-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 01 June 1997 Sunday 24 Muharram 1418 MQM concerned over missing detenus HYDERABAD, May 31: The members of the MQM zonal committee, Hyderabad, in a joint statement issued here on Saturday expressed grave concern over the disappearance of a large number of MQM activists who were arrested by the police and other agencies during the PPP government. They said that this was reminiscent of the second world war period when the opponents were made to disappear by the tyrant government in a similar manner. They said that the Mohajir nation could never forget the escape terrorism unleashed by the Benazir government. They pointed out that Mohajirs were still waiting for the day when the murderers will be tried in the open court and hanged on the highways. They appealed to the government and the Supreme Court of Pakistan to appoint a high-level commission for the recovery of MQM workers and make those people accountable who had committed flagrant violations of human rights. LITERACY RATE: Sindh Agriculture Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has emphasised the need for female education and said that the literacy rate among women, which constituted more than 50 per cent of the country's population, was deplorable. Speaking as chief guest at a Golden Jubilee function organised by Daffodils Talent Club at Mehran Arts Council here on Friday, he said the government would make extra efforts to increase the literacy rate among women. He said that both the boys and the girls should be provided equal opportunities to play their role for the development of the country and the prosperity of the nation. He criticised the anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan elements who were trying to create hatred among the people on sectarian and ethnic basis. He appealed to the people to foil the conspiracies of anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan forces and launch a crusade to restore peace and harmony among different sections of society. On the occasion, Syed Murad Ali Shah announced a donation of Rs15,000 for the club. Chaudhry Saifullah, the vice president of PML in Sindh, presided over the function. --------------------------- Two killed, 19 injured in Malir explosion KARACHI, May 31: Two people were killed and 19 others were wounded in a powerful explosion which razed several houses to the ground near the Liaquat Market, in Malir, on Saturday afternoon. The cause of the explosion, which rocked an area within a radius of three km, could not be ascertained. The Commissioner of Karachi and the city police chief, who visited the JPMC, expressed ignorance about the cause of the explosion. "We are gathering information about it. We are not certain how it happened. However, it was not a bomb blast," they told newsmen outside the emergency ward of the JPMC. Sindh minister Shoaib Bokhari too visited the hospital and inquired after the injured. Four houses were completely destroyed and 10 partially damaged, said Khalid Ali, a resident of the area. JPMC sources identified the dead as Anwarul Haq, 26, an air frame technician of the PAF and Atif. Mazhar, elder brother of the deceased, told Dawn that his house was completely destroyed. His two sons, a daughter and wife were also wounded by the flying debris and had to be admitted to the hospital. "We had a double-storey house, but now it has turned into a heap of rubble. Two of my nephews have also received multiple injuries and have been admitted to hospital," he added. A charred body of an unknown man, 25, was brought to the JPMC. His identity could not be established immediately. Abdul Hameed, a volunteer of Edhi Korangi Centre, told Dawn that he had recovered the charred body from under the wreckage of a house. The fire caused a lot of destruction to the collapsed house, he added. The injured were identified as Shamo wife Sharif, 37, Asim son of Rajan, 20, Saquib son of Rajan, 22, Zarina Begum, 60, Shahnaz Begum, 40, Mohammad Omair, 12, Masood Khan, 50, Maira, two-year-old, Mohammad Shafeeq, 22, Asif son of Taufique, 18, Hamza son of Mazhar, four-year-old, Ali son of Mazhar, six-year-old, Iqra d/o Mazhar, nine-month-old, Musarat wife of Mazhar, 30, Zafar, 27, Shaheen, 22, Juma Khan, 45, Saima daughter of Sajid, 18 and Ikram, 19. Masood Khan, 50, a resident of Jamshed Road, who had received multiple injuries on his left leg and in the head, told Dawn that he had gone to see his father-in-law in Malir. "We were exchanging pleasantries when a big explosion rocked the entire area. I felt as if the house was crumbling and someone had hit me in the head," he added. Zafar, 26, who was in a state of shock after receiving a head injury was asking every body to find his nephew, Hamza, also injured in the blast. Ikram, a carpenter, 19, who received a leg injury in the explosion was admitted to the Sindh Heart hospital, Saudabad, while his mother was running from one room to another in the JPMC in a bid to locate him. Scores of people were waiting outside the JPMC emergency to get information about their injured and missing relatives. Most of the injured were shifted from the Sindh Heart hospital. A doctor at the Sindh Heart hospital told Dawn that they had received scores of injured, but none of them was admitted there. "We are short of space and staff. We cannot cater to the needs of scores of people at a time. After giving them first aid, we have shifted them to the JPMC," he added. The explosion also damaged the Sui gas pipeline connected to the affected area. However, the Sui Southern Gas Limited staff rushed to the scene and started repair work. In separate statements, Sindh minister Saleem Zia and MQM MPA Vakeel Ahmed Jamali expressed their sorrow over the deaths in this tragic incident. -------------------- Liaquat Jatoi Suggests Alliance with PPP as MQM toughens stance ISLAMABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi has given Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif possible alternatives, including alliance with the Pakistan People's Party, in case the Muhajir Qaumi Movement withdraws its support to the coalition government in Sindh, Muslim League sources said. The sources said that the Sindh chief minister during his three-day Islamabad visit carried out this exercise in wake of the MQM's harsh response to Prime Minister Sharif's refusal to withdraw the Rangers from Karachi. "This has put MQM's alliance with the PML in doldrums," sources said. However, Prime Minister Sharif has reportedly directed the Sindh chief minister to 'wait and see,' rather than take any hasty step. Recently MQM delegation during its meeting with Prime Minister Sharif gave him a deadline for the acceptance of their demands. According to details, Chief Minister Liaquat Jatoi in view of his government's growing discord with the MQM held a detailed meeting with PPP's Makhdom Rafiq, a couple of days ago and discussed the possibility of an alliance between the two parties. However, the PPP's response was cautions. It conveyed to the chief minister that the party was not interested in any portfolio but would extend cooperation to the PML a in case the MQM opts out of the alliance. The Sindh chief minister also discussed the details of the possible agreement with the PPP in his parleys with the prime minister Friday night.--NNI ------------------- Leakage of official secrets through internet stuns Pakistan government ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government on Saturday was shocked to know that government's confidential computerized records were being stolen away from the offices through internet innovations by the computer maniacs, corrupt elements of the society. In its campaign against corruption, the government appears to have been pitched against well equipped and technologically more advanced corrupt people. This became obvious when it was discovered by the government "experts" that somebody had been stealing the computerized information from the office of the Prime Minister Accountability Cell through the internet. "A letter with the signatures of the Cabinet Secretary carrying the orders of prohibition to use the modern communication means available on computer networks has been issued last week to all the government offices," an official in the Establishment Division said here Saturday on condition of anonymity. "All the government officials and employees have been warned that action would be taken under the Efficiency and Discipline Rules against the violators of these orders," he added. The official disclosed that the government was repeatedly being informed about the leakage of information from the Ehtesab (Accountability) Cell in the Prime Minister Secretariat regarding the action against corrupt bureaucrats, lists of their names and details of charges against them. Preliminary inquiry in the matter revealed that the information was being leaked through the internet in connivance with some black sheep, the official said. A senior official in the Establishment Division was investigated but he was found innocent, he added. According to an estimate, the official said, 80 percent computers in the government were being used for filing purposes only, 18 percent for data storage and the rest two percent for processing. He said in order to receive kickbacks auxiliary facilities were often acquired with the computers but due to lack of training and technical know-how to use these facilities properly, the data in more than half of the computers in the government offices was not protected. "In the wake of growing use of computers, the government is noting the changes and it is expected that a review committee will be formed shortly to consider the matter," the official concluded.—NNI -------------------- Lahore police claim arrest of 'sectarian terrorist' LAHORE: The Lahore Police officially announced the arrest of an alleged terrorist involved in the killing of several leaders of a particular religious group including Maulana Saifullah Khalid and Samiullah. The accused, Shabbir Haideri was arrested by the CIA a few days back. The accused had made attempt on Maulana Azam Tariq's life at Rawalpindi while the latter was addressing a gathering at Bani Chowk. The SSP leader, however, had escaped unhurt. According to a press release, the alleged terrorist had also been an active member of a religious group and had killed innocent persons of a rival group. The accused, along with several accomplices, also fired on Bilal Mosque at Sabzazar, which led to the killing of an LDA employee Amanat Ali. The police are interrogating Shabbir Haideri and trying to arrest other accomplices involved in the sectarian killings.--NNI --------------- Pak-US military exercises next month ISLAMABAD: Pak-US joint military exercises will be carried out towards the middle of June in Punjab and Sindh. A 150-strong contingent of the US army is reaching Pakistan next month. Diplomatic sources said. They said that these would be large scale exercises after the Special Services Groups exercises of both militaries last year. General Peay, Commander-in-Chief of the Central Command, is reaching Pakistan on June 8 for important consultations. The general will meet General Jaghangir Karamat, COAS, Naval and Air force chiefs separately, during his three-day stay. It is expected that General Peay, who is giving up his post in August, would also call on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who has retained the defense portfolio. General Peay will again come to Pakistan for a farewell visit in July, sources added. Meanwhile, military sources said the Indian army has started border exercises in Punjab and Rajhistan and was engaged in strategic maneuvers. Sources said that Pakistan is aware of the exercises, which are off season but pose no threat to Pakistan.--NNI ----------------- Dawood College being disaffiliated KARACHI, May 31: The NED University syndicate on Saturday decided to initiate the process of disaffiliating Dawood College of Engineering and Technology (DCET). This was decided at a meeting of the syndicate, held under the chairmanship of the vice-chancellor, Abul Kalam. According to inside sources, the meeting was of the unanimous view that the "irregularities committed by the DCET have reached a stage that it is no more in the interest of the university to continue to affiliate this college." The meeting also discussed, among other things, "fraudulent admissions and other serious irregularities in Dawood College." The auditor general's report also came under discussion which claimed that "massive financial irregularities" had been committed by the DCET administration. The meeting asked the university's affiliation committee to immediately conduct an inspection of the college. ----------------- Police accused of harassing, looting community HYDERABAD, May 31: The Khosas of Goth Bashir Thebo, Deh Chakri, Taluka Matiari, have accused the SHO of Sekhat Police Station of raiding their homes and taking away cash, ornaments and livestock. Speaking at a joint news conference at the local Press Club on Saturday, Rasool Bux Khoso, his son, Ghulam Haider, and his nephew, Mohammed Yousuf, alleged that in the wee hours of May 30 SHO Urs Qambrani, along with a large contingent of police, in their absence raided their homes, harassed and intimidated the women folk and took away ornaments valued at Rs 35,000, Rs 17,500 cash and 26 cattle heads. They said the same SHO had taken two licensed arms, four cattle heads and arrested Ghulam Haider and Ghulam Ali about one month back. They alleged that they had to pay Rs 24,000 to secure the release of Ghulam Haider and Ghulam Ali. They said that it had become a habit of SHO Urs Qambrani that whenever he needed money, he raided the village and extorted cash and took away livestock. They said that the SHO threatened them that if they did not pay him money, they would be challaned as dacoits, patharidars or for possessing illicit arms. ----------------- KESC sleeps while citizens keep a forced vigil KARACHI, May 31: Karachiites were facing grave water scarcity owing to prolonged and frequent power breakdowns, and the problem became far acute for the residents of Malir after an explosion. Perched on the banks of dry Malir river, residents remain without electricity for more than 12 hours and the life becomes more difficult owing to increasing frequency of power failures and low voltage. Mr Malik, a resident of Defence Housing Authority said the frequent power failures had created acute water shortage and alleged that only favourites got free extra tankers . "We don't pay tax to be deprived of a civilised life," he said and added "when we talk of Ehtesab, why can't authorities punish corrupt elements responsible for sabotaging the electricity network, thereby retarding national productivity." Residents from other parts of the city said the KESC was not adhering to the declared loadshedding schedule. Mr Asghar, a resident of PECHS Block-2 complained that there were three cycles of loadshedding in his area between 8 am and 10 am, 4 pm to 6 pm and 8 pm to 10.30 pm. Power breakdowns were also playing havoc in Blocks L, M and N of North Nazimabad. Residents remained without power between 12 noon and 3 pm and from 1 am to 3 am. Mr Mahmood Aziz, a resident of Sabzi Mandi area said the area was facing acute power crisis for the past one month and repeated complaints had fallen on deaf ears. Residents of Lane four and five, Haji Ismail Road, and Abdul Majeed Khan Road, Nawabad, Lyari were the worst hit by the crisis. They said that PMT's and circuit barkers installed in the area were out of order and asked the KESC to install operational PMT and repair damaged circuit breakers. "No one listens, they are simply not bothered about the plight of the people, though their leaders make much ado about their love for the people," said a consumer from Clifton area. --------------- Ishtiaq seeks reopening of Indian consulate KARACHI, May 31: The Convenor of the MQM Coordination Committee has urged the Prime Minister and the foreign minister to allow India to open its consulate general/visa office at Karachi to facilitate divided families. In a letter addressed to the PM, the text of which was released to the Press on Saturday, Ishtiaq Azhar said that owing to the closure of the visa office "by the previous regime of the Mohammad Nawaz Sharif" millions of divided families were facing extreme difficulties in getting visa at the Indian High Commission at Islamabad. Owing to suspension of this facility at Karachi, thousands of people had to travel to Islamabad for obtaining visa, but as limited number of visa were being issued, thousands had to return to Karachi after spending 15 to 20 days "under open sky of Islamabad". The Chairman, Advocates Forum, Syed Hassan Imam Razvi has also sent a written memorandum to the foreign minister in this regard, said Mr Azhar. ----------------------- US develops new kind of N-bomb, says NYT NEW YORK, May 31: The United States has created a new kind of nuclear weapon called "Bunker Buster", designed to destroy underground factories or laboratories while inflicting little damage on the surface, says the New York Times. According to the Times, the weapon, called the B-61, is a repackaging of a hydrogen bomb that has been deployed in the nation's arsenal for 30 years. That bomb was originally designed to be dropped from an airplane by parachute and exploded while still aloft. Experts and critics here maintain that the redesigned B-61 is actually meant to be used against Iran, Iraq, Libya and North Korea. Americans suspect that complexes producing such weapons are located underground. Pentagon officials, in an interview with the Times, denied any such intention, saying that development of the bomb follows traditional military objectives. Its purpose, like that of its predecessors, is to destroy underground command and control headquarters of other nuclear powers, like Russia for example, the officials say. In the last few months the actual warhead has been fitted into a new, needle-shaped case made with depleted uranium that is 30 per cent heavier than lead, says the Times. Dropped without a parachute, it can burrow as deep as 15 metres into the soil before exploding. Because it detonates underground, much of its energy translates into ground motion that can destroy underground structures. