DAWN/The News International, KARACHI 10 August 2010, Tuesday, 28 Shaban 1431
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Worker hangs himself to death at juice shop
Transfer, postings in Sindh Police
CID officials attack anti-corruption team after being caught red-handed (more)
Attack on Jang Group, Geo widely condemned (more)
SNF criticises ban on TV channels (more)
Asfandyar’s sister hurt in attack (more)
Floods worse than tsunami, Pakistan and Haiti quakes: UN (more)
President Zardari stops over in Syria (more)
Worker hangs himself to death at juice shop

A worker at a sugarcane juice shop committed suicide in his shop in the Kharadar police limits on Monday.

Sajid Shah, 24, went to the toilet and hanged himself to death with a hook of the rooftop near the Kharadar police check-post situated in the Kharadar police jurisdiction.

When another employee went to the toilet the door was locked. He knocked but received no reply. He called the shop owner who broke the door and saw his body hanging from the ceiling.

They immediately informed the police who shifted his body to the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) for legal formalities.

Police said that Shah had fallen in love with his cousin but when her parents had refused the marriage. He was disheartened and committed suicide, police said, adding that Shah lived in Lyari.

Meanwhile, an unidentified 25-year-old man was electrocuted when a live wire fell on him near the APWA School situated in Orangi Town Sector 10 in the Pakistan Bazar police area.

Transfer, postings in Sindh Police

A major reshuffle in the ranks of superintendents of police (SPs) of the Sindh police was reported on Monday. In the recent reshuffle, seven SPs were transferred and posted. Police sources said that a notification was issued from the Central Police Office regarding the transfer of SPs. SP Javed Ahmed Baloch is posted as Additional Deputy Inspector General (ADIG) South Zone, SP Shaukat Ali Khatian SP Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) Karachi. They added that SP Khurram Waris as SP Investigation West Zone-I, SP Nasir Aftab as SP Landhi Town, SP Zafar Iqbal Malik posted as SP Investigation West-II, while SP Naveed Ahmed Khwaja as SP Liaquatabad Town, and SP Abdul Waqar Malhan as Principle Traffic Training Institute, with immediate effect.

 CID officials attack anti-corruption team after being caught red-handed

A team of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Sindh was attacked by personnel of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after they were caught red-handed while taking bribe from an estate agent in the airport police limits on Monday.

SHO Airport Ghaffar Korai said that the local estate agent, Farooq, had submitted a complaint at the ACE office against the CID personnel, including Inspector Irfan, that they had taken Rs100,000 as bribe from him. He had also alleged that the CID officials were demanding more money from him.

The SHO said that in pursuance of the complaint, the ACE team under the supervision of Assistant Director Abdul Aleem and Magistrate Mushtaq Mughal of the Malir Court laid a trap with fresh bait of 20,000 to persuade the CID personnel to agree on the new amount of money (they were asking from the estate agent).

After negotiations, the CID personnel were reportedly called to the Bajwa Hotel, Model Colony, for delivery of the amount. When Farooq and his friend Raja were waiting for the CID personnel, Inspector Irfan along with his team turned up. As the CID personnel were taking bribe (Rs20,000) from Farooq, the ACE team, who were hiding in the area, appeared and tried to grab them red-handed. In the meantime, the CID personnel opened fire, injuring Farooq’s friend Raja Anwer.

According to the SHO, the CID personnel escaped from the scene under the cover of fire. The injured was taken to a hospital where he was stated to be stable. SHO Korai said that an FIR was lodged on the complaint of ASI Liaquat of the ACE Sindh against Inspector Irfan, ASI Jameel and three others. Further probe is under way.

Meanwhile, Additional Inspector General of Police CID Sindh Saud Ahmed Mirza told The News that he had taken serious note of the incident and has ordered DIG CID Mushtaq Mehar to submit an inquiry report to him within three days.

Attack on Jang Group, Geo widely condemned

ISLAMABAD: People from all walks of life have condemned the attack on the Jang Group of newspapers and the closure of Geo TV’s transmission for highlighting the incident of shoe throwing at President Zardari during his speech in England.

Talking to The News on telephone, the Awami Muslim League (AML) chairman Shaikh Rashid Ahmed condemned the attack on the Jang Group, saying the PPP government wants to muzzle the media. He said all TV channels aired reports about the incident but the government is targeting the Jang Group and Geo TV only, which is regrettable.

