Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
NOV 23 2014
KPK Updates
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Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
NOV 24 2015
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
NOV 25 2015
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=1]‘Provinces can’t legislate on corruption in presence of NAB law’
[/h] PESHAWAR: As a Peshawar High Court larger bench on Tuesday continued hearing around 15 petitions against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission Act 2014, lawyers for the petitioners insisted the National Accountability Ordinance was an all-encompassing law in whose presence, no province could legislate on corruption.
While the lawyers for petitioners were advancing arguments, the five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel adjourned hearing into the petitions until today (Wednesday).
Other four members of the bench were Justice Nisar Hussain, Justice Irshad Qaisar, Justice Syed Afsar Shah and Justice Mohammad Younas Taheem.
These petitions are filed by three former provincial ministers and government officials the KPEC Act and several steps taken there under including the establishment of ehtesab courts and appointment of the director general.
[h=4]Lawyers continue to argue against Ehtesab Commission Act before high court[/h]
Barrister Mudassir Ameer and Shumail Ahmad Butt, lawyers for two of the petitioners, said while through the Constitution (Eighteenth amendment) Act the Concurrent Legislative List was abolished but few items were left over which both the Parliament and a provincial assembly could legislate including criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence. However, they pointed out that under Article 142 of the Constitution if an act of the Parliament and that of a provincial assembly were in conflict with each other then the former would prevail.
Shumail Butt extensively quoted from the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the Asfandyar Wali Khan case related to the National Accountability Ordinance (NA), 1999, in support of his contentions and contended that anti-corruption was an occupied field in legislation as the federal government had already enacted the NAO and in its presence, the KPEC Act 2014 could not be enacted.
Butt also pointed out that the Supreme Court in its judgment had made it binding on the government to consult the Chief Justice of Pakistan in the appointment of the National Accountability Bureau chairman and its prosecutor general, but while enacting the KPEC At no such provision had been added to it for consulting the high court’s Chief Justice in the appointment of the KPEC’s director general and its prosecutor general.
“The KPEC Act has been given retrospective effect, which was against the Constitution provision related to right against retrospective punishment,” Butt said, adding that certain categories of persons were earlier exempted under the NAO, but have now been included in the provincial law.
He argued that judges and officials of security forces were not included in the NAO, but had now been included in the KPEC Act.
Further elaborating his point he said that in the KPEC Act, a public office holder definition was same to the one given in Prevention of Corruption Act under which all government functionaries defined in Section 21 of Pakistan penal Code should be considered public office holder.
During the hearing, Justice Irshad Qaisar observed that corruption had entered the roots of the country and had plagued the society.
He observed that since creation of Pakistan such like acts had been repeated and the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Haji Nawaz Kokhar case had elaborated on the history of corruption in this country.
“In China, the government officials are hanged for corruption,” he observed.
Butt said the Act was also in conflict with article 25 of the Constitution which guaranteed equality of citizens.
He added that under the NAO the provisions of ‘plea bargain’ and ‘voluntary return’ was available, but no such provision was included in the KPEC Act.
The lawyer said in the Asfandyar Wali Khan case the apex court had validated the provision of plea bargain.
He said in the schedule of the Act, violation of any rule had been included as offence, whereas under the Civil Servants Act, any act done in good faith was not a criminal offence.
Barrister Mudassir Ameer argued that there were two statutory laws for same offence, one made by Parliament and other by the provincial assembly.
He added that when the NAO was all-encompassing law covering every aspect of corruption, the passage of the impugned Act was needless.
The lawyer said several provisions of the NAO were copied in the impugned Act with little variation.
Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1222150/provinces-cant-legislate-on-corruption-in-presence-of-nab-law
[/h] PESHAWAR: As a Peshawar High Court larger bench on Tuesday continued hearing around 15 petitions against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission Act 2014, lawyers for the petitioners insisted the National Accountability Ordinance was an all-encompassing law in whose presence, no province could legislate on corruption.
While the lawyers for petitioners were advancing arguments, the five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel adjourned hearing into the petitions until today (Wednesday).
Other four members of the bench were Justice Nisar Hussain, Justice Irshad Qaisar, Justice Syed Afsar Shah and Justice Mohammad Younas Taheem.
These petitions are filed by three former provincial ministers and government officials the KPEC Act and several steps taken there under including the establishment of ehtesab courts and appointment of the director general.
[h=4]Lawyers continue to argue against Ehtesab Commission Act before high court[/h]
Barrister Mudassir Ameer and Shumail Ahmad Butt, lawyers for two of the petitioners, said while through the Constitution (Eighteenth amendment) Act the Concurrent Legislative List was abolished but few items were left over which both the Parliament and a provincial assembly could legislate including criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence. However, they pointed out that under Article 142 of the Constitution if an act of the Parliament and that of a provincial assembly were in conflict with each other then the former would prevail.
Shumail Butt extensively quoted from the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the Asfandyar Wali Khan case related to the National Accountability Ordinance (NA), 1999, in support of his contentions and contended that anti-corruption was an occupied field in legislation as the federal government had already enacted the NAO and in its presence, the KPEC Act 2014 could not be enacted.
Butt also pointed out that the Supreme Court in its judgment had made it binding on the government to consult the Chief Justice of Pakistan in the appointment of the National Accountability Bureau chairman and its prosecutor general, but while enacting the KPEC At no such provision had been added to it for consulting the high court’s Chief Justice in the appointment of the KPEC’s director general and its prosecutor general.
“The KPEC Act has been given retrospective effect, which was against the Constitution provision related to right against retrospective punishment,” Butt said, adding that certain categories of persons were earlier exempted under the NAO, but have now been included in the provincial law.
He argued that judges and officials of security forces were not included in the NAO, but had now been included in the KPEC Act.
Further elaborating his point he said that in the KPEC Act, a public office holder definition was same to the one given in Prevention of Corruption Act under which all government functionaries defined in Section 21 of Pakistan penal Code should be considered public office holder.
During the hearing, Justice Irshad Qaisar observed that corruption had entered the roots of the country and had plagued the society.
He observed that since creation of Pakistan such like acts had been repeated and the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Haji Nawaz Kokhar case had elaborated on the history of corruption in this country.
“In China, the government officials are hanged for corruption,” he observed.
Butt said the Act was also in conflict with article 25 of the Constitution which guaranteed equality of citizens.
He added that under the NAO the provisions of ‘plea bargain’ and ‘voluntary return’ was available, but no such provision was included in the KPEC Act.
The lawyer said in the Asfandyar Wali Khan case the apex court had validated the provision of plea bargain.
He said in the schedule of the Act, violation of any rule had been included as offence, whereas under the Civil Servants Act, any act done in good faith was not a criminal offence.
Barrister Mudassir Ameer argued that there were two statutory laws for same offence, one made by Parliament and other by the provincial assembly.
He added that when the NAO was all-encompassing law covering every aspect of corruption, the passage of the impugned Act was needless.
The lawyer said several provisions of the NAO were copied in the impugned Act with little variation.
Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1222150/provinces-cant-legislate-on-corruption-in-presence-of-nab-law
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
NOV 26 2015
All KP districts to have clean drinking water in 10 years
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has made a strategy to ensure supply of drinking water throughout the province at affordable rate in the next 10 years.
The strategy was shared with participants of a public health engineering department meeting held at the Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday.
The meeting, which was chaired by public health engineering minister Shah Farman, discussed ways and means to execute the strategy.
The department’s secretary and XENs, chief engineers, and superintending engineers from all over the province also attended the meeting.
According to a statement issued here, it is was the second consecutive meeting of its kind.
It said predominant source of drinking water in the province was groundwater, but due to the persistent withdrawal and dwindling re-charge process, its resources were depleting rapidly at many places.
The statement said it was high time to realise the situation and ‘invest in future’.
The minister said the PTI government believed in investing in human development in order to restore human dignity.
He said the strategy focused on extending water services to the rural population of the province as 21 percent of rural areas lacked access to improved source of water.
The minister said more than 90 percent urban population had access to potable water.
He said the provincial cabinet had already approved the Drinking Water Policy 2015 under which drinking water had been recognised as a basic human right.
“It’s now the responsibility of the public health engineering department to ensure the police’s implementation,” he said.
The minister said he had already directed the relevant officials of the department to produce detailed lists of drinking water schemes by Dec 3, 2015. He said he would inspect all drinking water facilities in the province to ensure they’re fully functional.
A source privy to the meeting said the government had yet to decide about water distribution stations, water charges and water distribution timings.
Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1222368/all-kp-districts-to-have-clean-drinking-water-in-10-years
All KP districts to have clean drinking water in 10 years
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has made a strategy to ensure supply of drinking water throughout the province at affordable rate in the next 10 years.
The strategy was shared with participants of a public health engineering department meeting held at the Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday.
The meeting, which was chaired by public health engineering minister Shah Farman, discussed ways and means to execute the strategy.
The department’s secretary and XENs, chief engineers, and superintending engineers from all over the province also attended the meeting.
According to a statement issued here, it is was the second consecutive meeting of its kind.
It said predominant source of drinking water in the province was groundwater, but due to the persistent withdrawal and dwindling re-charge process, its resources were depleting rapidly at many places.
The statement said it was high time to realise the situation and ‘invest in future’.
The minister said the PTI government believed in investing in human development in order to restore human dignity.
He said the strategy focused on extending water services to the rural population of the province as 21 percent of rural areas lacked access to improved source of water.
The minister said more than 90 percent urban population had access to potable water.
He said the provincial cabinet had already approved the Drinking Water Policy 2015 under which drinking water had been recognised as a basic human right.
“It’s now the responsibility of the public health engineering department to ensure the police’s implementation,” he said.
The minister said he had already directed the relevant officials of the department to produce detailed lists of drinking water schemes by Dec 3, 2015. He said he would inspect all drinking water facilities in the province to ensure they’re fully functional.
A source privy to the meeting said the government had yet to decide about water distribution stations, water charges and water distribution timings.
Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1222368/all-kp-districts-to-have-clean-drinking-water-in-10-years
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Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
NOV 27 2015
[h=1]NAB law no more applies to KP, claims advocate general
[/h] PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general Abdul Lateef Yousafzai on Thursday insisted after the passage of the provincial Ehtesab Commission law, the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 (NAB law) was no more applicable to the province.
He also justified the introduction of the provincial Ehtesab Commission law claiming the Constitution allowed the provinces to make special anti-corruption laws for themselves.
“Following the passage of the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act 2010, the enactment of special laws for matters concerning the provinces, which was earlier mentioned in the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution, has been the exclusive domain of the provinces,” the provincial AG told a Peshawar High Court larger bench hearing cases against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab (KPEC) Act 2014 and the subsequent steps taken under it.
The five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel later adjourned cases after hearing for fourth consecutive day.
Around 15 petitions filed by three former provincial ministers and several officials have challenged the KPEC Act and the subsequent steps taken under it, including the appointment of its director general, establishment of Ehtesab courts, and issuance of notification for creating the commission.
The AG gave lengthy arguments and raised several points, including the one about the functioning of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the province.
He said before the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, both the federal and provincial legislature were empowered to legislate on issues mentioned in the Concurrent Legislative List.
He said though the Concurrent Legislative List ceased to exist after the said amendment was made, both the federal and provincial legislature could legislate on matters related to criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence only.
“The KPEC Act cannot be placed in the category of criminal law rather it was a special law. Previously, the enactment of special law concerning the federal and provincial governments was placed as Entry No 16 in the Concurrent List, but after the abolishing of the said List such like enactment is now in the provincial domain,” he said.
Mr Yousafzai referred to Article 270-AA of the Constitution amended through the said Amendment saying the laws introduced during emergency from Oct 1999 to Dec 2003 on matters mentioned in the abolished Concurrent List should continue to remain in force till altered or repealed by the competent forum.
He said in the present case, he added the provincial legislature was the competent forum and it had enacted the KPEC Act following which the federal law on the subject, NAO, should no longer be applied to this province.
When the chief justice inquired about the fate of numerous inquiries and investigations pending with the NAB in the province, the AG said those inquires could be transferred to the Ehtesab Commission.
The bench asked how it could declare the applicability of the NAB law in KP as unconstitutional when that was not challenged before the court.
Mr Yousafzai said the government had been making the required amendments to the KPEC Act to remove flaws.
About the stand of petitioners regarding the delay in issuance of notification for the setting up of the Ehtesab Commission, he said under Section 3 of the Act, even the issuance of the said notification was not required.
He said when the notification was issued, the government had mentioned that it would be applicable with retrospective effect.
Additional advocate general Umar Farooq Adam advanced his initial arguments when the bench rose for the day.
He rebutted the petitioners’ contention that in the presence of NAB law, anti-corruption was an occupied field and the provinces had no authority to enact a law in that regard, saying the field was not occupied as NAB had miserably failed in rooting out corruption from the society.
The additional advocate general said the failure of the NAB had forced the provincial government to introduce the KPEC law.
Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1222638/nab-law-no-more-applies-to-kp-claims-advocate-general
[h=1]Forensic science lab opened in Mingora
[/h] MINGORA: Swiss Ambassador Marc Pierre George and UNDP country director Marc-Andr Franche on Thursday jointly inaugurated the first-ever forensic science lab of the region here.
FSL director Mohammad Quresh Khan was also present on the occasion. The $1.1 million worth forensic lab was established in Landakey, the gateway of Swat district, with the financial support of European Union, Switzerland, Netherlands and provincial government.
The facility will scientifically examine documents, suspected vehicles, fingerprints and photos for criminal investigations conducted by the police.
The UNDP has supported the establishment of the lab and refurbishment of the Peshawar one.
“The establishment of the forensic science laboratory is an important milestone for our Rule of Law project,” said UNDP country director Marc-Andr Franche.
He said the project would ensure that the police have the capacity to conduct criminal investigations quickly using scientific rigour.
“The lab will help speed up the disposal of cases, improve service delivery and build the people’s trust in the police and the justice system,” he said. The UNDP country director said his organisation procured equipment and consumables to bring the laboratory up to international standards.
He said the Strengthening the Rule of Law project had also provided support to the judiciary, promoted alternative dispute resolution, provided capacity support to the police and prosecutors, and supported legal aid and people’s access to justice.
“One of the project’s key initiatives is to support women in the practice of law, which has led to an increased number of women who are now licensed to practice law and provide legal aid to the people.
Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2015
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1222633/forensic-science-lab-opened-in-mingora
[/h]
[h=1]NAB law no more applies to KP, claims advocate general
[/h] PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general Abdul Lateef Yousafzai on Thursday insisted after the passage of the provincial Ehtesab Commission law, the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 (NAB law) was no more applicable to the province.
