be hiding, he said he did not know; often asking the interviewer to share with him if he or she knew where the Al Qaeda leader was.

Asked can Pakistan contain the threat from the extremists, Mr Musharraf told the Post: “We are combating it, and I think we are on the winning side.”

He then explained that terrorism was a problem only in three areas: north and south Waziristan and Bajaur. This prompted the interviewer to ask if he thinks Osama bin Laden was hiding in this area.

“No, these are settled districts. He could be in Bajaur – this is the tribal agency bordering Kunar province, where there were no coalition forces in the past,” he said. “On the Afghan side – that’s in Afghanistan,” he added.

“So you can go from one side to the other,” asked the interviewer.

“That’s a possibility,” said the president.

“Does your intelligence service know where Osama is?” he was asked. “Nobody knows,” said the president.

 ANP manifesto stresses autonomy

PESHAWAR, Dec 16: The Awami National Party has reiterated that it will strive for provincial autonomy and rename the NWFP as Pukhtunkhwa.

Releasing his party’s manifesto at the Peshawar Press Club on Sunday, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan underlined measures aimed at creating unity among the Pukhtuns, including efforts for provincial autonomy and merger of the tribal areas with the province.

He said the ANP would not enter into an electoral alliance or seat adjustment with other parties in the election.

According to the seven-page manifesto, the party believes that the army should defend the country’s frontiers and it should be kept away from politics.

“Our party will put in efforts for the establishment of peace, prosperity and a liberal society, where all people can express themselves fearlessly,” Mr Khan said. He said his party’s history was replete with unmatched sacrifices rendered by its leaders and workers to see supremacy of parliament and the Constitution, provincial rights, rule of law and free media.

“We strongly condemn the treatment meted out to the judiciary by the Musharraf-led government. We stand by the deposed honourable judges and members of the print and electronic media in these trying times,” he said.

The senator criticised the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s provincial government for not raising voice against the killing of Pukhtuns by the army and US forces in the so called war on terrorism.

He urged the Pukhtuns to reject Pro-Musharraf forces and the MMA’s candidates, holding them “equally responsible for killing of innocent tribesmen”.

According to the manifesto, copies of which were distributed in Urdu and English, the ANP will support all the forces working for the reinstatement of the deposed judges and revival of the Constitution of 1973 in its original form.

While demanding merger of tribal areas with the province, it says special provision should be incorporated into the Constitution if needed to ensure implementation of the legal and administrative changes according to tribal traditions and culture.

He said the Frontier Crimes Regulation should be amended according to the will of tribesmen and the Political Parties Act should be extended to Fata.

 3 Army men injured in attack on convoy

MIRANSHAH: Three Pak army men were injured when militants attacked a military convoy enroute to Dathakhel from Miranshah with a remote control explosive device here on Sunday.The convoy having an air cover of gunship helicopters was attacked at around 3:30pm near Thalighi Markaz on Miramshah-Dathakhel road. Meanwhile, hundreds of residents in Musakay village have started vacating their houses after security forces continued their bombing of the area following the December 12 attack on a military convoy that killed 15 security men.

 Militants seek end to Army operations

PESHAWAR: Militants from all the seven tribal agencies as well as some districts of the NWFP have warned of strong reaction if military operations are not stopped in Swat and North Waziristan Agency within 10 days.

The warning came after the militants formed a joint resistance movement Tehrik Taliban-e-Pakistan and nominated prominent militant commander Baitullah Mahsud as their central leader.

A senior militant commander told 'The News' from Miranshah that Hafiz Gul Bahadur and Maulana Faqir Muhammad, militants' regional commanders in North Waziristan and Bajaur Agency respectively, were nominated as second and third commanders of the outfit.

He said that senior militant commanders from seven agencies, including South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Aurakzai, Kurram, Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur and some districts of NWFP like Swat, Buner, Dir, Malakand, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan and Kohat were present in the crucial meeting.

He said some of militant commanders personally attended the meeting while others sent their representatives and agreed on formation of their central organisation. After the meeting, militants announced to speed up their joint "Jihad" against the US and Nato forces in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Similarly, they felt that the military action by the Pakistan government forced them on self-defence, therefore, they would now jointly fight against the government. In this regard, they gave a 10-day deadline to the government to stop military operations in North Waziristan and Swat and release Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi, Imam of Lal Masjid, otherwise they would launch a joint fight against the government. The militant commander said it was decided that nobody would sign peace agreement with the government now. "In some areas, the government signs a peace agreement with the Taliban while in other regions it is killing innocent people but that is no more acceptable to us," he added.

