LAHORE: The government is taking steps to utilise mineral resources for economic development, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Tuesday.

He was talking to a delegation of Chinese company, Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) that is working on exploration of mineral resources at Chiniot-Rajwa.

The chief minister expressed satisfaction with the pace of the project and said that that exploration of mineral resources at Chiniot-Rajwa was of vital importance. “This project is of revolutionary significance for Punjab’s economy. Pakistan is rich in mineral wealth. It can be utilised for strengthening the national economy,” he said.

“The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, led by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, is making efforts to develop the natural resources of the country,” the chief minister said.

He said there were vast resources of iron ore at Chiniot-Rajwa. “Progress on the project has been satisfactory. Ore samples from Chiniot-Rajwa were sent to international laboratories. They have detected up to 65 per cent iron in the samples,” he said.

“PML-N government acquired the services of international consultants and signed an agreement with the Chinese company. A sound strategy has been adopted by the government for the utilisation of the mineral wealth. There is also a possibility of finding copper from the site. Initial results have been very encouraging,” he said.

German expert Dr Jurgen Hartsh briefed the chief minster about the progress on the project and declared the samples of iron ore and copper highly satisfactory. Minerals Minister Sher Ali Khan, MCC chief economist Zhang Mengxing and MCC mining chairman Zou Jianhui were present on the occasion.

Sinohydro team meets CM

A delegation of Chinese energy company, Sinohydro, called on the chief minister and expressed interest in setting up an LNG power generation project.

Sharif said steps were being taken to overcome energy crisis. “The government has adopted an effective strategy for power generation through gas, coal, solar and other means,” he said.

He welcomed the interest shown by the Chinese company in setting up LNG-based energy project.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2015.

He was speaking at a conference organised by the Democracy Reporting International (DRI) and the HRCP on the role of the civil society in GSP Plus compliance monitoring. Rahman said this was not without precedent as Sri Lanka had lost its GSP Plus status earlier for failure to comply with international commitments.

He cautioned Pakistan to be careful as it had already flouted one of the commitments by lifting a moratorium on execution of convicts on death row.

Rahman questioned the progress made on implementing the conventions Pakistan had ratified. He said the nation had failed to implement the developments and changes highlighted in the conventions.

Rahman said Pakistan had failed to regularly present progress reports on the implementation of ratified conventions. He said the civil society had not been taken into confidence during the rare instances in which the reports were filed.

Zulfiqar Shah of the DRI briefed those present on the GSP Plus, compliance requirements and reporting mechanisms.

He said the award of the status made it incumbent on the EU to comprehensively monitor the state of human rights in grantee countries. Shah said that the EU attached great importance to the opinion of the civil society in this regard.

“The GSP Plus is a great opportunity for the civil society to ensure protection of human rights,” he said.

Peter Jacob of the Centre for Social Justice said international organisations operating in the nation were popularly perceived to be furthering their own agendas. He said most people believed that such organisations promoted vested interests behind a veneer of fostering social change. Jacob said this had to be changed.

He said that civil society ought to play a pivotal role in analysing the situation by harnessing the potential of its professional resources. Jacob also suggested the establishment of a committee which would include organisations such as the DRI that were monitoring compliance with European Union recommendations.

Those present on the occasion agreed to form a committee to monitor and advocate compliance with rights enshrined in conventions associated with the GSP Plus.

They also furthered the idea that they could potentially act as pressure groups and lobby the government, international bodies and businesses to promote human and labour rights in the nation.

Osama Tariq of the Pakistan Workers’ Federation, Advocate Munaza Hashmi and Punjab Union of Journalists Secretary Amir Sohail also spoke on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2015.

Bhatti was responding to Dr Waseem Akhtar’s query about progress on local election during a question and answer session on the first day of the 12th session. He assured the House that the government was sharing relevant data and constituency maps with the ECP.

The House managed to pass four resolutions on a day otherwise marred by disorder as opposition members kept pointing lack of quorum and later staged a token walkout against government’s alleged lack of seriousness in holding the proceedings.

