SC rejects govt report on Karachi
KARACHI: The Supreme Court rejected on Monday the government`s report on targets killings in Karachi and asked the attorney general to place on record reports from intelligence agencies on investigation into the matter.
As a five-judge special bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry took up the suo motu case, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq submitted a report of the Federal Investigation Agency, Sindh police`s Special Branch and Intelligence Bureau on target killings.The bench expressed dissatisfaction over the report and observed that it did not have facts needed to make headway. Apart from the first three pages, the bench said, it contained newspaper reports without an analysis.
A large number of people had gathered to attend the proceedings because of the concern over the bloodshed in the city and interest generated in the case by allegations levelled by Sindh`s former home minister Zulfikar Mirza at a press conference on Sunday against Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
Special security arrangements were made for the day with roads around the court building blocked with large containers to avert any untoward incident.
Sindh police chief Wajid Ali Durrani gave a presentation on the situation in Karachi.
He said recent demographic changes, ethnicity, sectarianism, clashes between land and bhatta mafias and easy access to illicit arms were mainly responsible for the law and order problem in the city.
The police chief said certain localities were `no-go` areas for rival communities. However, he said, police had access to all areas.
Giving details of incidents of violence between July 24 and Aug 24, the inspector general said 306 people had been killed and the bodies of 17 of them were found in gunny bags. He said 46 motorcycles, nine cars and two minibuses were torched.
Police conducted over 3,000 raids in different areas and, as a result, 18 people abducted on Aug 19 retuned home.
He replied in the negative when the chief justice asked him if statements of the freed people had been recorded.
The chief justice said there must be some groups patronising the kidnappers and target killers. The IG said police had arrested 20 suspects who had killed people for ethnic reason.
A judge asked if efforts had been made to ascertain the affiliation of those arrested for ambushing a private bus carrying policemen in Korangi.
The IG said nine policemen had been killed in the recent wave of violence and the bodies of two of them had been found in gunny bags.
Replying to a question, the IG said the extortion mafia collected money from every house and business concern in areas under their influence. The menace of extortion, he said, had surfaced about 12 years ago.
Earlier only one community was involved in extortion but now all ethnic groups were involved in it. The IG said there were a large number of illicit weapons, including rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns, in the city.
He said police had not found any torture cell, but Rangers had discovered two. He said there were 32,000 police personnel in Karachi and 8,000 of them were on VVIP duties.
The hearing was adjourned till Tuesday.
Draft bill to protect investors’ interest
ISLAMABAD, Aug 29: The Draft Securities Bill, 2010, seeks to empower the Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan to tackle emergency situation for safeguarding the interest of the investors in the stock market.Amendments have been proposed in the bill in consensus between the SECP and the members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance.
The amendments will be incorporated in the draft in the next meeting of the committee which has suggested that emergency powers have to be vested with the commission.
“The commission has reason to believe that in emergency or where it considers necessary or expedient in the interest of the public or for the protection of customers or where the commission takes action under section 13,” the amendment said.
The commission may direct by notice in writing a clearing house to take such action as it considers necessary, including but not limited to altering conditions of delivery; fixing the settlement price at which securities are to be liquidated; requiring additional deposits; margins or additional margins for any securities; and modifying or suspending any of the regulations of the clearing house. The clearing house shall comply with that direction.
The amendment said that where a clearing house fails to comply with the direction of the commission under sub-section (1), within such time as is specified , the commission may set emergency margin levels in any securities or class of securities; or take such other action, including but not limited to those specified in sub-section (1), as the commission considers fit to maintain or restore fair, transparent and efficient clearing and settlement of transactions in securities or any class of securities.
In this section, the expression “emergency” means any act of government affecting securities; any other major market disturbance which prevents the market from accurately reflecting the forces of supply and demand for securities; a threatened or actual market manipulation; or any other situation or practice which in the opinion of the commission constitutes an emergency.Suspension/cancellation of clearing house licence: The commission may by notice in writing served on the clearing house suspend for such period as may be specified in the notice or cancel a clearing house licence granted under this act with effect from the date specified in the notice if the clearing house ceases to comply with the eligibility conditions specified in section 23; ceases to operate the clearing facility that it has been licensed to operate under section 24; being wound up; fails to comply with any requirement of this Act; fails to comply with a direction of the commission; fails to provide the commission with information required or provides false or misleading information; operating in a manner detrimental to the public interest; or requests the commission to do so.
