Karachi not prone to major earthquakes, SSUET study claims

By Perwez Abdullah

Contrary to the general notion that Karachi is located on the major earthquake fault lines, researchers at the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), have discovered that Karachi is in fact situated along the Minor Earthquake Zone and is not prone to any major or devastating earthquakes.

The Institute of Human Settlement and Environment (IHSE) at the SSUET Department of Civil Engineering has also established that Murray Ridge Area, located about 200 kilometres southwest of Karachi, in the North Arabian Sea is vulnerable to the generation of Tsunami if a major earthquake strikes the region.

Civil Engineering Department Chairman, Dr S.M. Makhdumi, informed The News that IHSE has prepared four reports on disaster management , that include Disaster Preparedness & Development of Warning System for Coastal Region of Pakistan, Global Warming, Planning & Mitigation and Seismic Zones of Pakistan.

Dr Makhdumi said that IHSE that was established in 2001 has been working on the projects that are vital to the general public. “It has undertaken exhaustive scientific studies of natural disasters affecting Sindh and Coastal North Arabian Sea. The study established the vulnerability of coastal waters, south of Karachi, to the occurrence of Tsunami and recommends development of ‘Warning System’ for effective remedial and relief measures necessary to minimise the loss of human lives in case a Tsunami hits the coastal regions of Sindh.”

The IHSE has also updated the existing seismic zone map of Pakistan (1980) on the pattern of Sindh-Balochistan map already published by the university. The revised Seismic Zone Map of Pakistan, according to Dr Makhdumi, will assist the engineering institutions in Pakistan in revising and updating the building code of the country.

Former Pakistan Meteorological Services Director General, Syed Amir Ahmed Kazmi, who is currently an environment consultant at SSUET, said that the major seismic fault in Sindh, Sarjan-Jampir Fault, which devastated upper Sindh and buried Moenjodaro some 5000 years ago and remained active for centuries, is (according to the new definition of Active Fault 1986) in the process of stabilisation. “No major earthquake has struck Sindh during the last several centuries”, Kazmi asserted.

According to Kazmi, the Rann of Kutch area is seismically active and has generated Tsunamis in the past. However, due to the drying up of the sea water in the area around the island, the Rann of Kutch is now a solid mass of land and unlikely to generate Tsunamis in future. “Tsunamis will continue to be generated along the Makran coastal waters in future and cause major damage to Pasni, Gwadar, Jiwani and other towns in the coastal areas of Balochistan. However Tsunamis occurring along Makran Coast are not expected to cause damage to the Karachi coastal region”, Kazmi explained.

Shahid Saleem, Assistant Professor at the SSUET Department of Civil Engineering, and a member of IHSE team talked about the lethal effect that Tsunami could have. “Tsunamis can move at the speed of a hundred miles per hour, and its waves can be as high as 100 feet or more. The time lag between the occurrence of Tsunami and its waves hitting the coast is the controlling factor. This is the time that could wisely be used to minimise the brutal force of Tsunami if a warning system exists in the area”, Saleem emphasised

Pacific Tsunami Warning System, according to Kazmi, has two Warning Systems in Hawaii and Alaska. The United Nations, in collaboration with World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR), had decided to set up a Tsunami Warning System in the Indian Ocean after the devastating Tsunami that hit several countries of the region. The system was installed in 2006 and

now 25 countries have joined in. The countries include Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania and France (for Réunion), Australia and India.

Karachi Club remains tight-lipped over awards controversy

The Karachi Club has been embroiled in controversy regarding the allegedly unjust ‘Mastermind’ and ‘Genius’ awards it presents to students, but the administration of the club has declared the matter closed.

“This is a closed chapter,” stated Jameel Sarkani, President Karachi Club. “It is an internal matter of the club and should not be prodded by outsiders.”

The ‘Mastermind’ and ‘Genius’ awards are presented to students who have excelled academically in a given year. In a recently published report, it emerged that Syeeda Aziz, a student who had taken part in the competitions, had failed to receive a prize despite achieving 12 straight A’s in her ‘O’ levels. She and her father, Khwaja Azizullah, alleged that the committee deciding the prizes for both competitions had been biased.

“Applicants who are selected for the competition must appear for further aptitude tests and interviews,” explained Ali Asghar Valika, nine-time president of the club, in a meeting with The News. “Their extra-curricular activity record is also screened and affects final decision of the committee.”

However, the matter of the distribution of prizes was declared an internal affair when The News attempted to probe further. When discussing the club itself, Valika termed it a socially protected place for the affluent that offered its members many facilities and encouraged healthy competition through a variety of sporting and other activities. According to Valika, the club was not a commercial organisation and offered subsidised food.

There is no scholarship programme for its members, as according to club officials, those who can afford its high fees are capable of sending their children to top schools of the country.

“Those who pay Rs1.2 million membership fees are naturally quite well off,” said Valika, but added that currently, the club was facing a loss, despite its high fees.

FIA Cyber Crime Circle keeping pace with technology

By Asadullah

Securing evidence from Khanani and Kalia International (KKI) Private Limited was a demanding challenge for the young digital investigators from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), as the forex company’s information technology (IT) system was par excellence — the data storage facility was state-of-the-art ISO-27001 certified, and even maintained at the prescribed room temperature.

“Superior technology and expertise made it possible,” claimed Zafar Iqbal, Assistant Director of the FIA Cyber Crime Circle. “We have developed a hybrid team of senior FIA officials and young IT and computer forensic experts to investigate reported offences under Electronic Crimes Ordinance 2007.”

Young IT experts or digital investigators, as they’re called within FIA, recovered digital evidence of foreign exchange transferred by KKI, thus enabling their sister concern FIA Crime Circle to initiate prosecution of the accused with authentic documentary evidence in hand.

“We secure the evidence, which in most cases turns out to be deleted data, without any addition or deletion, with the credibility of presenting the same in any court of law,” explained Iqbal. “It is collection of evidence towards communication of crime.”

“Our case report, based on digital evidence, can be produced in any court of law in the world,” claimed another senior FIA official. “We have established our digital lab, which is now equipped with the latest equipment to investigate any communication-related crime involving computers and phones.”

As per the interior ministry’s notification issued on March 3, 2008, the FIAs Cyber Crime Circle Karachi has been given ‘whole of the province of Sindh’ as its jurisdiction. “We are directly linked to the National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes better known as NR3C, which gets cyber crimes related complaints,” said the FIA official.

Being part of the NR3C, the FIA Cyber Crime Circle has its police station located off Sunset Boulevard in Defence. The NR3C is capable of tracing out any kind of cyber crime committed countrywide. “Victims of cyber crime are lodging their complaints with our police station to get relief,” said Zafar Iqbal, who heads the police station as well.

The importance of FIA as a law enforcement agency was also felt by the government when all offences of Prevention of Electronic Crimes Ordinance, 2007 were added to the schedule of FIA. The FIA is now equipped with technical investigators, legal advisors, computer forensic experts and computer forensic labs.

Since communication equipment-related offences come under the Cyber Crime Circle’s purview, the department had to consider the role of technology to help investigations. “Cyber criminals leave digital footprints, which help computer forensic experts capturing any kind of hacking,” added Zafar Iqbal.

“Piracy and ignorance with regard to system’s security are two important areas which hamper online security,” said Amjad Abbasi, a technical investigator with the FIA. “We have been using the latest equipment to track down the accused through their mobile numbers, email addresses, websites and bank account details.”

The FIA Cyber Crime Circle in Karachi has dealt with more than 70 cases besides extending its expert help to different foreign missions, private companies and even individuals. One can submit online complaint at nr3c.gov.pk, a senior FIA official mentions. Cyber crimes are white-collar crimes, involving perpetrators of virtually no past record whatsoever. (The News Report)

Geckos nursery becomes profitable business for gypsies

by Amar Guriro

KARACHI: The worsening economy and the environmental degradation have forced several gypsy tribes of Sindh to leave their ancestral profession and move on to more profitable occupations.

These gypsies have been settled in the outskirts of the city for centuries and have started capturing snakes, lizards, geckos and other reptiles in order to earn their livelihood, thus, posing threats to the wildlife of the province.

