DAWN/The News International, KARACHI 27 November 1999, Saturday, 18 Shabaan 1420
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Farooq Sattar surrenders to police
Rangers take over Karachi Water & Sewerage Board
11 vehicles taken away, Couple shot dead, man stabbed by co-worker
20 CIA cops suspended
MIRPURKHAS: Publisher, columnist sentenced for blasphemy
RAWALPINDI: Govt urged to curb sectarian terrorism
Farooq Sattar surrenders to police

KARACHI: Former provincial minister and member of Muttahida Qaumi Movement's Coordination Committee Dr Farooq Sattar surrendered himself voluntarily to the law enforcement agencies on Friday.

Sources in the ISPR confirmed to The News that Dr Farooq Sattar was taken into custody by a law enforcement agency and the National Accountability Bureau would deal with him. However, the ISPR sources seemed to have no knowledge of the charges on which Farooq Sattar was arrested.

Earlier, the party sources claimed that Farooq Sattar surrendered himself for court arrest to a law enforcement agency in Karachi on Friday noon. Addressing the press conference at Karachi Press Club, Farooq Sattar said that he had decided to surrender himself for court arrest and present for accountability.

The former Local Bodies minister however, strongly denied all the charges levelled against him regarding the corruption. Farooq said that his name was included in the case just to malign Muttahida in and outside the country. He said the raids on his house proved that the state operation against Muttahida was still on.

Addressing the press conference, Deputy Convenor of the Muttahida Coordination Committee Senator Aftab Shaikh rejected the charges against Dr Farooq Sattar. He said that the establishment wanted to punish Muttahida whose leader Altaf Hussain always raised the voice against the landlords and corrupt leaders who plundered the national wealth.

Farooq Sattar, who went underground after the raid on his house on November 17, reached the press club in the morning with party leaders Aftab Shaikh, Tariq Javed, Mustafa Kamal, Arif Khan, Babar Ghouri, Farooq Ahmed, Dr Nishat Malik, Ejaz Mehmood, Khalid bin Walid, Wasim Akhtar, Nawab Mirza, Abdul Sattar, Qadir Lakhani and Kamran Jafri.

After the press conference Farooq Sattar contacted high officials and informed them about his decision to surrender. Later he left from the press club for some unknown place where according to party leaders, he surrendered himself for court arrest.

Clarifying his position, the Muttahida leader claimed that he was not a bank defaulter or tax evader. Farooq Sattar said: "I would like to inform the media about legal position of the 1997-98 Octroi contracts which were made controversial. It was a part of the propaganda against me and my party by the vested interests through their mouthpiece - a local Urdu newspaper."

He alleged that the some anti-Muttahida elements in the PML (N) were against the PML (N) - MQM accord from day one. Farooq said that the same elements, after remaining silent for one and half months, started a controversy regarding the revenue contracts of Darsanno Channo Union Council, in the middle of July 1997. He said that this matter was also brought to the notice of the then chairman of Ehtesaab Cell for taking such necessary action.

Farooq said that he had constituted a committee to oversee the auction proceedings of the Octroi of Union Council Darsanno Channo and KMC to make the auctions transparent. Farooq said the Darsanno Channo revenue contracts for the year 1996-97 fetched Rs. 250 million. He said the target for 1997-98 was fixed at Rs. 290 million and auctions were held on 16.4.97 in presence of the overseeing committee and bids of about Rs 640 million were received.

However, he said, the contractors failed to make the payments and backed out which rendered their 2.5 per cent of the call deposits forfeited amounting to approximately Rs. 20 million. The Muttahida leader pointed out that the contractors might have purposely given inflated bids and later backed out, or this might have happened because of the first open auction.

He said the revenue contracts (all five sub-contracts) were, therefore, again auctioned on 28.5.97, 31.5.97 and 65.6.97 and eventually finalised at Rs. 340 million on the bids received in the last of the open auctions in some sub-contracts.

