DAWN/The News International, KARACHI 28 December 1999, Tuesday, 19 Ramazan 1420
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Farooq Sattar in custody of NAB, SHC told
Non-production of Farooq condemned
19 vehicles taken away
Officials found involved in extorting trainee policemen
16 traffic policemen suspended for extortion
HYDERABAD: JSQM activists call off fast-unto-death
Sindh growers seek equal rights
12 killed in sectarian violence
33 held in crackdown against corruption
Farooq Sattar in custody of NAB, SHC told

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) was informed on Monday that Muttahida leader Dr Farooq Sattar was not in the custody of the provincial government and that he might be in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Additional Advocate General (AAG), Sindh, Sarwar Khan and Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Barrister Naeemur Rehman gave this statement before a bench comprising Justice Syed Deedar Hussain Shah and Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali.

They stated on behalf of the federal and Sindh governments, respectively, that Dr Farooq could not be produced in the court. The AAG stated that the detenu was not in the custody of the Sindh Home Department. The DAG contended that the notices issued by the court were served upon the federation through the Ministry of Interior while Dr Farooq, according to the Sindh government, was with the NAB for the purpose of investigation in corruption cases.

K M Nadeem, appearing on behalf of petitioner Abdul Sattar, father of Dr Farooq, said that even the NAB was an institution of federal government and the respondents should have complied the court directions regarding production of Dr Farooq. The arguments and counter-arguments of the parties were going on when the court adjourned further hearing till December 30, and asked the counsels for the federal and provincial governments to ascertain the whereabouts of Dr Farooq and make categorical statement in this regard at the next hearing.

Abdul Sattar had approached the SHC against what he termed as illegal detention and shifting to unknown place of his son. The petition says that Dr Farooq enjoys reputed position in the country's politics and had never been convicted for corruption. The law-enforcement authorities arrested him without letting him or his family members know the charges framed against him. They after arresting him kept him at an unknown place. The petitioner has prayed the court to order production of his son and also call a complete record of the cases against him.

Non-production of Farooq condemned

KARACHI: Convenor of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's Coordination Committee Dr Imran Farooq has condemned the government's act of not presenting Dr Farooq Sattar before the Sindh High Court. In a statement issued on Monday, he claimed that Dr Sattar's name was neither in the list of loan defaulters nor was he involved in any sort of corruption. He demanded his immediate release and called for an end to the prejudice and biased approach towards Mohajirs. In another press release, the Muttahida has demanded of the Sindh governor to arrest the owners of fake investment companies and ensure return of the invested money to the bona fide people. Muttahida MNA Hasan Mussana Alvi has demanded that culprits involved in the bomb explosion in Gulshan-e-Iqbal be arrested and awarded stern punishment. Meanwhile, the suspended assembly members of the Muttahida have asked the government that as to how the police officers responsible for the extra-judicial killings are still posted at police stations. They alleged that if the interior minister wanted to provide justice to the citizens of Karachi then he would have arrested these police officers and awarded stern punishment.

19 vehicles taken away
KARACHI, Dec 27: As many as 19 vehicles - eight cars and 11 motorcycles - were either snatched or stolen in different places of the city on Monday.

Carjackers snatched four cars at gunpoint: two in district East, and one each in districts South and West.

Four cars were stolen: two in district South and one each in districts Central and West. Three motorcycles were snatched at gunpoint by bandits: one each in districts East, Central and Malir. Eight motorbikes were stolen: four in district East, two in district South, and one each in districts Central and West.

The police on Monday recovered six stolen cars and five motorcycles in various parts of the city.

ROBBERIES: At least three robberies were committed in different places of the city on Monday.

Suspected bandits raided the shop of Ali Raza within the Tipu Sultan police limits and escaped after stealing Rs3,500 from the shop.

Four outlaws barged into the house of Asif Aijaz within the Ferozabad police limits and robbed him of cash (amount unspecified) and gold ornaments at gunpoint.

Abad Ahad lodged a report with the North Nazimabad police that suspected bandits broke into his house and got away with cash (amount unspecified), a photo camera and other valuables at gunpoint.

ATTEMPT FOILED: An alleged motorcycle-lifter was arrested by the Sachal police on Monday.

