LAHORE: WWF-Pakistan organised an award-distribution ceremony on Thursday at its head office to acknowledge the efforts of conservationists who had worked to protect the environment or raised awareness among people during the past year.

The Syed Asad Ali Conservation Award, Women in Nature Conservation Award and The Living Planet Award were given.

The Syed Asad Ali Award for Nature Conservation is a tribute to late Syed Asad Ali for his contributions to nature conservation in Pakistan.

This year the award was presented to Lal Bibi from Lasbella, Balochistan. She was presented the award, certificate and a cheque by Syed Babar Ali, the WWF-Pakistan emeritus president.

Lal Bibi, founder of the Sahil Women Welfare Society, has been promoting sustainable fishing practices in Gadani Town, Balochistan. Lal Bibi has also helped 60 fisherfolk families in improving the quality of fish-catch by providing them insulated fish boxes.

Her most significant contribution to conservation was rescuing 200 stranded pan-tropical spotted dolphins in Gadani, Balochistan, by leading a group of fishermen during a 15-hour operation, which resulted in the safe rescue and release of the dolphins.

WWF-Pakistan initiated the Women in Nature Conservation Award in 2012 to recognise the significant role of women in the management and conservation of natural resources. The award was inspired by the Syed Asad Ali Conservation Award’s motive of recognising communities involved in nature conservation. This year, the award has been presented to Nuzhat Siddiqui and Nazia Ihsan. Brig (retd) Mukhtar Ahmad, WWF-Pakistan, emeritus vice president, presented the awards, certificates and cheques to the recipients.

Nuzhat Siddiqui, an environmental educationist, is carrying out capacity-building activities in 630 city government schools and has also co-authored a publication titled Sehatmand Mahol aur Khawateen, published by WWF-Pakistan under its Indus for All Programme (IFAP). Nazia Ihsan, a government school teacher in Khanispur, Abbottabad district established 16 nature clubs in her school and trained almost 1,000 students in natural resource conservation activities.

The Living Planet Award was established in 2007, and is awarded to non-government organisations, community-based organisations or researchers that have made a unique and promising contribution to nature conservation. This year, WWF-Pakistan presented two living planet awards. Hammad Naqi Khan, WWF-Pakistan director general, presented the award to Himalayan Wildlife Foundation, Islamabad for conducting an outstanding project on the conservation of mahseer fish in Poonch River and Mangla Dam. The second award was given to Keenjhar Maroonara Welfare and Development Organisation, Thatta for the determined efforts to protect partridges in Jhimpir, Thatta.

Syed Babar Ali paid tribute to Syed Asad Ali and the award recipients. Dr Kauser Malik, the Scientific Committee chairman; Zahoor Raja; and Dr Kausar Cheema also attended the ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.

The judge had earlier sought a reply from the federal government.

On Thursday, a deputy attorney general told the court parliament had already empowered the government to change prices of petroleum products.

The government could impose the tax under the Sales Tax Act, he said. He said the court could not interfere in the matter that he said was a policy issue.

All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajiran secretary general Naeem Mir had filed the petition submitting that raising tax after reducing petroleum prices was an injustice to people. He said prices of petroleum prices had gone down worldwide but the government was not passing on the benefit to the citizens.

He requested the court to direct the federal government to withdraw the tax.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.

Maria Rizwan, 10, was working as a housemaid at the house Zaeem Shah in Shadman Colony when died.

Her family had protested in front of his house when they were told that she had fallen off stairs on Wednesday.

On Thursday, they gathered in front of the mortuary of Allied Hospital and protest against hospital administration for delaying post mortem examination.

Abdul Lateef, one of the protesters, told newsmen that police had sent the body for autopsy on Wednesday.

“We spent the entire night in the cold waiting for the post mortem report. In the morning, we were told that it had not yet started,” he said.

The protesters chanted slogans and urged administration of Allied Hospital to speed up the post mortem examination.

Allied Hospital Medical Superintendent (MS) Rashid Maqbool met the protesters and assured them that the autopsy would be conducted as soon as possible.

Maqbool said post mortem examinations were normally conducted during the day.

He said forensic experts left at sunset and the morgue was closed on Sundays. He said the body had arrived at the hospital late in the evening.

He said according to the preliminary examination, the girl had been beaten.

Peoples Colony SHO said a case had been registered on the complaint of Rizwan, father of the girl.

