Bugti IDP's Protest:

IHC orders settlement of all Dera Bugti IDPs

Photo by the Author

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday directed Balochistan including federal government to ensure rehabilitation and settlement of all Internally Displaced Persons of Dera Bugti without any delay.
Heading a one-member bench Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi was hearing a case filed by a grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti along with Dilshad Khan, the brother of the young man from Dera Bugti, who died in a private hospital a few days back, Justice Quereshi directed Chief Secretary Balochistan including federal government to ensure safe return of Bugti refugees in their respected areas and handover the dead body of young Bugti man who died in Islamabad some days back. Appearing before the court in person, Nawabzada Gohram Bugti requested the bench for settling around 250,000 IDPs of Dera Bugti. During the hearing Justice Noorul Haq quereshi directed the Chief Secretary Balochistan to ensure that the civil administration and rule of law prevailed in Dera Bugti and other districts without any discrimination, saying that Bugti refugees must be allowed to go back to their homes.
The bench also directed the Chief Secretary Balochistan including federal government to address all issues raised by Bugti leader; to which the latter assured the court that corrective measures would be taken in accordance with law. Justice Noorul Haq N. Qureshi of the IHC also directed the secretary ministry of interior, the inspector general Islamabad police, chief commissioner Islamabad and the president of Al-Shifa hospital to handover the dead body of the deceased who died one week back in the same hospital.

Peace in Balochistan:

Mengal issues four fresh demands to ensure peace in Balochistan

HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: Balochistan cannot get peace and stability until the provincial democratic setup is powered on four subjects. This was said by Sardar Akhtar Mengal, chief of Balochistan National Party (Mengal) here on Monday while addressing a seminar on “Peace in Balochistan & the role of Federation” conducted by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). The event also featured the launch of book “Balochistan: Azadi Sai Subai-Bay-Ikhtiari Tak” by Ahmad Salim. 

Sardar Mengal said it is essential for peace that the power of decision and policy making pertaining to four critical subjects including Kashmir, Balochistan, Afghanistan and foreign affairs is handed over to the democratic set up, for their political solution. Moreover, he said, his six point’s demand is also part of the solutions of Balochistan issue. “The demand was completely ignored by the authorities but it is still not too late for them to consider it”, Mengal added. 

While talking about the violence in Balochistan, he said during the last 25 days, 65 people went missing while 13 mutilated bodies were found from different parts of the province. He said from January to May 2013, 84 people went missing and 79 mutilated bodies were found. “The government should punish the murderers of Nawab Akbar Bugti and Habib Jalib, the IDP’s of Balochistan should be settled in their native areas, the interfere of intelligence agencies should be stopped, and the political parties should be made independent in Balochistan, 

in order to develop peace in the region”, Mengal added. “The problem starts when the government authorities do not admit any operation in the province, nor they take responsibility for the dead bodies found every day”, said Mengal. He said the government and its agencies should either take responsibility for these dead bodies, or at least blame anyone else for the crime. He said no one will negotiate with the authorities until they continued receiving dead bodies. 

He said the Baloch people are not demanding the greenery of Margalla hills or any of the five rivers of Punjab, but the land on which they are living since years and years, and it is their basic right. He further said that the country is not enjoying complete democracy due to the ‘democratic jammers’ installed to the system. He said due to these jammers, it took the election commission 3 to 18 days to announce the results of our constituency in recent elections whereas no one had submitted any application at any forum to delay or stay the results. 

“Although the democratic system is under the instructions of GHQ, we did not lose our patience to support the democracy. But the question is how long we would be able to keep our patience”, said Sardar Mengal. According to Mengal, only the ballot boxes used during the elections were transparent as the results coming from them were not real. 

The other speakers and guests of the seminar were Mr. Jan Achakzai, Spokesperson, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F), Mr. I.A. Rehman, Secretary General, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Lt. Gen (R) Talat Masood, Senior Political and Defence Analyst and Mr. Ahmad Salim, Senior Advisor, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). 

In 2012, Sardar Akhtar Mengal had pre- sented six points for the solutions of Balochistan. His six points demand was, (1) All overt and covert military operations against the Baloch should end; (2) All missing persons should be produced; (3) All proxy death squads created by the ISI and MI should be dis- banded; (4) Baloch nationalist parties should be allowed free political play without interference from ISI and MI; (5) Those responsible for the killings and disappearances should be brought to book; (6) Thousands of Baloch displaced by the conflict should be rehabilitated.