A police spokesman said that Shahid Sheikh Sheikh, a civil engineer, was going on a motorcycle (No. KAP-2305) when in Sachal Goth two suspected motorcycle-lifters stopped him and snatched the motorbike. As the bandits were trying to drive away the vehicle, the police were alerted who chased after them and after a little distance they succeeded in overpowering one of the suspects, Ismail. His accomplices, however, escaped by firing in the air. The police claimed to have recovered one pistol and four rounds from Ismail. Further investigations were under way.

TWO CARJACKERS HELD: The police arrested two alleged carjackers on Monday and recovered three stolen cars from them.

The police said that the they arrested Mohammed Swaleh, hailing from Kandhkot, and Abdul Hameed alias Mohammed Paryal and recovered two pistols and a Suzuki Mehran (No. CA-610) from their possession. The car had been snatched at gunpoint within the Artillery Maidan police limits. The suspects led to the recovery of two more stolen cars - a Toyota Corolla (No. W-2775) and a Suzuki Mehran with a tampered number plate.

Officials found involved in extorting trainee policemen
KARACHI, Dec 27: A case has been registered against some officials of the Police Training Centre (PTC), Saeedabad, following the findings of an inquiry conducted by the Crime Branch on the allegation that PTC officials extorted the trainees.
The action against the officials was taken on the orders of the Inspector- General of Police Sindh, and the case against the officials, including the reader to the PTC principal, sub-inspector Jamshed and head constable Mohammed Ashraf, was registered at the Saeedabad police station.

IG Police Aftab Nabi said after receiving complaints in November, he had ordered secret police units to inquire into the matter and after they submitted their report which contained evidence of extortion, he warned the PTC principal on Dec 2 to correct the situation in the Centre within 15 days.

Even when there was no change in situation, he said another inquiry was set up through the Crime Branch which thoroughly investigated the matter and submitted a comprehensive report to him. He said the report highlighted the corruption in the Police Training Centre where the trainees were exempted from training or from taking part in the routine parade, physical exercises and drill, after they bribed the officials. He said the inquiry stated that Jamshed took various amounts as bribe from trainees in order to get them passed in the examinations, and Ashraf exempted the trainees from drill after accepting illegal gratification from them.

"As far as the arrest of the PTC Principal is concerned, it will depend on the evidence and we will go by merit and will not fear in arresting those involved in corruption," the IG said.

DIG Crime Branch Zafar Farooqui said they had arrested head constable Mohiuddin and efforts were being made to arrest those named in the FIR. He added that SI Jamshed and HC Mohammed Ashraf were from the Sindh Reserve Police, and Jamshed was not posted at the PTC Saeedabad but was working as a reader to the principal. He said the record at the PTC Saeedabad showed that the number of those passing the examination last year was more than those enrolled on the muster roll of the PTC.

"We are investigating the matter thoroughly and more facts would surface during the investigations. We will collect all available evidence and on its basis, and those involved in corruption would be arrested," he added.

16 traffic policemen suspended for extortion
KARACHI, Dec 27: Sixteen officials of the traffic police have been suspended for extorting "Eid Bhatta". They included two sub-inspectors, one ASI and two head constables, a police statement said on Monday.
It said the Inspector General of Police, Sindh, Aftab Nabi, had received reports through newspapers and public complaints that some traffic police personnel were harassing the people and drivers and extorting 'bhatta' in the name of 'Eidee'.

The IG directed the DIG, Traffic and Highways, to conduct raids and if these reports were correct then action be taken against those involved in such activities.

The police statement said that from Dec 22 to 24 as many as 16 personnel of traffic police were caught red-handed while extorting "Eid bhatta". It said these were immediately placed under suspension and the legal action was being initiated against them.

The police statement further said the section officers concerned had also been issued show-cause notices. Constable Mohammad Yousuf, who was posted at Quaidabad traffic section, has been transferred from Malir to South District.-APP

HYDERABAD: JSQM activists call off fast-unto-death
HYDERABAD, Dec 27: The activists of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Movement (JSQM), who were on a fast-unto-death since Dec 20 in protest against the continued detention of their party chief, Bashir Khan Qureshi, called off their protest apparently on the assurance by the administration that he would be released on Dec 28.

The administration has also reportedly assured the picketers that his period of detention under the MPO would not be extended.

The former chairman of the Mahaz, Abdul Wahid Aresar, who was accompanied by the Chairman of the Sindh Democratic Party, Mohammed Yousuf Leghari (advocate), Zain Shah, grandson of the late Jeay Sindh leader, G. M. Syed, Khaki Joyo and Abrar Kazi, the president of Sindh Intellectual Forum who visited the hunger strikers' camp, told newsmen that if Mr Qureshi was not released on Dec 28 as per the promise the protest movement would be resumed.

