Bomb Blast In DHA Karachi, MNA Yapoob Bazanjo Injured

KARACHI: MNA Balochistan National Party (Awami) from Balochistan Yaqoob Bazanjo was injured among his four family members and two servants as an explosion occurred in his residence in phase 6 of Defense Housing Authority on Friday.
Edhi and other rescue teams reached the bungalow and shifted the injured to Agha Khan Hospital.

Police have arrived on the scene and cordoned off the area.

According to SSP Ashfaq Aalam, the bomb was apparently packed in a parcel delivered to residence of the MNA.

Income Tax Bar shows serious concern against SRO 392(1)2009

The Income - Tax Bar Association has taken a serious note to the amendments made in Income Tax Rules 2002 vide SRO No. 392(1)/2009 dated 19th May 2009, even though the Bar and other Stakeholders had objected to the amendments.


RULE 13

The following needs to be added, as an explanation, after the formula, in Rule 13[3][a], inter alia, inserted in the Income Tax Rules, 2002, through SRO 392 of 19-05-2009, so as to eliminated misinterpretation.

“Gross Receipts” means the “FOB price” and “Ex-Factory Price”, respectively, of the goods exported and sold in Pakistan.

RULE 186

Amendments have been made to incorporate certain changes for arrest of defaulting tax payers. It is expected that these powers will create harassment and an atmosphere of mistrust between the tax payers and the assessors. The Bar is of the opinion that FBR should frame rules whereby the authority to invoke proceedings for arrest etc., should only be with the Director General of the Region and the DG should carefully study each case, individually before invoking these provisions.

RULE 213

A new rule has been incorporated in the law whereby, all NGO’s paying salaries over 50% of the total receipts of the NGO, will be refused to be registered as a trust entitled for exemption / tax rebate.

It was requested to the FBR that this condition will be very harsh for those NGO’s which are running schools and hospitals, where the salary paid is the heaviest expenditure of the institution. The enactment will not only debar the exemption status of a NGO, but will negate the government policy towards expending the educational and health facilities being provided in Pakistan.

RULE 228

There was a general consensus amongst the members, that this change is regressive and will lead to abuse and misuse by the tax officials as discretionary powers have been given to them. Rule 207 A to Income Tax Rules 1982 (repealed) was introduced to curb and eliminate the misuse of discretionary authority of the property valuation that was available with tax officials.

Alternately, it was suggested to the FBR that the rates notified in the District Officer (Revenue) by the Provincial Government both for plots and constructed immoveable properties be appropriately rationalized / modified and increased.

This suggestion was given to encourage fair play.

The Bar has taken a very serious view of this amendment and is of the opinion that this change will only enhance the level of corruption and will nullify the scheme of self assessment as envisaged by the policy of the government, which is planning to reduce the powers of the assessing authorities and encourage fair play.

KBCA Chief highlights Authority's one year performance

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, has approved the establishment of KBCA police station and a special court with full powers to take action against violators of Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) and the notification in this regard was awaited from the provincial home department.

This was disclosed by Arch Manzoor Qadir, Chief Controller of Buildings, KBCA, in a media chat at his chamber in the Civic Centre on June 3.

“The individual violators have stretched to groups who over a period of time have developed into a powerful mafia and stern actions are required to overcome the mafia, he pointed out.

The KBCA, he said, remains determined to vigorously enforce relevant laws which need police assistance and which is not available to required extent from police department and, therefore, KBCA need an exclusive police station and KBCA special court for prosecution of violators besides magisterial powers to KBCA officials.

“We moved a summary to the Chief Minister in this regard, having explained that the attainment of our objectives would just remain a dream if we were not provided with the desired facilities", Manzoor Qadir said adding that "we proposed actions in the interest of the security of public investment well as for good governance".

The CCOB said approval of the summary indicates the realization of the fact that the KBCA must be empowered both in legal and physical terms in order to enforce the building laws that are grossly violated by mafia.

By approving the summary, the provincial government has agreed to confer all the powers of a special magistrate on three senior officers (BPS 19) or above of the KBCA who could perform their duties to check unauthorized construction in accordance with approved plan and ensure the enforcement of the court orders of ejection of illegal occupants from the premises constructed illegally.

He informed that provincial government has allowed the establishment of a KBCA Police Station on the patterns of the CDGK and the KESC with all powers exercisable by a Station House Officer under the provisions of the code of Criminal Procedure in respect of offences of the Sindh Building Control Ordinance and other applicable laws.

