Muttahida decides to quit ARD
KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi
Movement has finally decided to quite the Alliance for
Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and the decision in this
regard will be announce on Wednesday (today). Sources
claimed that Muttahida leadership had already taken the
decision but it would be announced after the meeting of
the Coordination Committee being held today.
Talking to The News,
Deputy Convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Aftab Shaikh
blamed the PPP and PML-N leadership to force Muttahida's
decision. A spokesman of the information section of
Muttahida also expressed shocked over the criticism of
the ARD leaders against Muttahida and said when the
component parties of the alliance could not provide
guarantee for provincial autonomy "how would they
restore democracy in the country".
According to Aftab
Shaikh, the Coordination Committee will review the
overall political situation especially the negative
attitude of the ARD leaders in its meeting at Nine-Zero.
However, he categorically denied the reports about any
deal between the Muttahida and the government, saying the
Muttahida did not want to strike a deal with the military
regime for any political concessions neither the it
believed in such tactics.
He declared that the
Muttahida would not allow anyone to use it to enter into
any deal with the government. He said there was
indications that the PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto
wanted to use the ARD to strike a deal with the military
regime like former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Shaikh said that the
crackdown against the Muttahida was still going on and
police and law-enforcing agencies were conducting raids
for arrest of Muttahida workers. He said that the
Muttahida only demanded assurance from the alliance
parties about the provincial autonomy under 1940
resolution. Shaikh said that Altaf Hussain also offered
that his party would withdraw other demands if ARD
leaders gave assurance that they would implement the
provincial autonomy under 1940 resolution.
Aftab Shaikh ejected the
impression that Muttahida intentionally raised this
demand to create atmosphere against Benazir Bhutto. A
party spokesman on Tuesday night also issued a press
release, saying that the ARD leader Nawabzada Nasrullah
Khan has termed the Muttahida's demands as unjustified
and accused it as anti-Pakistan. Terming the Nawabzada
Nasrullah's statement as shameful the spokesman said that
Muttahida did not believe in Nawaz-like deals.
However, PPP Sindh chief
Nisar Khuhro rejected the Muttahida charges and said that
Muttahida forced the ARD leaders to induct the PML-N into
their alliance. He said that the first ARD meeting would
be held on January 14 in Karachi and the Muttahida's
demands could be discussed in that meeting.
SNF welcome Altaf's statement
KARACHI, Jan 9: The Sindh National Front also welcomed the statement of the MQM chief, saying that it would end past bitterness and promote the feeling of solidarity in the province.
According to a party press release issued here, the SNF chief, Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, opposed the use of the term of 'Mohajir', which had given rise to misunderstanding among the people of Sindh.
It said: "If we are Sindhis, then we must stop calling ourselves Mohajirs."
Those who migrated from India in 1947 had become an integral part of this land, and since they have to live here, they should identify themselves as Sindhis, he advised, hoping for a strong alliance among the people of Sindh.
The remarks by the exiled MQM chief, Altaf Hussain, were made in a telephonic address to Sindhi journalists in Hyderabad.
PPP welcomes Muttahida's support
KARACHI: The PPP has
welcomed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf
Hussain's support for the rights of the people. Bilawal
House spokesman Munawar Suharwardi said that a united
Sindh could play a more effective role for a federal
Pakistan based on justice, equality, and free of
non-political interference. He said that the PPP and the
MQM were working together in the ARD and sat together in
provincial and national assemblies. Appreciating the MQM
as third largest party, the PPP called for universal
pardon in the wake of the regime selectively pardoning
PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif. Meanwhile, the former chief
minister and chief of Sindh National Front Mumtaz Bhutto
also welcomed Altaf Hussain for supporting the rights of
the Sindhis and suggested that all misunderstandings
would be removed if MQM dropped the word 'Mohajir'.