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 02 June 1997 Monday 25 Muharram 1418 Malir blast unusual and suspicious, says MQM KARACHI, June 1: The MQM on Sunday said the blast in Malir on Saturday that killed two people seemed highly "unusual" because of the large quantity of fireworks that were said to be present in the house when the blast happened. In a Press statement, the MQM Coordination Committee said the investigation into the incident should be widened to also account for the reported retrieval of some "Indian documents" from the site of the blast. The statement said Shab-i-Barat was still some time away and the existence of "so many" fireworks and "bomb-making material" found from the site of the blast seemed very "suspicious". The coordination committee said this seemed to strongly suggest that the blast was caused by something other than by material used for making fireworks. The MQM also criticized what it said were "police raids" on shops in the vicinity of the blast site. The statement said the investigation should be done effectively so that the "conspiracy against the coalition government" could be uncovered before the citizens. The deputy-inspector general of Karachi, Malik Mohammed Iqbal, had said a few hours after the incident on Saturday and again in a Press conference on Sunday that the blast had been caused by material used in making fireworks. ALTAF: Meanwhile, party chief Altaf Hussain told party workers in Kuwait on Sunday that there was no point in celebrating the 50 years of Pakistan's independence as was being done in the country. Speaking over the phone from London, Mr Hussain said the time was not to celebrate but to conduct an effective and impartial accountability so that the "mistakes and injustices" of the past 50 years could be corrected. ---------------------------- 12 parties form new alliance KARACHI, June 1: The newly formed alliance of 12 political parties was formally named "Pakistan National Conference" at a meeting of the central council here on Sunday. The Tehrik-i-Istaqlal chief, Air Marshal Asghar Khan, was in the chair. The meeting, which was attended by 11 of the 12 parties, met at the residence of TI leader Rahim Bux Soomro. The meeting elected Mr Asghar Khan as chief of the alliance. Some other vital decisions, which were taken by the leaders vis-a-vis its organisational setup and to mould public opinion for its 13-point programme, were made public at a Press conference addressed by Asghar Khan. All leaders of the constituent parties were present, except for the chief of Balochistan National Movement, Dr Abdul Hayee. He could not make it to the meeting due to preoccupations in Islamabad as a Senator. Dr Ghulam Hussain of PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) was elected Secretary General and B.M. Kutti of PNP information secretary of the alliance. The meeting also adopted a flag of the alliance. It will have three stripes — red, white and green — symbolizing struggle, peace and prosperity respectively. The four provincial conveners were nominated with the directives to complete their setups by July 15 and hold workers convention at the provincial level by Aug 15. The conveners are Afzal Khan Khamosh for NWFP, Abid Hasan Manto for Punjab, Yusuf Masti Khan for Sindh and Raziq Khan Bugti for Balochistan. The Central leadership of the PNC decided to meet on July 27 at Quetta. Highlighting the need for the alliance and its programme, Asghar Khan said that 73 per cent of the electorate did not participate in the February general election and this was in a way a "vote of no-confidence in the obsolete political and economic system." He said the assemblies that came into existence following the elections had failed to deliver the goods despite absolute majority. Asghar Khan said that due to absence of accountability and unitary government in the centre, the provincial setups had become ineffective. The NFC chief said one should not hope for any good from the former and the present rulers. "People don't see any alternative political leadership following the PPP's defeat in the general election and because of a splintered opposition," Mr Khan said. "In view of the prevailing situation in the country and expected political and social changes in near future, we have decided to unite on one political platform to fulfil the aspirations of the people," he said. Referring to their programme, he said there should be an effective accountability system to recover plundered wealth, the federation should only be responsible for foreign affairs, defence, communications and currency and rest of the subjects be left to provinces. Mr Asghar Khan said that the alliance stood for effective measures to eliminate sectarianism, make changes in foreign policy, improve the economy and provide protection to common man. "We will bring about changes in the defence structure and cut down expenditures,." the alliance chief said. He said changes would be introduced in the provincial administration for devolution of power at the district and union council levels. The 12 parties of the alliance are: Awami Jamhoori Party, Balochistan National Movement, Hazara Qaumi Mahaz, Communist Mazdoor Kisan Party, Pakistan Awami Party, Pakhtoon Khwa Qaumi Party, PNP, PPP (SB), Qaumi Mahaz-i-Azadi, Seraiki National Party, Tehrik-i-Istaqlal, and National Democratic Front. --------------------------- Over 1.3m Afghan Dps in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, June 1: The total number of registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan as of March this year is 1,331,638. The largest number of Afghan refugees are living in the NWFP where their number is 846,503. Balochistan provides shelter to 352,713 refugees. In the province of Punjab,132,422 Afghans live. Over the past years, in all about 1,865,900 Afghan refugees have been repatriated to Afghanistan. The reason for slow repatriation of the refugees to their homeland is the prevailing political and socio-economic conditions in that country. Under the international obligations, the repatriation of the Afghan refugees to their homeland has to be voluntary, safe and orderly because the refugees cannot be forced to leave Pakistan. -------------------- Impersonators steal 270 passports MUZAFFARABAD, June 1: Six persons, two of them wearing police uniform and the others in plainclothes,locked three employees of the local passport office in the small hours of Sunday and fled with 270 blank passports, besides some other items, according to a report lodged with the city police by an employee of the passport office. Jamshed, a clerk at the passport office, told the police that he and two chowkidars, Sarwar and Abbas, were sleeping in one of the rooms of their office, at upper Chattar locality, when some one knocked at the door at 3.45 am.Upon opening the door,he said, six persons entered into the office and asked about the passport officer,Tariq Naseem Jadoon, who was not present as he had gone to his hometown Rawalpindi at the weekend. "Speaking in Urdu with a Pushto accent,one of them,who was impersonating a police inspector,said Mr Jadoon had not reached home and asked his accomplice to write down our names," the clerk added in his report. The impersonators wielding two AK 47 rifles and two mousers demanded keys of the cupboards. "But when we told them we don't have the keys they abused and slapped us and later locked us in an adjoining room after tying our hands and legs and affixing tapes on our mouths," he said. In the meantime, he added, the culprits broke open the cupboards and the safe and fled at 4.45 am with 270 blank passports,a lamination machine, a generator set and the telephone set of the office. "We were rescued at 5.30 am by a neighbourer who heard our loud cries for help,"he said. The report with the police was filed at 7.20 am, about two hours after their release. When this point was raised by this correspondent with the clerk at the city police station, he maintained that after getting released he at first rang up passport officer Tariq Jadoon and informed him of the incident. "Mr Jadoon after consulting the highups rang back and directed me to lodge an FIR,"he added. About eight months back a similar theft of 80 prepared passports was reported to have been committed at the passport office. -------------------- Opening of Islamabad-Lahore Motorwaymay be deferred till '98 ISLAMABAD: The opening of the 333-kilometer-long Lahore-Islamabad Motorway would be delayed by six to 10 months. The deadline -- August 14, 1997 -- set by the government to open the country's first Motorway, said an official source, might be extended till the second quarter of the next year. The original deadline for the opening of the Motorway, December, 1994, had been deferred due to several controversies. Official sources cited five main reasons for the "undesired" delay in opening the Motorway: First, work on 666-kilometer-long (333 kilometers on each side) concrete fencing has not yet started, though the contract for four sections have now been awarded to a number of companies. These contracts were awarded by the National Highway Authority (NHA) after withdrawing the same from Daewoo. Second, work on three main bridges has not yet been taken up. Third, no significant progress has been made on the construction of link roads in Lahore, Sargodha, Bhira, Mandi Bahauddin and Islamabad/ Rawalpindi. Four, work on services areas at various points along the Motorway has not yet begun. These areas are for the provisions of petrol pumps, restaurants, departmental stores, mosques, offices of the highway police, public toilets etc. Five, no headway has yet been made regarding the construction of toll plazas and relevant arrangements for the staff of Highway Police. An official said that at least one more year is required for completion of all these things. "The August 14 target is unlikely to be achieved given the present status of work, though the Motorway itself, except for bridges and concrete fencing, has been completed," the official said. The National Economic Council, which met here last Friday, had approved a high-powered committee for the award of contracts on build-own-operate (BOO) and build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. -------------------- Six members of vigilance team resigns on massive cheating QUETTA: The six members of the Vigilance Committee of the University Examinations (VCUE) of Balochistan University have resigned in protest against the massive use of unfair means and the local administration's "lack of co-operation" in the on-going post-graduate examinations. In a letter, sent to Balochistan's Governor Mian Gul Aurangzeb, who is also the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor of the University, the VCUE members complained that the impersonification cases could not be checked due to the candidates and their supporters' negative attitude. They informed that the committee had drawn the attention of the concerned authorities several times about massive irregularities. But, they regretted that no action was taken by the authorities for the improvement of the examination system. They said that the trend of cheating was at its peak, and it goes on unabated, they observed.They said that the Vice Chancellor had appointed the vigilance committee, comprising senior teachers of the university, including: Professor Dr M Masoom, Dr Abdullah Khan, Professor M H Jamali, Dr A R Sabir, Dr Ghayyas-ud-Din and G Q Lashari. They had been authorised to check the university's on-going MA/MSc examinations. Expressing their deep concern over the prevailing situation, the members of the committee informed that they had been unable to perform their duties under the prevailing situation and they had tendered their resignations to lodge their protest in this regard. -------------------- Alternative route to mitigate load on University Road KARACHI: In order to reduce traffic load on University Road, the KDA has planned a six-lane alternative route between Rashid Minhas Road and the New Town roundabout and a detailed study/PC-1 has been submitted with the provincial government for final approval and provision of funds. According to the proposal, Pir Sibghatullah Shah Road, which branches off on the right to the University Road and leads up to the existing Stadium Road intersection near Habib Ibrahim Rehmatoola Road, will be developed into a six-lane road in the first phase. In the second phase the portion of Stadium Road from this intersection to the point near Drive In Cinema will be developed. At present it is in a dilapidated condition. The length of this stretch is 3.3 km and pavement width is about ten meters. There are no shoulders or footpaths and there are encroachments on both sides of the road. There are undulations and ruts in the surface and due to heavy traffic and existence of improper vertical and horizontal curves in the road there have been frequent accidents specially near National Cement and KDA Pipe Factory. In order to avoid accidents the people have constructed speed-breakers which have created nuisance for the fast moving traffic. Under the proposed scheme the average 10 meter width of present carriageway will be improved to two ways of 11 meter width each with 2.45 meter central median. It will have 1.2 meter sidewalks and properly designed drains on each side. There are six service levels of roads in traffic engineering terminology. Level A and B are ideal ones but are not found anywhere in Pakistan. Category C (with 1,400 vehicles per lane per hour) is good while Category D (with 1,800 vehicles per lane per hour) is acceptable. At present the