Khori Garden Karachi stampede kills up to 20 women, children

Up to 20 women and children were killed on Monday in a stampede which broke out as charity workers were handing out free flour to the poor in a crowded neighbourhood of Pakistan's financial capital Karachi, officials said.

"We have so far received 20 bodies of women and girls while the injured are more than 30," Amin Khan, an official in Civil Hospital Karachi, told AFP.

Karachi city police chief Wasim Ahmed said at least 18 women and children died in the stampede with dozens of others injured.

"The deaths were caused by suffocation and the stampede in one of the most congested localities of Khori Garden, where a charity was distributing free flour among hundreds of women and children during Ramadan," he added.

Muslim-majority Pakistan is observing the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, when believers fast from dawn to dusk.

Women clad in black burkas sobbed and wailed as ambulances screeched through the streets, ferrying the bodies and injured to hospital.

Injured women and children lay on beds in a crowded hospital, where panicked relatives rushed around trying to find their loved ones and dead bodies lay covered in white sheets, television footage showed.

Witness Fatima Hashim, 55, whose daughter was seriously injured said the stampede happened in a small area where huge crowds converged for handouts.

"The place where wheat flour was being distributed was very narrow, which suffocated hundreds of women and children," she said.

"I went along with two of my daughters to get two bags of flour but now my younger daughter is struggling for life in the hospital," she added.

"We were in a long queue waiting for our number (to be called) to get a 10-kilogram (22-pound) bag of flour from the charity when people started running," witness Hafeeza Begum, 45, told AFP.

"I was quite far from the platform where the bags were being distributed, so I promptly grabbed my teenage daughter and reached a safer place."

Heavy traffic delayed rescue workers in reaching what is one of the most congested areas of Karachi, a teeming city home to an estimated 14 million.

Ahmed told Pakistan's private Geo television station that police arrested the distributor in connection with the accident.

In April 2006, the country's worst stampede in recent history killed 29 women and children at a religious gathering to mark the anniversary of the Prophet Mohammed's birth in Karachi.
(Source: samaa.tv)

Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation

The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) is the largest public sector health organization in the country which provides free, comprehensive and modern medical care in kidney diseases and transplantation to all. SIUT prime mission is to treat diseases and also to make people aware of their prevention. It also works towards ensuring rehabilitation of patients after treatment. After being given autonomy in 1991, SIUT has treated over 1 million patients and spent over a billion rupees on patient care.
Our patients are predominantly from the rural and poorer urban strata with virtually no access to medical facilities, and who are financially incapable of affording modern diagnostic, treatment and transplant facilities which are very costly in the private sector. SIUT extensive facilities are fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment which enables it to provide free treatment related to a vast area of medicine. This also means that many patients, who would have to go abroad for costly treatment, can now be treated within the country, thereby saving valuable foreign exchange. SIUT depends substantially on contributions from the public, corporate bodies and citizens to provide free treatment to all. A Government Grant and Zakat contributions are also an important part of our funding. The Society for the Welfare of Patients of Urology and Transplantation is the Welfare body of SIUT that raises funds for the free services.

Pakistan's first F-22 frigate arrives in Karachi from Shanghai

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- The first F-22 frigate of the Pakistan Navy PNS Zulfiquar, built in China, arrived in south Pakistan's Karachi amid the ongoing Naval exercise, the official APP news agency reported Saturday.

PNS Zulfiquar is the first of the series of four ships being constructed in collaboration with China at Hudong Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai, east China, and was formally handed over to Pakistan on July 30.

The ship was welcomed by the navy surface and aviation units conducting exercise. PNS Zulfiquar also participated in its very first naval exercise which was witnessed by commander Pakistan Fleet Rear Admiral Asif Sandila, said a press release of Naval Public Relations Directorate.

Pakistan entered into agreement with China for at least four frigates, of them, three would be constructed in China and one would be readied in Pakistan.

The second and third ship are also nearing completion and expected to be handed over to Pakistan in the first and third quarter of 2010. The fourth ship is under construction at Karachi shipyard and would be completed by 2013.

F-22 frigate is a Sword Class Ship equipped with long range surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, depth charges, torpedoes, latest 76mm guns, close-in-weapons system (CIWS), sensors, electronic warfare and advanced command and control system.

The ship has a displacement of 3,000 tons and carries anti-submarine Z9EC helicopters. The first batch of two helicopters has already arrived in Pakistan.

Formal induction ceremony of the ship in Pakistan navy fleet will be held in the third week of this month.

ACTION AGAINST GHOST EMPLOYEES WILL CONTINUE: MUSTAFA KAMAL

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that action against ghost employees in city government will continue. So far 350 ghost employees have been sacked on the ground of absconding from their duties. Officers who would not take action against such employees will also face disciplinary action.

He expressed these views while talking to media representatives at the Iftar Dinner held by CDGK on Thursday.