He also justified the introduction of the provincial Ehtesab Commission law claiming the Constitution allowed the provinces to make special anti-corruption laws for themselves.
“Following the passage of the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act 2010, the enactment of special laws for matters concerning the provinces, which was earlier mentioned in the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution, has been the exclusive domain of the provinces,” the provincial AG told a Peshawar High Court larger bench hearing cases against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab (KPEC) Act 2014 and the subsequent steps taken under it.
The five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel later adjourned cases after hearing for fourth consecutive day.
Around 15 petitions filed by three former provincial ministers and several officials have challenged the KPEC Act and the subsequent steps taken under it, including the appointment of its director general, establishment of Ehtesab courts, and issuance of notification for creating the commission.
The AG gave lengthy arguments and raised several points, including the one about the functioning of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the province.
He said before the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, both the federal and provincial legislature were empowered to legislate on issues mentioned in the Concurrent Legislative List.
He said though the Concurrent Legislative List ceased to exist after the said amendment was made, both the federal and provincial legislature could legislate on matters related to criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence only.
“The KPEC Act cannot be placed in the category of criminal law rather it was a special law. Previously, the enactment of special law concerning the federal and provincial governments was placed as Entry No 16 in the Concurrent List, but after the abolishing of the said List such like enactment is now in the provincial domain,” he said.
Mr Yousafzai referred to Article 270-AA of the Constitution amended through the said Amendment saying the laws introduced during emergency from Oct 1999 to Dec 2003 on matters mentioned in the abolished Concurrent List should continue to remain in force till altered or repealed by the competent forum.
He said in the present case, he added the provincial legislature was the competent forum and it had enacted the KPEC Act following which the federal law on the subject, NAO, should no longer be applied to this province.
When the chief justice inquired about the fate of numerous inquiries and investigations pending with the NAB in the province, the AG said those inquires could be transferred to the Ehtesab Commission.
The bench asked how it could declare the applicability of the NAB law in KP as unconstitutional when that was not challenged before the court.
Mr Yousafzai said the government had been making the required amendments to the KPEC Act to remove flaws.
About the stand of petitioners regarding the delay in issuance of notification for the setting up of the Ehtesab Commission, he said under Section 3 of the Act, even the issuance of the said notification was not required.
He said when the notification was issued, the government had mentioned that it would be applicable with retrospective effect.
Additional advocate general Umar Farooq Adam advanced his initial arguments when the bench rose for the day.
He rebutted the petitioners’ contention that in the presence of NAB law, anti-corruption was an occupied field and the provinces had no authority to enact a law in that regard, saying the field was not occupied as NAB had miserably failed in rooting out corruption from the society.
The additional advocate general said the failure of the NAB had forced the provincial government to introduce the KPEC law.
Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1222638/nab-law-no-more-applies-to-kp-claims-advocate-general
[h=1]Forensic science lab opened in Mingora
[/h] MINGORA: Swiss Ambassador Marc Pierre George and UNDP country director Marc-Andr Franche on Thursday jointly inaugurated the first-ever forensic science lab of the region here.
FSL director Mohammad Quresh Khan was also present on the occasion. The $1.1 million worth forensic lab was established in Landakey, the gateway of Swat district, with the financial support of European Union, Switzerland, Netherlands and provincial government.
The facility will scientifically examine documents, suspected vehicles, fingerprints and photos for criminal investigations conducted by the police.
The UNDP has supported the establishment of the lab and refurbishment of the Peshawar one.
“The establishment of the forensic science laboratory is an important milestone for our Rule of Law project,” said UNDP country director Marc-Andr Franche.
He said the project would ensure that the police have the capacity to conduct criminal investigations quickly using scientific rigour.
“The lab will help speed up the disposal of cases, improve service delivery and build the people’s trust in the police and the justice system,” he said. The UNDP country director said his organisation procured equipment and consumables to bring the laboratory up to international standards.
He said the Strengthening the Rule of Law project had also provided support to the judiciary, promoted alternative dispute resolution, provided capacity support to the police and prosecutors, and supported legal aid and people’s access to justice.
“One of the project’s key initiatives is to support women in the practice of law, which has led to an increased number of women who are now licensed to practice law and provide legal aid to the people.
Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2015
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1222633/forensic-science-lab-opened-in-mingora
[/h]
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Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
NOV 28 2015
At last, KP Assembly to elect deputy speaker next month
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar on Friday announced schedule of elections for the deputy speaker’s office lying vacant for over a year.
The speaker told the house that candidates would file nomination papers for the deputy speaker’s post on Dec 21, while elections for it would take place on Dec 22.
The filling of the deputy speaker’s office will pave the way for the prorogation of the current session of the assembly continuing since Oct 23, 2014.
The post has been vacant since Oct 15, 2014, when Imtiaz Shahid resigned as deputy speaker to take oath as the minister for law and parliamentary affairs.
The government has prolonged the session to avoid elections for the important position due to differences in the ruling party over the candidate.
The long-awaited elections will pave the way for prorogation of house in session since Oct 2014
Under the house’s rules of business, the government is bound to hold elections for the deputy speaker’s office before proroguing the session.
The speaker announced the election schedule soon after PML-N MPA Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha warned that the opposition would agitate if the long-awaited elections for the deputy speaker’s office were delayed any further.
Speaking on a point of order, Nalotha said the opposition members could no more sit silently in the incomplete house and that the speaker would have to announce schedule of the elections without delay.
“If the ruling parties need the help of the opposition in elections (for the deputy speaker’s office), we (the opposition) are ready for that,” he said.
The PML-N MPA asked if it was the ruling PTI’s much-publicised ‘change’ that the assembly had been kept in session for over a year to avoid elections for the important slot of the house.
Earlier, the assembly saw a heated debate on the terrorist attack against federal housing minister and JUI-F leader Akram Khan Durrani in Bannu.
In a veiled criticism of the provincial government, JUI-F MPA Mufti Syed Janan said some people had been making tall claims in TV talk shows about depoliticising the province’s police but in actual fact, no one was safe in the province.
“Though a number of security agencies have been functioning in the country, terrorists continue to threaten the provincial assembly, government offices and MPA hostel,” he said.
The JUI-F MPA said the writ of the state had been reduced to Peshawar city only and that the practice of blocking important roads was unfortunately continuing.
Syed Jaffar Shah of the ANP condemned terrorist attack on Akram Durrani and urged all political forces to unite to defeat militancy.
Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha of the PML-N said politicians would continue struggle against militancy.
He said the Zarb-i-Azb military operation and National Action Plan had dismantled the militant network in the country and that the fight against militancy would continue until last militant was eliminated from the country.
Bakht Baidar Khan of the Qaumi Watan Party said both the provincial government and assembly should take terrorist attacks on politicians seriously.
“An in-camera session of the house should be convened on this crucial issue,” he said.
Senior minister Inayatullah Khan told the house that terrorism and targeted killings had not been eliminated from the province but their incidence had reduced considerably.
He said politicians should get united against attacks on themselves.
Speaking on a point of order, MPA Salim Khan said around 2,000 families in the remote Baroghil valley of Chitral had been facing shortage of food after heavy snowfall.
He said the snowfall had disconnected Baroghil valley bordering Afghanistan from Chitral city.
The MPA demanded that the government arrange food package for them before the situation worsens there. The speaker later adjourned the session until Monday.
Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1222855/at-last-kp-assembly-to-elect-deputy-speaker-next-month
NAB law no more applies to KP, claims advocate general
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general Abdul Lateef Yousafzai on Thursday insisted after the passage of the provincial Ehtesab Commission law, the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 (NAB law) was no more applicable to the province.
He also justified the introduction of the provincial Ehtesab Commission law claiming the Constitution allowed the provinces to make special anti-corruption laws for themselves.
“Following the passage of the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act 2010, the enactment of special laws for matters concerning the provinces, which was earlier mentioned in the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution, has been the exclusive domain of the provinces,” the provincial AG told a Peshawar High Court larger bench hearing cases against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab (KPEC) Act 2014 and the subsequent steps taken under it.
The five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel later adjourned cases after hearing for fourth consecutive day.
Around 15 petitions filed by three former provincial ministers and several officials have challenged the KPEC Act and the subsequent steps taken under it, including the appointment of its director general, establishment of Ehtesab courts, and issuance of notification for creating the commission.
The AG gave lengthy arguments and raised several points, including the one about the functioning of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the province.
He said before the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, both the federal and provincial legislature were empowered to legislate on issues mentioned in the Concurrent Legislative List.
He said though the Concurrent Legislative List ceased to exist after the said amendment was made, both the federal and provincial legislature could legislate on matters related to criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence only.
“The KPEC Act cannot be placed in the category of criminal law rather it was a special law. Previously, the enactment of special law concerning the federal and provincial governments was placed as Entry No 16 in the Concurrent List, but after the abolishing of the said List such like enactment is now in the provincial domain,” he said.
Mr Yousafzai referred to Article 270-AA of the Constitution amended through the said Amendment saying the laws introduced during emergency from Oct 1999 to Dec 2003 on matters mentioned in the abolished Concurrent List should continue to remain in force till altered or repealed by the competent forum.
He said in the present case, he added the provincial legislature was the competent forum and it had enacted the KPEC Act following which the federal law on the subject, NAO, should no longer be applied to this province.
When the chief justice inquired about the fate of numerous inquiries and investigations pending with the NAB in the province, the AG said those inquires could be transferred to the Ehtesab Commission.
The bench asked how it could declare the applicability of the NAB law in KP as unconstitutional when that was not challenged before the court.
Mr Yousafzai said the government had been making the required amendments to the KPEC Act to remove flaws.
About the stand of petitioners regarding the delay in issuance of notification for the setting up of the Ehtesab Commission, he said under Section 3 of the Act, even the issuance of the said notification was not required.
He said when the notification was issued, the government had mentioned that it would be applicable with retrospective effect.
Additional advocate general Umar Farooq Adam advanced his initial arguments when the bench rose for the day.
He rebutted the petitioners’ contention that in the presence of NAB law, anti-corruption was an occupied field and the provinces had no authority to enact a law in that regard, saying the field was not occupied as NAB had miserably failed in rooting out corruption from the society.
The additional advocate general said the failure of the NAB had forced the provincial government to introduce the KPEC law.
Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1222638/nab-law-no-more-applies-to-kp-claims-advocate-general
PHC asks if accountability ordinance redundant in KP
PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court larger bench on Friday issued notices to the attorney general for Pakistan and National Accountability Bureau asking them to explain their respective positions on whether after the enactment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission Act, the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 (NAB law) had become redundant in the province.
The five-member bench headed by the Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel fixed Nov 30 for next hearing into 15 petitions while issuing notices to the attorney general and NAB, through its director general, observing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general had raised the point over which it was necessary to hear them.
It also recalled its earlier stay order issued on Nov 23 of stopping the two Ehtesab courts from proceeding further in references filed against different suspects.
The bench however ruled that the Ehtesab courts should continue hearing these references but should not give verdicts until further orders.
Withdraws stay order to stop two Ehtesab courts from proceeding in KPEC references
On Thursday, advocate general Abdul Lateef Yousafzai while justifying the enactment of the KPEC Act had insisted that the Act was a special law and after its enactment the NAB law could not be applied to the province. He had asserted that the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution was abolished through the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, 2010, following which it was the exclusive domain of provinces to legislate on matters concerning them.
During the Friday hearing, KPEC prosecutor general Yahya Zahid Gillani adopted the arguments of advocate general and contended that the Act was need of the time due to the growing corruption in the province.
He added that the cases may be decided in light of powers assigned to the provinces after the Eighteenth Amendment.
The commission’s additional deputy prosecutor general, Lajbar Khan, argued that the entire case of the petitioners rested on the premises that the Act was inconsistent and repugnant to the NAB law.
He contended that the petitioners could not point out any major conflict in the two laws except that in the federal law there were provisions of ‘voluntary return’ and ‘plea bargain’ and no such provision was available in the KPEC Act. He argued that the NAO was a bad law as there was centralisation of powers in the office of its chairman in cases of ‘voluntary return’ and ‘plea bargain’, whereas under the provincial law, the ehtesab courts were empowered and not the director general to award favourable sentence to an accused if he offered to return the assets or gains acquired by him.
Mr Lajbar cited a judgment of the Indian Supreme Court stating that in that verdict the court had explained the terms ‘repugnancy’ and ‘inconsistency’ and had ruled that these terms would be attracted when a law was in clear disobedience with another law. He added that some immaterial differences in the two laws could not be termed as inconsistent or repugnant.
Another additional deputy prosecutor general, Qazi Babar Irshad, pointed out that one of the petitioners, Ziaullah Afridi, an MPA and former provincial minister, had challenged the KPEC Act despite the fact that he had voted for it in the provincial assembly. He added that how could a creator of the law challenges it. He added none of the provisions of the Act could be termed as unconstitutional as none of the fundamental rights provided in the Constitution had been violated.
Additional advocate general Umar Farooq Adam also concluded his arguments saying the NAB law should have been further improved so as to bring transparency in its affairs. He added that under the provision of ‘voluntary return’ a suspect returned part of his ill gotten money following which he was allowed to continue to act as public office holder.
Prominent among the petitioners are former provincial minister Senator Sitara Ayaz, who has challenging KPEC proceedings against her and sought pre-arrest bail; ex-ministers Ziaullah Afridi, who is also an MPA, and Liaquat Shabab; district coordination officer of Kohat Noor Daraz Khattak, who is also father of PTI MPA Gul Sahab Khan; additional secretary of finance department Imtiaz Ayub; former director general of mines department Dr Liaqat Ali; provincial secretary of industries department Sajid Khan Jadoon; owner of Iqra National University Obaidur Rehman, and others.
Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1222849/phc-asks-if-accountability-ordinance-redundant-in-kp
At last, KP Assembly to elect deputy speaker next month
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar on Friday announced schedule of elections for the deputy speaker’s office lying vacant for over a year.
The speaker told the house that candidates would file nomination papers for the deputy speaker’s post on Dec 21, while elections for it would take place on Dec 22.
The filling of the deputy speaker’s office will pave the way for the prorogation of the current session of the assembly continuing since Oct 23, 2014.
The post has been vacant since Oct 15, 2014, when Imtiaz Shahid resigned as deputy speaker to take oath as the minister for law and parliamentary affairs.
The government has prolonged the session to avoid elections for the important position due to differences in the ruling party over the candidate.
The long-awaited elections will pave the way for prorogation of house in session since Oct 2014
Under the house’s rules of business, the government is bound to hold elections for the deputy speaker’s office before proroguing the session.