Farroq said that all these bids cum offers were clearly 15 per cent above the previous year's contract value as per standing instructions of the government and the legal procedures contained in the notification No. SO-II -1 (38)/80 dated 15.6.1981.

"The forfeited amount of the first aborted open auction was the additional income to the Union Council and when the same was added to the final bid of the total revenue for the year 1997-98, it became Rs. 360 million which was 44 per cent more than the previous 1996-97 year's total revenue," he said. He further said that the Octroi contract of KMC for the year 1996-97 was disposed of at about Rs 480 million and a price for the financial year 1997-98 was fixed at about Rs. 550 million.

Farooq said three consecutive auctions were held, but no contractor was willing to participate in open auctions. Later the KMC signed an agreement with Bolan Enterprise with an offer of approximately Rs. 56o million that was 17.5 per cent more than the previous year's revenue and that agreement was approved, he said.

However, Farooq said, a person Mushtaq Kumbo filed a petition against the agreement by challenging one of the clauses of the agreement, which authorised the contractor, instead of the KMC to levy Octroi on weight basis.

He said the former KMC administrator Fahimuz Zaman, through a Council Resolution in the fiscal year 1995-96, recommended and approved the incorporation of the clause in question in the KMC Octroi contract agreement for road and rail side for the year 1995-96.

Rangers take over Karachi Water & Sewerage Board
KARACHI, Nov 26: The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) was on Thursday given under the control of the Rangers.

Officials said now the rangers would supervise and coordinate all financial, operational and administrative affairs of the board.

According to the KWSB MD, Brig Mansoor, the rangers would, in fact, extend their full support to the KWSB in improving its revenue position.

They would also help the board in disconnection of illegal water connections and bring about discipline in the organisation, the MD told Dawn.

To a question, he said the decision to assign the task of monitoring and supervising the board's affairs to the rangers had been taken on the orders of the army.

Rangers' director-general Maj-Gen Abdul Qadir Baluch presided over a meeting on Friday. The meeting was attended, among others by the deputy director-general of rangers, Brig Qasim Abbas, and the KWSB MD, Brig Mansoor.

Major Abdul Qadir directed the KWSB officials to remove all illegal connections within a fortnight.

He said after the stipulated period of 15 days, the rangers would undertake checking of illegal water connections and legal action would be initiated against the consumers and KWSB officials if found involved in it.

The D-G Rangers, however, cautioned the KWSB officials not to harass the residential and commercial consumers while carrying out their campaign against illegal water connections, besides ensuring that all consumers are issued water bills so that the KWSB's income is increased.

He also asked the KWSB MD to immediately initiate legal action against ghost and absentee employees and ensure that all employees observe punctuality in office timings and discharge their duties efficiently.

He said the Ranger personnel would pay surprise visits to the KWSB offices to check the ghost employee as well as officials' attendance.

"Accountability process will be initiated against the ghost and absentee employees along with the elements responsible for patronising them", he said.

Maj-Gen Abdul Qadir also exhorted the officials of the Board to discharge their duties honestly and diligently and be polite and courteous while dealing with consumers.

There would henceforth be no political pressure on them and in case, any pressure is exerted on them from any quarter, they should intimate it in writing to the rangers, he added.

Referring to water and sewerage-related problems, he asked the KWSB officials to ensure an equitable distribution of water in every nook and corner of the city.

He said that complaints be removed promptly regarding sewage overflows.

Leaking pipelines, he said, should be repaired on a priority basis and whosoever found neglecting the public grievances would be dealt with sternly.

He stressed the need for making the complaint centres more effective, and urged the officials to maintain a proper record of consumers complaint pertaining to water shortage and overflowing gutters as the Rangers officials will regularly check them.

At the outset, he asked the KWSB MD to submit an alternate contingency plan for overcoming water shortage crisis in case water supply from the Hub source comes to a halt.

