A full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has observed that people are being served with dead animals’ fat at some restaurants in the name of delicious food but authorities concerned are taking no action against the criminal act.
The officers of the Food department are taking bribe to allow the hotels and restaurants play havoc with innocent lives, the court further observed.
The bench headed by Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday gave these observations while hearing a suo motu case against serving sub- standard food at local restaurants and hotels. The notice was taken on a report aired by a local news channel against the hotels and restaurants serving unhealthy food to the masses.
Taking a strong note of the carelessness on the part of the Food Department, the bench summoned the Secretaries Food, Health and Prosecution for Friday (today). The bench also directed the Deputy Food Controller, Lahore, to appear before the court and apprise the court about the measures taken under Pakistan Hotel & Restaurants Act 1976.
Justice Ramday also directed district officer food Dr. Masood Ashraf, chief food inspector Muhammad Ayub, food inspector Kamran Butt and Saleem to come up on Friday with a detailed report after conducting raids on different hotels and restaurants of the city. The judge also asked the administration of a renowned restaurant of the city to up their standard, otherwise, the court would order its closure.
Justice Ramday observed that the performance of the district food officer under pure food ordinance was not satisfactory as all the work was shown only on paper. The bench also took serious note of non-perusal of cases against hotels and restaurants pending before the courts concerned. At this, food officials informed the court that the department had counsel to plead their cases.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Action on purchase of many flour bags
Lahore commissioner Khusro Pervez has directed special magistrates to arrest anyone carrying many flour bags in his vehicle and also those involved in stocking and selling the subsidized flour and sugar.
According to a press statement issued on Thursday, the commissioner said that the consumption of flour bags in Lahore was 70,000 but now it had been increased to 190,000 to ensure the provision of subsidized flour to people.
He ordered the magistrates to arrest all those selling sugar at rates higher than Rs. 47 per kg, sentencing the culprits to six-month imprisonment on the spot.
He also ordered the establishment of separate terminals for elderly people so that could get flour without standing in long queues.
Following the policy prescribed by the commissioner, the action committee, on the direction of DCO Sajjad Bhutta, apprehended a pick-up wagon with the registration number LXC 1514 which was carrying 100 subsidized flour bags. The action committee arrested the driver Abdul Waheed and his partner Shahzeb.
According to a press statement issued on Thursday, the commissioner said that the consumption of flour bags in Lahore was 70,000 but now it had been increased to 190,000 to ensure the provision of subsidized flour to people.
He ordered the magistrates to arrest all those selling sugar at rates higher than Rs. 47 per kg, sentencing the culprits to six-month imprisonment on the spot.
He also ordered the establishment of separate terminals for elderly people so that could get flour without standing in long queues.
Following the policy prescribed by the commissioner, the action committee, on the direction of DCO Sajjad Bhutta, apprehended a pick-up wagon with the registration number LXC 1514 which was carrying 100 subsidized flour bags. The action committee arrested the driver Abdul Waheed and his partner Shahzeb.
10 Sindh SPs transferred
The Inspector-General Police (IGP), Sindh, Sultan Salahuddin Babar Khatak, on Thursday ordered transfers of 10 Superintendents of Police (SPs) with immediate effect.
According to a police handout, SP Abdul Hameed Khoso who was awaiting posting has been posted SP Liaquatabad while SP Manzoor Ahmed Khaitan has been posted SPO (DPO) Naushero Feroze. He was earlier serving as SP, SRP, Baldia Base-II.
Tanvir Ahmed Odho, SP, has been posted as SP SRP Baldia Base II while SP Nisar Ahmed Channa has been posted as Principal, Commando Training Centre Sakrand. He was awaiting†posting.
Jam Zafar Dharejo has been posted SP, Traffic Zone-IV, CCPO. Earlier he was serving as SP, Liaquatabad, while SP Waqar Millan has been posted as SP Khwaja Ajmernagri Headquarters. Earlier, he was serving as SP Traffic Zone-IV.
Aitizaz Ahsan Korejo has been posted SP Investigation Sukkur, who was earlier serving as SPO Sukkur. Javed Jaskani has been posted SP, Landhi.
