KARACHI: Senior JUI-F leader Khalid Mehmood Soomro was shot dead in Sukkur on Saturday.

The early morning attack took place when Soomro, who was the secretary general for the Sindh chapter of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl), was leaving a mosque attached to a madrassah in Sukkur after offering Fajr prayers.

Armed men entered the area and opened fire at Soomro.

Soomro was in Sukkur to participate in a conference when the attack took place in the Khosa Goth area.

Soomro, who held important positions in his party, hailed from Sindh's Larkana region.

Soomro, who also represented his party in the Senate from 2006-2012, was attacked at least six times prior to Saturday's fatal one.

He leaves behind a widow, six sons and three daughters.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has escaped two fatal attacks on him in the recent years. Following the assassination of Soomro, the JUI-F chief said that the murder of his party's secretary general was an act of terrorism.

"The government should order and ensure a thorough investigation into the attack and punish those responsible," Fazl said.

The assassination was also condemned by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as well as Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain.

Apart from the attacks on Soomro and party chief Fazl, JUI-F leaders have been attacked, some of them fatally, during the past few years. In September this year, senior JUI-F activist Maulana Sajidullah was shot dead in Karachi's Pirabad area.

Meanwhile, in 2012, JUI-F leader and former nazim Haji Mohammad Azeem Khan was killed when gunmen attacked his pickup in Lakki Marwat.

In 2010, JUI-F leader Mir Metha Khan Jattak, who was associated with the Nasirabad district branch of his party was killed in an attack in Tambo tehsil.

Nawaz Sharif condemns the assassination

Prime Minister Nawaz sharif called JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and offered his condolences over the assassination of party leader Dr Khalid Soomro.

Condemning the murder, the prime minister said the nation had been “deprived of a great scholar”.

He added that Soomro was a great parliamentarian and assured the JUI-F chief that "no stone would be left unturned to find those responsible for the killing".

Obaidullah Shaikh contributed to reporting.

CAIRO: An Egyptian court has dismissed criminal charges against former president Hosni Mubarak in connection with the killing of protesters in the 2011 uprising that ended his nearly three-decade reign.

Mubarak, 86, was also acquitted of corruption charges that he faced along with his sons Alaa and Gamal.

Mubarak was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2012, but the verdict was overturned on appeal.

Saturday's verdict concludes his retrial along with his two sons, his security chief and six of his aides, who were all acquitted. Also on trial was businessman Hussein Salem, a longtime Mubarak friend tried in absentia.

LAHORE: The election tribunal on Saturday issued summons for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, calling for the party chief to appear before it on December 6.

Imran has been summoned to submit evidence in relation to alleged rigging in NA-122, the constituency from which Sardar Ayaz Sadiq was elected in the 2013 general election.

Tribunal member Kazim Ali Malik issued the directive as 41 polling agents appeared before him. Out of these, eight had their statements recorded regarding allegations of rigging in NA-122.

Sadiq had defeated Imran, following which the PTI chief had challenged the election result before the tribunal, asking for a recount of the votes cast in the constituency.

The tribunal moreover dismissed two pleas filed by Sadiq — one saying that the attestation in relation to the duties of PTI’s polling agents was bogus and the other which requested for the immediate summoning of Imran for cross-examination.

In relation to the polling agents’ attestation, the tribunal said the matter was an administrative one and should be dealt with the competent authorities. The tribunal said it could not pass a ruling on the subject.

Moreover, Imran, through his counsel, had argued that the plea taken by Sadiq was baseless and did not pertain to the merits of the case.

Regarding the call to summon Imran immediately, the tribunal issued summons for the PTI chairman for Dec 6, saying cross-examination can be done on that day.

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday called for a countrywide strike tomorrow (Sunday) to protest the killing of Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro, the Secretary General for JUI-F's Sindh chapter.

Addressing a news conference, the JUI-F chief said it was the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens, a duty which it had failed to do.

The JUI-F chief directed party workers to take to streets tomorrow and hold protests but urged them to remain peaceful in the process.

“All the major roads of the country will be blocked tomorrow in protest against the killing,” Fazl said, condemning the incident and demanding the immediate arrest of those behind the murder.

Soomro was shot dead in Sukkur in an early morning attack on Saturday. The attack took place when Soomro was leaving a mosque attached to a madrassah in Sukkur after offering Fajr prayers.

Armed men entered the area and opened fire at him resulting in his death.

Soomro, who held important positions in his party, hailed from Sindh's Larkana region. He also represented JUI-F in the Senate from 2006-2012 and was attacked at least six times prior to Saturday's fatal one. He leaves behind a widow, six sons and three daughters.

ISLAMABAD: In what appeared to be a message to certain political and religious elements, PPP Co-Chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari said the PPP would not permit anyone to impose any peculiar agenda through brute force and using the facade of religion.

