Syed Haider Imam
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[h=1]Court okays Rs258 million plea bargain of former CM’s assistant
[/h] PESHAWAR: A local accountability court on Thursday approved the plea bargain application of a former special assistant to a former chief minister, Syed Masoom Shah, in a corruption case over readiness to return the Rs258.75 million ill-gotten wealth to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The plea bargain of Syed Masoom Shah, an ANP leader, who was arrested last year by the NAB on the charge of possessing illegal assets, was already approved by the NAB chairman.
The application was later referred to the accountability court for final approval in line with Section 25 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.
The accused is already out of prison on the bail granted by the high court in the case.
[h=4]Masoom Shah is already out of prison on bail in illegal assets case[/h]
Few days ago, the accountability judge, Mohammad Azhar Khan, had recorded statement of the accused, who had served as special assistant to the previous Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti, and the investigation officer in the case, Mohammad Gul, and had reserved its order.
The court pronounced its order of approving the plea bargain of Masoom Shah, who was arrested on Aug 11, 2015, and was subsequently granted bail by the Peshawar High Court on Mar 22.
Under the NAB law the accused stands disqualified from holding any public office for next 10 years.
According to the agreement taken place between the accused and the NAB, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the accused had furnished 11 bank drafts for payment of Rs91. 75 million as down payments or first installment; and bank guarantees of two other installments of Rs85. 387 million and Rs67.612 million, respectively.
On Feb 18, the accountability court presided over by Mohammad Ibrahim Khan had rejected NAB’s request for final approval to the plea bargain of Masoom Shah and had cited several reasons for that. The court had also directed the NAB to complete investigation against the accused and file a reference against him for possessing illegal assets within fortnight.
The court had also ordered freezing of Rs258.75 million, which the accused had offered as settlement amount to NAB on account of plea bargain, with the direction to the NAB authorities to investigate whether the said money was acquired through legal or illegitimate means.
The said order was challenged by the accused as well as by the NAB before the high court.
On Mar 22, the high court had granted bail to the accused and had referred the case back to accountability court for deciding the plea bargain application afresh.
Both the accused and the NAB had adopted the plea that the option of plea bargain was a matter purely between the NAB and the accused and the acceptance of the accused’s plea bargain was a sole discretion of the NAB chairman, therefore, once it was accepted by the NAB authorities, its rejection by the court amounted to denial of fair trial as ordained by Article 10-A of the Constitution.
The accused had remained nazim of tehsil Shabqadar in Charsadda from 2001 to 2004 and subsequently served as special assistant to the chief minister during 2010 to 2013 when coalition government of ANP and PPP was ruling the province.
The properties allegedly possessed by him include a hujra on 12 kanal land at his village Battagram in Charsadda; two plots each at Hayatabad Township, Regi Model Town and DHA Karachi; a precious house on Tulip Road Bahria Town Rawalpindi; one kanal house at Zaryab Colony Peshawar; three kanals of precious land in Tehkal Bala Peshawar; and a kanal land in Warsak Road Peshawar.
The NAB alleges that the accused also possesses shares in Usman Construction Company Karachi and MSN Company Karachi.
Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1255197/court-okays-rs258-million-plea-bargain-of-former-cms-assistant
[h=1]Small power house opens in Upper Dir
[/h] UPPER DIR: A 50 kilowatts power house was inaugurated in the remote Kalkot area of Upper Dir district on Wednesday.
The facility was set up by a non-governmental organisation, Sarhad Rural Support Programme, with the financial assistance of the European Union.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by local MPA Mohammad Ali, SRSP regional programme manager Noor Ajab, representatives of political parties, and local elders.
On the occasion, Noor Ajab said the project would provide electricity to the local residents at cheaper rate and create good job opportunities.
He said the local community would spend the money generated by the project on water supply, pavement of streets and other development projects in the area.
The SRSP manager said the establishment of power houses in Upper Dir was a gift of the EU to the people the district.
He said the SRSP was making bridges and roads in the district and thus, playing a key role in the local development. Noor Ajab said the people of the area would find some relief from power loadshedding after the establishment of the power house.
Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1255186/small-power-house-opens-in-upper-dir
[h=1]ADP slashed by Rs29 billion over shortage of funds
[/h]PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved the Rs29 billion reduction in its annual development programme for the ongoing fiscal over the shortage of funds.
The move brings down the provincial component of the development outlay for 2015-16 to Rs113 billion from Rs142 billion, the planning and development department officials told Dawn.
According to them, the development schemes planned for the three tiers of the local government will bear the brunt of the cut in the funds.
[h=4]LG schemes to suffer the most from govt’s move[/h]
The officials said the current ADP’s total outlay is Rs175 billion, including the provincial government’s portion of Rs142 million and foreign donors’ of Rs33 billion.
They said the development schemes planned for three tiers of the local government would bear the brunt of cuts in the development funds.
The officials said the portion of the district ADP would be slashed by half to the tune of Rs15 billion.
According to them, the ADP has a total of Rs30 billion for the local governments for all district, tehsil/town, village and neighbourhood councils of the province.
A letter of the planning and development department written to the finance department, a copy of which is available with Dawn, says the competent authority has resized the allocation of the current ADP 2015-16 to Rs113 billion, while the ongoing portfolio of the district government schemes being executed by the provincial government has been enhanced from Rs12 billion to Rs19 billion.
It said the ADP revision had been carried out in consultation with the chief minister and cut has been imposed on all sectors.
The letter asked the finance department to rectify the sectoral revised allocation and start releasing the funds as per approved summary.
The details available with Dawn show the ADP funds for the higher education department has been reduced from Rs6.18 billion to Rs5.1 billion, elementary and secondary education’s from Rs10.2 billion to Rs8.2 billion and health’s from Rs8.2 billion to Rs6.04 billion.
The energy and power sector funds have been slashed from Rs3.4 billion to Rs1.5 billion, industries sector from Rs3.47 billion to Rs2 billion, relief and rehabilitation sector from Rs2.05 to Rs1.35 billion and science and technology from Rs1.08 to Rs0.808 billion.
The cut of Rs15 billion development fund for the developments in districts, tehsil/town, village and neighbourhood councils would disappoint around 43,000 elected representatives, an expert on local government said.
“We’ve pinned high hopes in the development budget allocated for local bodies but now I fear the promises made by elected representatives to voters are not possible to meet,” he said.
The expert said the cut in local government funds was contrary to the much-trumpeted PTI slogan of devolving the Rs30 billion funds to the local bodies.
He said the people and elected members in the local government system, who repeatedly listened to the government’s claims of devolving a huge development fund to them, would be discouraged with ‘denial’ of half of the money.
“The expectations of the people and the people elected by them are very high now. The big cut in ADP funds could prompt them to come onto the streets in protest to the embarrassment of the provincial government,” he said.
Neither finance minister Muzafar Said nor spokesman for the government Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani were available for comments on the development.
Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254942/adp-slashed-by-rs29-billion-over-shortage-of-funds
[h=1]Process of appointments at teaching hospitals near completion
[/h]PESHAWAR: The process of making top appointments at Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) and Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) is nearing completion that will pave the way for implementation of Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act, enforced by the provincial government last year to improve patients’ care, according to officials.
The process remained in limbo for more than one year, first owing to delay by the government and then by lawsuits filed by doctors, paramedics and nurses etc. However, now it seems that things have been started moving fast.
The Board of Governors at KTH will give approval to one name from a panel of three persons selected after the interviews held on April 25 for the post of hospital director. The meeting of the board, scheduled for Saturday, will appoint a hospital director for a period of three years with performance-based further extension, according to officials.
[h=4]Recruitment on top positions will pave way for enforcement of new health law[/h]
A total of 84 candidates had applied for the post and 14 of them were short-listed by a six-member committee, headed by Prof Syed Mairaj Shah, director operations of Agha Khan University Karachi. Prof Nadeem Khawar, Prof Mah Munir Khan, Prof Mohammad Ibrar, Associate Professor Bashir Ahmad and Aqeela Shaheen were members of the committee.
The interview to select medical director for KTH will take place next week while post of dean at Khyber Medical College and Khyber College of Dentistry couldn’t be filled owing to stay order issued by Peshawar High Court.
“Once the hospital gets services of permanent medical director and hospital director then it will recruit finance director and nursing director as mentioned in MTIRA,” said officials.
HMC has already appointed medical director, hospital director, nursing director, finance director and dean of Khyber Girls Medical College through a private firm. For each of the post, about 15 to 20 candidates had submitted applications. “Different committees are conducting interviews of the people, whose names were short-listed by an international firm,” BoG chairman Sahibzada Mohammad Saeed told Dawn.
He said that they would complete the process to appoint people on key positions by first week of next month as a meeting to accord approval to the names was being convened.
“We need space to start institution-based practice, one of the important components of MTTRA, as early as possible,” said Mr Saeed. He said that they had asked the government for allotment of the building of Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI) after its devolution but Peshawar High Court issued a stay order owing to which the plan to start institution-based practice couldn’t be materialised immediately.
HMC had also taken about half of the PGMI staffers, who had opted to be institutional employees and desperately needed its spacious buildings to house OPD and offices etc, said Mr Saeed.
He said that the administration offices were being shifted from its present location to make space for OPD. “We have started evening OPD from 3pm to 9pm.
Initially, patients weren’t coming because they didn’t know about it but now patients flow has risen to 600 per day from 50 to 100 three months ago when we started it,” he said.
Mr Saeed said that the entire hospital was being renovated. “New equipments are being acquired,” he added.
Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254935/process-of-appointments-at-teaching-hospitals-near-completion
[h=1]24 more plazas sealed in Karkhano Market
[/h]PESHAWAR: The excise and taxation department on Tuesday sealed 24 more plazas in the Karkhano locality of the provincial capital over non-payment of property tax.
Last Friday, the department sealed at least six plazas in the business district located on the fringes of the provincial capital, close to the border with Jamrud tehsil of Khyber agency.
Excise and Taxation Officer-III, Peshawar, Mohammad Kalimullah told Dawn that the department had sealed 24 plazas during its crackdown.
He said the sealed markets housed at least 2,500 shops. He said the plazas, which they closed last Friday, were yet to open as the owners were trying to settle the issue through a meeting with the minister excise and taxation. But, he said to give tax exemption to traders was next to impossible and only the provincial legislature was empowered to do so. He said these people were having markets on over 15 kanals of land, but were not ready to pay taxes.
He said there were at least 46 plazas in the Karkhano locality and so far they had sealed about 30 of them.
Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254682/24-more-plazas-sealed-in-karkhano-market
[h=1]Japanese envoy opens school in Swabi village
[/h]SWABI: Japanese envoy Takashi Kurai has said that his country will continue to provide financial assistance to Pakistan to impart quality education to youngsters, especially girls.
He visited Shewa village here on Monday to inaugurate a middle school for girls, which is constructed with the financial assistance of the Japanese government.
Embassy’s first secretary for economy and development, Teruaki Nagasawa, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Minister Atif Khan and Senior Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai were also present on the occasion. The school built at a cost of Rs10 million has already started offering admissions.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kurai said the Japanese government would continue to help Pakistan in education sector, particularly in building education infrastructure in rural areas. He said Pakistan and Japan had been enjoying warm relations and the two countries helped each other in the hour of need. On the occasion, Mr Tarakai said health and education were the top priories of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial government. He said appointment of the teachers through the NTS had been lauded by the national and international observers. He said the government would never compromise on education of youngsters who were the country’s future.
Education Minister Mr Atif said the PTI government had been working to strengthen institutions. “Though we have not achieved 100 per cent goals but we are close to the target,” he said.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254664/japanese-envoy-opens-school-in-swabi-village
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[/h] PESHAWAR: A local accountability court on Thursday approved the plea bargain application of a former special assistant to a former chief minister, Syed Masoom Shah, in a corruption case over readiness to return the Rs258.75 million ill-gotten wealth to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The plea bargain of Syed Masoom Shah, an ANP leader, who was arrested last year by the NAB on the charge of possessing illegal assets, was already approved by the NAB chairman.
The application was later referred to the accountability court for final approval in line with Section 25 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.
The accused is already out of prison on the bail granted by the high court in the case.
[h=4]Masoom Shah is already out of prison on bail in illegal assets case[/h]
Few days ago, the accountability judge, Mohammad Azhar Khan, had recorded statement of the accused, who had served as special assistant to the previous Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti, and the investigation officer in the case, Mohammad Gul, and had reserved its order.
The court pronounced its order of approving the plea bargain of Masoom Shah, who was arrested on Aug 11, 2015, and was subsequently granted bail by the Peshawar High Court on Mar 22.
Under the NAB law the accused stands disqualified from holding any public office for next 10 years.
According to the agreement taken place between the accused and the NAB, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the accused had furnished 11 bank drafts for payment of Rs91. 75 million as down payments or first installment; and bank guarantees of two other installments of Rs85. 387 million and Rs67.612 million, respectively.
On Feb 18, the accountability court presided over by Mohammad Ibrahim Khan had rejected NAB’s request for final approval to the plea bargain of Masoom Shah and had cited several reasons for that. The court had also directed the NAB to complete investigation against the accused and file a reference against him for possessing illegal assets within fortnight.
The court had also ordered freezing of Rs258.75 million, which the accused had offered as settlement amount to NAB on account of plea bargain, with the direction to the NAB authorities to investigate whether the said money was acquired through legal or illegitimate means.
The said order was challenged by the accused as well as by the NAB before the high court.
On Mar 22, the high court had granted bail to the accused and had referred the case back to accountability court for deciding the plea bargain application afresh.