Yousuf Leghari said that the problems could not be resolved by the continued detention of Bashir Qureshi. He said that on the contrary, the administration was creating problems for itself.

He said that his party fully supported the stand of the JSQM. It may be pointed out here that the Cantonment police swooped over the hunger strikers' camp of the Mahaz activists outside the press club here and arrested six of the protesters on Saturday. The next morning two more activists were picked up with they joined in the hunger strike. Qasim Soomro and Asad Jamali also staged symbolic hunger strike but at the inter-

vention of Mr Aresar and other Mahaz leaders, the strike was called off.

About two dozen JSQM activists staged a protest demonstration outside the press club for the release of Bashir Khan Qureshi. They raised slogans of Jeay Sindh and condemned the administration for atrocities.

Sindh growers seek equal rights
KARACHI, Dec 27: An organization of middle-income farmers, The Growers in Sindh has urged the government to provide it incentives for agriculture, including the green tractors given to all the other provinces.

The group, based on small landlords in interior Sindh, alleged at a meeting held here on Sunday that while all the other provinces had been given green tractors by the former Nawaz Sharif government at concessional rates - Rs 100,000-200,000 per tractor - Sindh was deprived of the facility to improve its economy.

Alleging that the agricultural sector had not been properly represented in the new government because of the appointment of the "same old faces", The Growers' representatives - Iqbal Nabi Soomro, Asghar Ali Arain, Sher Mohammed Soomro, Ali Hasan Kalhoro and Ali Enver Bhayo - called for the induction of the middle-class in the think-tanks and government.

In particular, they alleged that the export of "lower quality and adulterated rice", caused by the collusion of bureaucrats and exporters, had caused a fall in demand for rice and had given a lower price to the growers.

Giving an example, the representatives alleged that "with paddy left to rot in the godowns", the price of rice (Irri-6) had dropped from Rs285 per maund to Rs170 per maund in the open market - even though the support price announced by the government was Rs 185 per maund.

They recommended that the export of rice be monitored by armed personnel to check against "corruption" by the collusion of bureaucrats and exporters.

Furthermore, they alleged that the new government's recent increase in the support price of wheat (which had been increased from Rs260 per maund to Rs300 per maund) had been "neutralized" on account of the doubling of the existing income tax, as well as the recent increases in the prices of fertilizers and oil.

Presently, the farmers alleged that they were paying over Rs4,200 per acre because of enhanced costs of inputs including fertilizers, seeds, pesticides and electricity, coupled with taxes, abeyana (water tax), dhal (revenue tax), Ushr (religious tax), income tax, municipal taxes and commissions.

According to them, the current prices of inputs and high taxation was causing the farmers to lose as much as Rs1,200 per acre. Given that the cost of investment for one acre in District Jacobabad was Rs50,000, they alleged that this was discouraging investment in agriculture.

"The taxes imposed by the government have unfortunately never been invested in the area from where the money has been generated.

"As a result, our villages are without electricity, roads, sanitation, dispensaries, drinking water and the worst law and order situation in the province," the group alleged.

The farmers cautioned the new government to pay immediate attention to the issue of lowered rice/paddy prices and escalating inputs, failing which "crime and poverty will rise still further in the area."

12 killed in sectarian violence

HARIPUR: Twelve people were killed and six others sustained injuries, three of them serious, in sectarian violence in a village in Haripur district of the NWFP province.

An official of the district administration, requesting anonymity, said that a dispute over alleged plans to construct an Imambargah sparked violence in Sikandarpur village. The police claimed that three men armed with automatic AK-47 assault rifles and repeaters opened indiscriminate fire on locals attending a funeral of a local man.

Eyewitnesses said that 10 people died on the spot while two others succumbed to injuries at a local hospital. Six others who received multiple bullet wounds were rushed to the hospital, three of whom are stated to be in critical condition. The district administration official said that the incident occurred an hour before Iftar.

The victims have been identified as Haji Muhammad Salman, Karam Khan, Maulana Tayyab, Hafiz Muhammad Nadeem, Sajid Mahmood, Muhammad Irshad Khan, Younas Khan Sawati, Haji Muhammad Bashir, Muhammad Arif Khan Swati, Qazi Qaiser advocate, Kaleemullah Khan and Malik Amir Khan. The injured are Babu Abdul Qudoos, Muhammad Asim Khan, Afsar Sawati, Muhammad Asif, Fida Hussain Shah and Abdul Hameed.

