Suicide bombers hit Iraq security as attacks kill 35

BAGHDAD : Three suicide bombings killed 14 Iraqi security force members overnight, officials said Wednesday, the deadliest in a series of attacks that left 35 people dead in two days.
The attacks come as Iraq witnesses its worst violence since 2008, a surge in unrest that has killed more than 5,400 people this year that has persisted despite authorities having carried out a swathe of operations and implemented tightened security measures. Since the beginning of 2013, AFP has recorded just 16 days in which there were no deaths from violence in Iraq, the most recent of which was May 24.
The months-long surge in unrest drew condemnation from the Pope on Wednesday in his regular address to tens of thousands of worshippers massed in Vatican City.
 On Wednesday, attacks in Sunni-majority areas of Baghdad and outside the capital left nine people dead and more than 20 others wounded, according to security and medical officials.
The deadliest of the attacks was in Abu Ghraib, just west of Baghdad, where two people were killed in a roadside bomb, while a magnetic “sticky bomb” attached to a car in the Baghdad neighbourhood of Adhamiyah killed a policeman.
Attacks also struck the restive central city of Baquba and nearby towns, the former insurgent bastion of Fallujah to the west of Baghdad, and the cities of Mosul, Kirkuk and Tikrit, all to the north of the capital. The violence followed suicide bombings the previous night that killed 19 people, among them 14 security forces members.
In Tarmiyah, north of Baghdad, two suicide bombers attacked a house where a security meeting was taking place at about 11:30 pm (2030 GMT) on Tuesday, killing 11 people and wounding at least 20.
One bomber detonated explosives at a gate leading to the house, while the second managed to enter the building itself.
The dead were four soldiers, including a brigadier general, three police, among them a lieutenant colonel, and four Sahwa anti-Al-Qaeda fighters.
And near the northern city of Mosul, a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle rigged with explosives near a police checkpoint, killing eight people, among them three police, and wounding 25.
Militants, including those linked to Al-Qaeda, frequently target Iraqi security forces and other government employees.
Some 30 suicide bombers have managed to detonate explosives in attacks this month, while others were killed before they could do so.
Other attacks in Iraq killed seven more people on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki left for a visit to Washington, during which he will push for increased US support for the country’s fight against insurgents.
The Iraqi government has so far failed to curb the heightened unrest this year, and experts say Baghdad should turn to longer-term efforts that build trust among citizens, especially members of the country’s Sunni minority.
Widespread discontent among Iraq’s Sunnis, who complain of being politically isolated and unfairly targeted by security forces, has been a major factor in the unrest, along with the civil war in neighbouring Syria, which has bolstered militants.
The level of violence rose sharply after security forces stormed a Sunni protest camp in northern Iraq in April, sparking clashes in which dozens died.
And while authorities have made some concessions aimed at placating the protesters and Sunnis in general, such as freeing prisoners and raising the salaries of Sunni anti-Al-Qaeda fighters, the underlying issues remain unaddressed.
More than 700 people have been killed in violence so far this month, and over 5,400 since the beginning of the year, according to AFP figures based on security and medical sources.

UN inquiry chief left in tears by N Korea brutality

UNITED NATIONS : The head of a UN inquiry into North Korea rights abuses told Tuesday how he had been reduced to tears by witness accounts of people who fled the hardline state.
Michael Kirby, a veteran Australian high court judge, said the treatment of women returned to North Korea after already being abused in China had been particularly tough.
Fewer North Koreans are getting out of the country, perhaps because of tighter border controls, another rights investigator said. The UN Human Rights Council commission of inquiry has heard evidence in London, Tokyo and Seoul and will be in Washington from Wednesday. The inquiry has heard harrowing stories of labor camps in the isolated state ruled by Kim Jong-Un as well from relatives of Japanese believed abducted by North Korean agents and families divided since the 1950-53 Korean War.
“Some of the testimony has been extremely distressing,” Kirby, who has also investigated abuses in Cambodia, told a press conference after addressing a UN General Assembly committee.
“I am a judge of 35 years experience and I have seen in that time a lot of melancholy court cases which somewhat harden one’s heart.
“But even in my own case, there have been a number of the testimonies which have moved me to tears and I am not ashamed to say that.
“You would have be a stoney-hearted person not to be moved by the stories that the commission of inquiry has received,” he declared.
Kirby said the testimonies “should be seen and they should be considered for the follow up that will be required” by the UN system. All of the testimonies have been put online.
The inquiry leader said women “figure very greatly in testimony” and make up the majority of the North Koreans who have tried to flee the tightly controlled state.
“Many of them have left and gone on to China where they are subject to forced marriages, trafficking and other human rights burdens,” he added.
But China sends back many who are caught and those women “have suffered very grievously,” Kirby said.
Sonja Biserko, a member of the commission, said women had been “treated in a most horrible way” in North Korean detention camps.
At a public hearing in London last week, Kim Song-Ju told of his four attempts to flee North Korea because of a famine that killed hundreds of thousands of North Koreans during the 1990s.
After crossing the icy Tumen river that marks the border with China in March 2006, Kim was caught by Chinese guards and forced back to North Korea.
He described beatings in a North Korean detention camp and how he was ordered to search prisoners’ excrement for money they were believed to have swallowed.
“The North Korean prison guards were telling us that once you get to this prison you’re not human, you’re just like animals,” he said.
He escaped to China on his fourth attempt and went to Britain with the help of missionaries.
North Korea has condemned the UN inquiry as “hostile” and said the witnesses are liars.
Kirby said however that the inquiry had gathered “copious evidence” of conditions in labor camps where there was not enough food and many people were kept because they were relatives of inmates.
Kirby said the inquiry, which will report to the Human Rights Council in March, had asked North Korea to send a representative who could question the witnesses.
Marzuki Darusman, UN special rapporteur on North Korea who is also a member of the inquiry, said meanwhile that 1,041 North Koreans had arrived in South Korea in the first nine months of the year, against 1,509 people in all of 2012 and 2,706 people in 2011.
“This represents a reversal of the trend of steady increase in the number of annual arrivals since 1998, possibly due to recently tightened border control and increased incidents of refoulement,” Darusman wrote in a statement to the UN General Assembly.
Darusman’s report said there had been no change in the dire human rights situation in North Korea.