"The party is also conscious of threats to democracy in the name of democracy itself and is determined to foil them," Zardari said in a statement issued in relation to the 47th founding day of the party which falls on November 30.

"Our founding principles ‘democracy is our politics’ and ‘all power to the people’ are ingrained in the consciousness of the people and will never be erased," he said.

He said this year the Pakistan Peoples Party was celebrating its founding day by holding conventions of party workers for stock-taking and soul-searching as well as for reiterating its commitment to the ideals for the pursuit of which the it was founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

"We reiterate that all power belongs to the people and they alone have the power to bring about political change through the ballot box," he remarked.

*Also read: PPP diehards worried to see Zardari in ‘losers company’*

Zardari said that while the threat of imposition of direct dictatorship may appear to have receded, PPP was not unmindful of the other forms of "threats to democracy that rear their ugly heads from time to time".

"The PPP is aware of such threats and is ready to fight them," he said.

Zardari's spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said all preparations had been completed for the party convention which would take place in Lahore tomorrow.

He said two sessions of the convention would be held in Bilawal House Lahore which would be attended by workers and party officials from all over the country.

The session on November 30 would be attended by party workers and leaders from Punjab. Meanwhile, the workers and office bearers from all other provinces, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and tribal areas would join the convention on December 2. All members of the central executive committee of the party have been directed to appear at both sessions of the convention, he said.

More on this: Remembering the (real) PPP

SYDNEY: The first Test match between Australia and India was postponed on Saturday following the death of batsman Phillip Hughes, with a shattered skipper Michael Clarke admitting the team were in “deep pain”.

Hughes, 25, died on Thursday from massive bleeding on the brain, two days after being knocked unconscious by a bouncer while batting at a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

His death has thrown the cricketing world into mourning with the first Test against India, due to start on Thursday in Brisbane, postponed to allow the players time to grieve, Cricket Australia said.

“These are extraordinary circumstances and we simply couldn't or wouldn't expect our players to be emotionally ready to start a Test match the day after farewelling one of their teammates,” CA chief executive James Sutherland said.

“Their welfare is our absolute priority. They are grieving and to expect that they could play a high-pressured, five-day Test match the following day is out of the question.”

Sutherland said CA appreciated the “incredible understanding and support “of the Board of Control for Cricket in India which had been “nothing short of outstanding during these difficult times”.

It is not yet known when the match will be rescheduled, but Sutherland said it would be done in full consultation with the players, the Indian Board, the International Cricket Council and broadcasters.

Earlier on Saturday a distraught Clarke had paid an emotional tribute to Hughes on behalf of the Australian cricket team and support staff.

Clarke spoke of Hughes' parents and family and said: “We share in the deep pain that you're feeling.

“Our dressing room will never be the same. We loved him and always will.”

Hughes' death has reverberated around the country in which cricket is considered the national game, with flags flown at half mast and cricket bats left outside front doors as a mark of respect, including at the Sydney residence of Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

“Words cannot express the loss we all feel as a team right now,” Clarke told a brief press conference in Sydney, in which he took no questions and battled to keep his composure.

“Apart from when he was home on the farm with his beloved cattle, Hughesy was at his happiest playing cricket for his country with his mates,” Clarke said.

“Things were always put into perspective when Hughesy said: 'Where else would you rather be boys than playing cricket for your country?'”

Clarke said Hughes, who had played 26 Tests since his 2009 debut and who had appeared ready for his next call up, had epitomised what the baggy green cap that Australian Test cricketers wear was all about.

He said he had asked Cricket Australia to retire Hughes' one-day international number of 64, which they have agreed to do.

“The world lost one of its great blokes this week and we are all poorer for it. Our promise to Hughesy's family is that we will do everything we can to honour his memory,” Clarke said.

“His legacy of trying to improve each and every day will drive us for the rest of our lives.”

Ahead of the postponement of the game, former captain Ricky Ponting had said playing the Test match would not have been right.

“It's been such a tragic week for the Hughes family and the cricket community, I can't imagine how anybody can be expected to play Test cricket on Thursday,” Ponting wrote in The Australian newspaper.

Test players David Warner, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and Nathan Lyon were at the SCG when the popular Hughes suffered the fatal injury during a Sheffield Shield match. Many players visited the stricken player in hospital to pay their respects.

The tragic accident has deeply shaken the world cricket community and Clarke thanked fans for their touching tributes.

“We're going to miss that cheeky grin and that twinkle in his eye,” Clarke said.

QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Saturday adopted a unanimous resolution condemning the murder of polio workers in Quetta and the killing og Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Dr Khalid Soomro in Sukkur.

