SSGC pays 1.25 million to affected families

KARACHI: SSGC as a good corporate citizen responded to it social responsibilities when the utility distributed Rs. 1.25 million amongst 125 families who got affected on December 17, 2008 after a PARCO’s pipeline was inadvertently damaged during the routine operational work carried out by the company’s crew. Zuhair Siddiqui, Senior General Manager, Management Services, SSGC, Amir Mumtaz Khan, A. General Manager (Admin) and Hafiz Azeem Chief Manager (Admin) distributed the cheques in a simple yet impressive ceremony hosted by Mohammad Arif Khan Advocate, Town Nazim, Korangi in the town office. The Town Nazim lauded SSGC for rising to the occasion and facilitating the families whose house were badly affected from the massive oil spill.

Panic grips city after Mufti Naeemi’s martyrdom

KARACHI: Panic gripped different parts of the city as unknown miscreants started aerial firing and pelted stones to passing vehicles when news spread about the killing of renowned religious scholar Mufti Sarfarz Naeemi yesterday in Lahore. City`s different parts including Lea Market, M.A Jinnah road, Burns road, Nishtar road, areas of the lyari, some part of Brigade police station limits, Hassan Square, Tariq road, Mehmoodabad and some parts of New Karachi, Landhi, Malir Korangi, SITE area Banars and Orangi town and others were closed as unknown miscreants started aerial firings in these areas.

Although the commercial and pubic life was not suspended but some area shopkeepers were forced to closed their shops while commuters, pedestrians and employees were trying to reach home as soon as possible due to uncertain situation. Meanwhile, there was severe traffic jam in downtown areas of the city, as hundreds of vehicles were trapped as people tried to reach home immediately.

Karachi Police to be provided 50 vehicles: PM Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday approved immediate provision of 50 mobile vehicles for Karachi Police which he would himself hand over to the Karachi Police.

The prime minister has directed that a proposal may be initiated for awarding “Hilal-e-Esaar” to cities whose residents had accommodated the IDPs in large numbers either at their homes or other off camps locations.

A committee has been set up under the prime minister with the NWFP chief minister and chairman Special Support Group as its members to select the cities. Moreover, commemorative stamps will also be issued on the occasion to bring on record the collective contribution of the inhabitants of these towns and cities.

The prime minister has directed that during the meetings held in the ministries, divisions, attached departments, autonomous /semi autonomous bodies under the federal government, which require the presence of the ministers, officials and other dignitaries from various ministries, organizations, the following three points must be observed: -

During lunch time and/or tea time, the drivers attached to the participants of the meeting, may also be served meals or tea as required. Proper sitting arrangements, supply of cold water and provision of washroom facilities may also be ensured. Similar arrangements shall also be made for meetings conducted in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.

Petition challenging pillion riding ban

KARACHI: Comments were sought from the Sindh Home Secretary regarding the ban on pillion riding in Karachi division limit by a division bench of the SHC comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Bin Yamin here on Wednesday. The bench, issuing notice to the respondents for July 6, ordered them to file comments by the next date of hearing. The petition was filed by a NGO Human Rights Network, Karachi through its president.

Advocate Syed Abdul Waheed, the counsel for the petitioner, appearing before the bench submitted that the petitioner filed an identical petition a few months back when a similar ban was imposed. The home secretary was summoned and Special Home Secretary Kamran Dost appearing for the Home Department on April 10, 2009 stated that government was not extending the ban. A bench of the SHC disposed of the petition after this statement by the respondents but after a month, the ban was imposed again for an unspecified period.

The ban violates the provisions of Constitution of Pakistan and was imposed with mala fide intentions by the authorities. The ban was imposed after securing huge bribe from the transporters, the counsel for petitioner maintained adding that white collar people and poor workmen who could not afford other modes of transport use motorcycles. He relied on figures pertaining to crime rate and submitted that figures show that crime rate climbed up despite ban on the pillion riding and the ban appears to have no positive affect as far as law and order in city is concerned and therefore could not be justified. He submitted that instead of taking other administrative measures and making police effective for curbing crimes, ban on pillion reading is illegal, ab-initio and thus void. The petitioner prayed to the court to declare ban on pillion riding as illegal. The bench after hearing initial arguments by the counsel for petitioner issued notice to the Sindh home secretary for July 06.

STPP announces blocking Sindh-Punjab border on June 17

Party against settlement of IDPs in Sindh: Dr Qadir Magsi

KARACHI: Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party (STPP) chairman Dr Abdul Qadir Magsi said yesterday that his party was going to observe a sit-in at Sindh-Punjab border in order to block it for one day to put a halt to entry of internally displaced persons into Sindh.
Addressing a news conference here at the Karachi Press Club, he said his party is against settlement of IDPs in Sindh. He demanded of the government to set up IDP camps near the areas from where these people are being displaced owing to military operation.
“I recognize that displacement of over three million people from Northern Areas is a great humanitarian crisis but their settlement in Sindh is not an appropriate this time. We are ready to provide them relief goods if they would stay in the camps near their localities,” Magsi said.
Karachi has become city of ethnic conflict, and killing of average 10 persons a day in this city has become a routine matter.
We fear that militants might enter our province in guise of displaced persons, he added.