A hatching nursery of leopard geckos with around 10,000 reptiles is being run in a small gypsy colony in Safora Goth, Gadap town. Though the gypsies running such nurseries have been living in the area for several years, when this scribe asked about their colony, no one was even aware of their existence.

Finally, we managed to find the place. It couldn’t be called a colony; sandwiched between the cemented walls of bungalows from three sides and opening on to the road, the small settlement seemed more like a zoo with many makeshift huts where dogs, donkeys and cocks were tied to the legs of charpais.

After arguing for over half an hour, Muhammad Juman, 36, agreed to take us inside the ‘zoo’. Every hut in this small congested settlement opened into the other. In the first hut, a donkey tied to a charpai welcomed us.

The nursery was a large straw roofed hut located in a corner of the settlement where wooden boxes covered with an iron net were kept. The legs of the boxes were resting in earthen bowls filled with water so that ants could not climb into the box.

Juman’s six-year-old son proudly opened the lid of a box to show us the reptiles. The boxes were filled with sand, cloth or dry grass and when most of the boxes were opened, small reptiles started crawling out.

The reptiles were geckos, scientifically known as the Eubleparis macularius and locally known as Hann Khann in Sindh and Cheeta Chhupkali in Urdu. They are also called leopard geckos as the color and designs on their body resembles that of a leopard.

Umer Jogi, the tribe chief said that his tribe had once been experts in snake charming. “We carried snakes in the cities where we played Murli or ben (a traditional musical instrument made of pumpkin mostly used by Jogis). The snakes danced on our music and that is how we earned or livelihood but after the economic crisis, people didn’t pay much to see our show and we couldn’t capture many snakes as the environmental degradation lessened their number. So most of the community members switched to this new profession of capturing these reptiles,” he said.

Juman said that though geckos are very poisonous, his community members are trained to catch them. He said that they sell these geckos to a contractor who then sells them to a laboratory in Islamabad where anti-snake venom (ASV) is manufactured. He revealed that they sell one gecko for Rs 50 that is later sold to the laboratory for Rs 80. In the nursery, Juman feeds small insects to these geckos and a female gecko lays two eggs each fortnight; the hatchling can reach normal size in four months. Answering a question, Juman said that keeping such dangerous reptiles at home is a big challenge but as he has nothing else to do and is an expert on reptiles he can’t switch to another profession. (Daily Times)

KESC to Add 450 Megawatts of Power by September

Feb. 24 (Bloomberg Report) -- Karachi Electric Supply Co. plans to add 450 megawatts of capacity to its network by September, the first expansion in more than a decade that may help to ease outages in Pakistan’s biggest city.

“Of Karachi Electric’s 19 power plants, 13 have outlived their use and the rest we’re keeping going with duct tape,” Chief Executive Officer Naveed Ismail said in an interview in Karachi today. “It’s a disaster waiting to happen. We have to work on the fast track and we have to be very aggressive.”

The addition will boost Karachi Electric’s daily output by 38 percent and reduce outages that hit two-thirds of the city’s 16 million people. The utility produces less power than its installed capacity and loses revenue because of outdated equipment, power theft and decrepit cables.

“There has been no expansion in production capacity and very little decline in transmission losses,” said Farhan Mahmood, research analyst at JS Global Capital Ltd. in Karachi. “The company needs to work on cutting losses and becoming self-reliant in power generation. That will make it an attractive, profit- making company.”

Karachi Electric fell 2.4 percent to 2 rupees at 11:45 a.m. local time on the Karachi Stock Exchange. The shares have declined 7 percent this year.

The utility generates about 1,200 megawatts of electricity every day. Its installed capacity as of June 2008 was 1,739 megawatts, according to the company’s annual report.

AZIZ MEMON

Name : Aziz Memon

Education : B.Com. L.L.B., M.C.I.T. (London).

Honorary Consul General, Republic of Suriname.

Rotary International District Governor 2007 - 2008
(Dist. 3270 Pakistan & Afghanistan)

Justice of Peace

Commercial Engagements:
Chairman - Kings Group

Kings Apparel Industries (Pvt.) Ltd., is the leading exporters of Knitted Garments, received Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry trophy for 11 consecutive years for highest export.
Kings Textile Industries.

Franchisee of United Colors of Benetton

Chicco, Van Heusen, Peter England.
Ace Travels

Aviation and Travel Services, General Sales Agent of Air Macau, Air Mali & Surinam Airways.
Grand Builders and Developer

Property development (s).
Pacific Commodities

Dealing in various commodities.
MEDCO

Medical equipment distribution company
Pure Aqua Filtration

Water filtration equipment company
Chairman

Karachi Garment City Company Limited.
A project of Ministry of Textile Industry, Government of Pakistan.
Founder President

Pakistan-Japan Business Forum.
President

Pakistan-Italy Business Forum.
Member Board of Governors

Higher Education Support Foundation.
(University of Industrial & Production Management).
Former Chairman

Textile Quota Supervisory Council, Export Promotion Bureau.
Pakistan Knitwear and Sweaters Exporters Association.
Export Committee of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Citizen Police Liaison Committee.
Pakistan - U.S.A. Trade and Industry, Committee of Federation of Pakistan,
Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Former Director

Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Pakistan-UK Forum for Industry & Technology.
Former Member Managing Committee

Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Employer’s Federation of Pakistan.
Social Engagements:
Chairman

Cutchi Memon Markazi Jamaat.
Managing Trustee

Jahangir Khan Squash Foundation Trust.
Vice President, Karachi Boat Club.
Joint Secretary

United Memon Jamat of Pakistan.
Member

Royal Society of Asian Affairs, London.
Member

Board of Trustee Markaz-e-Nafsiyat.
Former Vice President

Cutchi Memon Jamat of Pakistan.
Former Member

Managing Committee Karachi Gymkhana.
Activities on International Forums :

Represented Pakistan at 33rd Congress of I. T. F. at Miami, Florida, U.S.A. in 1980. The convention was chaired by Mr. Jimmy Carter the then President of U.S.A.
Member of Pakistani delegation to Non-Aligned Summit at Havana, Cuba in the year 1981.
Represented Pakistan at Seminar for Small Scale Enterprises Development held in Taipei from 7th to 9th December, 1993.
Member of Pakistan Trade Delegation to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia from 2nd to 15th August, 1994.
Member of Pakistan Trade Delegation to South Korea and Hong Kong from 19th to 24th October, 1994.
Represented Pakistan at Asian Regional Workshop on policy environment for promoting small and micro enterprises in a period of economic liberalization - held at Bangkok, 15 – 17 February, 1995.
Member of Prime Minister’s entourage to Japan 19-22nd January,1996.
Represented Pakistan at Tripartite Economic summit at Khatmandu, Nepal 26-27 November, 1997.
Represented Pakistan at ILO Symposium on the Social and Labour Consequences of Technological Developments, Deregulation and Privatization of Transport - held at Geneva, 20-24 September,1999
Represented Pakistan at ILO Seminar on Labour Practices in Textile & Clothing Industries held at Geneva 16-20 October, 2000.
Represented Pakistan at Joint Meeting on the impact of Decentralization & Privatization, Geneva, 15 – 19 October, 2001
Accompanied Federal Minster for Commence & Industry to Washington, USA for Bilateral talks on Trade Access, 27 – 29 October, 2001.
As President of Pakistan Japan Business Forum accompanied President of Pakistan for joint meeting on Investment Promotion in Tokyo, Japan, 13 – 15 March, 2002.
Represented Pakistan at ITC Forum, Montreux, Switzerland, 25th – 29th September, 2002
Represented at ITC workshop in Geneva on “Strategy on Trade and the Environment” 18th June 2003
Represented Pakistan at ITC Forum, Cancun, Mexico, 6th – 9th, September, 2003.
Represented Pakistan at WTO 5th Ministerial Meeting in Cancun, Mexico 10th – 14th September, 2003.
Represented Pakistan at ITC Executive Forum, Montreux, Switzerland, 26th – 29th September, 2004
Accompanied Prime Minister Mr. Shoukat Aziz to Turkey and Lebanon May, 31st – June 03, 2005
Represented Pakistan at United Nations ESCAP Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2006 “Public-Private Partnerships for Development in Asia and the Pacific” Held at Jakarta Convention Centre, Jakarta, Indonesia 7-8 April 2006.
Besides from above also represented Pakistan on various international conventions and traveled widely.
Traveled extensively in all Six Continents.

