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India has also asked Islamabad to come clear on its nuclear policy, including command and control over nuclear assets.

This was conveyed to Pakistani officials by India during the two-day talks on nuclear and conventional confidence building measures (CBMs) that were held in Islamabad this week after a gap of four years, the paper quoted sources as saying.

The command of Pakistan’s nuclear assets, the prerogative of the National Command Authority, was transferred from the president to the prime minister in 2009 after the parliament passed the National Command Authority Bill 2009 in January that year.

During the talks, Pakistan proposed to redeploy artillery and mortar 30 kilometres away from the LoC among other CBMs that included an agreement on the prevention of incidents at sea and the return of citizens who inadvertently cross the border.

However, the paper reported, New Delhi has conveyed to Pakistan that it cannot look at such proposals till the situation at the LoC improves. Regarding the nuclear CBMs, India made it clear to Pakistan that views on nuclear doctrines could be exchanged only when official documents enunciating the policies are available in the public domain.

According to the report, Indian officials also stressed the need to practically demonstrate restraint and responsibility in the nuclear field and urged it to facilitate talks on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.

Officials pointed out that India had announced its nuclear doctrine of credible minimum deterrence in 2003 which places the command and control of nuclear devices with the civilian leadership. That same year, the two neighbours also agreed to a ceasefire at the defacto but heavily militarised border.

Krishna to visit Pakistan

The paper also reported that Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna is slated to visit Pakistan to review the progress on the talks. Meetings between the two countries’ home secretaries, water resources secretaries, defence secretaries and foreign secretaries will also take place before the visit.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.

ISLAMABAD: In an unusual three-hour meeting behind closed doors, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Shuja Pasha and his deputies briefed a Senate panel on the country’s war against terror policy, which they claimed is going through a “holistic review” to correspond with changes in the United States’ plans in Afghanistan.

Some “major surprises” are expected in Islamabad’s peace talks with the Taliban, the agency said during the briefing at the ISI headquarters in Islamabad on Thursday, according to sources.

Around five members of the Senate’s standing committee on defence, headed by former ISI chief Lt General (Retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi, were briefed on the ISI’s role, particularly in terms of the war against terrorism.

Declining from attending the briefing, Senator Raza Rabbani of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Professor Khurshid Ahmed of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) were of the view that the agency  should have come to the parliament for this meeting.

Senate Deputy Chairman Jan Jamali and Senator Tariq Azim were out of the country, whereas Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani was unable to turn up due to his health condition, a participant of the briefing said.

Members who did attend the meeting shared very little information of the in-camera session that went on from 10 am to 1 pm.

“After the ISI officials briefed the participants about the functions of their agency, members posed various questions before the agency officials to clarify the myths and reality associated with the ISI,” a participant said.

Some of the participants were curious about the agency’s modus operandi in terms of the country’s political affairs; however, sources said, the spy chief opted to skip such questions.

The ISI official denied that the agency plays any role in the country’s political affairs, a participant said, while another claimed that Pasha admitted to the agency’s involvement but said that the ISI simply does what is asked of it by the government, be it civilian or military.

“They [ISI officials] said ‘we have been doing what the government of the time asks us to do … these days there are no such directions from this civilian government’,” a senator said.

During the briefing the ISI chief and his deputies confirmed that talks with the Taliban, mainly homegrown militants, were at an advanced stage and some major breakthrough was expected over the next few months.

The ISI officials were confident that there would be some “big surprises” on this front, the senator said, adding that according to the ISI officials, the overall dimension of the Afghan situation is rapidly changing. “We continue to review our policy with a holistic approach to correspond with changes in the policy of the major players,” another senator quoted the spy agency’s officials as saying.

To a question regarding the Osama bin Laden debacle, the senator said the ISI feels the episode was not solely the agency’s failure but was also a failure on the CIA’s part and that of top spy agencies of other allied countries.

There was no discussion, however, on the Memogate affair, the participants claimed.

One participant from a military background said he was not only satisfied with the briefing, but also paid accolades to the ISI. “The ISI is the best spy agency in the world. It has been succeeding in its mission. Bashing of the ISI and the army by the people of Pakistan is unfortunate … they do not know the real functions of this agency,” he said.

Professor Khurshid Ahmed who boycotted the briefing said he and a few other colleagues of his believed that every institution, including the armed forces, should come before the parliament to give such briefings – unless there is something that they cannot divulge before the house.

(Read: Talking to the Taliban)

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.

KARACHI: Because it fears that Balochistan is on the brink of no return, the Jamaat-e-Islami has called for “an end to the unannounced military operation and the role of the [intelligence] agencies in the province.”

The party has also asked for military leaders, including former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, to be held accountable in a court of law for the human rights violations in Balochistan.

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Asadullah Bhutto and its leaders in Balochistan and Sindh, Abdul Mateen Akhunzada and Mohammad Hussain Mehanti, met with veteran Baloch leader, Sardar Ataullah Mengal, at the latter’s residence on Thursday. When asked if the situation in Balochistan was bad, Akhunzada darkly remarked, “It is not just bad, it has gone far beyond that.”

The “makruh and condemnable role” of security agencies operating in Balochistan is not the way to developing an understanding, Akhunzada told the journalists present. JI believes that the number of enforced disappearances and the bullet riddled bodies being found are signs of how Balochistan has become reminiscent of the condition in Bangladesh prior to its independence in 1971.

The party and Mengal also spoke about the targeted killings of Punjabi settlers in the province.

Mengal reiterated that the “protectors of the country” – the Pakistan Army – has become an army for Punjab only.