Power Corridor:

Babus demanding bribe to vet house possessions

• Friday, 26 April 2013

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: The government departments, it seems, have avowed to irritate citizens instead of facilitating them. A fresh example of the above-said attitude is the case of a flat/quarter that is not being handed over to its bona fide allottee without bribe. The officials at estate office instead of releasing the quarter from illegal possession for its legal allottee, are asking for the bribe, claimed by the victim.
The documents reveal that Zia Ullah Khan, working as Stenographer in the Ministry of Privatization on deputation basis, was allotted a quarter vide estate office Letter No. 9/7-D, G-9/2/EII/EO, on which he obtained protective stay order from the court of civil judge.
On that time, the house was in the possession of Arif Khan, who was working as statistical assistant at the Federal Bureau of Statistics. It is revealed in the documents that Arif Khan was getting retired on June 15, 2012, while he was granted a grace period of six months to handover the quarter to its new allottee.
“On December 14, after the expiry of the grace period for handing over the possession of the quarter, I forwarded an application requesting to handover the possession of the quarter peacefully, but then I came to know that during past the grace period, the quarter was illegally re-allotted to a charge nurse of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences,” said Zia Ullah Khan, the victim.  He said that he visited Malik Noman Langrial, the then Minister of State for Housing, several time to bring the issue into his notice.
“The minister directed to inquire the issue and submit the inquiry report within three days. Although it had been confirmed during the inquiry that I was the real allottee of the quarter while the allotment letter of the nurse was declared bogus, the inquiry report was never submitted to the minister despite his orders,” said Zia.
He said after visiting the office again and again, the estate office finally issued a notice on January 3, 2013, to the current possessor of the quarter directing him to handover the possession of the quarter within 24 hours, but all in vain.
He claimed that now the official of the estate office as well as the police instead of providing him justice has joined their hands with the illegal possessor and demanded him bribe.
“When Arif failed to handover the possession of the quarter despite the notice issued, I approached to the enforcement cell of the estate office and requested to release the quarter from his possession but they refused to provide any sort of assistance, while Joint Estate Officer Ayub Khan, Inspector Sarfraz and Sub-Inspector Tahir hameed demanded twenty thousand rupees for vacation of the subject quarter, which I paid to Mr Ayub Kahn, they did nothing,” said Zia.
He said after two months, he again visited Mr Ayub with the same request but he again demanded even higher amount of bribe through his middle man.
“Mr Ayub along with his enforcement staff namely Inspector Sarfraz and Sub-Inspector Tahir Hameed demanded me rupees 100,00  through Assistant Sub-Inspector Asghar Ali of Margala Police Station, for releasing the quarter from illegal possession, which I refused. 

PIMS boss Dr Riaz disqualified

• Monday, 22 April 2013

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences’ Executive Director Dr Riaz Warraich has  finally dismissed from his post by an Islamabad High Court decision in which the court declared his appointment as null and void here on Monday.
According to the details, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui while hearing the petition filed by PIMS’ Joint Executive Director Dr Altaf Hussain against the appointment of Dr Riaz Warraich as PIMS’ Executive Director, declared his appointment illegal.
The court also ordered the establishment division to appoint a new ED for the institute as soon as possible. Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, the council for Dr Altaf Hussain during the hearing told the bench that the post for executive director requires a medical specialist, orthopedic surgeon or a cardiologist but Dr Warraich was not qualifying for it as he was having a degree of dentist.
On the other hand, sources confirmed that Dr Warraich was appointed in October 2012, was a blue eyed of CAAD’s Former Minister Mr Nazar Gondal and involved in many irregularities and illegal recruitments during his tenure by using his political influence. On March 26, Justice Siddiqui had restrained Dr Warraich from his post after a petition filed by Dr Hussain.
An officer working in PIMS administration said that Dr Warraich also desired to become the first vice chancellor of the newly announced Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University by using his influence.
He said that Dr Warraich made many irregularities in the rules to become the first vice chancellor of SZAB University. But in current situation, he is not only removed from his post but also disqualified for becoming the vice chancellor of the university. 

