Posts Tagged ‘Rawalpindi’

Pak, Afghan, ISAF military authorities to meet this week: ISPR

A trilateral meeting between military authorities of Pakistan, Afghanistan and ISAF is scheduled to take place during the ongoing week at Rawalpindi.
It is continuation of the series of regular meetings held under the tripartite commission framework.
According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday, trilateral talks will focus on enhancing efficiency of …

..
..

.. .. .. .. ..

Gilani to exhaust all means to have a fair trial

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani talks to media representatives on board from Islamabad to London on Tuesday. – Photo by APP

ON BOARD PM’S AIRCRAFT: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said he would not be coerced to move out of the office through unconstitutional means, and would exhaust all means to have a fair trial.

“I have no yearning to stick to the power, but I will take it to finality and exhaust all avenues,” Gilani told a team of journalists accompanying him to the United Kingdom on a five-day visit.

He said the constitution has explicitly spelt out ways to remove a prime minister and no one can force him out.

Prime Minister Gilani was asked about the stance taken by him on the issue of non-implementation of the Supreme Court’s order and the subsequent conviction for contempt.

Gilani said all his decisions were in line with the constitution.

He said he believed that under Article 248 (1), he enjoyed complete immunity and he only did what he thought was the right thing.

“I took all decisions to the best of my abilities and in line with the rules and procedures, and in good faith,” he said and added “I am proud that I fought for the constitution of Pakistan.”

He said his coalition government enjoyed a two-thirds majority and its partners stood by it through thick and thin.

“Why should I fear those who are against the constitution,” he said.

He said he has the right to appeal, once the detailed judgment is announced, than the matter of his disqualification or not would go to the Speaker National Assembly and finally to the Chief Election Commissioner.

“But we must also see what happened to the decision taken by the Election Commission against Waheeda Shah, who has disqualified, but the Sindh High Court stayed the decision,” the prime minister said.

The prime minister when asked, dismissed the campaign launched against him by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and said they were merely playing to the galleries.

“If they are genuinely interested that I move out of the way, they have to resign from the assemblies, and join Imran Khan and others, otherwise there is no other way.”

He said if the PML-N and others do join hands, only then they might be able to have some impact.

“But if they are not together, there is a real threat (for them) that me might be back in power,” he said.

Gilani said he was hurt by the language used by the PML-N leaders against him and said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) never reacted in the same way. He said even though PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif got a sentence for nine years and had to stay out of the country, yet this was never played up by the ruling party.

He also recalled that Sharif, when he was the prime minister, was also fined for Rs 1500 for a traffic violation on the motorway, but no one at that time termed him as a convict.

He urged the PML-N to do only what was practically achievable and said their desire of acting as an opposition, while being in government would not take them far. He said they were trying to kill two birds with a stone.

About the long march against the government, Gilani warned that if one of the federating units launches a movement against another, it was tantamount to be an act of treason.

Regarding the Siraiki province, he said any measures to stop the demand can create a movement against the Punjab government. He also mentioned the turnout figures of some recent protest marches and showed a visible surprise over the low turnout.

He said for the time being reconciliation was the only way forward as the politics of long and short marches succeeded only against dictators and not any democratic governments.

When asked about the options left for the opposition to oust him, Gilani said all they can do is to either resign or to wait for the next general elections that would be held once the government completes its term.

He said the whole issue was to somehow prevent the government from going ahead with the budget, which would be the fifth by the present democratic government and the first in country’s history.

Asked whether he saw any threat to his government from Rawalpindi, Gilani said there was now an atmosphere in the country that favoured democracy and would not support any misadventure, as the people, the media and the international community all stood for a democratic system.

About his letter to the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for the appointment of a new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gilani said he wanted to go ahead as the government could announce the new general election and a caretaker setup has to be put in place, and a person to look after the entire process.

