-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 June 1997 Wednesday 05 Safar 1418 Five die as violence escalates in Karachi KARACHI, June 10: Three activists of the MQM (A) and two of the MQM (Haqiqi) faction were shot dead by unknown assailants here on Tuesday at three different places. While the MQM Haqiqi workers were gunned down in the Landhi area, the MQM (A) activists were killed in Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Federal B Area. Sohail Hashmi, a spokesman for the Haqiqi, claimed that unknown armed occupants of a Pajero, two Hyundai cabs and a Charade car opened indiscriminate fire at the central secretariat of the party, killing Naveed Khanzada, 18, and Kashif, 20, instantly. He said Khanzada, a carpenter, and Kashif, a welder, were engaged in repairs at the office when they were targeted by the attackers. The Haqiqi chief, Mr Afaq Ahmed Khan, was inside the office but escaped unhurt, he added. A spokesman for the MQM alleged that some Haqiqi men stormed the office of Sindh minister Arif Siddiqui at Bagh-i-Rizwan, in Block No 16, Gulshan-i-Iqbal. The attackers opened indiscriminate fire on Mohammad Imtiaz, 25, and Frasat Hussain, 30, sitting inside the office, and wounded them. Later, the two died at the Aga Khan Hospital. Arshad Beg of MQM (A), who was kidnapped from North Nazimabad during the day, was found dead near Water Pump in the Federal B Area. His body bore torture marks. The Haqiqi spokesman said Khanzada and Kashif, both residents of Shah Faisal Colony, had come to the party headquarters to do some repair work for the forthcoming founding day celebrations of the party on June 19. Their bodies were shifted to the JPMC mortuary for autopsy. Then the bodies were taken to their houses in Shah Faisal Colony. The deputy superintendent of Landhi, Raja Ghaus, told Dawn that soon after the incident the police rushed to the site and cordoned off the area to avoid further loss of life and property. After killing the Haqiqi workers, he said, the attackers riding in four vehicles disappeared into the narrow lanes of the area. The DIG of Karachi, Malik Iqbal, and the SSP-East, Sardar Abdul Majeed, visited the Haqiqi head office. They also talked to Afaq Ahmed Khan and saw the partly damaged walls. Panic and tension gripped the locality after the incident. The police intensified patrolling in the area. Speaking at a hurriedly called news conference at his office, Afaq Ahmed held the rival faction of the MQM responsible for killing of two of his partymen. Mr Afaq also lashed out at the Sindh government for "playing havoc with the lives of political opponents." In his statement, the MQM spokesman alleged that workers of the Haqiqi faction attacked the office of Mr Arif Siddiqui, Sindh minister for industries, killing two of its workers. The MQM also claimed that at least five of its workers were wounded in the same incident. OTHER INCIDENTS: A bullet-riddled body of a 25-year-old imam with hands tied with a rope in the back was found in Surjani Town. The police identified him as Abdul Ghafoor, 26, Pesh Imam of Momin Masjid, Sector 5-A, Surjani Town. The killers strangled him after subjecting him to torture. Later, they dumped the body in the nearby bushes. His body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed hospital mortuary for autopsy. The political or sectarian affiliations of the deceased and motives behind the killing could not be ascertained till our going to press. In another incident, two men, Ishfaq Ahmed and Surat Shanaas, barged into the house (73-A) of Syed Irshad Ali Shah in Model Colony, shot at and injured his son, Jamaluddin Shah, and daughter, Nazneen. The police said the two fled the scene. Ishfaq Ahmed wanted to marry Nazneen, but her family opposed the proposal, the police said. ----------------------- Missing MQM men: Senate committee to meet from 16th ISLAMABAD: The Special Committee of the Senate, constituted to investigate 28 missing MQM activists will now hold its meeting on June 16 and 17 at Karachi in the Sindh Provincial Assembly. The meeting to probe the whereabouts of these activists went missing for the last two years was earlier scheduled for June 11 and 12. Twenty eight persons were missing after they had been taken into custody by the Law Enforcing Agencies in Karachi and no clue to their whereabouts is available to their families ever since. The matter was raised in the previous session of the Senate and the House was unanimous in constituting the Special Committee to look into the issue which is related to the human aspect as well as the legal considerations. The Special Committee in his first meeting held in Islamabad, had decided to undertaken on-the-spot inquiry and thus hold its formal meeting in Karachi to facilitate the families of the missing persons and also the concerned officials of the Law Enforcing Agencies involved in the matter to appear before the Committee and assist it in its probe on this humanitarians issue. The Special Committee is headed by Senator Syed Aqil Shah and has Senators Aftab Ahmad Sheikh, Khuda-e-Noor, Perveiz Rashid and the Interior Minister as its members. ------------------------ MQM absolves itself of killings in Korangi KARACHI: The MQM (A) Coordination Committee has expressed serious concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the city and condemned the allegation against it for involvement in the Korangi killings on Monday. In its meeting on Tuesday at Nine-Zero, the committee said the agencies might be involved in the killing incident at the Haqiqi's office and termed such efforts an attempt to sabotage the party's foundation day on Wednesday. It recalled that the party's student wing activists were held at the NED University by the Rangers and were questioned about the arrangements of the public meeting on the foundation day to be held at Azizabad. The committee observed that all such efforts were aimed at sabotaging the peace and harmony of the city. It also demanded of the government to arrest the Haqiqi terrorists involved in killing incidents. ------------------------ US diplomat tours interior of Sindh HYDERABAD: Michael J Anderson, the first secretary for political affairs of United States of America (USA) Embassy concluded his two-day "trip" to the areas of interior of Sindh on Tuesday by visiting the local zonal office of Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM). The US official along with an aide had arrived at Hyderabad and went to zonal office of MQM, Hyderabad, where they were received by Speaker Sindh Assembly Nawab Mirza advocate and MNA Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. During the talks, the MQM's representatives briefed the US officials about the prevailing law and order situation in Sindh and particularly in Karachi. MQM leaders also handed over a set of relevant documents, regarding the victimisation of the MQM workers and supporters by the police and Rangers on the orders of the government officials. The US official stayed at MQM's zonal office for more than an hour and exchanged views with MQM leaders Suhail Mushadi, Salahuddin, Rafiq Ajmeri and MPA Syed Afzal Ahmed Shah. Later, MQM leaders hosted a lunch in the honour of the US officials at the Gymkhana Club. Michael J Anderson also toured Sukkur and met with local politicians, journalists and others. He also visited the residence of Makhdoom family at Hala and met with former senator Makhdoom Khaleeq-u-Zaman and discussed political situation with him. ------------------------- Ex-IB chief's production in court sought RAWALPINDI, June 10: The Special Judge, Central, Rawalpindi, on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of former Intelligence Bureau chief Masood Sharif's case till June 13. As the Inspector (Legal) did not appear before the court during the hearing, the counsel for Masood Sharif requested the judge to issue contempt of court notice to the Inspector. The counsel said that the prosecution was using delaying tactics. The counsel for the petitioner filed a plea seeking the production of the accused in court. The counsel contended that the investigating officer was bound to produce the accused in the court within 14 days after registration of the case. However, his client had been shifted to Karachi and was not being produced in the court at Rawalpindi. The lawyer requested the judge to produce the accused in the court for further proceedings. The accused had been granted interim bail by the court of Special Judge Central Rawalpindi in two different cases. Masood Sharif was arrested by the Islamabad Police for possessing a 222 rifle and foreign currency, including US dollars and Saudi riyals worth lakhs of rupees. At present the former Intelligence Bureau chief is in Landhi Jail. He was taken there in connection with investigations in the Murtaza Bhutto murder case. ------------------- KESC announces loadshedding schedule KARACHI, June 10: Owing to persistent gap between the KESC's generation capacity and demand for electricity, city dwellers would continue to face loadshedding for two and half hours daily for an unspecified period. The KESC spokesman said that with the commissioning of the sixth unit of Bin Qasim and re-commissioning of unit number one, which was shut down for repairs, the situation would improve. He said the KESC being deficient in generation had to rely on WAPDA for back up and when that support was not forthcoming, loadshedding became necessary. In the industrial area loadshedding would take place between 7pm and 11pm. The KESC spokesman said that various associations of industries had been accordingly informed. The spokesman said for the purpose of loadshedding residential areas of the city had been divided into four groups. In group I the loadshedding would be between 9 am and 11.30 am. It included Shah Faisal Colony, Drigh Road, Shamsi Housing Society, parts of Orangi Town, Mahmoodabad, parts of Shaheed Millat Road, PECHS, Karachi Administration Society, parts of Bahadurabad, Dhoraji, Bath Island, parts of Clifton and Defence area, Akhtar Colony, Sindhi Muslim Society, parts of Federal B. Area, Buffer Zone, Gulshan-i-Maymar Housing, Al-Karam Square, Ayub Manzil, main Tariq Road, and Muslimabad. Parts of Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Landhi, North Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, North Karachi, Garden East & West, part of Old City area, Khawaja Ajmer Nagri and adjacent area would also be included in group I. Loadshedding in group-II would be from 11.30 to 2 pm and would include Gulshan-i-Rafi, part of Baldia Saeedabad, Drigh Colony, Shah Faisal Colony, Civic Centre and adjacent areas, Shahrea Faisal, Moinabad, parts of Clifton and Defence, Sabzi Mandi, part of Saddar, Khudadad Colony, Jamshed Road and parts of Federal B. Area. This group would also include North Karachi and North Nazimabad, parts of Orangi town, Muslimabad, KDA scheme 33, Bilal Colony, Zaman Town, Liaquatabad, Gulbahar colony, Mujahid Colony, parts of Landhi residential areas, Old Town, Lyari and Manghopir areas. In group III loadshedding would be from 2 pm to 4.30 pm. The areas affected by loadshedding are Shadman Town, part of Orangi Town, Bahadurabad, Tariq Road, KDA commercial complex, Malir Colony C, Marton Quarters, Jehangir Road, and parts of Clifton and Defence. Rimpa Plaza, Burns Road, I.I.Chundrigar Road, parts of Gulshan, Federal B. Area, Parts of Liaquatabad, Jacob Lines, Sahafi Colony, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Korangi residential areas, Moosa colony, parts of Surjani Town, Old Town and Lyari areas, Ranchore Lines, parts of Saddar, Metroville and adjacent areas. Loadshedding in group IV would be from 4.30 pm to 7 pm. This group included Khokhrapar, Rafa-e-Aam, parts of Malir, Drigh Road, Orangi, Manzoor Colony, KECHF, Liaquatabad, Bahadurabad, Muhammad Ali Society, Defence and Clifton, Nishtar Road, I.I.Chundrigar Road, Federal B. Area, North Karachi and North Nazimabad areas, parts of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Aminabad, Jacob Lines, parts of Korangi Town residential areas and Qayyumabad. -------------------- Link road plan runs into snag KARACHI, June 10: The KMC is giving a second thought to the proposed link road between Shaheed-i-Millat Road/Jail Road and Tin Hatti, that is, whether to retain or abandon it, following the inordinate delay both in the removal of encroachments and finalization of an action plan for the rehabilitation of people to be affected. Inquiries show that the situation arising out of the government's directive proposing dispossession of the occupants of government quarters on Martin Road and Jahangir Road which was subsequently suspended, has unnerved the planners. The planners believe that the occupants of the government quarters, coming in the alignment of the link road, if given ownership rights, as had been publicised, then it may be difficult for the KMC to dislodge them. For such dwellers may not like to see their quarters demolished, being on the prime land. Besides, more than a year has passed but no action is in sight for the removal of encroachments due to which the development work has been held up in spite of the fact that the contractor has already been issued the work order for execution of the plan. The KMC had planned the link Road at a cost of Rs27.10 million which was to be funded on a 50:50 basis by the KMC and the Sindh government. But, it could not be implemented mainly due to encroachments in the alignment, including some government quarters, as the proposed action plan to rehabilitate the affected families could not be finalised. The objective of the link road from Shaheed-i-Millat Road/Jail Road through existing government quarters was conceived by the KMC to provide the missing section of the route from Tin Hatti to Korangi, including its Industrial Area, as an extension of the existing Jail Road. ----------------- Newspapers get contempt notices RAWALPINDI, June 10: The Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi bench on Tuesday issued contempt of court notices to the Chief Editor of Nawa-i-Waqt, Chief Editor of Jang newspaper, Rawalpindi, and Arshad Sami Khan, father of pop singer Adnan Sami Khan. The notices were issued on the petition of Eva Bakhtiar, mother of actress Zeba Bakhtiar. The petitioner contended that when case for the custody of Zeba Bukhtiar' son was pending in the high court, these newspapers published interviews of Arshad Sami Khan, father-in-law of Zeba Bakhtiar, in an attempt to influence the court. Yahya Bukhtiar, husband of Eva Bukhtiar and father of Zeba Bukhtiar argued that the respondents tried to influence the court. Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar Hussain issued notice to the respondent to explain as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them. The alleged contemners are asked to appear in the court on June 13, 1997. --------------- AI flays Pakistan's 'culture of violence, disregard for rights' LONDON, June 10: Amnesty International on Tuesday condemned what it called Pakistan's prevailing "culture of violence" and the "utter contempt" for human rights shown by its security forces. In a report targeting the 50th anniversary of Pakistan's independence from Britain on August 14, the London-based rights group said "torture, including rape, is widespread in Pakistan." "Police often intimidate and humiliate people in custody, beat, kick and use electric shocks on detainees, hang them upside down and deprive them of food and sleep," it said. "Many people die as a result of torture every year, yet virtually no policemen have been brought to justice for torturing or killing detainees," said Amnesty. The report cited the example of Yusuf Jakhrani, a politician in his 40s, who died in military custody in 1992 after being tortured for six days. "His neck was broken, his back appeared to have been roasted and there was a burn and a fracture on his right arm," it said. "Even his genitals had cigarette burns. It seems that someone had attempted to pull out his fingernails ... his nostrils were oozing blood." The report alleged that police had little regard for legal process, often shooting suspects rather than arresting them. "The official story is always that police fired in self- defence, even when their victims have been seen to be arrested, disarmed and hand-cuffed." The report also criticised the "expanding range of offences" to which the death penalty could be applied and punishments such as "bar fetters, chains, amputations and stoning to death." It cited religious intolerance, discrimination against women, excessive punishment of children and the exclusion of the vast majority of Pakistan's 131 million people from the benefits of economic growth. "Existing legal and constitutional safeguards are habitually ignored as state agents violate human rights with virtual impunity," said Amnesty. Calling on the Pakistani government to protest and promote human rights, it said: "This would be not so much a birthday present from the government of Pakistan to the country's people but the final honouring of fundamental rights denied them for 50 years."-AFP ---------------- Rs1.2m, valuables looted and 15 vehicles snatched KARACHI: Over Rs1.2million, gold ornaments, electrical appliances were looted and 15 vehicles were snatched from various parts of the city on Tuesday. Armed men also injured one on his resistance. Four armed men, riding a Suzuki (AAG-793) intercepted one Shaukat Ali's car at Sindhi Muslim Housing Society. On gun point they snatched Rs 700,000 from him which he had just then drawn from bank. Four armed men riding a car (AAV-709) intercepted Rasheed-ul-Haq's car in Ferozabad and looted from him Rs 550,000 which had drawn from bank. Four armed men barged into Ismail Khan's residence in Baghdadi. They locked all the inmates in a room. They were fleeing after collecting cash, jewellery and other valuables when Ismail tried to resist at which one of the armed men opened fire and injuring him fled with the loot. Rs15,000, jewellery and other valuables were looted from Mansoor Husain's house in Korangi; Rs11,197 from Abdullah Bhatti in Model Colony; Rs5,000, gold ornaments and electrical appliances from Siraj-ul-Hasan's house in Liaquatabad and Rs6,267 from Muhammad Ibrahim in Pirabad. ------------------ Drive against proclaimed offenders KARACHI: A high level meeting of officers of Sindh police and Rangers held at central police office Karachi,on Tuesday, decided to launch a full-fledged drive against proclaimed offenders from this month in Sindh and close unregistered security agencies forthwith. The meeting attended by Inspector General police Sindh, Mohib Asad,DIG police karachi, Malik Iqbal, DIG headquarters, DIG special branch,SSPs of all five districts , Director General,Rangers Sindh, Major General Imtiaz Shaheen, Deputy Director general, Brigadier Naseer Khan, and other high officials, reviewed law and order situation of the province in depth with particular reference to Karachi. The meeting decided to impound those vehicles having tainted glasses and those plying without registration number.It was also decided that unregistered security agencies would be closed immediately and all legal security agencies would be bound to keep arms while on duty and in uniform. ------------------ Boy among three killed, two injured KARACHI: Three people, including a boy, were killed and two others were injured in different incidents on Tuesday. Muhammad Aslam, 45 and his 12-year-old son were killed when a speeding oil tanker ran them over near Baloch Colony bridge at Sharea Faisal while they were going on their motorcycle. Muhammad Javed, 16, died when he fell from the third floor of his apartment in Mominabad. Ahmad Ali and Abdul Mateen were injured when their speeding motorcycle collided with a car in Soldier Bazar. Meanwhile, Nazneen, 20 and her elder brother Jamal Arshad received bullet wounds, when one Ashraf, after exchange hot word opened fire on them in their residence in Model Colony. ------------------ SSUET to raise research fund to 10pc of total budget KARACHI: Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) plans to gradually raise its spending on research activities up to 10 per cent of the total budget. This was stated by Afzal Munif, a member of the SSUET board of governors and treasurer of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys' Association which also sponsors the university. He was briefing newsmen about the meeting of the university's board of governors held on Tuesday with Prof Dr Saiyid Nazir Ahmad, vice chancellor, in chair. Those who attended the meeting included Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, Mr Justice Kamal Mansur Alam, Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, U A Isani, Chairman of UGC, Dr N A Baloch, M Zakir Ali Khan and Brig (retd) Qamarus Salam Khan. Munif, in the capacity of university's spokesman, said the meeting also considered the progress report for the period from September 1, 1996, to April 30, 1997, revised budget for the financial year 1996-97 and the budget estimates for the financial year 1997-98. He said the meeting approved the annual budget estimates for 1997-98, amounting to Rs 87.85 million with a deficit of Rs 11.21 million. It also approved the revised budget for the year 1996-97 amounting to Rs 75.78 million with a deficit of Rs 11.28 million. The meeting stressed for reducing the deficit by controlling the recurring expenditures, he said while mentioning that if the university reduced the capital expenditures it would ultimately affect the growth of the university which had completed its third year of establishment. Nuclear scientist Dr Qadeer remarked that the SSUET had started delivering the goods in a very short time. He also praised the computer engineering laboratory and termed it equal to international standard. Dr Qadeer observed that the high standard of education at the university should be maintained. If the graduates were talented and up-to-date in their respective fields there was no dearth of job for them, he added. Dr Qadeer, according to Munif, also stressed for interaction among students of GIK Institute of Technology and SSUET. He said if the university extended boarding and lodging facilities to 20 students of the GIK Institute through its hostels then in return it could send its 20 students to GIK Institute which would promote national cohesion. Dr Atta, Director of HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, emphasised for enhancing the research activities in order to make the university a real centre of excellence, to which the board of governors agreed. Munif told the newsmen that presently the university was allocating one per cent of its total budget on research, but it would be increased with the passage of time up to 10 per cent. He also mentioned that the research activities would be accelerated as soon as the first batch of students passed their courses. The first batch, comprising about 475 students, would graduate in 1998. The board of governors agreed not to increase the input of students and observed that efforts should be made to maintain and upgrade the quality of education at the university. The SSUET was also trying to get a soft term loan of about Rs 40 million from Islamic Development Bank. He mentioned that the caretaker government of Mairaj Khalid had already issued the required NOC and if the funds were released the development work would be completed in the campus. Responding to a question, he said recurring expenditures were being fulfilled from receipts on account of fees, while for capital expenditures the university relied on donations from within the country and abroad. He said the university needed Rs 200 million for completion of its master plan at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal campus, while it was aiming to initiate work on its second campus by the year 2000, for which 40 acres of land had been acquired near Pakistan Steel Mills. The spokesman said the university was only three years' old but the teacher-student ratio was commendable with respect to some other universities in the private and government sector. He pointed out that the teaching and non-teaching staff ratio was 1:1 and the board of governors has decided to maintain it for the present. He also revealed that in its attempt to encourage higher education among the female students the university, during the last fiscal, gave scholarship to every female student admitted with monetary aid from Infaq Foundation. However, he added, as the funding had been reduced for the coming year, it had been decided that scholarship would be given to those female students who would apply for it. Munif informed that the SSUET was the first Pakistani university which had introduced bio-medical engineering courses in view of the fact that there was no arrangement for qualified technicians for repair of medical equipment like x-ray, ultrasound machines etc. Presently about 55 students were studying in the degree courses, he added. He said Chancellor Z A Nizami had contacted many foreign universities where environmentalists who graduated from Aligarh had extended assurance for the establishment of a strong faculty for environmental education. He informed that the SSUET had 25 students from abroad also who paid fee in dollars. --------------------- Warrants for top executives of Philippines and US firms KARACHI, June 10: A court in Karachi has issued arrest warrants for top officials of an American shipping company and a Philippines-based container services company that have both been given the contract to develop container terminals at the Karachi port. The four officials also enjoy senior positions in Karachi International Container Terminals (KICT), a company based in West Wharf which was created especially to carry out the work that has been contracted out for the development of berths 22, 23 and 24 at the Karachi port. Arrest warrants for a top regional official of the California-based container services company, American President Lines (APL), and three senior officials of a Philippines-based company, International Container Terminal Services (ICTS), were issued by the judicial magistrate No 5 of District West on June 7 and the names persons have been asked to appear in the court on June 16. Dawn has obtained a copy of the warrants, which show that Thomas E. Faulkner, director of business development and administration for the APL's Asia operations and based in Hong Kong has been asked to appear in the court on June 16. The warrant says that Mr Faulkner can furnish bail in person in the amount of Rs 25,000. He has been named an accused under Section 420 (fraud), Section 406 (misappropriation of funds), Section 384 (extortion), Section 500 (defamation), Section 34 (complicity) and Section 190 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The other three officials for whom warrants have been issued include Carlos Soriano, the president of the Manila-based company, International Container Terminal Services, Enrique Razon, the company's chairman, and Robert B. Jayme, a senior vice-president of the ICTS. These three executives have also been named as accused under -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 June 1997 Thursday 06 Safar 1418 Altaf tells workers to carry on 'struggle' KARACHI, June 11: The chief of the MQM, Altaf Hussain, said on Wednesday that as long as the workers and activists of the party and the All-Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO) were not afraid of danger and stood firm and continued their "struggle no power in the world could finish" such movements. Speaking over phone from London to APMSO workers and party leaders on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the organisation, Mr Hussain said a situation had been created by the "exploitative forces" to hinder the day's event. He said the "agents" of these forces had done this deliberately and had "bathed the city in blood" by killing several people. Mr Hussain said although many party workers were killed by these 'forces', the movement and those in it would not lose their resolves. He said even on Wednesday deliberately- planned incidents were carried out in the city to disrupt the 19th anniversary ceremonies but such "forces" would never succeed. Meanwhile, speaking at a rally held at Jinnah ground to mark the APMSO's founding, Sindh minister for local government and kachchi abadis and senior MQM leader, Farooq Sattar, said although the MQM was in government it was deprived of the powers that came from such a position. "On the surface we are a part of the government but our authority, in fact, is limited," he said. The minister said everyone makes a hue and cry on thinking of an operation against the PPP although the MQM had been put in just such a situation for four years. He said 'no-go areas' were still there in the city and a "terrorists group was being "patronised by the state". He said while "innocent Mohajirs" were being murdered in the urban areas of Sindh, people were talking of Qarz Utaro Mulk Sanwaro schemes". Mr Sattar said while the people had to face natural catastrophes those in urban Sindh had to face more man-made consequences. He said that people sometimes say that in Thar in interior Sindh there are not enough anti-poison vaccines for snake bites. He said of course the people of interior Sindh had their problems but what about the 28 MQM persons who have been missing for the last two years. "If a person dies of a snake bite then at least there is a dead body but in the case of these missing people, there is not even that," he said. Mr Sattar said that the MQM was the only party in the world which was running successfully due to the voice of its leader who speaks to them from London over the telephone. He said the Mohajirs had to think about their future and what lay in store for them. He said Altaf Hussain's leadership of the MQM was a "blessing from God" APMSO chairman, MNA Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Ishtiaq Azhar, convenor of the MQM's coordination committee also spoke during the rally. ----------------------------- Gulf between MQM, PML(N) widening HYDERABAD: The gulf between the two allied partners of the Sindh government is widening with the passage of