“The complainant told us that he was contacted by Zaeem Shah and that Maria was unwell and she needed medical attention,” he said.

He said police had recovered Maria’s body from the house. He said one of her arms was broken. He said the accused had left the house.

“Safiya, another maid at the house, said Zaeem Shah and his wife Zainab Bibi had beaten the girl to death when she burnt their clothes while ironing them,” he said.

He said police believed that the girl had died from her wounds because she had not received prompt medical attention.

He said Shah and Zainab had been arrested in a raid.

Investigation Officer Shafqat Shah said the couple would be produced before a judicial magistrate for their physical remand on Friday.

Shah said he had not killed Maria deliberately. He said he had slapped her and she had tripped and fallen off stairs.

“We were arranging transport to take her to a hospital when she died,” he said. He said he regretted her death.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.

Funeral prayers were offered for the deceased at his residence in Rajawala on Thursday. A large number of students and colleagues attended. Pervez had obtained his PhD degree from the University of Wales in 1995.

Earlier, he had got his MSc in Horticulture from the University of Agriculture in 1982. In 1983, he had joined the Horticulture Department as a lecturer.

Pervez had completed two post-doctorates degrees from University of Wales in 2005 and Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia in 2007. He had served as a horticulture engineer in Dubai and had been associated with the UAF for more than 30 years.

He had published more than 121 research papers in journals and 125 articles in the national newspapers and magazines.

Pervez had received Star Award in 2003 and 2007 from South Asian publications, Karachi-Pakistan and Endeavour Award in 2007 and 2010. UAF Vice Chancellor Iqrar Ahmad Khan said Pervez’s contribution to the university could never be forgotten. “Pervez was a fine person, well-read and sensitive,” he said.

“He never shied from telling the truth and was popular among students due to his progressive thinking,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.

Addressing a meeting on Friday, Dera Ghazi Khan Commissioner Muhammad Saqib Aziz said school administrations had been asked to activate scouts, conduct emergency drills and display emergency contact numbers in classrooms.

He said under orders from the provincial government, a quick response force would be set up in each division of the Punjab.

“Combating terrorism is a great challenge,” he said. “The government will root out this menace with vigour.”

He said the district administration was finalising security arrangements for schools under the guidelines issued by the provincial government.

Regional Police Officer Rehmatullah Niazi said training for security guards, peons, teachers and other school staff was in the final stages. He said the district administration was deliberating on a plan for arming school staff, issuing arms licences and training them.

He said 582 schools in Dera Ghazi Khan, 135 schools in Layyah, 221 schools in Muzaffaragarh and 48 schools in Rajanpur had not met security guidelines.

He said security cameras were being installed and boundary walls being constructed around these schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.

Multan Cattle Market Management Company (CMMC) Managing Director Zafar Ziya has sent the reference against a number of officials, including Naseem Sadiq, the former Multan DCO who is currently serving as the livestock and dairy development secretary.

The reference accuses the officials of embezzlement of Rs35 million in the establishment of the CMMC.

Sadiq, a BS-19 officer, served as Multan DCO from October 8, 2012 to April 4, 2013.

Ziya has requested the NAB to initiate an inquiry against Sadiq, the then town municipal officer Iqbal Farid and town finance officer Rana Khalil Ahmed of Sher Shah Town, Multan.

In the reference, Ziya claimed that the cattle market was shifted from Samu Rana to Sher Shah in 2013. “Market affairs were supervised by Iqbal Farid and Multan additional commissioner Qazi Zafar Iqbal.

A mafia consisting of 350 to 400 people, planted with the consent and approval of Sadiq, acquired private land measuring 14 acres on lease in Sher Shah for establishing the market.

The mafia, headed by Javed Arain and Malik Younas, collected millions of rupees from cattle traders with the help of the TMO and the former DCO.

They misappropriated funds in shifting of the cattle market and caused a loss of Rs35 million to the public exchequer,” he said. “Sadiq purchased agricultural land from his share in the money,” he claimed.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Sadiq said that the cattle market was initially operated by private persons. “The CMMC was established on the instructions of the chief minister.

The yearly contract was awarded in a transparent manner for Rs280 million in 2013.

This year, Ziya auctioned the contract for just Rs40 million.

The chief minister took notice of the auction and constituted a three-member committee, including me (Sadiq), to investigate the matter. We have submitted a report to the CM, pointing out huge corruption in the auction. We have recommended action against corrupt officials, including Ziya,” he said.

