Darakshan police station gets ‘adopted’

By Faraz Khan

KARACHI: The Zindagi Trust has ‘adopted’ the Darakshan police station located in Clifton Town.

Now the trust, in collaboration with some schools that are located near the police station, is responsible for running the police station and also for catering to the problems faced by the police personnel. There are 125 police personnel deputed at the station, out of which, 110 belong to the operational division, while the remaining are a part of the investigation division. The operational division has 55 Police Constables (PC), 13 Head Constables (HC), six Sub Inspectors (SI) and 18 Assistant Sub Inspectors who are working under the supervision of Station Head Officer (SHO) Raja Tariq.

The police station is located in a posh area of the city and has many important places within its jurisdiction including the Seaview area, Country Club, the Florida Homes apartment complex, 30 banks, various commercial areas including Badar Commercial, Saba Commercial, Bukhari Commercial and Shahbaz Commercial. There are various projects under construction within its jurisdiction, including a power plant and a water filtering plant.

It is pertinent to mention here that seven policemen of the Darakshan police station have lost their lives while performing their duties. However, the fact that the trust has adopted the police station has increased the responsibilities of the police personnel. Sindh Inspector General of Police Salahuddin Babar Khattak and Karachi Police chief Wasim Ahmed said that the station was adopted two weeks ago and its renovation is almost complete. It would be inaugurated by South Zone DIG A D Khawaja on Saturday, April 11.

“Such measures will boost the confidence of the police and, therefore, help in tackling crime more efficiently,” SHO Raja Tariq told Daily Times, adding that separate budgets have been allocated for everything by the Zindagi Trust. The Darakshan police station has also been provided with two generators. A canteen is also being set up within the premises of the police station, which will provide food of the highest quality, while the detainees in the police lockups will be provided food free of cost.

“Now we can get good quality food and a bottle of water for just Rs 15,” said the officer, adding that a 24-hour clinic is also being set up there.

Specialists for diseases such as cancer, hepatitis, eye and skin infections will be available in the clinic. Police uniforms will also be provided to them and a laundry is also being established there, which will wash uniforms free of cost.

For now, three police mobile units have also been deployed at the station with the promise of more to come. In exchange, the trust has requested the police high-ups to beef up police patrol in the area.

A programme offering loans for police personnel may also be introduced, while efforts are being made to provide free of cost education to the children of police personnel, along with a health policy. (DT Report)

IBA launches Open House 2009

KARACHI: The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi launches its Open House 2009 Program, at the City Campus on April 05, 2009, emphasizing its academics and facilities. The event which will be held in nine cities of the country including Karachi, Sukkur, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Hyderabad, Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan will feature the various facets of academic life at IBA.

The program aims to counsel aspiring students in choosing the appropriate success route for IBA. Furthermore, comprehensive details about the diverse range of academic programs and facilitation at IBA will be presented at the event. -PR

KUJ protest demo in favour of sacked journalists

KARACHI: Karachi Union of Journalists, KUJ yesterday held a protest demonstration against the downsizing and sacking of journalists from some electronic channels and news papers in front of KPC. Protestors were chanting slogans and raised ply cards against the administration of some prestigious news papers and TV channels while they demanded the administration of those said news papers and TV channels to restore these sacked journalists on their positions.

Garbage lifting project finally resolved

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan has finally resolved the pending delay of the garbage lifting project by the Chinese firm with a condition that schedule of garbage lifting would be presented to city Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal on Friday to make sure that the firm was fulfilling all its commitments.
Sources in thee Governor House said it was decided that on the satisfaction of the CDGK $ 200 million will be provided to the firm, out of the loan being provided to government of Pakistan by the Chinese government...
The CDGK once expressed its satisfaction over the schedule it will inform to the Federal government than only the amount would be released. The high level meeting was held at Governor House on Thursday and was attended state minister for Investment Saleem H Mandviwalla, city Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal and a member of Chinese firm.
The firm will present in its schedule for establishing eight garbage lifting stations and other land fill sites in its schedule to be presented on Friday.
It may be noted that according to city Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal due to previous law and order situation of Karachi , the Chinese firm had shown its reluctance to start the work and some controversy was also erupted over the fee collection by the Chinese firm. It may be noted that ethnic violence is also feared in Karachi for which MQM and ANP are making efforts for the restoration of peace.
It may be recalled that CDGK and Chinese company had sign accord for solid waste management in 2007 City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and Shanghai Shun Gong Environmental Protection Limited had signed an agreement to lift garbage and carry it to landfill site at 20 dollars a ton for the next 20 years and Letter of Intent (LoI) thereof issued to the company
The agreement was signed by Qian Yu Lin, Managing Director of the company and EDO Municipal Services CDGK at a ceremony held at a local hotel. Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal, Chinese Consul General at Karachi Chen Shan Min and Naib Nazim Nasrin Jalil, besides DCO Javed Hanif, Town Nazims of Karachi, Chairman of City Council and others were also present on the occasion.
Mustafa Kamal pointed out that present was the era of technology and the technology which was being used for solid waste management in the world’s mega cities has been introduced here today because generation of 10,000 tons of garbage daily could not be cleared without technological use. (Daily National Courier)

