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Arbab sacks Imtiaz Shaikh for ‘corruption’
MQM asks PPP not to join hands with MMA
Bullet-riddled body found; 3 die in different incidents
PPL unfolds classified report on Dr Shazia today
Governor's remarks criticized by Bugti
Resolutions against dams, US troops
4 rapists of Christian girl to be hanged on March 1
Accused in PM attack case held
4 former Taliban in Kabul on reconciliation mission
US pressed Pakistan for access to Khan: CIA
Arbab sacks Imtiaz Shaikh for ‘corruption’
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on
Thursday dismissed Revenue and Political Affairs Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh
for his alleged involvement in corruption.
According to an official announcement, Governor Dr
Ishratul Ebad approved the dismissal order of the chief minister, who
informed the governor that the revenue minister was sacked for his alleged
corruption, illegal allotments of land and other irregularities.
In a statement issued from the Chief Minister House here,
it has been alleged that Imtiaz Shaikh was involved in corruption, land
grabbing, misappropriation in Revenue Department, abuse of power of transfers
and posting of the employees of Revenue Department. "The Sindh governor
has also approved the CM’s orders for removing Imtiaz Shaikh," the
statement added. Sources said following the dismissal of the minister, the
land allotment record of the department has been sealed and cases have been
registered with the Anti-Corruption Establishment against at least two deputy
district officers, two Mukhtiarkars and three Tapedars. They were arrested
late in the night.
However, a spokesman for Imtiaz Shaikh termed the
dismissal an act of ‘personal enmity’, because the chief minister was
unhappy with his (Imtiaz Shaikh) popularity, who was organising the PML all
over the province.
Imtiaz Shaikh was appointed adviser to the chief minister
during the tenure of former chief minister Ali Muhammad Maher. But he was
dismissed, when he was contesting by-election from Jacobabad for an MPA seat.
Later, he was inducted as minister in Ali Muhammad Maher’s cabinet on the
directive of President Gen Pervez Musharraf and then continued in the cabinet
of Arbab. Imtiaz was also made Sindh PML Secretary-general by Chaudhry
Shujaat Hussain.
MQM asks PPP not to join hands with MMA
ISLAMABAD, Feb 17: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MNA Kunwar Khalid Younus has asked the People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) not to join hands with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal
(MMA) if it wants to maintain its image as a liberal political party.
Commenting on the recent contacts between the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and the MMA, the MQM MNA said the PPP should show courage and also demand removal of amendments and ordinances made during Gen Ziaul Haq era.
Talking to Dawn on Thursday, Mr Younus said it had been reported that both the MMA and the ARD had agreed to continue a joint struggle for bringing the Constitution to the October 12, 1999 position. He said this showed that the PPP had accepted the changes made by Gen Zia in the Constitution.
Mr Younus said it seemed that the PPP had withdrawn from its demand to repeal Hudood Ordinances only to seek cooperation of the MMA. He said the PPP should openly oppose the Hudood Ordinances if it wanted to maintain its "liberal and secular image."
He said it was strange that when the nation wanted to get rid of the extremist religious elements, the PPP was discussing the modalities of cooperation with them.
Bullet-riddled body found; 3 die in different incidents
KARACHI: A bullet-riddled body of an unidentified young
man was found, while three persons lost their lives in different incidents on
Thursday, police said.
According to details, a bullet-riddled body of a
21-year-old youth having torture marks was found lying near house of 10/4
Liaquatabad within Shareefabad police jurisdiction.
Residents informed the police and during initial
investigations a slip was found in his pocket on which ‘Muhammad Yousuf’
was written. However, it was yet to be ascertained whether the deceased’s
name was Mohammad Yousuf.
Police shifted the body to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital
(ASH) for autopsy, where medico-legal experts said that unknown assassins
might have shot him after subjecting severe torture.
The body was later placed in the Edhi morgue.
Muhammad Yaseen, 73, resident of house No A-395 Street No
6 Bhittai Colony, was found murdered with stab wounds.
Police said that Nadeem, nephew of the deceased, came to
see his uncle and found him lying in a pool of blood.
Police shifted the body to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical
Centre (JPMC) for autopsy and later handed it over to Nadeem.
Police said that Yaseen had been residing alone and it
would be too early to say anything before proper investigation.
Police have registered a case against the unknown killers
on complaint of Nadeem, the nephew of the deceased.
ACCIDENT: Hurmat Bibi, 40, resident of Old Golimar, was
seriously injured when a dumper loader knocked her down near Goya Mills
adjacent to the under-construction Lyari Expressway, while she was going
along the roadside in Soldier Bazaar police jurisdiction.