SP Zahid Hussain Shah has been posted as ADIGP Establishment, CCP, Karachi, Earlier, he was serving as SP Landhi. Imran Shoukat, SP, has been posted AIGP, Forensic Division, Sindh, Karachi.
According to a police handout, SP Abdul Hameed Khoso who was awaiting posting has been posted SP Liaquatabad while SP Manzoor Ahmed Khaitan has been posted SPO (DPO) Naushero Feroze. He was earlier serving as SP, SRP, Baldia Base-II.
Tanvir Ahmed Odho, SP, has been posted as SP SRP Baldia Base II while SP Nisar Ahmed Channa has been posted as Principal, Commando Training Centre Sakrand. He was awaiting†posting.
Jam Zafar Dharejo has been posted SP, Traffic Zone-IV, CCPO. Earlier he was serving as SP, Liaquatabad, while SP Waqar Millan has been posted as SP Khwaja Ajmernagri Headquarters. Earlier, he was serving as SP Traffic Zone-IV.
Aitizaz Ahsan Korejo has been posted SP Investigation Sukkur, who was earlier serving as SPO Sukkur. Javed Jaskani has been posted SP, Landhi.
SP Zahid Hussain Shah has been posted as ADIGP Establishment, CCP, Karachi, Earlier, he was serving as SP Landhi. Imran Shoukat, SP, has been posted AIGP, Forensic Division, Sindh, Karachi.
Hasan Turabi assassination case transferred to ATC-III
The Administrative Judge (AJ) of the Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATC) in Karachi granted a complainant’s application for transferring Pakistan Islami Tehrik and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal leader Allama Hasan Turabi’s assassination case from the ATC-II to the ATC-III for trial.
Mohammad Amin alias Khalid Shaheen, Sultan Mehmood alias Saifullah, Mohammad Rehman alias Mani, Ashfaq Qureshi, Mohammad Akbar Khan and Raheemullah are facing trial for allegedly killing Hasan Turabi in a suicide attack.
Turabi, along with his nephew Imran Ali, were killed in a suicide bomb blast in the limits of the Sachchal police station Karachi on July 14, 2006. According to the prosecution, the alleged suicide bomber, later identified as Abdul Karim, had blown himself up with explosive material when Turabi reached his house after attending a rally against Israeli aggression on Palestine and Lebanon. Three policemen, Azhar Hussain, Fakhar Hussain, and Mohammad Rashid, and a woman, Noreen, were injured in the blast.
The Complainant of the case, Shafat Hussain, filed an application before the AJ of the ATCs, Justice Maqbool Baqar, accusing the presiding officer of the case of favoring the defendants. The applicant’s counsel, Syed Tasawar Hussain Rizvi, submitted that the prosecution witnesses were treated harshly by the presiding officer of the court, and that the complainant had no confidence on the trial court due to the conduct of the presiding officer. He sought the transfer of the case to any other ATC “in the interest of justice”.
ATC Judge Abdul Ghafoor Memon denied the allegation in his comments, and submitted that trial was transferred from the ATC-III in November 2008 and the case could not proceed due to the want of defense counsel for one of the accused, Raheemullah. The presiding officer submitted that his attitude towards the prosecution witnesses was not harsh. He submitted that the court examined 23 witnesses but only a third of them were examined by the complainant counsel, adding that this case was given preference while the prosecution wanted to adopt its own procedure.
The ATC judge submitted that adjournment dates were given at convenience of both sides.
AJ Justice Maqbool Baqar, after taking the comments on the record, transferred the case to ATC-III. On the other hand, the defendants counsel also filed an application in the Sindh High Court (SHC), seeking open trial of the Allama Hasan Turabi assassination case instead of jail trial. The defendants counsel Abdul Waheed Katpar submitted that the trial against the defendants was pending for the past three years and only 10 prosecution witnesses, out of 57, had been examined thus far by the trial court.
He said that trial against the defendants seems to be held in-camera as no defendant’s relatives are allowed to observe the proceedings. Prosecution witnesses are also facing hardships due to the inside-prison trial, he said, adding that the open trial of the defendants was their right as guaranteed under the criminal procedure code. He requested the court to issue directions for an open trial against the defendants in the ATC instead of trial inside the prison.