The rise of the Taliban, the fall of Karachi

By Kamal Siddiqi
The writer is editor reporting, The News

Earlier this week, a family friend got off from her car and walked to a chemist’s shop in a busy shopping area of Karachi. She was wearing a normal shalwar- kameez suit that most Karachi women wear in public areas. Nothing out of the ordinary. As she walked to the shop, a man approached her and showed her a pistol.

But instead of robbing her, he gave her a chilling message: “Next time you come in public, cover yourself from head to toe.” This happened in full public view on a busy Karachi street. But no one seemed to notice and the man did not in any way seem in any hurry or worry.

The reference of this incident happening to a family friend has only been done to make people understand that this is not an urban myth but a reality. It is happening in Karachi, the country’s largest and possibly most open city. There are more worrisome incidents than one can recall.

Many businessmen have received calls on their cell phones in which the caller does not identify himself but does confirm the name of the person he has called. After a couple of days comes another call. And then another. The businessman is told to contribute a certain amount to the Tehreek-e-Taliban.

One businessman shrugged this off as a hoax. But soon enough there were men who called at his house and made the same demand, only this time they also mentioned that they not only knew where he lived, but where he worked, which schools his children went to, and other details.

The man ended up paying. No one knows who these people are. Some say they are criminals who are using the name of the Taliban. Who knows?

A family in Clifton last month received a notice which was addressed to the father. In it, he was told to ensure that his daughters — who were described in the letter in very negative terms — should be told to stay home since they were seen to be of loose character. The letter warned the father to take action, otherwise the mosque will have to “do something.” The crime of these girls apparently was that they were seen too frequently moving around and that too in Western clothes.

The writers of this threatening letter even disclosed their identity. The claimed to be from a prominent mosque, situated in the market area of Clifton. The shaken family did as they were told. Many families have received such letters and in most instances they have complied. No action or questions have been asked of the people at this mosque. The police shrugs this off as nothing important.

Last year, this mosque was identified by the MQM when it made an outcry on the rise in Talibanisation in Karachi. But the People’s Party government has been denying the rise of extremist forces in Karachi for the year since it has been in power. Some say that the motives of the MQM are suspect. Their agenda is more political. But then again, who is right and who is wrong?

Stories continue to surface of the growing influence of such elements. Women who travel without their heads covered in public transport have been spat upon. In some instances by other women.

The media has helped confuse the people even more. Programmes aired by our leading channels on religious issues sometimes misguide instead of guide. They play on the sentiments of people only to get better ratings. After all, one of the most prominent religious show hosts ended up becoming a minister.

The tragedy, if one may call it that, is that there is a growing number of people in Karachi who welcome the arrival of the purveyors of quick and cheap justice. And are willing to defend, fund and shelter them. They sympathise with the soldiers of their brand of Islam because the government has let them down. And they are frustrated over the growing incidents of crime and lawlessness and have no hope in the government addressing these issues. Both the military junta and the elected peoples representatives are seen more interested in protecting and enriching themselves than providing good governance to the people. This is the public perception.

Two video clips that have been circulating on the Internet only add to people’s fear and plays on their insecurity. One clip, which is perhaps one of the most watched and forwarded clips in Pakistan this week, shows how a man is mugged while he is taking money out of an ATM in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi.

The clip, which was taken off a security camera of the bank, clearly shows the face of the man, the two men who rob him and the look of frustration and helplessness on the victim’s face once the deed is done. While there is no violence, except where the robber shows the poor man a gun and then hides it, it leaves one disturbed and it is chilling for anyone who has any care for Pakistan. Is this what we have been reduced to, and where do we go from here?