University Road falls in Category E with 2,000 vehicles per lane per hour. In other words about 144,000 vehicles use it in 24 hours. The proposed alternative route is aimed at bringing the road's service level between B and C by providing the traffic an alternative access to Rashid Minhas Road. The project is part of an overall scheme of improvement of the city's road network. If approved by the government, it will cost Rs 93.97 million and in case it has a foreign exchange component, the exchange rate will be automatically adjusted on the basis of the latest information by Planning and Development Design during the project scrutiny. The annual recurring expenditure after completion of the project will be Rs 0.873 million. Besides providing a direct route for traffic from south eastern part of the city to the north, the route will also ensure considerable saving in terms of time and fuel because it will be a shorter route to Rashid Minhas Road than the University Road. After its completion about 50 per cent of traffic to and from airport areas will be diverted to this route which will lessen the load on the already saturated University Road. ----------------- Water crisis KARACHI: The residents of Nazimabad, Bara Maidan, Aurangabad and other adjoining areas are facing water problem since long. The residents claim that the authorities were not paying any heed to their serious water problems.They also complained of dirty and contaminated water supply. ----------------- Westerly winds bring thunderstorm KARACHI: A thunder storm hit the city on Sunday morning while some residents of Gulbarg reported that there was sleet too. As usual the much-expected rain after several sizzling days exposed the ill performance of KWSB and municipal committees. Many motorcycles skidded while cars whizzed past others splashing the rain water on them. Though the rain brings misfortune for many in city but many were out for recreation at beaches and parks. Meteorological office predicted cloudy day on Monday with rain and thunder storm. Tanveer, a MET officer, told The News that 9mm rain was recorded at airport, observatory at PAF Base Masroor measured 26mm while it was 11mm at PAF Base Faisal. The rain was caused by a westerly wave passing through the province, apprised another MET officer. About 145 11 KV-feeders tripped during the rain depriving Liaquatabad-5, Ilyas Goth, block A&C of N-Nazimabad, North Karachi 7-D, University Road, Sohrab Goth, Rizvia Society, FB Area, Defence V & VI, Frere Town, Landhi G Area, Damloti, Wells Area, Razaqabad, Qaddafi Town, Green Town and Asifabad, for about three hours. KESC sources claimed that supply was normalised by the evening. --------------------- 10 robbed, one stabbed; 10 vehicles snatched KARACHI: A man was stabbed by bandits, whereas eight robberies were committed and 10 vehicles were snatched from different parts of the city on Sunday. Besides armed men injured a man on his resistance. Four armed men barged into the residence of a local hotel owner Haji Anwer in Orangi Town and decamped with Rs 500,000, jewellery and other valuables. Four armed men, riding a car, intercepted Munawwar Hasan near Student's Biryani House in Brigade area, stabbed him seriously and relieved him of his entire cash. Unidentified armed men looted Rs 52,000, gold ornaments and electrical appliances from the residence of Amir; Rs 5,000, jewellery and a motorcycle in Orangi Town; Rs 50,000, gold ornaments and electrical appliances from a house in Khawaja Ajmer Nagri; Rs 150,000, jewellery and other valuables from a residence in Gulshan-e-Iqbal; Rs 40,000, jewellery and other valuables from a house in Ferozabad; and Rs 55,000, gold ornaments and electrical appliances from a residence in North Nazimabad. Meanwhile, gunmen snatched 10 vehicles from different parts of the city. ----------------- Five held: snatched vehicles, arms recovered KARACHI: The Ferozabad police arrested five suspects and recovered arms and four snatched vehicles from their possession on Sunday. According to the police, SHO Ferozabad Syed Saulat Hussain Niazi and his police party spotted a suspicious car roaming near the Cheel Kothi. The police signalled it to stop, but the occupants opened fire and a brief encounter ensued. The police, however, nabbed all the suspects, identified as Muhammad Rasheed, Muhammad Khalid, Rauf, Faraz, and Muhammad Shahid. SHO Saulat Niazi sustained minor injuries during the firing. The police have claimed recovery of a sten-gun and four TT pistols. On their disclosure, four vehicles (CE-5675, JE-6404, GFE-1258 and one without number plate) were recovered from the hideouts of the suspects. ------------------ Two shot dead, minor injured KARACHI: Two people were gunned down while a minor boy received bullet wounds in two different firing incidents on Sunday. Muhammad Aslam, 22, a butcher by profession and Muhammad Ameen, 30, a drug addict were shot dead by some unknown people in Turk Mohala in Baldia Town. Some unidentified armed men came to the residence (1117/ 26) of Aslam in Sector 478 and called him out. When Aslam came out the armed men exchanged hot words with him and shot him dead. The culprits also shot dead Ameen, who was sleeping on the footpath outside Aslam's house. The bodies were brought to Civil Hospital by Baldia Town police for autopsy. According to the area police the deceased had no political affiliation with any group. Ameen's elder brother Iqbal lodged an FIR in this connection. Six-year-old Sajid received stray bullet on his body in Surjani Town, while he was playing outside his residence. Meanwhile, the decomposed body of an unidentified 25-year-old woman was found from a manhole in Liaquatabad. It was shifted to Civil Hospital for postmortem. According to the MLO the body was at least four days old and the viscera has been preserved for chemical examination. ------------------ Two killed in mishaps KARACHI: Two people were killed and a man was injured in different incidents on Sunday. Ameen, 40, was knocked down to death when his speeding Suzuki Carry collided with a speeding truck at Sharea Faisal. Naeem, 25, was crushed to death under the wheels of a passenger train at Drigh Road Railway Station, while he was crossing the track. Muhammad Iqbal, 40, was injured when his speeding car collided with an electric pole in Malir. Meanwhile, one Abid, 18, tried to commit suicide by putting himself to fire after sprinkling kerosine oil on himself in his residence in Baldia Town. His relatives took him to Civil Hospital with critical burn wounds. Police held Abid was jobless and getting disheartened he had made the suicide attempt. ------------------ Transfers, postings of education officers KARACHI: The Sindh Education Department has notified transfer and posting of various officers of school administration with immediate effect. Allauddin Sufi, Principal Govt Boys Higher Secondary School K area Korangi, has been posted as Deputy Director (Primary), Karachi, against an existing vacancy, while Mohsin Ali Qadri, Head Master Children Centre Boys Secondary School, has been asked to report as principal at Govt Higher Secondary School K Area Korangi. Kazim Ali, Head Master Govt Boys Secondary School, Central, Muhammad Rasheed, SDEO (Male/Primary), Ranchore Line, Lal Shah Hamdani, SDEO Mehmoodabad, Khwaja Qamaruddin, Head Master of BMB Boys Secondary School and Niaz Muhammad, DEO Naushero Feroz, have been transferred and posted as District Education Officers of Karachi Central, Karachi South, Malir and Karachi West, respectively. Meanwhile, the department has also released the list of 13 female HSTs of government and nationalised cadres who have been promoted to the post of headmistress(B-17) at various schools. ------------------ PPP made 14,686 illegal appointments By Sohail Iqbal ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister's Secretariat has compiled a consolidated list of those political personalities on the recommendation of whom 14,686 'illegal' appointments were made in various government departments during the second tenure of Benazir Bhutto regime. The list included the names of former ministers of the PPP government, MNAs, MPAs, senators and others. On these political personalities' recommendation, their favourities were recruited in various government departments, statutory corporations, government-controlled agencies and autonomous bodies. Sources at the Prime Minister's Secretariat told The News that most of the aspirants were appointed under the cover of Centralised System of Periodical Recruitment (CSPR) on the posts in BPS-1 to BPS-15. Sources said that since the PML government was scrutinising the cases of 'illegal' appointees of previous tenure for taking necessary action, therefore comprehensive details were being gathered from different departments, which also included the names and designation of recruited persons. In this context, the details of political personalities have also been gathered, who were obliged with the appointments of their favourite persons, sources added. The ban imposed on fresh recruitment from 1990 was lifted by the PPP government on July 1, 1994, and simultaneously, the CSPR was introduced for carrying out recruitment. The methodology for the CSPR was that advertisement duly vetted by the Establishment Division was given in the press, applications were received and the applicants were to be interviewed. Sources told The News that instead of allowing the government departments to appoint the candidates on merit under the CSPR, during the last PPP government, the lists were fed by the Prime Minister's Secretariat through the Establishment Division, directing to issue appointment letters to the recommended persons. Sources said that most of the appointments were taken care of by the then additional secretary Prime Minister's Secretariat, Siraj Shamsuddin, and deputy secretary Najam Qureshi. All the appointment letters, issued on the directives of the Prime Minister's Secretariat, were either delivered by hand to Najam Qureshi or sent to him through courier service, sources said. "At times, the copies of appointment letters were faxed to Najam," they added. The list of political personalities compiled by the Prime Minister's Secretariat reveals that 13,255 favourities were recruited on the recommendations of ministers, parliamentary secretaries and MNAs, while 353 were appointed on the recommendations of senators and 1,078 were recruited on the recommendations of the provincial ministers and MPAs. Following is the list of political personalities with the number of appointments made on their recommendations: Ms Naheed Khan, political secretary to the then prime minister (1051), Sakindar Ahmad Rai, deputy secretary (Political) PM House (666), Khurshid Junejo (971), Arbab Muhammad Jehangir Khan, MNA (59), Maj Gen (retd) Naseerullah Khan Babar, interior minister (107), Haji Khanzada Khan, MNA (67), Haji Muhammad Yaqoob, state minister (83), Qazi Maulana Fazalullah, MNA (65), Malik Said Ahmad, parliamentary secretary (61), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, MNA (140), Muhammad Afzal Khan, federal minister (49), Malik Muzaffar Khan, MNA (78), Haji Baroz Khan Mohmand, MNA (52), Malik Zulfiqar Ali, MNA (53), Mohammad Afzal, MNA (73), Haji Malik Arsalla Khan, MNA (70), Abdul Qayyum Khan, state minister (59), Bismillah Khan, parliamentary secretary (57), Haji Muhammad Shah, MNA (85), Malik Aslam Khan, MNA (62), Haji Muhammad Nawaz Khokhar, MNA (38), Sardar Mumtaz Khan, MNA (81), Nawabzada Iqbal Medhi Khan, MNA (01), Liaquat Hayat Badrana, MNA (75), Ubaidullah Khan, MNA (119), Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, federal minister (99), Irshad Akbar Khan, MNA (106), Arif Hussain, MNA (82), Khan Shahdat Ali Khan Baloch, MNA (75), Chaudhry Shahid Nazir Ahmad, MNA (56), Chaudhry Muhammad Ilyas Ahmad, MNA (78), Sardar Dildar Ahmad Cheema, MNA (62), Sardarzada Zafar Abbas Syed, MNA (74), Makhdoomzada Syed Asad Hayat Shah (62), Maulana Muhammad Azam Tariq (19), Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat (74), Sahibzada Muhammad Nazir Sultan (59), Khalid Ahmad Khan Kharal, federal minister (64), Chaudhry Muhammad Ashfaq (80), Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha, MNA (266), Chaudhry Mehdi Hasan Bhatti (81), Brig (retd) Muhammad Asghar, federal minister (68), Chaudhry Muhammad Abdullah Virk (91), Nawabzada Ghazanfar Ali Gul, MNA (100), Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, federal minister (55), Haji Muhammad Ashgar Kaira (74), Zafarullah Tarar (80), Nazar Muhammad Gondal (108), Chaudhry Akhtar Ali (74), Chaudhry Abdul Sattar (98), Chaudhry Khalid Javaid Ghurki (44), Nisar Ahmad Pannu (77) Haji Manawar Hussain Manj (62), Chaudhry Tawakkal Ullah Virk (86), Rai Bashir Ahmad Khan Bhatti (71), Sardar Asif Ahmad Khan, federal minister (67), Rao Muhammad Khizar Hayat Khan (45), Sardar Talib Hasan (66), Sardar Muhammad Ashiq Dogar (80), Rao Sikandar Iqbal (79), Rai Muhammad Aslam Khan Kharal (85), Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, speaker National Assembly (89), Syed Zafar Ali Shah (64), Rana Mumtaz Ahmad Noon (62), Mirza Muhammad Nasir Baig (112), Shah Mahmood Qureshi (69), Haji Mehr Muhammad Iqbal Haraj (93), Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla (78), Nauraz Shakoor Khan (85), Mehr Ghulam Farid Kathia, parliamentary secretary (87), Ms Shahnaz Javid (106), Mian Muhammad Amjad Joyia (70), Rai M Hashim Khan (55), Mian Noor Muhammad Khan Bhabah (60), Chaudhry Qurban Ali Chown (100), Khawaja Kamaluddin Anwar (73), Sardar Mansoor Ahmad Khan Leghari (62), Mir Balakh Sher Mazari (78), Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan (97), Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan (253), Malik Ghulam M Fakhrullah Rasool Arbi (67), Malik Ghulam Muhammad Mustafa Khar, federal minister (59), Malik Niaz Ahmad Jakhar, parliamentary secretary (96), Muhammad Jehangir Khan (93), Mian Riaz Hussain Piracha (71), Mian Mumtaz Ahmad (48), Chaudhry Ali Akbar Mazar Wains (64), Makhdoom Syed Ahmad Alam Anwar (72), Makhdoom Shahabuddin, state minister (69), Khushid Ahmad Shah (95), Ali Muhammad Khan Mehr (51), Khalid Ahmad Khan (53), Aftab Shaban Mirani, federal minister (126), Mir Altaf Ali Bhabo, MNA (120), Mir Ahmad Nawaz Nawaz Khan Jakhrani, MNA (91), Mir Mehran Khan Bijrani, MNA (73), Ghulam Mustafa Khan Jatoi, MNA (115), Syed Zafar Ali Shah, deputy speaker (69), Hakim Ali Zardari, MNA (79), Manzoor Hussain Wassan, MNA (100), Pir Syed Abdul Qadir Shah Jillani, MNA (74), Begum Nusrat Bhutto, MNA (63), Bashir Ahmad Khan Chandio, MNA (108), Makhdoom Muhammad Amin Fahim, federal minister (58), Qazi Asad Abdi (64), Naveed Qamar, chairman Privatisation Commission (72), Abdul Sattar Bachani (104), Abdul Sattar Leghari (77), Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza (52), Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jillani (85), Nawab Muhammad Yousaf Talpur, federal minister (69), Arbab Ghulam Rahim, parliamentary secretary (47), Malik Asad Sikandar (64), Haji Muhammad Bakhsh Jamali (95), Rafiq Ahmad Mahesser (68), Fida Hussain Dero, senator (64), Ghulam Hussain Aliyas Babu, MNA (116), Syed Shafqat Huissain Shah Sheriazi, MNA (110), Muhammad Afaque Khan Shahid, MNA (55), Waja Ahmad Karim Dad Baloch, MNA (125), Abdul Aziz Memon, MNA (28), Zuhair Akram Nadeem, MNA (75), Haji Muzaffar Ali Shujra, MNA (75), Prof N D Khan (61), Sher Muhammad Baloch, MNA (57), Haji Gul Muhammad Doomar, MNA (104), Nawab Muhammad Ayyaz Khan Jozezai, MNA (44), Maulvi Abdul Ghafoor Hadri MNA (78), Muhammad Ayub parliamentary secretary (71), Ghulam Akbar Lasi, state minister (44), Dr Muhammad Yaseen Par Secretary (65), Kishan Chand Parwani, MNA (78), Dr Khatumal Jeean, MNA (52), Tariq C Qaisar, MNA (66), Bishor Rufin Julius, MNA (88), Rana Chandar Shigh, MNA (59), Julius Salik, federal minister (10), George Clement, parliamentary secretary (72), Bashiruddin Khalid, MNA (55 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 03 June 1997 Tuesday 26 Muharram 1418 Altaf opposes