DAWN/The News International, KARACHI 6 September 2005, Tuesday, 1 Shabaan
www.karachipage.com (click on underlined key-words/dates to get more details)
Muttahida lays claim on Karachi, Hyderabad: Nazim, naib nazim slots
2 shot dead, Body of Imam exhumed at Madrassa
Rape victim against multiple inquiries
3 govt officials killed in Miranshah
2 bomb blasts target school, BHU in S Waziristan
More troops on Afghan border’
One killed as Gilgit Jirga talks peace
Secret links with Israel 10 years old: Kasuri
13 Taliban die in Afghan raid
Muttahida lays claim on Karachi, Hyderabad: Nazim, naib nazim slots

KARACHI, Sept 5: As scramble for the top slot in the cities and towns gained momentum in the final phase of the local body elections, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has ruled out any adjustment with any group for the nazim and naib nazim slots of the city district government of Karachi but hinted that there could be adjustments in towns according to party position.

“There was no question of sharing the slots of nazim and naib nazim of the CDGK and Hyderabad district government with any group because we have a clear cut majority, but there can be adjustments in other parts of the province,” said an insider when asked to comment on the reported statement of the chief minister about possibility of adjustments with the MQM.

The Muttahida had already announced names of the candidates for town nazims and naib nazims which was a clear indication of its strength in the metropolis. It had claimed that out of 18 towns, it was in control of 14. On this premise, they stand a sure chance of forming the city district government.

But the situation was still confusing amid reports that the federal government was exerting pressure on the MQM for installing its nominee for the top slot in the CDGK. The MQM had publicly opposed any such move and claimed that it was their (MQM’s) right to decide.

MQM had down-played the issue after initial outburst but the question was why the federal government was insisting that its proxy should be heading the CDGK. The federal government representatives maintained that it was necessary because of the significance of the city as hub of business and industrial activity and development of assets to transform Karachi into a modern international city.

They maintained that Niamatullah Khan was successful because he had blessing as well as support of the federal government for infrastructure development.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement sources claimed the Haq Parast group had won over 1,400 seats while the PPP-backed Awam Dost panel claimed over 400. Jamaat-i-Islami backed Al-Khidmat group says it has over 500 while the ANP claims to have pocketed about 100. The JUI has also claimed that it has won over 100. The JUP is claiming 80 seats while Sunni Tehrik says it has 25. PML (N) claims it had won over 80 though this claim appears exaggerated. About 100 independents have also emerged victorious.

An interesting but confusing situation has emerged following these claims made by the respective groups because it exceeds the total strength of the electoral college of 2314 in the city for the election of nazim/naib nazim.

From the MQM and government circles names of Syed Safwanullah, Babar Ghori, Wasay Jaleel, Tariq Javed, Gen Moinuddin Haider, M. Usmani, Arif Abbasi and Ahmad Maqsood Hameedi were in circulation but some of them had expressed their inability to contest. Opposition groups have not yet named any candidate but Niamatullah Khan was already in the field with a credible track record.

While the MQM remained upbeat, the opposition parties were also arraying for the final showdown. Their leaders have started working out modalities for propelling candidates on the top slots in the 18 towns as well as the CDGK.

A high-level delegation of the Pakistan People’s Party, led by its central information secretary Taj Haider, had visited Idara Noor-i-Haq after the Sindh Council’s meeting on Sunday and discussed future cooperation with local JI leader Mairajul Huda and his colleagues.

It was agreed in principle that cooperation would be extended to all those parties and groups who were opposed to the ruling party and its coalition partners. It was agreed in principle that they would support each other’s proxy in the towns and the CDGK on the basis of their respective strength. The party which had more councillors would put up candidate for the nazim slot while the other one would be given naib nazim’s slot in the towns. The same principle would be applied in the CDGK.

A follow-up meeting in this regard in which PPP Karachi chapter president Rashid Rabbani was to discuss fine tuning of the modalities could not take place on Monday because of the arrival of JI chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad in the city. It was now expected after his engagements. However, in view of the strong criticism of the party leaderships, in Sindh Council meeting, for seat adjustments with the JI in the first two phases of the local body elections the question of how long this process would continue was still unanswered.

 2 shot dead, Body of Imam exhumed at Madrassa

KARACHI: Body of an Imam was exhumed from the construction site of a Madrassa.