Power Corridor:

Powerful lady ‘jumped’ to next grades violating rules

Thursday, 18 April 2013

HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: The Joint Executive Director and Chief Drug Control & Traditional Medicine Division of National Institute of Health, Dr Farnaz Malik is holding the post in clear violation of the laid down rules.
Documents available with The Spokesman have revealed that Dr Farnaz Malik was promoted as Chief DC &TMD (BPS-20) vide Ministry of Health vide Letter No. F.10-56/2005-E-II on September 2, 2005 and subsequent office order No. 980 dated 02-09-2005 while she did not meet the prescribed qualification of the post, that requires an MBBS degree-holder or equitant qualification recognised by PM&DC or BPharm, MSc 2nd class in pharmaceutical chemistry/ pharmaceutics/ pharmacology, Botany/ Postgraduate degree in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry/ Pharmaceutics/ Pharmacognosy/ or Pharmacology.
However, Dr Farnaz Malik is having M.Sc and post graduate degree in Organic Chemistry.
Her promotion in Grade-20, according to the documents, is also illegal as her promotion summery for BPS-20 was approved by the then minister of health by the Ministry of Health letter No. F.10-56/2005-E-II dated 02-09-2005. While as per Ministry of Health Notification No.F.4-3/2003-Est-II dated 31st October 2003, only Prime Minister was the competent authority to approve promotions for the post of BPS-20 and above while a minister or secretary is authorized only to promote the officers till grade 19.
Farnaz Malik is working as Federal Government Analyst for many years at DC&TMD, an appellate laboratory, without qualifying for the job requirements. The prescribed qualification for the post is degree in pharmacy or pharmaceutical chemistry or medicine as per “The Drugs (Federal Inspectors, Federal Drugs Laboratory and Federal Government Analyst) Rules 1976”.
She is the junior most but also working as Joint Executive Director (Administration and General) and Joint Executive Director (Tech & Coord) vide office order No. F.10-2(JED)/2011-Admn dated 07th February 2011. While as per the decision of Board of Governors meeting, the senior most Chief may function as JED (Technical & Coordination). Dr Farnaz Malik was promoted against the ‘resultant vacancy’ of Chief DC&TMD BS-20 on 1-09-2005 due to the deputation of its incumbent Dr Rehan A. Hafeez as National Programme Manager of the EPI until further orders. Currently she is junior than the other two permanent chiefs, i.e., chief of BPD and chief of Nutrition Division.
The document further revealed that she started her journey of promotions in NIH in 1990 by getting appointed as Senior Scientist Officer (Chemical Research) in BPS-18 through office order No 869 on May 17, 1990, but amazingly the post was not notified yet as per minutes of the Board of Governors Meeting held on August 2, 2005. It has also been learnt that she has been granted PhD allowances vide office order No.1536 dated September 5, 1990, while she has also been granted two advance increments on higher qualification vide office order No.302 on March 6, 1996. However there is no rule of granting double benefits on higher qualification.
As per office memorandum F.1(97)/R-3/85 dated 26th December 1985, “Those employees who have already benefited from the concession of advance increments will have the option either to retain the above benefit or to receive qualification allowances and have their pay re-fixed by excluding the advance increments allowed earlier”. However neither Dr Farnaz Malik, nor Dr Barjees Mazhar Kazi attended the calls when they were tried to contact to get their versions.