Mohammad Amin alias Khalid Shaheen, Sultan Mehmood alias Saifullah, Mohammad Rehman alias Mani, Ashfaq Qureshi, Mohammad Akbar Khan and Raheemullah are facing trial for allegedly killing Hasan Turabi in a suicide attack.
Turabi, along with his nephew Imran Ali, were killed in a suicide bomb blast in the limits of the Sachchal police station Karachi on July 14, 2006. According to the prosecution, the alleged suicide bomber, later identified as Abdul Karim, had blown himself up with explosive material when Turabi reached his house after attending a rally against Israeli aggression on Palestine and Lebanon. Three policemen, Azhar Hussain, Fakhar Hussain, and Mohammad Rashid, and a woman, Noreen, were injured in the blast.
The Complainant of the case, Shafat Hussain, filed an application before the AJ of the ATCs, Justice Maqbool Baqar, accusing the presiding officer of the case of favoring the defendants. The applicant’s counsel, Syed Tasawar Hussain Rizvi, submitted that the prosecution witnesses were treated harshly by the presiding officer of the court, and that the complainant had no confidence on the trial court due to the conduct of the presiding officer. He sought the transfer of the case to any other ATC “in the interest of justice”.
ATC Judge Abdul Ghafoor Memon denied the allegation in his comments, and submitted that trial was transferred from the ATC-III in November 2008 and the case could not proceed due to the want of defense counsel for one of the accused, Raheemullah. The presiding officer submitted that his attitude towards the prosecution witnesses was not harsh. He submitted that the court examined 23 witnesses but only a third of them were examined by the complainant counsel, adding that this case was given preference while the prosecution wanted to adopt its own procedure.
The ATC judge submitted that adjournment dates were given at convenience of both sides.
AJ Justice Maqbool Baqar, after taking the comments on the record, transferred the case to ATC-III. On the other hand, the defendants counsel also filed an application in the Sindh High Court (SHC), seeking open trial of the Allama Hasan Turabi assassination case instead of jail trial. The defendants counsel Abdul Waheed Katpar submitted that the trial against the defendants was pending for the past three years and only 10 prosecution witnesses, out of 57, had been examined thus far by the trial court.
He said that trial against the defendants seems to be held in-camera as no defendant’s relatives are allowed to observe the proceedings. Prosecution witnesses are also facing hardships due to the inside-prison trial, he said, adding that the open trial of the defendants was their right as guaranteed under the criminal procedure code. He requested the court to issue directions for an open trial against the defendants in the ATC instead of trial inside the prison.
Shah Latif police arrest six accused
Khuldabad check post police arrested six culprits in different raids and recovered arms from their possession, here on Thursday.
In-charge Khuldabad police check post, Nawaz Ali Zardari along with his team raided different areas including Quaidabad, Zafar Town, Murghi Khana, Kohat Colony and National Highway and arrested five street criminals including Dil Murad, Nadeem alias Kala, Imran, Malik Wakeel and Rehmat. Police also recovered five TT pistols, five magazines, 35 cartages, and stolen home appliances from their possession.
In another incident, police also arrested a drug peddler Sajid and recovered several rods of hashish from his possession.
Sukkhan police arrested three dacoits after an encounter and recovered snatched money, mobile phones and arms from their possession, here on Thursday. The SHO of the Sukkhan police station along with his team was busy in routine patrolling when informed that a dacoits’ group was fleeing from the scene after looting animal traders at Bhains Colony no 2. The police challenged the bandits and nabbed three dacoits Sher Dil, Nisar Muhammad and Junaid were arrested.
In-charge Khuldabad police check post, Nawaz Ali Zardari along with his team raided different areas including Quaidabad, Zafar Town, Murghi Khana, Kohat Colony and National Highway and arrested five street criminals including Dil Murad, Nadeem alias Kala, Imran, Malik Wakeel and Rehmat. Police also recovered five TT pistols, five magazines, 35 cartages, and stolen home appliances from their possession.
In another incident, police also arrested a drug peddler Sajid and recovered several rods of hashish from his possession.
Sukkhan police arrested three dacoits after an encounter and recovered snatched money, mobile phones and arms from their possession, here on Thursday. The SHO of the Sukkhan police station along with his team was busy in routine patrolling when informed that a dacoits’ group was fleeing from the scene after looting animal traders at Bhains Colony no 2. The police challenged the bandits and nabbed three dacoits Sher Dil, Nisar Muhammad and Junaid were arrested.