“I am open to investigation of my assets. I have never been guilty of dishonesty in my entire career,” Naseem Sadiq said.

Ziya, however, denied that he had been found guilty in any corruption inquiry.

Requesting anonymity, a NAB official confirmed that the reference had been received.

“Proceedings will be started in accordance with the law,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.

SSP Saleem said this was compounded by officials of the wing devoting their energy to primarily solving cases registered under Section 489-F (dishonestly issuing a cheque) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) rather than cracking cases of crime against property, person, land grabbing that impact the lives of the public. He said he had formulated a plan to revamp the wing. SSP Saleem said results of the implementation of this plan would be visible to everyone soon. “No cases of crime against property are getting solved these days. We will strive to change this.”

He said he had discovered that most officials focused on solving cases registered under Section 489-F rather than cracking cases affecting the public on joining the wing. SSP Saleem said he wanted to revamp the wing’s operations to transform it from a recovery force to one that proactively solved citizens’ problems.

The SSP said another problem compromising the wing’s operations was an inferiority complex prevalent among some officials vis-à-vis those from the operations wing. Saleem said this prevented some officials from effectively discharging their duties. “I will try my level-best to correct this misconception by impressing on them the fact that effective investigation is inextricably linked to professional policing.”

He said poor coordination among the prosecution agency and the wing was another pressing concern. SSP Saleem said cases against people wanted for crimes against person and embezzlement were often so feeble that suspects managed to walk free from courts following preliminary hearings. He said he had called on the district public prosecutor to remedy this. SSP Saleem said a mechanism would be developed to effectively crack cases that impact the lives of the public including murder and abduction. He said this would enable police to formulate strong cases with the help of prosecutors. SSP Saleem said this would ensure that justice was meted out to criminals.

The SSP said he had formulated a specialised training programme for the wing’s officials. He said the programme would commence at police lines next week.

He said he had asked the director general of the forensic science laboratory to teach officials modern ways of investigation and collecting evidence. SSP Saleem said lawyers would also teach officials to make strong cases for prosecution in the training.

SSP Saleem said monitoring the performance of officials was key to improving standards. He said a mechanism had been formulated in this regard with the assistance of Operations DIG Haider Ashraf. SSP Saleem said a performance audit of officials from the investigation and operations wing of the force would commence on Monday. SSP Saleem said officials effectively discharging duties would be rewarded with appreciation letters and those underperforming would be punished. He said this would improve discipline in the wing and time management standards. “There is no space in the wing for cavalier officials. Only driven individuals would work here,” SSP Saleem said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.

“We have applied to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority for a new helpline,” Operations DIG Haider Ashraf told The Express Tribune on Thursday.

“We have requested them to allot us the number 911 for the purpose.” He said schools would use the helpline to alert police in case of an emergency.

He said a ‘panic button’ would be placed at all schools; these have already been installed at schools in Cantonment. He said the buttons would be controlled from the offices of divisional SPs. The main control room would be at the DIG’s office.

Ashraf said schools had been divided into four categories – A+, A, B and C – in line with security threats they faced. He said schools had been asked to follow certain standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“These include raising the outer boundary walls of schools to up to nine feet, arranging walkthrough gates and barbed wires and appointing security guards.” He said police would soon train security guards of schools at Police Lines. “Police officers have been directed to meet school administrations in their areas and follow the SoPs. Action will be taken against those failing to adhere to these guidelines.” The DIG also chaired a meeting attended by Security SP Liaqat Malik, Headquarters SP Umer Saeed, Mujahid SP Zahid Marwat and Security DSP Pervaiz Butt.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.

The Authority currently exercises powers under the Punjab Transfusion of Safe Blood Ordinance 1999. It sent the first draft of the Bill to the Health secretary on January 6. The draft was sent back with some observations. A copy of the draft was also sent to the Law Department for vetting.

BTA officials said they had incorporated the Health Department’s observations and prepared another draft which they would send to the department on Friday.

The Blood Transfusion Authority has asked for blood transfusion officers for each district and has sought powers to seal unlicensed blood banks. At present, the powers to seal such premises lie with district governments. The Bill has also sought more penalties, fines and fee structures. It has suggested setting up a complaint cell where people can inform the BTA about unlicensed blood banks and sale of blood.