The resolutions concerned use of harmful pesticides on vegetation, audit of private schools, the publishing of blasphemous cartoons by a French magazine and the death of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah. A resolution seeking action against factories involved in production of spurious medicines was turned down.

The proceedings of the session that started with an hour’s delay were interrupted as an argument began between Deputy Speaker Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani, who was chairing the session, and Opposition member Ehsan Riaz Fatayna. Fatyana’s request to speak on a point of order had been turned down by the chair who wanted to first get done with the agenda items for the day. Fatyana then started pointing out the quorum and asked that the session be adjourned. “The House should operate in accordance with the rules”, he said in response to the chair’s request that he let the proceedings continue.

The opposition members staged a token walk out on Sardar Shahabud Din’s call to protest what they said was government’s lack of seriousness about the proceedings.

They were complaining that instead of taking action against the parliamentary secretary for legal affairs for misleading the House on the measures taken by the government on the Article 25-A of the Constitution, the chair had disposed of the matter.

Shaikh Alauddin had earlier raised reservations about the parliamentary secretary for legal affairs’ claim that the government was ensuring compliance with a constitutional provision requiring private schools to enroll children from poor households. Alauddin had rejected the claim as baseless.  The matter was referred to the chair who disposed it of without further action.Minister for Labour Raja Ashfaq Sarwar had also suggested that the secretary be pressed for an accurate response. Earlier, a four-member panel of chairmen comprising MPAs Qamarul Islam Raja, Mian Marghoob Ahmed, Raheela Khadim Hussain and Qazi Ahmed Saeed was also constituted for the session.

The House was told that under a new rule attendance of each member would be updated on a daily basis on the PA website.The session will continue on Wednesday morning.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2015.

CHINIOT: Major reserves of iron ore as well as copper, silver and gold were discovered in Chiniot on Wednesday, which Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said could end the country’s “begging bowl” culture.

The reserves were found in Chiniot city in Punjab by Chinese group the Metallurgical Cooperation of China.

A senior provincial administrative official told AFP that initial estimates indicated 500 million tonnes of iron ore — a primary ingredient in steelmaking — had been discovered.

He said the Chinese company has expressed interest in setting up a steel mill on the site, adding that the extracted iron had been tested in Swiss and Canadian laboratories, which found 60-65 percent of it to be high grade.

The official added that silver, copper and gold samples would also be sent for testing soon.

Speaking at the site on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the discovery could help Pakistan’s stuttering economy turn a corner and end its “begging bowl” culture.

“Instead of asking for coal from abroad, we will ask for it from Thar,” the prime minister said, while speaking at a briefing regarding the discovery of precious deposits of gold, copper and iron at Rajua in Chiniot on Wednesday. He added that the natural resources of the country will be fully exploited for the prosperity and development of Pakistan.

The prime minister said local and foreign investors will be invited to invest in projects after the completion of tests, adding that the government will fully facilitate the investors.

“It is Allah’s blessing that under the lush green fields rich deposits of copper, iron and gold have been found, which will help the country get rid of the ‘begging bowl’ for good,” PM Nawaz said.

The premier also mentioned Reko Diq in Balochistan being heavily rich in minerals, while adding that “Balochistan would benefit from this.”

Nawaz said the government is facing three challenges at the moment; security, shortage of electricity and gas, and restoring peace in the country.

Conflict, instability, corruption and a chronic energy shortage have hampered Pakistan’s economy for years.

The IMF granted a $6.6billion loan to Pakistan in September 2013 on the condition that it carry out extensive economic reforms, particularly in the energy and taxation sectors.

ISLAMABAD: The legal heirs of Salmaan Taseer filed an application before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday, requesting it to reject the murder appeal of Mumtaz Qadri, the self-confessed killer of the former governor Punjab.

The application was filed by Salmaan Taseer’s children Shaan Taseer, Sara Taseer and Sanam Taseer.

In their application, the complainant stated that they came to know that the defence counsel, former chief justice of the Lahore High Court Khawaja Muhammad Sharif had informed the court that the legal heirs have no interest to pursue the case.

However, they sated that they have not received any court notice in this regard.

“It is disrespectful, abhorrent and irresponsible; the counsel should be prevented from making any such statement on behalf of persons whom he does not represent,” the application stated.