Both the accused and the NAB had adopted the plea that the option of plea bargain was a matter purely between the NAB and the accused and the acceptance of the accused’s plea bargain was a sole discretion of the NAB chairman, therefore, once it was accepted by the NAB authorities, its rejection by the court amounted to denial of fair trial as ordained by Article 10-A of the Constitution.
The accused had remained nazim of tehsil Shabqadar in Charsadda from 2001 to 2004 and subsequently served as special assistant to the chief minister during 2010 to 2013 when coalition government of ANP and PPP was ruling the province.
The properties allegedly possessed by him include a hujra on 12 kanal land at his village Battagram in Charsadda; two plots each at Hayatabad Township, Regi Model Town and DHA Karachi; a precious house on Tulip Road Bahria Town Rawalpindi; one kanal house at Zaryab Colony Peshawar; three kanals of precious land in Tehkal Bala Peshawar; and a kanal land in Warsak Road Peshawar.
The NAB alleges that the accused also possesses shares in Usman Construction Company Karachi and MSN Company Karachi.
Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1255197/court-okays-rs258-million-plea-bargain-of-former-cms-assistant
[h=1]Small power house opens in Upper Dir
[/h] UPPER DIR: A 50 kilowatts power house was inaugurated in the remote Kalkot area of Upper Dir district on Wednesday.
The facility was set up by a non-governmental organisation, Sarhad Rural Support Programme, with the financial assistance of the European Union.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by local MPA Mohammad Ali, SRSP regional programme manager Noor Ajab, representatives of political parties, and local elders.
On the occasion, Noor Ajab said the project would provide electricity to the local residents at cheaper rate and create good job opportunities.
He said the local community would spend the money generated by the project on water supply, pavement of streets and other development projects in the area.
The SRSP manager said the establishment of power houses in Upper Dir was a gift of the EU to the people the district.
He said the SRSP was making bridges and roads in the district and thus, playing a key role in the local development. Noor Ajab said the people of the area would find some relief from power loadshedding after the establishment of the power house.
Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1255186/small-power-house-opens-in-upper-dir
[h=1]ADP slashed by Rs29 billion over shortage of funds
[/h]PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved the Rs29 billion reduction in its annual development programme for the ongoing fiscal over the shortage of funds.
The move brings down the provincial component of the development outlay for 2015-16 to Rs113 billion from Rs142 billion, the planning and development department officials told Dawn.
According to them, the development schemes planned for the three tiers of the local government will bear the brunt of the cut in the funds.
[h=4]LG schemes to suffer the most from govt’s move[/h]
The officials said the current ADP’s total outlay is Rs175 billion, including the provincial government’s portion of Rs142 million and foreign donors’ of Rs33 billion.
They said the development schemes planned for three tiers of the local government would bear the brunt of cuts in the development funds.
The officials said the portion of the district ADP would be slashed by half to the tune of Rs15 billion.
According to them, the ADP has a total of Rs30 billion for the local governments for all district, tehsil/town, village and neighbourhood councils of the province.
A letter of the planning and development department written to the finance department, a copy of which is available with Dawn, says the competent authority has resized the allocation of the current ADP 2015-16 to Rs113 billion, while the ongoing portfolio of the district government schemes being executed by the provincial government has been enhanced from Rs12 billion to Rs19 billion.
It said the ADP revision had been carried out in consultation with the chief minister and cut has been imposed on all sectors.
The letter asked the finance department to rectify the sectoral revised allocation and start releasing the funds as per approved summary.
The details available with Dawn show the ADP funds for the higher education department has been reduced from Rs6.18 billion to Rs5.1 billion, elementary and secondary education’s from Rs10.2 billion to Rs8.2 billion and health’s from Rs8.2 billion to Rs6.04 billion.
The energy and power sector funds have been slashed from Rs3.4 billion to Rs1.5 billion, industries sector from Rs3.47 billion to Rs2 billion, relief and rehabilitation sector from Rs2.05 to Rs1.35 billion and science and technology from Rs1.08 to Rs0.808 billion.
The cut of Rs15 billion development fund for the developments in districts, tehsil/town, village and neighbourhood councils would disappoint around 43,000 elected representatives, an expert on local government said.
“We’ve pinned high hopes in the development budget allocated for local bodies but now I fear the promises made by elected representatives to voters are not possible to meet,” he said.
The expert said the cut in local government funds was contrary to the much-trumpeted PTI slogan of devolving the Rs30 billion funds to the local bodies.
He said the people and elected members in the local government system, who repeatedly listened to the government’s claims of devolving a huge development fund to them, would be discouraged with ‘denial’ of half of the money.
“The expectations of the people and the people elected by them are very high now. The big cut in ADP funds could prompt them to come onto the streets in protest to the embarrassment of the provincial government,” he said.
Neither finance minister Muzafar Said nor spokesman for the government Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani were available for comments on the development.
Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254942/adp-slashed-by-rs29-billion-over-shortage-of-funds
[h=1]Process of appointments at teaching hospitals near completion
[/h]PESHAWAR: The process of making top appointments at Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) and Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) is nearing completion that will pave the way for implementation of Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act, enforced by the provincial government last year to improve patients’ care, according to officials.
The process remained in limbo for more than one year, first owing to delay by the government and then by lawsuits filed by doctors, paramedics and nurses etc. However, now it seems that things have been started moving fast.
The Board of Governors at KTH will give approval to one name from a panel of three persons selected after the interviews held on April 25 for the post of hospital director. The meeting of the board, scheduled for Saturday, will appoint a hospital director for a period of three years with performance-based further extension, according to officials.
[h=4]Recruitment on top positions will pave way for enforcement of new health law[/h]
A total of 84 candidates had applied for the post and 14 of them were short-listed by a six-member committee, headed by Prof Syed Mairaj Shah, director operations of Agha Khan University Karachi. Prof Nadeem Khawar, Prof Mah Munir Khan, Prof Mohammad Ibrar, Associate Professor Bashir Ahmad and Aqeela Shaheen were members of the committee.
The interview to select medical director for KTH will take place next week while post of dean at Khyber Medical College and Khyber College of Dentistry couldn’t be filled owing to stay order issued by Peshawar High Court.
“Once the hospital gets services of permanent medical director and hospital director then it will recruit finance director and nursing director as mentioned in MTIRA,” said officials.
HMC has already appointed medical director, hospital director, nursing director, finance director and dean of Khyber Girls Medical College through a private firm. For each of the post, about 15 to 20 candidates had submitted applications. “Different committees are conducting interviews of the people, whose names were short-listed by an international firm,” BoG chairman Sahibzada Mohammad Saeed told Dawn.
He said that they would complete the process to appoint people on key positions by first week of next month as a meeting to accord approval to the names was being convened.
“We need space to start institution-based practice, one of the important components of MTTRA, as early as possible,” said Mr Saeed. He said that they had asked the government for allotment of the building of Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI) after its devolution but Peshawar High Court issued a stay order owing to which the plan to start institution-based practice couldn’t be materialised immediately.