According to details, Qari Abdul Sattar went missing from his residence in Orangi Town since July 29. His wife Ghazala told police that prior to his disappearance, Sattar was busy constructing a Madrassa in Khairabad. When she went to the site she saw a freshly made grave. Consequently, the police reached the spot and after digging, they exhumed Sattar’s body and shifted it to the hospital. Police said that Ghazala suspected Sattar’s brother Abdul Rehman Bukhari of killing him and disclosed that Rehman had also been missing since the same day as Sattar.

MURDERED: Tehmeena was injured by a stray bullet while she was on the rooftop of her house in Shadman Town. She was rushed her to the JPMC where she died.

Riasat Ali Khan was shot dead by two armed men riding a motorcycle near his Baldia Town residence. His relatives shifted his body to Civil Hospital for autopsy.

The body of Rizwan, 25, who had drowned at the Sea View on Sunday was recovered near Manora Island. His body was shifted to Civil Hospital for autopsy.

 Rape victim against multiple inquiries

LAHORE/FAISALABAD, Sept 5: Sonia Naz, a housewife who is in limelight after the allegation that police raped her, has moved the Supreme Court with the request that proceedings in the government-appointed inquiry commission should be stayed. Expressing her no-confidence in the commission, she stated in a writ petition, moved through advocate Asma Jahangir, that she had serious doubts about the neutrality of the commission and its inquiry because it was giving undue latitude to accused policemen. The Supreme Court has already sought report of the inquiry commission.

TRIBUNAL: The one-man tribunal constituted by the Punjab government directed the Faisalabad police chief to ensure the presence of Sonia Naz before it on Tuesday (today).

The tribunal head, District and Sessions Judge Abdul Waheed Khan, further directed the DPO to ensure the presence of all policemen and excise officials connected to the case.

Earlier, immediately on the commencement of the proceedings on Monday, a panel of lawyers headed by DBA president Saleem Jahangir Chattha and Human Rights Commission’s Jan Nisar Baloch advocate moved an application on behalf of Sonia Naz in which she contended that she had already recorded her statement before an inquiry committee constituted by the provincial government reports of which had been sought by the apex court.

She further narrated that she had neither received any formal notice about the inquiry proceedings in the tribunal nor she had any knowledge about the terms of reference of the inquiry.

She contended that the institution of multiple inquires would affect justice.

Her lawyers said that they had moved an application to the Sattu Katla police in Lahore seeking registration of a case against SP Abdullah Khalid Warraich; inspector Jamshed Iqbal Chishti and other policemen for committing rape, abduction, torture and illegal confinement but no case had been registered because of the influence of the accused.

They requested the tribunal to adjourn the proceedings for a week.

SP Abdullah Khalid was also present in the court. The judge expressed displeasure over the absence of inspector Jamshed Iqbal Chishti and asked the state to ensure his presence at every cost on Tuesday.

INQUIRY: A police probe committee on Monday cross-examined Sonia Naz and the SP whom she had blamed for having ordered her rape by inspector Chishti.

In the company of advocate Asma Jehangir, Naz appeared before the committee headed by DIG Zafar Qureshi at the Punjab Central Police office.

A source said the woman repeated the allegations which were again denied by the SP sitting in front of her.

The alleged rape victim submitted a written rejoinder to the committee, which she had also sent to Senate functional committee on human rights.

 3 govt officials killed in Miranshah

MIRANSHAH: Three government officials were killed and three others were wounded Monday when gunmen fired at them in Miranshah town in the troubled North Waziristan tribal region near the border with Afghanistan.

North Waziristan’s political agent Tariq Hayat told The News that two of the killers had been arrested after hectic efforts while manhunt had been launched to apprehend their two accomplices. He identified the two arrested tribesmen as Gul Badshah and his nephew Sher Badshah belonging to the Borakhel Wazir sub-tribe. He said curfew had been imposed in Miranshah and Mir Ali towns from 9 pm to 5 am and shoot-at-sight orders had been given against anyone carrying a gun. He said the paramilitary Frontier Corps had been given extra powers in a bid to track down the killers.

Those killed included Miranshah’s tehsildar Iftikhar Khattak, political moharrir Ali Imroze and member of the khassadar force Abdul Hameed. Khattak was critically wounded and died from his injuries in the hospital. The other two were killed on the spot. The three wounded persons included a khassadar and two bystanders. All three were hospitalized.

The bazaars in Miranshah closed down after the firing incident at 10 am and tension gripped the town. Announcements were made from mosque loudspeakers on the administration’s request urging the people to fire at or catch anyone brandishing a gun. It was a desperate measure to deny sanctuary to the gunmen who were on the run.