The assembly session began with Deputy Speaker Qudoos Bizenjo in the chair as the house discussed the worsening law and order situation. The opposition and treasury members lamented the poor situation of law and order in Balochistan province.

A joint resolution condemning the killing of Dr Khalid Soomro was tabled by opposition leader Maulana Abdul Wasey and other members of JUI-F. But the resolution was amended with the inclusion of polio workers by the house after thorough debate.

The house demanded the federal government to double its efforts for the arrest of Khalid Soomro’s killers and demanded that the Balochistan government apprehend the murderers of polio workers in Quetta.

Gunmen had killed four polio workers including three female vaccinators in Quetta's Eastern Bypass area earlier this week.

Senior Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri however lashed out at his own government for its failure to protect the lives of citizens. “When I do not feel not secure, then what about the common man in the province,” Nawab Zehri said.

Also read: Five-member police team to probe JUI-F office-bearer's murder

A week ago, militants had fired a rocket that landed close to Zehri’s residence in his hometown Khuzdar. “When I am not being given justice then the common man will, indeed, suffer here,” he said.

Zehri admitted that his government had failed in improving the law and order situation in Balochistan. “Our law and order is limited to mere papers,” he said.

Opposition leader Maulana Abdul Wasey said that government had failed in maintaining law and order in the province.

He said Khalid Soomoro was killed in day light in Sukkur which was the failure of the Sindh government while four polio workers were gunned down in Quetta.

Related: Jundullah claims attack on polio workers in Quetta

“When women are being targeted then, forget about the government,” Wasey said.

Besides opposition members, the treasury members also expressed their anger over the deteriorating law and order situation.

“Nobody is safe in Balochistan,” Provincial Revenue Minister Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail admitted during the assembly proceedings.

Chief Minister Balochistan Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch however assured the house that efforts were being made to apprehend the killers of the polio workers in Quetta.

He said his government had inherited the law and order problem from the previous government and that it was determined to protect the lives and properties of the citizens.

“Law and order is not ideal but we have improved it,” Dr. Baloch told the house to explain his position.

Most of the legislators strongly criticised law enforcement agencies for their failure to maintain law and order situation in Balochistan, plagued by a long-running Baloch separatist insurgency and growing sectarian violence.

ISLAMABAD: As the PTI's public meeting draws closer with significant hype surrounding the upcoming event, Senator Rehman Malik on Saturday said it was important to note that given his previously rigid attitude, Imran Khan was showing a considerable degree of "flexibility".

Speaking to DawnNews on Saturday, the senior member of Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) central executive committee said that keeping in mind Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's former rigid demeanor, it appeared that the party was now showing some flexibility when it came to its readiness for talks and relaxation in Imran's terms.

Ever the mediator, Senator Malik also claimed that there were signs and indications that Imran and his supporters would hold a rally on November 30 and leave as opposed to pulling together a full-blown sit-in or 'dharna'.

After the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) ended its sit-in at D-Chowk in October, the opposition Jirga, of which Senator Malik is a member, urged Imran to follow suit.

More on this: Opposition jirga urges Imran to end sit-in

Senator Malik and the opposition jirga has been attempting to convince PTI leaders to end what now has become their token sit-in.

In late October, Senator Malik had told Dawn that the jirga would contact PTI leader Jehangir Tareen for a meeting with Imran. He had also said that the Jirga had played an important role in defusing tension and averting bloodshed in the capital.

HYDERABAD: A boy was killed while five others received injuries after two unidentified miscreants lobbed hand crackers on a police mobile within the jurisdiction of GOR police station on Saturday evening.

They had received injuries in the explosions but the boy couldn’t survive and was pronounced dead on arrival in Liaquat University Hospital (LUH) city branch.

Police sources said that the crackers were hurled at a police mobile of GOR police station which was passing through Wahdat Colony.

“The attackers missed the target and resultant explosions caused injuries to pedestrians,” said a police officer.

The motorcyclists fled away from the area without being challenged. No policeman received injuries.

Cantonment DSP Anwar Durrani told journalists that passersby and some residents of the area were present when the two crackers were lobbed at the police mobile.

No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

It is, however, pertinent to mention that Shafi Burfat’s banned Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) has given a call for strike against the custodial death of its activist, Asif Panhwar, a leader of JSMM’s student wing.

Some of JSMM activists including its secretary general Muzaffar Bhutto were found dead previously as well. Bhutto’s body was found near Hyderabad by pass in May 2012. They were picked up from different areas and their whereabouts remained unknown till their bodies were found.

Asif Panhwar was picked-up on Aug 15 this year in Nasim Nagar along with Raza Noohani during a raid at the residence of Amir Hussain Azad Panwhar, central spokesman of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (Arisar). Both were activist of JSMM’s Jeay Sindh Students Federation.