The speaker announced the election schedule soon after PML-N MPA Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha warned that the opposition would agitate if the long-awaited elections for the deputy speaker’s office were delayed any further.
Speaking on a point of order, Nalotha said the opposition members could no more sit silently in the incomplete house and that the speaker would have to announce schedule of the elections without delay.
“If the ruling parties need the help of the opposition in elections (for the deputy speaker’s office), we (the opposition) are ready for that,” he said.
The PML-N MPA asked if it was the ruling PTI’s much-publicised ‘change’ that the assembly had been kept in session for over a year to avoid elections for the important slot of the house.
Earlier, the assembly saw a heated debate on the terrorist attack against federal housing minister and JUI-F leader Akram Khan Durrani in Bannu.
In a veiled criticism of the provincial government, JUI-F MPA Mufti Syed Janan said some people had been making tall claims in TV talk shows about depoliticising the province’s police but in actual fact, no one was safe in the province.
“Though a number of security agencies have been functioning in the country, terrorists continue to threaten the provincial assembly, government offices and MPA hostel,” he said.
The JUI-F MPA said the writ of the state had been reduced to Peshawar city only and that the practice of blocking important roads was unfortunately continuing.
Syed Jaffar Shah of the ANP condemned terrorist attack on Akram Durrani and urged all political forces to unite to defeat militancy.
Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha of the PML-N said politicians would continue struggle against militancy.
He said the Zarb-i-Azb military operation and National Action Plan had dismantled the militant network in the country and that the fight against militancy would continue until last militant was eliminated from the country.
Bakht Baidar Khan of the Qaumi Watan Party said both the provincial government and assembly should take terrorist attacks on politicians seriously.
“An in-camera session of the house should be convened on this crucial issue,” he said.
Senior minister Inayatullah Khan told the house that terrorism and targeted killings had not been eliminated from the province but their incidence had reduced considerably.
He said politicians should get united against attacks on themselves.
Speaking on a point of order, MPA Salim Khan said around 2,000 families in the remote Baroghil valley of Chitral had been facing shortage of food after heavy snowfall.
He said the snowfall had disconnected Baroghil valley bordering Afghanistan from Chitral city.
The MPA demanded that the government arrange food package for them before the situation worsens there. The speaker later adjourned the session until Monday.
Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1222855/at-last-kp-assembly-to-elect-deputy-speaker-next-month
NAB law no more applies to KP, claims advocate general
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general Abdul Lateef Yousafzai on Thursday insisted after the passage of the provincial Ehtesab Commission law, the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 (NAB law) was no more applicable to the province.
He also justified the introduction of the provincial Ehtesab Commission law claiming the Constitution allowed the provinces to make special anti-corruption laws for themselves.
“Following the passage of the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act 2010, the enactment of special laws for matters concerning the provinces, which was earlier mentioned in the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution, has been the exclusive domain of the provinces,” the provincial AG told a Peshawar High Court larger bench hearing cases against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab (KPEC) Act 2014 and the subsequent steps taken under it.
The five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel later adjourned cases after hearing for fourth consecutive day.
Around 15 petitions filed by three former provincial ministers and several officials have challenged the KPEC Act and the subsequent steps taken under it, including the appointment of its director general, establishment of Ehtesab courts, and issuance of notification for creating the commission.
The AG gave lengthy arguments and raised several points, including the one about the functioning of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the province.
He said before the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, both the federal and provincial legislature were empowered to legislate on issues mentioned in the Concurrent Legislative List.
He said though the Concurrent Legislative List ceased to exist after the said amendment was made, both the federal and provincial legislature could legislate on matters related to criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence only.
“The KPEC Act cannot be placed in the category of criminal law rather it was a special law. Previously, the enactment of special law concerning the federal and provincial governments was placed as Entry No 16 in the Concurrent List, but after the abolishing of the said List such like enactment is now in the provincial domain,” he said.
Mr Yousafzai referred to Article 270-AA of the Constitution amended through the said Amendment saying the laws introduced during emergency from Oct 1999 to Dec 2003 on matters mentioned in the abolished Concurrent List should continue to remain in force till altered or repealed by the competent forum.
He said in the present case, he added the provincial legislature was the competent forum and it had enacted the KPEC Act following which the federal law on the subject, NAO, should no longer be applied to this province.
When the chief justice inquired about the fate of numerous inquiries and investigations pending with the NAB in the province, the AG said those inquires could be transferred to the Ehtesab Commission.
The bench asked how it could declare the applicability of the NAB law in KP as unconstitutional when that was not challenged before the court.
Mr Yousafzai said the government had been making the required amendments to the KPEC Act to remove flaws.
About the stand of petitioners regarding the delay in issuance of notification for the setting up of the Ehtesab Commission, he said under Section 3 of the Act, even the issuance of the said notification was not required.
He said when the notification was issued, the government had mentioned that it would be applicable with retrospective effect.
Additional advocate general Umar Farooq Adam advanced his initial arguments when the bench rose for the day.
He rebutted the petitioners’ contention that in the presence of NAB law, anti-corruption was an occupied field and the provinces had no authority to enact a law in that regard, saying the field was not occupied as NAB had miserably failed in rooting out corruption from the society.
The additional advocate general said the failure of the NAB had forced the provincial government to introduce the KPEC law.
Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1222638/nab-law-no-more-applies-to-kp-claims-advocate-general
PHC asks if accountability ordinance redundant in KP
PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court larger bench on Friday issued notices to the attorney general for Pakistan and National Accountability Bureau asking them to explain their respective positions on whether after the enactment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission Act, the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 (NAB law) had become redundant in the province.
The five-member bench headed by the Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel fixed Nov 30 for next hearing into 15 petitions while issuing notices to the attorney general and NAB, through its director general, observing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general had raised the point over which it was necessary to hear them.
It also recalled its earlier stay order issued on Nov 23 of stopping the two Ehtesab courts from proceeding further in references filed against different suspects.
The bench however ruled that the Ehtesab courts should continue hearing these references but should not give verdicts until further orders.
Withdraws stay order to stop two Ehtesab courts from proceeding in KPEC references
On Thursday, advocate general Abdul Lateef Yousafzai while justifying the enactment of the KPEC Act had insisted that the Act was a special law and after its enactment the NAB law could not be applied to the province. He had asserted that the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution was abolished through the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, 2010, following which it was the exclusive domain of provinces to legislate on matters concerning them.
During the Friday hearing, KPEC prosecutor general Yahya Zahid Gillani adopted the arguments of advocate general and contended that the Act was need of the time due to the growing corruption in the province.
He added that the cases may be decided in light of powers assigned to the provinces after the Eighteenth Amendment.
The commission’s additional deputy prosecutor general, Lajbar Khan, argued that the entire case of the petitioners rested on the premises that the Act was inconsistent and repugnant to the NAB law.
He contended that the petitioners could not point out any major conflict in the two laws except that in the federal law there were provisions of ‘voluntary return’ and ‘plea bargain’ and no such provision was available in the KPEC Act. He argued that the NAO was a bad law as there was centralisation of powers in the office of its chairman in cases of ‘voluntary return’ and ‘plea bargain’, whereas under the provincial law, the ehtesab courts were empowered and not the director general to award favourable sentence to an accused if he offered to return the assets or gains acquired by him.
Mr Lajbar cited a judgment of the Indian Supreme Court stating that in that verdict the court had explained the terms ‘repugnancy’ and ‘inconsistency’ and had ruled that these terms would be attracted when a law was in clear disobedience with another law. He added that some immaterial differences in the two laws could not be termed as inconsistent or repugnant.
Another additional deputy prosecutor general, Qazi Babar Irshad, pointed out that one of the petitioners, Ziaullah Afridi, an MPA and former provincial minister, had challenged the KPEC Act despite the fact that he had voted for it in the provincial assembly. He added that how could a creator of the law challenges it. He added none of the provisions of the Act could be termed as unconstitutional as none of the fundamental rights provided in the Constitution had been violated.
Additional advocate general Umar Farooq Adam also concluded his arguments saying the NAB law should have been further improved so as to bring transparency in its affairs. He added that under the provision of ‘voluntary return’ a suspect returned part of his ill gotten money following which he was allowed to continue to act as public office holder.
Prominent among the petitioners are former provincial minister Senator Sitara Ayaz, who has challenging KPEC proceedings against her and sought pre-arrest bail; ex-ministers Ziaullah Afridi, who is also an MPA, and Liaquat Shabab; district coordination officer of Kohat Noor Daraz Khattak, who is also father of PTI MPA Gul Sahab Khan; additional secretary of finance department Imtiaz Ayub; former director general of mines department Dr Liaqat Ali; provincial secretary of industries department Sajid Khan Jadoon; owner of Iqra National University Obaidur Rehman, and others.
Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1222849/phc-asks-if-accountability-ordinance-redundant-in-kp
Last edited:
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
NOV 29 2015
[h=1]Parliamentary secretaries a burden on kitty
[/h] PESHAWAR: The appointment of parliamentary secretaries to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has become a financial burden on the exchequer.
Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had appointed 15 parliamentary secretaries to assist the government in the House in the absence of the ministers, advisers and special assistants concerned but they haven’t been of any use to perform their tasks.
Officials in the assembly secretariat said appointment of parliamentary secretaries was a total ‘wastage of resources’ and they had no role in defending the government’s position in the House.
“These parliamentary secretaries don’t know what is happening in their respective departments because the ministers concerned don’t take them on board regarding official matters,” said one official.
Like ministers and advisers, parliamentary secretaries are either found missing or have no information to reply to opposition’s questions when they are required to do so in the House. As a result speaker has to defer the business.
[h=4]Official says such appointees know nothing about relevant departments[/h]
“The entire situation is before the media and needs no further explanation,” said a member of the cabinet when asked about the utility of the parliamentary secretaries.
The existing strength of the cabinet comprising Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Jamaat-i-Islami and Qaumi Watan Party is 14 ministers, four advisers and eight special assistants to the chief minister.
An adviser and a special assistant to the chief minister were recently dismissed for violating the party’s discipline in local government elections.
The government through a notification had entitled each parliamentary secretary to have an official car with 400 litres fuel per month, 50 per cent additional basic salary of an MPA (Rs18,000 a month), provision of offices and personal staff of the minister with whom he or she is attached.
Two parliamentary secretaries belong to JI and 12 including five women to PTI. Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan which recently merged with the PTI had also one parliamentary secretary.
Apart from the issues related to parliamentary secretaries, the dismal performance of the treasury benches in the assembly is evident from the fact that on several occasions the assembly sittings had to be adjourned due to lack of quorum.
The cabinet members, including chief minister, don’t take Speaker Asad Qaisar’s rulings seriously and that they always remain absent from the House. Like cabinet members, the bureaucracy too don’t take interest in the business. The administrative secretaries don’t come to the official galleries to assist the treasury.
An official told Dawn that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had attended only one sitting since the assembly passed annual budget in June last.
He said the assembly’s secretariat had sent several reminders to the concerned departments to depute senior officers for the assembly proceedings, but they did not take it serious.
“The secretariat had issued several letters to chief secretaries and administrative secretaries to depute senior officers to the rank of additional secretaries for covering the House’s proceedings, but they do not pay attention to the speaker’s rulings and only directors or section officers are deputed,” the official said.
A parliamentary secretary complained that ministers and administrative secretaries had sidelined them and discouraged them from taking interest in the official matters.
“Parliamentary secretaries were appointed to enjoy official perks and keep their mouth shut,” he said, adding that they (parliamentary secretaries) were also responsible for the situation because they could not assert their positions.
When approached, special assistant to the chief minister on information Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani did not comment on the utility and performance of the parliamentary secretaries. He, however, insisted the performance of treasury benches was satisfactory.
The special assistant said the lack of quorum occurred on Friday only as majority of MPAs had gone to their respective constituencies on the day.
Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223019/parliamentary-secretaries-a-burden-on-kitty
[h=1]Modern equipment to replace explosives for mining
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has planned to replace explosives with $4 million safe, modern equipment for mining to protect mineral wealth of the province.
The plan will be executed under the competitive industries project sponsored by the Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
This information was revealed by minister for minerals development Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli during a two-day conference at a local hotel, where academicians, investors, representatives of marble mines and industries associations, businessmen, women entrepreneurs associated with the gems sector, lawyers and journalists were in attendance.
According to a statement issued here, the event was organised by the mines and minerals development department in collaboration with the World Bank-administered MDTF and the Provincial Industries, Commerce & Technical Education Department to announce the government’s policy and immediate reforms and legislative actions and discourage the antiquated use of explosives in the mining sector, especially in marble and granite units.
Among speakers were secretary of minerals development department Dr Ataur Rehman, industries secretary Aftab Akbar Durrani, director (planning) Bilal Khisro and people from the mining sector.
The minister said a bill suggesting major reforms for mines sector and mineral development would be presented before the cabinet and provincial assembly next month for approval.
She said she was committed to opening new avenues for foreign investments in the mining sector, restructuring institutional arrangements, checking corruption, and promoting incentives and transparency for sector development.
Special assistant to the chief minister Abdul Karim Khan said the government was committed to promoting his department’s industrial linkages with the mining sector to facilitate the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
He called for technology development and value addition to products for competing on global standards.
Other speakers said under the competitive industries project, the $4 million latest equipment had been procured to replace explosives for use in the mining sector and thus, protecting the rich mineral wealth of the province.
They said the use of explosives for mining resulted in the waste of more than 80 percent of marble and granite resources and thus, leaving little or no space for value addition to products and no potential for competing in the international market.
The speakers highlighted the proposed legislative initiatives to ensure enabling environment for foreign direct investments, transparency, labour welfare, integrated mining, infrastructure development, market linkages and institutional development in the province.
Organiser of the event Syed Bilal Khisro said an international conference on minerals would soon be held in Islamabad, where diplomats, trade councillors and investors would be in attendance.
He said the event would be inaugurated by PTI chief Imran Khan.
Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223012/modern-equipment-to-replace-explosives-for-mining
[h=1]Doctors unlikely to withdraw cases against MTI law
[/h] PESHAWAR: Doctors aren’t ready to withdraw their lawsuits against the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Reform Act at the four teaching hospitals despite a series of back-pedalling by the government to enforce the new law.
The government passed the Act in January this year, but 13 amendments were incorporated to it in August after the stakeholders raised a hue and cry.
“An agreement signed between the representatives of doctors and the government to end the row over the enforcement of the MTI law on Thursday last is a win-win situation for both, but no immediate end to the issue is in sight in view of doctors’ insistence on making three more amendments to the law before we stop opposition,” Prof Musa Kalim, president of Postgraduate Teaching Staff Association, Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI), told Dawn.