They maintained the accused had committed a heinous murder in cold blood and does not deserve mercy. Further, the heirs appealed the accused is a traitor of the country as he murdered the former governor during duty.

The complainant requested the court to reject his murder appeal. However, a court official told The Express Tribune the court has not yet received the application.

The hearing of Qadri’s appeal took an interesting turn on Friday, when the IHC remarked that even a judge cannot touch an accused after awarding him punishment; yet, the defence counsel insisted that a person can kill another person under unusual circumstances.

RELATED POST: Salmaan Taseer murder: IHC dumps Qadri’s defence arguments

When the two-member bench, comprising Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, resumed hearing on Friday, Justice Siddiqui questioned whether the case should be decided on the basis of emotions or the rule of law.

Counsel for Qadri Justice (retd) Mian Nazir Akhar insisted that “anyone can be killed under unusual circumstances.” Quoting examples from Islamic history, he mentioned incidents in which blasphemers were killed for making derogatory remarks against the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and their act was appreciated by the then rulers.

LAHORE: The Punjab government on Wednesday approved a proposal by Punjab Police for purchase of 62 armoured vehicles, and has released Rs350 million for a batch of 20 vehicles in the coming days.

These vehicles will be purchased in the 2014-15 and the 2015-16 financial years in three phases. The 62 vehicles are expected to cost the exchequer a total of Rs1.085 billion, a senior police official told The Express Tribune on Wednesday.

“The estimated cost of each armoured vehicle is Rs17.5 million,” he explained.

An official of the home department added that the Punjab Home Department had agreed to the demand from the Punjab Police, and had recommended the Punjab government to approve it.

“The funds to purchase armoured vehicles would be provided from the allocated amount of Rs5 billion for maintenance of law and order.”

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Operations DIG Dr Haider said that securing the lives of police officials was important, especially in the aftermath of the Peshawar carnage. He added that there was constant threat from militants and extremist outfits as law enforcers implement the ongoing National Action Plan.

“These armoured vehicles would ensure smooth sailing for police officials in certain areas where they might not travel in other vehicles of the department,” he said, adding that it would boost morale of officials working in the field.

Another senior police official, who was privy to the development, said it is a great decision which reflects the government’s resolve towards investing more in policing, because there is absolutely no doubt that investment in policing pays off.

“Developed nations of the world had incorporated the financing of policing into the sphere of development, but unfortunately in Pakistan, policing is considered a non-developmental affair, perhaps because of the colonial hangover,” the official said.

The initiative has been taken to enhance capacity building, facilitate collaborative decision making, improve administrative standards and enable the formulation and execution of effective policies.

Six posts have been renamed under the plan. The post of Add IGP Punjab has been renamed Establishment Add IGP, the R&D Add IGP as Operations Add IGP, Discipline and Internal Investigation DIG as Establishment-I DIG, Establishment DIG as Establishment DIG II, Career and Planning Add IGP as Complaints Add IGP and R&D Deputy Director as Legislative Business Add IGP.

IGP Sukhera said the decision to revamp the CPO had been taken solely to improve coordination standards at the office. He said the development would enable the office to monitor official proceedings, improve handling of pending cases, expedite investigations and ensure quick disposal of business. IGP Sukhera also ordered clerks’ jobs to be given to with upright and dedicated officials. He was informed that staff at the CPO Accounts Branch was being replaced on his order. IGP Sukhera directed Training AIG Muhammad Usman Khattak to introduce four courses at all training schools and colleges. The subjects he identified were investigation, riot-handling, security and clerkship.

He directed officials to expedite completion of DSPs’ annual confidential reports. IGP Sukhera said officials filing falsified ACRs of delinquent DSPs would be held accountable. He also directed to collate the data of all proclaimed offenders in cooperation with the National Database and Regulatory Authority and the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).  Progress on the procurement of new armoured personnel carriers, water cannons and helicopters for the force was also reviewed at the meeting.