Muttahida leaders acquitted in murder cases
KARACHI: The Additional
District & Sessions Judge, Central, on Tuesday
acquitted Shoaib Bukhari, Wakil Jamali, Mohammad Husain,
Iqbal Ghori, Javed alias Pinky in three murder cases
registered in 1995. The five Muttahida leaders were
booked in cases after three bodies were found in gunny
bags from different places in the limits of Gulbahar
Police Station.
ABSCONDING: The
Additional District & Sessions Judge, East, Bashir
Ahmed Khoso declared the Muttahida chief Altaf Husain,
Zulfiqar Haider and late Ishtiaq Azher as absconders in
the case of inciting workers for riots, arsoning,
damaging official property during a strike called by the
party in 1995. Kunwar Khalid Younis, who is already in
police custody in other cases, has also been declared
absconder in the said case. The case was registered in
the limits of Shah Faisal Police Station in 1995.
KARACHI: 2000 saw steep rise in robberies
KARACHI, Jan 9: The year 2000 witnessed a seven per cent increase in crimes in Karachi and 5.6 per cent all over the province, with robberies and dacoities showing a steep rise.
According to statistics compiled by police, a total of 20,032 crimes of different nature had been reported in Karachi as compared to 18,661 in 1999. Similarly, 44,609 cases had been reported all over the province in 2000 as compared to 42,081 cases in the preceding year.
The official figures show that 439 people had been killed in Karachi as against 452 in 1999, whereas 1,714 people had been killed in Sindh last year as against 1,816 in 1999. In Karachi, 435 cases of attempt to kill had been reported as compared to 395 in 1999. 545 people suffered multiple injuries last year in the city in violent incidents and scuffles.
Last year, 84 people fell prey to terrorist activities in Karachi as compared to 85 in 1999. Since October 12, 1999, 90 people had been killed in terrorist activities. Some of the victims were Iqbal Raad, former advocate- general of Sindh, Syed Waqar Husain Naqvi, a TJP leader, Maulana Yusuf Ludhianvi, a religious scholar, and Maulana Athar Qureshi, a homeopath and president of Tehrik-i-Islami Sindh-Balochistan.
There had been an alarming rise in burglary cases, according to the official data. Last year, 832 cases of burglary had been reported in the city as against 700 in 1999, a 16 per cent increase over the preceding year. In the province, 1,965 cases had been reported last year as compared to 1,625 cases in 1999, showing an increase of more than 17pc.
The official figures recorded a 50pc rise in petrol pump robbery in Karachi, whereas the increase in the province had been 65pc as compared to the figures of 1999. The cases of other robberies, including house robberies, shop robberies, also rose by 3-7pc.
Though there had been a fall of 22.43pc in the cases of car hijacking and car theft in 2000 as compared to 1999, the graph of motorcycle hijacking and motorcycle theft recorded a rise. The data shows a 5.13pc rise in motorcycle theft and a 8pc increase in motorcycle hijacking last year as compared to the cases reported in 1999.
According to the data, 64 cases of child lifting had been reported in Karachi. A total of 34 such cases had been reported in the province last year. Of them, 22 children had been kidnapped in Karachi alone.
The official statistics show a rising trend in kidnapping cases in the province as 355 people, including young girls and children, had been kidnapped in Karachi as against 318 in 1999, and 908 had been kidnapped all over the province last year as compared to 852 in 1999. A rise of more than 10pc in kidnapping cases had been noticed in Karachi last year and an increase of about 6pc had been witnessed all over the province. However, various human rights organizations claimed that the number of cases of kidnapping was higher than those reported.
The Karachi police arrested 2,337 people for allegedly possessing illegal weapons last year under the Arms Ordinance as against 3,017 in 1999. 5,513 people were arrested for keeping weapons without licence in the province as against 6,917 in 1999.
According to the data, the number of alleged gamblers increased by 8pc last year. 843 people had been arrested last year in the province on the charge of gambling, 431 in Karachi alone. In 1999, 778 people had been arrested in Sindh for gambling, and the number for Karachi stood at 307.
