CID arrested 3 wanted men

The Sindh Police Crime Investigation Department (CID) here on Friday claimed to have arrested three suspects, wanted in murder, attempt-to-murder, kidnapping-for-ransom, robberies and other heinous crimes.
According to details, the culprits were identified as Mohammad Rafique alias Chacha, the son of Yasin, Sharif alias Kobra, the son of Hussain and Aftab Siddiqui, the son of Shamsuddin.
According to the CID officials, on a tip-off, the arrests were made after separate encounters took place in Bhittai Colony and Liaquatabad area. The Police also recovered three TT pistols and one motorcycle from their possession.
According to the preliminary investigation, culprits - Aftab and Sharif told the investigators that they along with their other accomplices namely Obaid, Shahjahan, Emran Kala, on a suspicion of being the police informant, kidnapped a person namely Taimur in 2008 from Mochko area and later shot him dead in Sector 9-E.
In the same year, they gunned down a man namely Murid Hussain in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area as he offered resistance during a robbery bid.
The officials further said that the culprits also confessed having involved in over 40 cases of robbery in various parts of the City including Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Abul Hassan Isphani Road, Liaquatabad, Korangi, FB Area and North Karachi.
Cases have been registered against them while further investigation is underway, the officials added. (Nation)

Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases to start OPD service on 24/7 basis

On the directive of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal Health Department of City District Government Karachi has decided to open the OPD at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases on 24 hour basis and without any gap. The department has also decided to implement the directives of City Nazim regarding availability of specialist doctors at each department of ASH and KIHD and stationing a fleet of CDGK ambulance service 1122 at Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases.
Earlier City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal had directed EDO Health Services Dr. Shahab Imam to take immediate measures for provision of better and on time health care services to citizens. He said that the opening of 24 hour OPD at ASH and KIHD would ensure availability of better medical facilities to people while the presence of specialist doctors and ambulance service 1122 would also facilitate the patients in critical moments.

Nazim Karachi said that city government has spent billions of rupees on the provision of better health care services to citizens and therefore they should avail the benefits of measures taken by city government for their convenience.

Is KESC implying all Karachiites are thieves?

By Irfan Aligi

As part of its efforts to curb power theft, the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has come up with a unique way of reminding consumers that stealing electricity results in negative consequences, however, the power utility has ignored the fact that in the process it is humiliating the bill-paying and law abiding consumers.

The KESC has printed a shameful slogan on electricity bills, which goes as: “Hum bijli churatay hain tub hi hamaray bachay iskoolon main garmi say behaal hotay hain” (Since we [KESC’s consumers] steal electricity, our children have to suffer the heat in schools.)For those who pay their bills on time and still endure long hours of load shedding, this is like rubbing salt into the wounds.

Those consumers who are being sent a bill obviously have legal connection, and even if they are stealing power through the kunda (hook) system, then it is the KESC’s inefficiency of not being able to take stern action against power thieves that is to blame.

Humiliating the law-abiding citizens through implying that they are power thieves is a strategy that makes little sense.Instead of hurting the self-esteem of legal consumers, the KESC should take measures to improve flaws in its distribution system and reduce line losses.

Talking to DT, many citizens said they felt offended by the humiliating slogans printed on the KESC bills.They said if the government was unable to address the citizens’ woes, which have been worsened due to the tariff increase; it should at least ask the KESC to remove such language from bills.

FIA arrested ex-chairman of Pakistan Steel Moin Aftab

FIA Crime Circle has rounded up the former chairman Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) Moin Aftab Sheikh from the home of his daughter on four charges of corruption – worth of billions of rupees, here in Defence Housing Authority late on Tuesday night.

According to FIA team, he was hiding in his daughter home in Karachi for fear of detention when the crackdown was launched in view of his arrest warrants issued in four corruption cases being under trial in courts and he sought bail before arrest. He was an absconder from Rawalpindi, sources said.