Welfare and Finance Add IGP Sohail Khan, R&D Add IGP Rai Altaf Hussain, Training Add IGP Khattak, PHP Add IGP Javed Islam, Investigation Add IGP Tariq Yasin, R&D DIG Ghulam Dogar, PHP DIG Salman, Establishment DIG Nawaz Warraich were present.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2015.

Sughran Bibi, the petitioner, claimed that police had illegally detained Mushtaq, her son, and had tortured him.

A bailiff had recovered Mushtaq and produced him before the court. The man was unable to walk without assistance.

An official from the police station told the court that Mushtaq was involved in 18 robberies including one at former chief justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Jillani’s brother’s residence.

Justice Aalia Neelum ordered police to produce the suspect before the concerned judicial magistrate and have him examined by a doctor.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2015.

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Punjab president Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo said on Wednesday that former president Pervez Musharraf would be defeated in a manner reminiscent of former president Ziaul Haq in the by-elections for NA-137.

He was speaking to party activists in Nankana Sahib. Wattoo said ministers would not be allowed to canvass for votes with protocol. He asked divisional coordinator Chaudhry Manzoor to write to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as the election schedule had been announced.

Rai Shah Jehan Bhatti, the PPP candidate in the election, said the people of Nankana would ensure that Nankana Sahib remained noted for being “the Larkana of the Punjab”.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2015.

In the latest application, the petitioner stated that with Iqbal’s appointment to the governor’s office, he had become an employee of the state and was therefore no longer eligible to be a member of the assembly.

The hearing in the case will resume today.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2015.

The protesters, carrying placards and banners, gathered at Canal Road and staged a sit-in in front of FESCO headquarters. They also blocked Canal Road, suspending traffic for several hours.

Addressing the protesters, FESCO Pegham Union president Sirajuddin Saqib said the FESCO was a profit-making company and had the lowest line losses. He said the company had a history of good recovery and was technically and financially sound.

He said FESCO’s assets would be sold off cheaply and hundreds of employees would be laid off if the company was privatised. He said the government wanted to privatise the FESCO under pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He said FESCO employees would not accept privatisation of the company and would protest against the government if it pursued the process without taking them into confidence.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2015.

Hundreds of students attended the event, even though exams are under way at the university. Twenty one students signed up to volunteer for the campaign.

Saad Mazhar, one of the volunteers, said it was an honour for him to be part of a campaign that paid tribute to his mentors.

At the ceremony, Express Media Group conferred recognition awards to 14 teachers and seven prominent educationists for their meritorious services to education.

Dr Ishaque Faani, director of the Institute of Social Sciences and the director of BZU’s Distance Learning Programme, received a lifetime achievement award.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Faani said it the first time that a private organisation had taken the initiative to honour teachers. “This will infuse a new life in the profession,” said Dr Faani. He added he has taught in universities across the world but his love for his country brought him back.

BZU Vice Chancellor Syed Khawaja Alqama also received a special award.

“The Express Media Group has launched a fascinating campaign to educate people about the sanctity of the teaching profession,” he said.

The Aao Parhaao campaign will continue in Punjab over the next three weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2015.

LAHORE: The provincial government approved a Rs110 million management plan for the Taunsa Barrage Wildlife Sanctuary (TBWS) on Wednesday.

The plan has been developed by representatives of the Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries Department, the provincial  government and the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan).

WWF-Pakistan and the government will jointly implement this programme, a statement issued on Wednesday said.

In this regard, WWF-Pakistan has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries Department.

The plan aims to contribute towards better management of the habitat, wildlife and fisheries, social mobilisation, public awareness, environmental education, tourism and recreation in the buffer zones and floodplain management.

The Taunsa Barrage was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1974 under the Punjab Wildlife Act introduced in the same year.

It is home to a variety of fish, reptiles, birds and mammals, including the Indus River Dolphin.

The sanctuary embodies a large water reservoir and a series of ponds and lakes between embankments.

The core land area provides a typical ecosystem of riverine forests which is the habitat of threatened species like the endangered hog deer.

The site has also been declared a Ramsar Site, a wetland of global significance. In 2003, the World Bank had approved a $123 million loan to Pakistan to help renovate the structure of the barrage.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2015.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2015.