Golden Jubilee celebrations KUWAIT: Chief of MQM Altaf Hussain said on Monday the establishment of middle class rule would usher in a glorious chapter of progress, prosperity and employment to the millions of people in Pakistan. This was stated by the MQM founder over telephonic address from London to a huge gathering of people in Kuwait held under the auspices of the Mohibban-e-Pakistan. According to a fax received in Karachi, Altaf laid great emphasis on rigidly enforcing accountability of all the corrupt to the core instead of celebrating Golden Jubilee of Pakistan. He said there is supreme urgency of honest and able leadership to come up from the poor and middle classed so that new industries could be set up, trade is expanded and corruption is eliminated ensuring economic prosperity with adequate provision of employment for its citizens. The Quaide Tehreek recalled that there had been brain drain from Pakistan and doctors, engineers scientists and technocrats are serving other countries for better economic future of their generations although they long for their relations and social and community life of their country. He accused the forces of exploitation and the outdated feudal system for creating economic crisis and instability in the country. He said the plunder of national wealth by these vested interests brought the country to the "economic collapse." Altaf, criticising the celebrations of Golden Jubilee, asked those at the helm of affairs to explain to the masses whether this celebration was for losing half of the country, failure to liberate Kashmir from Indian occupation, being declared second corrupt country of the world, for killing fellow religious people or "economic collapse" of the country. Altaf said the law and Constitution exist in the country, but why the rules are not rigidly applied on those rulers, men of political influence or even those associated with them, for plundering national wealth and making the country "bankrupt". He said whether the country is ruled by leftists, rightists or even martial law, the same set of selected families always remain in the corridors of power, having their influence in every political party or group. They cannot enforce accountability against any one of them and whoever protested against them was "eliminated", he alleged. Altaf called upon the audience to join hands with the MQM in their long drawn struggle aimed at changing the outdated feudal system, restoration of basic rights of poor and middle class representing 98 percent of the masses, and creating leadership from amongst their ranks. --------------------------------- Rs400m budget allocation likely for compensation payments KARACHI - The federal and Sindh governments have agreed to allocate Rs400 million in the 1997-98 budget for compensation to families of Mohajir Qaumi Movement activists killed in fake encounters and in custody. The assurance was given by Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif to an MQM delegation which met him in Islamabad last month, an MQM source said here yesterday. According to a formula worked out by the MQM and the government, Rs300,000 will be given in cases of extra-judicial killings, Rs1,50,000 for those injured in encounters and Rs75,000 to displaced families. The MQM has already handed over a list of 502 killed, 900 injured and over 400 displaced during "Operation Clean-up" undertaken by the Benazir Bhutto government. An MQM official said here yesterday the government had, so far, examined 48 cases of extra-judicial killings and cleared these for compensation. The other cases are under scrutiny. "It is not a bad start," said Dr Farooq Sattar, senior Sindh minister. Meanwhile, cases against six MQM workers accused of setting fire to a post office located in Rafah-e-Am Chowk, Malir, were withdrawan by the Sindh government on the advice of the provincial legal department. According to police, the six men set ablaze a post office on July 14, 1993, and escaped. Three of them were later arrested in a park in the area while the others were still absconding. The provincial authorities were forced to withdraw the cases against the accused because the public prosecutor failed to provide any evidence. -------------------------- Taliban govt closes Iranian embassy KABUL, June 2: The Taliban administration on Monday closed the Iranian embassy in Kabul and ordered the diplomats to leave Afghanistan within 48 hours. While the Taliban faced mounting pressure from rival militia in northern Afghanistan, the administration released an official statement accusing Iranian diplomats of creating unrest among the Afghan people and releasing negative propaganda. "In view of the hostile deeds by the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran ... the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic State of Afghanistan decided to temporarily close the Iranian embassy in Kabul and to expel all of its Iranian staff within 48 hours," the statement said. Iran does not hide its opposition to the Taliban while the Taliban authorities have accused Tehran of financing and arming opponents in regions still not controlled by the militia. The neighbours have barely hid their hostility as the militia has taken Kabul and moved further north. Iran still recognises as president Burhanuddin Rabbani, who fled Kabul last September. But the Taliban have suffered a series of setbacks in northern Afghanistan including last week's retreat from Mazar-i-Sharif, reportedly by forces also backed by Tehran. Opposition fighters are now closing in on a large Taliban force trapped in the northern district of Pul-i-Khumri, according to reports reaching here. The Kayan militia have driven the Taliban out of Doshi district, 46 kilometres south of Pul-i-Khumri. The Kayan is a force of the Ismaeli sect led by Sayyad Jaffar Naderi, a former of governor of Pul-i-Khumri. The force of between 2,000 and 3,000 Taliban trapped in Pul-i-Khumri was on its way from Kabul to the northern capital of Mazar-i-Sharif shortly after it fell on May 24.-AFP ------------------------------- Windstorm, rain lash Karachi KARACHI, June 2: The city received the second spell of rain, followed a windstorm, on Monday night after an interval of one day, triggering power failure in most parts of the city. Accompanied by lightning and thunder, the rain started around midnight and it fell in almost all parts of the city, disrupting electricity supply and thereby aggravating the power problem. Reports of rain poured in from areas including Clifton, Defence, Malir, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Lyari, New Karachi, North Karachi, Burns Road, Saddar and Civil Lines. A DHA resident said it was raining heavily in his area at about 12:30. A resident of Clifton told Dawn by telephone that his family members had felt mild tremors at 12.35am. The Met office, however, denied any such reports by people or at the weather recording station. Some residents of Block 4-A, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, told Dawn that intermittent power fluctuations had badly damaged their electrical appliances. A resident said: "We have no electricity for the last two hours. When contacted the local KESC office it did not respond positively to us". The power to Dawn offices and areas adjoining Haroon House on Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road, such as Civil Lines, was briefly cut off at 1.00am. ----------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, June 2: Nisar A. Memon, country general manager of IBM, said here on Monday that there were 12,000 users of the Internet in Pakistan which was not an encouraging figure. Speaking on "Internet and Information Technology" before the formal inauguration of the Internet's installation in Karachi Press Club ,the IBM executive said he wanted to inter-connect all Pakistani universities through the Internet. However, he regretted that the University Grants Commission did not respond positively to his offer. KPC president Habib Khan Ghori thanked Mr Memon for donating the Internet facility to the club and presented him a KPC shield. ---------------------------- Urban, rural divide conspiracy being countered: Javed Jabbar KARACHI: Former senator and social worker Javed Jabbar said that he had started his social work in the area of Thar because he felt it was his religious and moral obligation to counter the conspiracy of urban-rural divide. He was speaking as chief guest at a certificate distribution ceremony at Abdullah Bhund Goth off Hawksbay, organised by Mutual Aid Society (MAS) on Sunday. One the occasion, Jabbar extended cooperation in technical field to the MAS in solving water problem of this goth. The ceremony was held to award certificates to the women who participated in a workshop of the Lyari Women Development Project. The area people, mostly fishermen, told that they did not have water supply as far as several kilometers in their area. "Our women have to travel five km to fetch water as the area didn't have any link road". Speaking on the occasion, the MAS office-bearers said that their goal was to tell the people that they cannot rely on miracles but only depend on the most proven way of improving their condition on the basis of self-help. Shields were presented to the volunteers who participated in social work in the area, on the occasion of silver jubilee of medical camps held by the MAS. Sabiha Ghani of Lyari Community Development Project asked the male population of the area to support the women. "When a woman can go out to fetch water, a man should not feel shy doing," she added. ------------------------------------ Minor among five killed in mishaps, two injured KARACHI: Five, including a minor girl, were killed and two were injured in different incidents on Monday. Noor Ghulam, 35, was knocked down to death, when a speeding hit-and-run vehicle ran him over near Arts Council in Artillery Maidan. He was crossing the road. An unidentified, four-year-old girl was crushed to death, when a speeding coach ran her over in Saeedabad. She was playing outside her residence. Fazal Ilaahi, 35, was knocked down to death after a speeding vehicle ran him over in Gizri. He was crossing the road. An unidentified, 25-year-old man was electrocuted while repairing a water pump at his customer's residence in Liaquatabad. In another incident of electrocution, an unknown 55-year-old man died when an electrical wire fell on him at Keamari in Jackson police area while he was passing from their. Muhammad Shafiq and Abdul Ghafoor were injured when a truck (LS-9743) collided with their motorcycle near Water Pump in Gulbarg. Meanwhile, body of an unidentified man of about 35, strangulated to death, was found in a gunny bag near Bait-ul-Mukarram Masjid in Orangi Extension. It was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed where the MLO said that hands and legs of the deceased were tied and the body had torture marks. ------------------------------------ Two wounded by motorcycle snatchers KARACHI: Armed men looted thousands of rupees, gold ornaments, electrical appliances and snatched 15 vehicles from the city, besides injuring two people on their resistance. Four armed men barged into the residence of Rashid Baig in Ibrahim Hyderi. They locked all the occupants in a room and looted Rs 60,000, jewellery, prize bonds worth Rs 100,000 and other valuables. Two men intercepted a motorcycle (KAZ-2085) in Malir Cantonment and on gunpoint ordered Rab Nawaz to hand over his motorcycle. When he resisted they opened fire and fled along with cash and his motorcycle leaving him injured. Two armed men intercepted another motorcyclist Abdul Khaliq in New Karachi. They tried to snatch his motorcycle but when he resisted they shot and injured him before fleeing. Bandits looted Rs 8,000, gold ornaments and electrical appliances from the residence of Sharif in New Karachi; Rs, 5,000, jewellery, mobile phone and a car from the house of Muhammad Farhan in Darakhshan; Rs 17,000 from Rehan Khan in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Rs 55,000, gold ornaments and electrical appliances from a house in Al-Falah. One killed: Two armed men gunned down a man in New Karachi on Monday. Ghulam Arif, 35, owner of a pan shop, was killed when two armed men, riding a motorcycle, came to his shop near Sindhi Hotel in Sector 5-E in New Karachi and after exchanging hot words opened fire on him and fled. Arif died on the spot. His body was brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. ------------------------------- Disaffiliation: DCET to approach governor KARACHI: The administration at the Dawood College of Engineering and Technology has decided to approach the Sindh governor, who is also the chancellor of the public sector universities, on the issue of college's disaffiliation from the NED University. Prof Razaq Memon, Principal of the college, told The News that he was preparing a representation on this issue for the governor seeking his interference. Any unwise action would destroy the national institution, he warned. On May 31, the syndicate of NED university had decided to start the process of disaffiliating the college citing allegations of irregularities put forward by the university administration. Prof Razaq said that since the last visit of the university's affiliation committee there had been a lot of progress in respct with the academic and other facilities, but the university instead of having a fresh assessment of the situation had gone for a "drastic action". Such action would create unrest among students who were of the view that the whole controversy was based on personal enmity, Razaq said and added that so far students were in his control as they had been assured that college was taking the matter to the highest level. To a question, he said that the affiliation committee of the varsity had allowed 217 seats in Electronics Engineering in the year 1995, while the affiliation committee that visited the college in the middle of last year allowed increase in seats up to 368. Responding to another question, he said that on May 3 a meeting of the college and university officials was announced, but could not take place as the university side did not turn up. --------------------------- Haqiqi not to give up struggle, says Afaq KARACHI: Chairman MQM (Haqiqi) Afaq Ahmed has said that his party would never give up the struggle for the rights of Mohajirs. In a statement issued on Monday, he said that present government was busy in killing the Mohajirs at the behest of its coalition partners. He alleged that Sindh Chief Minister Liaquat Jatoi was only trying to save his seat and for this purpose he was protecting the terrorists. Afaq said that CM should stop the atrocities being committed on Mohajir elders. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 04 June 1997 Wednesday 27 Muharram 1418 MQM Malir sector office attacked, activist killed KARACHI: Two people including an MQM activist were killed in an armed attack on MQM's Malir Sector Office in the jurisdiction of Saudabad police on Tuesday. According to the sources, Ali Hussain, 22, an activist of MQM, was sitting along with other party workers outside the Sector Office in Quaid Park on Begum Khursheed Road, Malir 2-B area when some unidentified gun men opened fire on them. As a result, Ali and a passerby, Abdul Majeed, received bullet wounds. The attackers fled after the attack. The injured were rushed to the JPMC , however, they succumbed to their injuries on way to the hospital. On contact, SHO Saudabad Iqbal said that the staff would brief this scribe about the incident. One of the staffers denied that any political activist was killed in their jurisdiction and said that they were informed about two casualties but both of them did not belong to any political party. Despite several attempts, the SSP East, Sardar Abdul Majeed Dasti, could not be contacted till the filing of this report. After the incident the entire area was in the grip of tension. Meanwhile, the MQM has condemned the killing of Hussain Ali who it said was its worker, by terrorists. In a statement, the party alleged that the deceased was killed by the activists of rival group. Meanwhile, Nadeem was injured when he received bullet injuries in the jurisdiction of Khokrapar police station. The injured was rushed to the JPMC for medical aid. ------------------------------ KARACHI: Police officers to be called before committee: MQM KARACHI, June 3: Several police officers, including an ASP, from eight to 10 SHOs, and a member of the rangers will be asked to appear before a Senate committee formed to look for 28 missing MQM activists, an MQM senator said on Tuesday. The first meeting of this committee will be held in Islamabad on Thursday. Senator Aftab Ahmed Sheikh, a member of the four-person committee, told Dawn that he would propose to the other committee members (convenor Senator Akil Shah of the ANP, Senator Khuda-i-Noor of the BNP and Senator Pervez Rashid of the PML) that all such police officers who had been involved in detaining the 28 workers and who "took money from their relatives to allow them to meet one another" be called to testify before the Senate committee. Sen Sheikh said that similarly all relatives and family members who had been affected by these detentions would be asked to appear before the committee so that their statements could be recorded. The committee will present its report to the Senate within 60 days and the 28 workers whose whereabouts would form the basis of the report have been missing for between 2 and 3 years, Mr Sheikh said. GOVERNOR'S REMARKS: Sen Sheikh in response to a question said Governor Moeenuddin Haider was a holder of a constitutional office and not a politician. He said the governor's statement on the withdrawal of "heinous" cases had "damaged" the PML-MQM agreement. The senator said the governor's reported remarks had been quoted by many legislators and senior government officials in Islamabad to MQM legislators and this was posing some problems for the process of implementation of the agreement with the PML. JUDICIAL COMMISSION: On the issue of the formation of a judicial commission to investigate extra-judicial killings, Mr Sheikh said he had held three to four meetings with the prime minister's law adviser Senator Khalid Anwar and the MQM was now waiting for the government to issue a notification for the tribunal. "We strongly protest at the delay. There's nothing more to be done at our end. Supreme Court Justice Munawwar Mirza and Justice Wali Mohammed have been nominated and the third nomination is now awaited by us," the senator said. WITHDRAWAL OF CASES: The senator said the Sindh Law Department was not cooperating with the joint PML-MQM committee to review the cases against MQM workers. He said at the last meeting on May 31, an official of the department came with one sheet of paper with one paragraph written on it which quoting Rules of Business said the law department was not supposed to give an opinion on the first lot of 97 "so-called heinous" cases. Sen Sheikh said that despite this the law department also said that cases should not be withdrawn. "How could they say that when they had not even opened the files?" he said. EJAZ SHAFI: In response to a question, the MQM senator said PML MNA Ejaz Shafi had "all of a sudden" become very active in party affairs. He said Mr Shafi was "toeing the line of certain quarters which are not interested in peace in Karachi". Sen Sheikh said Mr Shafi could always come to "us" for clearing any misunderstanding because the MQM wanted to work with the PML and on the accord. IMRAN FAROOQ: In response to the reported sighting in Gulbahar of MQM Secretary-General Imran Farooq, Mr Sheikh said that this was a "planted news item". -------------------------------------- Lip-service cannot solve city problems: Farooq Sattar KARACHI: Speakers at the Jang Forum on 'Who is the ruler of local bodies: bureaucracy or people', including a bureaucrat, viewed that elected representatives could serve people, specially from the platform of local bodies, in a better way than bureaucrats. Addressing the forum, held at the ICN auditorium on Tuesday, Local Bodies Minister Dr Farooq Sattar said the redressal of Karachi's grievances was not possible through 'lip-service' and practical efforts were needed, including transfer of power to LBs from the provincial government. The minister suggested formation of Greater Karachi Council as panacea of all civic problems adding that such a set up must enjoy powers of policy-making, long-term planning, fiscal planning, chalking out big developmental schemes and the civic agencies should be accountable before it. Sattar said he supported the holding of census but it would not be appropriate to postpone LB polls for want of census and other permanent change. Administrator KMC Syed Anzar Hussain Zaidi said he wanted to see the LBs under control of the elected representatives instead of bureaucrats as the latter were bound to abide and implement polices of the rulers. Former mayor Abdul Sattar Afghani observed that the Basic Democracy System of Ayub Khan violated the democratic values for about 11 years during which bureaucrats deprived elected representatives of their powers. He was of the view that holding of LB polls would be a mockery without census. MPA Abdul Khaliq Juma said the law and order and other problems did not allow the PPP government to hold LB polls and census though it spent Rs 15.785 billion on development projects in Karachi between 1990 and 1993. Convener Pakistan Citizens' Forum, Mirza Jawad Baig, suggested that protection could be provided to the local governments by making amendments in the Constitution. Siddique Rathore said the KMC should be given the right to collect motor vehicle tax. He also demanded placing of Karachi Building Control Authority under the KMC and returning to it land worth billions of rupees from Sindh Board of Revenue. Former local bodies minister Mujahid Baloch said due to absence of elected councillors the city had been converted into a garbage dump. -------------------------------------- Army called in Chakwal CHAKWAL: The Army was called on Tuesday to assist the local administration to maintain law and order on the second phase of Moharram-ul-Haram in the district. The troops will be deployed at village Jhatla, Talagang on June 5. The Shias have given undertaking that they will not take out procession. The local administration has made special arrangements to maintain peace. Jhatla witnessed a great tension last year when JUI-F district Amir Sheikh Yousuf was murdered in sectarian violence. Besides, last year on Muharram 28, over 100 armed SMP activists, led by Murid Abbas Yazdani, stormed into Jhatla. But police arrested all of them to avert any untoward incident. ---------------------------------------- India deploys Prithvi missiles near Pak border Can strike Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad; FO 'seriously concerned', hints at necessary measures WASHINGTON: India's military forces recently moved a handful of medium-range Prithvi ballistic missiles to a prospective launch site near the Pakistani border, raising fresh concerns in Washington that the two enemies may have entered a provocative phase in their long-standing arms race, US officials disclosed on Monday. With its estimated range of 93 miles, if launched from an area near the Indian border can hit Pakistan's capital at Islamabad or major cities such as Lahore, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi, the US officials said. The Prithvis, currently are capable of carrying conventional but not nuclear warheads. The US intelligence agencies have concluded that fewer than a dozen are now located near the city of Jullundur in the state of Punjab in northwest India. A Pentagon report in April 1996 said that "the Indian Army has completed user trials with the Prithvi," meaning that it has practiced moving the missiles around and launching them from sites that had been specially surveyed in advance. Some US intelligence officials have privately described the movement of the missiles as the first operational deployment of the Prithvi since its development began more than a decade ago. But several other officials cautioned that Washington does not know if all of the equipment and troops needed to launch the missiles are also at the site near Jullundur; one official claimed "the best judgment" is that the requisite gear is not there. "We know that the missiles have been moved, and in the wrong direction," said one US official who is familiar with intelligence reports on the matter. "This is going to prompt a bad reaction -- even an overreaction" in Pakistan, said another official. They expressed uncertainty why the missiles were moved to that site at a time when senior Indian and Pakistani political officials have begun moving toward an improved dialogue and a possible reduction of tensions. But one US official said Indian military officials "may have felt some pressure" from legislators and security analysts who began agitating publicly for deployment of the Prithvi as soon as its flight tests were completed this spring. Speaking about the US effort to prevent a missile arms race on the South Asian subcontinent, a senior US official said, "It looks like that's starting to come unraveled." Other officials who spoke on condition of anonymity predicted that Pakistan may react to its disclosure by taking some provocative new military action of its own -- possibly including making a public declaration that it has deployed similar medium-range missiles of its own, known as M-11s. India does not now have the capability to equip the Prithvi with a nuclear warhead but is believed by Washington to be working on such a capability, one US official said. Pakistan may already have completed its development of a nuclear warhead for its M-11s, which US intelligence officials say have been stored at an air force base. Pakistani officials have hinted in the past that the country might respond to the missile deployment by dropping its public denial that it has M-11s, which US officials say were purchased several years ago from China. If it did so, US officials said, the Clinton administration would be forced to act under a law aimed at discouraging missile proliferation by invoking wide-ranging trade sanctions against China. Pakistan on Tuesday expressed its "serious concern" over the deployment of Prithvi missiles by India near Pakistan's borders, saying it reserved the right to take necessary measures for its security. "The deployment of Prithvi missiles entails a qualitative change in the security environment in South Asia and can trigger a dangerous ballistic arms race in the region," said Foreign Office sources. "Pakistan has made a proposal for a zero-missile-zone regime in South Asia, and reserves the right to take necessary measures to safeguard its security," they added. Pakistan had in the past also drawn the attention of the international community towards India's intentions of deploying the missile which could carry weapons of mass destruction. Meanwhile, India said that it had 'no information' on the Washington Post report that India had moved Prithvi missiles to a prospective launch site near the Pakistani border. "We have no information on the report," an Indian Defence Ministry spokesman told newsmen. He declined to elaborate. -------------------------------------- Windstorm, rain again hit Karachi KARACHI, June 3: An unseasonal weather in Sindh continued as yet another rain and windstorm - the second in as many days - hit Karachi on Tuesday night. The rain which began around 9 pm followed strong winds. A Meteorological Department official told Dawn that 8 millimetres - a third of an inch - of rain fell in Karachi on early Tuesday morning. Eyewitness reports said that areas around the city, to the north within a radius of 50 kilometres, experienced even heavier rain and stronger winds. This weather is highly unseasonal since, according to met office's own records, the average number of rainy days in Karachi for the month of June is less than one at 0.7 while rain has fallen on all the first three days of this June. The record rainfall for Karachi for June is 58.8 mm in 1936 while already 34 mm has fallen in just the first two days this time around. LATE MONSOON: Interestingly, what a senior Indian met official told STAR News on Monday night might mean that Pakistan too might experience late monsoon this year. This will mean that the growing and harvesting of several crops in the country might be affected. While Pakistan met officials have declined to predict the exact timing of the monsoon this year (they say that no prediction can be made before at least the middle of June), the Indian met official said that usually by June 1 the monsoon hit Kerala. The weather conditions till now have been quite different since westerly winds are continuously bringing in unseasonably cooler air to much of northern Pakistan and north India. This 'push' of relatively cool air had prevented the monsoon from the south and Southwest from hitting southern India, the Indian met official had said. TRAFFIC SUSPENDED: Road traffic between Quetta, Karachi and Mekran came to a halt as a diversion constructed along RCD National Highway, across River Porali in the Hub area, was washed away following a heavy rain and floods on Monday night, adds PPI. The administration has undertaken repair of the diversion for the early restoration of traffic on the highway. Quetta valley received a light rain on Tuesday afternoon, which made the weather pleasant. The rain was preceded by thunder and lightening. The met office has forecast cloudy weather with chances of thunder/ rains during the coming 24 hours. It said rain with thunderstorm and a few moderate to heavy fall was expected in Punjab, Kashmir, Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP. Kalat, Bahawalnagar and Muzaffarabad received one millimetre of rain each on Tuesday. Sibi, Nawabshah and Jocobabad on Tuesday had a maximum of 40 centigrade temperature each while Multan had 37.5, Islamabad 33 and Murree 21.5. The twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Tuesday had a very pleasant weather as clouds covered the sky in the afternoon with strong winds blowing from east to west. --------------------------------- KARACHI: Panic spreads as PMTs explode KARACHI, June 3: Many PMT's of the KESC tripped with explosion on Tuesday sending a wave of shock among the harassed Karachiiites owing to unspecified number of incidents of wire snapping. Despite claims of improvement in power supply by the KESC, 11 KV distribution system of the KESC was not safe enough to take the load. "There have been many explosions and tremor-like situations since last night in Bahadurabad block-3 , we saw PMTs in flame, but no one from the KESC came to rectify the fault," said M. A. Khan , a harassed resident of the area. Mr Khan said throughout the day he tried to contact the XEN on phone number 4554126 and chief engineer 5687677 besides the general complaint centre on 4551081-3, but no one responded. "I am shocked to see that none of the government leaders who make long speeches in the parliament about weeding out corruption and solving problems of the people have taken any action against corrupt elements," said Mr Hussain, another KESC consumer from Clifton. Many residents were afraid of using metal appliances and fixture for fear of being electrocuted. A resident from Gulshan-i-Iqbal, block 4-A, complained that due to excessive fluctuation and load-shedding, his electrical appliances, like fan, were damaged. The KESC, he said, must be penalised for such losses to consumers. The rapidity with which the transmission system had failed and PMTs have started tripping with a bang show that the KESC had done nothing for its maintenance what to talk of rehabilitation, said another KESC consumer who demanded that those who were involved in the execution of this programme should