MNA Muhammad Hanif Abbasi of the PML-N while condemning the attack on the Jang Group said the government tried to hush up the matter but Geo TV, The News and Jang not only presented the true picture but also published the interview of the man who hurled shoes on President Zardari. He said he would participate in all protest demonstrations in support of Jang Group.

Shakil Awan, another MNA of the same party, also condemned the attack on Jang Group and said the PPP government is trying to gag the media. He regretted that President Zardari is out of the country at a time when the nation is passing through the most difficult phase of its existence.

Ameer Jamat-e-Islami, Rawalpindi Distirct, Sajjad Ahmed Abbasi said that government should have the courage to face criticism. Punjab Bar Council (PBC) central executive committee chairman Rana Muhammad Akram while condemning the attack on the Jang Group said it is the duty of the print and the electronic media to report events as they happen.

President Rawalpindi chamber of commerce and industry (RCCI) Kashif Shabbir said the media is playing its role honestly and the government should face the truth. All Pakistan Traders Association President Shaikh Muhammad Saddique also condemned attack on the Jang Group of newspapers.

Meanwhile Qazi Sultan, member central executive committee (CEC) Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has said that the PPP workers neither attacked the Geo nor burnt the copies of The News and Jang. He said that the PPP government believes in free media. All media groups continuously criticise President Asif Ali Zardari but we face the criticism with big heart, he said adding some elements are trying to create rift between the Jang Group and the PPP government.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, while talking to a private TV channel, said free media was vital for strengthening of democracy, and to gag the media was equal to harming democracy in the country.

UN Expert Adviser on Human Rights Ansar Burney has also condemned the blocking of Geo TV and burning of copies of the Daily Jang and The News, says a press release issued on Monday. He said such acts were an attempt to murder democracy and gang the media. Burney, who is also a former federal minister for human rights, said reportedly some of the ministers, senior government officials and PPP leaders were pressuring cable operators across the country to immediately block Geo transmission.

“It is condemnable that newspaper vendors have been robbed of copies of The News and the Daily Jang reportedly on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari and Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira,” he added. He also condemned the act of some of the PPP activists in which they accompanied by police officials hurled threats at cable operators and newspaper hawkers.

Ansar Burney said while he was visiting Karachi City to help the victims of target killings and rain in the morning, he saw that most of bundles of the Daily Jang and The News had been burnt to ashes after robbing hawkers on gunpoint.

Our correspondent adds from Lahore: Various political parties, labour unions, civil society activists also condemned the closure of Geo TV transmission, burning of newspaper copies and government’s plan to impose curbs on the media in the name of ‘code of conduct’ while terming it a move against the press freedom.

PML-Q (likeminded) leader Barrister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, in a statement, termed the act of closing transmission of Geo TV as a severe blow to the freedom of press. He added that the Jang Group had always rendered great services in the field of media and none of the governments ever remained successful in curbing it.

Human Rights Society of Pakistan chairman Senator SM Zafar stated that all unlawful activities against the media must be stopped. He said that the efforts to block the sale of daily Jang and The News in various parts of country was a matter of concern and by taking no action against the elements involved in it, the government was supporting an unlawful act. He demanded a complete security for the staffers of Jang, The News, Geo and other media persons.

A meeting of the National Trade Union Federation also condemned imposition of curbs on the media and held the view that these acts of government reflected its dictatorial attitude. The meeting unanimously decided that any conspiracy against print and electronic media would be foiled.

Raja Faiz Sultan, World Labour Organization London chairman, also condemned the blocking of Geo TV transmission.

SNF criticises ban on TV channels

Deputy Secretary General (Information), Sindh National Front (SNF), Anwar Gujar has criticised the government for ransacking the offices and blocking the broadcast of some private TV channels. In a statement on Monday Gujar said that the rulers were trying to gag the media by such actions as the media had exposed their misdeeds. ”It is, however, astonishing that the leaders of media owners’ organisation are mum over the government’s actions,” he said recalling a past incident in which that organisation had reacted severely against the SNF for the alleged attack on a newspaper. Gujar said that SNF chairman Mumtaz Ali Bhutto was arrested from his home town and brought to Karachi in that false case.

Asfandyar’s sister hurt in attack

PESHAWAR, Aug 9: Dr Gulalai, prominent surgeon and sister of ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, was injured in an attack outside her clinic in Khyber Bazaar on Monday evening.

A police official said two men fired three shots at her when she was leaving the clinic in the Karachi Market. “Dr Gulalai was hit by one bullet in her right arm,” he said. She was rushed back to her clinic for first aid. According to family sources, Dr Gulalai suffered minor injuries.

