rajaokayoum
Minister (2k+ posts)
[h=2]Ata ul Haq Qasmi wants Toyota Corolla 1300 cc by Adnan Farooq
When met for its 13[SUP]th[/SUP] meeting last March, the committee was of the view that the Section 12 of the Lahore Arts Council Ordinance 2002 did not allow the purchase of such a car. At its 18[SUP]th[/SUP] meeting, the committee silently approved the request[/h]
Columnist, writer, dramatist and currently the head of the Lahore Arts Council, Mr. Ata ul haq Qasmi, wants the Punjab government to buy him a Toyota Corolla 1300 cc. It is perhaps because the Suzuki Margalla under his use is not as comfortable as he would like his official vehicle to be!He would have got it but the Chief Minister of Punjab, Shabaz Sharif, became a stumbling block. He has constituted a committee for ensuring austerity in current and development-side expenditures. Headed by provincial Finance minister, the committee is also supposed to examine and recommend the purchase of official vehicles.The Lahore Arts Council placed the demand for the purchase of a Toyota Corolla 1300 cc car for its Transport Pool. This demand was the Item Number 4 on the agenda of above mentioned committees 13[SUP]th[/SUP] meeting. The demand made by Pakistan Arts Council stated that the car was meant for the Chairman Board of Directors of the Lahore Arts Council.When met for its 13[SUP]th[/SUP] meeting last March, the committee was of the view that the Section 12 of the Lahore Arts Council Ordinance 2002 did not allow the purchase of such a car. The Article 12 states: The Chairperson and all members shall work in an honorary capacity and shall not be paid any remuneration. The Chairperson shall be provided an office with staff and one telephone for official use by the Council. Normal expenses for the running of his office shall be met by the Council. The committee at its 13[SUP]th[/SUP] meeting deferred the decision. The Lahore Arts Council filed a fresh request. It requested to replace 1996-model Suzuki Margalla (registration no LOY 8844) with a Toyota Corolla. At its 18[SUP]th[/SUP] meeting, the committee silently approved the request. Our dear Qasmi Saab will not be riding LOY 8844 anymore. A brand new Toyota 1300 cc is on its way!Mr. Qasmi is considered a family friend of the Sharifs, Punjabs most powerful dynasty. In their previous tenure, when they were at the helm of Islamabad alongside Punjab, Ata Ul Qasmi was appointed Pakistans ambassador to Norway even if Mr. Qasmi is a college teacher by profession. He has been writing a regular column for right-wing broadsheet, the Nawa-i-Waqt, in the past. These days, contributes a column for the Jang op-ed pages. His columns are, as a rule, supportive of Sharifs. When the Sharifs were able to form a government in the Punjab after last general elections, Mr. Qasmi was appointed Chairman Lahore Arts Council.
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[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: left"]Adnan Farooq has worked with daily The Nation, Lahore and daily Jang, Lahore. He has also volunteered for Milieudefensie, Amsterdam. Friends of the earth, Europe, on environmental issues. He has been working with ON FILE, an Amsterdam-based publication run by journalists from all around the world. He studied Conflict Resolution at University of Amsterdam and is living in Paris. He is the editor.
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When met for its 13[SUP]th[/SUP] meeting last March, the committee was of the view that the Section 12 of the Lahore Arts Council Ordinance 2002 did not allow the purchase of such a car. At its 18[SUP]th[/SUP] meeting, the committee silently approved the request[/h]
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[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: left"]Adnan Farooq has worked with daily The Nation, Lahore and daily Jang, Lahore. He has also volunteered for Milieudefensie, Amsterdam. Friends of the earth, Europe, on environmental issues. He has been working with ON FILE, an Amsterdam-based publication run by journalists from all around the world. He studied Conflict Resolution at University of Amsterdam and is living in Paris. He is the editor.
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