Asif Zaradari reviews Karachi situation, meets PPP workers from Lyari

There is need to work together to maintain peace in Karachi, President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari said while presiding the meeting of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leaders and Mutahida Qaumi movement (MQM) leaders on the situation of the city in Bilawal House on Tuesday.

All the political parties must play its role in maintaining peace in the city. The political parties must not blame each other but help the government to indicate to the criminal elements, President Zardari added.

The democracy should not be blamed in any way. All the problems must be solved with the negotiations, President Zardari added.

The policy of reconciliation is the need of time for all the political parties in the country. All the policies would be made with the consultation of all the political representatives.

President Asif Ali Zardari presided the meeting of the PPP leaders in Bilawal House.

The meeting was joined by Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Qadir Patel, Rafiq Enginner, Qasim Baloch, Najmi Alam and Saeed Ghani.

The leaders of the PPP demanded the President Zardari to order to stop the operation in Lyari. The PPP leaders handed over the list of 14 martyred workers of PPP to President and demanded the families of the victims should be compensated. The PPP leaders also requested President Zardari to establish the party fund to help the families of the victims.

Raza Haroon, MQM leader said that we are grateful to President Zardari that he invited us for the meeting in Bilawal House on the situation of the city.

We have conveyed our reservation to President Zardari and he listened our view point and agreed with us on many points. President Zardari assured us that the action would be taken against the criminal elements in the city. We agreed that the leaders of both parties would settle all the matters collectively, he added.

We have agreed to take action against the criminals.This is not the conflict between the PPP and MQM. We only want that the action must be taken against the criminals, land grabbers and drugs sellers, he added.

This operation would not be against any community or any particular area. This operation would be against all the criminal elements, he added.

Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, Education Minister Sindh and PPP leader said that the peace committee would be formed which would include PPP and MQM leaders. The both parties have decided that they would follow the root of dialogue to solve all its matters. The both parties would follow the policy of reconciliation. Both parties would collectively work to maintain peace in the city, he added

The both parties would have reached near conciliation on the issue of local government. There would be meeting on the issue of local government on Wednesday, he added.

Meanwhile, target killing continues in the city despite announcement of the government to take stern action against those involved. Two more people were killed in Lines Area.

Body found from Jet Line was identified as Abdul Shakoor. He was shot dead. Another person was killed in Brigade police station limits whereas two people were injured in firing by unidentified people in Lyari. (SAMAA)

MUSTAFA KAMAL APOLOGIES FOR COMMENTS IN LIVE BEEPER

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has apologized to his supporters especially all those who may have felt offended by his comments during a recent interview (live beeper) on a private TV Channel.

In a statement Nazim Karachi said that at the time of receiving the query he was busy in the rehabilitation of affected traders and the concerned anchor had asked such a question on that any human would have got sentimental. However, the post which I hold demands me that I should have more patience and endurance. Therefore I apologize to all my Pakistani brethren and sisters who could have felt offended by my words.

Meanwhile, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has praised the efforts of federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik for bringing improvement in the present condition and maintaining peace in Karachi. He also expressed hope that his efforts would bring about improvement in the law and order condition in Karachi.

CITY GOVT. COMPLETES 40 PERCENT RESTORATION WORK ON DAMAGED BUILDINGS

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that the repair and restoration of arson hit 9 markets of Boulton Market has been 40 percent completed and the commercial activities in these markets would resume within a week. ABAD (Association of Builders & Developers) has also initiated construction of a damaged building comprising 400 shops and ware houses with its own resources. All efforts are being taken to rehabilitate the affected traders in their own shops as soon as possible.

He expressed these views during a visit to Boulton Market and other arson hit markets of the area. He also met with the affected traders and contractors of city government and water board. The traders appreciated the efforts of Nazim Karachi for their early rehabilitation. They said that these extraordinary efforts have assured them of their soon rehabilitation.