Earlier, government sources had reported that the slain officers were trying to disarm a tribesman carrying a Kalashnikov (AK-47) rifle in violation of a ban on arms in the town. The sources were quoted as saying that the tribesman refused to hand over his rifle and instead opened fire on the government officials. However, North Waziristan’s political agent Tariq Hayat said the attackers had pursued the slain officers who were walking on foot and fired at them without provocation. The officers were patrolling the Miranshah bazaar at the time of the incident.

Government officials have been threatened after having taken part in operations aimed at hunting down local and foreign militants. Names of some of the officials have reportedly appeared in hit lists prepared by the militants, who are sometimes referred to as Taliban or Mujahideen in North Waziristan and South Waziristan.

North Waziristan has been wrecked by violence involving militants opposed to the government of President General Pervez Musharraf. Foreign militants are reported to have taken refuge in the area after fleeing a military crackdown in neighbouring South Waziristan. Rocketing of military installations and roadside bombings mostly targeting Pakistan Army convoys are frequent in North Waziristan.

Our correspondent Sailab Mahsud adds from Tank: Two bomb explosions damaged a school and a basic health unit in South Waziristan Monday while a vehicle belonging to a foreign-funded project was snatched at gunpoint in another incident.

Political authorities in Luddah in the Mahsud tribe territory confirmed the bombings and said efforts were being made to track down the perpetrators of the two attacks.

The basic health unit in the historic Kaniguram village was the target of the bomb explosion Sunday night. Official and tribal sources said four rooms of the facility were damaged.

Meanwhile, one room of the government high school in Karikot was destroyed in the second blast Sunday night.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the two bomb blasts. In another incident, armed men snatched a vehicle belonging to the foreign-funded South FATA Development Project from the Rustam Bazaar in Wana and took it away to the Mahsud tribe’s area. The vehicle had been brought to Rustam Bazaar for repairs from the project office located inside the F C Camp in Wana. The gunmen reportedly told the three khasadars (tribal armed force) who were with the vehicle that they had snatched the vehicle on the orders of their Amir (leader). They dropped the three khasadars at Khar Pul, where the Mahsud and Ahmadzai Wazir tribal boundary meets, and allowed them to go back to Wana.

Earlier also, the militants had taken away two other project vehicles. The militants are opposed to non-governmental organizations after accusing them of being in the pay of Western donors.

There have been killings of pro-government tribal elders in parts of South Waziristan recently. One Malik Mahboob, who was anti-Taliban, was shot dead by men riding a vehicle in Spinkai Raghzai town a few days ago. The hotheaded tribal elder belonged to the Gurikhel Mahsud tribe.

A tailor named Farooq was also killed in mysterious circumstances in Makeen town recently. Residents said the tailor was dubbed by the Islamic elements as "immoral" and killed. Farooq belonged to Tank but had shifted to Makeen due to personal reasons.

 2 bomb blasts target school, BHU in S Waziristan

TANK: Two bomb explosions damaged a school and a basic health unit (BHU) in South Waziristan on Monday while a vehicle belonging to a foreign-funded project was snatched at gunpoint in another incident.

The political authorities in Luddah in the Mahsud tribe’s territory confirmed the bombings and said efforts were being made to track down the perpetrators of the two attacks. The basic health unit in the historic Kaniguram village was the target of the bomb explosion Sunday night. Official and tribal sources said four rooms of the facility were damaged.

Meanwhile, one room of the government high school in Karikot was destroyed in the second blast Sunday night. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the two bomb blasts. In another incident, armed men snatched a vehicle belonging to the foreign-funded South Fata Development Project from the Rustam Bazaar in Wana and took away it to the Mahsud tribe’s area. The vehicle had been brought to Rustam Bazaar for repairs from the project office located inside the F C Camp in Wana. The gunmen reportedly told the three Khassadars (tribal armed force) who were with the vehicle that they had snatched the vehicle on the orders of their Amir, or leader. They dropped the three Khassadars at Khar Pul, where the Mahsud and Ahmadzai Wazir tribal boundary meets, and allowed them to go back to Wana.

Earlier also, the militants had taken away two other project vehicles. The militants are opposed to non-governmental organizations after accusing them of being in the pay of Western donors. The militants are convinced that the South FATA Development Project too is an NGO, hence their efforts to

There have been killings of pro-government tribal elders in parts of South Waziristan recently. One Malik Mahboob, who was anti-Taliban, was shot dead by men riding a vehicle in Spinkai Raghzai town a few days ago. The hotheaded tribal elder belonged to the Gurikhel Mahsud tribe.