Mushahid condemns Indian minister’s remarks

ISLAMABAD - Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, has strongly condemned the anti-Pakistan tirade by an Indian minister.
He expressed these views while addressing the Pakistan-India young entrepreneurs forum on video link here on Wednesday.
The Senator termed this unprecedented attack on Pakistan by the Indian minister at an event, which was organized to promote people-to-people relations between the two countries as an uncalled for propaganda.
Senator Mushahid said that the atmosphere of the whole conference was vitiated by the Indian minister’s shocking remarks and this showed an obsession of the Indian ruling elite with Pakistan-bashing, which has increased of late due to the upcoming elections in India.
Mushahid Hussain said that he was surprised that even normal diplomatic norms were not adhered to at an event where both Indian and Pakistan entrepreneurs were present and said that it was unfortunate that an Indian minister has gone to the extent to abuse such a platform to launch attacks on Pakistan. He said that the main problem in Pakistan-India relations is the fact that the Indian political elite continues to be in denial mode.
when it comes to the root causes of tensions in the region and, the bigness of India’s size is unfortunately not matched by large-heartedness in its attitude and approach towards smaller neighbours and this has been amply demonstrated by yesterday’s unfortunate event.
He said it was due to such a negative mindset that Pakistan-India relations are not able to move on adding that in Pakistan’s recent general elections, there was no India-bashing at 

Everyone in govt departments is mafia: CJP

KARACHI - The Sindh government has filed a police performance report on the Karachi operation in the Karachi Registry of the Supreme Court (SC) during the hearing of implementation of the apex court verdict in the violence case.
As per the report, overall 6,840 accused were arrested during the operation from September 5 to October 27. The police and CID conducted 4,857 and 339 raids, respectively, and made arrests while 359 encounters took place with criminals during which scores of culprits were arrested. In addition, 41 outlaws were killed.
Those arrested during the operation included 97 in murder and target killing cases, 688 in terrorism, 37 in extortion of money, 30 in kidnapping of ransom, 476 in robberies and 1308 in illegal arms and narcotics cases while 2,359 were absconders.  The report said the pre-operation situation reflected that 330 persons were killed in target killings, 10 in robberies, 33 over personal enmity and 17 in bomb blasts from July, 21, 2013, to September, 4, 2013.
The post-operation period witnessed a marked change as only 139 persons were killed in target killings, 14 in robberies, 50 over personal enmity and only 2 in bomb blasts from September 5 to date.
The police, coast guards, Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and customs are involved in drug smuggling, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked during a hearing of the Karachi law and order case at the Supreme Court Karachi, a private TV channel reported. “Everyone is a mafia. They are only making money,” he said, adding no one cares about Karachi and its general public.
The chief justice ordered the ANF director general to visit Kala Pul and see what was going on there. He also said the ANF DG was not doing his work properly.
“3,000 coast guards are present in Karachi, but they have failed to stop drug smuggling,” the chief justice stated, expressing his disappointment. He directed the attorney general to ask the personnel concerned whether they wanted to continue doing their work or not. He also ordered the ANF to provide a certificate, stating that no drug smuggling would take place in future.
When questioned about cleansing Karachi of illegal arms, the attorney general said the security forces had asked people to voluntarily hand over their weapons to nearby police stations, but now door-to-door checking would take place.
The Supreme Court on October 29 had rebuked the federal government for not taking steps to control the smuggling of arms, ammunitions and drugs as well as tax evasions on imports.