LAHORE: Hundreds of students showed their artistic talent at an art exhibition and a live painting competition held at Beaconhouse Newland on Thursday.

The exhibition of pre-submitted artwork was titled: Young Canvas. The live art competition was titled: Musawwir.

The exhibition received 250 entries, out of which 127 were put on display. Students from class 7 to A level took part in the competition. The live competition had 135 students from class 6 to A level.

Both events were judged by artists RM Naeem, Sadaf Naeem and Ayesha Durrani.

“We will be giving out more prizes than we originally planned, as the work is very good. We are so impressed that we have even bought some of the work,” said RM Naeem.

“The spontaneity of the work is very good. The teachers have played an important role in this,” Sadaf Naeem said.

Ayesha Durrani was also very happy. “The work is very versatile. The range of the imagery and the quality are exceptional. The students have exceeded expectations. These students are being exposed to art at a very young age,” she said.

Arooj Awan, the Beaconhouse corporate communications assistant manager, said that they had organised a similar competition last year. “We invited schools from all over Pakistan to participate in the live competition,” she said.

Shireen Bano, the Beaconhouse regional coordinator for arts, said: “We had again contacted schools in these countries to take part in the exhibition. However, the entries from Bangladesh were all we received from abroad,” said Bano.

Sawera Shahid, a class 8 student from Beaconhouse Sialkot campus, said it was her first time at the competition. “I really enjoyed it. I drew a mother-and-child. The mother represents the sunset and her child the sun,” she said.

Ismara Zahid, an art teacher from The City School who accompanied the students, said: “I think that the work should have been judged grade-wise. The O level students might not be as technically strong as the A level students,” she said.

Fatima Hammad from the Beaconhouse 78 AI Model Town received the first prize in the live competition.

Aisam Haroon from Beaconhouse Faisalabad Canal Campus and Rida-i-Fatima from Beaconhouse Sheikhupura campus jointly received the first prize in the exhibition.

Winners received shields, certificates, art supplies and the opportunity to attend a three-month training workshop at RM Naeem’s studio.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2015.

Several lawmakers once again voiced reservations about the absence of ministers and parliamentary secretaries. The chief minister was urged to take notice of the issue.

The session, chaired by Deputy Secretary Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani, started after an hour’s delay. As many as 60 members were present at the start of the session.

Amendments related to offences and penalties in the Punjab Arms Ordinance 1965 and the Punjab Prohibition of Expressing Matters on Walls Act 1995 were introduced in the House.

The Punjab Security of Vulnerable Establishments Ordinance and the Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Ordinance were also introduced.

Security of Vulnerable Establishments Ordinance calls for provision of security arrangements around vulnerable establishments to prevent acts of terrorism and other crimes.

It calls for formation of a security advisory committee in each sub-division of the district chaired by the sub-divisional police officer. The committee would be mandated to issue warnings and partially or completely seal vulnerable establishments if they failed to comply with security guidelines. It prescribes a penalty of six months imprisonment and a fine ranging from Rs50, 000 and Rs100,000. It also calls for repealing of the Punjab Shops and Establishments (Security) Act 1999.

The Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Ordinance calls for sharing information on tenants and temporary residents to develop a database as part of counter-terrorism efforts. The ordinance says information about temporary residents should be communicated to police by the landlords.

The ordinance prohibits use of hostels by anyone other than students or staff members without prior written permission of the manager in charge of the facility. It also calls for penalising offenders with an imprisonment up to six months and fine ranging between Rs10,000 and Rs100,000.

The ordinances and amendments were referred to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs. Reports were sought on these in two months.

Lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with answers to questions regarding Transport and the Planning and Development departments.

Planning and Development Parliamentary Secretary Ahmad Karim Qaswar was quizzed by Opposition benches on funds allegedly blocked for MPAs by the government.

MPA Sardar Shahabud Din asked whether the P&D Department had provided Rs20 million to MPAs from the ruling party.

Qaswar denied the assertion, saying no funds were released to individual MPAs. He said development funds were released to commissioners and DCOs. MPA Sardar Vickas Hassan Mokal also raised similar concerns. The parliamentary secretary maintained his stance, adding that funds from the Annual Development Programme  were spent by respective departments.