The six-hour meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was attended by the health and finance ministers, chief secretary and secretaries of the health and finance departments on the one side and the representatives of teachers associations and provincial doctors’ associations on the other. The meeting had ended up in a 16-point agreement.
[h=4]Vow to end opposition only after more amendments to the law[/h]
The government has implemented the law in January, but petitions filed by the association of doctors have halted its execution. The government, according to sources, accepted a bulk of the demands made by the doctors and expected their cooperation to pave the way for enforcement of the law.
Prof Kalim said that they wanted amendments about the status of PGMI and that the employees of the four teaching institutions of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Lady Reading Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, and Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, be allowed to work under the present terms and conditions.
The agreement says that PGMI will be restricted to induction of TMOs and the financial matters will be managed by the respective MTI. It was also agreed that PGMI would be strengthened.
The doctors’ demand to make separate arrangements for private patients at the institutions was also accepted. The option of institution-based practice (IBP) will be irrevocable and progress on it will be reviewed after six months. The criteria for promotion of the head of department will be decided by BoG as per new law.
Earlier, it has been decided that doctors doing IBP will get higher salary package than those not doing it. Now, all will get the same salaries and those doing IBP will get incentives.
The agreement says that rules of promotions will be governed by the PMDC or Higher Education Commission as decided by the Academic Council of the respective MTI to be noticed by their own board of governors (BoG).
The provincial government’s agreement with doctors has invoked a strong reaction from Prof Nausherwan Khan Burki, the architect of the law.
“He has held long discussions on some points of agreement with the health minister and health secretary following the agreement,” sources said.
Prof Burki said that the appointment of head of department was to be made by the dean on the advice of the Faculty Council which was neither a new thing nor a change from the existing plan.
“Clear criteria are laid down and this is as it should be. Of course, if the criteria are violated, the BoG will take action,” he told the minister and secretary, according to the sources.
They said that Prof Burki had also expressed reservations about the fixation of working hours from 8:00am to 3:00pm six days a week against the earlier plan of 9:00am to 4:00pm five days a week.
Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223014/doctors-unlikely-to-withdraw-cases-against-mti-law
[h=1]Parliamentary secretaries a burden on kitty
[/h] PESHAWAR: The appointment of parliamentary secretaries to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has become a financial burden on the exchequer.
Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had appointed 15 parliamentary secretaries to assist the government in the House in the absence of the ministers, advisers and special assistants concerned but they haven’t been of any use to perform their tasks.
Officials in the assembly secretariat said appointment of parliamentary secretaries was a total ‘wastage of resources’ and they had no role in defending the government’s position in the House.
“These parliamentary secretaries don’t know what is happening in their respective departments because the ministers concerned don’t take them on board regarding official matters,” said one official.
Like ministers and advisers, parliamentary secretaries are either found missing or have no information to reply to opposition’s questions when they are required to do so in the House. As a result speaker has to defer the business.
[h=4]Official says such appointees know nothing about relevant departments[/h]
“The entire situation is before the media and needs no further explanation,” said a member of the cabinet when asked about the utility of the parliamentary secretaries.
The existing strength of the cabinet comprising Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Jamaat-i-Islami and Qaumi Watan Party is 14 ministers, four advisers and eight special assistants to the chief minister.
An adviser and a special assistant to the chief minister were recently dismissed for violating the party’s discipline in local government elections.
The government through a notification had entitled each parliamentary secretary to have an official car with 400 litres fuel per month, 50 per cent additional basic salary of an MPA (Rs18,000 a month), provision of offices and personal staff of the minister with whom he or she is attached.
Two parliamentary secretaries belong to JI and 12 including five women to PTI. Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan which recently merged with the PTI had also one parliamentary secretary.
Apart from the issues related to parliamentary secretaries, the dismal performance of the treasury benches in the assembly is evident from the fact that on several occasions the assembly sittings had to be adjourned due to lack of quorum.
The cabinet members, including chief minister, don’t take Speaker Asad Qaisar’s rulings seriously and that they always remain absent from the House. Like cabinet members, the bureaucracy too don’t take interest in the business. The administrative secretaries don’t come to the official galleries to assist the treasury.
An official told Dawn that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had attended only one sitting since the assembly passed annual budget in June last.
He said the assembly’s secretariat had sent several reminders to the concerned departments to depute senior officers for the assembly proceedings, but they did not take it serious.
“The secretariat had issued several letters to chief secretaries and administrative secretaries to depute senior officers to the rank of additional secretaries for covering the House’s proceedings, but they do not pay attention to the speaker’s rulings and only directors or section officers are deputed,” the official said.
A parliamentary secretary complained that ministers and administrative secretaries had sidelined them and discouraged them from taking interest in the official matters.
“Parliamentary secretaries were appointed to enjoy official perks and keep their mouth shut,” he said, adding that they (parliamentary secretaries) were also responsible for the situation because they could not assert their positions.
When approached, special assistant to the chief minister on information Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani did not comment on the utility and performance of the parliamentary secretaries. He, however, insisted the performance of treasury benches was satisfactory.
The special assistant said the lack of quorum occurred on Friday only as majority of MPAs had gone to their respective constituencies on the day.
Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223019/parliamentary-secretaries-a-burden-on-kitty
[h=1]Modern equipment to replace explosives for mining
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has planned to replace explosives with $4 million safe, modern equipment for mining to protect mineral wealth of the province.
The plan will be executed under the competitive industries project sponsored by the Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
This information was revealed by minister for minerals development Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli during a two-day conference at a local hotel, where academicians, investors, representatives of marble mines and industries associations, businessmen, women entrepreneurs associated with the gems sector, lawyers and journalists were in attendance.
According to a statement issued here, the event was organised by the mines and minerals development department in collaboration with the World Bank-administered MDTF and the Provincial Industries, Commerce & Technical Education Department to announce the government’s policy and immediate reforms and legislative actions and discourage the antiquated use of explosives in the mining sector, especially in marble and granite units.
Among speakers were secretary of minerals development department Dr Ataur Rehman, industries secretary Aftab Akbar Durrani, director (planning) Bilal Khisro and people from the mining sector.
The minister said a bill suggesting major reforms for mines sector and mineral development would be presented before the cabinet and provincial assembly next month for approval.
She said she was committed to opening new avenues for foreign investments in the mining sector, restructuring institutional arrangements, checking corruption, and promoting incentives and transparency for sector development.
Special assistant to the chief minister Abdul Karim Khan said the government was committed to promoting his department’s industrial linkages with the mining sector to facilitate the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
He called for technology development and value addition to products for competing on global standards.
Other speakers said under the competitive industries project, the $4 million latest equipment had been procured to replace explosives for use in the mining sector and thus, protecting the rich mineral wealth of the province.
They said the use of explosives for mining resulted in the waste of more than 80 percent of marble and granite resources and thus, leaving little or no space for value addition to products and no potential for competing in the international market.
The speakers highlighted the proposed legislative initiatives to ensure enabling environment for foreign direct investments, transparency, labour welfare, integrated mining, infrastructure development, market linkages and institutional development in the province.
Organiser of the event Syed Bilal Khisro said an international conference on minerals would soon be held in Islamabad, where diplomats, trade councillors and investors would be in attendance.
He said the event would be inaugurated by PTI chief Imran Khan.
Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223012/modern-equipment-to-replace-explosives-for-mining
[h=1]Doctors unlikely to withdraw cases against MTI law
[/h] PESHAWAR: Doctors aren’t ready to withdraw their lawsuits against the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Reform Act at the four teaching hospitals despite a series of back-pedalling by the government to enforce the new law.
The government passed the Act in January this year, but 13 amendments were incorporated to it in August after the stakeholders raised a hue and cry.
“An agreement signed between the representatives of doctors and the government to end the row over the enforcement of the MTI law on Thursday last is a win-win situation for both, but no immediate end to the issue is in sight in view of doctors’ insistence on making three more amendments to the law before we stop opposition,” Prof Musa Kalim, president of Postgraduate Teaching Staff Association, Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI), told Dawn.
The six-hour meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was attended by the health and finance ministers, chief secretary and secretaries of the health and finance departments on the one side and the representatives of teachers associations and provincial doctors’ associations on the other. The meeting had ended up in a 16-point agreement.
[h=4]Vow to end opposition only after more amendments to the law[/h]
The government has implemented the law in January, but petitions filed by the association of doctors have halted its execution. The government, according to sources, accepted a bulk of the demands made by the doctors and expected their cooperation to pave the way for enforcement of the law.
Prof Kalim said that they wanted amendments about the status of PGMI and that the employees of the four teaching institutions of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Lady Reading Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, and Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, be allowed to work under the present terms and conditions.
The agreement says that PGMI will be restricted to induction of TMOs and the financial matters will be managed by the respective MTI. It was also agreed that PGMI would be strengthened.
The doctors’ demand to make separate arrangements for private patients at the institutions was also accepted. The option of institution-based practice (IBP) will be irrevocable and progress on it will be reviewed after six months. The criteria for promotion of the head of department will be decided by BoG as per new law.
Earlier, it has been decided that doctors doing IBP will get higher salary package than those not doing it. Now, all will get the same salaries and those doing IBP will get incentives.
The agreement says that rules of promotions will be governed by the PMDC or Higher Education Commission as decided by the Academic Council of the respective MTI to be noticed by their own board of governors (BoG).
The provincial government’s agreement with doctors has invoked a strong reaction from Prof Nausherwan Khan Burki, the architect of the law.
“He has held long discussions on some points of agreement with the health minister and health secretary following the agreement,” sources said.
Prof Burki said that the appointment of head of department was to be made by the dean on the advice of the Faculty Council which was neither a new thing nor a change from the existing plan.
“Clear criteria are laid down and this is as it should be. Of course, if the criteria are violated, the BoG will take action,” he told the minister and secretary, according to the sources.
They said that Prof Burki had also expressed reservations about the fixation of working hours from 8:00am to 3:00pm six days a week against the earlier plan of 9:00am to 4:00pm five days a week.
Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223014/doctors-unlikely-to-withdraw-cases-against-mti-law
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
DEC 30 2015
[h=1]KP govt adamant to implement flawed MTI law
[/h]PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is adamant to implement the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Reforms Act despite the health department’s recommendations a few months ago that it cannot be put into practice until removal of basic flaws in it, according to documents.
Former secretary health Mushtaq Jadoon had written two letters to the government in April and Oct and raised objection over the unfettered administrative powers invested in the board of governors (BoGs) in the MTIs, saying that it would result in court cases in future.
The law leaves a little scope for elaboration and legal coverage through the rules because the BoG wields immense regulatory powers.
The finance and establishment departments facilitate the enforcement of law, which cannot be done through regulations by BoG of the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), he said. A BoG, meant for internal management of an MTI, cannot prescribe Standard Operating Procedures for the health, finance and establishment departments as regards the LRH, Mr Jadoon had pointed out in the letters.
[h=4]Former secretary had raised objection to the unfettered administrative powers of BOGs[/h]
Prior to the MTI Act 2015 all the four teaching hospitals were managed by the chief executives (CEs), who were looking after the clinical and management functions with the assistance of medical superintendents and deputy medical superintendents who were assisted by management committees with people from the health and establishment departments.
He had raised the point that the appointment of directors wouldn’t work and there should be a chief executive at the top instead of medical director for clinical functions, hospital director for administrative and financial functions and nursing director, all answerable to the BoG, which wouldn’t deliver because the hospitals work round the clock while BoGs meet every three months.
Representatives of the health, finance and establishment departments have attended BOG meetings held from May to July and there has been no complaint against their representation in the BOG as non-voting members.
So far each of the four BoGs set up at the LRH, KTH, KMC, Peshawar, and ATH, Abbottabad, has 10-members – three government secretaries and seven private members.
Mr Jadoon stated that another amendment was being sought to exclude the government’s representatives from the BoG. The administration under CE will be able to take prompt decisions. BoG, a management policy body comprising unpaid people, isn’t a fulltime entity, he said.
The law has been facing 11 lawsuits and more are expected in future over the appointments of deans, head of departments etc, he Govt adamant to implement MTI law despite flaws stated. Within five months, 13 amendments have been incorporated and more are in pipeline on the recommendation of the BoG.
Mr Jadoon, who was transferred on Nov 4 apparently for his failure to implement the law, on his part had taken prompt steps to pave the way for enforcement of the PTI’s pet project. He had proposed that public sector should oversee the management of the respective institutions instead of the BoG.
Sources in the health department said that doctors had accepted the BoGs as fait accompli because the paramedics had been given service structure and promotion coupled with incentives to nurses and TMOs, while the specialists stood effectively isolated. However, after the removal of Mr Jadoon the government is again carrying out amendments as a result of pressure by doctors.
According to the documents, the regulation drafted by LRH BoG was largely inconsistent with the Act and Rules which drew strong reaction from the stakeholders.
The secretary had also termed advertisement for the posts of medical and hospital director a violation of the MTI Act due to which the whole exercise had been facing litigations. He stated that Rs742.709 million had been transferred to the four MTIs and the health department established works directorate to ensure quality work and timely completion of the projects.
The former secretary, however, had vowed to enforce the reforms, saying buckling under pressure from doctors to step back on the law would defeat the government’s objectives. The secretary had also opposed raise in user charges at the MTI-covered hospitals.
Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223217/kp-govt-adamant-to-implement-flawed-mti-law
[h=1]View from the courtroom: Cases against Ehtesab law assume national significance
[/h]PESHAWAR: The hearing of 15 writ petitions, challenging the enactment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) Act 2014, by a five-member larger bench of the Peshawar High Court has assumed a national significance due to important legal questions. The legal battle between several leading lawyers appearing for the petitioners and those representing the provincial government and the KPEC has still been in progress.
These cases have drawn attention of legal circles as well as of public because of the questions raised by both the sides. The edifice of the anti- corruption drive of the provincial government stands on the impugned Act, therefore, the provincial government as well as the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has been giving importance to these cases.
Both the sides have advanced arguments in support of their contentions. The bench, which is headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, has now to decide these questions. Most important points so far raised by both the sides include: whether in the presence of National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 the doctrine of occupied field would be attracted and the province deemed not empowered to enact the KPEC Act; whether provisions of the KPEC Act are in conflict with the provisions of NAO and it should be struck down; whether KPEC Act is an oppressive law in which the commission’s director general has been assigned unbridled
powers; whether after the abolition of the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution of Pakistan and the subsequent enactment of the KPEC Act, the NAO has become redundant in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; whether in comparison to the KPEC Act the NAO is a bad law because of the provisions of ‘plea bargain’ and ‘voluntary return’ which encourages corruption; etc.
