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Muttahida denies reports of dialogue
Council members extend support to Muttahida
Diplomats visit Beach Park project
Body of minor found; girl commits suicide
Karachi polluted water issue raised in Senate
2 injured in Kalat blast
Witnesses in PM attack case cross-examined
SP Khalid, four other cops booked
4 suspects held in Wana
Taliban vow to step up war after Afghan poll
Pakistan warns of new turmoil if Iran targeted: Kasuri says US briefed
Russia, China warn US, EU over Iran nuclear plan
Muttahida denies reports of dialogue
KARACHI, Sept 21: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s coordination committee on Wednesday emphatically rebutted news report that a dialogue was going on between the party and the PML(Q) for the deputy nazim’s slot in Karachi.
It stated that Ms Nasreen Jaleel’s name had been announced for that slot and there was no room for negotiations on it.
The denial apparently dashed aspirations of Tariq Hasan who earlier this week had claimed that he was the PML(Q) nominee for the Naib Nazim’s slot and that the PML chief, Ch Shujaat Hussain, was trying to solicit MQM’s support. Mr Hassan had filed nomination for the reserved seat to become a labour councillor to qualify for being a contestant for Naib Nazim’s slot.
Dr Farooq Sattar had earlier told Dawn that the party had nominated Ms Nasreen Jaleel and pressing such an issue would be an exercise in futility.
Meanwhile, independent councillors from Keamari town, Sultanabad UC 2, announced their support to the Haq Parast panel candidate for the top slot in town and CDGK. They announced their support at a news conference in Press Club.
They said their support was determined by the Haq Parast’s track record in development of infrastructure, maintenance of law and order and service of the people.
Council members extend support to Muttahida
KARACHI: Seven council members, elected in the recent
local body elections, have extended support to the Haq Parast panel. These
members announced this at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on
Wednesday. Shanawaz Jadoon, Abdul Malik, Falak Nam, Mumtaz Begum (labour
councillors); Habib and Nasreen Akhtar (general councilors); and Abid
(minority councilor) of Keamari Town, Sultanabad, UC-2, have unanimously
extended support to the Haq Parast panel. Addressing the press conference,
these councilors said: "we have tested various other groups but found
the Haq Parast the only panel which can serve the masses and resolve their
problems". They said: "we will leave no stone unturned to make Haq
Parast candidates successful in the local body elections scheduled for Oct 6.
Diplomats visit Beach Park project
KARACHI, Sept 21: Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad along with diplomats of the UK, the USA, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Russia, Iran and South Korea in Karachi on Wednesday visited the under-construction Beach Park at Sea View, sending a message to the international community that there is no security threat in the metropolis.
Earlier, a meeting at the Governor’s House reviewed the ongoing development projects.
Construction of this Rs261 million park started on July 22 and the first phase of the project would be completed next month. The park would be opened for people by the end of December.
Besides having food court, playground and other facilities, the 47-acre park would have six car parking areas.
“We are enjoying the breeze and pleasant environment here. It is beautiful,” US Consul-General Mary Witt said while sharing her experience with newsmen.
British Deputy High Comm-issioner Hamish Daneil said government’s initiative to provide such a facility was a welcome sign for people.
Consuls-General of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Germany, Iran, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and Russia were also present.
Earlier, the DCO briefed governor and diplomats about the project and its salient features. DG Rangers Javed Zia, Local Government Adviser Waseem Akhtar, IG Police Asad Jahangir and other officials were also present. —PPI
Body of minor found; girl commits suicide
KARACHI: The body of a minor was found and a young girl
died due to swallowing poison, police said on Wednesday.
According to details, the body of an eight-year-old boy
was found from the back street of his house in Block 6 PECHS. Area residents
saw the body and informed the police, who reached the place and shifted the
body to JPMC. The deceased was identified as Muhammad Saleem, the son of a
tailor-master. The medico legal experts attributed that the minor’s death
had resulted due to severe blows to the head. Saleem was a resident of a
nearby Kachchi Abaadi in New Sindhi Muslim Colony and a student of Iqra
School who had disappeared on September 20. Police had also lodged a report
regarding his disappearance. The body was handed over to deceased’s family
after completion of legal formalities. The boy’s viscera have been
preserved to investigate into the murder. A case has been registered against
unknown killers on complaint of Muhammad Ameen, the father of Saleem.