Sindh seeks Army deployment during Muharram

KARACHI - Following the incidents of attacks on shrines, the Sindh Police have recommended deployment of Pak Army in Kambar-Shahdadkot, Jacobabad and northern parts of Sindh during upcoming Muharram-ul-Haram, officials told The Nation.
The concerned commissioners and police officers during a high level meeting held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Secretary presented the report of law and order situation in context of upcoming Islamic month of Muharram with their suggestions.
Following Karachi, the Larkana division is declared the most sensitive where 63 troubled areas have been identified by the administration, said the sources.
A report presented in the meeting, a copy of it also available with The Nation, carried figures of religious seminaries with sects and recommendations to deploy Army personnel in context of the likely scenario of law and order during Muharram in the northern Sindh.
According to the police report, out of total 298 Imambargahs, at least 63 spots of processions and Imambargahs have been declared most sensitive in Larkana region.
The district-wise statistic of the troubled areas showed that 17 areas/routes of Muharram processions are sensitive in Larkana, 13 in Kambar-Shahdadkot, six in Shikarpur, 11 in Jacobabad and 16 Imambargahs have been declared sensitive in Kashmore.
Telling details with reasons of the troubled areas, the report stated that Sunni mosques, seminaries and majority of Sunni population will fall in the way of Muharram processions in Larkana regions so these have been declared most sensitive.
It may be mentioned here that a shrine was recently attacked in Shikarpur city. A ‘Gadi Nasheen’ of the shrine had also come under attack in Kambar district.
The report showed that a huge number of 294 religious seminaries are situated in Larkana regions which are associated with all sects, including Deobandi, Brailvi, Sipah-e-Sahaba and Shia sects.
A total of 66 seminaries are situated in Larkana district, out of which at least 25 are of Deobandi, 36 of Brailvi, one of Sipah-e-Sahab and four of Shia sects.
Similarly there are total 56 seminaries in Kambar-Shahdadkot district, out of which 32 are of Deobandi, 21 of Brailvi and three of Shia sects in while 42 are of Deobandi, eight of Brailvi and one of Shia sect in Shikarpur district.
Out of 52 seminaries, 30 are of Deobandi sect, 17 of Brailvi and five of Shia sect are situated in Jacobabad while 46 of Deobandi sect, 22 of Brailvi and one of Shia sect among 69 seminaries are located in Kashmore district, which is the border area of Balochistan.

Mafia parking lots of problems

LAHORE - Unallocated parking lots have been set up on busy roads in the provincial capital, courtesy to corruption culture.
Such parking lots have also been adding to traffic troubles while authorities concerned have been taking bribe form contractors.
In the name of ‘secure’ parking, private hospitals, educational institutes, shopping malls, offices and hotels/restaurants have encroached on busy routes such as Ferozpur Road, Waris Road, Queens Road, Jail Road, The Mall and Hall Road.
An official said on anonymity that land mafia is behind the mess. He said influential people step into to restrain anti-encroachment squad them from taking action against land grabbers. Authorities concerned issues press statement whenever such issue is flashed.
People deployed at the parking places say private contractors hired them to charge fee. Abdul Razaq, an employee at a parking lot at Hall Road told this scribe that the stand was “owned by the office-bearers of Hall Road Union”.
He said said he was employee of these persons. Despite repeated attempts, officials concerned could not reach to comment on the issue.

Step up efforts for Kashmir, Nizami asks rulers

LAHORE - The Nation Editor-in-Chief and Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust Chairman Majid Nizami called for stepped up efforts to get Kahsmir issue resolved.
“The dispute with India can be solved either by acting upon the UN resolutions or by struggle,” he said while presiding over a special sitting at Aiwan-e-Karkunan Tehrik-e-Pakistan in connection of Black Day on Wednesday.
The NPT and Pakistan Movement Workers’ Trust jointly organised the sitting.
Gen (r) Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Molana Shafi Josh, Dr Ejaz Butt, Brig (R) Imtiaz Ahmad, Dr Ahsan Masaud, Syed Naseebullah Gardezi, Shahzad Ahmad Raja, Farooq Khan Azad, Dr Farzana Naseer, Ghulam Abbas Mir, Shahid Rasheed  spoke on the occasion while Mian Farooq Altaf, Begum Safia Ishaq, teachers, students and people from different walks of life attended the event.
Majid Nizami said: “The issue has been longing for the past 66 years and no serious struggle has so far been waged to get it resolved.”
Majid Nizami said Quaid-e-Azam termed Kashmir a jugular vein of Pakistan. He said the Quaid ordered the then army chief to enter army into Kashmir and get it liberated who had refused to obey the Quaid’s order. “America, Israel and India are united to harm Muslims everywhere and the UNO worked under the US influence,” Nizami held.
Begum Suraya, wife of former AJK president KH Khursheed, regretted that the rulers had forgotten Quaid’s saying on Kashmir instead they were busy saving their personal interests. She, however, lauded the efforts of Majid Nizami.
Other speakers also condemned the Indian aggression in Jammu and Kashmir. They said that South Asian peace was directly connected with the burning issue of Kashmir, adding the acceptable solution to the Kashmiri nation revolved around the UN resolutions passed in 1948 and 1949. However, they regretted that India was reluctant to resolve the conflict and she was increasing its cruelty in the occupied region day-by-day.