The injured lady was rushed to the Civil Hospital, where
doctors pronounced her dead.
Wali-ur-Rehman, 36, a labourer hailing from Mansehra, was
crushed under the wheels of a locomotive when he was crossing the railway
tracks near Baloch Colony Bridge. His body was shifted to the JPMC and later
placed in the Edhi morgue.
Tasleem, 55, a labourer hailing from Badgram (Azad
Kashmir) and residing in Quaidabad, was crushed under the wheels of moving
train when he was crossing the railway tracks in Quaidabad limits late
Wednesday. His body was shifted to the JPMC.
INJURED: Jumma Khan, 50, sustained bullet injuries when
unknown gunmen opened fire upon him, while he was passing through Godam
Chowrangi within the Korangi police limits. The injured was rushed to the
JPMC, where his condition was stated to be critical.
Raveena Haroon, 35, resident of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, was
seriously injured when a recklessly driven car ran over her near Merewether
Tower, while she was crossing the road in Mithadar police jurisdiction. The
injured lady was rushed to the Civil Hospital, where her condition was stated
to be critical.
PPL unfolds classified report on Dr Shazia today
ISLAMABAD: A highly confidential internal classified
report of the Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) to be unfolded in a
closed-door meeting today (Wednesday) could give a new twist to the rape of
Dr Shazia.
The seven-page presentation to members of the National
Assembly standing committee on Petroleum Ministry today, will highlight
threats to the life of Dr Shazia after the rape. Sources said the word of
threat has been used at least three times on different pages. The report says
that it was because of these threats that she was immediately sent to Karachi
and police guards posted outside her residence.
However, the secret report does not say that from which
quarter the personal security of Dr Shazia was under threat after her rape.
The PPL report available with The News also quotes a responsible authority as
saying that 3-4 defence security guards were seen coming out of the lady
doctor’s house.
The PPL has claimed that ‘law and order disturbance at
Sui may not entirely be connected with Dr Shazia incident’. The PPL report
contains details of the rape incident of January 2 that has triggered a
violent reaction in Balochistan province. This view is shared by 17 MNAs of
the National Assembly committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources, who are
meeting here on Friday.
A comprehensive briefing will be given by the top
management of PPL in a closed- door meeting. Petroleum Minister Amanullah
Jadoon and secretary of the ministry have been asked to appear before the
committee and answer questions put by the committee to be presided over by
MNA Dr Noorjahan Panezai.
The PPL report defends the top management of PPL, earlier
accused by police of concealing facts of the rape case and destroying the
evidence from the spot.
Since eruption of the crisis in Balochistan, the PPL
bosses for the first time have made an attempt to get their name clear and
directly held the lady doctor responsible for delayed action against the
culprits. The report has alleged that none other than Dr Shazia herself
stopped the PPL administration from a prompt police action, as she continued
to insist that she was robbed, not sexually assaulted.
The report has disclosed that the lady doctor herself
stopped the PPL administration from getting a FIR registered against the
alleged culprits as she wanted to wait for her husband who was out of the
country at that time.
The Petroleum Ministry has also accused the national media
of ‘blowing the issue out of proportion’ as it thought that the incident
did not deserve such kind of converge at the national and international
level.
According to the available copy of the classified report,
the Pakistan Petroleum Limited has given details of the incident and made an
attempt to replies charges levelled against its administration.
Giving details of the rape events, the official report
said, the incident actually occurred on the night of January 2 and 3, when
she was alone in her room. When people rushed to her place to help here , Dr
Shazia said that she was only robbed of her belongings. She did not tell
anyone at the spot that she was also raped by robbers.
However, the report said it was evident that Dr Shazia was
traumatized and she wanted to proceed to Karachi to be with her family
immediately. The report further says that Dr Shazia also desired that she did
not want to lodge any FIR against anyone or lodge complaint with the local
police. The PPL claimed that its staff immediately provided medication
appropriate to her condition.
On January 3, SHO Sui visited the hospital and did not
find her in a normal condition as she was unable to give any statement to the
police. The next day, the SHO went to the residence of the lady doctor and
inspected the room where the rape was reported. He also took certain
evidences from the scene of the crime.
The PPL claimed that it fully facilitated the visit of SHO
to the house of the lady doctor and extended full cooperation. However, the
report said that on the night of January 4/5, the lady doctor was moved to
Karachi and for consideration of her ‘personal security’ and treatment
and enable her to be with the family.
On January 5, she was taken by her family to the
residence. The PPL report said that in the judgement of the PPL management
the ‘well being and security’ of lady doctor at that time was of foremost
importance.