Mengal is reported to have said that, “If a Punjabi is killed, dozens of Baloch youth are taken away by the agencies illegally. People wait for years to hear about their whereabouts and then receive the bullet-riddled bodies of their loved ones. How can there not be a reaction?” He also questioned why the military does not react in a similar manner when people are killed in Karachi.

Despite JI’s call and Mengal’s warnings about the condition in Balochistan, no one sees a way out until the military withdraws from Balochistan. Mengal told JI that there was not a “single person in Pakistan who could gain the trust of the Baloch”.

The leaders agreed that those responsible for targeted killings must be dealt with – but in a legal manner.

Mehanti also questioned the Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, for not fulfilling his promise to withdraw troops from Balochistan. JI leaders also blamed the current Pakistan Peoples Party government for having wasted the last four years instead of trying to reverse the situation that Musharraf left Balochistan in.

The JI leaders said there were “no prospects for progress” in the province and highlighted the injustices, deplorable economic conditions and lack of resources given to Balochistan. JI also asked the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of the situation in Balochistan, similar to how it acted on the target killings in Karachi earlier this year.

Mehanti said his party appreciated the fact that Sharif had visited Mengal to discuss the matter and that there was a need to unite to prevent a ‘catastrophe like 1971’.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.

Khosa was offered the job of executive director of the Asian Development Bank six months ago but put it on hold at the chief minister’s request, said a senior official privy to the development. “He is now exhausted by the job of running the administrative affairs of the province and wants to join the bank in January,” said the official.

Jalal Sikandar Sultan Raja, secretary of the Services and General Administration Department, said he did not know if Khosa was leaving as chief secretary to join the ADB.

Khosa was appointed chief secretary in place of Javed Mehmood, who had been made an officer on special duty (OSD) after his official car was involved in an accident in which a retired colonel was killed. He had served as chief secretary from March 2008 to February 2010.

Mehmood, a District Management Group (DMG) officer in BS-22, was an OSD for about 15 months and then repatriated to the federal government, which made him secretary of the Planning Commission. But Mehmood is unhappy with the posting and is on three-month leave, said an official.

He met with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif last week and expressed a desire to return as chief secretary, said the official. “Some senior officials in the province have even started holding meetings with Mehmood as they expect him to be posted as chief secretary,” he said.

He said that Mehmood would likely press his former classmate Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to secure the posting in his favour, as the appointment of the chief secretary is a federal government decision. The official added that many PML-Nawaz parliamentarians would be unhappy at his return as he rarely accommodated their requests during his previous tenure.

Sami Saeed, senior member of the Board of Revenue, is also seen as a serious contender for the position. Promoted to BS-22 in October 2010, he has served as additional chief secretary and is known to be very close to the Sharifs.

Like Mehmood, ruling party lawmakers do not consider him to be an ‘accommodating’ officer.

Javed Aslam, chairman of the Planning and Development Board, is also in the running, said officials. He is considered a competent bureaucrat and has a good reputation among subordinates, peers and seniors, as well as the trust of the chief minister. Promoted to BS-22 in October 2010, he has served at key slots including additional chief secretary, excise and taxation secretary and higher education secretary. The sources said that Khosa was in favour of Aslam’s posting as chief secretary.

Asked if he was interested in becoming chief secretary, Aslam said he had no knowledge of any developments in this regards and had not expressed a desire for the position.

Home Secretary Shahid Khan is also lobbying for the post, said officials. He has a reputation as a strict officer who plays by the book and is thus not popular among lawmakers and subordinates, said a senior official.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.

NEW DELHI: India has rejected Pakistan’s proposal to move heavy artillery and mortars away from the Line of Control, citing frequent ceasefire violations, Indian newspaper The Economic Times has reported.

India has also asked Islamabad to come clear on its nuclear policy, including command and control over nuclear assets.

This was conveyed to Pakistani officials by India during the two-day talks on nuclear and conventional confidence building measures (CBMs) that were held in Islamabad this week after a gap of four years, the paper quoted sources as saying.

The command of Pakistan’s nuclear assets, the prerogative of the National Command Authority, was transferred from the president to the prime minister in 2009 after the parliament passed the National Command Authority Bill 2009 in January that year.

During the talks, Pakistan had proposed to redeploy artillery and mortar 30 kilometres away from the LoC among other CBMs that included an agreement on prevention of incidents at sea and the return of citizens who inadvertently cross the border.

But, the paper reported, India has conveyed to Pakistan that New Delhi cannot look at such proposals till the situation at the LoC improves. On the nuclear CBMs, India made it clear to Pakistan that views on nuclear doctrines could be exchanged only when official documents enunciating the policies are available in the public domain.

According to the report, Indian officials also stressed the need to practically demonstrate restraint and responsibility in the nuclear field and urged it to facilitate talks on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.

Officials pointed out that India had announced its nuclear doctrine of credible minimum deterrence in 2003 which places the command and control of nuclear devices with the civilian leadership. That same year, the two neighbours also agreed to a ceasefire at the defacto but heavily militarised border.

The paper also reported that Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna is slated to visit Pakistan to review the progress on the talks. Meetings between the two countries’ home secretaries, water resources secretaries, defence secretaries and foreign secretaries will also take place before the visit.

Islamabad and New Delhi held these vital talks just a few days before the exchange of lists of their nuclear installations and facilities on January 1 under the “Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities”. The agreement was signed on December 31, 1988, and both countries exchange their lists every year on January 1.

Islamabad and New Delhi held these vital talks just a few days before the exchange of lists of their nuclear installations and facilities on January 1 under the “Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities”. The agreement was signed on December 31, 1988, and both countries exchange their lists every year on January 1.

