Crime Story:

Four people booked for victimizing a girl, injuring a person

• Thursday, 18 July 2013 

Homer Baloch

Islamabad: Four people including a woman were booked for sexually victimizing a teen age girl and injuring a person allegedly, on Wednesday.

According to details on 16th July, Shehnaz Bibi 26, resident of Bakra Mandi area of Rawalpindi was found injured, unconscious, and unclothed on New Mall Chowk Kurri Road near Bani Gala. She was found and covered by some local residents who also informed the Rescue 15 and Bani Gala police station.

Investigation officer Sub Inspector Mazhar Iqbal told The Spokesman that Shehnaz was shifted to the hospital where her initial treatment and medical checkup was done. He said police has taken the statement of Shehnaz, upon which the FIR (85) has been lodged against four people including Raja Gulistan alias Raja Mujahid, Arsalan, Qasim and Naila, for raping and torturing the victim Shehnaz Bibi.

“According to Shehnaz’s statement”, SI Mazhar said, “She was lured away to Raja Mujahid’s farmhouse located in Bani Gala by her friend Naila, where she was raped by Raja Mujahid”.

He said Raja Mujahid, Arsalan and Qasim has no well reputation in the area as previously they were also involved in many illegal and immoral activities.

SI Mazhar said after victimizing Shehnaz, the accused Raja Mujahid also injured a local resident Allah Ditta by shooting him for which, another FIR (86) has also been lodged. “He suspected Allah Ditta for informing the police about Shehnaz’s incident”, said SI Mazhar.

He said police has raided the farmhouse of Raja Mujahid which is located in Bani Gala near PPP’s former leader Naheed Khan’s farmhouse, but failed to arrest any accused as they escaped before the raid. However, a man working as an electrician was arrested and taken to the police station. He was released then after confirming both the incidents during the interrogation.

SI Mazhar said that now Shehnaz Bibi is under safe custody while the accused Raja Mujahid, Arsalan, Qasim and Naila will soon be arrested.

(Name of the victim has been changed to protect her identity)

Irregularities in National HIV Aids program

HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: With rampant irregularities in purchase of medicines besides promotions and postings to blue eyed officers and employees on the basis of political considerations plaguing the Health Department, the higher authorities and the Concerned Minister continues to turn blind eye towards what is leading to total chaos and complete paralysis of the functioning of Health and national program for HIV Aids.

According to a document available to The Spokesman, Joint Secretary Inter-Provincial Coordination Syed Javid Khan is still controlling the affairs of HIV National Progamme despite its transfer to the another ministry i.e. National Regulations & Services.

Syed Javid Khan, who is illegally holding the control of National HIV Aids program, is doing it on the behest of Secretary National Regulations & Services Imtiaz Inayat Elahi.

Sources said adding that even though director general health of the National Regulations & Services has admitted that an officer from another department is holding a key position but no action so far has been taken against him.

"The person who has been officiating as program manager is Syed Javid Khan is joint secretary in inter provincial government and is also holding the position of program manager in National program for HIV Aids who is bypassing all laws he has attained the post instead of many senior there," sources said, adding that his posting as program manager was also questionable.

Surprisingly, with all these brazen irregularities and in knowledge of the authorities too, the concerned Minister Saira Afzal Tarar is either turning blind eye deliberately or acting like a mute spectator when things have paralyzed the functioning of the department.

It is pertinent to mention here that several high-profiled in National HIV Aids control program department have committed financial, recruitment and accounting irregularities in the past.

Document available to The Spokesman also highlighted recruitment irregularities, unfair payment practices and circumvention of internal controls in the same department.

Justice is not Blind:

Local Court help protesting Bugtis' against conspiracy of Capital police

• Capt Ilyas orchestrate drama to end protest by Bugtis

HOMER BALOCH

Islamabad: 134 Bugti IDP’s were arrested by Islamabad Police for allegedly assaulting the staff of a local restaurant, but later released by the court orders on Tuesday.

