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LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday nominated Makhdoom Javed Hashmi as its candidate for the slot of Prime Minister.

The decision was taken after a meeting of the PTI Parliamentary Party chaired by Imran Khan in Lahore.

PTI also announced its candidates for the slot of Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the National Assembly. Shahryar Afridi, the MNA-elect from Kohat, was nominated to contest for the Speaker while PTI’s Women Wing president Munaza Hasan was nominated for the slot of Deputy Speaker.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, PTI vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the party would play the role of a responsible, effective and vibrant opposition in the National Assembly. He added that the party has decided to field its candidates for all the parliamentary portfolios in the National Assembly.

The former foreign minister further said that PTI MNA-elect from Karachi, Dr Arif Alvi, will represent the Parliamentary Party of PTI. “Ghulam Sarwar Khan will represent the part in Business Advisory Committee of the National Assembly,” he maintained.

He said Imran Khan was in very good health and spirits, adding that he chaired the whole meeting in a very fresh mood. “He is doing fine, but if the first session of the National Assembly is convened on May 28 he will not attend it. As per his doctor’s advice, he will stay in Lahore for some time,” he maintained.

Imran Khan also thanked and appreciated PTI workers and supporters for participating in the protest at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in Islamabad on Friday, Qureshi said. ECP should pay heed to PTI’s demands because they would be helpful in by-elections, local government elections and the next general elections, Qureshi added. He said the ECP had issued the notifications of the winning candidates and asked candidates with complaints filed against them those to go the Election Tribunal. “Our demand is that the number of election tribunals should be increased so that the decision of any case couldn’t take more than 120 days as described in the law.”

Qureshi said several parties had raised questions about the credibility of elections in Karachi, adding that PTI would keep unfolding its strategy about protests after the assembly session. “We have got our strong protest registered and will continue to devise our strategy about this from time to time.”

PTI’s central leadership, including Dr Arif Alvi and Shafqat Mahmood, were also present at the meeting.

Around 162 candidates of Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) opposed an alliance with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Saturday, reported Express News.

The candidates expressed their displeasure with the PPP during a party meeting headed by PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

Chaudhry Shujaat assured the candidates that their decision will be taken into consideration.

The party is expected to announce a decision regarding the alliance soon.

The party has already expressed support for Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) in formation of a provincial government in Balochistan.

KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahbaz Sharif invited Pakistan Muslim League – Functional (PML-F) to join the federal government during a meeting on Saturday, Express News reported.

The meeting, held in Raja House, Karachi, was attended by PML-F leaders Imtiaz Sheikh and Pirzada Yasir and PML-N leaders Chaudhry Nisar and Pervez Rasheed. Matters concerning the opposition in Sindh and the federal government among other issues were discussed in the meeting.

Talking to the media after the meeting, PML-F Chief Pir Pagara thanked Shahbaz for the visit and said, “We wanted to join hands with PML-N before elections as well, but that could not be made possible due to some engagements elsewhere and some differences between party members on some matters. However, we are still trying that within two to three months, the Muslim League can sit together on one platform.”

Shahbaz said that the result of this alliance will be fruitful for the people of Sindh.

He also promised inauguration of Metro Bus Service in Karachi as soon as Nawaz Sharif assumes the post of premiership.

Shahbaz also invited Pir Pagara to Nawaz’s oath-taking ceremony in Islamabad.

MUZAFFARGARH: Jamshed Dasti declined the offer to join Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and will proceed to the National Assembly as an independent candidate, reported Express News on Saturday.

Dasti, however, decided to give his vote to PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif for the role of the prime minister and hoped to work towards the prosperity of the country.

Dasti won two seats from NA-178 (Muzaffargarh-III) and NA-177 (Muzaffargarh-II) constituencies as an independent candidate after quitting the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

It is likely that he will keep the NA-178 seat and his brother Javed Dasti may retain the NA-177 seat as an independent candidate.