Islamabad and New Delhi are holding these vital talks on conventional and nuclear CBMs just a few days before the exchange of lists of their nuclear installations and facilities on January 1 under the “Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities”.

The nuclear neighbours signed this agreement on December 31, 1988 and both countries exchange their lists every year on January 1.

LAHORE: Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has announced gas curtailment for all industries of Punjab for an indefinite period of time. According to a notification issued by the company, the decision was taken to provide the gas to its domestic consumers.

However, the fertiliser sector will be provided with gas as per the agreement as SNGPL officials said that if they disconnect gas to fertiliser sector then it would be contempt of court.

SNGPL has updated its website as well in this regard. Industrial Zone II of Punjab was scheduled to resume gas supply from today, but this did not happen.

Accordaing to SNGPL, due to a country-wide gas shortage the company is currently facing a shortfall of 700 mmcfd. Company officials say that the total demand on the SNGPL network is 2,600 mmcfd and the supply is about 1,900 mmcfd.

SNGPL is still waiting for instructions from the Ministry of Power and natural Resources on how to manage the gap but in the meantime has  planned to shut down the industry in Punjab till further notice.

The company has also planned to disconnect gas to all CNG stations of Punjab from next month if the situation persists, however the final decision would be taken with the compliance of the ministry.

The company spokesperson told The Express Tribune that the gas line Pack (gas pressure in the pipe line) had come down to 2,600 mmcft which has forced the company to take this decision. He said that if the pressure drops to 2,500 the entire system will collapse and it takes a week to revive it.

The gas pressure for domestic consumers on the other hand was also observed to be low in most parts of the provincial metropolis. The company held CNG stations responsible for this.

The domestic consumers have a total demand of 650 Mmcft gas and is provided with almost the same demand. The general industry demands 440 Mmcft of gas and was provided with only 250 Mmcft gas. Similarly Textile industry has total demand of 210 Mmcft and was provided with 120 Mmcft gas. Fertilizer sector requires 240 Mmcft gas and is provided with 175 Mmcft of gas. CNG sector requires 325 Mmcft gas and was provided with 260 Mmcft gas.

All Pakistan textile Mills Association (APTMA) has now decided to come on roads in protest. APTMA chief Gohar Ijaz said that the textile industry has already suffered a lot due to the energy crises,

Hundreds of workers and owners of textile industries staged a protest demonstration on the motorway (M-3) to express their resentment over the suspension of gas supply to industrial units. The demonstrators belonging to different textile units of the city blocked the Kamalpur Interchange (M-3) that caused suspension of vehicular traffic on the motorway for more than 2 hours. Muhammad Naveed, a daily wager, participating in the demonstration said that if mills worked for six days a month, how could they make their living and provide bread to their family and small children? Another protester Ghulam Rasool said the new gas load management plan was a well-calculated and well thought-out conspiracy against the present regime in the province and the people sitting at the helm of affairs must understand the importance of the industry.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.

QUETTA: The key witness to the Kharotabad incident, police surgeon Dr Syed Baqir Shah, was shot dead on Thursday afternoon while on his way home.

Shah had carried out autopsies of five foreigners, including two women, one of whom was seven-months pregnant, who were shot dead by security personnel in Kharotabad on the pretext of being ‘terrorists’ on May 17.

Shah’s testimony to a committee set up to probe the incident provided incriminating evidence against police and other law-enforcement agencies’ negligence. He had declared that all victims had died of gunshot wounds from the police and Frontier Constabulary weapons, instead of their own hand grenade, as claimed by the police.

According to the police, Shah was on his way home from the Bolan Medical Complex (BMC) Teaching Hospital when two assailants on a motorbike opened fire at his car, killing him instantly.

His companion, sitting next to him in the car, managed to escape unhurt.

Shah was immediately shifted to BMC, but the doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

The police and law enforcement agencies rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area but the assailants managed to flee from the spot.

“The victim was shot at from very close range and suffered five bullets,” doctors at the hospital said.

“He was shot thrice in the head, and the bullet passed through his skull,” they added.

Police chief Quetta Ehsan Mehboob claimed the attack was ‘an act of terrorism’ and said that investigations are under way.

Second attempt

Thursday’s attack was the second attempt on Shah’s life.

The day he submitted his incriminating testimony against security forces, there was an attempt to whisk him away from a roadside eatery by a group of men. The doctor resisted, and was beaten up. He received serious wounds and had to be rushed to a hospital.

The Inspector General of Balochistan Police, Rao Amin Hashim, later confirmed that Shah had been attacked by an intoxicated assistant sub-inspector.

Following the first attempt, the National Assembly’s standing committee on human rights asked the Balochistan IGP to provide security to witnesses of the Kharotabad killings. The Balochistan High Court had also ordered protection for Shah when he disclosed that he had been receiving threats.

Witness protection

Shah’s killing has brought lack of witness protection in the country into sharp relief.

An earlier report by the Punjab government claimed that over 75% of terror suspects were set free in the province, and cited lack of witness protection as the primary cause for low conviction rates.

Shah was not the only witness fearing for his safety – the taxi driver, in whose vehicle the foreigners were travelling, had also testified before the tribunal that his passengers were unarmed and feared reprisal from the police.

The cameraman, who filmed the shooting of foreigners and was initially detained by the police, has also expressed fears for his life, after receiving threats.

Condemnations

Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani strongly condemned the murder and ordered a probe.

The cold-blooded murder of ‘a brave doctor’ is a clear failure of the local administration and law enforcement agencies, said Senator Haji Lashkari Raisani.

The doctor was being forced to change his postmortem report, which he did not, the senator said.