PESHAWAR: Two key Taliban commanders have been killed in a clash with the security forces in Jamrud Tehsil of Khyber Agency on Saturday, sources said.

Official sources told Dawn.com that the clash occurred in Lashora area of Jamrud which left key militant commanders of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Abubakar and Wajid dead.

The security forces have also taken the body of Wajid in their custody.

There are reports that another key TTP commander Ashiqullah has also been killed in the operation, however, these are yet to be verified.

Khyber Agency is one of Pakistan’s seven semi-autonomous tribal regions in the area, where Pakistani Taliban and Al Qaeda-linked militants are said to have carved out strongholds.

Also read: Three LI militants killed in Khyber

Pakistan Army launched the operation ‘Khyber-1’ last month with air strikes against LI hideouts in areas under the Mangal Bagh-led group’s control in Tirah and Bara.

The operation was launched amidst Zarb-i-Azb, a full-fledged military operation being conducted by the army against TTP and other militants in the North Waziristan tribal region.

The military operation has reportedly seen a number of militant hideouts attacked and destroyed. It has also left over 245,482 people displaced.

ISLAMABAD: A day before PTI's public meeting in the federal capital, Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz lawmaker Aijaz Chaudhry announced that he was joining Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

"I have decided to resign from the seat in the National Assembly," Chaudhry said on Saturday, adding that he was joining Imran Khan's "fight against corruption".

Chaudhry made the announcement at a press briefing during which he was flanked by PTI Chairman Imran Khan and other members of his party.

Chaudhry was elected from NA-108 Mandi Bahauddin constituency in the May 2013 general election.

Speaking to Dawn after his press conference, Chaudhry said he had handed his resignation from the National Assembly to Khan as a gesture to show his decision of leaving PML-N.

Also read: Not too many rebels as yet

Chaudhry also stated that his constituency had hopes from the PML-N government in relation to developmental work for the benefit of the locals. However, the top leadership of the party had refused to help him in this regard, Chaudhry claimed, adding that the party's top brass did not provide any support for the betterment of Mandi Bahauddin.

Chaudhry will be present at the November 30 rally alongside Imran Khan.

The defection comes as PTI has been holding an anti-government sit-in Islamabad since August 14 along with public meetings in major cities across Pakistan in protest of what it calls "massive rigging" in the May 2013 general election.

More on this: PTI vs PML-N: And the loser is...

HYDERABAD: IG Police Sindh Ghulam Hyder Jamali on Saturday formed a five member team to investigate the murder of Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro, general secretary of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Sindh chapter.

The team, which has started its investigation, is headed by DIG Larkana Saeen Rakhio Mirani with DIG Special Branch Sukkur Sharjeel Karim Kharal, SSP Sukkur Tanvir Tunio and SSPs of Shikarpur and Khairpur as members.

Soomro was shot dead in Sukkur early Saturday morning when he was leaving a mosque attached to a madrassah after offering Fajr prayers.

Authorities are looking at a number of probabilities relating to Soomro’s assassination. They have recovered six bullet empties and got an eyewitness account claiming there were three to four assailants who arrived in a white car and left in a hurry.

“We have got an eyewitness account of a mason who was present in the seminary-cum-mosque,” said DIG Mirani, who holds the additional charge of DIG Sukkur Range police as well.

According to Mirani, the assailants struck just before the morning Fajr prayers.

“Gunmen sprayed Soomro with bullets while prayer was about to start,” added Mirani from Larkana.

Also read: Fazl calls for countrywide strike

Soomro had addressed a ‘Payam-e-Amn’ conference in Qasim Bagh Sukkur and had stayed in Jamia Haqania which is an under-construction seminary-cum-mosque located in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Site area.

Soomro, who was known for his fiery speeches, had been vocal on issues of Sindh and had worked with nationalist parties and the PPP over issues such as Kalabagh Dam, Greater Thal Canal and missing persons.

There were around seven to eight other people who had gathered to offer morning prayers. With serious bullet wounds, Soomro was taken to a nearby private hospital where he was pronounced dead. His family did not allow medico legal officers to conduct post-mortem.

“We [the authorities] have not yet been able to find those responsible for the suicide attack on our emir, Maulana Fazalur Rehman. Authorities are in a habit of issuing a cyclostyle statement through Twitter and Facebook to condemn something. But in the present case, even such a statement has not been issued,” reacted Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, a central leader of JUI-F, who had reached Larkana from Punjab.

Funeral proceedings of Soomro will be held in Larkana at his seminary and he will be laid to rest after Maghrib prayers at a nearby space available adjacent to his seminary. Party leaders from across Sindh have started reaching Larkana to offer condolences.