In an attempt to rope support, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also invited Jamshed Dasti to join his party.

ISLAMABAD: 

Nine ice packs used for preserving polio vaccines reportedly went missing from the refrigerator placed in the blood bank of Polyclinic Hospital on Friday.

There is a chance that due to a shortage of icepacks, vaccines may lose their potency, said Syed Waqar Hussain, a vaccinator at one of the transit points established by the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Directorate of Health Services at Polyclinic Hospital.

Talking to The Express Tribune, he said that last year in November the total number of icepacks were 16 whereas now there are seven to nine.

“At the end of our daily shift we place the icepacks in refrigerators, but have often found them missing the next day,” he said.

They have complained several times to the concerned officials but they expressed their complete ignorance over the issue, he added.

“Instead of taking any action they told us that blood bags also go missing from the refrigerators daily so who should we hold responsible for this ,” said Hussian.

There are two transit points at Polyclinic Hospital where vaccinators work in two shifts, administering polio drops to around 45 children daily. At each transit point vaccinators have four vaccine carriers in which they keep two icepacks to preserve polio vaccine, he said.

With just seven or nine icepacks it becomes too difficult to manage, especially for the evening shift vaccinators.

When contacted, Polyclinic Hospital spokesman and head of blood bank Dr Sharif Astori expressed his complete ignorance about the issue and said he will look in to the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

The son of the chief of the Islamabad Police got a breather after a petition filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging his appointment as director of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was returned with an objection.

Former BDS director Muhammad Tabassum on Friday filed a petition challenging the appointment of Umer Amin Khan, son of Islamabad Inspector General (IGP) Bani Amin Khan, who was appointed BDS director in grade 16 by the interim government.

Citing the interior secretary, Islamabad IGP and chief commissioner and Umer Amin Khan as respondents, the petitioner maintained that he was working on the post for seven years on contract before the government appointed Umer Amin Khan, an appointment he has termed illegal.

The petitioner stated that he has over 20 years of relevant experience and is also member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators.

The petition said that Tabassum’s contract was valid till March 2014, however, the vacancy was specially created by the government for the appointment of IG’s son who does not have relevant experience for the post.

Advocate Farooq Ahmed, the petitioner’s counsel, told The Express Tribune that Umer was previously working at the National Database and Registration Authority and was transferred to the police department illegally. He requested the court to suspend Umer’s appointment.

The IHC registrar has raised an objection over this petition because Umer’s appointment notification had not been attached with the petition. Ahmed claimed that his client tried his best to get the appointment letter, but said that the Islamabad IG who was behind the appointment had concealed the notification.

FDE, NBF chiefs put on notice

In a separate case, the IHC issued notices to the heads of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and National Book Foundation (NBF) in response to a petition challenging the non-availability of textbooks in government schools.

Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi accepted the petition and issued notices to FDE Director General Dr Shahnaz Riaz and NBF Managing Director Mazharul Islam. The court sought their comments in two weeks.

The petitioner, Chaudhry Khalid Mehmood had challenged the non-availability of textbooks in government institutions, stating that students were being deprived of their constitutional rights.

Advocate Yasir Mehmood, the petitioner’s counsel, had maintained in his petition that the FDE had failed to provide textbooks to students despite the fact that the new academic year began on April 11. “To receive education is a fundamental right, which is being neglected,” it stated. He had also claimed that parents approached the relevant authorities, but they failed to address the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

Appreciating the role played by the city’s business community, Member Planning of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Mustafain Kazmi reiterated the authority’s plan to launch a Bus Rapid Transit project in the capital.

Addressing a ceremony organised by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Friday, Kazmi also announced the development of a bus terminal at Sector I-11/4 where all the bus terminals would be shifted.

He appreciated businessmen for promoting the local economy and assured that CDA would facilitate the business community in addressing their issues.

He stated that CDA would cooperate with ICCI for developing a new industrial estate in Islamabad and informed that 60 per cent work has been done to develop sector I-17.