A tailor named Farooq was also killed in mysterious circumstances in Makeen town recently. Residents said the tailor was dubbed by the Islamic elements as "immoral" and killed. Farooq belonged to Tank but had shifted to Makeen due to personal reasons.

 One killed as Gilgit Jirga talks peace

GILGIT: Armed men sprayed a vehicle with bullets on a suburban road in this mountainous town on Monday, killing one passenger on the spot and injuring two others in a shooting spree, sources said. The incident occurred when a grand Jirga (gathering) of local leaders of various sects was in progress in a local hotel to settle the chronic issue of sectarian violence in the region that has caused hundreds of lives, this year. Bullets riddled the body of Umer Daraz, leaving him dead on the spot while Alam Zeb and Mohammad Nasir sustained serious wounds, sources said. The unhurt driver of the vehicle drove them to the district hospital where injured were admitted for treatment. Meanwhile a grand Jirga of local leaders belonging to rival sects was in full swing to settle the issue of sectarianism once for all in this region. The participants deliberated for hours devising ways to end the sectarian strife in Northern Areas where hundreds of innocent people had been killed so far since the beginning of this year.

 Secret links with Israel 10 years old: Kasuri

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri has said Pakistan and Israel were engaged in secret contacts with each other for the last more than 10 years.

He declared that the handshake with Israel was made in the interest of Pakistan and no pressure from outside whatsoever was at work for this. This would certainly help in enhancing Pakistan’s role for the cause of Palestine.

Kasuri said that no meeting of President Musharraf with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in New York was scheduled as yet. Kasuri was talking to newsmen at the reception hosted by him in the honour of envoys of foreign countries posted in Islamabad at the foreign office Monday evening.

He cautiously welcomed the meeting between APHC leaders and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and termed it as "the second best step". He said the Kashmir dispute could best be resolved in trilateral talks, ie with participation of Pakistan, India and Kashmiris. The APHC leaders' meetings with the leadership of Pakistan and India separately cannot be a substitute to that of trilateral talks on one table.

The foreign minister said the statement of Indian Prime Minister that new ray of hope for peace has emerged and time has come that suffering of Kashmiri people should come to an end is welcome.

The proposed meeting of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the margins of the United Nations’ General Assembly on 14th of this month would yield positive results as the two leaders have developed good understanding of the situation and their chemistry on two early meetings gives encouraging signs. Kashmir issue and ongoing composite dialogue between Pakistan and India will figure prominently in this meeting.

 ‘More troops on Afghan border’

 ISLAMABAD, Sept 5: Pakistan has sent thousands of troop reinforcements to its western border to help stop a Taliban-led insurgency during the Afghan parliamentary election scheduled for Sept 18, according to a military spokesman. Around 5,000 extra troops had been sent to the Frontier province and 4,500 more to Balochistan, taking the total deployed in the border areas to almost 80,000, said Major-General Shaukat Sultan.

“The step has been taken to enhance security on the border before the Afghan elections,” Mr Sultan told Reuters, though he added that given the length of the border and rugged terrain, it was impossible to seal the frontier completely.

An officer of the Frontier Corps, Major Mohammad Ibrahim told newsmen in Chaman on Monday that besides Frontier Corps personnel, regular Army men had also been deployed along the border.

All the non-traditional entrance and exit points on the border with Afghanistan had been sealed and only the Friendship Gate at Chaman would remain open for the people travelling with legal documents, he said.

Latest scanners and secret cameras had also been installed along the border, he said.—Agencies

 13 Taliban die in Afghan raid

KANDAHAR: Afghan and US forces searching for a kidnapped election candidate had killed 13 suspected rebels and arrested 44 others in a raid on a Taliban hideout, local officials said on Monday. Kandahar Governor Assadullah Khaled said 13 Taliban were killed as a result of aerial bombing in the mountains between Ghorak and Khakrez districts while 44 others were arrested. Defence Ministry spokesman General Mohammed Zahir Azimi said one Afghan soldier was wounded when helicopter-borne US and Afghan forces raided the alleged rebel den. He said he had no details of Taliban casualties but confirmed the arrests, adding: "They were arrested armed, which indicates they are Taliban." Meaanwhile, US military spokesman Cindy Moore said the operation involving US forces was still ongoing and confirmed that at least 40 "enemy combatants" had been detained.

YESTERDAY'S NEWS

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