“The police are investigating the murder from all aspects, and also considering the threats which he had been receiving,” the Quetta police chief told the media.

Shah is survived by his widow and two sons, aged eight and fourteen. His body was taken to his ancestral town of Jacobabad for final rites.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.

GUJJAR KHAN: Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Dr Asim Hussain said on Thursday that that the gas shortfall has reached one billion cubic feet, reported Express News.

Speaking to the media in the Daultala area of Gujjar Khan on the inauguration of Adhi Oil Field, Hussain said that in the month of January, gas supply to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations and industries will be slashed.

He also alleged that the previous government had been involved in the exploitation of gas resources and profiteering.

The minister also said that the CNG association should “stop lying” and added that they earn a profit of Rs28 per kg. He distributed shares to Adhi Oil Field under the Benazir Employees Stock scheme and also announced a bonus for the employees.

Earlier on Wednesday, the petroleum ministry finalised a summary of hikes in gas prices and has sought formal approval from the prime minister.

According to the summary, consumers will face a hike between 14 and 207 %, in order to generate Rs385 billion for gas utilities and import projects.

If the summary is approved, the price of CNG would rise from Rs67 per kilogramme (kg) to Rs80 per kg – a hike of Rs13 per kg.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) will cost an additional Rs14 per kg after the imposition of Petroleum Levy worth $120 per ton on locally-produced LPG. This hike would generate Rs4 billion in additional revenue for the government in a year.

FAISALABAD: In 2004, Aarifa Karim Randhawa was the youngest ever Microsoft certified professional in the world. Born in 1995, she received the prestigious title at the age of nine.

On December 22, Aarifa was admitted to Lahore’s CMH hospital after suffering cardiac arrest. On Thursday, doctors said there is no hope for her survival, and that her life support could be switched off ‘at any time’.

Aarifa’s father, Lt Col (Retd) Amjad Karim Randhawa told The Express Tribune that she had suffered an epileptic attack, which caused severe brain and heart damage. Randhawa said “only a miracle will allow my brilliant, genius daughter to live now”.

After the news of Aarifa’s condition emerged, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice and offered economic support to the family, but they have refused to take the money.

When Aarifa, now 16, was given the title of a Microsoft professional as a young child, she visited the company’s headquarters in the US.  When she met Bill Gates himself, she had two questions: Why weren’t children allowed to work for Microsoft, and why such few women worked for the organisation.

Her love for technology, however, started long before she was recognised internationally. After discovering computers for the first time at the age of five, she pestered her father for a personal computer, and after that there was no looking back.

Aarifa’s father recalled the year in which his daughter passed the test which enabled her to be declared the youngest professional certified by Microsoft in the world. “When she passed the test at age nine, everyone thought the result was wrong,” he reminisced. She wanted to make software just like Bill Gates, he added. She would say that she wanted to work for children and poor people.

Proudly, he said she came from a ‘low-profile’ family, but she would always say she wanted to study all over the world and then come back to help the people in her village. Her dreams were never for herself alone.

Aarifa’s achievements go far beyond recognition from Microsoft alone. The 16-year-old, a student of Lahore Grammar School’s Paragon campus, has represented Pakistan in various international forums.  In 2005, the child prodigy received the Fatimah Jinnah Gold Medal from the government as well as the Salaam Pakistan Youth Award. In addition, she has received the president’s award for Pride of Performance, medals from IT professionals around the world, and also became a brand ambassador for PTCL in 2010.

Her talents however, are versatile. Besides excelling in the field of science and technology, Aarifa also flew a plane at the age of 10.

Aarifa’s life hangs in the balance, and while most have given up hope, her father says: “I am praying and I want everyone to pray for her”. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM THE NEWS DESK)

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.

GUJRANWALA: As many as 14 people were killed and five injured in a family feud in Pipliwala village of Gujranwala on Thursday morning.

Twelve of the deceased were killed in assaults at Irshad Goraya, Ijaz Goraya and Azam Goraya’s houses. The attacks were carried out allegedly by Amjad Goraya’s men to avenge the killing of Amjad’s brother Saifullah and his guard, Usman, earlier in the day.

Seven people were killed at Irshad’s house, four at Ijaz’s house and three at Azam’s house.

The injured told The Express Tribune that the attackers broke into their houses and opened indiscriminate fire. The attackers later threw petrol at and set fire to parts of the houses, they added.

The deceased were identified as Farah (Irshad’s wife), Khushi Muhammad and Abdullah (Irshad and Farah’s children); Tanzeela (Ijaz’s wife), Fajr, Hajra and Maria (Tanzeela and Ijaz’s children); and Bushra (Azam’s wife), Mehek, Irshad Bibi, Mafia and Misbah.

Four of the injured were identified as Samar, Asif, Azam and Omar.

The injured were taken first to Gujranwala district headquarters (DHQ) hospital where two were referred to Lahore. Medical Superintendent Zafar Iqbal described the condition of these two as critical. He said the remaining three would be discharged after full recovery in a couple of days.

Police said the attackers had fled by the time Gujranwala city police officer Ahsan Tufail and officials from Saddar police station reached the scene.

Saddar police arrested two men, Gulfam and Nadeem Goraya, from the scene on suspicion. Station house officer told The Tribune that a police team was questioning the suspects.

He said Irshad Goraya, who had been living in South Africa, had arrived in Gujranwala after he was informed about the incident. The SHO said an FIR would be registered as soon as Irshad filed a complaint nominating people he suspected of involvement in the incident. He said police teams were already conducting raids to arrest Amjad Goraya, who has fled Pipliwala.