Pakistan’s first provincial child labour unit set up
The Provincial Child Labour Unit (PCLU), Sindh, was inaugurated on Thursday at the Sindh Secretariat by Labour Minister Ameer Nawab Khan. The PCLU that has been established in collaboration with the European Commission and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and aims to eradicate child labour from Sindh, the minister said, adding that child labour was a major hurdle in the economic and social development of the country.
The newly-inaugurated unit is the first amongst five child labour units that are soon to be set up in other provinces as part of the federal government’s programme for the elimination of child labour.
Children in the third world countries and even in the developed countries are engaged in labour that “takes away their childhood,” Khan said. “At a stage when they should be attending school and spending time in recreational activities, these children are made to work hard in factories, streets and houses,” he said.
Considering the global scenario, the ILO has made various conventions and Pakistan has ratified many of them, the minister said. According to Convention 138 of the ILO, the minimum age for labour is 15 years, and 18 years for jobs that include any danger. However, even though Pakistan has ratified this convention, but as per the lenience given to developing countries, children who are at least 14 years of age can be engaged in work that does not include any risk or danger.
Khan said that Articles 11 and 13 of the Constitution of Pakistan do not allow children and women to be engaged in difficult forms of labour. Moreover, the Factories Act 1934, Shops and Establishment Ordinance 1969 and the Employment of Children Act (ECA) 1991 protect children’s rights while guarantying the prevention of child labour.
Referring to a major aspect of the ECA 1991, which allows the citizens to complain against any violation of the act, the labour minister said that citizens, as major stakeholders in society, should also help the government in its efforts against child labour.
Earlier, ILO Chief Technical Advisor Sujeewa Fonseka congratulated the Sindh government on launching the PCLU for the first time in Pakistan. While pointing out that the issue of child labour was interlinked with poverty and education, he recommended that the government ensure two things as part of its poverty eradication programme: sufficient income for families, and education instead of work for children. Moreover he laid stress on the implementation of ECA 1991 that clearly prevents child labour.
Thardeep Rural Development Program Senior Strategic Manager Shahbano Aliani shared the findings of a survey on child labour that had been carried out in 2007 in districts Tharparkar, Umarkot, Jamshoro and Dadu.
“Sixty per cent of the families in these districts live below the poverty line and almost the same percentage were under debts at that time,” she said, while pointing out that parents could not afford to send their children to school and utilised them for earning livelihood instead.
She ensured full cooperation of the TRDP in the government’s initiative and said that her team will be able to identify setbacks in the eradication of child labour in these districts while it would also lend a hand to the government in capacity building and community sensitisation.
The newly-inaugurated unit is the first amongst five child labour units that are soon to be set up in other provinces as part of the federal government’s programme for the elimination of child labour.
Children in the third world countries and even in the developed countries are engaged in labour that “takes away their childhood,” Khan said. “At a stage when they should be attending school and spending time in recreational activities, these children are made to work hard in factories, streets and houses,” he said.
Considering the global scenario, the ILO has made various conventions and Pakistan has ratified many of them, the minister said. According to Convention 138 of the ILO, the minimum age for labour is 15 years, and 18 years for jobs that include any danger. However, even though Pakistan has ratified this convention, but as per the lenience given to developing countries, children who are at least 14 years of age can be engaged in work that does not include any risk or danger.
Khan said that Articles 11 and 13 of the Constitution of Pakistan do not allow children and women to be engaged in difficult forms of labour. Moreover, the Factories Act 1934, Shops and Establishment Ordinance 1969 and the Employment of Children Act (ECA) 1991 protect children’s rights while guarantying the prevention of child labour.
Referring to a major aspect of the ECA 1991, which allows the citizens to complain against any violation of the act, the labour minister said that citizens, as major stakeholders in society, should also help the government in its efforts against child labour.
Earlier, ILO Chief Technical Advisor Sujeewa Fonseka congratulated the Sindh government on launching the PCLU for the first time in Pakistan. While pointing out that the issue of child labour was interlinked with poverty and education, he recommended that the government ensure two things as part of its poverty eradication programme: sufficient income for families, and education instead of work for children. Moreover he laid stress on the implementation of ECA 1991 that clearly prevents child labour.