Ehsan Qureshi’s Fiasco launched with great fanfare

By Mohammad Nazakat Ali

Ehsan Qureshi’s masterpiece by the name of Fiasco was launched at the picturesque Karachi Club Annexe on the evening of February 20. What a wonderful setting it was and even more glittering was the presence of Pakistan’s cricket luminaries.
There could not have been a better venue for the launching of such a wonderful book. Although the day had been unusually hot by February standards there was plenty of cool breeze in the banquet hall of the Karachi Club Annexe when the ceremony started about an hour before the sunset.
Fiasco: An Eyewitness Account of World Cup 2007 is presented in hardbound and there are 272 pages between covers. It’s sixth book to be authored by Ehsan Qureshi, working as the Senior Sports Reporter at the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) for the past couple of decades.
Fiasco contains many untold stories about the mega event in which Pakistan crashed and coach Bob Woolmer died under mysterious circumstances has been published by Jumbo Publishing and its priced Pak Rs 800.

Federal Sports Minister, Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani, who was the chief guest in the launching ceremony, demanded an apology from Jamaican Police for mental torture, trauma and embarrassment caused to the Pakistanis in the alleged Bob Woolmer murder case.
“The Jamaican Police had gone overboard with their investigations and they should not have treated the Pakistan cricketers and journalists as suspects. The then officials of PCB did not handle the situation properly which allowed the Jamaican Police to act freely,” the Federal Minister believed.
Pir Aftab Jilani, himself a former cricketer, spoke at length about the issues of the game and assured the governmental support to the present PCB setup headed by Ijaz Butt, whom he considered a committed and energetic administrator.
The Minister disclosed that he had been stunned to learn some of the facts that have been brought to light by Ehsan Qureshi in his book. He lauded the efforts of the author for coming up with an excellent publication.
The Chairman of the PCB, Ijaz Butt, who presided over the ceremony, did not throw light on the World Cup 2007 but he commended the author for having done a fabulous job.
He reckoned that the journalists and authors producing books should be encouraged by the PCB as well as government and private sector.
The Pakistan Captain Younis Khan, who was a part of the World Cup 2007 team in Caribbean, hoped that the national team would be performing better and their goal was to win the 2011 World Cup.

The Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam showered Ehsan Qureshi with praise for producing his fourth book on the World Cup and sixth overall.
The Group Sports Editor, Jang Group of Newspapers, Gul Hameed Bhatti, was of the opinion that such books are of great historical value and Ehsan Qureshi’s contribution needs to be acknowledged.
Ehsan Qureshi, in his speech, talked about the distress caused to him and his family by the screening of the footage by BBC in their programme Panaroma in which he and fellow journalist Abdul Majid Bhatti were shown as the last persons to have met Bob Woolmer before his death.
Seniors journalist Abdul Qadir Qureshi, who is also the mentor of Ehsan Qureshi, presented the vote of thanks. The ceremony was conducted in his vintage style by the famous anchor Sardar Khan.
The Sindh Sports Minister, Dr.Muhammad Ali Shah, Pakistan’s vice captain Misbah-ul-Haq, ex-captain Shoaib Malik, Danish Kaneria, Faisal Iqbal, former cricketers Waqar Hasan, Mushtaq Muhammad, Aaqib Javed, Shoaib Muhammad, Iqbal Qasim, Yawar Saeed, Salahuddin Ahmed, Abdul Raquib, hockey Olympian Islahuddin Siddiqui, KCCA Vice Presidents, Ajmal Ansari and Nadeem Omar were also present on the occasion.
There was a large turnout of the media professionals as well. The duo of A Aziz Rehmatullah and Haji Abdul Razzaq, who had launched the Cricket World Quarterly in late 1970s, was very much there as was Riaz Ahmed Mansuri, who brought out the famous magazine The Cricketer Pakistan.

Journalists protest against killing of colleague

KARACHI: Journalists staged a protest demonstration on Thursday against the brutal killing of Swat based journalist, Moosa Khan Khel.

The journalists brought out a protest rally from the Karachi Press Club to the Sindh Governor’s House and staged a sit-in outside. Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) organised the protest in response to a call given by the Federal Union of Journalists. Journalists belonging to print and electronic media participated in the protest along with the Karachi Press Club and KUJ (Dastoor) members.

PPP’s Shazia Marri, MQM’s Faisal Sabzwari, PML-F’s Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh and HRCP’s Iqbal Haider were amongst the politicians and civil society members who participated in the protest. The protesters, carrying banners and placards, marched and chanted slogans against the brutal murder of Khel and demanded immediate arrest of the killers. The journalists’ leadership also handed over a memorandum to the Sindh Governor Dr Ishrtaul Ibad.

Earlier, a protest meeting was also held at KPC where speakers condemned the killing of the Khankhel. KUJ President Javed Asghar Chaudhry and General Secretary Amin Yousaf, APNEC’s Shafiuddin Ashraf and ATJ’s Faisal Aziz spoke on the occasion.

According to a MQM press release, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad assured the journalists that he himself will approach President Asif Ali Zardari and the federal government to forward their demands. Meanwhile, according to another press release issued by the MQM London Secretariat, Altaf Hussain telephoned renowned journalist and South Asia Free Media Association General Secretary Imtiaz Alam and expressed sorrow over the attack on him in Lahore. Hussain said that he was attacked for telling the truth and the attack was on the freedom of the media. staff report

— stage walkout from CC session

KARACHI: Journalist in the City Council press gallery boycotted the session to protest against the murder of Moosa Khankhel, a journalist from Swat working for a private TV channel. The session was then suspended as leader of the house Muhammad Asif Siddiqui and Arshad Qureshi, leader of opposition Saeed Ghani, Rafique Ahmed, Dr Ziauddin Ahmed, and Jumman Darwan had joined the journalists. Siddiqui said, “A condemnation resolution has already been tabled in the house and MQM Chief Altaf Hussein has also condemned the killing of Moosa Khankhel.” Ghani expressed his condolence and said that the killing of Khel was an act of terrorism, while demanding that journalists should be provided with security. Qureshi expressed his grief over the murder of Khel and said, “The government should bring the killers to justice and his family should be immediately compensated.” Regretting Khel’s murder, Darwan prayed for the departed soul and also demanded that compensation be paid to the deceased’s family. Later, accepting Siddiqui’s and Ghani’s request, the journalists returned to the gallery and the council session resumed. However, Ghani requested the acting convener to postpone the session till next day. staff report

Taliban network developing in Karachi

KARACHI: The banned organisation Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has established a strong network in Karachi, in association with local jihadi outfits and other groups, it has been learnt. This network is involved in major illegal activities and sending funds worth millions of rupees to the militants in Tribal Areas. Well-placed sources in the police department have disclosed that banned sectarian outfits are active in various parts of Karachi and are closely connected to the Baitullah Mehsud-led TTP.

The six associates of Baitullah Mehsud who were recently arrested in Manghopir have told intelligence agencies that jihadis are present in large numbers in the city and have a close coordination with each other. Groups involved in crimes such as drug smuggling, car lifting etc are also in contact with the Taliban.

Through this network in which even some political and ethnic parties are involved, large sums of money are being sent to aid the Taliban in the Tribal Areas. The CID and Special Investigation Branch have also apprehended dozens of people affiliated to the Taliban bringing drugs and arms to Karachi travelling in passenger coaches. (Aaj Kal report)

KCCA President puts his weight behind Younis Khan

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

The President of the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA), Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, reckons that the newly installed skipper Younis Khan has the temperament and the skills to come good in the hot heat.

“Having known him closely for a number of years, I firmly believe that he has the potential to rise to the occasion. Captaining the Pakistan team presents a very big challenge to anyone but Younis is one man who has the capability to deliver,” Dr Shah stated in a recent conversation.

Dr Shah, who is also the Minister of Sports in the province of Sindh besides being the President of the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA), appeared convinced that Younis will handle the demanding situation pretty well.

“I don’t think that his batting will be affected or he will feel burdened by captaincy. He knows how to handle the pressure. A truly gifted batsman, having scored heavily for the past many years, he seems to be possessing the leadership qualities to motivate the national team whose morale is on the lower side after the defeat in the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka,” Dr Shah, who is himself an iconic figure in the field of medicine and surgery, observed.