Secretary Home NWFP Mir Laiq Shah, confirming the incident, said that a high-level meeting had been convened to review the situation and take further security measures. All the dead and the wounded belonged to the Sunni sect, the official said.

The district administration official said that police had been dispatched to the affected area while Army had been called in aid of the civil administration in Haripur to avert further bloodshed. "There is no curfew but the Army has been called out to control the law and order situation. At the moment, the situation is under full control," he said.

Eyewitnesses said that a large number of people, reportedly belonging to the militant Sunni outfit Sipah-i-Sahaba, were returning home after attending the Nimaz-i-Janaza of one Hafiz Roshan Din, when attacked. Villagers said that one of the three accused, Salamat Shah, had built a room in the middle of a graveyard belonging to the Sunni sect, allegedly to turn it into an Imambargah. The matter, however, had been resolved by local notables, they said.

A large number of people turned up at the District Headquarters Hospital, Haripur, after the incident which is the first major incident of sectarian violence in the district. One of the dead is the city president of Tehrik-i-Insaf, Qazi Qaisar advocate.

Sipah-i-Sahaba's district president Maulana Hafizur Rehman termed the incident as pre-planned and claimed to have informed the district administration of the possible fallout of the plan to construct the Imambargah. He regretted that the authorities had paid no heed to his information which led to the gory incident. According to a party activist, SSP leader Maulana Azam Tariq is expected to lead the funeral prayers on Tuesday (today) at Committee Ground.

33 held in crackdown against corruption

ISLAMABAD: In the second phase of massive crackdown against corrupt people, the government rounded up 33 people, including two former chief ministers and some top bureaucrats, in an operation which started midnight Monday.

The list, finalized by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), of these 33 people included people like former chief minister NWFP Sardar Mehtab Khan, former CM Sindh Liaquat Jatoi, former chairman Privatisation Committee Kh Mohammad Asif, former minister Azam Hoti, former CBR chief Iqbal Farid, former CDA boss Shafi Sehwani, and a Grade-22 officer, Khalid Aziz, who was working in the Ehtesab Cell of Saifur Rehman.

The government has also decided to constitute seven more accountability courts. "The announcement of these courts with judges will be made in a day or two. One court will be established at Attock Fort, two at Islamabad, one more at Lahore, two more at Karachi and one more at Peshawar," said a senior official. It will raise the total number of accountability courts to 13 within.

"We have decided to arrest these people on the basis of sufficient evidence and reasonable grounds available against all of them," said Prosecutor General Accountability Farooq Adam. Though full list of the people being arrested was not immediately available, officials say the list included top politicians and bureaucrats and it is across the board.

There are around 15 people from the Punjab, including former MNA Sher Ali, brother-in-law of Nawaz Sharif, Kh Mohammad Asif, Malik Allah Yar Khan, Nawaz Tiwana of PIA fame, Iqbal Farid of CBR, and Shafi Sehwani of CDA.

From the NWFP, the names include Mehtab Khan, Khalid Aziz, Javed Alam Khanzada (a Grade-22 officer and former secretary industries), former minister Azam Hoti, former provincial minister Habibur Rehman Tanoli, and Zahir Shah.

Amongst the 12 people arrested from Sindh, former chief minister Liaquat Jato and Sikandar Jatoi are the two big names. Akbar Lasi is the lone man from Balochistan. Senior officials say that arrest warrants of all these people have been issued and the teams despatched to arrest them, except Malik Allah Yar, whose arrest warrants have not been issued though his name is on the list.

"As far as other senior politicians are concerned, we have not yet sufficient material to proceed against them," said Farooq Adam. "However, whenever investigations are completed and sufficient material is made available along with reasonable ground, we will take appropriate action against them," he added.

In the first phase, names of 43 persons were released. However, some people out of them were abroad, while the remaining were either arrested or they were already in jail. With the issuance of this fresh list, the total number of people being brought in the accountability net has risen to 76, though some people were released after they settled their accounts.

But one key feature of this new list of 33 people is that it contains names of only those who had carried out corruption, or corrupt practices, or misused their authority as holders of public office or as bureaucrats.

© DAWN Group of Newspapers, 1999
© JANG Group, 1999

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