Nazim Karachi said that concerned officers remained stayed on roads during rains while the lower staff despite of receiving salary for this job did not turned up which has created problems.
Replying another question Nazim Karachi said that the illegal hydrant mafia has been involved in cutting of trunk lines and selling it to consumers, therefore, it has now become necessary to save these trunk lines from hydrant mafia.

He expressed apprehension that in case of any non cooperation from police and rangers in the closure of illegal water business, it would be hard for water board to supply water to citizens.

Nazim Karachi said that citizens should own their city and abide by civic and traffic rules.
He further said that in all over the world people slash prizes of utilities on religious occasions while here we tends to increase the prizes of daily used items in Ramadan.

On another query, the City Nazim said that government doesn’t want to make anyone home less but it only does it in the larger interest of the city and its citizens. It has become essential to remove the encroachments from Gujjar Nullah and other major drains of the city otherwise the citizens would have to face much trouble in future. He said that no one can have valid lease of the property constructed on the land originally earmarked for Nullah. Despite of this we have made a policy under which and all the owners of such property would get 80 sq yards plot and 50 thousand rupees as compensation

Provincial Health Minister Confirmed 4 dengue fever cases

Sindh Minister for Health Dr Sagheer Ahmad has confirmed that four cases of dengue fever have been reported at two hospitals in the city.

Three dengue patients have reported at the Patel Hospital and one at the Sindh Government Hospital, Saudabad, Dr Sagheer Ahmad said on Monday.He said the dengue surveillance cell was functioning at the provincial health department with Dr Tariq Shaikh acting as its focal person.

He held out the assurance that his department was fully prepared to cope with the dengue virus in a better way than it had been done last year.

The minister said that facilities of mega unit and cell separators were being provided to the Civil Hospital Karachi, Sindh Government Qatar Hospital, People’s Medical College Hospital, Nawabshah, Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana, and Ghulam Mohammad Mehar College, Sukkur. These services, he added, would be available at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Sindh Government Hospital, New Karachi, from Tuesday.

He said the city government had undertaken a fumigation campaign and hospitals had also been put on an alert.

Qaim Ali Shah satisfied with CDGK’s steps to tackle rain impact

By Irfan Aligi

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has expressed his satisfaction on measures that the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has taken pertaining to mitigating the impact of the recent spell of monsoon in the city. The chief minister went on a visit around the city, accompanied by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and City Nazim Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday midnight, to oversee the post-rain situation.

While visiting the Gujjar Nullah, the city nazim told the chief minister about the problems that have resulted from encroachments on the brinks of the nullah. Kamal said, these encroachments have squeezed the diametre of the nullah from 77 metres to just seven metres.

Shah said that he would hold a meeting with Ibad and Kamal so that an appropriate strategy can be devised to tackle the situation while support from the federal government would also be sought for the resolution of this anomaly.

Shah also visited the CDGK Command and Control Centre and saw the city’s situation using close circuit cameras.

On the other hand, Kamal expressed his satisfaction on the rain emergency measures, of which draining the storm water was a key issue. Kamal said that illegal occupation of land across the main drain canals, including Gujjar Nullah, have created problems that led to delayed draining of the storm water. The eviction of the encroachments from the brinks of the nullah would ensure the increase of Gujjar Nullah’s diameter and would pacify the agony that prevails after torrential rain.

Kamal said that the newly installed water and sewerage infrastructure has a capacity, just like every other drainage system of the world, but it proved to be highly beneficial for the citizens, as despite the heavy, prolonged rains, the water was drained effectively.

He refuted certain news items that claimed that the CDGK’s infrastructure had been ruined, as he claimed that the CDGK had used only a faction of its machineries because the storm water was drained out through the infrastructure.

He reiterated his resolve that he would leave no stone unturned to restore the Gujjar Nullah to its original diametre and that all encroachments would be removed. No matter how many voters and supporters of Muttahidda Qaumi Movement would be affected but the task would be completed for the sake of the city, he added.

The city nazim said that the CDGK has been doing the required homework while two relevant town municipal administrations have already completed their work on delineating the encroachments for immediate removal.

Dawood Public School sealed after seizing sex-related literature

On the directives of senior minister for education and literacy Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, director private schools Mansoob Siddiqui and coordinator Naved Zuberi raided the Dawood Public School in Sharafabad Karachi, sealing it after impounding immoral, un-Islamic sex education books and literature.

The minister had ordered taking notice of complaints against it. The raid team after recovery of immoral, un-Islamic sex education books and literature from the school decided to seal it till inquiry report in this regard.

Provincial education minister also took serious notice of introducing disputed textbook and curriculum in school without approval. He said some private schools are teaching immoral books in their schools and the government is mulling over to cancel their registration as per laws and rules.

City nazim on CNG bus trip with citizens

Passengers of CNG buses have lauded newly plied CNG buses that are being operated on two routes. The passengers have also offered their gratitude to the City Nazim Mustafa Kamal for his efforts to change the repugnant transport culture that has been tormenting millions of passengers, particularly women.