HMC had also taken about half of the PGMI staffers, who had opted to be institutional employees and desperately needed its spacious buildings to house OPD and offices etc, said Mr Saeed.
He said that the administration offices were being shifted from its present location to make space for OPD. “We have started evening OPD from 3pm to 9pm.
Initially, patients weren’t coming because they didn’t know about it but now patients flow has risen to 600 per day from 50 to 100 three months ago when we started it,” he said.
Mr Saeed said that the entire hospital was being renovated. “New equipments are being acquired,” he added.
Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254935/process-of-appointments-at-teaching-hospitals-near-completion
[h=1]24 more plazas sealed in Karkhano Market
[/h]PESHAWAR: The excise and taxation department on Tuesday sealed 24 more plazas in the Karkhano locality of the provincial capital over non-payment of property tax.
Last Friday, the department sealed at least six plazas in the business district located on the fringes of the provincial capital, close to the border with Jamrud tehsil of Khyber agency.
Excise and Taxation Officer-III, Peshawar, Mohammad Kalimullah told Dawn that the department had sealed 24 plazas during its crackdown.
He said the sealed markets housed at least 2,500 shops. He said the plazas, which they closed last Friday, were yet to open as the owners were trying to settle the issue through a meeting with the minister excise and taxation. But, he said to give tax exemption to traders was next to impossible and only the provincial legislature was empowered to do so. He said these people were having markets on over 15 kanals of land, but were not ready to pay taxes.
He said there were at least 46 plazas in the Karkhano locality and so far they had sealed about 30 of them.
Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254682/24-more-plazas-sealed-in-karkhano-market
[h=1]Japanese envoy opens school in Swabi village
[/h]SWABI: Japanese envoy Takashi Kurai has said that his country will continue to provide financial assistance to Pakistan to impart quality education to youngsters, especially girls.
He visited Shewa village here on Monday to inaugurate a middle school for girls, which is constructed with the financial assistance of the Japanese government.
Embassy’s first secretary for economy and development, Teruaki Nagasawa, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Minister Atif Khan and Senior Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai were also present on the occasion. The school built at a cost of Rs10 million has already started offering admissions.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kurai said the Japanese government would continue to help Pakistan in education sector, particularly in building education infrastructure in rural areas. He said Pakistan and Japan had been enjoying warm relations and the two countries helped each other in the hour of need. On the occasion, Mr Tarakai said health and education were the top priories of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial government. He said appointment of the teachers through the NTS had been lauded by the national and international observers. He said the government would never compromise on education of youngsters who were the country’s future.
Education Minister Mr Atif said the PTI government had been working to strengthen institutions. “Though we have not achieved 100 per cent goals but we are close to the target,” he said.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254664/japanese-envoy-opens-school-in-swabi-village
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Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=1]Physically challenged youth display their talent
[/h]MINGORA: The physically challenged youth of upper Swat displayed their skills at a function in Shawar area of Matta tehsil here on Monday.
The event titled ‘Exploring youth potential’ was organised by Shawar Development Forum in collaboration with Sarhad Rural Support Programme. Apart from a large number of youth, people from different walks of life attended the event and appreciated the talent and skills of the physically challenged youth.
Sher Ali Khan, a physically challenged boy, received high applause from the audience by presenting a song in his melodious voice. He said that most of the people made fun of him for his abnormal walk which hurt his feelings. “But today so many elders and youth appreciated me for my songs which encouraged me. I love to sing,” he said.
Sher Ali Khan was happy to receive award for his performance and said that he would decorate it in his room.
Sirajud Din Siraj, a local poet, appreciated the physically challenged youth for their talent and said that he enjoyed their skills at the event. “There is talent in our youth living in the rural parts of Swat but they have fewer opportunities to exhibit their skills,” he said.
Mr Siraj said that the youth would prove their mettle if they were given more opportunities of exhibiting their talent. Such events should be arranged in other parts of Swat too, he added.
Habibullah Khan, the nazim of Shower union council, said that he was surprised to see the performances of persons with disabilities. “I never expected that they could perform in such a way. They even performed better than normal people,” he said.
The nazim said that local government would extend full support in organising such events for youth development.
At the end, the organisers of the show distributed awards and prizes among the youth, who performed at the event.
“Today persons with disabilities performed alongside normal youth and their faces were lit with joy. We should consider them a part of our society and facilitate them to work and play with the normal people,” said Bahdar Ali, a representative of SRSP.
Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254514/physically-challenged-youth-display-their-talent
[h=1]Judicial probe into bank affairs sought
[/h] PESHAWAR: ANP Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour on Sunday demanded formation of a high-level commission headed by a sitting or retired judge to probe the allegations of corruption leveled by the Bank of Khyber against a provincial minister.
Senator Bilour, who is also a leader of the Businessman Forum, said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was not sincere to probe the affairs of BOK as it had failed so far to announce a judicial commission for the purpose, according to a statement.
The ANP leader said his party would not accept any administrative reshuffle in BOK. He said it was astonishing that Jamaat-i-Islami, which was running a campaign against corruption, had turned a blind eye to the alleged corruption of its own minister. He also lamented the ‘silence’ of PTI chief Imran Khan over the high profile case.
He said the previous ANP government had focused attention on progress of BOK, increasing its annual profit up to Rs600 million, alleging the provincial government was using the bank for its own benefit.
Mr Bilour, who is ANP parliamentary leader in the Senate, said his party would raise the issue in the parliament to force the government to ensure transparency in the bank’s affairs.
Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1254292/judicial-probe-into-bank-affairs-sought
[/h][h=1]Anti-polio efforts in Fata paying dividends
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) have shown marked improvement in polio eradication initiative thanks to support of security forces, local administrations, launch of IPV campaigns and strengthening cross-border vaccination.
This was stated by coordinator of the emergency operation centre for polio, Shakeel Qadir Khan, in a presentation to the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) chairman Dr Jean Marc Olive here on Saturday.
The newly-launched direct disbursement mechanism programme under which frontline workers are paid directly, has helped the government in battling polio virus in Fata, he said. We are giving special attention to South and North Waziristan Agencies in upcoming campaigns by deploying as many female vaccinators as possible and improving surveillance plan in high risk areas, he added.
On the occasion, Dr Olive expressed pleasure at the achievements in polio eradication in Fata, but said they needed to reach out to every child to save him from the crippling disease. We should be keeping track of unvaccinated children during future planning, he stressed, calling for hiring of vaccinators locally and encouraging women vaccinators to gain trust of communities.
He appreciated the level of coordination to achieve targets of vaccinating children at the Pak-Afghan border.
Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254106/anti-polio-efforts-in-fata-paying-dividends
[h=1]Rs40m earmarked for dam in Karak, claims MPA
[/h] KARAK: The District Development Advisory Committee (DDAC) Chairman Gul Sahib Khan announced on Saturday that Rs40 million had been set aside for building Zeri dam to meet the chronic water shortage in Mithakhel, Sangtri, Lakki Ghundaki and adjoining localities.