The parliamentary secretary for Transport Muhammad Nawaz Chohan told the House that decrease in fuel prices had led to reduction in transport fares. He said bus stands were being monitored and action was being taken against those overcharging passengers.

Tahir Sindhu, from the treasury, said it was common knowledge that bus fares had not been reduced. Answering a query regarding number of buses being run on routes in northern Lahore, the parliamentary secretary said of the 1,370 buses on 53 routes in the city, 116 buses were operating on 11 routes in northern Lahore, adding 500 more buses would be inducted in the fleet soon.

MPA Bao Akhtar claimed that less than 50 buses were operational in northern Lahore.

The issue of absence of ministers and parliamentary secretaries was raised on a point of order by MPA Raheela Khadim. It was later taken up by other members. MPAs Sardar Shahabud Din and Malik Ahmed Khan also voiced similar reservations. Deputy Speaker Gorchani directed Labour Minister Raja Ashfaq to bring this to the notice of the chief minister.

MPA Sheikh Alauddin pointed out expenses incurred by members of the House under medical care, asking if there were any checks on the funds being used. Gorchani asked the MPA to discuss the matter with him on Thursday in his chambers.

Allauddin also pointed out the low attendance.

“If it weren’t for women MPs, this House would not continue for more than 10 minutes,” he said.

The session will continue on Thursday at 10am.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2015.

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) candidate for Senate from the Punjab, Nadeem Afzal Chan, on Wednesday met several members of opposition parties.

A former member of the National Assembly, Afzal Chan was revealed as the PPP’s candidate from the Punjab on Monday.

On Wednesday, Chan made his way to the opposition chambers in the Punjab Assembly to enlist their support.

PPP MPAs Sardar Shahabuddin and Qazi Ahmad Saeed accompanied Chan.

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Punjab Ameer Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) MPAs Sardar Vickas Hassan Mokal, Aamir Sultan Cheema and Ahmad Shah Khagga were present there.

Later, talking to the media at the Punjab Assembly, Chan said that he would reach out to all opposition parties. “I will also ask for support from those Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz members who are upset with their party leadership,” he said.

Chan said he was thankful to his party for nominating him. “The government will be surprised when the results of the Senate elections are announced,” he said.

MPA Qazi Ahmad Saeed said that the party was confident of Chan’s success. “The PML-Q has indicated that they will support our candidate. The JI has said that they will decide the issue after consulting their party members,” he said.

Saeed said that the PPP had launched its campaign for Senate elections.

Talking to The Express Tribune, PML-Q MPA Cheema said that no decision had been taken regarding supporting Chan. “Our leadership will decide the issue and then inform us. So far, there has been no decision,” he said.

Cheema said the opposition parties were discussing their strategy during the House proceedings on Wednesday when Chan had arrived.

“The opposition parties’ meeting had not been called specifically to discuss Senate elections,” he said.

He said that the opposition had been weakened by the resignation of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) members.

PTI, the largest opposition party in the Punjab Assembly, has been absent from the House after they announced resignations in August, 2014.

The PTI holds 30 seats in the Punjab Assembly, the PPP and the PML-Q have eight seats each and the JI one.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2015.

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Wednesday announced its candidates for the upcoming Senate elections on 11 Punjab seats.

Talking to The Express Tribune, party workers complained about lack of representation of several divisions of the province. They said five tickets had been awarded to workers from Rawalpindi division while no worker from the southern districts had been selected.

Parliamentary Board member Raja Zafarul Haq played down the concerns, saying that the list had been compiled after extensive deliberations.

PML-N’s candidates for the seven general seats from the Punjab are Pervaiz Rashid, Mushahidullah Khan, Chaudhary Tanveer, Lt General (retd) Abdul Qayyum, Ghaus Niazi, Dr Asif Kirmani and Nehal Hashmi. Professor Sajid Mir of the Jamiat Ahle Hadith and PML-N’s Raja Zafarul Haq have been awarded tickets for the election on two technocrats’ seats, and Begam Najma Hameed  and Kiran Dar for the two women seats. Some of the party workers The Express Tribune talked to expressed surprise at the selection of five candidates from Rawalpindi division.