Raiwind congregation begins today

LAHORE - Amid tight security with deployment of police commandoes, the first phase of the three-day annual Tablighi Ijtima (preaching congregation), said to be the second largest gathering in the world after Haj, will begin at Raiwind today (Thursday).
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims from Pakistan and abroad especially Bangladesh, Egypt, India and Indonesia will attend the congregation.
Sources close to organisers say the annual congregation will start after Asar prayers and Thursday and will conclude with a special prayer, which would be offered on early Sunday. Large contingents of people have arrived from Afghanistan, India, and Bangladesh even by road.  Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Chaudhry Shafiq Ahmed on Wednesday paid a special visit to the congregation site and reviewed security arrangements and deployment of policemen at the identified points.
A spokesman for the Lahore police said that on the directions of CCPO dozens of plainclothesmen have also been deployed among the gathering to keep a vigilant eye on the activities of the miscreants.
SP (Sadar police division) Malik Awais briefed the city police chief about the security measures and deployment of police force during his visit to the congregation. The CCPO was informed that at least 2,000 policemen besides 206 upper subordinates and nine officers of the rank of SP and DSP are deployed in and around the congregation site to ensure foolproof security. A temporary police headquarters has also been established close to the venue in order to facilitate the on-duty policemen.
Chaudhry Shafiq also directed the police force to ensure snap-checking of every vehicle at the special police pickets set up in the area. He also directed the officers to ensure video-recording of the participants at check-pots set up near the entry points and exit points.
The police were also directed to immediately ensure the deployment of snipers at all the police pickets in order to thwart any possible terror attempt. The police have also placed barriers ahead of the pickets to ensure slow and smooth flow of traffic during the snap-checking.
The CCPO also visited the parking lots and directed the police ensure proper inspection of each and every vehicle for it is parked at the stand.
On the orders of the CCPO, a monitoring room has also been established to monitor the activities and the movement of the participants. A great number of CCTV cameras are also installed at various points to keep a check on the movement of the participants to maintain peace, a police officer said. He further said that advance checking had already been started at Kasur boundary, Sundar areas, Raiwind localities, and other adjoining parts of the Raiwind City.
The Ijtima administration has also appealed to the participants and all the Muslims to say special prayers so that the country’s biggest congregations would be held peacefully with the grace of Almighty Allah. Elaborate arrangements have also been made for uninterrupted water and power supply at the venue.
A number of stalls and restaurants have also been set up around the site. The Pakistan Railways has run special trains from various destinations to Raiwind and back for both the phases. PIA and other airlines have also made special arrangements as a large number of people are coming from different parts of the country to attend the congregation. Thousands of students from various educational institutions and Madrassas have volunteered their services to make necessary arrangements at the venue.
Hundreds of traffic policemen are also deployed on the roads leading towards the venue to ensure smooth flow of traffic and security of the parking lots. Like the previous years, the congregation has been divided into two phases and the first phase would continue till Sunday afternoon.
A number of religious scholars and Ulema from Pakistan and abroad would address different sessions of the three-day congregation.

Rupee, reserves to come under severe pressure in Nov

ISLAMABAD  -  Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves and rupee would once again come under severe pressure in next month (November), as cash-starved government would repay huge amount worth of $700 million to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) resulting in further reduction in foreign reserves.
Pakistan would repay $700 million to the IMF in five tranches during the month of November that would put additional pressure on the country’s currency and foreign exchange reserves, which are already sharply declining. Pakistan has already received first tranche worth of $550 million under Extended Fund Facility in early September and looking to get second worth of $550 million in December.
A high-level IMF delegation is currently visiting Pakistan for economic assessment of the country for releasing second tranche. The IMF’s review mission would stay till November 7. In the first round, the two sides will exchange data about various sectors of the economy. The IMF’s executive board is expected to meet on December 2 to consider approval of the second tranche worth $550 million, the official said, adding that Pakistan will face no problem in getting approval of the second tranche.
Pakistan’s balance of payments position is worsening compared to what had been projected by the IMF for the first quarter (July-September) of the current fiscal year 2013-14 and this is one of the targets missed by Islamabad for getting second tranche.
Pakistan and IMF agreed that gross foreign currency reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) should increase to $5.64 billion by the end of September, which stood at $4.824 billion, showing a gap of $816 million.
It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan would repay $3 billion to the Fund during ongoing financial year 2013-14 and would received $2.2 billion, which suggests that country’s foreign reserves would remain under pressure despite entering into new IMF programme.
However, finance ministry officials believed that reserves would improve in the months to come, as country would receive billion of dollars from different sources. In order to improve foreign inflows, the government has signed a deal with domestic and international banks to get short term loan facility to the tune of over $625 million which will help improve the country’s reserves position.
Similarly, the country is expecting to generate $1.5 billion from auctioning of 3G licences, due amount $800 million from Etisalat and also due amount from Untied States under the head of coalition support fund (CSF).