He was addressing a public meeting at Lakki Ghundaki here. Mithakhel union councillor Azmat Khattak was also present on the occasion.
The DDAC chairman said the tender of the project would be floated in a couple of days.
He also approved solar system for eight drinking water supply schemes of the union council with Rs110 million to ensure uninterrupted water supply to the residents in the hot summer.
Mr Khan said work on drinking water supply schemes of Isafkhel, Lakki Ghundaki and Lakki Banda had already started and that Rs4 million had been earmarked for repair of Ghar Kala water supply scheme. He also approved water supply schemes for Mithakhel, Mohabatkhel, Terankoi and Takki areas.
The lawmaker said Rs5 million each had been earmarked for pavement of streets in Mithakhel and Lakki Banda areas, and Rs3 million for the same purpose in Sangtri area.
He also approved widening of the road between Mithakhel bazaar and weekly cattle fair.
Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254086/rs40m-earmarked-for-dam-in-karak-claims-mpa
[h=1]Police arrest three alleged terrorists
[/h] PESHAWAR: The capital police claimed on Friday to have arrested three terrorists of a banned terror outfit during a search operation in Badbher and Atta Mohammad Garhi areas, on the outskirts of Peshawar.
SSP operations Abbas Majid Marwat told media persons that the police also seized arms and explosives from the possession of arrested terrorists identified as Wisal, Asmatullah and Wasid Gul.
He said that the terrorists were involved in attacks on government schools and other sensitive installations. They were also involved in firing on PIA aircraft.
The police officer said the arrested terrorists were planning to attack schools and other government installations.
He said hand grenades, two Kalashnikovs and three pistols were recovered from their possession. — APP
Meanwhile, the city police on Friday arrested the main accused charged in a rape case. The man along with three other accomplices was charged in a rape case by a woman a day earlier.
ASP Waseem Riaz Khan told Dawn that the accused was identified as Faqeer alias Bhoola.
However, he said initial investigations had revealed that both parties had issues in the past and had also approached the police in that regard.
Previously, he said the main accused had complained at the Paharipura police station, accusing the complainant of the rape case of drugging his wife, who was later allegedly raped by several persons.
ASP Waseem said that apparently the rape claim, wherein the woman said that she was taken to the residence of the main accused, did not hold water as he lived along with his wives and other family members.
However, he said that police were waiting for the medical report of the complainant.
Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1253927/police-arrest-three-alleged-terrorists
[/h][h=1]Peshawar’s six plazas sealed over non-payment of tax
[/h]
PESHAWAR: The excise and taxation department on Thursday sealed six plazas in Karkhano area on the provincial capital’s outskirts over non-payment of the urban immovable property tax by their owners.
These plazas have around 1,600 shops mostly dealing in electric appliances, cloth, cosmetics and cutlery.
Excise and Taxation Officer-III Peshawar Mohammad Kalimullah told Dawn that owners of the sealed plazas didn’t pay the UIP tax despite the issuance of repeated notices.
He said after the closure of the plazas, other traders also closed shops in protest.
The ETO however said the plazas would be unsealed only after their owners paid the due tax.
He said the UIP tax to be paid by the Karkhano Market traders since 2003 totaled over Rs80 million.
[h=4]ETO says shopping centres won’t open until dues paid[/h]
Mr. Kalim said after the closure of plazas, the officials held talks with owners and traders for around three hours but there was no headway on the tax payment.
He said the department couldn’t seal the entire Karkhano Market in a day as it could create a law and order situation as the number of the people doing business in the area runs into thousands.
When contacted, the excise department’s director general, Nasser Yousaf, said there were about 35 owners of these markets, who were using shopkeepers as shields to avoid paying their due tax.
He said the government won’t allow a bunch of handful of the people to get away with due tax.
Mr. Yousaf said the area, where the market was located, fell in the urban limits of the provincial capital and that it was not a tribal area.
He said the people insisted that former excise and taxation minister Liaquat Shabab had promised that they would not have to pay UIP tax as the government would change the tax category.
The DG said it was the provincial assembly’s prerogative to make such a move and that not a single person or department could do so on their own.
He said plaza owners used various tactics to evade tax and that the things demanded by them fell in the assembly’s domain.
Mr. Yousaf said the department collected tax from some people in the vicinity under a provision which empowered the department to collect taxes from tenants in case the owner didn’t pay due tax.
“Under that provision, we have collected the UIP tax from the branches of commercial banks operating in some Karkhano Market plazas,” he said.
The DG said the government couldn’t function if the people didn’t pay tax.
Some consider the Karkhano Market located close to the border of Jamrud tehsil in Khyber Agency the hub of smuggled goods.
It is popular with shoppers from as far as Punjab and other parts of the country.
Since the opening of the market in 1985, the plazas there have seen a mushroom growth. Around 6,000 people do business there.
Earlier, the excise and taxation department has issued newspaper advertisement asking traders to pay UIP tax to prevent strict action.
Despite Karkhano being a settled area, plaza owners, mostly from Khyber Agency, are not into paying taxes claiming they’re tribesmen.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1253659/peshawars-six-plazas-sealed-over-non-payment-of-tax
[/h][h=1]CM KP rejects demand for judicial probe into BOK issue
[/h] PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has turned down the demand of opposition parties to constitute a judicial commission to probe the issue of Bank of Khyber (BOK).
Talking to mediapersons at the Jamaat-i-Islami’s provincial secretariat here on Thursday, he said that there were no allegations of corruption in the advertisement released by the bank management to newspapers and as such the demand of the opposition was unjust.
He said that a five-member committee, headed by senior minister Sikandar Khan Sherpao, had completed inquiry and action would be taken in the light of the report. “There is no need to form a judicial commission to look into the matter,” he said, adding that there were reservations over few appointments in the bank.
The Awami National Party had submitted an adjournment motion to the provincial assembly on Wednesday calling upon the government to conduct a judicial probe of the issue. The motion demanded that chief justice of the Peshawar High Court should head the commission.
The management of the bank had released advertisement to various newspapers and levelled serious allegations of corruption against finance minister Muzaffar Said, who belongs to JI. The minister also released advertisement to newspapers and accused the sitting managing director of the bank of illegal practices that incurred losses to BOK.
The chief minister also appreciated the action of Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif for removing 11 senior officers from service on the charges of corruption. He said that the decision of Gen Raheel would prove a millstone in the history of the country.
On this occasion, JI withdrew its candidate Fazlullah from by-elections in PK-8, Peshawar, in favour of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate. The seat fell vacant after the death of PML-N MPA Arbab Akbar Hayat. Mr Khattak said that the provincial government would remain neutral in by-elections.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1253655/cm-kp-rejects-demand-for-judicial-probe-into-bok-issue
[/h][h=1]PHC admits Ziaullah’s petition against arrest, inquiries
[/h] PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court bench on Thursday admitted to full hearing a petition of former provincial minister Ziaullah Afridi against his arrest by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission and inquiries against him by the two officials ‘not authorised to do so’.
Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Irshad Qaisar directed the provincial chief secretary, chief Ehtesab commissioner and commission’s director general to file comments on the petition.
The petitioner, who is an MPA and was mines and minerals development minister in the current cabinet, said the inquiry of mines and minerals department against him and others was initiated by the two officials, including Sahibzada Behram and Nawab Khan, on May 20, 2015, and at that time, the two were even not the employees of the KPEC.
He requested the court to declare his arrest and inquiries and investigations by the two officials against him in a ‘false corruption case’ under Section 23 of the KPEC Act illegal, mala fide and without jurisdiction.
[h=4]Asks relevant officials to file comments in ‘corruption’ case[/h]
Besides praying the court to quash the arrest and probe, he also sought the order to declare the appointment of the two officials illegal.
The petitioner requested the court to stop the KPEC from proceeding further against him on the basis of the investigation, which, he said, is defective, illegal and without lawful authority.
Mr. Ziaullah was arrested on Jul 9, 2015, when he was serving as provincial minister.
He was a PTI leader but his party membership was suspended after he accused Chief Minister Pervez Khattak of engineering his arrest.
Khushdil Khan, lawyer for the petitioner, said in the case of another arrested person, Noor Daraz Khan, official Sahibzada Behram had submitted certain reports as audit expert even before he was hired by the commission, showing the mala fide on his part as well as on the commission’s.
He said Sahibzada Behram and Nawab Khan were dealing with the inquiry of mines and minerals department and they had visited Mamakhel Nowshera on Jun 11, 2015 and pretended to be investigation officer and junior investigation officer.
He pointed out that apart from that different false designations were used by the officials. He said Behram used different designations like financial expert, legal expert, audit expert and investigation officer, whereas Nawab also mentioned himself as investigation officer and junior investigation officer during the inquiry/ investigation of the petitioner.
Khushdil Khan pointed out that in a list of employees provided to the provincial assembly, Nawab was mentioned as field operator and Behram was shown as the legal expert.
He said Nawab was also charged in five FIRs related to heinous crimes registered under sections 302, 324, 427, 148, 149 and 506 of Pakistan Penal Code.
He added that Nawab’s past track record showed his involvement in criminal cases and his character disqualified him for any government job.
The lawyer said both Behram, who was temporarily hired financial expert, and Nawab, a field operator, conducted investigation into the case of petitioner despite the fact that they were not competent under the law.
He asked Nawab was appointed as field operator after the petitioner was sent on judicial remand, then how he was involved in inquiry and investigation against the petitioner prior to his appointment, which was clear violation of rules.
Meanwhile, another bench comprising Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Mohammad Daud Khan adjourned hearing adjourned hearing into a petition of Mr. Ziaullah for release on bail.
The petitioner’s lawyer, Abdul Lateef Afridi, didn’t turn up for being busy with proceedings by another court.
The petitioner was initially charged with carrying out illegal postings and transfers and facilitating illegal mining in the province.
Afterwards, the petitioner was booked in two other cases accusing him of facilitating illegal extension in lease of a lessee of chromite mines in Charsadda and facilitating illegal mining of phosphate in Abbottabad.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1253651/phc-admits-ziaullahs-petition-against-arrest-inquiries
[/h][h=1]Uplift funds released to all village councils in Dir
[/h]TIMERGARA: The Local Government and Rural Development Department, Lower Dir, on Thursday released Rs310.8 million funds to all the 198 village councils of the district.
According to a press release issued by the department, Rs210.90 million was meant for development purposes and Rs 90.9 million for non-development expenditures of the village council offices.
It said that Rs310.8 million had been issued by the provincial government for a total of 198 village councils.
The official said that each village council had been asked to spend Rs500,000 for office’s expenditure.
When contacted, assistant director Nasim Ahmed said that earlier there were some hurdles and legal formalities regarding the funds’ release.
[h=4]Official asks nazims to spend the funds in transparent way[/h]
He said that now when the funds had been released it was the responsibility of VC nazims to spend the same for the welfare of people in a transparent manner.
Meanwhile, minority councillor in Balambat tehsil, Wiqar Majeed, demanded of provincial finance minister Muzaffar Said, Lower Dir nazim Mohammad Rasool Khan and medical superintendent DHQ hospital, Timergara, Dr Anwar Zada to ensure minorities’ quota in recruitment of staff at the hospital.
Talking to mediapersons here on Thursday, he said that authorities concerned had promised him to appoint minority members at the Timergara hospital according to their quota.
He said that scores of posts at the hospital were lying vacant.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1253634/uplift-funds-released-to-all-village-councils-in-dir
[h=1]
[/h]
[h=1]
[/h][h=1]
[/h][h=1]
[/h]
[/h]MINGORA: The physically challenged youth of upper Swat displayed their skills at a function in Shawar area of Matta tehsil here on Monday.
The event titled ‘Exploring youth potential’ was organised by Shawar Development Forum in collaboration with Sarhad Rural Support Programme. Apart from a large number of youth, people from different walks of life attended the event and appreciated the talent and skills of the physically challenged youth.
Sher Ali Khan, a physically challenged boy, received high applause from the audience by presenting a song in his melodious voice. He said that most of the people made fun of him for his abnormal walk which hurt his feelings. “But today so many elders and youth appreciated me for my songs which encouraged me. I love to sing,” he said.
Sher Ali Khan was happy to receive award for his performance and said that he would decorate it in his room.
Sirajud Din Siraj, a local poet, appreciated the physically challenged youth for their talent and said that he enjoyed their skills at the event. “There is talent in our youth living in the rural parts of Swat but they have fewer opportunities to exhibit their skills,” he said.
Mr Siraj said that the youth would prove their mettle if they were given more opportunities of exhibiting their talent. Such events should be arranged in other parts of Swat too, he added.
Habibullah Khan, the nazim of Shower union council, said that he was surprised to see the performances of persons with disabilities. “I never expected that they could perform in such a way. They even performed better than normal people,” he said.
The nazim said that local government would extend full support in organising such events for youth development.
At the end, the organisers of the show distributed awards and prizes among the youth, who performed at the event.
“Today persons with disabilities performed alongside normal youth and their faces were lit with joy. We should consider them a part of our society and facilitate them to work and play with the normal people,” said Bahdar Ali, a representative of SRSP.
Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254514/physically-challenged-youth-display-their-talent
[h=1]Judicial probe into bank affairs sought
[/h] PESHAWAR: ANP Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour on Sunday demanded formation of a high-level commission headed by a sitting or retired judge to probe the allegations of corruption leveled by the Bank of Khyber against a provincial minister.