He said CDA planned to establish parking plazas in commercial areas and many new residential sectors would be developed soon. Kazmi added that 52 commercial plots would be developed in Sector I-12 to promote business activities.

Kazmi said many reforms were underway in CDA including revision of bylaws, computerisation of estate management, land management and other key areas. These reforms would bring transparency, remove corruption and facilitate all the stakeholders.

He assured his support for ICCI representation in the CDA board and allocation of a cricket ground for them, which was demanded by the ICCI.

President ICCI Zafar Bakhtawari appreciated the efforts of CDA for initiating various development projects in Islamabad and also briefed Kazmi on various issues faced by the city’s business community.

He urged CDA to provide car parking facilities in all commercial centers especially in sectors F-6, F-7, F-10 and Blue Area.

He said that representation of ICCI in CDA board was essential to create a bridge between the citizens and the civic agency. This arrangement would also enable CDA to understand the rapidly increasing problems of the city and get input of stakeholders in policy making and decision making process of mega projects, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.

The use of pedagogy for engaging students in their pursuit of knowledge was stressed at seminar on Friday.

The USAID’s Teacher Education Project organised the discussion titled “National Interchange on Teacher Education Reforms and their Implications” in Islamabad, said a press release. The gathering was attended by professors and policymakers from the National Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (NACTE), Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), Agha Khan University (AKU), Allama Iqbal Open University and University of Sindh among others.

Dr Muhammad Memon of AKU’s Institute for Educational Development stressed the use of pedagogy for a more engaging experience for the students.

Sindh University’s Dean of Education Dr Parveen Munshi, stressed the importance of implementing the National Professional Standards in the country. The experts came up with a set of recommendations which will now be discussed with the Higher Education Commission.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.

GUJRAT: A cylinder explosion in a travelling school van in Gujrat’s Koh Fateh area killed a teacher and 17 schoolchildren, reported Express News on Saturday.

According to police officials the van immediately caught fire after the cylinder exploded, causing the deaths of the children on-board.

It is estimated that the van transported nearly 25 children to school every day.

Emergency teams reached the scene to assist the children.

The injured have been shifted to Aziz Bhatti Hospital which was near the site of the incident.

MULTAN: 

Supporters of Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) reportedly attacked a Hindu leader for pledging support to Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) in Bahawalpur.

Hindu leader Rana Raam and ‘a thousand more voters’ from 112-DNB, a village in Bahawalpur district, announced their all-out support for PML-N candidate Saud Majeed in the May 11 elections.

On Thursday, supporters of PML-Q leader Bisharat Cheema, who beat the PML-N’s Majeed in the polls, allegedly ransacked Raam’s house.

The Hindu leader also claims he was receiving death threats and was being pressurized into supporting Cheema.

“It was their way of celebrating,” Raam told The Express Tribune. As a minority we cannot speak against them, he added.

“I had informed the police that I was being threatened but to no avail,” said Raam.

Hindus in the area protested the attack on their leader. Police have lodged a First Inquiry Report in Head Raajgan police station, under section 452, 148 and 149 against six nominated and 10 unidentified assailants, according to Assistant Sub-Inspector Ghulam Hussain.

Station House Officer Noor Muhammad, however, denied the occurrence of the incident altogether, saying: “we are carrying out investigations on merit. If there is proof that the incident took place then sections will be added to the FIR.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

In democracies, it is something of a ritual to find seasoned politicians booted out of parliament. More than a fair share of big-name politicians in the country suffered crushing defeats in the May 11 poll. However, up to 16 or so familiar faces will play a significant role over the day-to-day affairs in the new National Assembly.

While Nawaz Sharif is on the verge of becoming the prime minister for a record third time and Imran Khan will be a strong force in the opposition, 14 other prominent and experienced parliamentarians will make their presence felt after their successful re-election.

