DAWN/The News International, KARACHI 4 January 2001, Thursday, 8 Shawwal 1421
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PPP rebuffs Muttahida's charges
'PML promoted ethnicity'
Man dies in police custody
Three FC men die in Orakzai rocket attack
'Wah factory arms being exported to 30 countries'
Where primitive conditions still exist!
PPP rebuffs Muttahida's charges
KARACHI Jan 3: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has rebuffed charges levelled against it and the PML by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement accusing the two parties of committing "murders, raids, arrests and extra-judicial killings" of Muttahida's members.

In a statement Wednesday, a PPP spokesperson denied that his party had indulged in victimisation of the MQM. "PPP was a political government whereas the administration was in the hands of officers responsible for this function under the Constitution and law of Pakistan. Those officers had to fulfill their duties where they saw the law being broken or acts of terrorism and violence being committed. It is wrong to blame officials carrying out their duties to protect life and liberty of citizens," he contended.

The spokesperson recalled that "human rights organisations had raised the issue of extra-judicial killings and PPP asked the judiciary to look into these complaints. Consequently, one hundred and twenty-six judicial inquiries were held. Not one case of extra-judicial killing took place."

He stressed that MQM should agree to a respected human rights organisation holding inquiries into allegations that "its workers were trained to kill, kidnap, rob banks and indulge in acts of violence. These atrocities were committed against rangers, police, politicians, businessmen, labourers, taxi drivers and other poor people. The heirs of affected persons have had their lives destroyed by such acts."

The spokesperson asserted that "PPP recognises MQM as an important political force. However, it makes a distinction between political wing of the MQM and its terrorist wing."

According to him "PPP and MQM have different interpretations of history. The politics of tolerance calls upon both to respect divergence of views and avoid dictating a view upon the other". He hoped MQM would accept politics of tolerance and work with PPP and other political forces for restoration of democratic order.

Commenting on MQM demand for implementation of the 1940 resolution, the spokesperson said, "We recognise this is an important sentiment amongst several parties. PPP stand is to implement spirit of 1973 constitution by opposing a political role for the army, doing away with Concurrent list and giving greater powers to the Senate. PPP believes in devolution and is committed to it in its social contract." -PPI

'PML promoted ethnicity'

KARACHI: The Muttahida's Rabita Committee on Wednesday claimed that the Muslim League was the first party in Pakistan which promoted ethnicity. According to a press release, rebutting the allegations made against MQM Chief Altaf Hussain in a section of press, it said that the Muttahida had never promoted ethnicity. The committee claimed that now every body was aware as to which party was part and parcel of the Establishment. As such, making allegations against Altaf Hussain would be useless.

Man dies in police custody

KARACHI: A man who was arrested along with his two brothers and a nephew by Nazimabad police under section 151 died in police lockup in mysterious circumstances on Wednesday.

Janus Khan, 40, his brothers Kismat Khan, Abdullah Khan and nephew Ameen were arrested by SDM Nazimabad, Nabil Awan under Section 151. The SDM afterwards gave them into police custody.

According to police, they were running an illegal hydrant in Paposh Nagar. A clash took place between tanker drivers and the arrested persons. The area people reported the matter to the SDM. Subsequently, they were arrested.

According to the police, Janus Khan had complained a pain in his chest, and so he was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, however, he breathed his last on the way.

The MLO, Dr Liaquat Memon told to The News that deceased was brought dead to the hospital by the police. He said there were some torture marks on his body. The SDM and Sub-Inspector, Rustum took the body without a postmortem, the doctor said.

Abdullah Khan, younger brother of the deceased, alleged that SI Rustum subjected his brother to severe torture. He claimed that Janus Khan died in police custody.

Three FC men die in Orakzai rocket attack
KOHAT, Jan 3: Three personnel of the Frontier Constabulary (FC) were killed on Wednesday when rockets and missiles hit their base-camp in Kalaya, Orakzai agency, during exchange of heavy fire between two sectarian groups over a disputed tomb.

The situation became tense when political agent Dr Iftikhar Durrani and assistant political agent Fakhruddin, who had gone to the disturbed area in the morning, did not return and no contact could be established with them till late Wednesday night.

Some locals told this correspondent that the political agent and the assistant political agent were stuck up in the heavy firing area where rockets and missiles were being used by the sectarian groups.

The telephonic connection was also cut off between the disturbed area of Laira and the headquarters in Hangu district till late Wednesday night.

The personal assistant to the political agent told Dawn that he was trying to make contact with the political agent for the last seven hours but the line was out of order.

One group on Monday last had declared that the disputed Shah Baba tomb property was theirs which flared up the issue. Both the sects, besides attacking each other, were targeting the official property and the FC camps.

About 18 tribes of one sect had promised not to attack the other sect, but a few dissidents from the later opened fire on the other former and the agency headquarters on Wednesday morning.

'Wah factory arms being exported to 30 countries'
CHAKWAL, Jan 3: Pakistan is exporting arms and ammunition to more than 30 countries including the US, Great Britain, Turkey, Switzerland and earning billions of rupees in foreign exchange.

The Pakistan Ordnance Factories, Wah, had provided arms and ammunition to the Pakistan Armed Forces amounting to over Rs6 billion.

This was stated by Pakistan Ordnance Factories General Manager Naseem Raza in a briefing to a delegation of notables of Chakwal district on Tuesday at Wah. The delegation visited various departments of the factory.

Where primitive conditions still exist!

QUETTA: Like a majority of the population in interior Balochistan, the people of Makran division are enduring primitive conditions even today. It might seem strange that in this era of information technology, these poor people are even devoid of potable water, electricity, basic health facilities, proper roads, telephone and telegraphs services etc.

Despite having rich natural resources, Makran division is doubtlessly the most neglected part of the country. For the Makranis, the history is stagnant and the future bleak. Makran, which is spread over 23,400 square miles, attained the status of civil administrative division on July 1, 1977 with Turbat, Gwadar and Panjgur as its administrative districts. These three are among those 18 districts of the country where local bodies polls were held on December 31.

In the west and north west, Makran is bounded by Islamic Republic of Iran, in the east and south east by Khuzdar district of Kalat division and in the south, it has an over 200-mile long coastline with the Arabian Sea.

The whole area presents a living example of the neglect on the part of successive governments before and after Independence. Even in the 21st century, there is no concept of metal roads, proper health facilities and water supply schemes in the division. No civic amenities are available to the dwellers of the Makran even today.

The development in education sector during the last five decades can be gauged from the fact that there is only one inter college for boys in Gwadar, while there is no college for boys and girls in Pasni.

To the great astonishment of those living in the cosmopolitan and metropolitan cities, black-top roads only measure 50 km throughout Makran, while the total length of the Kachcha roads linking various sub-division and towns of the three districts in the division is over 2,000 miles.

All the governments made tall claims about bringing development and progress to this part of the country, but they only turned out to be hollow slogans. Whatever the reasons, there is no denying the fact that this neglect on the part of the governments turned a region with great potential into the most backward area of the country.

Unfortunately, the faces of its dwellers do not reflect happiness and prosperity; and how could they in a situation when the rate of unemployment and poverty is persistently escalating and numerous socio-economic problems have already the roots!

When nothing could be done for the development of Makran during half a century, how could one expect miracles in the near future!

© DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2001
© JANG Group, 2001

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