A SASSI press release said the allegation and perception created by the story —published in The Express Tribune on May 24 — that SASSI is an illegal university is baseless as it is a corporate body with perpetual succession. The release adds the university was established through an Act of Parliament and was asserted to by the President of Pakistan on March 13, 2013.

It said because SASSI University was established by an Act of Parliament, the university cannot be called illegal by the HEC or any other body.

HEC Chairperson Javaid Laghari said the commission has the prerogative under the constitution of Pakistan to issue NOCs and approve any university, while adding that SASSI has not sought an NOC yet.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2013.

These were the views expressed by Dr Samar Mubarakmand, a renowned scientist and keynote speaker at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) on Monday as part of a three-day symposium on advances in mineral resource exploration, identification, extraction, processing and sustainable mining.

“Pakistan has an abundance of rich soil which, if exploited wisely, can help contribute to the country’s economic prosperity. However, this is also dependent on there being sensible policy makers,” he said.

Mubarakmand spoke about the performance of the scientists involved with the Thar coal project and presented a comparative analysis of Pakistan and India’s coal-generating capacity.

The University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa School of Mining Engineering Head Professor Frederick Cawood also addressed the symposium, highlighting mineral development in Pakistan.

“Mining has been a neglected area in Pakistan,” said NUST Rector Muhammad Asghar, who lauded the symposium organisers’ efforts to promote the induction of mining as a discipline in the academic curriculum.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2013.

Members of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association and Islamabad District Bar Association (IDBA ) boycotted court proceedings and hoisted black flags on bar rooms. Twin attacks in Quetta had claimed the lives of students, doctors, security officials and the deputy commissioner.

In their general body meeting, lawyers passed a unanimous resolution condemning the attack on Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s residency in Ziarat.

“It’s the government’s responsibility to make a comprehensive strategy to eliminate terrorism from Balochistan,” said IDBA President Dr Muhammad Anwar. Lawyers also asked the government to secure historical places across the country.

Lawyers also expressed solidarity with the Baloch and promised moral support. The interior minister has constituted a joint investigation team to probe the attacks, reiterating that the government will only negotiate with those who lay down arms.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2013.

Talking to reporters at Rawalpindi Railway Station on his arrival from Lahore, he said in the first phase, PR’s encroached lands would be retrieved from land grabbers and no exception will be acceptable in this regard. “However, there will be a different policy for katchi abadis set up on PR lands.”

The minister said all-out efforts will be made to bring an end to corruption and get rid of corrupt officers. A result-oriented mechanism will be prepared to end corruption in the department, he added.

“Special steps are being taken top trace out pilferages for which vigilant cells will be established on a provincial level,” Rafiq said. I will travel by train and request other parliamentarians to do the same to motivate PR and increase revenue-generation.

He said he was considering whether to provide new locomotives or repair existing ones to facilitate passengers. “I’ve talked to passengers and learnt about their difficulties and have travelled in almost every class. They also gave some tips which I’ll discuss with senior officers and engineers,” he said.

The minister warned that the performance of senior officers would be evaluated, “I won’t tolerate any laxity from officials and those who don’t work will be sent home.”

He added that he would hold meetings with all representatives of railway unions and learn about their demands. “Their demands will be met if genuine,” he said, adding that unions would be taken on board to revive the railway.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2013.

“If you want the court to issue notice to Altaf Hussain for making a speech on May 11, asking for separation
of Karachi from the country, show that he is the lawfully elected head of MQM,” remarked Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heading the bench that heard the petition filed by Barrister Zafarullah of Watan Party.

Zafarullah, citing records available with the ECP, claimed that Dr Farooq Sattar being the deputy convener was the head of MQM. He pointed out that a convener should be the head of the party since no one had contested the top position in the party. The ECP, according to him, did not even have any record of MQM’s internal elections.

In response to his arguments, the chief justice said that this issue could be taken up with the poll supervisory body.

Barrister Zafarullah sought time to amend his petition for provision of additional information and the bench adjourned the hearing for 10 days.

It was on May 22 that the petition came up for preliminary hearing but the bench restrained from issuing notices to Altaf Hussain and asked the petitioner to determine his lawful status. In his petition, Barrister Zafarullah had made Altaf Hussain, the MQM secretary general, ECP, law secretary and Pemra as respondents.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2013.

Threatening to intensify the protest, Audit and Accounts Employees Welfare Association (AAEWA) President Shabir Khalid Mirza said that if the government failed to fulfill their demands, they would begin a pen down strike across AJK.