be taken to task. He alleged that a huge amount budgeted for the project had been misappropriated. The problem being faced by the Karachiites was mainly owing to the delay in the completion of 11 kv distribution project which was to originally cost Rs 5,584 million and was to be completed this month. But corruption and mismanagement had delayed the project at least by another two years. A substantial portion of fund and material procured for the project had been used for providing new connections and repairing faults, sources said. Residents of blocks D, E, & F, Mehran apartments in Block 17 Gulshan-i-Iqbal said they were without electricity since Tuesday night and no one had turned up to remove the fault. Similar complaints were received from North Nazimabad. In this area, billing was in a big mess. According to sources, total units being billed in the area were about 15 million while the bills being processed were just 18 per cent. Jamat-i-Islami Karachi has decided to launch protest rallies to compel the government to solve water and power crisis in the city. The JI warned the government that if it took appropriate measure, the situation could threaten peace of the city. Despite claims of comparative improvement in power availability and reduced loadshedding by the KESC, residents said it was not true as they were still going through prolonged spell of power breakdowns. The KESC spokesman nevertheless claimed that loadshedding today varied from 66 M.W. to 178 M.W. during day time and around 150 M.W. during evening peak hours. The private sector Tapal Power Plant resumed supply to KESC last night but its support was soon nullified when KANUPP, supplying 60 M.W. went out of the bar at 1.00 am. Although overall extra high tension system remained intact, the intermittent rains resulted into some tripping and between 0001 hours to 0030 hours 132 K.V. Gulshan-i-Iqbal Transmission Circuit No.1 132 K.V., Queen's Road to KTPS Circuit-I, 132 K.V. Vinder Circuit and 220 K.V. KDA Pipri West Circuit one after another tripped. It partially effected the Grid Stations of KDA, F.B. Area, North Karachi, Valikas, Baldia, Hub Chowki, Vinder, Uthal, Bela, Site, North Nazimabad, Mauripur, Gulshan, and Liaquatabad. There was no electricity for the last three days in Old Thana, Baro Goth, Dur Mohammad Goth, Haji Dawood goth in Malir area. Residents urged the KESC authorities to restore electricity. Meanwhile, an official of the Sui Southern Gas Company rang up Dawn to complain that its emergency phone lines (119 five lines and 4934881-2) were out of order from 6pm on Tuesday evening and faults had not been rectified by the area exchange. ------------------------------------ Sectarian violence increases as IB centres closed in Punjab LAHORE: Amidst increasing incidents of sectarian violence which resulted in the killing of 86 people during the first five months of the current year, the top brass of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) closed down at least 10 Counter Intelligence (CI), anti-terrorist centres, throughout Punjab during the last week of April, The News has learnt on Tuesday. Contrary to the government's resolve to arrest the ever-expanding sectarian violence and terrorist activities, the untimely and strange decision of the IB high-ups has considerably reduced the agency's role. The anti-terrorist centres are closed at Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Sialkot, Kasur, Wazirabad, Kundian and D I Khan. The centres were established in early 1996 in the wake of ever increasing sectarian terrorism, which was often foreign sponsored. The CI centres are considered to be the most important wing of any intelligence network. Strange enough, the set-ups had nothing to do with the politically-motived adventurism of the government of the day as they were meant only to counter foreign and local sponsored anti-state activities. The IB move raised many eyebrows as the sectarian death toll had risen to 86 people and that too in only five months, whereas 59 persons were killed in 88 incidents during 1995 and 83 were killed in 71 incidents during 1996. Though the closing down of the small units was materialised on the orders of IB Director General Major General Rafiullah Niazi, many insiders believed the acting Joint Director General IB Punjab, Usman Khan Niazi, played an important role to discard the set-ups without realising their importance, especially in the prevailing circumstances. On the other hand, some sources are of the opinion that it was not the sole decision of Usman Niazi, but was another step towards cutting the IB to its size, which was a systematic effort being carried out from the days of the caretaker government. The majority of the set-ups were being supervised by inspector rank IB operatives, while one was headed by the deputy director and another by an assistant director. However, an official on condition of anonymity has claimed that under the new 'scheme of things', the counter intelligence work of the agency has been centralised in Lahore, headed by a retired but reputed Army officer. In fact, the official said, the opening up of several small units in various cities of the province was primarily meant to unnecessarily expand the IB's role and to accommodate favourites of the previous government. The same job is being done at the Lahore provincial headquarters with the most sophisticated arrangements which are enough to combat sectarian and terrorists activities. ------------------------------- Bandits held after encounter KARACHI: A man received bullet wounds, while two bandits were arrested in a brief encounter with Peerabad police on Tuesday. Police claimed to have recovered two pistols and a snatched motorcycle from them. According to details, two armed men were roaming suspiciously on a motorcycle (KCI-169) near Banaras Chowk in Peerabad. A mobile of Peerabad police asked them to stop. However, the armed men sped away, police chased them. In the ensuing encounter, a bullet hit a passerby Ghulam Rasheed, while both the armed men were arrested by the police. The accused disclosed their names as Arif and Muhammad Ali and admitted involvment in a number of robbery and vehicle snatching cases. ---------------------------------- Two electrocuted, dead body recovered KARACHI: Three people were killed and three others were injured in different incidents on Tuesday. Fida Hussain, 60, was electrocuted, while Abdul Aziz, Sher Bahaddur and Muhammad Basheer received electric shocks in Pak Colony while they were repairing live wires on an electric pole. According to police, the dead and injured were employees of KESC. Muhammad Azam, 42, was electrocuted when he was repairing a water pump in a house in Darakhshan. An unidentified 40-year-old man was knocked down to death by a speeding vehicle in Nazimabad while he was crossing the road. Body of Shaukat Ali, 18, was found from the Clifton beach which was shifted to JPMC for autopsy. According to police, the deceased had come to the beach along with his relatives on Monday and had drowned while swimming. ------------------------------ Murtaza case: decision reserved on bail applications KARACHI: District and Sessions Judge South, Shah Nawaz Awan, on Tuesday reserved judgment on bail applications of Masood Sharif, former director general Intelligence Bureau, two ASPs, two SHOs and four police constables in Murtaza Bhutto murder case till June 14. Masood Sharif, former SSP South Wajid Ali Durrani, ASPs Shahid Hayat and Rai Muhammad Tahir of Saddar and Darakhshan respectively, SHOs Agha Jameel and Shabbir Qaimkhani of Napier and Garden police stations respectively and four police constables were arrested in Murtaza murder case which took place on September 20, 1996, in which Murtaza, chairman PPP (SB), and his seven companions were killed in a police encounter. Crime Branch had submitted fresh final challan in the court on May 15 in which 100 additional witnesses were added increasing the number of witnesses to 223. --------------------------------- Teachers' meeting Pensioners Aid Committee's meeting of the Sindh Teachers' Foundation will be held on June 5, at 10:30 pm at Government Girls College Nazimabad.A ------------------------- One commits suicide KARACHI: A middle age man hanged himself with a ceiling fan at his residence in Surjani Town on Tuesday. Shakeel Ahmed, 49, after exchange of hot words with his wife locked himself in a room of his residence N/1024 in Surjani Town and committed suicide. His relatives brought his body to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsy. According to the police the deceased was jobless. ------------------------- 10 vehicles snatched KARACHI: The armed men looted thousands of rupees, gold ornaments, electrical appliances and snatched 10 vehicles from the various parts of the city on Tuesday. The armed men looted Rs 100,000 from Nadeem in Ferozabad, Rs 79,500 from Muhammad Aslam in Korangi. Rs 30,000 from Mukhtar Ali in Bin Qasim, Rs 18,000, jewellery and other valuables from the residence in Buffer Zones, Rs 60,000 and valuables gold from the residence of Anees in Korangi and Rs 70,000, jewellery and other valuables from the residence in North Nazimabad. ------------------------- FIA calls KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has called the acting Chief Executive of National Fibres Ltd Syed Amin Ahmad Sabzwari for investigations, on June 4, Wednesday. Assistant Director FIA, Khaliquuzzaman Khan, has asked Sabzwari to attend his office on Wednesday at 11:00 am. ------------------------- Power crisis deepens as KANUPP also calls it quits KARACHI: The Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP), contributing 60 mw to the KESC power distribution network, conked out in the wee hours of Tuesday and plunged half the city into darkness. The power generation stopped at 1:00 am and the KESC was able to bridge the sudden shortfall within one hour by increasing power import from WAPDA. The KANUPP will take 36 hours to restart production, informed a KESC spokesperson. He said intermittent rain between Monday night and Tuesday morning led to tripping due to which areas fed through KDA, F B Area, North Karachi, Valika-Baldia, Hub Chowki-Vinder, Uthal-Bela-SITE, North Nazimabad, Mauripur and Gulshan-e-Iqbal grid stations were affected. He said WAPDA's contribution to the Corporation's system increased from 250 mw to 360 mw on Tuesday while Tapal Power Plant had also resumed supplying 70 mw to KESC on Monday. "Although the affects of the later were neutralised due to shortfall caused by KANUPP closure, the Corporation was able to restore power to most of the areas on Tuesday morning and reduced load-shedding to the tune of 66 to 178 mw," he said adding that the KESC needed to bridge a shortfall of only 40 mw on Tuesday night. Enquires made by The News, however, revealed that there was no considerable improvement and hide-and-seek of power continued in many areas throughout the day. The power supply was also suspended to about 150 houses in Own Homes in Block 21 of F B Area because of wire snaping. One of the residents claimed that power went at 6 in the evening, and so far the KESC staff had not taken any action to rectify the fault. Meanwhile, Jama'at-e-Islami will stage demonstrations to build public pressure against the government to force it to take practical steps for improving the situation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 05 June 1997 Thursday 28 Muharram 1418 Body to trace Karachi's missing persons meets today ISLAMABAD, June 4: The four-man committee of the Senate is expected to meet here on Thursday in parliament house to discuss strategy for tracing the 28 young men who had disappeared from Karachi during the tenure of the PPP government. The Upper House had on May 30 approved the constitution of a four-member special committee to visit jails to find out the whereabouts of the 28 people who had reportedly gone missing from Karachi. The committee will submit its report in the Upper House in two months. The relatives of the missing people had demonstrated outside parliament. The demonstrators had alleged that those missing were between the ages of 12 and 50 years and had been taken into custody by the police. The four-man committee comprises Senator Aqil Shah, Senator Aftab Sheikh, Senator Khudai Noor and Senator Pervez Rashid. ------------------------------ Altaf lauds party activists KARACHI: The MQM Chief Altaf Husain has advised party workers not to make their offices at unsafe places.= In a statement he said the party offices should not be opened at places where there were apprehensions of attacks by Haqiqi terrorist. Altaf lauded the services rendered by Zone D MQM workers during the recent rainfall. He advised them to further build their character and make themselves mentally and physically strong, pay attention to acquire education to become productive citizens. ----------------------------- No action taken against Haqiqi killers, says Altaf KARACHI: It is a matter of concern that killers of MQM workers continue to go scot free, the concerned quarters are silent none of the terrorists was arrested even after the passage of 15 days. This was stated by Altaf Husain in a statement on Wednesday. He further pointed out that 'No go areas' still existed and thousands of people were still shelterless. He was addressing workers of Khidmat-e-Khalq Committee from London. He further advised that all the legislators should keep a strict vigil over the killings of MQM workers. He reminded party workers that they were associated with a party which did not believe in the politics of plots and permits and had the only aim of service to the people. He asked them to remain stead fast, keep unity in their rank and file and be alert to foil conspiracies hatched against the party. Altaf alleged that Haqiqi activists were killings MQM workers and the govt had not taken any action. "The President can topple the govt which is unable to eliminate terrorist elements and no go areas," the MQM leader said and advised workers to be ready to witness tough period. "Don't lose faith and continue to struggle. You will be victorious," he stated. "Would the MQM continue to pick bodies of workers despite being in the govt?" he asked. ------------------------------ PML, MQM decide to improve ties KARACHI, June 4: The PML and MQM Coordination Committee on Wednesday decided to take necessary measures to ensure improved bilateral relations, and Chief Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi has assured that he would extend his full cooperation to the two parties in the implementation of PML-MQM accord. The PML-MQM liaison committee which held an important session at the 7th floor of the New Sindh Secretariat on Wednesday reviewed the pace of implementation of the accord and exchanged views on matters of mutual interests. The meeting, attended by Provincial Ministers Salim Zia, Mohammad Ismail Rahu, Senator Ajmal Dehlavi and Adviser to the chief minister for finance Syed Sardar Ahmad, deliberated upon certain issues for over one-and-a-half hour in a congenial atmosphere. The committee resolved to discourage those elements creating mistrust against each other so that no conspiracy of the opponents of the government could succeed. The meeting decided to hold another meeting in the near future with the mutual consultations to discuss thoroughly their joint interests. After the meeting, members of the committee went to the chief minister's house where they apprised him of the proceedings. Assuring them his full cooperation for restoration peace in Sindh and implementation of the agreement, he said: "We should all work jointly for peace and development of the province". ------------------------------ Implementation of PML-MQM accord reviewed KARACHI: The PML(N) and MQM Coordination Committee held a meeting at the Sindh Secretariat on Wednesday to review the implementation of agreement between the two parties. The meeting, attended by provincial ministers Salim Zia, Ismail