Earlier, Amjad Goraya’s brother Saifullah Goraya and his guard, Usman, were shot and killed by six unidentified men. Witnesses stated three of the assailants came riding two motorcycles and three posing as pushcart vendors.

They said Saifullah and Usman were standing in front of the main gate of the house when the kilkers opened fire at them with weapons they had hidden under fruit on the pushcarts.

Pipliwala residents said the feud between the two Goraya family groups – led by Amjad Goraya and Javed Goraya – was several years old and a number of people from both sides had been killed. Javed was sent to prison three months ago for allegedly killing a man from the rival group.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.

ISLAMABAD: The relentless Asma Jehangir lay down the gauntlet on Thursday.

If the court wouldn’t abandon the memo case, it should be prepared to question not just the civilians, but also the khakis, warned Jehangir, counsel for the former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani.

Jehangir piled up a host of questions before the Supreme Court as she concluded her arguments against the maintainability of the petitions in the memogate scandal on Thursday. The entire affair smacks of foul play, Jehangir argued, as she attempted to convince the court to abandon the case in favour of a probe by an NA panel.

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief left for London, without the prime minister’s permission, to meet Mansoor Ijaz, who had been writing against the ISI for the past three years with impunity, Jehangir argued.

If the court decided to hold a probe, it would also encompass the motive behind General Pasha’s visit to London to meet with Ijaz, Jehangir warned.

Jehangir insisted that the affair is a complicated political matter and should be left to the Parliamentary Committee on National Security for a decision. The judges did not appear entirely convinced.

“Do you want us to leave all these questions for the committee to decide?” said Justice Jawad S Khwaja. “I am also a parent and a citizen of this country and feel concerned,” the justice observed.

Jehangir said the judge was right in expressing anguish, but could not break free from the confines of the constitution’s dictates regulating his work.

She said Ijaz’s reply had been full of contradictions, and said that even General James Jones, who claimed to have delivered a memo to Admiral Mike Mullen, doubted the Pakistan government’s capacity in delivering on the terms set out in the memo.

Her query left the chief justice quizzical: “Why did General Jones deliver the memo to Admiral Mullen if he felt this way?” he observed

Jehangir then attempted to punch holes in Ijaz’s credibility. The court should not attach more credibility to the statement of Ijaz than that of her client, who made ‘hectic efforts for safeguarding the country’s interest’ as the ambassador to the US, she argued.

The Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who is protecting our borders, had confirmed the existence of the memo, the chief justice shot back.

Jehangir talked about General Kayani’s responsibilities, but added that history bore testimony to the fact that generals too made mistakes.

She added that the right forum for holding her client responsible for his alleged crime was the PCNS, or a probe under the Inquiries Commission Act of 1956.

Do you seek an inquiry for your client and later referral of that inquiry to an authority through the government, asked Justice Saqib Nisar.

Precisely, Jehangir answered, adding this is what she meant when she sought ‘due process’ for Haqqani.

The petitioners, meanwhile, insisted that the court forge ahead. The memo is an American conspiracy to pit the army against the government, argued petitioner Barrister Zafarullah.

He asked the court to dismiss Jehangir’s application against maintainability because the case is related to the infringement of the collective security of the country.

Another petitioner, Tariq Asad, said the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the case and order a probe into the matter.

Proceedings were adjourned for Friday (today) after counsel for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif said he would require time to convince the court that it has the jurisdiction to order a probe under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.

The court directed the petitioner to wrap up their arguments and rebuttal by Friday so it could take a decision on the maintainability of the petitions.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.

Many local eateries and tandoors have invested in a locally-made compressor, which works like a suction pump does for water lines. The compressor sucks the gas supply from the main line, depriving others of their share.

A small compressor costs Rs1,500 with an additional Rs500 for installation. The cost can go up to Rs4,000 for larger compressors. The beauty of the arrangement is that these compressors do not make any sound – unlike suction pumps – and thus cannot be detected by gas company inspectors.

Those involved in the scam are celebrating their abundant supply of gas. When probed for guilty-feelings, they say they have no choice.

“I am not facing any shortage due to this small component,” said Sultan Ali from Rawalpindi Cantonment. “I know it is illegal but what can we do? The government has allotted CNG stations to wealthy people, but poor people like me who earn a small amount from my trade are suffering.”

Rehmat Ali, a tandoor shop owner, said that he justified the theft as a matter of economic survival. A small Pakistan-made compressor which is used in airconditioners or refrigerators costs between Rs600 and Rs1,000. These compressors are now being sold for much more as demand increases, says Atif Mehmood, a shopkeeper on City Road who sells these items.

Sui Gas Company officials say that the company knows of the nefarious practice and will conduct a survey once the legal requirements are fulfilled.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2011.

QUETTA: Interior Minister Rehman Malik came under heavy criticism on Wednesday’s session of the Balochistan Assembly over his statements regarding unregistered religious seminaries. The prime minister was also criticised, with members expressing fears that despite 2012 being labelled the year of Balochistan, it may prove to be the worst one yet.

Senior Provincial Minister Maulana Abdul Wasey of the Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam (JUI-F) lashed out at Malik for his statements that unregistered religious seminaries will be demolished.

“No one is happy with Rehman Malik and it seems he has been imposed forcibly on us as the interior minister against the will of the people,” he said and went on to claim that Malik was an ‘agent of Israel, America or England’.

“Whenever there is a process underway for religious harmony and unity, Mr Malik is there to sabotage the process. He has sabotaged the reconciliation process in Balochistan by his undesirable statements,” Wasay said, adding that Malik’s intention was ‘to sabotage the peace process in the region’.