On January 7, the SHO was given the address of Dr Shazia
in Karachi and assured of full cooperation. On January 7, the manager Sui
wrote to police authorities and DCO Dera Bugti about the incident as learnt
from Dr Shazia.
Earlier, on January 3, the district Nazim wrote to DAO
with copies to senior officials alleging that PPL lady doctor was raped,
asking him to investigate and take a stern action against the culprits.
The report has quoted the district Nazim as writing to
authorities that 3 or 4 DSP were seem coming out of lady doctor house after
allegedly raping her. The next day, a DSG officer was named as the prime
accused and the PPL’s Sui office received a copy of this letter on January
5. On January 8, the management requested police authorities in Balochistan
and Karachi to provide immediate security at Shazia’s residence as her
security was in danger.
In her statement, Dr Shazia said, she was not in a
position to give any statement, but added that she would get an FIR
registered after consulting her husband, who was then out of country. On
January 11 the government of Balochistan ordered a judicial enquiry. The PPL
report has also lashed out at the media and police for claiming that its
management was involved in hiding the case.
The report said that there was no truth in media reports
and police statements alleging that PPL management had concealed evidence,
and that it had not cooperated in the investigation. On the contrary, the
report claimed that the above events show that the PPL management did not
destroy any evidence, but on contrary provided all help to investigating
officers.
Governor's remarks criticized by Bugti
QUETTA, Feb 17: Jamhoori Watan Party chief Nawab Akbar Bugti has accused the Frontier Corps and Defence Service Guards of having fired thousands of rockets and mortar shells on civilian areas
, killing five people and wounding many others during recent disturbances in Sui.
Taking to newsmen in his native Dera Bugti town on Thursday evening, he described as baseless remarks made about the Sui situation by the provincial governor and said that some Baloch elements might have fired a few shells, but the government forces retaliated with hundreds of rockets and mortar shells, destroying many homes and commercial establishments.
Nawab Bugti deplored that the governor had blamed the Balochs for all the destruction of civilian property and losses. He said that government forces and agencies were armed to the teeth, possessing advanced weapons, whereas the Balochs were weak and under-fed people. If the Balochs had weapons they would not have been exploited for more than half a century, he added.
Referring to the governor's contention that no-one would take away Gwadar from Balochistan, Nawab Bugti said that outsiders, from Punjab and other provinces, could be brought and settled in Gwadar. Such an action on the part of the government, he said, would be an unpardonable crime against the Baloch people.
He said that the ARD would be holding an important meeting in Dera Bugti to express solidarity with the Baloch people. Referring to the lady doctor's assault case, Nawab Bugti said that the principal accused was an influential person who had not been arrested yet. On the contrary, he said, innocent Baloch people were being arrested without any proof.
About allegations levelled against him by the ISPR director-general, the JWP chief said that he had extended the deadline by another one week for the government spokesman to present evidence before a jury comprising Ayaz Amir, Mushahid Hussain and Irshad Ahmed Haqani. The allegations, he said, might have created some doubts in people's minds and, therefore, must be clarified.
Resolutions against dams, US troops
LAHORE, Feb 17: The Lahore High Court Bar Association on Thursday adopted two resolutions, which expressed concern over building of Indian dams on Kashmir rivers and reports of facilitating the US and UK troops for commando action in Iran by Pakistan.
The resolution on Indian dams, moved by Barrister Zafarullah Khan, condemned the construction of Baglihar dam on Chenab, Wuller Barrage on Jhelum and Kishanganga dam on Neelam. It said New Delhi was flouting the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 with impunity because Islamabad hardly posed opposition to the projects.
As for the troops' training, the resolution was moved by Advocate Sheikh Mushtaq Ali who quoted certain USA newspapers as levelling the allegation that the training imparted in Karachi was meant to target Iran and the government provided all facilities for the purpose.
The two resolutions were passed unanimously by the LHCBA general house with president Ahmad Awais in the chair. It was decided that their copies would be sent to members of parliament and other bar councils and associations to adopt similar resolutions and pressure the government to offer an explanation on "these vital issues."
Mr Awais said the Indian government prepared the Baglihar dam project in 1992, but started work after the military take-over in Oct 1999 because New Delhi knew that the execution of the project would be difficult during a democratic government in Pakistan.
Justice Fakharunnisa (retired) and LHCBA vice-president Syed Zulfiqar Ali Bokhari also spoke. The resolution on dams said India wanted to turn Pakistan into a desert by stopping the supply of waters from the rivers, which were given to the latter under the Indus Water Treaty. It also demanded construction of the Kalabagh dam, Bhasha dam and another multipurpose dam on Neelam river.
