Dr. Aafia, children abduction case registered at Gulshan-e-Iqbal PS

Gulshan-e-Iqbal police claimed to have lodged, in their respective police station, the case of abduction of Dr. Aafia Siddiqi and her children against the former present Pervez Musharraf on Monday morning, Geo news reported.

According to sources, Dr. Aafia Siddiqi was abducted with her children from Karachi in 2003 while she was on her way to Quaid-e-Azam International Airport to catch an Islamabad-bound flight.

She remained missing for five years until reports of her detainment in US-based Bagram prison in Afghanistan, were reached here.

Subsequently, upon pressing form Pakistan, US authorities shifted her from Bagram prison to United State for legal trial over charges of carrying out assault on US-allied troops in Afghanistan.

Malaysia Triumphed at the Inaugural ASEAN Karachi Bowling Tournament

KARACHI: Malaysia had a field day in the Inaugural ASEAN Karachi Bowling Tournament winning all three titles of the tournament held on Sunday, 6 December 2009 at a well reputed Bowling Alley in Karachi. The first ever bowling tournament initiated and organised by the Consul General of Malaysia in Karachi, H.E. Mohd Khalid Abdul Razak, saw the participation of all 4 ASEAN countries i.e. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The four teams participated for team event consists of a mix team of 3 men and 2 women and for both men’s and women’s individuals. The ASEAN Consul General and spouses headed their respective teams for the challenge. After battling for more than two hours, Malaysia clinched the team event title by accumulating 1832 pins with Indonesia at the second spot with 1452 pins, followed by Vietnam and Thailand. The Malaysian also took the men’s and women’s individual titles with H.E. Mohd Khalid Abdul Razak clinched the men title and Mrs. Julia Lukman the women title. To make it a complete Malaysian victory, both the runners-up titles for men’s and women’s individuals also went to Malaysian i.e. Mr. Lukman Sayuti and Madam Aniza Khalid. Indonesia took the third spot in men’s individual with Vietnam securing the same position in women’s individual.

During the award giving ceremony, H.E. Consul General of Malaysia recorded his thanks and appreciation to all his ASEAN colleagues and families who had participated in the true spirit of sportsmanship and made the event a thrilling and memorable one. He stated that the sports event will further promote cooperation, understanding and relations among countries of ASEAN in Karachi. The organising of the event also is an ample proof that the metropolis is safe and peaceful for foreigners and portrays ASEAN friendship and solidarity with Pakistan. The Dean of ASEAN Karachi, H.E. Jomphool Manaschuang and Madame Patama from Thailand presented the prizes to the winners and followed by refreshments.

SOLUTION OF BASIC PROBLEMS PREVENTED PEOPLE FROM BECOMING SUICIDE BOMBERS. NAZIM KARACHI

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that we have prevented the citizens from becoming a suicide bomber as during the last four years we have not only worked but also waged jehad by providing basic civic facilities to them
He said this was addressing at a luncheon meeting given in his honor by senior journalist majeed Abbsasi here at a local hotel on Thursday. The program was also attended by the President APNS Qazi Aslam, Vice President APNS Qazi Asad Abid, Dr. Karim Rajpar, Director General NARA Tuaha Farooqi, Mehmood Sham, Columnist Agha Masood, Khalil Ahmed Nenitalwala, Abbas Mehkri, Khushnood Ali Khan, Mujahid Barelvi, Habib Khan Ghori, Faisal Aziz, Mudassir Mirza, Dr. Huma Mir, Dr. S.A Siddiqui, Javed Iqbal, Anwar Ahmed Zai and other prominent persons from print and electronic media.
Speaking on this occasion Nazim Karachi said that the peoples in this country were not provided basic facilities even after 62 years. People are entangles in various problems and facing a serious kind of frustration and due to this they prefer to become a suicide bomber and play with fire. In order to prevent them from becoming suicide bombers we will have to solve their basic problems without further delay. He warned that even if today we failed to take measures for providing citizens the basic civic facilities than 10 crore people out of 17 crore will become suicide bomber. He said today there was no hope for the citizens and citizens are without the health and education facilities and they are fed up now and only want to satisfy themselves from only self immolation.
City Nazim said that during the last four years we have worked for the development of Karachi with an objective that after providing them basic civic facilities some frustration among them would alienated and for this we have worked day and night to solve the problems of the citizens in Karachi and the peoples have fully supported and helped us in our endeavors.