11 vehicles taken away,Couple shot dead, man stabbed by co-worker

KARACHI: Unknown assailants shot dead a couple in their Orangi Town residence early on Friday. Sources in the police said that the unidentified accused sneaked into 40-year-old Bukhsh Ali's residence No B-36 in Baloch Goth in the night. On seeing both Bukhsh Ali and his wife Imamzadi sleeping, they targeted them with their pistols and shot at them, killing both the man and wife instantly, they said. The assailants later easily managed to escape, they added. The bodies were shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsy by the police.

Police said the deceased was employed in National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) and hailed from interior of Sindh. They did not rule out the possibility of family dispute behind the killings, adding that Imamzadi was the deceased's second wife.

KILLED: Sources said that Gulab Khan, a teenage worker in Sona Cassette Factory, who along with other workers lived in the residential complex of the factory, on the day had a quarrel with his co-worker, Jamil. After an exchange of hot words Jamil allegedly picked up a screwdriver and stabbed it into the deceased's temple, killing Gulab instantly. Their other co-workers on hearing them screaming at each other rushed to the scene and saw one dead and the other injured. They called the management and police, which shifted the body to the hospital. The police have arrested the injured accused.

ACCIDENTS: Zainab Bibi, 8, died instantly while her uncle, Yaqoob, received injuries in Nazimabad Police area, when they were hit by a speedy truck near Nazimabad No 2. Sources said that the girl, resident of Mohajir Camp, along with her uncle and other members of the family was going to Clifton in their cab. They said when they reached near Nazimabad No 2, Zainab expressed her hunger before Yaqoob, who immediately parked the cab along the roadside. Both the uncle and niece were crossing the road to buy some edible item, when a speedy truck (PRO-5099), coming from the Habib Bank, hit them while they were in the middle of the road.

Police have arrested the truck driver Taraz Khan and have also impounded the vehicle. Both the dead and injured were moved to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Ismail a middle age passerby was killed on the spot, when a speedy hit-and-run vehicle ran over him in TPX Police limits, while he was crossing the road, sources said. Police rushed the body to the Civil Hospital. Fauzia, 8, d/o Asghar Ali, was killed on the spot in New Karachi Police limits, when she was run over by a hit-and-run vehicle.

BURNS VICTIM: Fazal Dad was burnt to death at his Khokharapar residence. Sources said that deceased received burn wounds when a fire broke out in his house. He later died at the Civil Hospital during treatment.

VEHICLES TAKEN AWAY: Armed men took away 11 vehicles including six cars and five motorbikes, from the different parts of the city.

Robbers looted cash and prize bonds from Zakir Ali in Artillery Maidan Police limits; cash and other valuables from Nasir Ahmed's house in Frere Police area; cash and other valuables from Shamim Ahmed's house in Khokharapar Police area; cash from Rukhsana in Nazimabad; cash, jewellery and other valuables from Mujahid Hussain's house in Gulzar-e-Hijri Police area; Rs 300,000 from Haji Rehman in Bheim Pura in Risala Police limits; cash, jewellery and other valuables from Shahbaz Ali's house in New Karachi; cash, jewellery and other valuables from a house in Saeedabad; and cash, jewellery and other items from Lal Muhammad's house in Kalakot.

FIRE BREAKS OUT: A major fire erupted in a godown of mattresses in Aram Bagh Police area on Friday noon. Six officials of the Central Fire Services received injuries in the two-and-a-half-hours long fire fighting operation.

Sources said that the fire broke out in the godown of mattresses, situated at the first floor of the three-storied Effendi Building in Aram Bagh. Both the upper floors of the building being inhabited by families were exposed to the threat the most. Residents on seeing the flames leaping to other building parts immediately informed the Central Fire Brigade Services and other rescuing teams. Soon 12 fire tenders, rescuing unit and snorkel unit reached the scene to put out the fire.

Six rescuing officials, including, Fire Station Officer Head Quarters Ehtashamuddin, Sub-Fire Officer Khalid Hussain and Firemen Zahid Ali, Muhammad Habib, Muhammad Shoaib, Abdul Waheed and Anwer Qazi were injured during the rescue operation. The causes of the incident and actual estimate of loss could not be ascertained till late in night.

