SARGODHA: Health EDO Nazir Aaqib Nekokara on Thursday said 916,086 children under 10 years said were being vaccinated against measles.

Talking to newsmen, he 501 teams were running door-to-door campaigns. He said nearly 25,000 children were affected by measles in 2013. He said the vaccination drive against measles was launched in 2014 but number of affected children was unknown.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.

He said action should also be taken against hotels owners not keeping records of their guests.

The DCO’s statement said, “Security arrangements in the country have been upgraded since December 16. Under the Punjab Tenants Ordinance 2015 details of new tenants should be provided to police within 24 hours of giving possession of the property.”

Manan said after the ordinance was issued, several cases had been registered against hotel owners. He said many property dealers had not provided details of tenants to police.

Manan directed assistant commissioners and deputy superintendents to take an action against property dealers who did not submit details of their tenants within 24 hours.

He said those who did not do so would face fines or their offices would be sealed. He urged ACs and the DSPs to comply with the order or face prosecution for negligence.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.

The SNGPL general manager told The Express Tribune gas distribution officer Aqeel Ahmad and federal coordinator Rafaqat Ali had raided houses in Karamatabad and Elahiabad and found gas pilferage in more than 100 houses in these areas. He said gas was being supplied to these houses without permission from the SNGPL. He said residents of these areas had been stealing gas for six months. He said the teams had disconnected the supply and submitted complaints against owners of the houses at relevant police stations for registration of gas theft cases against them.

He said the SNGPL was evaluating the value of the gas stolen so action could be taken for recovery.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.

Meanwhile, nearly 100 members of the Association of Board of Revenue Workers protested against the attack on the office of the Cantt assistant commissioner on Wednesday by going on a strike.

Scores of lawyers led by district bar president Salim Raza Kakar marched from Aiwan-i-Adal and staged a protest demonstration at Kutchery Chowk.

They tore down posters hung at the gate of a TMA office on anti-encroachment efforts. They later set them on fire and chanted slogans against the district government, accusing them of being the “real land mafia.”

Talking to participants of the protest, Kakar said the lawyers would continue to protest until the assistant commissioner was transferred. He said AC Tariq Mehmood had led an encroachment drive on land allotted for a lawyers’ colony.

He said lawyers had not occupied the land illegally.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Punjab Bar Council member Arif Khan Gurmani said the Lahore High Court had indefinitely stayed the encroachment drive and summoned the DCO on February 23.

Association of Board of Revenue Workers announced an indefinite strike in protest against the lawyers who had attacked their offices on Wednesday. Scores of workers also staged a protest demonstration in front of their office.

Talking to the participants, Association president Rana Ahmed Sajid said Revenue Department workers had been doing their duty when they were attacked. He said earlier on Tuesday, some Revenue Department teams had removed encroachments in Kotla on government’s orders. He condemned those involved in ransacking their offices. A meeting was also held between the DCO and a delegation of lawyers over an FIR registered against the bar president and 200 other lawyers for attacking the AC’s office.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.

LAHORE: Delivery of vehicles under the Apna Rozgar Scheme is likely to start during the second week of February.

The government had announced the scheme in October-November 2014 to provide vehicles to eligible unemployed youth. The price is to be paid back in installments over five years as an interest-free loan.

The criteria were relaxed in December last year both in terms of education and age limit, an official of the Transport Department said requesting anonymity.

He said the government had initially earmarked Rs25 billion for the scheme in the 2014-15 budget; it would now be executed at a cost of Rs31 billion. As many as 50,000 vehicles – vans and mini trucks – will be distributed. Those between 21 and 35 years of age and holding a secondary school certificate were eligible for the scheme.

Nearly 152,000 people had applied for the vehicles but many of them were either over age or did not have a secondary school certificate, the official said. “The government then amended the criteria allowing ‘literate’ people of up to 40 years of age to benefit from the scheme.”