He said that Nisar has said he would get back to him after consultation with his party chief Nawaz Sharif, but in the end said that he did not recognise him a prime minister. He said now the matter was with the committee and it would decide about the new CEC.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that the Punjab government was also not willing to implement the decision to have two holidays in a week as it does not seem serious in energy conservation and wants to exploit the situation.

,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,,

,,
,,

,, ,, ,, ,, ,,

Via DAWN.com

Kayani briefed about ongoing operations against militants

,,

General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was briefed about the ongoing operations against militants, said an ISPR statement. -File Photo

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited Headquarters of Peshawar Corps, on Tuesday.

The COAS was briefed about the ongoing operations against militants as well as various projects aimed at rebuilding infrastructure and help bring affected areas back to normalcy through education and economic development.

According to an ISPR press release, the COAS expressed satisfaction over the progress of operations and stressed upon the need to ensure that collateral damage and civilian casualties are kept to a minimum.

Earlier, Gen. Kayani laid a wreath on the Shuhada monument at Peshawar Cantt and also visited injured soldiers under treatment at CMH Peshawar.

He praised the courage and valour of the troops as well as the sacrifices of civilians caught in the midst of operations. On arrival, the COAS was received by Lieutenant General Khalid Rabbani, Commander Peshawar Corps.

,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,,

,,
,,

,, ,, ,, ,, ,,

Via DAWN.com

GHQ appoints Maj-Gen Zafar as ANF DG

RAWALPINDI – The General Headquarters (GHQ) on Monday appointed Major-General Malik Zafar Iqbal as Director General Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF). According to an ISPR press release, he is presently commanding an infantry division at Lahore.Meanwhile, according to a separate ISPR press release, Major-General Azeem Asif has been appointed Deputy Chairman Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation …

..
..

.. .. .. .. ..

PCB to build international stadium, academy in Islamabad

Zaka Ashraf vowed to make the stadium central to the training and grooming of cricketers from not only Islamabad, but adjoining regions such as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. – File photo by Reuters

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to build an international cricket stadium and an academy in Islamabad.

PCB, on Monday, was allotted 35 acres of land by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for the establishment of a stadium in the Shakarparian area of the capital, a press release said.

Both bodies signed a memorandum of understanding, in the presence of PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf, CDA Chairman Farkhand Iqbal and Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Task Force for Islamabad Faisal Sakhi Butt.

“The international cricket stadium will be an added feature in the capital’s modern development,” Butt said.

The stadium and the academy will be geared towards providing better training facilities to the locals.

“This region has a great talent for cricket and by establishing an academy, we will aim to nurture and polish that talent,” Ashraf told reporters.

Ashraf vowed to make the stadium central to the training and grooming of cricketers from not only Islamabad, but adjoining regions such as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the agreement, CDA will receive a revenue share of 30 per cent from every national and international match, while the remaining 70 per cent will go to the PCB.

Currently, there are no PCB-owned cricket stadiums or academies in the capital. The Diamond Club Ground is used by the regional team (Federal Areas) during domestic tournaments. Rawalpindi, however, is home to the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which has hosted eight Test matches and 23 one-day internationals.

,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,,

,,
,,

,, ,, ,, ,, ,,

Via DAWN.com

Contraband: ANF seizes 64kg of heroin from Briton

RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on Sunday recovered over 60kg of heroin at the Benazir International Airport from a British national’s luggage who was about to leave for the UK.

Khadija Shah, 25, from Peshawar, was found carrying heroin in three bags during a search by a lady constable. The constable, Sajida Bibi, discovered 123 packets of heroin with a cumulative weight of 64kg.

Khadija, who is a British national and a divorcee, intended to board flight PK-791 heading for Birmingham with her two children, 3-year-old Ali Shah and 4-year-old Ibrahim Shah.

She has been taken into custody by ANF officials for further investigation.

Talking to the media at the airport, ANF Rawalpindi Commander Brigadier Faheem Ahmed said the investigators suspected the woman was not alone in trying to smuggle the massive quantity of narcotics. Two other men have been taken into custody following a tip-off by Khadija, he added.