20 CIA cops suspended

KARACHI: The SSP, CIA, Manzoor Mughal, on Friday ordered punishment and departmental actions against 20 personnel of his force, says a press release.

The SSP, CIA, after receiving complaints from the Complaints Cell of the force, ordered inquiries against the cops and on finding them guilty, he ordered action against. All of them were charged with the alleged misuse of powers. The SSP, CIA, suspended all of them, while three of them were demoted.

Those punished included, Inspector Tasdique Waris Sheikh, Sub-Inspectors, Mumtaz Hussain Shah, Asghar Ali, Chaudhry Iqbal, Akhter Aziz and Ghulam Ismail; ASIs Sibtain Khan, Ismat Javed, Nadeem Akbar, Muhammad Sualeh, and Akbar Barohi; Head Constables Ghulam Sarwar, Javed Iqbal, Ghulam Mustafa, Allah Ditta, and Saleem Khan; constables Hasan Abbas, Azam Hussain, Roedad Khan, Zulfiquar Ali; while Sub-Inspector Rasheed Butt was reverted to the rank of ASI; and Head Constable Arshad Hussain and Ashique Hussain were reverted to the rank of constable. Meanwhile, the CIA arrested an accused, Abdul Karim, found drunk and, allegedly, harassing people.

MIRPURKHAS: Publisher, columnist sentenced for blasphemy
MIRPURKHAS, Nov 25: Abdul Ghafoor Memon, judge of an anti- terrorism court, here has sentenced two persons to 10 years' imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs10,000 on each, in a blasphemy case.

The accused are, Zahoor Ansari, the chief editor and publisher of a Sindhi daily, Alak and a columnist, Ayub Khoso.

They were charged under Section 295 for printing a feature about Prophet Younus, Prophet Noha and Prophet Adam in which abusive and insulting language was used.

In case they fail to pay the fine they will have to undergo an additional one year of rigorous imprisonment.

The judge further awarded each of them seven years imprisonment, under the Anti-Terrorism Act's Sections 8(d) and (8(B) and imposed an additional fine of Rs7,000. If they fail to pay this fine they would have to undergo RI for one more year. Both the accused are absconding.

The complainant in the case was the convener of the Tehreek Khatm-i-Nabowat, Mian Hamadi.

speedy accountability: The general secretary of Sindh National Front (SNF), Gul Mohammad Jakhrani, has said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan a chief executive has admitted to the excesses carried out by the centre against the smaller provinces.

He hoped Gen. Musharraf would soon implement his seven point agenda to revolutionize the society.

While talking to local journalists on Thursday, he said that corrupt politicians should be held accountable for their deeds and good ones should be encouraged to come forward.

In reply to a question, he said that the process of accountability was going at a very slow pace and should be intensified.

RAWALPINDI: Govt urged to curb sectarian terrorism
RAWALPINDI, Nov 26: The military government should continue to hold power until it fulfils the seven-point agenda it has set before it, said TJP chief Allama Sajid Naqvi on Friday.

Addressing a press conference at the Rawalpindi Press Club, he called upon the government to take quick steps for implementing its seven-point agenda. "After the implementation of its agenda, the army should pack up and return to barracks."

He said his party considered a sincere and patriotic army leadership far better than the democratic set-up, which, he added, was subject to compromises and stood in constant fear of terrorists.

"Such an armed forces' leadership will be able to create democracy on a sound-footing," he said, adding that the army's agenda was a guarantee of development and prosperity.

Calling for transparent and across-the-board accountability, Mr Naqvi said the chief executive had not made a clear-cut announcement about sectarian terrorism. "We are surprised that the biggest threat to Pakistan in the context of its security and defence is ignored even though the superior courts, former COAS and the chief executive have admitted in October and in recent days that sectarian terrorism poses the greatest threat to the country."

The Tehrik-i-Jafria Pakistan leader called on Gen Musharraf to come down heavily on the people involved in sectarian terrorism. Similarly, politicians, bureaucrats and other elements, who patronized sectarian terrorists, should be brought to book, he added.

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

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