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Muttahida worker acquitted
MQM, SHCBA condemn killings
Doctors observe complete strike
Man shot dead; robbers kill transporter
Benazir, Nawaz can't contest poll
Govt accused of pre-poll rigging
440kg gunpowder seized near Afghan border
US, Afghan troops claim victory in Gardez battle
Muttahida worker acquitted
KARACHI, March 13: The district and sessions judge, Central, Ahmed Nawaz Shaikh, acquitted on Wednesday a worker of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in a 'police encounter' case.
Muhammed Arshad was prosecuted under Sections 324 and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code for attempting to kill a policemen in a shootout in 1999 within the Nazimabad police limits. The judge exonerated the accused of all charges as the prosecution could not establish its case against him.
MQM, SHCBA condemn killings
KARACHI, March 13: The coordination committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement has condemned the killing of doctors and held that such incidents were aimed at destroying peace in the city.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the coordination committee said that the killing of doctors, including that of Prof Dr Anwarul Islam of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, indicated that "government agencies wanted to create law and order situation in the city and cause a sense of insecurity among doctors".
The committee demanded of the President Pervez Musharraf to take cognizance of the target killings of doctors and order immediate arrests of the culprits.
SHCBA: The Sindh High Court Bar Association on Wednesday condemned the killing of doctors and expressed concern over the failure of security agencies in apprehending the culprits.
In a resolution released by the Honorary Secretary of the SHCBA, Khalid Javed, the association's managing committee expressed dissatisfaction over the deteriorating law and order situation, in general, and in the metropolitan city, in particular, where targeted killings, car snatchings, abductions for ransom and other heinous crimes have become order of the day.
The managing committee, which met under its president Abul Inam, was concerned over the fact that despite the presence of all kinds of law enforcing agencies and specially when the country is subjected to army rule, yet no measures to pre-empty and deter the hardened habitual offenders have been taken.
Expressing grave concern, the SHCBA noted that during the recent months many prominent doctors have been targeted ostensibly to fan sectarian and ethnic hatred, resultantly adding further to the miseries of poor patients who are otherwise denied the facility of medical treatment by efficient and dedicated doctors.
Such continued unchecked acts of terrorism have particularly deterred a number of medical professionals to render routine services. It was of the view that in spite of tall claims the present government had miserably failed even to offer the slightest resistance to the enemies of the country.
The members of the legal fraternity endorsed the serious concern expressed by the members of PMA and assured that it shall stand shoulder to shoulder with them to impress upon the present rulers to realise their basic duty of providing security to those serving the humanity, irrespective of their caste, creed and status in the society.
The SHCBA urged the government to immediately address the problem as a matter of priority and take necessary steps to bring the culprits to justice.
Doctors observe complete strike
KARACHI: Bereaved doctors administered Wednesday a
heavy dose of protest in the form of 'active strike' to the already
anaesthetised civil administration over the killing of doctors in the
city.
Doctors observed a complete strike to press
authorities pursue doctors' killers as more than 80 doctors have been
killed during the past two years. Hours before the strike, Dr
Anwar-ul-Islam, head of the ENT dept of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital was
killed.
Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) had called for a
complete strike at every health outlet well in advance. As doctors
kept out of patients' reach at every major public hospital after
burying fifth doctor during last 15 days, the police high-ups rushed
to their representatives only to reassure protection and muster three
demands. "We have asked the police for ban on pillion
riding," Dr Tipu Sultan, secretary general of PMA, recalled his
meeting with the IG Police Sindh Kamal Shah. "We want the
administration to arm and train doctors in ballistics and speedy
trials of terrorists."
Doctors from different public sector facilities
assembled at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and appealed to
their fellow doctors 'stop paying taxes'. "No taxation without
protection," declared one of their resolutions.
Bashir Hayat, an eyewitness, said the registration
counters at different OPDs of Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) were closed
down, which forced him to return home. He said a couple of women were
crying at the gynaecological OPD as no doctor was there to see the
registered patients including his wife.
The visitors at 10:10am also found the emergency
department of the hospital locked and counters closed. Several
patients were gathered outside the emergency department and attendants
of an injured patient were desperately searching for a doctor. Police
were found guarding different points at CHK.
Later in the second half of the day, the records of
the casualty section showed extraordinary influx of patients seeking
medical help for their otherwise minor ailments as well in the wake of
closed OPDs. "We have catered to 362 patients and entertained 28
admissions," a staff member informed at 2:30pm.
As per a rough estimates more than 500 operations
were postponed adding more miseries to the sufferings of the most
suffered population of Karachi. On an average 50-60 listed surgeries
could not be performed at the JPMC, the CHK and Abbasi Shaheed
Hospital.
The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases
could not offer its OPD service to a large number of cardiac patients
and similarly doctors did not pay regular visits to the wards.
"We remained off the job but not from the emergency and
wards," Dr Akmal said.