The other clip, which has not been seen by as many people, is violent and much more chilling. This clip was made from a mobile phone by the accomplice of a man who is currently in police custody. This is now known as the “Hajiano case” or the “White Corolla case.” This man robbed people and raped women at will for a year. This clip relates to one incident where a woman is being assaulted.

The clip numbs the brain and makes one bay for blood. After seeing this video, people have said that an exemplary punishment should be given to the perpetrator. One hopes this is done, but there are many who have expressed fears that the case will soon be forgotten. The women’s rights organisations which had earlier come out on the streets now seem to have been lulled into silence. Let us hope for justice. There are some who say that this matter would have been settled had the Taliban been in charge.

These are worrisome sentiments. In his speech this week, President Obama has committed more money to Pakistan to crush Al-Qaeda. He said in his speech that the Al-Qaeda and its extremist allies (like the Taliban) are a cancer that risks killing Pakistan from within. The problem is that many Pakistanis do not see it like that anymore.

To defeat extremist elements, the US and Pakistan have to do more than pump in more military and economic assistance which never reaches the common man. There is a larger battle, for the hearts and minds of the people of Pakistan, which needs to be fought. This is not being done.

We do not want any more VOA-TV type propaganda that, in its condescending way creates more enemies then friends. We want a proper dialogue with the US and the West over what its goals are and whether these are our goals as well. Whether we like it or not, the battle for a safer America cannot be won if the people of Pakistan are not convinced. This is the stark reality, no matter how many drone attacks are carried out on the one hand and assistance is given to our government on the other.

It was true of the Musharraf government and is becoming increasingly true of the Zardari government too. The people of Pakistan are not seen as stakeholders in the battle against militants and extremism. It is too often said that while the West talks to our leaders, Al Qaeda and the Taliban talk to the people. Sadly, this is an issue President Obama has not addressed.

Email: kamal.siddiqi@thenews.com.pk

Rs 250m required to run facility: Abbasi Shaheed Hospital in dire need of funds

By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: The City District Government Karachi’s (CDGK) largest public health facility, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH), is in dire need of funds.

The ASH is currently facing the worst financial crunch ever and needs at least Rs 250 million; if the funds are not acquired urgently, everything at the ASH will come to a halt, sources in the CDGK Health Group of Offices told Daily Times.

A well-placed officer of the EDO Health Group of Offices told Daily Times that the ASH has an urgent need of Rs 250 million. The gravity of the matter can be gauged from the fact that the EDO Health Group of Offices has not purchased any medicine this year and it is purely through the city nazim’s efforts that the ASH is still functional.

City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has spent Rs 600 million from CDGK’s resources for the upgradation of ASH and has been keeping a keen eye on ASH’s affairs, even opting to stay at the ASH twice a week, said the officer. Replying to a question, the officer said that the city nazim has now learnt of all conspiracies that were being hatched to sabotage his efforts and, presently, is battling to keep the major public health facility under CDGK’s control. He has also increased ASH’s annual budget from Rs 40 million to Rs 110 million.

Health Group of Offices EDO Dr A D Sanjnani has taken over the procurement of medicines and other technical equipment for the hospital. Actually, the EDO, as per the law, has the power to procure medicines and technical equipment using 75 percent of the entire budget, while the medical superintendents are legally authorised to use the remaining 25 percent. However, this is not happening and Sanjnani is managing all procurements, claimed the officer.

CDGK Finance Group of Offices Executive Director Munawwar Imam told Daily Times that all the liabilities for the year 2007-08 were cleared from the budgetary allocations of the year 2008-09. This problem emerged due to the late opening of tenders for the procurement of medicines and other technical equipment by the EDO Health Group of Offices. The tenders for the procurement of medicines and other technical equipment for the fiscal years 2007-08 were invited in May 2007, which was very late. The approval of tenders took a couple of months and then orders were placed. This resulted in a delay and the new fiscal year had already started. Therefore, liabilities for the year 2007-08 were cleared from the budget 2008-09, commented Imam.

A week ago, Mustafa Kamal had asked the CDGK Finance Group of Offices to arrange for Rs 150 million, so that the previous year’s liabilities could be cleared. The funds have been arranged and liabilities up to Rs 110.25 million have been cleared till date. The remaining liabilities would also be cleared in a few weeks time, said Imam.

Last years situation will be repeated, as the tenders for the year 2008-09 have still not been invited, he added.

Talking to Daily Times, Dr Sanjnani sounded agitated as he said that the finance minister could not deliver the required funds to the CDGK on a phone call. Replying to a question, he said that there are thousands of patients admitted at the ASH and they all get free medicines. The fund generation for providing the medicines free of cost is our headache, he added.