The ANF Commander informed that her passport along with an amount Rs1,000 in her custody had been confiscated.

Khadija Shah came to Pakistan six weeks ago from the UK. She was staying at a private hotel in Islamabad.

ANF officials estimate the price of the seized heroin in the international market to be around Rs40 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2012.

OGRA presentation: Bigwigs named in illegal relocation of CNG stations

The presentation – a copy of which is available with the Express Investigation Cell (EIC) – contains the names of investors and their patrons who approached OGRA seeking relocation of CNG stations knowing the fact full well that the practice was banned in February 2008.

The presentation suggests OGRA officials colluded with federal cabinet members, and former army and intelligence officials to relocate CNG stations despite the ban.

OGRA chief Saeed Khan expressed ignorance regarding the issue. “I took over as chief just a few days ago,” he told EIC. However, he said that he could look into the matter to ensure transparency in the authority’s workings.

The presentation revealed how Ogra used abbreviations and shortened names to hide the identities of those whose stations were relocated. For instance, over a dozen CNG stations, mostly in Lahore, were relocated under ‘JB’s’ direction.

It’s not understandable why Ogra hid ‘JB’s’ identity while the presentation used full names of several parliamentarians, cabinet members and bureaucrats and retired generals? The presentation also identifies several military-owned CNG businesses by name.

A possible lead to ‘JB’s’ identity is the fact that most of the CNG stations were shifted while Tauqir Sadiq, Leader of the House in the Senate Jahangir Badar’s brother-in-law, was the Ogra chief.

In its report, Ogra had intentionally left certain columns blank, possibly to avoid disclosing the names of certain high-ups. Due to incomplete information in some cases, it is unclear who ordered the relocation of certain CNG stations.

The beneficiaries include Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq, Minister for Production Riaz Pirzada, Information Technology Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira.

All of them belong to the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Pir Mazharul Haq got Naushero Feroze 1 CNG relocated. He also managed to shift Abbasi CNG filling station in Badin.

Riaz Pirzada got Chaudhry Gas Station relocated in Bahawalpur.

Makhdoom Shahabuddin, acquired a renewed licence for a CNG station in Rahimyar Khan. He also relocated Mehran Enterprises Panu Aqil. Religious Affairs Minister Khurshid Shah recommended issuance of a ‘PL licence’ for this case.

Pervez Ashraf had Rajput CNG Chakwal relocated.

Qamar Zaman Kaira recommended the relocations of Fine CNG, Multan Road, Lahore, Hussain CNG Station, Rawalpindi, and Hasan CNG, Chakri Road, Rawalpindi.

Senator Adnan is also among those who acquired relocation orders from Ogra for at least a dozen CNG stations. He managed to get a PSO pump in G7 Islamabad, a Shell filling station in a Rawalpindi commercial market, Saya Zaar CNG station Abbottabad, Save CNG Kallar Seydan and Green House CNG, Multan, relocated. Similarly, Ali Badar, son of Jahangir Badar, secured the relocation of Madina CNG.

Other than ‘JB’ a man identified as Imran is behind the relocation of 30 Sprint Energy CNG stations.

Chaudhry Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, PPP Punjab chapter president, shifted Siddu CNG, Gujranwala, and Moshin CNG Station, Khushab. Federal Minister Nazar Gondal secured the relocation of Al Rehman CNG Samundri. Federal Minister Fazal Shah Gilani managed the shifting of Orangi gas station, Karachi, and Apna CNG Station, Rawalpindi, was shifted on MNA Hanif Abbasi’s recommendation.

Maqbool Mamon of the Zardari House managed the shifting of Al Mustafa CNG, Nowshero Feroze. Haji Khan Afridi got Saeed CNG & filling station, Peshawar, shifted. MNA Moazam Ali Khan Jatoi managed to get Total Speed Petroleum Muzaffargarh relocated. State Minister Abbas Afridi got Bahram CNG Kohat relocated. MNA Khalid Saeed managed the relocation of Baryar CNG Muridke.