The BTA functions with one doctor, Dr Jaffar Saleem, who is also the BTA secretary, and four clerks. The Authority has nominated a panel of eight to 10 consultants from various hospitals who, based on availability, accompany the BTA inspectors on their raids.

Last year, the BTA had moved a summary to create 10 seats for medical officers. The government had approved two seats because of financial constraints.

The Blood Transfusion Authority initiated a crackdown against unlicensed blood banks on January 1. Due to a shortage of staff, the Health Department asked the health executive district officer to proceed against all such blood banks. Drug inspectors were given a check list to assess safety protocols. The Blood Transfusion Authority gave a list of 400 unlicensed blood banks to district governments.

Dr Saleem said they had received applications for licences from 220 of the 400 blood banks on the list. He said they had issued licences to 20 blood banks and had asked 50 of them to improve safety standards. The rest of them were being processed. He said the blood banks have been told to apply for registration or face legal action. He said all district offices of health were cooperating with them.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.

Sweets were distributed at the party’s city secretariat. Party workers and supporters gathered at Liberty Roundabout in the evening and distributed sweets among passers-by.

Members of the Youth Wing were at the forefront calling people to join the celebrations.

“We have gathered here to celebrate our leader’s wedding,” Youth Wing south Punjab general secretary Umar Gillani said.

“We are happy that Khan has made an official announcement about his nikkah,” he said.

Punjab Women’s Wing joint secretary Lubna Malik said the news of Khan getting married had been well received by party workers. “Have you seen the couple? They look beautiful,” she said.

“Now our bhabhi will also contribute towards achieving Naya Pakistan,” she said.

The party also arranged a gathering at the Punjab Secretariat where sweets were distributed among PTI office-bearers.

Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry, secretary general Yasmin Rashid and information secretary Andleeb Abbas issued a statement on Thursday evening congratulating the chairman.

The party announced that it would hold a small gathering on Friday (today) afternoon to celebrate Khan’s nikah.

A function was also arranged at the residence of Lahore Women Wing’s vice president Tanzila Imran Khan. Party workers and supporters sang songs and celebrated sweets on the occasion.

“We are celebrating along the lines of dholki,” Tanzila said. “It is a great news for all of us. We are excited as our leader is going to start a new life.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.

LAHORE: The country’s future depends upon the youth and the Apna Rozgar Scheme is an important step towards empowering the youth of our country, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Thursday.

He was addressing a ceremony held on Thursday to announce the winners of applicants who had been selected to get vehicles under the Apna Rozgar Scheme.

The winners were chosen by using a computerised ballot system. Sharif spoke on the occasion to two of the winners over the phone.

Fifty thousand vehicles are going to be distributed among the winners, an official statement issued in connection with the occasion, said. The scheme is being implemented with the cooperation of the Punjab Bank.

“The youth comprise 60 per cent of the country’s population. It is only by empowering the youth that Pakistan will progress and prosper. The Apna Rozgar Scheme is an important step in that direction,” he said.

“The scheme is free of corruption and nepotism. A 10 per cent quota has been reserved for south Punjab applicants in the scheme,” the chief minister said.

The vehicles are being provided against loans. The mark-up will be paid by the Punjab government. “The vehicles are being provided at Rs70,000 less than the market price,” he said.

Referring to the political situation in the country, the chief minister said that the country was facing the serious challenge of terrorism.

“The objective of national progress and prosperity cannot be achieved without elimination of the menace. The whole nation, from Peshawar to Karachi, is united in the war against terrorism and wants eradication of this scourge,” he said.

Punjab Assembly Member Sheikh Allauddin said that more than 150,000 applications had been received under the scheme. “This shows the people’s confidence in the government and its welfare schemes,” he said.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan, National Assembly Member Pervaiz Malik, Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Government Spokesman Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Punjab Assembly Members Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Waheed Gul, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Nawaz Chohan, Punjab President Naeemud Din Khan were also present at the ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, also ordered the federal government to promulgate an ordinance for empowering ECP to hold similar elections in all the 43 cantonment boards of the country. The next hearing is due on February 12.

During the hearing, Akram Sheikh, counsel for ECP, requested the court to bind Sindh and Punjab to complete the election process so that the commission could announce the polls schedule within a week.