Nazim Karachi on this occasion said that without waiting for the government aid, being the City Nazim I have started repair and restoration of damaged and gutted buildings and shops of M.A Jinnah Road and already 40 percent of work has been done while rest of work will also be completed soon. He said that the citizens of Karachi were working on the rehabilitation of arson affected business community on self help basis. I salute all those who have contributed in the relief fund or taking part in the restoration activities.

City Nazim said that at this stage it was not possible to assess the exact loss suffered by the main commercial center of Karachi. However, the affectees had desired to get back their shops in original state and the buildings were made business able. On their request we did not wait for even a day and just started repair work on all those buildings that had been handed over to us by the KBCA. Already 40 percent of this work has been completed. The reconstruction of dangerous and razed buildings has also been started.

Nazim Karachi also appreciated the national spirit of city government contractors who had taken up the repair and restoration of 9 affected buildings. He said that they have responded well to the appeal to do something for their city and country. He said that city government has been doing all this despite of facing acute monetary crisis.

PICG, PBC Conference on the ‘Role of the Non-executive Chairman’

A half day conference on the ‘Role of the Non-executive Chairman’ was held by Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance (PICG) in collaboration with Pakistan Business Council (PBC) recently at Karachi Sheraton hotel.

With a brief introduction by Mr. Fuad A. Hashimi (President & CEO, PICG) and Mr. Kamran Y. Mirza (Chief Executive, PBC), the conference was focused on the role of a non-executive chairman, a key issue in the realm of Corporate Governance practice. Mr. Salim Abbas Jilani (Chairman SSGC) chaired the conference and was also one of the moderators. Mr. Munnawar Hamid OBE (Chairman BOC & Silk Bank) was the other moderator.

Mr. Ken Rushton, senior advisor at Nestor Advisors and a member of the Private Sector Advisory Group of the Global Corporate Governance Forum, delivered the key note address on ‘International Best Practices’. It was followed by presentation on ‘Experience with Pakistani State-Owned Enterprises’ by Mr. Zaffar A. Khan (non-executive independent director on the boards of companies like State Bank of Pakistan, Unilever, and Shell Pakistan etc.). The last presentation was on ‘Perspectives from Family-Owned Businesses in Pakistan’ by Mr. Razzak Dawood (Chairman, Descon Engineering & PBC and Rector of LUMS).

A highly interactive discussion forum followed the presentations raising issues on how to further enhance the role of non-executive chairman in the companies. In a nutshell, the objective of the conference was to highlight the current scenario and proposing a set-up where organizations in any segment, specifically those relating to public sector enterprises, must run in a neutral manner under the framework of good governance.

No connection of MQM activists and Urdu speaking people with the Lyari gang wars: Muttahida calls on security agencies to act on Karachi situation

Muttahida Qaumi Movement today said that there was no connection of MQM activists and Urdu speaking people with the Lyari gang war and ongoing incidents of violence in Karachi.

In a statement issued here, the MQM’s Rabita Committee said that a bloody fighting took place between Lyari gangs on Jan 7, resulting in the killing of several people. However, he said that criminal people of Lyari gang wars first kidnapped MQM workers and Urdu speaking people, and then later martyred them on Jan 8.

“The killing of the innocent MQM’s workers has become a routine matter now, it said.

The committee said that despite the fact that MQM has been informing the federal and provincial governments about the gruesome incidents, no positive outcome has surfaced so far.

The coordination committee further said that no action was taken against any murderer.

Therefore, the MQM appeals to the responsible and honest officers of rangers, police and secret agencies that they should come forward to protect the life and property of innocent people.

According to the MQM, it is the legal and constitutional obligation of law enforcement agencies to protect innocent people from getting killed.

Anne W Patterson calls on Governor

US ambassador Anne W Patterson on Wednesday called on Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan at Governor House Karachi and discussed the issues of mutual interest with him. She expressed great sorrow over the Karachi bomb blast incident and arsons of markets, saying that American Business Council has announced the aid of Rs1billion for the rehabilitation of the affected people.
Governor praised the feelings of US envoy for the affected persons of the incident.