SUICIDE: Aneeqa, 24, who had attempted suicide by
swallowing poison earlier, died on Wednesday at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Area police said that Aneeqa had developed intimate feelings for a young man
whom her parents disapproved of. Following an argument with her mother over
the above issue, the enraged Aneeqa swallowed poison and became unconscious.
She was taken to ASH where she died, police added. The body was handed over
to her family.
ROBBERIES: Three armed bandits looted cash worth Rs 0.16
million and stole cosmetics from a cosmetics shop owned by Akbar Ali in Shah
Faisal Colony police limits. Similarly, four men barged into a house owned by
Shafi Muhammad in Sir Syed Town police jurisdiction and looted cash,
jewellery and other valuables during the presence of family members. Four
armed men entered a factory in Korangi police jurisdiction and held all
factory employees at gunpoint while they looted 40 bags of threads valued in
millions of rupees.
encounter: A robber was killed and his two accomplices
arrested in an injured condition after an exchange of fire in Gulberg on
Wednesday, police said.
The robbers were identified as Aashiq Ali, 20, Shahid
Hussain, 22, and Haidar Shah.
Police claimed to have recovered two TT pistols, six
mobile phones and a motorcycle, bearing registration number KCC-8043, from
their possession.
The ACLC Karachi has busted a gang of outlaws and arrested
its four gangsters, which yielded arms, four cars and eight motorcycles.
On a tip-off SHO ACLC, Ghazanfar Ali Kazmi, along with his
party raided Baloch Para in Manghopir and arrested four persons, who were
packing dismantled parts of a motorcycle and stolen vehicles in wooden boxes.
The arrested accused were brought to the Investigation
Centre, where they were identified as Faheem Abbas, Ashraf Khan, Nasir
Siddiqi and Abdul Majid, who also yielded a TT pistol.
In the light of disclosures made by the arrested persons,
police further raided Ayub Goth locality of New Karachi and recovered seven
motorcycles and four cars.
During investigations, they further disclosed that they
had been stealing and snatching vehicles along with Khalid Pathan and Aziz
Shar and then dismantling those vehicles along with Zahid alias Gilgiti, a
former employee of Fidai Hospital situated in F B Area.
Following busting of the gang the ACLC Karachi also
contacted the police in Balochistan and Gilgit to weed-out the outlaws
involved in carjacking. The recovered cars included ABU-164, AEK-417,
RIW-2588 and PH-1677, while motorcycles recovered were STC-6696, LOM-4070,
HDF-9715, KCA-9244, MNA-3015, KBE-7159, JKB-9650.
Karachi polluted water issue raised in Senate
ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Muhammad Nasir Khan on
Wednesday assured the Senate that government would take every possible step
to ensure safe drinking water to people and effective measures for treatment
of victims of contaminated water in Karachi.
Responding to a point of order in this regard, he said the
government was well aware of the situation in which several minor children
died following use of contaminated water. Khan said the sufferers were being
provided treatment by the government. The prime minister has also expressed
concern over the incident and directed for taking strict action against the
responsible persons, he added.
The Minister said to avoid such incidents in future, Rs 10
billion would be spent for installation of purification and filtration plants
for supply of safe drinking water in every district of the country.
He said as many as 32 water filtration plants have already
been installed. Leader of the House Wasim Sajjad and Leader of the Opposition
Mian Raza Rabbani proposed to send some money from Senate's fund for
rehabilitation of victims of contaminated water in Karachi. Senator Nisar
Memon informed the House that he personally visited the victims. They were
being properly treated at hospitals.
2 injured in Kalat blast
QUETTA, Sept 21: Two passers-by were injured when a bomb planted outside a PTCL office in Kalat went off on Wednesday. Another bomb explosion was also reported from Kalat, some 150 kms south-east of here. Saboteurs had planted a bomb fitted with a time device to blow up a pipeline supplying gas to Kalat township.