“Younis has had very time little time at his disposal because the Sri Lankans have now returned for the two-Test series. He was appointed the national skipper soon after the debacle in the ODI series. Here is an opportunity for him to lead by example and turn it around,” he believed.

“Younis is basically an enterprising cricketer. He has batted well in all parts of the world, having scored consistently against the strongest of bowling attacks. He has been rated as one of the best number three batsmen in the business. He needs to continue scoring heavily because his team would be looking forward to him. He is the senior most batsman in the side and he will need to bring all his experience into play to lead from the front,” Dr Shah stated.

The words of encouragement from Dr Shah should be a source of inspiration for Younis, who was appointed as captain of Pakistan soon after Shoaib Malik had stepped down following 234-run defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in the third ODI at the Qaddafi Stadium.

Younis was indeed the automatic choice to take over provided he was willing to accept the job. He had been offered the national captaincy in the past as well but he had made a mess of the opportunity that came his way.

It was described as a collective decision of the PCB to appoint Younis as the skipper once Shoaib Malik was out of the way.

Younis was playing the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match for his employers Habib Bank Limited (HBL) at the Qaddafi Stadium when he was summoned for a meeting with the PCB chairman, Ijaz Butt. According to the reports the meeting didn’t last more than 15 minutes and the middle-order batsman consented to lead the national team without having a second thought.

Probably in order to make the new skipper a little more comfortable, the PCB Chairman, had ruled out the possibility of having separate captains for Tests and One-day Internationals as Younis was installed as captain for Tests as well as ODIs for an indefinite period.

THE AMAN FOUNDATION DONATES Rs 905 MILLION TO IBA

Mr. Arif Naqvi, the Chairman of Aman Foundation and the Chief Executive of Abraaj Capital signed an agreement with Dr. Ishrat Husain, Dean & Director IBA, under which a substantial grant amount of Rs. 905 million would be given to the Institute of Business Administration. The money will be used to construct two new IBA buildings and upgrade its Information Technology infrastructure and services, which is part of a larger strategic IBA plan to develop the future capacity for Management and Leadership in Pakistan. Governor Sindh, Dr. lshrat UI Ebad Khan hosted the signing ceremony followed by dinner at the Governor House in Karachi.
Aman Foundation is a new philanthropic organization operating in Karachi, committed to making strategic interventions to support and strengthen educational institutions and take other initiatives related to human development that are critical to providing the people of this mega-city with the resources they need to reach their full potential.
Mr. Naqvi said the mission of Aman Foundation is the relentless pursuit of sustainable, substantial and systemic development in the areas of Pakistan's education, health and food security. The Foundation combines the skills of experienced management professionals with the know-how of technical experts in these areas.
Aman Foundation is also currently supporting other private sector education projects, including a food supplementation programme for school-children in under-privileged localities of the city. It has also laid the groundwork for a major emergency health care initiative in the form of a state-of-the-art ambulance service, scheduled to launch in Karachi later this year.
In his address, Governor Dr. lshrat UI Ebad Khan appreciated the contribution of Aman Foundation to IBA as a commendable example for others to facilitate higher education in the country. He said, "The Government of Pakistan and Sindh are facing serious financial constraints and despite our wish we are unable to cope with the growing demands of our higher education institutions. In order to face the challenge, I appeal to the private sector and philanthropist of Pakistan to step forward and make generous contributions to institutions such as IBA which have an established track record as well as a future full of promises."
Dr Ishrat Husain, Dean and Director IBA, expressed his gratitude to the Aman Foundation for its generous contribution to IBA. He said, "Management of knowledge which is exploding at an exponential basis is going to be as tough a problem as the dissemination and assimilation of knowledge is. Institutions such as IBA will have to sift out the chaff from the grain and embed this attribute in the graduates they will provide over the next few decades."
He urged the guests and the philanthropists of Pakistan to emulate the initiative taken by the Aman Foundation and extend financial, moral and intellectual support to IBA in its endeavor to be ranked among the top 100 Global Business Schools and top 10 Business Schools in the Middle East and South Asia region. "The commitment you make today by your support can be disbursed over next few years." He added.
Shaukat Tarin, advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs & Statistics, and members of the IBA Board of Governors, Alumni and other distinguished personalities were also present at the occasion.

Data of foreign students to be compiled

KARACHI: The high ups of the Sindh police have ordered the Sindh Special Branch (SB) to collect details of foreign students studying in educational institutions across the province, sources privy to the matter told Daily Times. The sources added that the SB received a letter stating that the foreign nationals/students studying at different colleges and universities in various jurisdictions should verify their antecedents, status of their stay as well as the validity of their passport, visa, permission and other details.

Authorities have given a limited time period to the officials concerned to conduct this inquiry. A major reason behind collecting the data was to examine the activities of foreign nationals staying in Pakistan. It was also learnt that extremist groups engaged in fighting the country’s security forces have planned to kidnap foreign nationals, especially those that hail from western and European countries, so that they can demand the release of their captured associates in exchange. The sources added that the kidnapping of Satesh Anand a Hindu business man, John Solecki, an American UN official kidnapped earlier this month in Quetta and Iranian envoy Hesmatollah Atharzadeh were probably done by the same extremists.

Pir Sahib Pagara

EARLY LIFE OF PIR PAGARA:

He was born in pir Goth on 22nd November1928. He had his primary education at pir Jo Goth. During arrest of his father, Education was looked after by kalifas at Dargah Sharif. His circumcision was perfumed at Grange bungalow near Sanghar.

From 8th May 1943 to 1946.
In1946 he was kept under house arrest along with his Younger brother and family members in Karachi.He stayed three years Aligrah from 1943 to 1946.in 1946 he was shifted by Ship to liver pool (ENGLAND) In England he was admitted in Majiour Davis Private School and was under arrested. This private school was no less than a hell.


This was in far flung rural area near hero in pioneer. There were only 12-13 students in this school all from foreign countries belonging to those families who opposed British rule in their countries. In this school he had no choose of subjects, but to study whatever administration said. He was forced to study a Christianity subject of Divinity to Learn French and Latin.
In 1949 Prime Minister Liaqut Ali Khan met him in England and assured of restoration of Status of Pir Pagara On 4th February 1952 his status of pir Pagara was officially restored and Dasterbandi was done.

EDUCATION:

PIR PAGARA HAD PRIMARY EDUCATION AT PIR JO GOTH
Then for some time at Karachi when he was under house arrest from 1946 he got his education at Aligarh.
In Aligarh Kazi Sadrruddin a prosecuting Inspector Police used to teach Quran. From 1946 to 1952 in Liver pool [England] in Major Davis school as told above. He had his graduation from England.

LATER LIFE OF PIR SAHIB PAGARA SHAH MORDAN SHAH SANI AFTER RESTORATION OF GADI.
Present Pir Sahib has great dominating and impressing personality. Pir Sahib is very kind hearted sympathetic, courageous and brave man. Immediately after restoration of Gadi he had many challenges. Most important challenge was to restore the image of Hur Jamat. British during last 30 years had tarnished the image of Jamat and projected the Jamat as terrorist. It was a big task to clarify the position of the Jamat to organize the scattered and absconded Jamat and to restore confidence in Jamat. He took special interest in education of Jamat and to make Jamat law abiding and peaceful citizens. He tried for academic as well as religious education. He got hur scholar-ship sanctioned by Government for poor hur students.
Philanthropic people in Jamat also supported the poor, intelligent and deserving hur students. Pir Sahib him self also paid educational expenses of poor and deserving hur students. Pir Sahib repeatedly stressed the need of education particularly higher education both males and females.
For religious education Pir Sahib on May 1952 established Jamia Rashidia at Dargah Sharif. Management and expenses of jamia was the responsibility of Dargah. By now there are about eight branches of Jamia Rashdia in different cities of Sindh from where thousands of muftis, hafiz of Quran, Molvi, Alams, and Fazils are produced who are serving in different cities of Sindh. He had established a beautiful library at Dargah Sharif which has lacks of valuable and precious books. Though he is heavily busy, he is the only leader in Pakistan who attends his telephone personally, directly, so it is very easy to talk to him for any problem. Pir Sahib married in 1954 to daughter of Makhdoom Maliak Syed Ghulam Miran Shah Pir Sahib has three sons, Sibghtullah Shah [Raga sain], Ali Gohar Shah, Sadaruddin Shah[Younis sain].
After restoration of Gadi he called all the absconders of hur Jamat at Dargah Sharif, took their photographs personally. Those having major cases were handed to Government and advised to face cases and almost all of them were freed as the cases were false. Those who had minor cases or no cases were asked to live peace fully like law abiding Citizens. After consultation with Khalifas and seeking permission form Government in 1952 Pir Sahib made a program to meet Jamat and tour the different areas. He came to hunting first in Makhi and Awadh. Till that time Hurs were in concentration camps. Some people advised him to go to camps so that followers inside camps can see him. He refused and said I will burn all these camps. It happened so, that after a few days all camps caught fire. Any way the inmates of camps were brought out side of camps in groups to see their leader. Pir Pagara never visited any foreign country except England [during arrest] and Saudi Arabia [for religious obligations]. Pir Pagara has no account or property in any foreign country.