The Bank of Punjab had scrutinised the applicants and held a lucky draw to select the candidates. The selected candidates will undergo a 15-day training before they are handed over the vehicles. They had to deposit a down payment of Rs170,000 for a Suzuki Ravi Pick-up and Rs177,000 for a Suzuki Bolan.

Those getting a Suzuki Ravi Pick-up will have to pay Rs9,000 a month and those with a Suzuki Bolan Rs10,000 a month each for five years. They are not to use the vehicles for purposes other than specified in the scheme.

The vehicles are to be distributed among various districts on the basis of population. Southern Punjab districts are getting a 10 per cent additional quota.

Transport Secretary Shaukat Ali said the government had tried it best to allot the vehicles on merit. He said the initiative would help cut unemployment. He admitted that the government had had to revise the eligibility criteria as most of the applicants did not meet the originally specified qualifications.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.

LAHORE: Home Minister Shuja Khanzada said on Thursday 9,233 illicit weapons had been seized during a general hold-up over 10 days. He said 365 cases had been registered over display of arms.

The minister was chairing a meeting to review progress on the National Action Plan against terrorism. Several police officers and heads of agencies were also present.

He said licences of 55 guns, including three Kalashnikov rifles and 20 pistols, had been cancelled. He said citizens could renew arms licences, issued between 2009 and 2014, from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) until February 28.

He said new licences would be issued at the end of February. He said an applicant would be issued a licence within 15 days of submission of an application.

Khanzada said the record of weapon holders and dealers would be verified through the NADRA. He said cases against those possessing illicit weapons would be heard by anti-terrorism courts. They could be sentenced for up to 14 years, he said.

The minister said security of schools across the province had been tightened. He said teams of army and police had been deployed on strategic points to respond to any emergency within seven minutes. He appealed to citizens to dial 15 or 1717 in case of an emergency.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.

In a statement issued on Thursday, spokesperson Rashida Qureshi said that violence against child domestic workers was on the rise. “Every third or fourth house in posh areas in Punjab has child domestic workers, who are abused, raped, exploited and tortured – even murdered. However, the government has not come up with the necessary legal, administrative and financial measures to prevent and respond to such violence,” she said. “The international community and a UN rapporteur have declared it a form of slavery,” she said.

Salman Abid, the Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) Punjab regional head, said that employment of children in households was also against the spirit of Article 25-A of the Constitution and the Punjab Free and Compulsory Education Act 2014.

“They guarantee free and compulsory education to children from 5 to 16 years of age. In child domestic labour, these slave children are not only deprived of right to education, but also the right to health services, right to survival, right to food, right to proper care, right to development, right to have friends, right to play, right to enjoy free time and right to protection from abuse, violence and exploitation,” he said.

Child Rights activist Iftikhar Mubarik said that the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Children had suggested to the Pakistan government in 2009 to prohibit the child domestic labour. “The recommendation awaits implementation by the government bodies,” he said.

“According to the data collected by the Institute of Social Justice (ISJ) from January 2013 to December 2014, 34 cases of torture on domestic workers were reported in the media, including 14 deaths. Around 97 per cent of the cases were reported from the Punjab,” the statement said.

“CAN Pakistan believes that there is no possibility of setting up a system and mechanism to monitor and respond to violations of rights of child domestic workers in houses. The government should ban child domestic labour by issuing a notification under the Schedule of Banned Occupation given in the Employment of Children (amendment) Act, 2011, Punjab,” the statement further added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.

A roundtable conference was organised by Alif Ailaan at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Thursday. Politicians, civil society and government representatives got together to discuss the security situation at government schools and their infrastructure.

“How can government schools be secured with CCTV cameras and barbed wire while they do not have boundary walls and electricity?” asked Alif Ailaan’s Lahore coordinator Umair Asif. He said that the Government Public School, Awan Town, had no boundary wall.

“Parliamentarians and the Education Department should play their role in providing funds for such schools,” said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MPA Dr Nausheen Hamid. “In order to improve infrastructure at schools, it is necessary that funds be released and utilised effectively. Boundary walls and CCTV cameras are not sufficient for security at the schools,” she said.