The JUI-F leader said that democracy could not be strengthened in Pakistan if ‘dubious characters’ like Rehman Malik exist.

“The JUI-F always struggled for bringing the nationalists on one platform and will do so in future.”

Wasay also took a swipe at the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s statement that 2012 will be declared the year of Balochistan. “No one should dream or be involved in wishful thinking that Balochistan in 2012 will be better because considering the situation it seems the 2012 will be the worst year,” he observed.

Development projects in Balochistan

The National Highway Authority (NHA) also came under fire in the Balochistan Assembly on Wednesday. The authority was criticised for not releasing funds for the completion of highways across the province. “The federal government released merely Rs7 billion out of Rs34 billion earmarked for highways in Balochistan. And it seems no funds will be released in 2012,” Maulana Wasay predicted.

Habibur Rehman Mohammad Hasani, a Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) backed Senior Minister, alleged that the NHA had been diverting funds away from Balochistan for projects elsewhere on one pretext or another.

“The NHA has diverted the funds allocated for Balochistan to Multan on the pretext of law and order situation,” he alleged. He added that areas of Mastung and Chaman were stable and peaceful and questioned why the NHA did not complete construction in those areas.

Begum Shama Parveen Magsi of the PML-Q said there was much that needed to be done in Balochistan, particularly construction of highways. “Many districts of Balochistan are deprived of even basic facilities like telephone connections,” she said.

Murder of Hafiz Qamar condemned

The Balochistan Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the recent killing of Hafiz Qamar in Karachi and demanded of the Sindh government to launch a transparent investigation into the matter.

JUI-F Minister Maulvi Mohammad Sarwar tabled a resolution in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2011.

ISLAMABAD: Barely a month after Pakistan’s retaliatory decision to block Nato supplies for the coalition forces stationed in Afghanistan, the United States has decided to export all its cargo, including military hardware and arms, out of Pakistan.

Sources told Express News that the break in supplies has frustrated US authorities to the point where they are now weighing various options to move around the cargo stranded at various locations in Pakistan.

“It has been a month since the Nato attack which resulted in the port and border closures with no resolution in sight, the US government intends to have all import unit cargo that is currently staged at different Container Holding Yards (CHYs) moved back to Karachi port or the nearest CHY to the port. Once we receive approval, all unit cargo will be exported out of Pakistan,” wrote Anita Rice, Chief of the OCCA SWA (595th Trans Brigade, NSA Bahrain) in an email to all ‘concerned’ persons.

“To ensure smooth transition from import to export cargo in the Pakistan Customs Clearance System (PaCCS) and Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) computer systems, documents are required to be submitted to the US consulate in Karachi,” Anita added in the email.

“We require all USC-6 (universal contract 2006) carriers to submit the required documents to the US consulate, Karachi (karachidodcustoms@state.gov) for cargo/supplies currently staged outside the port for export,” the email read.

According to sources, US cargo, stranded in Pakistan, is worth millions of dollars and US authorities have serious concerns over the safety of the cargo as it includes hammer vehicles, dumpers, anti-aircraft guns, special carriers of anti-aircraft guns, vehicles specially built to jam communications, cranes and sophisticated weapons.

“We will compile information for submission to Pakistan customs for amendment for cargo export,” Rice said in her email, providing US Lieutenant Colonel Jerome Heath’s contact number for further assistance.

Furthermore, it was learnt that the US was using Pakistani routes to supply cargo to its military forces fighting in Afghanistan since 2006 under USC-6 (universal contract 2006).  Under this arrangement, US military personnel were engaged in loading and unloading of cargo while no physical checking was being carried out by Pakistani authorities.

When approached by ExpressNews, Rice refused to comment. Heath was also not available to share his version on this report.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2011.

Detailed background interviews of informed government officials conducted by the Express Investigation Cell revealed both the scale of the fraud as well as the manner in which it was conducted.

Among the officials implicated in the alleged scam are former Industries Minister Mian Manzoor Wattoo, his predecessor Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Senator Ismail Baleedi from Balochistan, as well as a shockingly large number of senior officials from the industries minister, the state-owned Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), and the National Fertilizer Marketing Ltd (NFML). Many of the officials named in the report are still serving within the government.

If the details portrayed in the inquiry report are accurate, the scam was remarkably elaborate and relied on the cooperation of officials who knew exactly how the complex logistical operation of the government’s import and distribution of fertiliser works.

Given Pakistan’s chronic shortage of urea, the government imports the fertiliser every year. TCP is charged with importing the fertiliser and then passing it off to NFML, which distributes it locally. The government subsidises the urea by making the NFML sell it at far below global import rates, importing it at around Rs2,550 per 50-kilogramme bag and selling it for Rs1,050 per bag.

While NFML has its own distribution network, much of the actual sales of fertiliser are done through thousands of authorised dealers, who are required to sell the fertiliser at prescribed rates. Yet it appears that between 2009 and 2011, this elaborate nationwide network effectively ceased to deliver subsidised urea to Pakistani farmers, forcing them to pay global market rates, while still leaving the taxpayer with the bill for subsidising the fertiliser.

“Over 50% of the imported urea (500,000 tons) simply did not reach its destination,” says the report.

The group allegedly behind the scam went to quite some trouble to hide their tracks. The report states that they created almost 600 fake dealers and agencies which were then given authorisation to distribute subsidised fertiliser through the connivance of corrupt officials both at the industries ministry as well as TCP and NFML. Around 30 officials were allegedly inducted into NFML specifically to facilitate corrupt transactions, the report alleges.

Mobile units were set up throughout the country to give the appearance of a legitimate, government-sponsored operation to distribute urea. But the report claims that it was all an elaborate ruse.