Senator Bilour, who is also a leader of the Businessman Forum, said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was not sincere to probe the affairs of BOK as it had failed so far to announce a judicial commission for the purpose, according to a statement.
The ANP leader said his party would not accept any administrative reshuffle in BOK. He said it was astonishing that Jamaat-i-Islami, which was running a campaign against corruption, had turned a blind eye to the alleged corruption of its own minister. He also lamented the ‘silence’ of PTI chief Imran Khan over the high profile case.
He said the previous ANP government had focused attention on progress of BOK, increasing its annual profit up to Rs600 million, alleging the provincial government was using the bank for its own benefit.
Mr Bilour, who is ANP parliamentary leader in the Senate, said his party would raise the issue in the parliament to force the government to ensure transparency in the bank’s affairs.
Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1254292/judicial-probe-into-bank-affairs-sought
[/h][h=1]Anti-polio efforts in Fata paying dividends
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) have shown marked improvement in polio eradication initiative thanks to support of security forces, local administrations, launch of IPV campaigns and strengthening cross-border vaccination.
This was stated by coordinator of the emergency operation centre for polio, Shakeel Qadir Khan, in a presentation to the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) chairman Dr Jean Marc Olive here on Saturday.
The newly-launched direct disbursement mechanism programme under which frontline workers are paid directly, has helped the government in battling polio virus in Fata, he said. We are giving special attention to South and North Waziristan Agencies in upcoming campaigns by deploying as many female vaccinators as possible and improving surveillance plan in high risk areas, he added.
On the occasion, Dr Olive expressed pleasure at the achievements in polio eradication in Fata, but said they needed to reach out to every child to save him from the crippling disease. We should be keeping track of unvaccinated children during future planning, he stressed, calling for hiring of vaccinators locally and encouraging women vaccinators to gain trust of communities.
He appreciated the level of coordination to achieve targets of vaccinating children at the Pak-Afghan border.
Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254106/anti-polio-efforts-in-fata-paying-dividends
[h=1]Rs40m earmarked for dam in Karak, claims MPA
[/h] KARAK: The District Development Advisory Committee (DDAC) Chairman Gul Sahib Khan announced on Saturday that Rs40 million had been set aside for building Zeri dam to meet the chronic water shortage in Mithakhel, Sangtri, Lakki Ghundaki and adjoining localities.
He was addressing a public meeting at Lakki Ghundaki here. Mithakhel union councillor Azmat Khattak was also present on the occasion.
The DDAC chairman said the tender of the project would be floated in a couple of days.
He also approved solar system for eight drinking water supply schemes of the union council with Rs110 million to ensure uninterrupted water supply to the residents in the hot summer.
Mr Khan said work on drinking water supply schemes of Isafkhel, Lakki Ghundaki and Lakki Banda had already started and that Rs4 million had been earmarked for repair of Ghar Kala water supply scheme. He also approved water supply schemes for Mithakhel, Mohabatkhel, Terankoi and Takki areas.
The lawmaker said Rs5 million each had been earmarked for pavement of streets in Mithakhel and Lakki Banda areas, and Rs3 million for the same purpose in Sangtri area.
He also approved widening of the road between Mithakhel bazaar and weekly cattle fair.
Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1254086/rs40m-earmarked-for-dam-in-karak-claims-mpa
[h=1]Police arrest three alleged terrorists
[/h] PESHAWAR: The capital police claimed on Friday to have arrested three terrorists of a banned terror outfit during a search operation in Badbher and Atta Mohammad Garhi areas, on the outskirts of Peshawar.
SSP operations Abbas Majid Marwat told media persons that the police also seized arms and explosives from the possession of arrested terrorists identified as Wisal, Asmatullah and Wasid Gul.
He said that the terrorists were involved in attacks on government schools and other sensitive installations. They were also involved in firing on PIA aircraft.
The police officer said the arrested terrorists were planning to attack schools and other government installations.
He said hand grenades, two Kalashnikovs and three pistols were recovered from their possession. — APP
Meanwhile, the city police on Friday arrested the main accused charged in a rape case. The man along with three other accomplices was charged in a rape case by a woman a day earlier.
ASP Waseem Riaz Khan told Dawn that the accused was identified as Faqeer alias Bhoola.
However, he said initial investigations had revealed that both parties had issues in the past and had also approached the police in that regard.
Previously, he said the main accused had complained at the Paharipura police station, accusing the complainant of the rape case of drugging his wife, who was later allegedly raped by several persons.
ASP Waseem said that apparently the rape claim, wherein the woman said that she was taken to the residence of the main accused, did not hold water as he lived along with his wives and other family members.
However, he said that police were waiting for the medical report of the complainant.
Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1253927/police-arrest-three-alleged-terrorists
[/h][h=1]Peshawar’s six plazas sealed over non-payment of tax
PESHAWAR: The excise and taxation department on Thursday sealed six plazas in Karkhano area on the provincial capital’s outskirts over non-payment of the urban immovable property tax by their owners.
These plazas have around 1,600 shops mostly dealing in electric appliances, cloth, cosmetics and cutlery.
Excise and Taxation Officer-III Peshawar Mohammad Kalimullah told Dawn that owners of the sealed plazas didn’t pay the UIP tax despite the issuance of repeated notices.
He said after the closure of the plazas, other traders also closed shops in protest.
The ETO however said the plazas would be unsealed only after their owners paid the due tax.
He said the UIP tax to be paid by the Karkhano Market traders since 2003 totaled over Rs80 million.
[h=4]ETO says shopping centres won’t open until dues paid[/h]
Mr. Kalim said after the closure of plazas, the officials held talks with owners and traders for around three hours but there was no headway on the tax payment.
He said the department couldn’t seal the entire Karkhano Market in a day as it could create a law and order situation as the number of the people doing business in the area runs into thousands.
When contacted, the excise department’s director general, Nasser Yousaf, said there were about 35 owners of these markets, who were using shopkeepers as shields to avoid paying their due tax.
He said the government won’t allow a bunch of handful of the people to get away with due tax.
Mr. Yousaf said the area, where the market was located, fell in the urban limits of the provincial capital and that it was not a tribal area.
He said the people insisted that former excise and taxation minister Liaquat Shabab had promised that they would not have to pay UIP tax as the government would change the tax category.
The DG said it was the provincial assembly’s prerogative to make such a move and that not a single person or department could do so on their own.
He said plaza owners used various tactics to evade tax and that the things demanded by them fell in the assembly’s domain.
Mr. Yousaf said the department collected tax from some people in the vicinity under a provision which empowered the department to collect taxes from tenants in case the owner didn’t pay due tax.
“Under that provision, we have collected the UIP tax from the branches of commercial banks operating in some Karkhano Market plazas,” he said.
The DG said the government couldn’t function if the people didn’t pay tax.
Some consider the Karkhano Market located close to the border of Jamrud tehsil in Khyber Agency the hub of smuggled goods.
It is popular with shoppers from as far as Punjab and other parts of the country.