HORSE RACING - SPORT OF KINGS

Pir Sahib is very fond of Hunting some areas as Awadh is reserved for.

Pir Sahib hunting where no body else is allowed to hunt.

Pir Sahib is very fond of horses and horse racings. He has many horses of high breed, which often win the races Karachi race club has been restored only with Pir Sahib's efforts.

Forecasting is also hobby of Pir Sahib. His Political forecast often comes true.

HUR MOVEMENT:

Hur movement was actually started in the days of Sibghtullah Shah Bad Shah.[1831-1779]and reached its peak in the days Sibghtullah Shah Shaheed Suraih Bad Shah, Hurs become active against britishers, so rulers sent every active person to Vasarpur district Ahmed Nangar for Jail in India.

Sibghatullah Shah 1 provided forces to Syed Ahmed Shaheed to fight against Sikhs and since then these brave people are called as Hurs [free people] freedom struggle was practically started by Syed Sibghtullah Shah Shaheed Awal in 1246[Hijri].


Pagaras' and their followers fought for freedom against British rulers and their supporters for 108 years from 1843 to 1951.

In 1922 when Sibghtullah Shah II [Sarah Bad Shah] becomes Pir Pagara he was only 12 years old. Very soon he realized that British officer’s behavior towards Hur Jamat or Sindhi people was insulting and Humiliating, he resented and rose voiced against British rulers. He organized, encouraged and determined to continue struggle against British rulers. As a result Marsha law was imposed by British rulers to control hur movement. Pir Sahib made Grange Bungalow as his general head quarter. He with planning recruited his followers for armed struggle. They were trained for fight and to continue armed struggle. This act of Pir Sahib raised slogan “home land or death”. After the arrest of Pir Sahib Hurs increased their activities against Government.
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Hurs started attacking Police stations, Government buildings, Railway Stations, Telephone System and irrigation system to paralyze Government and to pressurize Government to release their spiritual leader. Government as a result started arrest of Hurs and their leaders. Governments established false cases against them and punished them heavily after summary trials.

Pir Sahib had succeeded in telling his intensify their struggle and activities if he is arrested. Railway train Lahore mail was derailed by Hurs on 16th may 1942.
When Hurs attacked army or police they raised slogan of “Bheg Pagara” . To crush Hurs, Grange Bungalow their center was bombarded and destroyed on 26th may 43. Lastly he was arrested on 24th October 1941 & was sent to seoni in India jail. Dargah Sharif & bungalow in pir Jo Goth were also destroyed in 1943.
In 1942 the important leaders of hur Jamat were also arrested. Pir Sahib was brought back from Seaoni to Sindh in January 1943 and was arrested in Hyderabad central jail. The hurs made makhi forest as their base for activities. Government when failed to control struggle by land forces, started air bombing over grange bungalow, makhi forest and Dargah Sharif.

Hurs were ordered them not to give daily attendance instead become absconder and to continue struggle and activities. Government ultimately arrested thousands of hur leaders along with their families and kept them in concentration camps [where attendance was taken in morning and evening].They were in camps till 1952 when the present Pir Sahib Pagara was crowned and Gadi was restored.

Abdul Sattar Edhi

About Edhi Foundation

Edhi established his first welfare centre and then the Bilqis Edhi Trust with a mere Rs. 5000. What started as a one-man show operating from a single room in Karachi is now the Edhi Foundation, the largest welfare organization in Pakistan. The foundation has over 300 centers across the country, in big cities, small towns and remote rural areas, providing medical aid, family planning and emergency assistance. They own air ambulances, providing quick access to far-flung areas.

In Karachi alone, the Edhi Foundation runs 8 hospitals providing free medical care, eye hospitals, diabetic centers, surgical units, a 4- bed cancer hospital and mobile dispensaries. In addition to these the Foundation also manages two blood banks in Karachi.

20,000 abandoned babies have been saved
40,000 qualified nurses have been trained
50,000 orphans are housed in Edhi Homes
1 million babies have been delivered in Edhi Maternity Centers

Edhi is to Karachi what Mother Teresa was to the poor of Calcutta. Edhi and wife Bilquees have spent a lifetime working for people and their welfare work to date remains unparalleled in Pakistan. They are both very private people who shun publicity. They have had little formal education, and are totally committed to the cause of helping the poor and needy.


The Dawn of Edhi Foundation

What started as a one-man show operating from a single room in Karachi is now the Edhi Foundation, the largest welfare organization in Pakistan. The foundation has over 300 centers across the country, in big cities, small towns and remote rural areas, providing medical aid, family planning and emergency assistance.

Born in 1928 in Bantwa , Gujarat, India , Edhi’s family belonged to the industrious Memon community. From a young age his mother taught Edhi to be kind towards others and to help the poor. In 1947 the family migrated to Pakistan and settled in Karachi. That was a time of great emotional trauma and social and political upheaval. Edhi became involved in social work and began working with welfare organisations and soon started his own dispensary, providing medical aid to the poor. He bought his first ambulance, an old van which he called the "poor man’s van" and went around the city providing medical help and burying unclaimed bodies. His van became his advertisement and soon he came to be known for his work with the poor. As a consequence, donations started pouring in and his operations expanded, employing additional nurses and staff. It was here that Edhi met his wife Bilquees who was a trainee nurse at the dispensary. They were married in 1966. Bilquees became the ideal wife for Edhi, totally committed to welfare work.

Edhi established his first welfare centre and then the Edhi Trust with a mere Rs. 5000 [$1000]. The Edhi Foundation grew as people began to recognize its humanitarian aims. In 1973 when an old apartment building collapsed in Karachi, Edhi’s ambulances and volunteers were the first to reach the scene and start rescue operations. From then, on, through the troubles in Karachi and all over the country, Edhi’s ambulances have been rescuing and taking the injured to hospitals and burying unclaimed bodies. They go to places where even government agencies hesitate to venture.

The Edhi Foundation is the first of its kind in South Asia that owns air ambulances, providing quick access to far-flung areas. Whether it is a train accident or a bomb blast, Edhi ambulances are the first to arrive. The foundation relies on the support of its 3, 500 workers and thousands of volunteers who form the backbone of the organisation


Edhi's Founder

Despite the growth of the foundation, Edhi remains a very down to earth person. Dressed always in a grey homespun cotton, he has a hands on approach to his work, sweeping his own room and even cleaning the gutter if need be. Apart from the one room, which he uses for his living quarters, the rest of the building serves as his workplace in Mithadar, a locality of old Karachi that is full of narrow streets and congested alleyways. Adjoining their living room is a small kitchen where Bilquees usually prepares the midday meal. Next to it is a washing area where bodies are bathed and prepared for burial..


When Edhi is not travelling to supervise his other centres, a typical day for him begins at five in the morning with Fajr prayers. His work starts thereafter answering any calls for help, organizing and meeting people in need while afternoons are spent at various centres and hospitals all over the city. In the evening he dines with hundreds of poor at his "langar" [free community meals common among Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs] at another Edhi centre in the city. His Fridays are invariably spent at homes for the destitute children where Edhi personally helps bathe the ones who are physically handicapped, before joining them for Friday prayers. Occasionally, when he is able to, he also takes them out for picnics.

