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Two Muttahida men acquitted
Altaf suggests talks to defuse border tension
Two killed in quarrel; one crushed to death under locomotive
Police team held for detaining three
Academics, students call for revival of student unions
Four-year bachelor degree programme opposed
Ponam demands new constitution
'Denial' of water to Sindh deplored: G.M. Syed's birth anniversary observed
US asks India to hold talks on all issues: Islamabad may deport some non-Pakistani suspects: Powell
Two Muttahida men acquitted
KARACHI, Jan 17: An additional district and sessions judge, Central, Mohammed Riyaz Shaikh, acquitted on Thursday two workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in an attempt to murder case.
The case against Mohammed Arif and Mohammed Shakil was registered in 1995 by the New Karachi police on the complaint of then SHO inspector Taufeeq Zahid.
The police official had alleged that the two men had opened fire at him in a bid to kill him.
The judge, however, acquitted the Muttahida workers of the charge as the prosecution could not prove its case against them.
Altaf suggests talks to defuse border tension
KARACHI: The leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement,
Altaf Hussain, has suggested that Pakistan and India should withdraw
their forces at least 10 kilometres from the borders and initiate
talks for the permanent solution of the Line of Control to resolve the
dispute peacefully.
He said this while addressing a gathering of city
lawyers at Karachi Press Club from London by telephone. The function
was organised by the Muttahida Legal Aid Committee and party leaders
Aftab Shaikh, Nasreen Jalil, Kanwar Khalid Younus, Khalid Bin Walid,
and others were also present on the occasion.
Altaf said that it was the only way to defuse
tension between the two neighbours as war could not resolve the
problem. He asked the antagonists of this proposal to suggest a more
viable solution if they had one.
He said that the US, Britain, and other countries
were making efforts to defuse tension in the region but the threat of
war persisted. He said the Kashmir dispute could be resolved through
dialogue.
Otherwise appreciating President Pervez Musharraf's
speech, Altaf lamented that the president did not expose those who
patronised the extremist groups and established a state within a
state. The Muttahida leader said that if the government wanted to
control extremist groups, it should control institutions responsible
for the creation of fundamentalist groups.
He said that equal justice, enforcement of law
without any discrimination and equal treatment to all citizens were
the indispensable need for national unity, solidarity, and to
establish the writ of the state.
Quoting President Pervez Musharraf speech about
establish of the writ of state, Altaf said that hate and crimes would
increased and existence of the state would be endanger if the law
enforcement agencies was given license to kill and loots on the name
of writ of the state. The Muttahida leader also appealed to the judges
and lawyers to help the Muttahida activists who were in prison and
provide legal assistance to them.
Two killed in quarrel; one crushed to death under locomotive
KARACHI: A policeman and a wireless operator were
killed in clash over a minor dispute in the narrow lanes of Frontier
Colony of Pirabad police precincts, police and hospital sources said
on Thursday.
According to sources, a teenager, Abdul Baseer got
embroiled in a dispute with accused Zain-ul-Abideen, Moosa Khan, and
Anwar Ali. During a heated verbal exchange the accused attacked him
with a hard and sharp-edged knife, causing him multiple wounds.
He was rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where
on his complaint, police lodged a case against the accused. In the
evening, the accused, Anwar Ali, along with some accomplices, went
over to the residence of the victim, and again started quarrelling.
Finally, the accused pulled out a knife and
attacked Baseer again. The head constable, Nisar, brother of one of
the accused, and a passer-by Rahimullah, however, intervened. The
policeman, Nisar, a wireless operator sustained multiple stab wounds
and fell unconscious when, the accused resorted to indiscriminate
firing.
Sustaining bullet injuries, passer-by Rahimullah,
who was trying to mediate, lost his life instantly. The accused,
however, fled from the scene. Later, Nisar also died on way to
hospital.
ARRESTED: The CIA police nabbed four accused
allegedly involved in car snatching and recovered weapons from them,
sources said.
According to details, a team of CIA stopped a car
(TC-0120) and asked its four riders to come out for search in Sher
Shah police limits.
During the thorough search of the car and riders,
the police recovered two TT pistols and arrested Javed Iqbal, Javed
Nawaz, Arshad and Shafiquddin.
During, preliminary investigations the accused
disclosed that they were involved in vehicle snatching and robberies.
The excise police arrested an elderly woman in PIB Colony police area
and recovered one-kg heroin from her possession, sources said. On a
secret information, the excise police intercepted Surayya in Essa
Nagri and recovered heroin, cleverly concealed in her dress.