PTI MPA Sadia Rana said that there was a need to bring an end to corruption within government, especially in the education department, in order to improve schools.

South Asia Partnership Executive Director Muhammad Tehseen said that the government should inform people about the steps being taken to deal with the security crisis in the country. “There is a need to define the security of school children along with ways in which the government aims to provide security from extremists and extremism,” he said.

“We are doing our best to make funds for education available on time and we will strive to make efforts to improve this situation as much as we can,” Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Rana Arshad said. “The government plans to empower schools councils, form district security committees and ensure availability of security guards at schools,” he said.

Parliamentarians and teachers’ association representatives assured their support to the government for improving school infrastructure.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.

FAISALABAD: A 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a guest at her home near Jhang city police station.

Ghulam Rasool, a resident of Mohallah Mosabad, told police that Imran Hussain, a friend, had come to his house to see him. He said he asked if he could stay overnight and was welcomed.

He said later at night, he was woken up by his adopted 1-year-old daughter’s screams. “My wife and I rushed to her room and caught him raping our daughter,” he said. He said the man was beaten before he was handed over to police.

The City SHO said a case had been registered. He said the victim had been sent to a hospital to obtain a medical-legal report.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.

ISLAMABAD: The top court has directed the IG Punjab police to complete departmental inquiry regarding the police personnel, who showed negligence in the incident related to the lynching of a Christian couple on November 4, 2013 in Kot Radha Kishen, and submit the report on February 26.

The three-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC), headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk while hearing a suo motu case, has observed that prima facie there is a contradiction in the statements of police officials in this case.

During the hearing, ASI Abdul Rasheed alleged that due to the SC’s fear, police department is making him a scapegoat. He added that before their arrival at the scene, the mob had already launched attack on the couple.

IGP Punjab Mushtaq Sukhaira fixed responsibility on the ASI for not handling the situation when the mob burnt the Christian couple, adding that Abdul Rasheed has been suspended from service and charge framed against him to initiate disciplinary action.

The IG says that if he shows mistrust over the department’s inquiry then he may seek judicial inquiry.

The chief justice told him that according to the owner of brick-kiln, police was intimated one day before but the police did not take action to secure the Christian couple, adding that at least the police could fire shots into the air.

Upon this, Jawad Qamar, who was DPO Kasur at the time, told the bench that due to aerial firing, six families of the Christian community could be injured who resided near the spot where the incident occurred.

The bench observed that further proceedings of the case will be taken up after receiving the departmental inquiry report. Hearing of the case is adjourned until February 26.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.

LAHORE: The computerisation of weapons licences has been started by district governments in the province in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

A Home Department official, who requested not to be named, said that the Punjab had become the first province to start the computerisation of weapons’ licences.

“Special desks have been formed at DCOs’ offices across the province where NADRA officials will assist the district government staff in computerisation of the arms licences. In some districts, district government employees will work at NADRA offices,” he said.

He said that in the first phase, licences issued between 2009 and 2014 would be computerised.

Requesting anonymity because he is not authorised to talk to the media, a NADRA official said that a meeting of DCOs from all districts was held at NADRA’s Defence office last Saturday. “They were briefed by NADRA staff about the process of computerisation of weapons’ licences,” he said.

He said that the process would link the weapon’s licence number with the CNIC of the applicant. “We are helping the district government make a computerised database of the legal weapon owners apart from integrating it with their record. Previously, the federal government had provided them a software,” he said. “The applicants will be asked to fill out a form and submit two passport size photographs along with their original CNIC and the weapon’s licence,” he said.

Tariq Zaman, the personal staff officer to the Lahore DCO, said that two offices had been set up in Lahore for the purpose.

“Fresh photographs of the applicants will also be taken. They will also have to surrender their licence books. They will receive a certificate in return,” he said.