For the purposes of clause (b) of sub-section (1) a clearing house shall be deemed to have ceased to operate as a clearing house if it has ceased to operate its clearing facility for more than 30 days unless it has obtained the prior approval of the commission to do so; or cease to operate such clearing facility under a direction issued by the commission under section 31 or 32.
The commission may by the notice served under sub-section (1) permit the clearing house to continue, on or after the date on which the cancellation is to take effect, to carry on such activities affected by the cancellation as the commission may specify in the notice for the purpose of closing down the operations of the clearing house; and protecting the public interest.
Altaf Husain: British HC rejects reports
British High Commissioner Adam Thomson on Thursday contradicted the news reports regarding arrest of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, saying British government neither kept MQM chief under house arrest nor under observation and he (Altaf Hussain) was free to move without any restrictions.
Thomson was responding to media questions here at British High Commission where he hosted a reception to mark one-year to go to London 2012 Para-Olympic to meet Pakistani Para-Olympians hopeful for the London 2012 Games. The event was attended by a large number of Pakistani athletes who got medals in previous Para-Olympic Games. When asked whether the British government has kept MQM's chief Altaf Hussain under house arrest or imposed any restriction on his movement, Thomson said that the British authorities neither kept the MQM chief under house arrest nor he was under observation; rather he was free to move anywhere.
The British High Commissioner declined to comment on the letter sent by MQM chief to the then British Prime Minister Tony Blair rather said that Altaf Hussain could better respond to this. Zulfiqar Mirza, besides levelling other serious allegations against MQM and its chief, also alleged Altaf had send a letter to the then British Premier Tony Blair in 2011 urging him to get Pakistan's premier spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence 'disbanded' before "it created more Osamas". He said that MQM did not write any letter to British authorities regarding Zulfiqar Mirza.
To another query, he said that investigation into the murder of Dr Imran Farooq was underway. Earlier, talking to Pakistani Para-Olympian, he said, "Today marks one year to go to the 2012 London Para-Olympic Games." He said it has been a pleasure to host some of Pakistan's Para-Olympian hopeful, of which some of them are already medal winners, here at the High Commission."
The high commissioner said: "They are an inspiration for many people here in Pakistan who have a physical disability and they show that having a disability isn't a barrier to achieving your potential." He said, "They are some of the most determined and inspiring athletes I have ever met. The UK wants to harness the opportunity the Games present to bring about a change in the way people think, feel and behave towards disability and disability sport in order to create a more open and inclusive society."
The High Commissioner said, "The UK is renowned internationally for leading the way in disability equality and we want to maintain this reputation." "We're also using the Games to encourage more disabled people into sport at the grassroots level. This will not only help us find the next generation of Para-Olympians but also demonstrate how sports can enrich the lives of disabled people," he added.
He said the Para-Olympic Games (and the Olympics a few weeks before them) are not just about inspirational performances from the world's greatest athletes they are about the people of Britain welcoming the world, and they are about millions of people from across the globe coming together to share in an unforgettable experience.
The High Commissioner said, "With just a year to go, I want to use this opportunity to encourage people around the world to be part of the 2012 Para-Olympic experience. The Para-Olympic Games are the pinnacle of an athlete's career and every body hopes they motivate others to participate or engage in Para-Olympic sports and help increase social awareness to help create a more inclusive world."
In London in 2012 there will be more than 4,200 athletes from 160 countries to fight for 471 medals. There will be 20 sports at the 2012 Para-Olympic Games that include Para-Olympic Archery, Para-Olympic Athletics, Boccia, Para-Olympic Cycling, Road and Track, Para-Olympic Equestrian, Football 5-a-side, Football 7-a-side, Goalball, Para-Olympic Judo, Power lifting, Para-Olympic Rowing, Para-Olympic Sailing, Para-Olympic Shooting, Para-Olympic Swimming, Para-Olympic Table Tennis, Volleyball, Sitting Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby and Wheelchair Tennis. The Para-Olympic Games run from the 29th August until the 9th September just two weeks after the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.
Thomson was responding to media questions here at British High Commission where he hosted a reception to mark one-year to go to London 2012 Para-Olympic to meet Pakistani Para-Olympians hopeful for the London 2012 Games. The event was attended by a large number of Pakistani athletes who got medals in previous Para-Olympic Games. When asked whether the British government has kept MQM's chief Altaf Hussain under house arrest or imposed any restriction on his movement, Thomson said that the British authorities neither kept the MQM chief under house arrest nor he was under observation; rather he was free to move anywhere.