Raho, Senator Ajmal Dehlavi and Syed Sardar Ahmed, decided to take all the steps to strengthen the relationship between the two parties for the resolution of social, political and cultural problems of the citizens. The participants later also held a meeting with Chief Minister Liaquat Jatoi at the CM House and briefed him about the details of the meeting. -------------------------- Gulberg massacre: accused granted bail KARACHI: The District and Sessions Court, Central, on Wednesday granted bail to Rizwan Ahmed facing trial for his alleged involvement in the killing of 15 people in Gulberg in 1995. The bail has been allowed against Rs 100,000 surety bond with the direction that the accused would appear regularly before the court without fail till his case was decided. The incident took place in the early hours of November 2, 1995, when unidentified armed men barged into an under-construction house in Gulberg, blindfolded 15 labourers who were present there and opened indiscriminate fire. Nathu was the only survivor whereas the rest including Ghulam Qadir and Juma Khan were killed. Several MQM activists were booked in the case whereas an MQM activist Hanif Bhanwri was arrested and produced before the newsmen in a conference telecast by the Pakistan Television. Accused Rizwan was arrested from a nearby house few hours after the incident as the police suspected his involvement on the basis of some evidence which the investigators could never produced before the trial court. ------------------------------ 6 of a family kidnapped, shot dead SUKKUR, June 4: Six members of a family were gunned down by a group of at least 30 well armed tribesmen in the forest area of Bagarji town in Shikarpur district late Tuesday. It has been gathered that the armed men belonged to Jatoi tribe who raided village Manik Jagirani and kidnapped seven persons of their rival Jagirani tribe. Later six of them - Fateh Muhammad, Barkat, Allan, Majeed Mithal, Laiq and Bhagal - were shot dead while Ganjan was spared to convey the 'message' to his tribe. After his return from the site of shooting, at a distance from the village, Ganjan revealed that the kidnappers, in police unifor ms, took them away with their cattle in a large number. They tied hands of their victims and riddled six of them with bullets. Villagers later rushed to the site of shooting and collected bodies. On Wednesday, the Jagiranis and other mourners took out a procession with the six bodies on their shoulders. They blockaded a section of the National Highway and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. The local administration intervened to clear the highway. The protesters agreed to lift the blockade only after being assured of registration of a case against the accused. They have nominated 20 persons in this regard. Police have rounded up seven suspects whose identities have been kept secret. ----------------------------- COAS hints at measures to counter threat LAHORE, June 4: The Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Jahangir Karamat, said Pakistan would have no option but to go ahead with the development of indigenous capability to match the Indian missile threat, in the absence of assurances from the world community. Speaking at the Naval War College here on Wednesday, the COAS, according to an ISPR Press release, said the deployment of Prithvi missile by India near Pakistan's border and the recent air violation by an Indian aircraft seemed to have been the result of deliberate policy decisions and would "inevitably influence our response and the overall efforts for peace". General Jahangir Karamat said the Pakistan Army had developed an indigenous capability to ensure operational readiness and would restructure it to maintain effectiveness without increasing defence expenditure. "Our assertive defence in Siachen and on the Line of Control is a manifestation of this resolve", he told participants of the naval staff course. Gen Karamat said a strong external and internal defence was the cornerstone of the state's national security policy. The army would continue to safeguard the vital national interest of defending Pakistan's sovereignty, territorial integrity and national values. The army, he said, enjoyed the total support of the people, and this relationship "transcended transitory economic, political and social problems", the general was quoted by the press release as saying. The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that India had moved some medium-range Prithvi missiles to a launch site near the Pakistan border. An Indian MiG-25R was reported to have violated Pakistan air space on May 27. Islamabad has protested to New Delhi over the violation. ---------------------- KARACHI: Water shortage in areas hooked to Hub system KARACHI, June 4: Water supply to areas hooked to the Hub system has again been reduced within a month of the repairs/cleaning of the canal viz. KWSB is getting 90 to 92 MGD instead of 100 MGD, reflecting a shortfall of eight to 10 MGD. A KWSB spokesman also confirmed the shortfall, but said the supplies from Hub source had actually been dwindling. The WAPDA has given no details for the reduced supply except it had demanded chlorine for purifying the turbid water, he said adding the chlorine is being arranged. As a result of the short supplies, some areas of district West, particularly Orangi and Baldia, have been affected partly and the distribution system had been disturbed to some extent, the spokesman added. The KWSB official said that the complaints of water scarcity were not solely due to reduced supplies from Hub system but it were mainly owing to power breakdowns, forcing water pumping stations to close down. The main reason for water shortage in Baldia or Orangi was due to intermittent power failures at KWSB's Banaras Chowk, Discomor and Shershah pumping stations from where the supplies are augmented to other stations/boosters. Similarly, complaints of water scarcity in the outlying areas of Landhi, Malir, Saudabad or Khokhrapar were also due to the stoppage of operations at the main water pumping stations located at Future Colony, Saudabad, Landhi Cattle Colony or Shah Faisal colony. To a question, the spokesman said that disruption in power supply has led to increasing number of water shortage complaints as the main pumping stations failed to provide water to small pumping stations, leading to water shortage. The fact that the water for these areas is there, but power breakdowns have prevented KWSB from ensuring proper supplies and maintain its distribution network. The KWSB official said that the KESC had promised "no loadshedding" at water pumping stations, especially at main pumping stations - lists, location and time of operations already notified about these pumps; yet the power breakdowns of short and longer duration's continue to occur rather regularly, creating problems for the KWSB field staff. In Lyari, he said the problem was not that serious mainly because the KWSB had been able to cover up losses through seven standby generators, used after power failures just as in the case of sewerage system to check overflows by and large. ----------------------- KARACHI: Bad maintenance & delayed KESC projects cause power problem KARACHI, June 4: A 250 mva transformer of the KESC at Baldia grid station went out of commission owing to a leakage in gas isolation, forcing loadshedding to the tune of 30 mw in the area from 11.30 am on Wednesday. The fault affected Orangi, Valika, SITE, Mauripur, Hub Chowki areas. The load shedding would be discontinued on Thursday when the fault was expected to be removed, said the KESC spokesman. He claimed that power supply situation in the city improved owing to resumption of power generation by Tapal power plant, producing about 100 mw round the clock which has mainly contributed towards reducing loadshedding, especially in the residential areas of the city. MQM's MPA Khalid Bin Waleed expressed deep concern over "undeclared and prolonged loadshedding in North Karachi." He met the acting managing director of the KESC and informed him that cables in sector 2, 5-C and 4 were damaged, but no attention was being given to repair them. He demanded that undeclared and prolonged loadshedding should be stopped and damaged cables should be repaired immediately. The PPP's provincial information secretary Munawar Soharwardy also flayed frequent power breakdowns and loadshedding. He was of the view that the problem had aggravated because implementation on the seven power project agreements had been either shelved or delayed. He said that owing to loadshedding industrial production had suffered, operations in hospitals had to be postponed causing grave danger to the sick patients. Muhammad Munir Haqqani, resident of PECHS complained that there was no respite in loadshedding and no one was attending to the complaints lodged by the residents of the area. Mr I. B. Rizvi, resident of Block -20, Federal B Area (near Ancholi) also complained that the PMT had developed fault on Tuesday after power supply was either cut off or only one phase was active. Same was the case today, Wednesday, he said. The KESC spokesman denied there had been any PMT explosions in Bahdurabad nor any of them caught fire. He however said that "when a fuse of a PMT blows certain sound is heard which is normal and the area is subsequently cut off and there is nothing unusual about it." But the resident, who was an eye witness to the situation, along with others, reiterated that he not only heard explosions but also saw the PMT in flames, after which power supply to the area was disrupted. He reiterated his earlier statement and said that when the KESC staff did not attend telephone calls, how could anyone register a complaint. The spokesman however, accepted that power supply to the area remained affected owing to some problem in a feeder which he said was removed by 8.30 pm on Tuesday. Blasts were also heard in Kehkashan, North Nazimabad, Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Federal B Area on Monday night and also on Tuesday after which power supply to the area was discontinued for several hours. The KESC spokesman also claimed that the present power crisis was not only due to delay in the completion of 11 kv distribution project. The problem, he said, was owing to shortage of generation. Investigations revealed that KESC was not only facing shortage of generation but it had also not carried out proper maintenance and failed to complete the 11 kv distribution project on time. The project was to originally cost Rs5,584 million and was to be completed in June 1997. But work was lagging far behind the schedule and if funds were provided this may linger for more than two years from now. A substantial portion of fund and material procured for the project had been used for providing new connections and repairing faults, sources said. According to statistics, 810 transformers of 250 kva were to be installed, but so far only 219 had been executed whereas out of 350 transformers of 500 kva only 51 had been executed. Thus out of a total of 1160 transformers only 270 had been completed. According to sources out of 750 switch of 11kv 85 had been executed and 70 out of 220 RMUs were completed, out of 300 km 160 km of HT cable had been laid, overhead conductors had been installed in 150 km area and LT cable had been laid in 3.009 km area against the target of 60 km. The statistics provided by KESC insiders indicate why the distribution system was affected by the breakdown every now and then. The KESC spokesman also claimed that the PMT in Block-6, Gulshan-i-Iqbal had been shifted to a "safer place and posed no danger" to children playing in the park. He said the shifting took place after due process of application in this regard by the owner of the under-construction apartment. The owners of the under-construction apartment building claimed that the shifting of PMT was done after a proper KESC shut down announced for May 15/97. The application for shifting of PMT was moved on March 26 this year. On March 29 the applicant was asked to make payments of Rs138572.00 which was done on March 31. But the residents said no shut down was announced and no advertisement in this regard was spotted. They maintained that the PMT was dangerously placed near the playing area of the park. The KESC spokesman also acknowledged that a number of sub-stations and PMTs were installed in the parks to improve its distribution network because at times sufficient space was not found available at other places as laid down in the electricity rules. ------------------------ Afghan situation not to affect Pak-Iran ties: envoy RAWALPINDI: Iranian Cultural Consular in Pakistan Ali Zoulem said on Wednesday that Pak-Iran relations would not be affected by the events in Afghanistan. "Any difference of opinion can't affect the cultural and historical relations between the two countries," he told newsmen at a 'Meet The Press' programme. Zoulem said that officials of the two countries were trying to harmonise their opinions over the Afghan issue, but he ruled out any adverse affect on bilateral ties if the efforts failed. "There were differences of opinion on some matters pertaining to Afghanistan in the past as well but no disagreement can affect the ties between Iran and Pakistan," he said, and urged both countries to cooperate for restoration of peace there. On extending diplomatic recognition to the Taleban government, he said Iran recognised only those administrations which were officially accepted by others and by international agencies. The Iranians were proud of the fact that Iran was the first country which recognised Pakistan, he added. To a question on the closure of the Iranian embassy in Kabul, he said that the event had been condemned and it was an immature move. He was of the opinion that no group must impose its views on others. "It is also contrary to the law," he remarked. The situation in Afghanistan, he said, was the outcome of misinterpretation of the teachings of Islam. "The Ummah is also facing difficulties as a result of interference of foreign elements in various Muslim countries," Zoulem said. To a question about the recently-held presidential election in Iran, he said: "The overwhelming participation of the people proved their confidence in the Revolution and the constitution of the country." The envoy dispelled the impression created by the West that the election of President Khatami was an indication of a change in the people's thinking. Khatami, he said, had worked to continue the mission of Imam Khomeni and "he will continue to do so in future." ----------------------- Gohar to lose job: Nisar, Kanju, Fakhr in the run ISLASMABAD: Major reshuffle in the government departments and ministries would be announced by Finance Minister Senator Sartaj Aziz in his budget speech, sources close to the prime minister informed this correspondent on Wednesday. The reshuffle, which was part of the government's austerity drive, would be followed by several changes in key ministerial portfolios including that of the federal foreign minister, they said. Sources said that it had been decided that the portfolio of the foreign affairs minister would be taken away from Gohar Ayub Khan, who, they added, would be "adequately compensated" for the loss. The three hopefuls for the key ministerial slot are: Chaudhry Nisar, Fakhr Imam and Siddique Kanju. While a final decision is yet to be taken, Chaudhry Nisar is stated to have the brightest chances. Siddique Kanju, who has already served as the foreign minister in the previous Nawaz government, is likely to be appointed as an advisor with the status of a minister of state. Sources said that Fakhr Imam is likely to assume the charge of the ministry of food and agriculture if Chaudhry Nisar is named the foreign minister. The present food and agriculture minister, Begum Abida Hussain, is likely to retain her portfolio of population ministry. The planned merger is a step towards checking resource