Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad INSPECTS CONSTRUCTION WORK OF FLYOVER AT SHARAE FAISAL

Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan inspected construction work of a flyover at Sharae Faisal during a visit on Monday night. He was accompanied by Administrator City District Government Karachi Fazlur Rehman, EDO Works & Services Rasheed Mughal and EDO Municipal Services Masood Alam.

RELIEF PAY-ORDERS DISBURSEMENT PROCEDURE DEFINED; PAY-ORDERS FOR CLAIMS OVER 1.5 MILLION WILL BE ISSUED ON COMPLETION OF SCRUTINY

Karachi Affected Markets Relief Committee’s Spokesman, A.Q. Khalil has said that Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s seven (7) loss assessment committees, in the presence of authorized representatives of affected markets, have meticulously completed the assessment and scrutiny of 2600 claims of affectees of Bolton Market Incident, and it is decided that relief payments through pay-orders will start in phases from 29th January, 2010. Chairman Businessmen Group and former President-KCCI, Siraj Kassam Teli has already announced that the pay-orders distribution work to affectees will start from 29th January, 2010 and the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari will begin the disbursing phase while distributing the relief pay-orders to affectees. In the second phase, Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Governor of Sindh, Dr. Ishrat Ul Ibad Khan, Provincial Ministers, City Nazim Karachi, will visit Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry to distribute the pay-orders to the affectees. According to the Committee Spokesman, latest colour passport size photograph, original computerized national identity card with attested copy must be readily available with each affectee because it is decided that affectees/ claimants will receive their claims themselves personally and thereby will submit an affidavit of claim acceptance, endorsing with signature and thumb impression in the presence of authorized market representative so that the whole procedure will be transparently maintained.

Spokesman appealed all the affectees to keep in touch with the chairmen of KCCI’s seven loss assessment committees who will issue the payment schedules, and abide the instructions accordingly. A.Q. Khalil further said that the affectees must not authorize any person on their behalf because payments will be made only to the real affectees of the incident. According to the Spokesman, Karachi Affected Markets Relief Committee has already decided that after the completion of payment phase of claims upto Rs.1.5 million, in second phase the payments of claims above Rs.1.5 million will start immediately after completion of scrutiny. He said that claim will be given to every honest affectee who has furnished his/her loss details with honestly, and after completion of scrutiny, relief pay-order will be issued.

BOLTON MARKET VICTIMS FUND SETUP, KCCI DEMANDED INVESTIGATION AND FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR VICTIMS OF ARSON ON M. A. JINNAH ROAD

Federal Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik, Governor Sindh, Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebad and Federal Minister, Dr. Muhammad Farooq Sattar, on the request of Siraj Kassam Teli, Chairman, Businessmen Group & former President-KCCI and Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad, President-KCCI, to express solidarity and condolence visited Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry and ensured the victims of fire-destruction of Bolton Market and other M. A. Jinnah Road Markets for financial relief and punishment to culprits. Rehman Malik announced to setup “Bolton Market Victims’ Fund” wherein Federal and Provincial governments, KCCI, All Pakistan Memon Federation and generous circles of the society will contribute.

Chairman, Businessmen Group and former President-KCCI, Siraj Kassam Teli while representing the Business Community demanded to investigate the M A Jinnah Road havoc happened on 28-December, whereby thousands of shops/ godowns were blazed to fire and goods worth billions of rupees turned to ashes. He demanded the government to provide financial relief to the victims who lost their entire business and properties in the tragic incident. He also demanded to raise a fund for victims, which Rehman Malik agreed and announced thereby. Siraj Teli termed the said incident as another bolt on the blue after 27-December and demanded to arrest and severe punishment of perpetrators. President-KCCI, Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad informed that he along with Managing Committee Members of KCCI, immediately reported to the affected area and deliberated there with Government Officials till midnight. Abdul Majid expressed his deep sorrow and condolence to the victims and ensured them complete support from KCCI for their financial relief in order to restore their businesses. Abdul Majid also ensured that KCCI will maintain a strong connection with government and law-enforcing agencies to arrest and punish the culprits. He welcomed the announced of Bolton Market Victims’ Fund by Rehman Malik at that juncture and informed that a cell has been setup at KCCI for the survey of losses and for financial relief to victims.