Similarly approval has also been accorded for the establishment of a KBCA Court for trial of offences or prosecution cases under Section 19 of the Sindh Building Control Ordinance.

It will also have the powers of civil courts to decide the disputes between the purchasers and builders/developers. The special court is proposed to function under the supervision of a District Judge.

The CCOB pointed out that 90 violations of Building bylaws were being committed in justthree Towns of Saddar, Lyari and Liaquatabad and all 32 concerned officials were suspended on the order of Sindh Minister for Local Government for ignoring the violations.

He said these officials have now been restored but not given any posting until all the illegal buildings are demolished which they allowed to be constructed under their very nose and alternatively they will have to go home.

He informed that out of 100 buildings identified as having been constructed illegally, 90 were located in the Towns of Saddar, Lyari and Liaquatabad.

He said illegal construction activities started because of lacking police support to the under-strength KBCA.

In this regard he particularly cited example of two coolies who were thrown on ground from 7th floor of a building in Saddar Town being constructed illegally when they went their for demolition action.

He pointed out that in Lyari Town 17 buildings were demolished but these were reconstructed and KBCA took the matter to High Court and also registered a FIR against the police as they were directed by high Court not to allow a demolished structure to reappear.

He said that out of 100 buildings identified 28 were demolished in Lyari and 11 out of 12 in Saddar Town besides 17 in Liqauatabad Town.

He said while situation has been controlled in Liaquatabad Town, vilations are still being reported from Saddar and Lyari Towns and the situation will come under control there and elsewhere in the city when KBCA Police Station and Special Courts will start functioning.

The CCOB informed that KBCA plan for city skyline has been approved with demarcation of two high density zones - at I.I. Chundrigar road to Mai Kolachi and around Shaheed-e-Millat Road encompassing Shahrah-e-Faisal, Kashmir Road and Shahrah-e-Quaideen.

He said buildings to be constructed in these zones will have their own power generation, water supply and sewerage treatment facilities and their construction will not over-burden existing utilities.

Anyone wishing to undertake a project in high density zone will have to work either in joint venture with City or Provincial Government or bring foreign investment. He said they would be allowed 1:12 ratio whereby minimum 40 floors can be constructed with no upper limit.

He said that it has been suggested that instead of each project to have its own power plant, water treatment and sewerage treatment plants, these facilities would be created for entire area for which Federal Government has been approached for assistance in the form of seed money.

He said the idea was developed by a team of 11 renowned architects led by Yawar Abbas Gilani.

Replying a question, Manzoor Qadir said that the KBCA provided funds of Rs 1.18 billion to the City District Government in one year.

Karachi Region win 12th Sindh Games

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

The 12th edition of the Sindh Games concluded with a colourful ceremony at the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Sports Complex in Larkana on May 31 with the Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah declaring the Games closed.

He paid rich tributes to the Provincial Sports Minister, Dr Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, to have dared holding the Games in the month of May, that’s generally considered hot from the sports point of view.

“We have known that the outdoor sports events in our country are staged in the season of winter or spring. But Dr Shah deserves credit to have given us the concept that the Games could also be held successfully in summer. The success of the 12th Sindh Games proved the point that every season is suited to sports if the events are managed professionally,” he observed.

The Chief Minister, while congratulating Karachi Region for clinching the trophy once more, urged the athletes of the other four regions to continue working hard for improving their performance in the future events.

He presented the winners trophy to Dr Frahan Essa Abdullah, chef de mission of the Karachi Region who was then carried on shoulders by the elated members of the victorious contingent.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah announced that the next edition of the Sindh Games will be staged in Karachi. He announced a grant of Rupees five million for the sports department for holding the 12th Sindh Games in a splendid manner.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shah observed that his mission was to spread the flame of sports in every nook and corner of the province and he needed the support of the provincial government in fulfilling his ambition.

“I was advised by certain quarters to postpone the 12th Sindh Games or move it to any other venue in view of the weather conditions here. But it was my commitment to the people of Larkana to hold the Games here and we were able to organize it successfully despite all odds being stacked against us,” he said.

Dr Shah believed that the interior regions of the province deserved greater attention as they lacked the infrastructure facilities that didn’t allow their athletes to progress beyond a certain level.

The Provincial Minister for Local Government, Agha Siraj Durrani, who himself holds a black belt in karate, was highly appreciative of the efforts of Dr Shah and his team for having braved the hot weather and organized the Sindh Games so successfully in Larkana.