Gas utilities seek more hike in tariff

ISLAMABAD - A shocking disclosure for over-burdened masses is that the state-owned gas giants have pleaded the regulatory authority to approve massive hike in gas tariff with start of New Year.
State-owned gas utilities - Sui Northern Gas Company Limited & Sui Southern Gas Company Limited - have requested the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to approve heavy gas price increase by Rs131.98mmbtu and Rs61.45mmbtu respectively. This requested hike if gets approval of the regulator would be effective in the country with the start of New Year till June 2014. Interestingly, both gas utilities in their separate requests have also pleaded to allow collection from the gas consumers by 7 per cent on account of stolen gas (Unaccounted for Gas). The SNGPL despite getting the approval from the regulator to collect 7 percent from the consumers under head UfG will however have to face heavy loss worth around Rs6 billion, 78crore and 60lakh while the SSGCL will have to bear Rs2 billion, 36crore and 60lakh. Both gas utilities have sought increase in the gas tariff due to depreciation in the value of Pak rupees in comparison with US dollar and also on account of increase in wellhead gas price and to meet expenses as well, available copies of petitions of both gas companies disclosed.
Officials at ministry of petroleum and natural resources when contacted told that Ogra would approve increase in gas tariff over the separate applications of SNGPL and SSGCL after conducting public hearings in coming November.  As per Ogra Ordinance, Ogra will dispatch its decision of increase in gas tariff to the petroleum ministry and after that a review on cross subsidy will be made after the consultation of Prime Minister, they added.
The SNGPL while seeking increase in the prescribed gas price had sought Rs131.98mmbtu hike for all categories of gas consumers from the regulator. For first slab of domestic consumers, the gas utility has pleaded to jack up price from Rs106.14mmbtu and fix it at Rs238.12mmbtu and increase the gas price from Rs212.28mmbtu to Rs344.26mmbtu for second slab. The company has also requested to increase the gas price from Rs530.69mmbtu to Rs662.67mmbtu for gas consumers of third slab. Similarly, it has also asked to jack up the price from Rs530.69mmbtu to Rs662.67mmbtu for commercial consumers, while from Rs531.39mmbtu to Rs663.37mmbtu for special commercial consumers (Roti Tandoor) and from Rs438.14mmbtu to Rs570.12mmbtu for ice factories and for general industry.  The SNGPL has also applied the Ogra to give increase in the gas price and jack it up from Rs577.11mmbtu and set it at Rs709.09mmbtu for compressed natural gas (CNG) stations, from Rs658.60mmbtu to Rs790.58mmbtu for cement factories, from Rs102.94mmbtu to Rs234.92mmbtu for feed stock of fertilizer. And, give increase in the gas tariff of fertilizer plants over usage of gas for the purpose of power production from Rs438.14mmbtu and fix it at Rs570.12mmbtu, while increase the gas tariff from Rs438.14mmbtu and fix it at Rs570.12mmbtu for Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Captive Power Plants (CPPs).The SSGCL in its plea to some extent contrary to the SNGPL’s request has pleaded the regulator to maintain the gas tariff at current level for gas consumers of domestic, religious/holy places, hostels, special consumers (Roti Tandoor), Fauji Fertilizer. But, the gas utility under cross subsidy mechanism has requested to approve 14 per cent increase with Rs61.45mmbtu in the gas tariff for rest of the gas consumers of SSGCL.
The gas utility (SSGCL) has also requested the regulator to jack up gas tariff from Rs434.84mmbtu and set it at Rs496.29mmbtu for the consumers categories of commercial, ice factories, industrial, CNG stations, CPPs, cement factories, Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), Karcahi Electric Supply Company (KESC), and IPPs.
The SNGPL in its plea has pleaded that its income during running fiscal year (FY) 2013-14 will remain at Rs235 billion, 46crore and 80lakh and its financial shortfall will stay at Rs39 billion, 69crore and 80lakh. Similarly, the SSGCL will totally earn income worth Rs158 billion, 75crore and 60lakh against the estimated expenditure of Rs172 billion, 92crore and 10 lakh while it will require Rs27crore and 80 lakh worth subsidy for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Air Mix Projects.  In this way, the gas utility will have to face a total shortfall of Rs14 billion, 44crore and 30lakh during on going fiscal year.
Besides, the SNGPL has decided to give five lakh new gas connections to domestic consumers of its domain from January to June 2014 despite growing gas crisis in the country. And, SNGPL will require Rs4.984 billion finances for above new domestic gas connection while Ogra had already given its approval to the SNGPL to install 2.5 lakh new domestic gas connections during FY 2013-14.