People gather at Madrassa Jamia Dar ul Uloom Haqqania after the killing of JUI-F Leader Dr Khalid Mahmood Soomro.—Photo by Online

Insider involvement suspected

DIG Mirani claimed that the police are looking into several factors. He also hinted at the ‘sectarian aspect’ of the killing and that police are also looking into the aspect of ‘insider involvement’ as well.

“Gunmen struck right at the time when Fajr prayer was about to commence and people getting ready for the prayer. So we are obtaining CDR [call data record] of those present there. The timing was so accurate and this makes us suspect the involvement of some insider at this point of time,” Mirani added.

“Situation on ground regarding [the marks of] the car’s wheels indicate it was reversed when the assailants fled,” he said.

Police authorities are preparing sketches of the assailants on the basis of initial statements from those present at the time of the killing, while the scene of the offence has been preserved.

JUI-F activists blocked roads in protest in Sukkur and Larkana. Business remained closed in Sukkur, while traffic sparse and fuel stations were also closed as a mark of mourning.

JUI-F secretary general Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi, Akram Durrani, JUI-F Sindh spokesman Maulana Taj Mohammad Nahiyoon reached Larkana following the incident.

“We are part of a movement and such movements do not stop. He laid down his life for the cause of Islam,” said Nahiyoon. He said that Soomro always remained undeterred despite previous attempts on his life.

Soomro had been frequenting the seminary previously, where was staying in the room adjacent to the mosque. His two police guards were also staying there in another room. According to DIG Mirani, Soomro was provided ten policemen for his security.

“But he left eight of them in Larkana and two accompanied him on Friday night,” he said.

A Sukkur special branch official claimed that assailants did not touch anyone except Soomro.

“We are collecting details regarding previous attacks on his life…[and] some speeches he delivered recently. We will also be probing a property dispute regarding the seminary land but it is premature to comment on it in definite terms,” he said.

He claimed that Larkana police had provided him six policemen for security purpose and four were his personal security guards.

JUI-F activists and leaders staged protest demonstrations at different spots in Hyderabad including Sabzi Mandi, Gharib Nawaz Bridge and outside local press club. They were led by Khalid Dhamra, Abdul Aziz and Sirajul Haq.

They demanded the arrest of the culprits and complained that killings of ulema (clerics) continued unabated. They said that they are "fast losing their patience".

Shops remained closed in mobile market in Saddar area but they reopened in the second half of the day. No untoward incident was reported from any quarter.

Shops are seen closed in Hyderabad during a strike in protest of the murder of JUI-F provincial general secretary Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro—Photo by Online

Funeral prayers offered

Funeral prayers of the slain JUI-F leader were offered at Larkana’s Municipal Stadium later in the evening. It was largely attended by people of Larkana and party workers from across Sindh.

JUI-F leaders Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi, Attaur Rehman, brother of JUI-F emir Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Akram Durrani, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Sindh Tarraqi-passand Party chairman Dr Qadir Magsi, Sindh United Party president Jalal Mehmood Shah, Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz chairman Sanan Qureshi, Jeay Sindh Mahaz leader Riaz Chandio and others were present at the funeral.

Soomro will be laid to rest in Haqanya Colony. Family members said he had already expressed his last will regarding his place of burial.

ABBOTTABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif hit out at the ongoing movement of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) during his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Hazara Motorway on Saturday, and said that sit-ins are detrimental to the country's progress.

While commenting on the current sit-in protests, the premier said that they will not ensure progress for Pakistan, nor will they bring an end to unemployment.

"Do you want electricity or protests?" asked the premier during his speech to scores of supporters. "The protests will make the country move backwards, it will not enable progress." he added.

"The kind of language that is taught to our younger generation during these protests... is this the language adolescents will use in 'Naya Pakistan'?" Nawaz said, referring to Imran Khan's speeches during rallies. "I have never heard such falsehood in my entire life, as much as I have heard in the past few days in these protests."

Nawaz arrived in Havelian earlier today, for the inauguration of the Hazara Motorway project. According to a report by Radio Pakistan, this important road link is part of Pakistan-China Economic Corridor agreement.

The 60-km long 4-lane fenced expressway will cost Rs30 billion with the purpose of reducing the drive time from Islamabad to Havelian to just 30 minutes in addition to providing roads for the Havelian Dry Port project.

The prime minister’s speech in Havelian, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where PTI leads the provincial government, comes just a day before the PTI’s show of strength on Nov 30 in the federal capital.

The PTI has long been leading demonstrations in protest of alleged electoral rigging by the PML-N, which swept the 2013 polls. The PTI also blames the government for widespread corruption and poor governance.

The two parties have been in a standoff since August 14, when Imran launched his ‘Independence march’ against the government.