Some of the workers also questioned the selection of Mushahidullah Khan and Nehal Hashmi, who belong to Karachi. They said if was unfair to the party workers in the Punjab.

Others objected to the nomination of Professor Sajid Mir who heads his own party. They said General Qayuum too was not a member of the party and had supported General Pervaiz Musharraf’s government. Dr Asif Kirmani is political secretary to the prime minister and his personal assistant, they said.

Parliamentary Board member Raja Zafarul Haq played down the objections. He said the board had ensured a balance in representation of various regions. He said Rafique Rajwana and Zulfiqar Ali Khosa from south Punjab already represented the party in the Senate.

He said outgoing senator Jaffar Iqbal was not given a ticket because two of his children were sitting parliamentarians.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2015.

He was speaking at an event organised to flag off a 10-jeep contingent to participate in the Cholistan Jeep Rally. The initiative has been taken to promote peace. Khan said the youth of the nation was the best medium to promote peace since it was the future of the nation. He said the government had resolved to eradicate terrorism without any distinction between good and bad militants. He felicitated the organisers of the event for providing the youth with an international platform to display their talent and engaging them in a positive manner.

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairperson Nizamuddin appreciated the endeavour. He said it had provided the young with an opportunity to participate in an event that had been earlier been the exclusive reserve of professional drivers.

The contingent was flagged off amid festivity and celebration. The contingent, billed as peace jeeps, is scheduled to arrive in Cholistan on Saturday. The jeeps will participate in the rally to pay tribute to victims of terrorist attacks. Some of the jeeps had pictures of those killed in the Peshawar carnage pasted on them. Others carried pictures of doves and the national flag.

Youth Department Secretary Muhammad Khan Khichi, Sports Board Director General Usman Anwar and Bargad-Organisation for Youth Development executive director Sabiha Shaheen were also present on the occasion.

The peace rally has been organised by Individual-land, The Youth Parliament of Pakistan Coordination Unit, the Islamabad Jeep Club and the Youth Department.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2015.

LAHORE: The Punjab University (PU) administration has granted admission, in violation of rules, to 26 students at its College of Engineering and Technology on the sports quota.

Additional seats were created for the purpose on the instructions of the vice chancellor (VC). The students were admitted for the 2014-2015 academic session without approval of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology dean, according to documents available with The Express Tribune.

According to Admission Rules for Faculty of Engineering and Technology, only five outstanding sports persons might be admitted to the college on the recommendations of a committee appointed by the VC.

The students have been admitted to BSc programmes in chemical engineering, electrical engineering, fuel engineering and energy technology, industrial engineering and metallurgy and materials engineering.

The list is available with The Express Tribune.

The students have been given a “100 pre cent fee waiver … in the interest of promotion of sports”.

“The Faculty of Engineering and Technology has one of the highest admission merits in the province. Creation of 26 additional seats is a violation of merit,” said a member of the PU Syndicate.

“No rules allow the VC to create additional seats in the name of promoting sports,” he said.

The dean of a faculty is also chairman of the admission committee of that department.

“The dean was by-passed and the PU administration allowed his juniors to complete the admission process. This makes the entire process illegal even if the VC had granted special permission to create additional seats.”

Sports Admissions Committee Chairman Shahid Kamal said the Sports Department had recommended the 26 students for admission to the Faculty of Engineering and Technology.

“I had forwarded the request to the VC who approved it by creating additional seats.” He said the allegations of corruption were baseless.

He said the number of students admitted to the university was no greater than the previous years.

“Some very good sportsmen applied for admission. Some seats in other departments were converted to accommodate them in engineering.”

Kamal said the VC had the authority to convert seats from other departments under “special circumstances”. He said all the 26 students were sportsmen and had been admitted after trials.

However, the Syndicate member said the trial of those admitted on the sports basis should be taken by an independent team. He demanded that the chief minister look into the matter.

PU Registrar Liaquat Ali said he had no knowledge of such admissions. “I will look into the matter if I receive any complaint in this regard.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2015.