So far marathon arguments have been advanced by lead counsels for both the sides. The petitioners’ counsels have contended that the NAO, commonly known as the NAB Law, was an all-encompassing ordinance which addressed almost all issues related to accountability due to which in its presence the provinces could not legislate on the same subject. In the presence of NAO, they believe, the field of accountability is an occupied field in which the province now could not legislate.
They also claim that after the abolition of Concurrent Legislative List the subjects mentioned therein were no longer in the legislative competence of the federal legislature, but three of the subjects, including criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence, have been left for both the federal and provincial legislatures to legislate on.
However, the provinces could not enact a law which is in conflict with the federal law on the three subjects.
These cases have taken an interesting turn after the arguments of KP Advocate General Abdul Lateef Yousafzai, who is of the opinion that the NAB Law could no longer be applied to this province following the enactment of KPEC Act. He believes that the KPEC Act is not a criminal law rather it is a special law and enactment of a special law on issues concerning the province is the exclusive domain of provincial legislature.
Because of the significance of the point raised by the AG, the bench has now also issued notices to the Attorney General for Pakistan as well as the National Accountability Bureau, asking them to assist the court on the said legal question.
Another important legal point pertains to issuance of a notification by the provincial government for setting up of the KPEC under Section 3 of the Act. While the impugned law was enacted in Jan 2014, the said notification was issued on Sept 14, 2015. The petitioners believe that in the absence of the said notification all the acts done, including the appointment of the director general, starting of inquiries and investigation and arrests made so far, are illegal.
However, the provincial government claims that as retrospective effect has been given to the said notification, therefore, the acts done earlier are not illegal.
These petitioners also include three former provincial ministers, including Senator Sitara Ayaz of Awami National Party, MPA Ziaullah Afridi and provincial information secretary of PPP Liaquat Shabab. Senator Sitara Ayaz has challenged proceedings started against her by the commission and was granted interim pre-arrest bail. Similarly, Ziaullah Afridi, who was minister in the present provincial government, has still been behind bars, whereas Liaquat Shabab was granted interim bail by the court.
Other petitioners include: a district coordination officer of Kohat, Noor Daraz Khattak, who is also father of PTI MPA Gul Sahab Khan; additional secretary finance Imtiaz Ayub; ex-director general of mines department Dr Liaquat Ali; provincial secretary industries, Sajid Khan Jadoon; owner of Iqra National University, Obaidur Rehman and others.
As this commission has drawn criticism from rival political figures and even from Ziaullah Afridi and another PTI MPA, Gul Sahab Khan, therefore, the decision of the high court is of great significance for the provincial government.
This law has been propagated as a panacea to the ill of corruption in the province and the government can’t afford losing the ongoing legal battle.
Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223216/vi...inst-ehtesab-law-assume-national-significance
[h=1]Engineers offered training in modern mining techniques
[/h]PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has welcomed a proposal floated by the Wah Noble Group (WNG) to impart free training on modern blasting and mining techniques to mining and civil engineers and other technicians working under the provincial government.
The proposal was put forward by WNG chief executive Brig (r) Shirazullah Chaudhry during a briefing at the CM Secretariat here on Saturday, according to a handout.
Mr Khattak directed the mines and mineral development department to work out prospects of a strong collaboration with WNG in that connection. He said such trainings would prove helpful for the safe mining and blasting operations in the province.
He directed the relevant departments, especially the mineral and communication & works, and energy and power departments, to coordinate with WNG and come out with a feasible report on the proposed joint venture.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Minerals Development Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, secretaries of minerals development and C&W departments, Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority managing director, energy and power officials were in attendance.
Shirazullah Chaudhry informed the meeting that WNG, founded in 1962, had been working under a joint venture among Pakistan Ordnance Factories, SAAB Group Sweden and Al-Misehal Company of Saudi Arabia.
Mr Chaudhry said presently six companies existed on the WNG which were engaged in a diversified range of services and products that also included carrying out of commercial explosives, industrial chemical acetates and green energy solutions (hydro/solar) projects. He said WNG group’s explosives products were used in mining industry, cement sector, oil and gas exploration, hydro projects, road/tunnel projects etc.
Mr Chaudhry further said the WNG companies were already actively engaged with various infrastructure development departments working under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government like C&W, the Provincial Highway Authority, KP Energy Development Organisation, newly established KP Oil and Gas Company Limited, and mines and minerals development department.
The WNG chief executive said the free training on latest mining, blasting techniques, safe handling and storage of commercial explosives to the public sector mining engineers, technicians and contractors would help update their knowledge and skills leading to timely completion of mega projects. He said the exercise would contribute to efficient, economical and safe handling of commercial explosives.
Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223207/engineers-offered-training-in-modern-mining-techniques
[h=1]KP govt adamant to implement flawed MTI law
[/h]PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is adamant to implement the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Reforms Act despite the health department’s recommendations a few months ago that it cannot be put into practice until removal of basic flaws in it, according to documents.
Former secretary health Mushtaq Jadoon had written two letters to the government in April and Oct and raised objection over the unfettered administrative powers invested in the board of governors (BoGs) in the MTIs, saying that it would result in court cases in future.
The law leaves a little scope for elaboration and legal coverage through the rules because the BoG wields immense regulatory powers.
The finance and establishment departments facilitate the enforcement of law, which cannot be done through regulations by BoG of the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), he said. A BoG, meant for internal management of an MTI, cannot prescribe Standard Operating Procedures for the health, finance and establishment departments as regards the LRH, Mr Jadoon had pointed out in the letters.
[h=4]Former secretary had raised objection to the unfettered administrative powers of BOGs[/h]
Prior to the MTI Act 2015 all the four teaching hospitals were managed by the chief executives (CEs), who were looking after the clinical and management functions with the assistance of medical superintendents and deputy medical superintendents who were assisted by management committees with people from the health and establishment departments.
He had raised the point that the appointment of directors wouldn’t work and there should be a chief executive at the top instead of medical director for clinical functions, hospital director for administrative and financial functions and nursing director, all answerable to the BoG, which wouldn’t deliver because the hospitals work round the clock while BoGs meet every three months.
Representatives of the health, finance and establishment departments have attended BOG meetings held from May to July and there has been no complaint against their representation in the BOG as non-voting members.
So far each of the four BoGs set up at the LRH, KTH, KMC, Peshawar, and ATH, Abbottabad, has 10-members – three government secretaries and seven private members.
Mr Jadoon stated that another amendment was being sought to exclude the government’s representatives from the BoG. The administration under CE will be able to take prompt decisions. BoG, a management policy body comprising unpaid people, isn’t a fulltime entity, he said.
The law has been facing 11 lawsuits and more are expected in future over the appointments of deans, head of departments etc, he Govt adamant to implement MTI law despite flaws stated. Within five months, 13 amendments have been incorporated and more are in pipeline on the recommendation of the BoG.
Mr Jadoon, who was transferred on Nov 4 apparently for his failure to implement the law, on his part had taken prompt steps to pave the way for enforcement of the PTI’s pet project. He had proposed that public sector should oversee the management of the respective institutions instead of the BoG.
Sources in the health department said that doctors had accepted the BoGs as fait accompli because the paramedics had been given service structure and promotion coupled with incentives to nurses and TMOs, while the specialists stood effectively isolated. However, after the removal of Mr Jadoon the government is again carrying out amendments as a result of pressure by doctors.
According to the documents, the regulation drafted by LRH BoG was largely inconsistent with the Act and Rules which drew strong reaction from the stakeholders.
The secretary had also termed advertisement for the posts of medical and hospital director a violation of the MTI Act due to which the whole exercise had been facing litigations. He stated that Rs742.709 million had been transferred to the four MTIs and the health department established works directorate to ensure quality work and timely completion of the projects.
The former secretary, however, had vowed to enforce the reforms, saying buckling under pressure from doctors to step back on the law would defeat the government’s objectives. The secretary had also opposed raise in user charges at the MTI-covered hospitals.
Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223217/kp-govt-adamant-to-implement-flawed-mti-law
[h=1]View from the courtroom: Cases against Ehtesab law assume national significance
[/h]PESHAWAR: The hearing of 15 writ petitions, challenging the enactment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) Act 2014, by a five-member larger bench of the Peshawar High Court has assumed a national significance due to important legal questions. The legal battle between several leading lawyers appearing for the petitioners and those representing the provincial government and the KPEC has still been in progress.
These cases have drawn attention of legal circles as well as of public because of the questions raised by both the sides. The edifice of the anti- corruption drive of the provincial government stands on the impugned Act, therefore, the provincial government as well as the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has been giving importance to these cases.
Both the sides have advanced arguments in support of their contentions. The bench, which is headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, has now to decide these questions. Most important points so far raised by both the sides include: whether in the presence of National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 the doctrine of occupied field would be attracted and the province deemed not empowered to enact the KPEC Act; whether provisions of the KPEC Act are in conflict with the provisions of NAO and it should be struck down; whether KPEC Act is an oppressive law in which the commission’s director general has been assigned unbridled
powers; whether after the abolition of the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution of Pakistan and the subsequent enactment of the KPEC Act, the NAO has become redundant in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; whether in comparison to the KPEC Act the NAO is a bad law because of the provisions of ‘plea bargain’ and ‘voluntary return’ which encourages corruption; etc.
So far marathon arguments have been advanced by lead counsels for both the sides. The petitioners’ counsels have contended that the NAO, commonly known as the NAB Law, was an all-encompassing ordinance which addressed almost all issues related to accountability due to which in its presence the provinces could not legislate on the same subject. In the presence of NAO, they believe, the field of accountability is an occupied field in which the province now could not legislate.
They also claim that after the abolition of Concurrent Legislative List the subjects mentioned therein were no longer in the legislative competence of the federal legislature, but three of the subjects, including criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence, have been left for both the federal and provincial legislatures to legislate on.
However, the provinces could not enact a law which is in conflict with the federal law on the three subjects.
These cases have taken an interesting turn after the arguments of KP Advocate General Abdul Lateef Yousafzai, who is of the opinion that the NAB Law could no longer be applied to this province following the enactment of KPEC Act. He believes that the KPEC Act is not a criminal law rather it is a special law and enactment of a special law on issues concerning the province is the exclusive domain of provincial legislature.
Because of the significance of the point raised by the AG, the bench has now also issued notices to the Attorney General for Pakistan as well as the National Accountability Bureau, asking them to assist the court on the said legal question.
Another important legal point pertains to issuance of a notification by the provincial government for setting up of the KPEC under Section 3 of the Act. While the impugned law was enacted in Jan 2014, the said notification was issued on Sept 14, 2015. The petitioners believe that in the absence of the said notification all the acts done, including the appointment of the director general, starting of inquiries and investigation and arrests made so far, are illegal.
However, the provincial government claims that as retrospective effect has been given to the said notification, therefore, the acts done earlier are not illegal.
These petitioners also include three former provincial ministers, including Senator Sitara Ayaz of Awami National Party, MPA Ziaullah Afridi and provincial information secretary of PPP Liaquat Shabab. Senator Sitara Ayaz has challenged proceedings started against her by the commission and was granted interim pre-arrest bail. Similarly, Ziaullah Afridi, who was minister in the present provincial government, has still been behind bars, whereas Liaquat Shabab was granted interim bail by the court.
Other petitioners include: a district coordination officer of Kohat, Noor Daraz Khattak, who is also father of PTI MPA Gul Sahab Khan; additional secretary finance Imtiaz Ayub; ex-director general of mines department Dr Liaquat Ali; provincial secretary industries, Sajid Khan Jadoon; owner of Iqra National University, Obaidur Rehman and others.
As this commission has drawn criticism from rival political figures and even from Ziaullah Afridi and another PTI MPA, Gul Sahab Khan, therefore, the decision of the high court is of great significance for the provincial government.
This law has been propagated as a panacea to the ill of corruption in the province and the government can’t afford losing the ongoing legal battle.
Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223216/vi...inst-ehtesab-law-assume-national-significance
[h=1]Engineers offered training in modern mining techniques
[/h]PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has welcomed a proposal floated by the Wah Noble Group (WNG) to impart free training on modern blasting and mining techniques to mining and civil engineers and other technicians working under the provincial government.
The proposal was put forward by WNG chief executive Brig (r) Shirazullah Chaudhry during a briefing at the CM Secretariat here on Saturday, according to a handout.
Mr Khattak directed the mines and mineral development department to work out prospects of a strong collaboration with WNG in that connection. He said such trainings would prove helpful for the safe mining and blasting operations in the province.
He directed the relevant departments, especially the mineral and communication & works, and energy and power departments, to coordinate with WNG and come out with a feasible report on the proposed joint venture.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Minerals Development Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, secretaries of minerals development and C&W departments, Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority managing director, energy and power officials were in attendance.
Shirazullah Chaudhry informed the meeting that WNG, founded in 1962, had been working under a joint venture among Pakistan Ordnance Factories, SAAB Group Sweden and Al-Misehal Company of Saudi Arabia.
Mr Chaudhry said presently six companies existed on the WNG which were engaged in a diversified range of services and products that also included carrying out of commercial explosives, industrial chemical acetates and green energy solutions (hydro/solar) projects. He said WNG group’s explosives products were used in mining industry, cement sector, oil and gas exploration, hydro projects, road/tunnel projects etc.
Mr Chaudhry further said the WNG companies were already actively engaged with various infrastructure development departments working under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government like C&W, the Provincial Highway Authority, KP Energy Development Organisation, newly established KP Oil and Gas Company Limited, and mines and minerals development department.
The WNG chief executive said the free training on latest mining, blasting techniques, safe handling and storage of commercial explosives to the public sector mining engineers, technicians and contractors would help update their knowledge and skills leading to timely completion of mega projects. He said the exercise would contribute to efficient, economical and safe handling of commercial explosives.
Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223207/engineers-offered-training-in-modern-mining-techniques
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
DEC 01 2015
[h=1]Pesco claims drop in annual deficit by 52pc
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company claims to have reduced its annual deficit from Rs34 billion to Rs16 billion for fiscal year 2014-15.
Briefing a board of directors’ meeting at the Wapda House here on Monday presided over by BoD chairman Malik Mohammad Asad Khan, officials claimed that line losses were reduced by two per cent and recovery of dues was increased by two per cent for the year 2015-16, according to a statement.
The participants discussed measures to make Pesco a profitable entity. On the occasion, Asad Khan floated some ideas and suggestions to put Pesco on the path to success and profitability and increase its operational efficiency. Mr Asad said Pesco continued to achieve the given targets, adding however that: “We have to improve the company’s performance by reducing line losses and increasing recovery.”
He said as per an inquiry report, Pesco was not responsible for Ghazi school incident; however, he ordered to replace electricity lines passing over the school. He also directed to carry out a survey of buildings constructed under the power lines and notices be issued to them to take protective measures.
Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223497/pesco-claims-drop-in-annual-deficit-by-52pc
[h=1]Court reserves verdict in Ehtesab Commission case
[/h] PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court larger bench on Monday reserved judgment on 15 petitions challenging the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) Act 2014 and different steps taken under it.
It however didn’t set any date for the announcement of the verdict on the petitions filed by three former ministers and some government officials.
The five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel heard detailed arguments of all parties to the case for six days.
Other members of the bench are Justice Nisar Hussain, Justice Irshad Qaisar, Justice Syed Afsar Shah and Justice Mohammad Younas Taheem.
[h=4]PHC bench heard 15 petitions against KPEC Act, steps taken under it for six days[/h]
The bench was told by additional attorney general (AAG) Syed Attique Shah that the impugned Act was an intrusion into the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), also known as NAB law, which was promulgated in 1999 and had already been declared a valid law by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
AAG Syed Attique Shah and deputy prosecutor general of the National Accountability Bureau Mohammad Jamil Khan appeared on court notices which were issued to them after KP advocate general Abdul Lateef Yousafzai had contended that following the enactment of the KPEC Act the NAO might be declared non-applicable to the extent of this province.
Syed Attique Shah argued that the NAO was promulgated by the President of Pakistan in Nov 1999, around 15 years before the enactment of the KPEC Act. “The NAB law has already passed the test of its validity in the Asfandyar Wali Khan case in which the Supreme Court had declared that the said ordinance was neither in conflict with the Constitution of Pakistan nor it was against the provincial autonomy,” he maintained.
The AAG pointed out that all the laws introduced from Oct 1999 till Dec 2003 were given protection under Article 270 AA, which provided that the said laws would continue to be in force till such time when a law was amended, altered or repealed by the competent forum and in the case of the NAB law the competent forum was the federal legislature and not the provincial one.
He argued that even after the abolishment of the Concurrent Legislative List in the Constitution through the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, 2010, three subjects – criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence - had been left for legislation both by the federal and provincial legislatures.
The AAG said as the NAB law was already in the field, therefore, the Doctrine of Occupied Field would be attracted and the enactment of the KPEC Act was an intrusion into the federal statute.
He argued that the NAB law was very comprehensive and nothing was left for the province to legislate upon.
DPG Mohammad Jamil Khan also supported the arguments of the AAG and contended that if the provincial government had any objection to the NAB law, it should move the Supreme Court for revisiting the judgment in the Asfandyar Wali Khan case otherwise in the presence of NAB law, anti-corruption was an occupied field. The DPG said currently, no space was left for the provincial legislature to legislate on the subject. He added that if there was any conflict between the two laws, the federal law would prevail.
Moazzam Butt, lawyer for one of the petitioners, advanced argument on an application filed in his main petition requesting the court to summon the record of the provincial government including that of the establishment and law departments, and the provincial assembly to ascertain the manner in which this impugned Act was passed.
Butt produced details of a presentation made to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan and others in May 2014 about the KPEC Act and claimed that it was clearly mentioned in it that the law was drafted by an American Firm Grant Thornton and the law department was not permitted even to make minor changes in it.
He alleged that even the KP advocate general was not consulted when the said firm was asked to prepare draft of the impugned Act.
The lawyer alleged that without any debate the Act was passed by the provincial assembly in haphazard manner.
Advocate general Lateef Yousafzai contended that the relevant bill was referred to select committee of the provincial assembly and he had himself attended four of its meetings where thorough discussion took place over the Bill.
He said under Article 69 read with Article 127 of the Constitution, discussion in the provincial assembly couldn’t challenged in the court.
Lawyers for the petitioners, including Sardar Ali Raza, Shumail Ahmad Butt and Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik, also submitted arguments in reply to the arguments of the advocate general and KPEC prosecutors.
They contended that under Section 18 of the NAB law, it was the exclusive jurisdiction of the NAB chairman to take cognisance of an offence related to corruption or he could assign powers to any other agency.
The lawyers said in the presence of that section, the KPEC had no authority to take cognisance of such like offences.
They added that there was visible conflict between the KPEC Act and the NAO stating that if a person was arrested under the former law and he wanted to enter into plea bargain or voluntary return, which the law had to be followed then as these provisions were not available in the Ehtesab law.
Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223496/court-reserves-verdict-in-ehtesab-commission-case
[h=1]Pesco claims drop in annual deficit by 52pc
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company claims to have reduced its annual deficit from Rs34 billion to Rs16 billion for fiscal year 2014-15.
Briefing a board of directors’ meeting at the Wapda House here on Monday presided over by BoD chairman Malik Mohammad Asad Khan, officials claimed that line losses were reduced by two per cent and recovery of dues was increased by two per cent for the year 2015-16, according to a statement.
The participants discussed measures to make Pesco a profitable entity. On the occasion, Asad Khan floated some ideas and suggestions to put Pesco on the path to success and profitability and increase its operational efficiency. Mr Asad said Pesco continued to achieve the given targets, adding however that: “We have to improve the company’s performance by reducing line losses and increasing recovery.”
He said as per an inquiry report, Pesco was not responsible for Ghazi school incident; however, he ordered to replace electricity lines passing over the school. He also directed to carry out a survey of buildings constructed under the power lines and notices be issued to them to take protective measures.
Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223497/pesco-claims-drop-in-annual-deficit-by-52pc
[h=1]Court reserves verdict in Ehtesab Commission case
[/h] PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court larger bench on Monday reserved judgment on 15 petitions challenging the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) Act 2014 and different steps taken under it.
It however didn’t set any date for the announcement of the verdict on the petitions filed by three former ministers and some government officials.
The five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel heard detailed arguments of all parties to the case for six days.
Other members of the bench are Justice Nisar Hussain, Justice Irshad Qaisar, Justice Syed Afsar Shah and Justice Mohammad Younas Taheem.
[h=4]PHC bench heard 15 petitions against KPEC Act, steps taken under it for six days[/h]
The bench was told by additional attorney general (AAG) Syed Attique Shah that the impugned Act was an intrusion into the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), also known as NAB law, which was promulgated in 1999 and had already been declared a valid law by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
AAG Syed Attique Shah and deputy prosecutor general of the National Accountability Bureau Mohammad Jamil Khan appeared on court notices which were issued to them after KP advocate general Abdul Lateef Yousafzai had contended that following the enactment of the KPEC Act the NAO might be declared non-applicable to the extent of this province.
Syed Attique Shah argued that the NAO was promulgated by the President of Pakistan in Nov 1999, around 15 years before the enactment of the KPEC Act. “The NAB law has already passed the test of its validity in the Asfandyar Wali Khan case in which the Supreme Court had declared that the said ordinance was neither in conflict with the Constitution of Pakistan nor it was against the provincial autonomy,” he maintained.
The AAG pointed out that all the laws introduced from Oct 1999 till Dec 2003 were given protection under Article 270 AA, which provided that the said laws would continue to be in force till such time when a law was amended, altered or repealed by the competent forum and in the case of the NAB law the competent forum was the federal legislature and not the provincial one.
He argued that even after the abolishment of the Concurrent Legislative List in the Constitution through the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, 2010, three subjects – criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence - had been left for legislation both by the federal and provincial legislatures.
The AAG said as the NAB law was already in the field, therefore, the Doctrine of Occupied Field would be attracted and the enactment of the KPEC Act was an intrusion into the federal statute.
He argued that the NAB law was very comprehensive and nothing was left for the province to legislate upon.
DPG Mohammad Jamil Khan also supported the arguments of the AAG and contended that if the provincial government had any objection to the NAB law, it should move the Supreme Court for revisiting the judgment in the Asfandyar Wali Khan case otherwise in the presence of NAB law, anti-corruption was an occupied field. The DPG said currently, no space was left for the provincial legislature to legislate on the subject. He added that if there was any conflict between the two laws, the federal law would prevail.
Moazzam Butt, lawyer for one of the petitioners, advanced argument on an application filed in his main petition requesting the court to summon the record of the provincial government including that of the establishment and law departments, and the provincial assembly to ascertain the manner in which this impugned Act was passed.
Butt produced details of a presentation made to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan and others in May 2014 about the KPEC Act and claimed that it was clearly mentioned in it that the law was drafted by an American Firm Grant Thornton and the law department was not permitted even to make minor changes in it.
He alleged that even the KP advocate general was not consulted when the said firm was asked to prepare draft of the impugned Act.
The lawyer alleged that without any debate the Act was passed by the provincial assembly in haphazard manner.
Advocate general Lateef Yousafzai contended that the relevant bill was referred to select committee of the provincial assembly and he had himself attended four of its meetings where thorough discussion took place over the Bill.
He said under Article 69 read with Article 127 of the Constitution, discussion in the provincial assembly couldn’t challenged in the court.
Lawyers for the petitioners, including Sardar Ali Raza, Shumail Ahmad Butt and Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik, also submitted arguments in reply to the arguments of the advocate general and KPEC prosecutors.
They contended that under Section 18 of the NAB law, it was the exclusive jurisdiction of the NAB chairman to take cognisance of an offence related to corruption or he could assign powers to any other agency.
The lawyers said in the presence of that section, the KPEC had no authority to take cognisance of such like offences.
They added that there was visible conflict between the KPEC Act and the NAO stating that if a person was arrested under the former law and he wanted to enter into plea bargain or voluntary return, which the law had to be followed then as these provisions were not available in the Ehtesab law.
Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1223496/court-reserves-verdict-in-ehtesab-commission-case
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=1]Billion Tree Tsunami project: Paid only first instalment, labourers threaten to uproot plants
[/h]SHANGLA: Their contract with nurseries for the Billion Tree Tsunami will end in December; yet most of the labourers claim they still have not been paid since it started in January.
“I was excited to work for the project but I now regret it as I have not been given the fruit of my hard work,” Hassan, a labourer who is also a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf worker, told The Express Tribune. “I now don’t look after the plants and flowers and will start a protest if I’m not paid the salary that I deserve.”
Hassan added Minster for Environment Ishtiaq Urmar had announced salaries would be paid after Eidul Azha but that did not happen. “I, along with other labourers, tried to contact Naeemul Haq (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf central information secretary) but he was never available.”
The labourers have also gathered outside the watershed office in Kohistan several times, hoping for results. Each time they get the same answer: the government has not released the money for their payment.
Bowled over
When the Billion Tree Tsunami project was initiated in January by PTI Chairperson Imran Khan, nurseries were set up. Around 30% of the nurseries were handed over to the private sector, including those in Shangla.
There are about 200 private nurseries in Shangla district which are looked after by labourers who work for private contractors. As per the agreement, the first 25% instalment was paid to labourers and contractors; this included the purchase of plastic bags, seeds and equipment.
However, the second 25% and third and final 50% instalments have not been paid even though the agreement will end in December. This leaves labourers in a fix who have no other source of income to feed their families.
Withering plans
A contractor, Ali Taj, the only bread earner in his family, told The Express Tribune he was working one of the nurseries and taking care of the plants for quite some time but was still not paid.
Now he says he is no longer taking responsibility for the nursery as he is planning to leave. “I’m going through a difficult time as the landlord [of the property on which the nursery is established] asks for rent and I do not have anything to pay them.” Taj added the landlord and labourers threaten him, and say they will destroy his plants and saplings if they are not paid on time.
Landlord Umar Saeed said his community buys seeds for wheat and other food items to sow in their farm from the money they get from the initiative, but they have not been paid rent for their lands yet. “We will throw away the plants from the nursery and will take the matter to the court.”
The sense of restiveness among labourers and others who rely on the project for a living comes from the fact that agreement of the project ends in December. The labourers have said the government has forced them to take to the streets. They have said they will protest on Karakoram Highway for their demands.
However, when asked, the region officer of the watershed office in Kohistan, Shujat Ali, said the finance department has not released funds to them as yet and they are expecting the funds will be provided in near future.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1000827...stalment-labourers-threaten-to-uproot-plants/
[h=1] Stori da Pakhtunkhwa: Delay in scholarship grants leaves students in the lurch
has failed to provide Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa Scholarship grants to students who topped educational boards. While students complain of irresponsible governance, and officials of government’s lack of interest, Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa officials say the issue lies in the increase in scholarships.[/h]The Awami National Party (ANP) government had initiated a scholarship programme under the name Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa. Initially under this initiative, grant money would be given to the top-ten Secondary School Certificate and Higher School Certificate students respectively. This would apply to all education board across the province. The number of grants was then increased to 20 each for matric and intermediate. Each student at the intermediate level is eligible for Rs15,000 per month.
A higher education official wishing not to be named said the programme was launched successfully by the ANP government. During their tenure, students had no trouble getting their grants.
The official said the incumbent government was delaying the process, causing officers in the education and finance departments to stop issuing the stipend. This, he said, was despite allocation of funds to Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa in every budget cycle.
Students who won the scholarship visit our offices,” said the official. They call the departments daily, he added, but officials keep postponing the issue, giving students yet another date each time.
From the students
Students from Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Swat told The Express Tribune over the telephone that the main reason for delaying the grants was “an irresponsible attitude and lack of interest on part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.”
Talking to The Express Tribune, BISE Swat student Naeemullah Khan, who was in the top 20 intermediate students, said he was being deprived of his rights. “They should bring [Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa] to an end if the government cannot manage the scholarship scheme,” said Naeemullah.
“Poor students eagerly wait for this scholarship (but get nothing from the department).
A BISE Mardan topper, Riaz Ahmad, said they were expecting the PTI-led government would make sure the bureaucracy actually helped the public. But, Ahmad said, the PTI-led government failed to even spend the allocated amount on students who deserved it.
“We were thinking this scholarship will encourage intelligent students but the behaviour of officers in these departments is all the more discouraging.”
Ahmad demanded the provincial government and chief minister take notice of the unpaid grant money. “They need to immediately release the scholarship funds of poor students.”
Not a matric problem
Talking to The Express Tribune, BISE Chairman Muhammad Shafi Afridi said the scholarship money was being provided at the matric level. However, he said it seemed the problem lay at the intermediate level.
Afridi also requested the higher education department to release the due amount without any delay so students can continue with their studies.
The Stori da Pakhtunkhwa programme in charge comes under the higher education department. Erum, who is the programme in charge, told The Express Tribune the disbursement was delayed after they increased the number of students from top 10 to top 20.
Regarding the delay in the release of funds, Erum said all but one board gave details of students who would get the money. Only the DI Khan board did not provide details of their students. This she said delayed the entire process.