This scribe observed that the patients reporting at the ASH were not given medicines owing to the lack of funds. The patients admitted in various medical and surgical departments are spending money out of their own pockets for medicines, as the ASH is presently providing them with beds and attending doctors.

The ASH A&E Department, Nephrology Department and Dialysis Unit, Medical ICU, Surgical ICU, Gynaecology Department and Paediatric Department are the worst hit by the financial crisis. There are around 2,000 personnel working in the ASH, including doctors, paramedics, technical and non-technical staffers, while the A&E OPD receives around 1,000 patients daily and the general OPD sees around 5,000 patients daily. (DT)

Senior Journalist Sabihuddin Ghausi Passes Away

KARACHI: Senior journalist and former President Karachi Press Club Muhammad Sabihuddin Ghausi passed away here on Thursday morning after short illness.

The deceased was born on December 8, 1943 and left behind a widow among others to mourn his death.

Late Ghausi had served various newspaper organizations including the Pakistan Press International (PPI), Morning News, The Sun and Business Recorder. He remained associated with the Daily Dawn for almost past two decades.

He was considered as one of the finest commerce reporters in the country.

Late Ghausi had served as the president of the KPC four times and had once remained its secretary besides holding other posts.

He was also elected as the president and general secretary of the Karachi Union of Journalists (Barna group).

Late Ghausi always remained in the forefront for the struggle for the freedom of the press.

His `Namaz-i-Janaza’ was offered at Masjid-i-Ghafooria in Garden East here after the `Zuhr’ prayers.

The president and secretary of the KPC, Imtiaz Ahmed Khan Faran and A.H. Khanzada have expressed deep sorrow and grief at his death.

They recalled the deceased’s immense services for the cause of journalism in the country as well as the journalist community and that these would be long remembered.

They also prayed Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and fortitude to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.

Chancellor Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Z.A. Nizami has expressed his profound grief over the sad demise of Sabihuddin Ghausi.

Chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industries (KATI) Mian Zahid Hussain and S M Munir have also condoled the sad demise of Ghausi.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed deep sense of grief over the sad demise of senior journalist of daily DAWN and former President of Karachi Union of Journalist and Karachi Press Club Sabiuddin Ghausi.

PFUJ in a statement said Ghausi was not only an outstanding journalist but a committed trade unionist who dedicated his life for journalism and for the welfare of his community. Ghausi went to prison during the journalist movement against General Zia ul Haq in 1978.
“With his death PFUJ lost one of the committed trade union leader and thorough professional,” it said.

PFUJ expressed its profound grief with the family and friends of Sabiuddin Ghausi.

Former Federal Information Minister Ms Sherry Rehman, Sindh Information Minister Shazia Mari, Central Information Secretary of PPP Fauzia Wahab have also sent their condolence messages to PFUJ on the death of Mr Ghausi.

Teenage boy murders father

KARACHI: The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) arrested a teenage boy and his two companions accused of killing his own father, who was a police inspector.

Waqas, 17, was arrested from his hometown Vihari while with his cousin, Sarfaraz, and childhood friend, Arshad, were arrested Karachi for assisting Waqas in murdering his father. The culprit confessed to committing the crime, stating that his father neglected him and his mother and remarried again in 2007. A TT pistol that Waqas used to kill his father was also recovered from his possession.

The bullet-riddled body of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Ghulam Yasin was found from his house within the jurisdiction of Artillery Maidan police station on January 27. At first, the investigation division of the police station concerned investigated the case but was unable to probe the case upon which, it was transferred to SIU. The deceased had three children including the accused Waqas from his first wife who died a natural death in 2002 and a minor baby from his second wife.

In the initial investigation, the police suspected the deceased’s second wife and a hairdresser, who resided with the deceased at his house, of committing the murder. SIU Chief SSP Raja Omer Khattab told Daily Times that the deceased owned property worth more than 110 million rupees in his hometown. The police suspected the deceased’s second wife for committing the crime as it was revealed that the deceased was in an argument with his second wife regarding the matter that he should transfer the property to her name. While they also suspected the hairdresser as he was missing for a week before the incident took place, however, after questioning them and investigating the matter, the police found the two to be innocent.