Nawaz, meanwhile, has promised to spend millions on building thousands of schools, vowed a reduction in load-shedding and gas prices, and an increase employment.

In a few days I’ll be heading to Karachi for the groundbreaking of the Karachi-Lahore Motorway, Nawaz told the crowd today.

PM announces Rs9.66 cut in POL prices

During his speech at the groundbreaking in Havelian today, the prime minister also announced a reduction of Rs9.66 per litre in the price of petrol.

Following the reduction, a notification of which Nawaz said will be issued the next day, the price of petrol will come down to Rs84.53 per litre from Rs94.19.

Nawaz also announced a Rs7.12 per litre cut in the price of high speed diesel, which will be reduced to Rs94.09 from Rs101.21, and a cut by Rs10 per litre in the price of HOBC, bringing it down to Rs103 from Rs113.

Ogra had recommended the reduction in POL prices after crude prices have fell to four-year lows in the international market.

According to details, the price of kerosene will be Rs83.51 per litre, down by Rs4.01 per litre from Rs87.52. The price of light diesel oil will be Rs78.42 per litre, down by Rs5 from Rs83.42.

The new prices will take effect from Monday, Dec 1.

ISLAMABAD: The Central Develop­ment Working Party (CDWP) cleared on Friday 10 development projects having an estimated cost of about Rs39 billion, including a rapid transport system for Karachi.

The projects were cleared at a meeting of the CDWP, presided over by Minister for Planning and Develop­ment, Ahsan Iqbal.

Also read: Rs28bn released for development projects

It approved eight projects having total cost of Rs20.174bn and referred two others, envisaging a cost of Rs18.63bn, to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.

CDWP defers approval of eight schemes

The meeting deferred approval of eight projects worth Rs35.7bn because of different deficiencies.

The CDWP has the powers to approve development projects costing up to Rs3bn whereas it recommends projects beyond Rs3bn cost to the ECNEC after clearing them on technical and financial grounds.

Know more: Karachi to Lahore motorway project approved

The meeting questioned the Rs15.4bn cost of the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System project and referred it to the ECNEC for approval after cost rationalisation. The 21-km transport facility in Karachi will originate from Saddar and, via M.A Jinnah Road, Business Recorder Road, Nawab Siddique Ali Khan Road, Shahrah-i-Shershah Suri and Shahrah-i-Usman, end at Powerhouse Chowrangi in Surjani Town. The two-lane signal-free rapid bus system will benefit about 400,000 passengers every day.

The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs27.6bn, including Rs5.6bn of foreign aid. About Rs12bn is estimated to be the cost of land and allied facilities to be provided by the Sindh government.

The minister asked the executing agencies to reduce the implementation schedule from 22 months for the signature project of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for Karachi. “The period of completion of the project must be minimised, as desired by the prime minister, because he wants to see this projected completed in the shortest possible time,” he said.

The project is being funded by the federal government as a gift for people of Karachi, Mr Iqbal added.

He directed the executing agencies to incorporate traditional yellow stone architecture while designing the bus stations to revive the traditional identity of the city.

The meeting approved Rs3.2bn for machine readable passport and visa service to be operational by Dec 31 to facilitate overseas Pakistanis. “The project approval will be revoked if the commitment is not fulfilled. Overseas Pakis­tanis earn precious foreign ex­cha­nge and should not be made to wait in long queues,” Mr Iqbal said.

While deferring approval of eight projects, he said that no project could be considered unless clear key performance indicators were mentioned in its documents. “A project has to be specific, measureable, quantifiable and time-bound to gauge its outcome,” he said.

RESCUE 1122: The approval of the project of the establishment of emergency services “Rescue 1122” for Islamabad was deferred because of its higher cost when compared to “Rescue 1122” in Punjab. The authorities concerned were directed to integrate “Rescue 1122” and the Capital Development Authority rescue service for better delivery to people.

The meeting approved Rs289.6bn for change of base of national accounts from 2005-06 to 2015-16. Besides, the project also includes change of price indices from 2007-08 to 2015-16 to ensure better contribution among all economic sectors and sub-sectors of national economy in terms of size and volume of GDP.

Another Rs10bn project of land records management and information systems and Rs83 million water supply schemes for Baradar, Budhall, Poodnial and Oghi areas in Mansehra district, were also approved.

The meeting approved Rs456m for construction of Fata headquarters building at Peshawar. It approved construction of a road from Chandore Sharif to Haripur via Lassan Adda and Palsala Jhokan in Mansehra district at a cost of Rs105m.

The meeting also approved a Rs3bn project of rehabilitation and widening of 31km Khwazkhela-Besham road in Alipuri-Besham section of N-90 highway in the earthquake-hit area.

The CDWP approved a Rs1.8b project for repair of 800 passenger coaches and 200 train carriages in the railway workshop in Mughalpura, Lahore.