Thardeep Rural Development Program Senior Strategic Manager Shahbano Aliani shared the findings of a survey on child labour that had been carried out in 2007 in districts Tharparkar, Umarkot, Jamshoro and Dadu.
“Sixty per cent of the families in these districts live below the poverty line and almost the same percentage were under debts at that time,” she said, while pointing out that parents could not afford to send their children to school and utilised them for earning livelihood instead.
She ensured full cooperation of the TRDP in the government’s initiative and said that her team will be able to identify setbacks in the eradication of child labour in these districts while it would also lend a hand to the government in capacity building and community sensitisation.
DHA Cogen power, desalination plant recommissioned
The Cogen Power and Desalination Plant of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) was recommissioned at the Defence Authority Country and Golf Club on Thursday.
Nasim Khan, Defence Cogen Ltd (DCL) Managing Director (MD) and representative of Ashmore Energy International (AEI), informed the gathering that the damaged Cogen plant had been repaired and was producing water and electricity since August 21.
He said that the plant was in the testing and pre-commissioning mode, and that all tests, including vibration tests, were returning technically sound results. He said that the Cogen plant would start commercial functioning by the end of August.
Chief Guest Commander V Corps Lt-Gen Shahid Iqbal said that stakeholders concerned rose to the occasion, and resolved all technical, financial and administrative impediments in a professional and competent manner. He said that Phase-II of the project consists of a similar power and desalination plant, with a production capacity of 105 megawatts (MWs) of power and five million gallons (MGD) of water. Urging the DCL to ensure that Phase-II of the Cogen project takes off promptly and successfully, he said that the second phase was essential to meet the growing water and energy needs of the city. DHA Administrator Brig. Khalid Tirmizi described the recommissioning of the Cogen Plant as a “momentous event” and a “massive breakthrough” towards addressing the depleting energy needs and water scarcity problems of the metropolis. He thanked all stakeholders of Cogen project for their support; the KESC for providing the energy needed for energising the plant, the SSGC for restoring gas supply, Siemens for their cooperation in recommissioning the plant and the banks for providing the much-needed financial support to DCL.
He also thanked residents and residents` associations for their support, understanding and cooperation. Tirmizi also lauded the Role of the media for provided adequate coverage and highlighting the issue in a positive manner.
A large number of people, including the DCL MD, representatives of AEI, officials of KESC, SSGC, various banks, representatives of stakeholders from Turkey, Brazil and representatives of various residents associations attended the event.
Nasim Khan, Defence Cogen Ltd (DCL) Managing Director (MD) and representative of Ashmore Energy International (AEI), informed the gathering that the damaged Cogen plant had been repaired and was producing water and electricity since August 21.
He said that the plant was in the testing and pre-commissioning mode, and that all tests, including vibration tests, were returning technically sound results. He said that the Cogen plant would start commercial functioning by the end of August.
Chief Guest Commander V Corps Lt-Gen Shahid Iqbal said that stakeholders concerned rose to the occasion, and resolved all technical, financial and administrative impediments in a professional and competent manner. He said that Phase-II of the project consists of a similar power and desalination plant, with a production capacity of 105 megawatts (MWs) of power and five million gallons (MGD) of water. Urging the DCL to ensure that Phase-II of the Cogen project takes off promptly and successfully, he said that the second phase was essential to meet the growing water and energy needs of the city. DHA Administrator Brig. Khalid Tirmizi described the recommissioning of the Cogen Plant as a “momentous event” and a “massive breakthrough” towards addressing the depleting energy needs and water scarcity problems of the metropolis. He thanked all stakeholders of Cogen project for their support; the KESC for providing the energy needed for energising the plant, the SSGC for restoring gas supply, Siemens for their cooperation in recommissioning the plant and the banks for providing the much-needed financial support to DCL.
He also thanked residents and residents` associations for their support, understanding and cooperation. Tirmizi also lauded the Role of the media for provided adequate coverage and highlighting the issue in a positive manner.
A large number of people, including the DCL MD, representatives of AEI, officials of KESC, SSGC, various banks, representatives of stakeholders from Turkey, Brazil and representatives of various residents associations attended the event.
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