The British High Commissioner declined to comment on the letter sent by MQM chief to the then British Prime Minister Tony Blair rather said that Altaf Hussain could better respond to this. Zulfiqar Mirza, besides levelling other serious allegations against MQM and its chief, also alleged Altaf had send a letter to the then British Premier Tony Blair in 2011 urging him to get Pakistan's premier spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence 'disbanded' before "it created more Osamas". He said that MQM did not write any letter to British authorities regarding Zulfiqar Mirza.
To another query, he said that investigation into the murder of Dr Imran Farooq was underway. Earlier, talking to Pakistani Para-Olympian, he said, "Today marks one year to go to the 2012 London Para-Olympic Games." He said it has been a pleasure to host some of Pakistan's Para-Olympian hopeful, of which some of them are already medal winners, here at the High Commission."
The high commissioner said: "They are an inspiration for many people here in Pakistan who have a physical disability and they show that having a disability isn't a barrier to achieving your potential." He said, "They are some of the most determined and inspiring athletes I have ever met. The UK wants to harness the opportunity the Games present to bring about a change in the way people think, feel and behave towards disability and disability sport in order to create a more open and inclusive society."
The High Commissioner said, "The UK is renowned internationally for leading the way in disability equality and we want to maintain this reputation." "We're also using the Games to encourage more disabled people into sport at the grassroots level. This will not only help us find the next generation of Para-Olympians but also demonstrate how sports can enrich the lives of disabled people," he added.
He said the Para-Olympic Games (and the Olympics a few weeks before them) are not just about inspirational performances from the world's greatest athletes they are about the people of Britain welcoming the world, and they are about millions of people from across the globe coming together to share in an unforgettable experience.
The High Commissioner said, "With just a year to go, I want to use this opportunity to encourage people around the world to be part of the 2012 Para-Olympic experience. The Para-Olympic Games are the pinnacle of an athlete's career and every body hopes they motivate others to participate or engage in Para-Olympic sports and help increase social awareness to help create a more inclusive world."
In London in 2012 there will be more than 4,200 athletes from 160 countries to fight for 471 medals. There will be 20 sports at the 2012 Para-Olympic Games that include Para-Olympic Archery, Para-Olympic Athletics, Boccia, Para-Olympic Cycling, Road and Track, Para-Olympic Equestrian, Football 5-a-side, Football 7-a-side, Goalball, Para-Olympic Judo, Power lifting, Para-Olympic Rowing, Para-Olympic Sailing, Para-Olympic Shooting, Para-Olympic Swimming, Para-Olympic Table Tennis, Volleyball, Sitting Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby and Wheelchair Tennis. The Para-Olympic Games run from the 29th August until the 9th September just two weeks after the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.
| Business News |
| Mon, 29 August 2011 | |
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| - | Qadirpur gas field closed for 10 days Qadipour Gas Field located in upper Sindh has been closed for the maintenance and repair of |
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| - | Hong Kong shares rise 1...51% by noon |
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| - | Crude falls in Asia in US storms wake Brent North Sea crude for |
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| - | ADB ready to finance replacement of obsolete power distribution system ADB Director General Jaun Miranda, while talking to the Federal Minister for Water and Power, Syed Naveed Qamar, told that ADB wants to help Pakistan in the energy sector and in this conte |
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| - | KSE remained shaky over the week The market began on a negative note this week and remained vacillating until the end of the week, as the investors mostly shaken by the horrible law and order situation in the city preferred to be hi |
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| - | Lifting withholding tax on phutti notified Cotton ginners will be providing details of the sell |
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| - | Dollar rangebound against yen, Bernanke eyed The euro also lacked clear direction, tra |
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| - | Oil mixed in Asian trade In morning trade, New York"s main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light sweet crude for October delivery eased 10 cents to $85...20 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude |
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| - | Profit-taking softens Khi stocks Volume was at 44...82 million shares, compared with 40 mi |
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| - | Gold falls 2...2pc at $1,711...99 an ounce Investment appetite for gold has cooled ahead of a widely awaited central bankers" meeting at Jackson H |
Brief News:
Ø PPP disowns Mirza’s allegations
Ø Eid today in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Arab Countires
Ø Solution to Karachi problem liesin political dialogue.PM
Ø Afghan government scuttle US-Taliban talks
Mohammed Saleem Mansoori
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