“Previous year’s grants will be given collectively in this academic year.” She said soon everyone would get their dues. Erum admitted to red-tape in the release but said problems had not been addressed for the facilitation of students.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1000807...olarship-grants-leaves-students-in-the-lurch/
[h=1]Missing facilities: Atif orders rush job on Rs10b school improvement project
[/h]PESHAWAR: Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Muhammad Atif Khan told officials in his department to expedite a project, under which Rs10 billion were being spent on building missing facilities in schools across the province. He also emphasised standard of quality must not be compromised in this project to improve government schools.
He issued these directives at a meeting at the department on Monday while reviewing progress on the project, according to a handout. Secretary Education Ali Raza Bhutta, Additional Secretary Qaiser Alam and Director for Education Rafiq Khattak were also present at the meeting.
Under the said project, potable water and furniture would be provided. Boundary walls, toilets, additional classrooms and IT Labs were also being constructed in government schools.
The upgrade
Atif said boundary walls in 9,278 and toilets in 5,520 government schools would be constructed. Potable water would be provided to 3,857 schools.
The meeting was further informed 438 solar panels were going to be installed in different schools whereas 786 schools would be provided with electricity. Similarly, play areas in 2,600 schools would also be developed, Atif said.
The education minister reiterated the K-P educational system would become a role model for the entire country like the K-P Police has.
“The efforts of K-P government to revitalize the education sector are being acknowledged locally as well as abroad on different forums,” he said.
Atif also said the PTI-led government was the first to allocate Rs10 billion to provide missing facilities in government schools. It plans to spend Rs33 billion additionally to bear the cost of further improvement. “If this fund is spent effectively, the education sector in K-P will truly be revolutionised,” Atif added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1[SUP]st[/SUP], 2015.
Read more: Missing facilities
[h=1]World AIDS Day: K-P in concentrated phase of epidemic, say doctors
[/h]PESHAWAR: Pakistan is in a “concentrated phase” of the HIV/AIDs epidemic, said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) deputy programme manager for the disease, Dr Attaullah Khan, at Peshawar Press Club on Monday. He issued this statement ahead of World AIDS Day which falls on December 1 (today).
“It means that it (the disease) is concentrated among certain population groups such as drug users that make up 27.2% of the total cases, while men and women sex workers account for 1.6% and 0.6%, respectively.”
According to UNAIDS, in this epidemiological scenario, “HIV prevalence is high enough in one or more sub-populations…but the virus is not circulating in the general population.” The website adds, “The future course of an epidemic of this type will be determined by the size of the vulnerable sub-population and the frequency and nature of links between sub-populations and the general population and the degree of response to the needs of the affected and most vulnerable populations.”
Prevalence
Attaullah added there are 1,816 HIV positive cases registered in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and 1,349 of those are men, 391 women and 76 children.
Hayatabad Medical Complex Programme Coordinator Dr Idress Khan said besides K-P, HIV positive cases are also reported in the Federal Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with 378 cases registered. These include 82 from Kurram Agency, 22 in Orakzai, 54 in South Waziristan, 119 in North Waziristan, 62 in Khyber Agency, 21 in Mohmand Agency and 18 in Bajaur Agency. Khan added that 164 Afghans had also been registered.
On-ground efforts
Talking about the K-P government’s efforts to tackle the disease, the doctor said they were providing free medicines and HIV testing facilities. He added Rs500 million was allocated to further expand the service at the district level.
However, doctors at the press conference said there was an urgent need to raise awareness among the masses to prevent this disease from spreading. Therefore, on December 1, awareness walks and other activities will be organised.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1[SUP]st[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1001383/world-aids-day-k-p-in-concentrated-phase-of-epidemic-say-doctors/
[/h]SHANGLA: Their contract with nurseries for the Billion Tree Tsunami will end in December; yet most of the labourers claim they still have not been paid since it started in January.
“I was excited to work for the project but I now regret it as I have not been given the fruit of my hard work,” Hassan, a labourer who is also a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf worker, told The Express Tribune. “I now don’t look after the plants and flowers and will start a protest if I’m not paid the salary that I deserve.”
Hassan added Minster for Environment Ishtiaq Urmar had announced salaries would be paid after Eidul Azha but that did not happen. “I, along with other labourers, tried to contact Naeemul Haq (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf central information secretary) but he was never available.”
The labourers have also gathered outside the watershed office in Kohistan several times, hoping for results. Each time they get the same answer: the government has not released the money for their payment.
Bowled over
When the Billion Tree Tsunami project was initiated in January by PTI Chairperson Imran Khan, nurseries were set up. Around 30% of the nurseries were handed over to the private sector, including those in Shangla.
There are about 200 private nurseries in Shangla district which are looked after by labourers who work for private contractors. As per the agreement, the first 25% instalment was paid to labourers and contractors; this included the purchase of plastic bags, seeds and equipment.
However, the second 25% and third and final 50% instalments have not been paid even though the agreement will end in December. This leaves labourers in a fix who have no other source of income to feed their families.
Withering plans
A contractor, Ali Taj, the only bread earner in his family, told The Express Tribune he was working one of the nurseries and taking care of the plants for quite some time but was still not paid.
Now he says he is no longer taking responsibility for the nursery as he is planning to leave. “I’m going through a difficult time as the landlord [of the property on which the nursery is established] asks for rent and I do not have anything to pay them.” Taj added the landlord and labourers threaten him, and say they will destroy his plants and saplings if they are not paid on time.
Landlord Umar Saeed said his community buys seeds for wheat and other food items to sow in their farm from the money they get from the initiative, but they have not been paid rent for their lands yet. “We will throw away the plants from the nursery and will take the matter to the court.”
The sense of restiveness among labourers and others who rely on the project for a living comes from the fact that agreement of the project ends in December. The labourers have said the government has forced them to take to the streets. They have said they will protest on Karakoram Highway for their demands.
However, when asked, the region officer of the watershed office in Kohistan, Shujat Ali, said the finance department has not released funds to them as yet and they are expecting the funds will be provided in near future.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1000827...stalment-labourers-threaten-to-uproot-plants/
[h=1] Stori da Pakhtunkhwa: Delay in scholarship grants leaves students in the lurch
has failed to provide Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa Scholarship grants to students who topped educational boards. While students complain of irresponsible governance, and officials of government’s lack of interest, Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa officials say the issue lies in the increase in scholarships.[/h]The Awami National Party (ANP) government had initiated a scholarship programme under the name Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa. Initially under this initiative, grant money would be given to the top-ten Secondary School Certificate and Higher School Certificate students respectively. This would apply to all education board across the province. The number of grants was then increased to 20 each for matric and intermediate. Each student at the intermediate level is eligible for Rs15,000 per month.
A higher education official wishing not to be named said the programme was launched successfully by the ANP government. During their tenure, students had no trouble getting their grants.
The official said the incumbent government was delaying the process, causing officers in the education and finance departments to stop issuing the stipend. This, he said, was despite allocation of funds to Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa in every budget cycle.
Students who won the scholarship visit our offices,” said the official. They call the departments daily, he added, but officials keep postponing the issue, giving students yet another date each time.
From the students
Students from Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Swat told The Express Tribune over the telephone that the main reason for delaying the grants was “an irresponsible attitude and lack of interest on part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.”
Talking to The Express Tribune, BISE Swat student Naeemullah Khan, who was in the top 20 intermediate students, said he was being deprived of his rights. “They should bring [Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa] to an end if the government cannot manage the scholarship scheme,” said Naeemullah.
“Poor students eagerly wait for this scholarship (but get nothing from the department).
A BISE Mardan topper, Riaz Ahmad, said they were expecting the PTI-led government would make sure the bureaucracy actually helped the public. But, Ahmad said, the PTI-led government failed to even spend the allocated amount on students who deserved it.
“We were thinking this scholarship will encourage intelligent students but the behaviour of officers in these departments is all the more discouraging.”
Ahmad demanded the provincial government and chief minister take notice of the unpaid grant money. “They need to immediately release the scholarship funds of poor students.”
Not a matric problem
Talking to The Express Tribune, BISE Chairman Muhammad Shafi Afridi said the scholarship money was being provided at the matric level. However, he said it seemed the problem lay at the intermediate level.
Afridi also requested the higher education department to release the due amount without any delay so students can continue with their studies.
The Stori da Pakhtunkhwa programme in charge comes under the higher education department. Erum, who is the programme in charge, told The Express Tribune the disbursement was delayed after they increased the number of students from top 10 to top 20.
Regarding the delay in the release of funds, Erum said all but one board gave details of students who would get the money. Only the DI Khan board did not provide details of their students. This she said delayed the entire process.
“Previous year’s grants will be given collectively in this academic year.” She said soon everyone would get their dues. Erum admitted to red-tape in the release but said problems had not been addressed for the facilitation of students.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1000807...olarship-grants-leaves-students-in-the-lurch/
[h=1]Missing facilities: Atif orders rush job on Rs10b school improvement project
[/h]PESHAWAR: Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Muhammad Atif Khan told officials in his department to expedite a project, under which Rs10 billion were being spent on building missing facilities in schools across the province. He also emphasised standard of quality must not be compromised in this project to improve government schools.
He issued these directives at a meeting at the department on Monday while reviewing progress on the project, according to a handout. Secretary Education Ali Raza Bhutta, Additional Secretary Qaiser Alam and Director for Education Rafiq Khattak were also present at the meeting.
Under the said project, potable water and furniture would be provided. Boundary walls, toilets, additional classrooms and IT Labs were also being constructed in government schools.
The upgrade
Atif said boundary walls in 9,278 and toilets in 5,520 government schools would be constructed. Potable water would be provided to 3,857 schools.
The meeting was further informed 438 solar panels were going to be installed in different schools whereas 786 schools would be provided with electricity. Similarly, play areas in 2,600 schools would also be developed, Atif said.
The education minister reiterated the K-P educational system would become a role model for the entire country like the K-P Police has.
“The efforts of K-P government to revitalize the education sector are being acknowledged locally as well as abroad on different forums,” he said.
Atif also said the PTI-led government was the first to allocate Rs10 billion to provide missing facilities in government schools. It plans to spend Rs33 billion additionally to bear the cost of further improvement. “If this fund is spent effectively, the education sector in K-P will truly be revolutionised,” Atif added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1[SUP]st[/SUP], 2015.
Read more: Missing facilities
[h=1]World AIDS Day: K-P in concentrated phase of epidemic, say doctors
[/h]PESHAWAR: Pakistan is in a “concentrated phase” of the HIV/AIDs epidemic, said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) deputy programme manager for the disease, Dr Attaullah Khan, at Peshawar Press Club on Monday. He issued this statement ahead of World AIDS Day which falls on December 1 (today).
“It means that it (the disease) is concentrated among certain population groups such as drug users that make up 27.2% of the total cases, while men and women sex workers account for 1.6% and 0.6%, respectively.”
According to UNAIDS, in this epidemiological scenario, “HIV prevalence is high enough in one or more sub-populations…but the virus is not circulating in the general population.” The website adds, “The future course of an epidemic of this type will be determined by the size of the vulnerable sub-population
Prevalence
Attaullah added there are 1,816 HIV positive cases registered in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and 1,349 of those are men, 391 women and 76 children.
Hayatabad Medical Complex Programme Coordinator Dr Idress Khan said besides K-P, HIV positive cases are also reported in the Federal Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with 378 cases registered. These include 82 from Kurram Agency, 22 in Orakzai, 54 in South Waziristan, 119 in North Waziristan, 62 in Khyber Agency, 21 in Mohmand Agency and 18 in Bajaur Agency. Khan added that 164 Afghans had also been registered.
On-ground efforts
Talking about the K-P government’s efforts to tackle the disease, the doctor said they were providing free medicines and HIV testing facilities. He added Rs500 million was allocated to further expand the service at the district level.
However, doctors at the press conference said there was an urgent need to raise awareness among the masses to prevent this disease from spreading. Therefore, on December 1, awareness walks and other activities will be organised.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1[SUP]st[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1001383/world-aids-day-k-p-in-concentrated-phase-of-epidemic-say-doctors/
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
DEC 02 2015
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
DEC 03 2015
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
DEC 04 2015
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
DEC 05 2015
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=1]Letting the guard down: Imran promises free-for-all Balahissar Fort
[/h]PESHAWAR: Reiterating a promise he has been making for several years, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan promised to reopen the historic Balahissar Fort for tourists. The magnificent building has been home to the Frontier Corps for over half a century, but Imran has now said the FC would be provided with alternative headquarters.
With its name literally translating into “high or elevated fort”, the iconic structure has an intimidating presence in the city. Sadly, most tourists can only gaze at the stunning architecture from the outside and few get a proper chance to get a peek in.
Clean and green
Imran was addressing participants gathered at Nishtar Hall on Tuesday for the launch of Clean and Green Peshawar. The project is jointly organised by DC Riaz Mehsud and Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP). The PTI chief shared Peshawar was one of the most historic cities of Central Asia. He said the drive to revamp and beautify the city will inspire tourists to visit the provincial capital. Imran pointed out one of the fallouts of poor law and order was that much of the city’s beauty had been damaged over the last few years.
Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan, Chief Secretary Amjid Ali and other ministers accompanied Imran at the launch.
“Peshawar and Karachi have become very polluted; it is personally upsetting to see the state of the drainage system and garbage on the roads,” said the PTI chairman.
He said 0.2 million children in the country died from diseases related to the consumption of unhygienic water every year.
Commenting on Pakistan being one of the countries most affected by global warming, Imran said the K-P government had planted a record number of trees across the province. He claimed previous governments had planted 600 million trees across the country, while PTI wants to plant one billion trees in the province alone.
Back to Balahissar
“To restore the historic value of Peshawar, the administration is planning on preserving Balahissar Fort, while land would be given to the FC in another area,” reiterated Imran.
He said he would personally meet Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to get permission to reopen the historic fort for tourists.
Imran also suggested the Auqaf department reclaim encroached lands in the city for parks.
He appreciated the efforts of Mehsud and Amjid, saying they had provided great support for development work.
He congratulated the PTI volunteer task force for its commitment to make Clean and Green Peshawar a success.
Going to the districts
Khattak said they would extend the project to the district and village levels and clean all areas through the efforts of recently-elected local government officials. WSSP would also extend its work to other districts.
The chief minister added roads in cities had been widened and similar work would take place in villages. He said encroachments had been removed in the city which was why commuters had to contend with less traffic.
Inyatullah said encroachments on Ring Road were demolished and Hayatabad flyover would be completed very soon.
He said trees and flowers were planted on roadsides as authorities worked on the drainage system.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1001961...-imran-promises-free-for-all-balahissar-fort/
[h=1]Direct transmission?: Govt launches web channel to connect with public
[/h]PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has launched its official online channel, Badloon TV, in a bid to connect with the public and ensure their views are being heard.
Badloon is a Pashto word for change.