ROBBERIES: Armed men looted cash, gold ornaments
mobile phone and other valuables from Faisal's house in Bahadurabad
and another man with the same name, Faisal in North Nazimabad police
limits.
In Surjani Town, robbers deprived Allah Mir of
cash, jewellery and other valuables. Meanwhile, armed carjackers took
away six cars and six motorbikes from different parts of the city.
Police team held for detaining three
KARACHI: The Gulzar-e-Hijri police arrested its own
team, and some senior officials of the police station were also
punished on account of coercion from the US Consulate-General.
Insiders told The News that a police team, headed
by ASI Arif of the Gulzar-e-Hijri police station, had detained three
people, Dur Muhammad Tajik Afghani, Fareed, and Khalid, embroiled in
some monetary complications, for the last three days.
One of their relatives, a gardener of a US Senator
in the United States, on being informed about the confinement,
conveyed the matter to his employer who called up the US
Consulate-General in Karachi. They, in turn, asked DIG Tariq Jamil,
about the matter.
Sources close to the city police chief said that
when the officials of the US Consulate-General enquired about the
detention, the DIG directed the ADIG-II, Karachi, Shahid Hayat, to
look into the matter late in the night.
When DIG Jamil reached the police station, the
ADIG-II, Shahid Hayat submitted his report to his boss, who ordered
immediate arrest of all the cops of the team, headed by ASI Arif. The
DIG also punished some senior officers of the police station. On the
orders of the DIG, the police registered a case against its cops, ASI
Arif, and others, vide FIR No 28/2002, under section 342/109/34 and
arrested them.
Academics, students call for revival of student unions
KARACHI: Notable figures and politicians suggested
ways and means for restoring the sanctity and academic environment at
the country's higher seats of learning, especially the public sector
universities. They were addressing a seminar on "Karachi
University: its past, present and future", at the University of
Karachi on Thursday. The seminar was organised by the Islami
Jamiat-e-Talaba, in connection with the KU's University Day. They,
including the former vice-chancellors of the Karachi University,
stressed restoration of political activities and students' unions.
They also called upon the government to allocate maximum funds and
grants for research and studies to the higher education institutions.
The former Vice-Chancellor of the Karachi
University, Dr Abdul Wahab, said that educational institutions should
not just produce students but capable and professional persons who
could perform their role in the development of the country.
He said that getting education was the basic right
of any citizen and the state should take measures for making education
accessible to every citizen. Another former VC of the university, Dr
Manzooruddin Ahmed also underscored the need of the restoration of the
students' union and political activities at the universities for the
development of the intellectual faculties of the students.
Former Pro-VC of the university Prof Dr Peerzada
Qasim said that student-teacher interaction, sharing of knowledge
among students and the familiarity of students with their curriculum
were factors which could contribute to the betterment of any
educational institution.
He said that all the hustle and bustle of the
Karachi University was due to its students and if their freedom were
strangled, the university would turn just into a government office.
Leader of the Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf, Mairaj Muhammad Khan, speaking
on the occasion, said that students should actively participate in
national politics.
He said that if educated people were not enabled to
enter politics, the arena would be swamped by illiterate politicians.
He said it was students who in every sensitive juncture of the
country's political history had played an important part and also
strongly resisted the military autocracy.
He called on the government to induct teachers into
its process of consultation on various matters of governance, instead
of servicemen and bureaucrats. Former student leader, Osama Razi said
the students of the Karachi University always created an identity for
it and withholding their freedom would stifle the process.
He said that in the past the Karachi University had
been producing a batch of intellectual graduates every year but with
the ban on students' union and political activities the process came
to halt.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr Zafar
Saeed Saify, addressing the programme, said Karachi University was
considered to be the leading seat of higher learning in the country
where research and education were conducted in every faculty of higher
education on a large scale.
He said that five state-of-the-art research
institutes were currently under construction at the university on a
self-help basis. These institutes would contribute towards the
development of science and technology in the country.
Four-year bachelor degree programme opposed
HYDERABAD, Jan 17: The general secretary of Sindh Taraqqi Passand Students Federation (STPSF), Arz Mohammad Banglani, has strongly protested against the government decision to extend the duration of bachelor degree programme
from two years to four years.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, he urged the government to review the decision and bring about educational reforms to improve the quality of education and literacy ratio.
He said if the rulers were really sincere in promoting education, they should increase the education budget, discard the outdated syllabus and introduce modern methods of education.