leakage and improved monitoring in various social sector areas. The government would provincialise all social sector activities to complement the planned merger. "As a consequence of this initiative, separate ministries of health, rural development & local bodies and women development will cease to exist at the federal level in the new set up," sources said. The surplus staff, as announced in the Senate by the Finance Minister earlier this week, would either be absorbed at the provincial level or would be offered a golden handshake. The golden handshake in this case would include an option between the conventional one-time settlement or loans for self-employment or skill training for technical posts within the government. The government is still in the process of tapping potential donors for resources to conduct the skill training or finance the self-employment initiative meant for the surplus staff alone. Donors and population experts have long been advocating a marriage of the population and health ministries. They believe that integration of both the ministries was the only way to ensure provision of family planning services in an efficient manner. --------------------------- Protest against lady doctor's murder HYDERABAD: A number of Sindh Peoples Students Federation (SB) frontline activists and doctors staged a demonstration on Wednesday in front of the Hyderabad Press Club to protest against an incident in which a lady doctor was attacked and killed. Addressing the protesters, president of LMCH SPSF (SB) Dr Harash Kumar demanded hanging of the main accused, Abdul Raheem who was arrested soon after the incident but no action was being taken against him as he belongs to an influential family. Dr Kumar said the brothers of the accused were forcing the family of the slain lady doctor to withdraw the case threatening them with dire consequences. He said the brothers of the accused were planning to give the incident the colour of an act of a mental patient and that they are preparing forge documents in this regard. He hinted that if the accused was not hanged then there hunger strike would be staged and all responsibility would lie with the local administration. He appealed to the high-ups to look into the matter. ----------------------- Second phase of HSC annual examination begins today KARACHI: The second phase of HSC annual examination-97, under the auspices of the Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi would commence on June 5. The first phase of examinations for the candidates of Science and Commerce group completed on Wednesday. The Board has set up 104 examination centres, including 67 for female candidates, at different colleges and higher secondary schools for the second phase examinations for regular and private candidates of Humanities group as well as candidates of Diploma in Physical Education, said a BIE official. In all 60,797 male and female candidates have been registered for Humanities group(Part-I and II) and DPE exams. The number of private candidates is 21,626, including 12,662 females. The board has set up 67 examination centres for regular and private female candidates, while the number of male centres is 37. Vigilance teams would be operating for the second phase of the exams on the same pattern of the science and commerce group examinations, said a board official. He further said that annual examination for special students of Humanities group would commence on June 6. About 40 deaf and blind students of Deewa Academy and Ida Rieu School for Deaf and Blind are likely to appear in these examinations for which special syllabus have been designed. Responding to a question the BIE official said the board had not received any formal petition from any candidate regarding Computer Science question paper of May 29 so far. Earlier, students of DHA College for Women had viewed that their question paper of Computer Science was 'out of course'. On May 5, there would be papers of languages for regular candidates in the morning shift, while English-I would be held for private candidates in the second shift.The break down of candidates of HSC(Humanities) is as follows: Regular candidates -- Part-I: 3,559 males, 16,377 females and Part-II: 3,038 males, 16,175 females. Private candidates -- Part-I: 4,120 males, 6,033 females. Part-II: 4,844 males, 6,629 females. ------------------------- Robberies, vehicle snatchings KARACHI: The armed men looted thousands of rupees, US dollars, jewellery, other valuables and snatched 15 vehicles from the various parts of the city on Wednesday. Besides the armed men also injured two people on their resistance. Three armed men barged into the Post Office in Defence. They on a gun point looted Rs 114,000, from Deputy Postmaster. Four armed men riding on a yellow cab intercepted a motorcycle in Ibrahim Hyderi. They on a gun point ordered them to hand over all the cash, when they resisted the armed men opened fire and fled along with Rs,50,000 after leaving them in pool of blood. The armed men looted 27,000 US dollars from the owner of a local company in Darakshan, Rs 25,000 and other valuables from the store in Gizri, Rs 100,000, prize bounds worth Rs 200,000, gold ornaments, one pistol and electrical appliances from the residence of Muhammad Iftaqar, cash, jewellery and other valuables from the residence of Abdul majeed in Baldia and Rs 24,181 from Shah Hussain in Kalakot Inmate dies: A man, who was arrested by Saudabad police on drug peddling charges on February 18, died in Brostal Jail on Wednesday. Nana Shah, 65, died in the Landhi Jail in the morning. His body was shifted to the JPMC where the MLO said the deceased, who was a drug addict, died a natural death. His viscera has been preserved for chemical examination. ---------------------- Two killed in different incidents KARACHI: Two, including a Custom official, were killed in different incidents on Wednesday. Feroze, 50, a Custom official was killed in the jurisdiction of Quaidabad police. In the wee hours of the day,on the information of neighbors police recovered the strangulated corpse of the deceased, lying in a room of his house No 35 of Khuldabad. The police also detained two youth Shakeel and Fayyaz who were living with the dceased in the same house. The hospital sources said that the deceased was strangulated after receiving head injuries.According to the police the deceased was alleged to have molested Shakeel. Enraged Shakeel attacked him with a hard and blunt weapon and finally killed him with the help of his accomplice Fayyaz. Some relatives of the deceased, however, claimed that the deceased draw some money from the bank for the treatment of his ailing wife and he was killed by the accused for the money. Syed Kalim Ahmad, 30, was killed in the jurisdiction of Orangi Extension police. The sources said that the deceased was a resident of Raees Amrohvi Colony. In the wee hours of the day, some unidentified accused barged into his house and opened fire resulting inhis instant death.The police shifted the body to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsy and looking further into the matter. ------------------------ Two killed in accidents KARACHI: A minor boy and an addict were killed in different road accidents, while a body was recovered from a nullah in SITE area on Wednesday. Two-and-a-half years old Ali was crushed to death by a hit-and-run vehicle in the jurisdiction of Clifton police. The corpse was shifted to the JMPC for autopsy. An unidentified heroin addict was killed by a vehicle in the jurisdiction of Mehmoodabad police. The body was moved to the JPMC for autopsy. Meanwhile, the SITE police recovered a two days old body of an unidentified 45-year-old man from a nullah. The corpse was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsy. --------------------- HBL Branch Manger Pre-arrest bail rejected KARACHI: District and Sessions Judge, Central, Shabbir Ahmed, on Wednesday rejected the pre-arrest bail application filed on behalf HBL North Nazimabad branch manager facing trial in case pertaining to jewelry theft from a locker of his branch. No arrest was, however, reported after the bail's rejection. The prosecution said that Syed Muhammad Abbas had filed a complaint alleging that his wife's jewelry had disappeared from the branch's locker whose manager was Habibullah. The judge rejected the pre-arrest bail application as the defense could not produce grounds to favour the accused. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 06 June 1997 Friday 29 Muharram 1418 Missing MQM activists: Senate panel shifts probe to Karachi ISLAMABAD: The specially-constituted Committee of the Senate to probe into the disappearance of 28 MQM activists on Thursday decided to conduct on-the-spot inquiry in Karachi by summoning Station House Officers (SHOs) of different police stations and family members of the missing persons. Chaired by Senator Syed Aqil Shah, the committee, which met here at the Parliament House, came to the conclusion to meet again in Karachi in the Sindh Assembly building on June 11 and 12. The committee would record the evidence and statements of the families of the missing persons and the police personnel and officials of the law enforcement agencies involved in the matter. The committee was constituted through a resolution in the Senate when the family members of the missing MQM activists had staged a demonstration outside the Parliament House. "These persons were arrested by the law enforcement agencies two years ago in Karachi and are mysteriously missing eversince and nobody knows about their whereabouts," Aftab Sheikh who is also a member of the committee told The News. "During the meeting I placed before the committee the names of all those SHOs who had allegedly arranged meetings between the arrested persons and their family members and friends after getting their palms greased. I also told the meeting about the missing persons, their names and when they were picked up from different localities," he said. Meanwhile, the representative of the Sindh government, in a statement, informed the meeting that they have not yet traced the SHOs against whom allegations were levelled because of the paucity of time. The representative also said they have contacted the administration of the Adiala Jail to inquire about a detained MQM activist there but they denied the report. The representative assured the committee that the Sindh government will trace these SHOs so that their statements could be recorded by the committee in the next meetings. Aftab Sheikh said the committee will place its recommendations before the Senate after finalising it. Kanwar Khalid Younus, an MQM MNA, had been assigned the job by his party to visit different jails of the country and locate the missing persons. He has reported about his findings. The meeting was attended, besides the Chairman of the Committee Senator Syed Aqil Shah, by Senators Aftab Ahmad Sheikh, Khuda-e-Noor, Muhammad Ajmal Khan Khattak and Parvez Rashid. Secretary of the Committee Muhammad Sher Khan Baloch, Additional Secretary Senate. Shahid Iqbal and senior officials of the Ministry of Interior and those of the Sindh government also attended the meeting. ---------------------------- NED varsity canteen closed after student groups clash KARACHI: Following a brawl between two groups of students, the central cafeteria at the NED University of Engineering and Technology, catering to the needs of about 50 percent of the students and employees, has been closed for indefinite period. An official of the university said that the canteen was badly damaged during the brawl on Wednesday. The loss of the canteen, to the tune of Rs 25000, would be recovered from the students of the two groups.Sources in the campus said that the two groups developed a controversy on the issue of a proposed farewell reception for a teacher.The reception was scheduled to be held on Wednesday in the varsity canteen, but could not be held accordingly the students who had earlier agreed to hold the ceremony jointly turned apart on some issues and finally resorted to fighting. The fighting field was the canteen.However, by the time law enforcing agencies personnel could reach the scene a lot of damage was done to the canteen. The main entrance of the canteen has been closed and cook has also been sent out, added the sources and pointed out that the varsity administration had taken serious notice of the hooliganism and decided to take certain disciplinary action against the students involved in the brawl. Meanwhile, APMSO leaders including Dr Mahmood Siddiqui in a press conference held at MPA Hostel, Azizabad, have said that certain forces were after the peaceful environment in the academic institutions. These elements were also enjoying the support of Law Enforcment Agencies personnels, it was claimed further. --------------------------- Pakistan N-reactor becomes operational LAHORE, June 5: The 50-megawatt multi-purpose nuclear power reactor manufactured by Pakistani engineers and scientists has started working near Khushab in the Punjab, but it is not generating electricity because, it is said, the authorities concerned are not providing the heavy water needed for the purpose. Authoritative official sources told Dawn here on Thursday that the reactor would start generating electricity the day it was provided with heavy water, which Pakistan can produce locally. Those associated with the designing and manufacture of the all Pakistan-made reactor have advised the government to allow more such reactors to be made for export to other countries. "If the government exploits Pakistan's potential in the nuclear field, it can easily improve the economic condition of the country. Pakistan can get huge amounts from other countries by exporting reactors for peaceful purposes," the sources say. They claim that with the expertise that Pakistan has now gained, it is in a position to manufacture another such reactor in about three years and then another reactor can be built in lesser time. The Khushab reactor can produce isotopes, silica for solar technology, convert saline water into sweet drinkable water, make electrical cables fire-proof and irradiate food items. Separate reactors can also be built for each of these functions. The reactor can also produce fuel for nuclear plants to be set up in the future. Similarly, the fuel to be used for a particular plant may also be tested at this reactor to determine its fitness. The sources said establishment in water-starved areas of a reactor for converting the saline water into sweet can give a boost to agricultural production there. They are ideal for areas like Cholistan and Thar. A reactor specially designed for the purpose can provide as many as five million to 10 million gallons of sweet water per day. Pakistan already has a 137-mw nuclear power plant at Karachi (KANUPP) which was provided by Canada. Initially, Canada provided full cooperation to Pakistan to run the plant but it withdrew after India exploded a nuclear device in the 70s. Canada stopped fuel supply for KANUPP which proved a blessing in disguise for the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. The PAEC engineers and scientists themselves produced fuel for the plant. Since then, KANUPP has been using local fuel. ----------------------- K-8 airframe parts handed over to China RAWALPINDI, June 5 : The initial batch of the locally manufactured airframe sub-assemblies of K-8 jet trainer were formally handed over to Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Company (NAMC) of China at a ceremony held at the Aircraft Manufacturing, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra. K-8, short for Karakoram-8, is an advanced jet trainer jointly produced by China and Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, Director General Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Air Vice Marshal Abdul Rahim Yousefzai lauded the efforts of Pakistan and Chinese engineers and technicians in completing this important task on sche