Nazim Karachi said that we we did all these works with pure intentions and a vision to facilitate people. The basic theme was to provide maximum basic civic facilities to the citizens. He pointed out that in Gadap town Cadet College has been established and its 80 percent work has been completed and this area was chosen due to the presence of lot of Goths in this vicinity.
He explained in detail various problems he confronted during his four year tenure but said development of Karachi will ensure development of the country. He also recalled that there should be one chain of command of the city and if there were 13 agencies controlling the city development will always be hampered.
Vice President APNS Qazi Asad Abid, Senior journalist Mehmood Sham and Majeed Abbasi also spoke on this occasion and paid tribute to City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal for his outstanding service for the city of Karachi. City Nazim was also presented with traditional Sindhi Ajrak and Sindhi Cap on this occasion…

NED University’s Batool Haider wins first prize

Karachi Observer Report

Batool Arhamna Haider, a second year student of the Petroleum Engineering Department, of the NED University of Engineering & Technology, has clinched first position in the final year student’s paper contest at the SPE International Annual Technical Conference 2009 held recently at a five-star hotel in Islamabad.
The chairman of the department, Prof Dr Abid Murtaza Khan, has congratulated Batool Haider for having brought laurels for the university.
The Petroleum Engineering department of the NED University has been hitting headlines for its accomplishments. Earlier in an international essay competition organized by the NED Alumni Association of South California (NEDAASC) USA, three students of the department, Mohammad Turab Mehdi, Abdur Rafey Zafar and Sami Toor, had shared top positions while Iftikhar Hafeez, a third year student has been selected by IPTC for presentation in Education week being held in Doha, Qatar.

Army Chief visits Karachi

The Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited Karachi today and attended a session of Army War Games organized to determine the operational preparedness of the formations. Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman also attended the session.
Earlier, on arrival at Karachi, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was received by the Corps Commander Lieutenant General Shahid Iqbal.

KARACHI NAZIM CHANGE DISPOSAL OF OFFAL OPERATION INTO CLEANLINESS DRIVE.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has directed concerned department of city government and all towns and union council’s administration to change the lifting and disposal of offal operation into cleanliness campaign in the city by using the same manpower, machinery and other resources so that the remaining effects of the insanitary conditions due sacrifice of millions of animals during Eid-ul-Azha could be removed completely. He said that the operation for the lifting of offal was still not completed and it will carry on till the full and thorough cleaning of the city.

He expressed satisfaction over the performance of all staff and officers of city government, towns & union council’s administration for taking part in the successful operation. He said that the concerned officials have played a dynamic role in the timely lifting and burial of offal and they did not go to their home till the disposal of all offal in the city.

Nazim Karachi said that this year none of the offal was dumped at the landfill sites because the city government had already managed for the burial of offal of all cantonments and areas controlled by other agencies. During the operation over 2 thousand complaints were received at 1339 which has been resolved within ten minutes.

He said that he himself with DCO Karachi spent all three days of Eid-ul-Azha on roads and streets while overseeing the whole operation. All town nazims, union nazims and elected representatives performed excellently which had given best of results this year too.

The City Nazim said that he also went to Lyari and other suburban and rural areas of the city during the operation and inspected the conditions in the katchi abadies. He said that special attention has been given to rural and backward areas, peoples are best judges, every town has been provided with necessary manpower, vehicles and machinery whenever it required.

He also thanked citizens of Karachi for providing help and cooperation in the swift lifting and disposal of offal during all three days of Eid-ul-Azha and said that operation was still not completed and will continue till the completion of cleaning work.

MUSTAFA KAMAL WARNS OFFICERS TO MEND THEIR WAYS.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has warned the officers of city government to avoid unusual delay in the completion of development works or they will have to face strict disciplinary action.

During a review meeting held at the KWSB Chairman Office on Tuesday, City Nazim took serious notice of the slow pace of work on the ongoing projects and viewed that lack of interest of the concerned officers and bribes were the main reason behind unsatisfactory speed of work and the citizens were facing hardships despite of timely payments to contractors.

City Nazim further said that he had visited ongoing development projects in the city on Monday and Tuesday and found the speed of work unsatisfactory. Construction of over head pedestrian bridges was one such example of this sluggish pace of work.

He said that despite of financial problems City Government ensured provision of funds and resources for these projects specially construction of pedestrian bridges so that the citizens could be provided convenience in crossing roads but the concerned officers were not showing interest in the early completion of the projects causing unusual delay in the works.

Nazim Karachi said that construction of 23 pedestrian bridges has been going on since last three months. Despite of payment of Rs200 million, pace of work on these projects has not been accelerated.

He also said that due to the bargaining for commission at higher level, contractor firms were not receiving payments on time and that is why they were not taking interest in development works and the situation causing delay in the completion of works.

He again warned all those officers to mend their ways or be prepared to face the disciplinary action. Citing the example of EDO Iftikhar Qaim Khani who has been removed from his post for committing negligence in his duty, he said that more officers will be removed from their post in next few days.