Sindh approves police reforms: FIR registration simplified
KARACHI, Jan 9: The Sindh cabinet in its seven-hour long session held under the chairmanship of the governor of Sindh, Mohammedmian Soomro, here on Tuesday approved the Police Reforms-2000 besides other agenda points.
The task force on police reforms at the federal level had suggested some points on which there was consensus among provinces and these needed to be implemented at provincial level.
Accordingly the governor has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of home secretary to prepare recommendations for implementation of the reforms in the province.
The provincial cabinet which met at the new Sindh secretariat has approved a mechanism for free registration of an FIR, a statement under Section 154 CrPC.
It is aimed at providing an alternate procedure and place where any person who is refused registration of an FIR at the police station may approach easily for its registration.
In this regard, a format of the FIR has been approved which will be freely available at all public places including post offices, banks and other appropriate places and could be filled in by the complainant himself.
Any person wishing to lodge an FIR may fill in the format in duplicate and hand it over to SHO or duty officer of the concerned police station who in turn would receive it and hand over a copy to the complainant after signature and stamp.
In case of non-registration of an FIR at the police station the complainant could submit it to the CPLC and other notified offices as well as through registered post.
The punishment for a false FIR be increased and include damages. A scrutiny committee will also be formed to scrutinize arrests and false cases. The meeting has decided that sub-divisional police officer be made responsible for intimation of arrest of a suspect to its kins. A central reporting cell will also be constituted in each district to maintain update list of arrests and inform the public on telephone or on personal enquiry. For enhancing the service-oriented role of police personnel imparted with civil defence training to provide first aid in extreme emergencies.
Emergency medical equipment and ambulances be made available at least at district level.
Besides, trained community police officers be posted at every police station to provide counselling service to citizens while police station liaison council be formed and computerized reporting cells be opened with participation of citizens.
By restructuring and upgradation of selected police stations ASPs be appointed as SHO.
In the beginning the cabinet has decided to upgrade police station in Liyari and one suitable PS in district East of Karachi.
As per scheme a duty officer of the rank of inspector be available for 24 hours on eight-hour shift basis and an administrative branch, a custody officer, a security section will also be established headed by a sub-inspector. Separate investigation staff with district uniforms will also be available at upgraded PS.
The cabinet has also decided to provide funds for essential expenditure like vehicles, POL and stationery, the governor directed the provincial secretaries of finance and law to present a comprehensive plan in this regard.
A code of conduct based on the UN code of conduct for law enforcement officials and befitting the redefined role, responsibilities and duties of police has been proposed for inclusion in the police rules.
The cabinet also decided to adopt a merit-based transparent system of recruitment in police.
According to approved criteria a psychologist will also be included in selection board. For the selection of a constable the rural area candidate should be a matriculate while the candidate from urban area should be an intermediate. The candidate for an ASI post should be a graduate and intermediate for urban and rural areas, respectively. A recruit with qualification of matric should pass intermediate exam within five years and a recruit with the qualification of intermediate will be required to pass graduation examination within five years of selection.
The cabinet also approved the recommendations regarding upgradation and improvement of training facilities, effective command and control system and upgradation of forensic science laboratories and sharing of common facilities of data on fingerprints.
Earlier, Mohammedmian Soomro directed the concerned ministry for regular submission of progress report to cabinet regarding recovery of cooperative dues and SASO affairs.-APP
US-made missiles seized
GHALANE: Political
authorities foiled an attempt to smuggle arms and
ammunition from Afghanistan, sources said here on
Tuesday. The seized arms included 13 US-made missiles
including 10 MBRLs and three SBRLs. The explosives were
found in a dry nullah in Jummakhel area, where the
culprits were believed to have left the same after
smuggling it from across the Durand Line. Sources in the
political administration said: "The explosives were
meant for sabotage activities in Peshawar, Shabqadar and
Warsak Dam". Meanwhile, khasadars recovered fake
currency notes and impounded a vehicle.
One
killed