It also approved revised cost of Rs4.4bn for construction of a bridge across River Chenab to link Shorkot with Garh Maharaja.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2014

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Friday called for the release of Pakistani prisoners languishing in various jails of India as it announced that 40 Indian detainees were being freed on the directives of Federal Review Board (FRB).

“Pakistan is releasing 40 Indian prisoners, who will be repatriated to India through Wagah,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Thirty-five of the Indian prisoners being freed are fishermen.

Know more: 36 Indian prisoners released from Karachi jail

The decision to release the prisoners comes a day after prime ministers of Pakistan and India shook hands at the Saarc summit in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu.

However, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said that Indians were being released on the instructions of the FRB constituted by the Supreme Court.

The board comprising three judges of the apex court has reviewed the cases of foreign prisoners in the country.

This was the second batch of Indian prisoners released from Pakistani jails this year.

Earlier, 151 detainees were released as a goodwill gesture on the occasion of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to India in May for attending the inauguration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Pakistan has released 191 Indians this year — 185 fishermen and six other people.

A total of 256 Indians are still in Pakistani jails.

“Pakistan has always held that the issue of prisoners between the two countries is a humanitarian one and should be taken in that spirit. It is our hope that the Government of India would release all Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentences,” the statement said.

There are 487 Pakistanis in Indian jails.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2014

LAHORE: Each electricity unit has become costlier by Rs1.30 as the federal government started charging two recently introduced taxes in fresh bills, transferring a cumulative burden of around Rs117 billion to consumers this year.

The November bills include the Universal Obligation Fund at the rate of Re1 per unit for those falling between 301 and 700 units and 50 paisa for consumers over 700 units.

Similarly, a debt servicing surcharge of 30 paisa per unit has also been included in the bills. Both the surcharges are over and above 30 paisa per unit monthly fuel adjustment charges for August and another 51 paisa per unit for September.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had withdrawn the September fuel charges, but they are still part of November bills.

“The sector sells around 90 billion units every year,” explains a former head of the Central Power Purchase Agency. By raising tax on each unit by Rs1.30, the government has transferred an additional burden of Rs117 billion to consumers – a killing figure by any stretch of imagination.

Of the two, the debt servicing charge is the most interesting one. When the PML-N government took over, it drew huge political mileage out of clearance of circular debt. Its ministers went about painting it as a testimony to their party’s financial wizardry and claimed that it would have a positive impact on loadshedding.

But it turned out that out of Rs500bn, roughly 50 per cent was paid in cash to the independent power producers (IPPs) and the rest was parked in the debt holding company which the PPP government had set up in 2010 to clear sectoral books of Rs301bn.

The company is now holding a debt of over Rs500bn and the new surcharge of Rs0.30 per unit is needed to service it.

“Originally, the debt accumulated because the tariff was not raised between 2003 and 2008,” said a former Pepco head. The servicing cost during that period had gone up substantially. The government refused to raise tariff and promised to pay the differential as subsidy, but it did not. As a result, the debt shot up to Rs301bn and a new company was formed to shift the burden to it and clear the sector.

BAD POLITICS: The present government added to the debt roughly the same amount and now wants consumers to service the loans that were accumulated over the past decade. It is bad politics, even worse financial management and a disastrous action socially, he concluded.

The Universal Obligation Fund of Re1 per unit is even more discriminatory and is tantamount to covering corruption and inefficiency, says a former head of the National Transmission and Dispatch Company. The government wants to keep electricity rates uniformed throughout the country but it is not ready to pay the differential – under pressure from lenders. Thus, it has introduced a new tax. It tried to make it part of tariff through Nepra which refused to budge.

Thus it has levied a tax to reduce subsidy of equivalent amount; if it sells 92bn units it would earn Rs92bn more and reduce the subsidy by the same margin, to the much satisfaction of international lenders and social and poverty disaster for the Pakistanis, he concluded.

Published in Dawn, November 30th , 2014

ISLAMABAD: As the Supreme Court resumes on Monday hearing a case on holding of local government elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has told the court that it has prepared draft legislation on the Delimitation of Constituencies Act, 1974, in Punjab and Sindh.

The draft legislation will be considered and approved by the commission whenever it met but in the absence of a permanent chief election commissioner (CEC), an office lying vacant since July 30 last year, the approval of the law may get delayed.

Article 218(2) defines the commission comprising the CEC and five members, each of whom will be a judge of the respective high court.

When a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk will resume the hearing of the case on the implementation of its March 20 judgment on Monday, the issue of the appointment of CEC will also crop up during the proceedings.

The court has warned the government that it will withdraw on Dec 5 Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, a Supreme Court judge officiating as acting CEC. The commission may be rendered incomplete if the court goes ahead with its warning.

But Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah has said that he is meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday to reach a consensus on the name of an individual to be appointed CEC.

The federal government through an Oct 14 ordinance empowered the ECP to carry out delimitation of local governments for Punjab and Sindh.

Meanwhile, the ECP in a report assured the court that it was committed to initiating the process of delimitation of local governments in Sindh and Punjab as early as possible after the receipt of the notifications related to demarcation of local areas, determination of number of councils / wards and supply of authenticated maps, etc.

Published in Dawn, November 30th , 2014

DAKAR: More than 16,000 people have been infected with Ebola and nearly 7,000 have died, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organisation.

The new death toll, released late on Friday by the UN agency, represents an increase of more than 1,000 deaths since a report from two days before. Most of the new deaths were recorded in Liberia, but the new toll likely includes deaths that have gone unreported over a significant period of time.

Data from the outbreak has been spotty and slow to come and often death and case tolls see large jumps when backlogs of information are cleared. Because the data is so hard to come by, the World Health Organisation has cautioned that its figures may significantly underreport the actual number of people sickened and killed by the disease.

The current outbreak began in West Africa and has been severely hitting three countries there: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Friday’s data showed there have been 16,169 cases in just those three countries — an increase of 268 cases since a report two days earlier.

Published in Dawn, November 30th , 2014

CAIRO: Arab League foreign ministers endorsed on Saturday a draft resolution setting a timeframe for the creation of a Palestinian state and said they would formally present it to the United Nations Security Council for a vote within days.

The ministers said in a statement after their meeting that a follow-up committee including Jordan, an Arab member of the Security Council, would begin to seek international backing for the resolution. Arab League chief Nabil al-Araby said Jordan would present the draft to the Security Council within days.

A proposed resolution on a Palestinian state is unlikely to gain the support of veto-wielding council member the United States, a key ally of Israel. It is not clear whether Washington would engage in formal negotiations on such a document.

Speaking at the opening of the session in Cairo, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel had left his people no option but to turn directly to the international community.

“The current situation in the Palestinian territories cannot continue,” he said. “There is no longer a partner for us in Israel and there is nothing for us but to internationalise the issue.” Jordan circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution to members early last month that calls for an end to Israeli occupation by November 2016. Some diplomats have described the Palestinian-drafted text as “unbalanced”.

France, Britain and Germany are also drafting their own resolution, diplomats said, which would set out parameters for trying to end the conflict. They have not yet circulated a text to the 15-council members.

Abbas warned in his speech that his government could limit contacts with Israel and suspend security coordination if the resolution failed to pass at the Security Council, and that Israel would bear responsibility for the consequences.

Abbas has previously described security coordination with Israel as necessary and even “sacred”.

Palestinians seek statehood in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and blockaded Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as their capital — lands captured by Israel in a 1967 war.

Israel accepts the idea of a “two-state solution” of an independent and democratic Palestinian state existing alongside Israel, but has not accepted the 1967 borders as the basis for final negotiations, citing security and other concerns.

The latest round of efforts to forge a two-state solution collapsed in April and relations between the two sides have worsened since a 50-day war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip this summer.

France said on Friday it would recognise a Palestinian state if a final international effort to overcome the impasse between Israelis and Palestinians failed.

French parliamentarians will hold a symbolic vote with no immediate policy impact on Dec 2 on whether the French government should recognise Palestine as a state, after similar moves in Sweden, Britain, Ireland and Spain.

Published in Dawn, November 30th , 2014

WASHINGTON: The army chief, Gen Raheel Sharif, will meet US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday before flying back to Pakistan after a two-week stay in the United States.

“Yes, I can confirm that Secretary Kerry will meet the COAS tomorrow,” a senior US official told Dawn on Saturday.

The US-Pakistan Defence Consultative Group also meets in Washington in two weeks, diplomatic sources said.

They said that the United States also planned to continue economic and military assistance to Pakistan after the current arrangement ends.

Gen Sharif came to the United States earlier this month for talks on strategic issues and on Operation Zarb-i-Azb.

He has already met senior officials at the White House, the State Department and the US Department of Defence.

He also met US services chiefs and visited headquarters of the US Central Command for talks on issues related to US strategies in the Pak-Afghan region. The Central Command oversees US military efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

During his presentations in Washington, Gen Sharif assured the US administration that the operation in North Waziristan was directed against all terrorist groups. He told US officials, who were particularly concerned about the activities of the Haqqani network that the Haqqanis were among the groups Pakistan was targeting and there were no exceptions in this operation.

Senior US officials told Dawn that they found Gen Sharif “honest and straightforward” and had reasons to believe his assurance that Pakistan was now targeting the Haqqani network.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2014