Police sources said the explosion only damaged the iron boundary and the pipeline was safe.
The sources said that Zulfiqar Ali Shah and Munir Ahmed were injured when a home-made bomb went off outside the PTCL building. Slight damage to the building and other structures was reported.
Meanwhile, the police seized a hand grenade from an industrial area at Sarki road.
Witnesses in PM attack case cross-examined
RAWALPINDI, Sept 21: Defence lawyers cross examined the prosecution witnesses (PWs) during the hearing in the suicide attack on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz case here on Wednesday. Later, Anti-Terrorist Court No. II judge Safdar Malik adjourned the hearing which was held inside Central Jail Adiala. Now the case will be heard on September 29.
Those arrested in connection with the suicide attack included Suleman Ahmed, Qari Abdul Basit, Qari Abdul Munim, Mohammad Nasar, Qari Ahmed, Maulvi Siddiq and Noor Badshah.
Six persons were killed and 48 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on July 30, 2004.—APP
SP Khalid, four other cops booked
FAISALABAD: The Sargodha Road police have registered a
case against five policemen, including suspended SP Khalid Abdullah, for
illegally detaining Asim Yousaf -- the ex-husband of Sonia Naz.
The case was registered in the light of the judicial
inquiry conducted by Faisalabad District and Sessions Judge Abdul Waheed
Khan. The five policemen booked under Section 225, 243 of PPC and 155/C of
the Police Order are SP (Investigation) Khalid Abdullah, Inspector Jamshed
Chishti and his three gunmen, including Bilal Farid and Noor Muhammad.
Sonia Naz, the wife of Asim Yousaf, a senior clerk of
Faisalabad Excise & Taxation Office, had accused the suspended SP and the
ex-SHO of Sargodha Road police station, Jamshed Iqbal Chishti, of having
criminally assaulted her. A departmental inquiry by DIG Crimes Zafar Qureshi
and SSP Saad Akhtar Bharwana was conducted at Faisalabad but the complainant,
Sonia, did not turn up to record her statement before the inquiry team.
Later, on the direction of Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz
Elahi, one man tribunal headed by Sessions Judge Abdul Waheed Khan started
judicial inquiry into the matter. He thrice issued summons to Sonia Naz to
join the inquiry but she did not turn up. The judicial inquiry continued for
eight days and the judge recorded statements of 22 witnesses including
policemen and E&T officials. The judge submitted his report to the Punjab
government on which the chief minister ordered institution of a case against
Khalid Abdullah and Jamshed Chishti.
4 suspects held in Wana
WANA, Sept 21: Security forces on Wednesday arrested four suspected militants during fresh operations in South Waziristan. A huge cache of arms and ammunition has also been seized from Landhi Noor. Sources said the names of the arrested persons had yet to be identified.—Online
Taliban vow to step up war after Afghan poll
KABUL, Sept 21: The Taliban rejected Afghanistan’s elections as a ‘US drama’ and vowed on Wednesday to intensify their war, calling into question President Hamid Karzai’s contention that the need for military force had diminished.
UN vote organisers say that about half the 12 million registered Afghans voted in Sunday’s national assembly and provincial polls hailed by Kabul’s allies as a step forward for democracy.
Taliban spokesman Abdul Latif Hakimi said only four million had voted, less than 15% of a population he put at 30 million.
“The Taliban are thankful to the Afghan people for rejecting the US drama,” he said, adding that the parliament would not represent Afghans and would be subordinate to the United States.
The Taliban had vowed to derail the polls but failed despite a wave of violence in the months leading up to the vote in which more than 1,000 people died, most of them insurgents.
The Taliban launched dozens of harassing attacks last weekend in which 14 people died, but poll organisers said voting took place at all but a handful of 6,200 polling centres.
Hakimi’s comments came after Karzai declared on Tuesday that a democratic Afghanistan was no longer a source of terrorism and he did not think there was a big need for military action.
