Sindh Sports & Youth Affairs Department launches 5-month Cricket Coaches course

An extensive five month Cricket Coaches course to train and prepare the coaches from interior Sindh and Karachi was inaugurated at PCB Regional Academy Auditorium here on Monday.

Sindh Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs, Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui inaugurated the course which is being attended by 20 participants including four women. Sindh Sports and Youth Affairs Department is conducting the programme under Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Youth Development programme in collaboration with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). PCB Head Youth Development Haroon Rasheed with expert Ali Zia and Shahid Aslam of National Cricket Academy are jointly conducting the course.

Sinister shakedown

‘Not even two police mobiles can protect you from our wrath’ was the threat given to shopkeepers who had protested against extortion at Nursery furniture market day earlier.

Fed up with forking over money each month, a group of angry shopkeepers blocked Shahrah-i-Faisal near Nursery on Wednesday to protest the alleged harassment and extortion by men they described as Sunni Tehreek (ST) activists. The shopkeepers burnt tyres, suspending traffic for around 45 minutes till the police and rangers officials promised them that they would act against the culprits. Barely 24 hours later, the businessmen at E-market in union council No 6 Mehmoodabad, alleged that the men they nominated in FIRs on Wednesday have threatened them with ‘serious consequences’.

For its part, however, the Sunni Tehreek has denied all allegations that the ‘extortionists’ are affiliated with their party. “The central leadership of the party talked to the president and general secretary of the association of shopkeepers and assured them that no party worker was involved in this crime,” said Shahid Ghauri, central leader of the ST, while talking to The Express Tribune on Thursday. “After they identified the culprits, we said the shopkeepers could take whatever action they want against the criminals, none of them belonged to our party.”

According to Ghauri, his party only collects “donations” in the months of Ramazan and Rabiul Awal. “We request all the shopkeepers to inform the central leadership of the ST in case someone collects money from them in the name of the party,” he said. Wednesday’s protest ended only after the Ferozabad police registered an FIR under sections 384/85/86/34 against Rehan Qadri, Faisal Qadri, Qadri Baba and eight unidentified men. “I received a call in the morning from Qadri baba, threatening me that the police cannot protect us,” alleged Irshad Ahmad, who is the chairman of the E-market Shopkeepers Association.

According to Ahmad, the activists has been extracting money from them for the last one year and despite their complaints, the authorities have done nothing to stop them. For his part, however, Ferozabad SHO Azam Baloch told The Express Tribune that this was the first time they had received such a complaint. He confirmed that the suspects were affiliated with the ST. “We have been conducting raids to arrest them since morning,” he said, before he left for another one.

The association’s Irshad Ahmed said that the shopkeepers had been giving monthly ‘bhatta’ to alleged ST workers out of fear but when the “gangsters” misbehaved with some elders on a routine collection trip this Wednesday, the shopkeepers lost their cool. “We could not fight them at that time since they had weapons,” said Muhammad Qasim, a furniture shop owner. “So we decided to protest.” The ‘extortionists’ have a complete list of shops and shopkeepers of union council No 6, Mehmoodabad, and every shopkeeper is charged according to his income. The money is collected allegedly in the name of Ahle Sunnat Khidmat Trust, ST Mehmoodabad.

The collectors issue receipts to paying shopkeepers. Each receipt is numbered and is issued in the name of an individual. The collector signs the receipt before collecting the money and also writes the amount of money received. A note at the end of the receipt says, “you allow that your money can be used in any good work”. E-market consists of more than 350 shops and the amount of extortion money collected from each shop ranges between Rs 50 to Rs10,000. About the receipts distributed among the shopkeepers as proof that the money was going to the ST coffers, the ST leader said party leaders would investigate the matter.

“We will try to find out how the receipts reached the criminals and we will take action after the investigation,” said ST central leader Shahid Ghauri. Nonetheless, the shopkeepers said they have finally decided to take a stand. “We are going to face them whatever happens,” said Jibran, a shopkeeper. “We cannot bear them any more.” According to the E-market association’s leaders, police officials have assured them of help and security. Shopkeepers from G-market were however, not feeling as secure. “Better pay them money instead of risking our lives,” said one shopkeeper on condition of anonymity. He has been paying Rs5,000 per month in extortion money.

According to him, the police would not arrest the culprits even if they were identified. He feels that the police and the extortionists have some sort of “understanding”.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 14th, 2010.

ADMINISTRATOR KARACHI INSPECT CLEANING OF DRAINS IN LYARI

Karachi May 10: Administrator Karachi Fazlur Rehman has said that storm water drainage could not be made possible without full and thoroughly cleaning of every major drain of the city. De-silting of 7 big drains must be done speedily so that this could complete before upcoming rains.

He expressed these views during a visit of Lyari Town where he inspected cleaning work Kalri, Pitcher and Soldier Bazar Nullah.

EDO Municipal Services Masood Alam, members of technical committee Khuda Bux, Ibrahim Baloch, Rasheed Jamal and other officers accompanied Administrator Karachi on this visit.

Administrator Karachi on this occasion checked the condition of these drains at different points and directed municipal services department to further expedite work of their cleaning.

He said though City Government was doing cleaning and de-silting work of all major and small drains of city in coordination with town administration, however it would be most important to clear all 7 major drains that carries sewage from all over the city and falls into sea.

