Police raid HEC chairman's home, arrest 9 servants

Updated at: 2057 PST, Saturday, July 17, 2010

HYDERABAD: A large contingent of Sindh Police raided HEC Chairman Javed Leghari's home and broke its doors in Goth Bakhshoo Leghari on Friday.

The police also raided his servants' homes, arrested nine of them, and shifted them to an unknown place. Their names are Sultan Chandio, Jeevan Kohli, Sangro Kohli, Kamal, Hurchan Kohli, Sheva Kohli, Weeru Kohli and Kmil Dars.

The police with many vehicles entered Goth Bakhshoo Leghari, which is the native village of the HEC chairman, in the jurisdiction of the Paban Police Station.

Policemen while leaving took many items with them.

When the family and servants refused to open the doors, the police broke them and entered the houses. They tortured children and women and arrested eight servants.

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US assures help to execute FODP projects

ISLAMABAD: US Special Representative for Afghanistan And Pakistan, Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Saturday said all the members of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) should ensure full implementation on the projects identified in the meeting of senior officials for their early completion.

Addressing the senior officials meeting of FODP, held here under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Richard Holbrooke, leading American delegation appreciating the work of Task Force on energy sector said that it will help to resolve energy crisis in Pakistan.

Holbrooke appreciated the efforts of Federal Secretary Water and Power Shahid Rafi for his contribution in the work of the Task Force.

He said key to progress will be the government's commitment to implement badly needed reforms, and the commitment of the FODP to help facilitate both public and private international investment in the energy sector.

He assured American help in the implementation on the projects identified in energy sector.

He said the FODP was created two years ago to galvanize international support for Pakistan's democratically elected civilian government. He said it was meant to match international expertise and support with Pakistani policy planning and reform efforts.

Regarding Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Richard Holbrooke welcoming the report of the Khyber Pakhtunkwa authorities on the assessment being developed with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UN, and EU said members of FODP would extend full cooperation and assistance in this regard.

Holbrooke suggested that the next priority area for the FODP should be water as Pakistan faces severe water challenges that hamper its economic development and create internal discord.

Referring to Tokyo Donors Conference held in April 2009 where international donors pledged over $5.2 billion, Holbrooke said these pledges should be ensured.

He said, "According to our latest records, the international community has disbursed or obligated $1.7 billion of the $5.2 billion pledges made at the Tokyo Conference."

Holbrooke said U.S. has delivered $520 million of the $1 billion pledge made in Tokyo, for social support, health, education, energy, and water, and ensured that U.S. will deliver the remainder as promised.

Acknowledging that many donors are making progress in delivering on their pledges, he said all of the donors must understand the urgency of this effort.

He said, "Pakistan has made progress in the past 20 months of democratic rule, but these gains are fragile and those who oppose democracy in Pakistan are becoming more aggressive."

Holbrooke said every donor has to set a goal to deliver additional assistance before the October ministerial of the FODP adding "all of us need to do a better job of communicating our activities with one another, the Government of Pakistan, and the Pakistani people."

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Balochistan CM airplane makes emergency landing

QUETTA: The special airplane of Balochistan Chief Minister Sardar Aslam Raisani made emergency landing at Quetta airport after one of the engines of the aircraft caught fire.

According to airport sources, an engine of the airplane caught fire immediately after take off from Quetta airport.

Provincial finance minister, chief secretary and other officials were also onboard the airplane.

The plane however safely landed without any casualties, reports said.

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Butt accepts Afridi’s resignation as Test captain

Updated at: 0217 PST, Saturday, July 17, 2010
LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ejaz Butt, accepting resignation of Test captain Pakistan cricket team Shahid Khan Afridi, has said the new captain will be decided after meeting to be held between players and PCB officials.

After the dismal performance of Pakistan cricket team, which ended in 150-run defeat against Australia on Friday, the Test captain Shahid Afridi announced his retirement saying that 5-day format of cricket was not his game type.

Besides, he was also carrying side strain injury, said Afridi, “So, I do not want to play Test cricket.”

“I may not play second Test”, he feared adding that, if fit, the second Test of this series will be my last one.

Later, taking to Geo news, Chairman PCB Ejaz Butt rebuffing Salman Butt being automatic choice of captainship following Afridi’s retirement, said new captain will be decided in board meeting.

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Pakistan gets technology to preserve mangoes

Pakistan gets technology to preserve mangoes Updated at: 1330 PST, Saturday, July 17, 2010 KARACHI: Pakistan has got the technology to preserve mangoes for 40 days, which will help to export mangoes through ship with much lesser cost. A mango exporter Abdul Qadeer Durrani told Geo News that export of mangoes to European countries through airways costs Rs.125 per kilogram whereas the same quantity costs Rs.15 via ship. Hundred tons of mangoes have been exported during current season, he added.