Once the fake dealers were able to procure the cheap fertiliser, they dumped it into storage sites across the country and waited for the resultant artificial shortage of urea to drive up local prices, forcing farmers to pay up to double what should have been the subsidised price. Prices shot up from Rs1,050 (the mandated price) to Rs1,800 in 2009 and Rs2,000 in 2010. The entire network of corrupt officials allegedly pocketed the difference, which amounts to a whopping Rs300 billion.

“A survey of the outlets was conducted which made the stunning disclosure that on the direction of powerful politicians, NFML set up hundreds of fake dealers/agencies to dump and sell imported urea, at black market rates,” reads the report.

The investigation further makes it clear that the fraud had help from people in positions of authority, who designed policy to facilitate the scam. “There is undeniable evidence that dumping of urea has taken place. There is also evidence that decisions were made that could lead to further dumping through establishment of mobile and temporary fertiliser stores.”

As one reads through the report, the allegations continue to get more damning. “The NMFL management has knowledge of urea dumping and smuggling between the summer of 2009 and December 2010, but did not carry out any disciplinary action against any contactor or dealer,” it reads in one place.

The inquiry report itself is remarkably impressive, naming nearly every single official involved, as well as the names and details of every one of the fake agencies and dealerships. It points out that Wattoo’s home district of Okara has a disproportionately high number of the dubious entities.

A letter sent by NFML, dated June 25 of this year, requests action from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against the allegedly corrupt officials, but so far no action appears to have been taken.

Indeed, far from any action being taken on the basis of the inquiry’s recommendation, the inquiry committee’s members – Chaudhry Sharif, Faiz Ali Bukhari, Muhammad Akbar and Amin Mukhtar Gondal – have allegedly faced retribution from the officials involved in the scam. Sharif was reportedly sacked from the NFML for his role in the inquiry.

Most of those named in the report deny any wrongdoing. Kashmir Affairs Minister Mian Manzoor Wattoo denies having any involvement in the fake agencies scandal. “Farmers still remember my tenure when urea was available at Rs750 a bag. Nobody can point fingers at me for the fertilizer import and delivery [scam].”

Wattoo’s personal secretary claims that his name was included in the report on account of bias by the investigators. Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani was not available for comment, despite several attempts to reach him by telephone and text message.

Senator Ismail Baleedi was perhaps most upfront about his involvement, admitting that he had written a letter to the NFML management requesting that the distribution contract for his district be given to Humsafar Transport Company. “Being a senator and public representative I asked the NFML management, in writing, to give the urea transportation contract to Humsafar Transport Company on merit. I think by doing so I did nothing wrong,” he said.

Industries Secretary Aziz A Bilour declined to comment on the matter. Agha Nadeem, an additional secretary at the ministry, was asked by Bilour to comment on the matter. At first Nadeem was reticent to discuss the subject before finally saying: “It is the NFML board which decides each and every issue of the organisation and it should be approached for further queries or comments.”

When asked to comment, NFML Managing Director Tariq Shafi said: “I am not aware of the inquiry committee report and therefore cannot say anything on authority. However, I think it is an issue which occurred before my taking charge at NFML.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2011.

This move was discussed in a meeting held at the Presidency last week, where the legal brains of the party were asked to contemplate how to overcome legal bars, if any, on Haqqani since he recently resigned as the ambassador, sources said.

Article 63 of the Constitution puts a two-year bar on any government servant to contest polls after retirement. Clause (j) of the same article extends this bar period to three years if a person is removed or compulsorily retired from service.

However, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani recently told the media that Haqqani had voluntarily submitted his resignation after his name appeared in the Memogate scandal, currently a bone of contention between the military establishment and the PPP.

Although Haqqani served as ambassador to the US, he does not belong to the civil service group and some legal experts are of the opinion that the two-year bar might not apply in his case. However, most constitutional experts believe that Article 63 will be a major stumbling block.

PPP Secretary-General Senator Jahangir Badar refrained from confirming the intent of his party, saying that he has asked interested candidates to file applications by January 10, after which the party will decide who to award the tickets to.

Furthermore, the ECP recently barred dual nationality holders from taking part in elections. However, a PPP leader, who attended the meeting where the proposal was being discussed, said that he was not sure if Haqqani possesses dual nationality. However, there is a precedent in the past where the Supreme Court allowed Umer Ghuman to contest the 2002 polls despite the fact that he was US ‘green card’ holder.

An official of the Election Commission who deals with election wing of the commission said he was not sure if Haqqani will fall in the category of clause (m) of the article 63 that exempts some holders of offices in the government service from any ban in taking part in elections. “This would be the first case of its nature as far as I know,” the official said.

Justice (retd) Tariq Mehmood, a legal expert, was of the view that the bar will apply: “There is precedent: Syeda Abida Hussain’s nomination papers that she had filed for 1993 elections on the same ground were rejected.”

Hussain also confirmed the rejection, saying that after servicing as ambassador to Washington from 1991-93 she filed her nomination papers to take part in 1993 elections but the returning officer and the election tribunal rejected them. She later moved the Supreme Court and her appeal matured in 2000. “The full bench of court gave a detailed verdict where they specifically mentioned which offices were exempted,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2011.

The provincial elections were immediately called for to address workers’ grievances after estranged senior party leader Javed Hashmi quit the PML-N on December 24.

“Nawaz Sharif was involved in conniving for Rehmat Salam Khattak’s appointment [party’s newly appointed provincial general secretary],” an angry Saranjam told The Express Tribune.