4 rapists of Christian girl to be hanged on March 1
MULTAN: Four rapists would be hanged on Tuesday (March 1)
in the District Jail Faisalabad, who had outraged the modesty of a Christian
girl in Chak Jhumra near here. The court has issued their death warrants for
March 1. Their relatives would meet them on February 28 in the prison. The
Jail authorities said that Shehzad Ahmed of Chak 144-RB (Ghartal), Muhammad
Ashraf of 134-RB, Mubarak Ali and Omar Hayat of Chak 106-RB had subjected a
Christian girl to gang-rape. It would be a second incident when the rapists
would be hanged as two rapists were hanged in Bahawalpur prison on January 6,
2004.
Accused in PM attack case held
ISLAMABAD: Police said on Thursday they were holding a
suspected militant in connection with last year’s failed suicide attack
against the prime minister. Shaukat Aziz survived the attack when a suicide
bomber blew himself up near his car on July 30 in Fateh Jang, Attock
district. Nine people, including Shaukat’s driver, died in the attack.
Since then, police have arrested several men from the outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammad
and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen Al-Almi militant groups on suspicion of their links
with those who masterminded the bombing. On Thursday, Zafar Iqbal, police
chief in Attock, told The Associated Press that they were holding a man named
Salman "for playing a key role in the attack" against Shaukat, but
he would not elaborate.
4 former Taliban in Kabul on reconciliation mission
PESHAWAR: The four former Taliban leaders who are
presently in Kabul on a reconciliation mission are members of a faction that
broke away from the Taliban soon after the fall of their regime in early
2002. All four until recently were affiliated to the Khuddamul Furqan, or
Servants of God, that sought a political role in the post-Taliban
Afghanistan. Maulvi Arsala Rahmani is the oldest member of the group and its
de facto leader. He was a mujahideen commander during the "Jihad"
against Soviet occupation forces and later served as deputy minister of
higher education in the Taliban government. The other three are Abdul Hakim
Mujahid, Rahmatullah Wahidyar and Habibullah Fawzi.
US pressed Pakistan for access to Khan: CIA
WASHINGTON, Feb 17: The director of the Central Intelligence Agency on Wednesday told the US Senate that the Bush administration had 'pressed' Pakistan to allow an American representative direct access to Dr A.Q. Khan
but he would not say if the access was given or denied.
Director Porter Goss, who was testifying before the Senate select committee on intelligence along with the heads of other US intelligence agencies, said he would be careful not to use the word 'pressed' in a general term.
"I want to be very careful how I answer your question," Mr Goss told Olympia Snowe, a Republican senator from Maine who wanted to know if the US administration had 'pressed' Pakistan to allow a US representative to directly question Dr Khan for determining the extent of his network's activities.
"I can tell you that there is continuous attention to this matter, and I believe that it is being done with the necessary urgency and fortitude to make sure our interests are completely understood," Mr Goss replied.
The CIA chief said that while seeking Pakistan's cooperation in retrieving information from Dr Khan, the US administration also kept in mind the problems Islamabad faced in dealing with the issue.
It was the committee's chairman, Senator Pat Roberts, a Republican from Kansas, who first raised the issue during the hearing which focused on the war in Iraq and the US efforts to fight terrorism.
While saying that Dr Khan had passed secrets and equipment to a host of 'rogue nations,' Mr Roberts acknowledged that Pakistan had cooperated in US efforts to stop this activity and had "placed Mr Khan under house arrest".
He then asked Mr Goss and Admiral James Loy, acting secretary, Department of Homeland Security, to explain what was the current status of the Khan network - had it been shut down and if there were other non-state actors that were 'potential Khans'.
"Yes," said Mr Goss when Senator Snowe asked him if he could characterize Pakistan's cooperation as sharing information. The senator then referred to a recent article in Time magazine which quoted a source close to the Khan Research Laboratories in Islamabad as saying, "Even though its head has been removed, Khan's illicit network of suppliers and middlemen is still out there."
Mr Goss told Mr Snowe that he could answer the question to his satisfaction in about two minutes in a private conversation. Explaining the US position, he said there was an understanding that Dr Khan enjoyed a celebrity status in his country because he was the man who brought them the bomb.
The CIA director linked Pakistan's possession of the nuclear bomb with Iran's desire to have one. "In my view, there is an inclination, a very strong inclination by present conservative leadership of Iran, to make sure that they can live up to the same level as some of their neighbouring countries," he said. "And some of those neighbouring countries - indeed, Pakistan comes to mind - have the bomb."