Former opposition leader in the previous National Assembly, PML-N’s Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan is an exception though. He has been a member of parliament since 1985, winning in eight successive polls.

Another heavyweight politician and former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was elected as an independent candidate from the NA-266 constituency (Nasirabad-cum-Jaffarabad). Mehmood Khan Achakzai, chief of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, was elected as an MNA from NA-259 (Quetta).

The role of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who prefers to be a part of any government, will also be important.

Another veteran is Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, chief of the Awami Muslim League. He was elected from Rawalpindi’s NA-55 constituency. Defeated thrice before on this seat by the PML-N, he managed to secure the constituency this time after an alliance with PTI. As a parliamentarian, most of the time, Sheikh Rashid played his role as a cabinet member during Nawaz’s previous tenures and General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s presidency since 1985.

Both PTI central leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians head Makhdoom Amin Fahim have been undefeated since the 1988 general elections. Similarly, Syed Khursheed Shah, a top leader of PPP in Sindh, has also been a mainstay in parliament since 1990.

Former NA speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza has also been in parliament since 1997, winning the NA-225 constituency of Badin-cum-Tando M Khan from Sindh.

Once a close confidant of former premier Benazir Bhutto, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has been an MP since 2002 from the NA-8 constituency of Charsadda. Sherpao also served as chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during the PPP’s last tenure.

Former foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Muhammad Ejazul Haq of PML-Zia and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of PML-Q are other prominent faces in the lower house.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

The Awami National Party (ANP) and independent candidates bore the brunt of pre-election violence against political candidates, party offices and meetings — most of which was caused by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its associated groups — revealed a report by the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) released on Friday. 

“298 people lost their lives and 885 others were injured across Pakistan between January 1 and May 15 in 148 reported terrorist attacks on political leaders, workers and voters, besides 97 incidents of political violence,” said the report titled ‘Elections and Violence Monitoring Report.’

After the ANP, the greatest number of attacks targeted the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Of the total number of attacks, 108 were perpetrated by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and associated militant groups. Baloch militant groups carried out 40 such attacks. Some 156 people were killed and about 665 injured in the TTP attacks, while attacks by Baloch insurgents claimed 14 lives and resulted in 78 injuries.

Party-wise break up

The ANP was targeted 37 times in almost all provinces from where it was contesting polls. From across the country, 19 independent candidates’ rallies, meetings and other activities were targeted by terrorists, according to the PIPS report.

On the other hand, the PPP and the MQM were attacked 12 times each. While the militants hit hard against the ANP and the PPP in almost every area of the country, the MQM was repeatedly targeted in Karachi.

Apart from these parties, leaders and workers of right-wing parties did not remain entirely safe either. Workers and candidates of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were targeted in 10 attacks, mainly in Balochistan and Punjab, according to the report.

Moreover, three factions of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl, Sami and Nazriati) and the Jamaat-e-Islami were also targeted by militants in parts of Sindh, Balochistan, K-P and FATA. The report did not give numbers for these attacks.

As many as five attacks were suffered by leaders and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in K-P and Punjab. Balochistan’s nationalist parties were targeted in eight attacks. Meanwhile, 19 attacks hit independent election candidates, their offices and rallies while 17 other attacks targeted polling stations in Balochistan and K-P.

Province-wise break up

K-P was the worst hit during the pre-poll violence with 50 attacks taking place there. Balochistan followed with 49 attacks, Sindh with 30, FATA with 12 and Punjab with 7, revealed the PIPS report.

The highest number of terrorist incidents for any region across Pakistan was reported from Sindh. Out of the 73 attacks in the province, 70 were launched in Karachi alone. K-P and Punjab witnessed nine incidents each while six incidents of political violence were reported from Balochistan.

Apart from those killed in terrorist attacks between January 1 and May 15, 2013, another 128 leaders and workers of different political parties were killed and 142 were injured in 97 reported incidents of political violence and clashes between supporters and workers of different political parties.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.