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Water crisis more important than any other issue

July, 17 2010
ISLAMABAD: The coming week will usher in the second phase of the strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the United States, but behind-the-scene preparations for the talks make it evident that the Pakistan military is in charge of the dialogue and has decided that the focus of the interaction will remain the country’s economic needs, especially water. The preparations for the upcoming strategic dialogue are taking place at the General Headquarters (GHQ) under the watchful eye of the military top brass, which appears to be so aware of Pakistan’s precarious economic position that it has put these needs at the forefront of the talks, and not security concerns or demands for military hardware. Papers for the dialogue have been compiled after half a dozen meetings at the GHQ over the past two weeks. These meetings were attended by representatives of all the relevant ministries and headed by Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. He will also be part of the Pakistani delegation; the other two principals who will represent the country in the talks are Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Finance Minister Hafeez Sheikh. The composition of the delegation and the preparatory meetings merely reveal the primary role the military is playing domestically despite the existence of a democratic government. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will head the US delegation. Richard Holbrooke, US Special Envoy on Pakistan and Afghanistan, has already arrived in Islamabad and Ms Clinton is expected to arrive on July 18 for the dialogue, which will start on July 19. Equally interesting is the fact that the strategic dialogue papers prepared for the talks under the supervision of the COAS have placed the water crisis with India as the foremost issue of concern, more important than terrorism or the dispute over Kashmir. In fact, Dawn has been told that in contrast to earlier meetings, water has replaced the security situation in terms of priority. Officials told Dawn that resolving the water dispute between Pakistan and India is on top of the agenda in the upcoming strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the United States, which has been set by the military. “Pakistan will request the US to influence India and play its role in settlement of water dispute, mainly related to diversion of water,” sources said. According to the paper, the water issue with India is emerging as a serious crisis, which will have long-term implications on the agriculture output and is likely to cause tension between the two countries. It adds that the control of Pakistan’s water share by India is being seen as a major threat to the security and economy of the country. The document highlights that more than two dozen water projects under way or planned on the western rivers in occupied Kashmir will enable India to control the flow of water into Pakistani territory. Dawn has learnt that the concern, which is shared by the Pakistan military, is that the diversion of Pakistan’s water share in hydroelectric projects by India has already led to a shortage, which in turn has caused huge losses to the agriculture sector, including delay in the sowing of major crops and reduction in cultivated area. The document says that continued diversion of Pakistan’s water share will not just destroy the agriculture sector but also give India an added ability to cause floods in Pakistan during the monsoon seasons. The paper also argues that this manipulation of water is not just adding to the tension between the countries but also fuelling extremism in rural society as livelihood is affected due to water scarcity. The other four top items are market access for Pakistani exports to the US, rehabilitation of the power sector, development of agriculture on modern lines and human capital development. To convince the Americans about the importance of the issues, the Pakistani delegation will tell the Americans that the economic situation is the catalyst for extremism, officials told Dawn. Last but not least, Pakistan will demand $50 billion over the next 10 years for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the economy and to weed out extremism. The delegation will also argue that the $1.5 billion per annum Washington is planning to give Pakistan under the Kerry Lugar Act is not sufficient; it is expected to suggest that the annual aid should be $5 billion instead.
By: Dawn News

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16 killed as caravan attacked in Lower Kurram

HANGU : At least 16 people have been killed when some unidentified miscreants opened fire at a caravan on way to Peshawar from Lower Kurram early on Saturday, Aaj Newsreported.

Sources said that a caravan was going to Peshawar from Lower Kurram, when some unknown miscreants opened fire at them near Char Khel.

Resultantly, 16 people died while four other injured.

The wounded have been shifted to a nearby hospital.

Security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

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Railways notifies suspension order of six more trains

Updated at: 1133 PST, Saturday, July 17, 2010
LAHORE: Following suspension of eight trains from operations; Pakistan Railways Authorities have issued notification, grounding six more trains.

According to notification issued from Pakistan Railways, those trains prevented from function included: Sakhi Abbas Express, Karachi Mirpur Khas Express and Sialkot Express have been grounded from Today.

Meanwhile, Chaltan Express and Tezro Express will be grounded from July 20 whereas Shalimar Express is due to be suspended from July 29.

It may be mentioned that Chaltan operates on Quetta-Lahore route; Tezro goes from Peshawar to Karachi while Shalimar works on Lahore-Karachi route.

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