Karachi Nazim files petition against CM orders

City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has filed a constitutional petition in Sindh High Court (SHC) against orders of Sindh Chief Minister of slashing powers and not letting him to do work.

Nazim in his petition says the orders have been passed without legal formalities and he is not allowed to do work.

Governor, City Nazim inaugurate CNG Bus Project

Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan and City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal yesterday inaugurated the CNG Bus Pilot Project at Surjani Town. The Governor inspected the CNG Bus Terminal and also traveled through a CNG bus on this occasion.
Earlier addressing the inaugural ceremony Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan congratulated the citizens of Karachi for getting another gift in the form of CNG buses. He also paid tribute to City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal under whose leadership the city government could perform such a marvelous work during the last four years.
He said that the City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has through his services proved that he is a true leader who has served the citizens with great fervor and spirit. Today, he has achieved another goal of providing the citizens with respectable and comfortable means of transport in shape of dedicated CNG buses.
The governor added that the city is most important part of the country while the City Nazim has ensured with his utmost dedication that the city must keep the wheels moving.
In his address, Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal appealed to the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Yusuf Raza Gilani to help stop the bureaucracy at the federal and provincial level from creating impediments ahead of city’s development projects.
Kamal said further that hundreds of studies have been done so far but still the city is lacking its Mass Transit Program due to obstacles that the corrupt bureaucracy had always created.
Similarly, certain other viable public projects such as Bus Rapid System, Light Rail System and Circular Railway are still in pending.
He said that the CNG bus project is totally funded by City Government. Without taking even a single penny for the project from the federal or provincial government, we have spent Rs 250million on purchasing of these dedicated CNG buses while we have also allocated funds for purchase of another fleet of 100 buses in next budget, Nazim added.
Nazim Karachi said that in past diesel buses were introduced in Karachi by the name of CNG buses while we have completed all homework before starting the CNG bus operation. All required infrastructure was provided to these buses so that the project could be run smoothly and without any hurdle. He said.
Nazim Karachi said that it is hard for a city government to undertake a huge project like mass transit system. In all over the world the MST was done by the federal governments.
He however called it unfortunate that the city of Karachi despite of all the studies still deprived by the Mass Transit Facility.
He said that Karachi is the key city of Pakistan. It provides livelihood to labors from all over the country. We will continue development process in the city, he added.
The pilot project contains 50 dedicated CNG buses that would be plying on two routes initially. Two different manufacturers with 25 buses each have manufactured these CNG buses locally. The CDGK has already paid full cost of these 50 buses.
The purpose of plying dedicated CNG buses is to ensure most modern urbanized system of transport with complete self-esteem of the commuters. In this regard, the CDGK has already put to operate the e-ticketing facility, as there would be no bus conductor. The passengers should buy under self-service traveling coupons from e-ticket booths established at different locations on the prescribed routes. Provincial ministers, MNA, MPA, Town Nazims, DCO Karachi and other dignitaries were also present. (NC Report)

Target killing in Karachi aimed to sabotage peace process in Sindh: MQM’s Rabita Committee

MQM's Rabita Committee while denouncing the firing at JSQM rally stated that anti-state elements would not be allowed to sow the seeds of hatred and prejudice in the soil of Sindh and MQM will spoil all such conspiracies.
While addressing a press conference here Sunday members of MQM's Rabita Committee (Coordination Committee) stated that the Government should expose the criminal elements engaged in target killing of MQM's members and involved in firing at JSQM Chairman Bashir Khan Qureshi.
MQM denounces firing at Chairman of JSQM and termed the incident as a conspiracy to bring the people of Sindh in confrontation with each other by sabotage the peace of the province and to derail the incumbent democratic set up in Sindh, Rabita Committee said.
Rabita Committee also urged on President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani, Federal Interior Minister, Chief Minister Sindh and Provincial Interior Minister Zulifqar Ali Mirza to investigate the firing incident at JSQM chairman by firing FIR against the accomplices.
Rabita Committee further elucidated that peaceful policy of MQM should not be termed as weakness of the party, as MQM has aimed peace and stability in the province and will not allow anti-state elements to sabotage the peace in the metropolitan city.

NEPRA may take control of KESC

The power tariff will be inflated by Rs 3 when the government withdraws the subsidy on electricity in line with a commitment between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Federal Water and Power Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said on Saturday.

Replying to questions at a press conference, the minister said the average electricity generation cost was Rs 8.37 per unit and the average selling price was Rs 5.37 per unit – the difference translates into the subsidy provided by the government, which would be withdrawn to fulfil the commitment with the IMF. But he did not provide a specific date for the likely increase.

He said the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) would take over the management of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) if there was no improvement in efficiency in the supply of power. He said NEPRA had already served a show-cause notice on the KESC, and in case the company failed to satisfy government, legal action would be taken. “This includes taking over management control of the company if we are unable to de-privatise it [KESC],” he said, adding that Karachi was the industrial hub of the country, and the government wanted to ensure a smooth supply of power to the port city.

Ashraf said the Water and Power Ministry had rejected several proposals by NEPRA on increasing the power tariff. “The power tariff is not the top issue for the government … the administration is making all-out efforts to eliminate load shedding from by December,” he said.

He said the government had already cleared more than half of the circular debt, and hoped that the remaining Rs 70 billion would be paid soon.

The minister lamented that some political leaders were making “irrelevant statements” on the power crisis. He said the government was committed to overcoming the problem on “war footing”.

He claimed that the defeat of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid in the general elections of 2008 was a result of severe load shedding in the country during the party’s tenure.