Good governance in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa remains one of the critical dimensions of our approach to dealing with our biggest issue: countering militant insurgency. On the appointment of the Chief Minister in K-P, as we all know Khattak’s background and we have all witnessed his words of wisdom in his first press conference, there is really not much to say. 

However, the choice of Balochistan CM remains a tug-of-war. The CM in the last term, who ran the province from Islamabad for five years, was the pro-establishment Baloch sardar, Nawab Aslam Raisani, set in place by the PPP government. He had been elected to the provincial assembly four times by the Raisani tribe in his constituency of Mastung/Quetta.

Running his administration by remote control, especially when the barbaric attacks on the Hazara community generated country-wide sympathy, he never even attempted to condole with them.  As a result, the President had to oust him from his position. Another long sitting CM we can mention is Jan Mohammad Yusouf hailing from the royalty of Lasbela.

Seeing the way the majority of the people live in Lasbela, that alone is enough to tell you about his commitment to his people. These tribal leaders each ‘ruled’ the province for five years at a stretch, while others got shorter terms. In general, there is hardly any evidence, so far, that a Balochistan CM had resolved local problems or demonstrated any commitment whatsoever to the people of Balochistan. In most cases their commitment was restricted to their tribal elites and/or to the establishments who supported them in gaining these positions.

I think the decision of choosing the next CM is difficult as the new leadership of the federal government is trying to get the Baloch factions to come to a consensus on one name. The people of Balochistan have never had a single party that represented their collective interests. This provincial government has always been a weak coalition of several parties. Despite all the glaring issues Balochistan has been allowed to fester for decades under self-promoting tribal chiefs who were born into their position.

The Pakhtuns, by contrast, have achieved greater success through a joint stand.  The Hazaras have also organised under one main front.  The Baloch however remain divided with each of the rival tribes nurturing age-old animosities, and one sardar refusing to accept another. That is the reason many are suggesting Dr Maalik, the head of National Party, as the next CM. He is not a tribal chief, but a Baloch leader who is acceptable to Pakhtuns, Hazaras and a wide range of the Baloch people. He should be acceptable to the Federal Government as well as he is clearly not a separatist and is focused on resolving the political and economic problems rather than grabbing money and power for his tribal elite.

Whether the centre is interested in resolving the problems of Balochistan is a separate discussion, but these problems have become so overwhelming that they can no longer be considered local problems.

Although the political problems of Balochistan are complex, the continued appointment of tribal chieftains has accentuated its problems. Balochistan needs a leader who is backed by a parliament that is serious about resolving these issues.

The rest of Pakistan should be supportive of an open process of dialogue among all parties. The appointment of the next chief minister of Balochistan was never more important than it is today. If the right decision is made, this can be a turning point for Balochistan rather than another round of inept governance from the same fragmented and inept elite tribal leadership.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

The Supreme Court on Friday gave caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso until June 6 to submit his response in a contempt notice issued against him for violating its ban on transfers and postings.

The principal secretary to the prime minister, Khawaja Siddiq Akbar, who was also served a contempt notice, told the apex court in his written response that all postings and transfers made after the May 11 elections were due to reports and summaries received from the ministries concerned.

“Without naming individuals, documentary evidence can be presented in camera if so desired by this court. Same were made on compelling reasons, on substantive grounds regarding their general reputation, conduct and performance. The only consideration before the competent authority was public interest and good governance without any extraneous considerations,” Akbar said.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, then deferred the hearing until June 6 and directed caretaker PM Khoso’s lawyer to furnish his reply in the case by that date.

Secretary Establishment Division Taimur Azmat Usmani is yet to file his reply after the SC issued a notice to him as well regarding the transfers and postings of as many as 20 senior bureaucrats before and after the general elections.

During the hearing on Friday, Justice Khawaja asked PM Khoso’s counsel, Arif Chaudhry to submit his client’s response for making such transfers.