Transparency International CPI 2009, reveals Corruption in Pakistan increased

The 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index looks at perceptions of public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories, - and is a composite index that draws on 13 expert opinion surveys. It scores countries on a scale from zero to ten, with zero indicating high levels of perceived corruption and ten indicating low levels of perceived corruption. The vast majority of the 180 countries included in the 2009 index score below five on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 10 (perceived to have low levels of corruption). The CPI measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in a given country and is a composite index, drawing on 13 different expert and business surveys. The 2009 edition scores 180 countries, the same number as the 2008 CPI.

In the DOHA UNCAC Conference held on 9-13 November 2009, the United Nations has put a price tag on political corruption -- estimating that up to $1.6 trillion in public assets move across borders each year through networks such as money laundering or into secret holdings.

“Stemming corruption requires strong oversight by parliaments, a well performing judiciary, independent and properly resourced audit and anti-corruption agencies, vigorous law enforcement, transparency in public budgets, revenue and aid flows, as well as space for independent media and a vibrant civil society,” said Labelle. “The international community must find efficient ways to help war-torn countries to develop and sustain their own institutions.” Highest scorers in the 2009 CPI are New Zealand at 9.4, Denmark at 9.3, Singapore and Sweden tied at 9.2 and Switzerland at 9.0. These scores reflect political stability, long-established conflict of interest regulations and solid, functioning public institutions. Pakistan 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index Score is 2.4, and out of 180 countries, its ranking as most corrupt country has slipped 5 ranks, from 47 in 2008 to 42 most corrupt country in 2009.The CPI 2009 reveals the effects of corruption in the subcontinent, which is more alarming in Pakistan, as Bangladesh which was the most corrupt country in 2001, 2002 and 2003, has improved its ranking from 38th most corrupt country in 2008, to 42nd most corrupt country in 2009.

Syed Adil Gilani, Chairman TI Pakistan said TI Pakistan is of the view that Terrorism is the direct result of poverty, resulted only and only due to corruption ( defined as “ Misuse of authority fro private gain”), mainly illegal direct/indirect Armed Forces Rules in Pakistan since 1951 to 2007, fully endorsed by corrupt Judiciary. He further said the positive impacts will be visible next year of the few steps of good governance taken during last one year of the restoration of Judiciary by the Prime Minister by an executive order on 16th March 2009 ( after lawyers movement supported by opposition parties, civil society and above all Media), declaration of Judiciary by the Chief Justice to be Zero Tolerance for Corruption and withdrawal of draft NRO Bill from National Assembly ( on strong protest of opposition of parties and civil society). Transparency International Pakistan also congratulates Pakistan Army, which has proved to the world that Pakistan Armed Forces are the best. The elimination of terrorists in Swat in two months by Pak Army is what USA and NATO forces failed to achieve in 8 years in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has made Pakistan a proud nation. Army Chief has also taken up seriously violation of Public Procurement Rules by DHA and Armed purchases, and advised to follow the rules, which is a healthy sign and warning for those who are violators of rules. He said but the government is governing Pakistan without governance and Pakistan has lost credibility all over the World, due to which the country is facing serious economic threats,, poverty, inflation, food & electricity shortages and increase in unemployment, which are direct results of the massive on going corruption. He said that the government must make serious efforts to apply rules and regulation across the board, to achieve the goal of reducing corruption. In the last ten years, the economic growth of Bangladesh, and deterioration in Pakistan economy can also be judged from the currency parity rates of Pakistan, Bangladesh vs Dollar in 1999: 2009 , Taka/Pak Re was 49.65:51.84 and in 2009 it is Taka/Pak Re 70.39:83.46. He said Pakistan need immediate enforcement of good governance and Transparent administration, to counter the acute problems, of billion of rupees corruption scams reported in Pakistan Steel, TDAP, EOBI, PIA, Rental Power Plants, KESC, NIC, NHA, OGDC, PSO, PEPCO, CDA, DP Division, DHAs, Pakistan Steel TCP, NBP, PC, and many other organizations.
Bribery, cartels and other corrupt practices undermine competition and contribute to massive loss of resources for development in all countries, especially the poorest ones. Between 1990 and 2005, more than 283 private international cartels were exposed that cost consumers around the world an estimated US $300 billion in overcharges, as documented in a recent TI report..
In the 2009 CPI, major sources provided data based on expert analysis were African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Bertelsmann Foundation, Economist Intelligence Unit, Freedom House, Global Insight and the World Bank.