MQM demands independent inquiry into target killings

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi movement (MQM) has demanded of President, Prime Minister and Interior Minister to order for an independent inquiry into the targeted killings of 12 MQM workers and supporters in Karachi including the killing of Islami Jamiat Tulaba District central Nazim Mohsin Akhtar.
This was stated by MQM MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi while addressing a press conference here at Khursheeed Memorial Hall yesterday. He also said that “Haqiqi’s terrorist activities should be curbed immediately who are bent upon to disturb the peace of Karachi.
He said that Haqiqi terrorists are actively involved in the target killing of MQM workers they should be arrested with immediate affect and they also have enmity with each other and they are killing their own workers.
Rizvi lashed out at Jamat-e-Islami and Islami Jamiat Tulaba and demanded that they should not blame MQM and presented a copy of Daily Jasarat which stated that Mohsin was killed by ANP activist.
He said this report, which was published in daily Jasarat has also claimed that police under the influence of an MPA released accused Habib Shah who was caught red handed.
Rizvi said this report was published not any where but in daily Jasarat, despite this Ameer Jamat-e-islami Syed Muanwar Hasan is putting all blame on MQM of killing their workers. He said by doing so their only aim and objective is to put blame on MQM for target killings of activists in order to tarnish the image of MQM.
Haider Abbas Rizvi strongly condemned the attitude of JI leaders and urged them to respect Islamic values and teachings by refraining from raising allegations and accusations against MQM.

Rangers fully alert: DG Rangers

Director General of Rangers Major General Liaquat Ali said Tuesday that he Rangers are fully alert and the secret network is fully functional.

He warned the miscreants against disrupting the peace of the city, adding the Rangers are fully capable to cope with any task the City Government gives them.

Prime Minister to Chair Meeting on law And Order : Karachi

KARACHI: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will chair a meeting today to review the law and order situation in Karachi after incessant incidents of target killing in the metropolis.

The prime minister yesterday took stern notice of the killings in Karachi.

The meeting today, will discuss over the steps to prevent the incidents of target killing. Chief Minister of Sindh and provincial officials will present their reports to Gilani about the law and order.

TTP man with Qaeda link held in Karachi

* Police seize suicide jackets, weapons and other equipment used in terror activities

KARACHI: The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Sindh police has arrested an Al Qaeda operative here who is associated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and claimed to have seized suicide jackets, weapons and other equipment used in terror activities.

The arrested Taliban was identified as Mohammad Naeem Rehmani, son of Qadir Bux Rehmani and was arrested on June 5 in Lyari Town following intelligence information received by the CID.

CID Additional Inspector General Javed Bukhari while speaking at a press conference said during initial investigation, the arrested person revealed that he and his associates were planning to carry out major terror activities in Karachi, including suicide attacks, and therefore they had stocked a huge cache of weapons and explosives.

Offices of intelligence agencies, top government officials, CID officials and high-profile personalities were among their targets.

The CID official further said that Naeem was associated with TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud. Five suicide jackets containing 60 kilogrammes of explosives, five unprepared suicide jackets, ten hand grenades, two Ak-47 assault rifles, six detonators, ten fuse detonators and 200 bullets were recovered after the arrested men identified various locations where they had hid the weapons.

The arrested terrorist confessed that his group sent its associates to Afghanistan for training. “Several of them are receiving training in Afghanistan,” the official added.

Investigators also revealed that the arrested Taliban had links with Al Qaeda and was working as its operative in Karachi.

He is an expert in making suicide jackets, the official said.

Over a dozen killed in last 24 hours, Political murders continue in city

KARACHI: Killing of political activist goes unabated in the city and over fifteen political activists were gunned down in the last 36 hours in the city. About a dozen were killed in the last 24 hours and city remained under the grip of uncertainty, fear and panic.
Activists belonging to Mohajir Qaumi Movement (H) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement were the main targets while one each of Jamat-e-Islami, Awami National Party and Pakistan Peoples Party were also killed in the recent wave of target killing incidents reported in the city.
According to yesterday’s details, one Saleemuddin 47 was shot dead, while his daughter Sehrish and wife Fareeda were injured, by the firing of unidentified armed men in Jamshed Quarters police limits. Police sources said that the deceased was the resident of H-25, Jehangir Road, Martin Quarters. Jameel 40 was shot dead in Khokharapar police limits. The deceased was resident of Saudia Colony, an activist of MQM-H.

A tortured and bullet riddle body was found from Gillaniabad, Khokharapar. The police said that the deceased was still unidentified.
Amir Khan’s chief security officer Zeeshan along with his mother Naseema were injured, while his brother Noman was killed who was also an activist of MQM-H, in Malir City police limits.
In another incident unidentified assailants shot dead MQM-H Buzurg committee member Abdul Jabbar in Korangi Police limits.
In Landhi police limits, an activist belonging to MQM-H was shot dead by armed men. The police said that, deceased was identified as Shahzad alias Manoo.
In Saudabad police limits, Naseem Ahmed an activist of MQM-H was shot dead by armed men when he was traveling with his wife Saeema in his car, in the incident his wife was wounded critically.
An activist of MQM-H, Imran lost his life while, Shakeel was injured in outskirts of Bilal Colony Police limits.
Moreover two more political activist were reportedly gunned down in jurisdiction of Alfalah and Shahfaisal Police limits. However their names could not be known till the filing of this report. Unidentified armed men shot dead Nadeem an activist of MQM in the outskirts of Awami Colony police limits. According to police the deceased was the resident of Zamanabad, Landhi-36B.
Faqeer Mohammed and Razaullah were shot dead by armed men in Eidgah police limits on late Saturday night. Faqeer Mohammed was a transporter by profession and an activist of MQM. (NC Report)