The passengers expressed these views while they found Kamal was travelling with them as a passenger early morning on Saturday.

After attending a ceremony held for distribution of certificates among CNG bus drivers on completion of their training at Surjani CNG Bus terminal on Saturday, he decided to oversee the experience personally. He bought tickets from a local boot and got on the bus. The passengers recognised him and interacted with him liberally. The best part of the new transport system is that there are no bus conductors, while the drivers are educated and behave modestly. There is no violation of traffic rules and regulations and the bus stops only on the prescribed stops throughout the trip, commented a passenger.

We have learned it is useless to ask the drivers for favours such as making a stop, which is not prescribed because it is contrary to the preset guidelines by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and Capital City Traffic Police Department, claimed many others.

However, a few of the passengers said that the existing number of CNG buses available to the citizens were less than one percent of the citizens’ needs while there are hundreds of routes in the city where the same operations are required on priority basis. It is also important that the CDGK has assured not to lay burden on citizens by increasing transport tariff once for every quarter. These buses are environment-friendly and comfortable.

Kamal said that he had dreamt of introducing a benevolent and civilised transport culture in the city and he has started it by launching ‘CNG Bus Pilot Project’ with 50 vehicles.

With the induction of further 1,600 CNG buses, the fate of the city would become more promising because the existing rotten transport culture would be entirely replaced because citizens of this mega city deserve facilities as per international standards, he commented.

A handful of notorious elements have tried to terrify the passengers of the CNG bus service as they had attempted to set ablaze and destroy some CNG buses. It is a clear message for such elements that they should not challenge the writ of the government, he warned. This transport service is launched with no u-turn and the fleet would be increased according to the needs of the citizens, he vowed. Kamal said that around 80 citizens can travel at a time.

Altaf challenges constitutional experts for debate on Article 6

Chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain has said that he is ready to debate on any TV channel with all the constitutional experts who demand trial of former President General Pervez Musharraf under Article 6.
In a telephone address to a convention of Local Government representatives at Pakka Qila grounds in Hyderabad city under the auspices of MQM, the party chief said: If the constitutional experts succeed in defeating me, then I will not continue with my present stance. However, if they fail to defeat me, then they should desist from misleading the public about the issue.
He also asked: If Musharraf’s action on 3 November 2007 was wrong, then under which Quranic verse or constitutional clause is the action of 12 October 1999 being held legitimate? “The honorable judges who refused to take oath under the PCO on the 12th October 1999 must not support those who issue wrong statements or make wrong demands”, Altaf advised.
Chief of MQM raising an important issue of trial and punishment pointed out that: The country’s law and justice demands that punishment must be given not only to a single person who commits a crime but that those persons involved as supporters and partners in that crime must also be punished.
Altaf Hussain further said: Today, all the people throughout Pakistan are now demanding that the present Local Government system must not be terminated, but must be continued so that democracy is promoted and the undemocratic sphere of politics owned by a few families be terminated forthwith.
He further reasoned that: If the government or opponents feel there were some wrongs in the system, the same must definitely be removed, and we will not have any objections against it, but the system must not be terminated. (NC Report)

Energy crisis biggest problem for Pakistan: Holbrooke

Visiting United States Special Envoy for Pakistan & Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke says the biggest problem for people of Pakistan is ``energy crisis’’ and assured U.S. help for solving it.
U.S. Secretary of State Ms Hilary Clinton will visit Pakistan in next six weeks, he said in separate meetings with Governor, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad, members of Cabinet, an MQM delegation led by Federal Minister, Dr. Farooq Sattar, industrialists, businessmen intellectuals, educationists, bankers, legal experts yesterday at Governor House.
Holbrooke lauded development projects carried out in which City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal’s performance was appreciable. He said U.S. will take special interest and assist in solving power crisis in Karachi. Holbrooke viewed with concern a recent survey which said that people of Pakistan had ``negative thinking about the US’’ and felt over past decades U.S. had provided lot of aid to Pakistan and wants to provide more aid and enhance bilateral cooperation.
U.S. Envoy said mother of President Barrack Obama had stayed at a village near Lahore; President Obama visited Pakistan in 1980s, enjoys Pakistani dishes and appointed him (Holbrooke) as Special Envoy to Pakistan he has visited five times in last six months.
Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad said coalition parties in Sindh government were progressive and moderate. The overall development and stability of Karachi is development and stability of entire country, he observed.
Senior Minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq representing Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said thanked U.S. for providing assistance to Pakistan. He said coalition government in Sindh was working satisfactorily. PPP and MQM were liberal parties and under guidance of Governor Issues were resolved amicably.
MQM delegation led by Dr Farooq Sattar included Federal Minister Babar Ghauri, Provincial Ministers Raza Haroon, Dr. Saghir Ahmed, Sardar Ahmed and Mustafa Kamal. US Ambassador, Anne Patterson and US under Secretary Juditch Mchale were also present during these meetings. (NC)