Assets of Edhi Foundation

In Karachi alone, the Edhi Foundation runs 8 hospitals providing free medical care, eye hospitals, diabetic centres, surgical units, a 4- bed cancer hospital and mobile dispensaries. In addition to these the Foundation also manages two blood banks in Karachi. As with other Edhi services, employed professionals and volunteers run these. The foundation has a Legal aid department, which provides free services and has secured the release of countless innocent prisoners.

Commissioned doctors visit jails on a regular basis and also supply food and other essentials to the inmates. There are 15 " Apna Ghar" ["Your Homes"] homes for the destitute children, runaways, and psychotics and the Edhi Foundation states that over the years 3 million children have been rehabilitated and reunited with their families thorough the Edhi network.

The foundation also has an education scheme, which apart from teaching reading and writing covers various vocational activities such as driving, pharmacy and para-medical training. The emphasis is on self-sufficiency. The Edhi Foundation has branches in several countries where they provide relief to refugees in the USA , UK , Canada , Japan , and Bangladesh . In 1991 the Foundation provided aid o victims of the Gulf war and earthquake victims in Iran and Egypt .


Vision Of the Foundation

Edhi plans mass campaigns against narcotics, illiteracy, population control and basic hygiene. Edhi's wife Bilquees works in the areas of maternity centre management. She runs 6 nursing training schools in Karachi , which provide basic training courses. These centres have so far trained over 40,000 qualified nurses. Some 20,000 abandoned babies have been saved and about a million babies have been delivered in the Edhi maternity homes. Bilquees also supervises the food that is supplied to the Edhi hospitals in Karachi . The total number of orphans in Edhi housing is 50,000 and Edhi's two daughters and one son assist in the running of the orphanages and the automation of these institutions.

Edhi's vision is to create an institution that will carry on his life's work and survive for a long time to come. His dream is that of a Pakistan as a modern welfare state, which provides a safety net for the poor and needy while providing basic health and education with vocational skills. A welfare state Edhi feels is the only way to tackle Pakistan 's myriad social problems. He hopes that one day, Pakistan will be a model for other developing countries.

In 1985 Edhi received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz from the Government of Pakistan and in recognition of their services the Government of Philippines awarded Edhi & Bilquees the Magsayay award.

The Edhi Foundation refuses to take any aid from the Government, thereby maintaining its independence

Ansar Burney, Advocate

Chairman and Founder Ansar Burney Trust

Born August 14th 1956 in Karachi Pakistan, Syed Ansar Ahmed Burney, son of Syed Mukhtar Ahmed Burney, was the first man to introduce true human rights in Pakistan over 25 years ago.

A graduate of Master's and Law from Karachi University and honorary recipient of a PhD. in Philosophy, Ansar Burney, Advocate started his noble mission in 1980 by setting up the “Ansar Burney Welfare Trust", "Prisoners Aid Society" and "Bureau of Missing and Kidnapped Persons" in Karachi Pakistan.

A vocal and prominent student leader in the 1970s, Ansar Burney was always known as one to raise his voice for justice, freedom of speech and for human and civil rights during the time of Martial Law in Pakistan. As such, he landed himself in trouble on many occasions with the military government.

In 1977 at the age of 20, Ansar Burney was arrested on charges of delivering speeches against Martial Law in Pakistan and without a fair trial he was sentenced to 8 months rigorous imprisonment.

Upon his release, he was again arrested by the Martial Law Authorities who sent him to Karachi Prison for a further 2 months detention. In 1979, he was again arrested for the third time and detained for a month.

At all three times, Ansar Burney was imprisoned for raising his voice for democracy and against the terrible injustices being committed by the then military government.

During this time of detention in different prisons, Ansar Burney witnessed first hand the miserable conditions of Pakistani prisons and the barbaric treatments inflicted on prisoners. He met many innocent people who had been locked up for several years without ever committing a crime or even facing trial.

That was the time that he decided to help those in need; and after completing his law degree in 1980, Ansar Burney established the “Prisoners Aid Society” with the purpose of bringing reforms in prisons and to get the release of all innocent and illegally confined prisoners.

As a result of his continued and selfless work, Ansar Burney has so far been able to secure release of around 700,000 prisoners from countries all around the world. These have included persons locked up on false charges, those released from private and illegal prisons, illegal immigrants and those who were released from slave labor camps; some released after as many as 55 years of illegal confinement.

With the passing of time, Ansar Burney led the Trust into becoming a true human rights organisation working for justice without discrimination and against all forms of human and civil rights repressions and violations.

Working at the forefront, Ansar Burney has fearlessly led legal missions, humanitarian relief teams and fought for the rights of the innocents in many parts of the world; facing yet more imprisonment in Bosnia and various attacks on his life.

Ansar Burney, founder and chairman of Ansar Burney Trust, is an authority on human rights in Pakistan and the Middle East. He has hosted and attended hundreds of National and International conferences, groups and forums and has received over 200 awards and medals from home and abroad. On the 23rd March 2002, he was conferred Pakistan’s National Civil Award "Sitar-i-Imtiaz", the first in the history of Pakistan in the field of human rights.

Ansar Burney got married with Shaheen on May 28, 1981 and they have three children - Fahad, Raheel and daughter Sana.

Manghopir to N Nazimabad Road to be opened in 2 months: Mustafa Kamal

City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has said that a new road is being constructed after cutting through the mountains of the Manghopir area, which will be open for vehicular movement within the next two months.

The people of Orangi Town will have an alternative route from Banaras Chowk to North Nazimabad via Shahra-e-Noor Jahan and other parts of the city. On the other hand, the Banaras Chowk flyover, which is almost complete, will provide signal free access while eliminating traffic jams. Kamal stated this during his visit to these sites on Thursday.

Kamal was briefed on the two projects and was told that the road through the mountains has cost Rs 775 million. The carpeting process on both sides of the road started on Friday, while construction of pavements on both sides of the road will also be completed.

The construction cost of the road is Rs 300 million, while the remaining Rs 474 million has been spent on the mountain cutting work. Another road, one-and-a-half kilometer in length, from Manghopir to Shahra-e-Noor Jahan, will also be completed within one month. Those families whose houses were demolished to make way for the construction of the road were given compensation money according to their demands, claimed Kamal.

Kamal further said that the City District Government Karachi has introduced many development projects for the people of Orangi Town, Baldia Town and has spent Rs 920 million on water schemes, while spending Rs 100 million on water pumping stations in the locality so that people can get potable water at their doorstep. In Qasba Colony, development projects worth Rs 600 million have been initiated, while the CDGK has spent billions of rupees to upgrade these areas, said Kamal.(DT)

Lyari Expressway to be completed in six months

Karachi—Work on North-bound section of Lyari Expressway project is being hindered by delay in handing over of right of way (ROW) to National Highway Authority (NHA) by the City District Government of Karachi.

A source in NHA told APP on Thursday if ROW is cleared, the NHA can complete the project within six months.He said as compared to Southern section possession of land for the Northern section has proved more problematic. He said at present ROW for 12 kilometres portion has been handed over while over four kilometres section has still not been cleared.Structures like bridges and culverts etc have been built in the cleared section and earth work completed, he added.The source said that after inauguration of South-bound section the people have started experiencing the benefits flowing from it, and hoped the momentum for the north-bound expressway will be generated. The work was entrusted to NHA and the Frontier Works Organization was appointed contractor for Lyari Expressway Project.

Rape victim says his life has been ruined

By M. Waqar Bhatti

Khalil Ahmed, the person who was allegedly abducted by three women from Clifton and subjected to sexual harassment says the incident has not only destroyed his social life but also caused him emotional, physical and monetary harms and losses.

“I am in immense pain, both physically and emotionally. I have lost my job, and have been told to take complete bed rest by doctors. Meanwhile, I have no money to spend on treatment and fulfill other basic needs,” he told The News in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

Twenty-two-year-old Khalil Ahmed, son of Muhammad Hussain Bux, was reportedly abducted by three women in Clifton and was sexually assaulted for many days while being kept in illegal confinement at an undisclosed location.

The Boating Basin Police registered a case against unidentified women for abduction, illegal confinement and torture but they are still clueless about the culprits while some investigators are also expressing doubts at the events narrated by Ahmed.

For Khalil Ahmed, who belongs to Tehsil Ahmed Pur Sharqia of Bahawalpur, Punjab, skepticism expressed by police officers as well as his friends and relatives is proving to be another dilemma and source of mental torture for him.