According to officials, the channel will air programmes on current affairs, religion, entertainment, sports, culture and tourism.
The initiative was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak at the information department’s media centre at Civil Secretariat on Tuesday.
More jobs
Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Information and Public Relations Secretary Abid Majeed said his department is planning to enhance two-way communication between the government and the public through this channel.
“We will appoint volunteer reporters in various districts,” he said. “Anyone who holds a master’s degree can be a volunteer reporter for the TV.”
According to Majeed, the reporter’s findings will be checked by a team of three experts.
“These experts will respond to the reporters and tell them how to improve their reports,” he said. “In this way, we will train aspiring journalists.”
Q&A
Majeed said the public can submit a query to a government department through the online channel.
“This can be done by typing a message on the web portal,” he said. “Once 15 to 20 questions have been received, relevant ministers would be asked to respond to these questions on a programme called ‘Minister on line’.”
He added, “Badloon TV website will also provide a schedule of the government’s daily activities.”
According to the secretary, Badloon TV will run a test transmission for two months.
“More often than not, government schemes and programmes tend to fail within a few months and the government gets criticised for it,” he said. “We hope to address the technical challenges during the next two months.”
Majeed said the decision to opt for an online channel spared them from wasting time on obtaining a licence from Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority.
According to Majeed, six people have been hired to manage content.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2015.
Read more: Badloon TV
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1001962...-launches-web-channel-to-connect-with-public/
[h=1]Crackdown: 70 suspects arrested across province for various crimes
[/h]HARIPUR / KOHAT / BANNU: At least 66 suspects were arrested in separate crackdowns in various parts of the province on Tuesday.
An official privy to the development told The Express Tribune 12 suspects were taken into custody during a search operation conducted by Bannu police and security forces in Narmikhel, Bannu. Federal Minister for Housing and Works Akram Khan Durrani’s convoy was attacked in the region last week but he managed to escape the bid on his life.
SC issues arrest warrants for PML-N MNA
“Police received information that militants had established hideouts in Narmikhel,” the official said. “As a result, police and security forces conducted a search operation there at 5am.”
According to the officials, the suspects have been shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.
“Officers seized a bomb weighing 14 kilogrammes, which had been planted in a cylinder,” he said. “Weapons were recovered from their possession.
Kohat
At least 44 suspects were arrested during a search operation conducted by the police and security forces in Kohat. A crackdown was conducted in various parts of the city after the interior ministry declared the district sensitive. The ministry has recommended security measures should be put in place before the chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).
“Three Afghan nationals were among the suspects who were taken into custody,” a police official told The Express Tribune.
According to the official, raids were conducted in Garhi Rauf Khan, Kharha Garhai, Qureishabad and Sabzi Mandi.
“A Kalashnikov, two guns, one repeater, two pistols, cartridges and 1,900 grammes of cannabis were confiscated from the suspects,” he added. The suspects have been shifted to City police station for further interrogation.
In a separate incident, four suspects were booked on charges of aerial firing. “They have been identified as Kashif Khan, Aziz Khan, Umer Khan and Shoaib Khan,” a police official told The Express Tribune.
Haripur
In a separate incident, 14 suspects were arrested during a search operation within the jurisdiction of Saddar police station in Haripur.
According to a police official, the arrests were made as per the requirements of the National Action Plan. “Four Afghan nationals were among those who were arrested for failing to provide valid identity documents,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1002046...-arrested-across-province-for-various-crimes/
[h=1]Road to progress: Malaysia keen on investing in K-P
[/h]PESHAWAR: Malaysian High Commissioner Dr Hasrul Sani Bin Mujtabar announced his country’s decision to invest in hydroelectric power generation, education, and oil and gas exploration in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
This was stated in a handout issued by the CM Secretariat on Wednesday. According to the document, Mujtabar was visiting the KPCCI office on Wednesday. “Malaysia is also keen on investing in agriculture, information technology and tourism sectors to boost the economy of the country,” the handout quoted him as saying. “We have prioritised strong economic relations with Pakistan, especially K-P.” According to the document, better visa facilities will be provided to Pakistani traders and businessmen.
“I urge traders from K-P to participate in Malaysia International Halal Showcase 2016,” the handout cited Mujtabar as saying.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1002823/road-to-progress-malaysia-keen-on-investing-in-k-p/
[h=1]Jury is in: PHC suspends ECP decision to deseat PTI councillors
[/h]ABBOTTABAD/HARIPUR: A single-member bench of Peshawar High Court’s Abbottabad bench suspended on Friday the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to de-seat three PTI councillors on the basis of defection. The case has now been admitted for trial, said Advocate Junaid Anwar Khan.
Three Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf councillors Luqman Saeed, Uzma Bashir and Urooj Swati were elected as district councillors in Mansehra on PTI’s ticket. However, at the time of elections for the seat of district nazim, they voted in favour of Sardar Said Ghulam, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz nominee, against Shafaht Khan of PTI.
PTI filed a reference against them with the ECP, referring to the disqualification section, Section 78-A of the Local Government Act 2013. The ECP had disqualified and de-seated the councillors two months ago, but the councillors took the case to Abbottabad bench of the PHC.
After arguments, the bench headed by Justice Lal Jan Khattak suspended the ECP’s decision, restoring their membership, and admitted the case for a trial.
More room
Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel approved the allocation of a piece of land for lawyers’ offices near the judicial complex in Haripur, which is under construction.
In his brief address to judges and lawyers, Miankhel, while referring to the demands of the district bar association about the lack of offices for lawyers, said the piece of land can be used by the lawyers.
He also stressed the need to strengthen collaboration between the bar and the bench to facilitate swift and inexpensive justice for the public.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1004057/jury-is-in-phc-suspends-ecp-decision-to-deseat-pti-councillors/
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[/h]PESHAWAR: Reiterating a promise he has been making for several years, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan promised to reopen the historic Balahissar Fort for tourists. The magnificent building has been home to the Frontier Corps for over half a century, but Imran has now said the FC would be provided with alternative headquarters.
With its name literally translating into “high or elevated fort”, the iconic structure has an intimidating presence in the city. Sadly, most tourists can only gaze at the stunning architecture from the outside and few get a proper chance to get a peek in.
Clean and green
Imran was addressing participants gathered at Nishtar Hall on Tuesday for the launch of Clean and Green Peshawar. The project is jointly organised by DC Riaz Mehsud and Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP). The PTI chief shared Peshawar was one of the most historic cities of Central Asia. He said the drive to revamp and beautify the city will inspire tourists to visit the provincial capital. Imran pointed out one of the fallouts of poor law and order was that much of the city’s beauty had been damaged over the last few years.
Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan, Chief Secretary Amjid Ali and other ministers accompanied Imran at the launch.
“Peshawar and Karachi have become very polluted; it is personally upsetting to see the state of the drainage system and garbage on the roads,” said the PTI chairman.
He said 0.2 million children in the country died from diseases related to the consumption of unhygienic water every year.
Commenting on Pakistan being one of the countries most affected by global warming, Imran said the K-P government had planted a record number of trees across the province. He claimed previous governments had planted 600 million trees across the country, while PTI wants to plant one billion trees in the province alone.
Back to Balahissar
“To restore the historic value of Peshawar, the administration is planning on preserving Balahissar Fort, while land would be given to the FC in another area,” reiterated Imran.
He said he would personally meet Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to get permission to reopen the historic fort for tourists.
Imran also suggested the Auqaf department reclaim encroached lands in the city for parks.
He appreciated the efforts of Mehsud and Amjid, saying they had provided great support for development work.
He congratulated the PTI volunteer task force for its commitment to make Clean and Green Peshawar a success.
Going to the districts
Khattak said they would extend the project to the district and village levels and clean all areas through the efforts of recently-elected local government officials. WSSP would also extend its work to other districts.
The chief minister added roads in cities had been widened and similar work would take place in villages. He said encroachments had been removed in the city which was why commuters had to contend with less traffic.
Inyatullah said encroachments on Ring Road were demolished and Hayatabad flyover would be completed very soon.
He said trees and flowers were planted on roadsides as authorities worked on the drainage system.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1001961...-imran-promises-free-for-all-balahissar-fort/
[h=1]Direct transmission?: Govt launches web channel to connect with public
[/h]PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has launched its official online channel, Badloon TV, in a bid to connect with the public and ensure their views are being heard.
Badloon is a Pashto word for change.
According to officials, the channel will air programmes on current affairs, religion, entertainment, sports, culture and tourism.
The initiative was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak at the information department’s media centre at Civil Secretariat on Tuesday.
More jobs
Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Information and Public Relations Secretary Abid Majeed said his department is planning to enhance two-way communication between the government and the public through this channel.
“We will appoint volunteer reporters in various districts,” he said. “Anyone who holds a master’s degree can be a volunteer reporter for the TV.”
According to Majeed, the reporter’s findings will be checked by a team of three experts.
“These experts will respond to the reporters and tell them how to improve their reports,” he said. “In this way, we will train aspiring journalists.”
Q&A
Majeed said the public can submit a query to a government department through the online channel.
“This can be done by typing a message on the web portal,” he said. “Once 15 to 20 questions have been received, relevant ministers would be asked to respond to these questions on a programme called ‘Minister on line’.”
He added, “Badloon TV website will also provide a schedule of the government’s daily activities.”
According to the secretary, Badloon TV will run a test transmission for two months.
“More often than not, government schemes and programmes tend to fail within a few months and the government gets criticised for it,” he said. “We hope to address the technical challenges during the next two months.”
Majeed said the decision to opt for an online channel spared them from wasting time on obtaining a licence from Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority.
According to Majeed, six people have been hired to manage content.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2015.
Read more: Badloon TV
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1001962...-launches-web-channel-to-connect-with-public/
[h=1]Crackdown: 70 suspects arrested across province for various crimes
[/h]HARIPUR / KOHAT / BANNU: At least 66 suspects were arrested in separate crackdowns in various parts of the province on Tuesday.
An official privy to the development told The Express Tribune 12 suspects were taken into custody during a search operation conducted by Bannu police and security forces in Narmikhel, Bannu. Federal Minister for Housing and Works Akram Khan Durrani’s convoy was attacked in the region last week but he managed to escape the bid on his life.
SC issues arrest warrants for PML-N MNA
“Police received information that militants had established hideouts in Narmikhel,” the official said. “As a result, police and security forces conducted a search operation there at 5am.”
According to the officials, the suspects have been shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.
“Officers seized a bomb weighing 14 kilogrammes, which had been planted in a cylinder,” he said. “Weapons were recovered from their possession.
Kohat
At least 44 suspects were arrested during a search operation conducted by the police and security forces in Kohat. A crackdown was conducted in various parts of the city after the interior ministry declared the district sensitive. The ministry has recommended security measures should be put in place before the chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).
“Three Afghan nationals were among the suspects who were taken into custody,” a police official told The Express Tribune.
According to the official, raids were conducted in Garhi Rauf Khan, Kharha Garhai, Qureishabad and Sabzi Mandi.
“A Kalashnikov, two guns, one repeater, two pistols, cartridges and 1,900 grammes of cannabis were confiscated from the suspects,” he added. The suspects have been shifted to City police station for further interrogation.
In a separate incident, four suspects were booked on charges of aerial firing. “They have been identified as Kashif Khan, Aziz Khan, Umer Khan and Shoaib Khan,” a police official told The Express Tribune.
Haripur
In a separate incident, 14 suspects were arrested during a search operation within the jurisdiction of Saddar police station in Haripur.
According to a police official, the arrests were made as per the requirements of the National Action Plan. “Four Afghan nationals were among those who were arrested for failing to provide valid identity documents,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1002046...-arrested-across-province-for-various-crimes/
[h=1]Road to progress: Malaysia keen on investing in K-P
[/h]PESHAWAR: Malaysian High Commissioner Dr Hasrul Sani Bin Mujtabar announced his country’s decision to invest in hydroelectric power generation, education, and oil and gas exploration in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
This was stated in a handout issued by the CM Secretariat on Wednesday. According to the document, Mujtabar was visiting the KPCCI office on Wednesday. “Malaysia is also keen on investing in agriculture, information technology and tourism sectors to boost the economy of the country,” the handout quoted him as saying. “We have prioritised strong economic relations with Pakistan, especially K-P.” According to the document, better visa facilities will be provided to Pakistani traders and businessmen.
“I urge traders from K-P to participate in Malaysia International Halal Showcase 2016,” the handout cited Mujtabar as saying.
Speaking on the occasion, KPCCI President Zulfiqar Ali said the business community should learn from Malaysia’s experiences and follow in their footsteps to achieve rapid economic growth. “We have to take Malaysia as our role model,” said Zulfiqar. He also urged the diplomat to streamline the visa procedure for traders in Pakistan at the earliest.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3[SUP]rd[/SUP], 2015.http://tribune.com.pk/story/1002823/road-to-progress-malaysia-keen-on-investing-in-k-p/
[h=1]Jury is in: PHC suspends ECP decision to deseat PTI councillors
[/h]ABBOTTABAD/HARIPUR: A single-member bench of Peshawar High Court’s Abbottabad bench suspended on Friday the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to de-seat three PTI councillors on the basis of defection. The case has now been admitted for trial, said Advocate Junaid Anwar Khan.
Three Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf councillors Luqman Saeed, Uzma Bashir and Urooj Swati were elected as district councillors in Mansehra on PTI’s ticket. However, at the time of elections for the seat of district nazim, they voted in favour of Sardar Said Ghulam, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz nominee, against Shafaht Khan of PTI.
PTI filed a reference against them with the ECP, referring to the disqualification section, Section 78-A of the Local Government Act 2013. The ECP had disqualified and de-seated the councillors two months ago, but the councillors took the case to Abbottabad bench of the PHC.
After arguments, the bench headed by Justice Lal Jan Khattak suspended the ECP’s decision, restoring their membership, and admitted the case for a trial.
More room
Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel approved the allocation of a piece of land for lawyers’ offices near the judicial complex in Haripur, which is under construction.
In his brief address to judges and lawyers, Miankhel, while referring to the demands of the district bar association about the lack of offices for lawyers, said the piece of land can be used by the lawyers.
He also stressed the need to strengthen collaboration between the bar and the bench to facilitate swift and inexpensive justice for the public.
High Court Bar Association Abbottabad President Javed Tanoli and District Bar Association Haripur President Khursheed Azhar also addressed the audience briefly. Later, Miankhel visited the judicial complex of Havelian, which is under construction.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 5[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.http://tribune.com.pk/story/1004057/jury-is-in-phc-suspends-ecp-decision-to-deseat-pti-councillors/
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Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
DEC 06 2015
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
DEC 06 2015
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
DEC 07 2015
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
DEC 08 2015