The Sindh Paramedical Staff Association (SPSA)
staged protest meetings at different public health care outlets
demanding of the authorities to compensate the next of the kin of the
doctors killed during the last two years. It also asked for special
arm licenses to both medical and paramedical staff.
"Ruthless slaying of doctors is unprecedented
in the history," Zakir Husain, chairman central SPSA committee,
observed. "If this target killing of messiahs goes unabated and
government fails to tackle the issue...May God save country's public
health outlets."
In response to the PMA-sponsored strike, doctors at
the city's premier private facility- Aga Khan University Hospital- had
a meeting in the morning to show solidarity with the bereaved doctors.
It took some time in convincing hospital management not to suppress
their protest.
At 12:30pm, the AKUH staff, predominantly doctors,
walked out of the hospital. Eyewitnesses said doctors stood outside
the pink building on the pavement and even sat there for a while.
"It was a very peculiar protest," a doctor commented.
A general body meeting of doctors held in the JPMC
was attended by all senior and junior doctors and was addressed by
Prof Kazi Abdul Shakoor, the JPMC director, Prof Zeenat Essani, the
NICH director, and Dr Habib-ur-Rahman Soomro, the PMA secretary
general.
The meeting unanimously condemned the targeted
killing of innocent doctors in the city, where 90 doctors have been
gunned down in the last two years. "We demand of the government
to provide protection to doctors and to arrest the culprits and award
due punishment."
The doctors met at the PMA House later in the
evening and decided to hold a protest rally on March 16 at Regal
Chowk. "Our general meeting on March 18 will chalk out next
course of action," a short announcement said.
Meanwhile, General Secretary Pakistan Islamic
Medical Association Dr Syed Ahmed Hamid criticised the government for
taking fool-proof measures to specifically protect American citizens
and government officials but not for the messiahs.
"We appeal doctors to remain united in this
hour of crisis and observe an hour-long token strike from 10.00am for
three days," he said. "We distaste such extreme reactions
but our peaceful protest will go on."
Man shot dead; robbers kill transporter
KARACHI: Two men were shot dead and one was injured
in different incidents, while a man, his wife and mother received burn
wounds, sources said on Wednesday.
Two unidentified armed men killed Mo'azzam Iqbal,
45, at the door of his residence in Khuda Ki Basti within New Karachi
Industrial Area police limits. According to police, the killers
knocked at his door and opened fire at him as he came out. His body
was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. He was a candle maker and had
two daughters and a son.
Three bandits shot dead a goods transporter,
Chaudhry Abdul Razzaq, 50, and injured Yusuf Ali during a robbery
during a robbery in which they took away cash from their office at
Mauripur Road in Kalri police limits.
Police said Abdul Razzaq, owner of New Chishtian
Goods Transport Co, had just entered his office after drawing Rs
250,000 from a bank when three bandits, entered his office after him
and asked him to hand over the money. They opened fire when he
resisted, inflicting a bullet wound in his chest and injuring his
Munshi Yusuf. Razzaq died on the spot while Yusuf who got a wound in
his leg. The body and the injured were taken to Civil Hospital. The
deceased hailed from Multan and had four children.
INJURED IN FIRING: Two bandits shot at and injured
manager of NGO Rotary Club, Muhammad Yunus, 60, and took away Rs
11,000, entering his office on second floor of Muhammadi House in
Mithadar Police Station limits. Police said two bandits entered into
the office and opened fire at Yunus when he resisted their robbery
bid. Yunus was shifted to Civil Hospital.
Muhammad Ehsan lodged a complaint with Sharea
Faisal police that three unidentified men entered his house and took
away cash and jewellery; three armed men deprived a shopkeeper Pervaiz
Anwar of 15 mobile phone sets in Mahmoodabad police limits.
CARJACKINGS: At least 14 vehicles, including four
cars, a truck and nine motorcycles were either snatched or stolen from
different areas on Wednesday.
Benazir, Nawaz can't contest poll
TOKYO, March 13: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday ruled out any possibility of former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif being allowed to stand for election in October.
President Musharraf was asked whether he would allow the two to take part in national and provincial elections due in October during a press conference in Tokyo. "Well, the answer is very short - no," Gen Musharraf said.
Benazir Bhutto has been living in self-imposed exile, mostly in Dubai but also in London, since just before her conviction for corruption in 1998.
Earlier this month, Qasim Zia, president of PPP Punjab, said Benazir Bhutto would return to Pakistan and was sure to be elected prime minister for a third time if Musharraf permitted free and fair elections.
Nawaz Sharif was exiled to Saudi Arabia in December 2000 after he struck a deal with the military government to get out of jail, where he was serving 21 years for hijacking and tax evasion, in exchange for political silence.
The President has said he will remain as leader after October. But he was vague on his own future, saying only that he would do his constitutional part.-AFP
Govt accused of pre-poll rigging
ISLAMABAD, March 13: Leaders of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Wednesday met 13 envoys from the member states of the European Union and expressed their reservations
about the electoral and constitutional reforms being introduced by the government.