time, as it was witnessed during Sindh Chief Minister Liaquat Jatoi's two-day visit to Hyderabad city when the MQM leaders refused to meet him. The circles close to the chief minister and MQM insiders told The News that during Jatoi's stay in the city, he visited different areas and wanted to accompany the local MPAs -- belonging to the MQM -- but this did not take place. Several attempts in this regard made by the aides and the local administration proved to be a futile exercise. No MQM leader came to contact the chief minister, who finally met local political figures. The MQM insiders said that the local party leaders, including the MPAs and MNAs, were told to avoid meeting the chief minister during his stay in the city. The MQM sources said that apart from the existing 'relations' between the coalition partners in Sindh and at the federal level, the MQM was complaining about the curtailing of MQM ministers' powers, because they were not being consulted in matters of transfers and postings of government officials. An MQM leader on condition of anonymity told The News that no party MNA or MPA was taken into confidence on the recent reshuffling in the police and administration by the chief minister and the chief secretary. The transfers and postings, he said, were made through a summary prepared by the chief secretary and signed by the chief minister. Even the head of the MQM side in the coalition government, Dr Farooq Sattar, the Senior Minister, was not consulted by the two key bosses of the government at the time of transferring the police and administrative officials, said an MQM MPA. Soon after this, he said, the chief minister imposed ban on transfers and postings of police officials with immediate effect throughout the province. ------------------------------ One shot dead outside mosque LAHORE, June 11: One person was killed and three others sustained bullet injuries when a person opened fire on them outside a mosque in the congested New Anarkali area on Wednesday. The incident took place in front of Haji Rehmat Ullah mosque which is said to be a stronghold of Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan and visited frequently by its leadership. Eye-witnesses said a man with his face covered in a Sindhi shawl arrived on the scene with an AK47 rifle in his hand. The accused sprayed Hafiz Misbahudin with bullets while he was sitting at the corner of the street leading to the mosque. The sound of shots attracted the attention of people standing nearby and they rushed towards the scene. The accused fled towards the main Anarkali Bazaar and kept on firing and injuring three other people. The accused was seen escaping towards the Circular Road with another accomplice on a motorcycle who was waiting for him in front of a shoe store. Some shopkeepers maintain that another accused was also present on the scene and he left on a car soon after the incident. The injured men were taken to Mayo Hospital where Hafiz Misbahudin was pronounced dead while the condition of Mohammad Shoaib, Mohammad Ghulab Khan and Mohammad Tariq was described as critical by the doctors. The Imam of Haji Rehmat Ullah mosque, Mian Abdur Rehman, said some unidentified people were roaming around the mosque for the past few days. He said a suspicious person was caught inside the mosque about four days ago and instead of handing him to police some people allowed him to leave. He denied having any affiliation with the SSP or any other religious organisation. However, he said several SSP leaders had been giving lectures and leading prayers at the mosque. The place where the incident occurred is situated in a four feet wide street connecting main market of Anarkali with Urdu Bazaar and is always crowded. Police said this was sectarian-related incident and the main target of the assailants was the Imam of mosque. The body of Hafiz Misbahuddin, 30, has been removed to the city mortuary. He had a perfume shop and has left behind a widow and three children. The injured Ghulab Khan, 45, is an MCL employee and belongs to Mansehra while Mohammad Tariq, 28, and Mohammad Shoaib, 30, are traders. Following the incident all the shops in the area were shut down in protest and heavy police cordoned off the scene of crime. Police have yet to register a case and no arrest have been made. -------------------- PAF fighter plane crashes ISLAMABAD, June 11: A Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft while on a routine training mission crashed on Tuesday evening. The pilot of the aircraft Flt. Azizur Rehman ejected to safety at 15 kilometre west of Atharahazari, district Jhang. -------------- Number of Haj pilgrims may be cut ISLAMABAD, June 11: The government is considering drastically reducing the number of Pakistanis allowed to perform Haj every year. Official sources told Dawn here on Wednesday that the government intended to send about 40,000 less people from Pakistan for Haj during the coming years as compared to those sent this year. About 120,000 Pakistanis performed Haj this year under the regular and sponsorship schemes. During the next Haj, the authorities are considering to allow only 80,000 Pakistanis from Pakistan. This reduction is being done reportedly due to the general complaints about the Haj arrangements. The authorities are of the view one of the reason for the large number of casualties in Pakistani camps in Mina during last Haj, was crowding of the Pakistani pilgrims in limited space. According to a source, the space allotted by the Saudi government at Mina for 120,000 Pakistani pilgrims was the same that was offered to 75,000 pilgrims in 1991. Moreover, a lot of complaints are made every year regarding the Haj arrangements, particularly about the congested accommodation, in Makkah Mukarramah and Madina Munawwara. "We want to send only that many of pilgrims from Pakistan who can stay there comfortably," a source said. Meanwhile, it was learnt that six Pakistanis have contacted the government to seek permission for visiting Saudi Arabia in search of their missing relatives. ---------------- People hold demos against power breakdowns KARACHI, June 11: Harassed citizens took to streets in many parts of the city on Wednesday to protest against loadshedding far beyond the announced schedule and frequent power breakdowns. The KESC had announced loadshedding schedule according to which two-and-half hour loadshedding was to be carried out in a staggered manner and for which the city had been divided into four segments, but the KESC failed to stick to its schedule and in many parts of the city people had to remain without electricity for more than eight hours. Residents of Mehmoodabad and Railway Colony staged a protest rally outside the Karachi Press Club to protest against loadshedding and the KESC's failure to overcome the crisis. They were chanting slogans against alleged negligence on the part of KESC and Sindh government and demanded that those responsible for the negligence should be punished. They warned the government that if the power supply position was not improved, there may be violence. Fed up with persistent power crisis, residents of Baldia Town and Shershah Colony took out a protest rally at Ghani Chorangi against frequent power failures which caused water shortage owing to the fault in 250 MVA transformer. They criticised the KESC management and other staff members for their alleged neglect and corrupt practices. They said transformer, which developed fault last week had not yet been repaired and was not working properly, plunging the area into darkness. ----------------- Haqiqi men held for firing, arson KARACHI, June 11: Five MQM Haqiqi activists were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly opening fire on a mini-bus and setting ablaze two others in Landhi and its neighbourhood. Landhi DSP Raja Ghaus told Dawn that a group of youngmen obstructed two minibuses (JE-0472 and PE-1443) in 36-B Area, Landhi and tried to torch them. However, a police party rushed to the scene and arrested Mohammad Azeem, Syed Noman, Mohammad Rehan and Mohammad Asghar, all Haqiqi activists. The police, he said, recovered a TT pistol from Noman. Both mini-buses were partly damaged owing to the timely action by the police and driven to the police station. Raja Gaus said another activist, Masoom Shah, who with five others had opened fire at a minibus (JE-6341) of route F-11 in Korangi Industrial Area, was also arrested by a chasing police party who recovered a Kalashnikov from him. During the interrogation, the DSP said, the suspect told the police the names of his accomplices as Shahzad Bihari, Nasir Chingari, Mehmood, Fiyaz, Bilal, Rizwan and Hanif Kala. The DSP said the suspect also confessed to have been involved in the shooting at a carom club three days back which claimed four lives. The MQM (Haqiqi), however, refuted the charges levelled by the police against its workers. Unruly youth who poured into the streets early Wednesday morning forced shopkeepers to pull down shutters in protest against the Tuesday killing of two Haqiqi workers Landhi. Some of the residents told Dawn by telephone that they had heard sounds of fire in their localities. The unknown people had resorting to aerial firing even before the Fajr Azan, they said. They claimed that youths had blocked all passages by making bonfires and burning tyres on roads. They did not allow vehicular traffic to operate in areas controlled by them. All sorts of vehicles remained off the roads till 2pm in the affected parts of Landhi, where the White House, the Haqiqi's headquarters, was attacked by unknown assailants, killing their two workers from Shah Faisal Colony, on Tuesday. Sohail Hashmi, an office-bearer of the MQM (Haqiqi), told Dawn by the telephone that District, East police had arrested their more than 30 workers and sympathisers in Landhi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony and Lines Area. He alleged that the police in Landhi, Rahimabad, Korangi and Lines Area had conducted raids on houses of Haqiqi workers and misbehaved with family members. The police arrested Mohammad Aslam, Moghees and Alauddin in Lines Area, Abid, Shakeel, Zaman, Bilal, Shahbaz, Tehseen in Shah Fasial Colony, Kamal and Amin in Mominabad, he added. Mr Hashmi claimed that the police encircled 35-B, Area Landhi and conducted house-to-house searches on the pretext of arresting outlaws and harassed relatives of the Haqiqi workers. Residents also confirmed intermittent firing in parts of Shah Faisal Colony, Lines Area, Malir, Khokhrapar, and Federal B. Area and New Karachi, but no loss of life was reported from any area. The Brigade police denied that there was any shutdown by the shopkeepers in Lines Area. "There is no market in the Lines Area. We have small mohallah shops in the locality which had a routine business", a duty officer said. In a statement, the MQM (A) said Imtiaz, who was gunned down on Tuesday at the office of Sindh minister Arif Siddiqui in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, had sought bail two months back. It said Imtiaz, who had been an activist of the APMSO in the Urdu Science College, had remained for one year in the jail. --------------- Police, rangers decide to improve liaison KARACHI, June 11: A high-level meeting of police and rangers authorities on law and order have decided to further improve the co-ordination between the district heads of the police and commanding officers of the paramilitary force to evolve an effective strategy to control the overall crime situation in the city. A Press release said the meeting, held at the Central Police Office on Tuesday, was attended among others by IGP, Sindh, Syed Mohib Asad, director general, rangers, Maj-Gen Imtiaz Shaheen, deputy DG, rangers, Brig. Naseer Khan, DIG, Karachi, Malik Muhammad Iqbal, DIG, headquarter, Asad Ashraf Malik, DIG, special branch, Rahu Khan Brohi, and all senior superintendents of police (SSPs) of the five districts. It said the meeting decided to take all possi ble measures to control the incidents of carjacking and robberies. During the meeting the participants also called for co-ordination and co-operation at every level so that co-ordinated efforts would be launched against the anti-social elements. The meeting also decided to launch a special campaign against the suspected vehicles and the vehicles bearing no registration plates or fake number plates would be impounded immediately. Similarly, the vehicles with tinted glasses would also be impounded. It further decided to launch a campaign for the arrest of the proclaimed offenders. The meeting resolved to disband all unregistered private security agencies. All registered private agencies would now be required to make sure that their respective employees carry weapons only during the duty hours and that is too in uniform only. Meanwhile, the provincial police chief said all-out efforts were being made to purge the police force of corrupt and criminal elements. According to a Press release, the IGP said this while addressing a function of Rotary Club of Karachi, Taimuria. He said inquiries were being conducted against some 4,000 police personnel. During the last five months, the services of around 1,100 policemen have been terminated after charges against them were proved. Mr Asad said the registration of the FIRs was the legal right of the citizens and those who were denied of their right might contact the area magistrate. He said at present the provincial police force was comprising 90,000 personnel who included 65,000 constables. The total number of the force is far less as compared to the number of crimes in the province, he added. He agreed that the force should comprise the locals and there should be no political interference in its working. The IGP said no police personnel was allowed to perform duty in plainclothes. He said stern action would be taken against the violators. He also appealed to the people of Karachi to make collective efforts with police to curb crime in the city. -------------------- Population estimated at 135.28m with 2.77pc growth ISLAMABAD, June 11: The Economic Survey of Pakistan for 1996-97 puts Pakistan's population at 135.28 million at the current growth rate at 2.77 per cent and estimates the total labour force at 37.15 million on Jan 1. According to the Economic Survey, the unemployment rate is estimated at 5.37 per cent. It said that since 1981 no population census had been undertaken, and added that the government had now decided to conduct the census. The population of Pakistan had more than quadrupled over half a century from 32.5 million in 1947. In 1951,the growth rate of population had been 1.79 per cent per annum, which during 1972-73 had reached 3.69 per cent per annum. From this peak, a declining trend started and by 1997 the annual increase had dropped to 2.77 per cent per annum. The Economic Survey says the data on Afghan refugees reveals that about 2,243,179 refugees, including 392,867 as fresh arrivals, are in Pakistan at the moment. The number of registered refugees is 1,449,312 and 793,867 are unregistered. The Survey says that in the whole of Pakistan the infant mortality rate has declined from 112 