He said it is the duty of the Kashmir Council secretary — who controls the Audit and Accounts Department — to issue a notification.

“They are delaying it and making false promises,” Mirza said while addressing the protesters.

Mirza said the pen down strike would end when the Kashmir Council issues a notification bringing the Audit and Accounts Employees of Azad Kashmir pay scale at par with Audit employees in other provinces then they would end the pen down strike.

Azad Kashmir Accountant General Gulzar Husssian Shah told The Express Tribune that a letter has been written to the Kashmir council secretary and hopefully the matter would also be discussed with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, who is also the Kashmir Council chairman and the final authority on the matter.

Later, the protesters refused a request by Shah to end their strike.

Due to the strike, government employees from across the state could not collect cheques. “We have been standing here since the morning to collect our cheques and pending official files. If the strike continues till June 30, millions of rupees of different government departments could lapse,” said Riaz Arshad, an education department employee.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2013.

CHARSADDA: A special branch police official was killed in a road accident in Charsadda hours before his wife was gunned down by his brother in a family dispute on Monday.

Tauheed Khan, an official of the city police, said Muhammad Sher, a resident of Bahadur Kallay was on his way to work when three men on a motorbike collided with Sher’s motorcycle and killed him on the spot.

The three motorcyclists, identified as Khaya Khan, Jandol Khan and Jandol’s son Tauseef, were also severely injured and taken to District Headquarters Hospital. Tauseef and Khaya are in critical condition, Tauheed said.

After receiving the news of his accident, Sher’s brother Gauhar Ali picked up a pistol and went to his brother’s house where he shot Sher’s widow Musarrat, injuring her critically.

Musarrat told Serdheri police official Saeed Khan that due to a family dispute she and her husband were living separately. She told the police that her brother-in-law had threatened to kill her that day.

Musarrat later died at the hospital and the couple was buried in Sardheri graveyard.

The police have filed separate cases for investigation.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: The third three-day inter-provincial exhibition of women entrepreneurs titled ‘Summer Trade Fair III’ began on Monday.

Organised by Women Business Development Centre’s (WBDC) Peshawar and Swat chapters, the purpose of the event was to provide a platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase their products through an elegant display setup, in addition to sharing business profiles and information with customers, as well as building strong linkages with counterparts within the country and abroad.

Participants include women entrepreneurs from Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Hazara, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Swat and Peshawar. They will display their products through 50 stalls showcasing embroidery, dresses, jewellery, decoration pieces, traditional pots and bridal accessories. More than 50% of the entrepreneurs hail from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

“Women in K-P have the potential to recognise their skills at both national and International levels, despite the volatile situation in the province,” said Zarmina Khan, a participant whose stall displayed ribbon work, dough and net flowers, glass paintings and block paintings.

Sarwat Ali, whose products on display ranged from a variety of homemade household accessories, said the exhibition has not only helped artisans succeed in acquiring remarkable profits, but has also developed numerous links with potential customers for further business opportunities.

The WBDC is a project of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to facilitate underprivileged people, especially women, and provide financial assistance on manageable terms to help them start small-scale businesses.

“Our aim is to make women stand on their own feet to earn a livelihood for their families,” said WBDC project manager Nabeela Safdar, adding the trade fair provides a conducive environment for business. She maintained the WBDC will establish furthere initiatives in other parts of the province too.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2013.

Adeel told the court that on March 19 he had shipped the pipes from Lahore to Islamabad through the cargo company upon the assurance that they would be delivered without any damage. He said that the pipes arrived damaged due to negligence on the part of the company. . He said when he demanded compensation from the company, they refused to address his grievance. He has asked the court to direct the respondent to pay Rs500,000 in damages and Rs50,000 for the counsel’s fee.

Talking to The Express Tribune respondent Muhammad Aftab said that the petitioner’s agent had collected the pipes at their Islamabad terminal, but had not complained that any of the pipes were broken. He suggested that they may have been damaged later due to the negligence of the petitioner.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2013.

The group of pharmacists had filed a contempt of court petition, claiming that they were appointed after passing the qualifying Punjab Public Service Commission examination. They said a single bench of the Lahore High Court had directed the government to regularise them, but the health department had challenged the order through an appeal.

A division bench had dismissed the appeal, but the department had still not implemented the single bench’s order to regularise the pharmacists. The petitioners requested that the court initiate contempt proceedings against the health secretary for not complying with the court. The court had summoned the health secretary to the last hearing.

However, on Monday, the health department informed the court that the pharmacists had been regularised and there was no need to proceed with the petition. Upon learning this, the court disposed of the petition.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2013.