 3 killed in Kurram clash

PESHAWAR: At least three persons were killed and 11 others injured, as heavy fighting ensued between two rival tribes at Malikhel area in Kurram Agency on Sunday.

Attempt to blow up college

BUNER, Dec 16: Police and Bomb Disposal Squad personnel foiled an attempt to blow up a private girls’ college here in Swari on Sunday. They defused the high intensity improvised explosive device (IED) aimed at destroying the Educator College.

Police said if exploded the 30kg bomb would have destroyed the entire building of the college and an adjacent clinic. Sources said that building’s owner Azizul Akbar had informed the police that someone had left a mysterious bundle close to the building.—Correspondent

 Explosion damages CD shops

MARDAN, Dec 16: A number of CD shops were damaged in an explosion at the Karim Manzil on the Gaju Khan road on Sunday.

The explosive device was planted near the gate of the Shuaib CD centre which went off with a big bang and damaged several adjacent shops. The explosion was heard far and wide.

Police and bomb disposal squad personnel collected pieces of the device at the site of the blast and started investigation. The Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran Mardan and Tanzeem Tajiram Gaju Khan road have condemned the attack.—Correspondent

 Rauf’s escape shrouded in mystery

ISLAMABAD: A pattern of extreme irresponsibility and dereliction of duty emerged on Sunday as details came to light of how terror suspect Rashid Rauf managed to escape from police custody on Saturday, although Islamabad police had been warned in writing that he was a hardened criminal and required extra security.

Sources revealed to The News that Rauf had been allowed by the two cops who were taking him back to jail from the court to go for prayers inside a mosque with his handcuffs on while the cops agreed to wait for him in a private car. He escaped from the mosque with his handcuffs on.

It is also learnt that a warning letter was sent to the capital police by the superintendent district jail to tighten security of the high profile British national of Pakistani origin, as he was a hardened criminal, Adiala jail sources told The News.

The letter, dispatched in the second week of December, was addressed to SP (Headquarters) as well as a DSP of the police headquarters responsible for deploying duties,the sources said, and added that the authorities, taking it as a routine letter, marked it to the higher authorities without taking any measures to beef up Rauf’s security.

Rashid Rauf, allegedly involved in a plot to blow up trans-Atlantic jetliners in Britain, escaped from police custody inexplicably on Saturday evening while going back to jail after his production before a court of law.

A team under the direct supervision of SSP Islamabad Syed Kaleem Imam, was investigating the case and working on different tracks and questioning two policemen, Constables Wazirzada and Muhammad Tufail, who were taking him to jail, the sources said.

The detained cops told the investigating team that they were going to Adiala Jail with the suspect in a private cab with the consent of Inspector (Hawalaat) at about 3.00 pm. Rauf had his handcuffs on. As they reached Adiala Road, near Gulshan-e-Abad, the suspect said that he wanted to perform his prayers and asked the policemen to wait for him in the cab, the policemen said.They added that they kept waiting for him for about 20 minutes but he did not return. Constable Tufail went inside the mosque but Rauf had escaped, with his handcuffs, using the rear door, they maintained. ††††

“The authorities took the transportation of the suspect so non-seriously that only two cops were deputed to move him and that too in a private cab instead of a police mobile van,” an officer engaged in the investigation said.

“Apparently, Inspector (Hawalaat) is responsible for his escape because he is supposed to take the undertrial inmates from jail and send them back escorted by heavily guarded police vehicles,” the officer said.

But the case was absolutely different here, he said and added:†”Reserve Inspector (RI) headquarters sent the ‘special team’ comprising two constables to fetch the high profile suspect from jail by a private car instead of police van and to take him back to jail in the same way.”

“The police high-ups were informed about his escape about two-and-a-half hours after the incident,” the officer said. Astonishingly, no message was sent on the police wireless system alerting other stations, which is highly intriguing.

Rashid Rauf was arrested in August on a tip from British intelligence agencies and charged with possessing chemicals that could be used in making explosives and with carrying forged travel documents.

The prosecution later withdrew the case against him and held him accountable only for possessing bomb-making materials and living in Pakistan without valid documents. Later, a higher court ó acting on an appeal by the Pakistani authorities ó suspended the anti-terrorism court’s ruling until January 15, 2008. However, a court extended his detention until January 19 and the law enforcing agencies booked him under 3 MPO (maintenance of public order).

The official relating to the prosecution section said that Rashid Rauf had remained in jail awaiting a decision on a British extradition request. He said that he left the UK soon after his uncle was stabbed to death in 2002, and the British authorities had asked Pakistan to extradite him in connection with the murder inquiry.

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