Moreover, he said the caretaker premier was not required to make a personal appearance before the bench. However, he may be asked to do so if there was a need after his response is submitted.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

A day after US President Barack Obama pledged to continue the controversial drone strikes, Pakistan, the main focus of the strikes, reiterated its stance that the attacks in the tribal areas are counter-productive.

While Ben Emmerson, the lawyer leading a UN drone inquiry praised Obama’s speech as a “significant step towards increased transparency” after he announced tighter oversight of the programme and stricter targeting rules, Islamabad stuck to its guns in condemning the drone attacks.

“The government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that the drone strikes are counter-productive, entail the loss of innocent civilian lives, have human rights and humanitarian implications and violate the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law,” said a statement issued by the foreign ministry on Friday.

However, the foreign office reaction seems to be cautious as it avoided directly commenting on some of the controversial aspects of Obama’s speech where he not only defended the strikes as a “just war”, but also vowed to continue them.

The statement did however appreciate Obama’s acknowledgement that “force alone cannot make us safer”.

Responding to that statement, Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani at a news conference said, “This also has been Pakistan’s longstanding stance that a comprehensive strategy was required to address the root causes that foster terrorism and extremism,”

He said that, as a frontline state in the war on terror, Pakistani troops have borne the brunt of the conflict and given the ultimate sacrifice for it. “We appreciate President Obama’s acknowledgement and recognition of the sacrifices made by Pakistan, particularly by our law enforcement authorities.”

‘No major shift in foreign policy’

Responding to questions, Jilani said there would be no “major shift” in Islamabad’s foreign policy as a result of the May 11 parliamentary polls that gave the party of two-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif a clear mandate to form the government both at the Centre and in Punjab.

He said Pakistan would not abandon the multibillion dollar Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project because of a new government having taken power.

Questions are being raised over the fate of the IP project following the election victory of Nawaz, who is considered a close ally of Saudi Arabia.

Reports also indicated that the oil-rich kingdom, which in the past opposed close cooperation between Pakistan and Iran, may offer the incoming Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government oil on deferred payments to meet the energy crisis.

“With the change of government your commitments are not changed. Pakistan will pursue all projects including the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline,” he emphasised.

Sino-Pak relations

Jilani described Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Pakistan “extremely successful”, where both sides vowed to enhance their strategic partnership.

Jilani dismissed the suggestion that Pakistan was wary of China’s increasing cooperation with India.

“In fact we believe that increased cooperation between India and China will have a positive impact on regional peace and stability,” he concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

In a gross violation of diplomatic protocol, the Capital Development Authority unknowingly sent a Rs1.4 million invoice to the Chinese Embassy for using the Pak-China Friendship Centre to host Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday, The Express Tribune has learnt.

As per diplomatic protocol, the costs of a state visit are borne by the treasury of the host country.

The Chinese premier, who was on a two-day state visit to Pakistan, attended a cultural event at the facility along with caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso.

A source said the junior-level staff of CDA sent the invoice to the Chinese Embassy, but it was later withdrawn along with an apology, terming it a “clerical mistake”.

When contacted, Naimatullah Khan, coordinator of the Pak-China Friendship Centre naively remarked, “We have sent the invoice directly to the Chinese Embassy and a copy of it to the Foreign Office.”

Islamabad’s civic agency runs the affairs of the Pak-China Friendship Centre, which was inaugurated in 2010 by China’s former premier Wen Jiabao and Pakistani premier Yousaf Raza Gilani. The facility was gifted by the Chinese government in commemoration of the strong relations between the Chinese and Pakistanis.

Khan, who was apparently unaware of the diplomatic protocol, added that though Beijing gifted the facility, the Chinese directed them to charge a fixed rent from everyone without any exception. “We usually charge the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan in case they hold any function at the Pak-China Friendship Centre.”

However, CDA member Sanaullah Aman said, “I am unaware about any such development. Definitely, CDA was supposed to send the invoice directly to the Foreign Office alone. It was a state visit so the Pakistani government will bear the expenses.”