Syed Adil Gilani said Political will of the government to fight Corruption is urgently required and must also be seen by public and donor countries, like, formation of Independent Accountability Commission as required by United Nation Convention against Corruption under HOPO Act 2009, to report only to the Parliament or Judiciary and not to the Ministry of Law ( to avoid Conflict of interest and unbiased accountability), and to include all Public Office Holder belonging to Civil Services, Armed Forces Service, Judicial Services and Elected Representatives. All land scams of Punjab, CDA NWFP, Sindh ( specially like gutter baghicha, unauthorised allotments by Nazims, fraudulent change in land records by revenue officers ) , reported in last one year in Media shall be investigated by a Judicial Tribunal, and all Land records shall be computerized within one year. He said Pakistan also requires immediate action through a surgical operation on review and cancel the appointments and promotions not made on merit, and extension of services or reappointment after retirement, remove from the key public offices those who are facing corruption charges, and implementing the effective non-discriminatory accountability mechanism for those civil/defence departments not complying with the procedures including privatization, transparent implementation of rules by regulatory authorities, SECP, CCP, PPRA, EPA, SBP, OGRA, PEMRA, PTA, PFRA etc in order to restore donors agencies, IFIs and investor's confidence.

Anti-mafia social activist gunned down

Convener of Gutter Baghicha Bachao Tehreek and Chairman Karachi NGOs Alliance Nisar Baloch was killed and two passers-by were wounded when gunmen targeted him at Love Lines Bridge within the precincts of Soldier Bazaar Police Station on Saturday.
According to police, 40-year-old Nisar was killed while he was on his way from Old Golimar to Saddar.
As the assailants sprayed bullets on the victim, he tried to escape but fell off his motorbike at Garden Road after receiving multiple wounds. Nisar was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital but he succumbed to injuries before receiving medical treatment.
The two passers-by, Yousuf (40) and Tariq (31), also sustained bullet injuries and were shifted to the hospital where their condition is stated to be out of danger.
Nisar Baloch, a social activist, was leading a campaign against the land mafia in Old Golimar area. He was a furious opponent of illegal encroachments at Gutter Baghicha.
It is important to recall that Nisar had addressed a news conference at Karachi Press Club against the land grabbers the other day and accused an ethnic political party of backing the illegal encroachers
Nisar’s brother Noor-uddin has said that Nisar’s news conference was the FIR against the killers during which he had mentioned their names.
An FIR (No 331/09) under section 302 and 324 has been registered against the unidentified suspects.
Meanwhile, major parts of Old Golimar and Pak Colony were shutdown in protest against the murder of Nisar Baloch. Soon after the killing, a large number of people took out a rally and staged a sit-in against the brutal act. All the business activities remained suspended while the roads leading towards Bada Board from Old Golimar were also blocked. (The Nation)

Who was Nisar Baloch ?

Nisar Baloch was associated with several NGOs as a known social worker, and was a schoolteacher by profession.

He started his social career in 1976 by establishing a street school, “Aap Ka Madressah,” where he provided free education to children and adults of the area.

In 1986, he established the Baloch Promotive Computer and English Language Center in his area (Old Golimar). So far, thousands of residents of the area have received IT degrees from the centre.

Apart from education activities, Baloch played a vital role in serving the old settlers of Karachi. Currently, Nisar Baloch was campaigning against the land mafia for grabbing the Tran-Lyari Park (Gutter Baghicha) land in SITE Town. He had launched several protest campaigns in this regard under the banner of the Gutter Baghicha Bachao Tehreek, Shehri-Citizens for a Better Environment and the Karachi NGOs Alliance.

In his struggle to protect land from encroachers, Baloch had faced jail terms on several occasions; numerous cases were registered against him at various police stations, mainly accusing him of inciting violence and damaging public property.

He was married but had no children. His wife is also a schoolteacher by profession. She works at a school in Gwadar, Balochistan. The couple had adopted a child.

Baloch was a resident of Noor Muhammad Village, Hall Road. His funeral will take place after Zuhr prayers on Sunday; his family has planned to bury him at the Mewa Shah graveyard.—WB

Health Minister warns KESC to deliver ‘before it is too late’

Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed Wednesday said that KESC should immediately improve its power generation capacity to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the citizens.
In a meeting with Chief Operating Officer KESC Jan Abbas Zaidi and other members of management, a delegation of MQM comprising of Dr Sagheer Ahmed, IT Minister Raza Haroon and MPA Khalid Iftikhar urged KESC to improve its performance to facilitate Karachiites.
Dr Sagheer said that it is a general perception among citizens that KESC management was not making efforts to ensure uninterrupted power supply and that it had failed to fulfill its commitment towards power generation, replacement of outdated system and installation of new grid station.
Dr Sagheer, who also head the Governor and Chief Minister’s committee on KESC, further said that due to power outages, the routine of majority of citizens have been disturbed badly. “People are becoming patients of hypertension and other related diseases,” he added.
He mentioned that over and excessive billing is also an issue affecting the people and said that the amount of bill is ever increasing despite low consumption, which is very irritating.
“KESC should deliver before it is too late. Opinion against the company is gathering pace and can amount to a mass protest or rally against KESC,” he warned.
The minister urged federal government to take notice of worsening situation of power supply and that it should realize the consequences of long hours of power outages in country’s economic hub.—APP