Citing the minutes of the meeting with the DCOs, the NADRA official said that the district government officials had said that at least three months would be needed to verify the licences record. “It will take at least three months to complete the process. In some districts, the record is available only in the manual form,” he said.

Zaman said that the Lahore city district government had been maintaining records in computerised format since 2009. The previous record, he said, was in manual form. “Licences issued before 2009 will be computerised in the next phase. After verification of licence books with the concerned DCO’s office, the owner will be issued a computerised licence,” he said.

Zaman said that the Home Department had given weapon owners till February 28 to get their licences computerised. Zaman said that Lahore had a quota of 200 new arms licences per month up till 2014. “For the rest of the districts in the Punjab, the ceiling was 125 licences per month. New licences are not being issued now,” he said.

The Home Department official said that the computerisation process would be directly monitored by their department. “The district governments have been directed to submit daily reports on their progress,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.

He was presiding over a meeting on the Punjab School Reforms Roadmap on Thursday. Special representative of British Department for International Development (DFID) Sir Michael Barber and DFID head in Pakistan Richard Montgomery were also present.

“Success in the war against poverty, unemployment and terrorism depends upon promotion of education. Maximum funds are being provided for this purpose,” Sharif said.

He said that the reforms roadmap was yielding positive results for the uplift of education sector. “In the next phase of the programme, target has been set to enroll every child of the province by 2018,” he said.

“New targets have been set under the Punjab School Reforms Roadmap. The 18-point roadmap will have to be implemented in letter and spirit for achieving all the targets by 2018. A spirit of hard work and commitment is required for achieving the new targets,” he said.

The chief minister said that education was the key to progress and prosperity. “The aim of national development and progress cannot be achieved without promotion of education,” he said.

Shahbaz Sharif said that education could help promote tolerance, harmony and brotherhood in society. “The government attaches high importance to the uplift of education sector and has taken revolutionary measures for this purpose,” he said.

“Efforts should be made under the strategy evolved for achieving the targets of enrollment. Comprehensive measures should be taken to accelerate enrollment campaign in the districts of south Punjab,” he said.

He said that the scope of the Punjab Education Foundation programme should also be expanded for the achievement of the enrollment targets. “Maintaining continuity of enrollment is a challenge. Effective measures should be taken in the right direction for this purpose,” he said. The chief minister said that due attention should be paid to quality education in schools. “A comprehensive programme should be evolved for the training of teachers on modern lines and immediate implementation of the programme should be ensured,” he said.

He said that efforts should be taken for providing quality education to the children. He approved recruitment of assistant education officers for improving leadership at schools. He said that recruitment process should be completed quickly and in a transparent manner.

Referring to the attack on the army school in Peshawar, the chief minister said that the terrorists had committed a barbaric act. “The brutality is unprecedented. However, the nation has united against terrorism and extremism due to the sacrifices of the martyrs,” he said.

Barber, Montgomery and their team strongly condemned the Peshawar attack and expressed sympathy with the families of the martyred children and teachers.

Barber said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had taken effective measures for the promotion of education in the province.

“Punjab government is making positive efforts for the uplift of education sector,” he said.

Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Ruffin Julius, the chief secretary, Punjab Education Foundation Chairman Qamarul Islam, the Planning and Development Board chairman, secretaries of Finance and School Education Departments and members of School Reforms Roadmap team were present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Friday dismissed an appeal by a condemned prisoner and upheld his death sentence. On December 22, 2011, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) had awarded death sentence on two counts to Usman, a resident of Faisalabad, for torturing and throwing in fire his two cousins Rabia, 4 and Muhammad Sharif, 3, on March 30, 2011. He was fined Rs200,000 on both counts. He was also sentenced to life imprisonment on two counts. Police had arrested Usman on April 5, 2011.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2015.

LAHORE: The Zionists have always been at the back of crusades hatching conspiracies to pit the Muslims and the Christians against each other, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leader Sirajul Haq said on Friday.

“No international organisation, including the United Nations, has taken effective steps against the repeated incidents of blasphemy,” Haq said in his Friday sermon.