Federal Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik strongly condemned the tragic incident claiming precious lives and properties. He announced that investigation report will be brought to daylight and culprits will be punished. Rehman Malik informed that President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani were in contact with him for latest update on the tragic incident. He said that Federal Cabinet was flying to Gawader to attend cabinet meeting, however, he on the direction of Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani arrived Karachi to ensure the victims about relief by the Government and punishment to offenders. Likewise, he added that he called for meetings with all the stakeholders. He informed that ready availability of petroleum products on the accidental place proves a pre-planned destruction by the perpetrators. He quoted the recent speech of Prime Minister wherein its was hinted that some non-state-actors wanted to disturb the law and order situation in Pakistan. He further hinted that anti-Pakistan elements intend to weaken the economy of Pakistan and 28-December tragic incident implicit the same. He appreciated Karachiites for their patience on such tragic incident. He referred the said destruction is attack on the economy of Pakistan and requested the victims and business community to remain patient and not opt for strikes. Rehman Malik, for the relief of sufferers, announced Bolton Market Victims’ Relief Fund, wherein Federal and Provincial Government and alongside KCCI, APMF and generous people will contribute. He said that a survey will be taken to find out the estimate of losses, and after verification from NADRA, financial relief will be given to victims. He iterated that first priority of the government is to improve and maintain law & order situation in Pakistan and their government will not take rest till the total elimination of terrorist elements from Pakistan. He informed about recruitment of 20000 personnel to stabilize Sindh Police. He commented that fire-incident in three separate blocks of Bolton Market clearly shows a pre-planed destruction. A committee headed by Home Minister Sindh and police officials is setup to investigate the incident, he maintained.

Governor of Sindh, Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad Khan, on the behalf of leader of MQM, Altaf Hussain ensured entire support and cooperation to the victims and sufferers. He informed that his visit along with the Ministers is to express political ownership and relief for the tragic incident claiming precious lives and blazing of goods and business properties worth billions of rupees.

Federal Minister, Dr. Muhammad Farooq Sattar, on behalf of MQM, while addressing to KCCI, business community and the victims of tragic incident ensured entire support and announced that MQM will not touch any political matter or agenda till the provision of justice and financial relief to the victims. He ensured, on behalf of MQM, to reserve all their energies to restore the business activities of Bolton Markets and other destroyed markets of M A Jinnah Road to their normal business routine. He termed the said incident as 9-11 for Karachi. He lamented that Karachi was torched to fire on 27-December and now again its business-line is burnt to ashes. He declared the present situation as war-like and urged for taking concrete measures on war-footing for which patience was mandatory for all. He said the he was well familiar the feelings and sentiments of victims and the business community. He disclosed that video footages were already acquired by the government and criminal will be unveiled soonest. He suspected that if anyone acting as black-sheep from law-enforcing agencies being involved in criminal negligence will also be unveiled and punished.

Leaders and representatives from Small Traders and Victims strongly condemned the tragic incident and recorded their protest and demanded severe punishment to the perpetrators and financial relief to restore their businesses. They also demanded ban on processions. The President of Second-hand/used clothing Association informed that on outbreak fire, people approached Fire Stations, but Fire Engines were, forcefully delayed to despatched due to interference of some criminal elements equipped with arms present there. Rafiq Jadoon, Old City Alliance of Markets Association, apprehended that in the presence of law-enforcing agencies at M A Jinnah Road, it is not understandable, why and how perpetrators burnt the markets.

President-KCCI, Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad along with other leadership and Managing Committee Members, since the happening of the incident, maintaining contacts with high-ups of the government and meeting them for provision of relief to the sufferers.