The minister also lamented the propagation of the 1994 independent power providers’ policy (IPP), and said it had driven investors away.

Ashraf said the minister had formed a committee on power crisis, which met daily to monitor the situation.

President Zardari, PM Gilani take note on load shedding in Karachi

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani held meeting here on Tuesday.

According to sources, the meeting discussed the issues relating to electricity crisis in Karachi which has broken out violence here.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, taking strong notice of power outages in Karachi and elsewhere and the subsequent nationwide violent demonstrations, directed the relevant authorities to issue a show-cause notice to the management of the KESC for the frequent power breakdowns in the Sindh capital.

The decision to serve a show-cause notice on the KESC was taken during their meeting at the Presidency on Tuesday night at a dinner in which they discussed a host of issues, including the power outages in Karachi and in other parts of the country.

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the president advised the government to take appropriate action immediately to streamline the working of the KESC and make it responsive to the challenges. Following the presidential advice relevant authorities were instructed to take immediate action.

Accordingly a show-cause notice was issued to the corporation late at night saying that action might be taken against it under the law. It includes the taking over of the KESC management for its consistent failure in meeting its obligations.

The president also briefed the prime minister on his meeting with PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif in which the two parties agreed to reform the Constitution in accordance with the Charter of Democracy and purge it of the 17th Constitutional Amendment.

Meanwhile, sources said the law and order situation in the country due to power outrages also came under discussion.

Sources said the prime minister informed the president about the formation of the ministerial committee to look into the energy crisis as the first meeting of the committee was being summoned today (Wednesday).

Sources said the president and the prime minister also discussed the thorny issue of local government system. The prime minister sent an advice to the president last Saturday to allow the provinces to process draft Provincial Governments Acts, 2009 and to make amendments to their Local Government Ordinances for the dissolution of the institutions and appointment of government officers as administrators.

Sources said the president and the prime minister decided to hold further discussion on the issue to take a final decision.

Sources said Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan, who was also present in the meeting, briefed the president and the prime minister about the legal and constitutional aspects of the issue.

Sources hinted that another meeting between the president and the prime minister is expected on Wednesday to decide the fate of the local government system in the country.

Home dept approves KBCA Police Station

Home Department, Government of Sindh through a notification has approved the establishment of a police station for Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA). The police station has been named as Karachi Building Control Authority Police Station under Establishment of City Government Police Station and Criminal Procedure Code 1898. It will work under the supervision of Local Government Department, Government of Sindh.
The police station will be authorized to file cases pertaining to violation of Karachi Building Control Ordinance 1979 and impose penalties against the accused.
This step of Sindh government will be a useful source against illegal encroachments and promote beauty and development in Karachi, a handout said yesterday.

Police stop Sindh minister for not carrying arms licences in Karachi

Police on Monday stopped Sindh Transport Minister Akhtar Jadoon at the Karachi airport when he failed to show licences for weapons found in a car that had come to pick him up, reported a private TV channel. According to the channel, the PPP minister was stopped when he was leaving the airport after flying in from Islamabad. Police asked the minister to show licences for a pistol and a Kalashnikov found in his vehicle. Jadoon admitted that the weapons were his, but said he did not have the documents on him, claiming “they are home”. He asked police to “cooperate” and let him go. But the policemen refused, and said he could leave the airport only after showing the licences.

Talking to the channel, Minister of State for Ports and Shipping Nabeel Gabol praised the police team, and said any one keeping unlicensed arms should be sent to jail, “even if he/she is a minister”. He said, “It was absolutely wrong that the minister did not have the licences, which he should have.” He said action should be taken if the minister did not possess the licences. The channel later reported that the minister was allowed to go home to fetch the licences. daily times monitor

Sindh Governor not being changed: Malik

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said yesterday that Sindh Governor is not being changed and rumors in this regard are baseless.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani have also refuted the rumors about such a change, he said while talking to newsmen after having a meeting with Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan at the Governor’s House, here. During the meeting, the leaders discussed prevailing peace situation in the province, particularly in Karachi. “Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan is not being changed as he is standing with me,” Malik confirmed.
President Zardari and Altaf Hussain have contacted with each other and there is full understanding between them. “There will be zero tolerance of the government about target killings. Stern action will be taken if any kind of such incident happens, ” he warned.

Arif Habib Bank launches free 'eTop Up' service

Arif Habib Bank Limited (AHBL) launched free "eTop Up" service for its existing customers. This service allows the customer to top-up call credit directly through their mobile phone via SMS or alternatively through a landline by calling the Bank's Call Center at 0800-24252.

KBCA starts operation against illegal farm houses

The Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) has started action against various commercial farm houses on agricultural and poultry land in Gadap Town, on the directive of Chief Controller of Buildings, Manzoor Kadir.
In this regard a KBCA demolition team razed illegal RCC bungalow-type rest house portion with the help of heavy machinery constructed in Sita Gadyano Farm House and Super Millennium Farm House.
The demolition operation was carried out under the supervision of TBO Gadap Town, Aqeel Ahmed Abidi, Controller of Demolition Capt (Rtd) Shahid Waseem, Deputy Controller Gadap Town, Waqar Ahmed and Assistant Controller Mazhar Shah.
A heavy police posse headed by TPO Gadap Rao Anwar, SHO Gulshan-e-Maymar Police Station Amanullah Marwat and SHO Gadap Sajjad Hyder was present to control any law and order situation.
A KBCA spokesman said yesterday that demolition action will continue against more illegal farm houses with the cooperation of area police.