Aman claimed it was possible that lower-level staff of the centre sent the invoice to the embassy without knowing the protocol. “I will look into the matter and strong disciplinary action will be taken against those responsible.”

Aman said if true, it was done without his permission.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Hong Lei said on Thursday he did not have any knowledge about receiving the invoice and would contact the concerned official at the embassy to inform him about the development. He was contacted again on Friday but gave the same answer.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.

FAISALABAD / KARACHI / ISLAMABAD: 

It’s the perfect storm, Pakistan style. This Friday was the hottest day Lahore has suffered in the last 29 years, with the temperature shooting up as high as 47 degrees centigrade, a record according to the Pakistan Metrological Department. And on this sweltering Friday, the unlucky city of Lahore also experienced record levels of load-shedding, which lasted for up to twenty hours in some areas.

The power crisis has worsened in the last 48 hours, as cities and rural areas alike plunged into darkness after four power plants tripped due to overload. Believe it or not this was the good news, as the tripping of the power plants avoided the near-collapse of the National Grid System, similar to the one that took place on February 24.

While there are no easy fixes to this problem, despite what politicians may have claimed in their election campaigns, short-term relief is possible if enough money is injected to temporarily resolve the circular debt issue. But even that’s not happening. After making an initial commitment to interim Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso to provide a sum of Rs22.5 billion to the water and power ministry, a defiant Ministry of Finance remains reluctant to release the remaining Rs17.5 billion for fuel purchases.

Currently, power stations are producing energy well below their capacity. Against the public sector’s available installed thermal capacity of 3,580MW, Friday’s production stood at a paltry 1,305MW.

Out of the 11 thermal power plants in the public sector, seven are completely shut down, while the rest of the power plants are not running at even one-third of their capacity due to fuel shortages and technical faults.

Independent Power Plants (IPPs) are also facing production shortfalls. With a generation capacity of 7,687MW, energy production at IPPs is currently at 5,024MW as most of the plants remained closed due to non-availability of fuel.

“In the past 10 days, I ran my plant for five days but only received payment for running it for a day and a half,” complained the Chief Operating Officer of Saif Power Plant Sohail Haidri.

Haidri threatened to shut his plant on Saturday, if the government did not clear his dues.

DESIGN: FAIZAN DAWOOD

Out of 26 IPPs, nine – with an accumulated generation capacity of 1,756MW – are currently shut down, and the rest are operating below capacity. The HUBCO power plant, for example, was producing only 18MW against a capacity of 214MW due to the government’s failure to pay outstanding dues of Rs14 billion.

Furthermore, there was a partial blackout in parts of the country on Thursday with a sudden shortage of 1,377MW from the system. Guddu power plant, Uch power plant, Habibullah Energy Limited and Engro Daharki all tripped on the same day.

The ministry of water and power’s decision to over-stretch the system to get 500MW more electricity caused the problem.

“We avoided a complete breakdown by isolating the problematic areas from the rest of the country,” said Zargham Eshaq Khan, the joint secretary power of the ministry of water and power.

On February 24, when the country plunged into darkness the power shortage due to the system’s trip was 900MW.

The situation remained almost the same on Friday. Cities like Lahore and Faisalabad faced power outages for 18 to 20 hours, while in Islamabad, most areas of the federal capital faced up to 10 hours of load shedding.

However, this is not an out-of-the-blue scenario, officials admit.

“There is no predictability in planning as there hasn’t been effective asset management over the years”, said Khan. “If I bring one plant on the system the other goes out.”

On Friday, average electricity generation stood at 10,200MW while the average demand was 15,000 MW. The breakdown of this is as follows:  hydel generation was 3,144MW, which was 48.8% of the installed capacity. Thermal public sector generation was 1,305MW – just one-third of its installed capacity. IPP generation was 5,024MW, slightly less than two-thirds of the total generation capacity. Nuclear power generation was full at its capacity of 615MW.