Since the opening of the market in 1985, the plazas there have seen a mushroom growth. Around 6,000 people do business there.
Earlier, the excise and taxation department has issued newspaper advertisement asking traders to pay UIP tax to prevent strict action.
Despite Karkhano being a settled area, plaza owners, mostly from Khyber Agency, are not into paying taxes claiming they’re tribesmen.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1253659/peshawars-six-plazas-sealed-over-non-payment-of-tax
[/h][h=1]CM KP rejects demand for judicial probe into BOK issue
[/h] PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has turned down the demand of opposition parties to constitute a judicial commission to probe the issue of Bank of Khyber (BOK).
Talking to mediapersons at the Jamaat-i-Islami’s provincial secretariat here on Thursday, he said that there were no allegations of corruption in the advertisement released by the bank management to newspapers and as such the demand of the opposition was unjust.
He said that a five-member committee, headed by senior minister Sikandar Khan Sherpao, had completed inquiry and action would be taken in the light of the report. “There is no need to form a judicial commission to look into the matter,” he said, adding that there were reservations over few appointments in the bank.
The Awami National Party had submitted an adjournment motion to the provincial assembly on Wednesday calling upon the government to conduct a judicial probe of the issue. The motion demanded that chief justice of the Peshawar High Court should head the commission.
The management of the bank had released advertisement to various newspapers and levelled serious allegations of corruption against finance minister Muzaffar Said, who belongs to JI. The minister also released advertisement to newspapers and accused the sitting managing director of the bank of illegal practices that incurred losses to BOK.
The chief minister also appreciated the action of Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif for removing 11 senior officers from service on the charges of corruption. He said that the decision of Gen Raheel would prove a millstone in the history of the country.
On this occasion, JI withdrew its candidate Fazlullah from by-elections in PK-8, Peshawar, in favour of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate. The seat fell vacant after the death of PML-N MPA Arbab Akbar Hayat. Mr Khattak said that the provincial government would remain neutral in by-elections.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1253655/cm-kp-rejects-demand-for-judicial-probe-into-bok-issue
[/h][h=1]PHC admits Ziaullah’s petition against arrest, inquiries
[/h] PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court bench on Thursday admitted to full hearing a petition of former provincial minister Ziaullah Afridi against his arrest by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission and inquiries against him by the two officials ‘not authorised to do so’.
Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Irshad Qaisar directed the provincial chief secretary, chief Ehtesab commissioner and commission’s director general to file comments on the petition.
The petitioner, who is an MPA and was mines and minerals development minister in the current cabinet, said the inquiry of mines and minerals department against him and others was initiated by the two officials, including Sahibzada Behram and Nawab Khan, on May 20, 2015, and at that time, the two were even not the employees of the KPEC.
He requested the court to declare his arrest and inquiries and investigations by the two officials against him in a ‘false corruption case’ under Section 23 of the KPEC Act illegal, mala fide and without jurisdiction.
[h=4]Asks relevant officials to file comments in ‘corruption’ case[/h]
Besides praying the court to quash the arrest and probe, he also sought the order to declare the appointment of the two officials illegal.
The petitioner requested the court to stop the KPEC from proceeding further against him on the basis of the investigation, which, he said, is defective, illegal and without lawful authority.
Mr. Ziaullah was arrested on Jul 9, 2015, when he was serving as provincial minister.
He was a PTI leader but his party membership was suspended after he accused Chief Minister Pervez Khattak of engineering his arrest.
Khushdil Khan, lawyer for the petitioner, said in the case of another arrested person, Noor Daraz Khan, official Sahibzada Behram had submitted certain reports as audit expert even before he was hired by the commission, showing the mala fide on his part as well as on the commission’s.
He said Sahibzada Behram and Nawab Khan were dealing with the inquiry of mines and minerals department and they had visited Mamakhel Nowshera on Jun 11, 2015 and pretended to be investigation officer and junior investigation officer.
He pointed out that apart from that different false designations were used by the officials. He said Behram used different designations like financial expert, legal expert, audit expert and investigation officer, whereas Nawab also mentioned himself as investigation officer and junior investigation officer during the inquiry/ investigation of the petitioner.
Khushdil Khan pointed out that in a list of employees provided to the provincial assembly, Nawab was mentioned as field operator and Behram was shown as the legal expert.
He said Nawab was also charged in five FIRs related to heinous crimes registered under sections 302, 324, 427, 148, 149 and 506 of Pakistan Penal Code.
He added that Nawab’s past track record showed his involvement in criminal cases and his character disqualified him for any government job.
The lawyer said both Behram, who was temporarily hired financial expert, and Nawab, a field operator, conducted investigation into the case of petitioner despite the fact that they were not competent under the law.
He asked Nawab was appointed as field operator after the petitioner was sent on judicial remand, then how he was involved in inquiry and investigation against the petitioner prior to his appointment, which was clear violation of rules.
Meanwhile, another bench comprising Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Mohammad Daud Khan adjourned hearing adjourned hearing into a petition of Mr. Ziaullah for release on bail.
The petitioner’s lawyer, Abdul Lateef Afridi, didn’t turn up for being busy with proceedings by another court.
The petitioner was initially charged with carrying out illegal postings and transfers and facilitating illegal mining in the province.
Afterwards, the petitioner was booked in two other cases accusing him of facilitating illegal extension in lease of a lessee of chromite mines in Charsadda and facilitating illegal mining of phosphate in Abbottabad.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1253651/phc-admits-ziaullahs-petition-against-arrest-inquiries
[/h][h=1]Uplift funds released to all village councils in Dir
[/h]TIMERGARA: The Local Government and Rural Development Department, Lower Dir, on Thursday released Rs310.8 million funds to all the 198 village councils of the district.
According to a press release issued by the department, Rs210.90 million was meant for development purposes and Rs 90.9 million for non-development expenditures of the village council offices.
It said that Rs310.8 million had been issued by the provincial government for a total of 198 village councils.
The official said that each village council had been asked to spend Rs500,000 for office’s expenditure.
When contacted, assistant director Nasim Ahmed said that earlier there were some hurdles and legal formalities regarding the funds’ release.
[h=4]Official asks nazims to spend the funds in transparent way[/h]
He said that now when the funds had been released it was the responsibility of VC nazims to spend the same for the welfare of people in a transparent manner.
Meanwhile, minority councillor in Balambat tehsil, Wiqar Majeed, demanded of provincial finance minister Muzaffar Said, Lower Dir nazim Mohammad Rasool Khan and medical superintendent DHQ hospital, Timergara, Dr Anwar Zada to ensure minorities’ quota in recruitment of staff at the hospital.
Talking to mediapersons here on Thursday, he said that authorities concerned had promised him to appoint minority members at the Timergara hospital according to their quota.
He said that scores of posts at the hospital were lying vacant.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1253634/uplift-funds-released-to-all-village-councils-in-dir
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Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
01 MAY 2016