He said that influential people, police and rangers should be ejected from school and college buildings, efforts should be made to cleanse the educational institutions of hoodlums, copy culture should be eliminated, and computer education should be made compulsory.
The student leader pointed out that Sindh province contributed Rs350 billion in taxes every year and added if only Rs50 billion were spent to provide employment to jobless youth, unemployment in the province would decrease to a great extent.
Ponam demands new constitution
DADU, Jan 17: The president, Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (Ponam), Mehmood Khan Achakzai, has said that a new constitution should be formulated to give equal rights to the small provinces and the Seraiki belt.
While speaking at the public gatherings in Dadu, Bhan Saeedabad, and Sehwan on Wednesday evening, he said that the constitution of 1973 was dead for the small provinces therefore a new constitution should be formulated through the elected assemblies according to the 1940 resolution.
He warned if the federal government would not give the rights on equal basis to the small provinces they would not live under the flag of the Pakistan.
Mr Achakzai said that the military officials of Punjab had been ruling the country directly or through their supporters of the two big political parties, PPP and PML. Punjab had taken over the natural resources including gas, mines and power houses of Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan and the Seraiki belt, he added.
The secretary general of Ponam, Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah, said that the people had voted for PPP and PML which had failed to provide basic facilities to the poor people of the small provinces.
He alleged that the former prime ministers, Benazir Bhutto, and Nawaz Sharif, and others had received millions as commission from the funds of development works and had shifted the money to foreign countries.
He said that both the former prime ministers had not facilitated the lower and middle class people.
Former chief minister of Balochistan, Akhtar Mengal, said that Baloch people would resist the Punjabi establishment from the platform of Ponam, if equal rights were not awarded to Balochistan, Sindh, Seraiki belt and NWFP.
'Denial' of water to Sindh deplored: G.M. Syed's birth anniversary observed
DADU, Jan 17: The Punjab establishment is not giving due share of water to Sindh which has resulted in the collapse of the agricultural sector and has ruined the rural economy of the province.
This was said by the acting chairman of the Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz, Shafi Karnani, while speaking at the 99th birth anniversary of G.M. Syed at his native town, Sann, on Thursday.
He said that today the natural resources of Sindh were taken over by the Punjabi establishment and there was not a single drop of water available in the various parts of the Indus River to drink.
Hundreds of workers of the JSQM under the leadership of the acting chairman, Dr Shafi Karnani, former chairman, Abdul Wahid Areesar, secretary general, Ghulam Shabbir Jamali, a delegation of MQM led by Khalid Bin Waleed, Arif Razmi and Saleem Bandhyani visited the grave of founder of the Jeay Sindh Tehrik, G.M. Syed, where they offered Fateha and laid floral wreaths.
The grandson of G.M. Syed, Munir Haider Shah, cut the cake of his 99th birthday.
Speaking to the gathering, Mr Karnani said that G.M. Syed had taught the Sindhi nation to fight against the anti-Sindhi activities to achieve their rights. He reaffirmed that the workers of the JSQM would continue the struggle for Sindh state.
Mr Areesar said that the ISI and Army were spending heavy budget on the political parties of the country to install some new political set up to suit them.
He said that the provincial assemblies were deprived of powers to legislate and to run the affairs of their provinces on their own rather they had been reduced to merely debate societies of the elected members.
The JSSF central leader Akbar Jagirani said that many leaders including JSQM Chairman Basheer Khan Qureshi had been implicated in false cases like terrorism. He said that the JSSF would launch a series of protests and token hunger strikes in every taluka headquarter of Sindh from Jan 26 against the administration of the central jail and Nara jail, Hyderabad.
On this occasion, MQM leader Khalid Bin Waleed readout the written message of MQM chief Altaf Hussain for the Sindhi people.
In his message, MQM chief Altaf Hussain said that the founder of the Jeay Sindh Tehrik, G.M. Syed, was a great hero and real leader of the Sindhi people. He said that we should follow the policies of G.M. Syed for the welfare of Sindh and Sindhi people.
It may be mentioned here that the family members of G.M. Syed had celebrated his birthday on Jan 15.
US asks India to hold talks on all issues: Islamabad may deport some non-Pakistani suspects: Powell
NEW DELHI, Jan 17: The United States on Thursday asked India to start talks with Pakistan on all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, but said it was India's sovereign right to say when it would be opportune to do so.
Powell, whose arrival in New Delhi was delayed due to bad weather, said he had brought some fresh ideas to help revive peace talks between the South Asian rivals but insisted on revealing them only after meeting Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Friday.