“Worst of all, when people say that I’m telling lies as no such incident took place or I’m a male prostitute, it hurts the most. Media persons, police investigators and my acquaintances have so many conspiracy theories that I can’t even think of,” he deplored.

Recalling the course of events on January 27, 2009, Khalil Ahmed says when the women sitting in a Suzuki car near the hotel, where works as waiter in Caf? Al-Hafiz in Clifton, asked him to go along them to see their residence, it was monetary greed which compelled to go with them. “I earn Rs200 as daily wage and get Rs200 commission on the sale of food worth Rs1,000. At that time, I thought I would get another 200 rupees by delivering meals to those women, without knowing that my greed would destroy my entire life,” he said.

According to him, he is married but his wife has not been handed over to him as her Rukhsati has not been carried out yet. “I have been getting signals that this event could also result in end of my marriage even before I could see my wife,” he says.

According to him, doctors have asked him to take complete bed rest for at least six months and avoid indulging in sexual intercourse or he could become impotent for the rest of his life.

“Those three or four days were the filthiest and most abhorrent period of my life and now sex has become a loathsome act for me. My internal and external reproductive organs are still aching even after the passage of nearly two weeks of this incident,” he said.

On the other hand, Medico legal officer Nisar Shah who conducted the clinical examination of the victim at the Civil Hospital Karachi says that the condition of the victim at the time of examination proved his story as he was passing blood with urine while his reproductive organ was also swollen.

“But I doubt this story and it is the responsibility of the police to probe whether he was abducted and kept in illegal confinement or not. Once it is established, the rest is an easy job,” he said.

He, however, said that the chemical examination of victim’s blood and urine samples had not been carried out yet to ascertain whether he was given any tranquilizers and drugs but said these tests could be done at any moment.

Shabir, the owner of the restaurant Caf? Al-Hafiz where Ahmed used to work also doubted his story and said that it was fabricated.

“We have never heard any such thing happening here. He is befooling us and the entire nation just to get famous and earn some money but he would not succeed in his tactics,” he claimed.

On the other hand, the police are still clueless about the culprits who abducted Ahmed but said that they were trying their best to solve the mystery. “He has given us the registration number of the vehicle, which is not complete. He neither sure about the make, model or colour of the vehicle used in the abduction nor about the place where he was taken,” an investigator said on condition of anonymity.

He said that the police had registered a case under sections 342, 243/34 of the PPC and 337 of Qasass and Diyat Ordinance, which relates to abduction, illegal confinement and torture.

Justice (retd) Khawaja Naveed when contacted said there was no special section in the PPC which defines such crime but said police could register a case under the Hudood Ordinance. “It is a form of adultery and the Hudood Ordinance could be the most relevant law to define the nature of the crime. However it is up to the police as to how they take the issue and register a case,” he said. (The News)

Protest against abduction of wife, 3 daughters: Man attempts self-immolation

A man tried to commit self-immolation outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC) protesting against the abduction of his wife and three daughters.

Qasim, a resident of Surjani Town, tried to set himself on fire while protesting against the abduction of his wife and daughters by abductors who are now demanding Rs 500,000 as ransom money for their release.

Qasim alleged that Hafeez and Majeed kidnapped his wife and three daughters. He said that Hafeez and Majeed are brothers and belonged to Multan while adding that Hafeez use to work at his brick kiln.

He stated that Hafeez is openly moving around while the police are not taking any action against him. He alleged that Hafeez abducted his wife and daughters for money and has taken them to Multan. “Hafeez abducted my wife two years ago and since then I have no news of her whereabouts. After that, he abducted my eldest daughter, Shazia, 19 and forcibly married her,” said Qasim. “Then he abducted my two minor daughters, Shaheen, 7 and Nazia, 9. I paid Rs 65,000 to Hafeez for the release of Shaheen and Nazia. They were released a few months ago but now Hafeez has kidnapped them again and this time he is demanding a sum of Rs 500,000,” said Qasim.

“I cannot arrange such a huge amount of money as I have already sold my plot and brick kiln for the release of my daughters. I had lodged an FIR about the abduction of my wife and daughters at the Surjani Town police station but no action has been taken,” added Qasim.

He said that a local trust is helping him recover his wife and daughters. “Despite repeated application being sent by them to the Multan DIG and the Punjab chief minister, nothing has been done so far,” said Qasim. (DT)

Acid victim dies after 25 days in hospital

KARACHI, Feb 10: Maria Shah, the 22-year-old midwife from Shikarpur who suffered extensive burns last month, died here on Tuesday morning — nearly a month after acid was thrown on her face by a man whom she had refused to marry.

“Ms Shah’s whole body was affected by acid burns. Despite our best efforts, we failed to save her life,” said a senior official of the Civil Hospital’s Burns Centre, where she was admitted on Jan 16.

“The body was formally handed over to her family. They returned to their home town in an ambulance provided by the hospital,” said Dabeer-ur-Rahman, Executive Director of the Burns Centre.

“The victim was brought to the hospital in a very critical condition a day after the incident.”

Ms Shah’s face was disfigured after acid was hurled at her by Arsalan Sanjrani at a private clinic in Shikarpur where she had been working as a lady health worker.

Initially, the young woman was taken to a local hospital, which later referred her to the Burns Centre.

According to Arsalan, he was a matriculate and in love with Maria since school days. He claimed he provided her free rides to school for years on his rickshaw. He said he committed the crime after she refused to marry him.

The Supreme Court has summoned Shikarpur DPO Khadim Hussain Rind to appear before it “with facts”.

BURIAL: Maria Shah was buried in Shikarpur’s Chiningi graveyard on Tuesday night.

A large number of relatives and social workers attended the Namaz-i-Janaza.

Talking to newsmen after the burial, Baqar Shah, Maria’s father, said that in the beginning ministers and NGOs helped in providing medical treatment.

But after the first week, no attention was paid to the regular supply of medicines.

Baqar Shah recalled, with irony, that the government had assured him of financing her treatment abroad. He said that Marya would not have died had she received “proper medical care”.

The SHO of the police station concerned said there was no need of a fresh FIR, adding that an interim challan would be presented in a court soon.

Marya Shah’s family has called upon the government to hang Arsallan Sanjrani. (Dawn)

Maria Shah dies of acid burns

By Imtiaz Ali

Maria Shah, the 25-year-old lady health worker who was the victim of an acid attack in January died early Tuesday morning at the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) Burns Centre, where she was under treatment for severe burn injuries, hospital officials and relatives said.

Shah sustained burns when a young man threw acid on her while she was examining patients at a private clinic in Shikarpur city on January 15. She was brought to the CHK Burns Centre the next day.

“Whenever she saw her face, she started weeping,” her brother Mehtab Shah said, adding that she insisted she be sent abroad for treatment. Shah said he took his sister to the passport office on Monday because Senator Seemi Siddiqi had promised to send Maria to the US for treatment. She, however, died at 07:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Maria Shah had sustained 38 percent burn wounds on her face, chest, abdomen, hands and legs up to the knee, according to investigation officer (IO) Mohammed Nawaz of the Risala police station.

The IO said he recorded her statement under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code on January 17, wherein she stated that she was working as a part time nurse at the clinic of Dr Imran Sheikh in Shikarpur city. This is where Arslan Sanjrani came and threw acid at her and fled. The IO said when Maria was a student of Class 7th, Sanjrani, a rickshaw driver, used to pick and drop her and he “fell in love” with her. He threw acid at her when her parents refused to allow him to marry her.

Sanjrani was arrested from Karachi on January 23. Inspector Mohammed Ali of the New Faujdari police station, Shikarpur, told The News that the suspect along with his parents was living in a hutment in Sherpao Colony, Landhi. They had fled after the incident.

Inspector Mohammed Ali said that Sanjrani, a matriculate, had confessed his crime but had no regrets over it. The police submitted an interim challan against him and now Section 302 (murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) would be added in the challan to be submitted before the district and sessions court, Shikarpur.

Burns Centre Intensive Care Unit (ICU) In-charge Dr Waqar told The News that acid wounds penetrate into the body, destroying skin, muscle, vessel and cause more damage. “Maria had received total deep wounds,” he said, adding that deep wounds even up to five per cent pose a threat to life.