Two-year ban on new gas connections proposed

ISLAMABAD - Owing to growing gas crisis in the country, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources (MPNR) has recommended the Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to impose a two years ban on new gas connections for industrial, commercial, private housing schemes and multi storey buildings etc.
Official documents available with The Nation disclosed that Petroleum and Natural Resources Ministry, in its summary sent to the premier, had recommended imposing ban on new gas connections largely because of growing gas shortfall in country. And, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has completed its investigation over Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) connections following the orders of Supreme Court to examine the matter as the issue of CNG licensing and connections is also being examined by the Supreme Court through FIA and the final decision is awaited. The matter of licensing and connections of CNG shall be reviewed once decision of the Supreme Court in Suo Moto case is reached. While, the issue of gas distribution development schemes is being examined in light of the Supreme Court decision and recommendations will be submitted separately. However, at present a large number of requests have also been received in Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources through gas utility companies and various other forums including Prime Minister’s office, ministries as well as directly from applicants seeking new gas connections.
According to the dispatched summary of Petroleum Ministry to the incumbent premier, moratorium on new commercial and industrial gas connections be extended for a period of two years which shall be reviewed thereafter keeping in view the demand and supply position. No new application for the industrial/commercial may be entertained except Roti Tandoor. Similarly, no new gas connection may be provided to private housing schemes/colonies and multi-story buildings and shifting of industrial/commercial gas connections may not be allowed while load enhancement in existing industrial, commercial, as well as captive power gas connections may not be allowed. However, the gas connections of strategic nature that include development and research activities meant for enhancing deterrence and security of the country may be decided on case-to-case basis.
Shockingly, the summary has disclosed that two former premiers Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf had approved numerous new gas connections of industrial and commercial categories despite a ban. And, of these gas connections, several were also forwarded and recommended by the then petroleum ministry to the former premiers during their constitutional tenure for final approval.
Official says the then PM Raja Pervez Asharf, ahead of general elections, did not care about the imposed ban and gave new gas connections only to secure sympathies of innocent voters.
Official documents have further revealed that due to increasing gas shortfall, the then Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani was pleased to approve ban on new commercial/industrial gas connections on April 18, 2011 for a period of sex months. Subsequently, the moratorium was further extended for a period of one year up i.e. up to October 18, 2012. A ban was also imposed on new gas distribution development schemes.
Upon expiry of one-year extension, another summary on November 12, 2012 was submitted to the then PM Raja Pervez Ashraf, proposing to extend the moratorium for further one year. However, the said summary was returned on May 25, 2013 while terming the proposal as redundant.
In the meantime, a number of cases were approved by the Prime Minister for provision of gas connections in relaxation of moratorium some of which were recommended by MPNR.
Besides, the Prime Minister Secretariat also continued conveying approval for gas distribution development schemes in relaxation to moratorium. However, the Supreme Court of Pakistan vide its decision on July 22, 2013 in constitution petition “ Action against distribution development fund by ex-Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf” had directed to examine the left over work as to whether the same is in public interest and feasible to continue execution of said schemes. If such schemes found not to be in public interest or feasible, the same shall be abandoned subject to approval of competent authority i.e. on whose behalf the schemes were initiated and the funds were made available shall be deposited with the public exchequer.

No commutation in death sentences, House told

ISLAMABAD - Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan informed the Senate on Wednesday that the government was not considering any proposal to commute death sentence into life imprisonment.
Responding to a question, the minister said a total of 13,223 death penalties were announced across the country since 2002, of which 501 were consummated.
The minister said that since year 2002 the law enforcement agencies had arrested a total of 6,149 terrorists. He added that 12,404 persons were killed while 26,881 injured in different terrorism incidents during the same period across the country.
Nisar said a national policy on missing persons was being formulated by the government while a task force in this regard had also been formed. Five meetings of the task force had already been held and its final report would be presented before both the houses of the parliament, he added. To another question, the minister informed the house that 413 incidents of terrorism, including suicide attacks, took place in the country since June this year. He said it was the duty of the provincial governments to maintain law and order in their provinces, however, the federal government was providing all-out assistance to them to curb the menace of terrorism.
A 2008 moratorium on capital punishment imposed by the Pakistan Peoples Party’s government expired on June 30 and the country was due to execute two jailed militants in August under the new government led by Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz. But reports soon emerged that the government scrapped plans to reinstate the death penalty following threats by militants to step up attacks in retaliation.
The moratorium drew praise because of concerns its courts and police were too inept to ensure the accused a fair trial. Pakistan did, however, break its own rules in 2012 when it executed a convicted murderer and a former army serviceman.

Fuss over ‘false’ figures in Senate

67 of 2,227 killed by drones civilians: Govt | Opposition walks out after Nisar clashes with Zahid, Rabbani | Sticks to demand for correct data on terror casualties