According to details, Zahid Hussain lodged an FIR (325) in Kohsar police station by stating that around 70 men from Bugti IDP’s protesting outside the Islamabad Press Club has assaulted the local restaurant located near the press club, where they damaged the stuff as well as tortured the hotel owners namely Shaukat and Nizar Abbasi.

SP City Captain Ilyas (File Photo)

The Kohsar Police in reaction rushed towards the press club where about 134 IDP’s were arrested under the charges of 506ii, 427, 337, 148, 149, 380and shifted to the Kohsar police station.  An eye witness of the incident told The Spokesman that first some shopkeepers in Super Market alleged the few men of the IDP’s for snatching a mobile phone. Meanwhile a restaurant owner near China Chowk also alleged them for assaulting over them. He said the situation got tens on sides, and the traders as well as the restaurant owners blocked the road for almost one hour, for which the police was called.

The accused were presented to the Civil Judge Naveed Qamar. Justice Naveed Qamar asked the police about the victims of the incident, but police failed to present them into the court, after which, capital police was ordered to release all the arrested IDP’s as Justice Naveed Qamar declared the police’s action as a joke.

On the other hand, Nawabzada Gwahram Bugti, a leader of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWB) and representative of the Bugti IDP’s in Islamabad said that the incident was a conspiracy just to stop the IDP’s from going back to Dera Bugti and burying their fellow’s dead body there. “We are protesting here in Islamabad for last two months and during which we did not take any violent step. Neither any one was harmed physically, nor any mobile phone snatched in the Super Market incident.” Gwahram Bugti said.

He further alleged SP City Captain Ilyas for provoking the traders to lodge the FIR instead of negotiations, which turned the situation worst. “Actually it was a small clash between some of the IDP’s and the restaurant staff over the long sting in the restaurant, and we are about to settle down the issue by negotiating the restaurant owners when the SP City interfered by provoking the restaurant staff to lodge the FIR”, said Gwahram Bugti.

He said that on 9th July, the Islamabad High Court’s decision was in favor of IDP’s which allowed us to go back to our land freely, but some elements are not in favor of our peaceful departure from Islamabad and resettlement in Dera Bugti. “After the IHC’s decision, they haven’t any other way to stop us from going back to Dera Bugti, than arresting us. But this will not stop us and we will go to our lands in any case”, said Gwahram Bugti.

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.

Crime Story:

Four people booked for abducting girl

• Wednesday, 10 July 2013

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: Four people including a woman were booked for kidnapping a girl from Dhok Jogiyan under the jurisdiction of Nilore police station. On Tuesday, Abdul Qayyum, resident of Dhok Jogiyyan, registered an FIR (76) in Nilore police station by stating that her daughter Maria Bibi, aged 20, has been abducted by his neighbours Muharram Khan, Shahid, Riasat and Neelum Bibi on June28. 

Assistant Sub Inspector Zafar Iqbal told The Spokesman that the accused could have been arrested if the applicant had informed the police immediately after the incident. "The relatives of Maria Bibi were searching her for 11 days at their own for which the FIR was delayed,” he said. According to the applicants, on June 28 Maria was alone in her home when the accused abducted her, while her family members were attending a marriage ceremony at that time. He said the police have found clues about the current whereabouts of the accused and one of them will be arrested very soon.

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.

Bugti IDP's Protest:

Tribe to return to Dera Bugti hills if deceased not handed over

Photo by Homer Baloch

HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: The anger simmering in the internally displaced persons (IDP)’s of Dera Bugti, already on a hunger strike in front of Al Shifa hospital, may lead them to hold guns again after the government seems not ‘interested’ in handing over the dead body of the Baloch youth who died days before while protesting their no-entry in Dera Bugti. Nawabzada Gwahram Bugti, a leader of Jamhuri Watan Party (JWP) and leading the protest told The Spokesman that there are around 150 IDPs of Bugti tribe who came to the federal capital demanding to enter their native town Dera Bugti, from where they were self exiled to many cities