Earlier, the ECP complained that the governments were unhelpful in regards to holding the elections. In its report, the commission stressed that the provinces have not yet provided complete data to initiating delimitation.  “The ECP is committed to initiate the process as early as possible after the receipt of information relating to demarcation of local areas, determination of union councils/wards and authenticated maps from the governments as well as amendments in the respective acts”.

In its report, the commission informed about a meeting on December 30, 2014 wherein local government secretary Punjab conveyed that demarcation and determination of seats in the LG institutions have been completed for 31 districts, whereas the requisite notification with authenticated maps would be provided to the commission soon after the process in the remaining five districts. The draft for removing anomalies in Punjab LG Act 2013 will be presented before the provincial assembly for a possible amendment in the act.

The details regarding local areas, number of union councils and wards in each LG along-with maps of 24 districts, have been sent to the provincial election commissioner. Information regarding the remaining 11 districts would be available soon, it added.

Likewise, in Sindh, demarcation of local governments and the number of seats, preparation of authenticated maps is in progress and the details would be provided in the next few days. Moreover, draft for removing anomalies in Sindh LG Act 2013 would be tabled in the provincial assembly.

Referring to LG elections in cantonment boards, it said a draft of the ordinance for amending Cantonments Ordinance 2002, empowering ECP, has been prepared by director general of military lands and cantonments department and would be promulgated within a couple of weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.

LAHORE: Two minors were presented before a Lahore High Court bench on Friday alongside their mother and grandfather on account of being left at their neighbour’s house amid a conflict between their parents, Express News reported.

Amna, 5 and Umer, 6 were reportedly left at their neighbour’s home following a dispute between their parents, in which their father, Adnan Zafar, allegedly beat up their mother, Seema Bibi, and kicked her out of the house.

Upon questioning in court about how a mother could leave her children, Seema claimed that she was pregnant and was beaten up by her husband and kicked out and was not able to take her children with her.

The children were eventually taken to their aunt’s home while their mother went to her parents home.

Zafar, who was residing in Pakistan on a visiting visa, had returned to Dubai. A petition was filed on behalf of the children and the court has now ordered for the children to be handed back to their mother.

LAHORE: Suspected Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) member Roohullah, along with two others was killed in an alleged encounter with the police in Lahore early on Saturday morning, Express News reported.

According to initial details, police and security forces had conducted a joint raid on a suspected militant hideout on Burki road.

In the ensuing confrontation, Roohullah, also known as Qureshi Commander, and two of his companions were killed.

Officials claimed that Roohullah, who hailed from Bajaur Agency, was a member of Mullah Fazlullah’s TTP group and he was the group’s commander in Lahore. They added that he was involved in the November 2014 Wagah border attack.

RAWALPINDI: Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench on Friday issued notices to the federation, air chief and Judge Advocate General (JAG) to file a reply to a petition challenging death sentences awarded by a military court to three convicts involved in attack on former president Pervez Musharraf.

The convicts – former Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officials Khalid Mehmood, Nawazish Ali and a civilian Mushtaq Ahmad – were scheduled to be executed on Friday night and their death warrants were received at Adiala Jail on Thursday. However, the executions were automatically stayed after LHC issued notices.

The petition claimed that the convicts’ trial by PAF Court was unfair and the death sentences were awarded with mala fide intentions. It said it was a ‘clear-cut’ case of attempted murder but the PAF court ‘illegally’ tried them under the charges of sedition, to ensure they receive capital punishment.

“Ironically the individual [Pervez Musharraf] on whom the so-called attempt was made is still alive, unharmed and uninjured so under which law the perpetrators could be given a death sentence?” the petition asked.

It said as per the PAF Act the civilians could not be given death sentence. “[However] the PAF authorities’ with mala fide intentions changed the book [of PAF rules and regulations] and got published a new book and the clause relating to sentence of civilians was deleted without any authority and justification,” the petition claimed.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the convicts’ counsel Inamur Rahim said a military court cannot award the death sentence to a civilian. “Moreover, it was an attempt to murder for which the convicts can be imprisoned for not more than 10 years while my clients are behind bars for the last 11 years,” he added

The accused had blown up a bridge in Jhanda Chichi, Rawalpindi in 2003, few minutes before the arrival of Musharraf’s convoy.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2015.

“Engineers have been asked to complete the maintenance work early. Hopofully, the supply will be restored in the next 24 hours.”

Separately, SNGPL General Manager Amjad Mumtaz said he was doing his best to get Faisalabad its share of gas.