He said that their cleaning must start from seaside along with the removal of encroachments.

Administrator Karachi further said that all possible resources including machinery and man power would be provided for cleaning of all major drains of city.

Administrator Karachi during his visit also went to Machchar Colony where he inspected in detail cleaning work of storm and sewage water drain.

He directed concerned officials to contact with the Water & Sewerage Board so that the water supply problem in the area could be solved.

He said that storm water drainage would not be possible without full cleaning and de-silting of all major and subsidiary drains. That is why; he said City Government has initiated work of cleaning of drains in coordination with town administration to complete this work before upcoming rains.

Meanwhile Administrator Karachi also met with the citizens during the Khuli Kacheri held in the Committee Room of Civic Center. On this occasion he directed all EDOs to ensure prompt implementation of orders issued on the complaints of people in Khuli Kacheri. He also directed all officers to solve public problems on priority basis.

KARACHI INSTITUTE OF HEART DISEASES GETS RS.5 MILLION

Administrator Karachi Fazlur Rehman has given approval of release of Rs5million to Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases. The amount will be spent on the maintenance of Operation Theatre and Angiography Machine besides other essential supplies including emergency injections. During a surprise visit to KIHD on Tuesday he directed EDO Finance & Planning to release this amount to institute on immediate basis.

Administrator Karachi went to the CCU and OPD where he met with the patients and enquire about their health. Deputy Project Director Dr. Siraj on this occasion informed him about the problems facing by the hospital.

Administrator Karachi also constituted a committee headed by Director KIHD Dr. Abdus Samad to give its suggestions regarding various matters including procurement of medicines. Other members of the committee include Deputy PD KIHD Dr. Siraj as Secretaryi and EDO F&P Naila Wajid Khan, EDO MS Masood Alam, EDO Health Dr. Shahab Imam and D.O Procurement Dr. Muhammed Aslam as members.

Administrator Karachi said that more resources will be provided to KIHD during next fiscal year. He said that timely disbursement of salaries to employees of the hospital will also be made possible.

During the visit of under construction Nazeer Hussain Shaheed Hospital near NIPA Chowrangi Administrator Karachi formed a committee comprising EDO Works and Services, EDO Law, EDO Health and DO IFQC that would submit its report and suggestions on the start of work on this project within 10 days.

Administrator Karachi said that all possible measures will be taken for timely completion of every project initiated by former city nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal.

He said that the construction of this hospital had been delayed due to the legal proceedings and now the matter must resolve so that

This public welfare project could complete as soon as possible.

He also directed EDO Works and Services to negotiate with the contractor and solve the matter in least possible time.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa belongs to Pakhtuns: Shahi Sayed

Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh President Shahi Sayed yesterday alleged that some elements were exploiting the people of Hazara Division with backdoor financial help.
Addressing a public gathering at Sea view Karachi, he said that everybody had the right to do politics in Karachi. The mutual respect, education, humanity and non-violence could ensure the country's progress, he said.
Syed said that ANP was ready to cooperate with all bodies for the cause of city and country.
He said Sindh belongs to Sindhis, Balochistan to Baloch, Punjab to Punjabis and Khyber Pakhtunkuwa to Pakhtuns.
A number of artists were invited from Peshawar and Quetta to enthrall the audience gathered to celebrate renaming of NWFP as Khyber Pakhtunkwa, he added. (NC Report)

ADMINISTRATOR KARACHI INSPECT CLEANING OF STORM WATER DRAINS

Administrator Karachi Fazlur Rehman has directed town administration to pay more attention on sanitation work in their areas. He said that he has started visiting all towns of city to check the sanitation work and cleaning of storm water drains.

He expressed these views during a detailed visit to Landhi, Korangi and Shah Faisal Town on Saturday during which also inspected the cleaning and de-silting work of storm water drains.
During the visit of Korangi, town administrator informed him that cleaning work of 26km long storm water drain was already underway and will be completed by 1st June. He said that the encroachments at some places have posed hurdles in the water flow especially those established at the drains. Administrator Karachi directed to conduct a complete survey through a joint team of city government and town administration and submit report so that the anti-encroachment operation could be started in the area.

On the visit of Landhi Town the town administrator told that cleaning of 51km long storm water drains has begun in the area but the de-silting of Cattle Colony drain needs heavy machinery. Administrator Karachi directed EDO Municipal Services to provide required machinery and man power to Landhi Town so that the storm water drains cleaning work could complete before 1st June.

Shah Faisal Town administrator informed Administrator Karachi about the cleaning of 16km long 15 drain in the area which he said will be completed before 1st June. Administrator Karachi on this occasion directed to prepare PC-1 of the construction of Chakor Nullah in Shah Faisal Town so that its approval could be obtained from Government.

Administrator Karachi said that the town administration will be provided with all possible help, support and cooperation in the drain cleaning work. He also directed EDO Municipal Services to prepare a complete list of all those areas that have been affected more due to accumulation of water during rainy season so that the required machinery and vehicles could be dispatched to these areas on emergency basis.

He also directed town administrators to take immediate action on all the complaints received on city government complaints center 1339, adding that the Chief Secretary has been informed about the action taken by towns on citizen’s complaints.

Administrator Karachi during his visit also inspected construction work of Tipu Sultan Road Flyover where he was informed that already 12 of the pylings have been completed and the girders work has also begun. The flyover will be completed in three months.