Interestingly, the hairdresser was forced to confess that he had committed the crime, though he could not produce a murder weapon. SSP Khattab further said that the accused, Waqas, tried to make the incident look like a robbery while giving the impression that his stepmother was involved in the crime. The hairdresser went missing because he had borrowed cash from various people and could not repay the amount to them, SSP Khattab explained. The accused Waqas and his siblings lived with their grandparents. “I took advantage of the dispute going on between my father and Sarfaraz’s family and convinced him to assist me,” Waqas confessed. “I also wanted to get marriage to Sarfaraz’s sister.” “My father always considered me a step-son and never looked after my mother. Therefore, I decided to take revenge,” said Waqas. “We went there, had dinner and then I shot my father when he went to sleep.” (Daily Times Report)

Federal govt suspends NICVD director, staff goes on strike: Patients suffer due to 2-hr closure

By Amar Guriro

KARACHI: The staff of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) observed a strike on Friday, making the hospital a no-go area for cardiac patients, in protest against the removal of the NICVD director by the federal government on Thursday.

The strike forced hundreds of attendants of cardiac patients, not only locals of the city but also people hailing from various parts of Sindh and Balochistan, to wait for several hours outside the biggest cardiac hospital of the city. The federal government had issued the notification for the removal of NICVD Director Dr Shahzaman Khan on Thursday, appointing the senior-most doctor of the hospital, Dr Asadullah Kundi, as the new director.

Rejecting the notification, Dr Khan refused to handover charge to the newly appointed director. Sources said that the hospital employees that favoured Khan decided to protest against his removal and issued a strike call. For more than two hours, the hospital remained closed and the protesting staff did not allow any one to enter the premises, including patients who had come to get admitted. “Yes, I have still not handed over the charge, as most of the professors and hospital staff want to see me as director, but I did not manage the protest, it is a false allegation against me,” said former NICVD Director Dr Shahzaman Khan.

Upon being contacted, he told this scribe that he does not practice favoritism amongst his staff members. “All of them are my staff and I don’t discriminate between them,” he said.

NICVD is the biggest cardiac hospital with a capacity of 360 beds, however, in reality, the hospital has actually managed to accommodate more than 400 beds. It has three medical, one surgical, one pediatric ward, three coronary care units, one surgical intensive care unit and one Emergency unit with 28 beds. Hospital records reveal that the daily out-patient attendance averages 1,200 patients and an average of 250 patients are attended to in the emergency unit, out of which, around 30 patients, including 15 acute infarctions, are admitted on a daily basis.

Dr Khan further claimed that even the newly appointed director Dr Asadullah Kundi is not willing to take charge. “We conducted a meeting today and Dr Kundi said that the federal government is playing musical chairs and he does not want to be a part of the issue. Besides this, five professors are leaving on Saturday to meet with federal health secretary to negotiate the cancellation of my removal orders,” he said.

To a question, he admitted that he was not the most senior in the seniority list but he was appointed as the hospital director. “I am not getting any extra money for this position, I did a lot of work during my tenure and I am planning to start a new 100-bed ward, for which, I had told the federal government that if they cannot finance the project, I will manage the Rs 400 million for the construction of the ward. In such conditions, my removal is not fair,” he added.

Dr Khan also alleged that the ruling PPP government wants to appoint Dr Liaqutallah Cheema as the director of the hospital. (DT)

Fraudster caught at Al Asif Square

The Special Investigation Unit (SIU), in collaboration with an intelligence agency, arrested a man who duped various businessmen and industrialists into giving him millions of rupees by using names of higher authorities.

A SIU handout issued on Friday stated that, Khalid Hussain Solangi, son of Urs Solangi, was arrested when the SIU, along with intelligence officials, raided at a coach, Makka Coach, at Al-Asif Square in the Sohrab Goth area. The statement added that while Solangi was arrested, his two accomplices, Ramzan and Ghulam Mustafa, managed to escape. A TT pistol and drugs were recovered from his possession.

The handout further stated that during the initial course of interrogation, the culprit revealed that he, through a mobile phone, used to dupe various traders, businessmen and industrialists across the country including, Karachi, interior Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab, into giving millions of rupees as donations for earthquake victims, cancer patients and others, by using the names of various prominent personalities including former Inspector General of Police Shoaib Suddle, Brigadiers, Colonels, Generals and politicians.

The culprit further confessed that he was helped in the fraud and that he usually sent his accomplices to pickup the donations from businessmen and industrialists. Solangi used to dispose off the SIM cards after using them to make the calls; he has also been arrested before in Karachi, Raheem Yar Khan, Sukkur and Lahore. Solangi has now gotten into the drug business, as his donation fraud was not doing so well.