per thousand in 1984-88 to 100.4 per thousand in 1994 and is expected to fall further in 1996-97.The fall in urban areas is steeper than that of rural areas. According to the Survey, the labour force participation rate is 27.46 per cent. According to the latest Labour Force Survey 1994-95, the overall labour force participation rate was 28.00 per cent for rural areas and 26.12 per cent for urban areas. The total number of employed labour force in 1996-97 was estimated at 35.15 million as against 34.20 million in 1995-96. The total number of employed persons in urban areas slightly increased to 9.48 million in 1996-97 from 9.23 million a year before. Rural employment increased from 24.97 million in 1995-96 to 25.67 million in 1996-97. The report says the agriculture sector, though still the largest employer, is declining as a source of employment. From 50.04 per cent in 1993-94, its share in the employed labour force declined to 47 per cent in 1993-94.The relative share of employed labour in the trade sector increased to 14.50 per cent in 1994-95 from 12.78 per cent in 1993-94. Finance, community and social sectors provided employment to 15.05 per cent in 1994-95 whereas manufacturing, construction and transport sectors absorbed 10.50 per cent,7.21 per cent and 5.07 per cent, respectively, compared to 1994-95. ----------------- '96-97 literacy rate put at 38.9 percent ISLAMABAD, June 11: The Economic Survey for 1996-97 puts the literacy rate at 38.9 per cent (50 per cent male and 27 per cent female). In 1996-97, the existing network of educational institutions consisted of 150,963 primary schools, 14,595 middle schools, 9,808 high schools, 673 secondary vocational institutions, 798 arts and science colleges, 161 professional colleges and 35 universities including 10 private-sector universities which have been granted charter by the government. According to the Economic Survey, primary schools, including mosque schools, had an enrolment of 15.6 million, middle schools 3.8 million, high/ secondary and vocational schools 1.6 million. Colleges had 981 thousand students on rolls and universities had 72 thousand. The 8th Plan has raised the level of allocation to the education sector to an unprecedented level of 14 per cent of the total outlay by allocating Rs69 billion for its period. The proposed reform relates to curriculum development, textbook development and distribution, examination reform and college education with particular focus on teacher training and educational administrators. It is expected that by the year 2000 the female participation at primary level will increase from the existing 63 per cent to 93.5 per cent. ---------------- Robbers kill one, 15 vehicles snatched By our correspondent KARACHI: Armed men killed a man while snatching his bike, besides six robberies were committed and 15 vehicles were snatched from different parts of the city on Wednesday. Two armed men, riding a car, intercepted one Nazar Hussain at Rishad Minahas Road in Aziz Bhatti police limits and ordered him to hand over his motorcycle (KCC-1144). Nazar Hussain, however, resisted upon which the gunmen shot at him and fled away with his bike. Two bandits barged into the clinic of Dr Shabir in Darakhshan and decamped with Rs 250,000 and other valuables. Gunmen looted Rs 100,000 and a motorcycle (KCS-1601) from Mustansar Hussain in Soldier Bazar; Rs 40,000 from the salesman of a soap factory in Korangi Industrial Area; cash, gold ornaments and electrical appliances from a house in Gulshan-e-Iqbal; and Rs 20,000, jewellery and other valuables from a residence in Model Colony. Meanwhile, four armed men, with two of them wearing police uniforms and riding a car (P-4456), looted cash and mobile phone from one Kamran at Cantt Railway Station in Frere, however, the bandits threw away the mobile phone while fleeing. For injured: Four people received bullet wounds in different firing incidents on Wednesday. Muhammad Arif and Muhammad Akber, received bullet injuries in a clash between two groups in Chakiwara. Amir Ahmed was injured when some unknown people opened fire on him in Mominabad outside his residence. Muhammad Yousuf received stray bullet in sniper firing in Al-Falah. ------------------- Dr Sharif Memon KARACHI: Dr Sharif Memon, Principal of DJ Science College, has been appointed as the chairman of the Sindh Textbook Board, with immediate effect, while Prof Ravi Shankar of the college has been asked to take the charge of Incharge principal at D J College. Dr Memon, who has been appointed for a period of three years, would take the charge of his office from Nizamuddin Memon. --------------- HSC exam at Saudabad centre not conducted KARACHI: The HSC annual examination of Humanities group could not be conducted at Government Degree Science College Malir, Saudabad, in the morning shift on Wednesday. According to examination staff of the board the centre was closed and none of teachers or centre superintendent was available to receive the question papers. About 400 students were registered at the centre, but a little number of students were seen outside the centre which is located in the tension gripped area of Malir, added the BIE officer. He also mentioned that other centres in the area were peaceful and examinations were held according to schedule there. Responding to a question he said any decision about new date of examination for the candidates registered at the centre would be taken later by the board. ----------------- Cheques at Board of Secondary Education The Board of Secondary Education has announced that cheques pertaining to "Poverty cum Merit" scholarship-1996 and Merit Cash awards" in SSC examination 1996 are ready and students concerned could collect it from board's research section. ------------------ Govt College of Tech The Chairman, Admission committee, Government College of Technology, SITE, has released the programme of interviews for admission in the college under double shift programme. Students have ben advised to contact the admission committee in this regard. --------------- Ranger sepoy, three others held KARACHI: Districts South and West police on Wednesday arrested four including a Ranger personnel, allegedly involved in kidnapping and robbery cases and recovered two kidnapped people and a TT pistol. One Rubina Bano had lodged an FIR with Garden police stating that Azhar Husain, Rehan, Shazad, Haji Jameel and Naved kidnapped her brothers Muzaffar Iqbal and Abdul Kareem on Monday and were demanding ransom. Police raided a private school in Eidgah and recovered the kidnappees, arrested Azhar Husain while others were still at large. Mominabad police, on an information raided a hideout and arrested a Muhammad Tariq, a Ranger personnel of Shah Ghazi Range and two others, Naseem Butt and Muhammad Jameel. During the interrogation the accused admitted that they looted Rs2,000 from one Muhammad Farooq. ------------------ District East situation fragile KARACHI: District East, which has particularly been in the grip of violence, witnessed an incident of firing in which one man was injured, besides setting ablaze of two vehicles on Wednesday. During the last 10 days, the district witnessed at least 9 killings in different incidents, including five killings in a bloody incident in the jurisdiction of Korangi police on Sunday, while five political activists of rival MQM groups, including three activists of MQM (H) and two activists of MQM (A) were gunned down in different incidents. On Wednesday, one Siddique, 63, passenger of a mini-bus received bullet injuries in the firing by unidentified miscreants near Khaddy Bus Stop, in Korangi. Besides, a mini-bus (JE-0472) and a coach (PE-1443) were set on fire by unidentified miscreants near Landhi roundabout. A mob reportedly attacked an armed personnel carrier (APC) in Landhi, whereas a mob tried to set on fire a post office and a bank in the jurisdiction of Khok -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 June 1997 Friday 07 Safar 1418 One killed, six vehicles burnt in city KARACHI, June 12: One person was shot dead, six vehicles were set ablaze and 19 people said to be members of the MQM (H) were arrested from different parts of the city on Thursday. Some unknown persons snatched an Edhi Ambulance near Siddiqui hospital in Malir which was later found abandoned without its wheels in Saudabad. A youngman, 25, was shot dead in Bantwa Nagar, Liaquatabad early on Thursday. Police identified him as Fahim, son of Abdul Ghafoor, a resident of Ghareebabad, Liaquatabad. He was going to his office in Nazimabad when he was shot in the head by an unknown person inside the boundary wall of Bantwa Nagar flats. He died instantly. SSP Central, Abbas Raza, said the motive behind the killing could not be known as the his political affiliation of the deceased could not be established. According to a handout, police rounded up six youths for setting ablaze vehicles including, a mini-bus (JE- 1283), in Jutland area, a coach (PE-5290), in Korangi, a car (R- 7365), in Sindhi Muslim Housing Society, a coach (CE-2872) and a mini bus (JE-796) near Purani Numaish. While a stolen car was also torched in Lines Area. The violence-hit areas of Landhi, Malir, Saudabad and Lines Areas remained closed for vehicular traffic on the second consecutive day as MQM(H) continued undeclared protest against the killing of its two workers in Landhi on Tuesday. Police raided the Sector office (52) of the Haqiqi on Thursday and arrested Ghulam Rasool and Rashid Ahmed Khan and seized a Kalashnikov and a TT pistol from them. Police said that Amir Ali alias Chitta was arrested red-handed when he was trying to set ablaze a mini-bus of route-X (JE-0796) in Soldier Bazaar area. Police also recovered a revolver from his possession. Police also arrested Mohammad Ahmed, Nasiruddin, Azizuddin and Mohammad Nadeem in Landhi when they were allegedly forcing shopkeepers to pull down shutters. Police said that Mohammad Khan, Raees, Sajid and Kamran, all Haqiqi workers, were arrested when they were trying to torch a vehicle (JE-5290) in Korangi. Khalid Mehmood, Zubair and Mohammad Tahir were arrested when they were forcing area shopkeepers to close their shops. The Landhi police arrested Mohammad Azeem, Syed Noman, Mohammad Rehan and Mohammad Asghar for their alleged involvement in setting ablaze vehicles. The shops and markets remained closed on the second day also in East and South districts. --------------------- Taliban lose in north Afghanistan KABUL, June 12: Taliban fighters have lost control of all centres in northern Afghanistan following their withdrawal from the town of Pul-i-Khumri, the opposition said on Thursday. The Taliban, under strong pressure from opposition forces, evacuated the town late on Tuesday for the neighbouring city of Baghlan where they were disarmed by commander Bashir Baghlani of the Hezb-i-Islami faction, said a spokesman for opposition commander Ahmad Shah Masoud. The reported disarmament of the estimated 3,000-strong Taliban came despite Bashir's support for the militia during their two-week occupation of Pul-i-Khumri, an important Baghlan provincial centre north of Kabul.-AFP ------------------------- Two Shia leaders killed in Faisalabad FAISALABAD: Two Shia leaders were gunned down in Faisalabad and Samundari on Thursday. Syed Baqar Hussain Shah was shot dead by two unidentified motorcyclists at vegetable market shop in Faisalabad. Baqar was a prominent Zakir and an active member of Tehrik-e-Jafferia Pakistan. He used to provide horses for Zuljinnah processions. In the second incident at Chak 170 GB near Samundari, two terrorists riding a motorcycle gunned down Syed Pir Hussain Shah, a Shia leader. The terrorists knocked at Pir's door and when he came out they opened indiscriminate fire on him. ------------------------- Gunmen kidnap Pir Mazhar HYDERABAD, June 12: A gang of five gunmen kidnapped Pir Mazharul Haq, the deputy leader of the opposition in Sindh assembly, while he was on his way to Hyderabad on Thursday. Pir Mazhar, a former Sindh minister for law and parliamentary affairs, was driving a double cabin Hilux when the vehicle was intercepted by the gunmen at Bolhari Chowk, in the jurisdiction of the Loni Kot police station, along the Super Highway. His wife Ms Shahnaz, a servant and a guard were also accompanying him. They were reportedly proceeding to Hyderabad to attend the soyem of Qazi Asghar Abid. The gunmen pulled their Toyota car to the politician's vehicle and asked the occupants to halt at around 2:30 p.m. Two of the armed men boarded the Hilux and forced the politician's wife, guard and servant to step down. The victims were escorted to the abductors' car which took them to Gulshan-i-Shahbaz. The car paused for some moments and Ms Shahnaz and the other two were pushed out of it. The gunmen then took Pir Mazhar away. The politician's wife requested for a lift from the passing vehicles and succeeded in reaching Qazi Asad Abid's residence where she narrated the ordeal. Qazi Asad immediately informed Ms Benazir Bhutto, currently in Islamabad, and also left a message at the Prime Minister's secretariat about the incident. Later, the military secretary to the PM responded to the call and acknowledged the message. Qazi Asad also informed the chief minister, and officials about the kidnapping. An FIR regarding the incident has been lodged at the Luni Kot police station. Police have launched a search in a vast area to locate the kidnapped politician and all the exit and entry points in Sujawal, Thatta, Dadu and other towns were being manned by the law enforcement agencies, reports late on Thursday said. ----------------------- Policeman killed in encounter KARACHI, June 12: A police constable was killed on Thursday as he exchanged fire with two alleged dacoits who were fleeing the scene after snatching a motorcycle at gunpoint in the limits of the Jauharabad police. The police said two dacoits robbed Muhammad Iqbal Hussain of Rs6,300 and his motorcycle (KAK-7322) after holding him hostage at gunpoint at Block-9 of Dastagir. The victim, resident of a kachchi abadi at Block-15 of the vicinity, immediately reported the matter to the police who aired an instant message about the incident, they said. The police said two constables, Imtiaz Hussain and Muhammad Ameer, who were patrolling the area on their motorcycle, spotted the culprits at the Block-16 and chased them when they tried to escape. As the cops continued the hunt the dacoits opened fire at them, injuring critically Imtiaz Hussain. However, one of the dacoit was arrested with the snatched motorcycle, while his accomplice escaped. The injured policeman was rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed hospital where he was immediately operated upon. However, he died from the bullet wounds at the intensive care unit of the hospital. Doctors said two bullets had pierced the left shoulder and abdomen of the victim. Police identified the arrested suspect as Muhammad Zeeshan, 25, a resident of the same vicinity. Police also seized a TT pistol from him. His escaped accomplice was identified as Nadim. Senior superintendent of police, Central, Syed Abbas Raza, stated that the suspects had been involved in several dacoities in the area. Raids were being conducted for the arrest of Nadim, he added. The Saddar police arrested three carjackers who were fleeing in a yellow cab (PG-9905) they had snatched near Lucky Star petrol station. The suspects, all in their early twenties, were identified as Sher Baz, Sajjad and Zulfikar by the police who also seized two TT pistols and a revolver from them. The police said during the interrogation the suspects confessed to having committed several offences in different parts of the city. The same police also seized a snatched double cabin vehicle No. CG-6355. The Chakiwara police also arrested three carjackers and seized from them a Suzuki Khyber (AAM-320) which had been snatched at gunpoint in the limits of the Risala police. The suspects were identified as Ghulam Sarwar, Inam Ali and Nazeer. --------------------- Lyari Expressway gets the green light KARACHI, June 12: The Sindh government has given a go-ahead for carrying out the much-delayed work on Lyari Expressway. It was decided at a high-level meeting held here on Thursday with Chief Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi in the chair. The meeting discussed various aspects of the project. The Rs3225 million expressway project proposes construction of 17-kilometre long three-lane carriageway on either side of the Lyari river from Mauripur Road to Sohrab Goth. A committee has been set up to finalise all relevant formalities and other matters concerning the project. The committee comprises adviser to CM on finance, additional chief secretary planning and development, secretaries of law and finance, administrator KMC and others. Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA), Hidayatullah Niazi, briefed the CM about the project which will be completed in three years. The chief minister directed that prior to the start of work on the project, the evacuation of people living in its alignment area should be carried out and they should be shifted to alternative places. He highlighted the importance of communication network, particularly the roads, which is essential for the progress of any country. He said that with growing population in Karachi, the volume of traffic was also increasing and was assuming an alarming dimension in the congested parts of the city which need alternative arrangements to cope with the situation. The construction of Expressway will help provide better facilities to commuters and rid them of the inconveniences they were facing today. The CM directed the administration to ensure rehabilitation of affectees of the project and to take every care in this regard. It was decided that this project will be taken in hand anew and the land required for the purpose would be obtained from the Sindh Board of Revenue on a 30-year lease on the BOT basis. ------------------ If at all, Karachi should become free port, says Beg KARACHI, June 12: The chief of Awami Qiadat Party (AQP), Gen Mirza Aslam Beg, said on Thursday that witch-hunting and victimisation of opponents was continuing under the garb of Ehtesab Bill. "Creation of Entesab cell smacks of partisan and one sided approach because so far the cases have been framed only against the opposition members, but not against the ruling party members," he said while talking to newsmen at his party's provincial headquarters. He said the situation at the moment was that the Chief Ehtesab Commissioner would only process the cases which would be sent by the Ehtesab cell. He demanded that it should be a neutral body otherwise people would cast doubt over its rulings. Expressing concern over escalation of violence in the city the former army chief said the government had failed to maintain law and order. He was of the view that country had reached the present situation because of wrong decisions and the lack of respect for each other's rights . Whenever people waged any struggle against oppressive forces, status quo powers intervened to scuttle the movement before it could be crowned with success, he said. Replying to a question about allegations that agencies were involved in the current spate of violence in the city he said it was very easy to pass on the buck and added that the real cause was the political system and wrong decisions taken by the leaders. He said that it was a wrong decision to ignore the PPP in the formation of the government at least in Sindh. To a question about making Karachi a free port, the AQP chief said "there is no harm in making either Karachi or Gwadar or for that matter any other place, a free port, if it is to the advantage of Pakistan and the decision is taken by the people of this country." He said if the decision in this regard was taken under pressure from any other quarter then it would not be a wise decision. He however, said that if at all a choice had to be made between Karachi and Gwadar, Karachi should be given a preference because of the infrastructure. Gen Beg said that if violence continued no investment would come and there would be a flight of capital. Replying to a question he said that soon peace would prevail in Afghanistan which would have positive impact on Pakistan. Gen Beg said that Taleban were the real power of the people of Afghanistan and they represented the thinking and aspirations of the people of that country. He was of the view that the confrontation line was not towards Pakistan but towards the north of Afghanistan. The AQP chief maintained that the Afghan nation realised that Pakistan had rendered sacrifices for them and that they would not take any step that was against the interest of Pakistan. He further stated that there would be no fragmentation of Afghanistan. Replying to another question he said that the Kashmir issue should be resolved in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir. Gen Beg said that inspite of Indian atrocities, the people of Kashmir were continuing their Jehad and 5-600,000 Indian troops were unable to crush the Kashmiris' movement. He was optimistic that the Kashmiris would be able to achieve their objective though it will take some time. The AQP chief said that if the Government of Pakistan had extended any support to the Kashmiris their movement would have succeeded earlier. He was of the view that the role of Governments of Pakistan towards Kashmir movement had been 'negative' and mere 'lip service'. Gen Beg said the deployment of Prithvi missile near Pakistan's border and violation of Pakistani airspace by a MIG 25 speaks of frustration on part of India which is resorting to what he termed 'military intimidation'. ------------------- Clifton, Lyari, other areas without power KARACHI, June 12: Power supply to a vast area of the city between Clifton and Lyari was cut off on Thursday as the KESC's 66 kv Queens Road-Old Town transmission line and the auto- transformer of 80 mva Queens Road grid station tripped off simultaneously. Power supply was cut off at about 6.48 pm which neutralised five grid stations of 66 kv which included Elander Road, Queens Road, Old Town, West Wharf and Lyari, which affected power supply to the affected areas besides affecting working of the newspapers. The Queens Road and Elandar Road grid stations were normalised at 8.05 pm whereas Lyari and West Wharf normalised at 8.47 pm, said a spokesman for the KESC. He said work on the repair of 80 mva auto transformer was continuing. Meanwhile, KESC consumers from various parts of city complained of prolonged power breakdowns and the electricity company's failure to resolve the problem. ------------------------ Pakistan Railways ticket quota abolished KARACHI: Pakistan Railways has abolished all quotas for different categories in ticketing and reservation in order to further facilitate passengers. The quotas were abolished on June 7 this year through an official notification by the Railways Headquarters in Lahore with the directives for immediate implementation. Previously, the senior officials of the Railways had one to two per cent seats reserved in addition to certain number of seats blocked for different categories including armed forces and VIPs. It was learnt that the government had noticed the blocking of seats on various accounts. It had also noticed that the reserved seats were sold to passengers a few hours before the departure of the trains by the commissioned agents having the patronage of Railways high-ups. Although the quotas have been abolished to further facilitate the general public, the measure completely failed to provide any respite to the desperate train commuters who used to get tickets after waiting in long queues at the booking counters. A number of passengers complained that they were denied the tickets at the reservation counters even at two weeks time. They alleged that agents offering tickets on inflated prices were openly operating right under the nose of railway officials who were protecting them for obvious reasons ------------------------- Woman jumps to death KARACHI: A middle-aged woman committed suicide at her residence in Gulshan-e-Iqbal on Thursday. Shameem Ahktar (40), after a row with her husband, jumped to death from her third floor flat in Hilton Apartments. The body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. According to police, Shameem was mentally unsettled and had committed suicide --------------------- Teenager dies in accident KARACHI: A teenager was killed and two people were injured in road accidents on Thursday. An unidentified 17-year-old youth was knocked down to death by a speeding vehicle in Gulberg. Saleem and Nadeem were injured when a car ran over them at Sharea Faisal near Saddar Police Station. Meanwhile, Mehtab received bullet wounds in sniper firing in Jut Line in Brigade, while Mumtaz Ali Khan was wounded when some unknown people opened fire at him in Saeedabad. ---------------- Four hurt resisting robberies KARACHI: Armed men looted thousands of rupees, gold ornaments, electrical appliances and snatched 15 vehicles on Thursday. Bandits also injured four people on their resistance. Three armed men barged into a residence in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and started collecting cash, jewellery and valuables. When Farrukh Hussain and his brother Shahid resisted, the robbers opened fire and fled along with the booty leaving the two injured. Two armed men riding a motorcycle snatched cash from Amanullah in Napier. When he resisted, one of them shot and wounded him before fleeing. Two robbers barged into the house of Ali Gohar in Mauripur. They locked all the inmates in a room on gunpoint and collected Rs 5,000, gold ornaments and electrical appliances. When Ali offered resistance, one of them shot and wounded him and fled along with the booty. Bandits looted Rs 10,000, jewellery and valuables from a residence in New Karachi; Rs 16,000, gold ornaments and electrical appliances from the house of Saleem in Sachal; Rs 6,000, jewellery, a revolver, a rifle and valuables from the house of Farrukh in Darakhshan and Rs 50,000, gold ornaments and electrical appliances from a house in Ferozabad. ----------------------- Farooq Sattar suspends Zafar Zuberi for mismanagement KARACHI: The organising secretary of the 26th National Games, Zafar Zuberi, was suspended on Thursday by the Sindh senior minister and chairman of the National Games Organising Committee (NGOC), Dr Farooq Sattar. In a blunt speech delivered at the official dinner of the NGOC at a local hotel, Dr Farooq Sattar said that he was "utterly" disappointed with the organising secretary's behaviour and his management skills. He blamed the organising secretary for creating problems during the five-day games. Announcing Zafar Zuberi's suspension, Dr Sattar said that the official had been suspended because the NGOC was still active. Later, he did not allow him to sit on the podium. Only Dr Nishat Mallick, Shahid Chisti, secretary of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Latif Butt and Senator Aqil Shah, the president of the NWFP Olympic Association were "allowed" to sit on the podium. The senior minister also criticised some senior officials of the local administration blaming them for a situation where the security agencies had 'hijacked' the inaugural ceremony. He mentioned that not even the members of the organising committee were allowed to enter the stadium. He stressed on the need for an 'Ehtesab' regarding the NGOC's performance, saying that he himself was dissatisfied with some aspects of the games' organisation. Dr Sattar announced that he would convene a meeting of the NGOC within the next few days to review the games and pinpoint the shortcomings. He also said he would himself supervise the preparation of the games' audit report. He accused Zafar Zuberi of having turned the games into a one-man show, refusing to share responsibilities. Dr Sattar said Zafar Zuberi had been advised several times to share responsibilities to avoid mismanagement during the games, but he refused to cooperate. Dr Farooq Sattar, while praising the role of Arif Ali Abbasi and Pervaiz Abbasi, admitted that Sindh government had only managed to increase the daily allowances of the competitors. "I am still happy that at least we managed to hold the Games according to the schedule." He expressed his disappointment over the way the Sindh contingent had been treated. He claimed that some of the athletes had to wear worn out joggers. He urged Aqil Shah, the organising secretary of the next games, to ensure responsibilities regarding organisational matters were shared. ---------------------- Rs1.5b of government money recovered ISLAMABAD - The Chairman of the Ehtesab (accoutnability) Cell, Senator Saifur Rehman, yesterday announced that it had managed to recover Rs1.5 billion from the Karachi-based business company, the Schon Group. Addressing a news conference, Mr Rehman gave details of how the Ehtesab Cell managed to put pressure on the Schon Group management, which had allegedly embezzled several billion rupees of state money, and how a substantial amount was recovered from it. He said as a result of the government moves, and with the help of Interpol, the chairman of the Schon Group, Nasir Hussain, was compelled to contact the government on realising that his fraud and financial irregularities had been detected. He described Mr Nasir Hussain of Schon as a business partner of Asif Ali Zardari and Benazir Bhutto and Mr Hussain had now deposited Rs1.5 billion in shape of cash, shares, aircraft, cars and immovable property. Mr Rehman said that following the agreement for repayment, he would not be arrested now on his return home but he would have to clear the outstanding liabilities of around Rs500 million. Replying to a question, he clarified that no assurance had been given to Mr Nasir Hussain about the withdrawal of court cases or criminal proceedings against him. Mr Rehman said the basic objective of the government was to take the corrupt to task or recover the ill-gotten money for the revival of economic activity in the country. He said that a policy had been evolved that whosoever would realise his misdeeds and be ready to repay the looted money he would be given a chance on the same pattern. Mr Rehman said that the process of cleansing would not only be limited to the previous government. Even those belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League and allied parties would be subjected to accountability and references. If anything was found against them, it would be sent to the Accountability Commission. About the property deposited by the Schon Group, he said it would be disposed off within six weeks and it would be auctioned to ensure transparency of sale proceedings. He said, on the specific instructions of the prime minister, every care was taken to ensure that there was no political victimisation. He disclosed that a scheme was under consideration for live telecast of proceedings of cases of national importance so that people themselves could judge the fairness. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 June 1997 Saturday 08 Safar 1418 Four more killed, 100 MQM(H) activists held KARACHI: The law and order situation continued to deteriorate for the fifth day running in Karachi while four persons including a cop were shot dead by the terrorists on Friday. Normal life was almost suspended in Korangi, Landhi, Lines Area, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony and Liaquatabad with incidents of aerial firing reported from these localities. Over 100 activists and supporters of MQM (Haqiqi) were picked up from different localities. Maradan Shah, a cop of Tipu Sultan police station, was killed and his colleague, Najad Ali was shot at and injured near the Jouhar Crossing, in Adam Jee Nager, in the jurisdiction of Tipu Sultan police station. The terrorists also snatched weapons from two cops. Ayaz, an employee of an Italian national, was also injured when he was truck by a bullet while travelling in a car. All the injured were rushed to the Aga Khan Hospital for medical aid where Mardan Shah succumbed to his injuries. The miscreants and outlaws are ruling the entire District East, which has become the worst affected area by the violence. Miscreants damaged some 12 vehicles, and 13 shops in different parts of the district. The residents of the district continuously rang up the offices of newspapers to register their grievances over the deteriorating situation of law and order. Over 100 activists and supporters of MQM (Haqiqi) were picked up in raids conducted by the personnel of law enforcement agencies, most of them from Korangi, Liaquatabad and Landhi. Traffic was also suspended in these areas. Bullet-riddled body of Muhammad Salahuddin, 35, was found from Aziz Nagar in Orangi Extension and was removed to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. According to police, unidentified people had kidnapped the deceased two days ago from the same area and after killing him threw his body. According to police, the deceased had no political affiliation. Unidentified men riding in a car reached near the National School in Block D, North Nazimabad and off-loaded a blind folded youth from their car, sprayed bullets at him and fled. Arif, another youth, was killed in an incident of sniper firing in the jurisdiction of Nazimabad police. Sources said Arif an MQM(A) activist was standing near the Paposh Nagar roundabout when terrorists opened fire on him injuring him. The injured was rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medical aid where he died. Residents said Rangers, accompanied by the police, cordoned off different localities of Malir, Landhi, Liaquatabad and Korangi. They conducted house-to-house search during which they picked up over 100 youths. All of them were blind-folded and shifted to an unknown place The area people also claimed that the police entered the houses by breaking the doors or scaling the walls. The DIG Karachi said the law enforcement agencies arrested at least 60 youth, while 40 have been detained. ------------------------------------------- Policeman killed in target shooting KARACHI, June 13: One police constable was gunned down and the other was injured critically by some unknown attackers who also took away the official sub-machine guns of the cops here on Friday evening. Eye-witnesses said occupants of a grey car, whose registration number could not be noted down, sprayed bullets with automatic rifles on two cops near a Bungalow No 166, Shabbirabad. As the cops fell down the attackers took away their official sub-machine guns, they added. The injured cops, identified as Nijat Ali, 25, and Mardan Shah, 24, were rushed to the Aga Khan hospital where Mr Shah scummed to his injuries, while Mr Ali is in precarious condition. Police said the constables were patrolling the area when attacked. They said Nijat Ali, who joined the police last year, hailed from Mardan, NWFP, and was a resident of Qayyumabad. PC Mardan Shah, a resident of Mehmoodabad, belonged to Sargodha, Punjab, and was recruited in 1995, the police said. Both the cops had been transferred to the Tipu Sultan police only a week ago. The eye-witnesses said a young man was also injured in the incident. They identified him as Ayaz, who was the secretary to an Italian national. He was going in the car No AAS-722 when caught in the firing. ------------------------------------------- Two die in accidents KARACHI: Two people, including a minor, were killed in road accidents while a burn victim died at a hospital on Friday. Amir Feroz, 2 1/2 years' old, was killed in a road accident in Saeedabad police limits. Police said he was killed in a hit-and-run incident and they had shifted the body to Civil Hospital for autopsy. Bismillah Shah was killed and Abdul Sattar was injured in Cattle Colony in Shah Latif police precinct when a coach collided with a truck. Police rushed to the spot and the corpse and the injured were taken to the JPMC. Police also arrested truck driver Allah Joraio. Muhammad Ibrahim died at Civil Hospital where he was admitted after receiving burns at his residence in Model Colony. --------------------------- Seven SHOs transferred KARACHI: The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Karachi on Thursday transferred seven Station House Officers with immediate effect. Inspector Nooruddin Sanjrani transferred from District West and posted as SHO Mochko, vice Inspector Banaras transferred; SHO Ferozabad Inspector Saulat Hussain transferred and posted as SHO Saudabad, vice Muhammad Iqbal Nazi transferred and suspended; Inspector Anwer Baig transferred from District South and posted as SHO Aziz Bhatti, vice Muhammad Ahmed Baig transferred and suspended; and Inspector Javed Iqbal Bhatti transferred from District Malir and posted as SHO Ferozabad. --------------------------------- Robbers loot Rs 2m, injure two KARACHI: Armed men looted over two million rupees, gold ornaments, electrical appliances and snatched 15 vehicles from various parts of the city on Friday. They also injured two men on resistance. Four armed men barged into Golden Jewellers, Tariq Road in Ferozabad and took away Rs500,000 and gold ornaments of Rs700,000. Area police did not confirm the incident. Two armed men on a motorcycle intercepted Muhammad Iqbal in Peerabad. They opened fire and injured him when he resisted and took away his vehicle. From a rice godown at National Highway in Sukkun, three armed men looted Rs500,000 from its owner. In other incidents Rs250,000, jewellery, US$700 and electrical appliances were looted from Shahid's house in Gulbahaar, Rs100,000 from Akbar in Garden, Rs5,479 from post master in Bahadurabad, Rs50,000, gold ornaments and electrical appliances from Azhar's house in Darakhshan, Rs 30,000, jewellery and valuables from M Jafar and cash, gold ornaments and electrical goods from another house in Buffer Zone. Ashraf, 25, was injured in a robbery bid in his house in New Karachi on Thursday. He was admitted to Abbasi Shaheed. --------------------------------- Three stabbed to death KARACHI: Three people were stabbed to death in different incidents on Friday. Rafiq (35) was killed by unidentified people who slit his throat in Ferozabad police precinct. Police said he was a resident of Bilti Para. Rafiq was injured when some people slit his throat. He was rushed to the JPMC but died on the way. Juma Khan (53) was stabbed to death in Gadap police limits. Police said he was a resident of Din Muhammad Goth, near Nagori Society on Super Highway. His wife Haleema developed illicit relations with Karim. On Friday night accused Karim entered Juma's house and stabbed him to death. Police shifted the body to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. A watchman Darvesh (26) was found dead in Napier police area. Police said they were informed that a corpse was lying in room 15 of Magician Corner, Katchi Gali No 2. They shifted the body, which had injuries to the throat and abdomen, to Civil Hospital. --------------------------------- Woman raped by hotel owner, staff MIRPURKHAS: A young woman was allegedly raped by three persons in a hotel room here. Two accused were hotel staff members and the third the owner of the hotel, police said. Shrimati Ganga and her husband Krishan, resident of Tando Jan Mohammad, had stayed in "Pahalwan Hotel" after they missed the bus for their destination, police said. In late night, the hotel owner Babar, alongwith Ghulam Haider and Mohammad Hussain, locked Krishan in a room and raped the lady, police said. The woman's cries attracted the people and police was informed. However, the accused escaped from the scene. The town police have registered a case under the Hudood Ordinance and under sections 354-201-34 PPC According to sources, the hotel has become infamous for such incidents and the accused could not be arrested because victims belong to far-flung areas and are unable to pursue the case. On the other hand being influential, the police always avoid to arrest the accused. In the recent incident also, not a single raid was conducted by the police whereas the accused are roaming around freely. --------------------------------- Loadshedding duration increased KARACHI: The KESC officially admitted on Friday that due to outage of an 80 mva transformer at Queens Road grid station, it has increased the duration of loadshedding in the areas of Elander Road, West Wharf, Old Town and Lyari. The loadshedding in these areas, which also house newspaper offices, has been irregular for the last two days without prior intimation. A KESC spokesperson said the transformer, installed in 1968, fed those areas. He said to cut down the repercussions, the Corporation had energised a mobile grid station of 20 mva at Garden East grid station. Feeders from this grid station are being laid after which about 15 mw load will be shifted to it. Work on the 66 kv West Wharf to Lyari circuit has been accelerated which will be completed by June 15 after which 25 mw load-shedding will be carried out on rotation basis in these areas. The spokesperson stated that procurement of a 40 mva transformer from WAPDA was being arranged and ground work at Queens Road grid station for its installation has already been taken up.The spokesperson said that in the affected areas all hospitals, pumping stations and essential services had been exempted from loadshedding rotation. --------------------------------- Duty on phones, newsprint reduced; excise duty on locally-made TV sets, ACs abolished No new taxes in federal budget Duty on services of professionals withdrawn, sales tax on cement slashed; tax on bonus shares abolished; import of motor spirit, fuel oil JP 1 and MTBE exempted from withholding tax; CVT on foreign travel cut to half, imposed on immovable properties, motor cars and air travel By Nadeem Malik ISLAMABAD: An incentive oriented, business friendly and tax-free budget for fiscal 1997-98 was announced by Finance Minister Sartaj Aziz on Friday with an outlay of Rs 552 billion and resources of Rs 487.4 billion. The resource gap is Rs 64.6 billion. A large number of export and tax reforms have been introduced with plans to extend Value Added Tax (VAT) to the retail level. The budget, having a high risk factor of relying heavily on the response of the business community and on boosting industrial productivity, estimates revenue growth of Rs 56 billion without imposing new taxes. A comprehensive self-assessment system has been introduced. Excise duty on professionals has been abolished. Capital gains tax exemption has been extended for another three year. Tax on bonus shares has been completely abolished, excise duty on telephone calls has been reduced to 25 percent, 5 per cent tax rebate on education expenditures, complete documentation for claiming tax credits, powers of tax collectors have been reduced, and establishment of tax service centers has been announced. All undisclosed and hidden wealth will be legalised with 7.5 per cent tax payment of the value of such assets, Capital Value Tax (CVT) has been reduced by 50 per cent and employees having no other source of income have been relieved from filing tax returns. Detailing his new budgetary proposals on the floor of the National Assembly, Sartaj Aziz said that reform of the tax system would generate Rs 6.2 billion additional resources, while an additional income of Rs 3.6 billion from PTC along with Rs 55 billion bank borrowing would be used to finance the Rs 64.6 billion resource gap. Budget 1997-98, is a major shift from the past practice of heavy growth of current expenditures, by imposing a cut of over 10 per cent in real terms in defence expenditures, keeping in view the 12 percent official rate of inflation and devaluation during the last fiscal year. The budgetary allocation for defence has been raised to Rs 134.0196 billion for 1997-98, from the revised estimates of Rs 127.441 billion during 1996-97. Overall current expenditures have been projected at Rs 461.907 billion for 1997-98, from the revised estimates of Rs 398.209 billion during 1996-97. A remarkable achievement has been made during the current fiscal year by restraining spending on general administration. The budgetary projection for the next fiscal year has been set at Rs 20.53 billion, about 5 per cent less than the revised estimates of 1996-97 of Rs 21.14 billion. Expenditures on running the civil government has been projected to Rs 46.4 billion for 1997-98, showing a decline over 1996-97. On revenue side, the thrust of taxation has shifted from indirect to direct taxes and consumption related (VAT) taxes. For the first time, the revenue projection of direct taxes (Rs 100.5 billion) exceeds the projection of customs duty (Rs 87 billion) for the next fiscal year. Overall, government has estimated a total resource size of Rs 603.536 billion, including Rs 317.8 billion tax revenue, Rs 30.159 billion surcharges, total revenue receipts of Rs 450.213 billion, capital receipts of Rs 25.209 billion, external receipts of Rs 141.658 billion. Total resources of the federal government, including revenue receipts, capital receipts, external receipts and receipts on public account have been projected at Rs 663.065 billion, revenue transferable to provinces is Rs 124.180 billion, leaving net federal resources of Rs 538.885 billion. There is a gap of Rs 64.651 