He said Muslim rulers, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, could not earn respect by being loyal to the West. “If someone’s sentiments are not hurt by blasphemy, he should worry about his faith,” Haq said.

The JI chief accused Muslim leaders of being silent on the publication of sacrilegious caricatures by French magazine Charlie Hebdo. On the other hand, he said, lay Muslims have been protesting against blasphemy.

“Blasphemy is a Zionists’ plot to disturb peace.”

He said Muslims did not demand respect for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Holy Quran alone; they called for respecting all prophets and revealed books. He said an inter-faith dialogue was imperative for peace.

“Blasphemy should be declared a crime globally and stringent laws should be made in this regard,” Haq said.

He said the JI and like-minded parties would continue to protest against the blasphemers. He said Muslims considered it an honour to sacrifice their lives for safeguarding the honour of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). He urged all political and religious parties to unite against blasphemy.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2015.

LAHORE: Defence Housing Authority and Gulberg Gymboree Centres hosted a Winter Wonderland Party on January 25 for its students and their parents. The participants frolicked around in fake snow and had greatly enjoyed other fun-filled Gymbo activities. The party ended with a bonfire and tea and snacks for everyone.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2015.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2015.

FAISALABAD: DCO Noorul Amin Mengal said on Saturday 350,000 saplings would be planted in and around schools in spring.

He said school administrations had been directed to constitute green teams to achieve the target. He was presiding over a meeting of the District Education Review Committee. District Monitoring Officer Tariq Niazi presented reports on schools’ monitoring.

Education EDO Bashir Zahid Goraya, Finance EDO Mahr Ramzan, Buildings Department District Officer Tahir Saeed and several other officials of the Education Department attended the meeting.

Mengal directed the education EDO to plan a calendar for sports events for each school.

He said students should be given opportunities to participate in outdoor sports.

He said sports competitions between public and private schools should be encouraged.

The DCO also issued show cause notices to the heads of schools who had failed to provide safe drinking water for students.

He said salary increments of teachers who remained absent from duty should be stopped.

He directed the education officer to monitor attendance of teachers and non-teaching staff at schools. The DCO was informed that as many as 229 uplift schemes were being implemented at a cost of Rs541.428 million. He was told that construction of additional class rooms and boundary walls was underway. He was told that 45 per cent work had been completed.

Later, Mengal presided over a meeting of the Parks and Horticulture Authority.

He said the annual spring festival and flower competitions would open at Bagh-i-Jinnah on March 19.

He said flower show competitions would be held in four categories in which universities, colleges, agriculture research institutions, hotels, clubs, banks, industrial units, schools and private nurseries would participate.

He said cash prizes, trophies and certificates would be given to winners. He directed the PHA officials to finalise arrangements for the spring festival and to ensure greenery in the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2015.

LAHORE: Javaid Iqbal Gill of the Labour Department said on Friday that most labour legislation in the country had been drafted without taking into account the possibility of a female work force.

He was speaking at a consultative meeting with several female provincial assembly members (MPAs) organised by HomeNet Pakistan (HNP). A study looking at gender gaps in labour laws was launched at the event.  Gill, the author and the main researcher of the study, said the government had been striving to make labour laws more women friendly.

Population Welfare Minister Zakia Shahnawaz commended the HNP for taking the initiative. She said it was common knowledge that women workers were often exploited with impunity. Shahnawaz said this could not be remedied till social change was fostered and people stopped exploiting the disadvantaged.

She lamented the fact that some women happened to work for as little as Rs5 per day. Shahnawaz said middlemen were responsible for this. She called on MPAs from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) present on the occasion to return to the assembly. Shahnawaz said constructive criticism was the beauty of democracy. She said this helped in identifying gaps that needed to be filled.

Women Development Minister Hamida Waheedud Din said women MPAs had spoken to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to ensure the quick passage of bills pertaining to women.