ISLAMABAD - The Senate Wednesday saw repeated interruptions and walkouts over civilian casualties in the US drone strikes. The unremitting stand-off between the treasury and opposition over the issue forced Chairman Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari to adjourn the House until Thursday.
The controversy started during the Question Hour when ANP Senator Zahid Khan sought clarification from the Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan about official figures unveiled by him regarding the number of casualties caused by the US drones.
The minister earlier told the House that more than 2,160 suspected terrorists have been killed in 317 drone strikes in the past five years while only 67 innocent civilians have died in these attacks.
All the opposition parties in the House supported Zahid Khan’s point of view, forcing the minister to give categorical assurance to the opposition members that he would recheck the figures given to him by the defence ministry and would inform the House accordingly. But this did not satisfy the opposition.
Niar got furious with PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani while he was contesting the official figures, which forced the entire opposition to stage walkout over what they described as un-parliamentary behaviour of the minister.
The treasury benches remained unmoved and showed indifference to opposition’s walkout but after almost one and half hour, Leader of House Raja Zafarul Haq along with Rialways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique went after the opposition members and brought them back.
The moment chairman resumed the proceedings, Raja Zafarul Haq with the permission of the chair regretted the verbal scuffle and assured the House that such situation would not recur. However, as soon as he concluded his remarks, Leader of Opposition Aitzaz Ahsen took the floor and informed the House that as per understanding with Leader of the House, they called off their protest on the condition that the interior minister would assure the House about furnishing of correct figures.
But Nisar did not pay heed to it and the chairman said that since the dispute has not been resolved, therefore he is adjourning the house to meet again on Thursday. When he was making this announcement, Leader of Opposition again stood up and said that opposition is again staging a walkout.
Later, Senator Aitzaz Ahsan told media persons outside the parliament that “today (Wednesday) is the blackest day in the parliamentary history of Pakistan”. “Terrorism is the biggest problem of Pakistan but how can the country run if we don’t know actual statistics about terrorism,” he said. He said the opposition walked out after Nisar replied rudely to Senator Zahid and Senator Rabbani. He said Senator Zahid asked the interior minister for the data on the killings in terror activities and Ch Nisar gave false figures.
“After the arguments of Raza Rabbani, the interior minister treated harshly and replied impolitely,” Aitzaz maintained. He said that opposition cautioned the chairman against the behaviour of the minister but Nisar instead of rectifying his behaviour, started hurling catcalls upon opposition. He said it had been settled with Leader of House Raja Zafarul Haq that Nisar should retract his statistics though there was no need to apologise.

Pakistan snatch defeat from ‘jaws of victory’

Hosts lose 6 wickets for 17 runs in crazy slide to gift visitors one-run win

SHARJAH

South Africa staged a remarkable comeback to turn what seemed certain defeat into a one-run win over Pakistan in the first day-night international in Sharjah on Wednesday. Pakistan, chasing a modest 184 to win, were cruising along nicely at 165-4 but lost their last six wickets for just 17 runs off 39 balls to be bowled out for 182 in 46.3 overs.
It looked all over with Umar Amin (20) and Umar Akmal (18) at the crease but leg-spinner Imran Tahir (3-45) dismissed Umar, Shahid Afridi (nine) and Wahab Riaz (zero) in succsessive overs to leave Pakistan struggling for the last seven runs. Last man Mohammad Irfan and Saeed Ajmal added five runs before Morne Morkel (2-23) bowled Irfan to send his team into an unexpected but frenzied celebration, much to the dismay of the 15,000 crowd who came to see Pakistan win.
It was man-of-the-match Wayne Parnell who starred with both bat and ball, hitting a career best 56 before taking 3-41 in his eight overs. For Pakistan off-spinner Ajmal (4-30) was well supported by leg-spinner Afridi (3-37) as South Africa were bowled out in the final over. The win gives South Africa a 1-0 lead in the five-match series with the second match in Dubai on Friday.
Pakistan lost opener Nasir Jamshed (nought) early but Shehzad (58) and M Hafeez (28) shared a 71-run stand for the second wicket to stablise the run-chase. Even when Hafeez fell, Pakistan never looked in trouble as Misbah-ul Haq (31) and Shehzad took Pakistan to 135 when the innings started to fall apart with Misbah dismissed by Parnell. The Pakistan skipper hit three fours off 49 balls. When on 28 he reached 4,000 one-day runs with a flurry of boundaries off Tahir. He became the 13th Pakistani batsmen to reach the milestone in his 129th match.
It was Shehzad who set the tone for a successful chase, hitting five boundaries in his 92-ball innings. But once Shehzad and Misbah fell, South Africa sensed an unexpected victory as batsmen fell one after the other. When South Africa batted after winning the toss, they could never recover from the early loss of opener Colin Ingram, caught off Irfan's second ball of the innings for nought.
Ajmal then rocked the South African batting, dismissing Graeme Smith (20), Faf du Plessis (12) and skipper AB de Villiers (four) in his first spell of six overs. Afridi then jolted South Africa further by taking Ryan McLaren (eight), David Miller (37) and Morkel (four) in his nine overs.
Parnell, who hit a century in South Africa's domestic one-day competition earlier this month, hit six boundaries and a six off 70 balls and added an invaluable 52 for the ninth wicket with Lonwabo Tsotsobe (16 not out) to avoid a complete disaster. Parnell holed out in the 49th over, caught off Ajmal before Sohail Tanvir dismissed Imran Tahir in the final over.
Parnell's wicket was Ajmal's 150th in his 93rd one-day match, becoming Pakistan's 11th bowler to reach the milestone. Tsotsobe hit a four and a six off Ajmal in the 45th over, crossing the double-figure mark for the first time in 52 matches. Miller hit two boundaries and a six off 51 balls before falling to Afridi, leaving Parnell to repair the damage to some extent. Parnell's previous best of 49 was against India at Jaipur three years ago.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA:
C Ingram c Umar b Irfan    0
G Smith st Umar b Ajmal    20
J Duminy c Amin b Tanvir    20
F du Plessis lbw b Ajmal    12
AB de Villiers c and b Ajmal    4
D Miller c and b Afridi    37
R McLaren c and b Afridi    8
W Parnell c Shehzad b Ajmal    56
M Morkel lbw b Afridi    4
L.Tsotsobe not out    16
Imran Tahir c Riaz b Tanvir    1
EXTRAS: (lb1, w 4)    5
TOTAL: (all out; 49.5 overs)    183
FOW: 1-0, 2-38, 3-48, 4-54, 5-63, 6-86, 7-125, 8-129, 9-181
BOWLING: Irfan 10-1-35-1, Tanvir 9.5-1-33-2, Ajmal 10-2-30-4, Riaz 6-0-24-0, Hafeez 5-0-23-0, Afridi 9-1-37-3
PAKISTAN:
Nasir Jamshed c Miller b Morkel    0
Ahmed Shehzad c Smith b Parnell    58
M Hafeez c de Villiers b Parnell    28
Misbahul Haq c du Plessis b Parnell    31
Umar Amin c de Villiers b Tsotsobe    20
Umar Akmal lbw b Tahir    18
Shahid Afridi c Miller b Tahir    9
Sohail Tanvir c de Villiers b Tsotsobe    2
Wahab Riaz lbw b Tahir    0
Saeed Ajmal not out    1
M Irfan b Morkel    2
EXTRAS: (lb4, w9)    13
TOTAL: (all out; 46.3 overs)    182
FOW: 1-4, 2-75, 3-107, 4-135, 5-165, 6-165, 7-174, 8-176, 9-177, 10-182
BOWLING: M Morkel 9.3-3-23-2, L Tsotsobe 10-3-28-2, W Parnell 8-1-41-3, Imran Tahir 10-1-45-3, R McLaren 8-0-34-0, JP Duminy 1-0-7-0