Police cordoned off the area and launched a search for the attackers.

“A bearded man standing beside a motorcycle outside her clinic fired at her,” an official quoted a witness as saying.

Although belonging to a major political family of the country, Dr Gulalai did not take part in politics.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain and other leaders of the Awami National Party rushed to her clinic after the attack.

 Floods worse than tsunami, Pakistan and Haiti quakes: UN

DG KHAN/ISLAMABAD: As the United Nations said on Monday massive floods in Pakistan had affected 13.8 million people and eclipsed the scale of the devastating 2004 tsunami, the 2005 Pakistan earthquake and the January 2010 Haiti earthquake, the death toll so far has reached over 1,600 across the country.

However, the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) put the death toll at 1,204, with 1,309 injured in flood and rain related incidents. Thousands of families have been evacuated from Muzaffargarh city, situated between Chenab and Indus rivers, after a flood warning was issued by the district administration.

The road link of DG Khan, Rajanpur and Balochistan with the Punjab remained suspended on the second day on Monday. Due to heavy flow, a bridge on Nullah on Dera-Multan Road collapsed near Ghazi Ghat on Monday.

Three Wapda officers were swept away on Monday afternoon when they attempted to cross the hill torrent near Khad Buzdar on the Indus Highway from its collapsed portion. The locals later recovered their bodies. Those killed include Wapda Deputy Manager Haji Abdul Hameed, Line-Superintendent Ameer Atta Hussain and another unidentified official.

River Indus at Chashma is in high flood as 739,307 cusecs of water was discharging from Chashma while at the Jinnah Barrage, the discharge was 586,660 cusecs of water. According to the data released by the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) here on Monday, more than 289,086 houses have been destroyed or partially damaged with 3,610,735 persons affected across the country by the flash floods.

The FFC said at least 91,210 houses had been destroyed or damaged in the Punjab, 171,010 in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 19,619 in Balochistan, 1,430 in FATA, 2,336 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and 3,481 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir so far.

At least, 208 relief camps have also been established in all the flood-hit areas to provide prompt relief to the victims. The flood also affected 4,772 villages in various parts, including 1,472 in the Punjab, 468 in KP, 2,584 in Balochistan and 193 in GB.

The government and the UN officials have appealed for more urgent relief efforts to cope with the country’s worst-ever floods. The entire Swat valley was cut off at the weekend as were parts of the country’s breadbasket in the Punjab and Sindh.

“This disaster is worse than the tsunami, the 2005 Pakistan earthquake and the Haiti earthquake,” Maurizio Giuliano, a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said.

He said the 13.8 million affected outstripped the more than three million hit by the 2005 earthquake, five million in the 2004 tsunami and the three million affected by the Haiti earthquake in January this year.

The UN estimates 1,600 people have died in Pakistan’s floods and the Pakistani government has confirmed 1,243 deaths. About 220,000 were killed by the December 26, 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia. Martin Mogwanja, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Pakistan, called on relief operations “to be massively scaled up”.

Pakistan’s meteorological office forecast only scattered rain in the next 24 hours and said the intensity of monsoon showers was lessening. But with floods sweeping south, hundreds of thousands of people have fled to seek safety as heavy rains continued to lash the province of Sindh and water levels rose further in the swollen Indus river.

“We have evacuated about one million people but hundreds of thousands of people left their houses alone,” Jam Saifullah Dharejo, irrigation minister for Sindh, said. Hundreds of farm workers were stranded on a bridge in the highway town of Karampur in northern Sindh, camped out with utensils and bedding while the road beyond lay flooded and the main Indus highway blocked, an AFP reporter said.

“We fled to save our lives. We thought we would get relief goods but we got nothing,” said Dodo Khan, 50, an agriculture worker. “We haven’t eaten for three days. My younger son, who is just five years old, is crying with hunger.”

Thin and frail, Mahi Bacchi, 45, cried: “We voted for this government. We made Asif Ali Zardari our ruler but we don’t know why he is so unconcerned. “We are here without food and water. Our children are sick but no one comes from the government to help us.

“Please send vehicle and take us out. We are in grave danger. There is water on one side and hunger on the other,” she said.The OCHA spokesman, Giuliano, said that even donkeys were being used to access parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa inaccessible by other means and warned that the risk of water-borne diseases persisted.