She said seven of these would be discussed at the next meeting of the cabinet. Din expressed hope regarding their passage before March 8, which is marked around the world as International Women’s Day.

The report launched on the occasion analyses various labour policies introduced over time and the implementation of legislation applicable to women working in various industries. A situational analysis was also conducted in Faisalabad, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, and Lahore asking women from various sectors regarding the implementation of the laws.

USAID Gender Equity Programme (GEP) chief of party Simi Kamal gave the keynote address. HNP Executive Director Umm-i-Laila Azhar gave the introduction and vote of thanks.

MPAs Lubna Faisal, Rahila Khadim Hussain, Shazia Kamran, Nasreen Lodhi, Salma Butt, Farzana Butt, Nosheen Hamid, Sadia Sohail Awan, Faiza Malik, Alia Aftab, Sajida Mir and Shahzadi Shamim Akhtar were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2015.

He was hearing a petition challenging the Christian Divorce Act 1869. Justice Mazhar has directed the bishop to appear in court on February 16 to assist the court on the matter. He also appointed two advocates as amicus curie (friends of court) on assistance.

The Ministry of Law submitted a reply saying that the 18th Amendment empowered the provincial governments to amend the law. The officer said even there were certain provisions under which a Christian woman could be divorced.

Petitioner Ameen Masih, a resident of Lahore, said he had a family suit regarding maintenance pending against him before a civil court. His counsel said that Ameen Masih had developed differences with his wife over the past two years and he did not enjoy cordial relations with his in-laws.

He said it was no longer possible for Ameen Masih to continue living with his wife and wanted a separation. However, for that, he would have to declare her an adulterer even though she wasn’t one, he said.

Under the Christian Divorce Act 1869, in force since colonial times, a Christian could only divorce his wife on grounds of adultery.

The counsel said in America and England a Christian man could file a divorce on grounds of unreasonable behaviour. Filing for divorce in Pakistan, though, meant tarnishing the woman’s reputation, he said.

The Objectives Resolution in the Constitution protected the rights of minorities, he said. Section 10 of the Act was ultra vires and in contravention of the Constitution by exercise of judicial review. He requested the court to declare Section 10 of the Christian Divorce Act 1869 a contravention of the Constitution.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2015.

LDA Metropolitan Planning Director Shakeel Anjum Minhas told The Express Tribune that the LDA was proposing to change permissible land use in the area [for purposes other than agriculture]. The authority would develop basic infrastructure for the purpose, he said.

Most of the participants at the meeting objected to the proposal, saying this would not contribute positively to the social and physical structure of the city.

Rabia Ezdi, an urban development expert, said growing city sprawl was not a positive model for development. “City boundaries need to be demarcated and limited.”

She said the argument that all cities grow with time was redundant. “As outlined in LDA’s master plan, most of the land will be used to build gated housing societies for the elite, thereby isolating lower classes, especially current residents of the area.”

Lahore Conservation Society general secretary Imrana Tiwana said once the land was declared open for urban use, green cover in the area might be removed with impunity.

“The LDA is not a neutral authority in this regard. It stands to profit from the development,” Tiwana said. She suggested that a third party be included to ensure that the LDA adhered to international standards of urban planning.

Lahore Conservation Society president Kamil Khan Mumtaz said there was no need to change the urban model of Lahore. The government, he said, only wants to balance the landfills of high and low density areas.

Rafia Kamal, a member of the Park Bachao Tehreek, said the basis of the master plan was not consistent with international environmental standards. She said international standards for city planning required a city to have 35 to 40 per cent green cover. “Only 5 per cent of Lahore is green.”  Most of the people at the meeting said that the public hearing was a formality that the LDA had gotten out of the way. They did not think that the LDA would take their views into consideration as the hearing did not have legal standing.

Minhas said that the LDA had adhered to planning standards in the propose plan. He said they would take into account the recommendations and suggestions made at the hearing, “within the sphere of the law”.

There will be no more public hearings on the issue, as only one is required, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2015.