nearby including Sukkur, Sibbi, Chaghi, Sadiqabad and Rahimyar Khan etc on different occasions due to the unsafe situation prevalent in the area. He said the IDP’s demonstrated peace- fully in different locations of Islamabad for more than two months until a displaced youth, Gulsher Bugti, died during the protest on 3rd June. He said now neither the government authorities are taking interest in shifting them to their native town, which is their basic right, nor the dead body of Gulsher Bugti is handed over to them. “The authorities told us that except Islamabad and Dera Bugti, deceased Gulsher Bugti can be buried at any other city of Pakistan but under the observation of the government authorities, only three relatives of the deceased will be allowed to attend the

burial of deceased Gulsher, which is not acceptable for us”, said Gwahram Bugti. He further said that this attitude of the government authorities may lead them to the mountains of Dera Bugti as they do not see any other possible solution. “When we were visiting Islamabad, our people brought positive expectations with them as well as the new democratic government but when we will return empty handed, it will mark a very negative impression of the IDPs of Bugti tribe, who have already lost so much due to the situation in Dera Bugti”, said Gwahram Bugti. He said currently there are only 600 peo- ple from Kalpar Bugti tribe who are resisting the 200,000 IDP’s, which is not possible without getting support from powerful forces. The deceased Gulsher was suffering from fever for the last 20 days at the camp set up by protesting IDPs of Dera Bugti at Constitution Avenue. When his condition deteriorated he was taken to Shifa Hospital for treatment where he breathed his last breath. But the hospital administration re- fused to hand over the body to the heirs. The protesters demanded of the hospital administration to hand over the dead body, so that they could bury him in his ancestral graveyard at Dera Bugti. The protesters staged a protest sit-in at Shifa International Hospital and threatened that they will continue protest until the body was handed over to them.

Crime Story:

Woman shot dead during capital robbery

• Saturday, 06 July 2013

HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: A woman has been robbed and then shot to death in the Dhok Fateh Baksh area under the jurisdiction of Golra Police Station.
Gujran Bibi, aged 42 and resident of Dhok Fateh Baksh, was found dead near her home on Saturday morning. Liaquat Khan, a resident of the deceased told The Spokesman that she was carrying an amount of 150,000 after visiting her relative’s home. “Gujran Bibi saved the amount for the marriage of her younger son,” said Liaquat. He said before leaving her relative’s home, she told them that her brother will come to pick her, but then she left by taking a cab. “She was possibly murdered by the taxi driver who somehow came to know about the heavy amount she was carrying,” Liaquat said. 

On the other hand, Sub Inspector Aijaz Ali Shah said that police was informed about the body on Saturday morning. “She received two bullets and was shot dead around 8pm on Friday,” the police official said. He further said police shifted the body to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and then announced in the Dkhok Fateh Baksh area after which the sons of the deceased visited the hospital and identified her. “Currently, the police have no proof of the amount that deceased was carrying out, but investigations on every possible angle are carrying out,” SI Aijaz said.
He further said that the deceased’s family members have submitted an application against unidentified murderers, while the FIR will be lodged soon. He said the dead body has been handed over to its family members and has been taken to her native town Sathan Gali for her burial.

Crime Story:

Capital Police facilitating 220 POs wanted by courts

• Saturday, 06 July 2013

HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: No arrest of more than 220 proclaimed offenders has posed a serious question mark over the capacity of the Islamabad Police as many of them are wanted in different cases for the last over five years. According to details, more than 220 pro claimed of- fenders wanted by Islamabad police are at large since long, but the capital police bosses are busy in transfers and postings of the Station House Officers (SHO) on political basis. 

A senior police officer requesting anonymity told The Spokesman that many of the wanted criminals are either protected by the influential land mafia or the officials of police department. In some cases, the police officer said, even the police officials informed the POs about police raid in advance and the wanted managed to escape from the scene. According to some police sources, around 230 citizens including women were murdered during the last two years after the current IG Islamabad Bani Amin Khan took charge as boss of Islamabad Police. While many criminals involved in serious crimes have obtained bail easily by bribing the police officials for their adopting lenient view before the court. 