billion in net resources and expenditures, which will be financed by Rs 55 billion bank borrowing and Rs 6.2 billion through tax adjustments and Rs 3.6 billion through expected PTC revenues. Total resources have been projected at Rs 603.536 billion as against the revised estimates of Rs 550.160 billion for 1996-97. According to the budget documents for 1997-98, the revenue collection target has been raised to Rs 317.800 billion from the revised estimates of Rs 286.0 billion for the current fiscal year. Direct taxes have been projected to grow at a rate of 14 per cent. The Income Tax (IT) collection target has been projected at Rs 95.55 billion from the revised estimates of Rs 83.899 billion. Wealth Tax (WT) has been projected at Rs 2.619 billion, 31 per cent higher than the revised estimates of Rs 2.002 billion for 1996-97. The target of Capital Value Tax (CVT) for 1997-98 has been raised to Rs 1.489 billion, 10 per cent increase from the revised estimates of Rs 1.354 billion during current fiscal year. Workers Welfare Tax (WWT) with a 13 per cent increase from the current year's revised estimates of Rs 745 million has been set at Rs 842 million. CVT on foreign travel has been cut to half and has been imposed on immovable properties, motor cars and air travel; import duty on CKD tractor kits cut; excise duty on cement raised. Indirect taxes after registering a 20 per cent decline from budget estimates have been projected to grow at about 10 per cent. The Sales Tax target for 1997-98 has been raised to Rs 65.3 billion, 16 per cent more than the revised estimates of Rs 56 billion for the current fiscal year. Customs Duty, which constitutes about 28 per cent of total tax receipts has been projected at nominal 5 per cent growth rate due to sharp reduction in the tariffs. The Customs target for the next fiscal year is Rs 87 billion, 4.82 per cent more than the revised estimates of Rs 83 billion for current fiscal year. Central Excise Duty (CED) target has been raised to Rs 65 billion from the revised estimates of Rs 59 billion for the 1996-97, an increase of 10 per cent. Surcharges on petroleum products and natural gas have been raised to Rs 30.159 billion from Rs 24.974 billion (revised estimates) for the current fiscal year. Taxation reforms: The basic philosophy of the tax reforms, as announced by Sartaj Aziz while presenting the budget on the floor of the House, is to ensure productivity, investment and voluntarily tax payments, broad basing of the tax system by bringing more people in the tax net or extracting more from those who are paying less than their capacity. Income of non-residents(subject to certain exceptions), from foreign investment in government and corporate fixed income securities has been proposed to be exempted from tax. In order to encourage capital market reform formation, bonus shares are proposed to be exempted from taxation completely. Exemption from tax on capital gains from sale of shares has been proposed to be extended for another 3 years from the present date of expiry, June 30, 1998. In order to encourage corporatisation of trade in shares, it has been proposed that minimum tax under section 80-D of the Income Tax Ordinance, 1979, will not be applicable to turnover, representing trading in all types of shares. To remove the burden of double taxation on mutual funds, it has been proposed that mutual funds which distribute atleast 90 percent profits amongst shareholders may be exempted from tax. Industries based on indigenous raw material like manufacture of soft and stuffed toys and processing of fruits are entitled to tax holiday, if set up by 30th June, 1997. This cut-off date has been proposed to be extended to June 30, 2000. Manufacturers of solar energy equipment have been granted tax holiday for five years, if industries are set up between July, 1997, and June, 2000. Withholding tax on mobile phones have has fixed at Rs 1500 per annum or Rs 125 per month, instead of 10 per cent withholding on mobile phone bills. The regional commissioners are being empowered to reduce the rates of collection of tax on import of raw material, imported by the manufacturers for their own use, at import stage by 100 per cent. The import of Motor Spirit (MS), Fuel Oil (FO), JP-I and MTBE has been exempted from withholding tax at import stage, and the ultimate benefit would be passed on to the end users. In order to encourage small exporters, the limit of Rs 1 lac income for availing export rebate has been removed. The export of computer software has been given a complete tax holiday. To develop the reading habit to general public and reduce the cost burden, allowance on purchase of books has been revived in the Income Tax Law, with no upper limit. A rebate of 5 per cent on tax payable against education expenses with an upper limit of Rs 30,000 per child per annum, against receipts and NTN of the educational institutions, has been proposed. Senior citizens, beyond the age of 65 years, are entitled to Special Tax Rebate (STR) at the rate of 25 per cent, with an income limit of Rs 2 lac. This STR is being enhanced to 50 per cent. To ensure documentation of the economy, it has been made compulsory to provide NTN of the recipient and service provider, to avail concessions or tax credits. Tax rebate at the rate of five per cent has been proposed to be allowed to non-corporate taxpayers. deriving income from business or profession for the issuance of cash memos. The discretionary powers of the Income Tax Officers (ITOs) in framing provisional assessments off the concealed assets have been abolished. To rationalise the quantum of penalty for various defaults in filing of returns, and to completely eliminate discretionary elements, it has been proposed to reduce and fix the amounts of various penalties. Limited companies are required to pay advance tax, if their last assessed income is Rs 50,000. It has been proposed that limited companies and registered firms may be required to pay advance tax by applying the tax:turnover ratio of the base year in their case, to the turnover of the current year for working out the advance liability. Keeping in view the inconvenience to non-resident Pakistanis, who do not have taxable source of income in Pakistan, it has been proposed that they may be exempted from compulsory filing of income tax return, even if they own a house or a vehicle. However, they will be liable to pay tax on any income earned in Pakistan. A simplified self-assessment scheme is being introduced which will cover all non-corporate tax payers without any income limit. The new assesses will also qualify for this scheme. However, in order to introduce element of deterrence, certain percentage of cases will be selected through random ballot for audit. This audit will be carried out with assistance of chartered accountants and cost management accountants. The audit process will be assisted by an expanded database on such assets as property, vehicles, telephones and other main economic indicators. Tax Service Centers have been proposed to be set up at all the major stations in Pakistan, with an objective to facilitate tax payers. Income tax return forms are being simplified to a simple single page return forms, for all tax payers except companies. In addition, employees who have no other source of income except their salary, would no longer require to file returns. The certificate of salary and tax deduction by their employer would be sufficient. The tax on immovable properties including residential houses, flats and plots at fixed rates on the basis of the size of such property would now be applicable only in the larger metropolitan and municipal corporation areas, including areas, falling within the limit of cantonments and development authorities of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Peshawar. The law is being amended to treat the minimum amount of wealth tax as adjustable against tax payable by such persons on their taxable assets, including those properties which are subject to minimum wealth tax. The government has also decided that investments in the stocks and shares of the quoted industrial units shall be allowed exemption from wealth tax for an amount up to Rs 1 lac or 50 per cent of the stocks which ever is higher, from wealth tax. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 June 1997 Sunday 09 Safar 1418 Farooq says steps for early recovery of KWSB dues taken KARACHI, June 14: Sindh senior minister Dr Farooq Sattar has taken remedial measures to speed up recoveries of the KWSB's outstanding water and conservancy dues to meet the target of Rs1.30 billion. Talking informally to the newsmen at the KMC Rest House on Saturday, the senior minister for local government said the KWSB was trailing behind the target, having collected nearly Rs950 million so far. In this connection, he said a recovery campaign would start on Monday and continue till June 30. A target for the recovery of at least Rs270 million had been given to the KWSB. He said the three-pronged campaign was aimed at recovering dues from federal and provincial government departments, including local councils, amounting to more than Rs300 million. As to the dues of local councils, the minister said he had committed to make good of them. It had been decided to approach the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister for clearance of federal dues whereas for provincial dues, he said the CM was being approached whereas the KWSB MD would ensure recovery from other bulk consumers, including Pakistan Steel (showing a backlog of dues of about Rs 140 million). In fact, the outstanding dues were more against bulk consumers, he said, adding that out of a target of Rs650 million only Rs500 million had been recovered, requiring untiring efforts to meet the target besides arrears of about Rs150 million. However, the recoveries from retail consumers were beyond expectations as the KWSB Tax department having recovered about Rs500 million which was more than the target of Rs470 million. To streamline the financial system and meet shortcomings in the KWSB, he said a loan was being obtained from all flourishing local councils such as the KMC, the Karachi District Council and Union Council Darsano Channo. The total loan amount should not exceed Rs50 million, he told a questioner. As to the budget proposals for 1997-98, Dr Farooq Sattar said he had reviewed the budget of KMC/KWSB/DMCs and other local councils of the province and has directed more allocations for development works in the province and curtailment on non- development expenditure, he added. To a question, he said the new budget proposals would be announced at Press briefings by his aides in different local councils. However, there would be no new taxes, he said, adding that all out efforts were being made to control and bring financial discipline in the local councils. In this regard, he said an important policy decision had been taken to check revenue leakage's and for the maintenance of a computerised record of development works, constituency wise with maps of the work done. This record will, however, be furnished by the executive engineer of a division for computerisation to the head office. This practice will help avert duplication of any work, save funds and check on corruption, Dr Farooq Sattar said and added that ever since the KWSB came into being, the budget books were full of numerous development heads but there was no record of the work done. However, the new system would streamline the working of all field offices who would work on an assignment with updated information, thwarting all attempts of malpractice's or corruption. Meanwhile, he said sewerage system had been reinforced and field officers given a challenging task to accomplish, to reduce public complaints as far as possible. Regarding water supply situation, he said the distribution network had been revamped. The situation was improving despite a big gap in supply and demand. However, Dr Farooq said he had asked his aides MNA Babar Ghori and MPA and vice chairman of the KWSB Haroon Siddiqui to give a detailed report about the water and sewerage situation, after recent measures, latest by Tuesday. ------------------------- Ten prisoners and cop killed as van ambushed LIAQUATPUR, June 14: Ten prisoners and one policeman were killed on Saturday as the prisoners tried to escape when their vehicle was ambushed near at Village Chani Goth near here on Saturday evening, police said. A senior police officer said 19 convicts were being transported to the Bahawalpur Jail from the Rahimyar Khan Jail when men believed to be their accomplices intercepted the bus about 40 km west of Bahawalpur. Most of these prisoners were facing charges of multiple offences in Karachi. The attack is believed to have been an attempt to secure the release of prisoners from Karachi. A number of unspecified men took part in the attack that took place in Faridabad area. When firing from both sides of the vehicle started, the prisoners attacked the guards inside the van and snatched their weapons. The driver of the vehicle stopped the van but as soon as the in charge of the van, Head Constable Shafqat Rasool, stepped out of the vehicle to assess the situation, he was hit by a barrage of fire and received serious injuries. The prisoners who had by then overpowered the guards and opened indiscriminate fire that left constable Mohammad Arshad dead and constables Rashid Ahmed and Ghulam Yasin seriously injured. The prisoners - Abdul Mansoor, Shamshad Razi, Fahimuddin, Shakil Ahmed, Samiullah Pathan, Muhammad Naeem, Akbar Ali, Mehmood Ahmed and Shams Shah - then took the advantage of chaos and escaped. However, the police party informed the Liaquatpur DSP about the escape by wireless. He constituted a team to pursue the fugitives. In the meantime, a strong police force cordoned off the whole tehsil. The prisoners were intercepted at some distance and a fierce exchange of fire took place. The police surrounded the escapees and asked them to give up. However, the prisoners continued firing at police, who returned the fire, killing ten prisoners on the spot and injuring another. Some of the prisoners - Sardar Attaullah Mazari, Iqrar Khan, Khan Bakhsh, Ghulam Haider, Mureed, Akbar Zaman, Sanwal and Ghulam Sarwar - who stayed in the van were arrested by Liaquatpur police and sent to police lockup. Police said firing continued late into the night and it was not clear what had happened to the nine surviving prisoners.