Pakistan warns of new turmoil if Iran targeted: Kasuri says US briefed
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21: Pakistan has told the United States that any military action against Iran would create unprecedented turmoil in the region and that Pakistan seeks a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue, Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri said on Tuesday.
Talking to Dawn following a half hour meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottakil on the sidelines of UN General Assembly, Mr Kasuri observed: “Pakistan has had difficult time in the past during the Afghan war and another violent action in the region would destabilize the region”.
He said: “I informed him that our position on the issue has been consistent with the non-aligned movement’s position and we want peaceful resolution of the issue.”
Mr Kasuri assured his Iranian counterpart that Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Iran recalling the historical cultural and religious ties between the two countries. Besides, he noted that economic cooperation between the two countries has improved substantially.
Recalling the Taliban era when relations between Iran and Pakistan were strained, Mr Kasuri said: “We do not want to return to the time of Taliban,” adding, “we want to resolve any outstanding issues with Tehran.”
Asked whether the issue of Iranian gas pipeline issue came up in the meeting, Mr Kasuri said: “Yes we discussed the Iranian gas pipeline issue saying that the project was on track and we have had extensive talks with India on the issue.”
Russia, China warn US, EU over Iran nuclear plan
VIENNA: Russia and China warned the United States and
European Union on Wednesday against escalating the nuclear standoff with
Iran, potentially blocking a Western drive to haul Tehran before the UN
Security Council.
The European Union has circulated a US-backed draft
resolution calling on the IAEA governing board to report Iran’s secretive
nuclear programme to the Security Council, which could impose sanctions.
The United States claimed on Wednesday there was a growing
majority ready to report Iran to the UN Security Council over its nuclear
programme but Tehran rallied support against such a move at the UN atomic
watchdog. Western countries suspect Tehran is developing atomic weapons under
cover of a civilian nuclear energy programme. Iran insists its programme is
peaceful and intended to meet its energy requirements.
Both Russia and China, which as permanent, veto-wielding
members of the Council could block any action, warned the West against
antagonising Iran. "While Iran is cooperating with the IAEA, while it is
not enriching uranium and observing a moratorium, while IAEA inspectors are
working in the country, it would be counter-productive to report this
question to the UN Security Council," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov said.
"It will lead to an unnecessary politicising of the
situation. Iran is not violating its obligations and its actions do not
threaten the non-proliferation regime," he said in a speech in San
Francisco reported by the RIA Novosti news agency.
And Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told an EU team
headed by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw at the United Nations that
sending the Iran issue to the Security Council could be counter-productive, a
European participant said.
The diplomat quoted Li as saying that kicking the issue
from Vienna to New York "could encourage Iran to take extreme
measures" and would not be constructive. "The Russians are blocking
the resolution," said a diplomat from one of the EU "big
three" countries — France, Britain and Germany — on condition of
anonymity. "They aren’t moving at all, not one centimeter. They don’t
even want to talk about the resolution. They don’t want to propose any
amendments. Nothing," the diplomat said.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry made it clear in an email to
Reuters that it would prefer a different kind of resolution. "We are
ready to work with all parties involved on a resolution that would reflect
the situation in a balanced way and help find negotiable solutions and solid
guarantees that the Iranian nuclear programme is peaceful," the ministry
said.
Echoing US language on Iran, the EU hardened its rhetoric,
blasting Iran for its determination to press ahead with a programme which
could produce atomic bombs.
"We ... regret, and feel deeply concerned by the fact
that Iran gives every sign of being intent on developing a fissile material
production capability well before the international community obtains what it
needs: confidence that Iran’s programme is exclusively peaceful in
nature," the EU said in a statement on behalf of 25 EU members and other
European states. Other Western countries on the IAEA board, including Canada,
Japan and Australia support the EU draft resolution. But only 20 or 21 out of
35 members back it at the moment, diplomats say.
Meanwhile, the United States on Wednesday urged its fellow
International Atomic Energy Agency board members to do their "duty"
and vote in coming days to haul Iran before the UN Security Council for
violating its nuclear treaty commitments.