Ahmed Ali Rajput, Secretary, Sindh Olympic Association (SOA), in his speech, highlighted the various challenges that had to be met in holding the Games.

The welcome address was delivered by Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Sindh, in which he acknowledged the support of the concerned quarters in accomplishing the task of holding the Sindh Games.

“According to the directives of the government we are working tirelessly to develop sports culture in the province. It’s our desire to engage the youth in healthy activities with sports being on top in the list of our priorities,” Shoaib Siddiqui said.

'KESC increasing generation capacity'

KARACHI: The KESC will increase generation capacity by 150MW in June, and a further 180MW in September this year, the utility's CEO has told top government officials.

Briefing Sindh Governor Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan and various MQM leaders at the Governor's House on Saturday, KESC CEO Naveed Ismail also claimed that the utility's 'dependable capacity' had increased by 131MW, and that a 50MW rental power project had been commissioned in March 2009.

He said that adding all of the increases together, a total of 481MW of additional power would be available soon.

In addition, he claimed that the 560MW planned power plant at Bin Qasim would also considerably increase generation capacity. He said that in this respect a $56 million down payment had been made to a Chinese company, and the project was being fast-tracked.

Federal Adviser on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain agreed in the meeting promised that the KESC would be provided more relief in making payments to the Pakistan State Oil for the purchase of furnace oil. The power utility will accordingly be allowed to clear the PSO dues in three months instead of one month.

Sindh Governor Dr IshratUl Ebad Khan, who presided over the meeting, expressed hope that the special committee would successfully address the financial and investment issues related to the power utility and advised its management to devise an emergency summer plan for the city.

Besides KESC CEO Naveed Ismail and Federal Adviser on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain, the meeting was attended by federal ministers Dr Farooq Sattar and Babar Ghori, Sindh Health Minister Dr Saghir Ahmad, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal and MQM members of the national and provincial assemblies.

Mr Ismail also talked about the investment plans and assured them that in the light of the concerns showed by the elected representatives the utility would make all-out efforts to improve the power supply position.

A committee comprising MQM legislatures and KESC officials was constituted in order to address the issues of power outages, inflated bills and fast meters

Poster competition organised by Foundation for a Drug Free World in Karachi

KARACHI: Foundation for a Drug Free World organized citation ceremony for the first international poster competition in a local hotel. More than 400 institutions from all over Pakistan participated in it. Prizes and certificates were distributed among the winners by Pakistan Coordinator, Munir Moosa Sewani. Name of the winners are Deedar Karim from Aga khan social welfare board for frontier, Sunita, Fouzia Khan from Educare Academy, Hameed Dadali from City School, Kanwar Karim from Qamar-r-Bani Hashim School.

The team members include Sabeen Akhtar Hussain, Saleema Moosa Sewani and Hamida Ashiq Ali. Pakistan Coordinator Munir Moosa and Media cum Marketing Manager Sabeen Akhtar Hussain expresses views that Media is the most powerful tool to eradicate drug from Pakistan.(PR)

IDPs inflame ethnic strife in Karachi

* Pashtun influx is provoking resentment among Muhajirs and Sindhis

The refugee influx has inflamed ethnic rivalries in Karachi, the Wall Street Journal warns.

Dozens of people, it says have died in clashes in recent weeks between the rapidly growing Pashtun population and Karachi’s majority community. Armed factions backing the two are locked in a bloody contest to control the city of 18 million people.

This strife adds a new dimension to the security crisis that threatens the survival of the Zardari government.

The Urdu-speaking Muhajirs, are themselves refugees having fled India following the Subcontinent’s partition in 1947. Hundreds of thousands of Pashtun war refugees have joined established communities of earlier economic migrants.

Despite their occasional street battles, the two groups are formal allies in Zardari’s coalition government.

The MQM bills its conflict with the ANP as part of an overdue offensive against the Taliban. “The Taliban in Karachi are clean-shaven, wearing a shirt and pants, and holding an ANP flag,” says the MQM mayor. MQM leaders have called for screening the refugees for Taliban sympathisers.

The Pashtun influx also is provoking resentment among ethnic Sindhis. This week, Sindhi nationalist parties staged protest strikes in Karachi, shutting down parts of the city as they called for a ban on new refugees.

Karachi’s Pashtun leaders laugh off the accusations of Taliban sympathies. Muhammad Amin Khattak, ANP’s provincial secretary-general, notes that he hasn’t been to a mosque for months. “The people who are coming into Karachi, they are the ones who are suffering [at the hand of] the Taliban.”