Beneficiaries from the military Col Shabbir c/o Wak Gas secured the relocation of Shabbir LPG auto Khushab. Brigadier Ejaz got Lancer CNG relocated. Major Dr Iqbal Cheema c/o DDGIB managed the relocation of Cheema CNG Samberial.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2012.

Matloob wins COAS Golf title

RAWALPINDI – Matloob Ahmed wins men’s while Dr Farida Naseer won the ladies category of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Golf Championship which concluded here at Rawalpindi Golf Club on Sunday. Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony who distributed prizes and trophies among the participants. A total of Rs two million cash …

..
..

.. .. .. .. ..

BB murder, Mumbai attack, other cases adjourned

RAWALPINDI – Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Number 1 postponed the hearing in former premier Benazir Bhutto murder and Mumbai attack cases till May 19, 2012 due to absence of defence lawyers and prosecution.
ATC No 1 Judge Shahid Raffique, who took up case at Adyala Jail, deferred the proceeding in the cases as the defence lawyers and the special public prosecutors did not present before the court …

..
..

.. .. .. .. ..

Adyala Road reconstruction demanded

RAWALPINDI – The residents of Rawalpindi have demanded reconstruction of Adyala Road of Potohar Town that is in dilapidated condition and is causing traffic accidents.
The residents complained that the Adyala Road turned into ruins, the big holes and craters in the road are big hurdle in smooth traffic flow.
The residents also said that construction of drainage near the road is also creating …

..
..

.. .. .. .. ..

Bhatti murder accused freed

RAWALPINDI – Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Rana Masood Akhter Saturday discharged a person from the charges of murdering former federal minister for minority affairs Shahbaz Bhatti after getting clean chit from police.
Police officials sought discharge of a person Zia-ur-Rehman, from the case on contention that Zia was arrested in connection with Shehbaz Bhatti murder case but no evidence was …

..
..

.. .. .. .. ..

Overhead bridge at Choohar Chowk demanded

RAWALPINDI – Lack of overhead bridge is increasing traffic mess while crossing Choohar Chowk has become akin to inviting death call.
This chowk is thickly populated and is hub of commercial activities. This is located at the juncture of various routes. One goes to Pir Wadhai, other to motorway and this way it becomes flooded with wagons, buses and other vehicles.
The traffic mess continues round …

..
..

.. .. .. .. ..

Samar Ishaque to lead KRL at AFC President’s Cup

-Photo by AFP

LAHORE: Samar Ishaque will lead Samar Ishaque will lead Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in the AFC President’s Football Cup, which gets underway in Lahore next week.

KRL will lead Pakistan’s charge in the tournament set to begin on May 8 at the Punjab Stadium.

A 24-member KRL squad was named on Friday, comprising members of Pakistan’s national and youth teams, with Tariq Lutfi as its head coach. Mohammad Ayaz Butt has been named as the manager while Muhammad Kamran will deputise captain Ishaque during the tournament.

The three-nation tournament also involves Chinese Taipei and Magnolia. Bangladesh’s Sheikh Jamal Dhanmundi were also among the participants, until they pulled out of the tournament on security fears.

KRL are the reigning champions of the National Challenge Cup, which they won for the fourth consecutive time. The Rawalpindi-based club have also won the Pakistan Premier League in 2009 and 2011.

KRL: Nabi Shahid, Muhammad Shahid, Muhammad Zeeshan, Kamran Khan, Samar Ishaq, Abbas Hussnain, Zia-ul-Salam, Mahmood Khan, Muhammad Rizwan Asif, Muhammad Qasim, Kaleemullah, Muhammad Osman Mohkum, Ahsan Ullah, Saddam Hussain, Yasir Afridi, Muhammad Abid Khan, Bilawal-ur-Rehman, Muhammad Adil, Saquib Hanif, Saeed Mudasar, Saad Ullah, Saeed, Mumtaz Tanveer and Ghulam Nabi.