The total generation was thus less than two-thirds of the available installed capacity of 16,261MW. Going by the numbers, load shedding in cities should not have been more than ten hours and in rural areas up to 12 hours. That is, if all else was equal. It’s not.

Khan explains the problem like this: Due to non-equitable load shedding, some areas faced the brunt of power shortfall more than others. Load shedding waivers given to hospitals, airports and military installations resulted into power outages in many areas.

Another element that is aggravating power outages, particularly in rural areas, is the corrupt elements in power distribution companies. The second-tier hierarchy in almost all the power distribution companies takes bribes to exempt certain areas from load shedding, according to sources. Where this is not possibly, they at least try and reduce the duration of power cuts.

The Ministry of Water and Power officials admit that they face difficulties in measuring the flow of power towards power distribution companies on a daily basis. “Based on a metering system, we get information after every month, but for load management purposes real time information was not available,” said Khan. He hoped that by June 30 the system would be installed that would allow them to get real time information.

Power protests in Faisalabad

Naturally, all this has an effect on the ground. People fed up with prolonged load-shedding took to the roads in Faisalabad on Friday and staged demonstrations against the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco).

Zulfiqar Ahmad, a resident of Thikriwala,  said, “We spent all Thursday night without electricity as power went out at about 8.00 pm on May 23 and came back at 5.00 am on May 24.”

Waheed Khaliq Ramay, chairman of the Council of Loom Owners Association (CLOA), led the protest and said that due to unprecedented load shedding, factory owners were unable to operate their units, leaving thousands of workers jobless. The elections may have symbolically empowered the people of Pakistan, but in a very literal sense, they remain powerless.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan demanded that the Election Commission re-verify votes through thumb impression in four constituencies, and urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take action against returning officers who were involved in rigging during the May 11 polls, Express News reported.

Addressing PTI members who had gathered at D-chowk in Islamabad to protest against poll rigging, Imran said through a video link from Lahore, that it’s the duty of Chief Justice and Chief Election Commissioner to listen to the hue and cry of people who believe that results of 25 to 30 constituencies were manipulated.

“Listen to the people who are on the roads now. They want fingers prints’ verification in the constituencies where polls were rigged on elections day.”

The PTI chief said that it was the responsibility of the chief election commissioner to ensure free and fair elections and only the CJP had the power to take action against Returning Officers.

Imran alleged that returning officers had played their part in rigging. He was of the opinion that all political parties agreed that the elections were rigged as returning officers were involved in manipulating results on May 11.

“Returning officers were equally responsible for rigging in the 11th May polls.”

LAHORE: Chaudhry Sarfraz Anjum Kahlon, political advisor to former president Pervez Musharraf on Friday categorically dismissed all claims about Musharraf leaving Pakistan for good.

He said the claims were “totally baseless and without any merit”.

Musharraf will continue to live in Pakistan and “there is no exit strategy,” he said.

The former president is currently being tried in several cases and continues to be detained at his Islamabad residence.

“The political entities who feel intimidated by Musharraf’s presence must realize that he is a soldier who has fought for Pakistan and nothing scares him. Musharraf dedicated his life to Pakistan the day he joined the armed forces and he has every right as a citizen to live with his people,” Anjum stated.

APML, PTI in talks

Anjum confirmed reports that the All Pakistan Muslim League has been approached by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and discussions between the political parties are underway to identify areas of mutual interest.

Sarfraz Anjum was recently appointed as the official political advisor to Musharraf and is also credited for APML’s success in Chitral.

There are no easy and quick solutions to the menace of loadshedding in country.

With temperatures hitting record highs in parts of the country, The Express Tribune looks to gauge the extent to which loadshedding is being undertaken across the country.

Select your province and city below and let us know how many hours of loadshedding you are facing.

Results are available in real-time upon filling out the survey. Full results will be available on the site on Sunday.

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