IP gas pipeline project almost dead: Iran

DUBAI - Iran will probably abandon a multi-billion-dollar pipeline project to supply gas to Pakistan, Iran’s oil minister was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars News Agency on Wednesday.
“The contract for supplying gas to Pakistan is likely to be annulled,” Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told reporters on the sidelines of a gas forum in Tehran on Wednesday. “Given the current conditions, we do not have hope for exporting gas to Pakistan,” Zanganeh said. He gave no other details, Fars said.
Under the contract, Iran is supposed to export 21.5 million cubic meters of gas per day to Pakistan from next year.
Dubbed the ‘peace pipeline’, the $7.5 billion project has faced repeated delays since it was conceived in the 1990s to connect Iran’s giant South Pars gas field to Pakistan and India.
Iran has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars and nearly completed the 900 km pipeline to the Pakistan border.
Pakistan, although suffering from severe gas shortages, has made little progress on its part of the line due to a lack of funds and warnings it could be in violation of US sanctions on Iran.
Zanganeh’s comments came two days after his Pakistani counterpart, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, was quoted by local media as saying that Pakistan risked being punished by sanctions on Iran if it goes ahead with the much-maligned project.
Until now Iranian officials have insisted that the project to supply Islamabad will be completed.
Exasperated by the lack of work across the border, Iran has even offered to build Pakistan’s 780-kilometre section and provide multi-million dollar loans to help pay for it, according to Iranian media reports.
In contrast to his predecessor, Zanganeh has been open about the problems faced by Iran’s energy sector since he took office in August.
On October 1, he warned that Iran faced serious gas shortages of its own because of slow progress in raising production from South Pars, the field that is supposed to fill the pipeline.
India quit the project in 2009, citing costs and security issues, a year after it signed a nuclear deal with Washington.
Iran sits on the world’s largest reserves of gas. But Western sanctions aimed at stopping Iran’s disputed nuclear activities have hindered its gas production growth, while the United States has pressured potential buyers to find other suppliers.
According to Fars News Agency, earlier this week Pakistani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry once again reiterated that Islamabad is resolved to pursue expedition of the pipeline project.
“It (IP) should be seen in the context of acute energy crisis that we have in our country,” said the Pakistani official, adding that his government is pursuing the case to accelerate the implementation process of the project.
Early in October, Pakistani Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi asked Iran to finance $2 billion in the construction of Pakistan’s side of the IP gas pipeline project.
The Pakistani petroleum minister said preparatory work was complete, but they had asked Iran to provide $2b for the construction work.
Iran and Pakistan officially inaugurated the construction of the border part of the multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline project in March.
The project kicked off at a ceremony attended by former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his former Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari at the two countries’ shared border region in Iran’s southeastern city of Chabahar.
However, a report released last week by the Islamabad-based Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) says the contract with Iran would bring an economic disaster in Pakistan as the gas sold will likely be several times more expensive than the domestic gas currently used.