Authorities in the Punjab district of Muzaffargarh issued a red alert and ordered people to evacuate as water entered the city from breaches in canals. Emergency will be declared in district Hyderbad from Tuesday as the flood water at Kotri Barrage is expected to cross 300,000 cusecs by midnight.

Meanwhile, soldiers and aid workers struggled on Monday to reach at least a million people cut off by landslides that have complicated relief efforts after the worst floods in Pakistan in 80 years. Poor weather has grounded relief helicopters and more rain was expected to compound the misery of more than 13 million people — about 8 per cent of the population — whose lives have been disrupted by the floods, including two million homeless.

River Indus is flowing in exceptionally high flood with rising trend in Guddu-Sukkur reach and is in very high flood with rising trend at Chashma. The river is in high flood with falling trend at Kalabagh and in high flood with rising trend at Taunsa. River Kabul is in very high flood with rising trend at Nowshera and in high flood with rising trend at Warsak, says a press release on Monday.

Almost 100 villages of Tehsil Sahiwal, Shahpur and Bhalwal along the Jhelum river were badly affected while one person drowned in floodwater in Tehsil Shahpur. Crops in 70 villages of Tehsil Sahiwal and Shahpur were also damaged by the floodwater.

Another flood torrent entered River Skardu after lightning struck the mountainous areas of Baltistan, causing small streams and Nullahs to flow in high tide. The Pakistan Army continued its relief operation in the flood hit areas of Sindh despite heavy rain. Troops have evacuated more than 70,000 marooned people from the flooded areas.

President Zardari stops over in Syria

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, whose recent visit to Great Britain has been heavily criticised because it took place at a time when the country faced the worst floods in history, paid an unscheduled visit to Syria on Monday. The stopover may have been made for superstitious reasons as the Middle Eastern country is known for the holy places it houses.

However, media managers in the presidency said he had met Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, but did not visit any of the holy places in the country which was believed to be the main objective of the stopover.

“The president landed at the Bassel Al Assad International Airport for a technical stopover on his way back home from the United Kingdom,” presidential spokesman Sohail Ahmed said. How a technical stopover resulted in a presidential meeting remained unexplained.

Syria is visited by devoted Muslims for its many shrines. The famous shrine of Hazrat Bibi Zainab in Damascus, known as Zainabia, is visited by hundreds of thousands of people.

This is Mr Zardari’s second visit to Syria since assuming the office of president. He was there for two days in January this year. Observers pointed out that he was under immense pressure at that time because the Supreme Court had scrapped the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) which had provided immunity to politicians and bureaucrats involved in corruption cases from 1985 to 1999. A federal minister who accompanied the president had told Dawn that “Zardari Sahib has secured guarantee about his rule from Zainabia”.

This time around, the presidency is denying that the visit was for any religious reason and a senior official said Mr Zardari did not visit any of the holy places.

“He could not visit Damascus because his stopover was in Latakia,” the official said.

Nonetheless, President Zardari is known to believe in certain rituals. He sacrifices a black goat every day in the presidency to protect himself from hardships and evil influences.

An official announcement about the visit said: “The president was warmly received by Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, before the two leaders held a meeting at the airport and discussed bilateral, regional and international issues and matters of common interest.”

President Zardari briefed his Syrian counterpart on the flood situation in Pakistan and the casualties and losses caused by the calamity.

The spokesman said the Syrian president expressed grief over the destruction caused by the floods. He said the government and people of Syria stood with Pakistan and its people in this hour of trial.

He said Syria would not leave Pakistan alone at this critical hour and promised all possible help for the affected people.

“Pakistan and Syria enjoy historic and brotherly relations, with the two having ancient civilisational ties,” he said.

YESTERDAY'S NEWS

Jiyalas burn The News, Jang copies as Geo blocked in few areas
2 more killed in targeted violence
2 cops killed after raiding drug den
‘Kalu Current’, four accomplices killed
Ban on motorcycle riding held in abeyance
3 killed in various mishaps
Rains expose technical errors in signal-free corridors
Flood water touches highest levels in Sukkur, Guddu (more)
Stranded people could die of hunger: KP MPA (more)
Food crisis looming large over GB (more)
No respite in sight as more rains forecast (more)
Another five suspects arrested (more)
First Pakistani Jihadi wanted by all (more)
‘I am proud of what I did’, says man who threw shoes (more)

TODAY'S NEWS, BUT 10 YEARS OLD
TODAY'S NEWS, BUT 13 YEARS OLD

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