Speaking at a news conference following a brief meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, Powell appeared to be batting for President Pervez Musharraf and his peace overtures, although he did seem to be struggling on the rough Indian turf somewhat.
Powell said he was aware of India's conditions for resuming talks with Pakistan but deftly underscored that some of the key concerns were not being ignored by Gen Musharraf.
"It's a conversation we have had before, this point he has made to me many times," Powell said after first round of talks with his Indian counterpart at Delhi's Hyderabad House. "(India says) that words are one thing and express changes in policy is another thing. That they are looking for action on the ground. It's perfectly understandable," Powell said.
Then in a quick balancing act, he added: "We have seen some action in terms of arrest of extremists, we have seen some action in terms of banning of organizations in a variety of other actions, with respect to closing down the offices of these organizations. And it is up to India to make a judgment as a sovereign democratic nation as to whether these actions are sufficient basis for them to change the policies that they are pursuing at the moment. But as the minister just said President Musharraf did make an important statement to the people of Pakistan and to the international community and we will be monitoring his actions in the days and weeks ahead. This is also a conversation I had with him in Islamabad."
Singh said India was ready to cooperate with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and said he had already expressed his appreciation of Gen Musharraf's address of Jan 12.
"Am I ready to take further steps? India has always been ready and shall be ready to take further steps but I have to see action on the ground," Singh said. "We have welcomed what Gen Musharraf said in his speech on the 12th of January. It was largely addressed to reforming society and polity within Pakistan. I said then and I repeat that we wish the people of Pakistan well and we also wish that all the statements and the announcements that Gen Pervez Musharraf has made really do translate themselves into action, for that will, in terms of the management of external affairs, contribute greatly to the benefit of international community and its fight against international terrorism. And we will cooperate and welcome fully with Gen Pervez Musharraf in that regard and as soon as we see demonstration of action."
Both Powell and Singh promised to meet the press together again on Friday, presumably for a more detailed briefing.
Weather was not the only worry when Powell arrived. Hawkish officials were in business for days before he landed.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan said Indian troops would remain at the borders till Pakistan deports the 20 terrorists and criminals wanted in India and stops pushing in militants. Referring to Pakistan's assertion that it would not hand over any Pakistani to India, he said Gen Musharraf could hand over Tiger Memon and Dawood Ibrahim, two Mumbai underworld leaders India says have taken refuge in Pakistan.
In case, Gen Musharraf refuses to deport them, "our patience will run out," Mahajan said. "If the United States could ask for Osama bin Laden, why can't India ask for Tiger Memon and Dawood?" he said.
Powell was asked about this latest tangle in the India-Pakistan standoff. He said: "India will be sending more information with regard to the individuals." He indicated that some kind of action was possible against non-Pakistanis listed by India, while Pakistan would decide what measures to take against its own citizens.
Powell's visit coincided with the presence in New Delhi of former US Secretary of State, Dr Henry Kissinger, who met Indian leaders including New Delhi's pointman for Kashmir K.C. Pant.
"I don't think the US can play a role between India and Pakistan because it's an issue between the two countries themselves," Dr Kissinger told Star News. "Some sense of proportion should be introduced into individual countries, but I am not in favour of a mediating role between India and Pakistan, I never have been," he said. "I think what is driving the two sides to a confrontation is that they inhabit the same geography. A war between them would create a whole new set of problems. Even after a victory, it would add another element of grievance in an already tense situation."
Kissinger who had an hour-long meeting with Union Home Minister L.K. Advani at his North Block office, told reporters that the US was opposed to state-sponsored terrorism "no matter where it emanated from".
Extending "strong support" to the Indian government for playing a constructive role in the fight against terrorism, he said India and Pakistan should join hands to solve the Kashmir problem.
The American leader asserted that he was in the capital to "educate himself and not to push through any politics."
India's interlocutor on Kashmir K.C. Pant met the former US Secretary of State and the US Ambassador Robert Blackwill. Though Kissinger maintained that there was no specific agenda for talks, official sources said that the US team discussed the Kashmir issue extensively besides deliberating on the issue of de-escalation of tension on the Indo-Pakistan border.
The American team also spoke about various measures initiated by New Delhi and state governments to bring down the level of violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
"I have come here to educate myself on a few facts about Kashmir and there was no specific agenda of our talks with Pant," Kissinger told reporters after a 50-minute long meeting with the Centre's interlocutor.
Asked whether the situation at the Indo-Pakistan border was volatile, Kissinger, without a direct reference to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's speech, said: "The situation concerns everybody but I hope the atmosphere has improved since the weekend."