-Reuter/NNI ------------------------- Power supply position worsens KARACHI, June 14: Complaints of low voltage and prolonged power breakdowns continued to pour in from different parts of the city on Saturday. The most affected were the areas fed by West Wharf, Old Town and Lyari grid stations. Power supply position in the city further aggravated after the 80 mva auto transformer of Queens Road grid station tripped. The KESC was trying to procure one 40 mva, 132/66 kv transformer from WAPDA and preparations were in hand to install the 40 mva transformer in place of 80 mva. It would take at least 10 days for the transformer to be brought to Karachi, said the spokesman, indicating that the city would continue to suffer from prolonged loadshedding at least for another two weeks. The areas hit by frequent power breakdowns and low voltages also included Saddar, Sindhi Muslim Society, Malir, Landhi- Korangi, Lyari, etc. Almost entire Zaibunnisa Market area was in the darkness during peak hours at 8pm. Residents and shopkeepers complained that they had been suffering owing to power breakdowns of long duration's which had become a daily routine, especially during day-time when the temperature soars to 34 C. Meanwhile, a KESC spokesman said that owing to outage of 80 MVA transformer at Queen's Road Grid Station, loadshedding of 40 to 50 MW is being resorted to in some city areas which have been divided into two groups. Power supply to group A comprising West Wharf, Dockyard, Kakri Ground, Moosa Land, Fisheries, People's Ground, Kharadhar, Mauripur Road, Old Town, Lyari, KPT, Garden West, Tannery Road, Shah Waliullah Road, would remain affected from 8am to 11am, 2pm to 5pm and 8pm to 11pm, the spokesman added. Similarly in Group B areas, comprising Kharadhar, KPT, Kalri, Baghdadi, West Wharf, Fisheries, Kakri Ground, Mithadar, Nishtar Road, Garden West, Lyari, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Old City areas, Moosa Land, Sindhi Muslim, M A Jinnah Road, Clayton Road, City Railway, Sadar, F M D Khan Road,Kalri and New Kumharwara, the loadshedding would be resorted to from 11 am to 2pm, 5pm to 8pm, and 11pm to 2am. To deal with the precarious power supply position the KESC has worked out an action plan under which about 15 mw load will be transferred on the mobile grid until two circuits of 11kv were completed in two three days. Presently mobile grid station of 20 mva, 132/11 kv was installed at Garden East grid and energised through 132kv underground circuit already laid down from Jacob Line Grid to Garden East Grid. The KESC spokesman said that work on West Wharf to Lyari 66kv line was now in its final stage and by 15th evening the line would be energised . About 10 mw load from the affected areas would be then transferred on this line. The remaining loadshedding of about 25 mw , the spokesman said, would be done through rotation. It was spread over a larger area due to the availability of West Wharf-Lyari 66kv ine. Meanwhile, a demonstration will be held by the residents of Lyari on June 15 in front of Karachi Press Club against frequent power failures, shortage of water, narcotics dens etc. The participants will leave the office of the Baloch Ittehad Aman Dost and and reach the KPC at 4pm. ------------------------- Pakistan may move US court for F-16s refund ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Gohar Ayub Khan has said the government might go to an American court to seek a refund of US $ 628 million it paid for the purchase of F-16 aircraft which could not be materialised due to the Pressler sanctions. "The federal cabinet will take a decision about this option which the legal experts have opined as the best under the circumstances," Gohar told APP. He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers it as the best alternative because the refund of the amount through aircraft sale to a third country has also fallen through. "The US position is that it cannot deliver the aircraft due to Pressler legislation, nor can it refund the money before it goes to the Congress Appropriation Committee." Indonesia, who was to buy the F-16 aircraft, last week disbanded the deal unilaterally in protest against the US Congress' criticism of its Human Rights situation. Gohar stated that the cabinet decision is expected soon as the legal option in this case expires in February 1999.He said during his visit to the US he sought the opinion of legal experts about the refund. According to the lawyers there is a special American fund for such cases and the US Administration can refund the amount from it, he said. Such cases, American legal experts say, are decided within 12 to 14 months. "We cannot only claim the principal amount but also the interest and damages from the special fund," he said. -------------------------- Railways employees' warning Manzoor Ahmed Razi, Central President, Railways Workers Union, has warned the government that if it privatised the Railways hospitals and schools and sold the Railways' property and assets, the employees would resist such steps with full force. -------------------------------- Six held on robbery charges KARACHI: The Zaman Town police on Saturday arrested four people, for their alleged involvement in robbery cases and claimed recovery of a Kalashnikove and three TT pistols from their possession. On an information, the police raided a hideout in a graveyard at Korangi No 1 in Zaman Town and arrested Murtaza Ali, Zulfaqar Ali Shah, Basharat and Pervaiz. During the interrogation the accused confessed to having been involved in a number of crimes in District East. Meanwhile, the District Central police arrested two suspects on robbery charges and recovered a car and two TT pistols from them. One Muhammad Kashif was injured in an encounter with Gulberg police, while he was allegedly looting cash and other valuables.The New Karachi police arrested Nadeem Ahmed, while three of his accomplices Yaseen, Ramzan and Murtaza fled, while they were allegedly committing a robbery. ------------------------------ Cash, jewellery looted KARACHI: Armed men looted over 0.9 millions of rupees, gold ornaments, electrical appliances and snatched two dozen vehicles from different parts of the city on Saturday. Four armed men broke into house No. C/144, Block 9 Gulshan-e-Iqbal. They locked all the inmates in a room, collected Rs 200,000, $4,500, 500,000 Irani dinar, three mobile phones, gold ornaments, electrical appliances and fled in the Daewo car (AAJ-026) of house owner. Four armed men barged into house of Tariq at R/127, Sector 11-C/3, North Nazimabad in Buffer Zone. They locked all the inmates in a room, collected Rs 22,000, certificates worth Rs 150,000, prize bonds worth Rs 200,000, jewellery, other valuables and fled. Four bandits riding a cab intercepted the car of Ayub in Preedy area and looted Rs 415,000 from him, while he was returning to his company after collecting cash from his clients. Armed looted Rs 500,000 from a cattle dealer in Saudabad; Rs 145,000 from Hashim in TPX; Rs 15,000 and a mobile phone from a local office in Ferozabad; cash, jewellery, prize bonds and other valuables from the house of Hanif in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Rs 50,000, gold ornaments and electrical appliances from a house in Defence. ---------------------------- Two tortured to death KARACHI: Two bodies bearing torture marks were found from different places on Saturday. District East witnessed a calm after remaining in grip of violence for three days. However, in District Central at least five people lost their lives during last 24 hours . The bullet-riddled body of Ateeq, 18, was found stuffed in a gunny bag near PSO Petrol Pump at Gujar Nala in Nazimabad. The victim was blindfolded with his hands and legs tied with rope. The corpse was later shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where the MLO said that the deceased was strangulated and the body bore marks of torture and bullet wounds. Meanwhile, the decomposed body of Shamoon, 27, was found from a residence (211) in Sector G, Bismilla Colony, New Karachi. It was shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for postmortem. According to the MLO the deceased was tortured and strangulated and his body was at least three days old. The deceased was a labourer and lived alone in his residence, the police said by adding that some unknown people broke into his house and after torturing him they hanged him with an electric wire. ---------------------------- Man shot dead in Quaidabad KARACHI: A man was murdered in the jurisdiction of Quaidabad police on Saturday. Police said the deceased, Dil Faraz, had an old enmity with one Sahib Noor aka Noor Muhammad. On the day Noor came to Dil's house No: 309 in Gali: 11 in Old Muzzaffarabad and opened fire at him killing him on the spot and managed his flee from the scene. On information, the police reached the place of incident and shifted the corpse to JPMC and registered a case against the accused. ---------------------------- Two electrocuted Two persons were electrocuted while one drowned in incidents on Saturday. Muhammad Asghar, 17, was electrocuted while working at his residence (679) in Bizerta Lines in Saddar police area. He was rushed to the JPMC where he was pronounced dead. Sardar, 25, was electrocuted in the jurisdiction of Mominabad police. The sources said that he was working at his shop when he received an electric shock and died. Police shifted the corpse to the JPMC. Meanwhile, the body of an unidentified 26-year-old man, who had drowned in Manghopir police precinct, was found in Iqbal Nagar, Kohari Colony. According to the police, the deceased was wearing sky blue Shalwar Qameez. The body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 June 1997 Monday 10 Safar 1418 Four killed in ambush were MQM activists KARACHI: Four of the handcuffed prisoners killed in firing by unknown persons on a prison van on Saturday night were MQM activists. Their names were ascertained as Fahimuddin (Liaquatabad), Shakeel Ahmad (Nazimabab-Gulbahar), Shamshad Razi and Abdul Mansoor (Orangi Town). The bodies of all the MQM activists were taken to the Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. It was stated about Shakeel Ahmad that he was arrested at the Rahimyar Khan Railway Station in 1995 and since then he had been languishing in jail there. Meanwhile, District Magistrate Bahawalpur Syed Shafiq Hussain Bokhari has ordered a judicial inquiry into the encounter on Saturday in Mouza Faridabad, 17 km from here, in which 10 prisners were killed. The Chanigoth Police have registered cases against the 10 dead prisoners under sections 302, 397, 224, 395, 324, 148, 149 and 353 PPC. They are Shakeel Ahmed (Golimar, Karachi), Abdul Mansoor (Saeed Colony, Karachi), Shamshad Razi (Orangi Town, Karachi), Fahimuddin (Liaquatabad, Karachi), Akbar Ali, Mehmood Ahmed, Mohammad Naeem, Shams Shah, Fayyaz and Allah Ditta. Their bodies were removed to Tehsil headquarters hospital where autopsy was conducted. Police said they ha ve recovered three G3 rifles of police guards which were snatched by the prisoners during the encounter -------------------- SHOs' examination by Senate body likely today KARACHI: The Senate's Special Standing Committee to examine the 12 SHOs of Karachi police regarding the whereabouts of 28 missing MQM youths is likely to meet Mondy (today) and Tuesdy, MQM sources told The News on Thursday. The committee could not earlier meet on June 11 and 12 as some of the senators were not available. It comprises: Senator Aftab Ahmed Shaikh, Senator Khuda-e-Noor (Balochistan), Ajmal Khattak (NWFP) and Senator Parvez Rasheed (Punjab), Senator Aqil Shah is the convener of the committee. The prime minister had given an assurance that in the scheduled meeting he would give a final shape to the matter of missing youth, besides compensation to the MQM workers and constitution of a judicial commission to hold inquiry into the extra-judicial killings. The MQM delegation will also discuss about "No-go areas and law and order situation of Karachi," the source mentioned. ----------------------- 8 Muslim states form economic cooperation body ISTANBUL, June 15: Eight Muslim countries joined forces on Sunday, creating an economic and trading cooperation body to be known as the Developing Eight (D-8) group. Heads of state or government from the eight countries formally embraced the grouping at an official signing ceremony in a former Ottoman palace on the northern bank of the Bosphorus hosted by Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, Iran's Ali AkbarHashemi Rafsanjani and President Suharto of Indonesia. Signing the Istanbul Declaration on Sunday were Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey. Modelled after the Group of Seven (G-7) industrialised countries, the D-8 grouping was first suggested by Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan in October last year. He had initially wanted to call it the M-8 (for Muslim), but dropped that idea amid reservations from other countries. It is intended to promote cooperation in areas such as finance, investment, privatisation, private sector coordination, technology, the fight against poverty, small businesses, transport and telecommunications, according to a preliminary document drawn up last January. "Our goal is to obtain the status we deserve on the world's economic and commercial spheres," Erbakan said. "We will conduct our affairs with industrialised countries in an atmosphere of constructive dialogue and cooperation, not in one of conflict and tension," he added. Socio-economic development will work on the principles of peace, dialogue, cooperation, justice, equality and democracy, the Istanbul Declaration says. Erbakan deplored that the combined national product of the eight member countries, with a population of 800 million people, was only 2.4 per cent or 600 million dollars of total world product, which he said was about 25,000 billion dollars. Bangladesh, Egypt, Malaysia and Pakistan were represented by their prime ministers, respectively Sheikh Hasina Wajed, Kamal al-Ganzuri, Mahathir Mohamad and Nawaz Sharif, while Nigeria was represented by its industry minister, Mohammed Halladu. Rafsanjani, in his address at the signing ceremony, stressed the Muslim nature of the D-8. He proposed an economic integration of Muslimnations.-AFP --------------- Five killed in incidents KARACHI: A youth drowned, a child died in an accident, a woman was poisoned while another was burnt, and a man was electrocuted on Sunday. An unidentified youth drowned near Rehri Goth in Quaidabad police limits. The body was recovered by Edhi staff and shifted to Edhi Home after autopsy at the JPMC. An unidentified nine-year-old was killed in a road accident in Saeedabad police precinct. Police said he was crossing a road when a pick-up (LSA-227) hit him. They arrested driver Faqeer Muhammad and also shifted the body to Civil Hospital Muhammad Ramzan (32) was electrocuted while working at his house in Baghdadi police precinct. Police shifted the body to Civil Hospital for autopsy. Nasima, wife of Muhammad Umer, was burnt while cooking at her house in Orangi Extension police area. She was rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where she succumbed to her wounds. A woman died after eating something poisonous in the jurisdiction of Surjani police. The corpse was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital by Quaidabad police. Surjani police confirmed the incident but said they did not have any details. ---------------- Man shot dead, three injured KARACHI: A young man was shot dead, while three others received bullet wounds in different incidents on Sunday. Some unknown motorcyclists barged into the chicken shop of Tahir Mahmood, 30, and sprayed him with bullets after exchanging hot words with him, in G