He was speaking to several businessmen during his visit to the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He said a crack down would be launched on those robbing others of gas by installing compressors at the supply lines. He said depletion of gas reserves and addition of new consumers was the major reason for gas shortage.

He said the government had framed a national energy policy and a gas load management policy to overcome the crisis. “However, immediate relief is not possible. Consumers should, therefore, use gas sparingly particularly during the winter season.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2015.

He was chairing a meeting of the deans committee at the Syndicate Room at the UAF. The meeting decided that university would have a single entry and exit point.

The VC said the university’s Gobindpura gate at Narwala Road would be open for traffic. He said all other university gates would remain closed. The UAF vice chancellor has directed the meeting to ensure foolproof security around the campus. He said traffic passes were being issued to staff members and students for their entry at the campus. The university-run laboratory high schools will open on January 12.

The Laboratory Junior School (nursery to grade five) will open on January 19.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2015.

LAHORE: Lahore Development Authority and a private company signed an agreement on Friday on build operate transfer basis, using private investment, to construct a flyover at Kahna Railway Crossing.  

The company will construct a 1.5 km-long flyover on Kahna Kacha – Defence Road, railway crossing, at a cost of Rs3 billion. The two-lane dual carriageway will be 50-feet wide and walkways will be constructed for pedestrian use on both sides of the flyover.

The LDA will be responsible for shifting utility services for this purpose and will arrange the land for it. Around 9,000 vehicles will travel on the flyover daily. The private company will recover its investment by collecting toll tax from vehicles passing through the flyover for 25 years.

Defence Road is a major link between Multan Road, Raiwind Road, Ferozepur Road and Defence Housing Society. Kahna Railway Crossing, the main railway crossing, has frequent gate closures to allow trains passage because of which traffic moving to Defence Road experiences long delays. The flyover will ease the traffic flow at this junction.

It will also benefit residents of several private housing schemes in south of Lahore. It will also provide passage to the new vegetable and fruit market and facilitate movement towards Metro Bus Service.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2015.

An official cognisant of the development told The Express Tribune that the IGP was on the cusp of finalising the proposal and a notification in this regard would be issued next week. The official said district officials had selected the best officials to be posted to the revamped wing. He said officials from the Special Branch at the central police office had been screening the chosen officials.

An official from the Special Branch said their profiles were being vetted to ascertain their mindsets and any connections with banned outfits. He said the branch was also conducting aptitude tests of the officials.

The official said the branch was also trying to establish whether the shortlisted candidates had been accused of corruption.

“Sagacity, good memory and observation skills are the yardsticks being used to gauge their suitability to positions in the investigation wing,” he said.

Another senior police official told The Express Tribune that these officials would discharge duties at the wing for a period of two to three years. He said that this would go a long way in improving performance standards of the police.

The official said IGP Sukhera would finalise the exact tenure of their postings soon. He said this would improve time-management and performance standards at the wing.

The official said the initiative would enable the officials to focus solely on investigations. He said earlier officials from the department used to be deployed for other duties.

He said the force was replete with instances of officials in the midst of making pivotal headway in solving cases being transferred.

The official said this had caused long delays in investigations.

The official said the decision to make the wing autonomous would remedy this. “Only the best officials will be posted to the revamped wing,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2015.

LAHORE: Police registered a case on Friday against the prayer leader of a mosque in Mughalpura under the Punjab Control of Loudspeakers Ordinance.

A police spokesman said the FIR was registered against Faisal Sher Abid after Fajr prayers early on Friday morning.

He said later, some residents of the area protested and blocked Shalamar Link road for traffic and chanted slogans.

Lahore police said they had arrested 29 people and registered 58 cases on Thursday-Friday for violating the ban on use of loudspeakers, wall chalking, inciting hate and for carrying banned literature.

Operations DIG Haider Ashraf said search operations were conducted in several parts of the city. He added police had launched a crackdown on misuse of loudspeakers.

“FIRs would be registered on the spot against those found violating the rules,” he said.

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Separately, police said they had registered 593 cases related to the misuse of loudspeakers and arrested 297 people in the province  on Thursday-Friday. They said 16 cases had been registered over provocative speeches; 130 people had been arrested. Twenty-five were arrested for wall-chalking. Those inciting citizens to anti-state activities would be dealt with strictly, IGP Mushtaq Sukhera said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2015.