,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,,

,,
,,

,, ,, ,, ,, ,,

Via DAWN.com

PML-N to kick off anti-govt drive today

LAHORE – After forceful protest inside the parliament, the PML(N) is going to launch mass movement against the federal government with a public rally in Taxila today (Saturday).
The rally will be addressed by PML(N) Quaid Ex Prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharifbesides other leaders of the party.
A large number of people from various parts of Rawalpindi division are expected to attend the rally.
The Taxila rally …

..
..

.. .. .. .. ..

Security breach: Distance terror planning from prison cells

A secret survey carried out by an intelligence agency has revealed that terrorists continue to use mobile phones to maintain contact with the outside world – especially with banned outfits like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – in a bid to garner financial support and plan more such attacks. The discovery surfaces despite increased security efforts by authorities after reports of further attacks on more prisons particularly Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, Central Jail Faisalabad and Kot Lakhpat Jail Lahore.

The investigation also revealed that various scanning devices in prisons across Punjab were out of order and walk-in gates unmanned, The Express Tribune has learnt.

According to extracts from the intelligence report, Qari Waqas – an affiliate of TTP’s Tariq Afridi group, detained in Camp Jail, Ferozpur Road Lahore – has contacts with activists of the TTP in Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa (K-P). The communication link was established primarily to arrange finances for prisoners.

In another intercepted telephonic conversation, communication links between a prisoner of the Adiala Jail and a terrorist of the TTP were unearthed.

While the prisoner enquired if any of their accomplices were able to escape during the Bannu jailbreak, his TTP counterpart said that none of their accomplices were among the escapees and added that most of the escaped prisoners belonged to the Mehsud clan.

The TTP terrorist further disclosed that their next target will be Adiala Jail because most of their accomplices were imprisoned there, an intelligence agency operator who intercepted the call revealed.

Another report revealed that terrorists are also planning attacks on Central Jail Faisalabad and Central Jail Kot Lakhpat, Lahore.

In light of the secret survey report, seven jails of Punjab have been declared “most sensitive” and Punjab’s home department has demanded assistance from Rangers in each of the seven jails.

These jails have been declared most sensitive because they house nearly 250 terrorists. As many as 48 terrorists are presently imprisoned in Kot Lakhpat Jail Lahore, 90 terrorists in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, 17 terrorists in Faisalabad Jail, 16 in Dera Ghazi Khan Jail, 20 in Bahawalpur Jail, 49 in Multan Jail while nine are lodged in the Mianwali Jail.

The report also revealed that the arms and ammunition in possession of the prison guards were not up-to-date and did not meet the basic requirements. There was also a significant lack of proper arrangements by the management to ensure mobile patrolling around the jail premises.

According to the report, mobile phone facilities were not only enjoyed by ordinary prisoners but were also used by high-profile terrorists who carry out jailbreak planning with their accomplices and parent banned outfits through these devices.

The report added that none of the respective district police officers have prepared any contingency plans in this regard.

In a bid to beef up security, joint teams have been constituted and representatives of Punjab’s home department will lead these teams in association with DSPs.

These joint teams will point out loopholes and security lapses in prisons and will present their recommendations to the provincial home department.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2012.

16 die in Kohistan bus plunge

MANSEHRA – As many as 16 passengers including four security persons were killed and another 29 got injured when a bus plunged into a deep ravine, police said Thursday.According to police, a Skardu-bound passenger bus (BS 144) was on its way from Rawalpindi. When it reached Kameela area in district Kohistan in the wee hours of Thursday morning, the driver lost control over the vehicle while …

..
..

.. .. .. .. ..

15 killed, 22 injured in Kohistan road accident

 At least 15 persons including six security personnel, two women and three children were killed and 22 others injured when a passenger bus plunged into a ravine here in Kohistan on Thursday morning.
According to Khalid Khan Umarzai, administrator of Hazara Division, a Gilgit bound passenger bus coming from Rawalpindi got out of control of driver due to over speeding and fell into a gorge by …

..
..

.. .. .. .. ..