The ARD leaders held a two-hour-long meeting with the ambassadors at the residence of the Spanish envoy and apprised them of ARD's stand on different issues, including the process of accountability being carried out by the government. A source said the politicians had also expressed their reservations about the government's claim to hold free, fair and impartial elections.
They alleged that the government had already resorted to "pre-poll rigging" by projecting some favourite politicians and vilifying those, who were against it.
The ARD leaders also met the US political counsellor, Chat Blakeman, and apprised him of their reservations about the constitutional reforms.
The ARD delegation included veteran politician Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, Pakistan People's Party Vice Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Pakistan Muslim League's (PML-N) Senior Vice President Zafar Ali Shah.
440kg gunpowder seized near Afghan border
MIRANSHAH: The Pakistani authorities on Wednesday
seized 440 kg of gunpowder in the bordering town of Miranshah near
Afghanistan's Paktia province. "We have seized two sacks of
gunpowder from a pick-up truck and arrested two Afghan nationals and a
Pakistani," Maqsood, a sub-district administrator here, told
Reuters. "The highly explosive material was smuggled into
Pakistan from Afghanistan," the official said, adding that the
gunpowder was intended for use in mortar bombs and other explosive
devices. Maqsood said that the two Afghans arrested were residents of
the eastern Afghan province of Khost, next to Paktia. The third man
was from Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area. Another Pakistani
official, Khawaja Jan, said that the men entered Pakistan despite
Tuesday night's increased patrols in the border area and pickets on
all routes after a tip-off that explosives would be smuggled there.
US, Afghan troops claim victory in Gardez battle
BAGRAM AIR BASE: US and Afghan troops said on
Wednesday that they had overrun a cave complex in eastern Afghanistan
where Taliban and al-Qaeda militants had held out for nearly two weeks
and were now hunting just 100 survivors of the rebel force.
"We have finished our operation," said
Maj-Gen Karamuddin, chief of office in Afghan Defence Ministry.
"We have cleaned up Shahi Kot and killed most of them, and the
rest fled."
Karamuddin said that many Afghan troops had
returned to the eastern town of Gardez after completing their job in
the mountain battle-zone near Shahi Kot. "It's a great
success," US military spokesman Major Bryan Hilferty told
reporters earlier at Bagram, control point for "Operation
Anaconda", on the outskirts of Kabul. "Probably the next
objective is to make sure that everything is secure."
"There are less than 100 (Taliban and
al-Qaeda) left." However, there was no news on the whereabouts of
Saifur Rahman Mansour, leader of the 1,000 rebels who held the US and
Afghan forces at bay for 12 bitter days in the biggest ground battle
of the five-month-old Afghan War. "He is either killed or has
fled to Pakistan," said Gulbuddin, an aide to Afghan Defence
Minister Mohammad Fahim.
Gulbuddin said that Mansour had been leader of the
Taliban in the Gardez area. His father was killed in fighting between
Afghan warlords before the Taliban ended the civil war and took power
in 1996.
The US military said that eight US troops and three
other coalition troops were killed and nearly 100 wounded in the
12-day operation. For the first time, the US and Afghan forces were
entering caves still protected by landmines and booby traps searching
for documents and weapons left by the rebels.
Hilferty said that the key to victory was the
capture of the region's highest mountain and key ridgeline known as
"The Whale". Mountains in the area soar up to 12,000 feet
and are dotted with deep, hidden caves. "They had been building
this place and this defence for years," said another military
spokesman. "We definitely put a spike through their heart."
On Tuesday, Afghan General Abdul Joyenda told
Reuters the allied troops had overrun the Shahi Kot rebel positions,
sending the fighters fleeing toward the border with Pakistan and
effectively ending the biggest battle of the Afghan War.
Major Hilferty said that there was still work to be
done in the Shahi Kot area and the war in Afghanistan was not over
with other militant pockets elsewhere in the country to be rooted out.
Hilferty said more than 1,500 US and Afghan troops
were involved in the search for the remaining rebels and were seeking
to block off their escape routes. But an Afghan intelligence officer
in Gardez told Reuters that there were "gaping holes"
through which the rebels could flee in the direction of Urgun, a
district less than 50 km from the border with Pakistan. "There is
no control over that frontier," said the official, who declined
to be named. "It is a very inaccessible route with rugged
mountains and deep valleys."
There were non-Afghans among about 800 militants
killed during the battle, he said. Afghan commanders have said the
dead included Chechens, Pakistanis and Arabs, who are believed to form
the core of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. "There are fewer
than 20 detainees. They're being interrogated and we assume they are
all al-Qaeda," Hilferty said.
In Washington, Air Force Brigadier General John
Rosa said with the Taliban on the run US soldiers were starting to
search caves they had abandoned. He said most of the more than 40
caves in the area had not been searched."With the booby traps,
with the landmines and with the unexpended ordnance, we have got to go
very slow, very calculating and very carefully."