He also alleged that senior party members were being sidelined. He ruled out switching over to the Awami National Party, though. Saranjam said he has only resigned from the party’s CEC, not from its basic membership.

Saranjam’s resignation, and an earlier ruckus during the party’s general council meeting in Nawaz’s presence, cast a blot on the party’s reorganisation drive. Nawaz had met Saranjam earlier on Tuesday, in an effort to woo him back into the party.

Ruckus in the house

When Khattak was announced the provincial general secretary by the party’s chief election commissioner Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, supporters of two female candidates, Mehr Sultana and MPA Shazia Aurangzeb, staged a protest and clashed with Khattak’s supporters.

When Jhagra was unable to resolve the racket, Nawaz went up to the dias, following which the female candidates retracted their candidature.

At this point, Saranjam walked out against the nominations, and said he was not ready to accept anyone as his leader without proper elections held according to the party’s constitution.

The party announced Pir Sabir Shah as the provincial president and Anwar Kamal Marwat, Abdur Razaq, Malik Jehanzeb and Abdul Subhan Khan as provincial vice presidents. The provincial president was asked to nominate other office bearers.

Railing against the government

In his address following the elections, the PML-N chief hit out at the government for “following pro-US policies of Mushrraf’s regime” at the cost of Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Pakistan, particularly K-P and the tribal areas, has suffered immensely in the war on terror, he said.

The government has also failed to address challenges like the energy crisis, economy, unemployment and terrorism, Nawaz said.

He added that the government intentionally kept the public in the dark about issues like Memogate, the Abbottabad raid, drone pact with the US and the attack on PNS Mehran. Nawaz said he moved the Supreme Court as a last resort over the Memogate issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2011.

According to reports, security forces bombarded the Sami Bazaar, Addukhel and Bodakhel areas with shellings and destroyed six militant hideouts.

Clashes between militants and security forces have been on the rise lately, resulting in deaths on both sides, as military operations continue in the area.

Security forces have increased their advances in the agencies over the past few days. Drastic security measures have been adopted in the region, with cell phone services suspended in the nearby district of Hangu and its adjoining areas.

Security forces also launched a massive crackdown against militants in Upper Orakzai Agency a few weeks ago to clear out militant hideouts in remaining parts of the agency.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2011.

The executive board of NAB approved an inquiry against former inspector general police Malik Naveed, additional inspector general police Abdul Majid Khan Marwat and former assistant inspector general police Sadiq Kamal Khan, according to an official statement.

Officials investigating the case told The Express Tribune that Malik Naveed was wanted by NAB in various corruption cases. “Naveed made millions in an arms purchase deal worth Rs6 billion with a Chinese firm a few years back,” alleged an investigator.

Interestingly, Naveed is now pursuing a political career and has recently joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf after a successful career in the police force. At present he is working with his close friend, head of PTI’s scrutiny committee in the province, Rustam Shah Mohmand.

“Those who have lodged a reference against me in the NAB court have lost their nerves. I was the person who helped the Pakistan Army restore the government’s writ in Swat,” Naveed told The Express Tribune, last month.

The board meeting, chaired by NAB chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari, on Wednesday also authorised an investigation into the Royal Palm Golf Club case, directing investigators to ascertain the extent of losses caused to the national exchequer. The members believed that the case involved intentional misuse of land and the bureau would move readjust the agreement executed in favour of the concerned contractor. The board also approved the filing of a reference against former vice president United Bank Limited Quetta Muhammad Nawaz Qazi for the misappropriation of funds.

In a case pertaining to the allotment of plots to seven members of the Provincial Assembly from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the board referred the case back to NAB, Peshawar, requesting the provincial government to seek regularisation as per the government’s rules of procedures.

The board meeting also approved the closure of two inquiries, cases pertaining to Sindh, due to lack of evidence. The board had ordered investigators the closure of investigation against two former MPAs,  Lal Bux Bhutto of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pervaiz Ahmed Khan of the Awami National Party last month. However, no details pertaining to the corruption charges against these leaders were mentioned in the notification. ANP leader Pervaiz Ahmed Khan joined PTI in December after quitting his party.

In another case submitted by NAB, Balochistan, the NAB chairman directed the regional office to further probe the role of flour mill owners who were a party to the embezzlement of wheat from a government godown in Quetta.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2011.

Following court orders, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bani Amin handed over the recovered amount, Rs3,267,000, to the bank’s manager in a ceremony.

The IGP said that bank cashier Raja Tahir and bank officer Muhammad Rafique were arrested for aiding the bank robbery in which the security guard, Muhammad Rafique, was killed and over three million rupees were stolen by unidentified robbers in February 2005. The accused were sentenced by the court and the police were asked to recover the looted money from the suspects.

He said that the accused initially tried to put the investigators on a wrong track; however, the money was recovered in intervals on the information provided by the suspects.

The IGP also revealed that the Crime Investigation Department (CID) has arrested six suspected terrorists from Islamabad expressway, including a would-be suicide bomber Wali Gul. The IGP refused divulge further details saying that the suspects are being interrogated.

However, CID sources said they had not arrested any suspected terrorists, adding that the suspects were nabbed by a security agency.

The IGP also said that the Crime Investigation Agency of the police recently busted four gangs involved in crimes of heinous nature. He said a four-member gang from Khushab involved in looting money from people by impersonating as officials of different cell phone companies was also busted. “The gang members would pose as managing directors of various mobile companies and offered people with prize money through lucky draw on easy-load,” he said.

The IGP said that eleven of the arrested men are suspected to be involvement in robberies and fraud, adding that cash and other looted items were also recovered from their possession. Twelve car thieves were also arrested by the teams of Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) during the current month, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2011.