Dr Waqar said Maria’s relatives had taken her for preparing her passport the other day but “much time had already passed since she remained under treatment for 25 days”.

At present, around 50 patients are admitted at the 50-bed Burns Centre, of which 35 are women, said a nurse who attended to Maria Shah. She said that a majority of the cases were homicidal or suicidal, while incidental cases were few when women get burns while cooking, etc.

On Tuesday, they admitted a young man from Bilawal Shah Noorani Goth off University Road after he attempted self-immolation over domestic problems and sustained 35 percent burns.

Meanwhile, the Burns Centre discharged Mrs Mumtaz after completing her successful treatment on Tuesday. Mrs Mumtaz is the mother of four children and her husband had thrown acid on her face. Dr Waqar said that such patients lose the desire to live because “society does not accept people with mutilated faces.” (The News)

Court orders shifting of Kalia, Khanani to hospital

The Additional District and Session Judge, South, issued orders to immediately shift Javed Khanani and Munaf Kalia to a hospital for a medical check-up and submit a report to the court for the compliance of the orders on February 24.

The Jail Superintendent (JS) appeared in the court on Monday and said that Javed Khanani, one of the directors of Khanani and Kalia group, had been provided medical treatment inside the court. The court expressed annoyance at the JS asked him to shift the directors to a hospital.

The Defence counsel earlier filed an application in the court that his client was a heart patient and needed complete treatment. The court subsequently ordered a medical check-up in the hospital, but the superintendent of the Central Prison Karachi failed to comply with these orders.

Police restrained from arresting couple: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has restrained the police from arresting a couple till further orders.

Seema submitted that she married Abdul Ghafoor on September 6, 2008, but her family members did not accept their marriage and registered a false kidnapping case against her husband at the Sachal police station in January this year. Seema sought protection for her husband and requested the court to quash the FIR against her husband and her in-laws.

The SHC’s division bench comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Arshad Noor Khan, after preliminary hearing of the petition, issued a notice to the Advocate-General for February 16 and in the meantime restrained the police from arresting the couple.

The same bench also disposed of a petition of a couple with directions that the petitioner may not be harassed by the police. Abdul Ghafoor submitted that he married Shahnaz on December 13 last year but his in-laws registered a kidnapping case against him at a police station in Khairpur. Shahnaz’s brother refused the claim of the petitioner and submitted that Abdul Ghafoor kidnapped his sister who was already married to a man named Murad Ali. He requested the court to send the girl to Darul Aman and said that Abdul Ghafoor should be handed over to the police for further investigation.

The court, after hearing the case, directed the Additional Advocate-General to record the statement of the petitioners with the direction that they would not be harassed while the police may complete the investigation.

Detention case: The SHC adjourned the hearing of a missing person’s case at the request of petitioner’s counsel who said he would file an affidavit regarding the arrest of detainee.

Petitioner Mohammad Abrar Khan submitted that his son, Sarfaraz Khan, was picked up by law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) near Dhabeji on October 17 last year when he and his friend Arif Khan were on their way to the Makli police station to identify culprits who attacked him. The petitioner said that LEAs released Arif but shifted Sarfaraz to an undisclosed location. The petitioner expressed fear about his son’s life. The court was informed that the police had shown the arrest of the detainee in Rawalpindi. The petitioner’s counsel sought time to file an affidavit in this regard.

Doctors’ attitude in journalist’s case slammed

Opposition leader Jam Madad stated that he condemns the abrasive attitude that the junior doctors displayed when veteran journalist Sabihuddin Ghausi was brought to a hospital for emergency treatment and demanded that an inquiry be made into the matter. Later, Information Minister Shazia Marri and Law Minister Muhammad Ayaz Soomro revealed that a committee will be constituted, in collaboration with the Sindh Health Department, to conduct a probe into the negative attitude meted out to Mr. Ghausi.

Shazia Marri also revealed that financial assistance for medical purposes will also be provided to journalists. Ghausi was hospitalised following a serious ailment and has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital.

Sania Mirza foresees No problem in playing in Pakistan

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

The tennis star Sania Mirza has recently rewritten history by becoming the first Indian woman to annex a Grand Slam title. Partnered with Mahesh Bhupathi, she won the mixed doubles event of the Australian Open 2003 by overpowering the duo of Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram 6-3, 6-1 in the final in Melbourne.

Indeed winning the Australian Open mixed doubles title with Mahesh Bhupathi was the best way she could have made a comeback in the international circuit after having been out of action for quite a while due to a wrist injury.

"It is very special to win your first Grand Slam. After the injury it is a great way to come back. I am just living in the moment for now," the 22-year-old Sania Mirza was quoted as saying upon her return to India.

Sania Mirza, laid low by the wrist injury for the better part of the last year, has begun the new year on a high note and she looks determined to make it count. What a great start she has had to 2009, winning her maiden Grand Slam title in the very first outing.
Last year the wrist injury had forced her to withdraw from several matches and the Roland Garros and US Open Grand Slams.

She represented India at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, in the women's singles and doubles events. In singles, she retired in the round of 64, while she was trailing 1-6, 1-2 against Iveta Benešová of Czech Republic. She teamed up with Sunitha Rao for the doubles event. They got a walk-over in the round of 32, but lost to Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova and Dinara Safina by 4-6, 4-6, in the round of 16.

Talking to a group of covering journalists from Pakistan, she had remarked during the Beijing Olympics that she would like to play in Pakistan where she has also great fan following. She didn’t foresee any problem if invited to participate in any tennis event in Pakistan. She spoke very highly of the talents of Aisam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s premier tennis player of the recent times.

Hailing from the historic town of Hyderabad, Sania Mirza had started playing tennis at the age of six, turning professional at the age of 16. She made her debut in the India Fed Cup team, winning all three singles matches. She won the 2003 Wimbledon Championships Girls' Doubles title, in the company of Alisa Kleybanova of Russia.


She is the highest ranked female tennis player ever from India, with a career high ranking of 27 in singles and 18 in doubles. She holds the distinction of being the first Indian woman to be seeded in a Grand Slam tennis tournament.

She had become the first Indian woman to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament at the 2005 U.S. Open, defeating Mashona Washington, Maria Elena Camerin and Marion Bartoli. In 2004, she had finished runner-up at the Asian Tennis Championship.

In 2005, Sania Mirza reached the third round of the Australian Open, losing to eventual champion Serena Williams. She became the first Indian woman to win a WTA singles title, defeating Alyona Bondarenko of Ukraine in the Hyderabad Open Finals.

She won the silver in the women's singles category and the gold in the mixed doubles partnering Leander Paes in the 2006 Asian Games at Doha.

Sweet mart chain drops `Karachi' from name

MUMBAI: Fearing an attack from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists, the management of the Punjabi Chandu Halwai Karachiwala chain of sweet
shops has dropped `Karachiwala' from its signboards. The chain has 21 branches across the city.

"We don't want to take chances,'' one of the managers said. "After we learnt about the Mulund incident, where the owner of Karachi Sweet Mart was threatened by MNS activists, we decided to take precautions,'' he added.

"Who wants to invite trouble? If there is stone pelting on any of our outlets, it will affect our business,'' said a senior official from a Chandu sweetmeats shop. "We are a known brand. It is a temporary measure. If the issue dies down in the coming weeks, we may bring back Karachiwala on our signboards.''

MNS activist Shishir Shinde said he was not against any sweetmeat shop or its owners. "We don't want to bully or harass any shopkeeper. We are only opposed to the use of names of Pakistani cities in Mumbai,'' said Shinde. He added that the MNS would request other establishments such as cable companies, jewellery designers, restaurants, marriage halls, general stores and export houses to avoid using names like Lahore, Karachi, Multan and Peshawar.

"Pakistan has been responsible for several bomb blasts and more recently, the terror attack on Mumbai. The key accused, Ajmal Kasab is from Pakistan,'' he said. "Those who migrated to India after the partition, are now Indian citizens and should cut off all links with Pakistan,'' he added.

However, a Congress corporator said, "The names of the shops or establishments which are being targeted have become brands over the past few decades. It makes no sense forcing the owners to drop words like Karachi or Lahore. The MNS should catch those who are involved in anti-national activities and spare the innocents.'' (Times of India)