Another police officer requesting not to be named said that among the 220 proclaimed offenders, around 60 criminals are wanted for murders. He further said that some of the POs are also wanted by more than one police stations. Among the 220 POs, 9 are wanted by Police Station (PS) Aabpara, 5 by PS Koral, 11 by PS Ramna, 6 by PS Secretariat, 5 by PS Kohsar, 19 by PS Margalla, 9 by PS Industiral Area (I-9), 4 by PS Neelor, 9 by PS Golra, 8 by PS Shahzad Town, and 7 by PS Shalimar. 

When contacted, the personal assistant of IG Islamabad said that IG Bani Amin Khan is busy in a meeting and he could be reached on his residence number after 20 minutes, however Bani Amin could not be reached even on his residence number when tried to con- tact to get his version.

Daughter in law murder:

Top law enforcer involved in murder?

Deceased Waheeda (Palwasha) with her father in law Bani Amin Khan (IG Islamabad) - File Photo

Homer Baloch

Islamabad: The three member bench of Supreme Court has said that the Islamabad Police as well as the KPK police are involved in hiding the evidences of the murder case of IG Islamabad’s daughter in law. This was said during the hearing of the suo motto hearing of the case, according to the court sources.

According to details on Thursday, the three member bench of Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary has said the Islamabad Police as well as the KPK police are involved in hiding the important evidences of the murder case of Waheed, the daughter in law of IG Islamabad Bani Amin Khan, and wife of Ali Amin Khan. The court during the hearing said that the case was not handled according to the law. The court said that the incident was occurred in Peshawar while its FIR was registered in Islamabad surprisingly.

SSP Operations Yaseen Farooque during the hearing stated that the FIR was registered in Shalimar police station on the direction of IG Islamabad. SSP Yaseen Farooq further stated that on the orders of IG Bani Amin Khan, the capital police guarded the grave of Waheed in Islamabad for six days. The Court issued notices to eight police officers including the chiefs of Islamabad and KPK police to appear before the court along with their lawyers in next hearing. The court further said that the according to law, tempering or hiding the evidences are serious for which the responsible should be ready to face the consequences. Next hearing of the case will be on 10th of July.

On 19th May, the daughter-in-law of Inspector General of Islamabad (IGP) Bani Amin Khan was found dead mysteriously in her house, while the sister’s of the deceased alleged IGP’s son Ali for murdering Waheeda. The deceased’s sisters submitted an application against IGP Islamabad Bani Amin Khan, his wife, and Son Ali Amin for allegedly murdering Waheeda by stating that Waheeda was given poison, and Ali Amin Khan along with his father and mother is allegedly involved in murdering his wife, according to Town Police Peshawar.

 Inspector Sardar Hussain, the SHO of Town Police Station Peshawar had stated that the FIR of the case will be registered as after the final report of post mortem arrives. He further stated that however Waheeda’s death was not a murder. In his confusion, SHO Sardar Hussain while providing details of the initial report to The Spokesman had stated that the report also mentions that Waheeda died of falling ‘from the stairs’, but at the next moment he said there were no wound marks on her body, according to the report. This contradiction also exposes the Town Police’s tactics to save the highly influential chief of federal police from the case by hiding the causes of the incident.

SHO Sardar further stated that according to application registered by Waheeda’s family members, she was an open minded lady and was not obeying the restrictions made by her husband and his family to adopt ‘Parda’, so according to them, it was an honor killing (allegedly). On the other hand, some sources insisted that deceased Waheeda was having some issues with her husband and his family regarding inheritance.

In 2012, deceased Waheeda had also submitted an application in Women Police station in which she alleged her husband and father in law for assaulting her physically. The women police station although registered the application, no FIR was registered later.