Capital police in panic over change of command

Saturday, 16 March 2013

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: At the time when all the ruling parties are set to lose their powers, panic has been created among the top slots of capital police as most of the Station House Officers (SHO) in police stations of federal capital have been appointed on the recommendation of political personalities belonging from ruling parties.
Sources within Islamabad police told The Spokesman that most of the SHO has affiliation with strong political parties of the region like PPPP and PML-Q, telling further that now the SHO’s has started to use their political influences to either trying to get their roots deeper in their current allocations, or to get transfer to their desired police stations.
The SHO of Margalla Police Station Irshad Ali Abro is said to be a PPP activist who enjoyed the influence of a senior female politician of the ruling party. Sources said many senior officials of the Islamabad police time and again tried to remove the Abro from the post of SHO Margall but could not do so just because of his close affiliation with the ruling party and interior minister Rehman Malik.
He said that Abro belongs from the Sindh province and had enjoyed good relations with the slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto and soon after the formation of PPP led government, Abro became a most powerful official of the capital police.
A senior police official requesting anonymity said that Fazal-Ur-Rehman, the SHO of Tarnol Police Station was appointed there on his own desire by using the influence from presidency as one of his brothers is also appointed in the presidency as a guard. The same guard was also alleged to misbehave with a minister but the issue was later resolved after the ‘negotiations’. He said SHO Fazal will continue using his influence to stay in his desired police station, during the care taker government.
SHO Qaiser Gilani of Secretariat Police Station also enjoys the influence of an MNA of Multan who was elected on reserved seat of women and currently residing in Bharakahu area of Islamabad. SHO Sajjad Bukhari of Police Station Shahzad Town is seeking for the influence of Senator Nayyar Bukhari who also helped him in his appointment at Shahzad Town Police Station, however SHO Fayaz Ranjha of Police Station Bani Gala and SHO Haq Nawaz Ranjha of Police Station Aabpara are who are also looking towards PML (Q) as they are their activists, according to reliable sources.
The sources revealed that during the last five years, the crime ration in the capital has been raised up to 79% but most of the cases did not come to the notice of the higher authorities as well as the media because all the SHO’s and Moharrar’s were strictly directed by the higher officials to not to share any information directly to the media as the police spokesperson was authorized to give details in this regard, who filtered all the information before sharing just to portray a crime free picture of the capital, and to hide the negligence and incompetency of the Islamabad Police. It was also revealed by the sources that few months ago the previous PRO of Islamabad Police, Zia Bajwa was dismissed from his post by IG Islamabad by mentioning that he was no taking sufficient steps towards blocking the news against the Islamabad police, and currently the Zia Bajwa is performing his duties in the area of Margalla police station as a constable.
Most of the SHO and senior police officials are cautious about the care taker government with their concerns as either the care taker prime minister or the president will have the executive powers. When contacted Naeem, spokesperson of Islamabad police to confirm the official requests and possibilities regarding postings, he was out of reach.

Capital Police:

Capital police website lacks everything but the IG

• Thursday, 14 March 2013

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Police seems active only in promoting their high-ups instead of facilitating the residents of the federal capital, as their official website only shows the picture of IG Bani Amin Khan, leaving off the shelf the crime data of 2012 and 2013 and any updates of the survey regarding religious seminaries and mosques.
On the other hand, in a strange move, the ICT police have displayed the picture of a private mall as a landmark instead of uploading any national building, landmark or monument’s picture.
According to details, the website www.islamabadpolice.gov.pk of the ICT police which was developed to facilitate and assure the interaction between the public and the police department has not been updated properly by irking the citizens who access the website to get basic information. The data available on the website tells that till January 2012, the number of mosques in the capital territory was 712 among which 105 were registered. However the number of Madrissas was 228. Whereas according to some sources, about 50 new mosques and 15 Madrissas are formed during the last year.
Same is the case with the crime statement available on the website. The statement is of year 2011 which tells that 6793 cases were registered and 6097 Challans were submitted in the year; however the crime statement of 2012 has not been uploaded on the website yet.
There is a list of all 18 police stations of Islamabad available on the web among which, the web links for the details of two police stations namely Police Station Bharakahu and Police Station Tarnol are not accessible for the public, however the telephone numbers of Kohsar Police Station are also not updated, The Spokesman has learnt.
Moreover, there is also a picture of a private mall ‘centaurs’ is displayed on the website, instead of displaying a picture of any place, building or a landmark having a national significance like Faisal Mosque or the National Monument.
Kiran, an official at web section of Islamabad Police Headquarters told The Spokesman that, “as being a government officials we have no authority to update the data on website without getting approval from higher authorities. In January, we requested the authorities for the latest data during our meeting, and the director has also forwarded the letter and we are still waiting for the latest data”. However Dr. Sultan Azam Taimoori DIG Headquarter when contacted said, “Although the picture of Centaurs (mall) on our official website is not logical, it was uploaded just to decorate the website. However there are some issues regarding the timely updating of the website just because we have to deal with various other matters as well.”