ISLAMABAD: Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab Haji Habib-ur-Rehman told Supreme Court that former chairman of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Tauqir Sadiq may have fled to Nepal with his family. A two member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Jawad S Khwaja resumed hearing of Ogra implementation case on Monday.IG Punjab submitted a report in the apex court, stating that a joint team has been sent to Nepal to arrest Tauqir Sadiq.Justice Khwaja questioned how Tauqir Sadiq can elude the security staff despite installation of CCTV cameras at the airport.

“FIA and not the police is deployed at airports” IG Punjab responded.The bench inquired about the progress being made so far by the joint investigation team.In response, Haji Habib-ur-Rehman remained silent.Also, the court summoned CCTV and finger print records from the Federal Investigation Agency.

Pakistan handed India a five-wicket drubbing in the series opener in Bangalore on Tuesday. No change is expected in Pakistan squad for today’s match.The hosts will have to quickly plug their batting shortcomings and pick the right team composition when they go into the second and last Twenty20 cricket international against arch rivals Pakistan on Friday, hoping to level the two match series 1-1 Pakistan, on the other hand, lived up to their reputation of a strong bowling unit with three specialist pacers – Gul, Sohail Tanvir and lanky debutant Mohammad Irfan – wrecking havoc on a pace-friendly Chinnaswamy track.They would look to carry on the momentum today also though the Sardar Patel track may not give them much assistance.
The visitors  batting, however, has been a cause of concern for them with openers Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad struggling to provide a platform during their run chase at Bangalore.

Even the reliable Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal and failed to get big scores.Hafeez and Shoaib Malik were the saving grace and Pakistan would hope that they continue with their exploits along with the others striking form.Indian captain Dhoni had blamed the failure of the middle-order batsmen to capitalise on the good start as the reason for his team s defeat in the first match.

"The batsmen got out trying to play big shots. We could have easily scored 200 if we had applied ourselves," Dhoni had said.It remains to be seen whether the batsmen put up a better display now and not go for wreckless shots in a bid to accelerate the pace of scoring.Dhoni himself will be under intense pressure with his captaincy coming under the scanner in the aftermath of the recent Test debacle against England.

He has always been regarded as a better captain in the shorter formats of the game, but the recent defeats in T20 matches has certainly dented his reputation.The defeats have come at home, where the team is playing in familiar conditions, and Dhoni has a tough task in lifting the morale of the team.

Pakistan People s Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will make his formal entry into Pakistani politics at an event to be held Thursday to mark the fifth death anniversary of his mother Benazir Bhutto. "Bilawal will make his entry into active politics during the meeting to be held at Garhi Khuda Bux and take over the PPP s campaign for next year s general elections," said a confidant of President Asif Ali Zardari.Both 24-year-old Bilawal and his father will make speeches at the event to be held outside the Bhutto family s mausoleum near the PPP s stronghold of Naudero, said the confidant who did not want to be named.

 There has been speculation that Zardari might also announce the date for the next general elections at the occasion."The President is keeping things close to his chest and he is the person who will make the decision about announcing the date for the polls," the confidant said.

 In his speech in Garhi Khuda Bux, Bilawal is also expected to make public a report on the investigation into Benazir Bhutto s assassination.Bilawal himself cannot contest polls till he turns 25 in September next year.Zardari, who is the co-chairman of the PPP, has convened a meeting of the party s central executive committee at Naudero on Friday. This meeting is expected to fine-tune the PPP s campaign for the polls, party insiders said.

KARACHI: The Defense of Pakistan Council (DPC) has convened an All Parties Conference (APC) in the port city to find out ways and means to restore peace.

The meeting held under the umbrella of Jamaat-e-Islami, will decide the future course of action against target killings in Karachi and incidents of terrorism across the country.The meeting is set to discuss the possibility of uniting all religious parties on a single forum to spread the message of brotherhood and tolerance.The council leader has also expressed the dire need of forming interim government to rule out all uncertainties regarding the postponement of general elections.

The 5th death anniversary of former Prime Minister (PM) Benazir Bhutto will be observed today (Thursday) with reverence all over the country.Special prayers will be held in mosques for the departed soul of the charismatic leader and first woman Prime Minister of Muslim world and progress and prosperity of Pakistan. Pakistan People’s Party has finalized arrangements for the main function in this regard at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.The mammoth ceremony will be held in the ground adjacent to her mausoleum in Garhi Kkhuda Bakhsh to mark the anniversary. Fateha and Quran Khani will be held therein.

President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtawar and Asifa Bhutto Zardari, central and provincial leadership of PPP, federal and provincial ministers and parliamentarians will attend the ceremony.They will visit the graves of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Nusrat Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and other members of Bhutto family, lay floral wreaths and offer Fateha over there. Caravans from across the country will reach Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to attend central ceremony.

President Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other leadership of PPP has arrived in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.All the arrangements have been finalized to hold the ceremony. Stringent security measures have been put in place while over 10000 police and Rangers personnel will be deployed in Larkana.
Quran Khawani and Fateha Khawani congregations will take place in every part of the country with regard to anniversary.

LAHORE - A seasoned politician from Rahim Yar Khan, Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood, was sworn in as Punjab’s 28th governor on Tuesday at an impressive ceremony on the spacious lawns of the Governor’s House. Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umer Ata Bandiyal administered the oath.

Punjab Chief Secretary Nasir Mehmood Khosa read out the commission of appointment of the new governor on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari. Makhdoom is 8th governor from south Punjab as seven politicians from the region, including his predecessor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, have already served as constitutional head of the province. They are Mushtaq Gurmani, Mustafa Khar, Nawab Muhammad Abbas Khan Abbasi, Sadiq Hussain Qureshi, Sajjad Hussain Qureshi and Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa. He is 58the governor of Punjab if counted from the pre-partition period. Leaders from the PPP and PML-N dominated the show while other parties, excluding PTI, had also their representation at the oath-taking ceremony. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah, Senior Adviser Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, Education Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Adviser to Chief Minister Zakia Shahnawaz, MPA Syed Zaeem Qadri and senior party leader Raja Ashfaq Sarwar were among the prominent PML-N leaders.  Former Education Minister Imran Masood represented the PML-Q. One of Makhdoom’s close friends and business partner, Humayun Akhtar Khan, was also there.

As expected, no member of the Chaudhry family of Gujrat turned up on the occasion, perhaps, due to the anticipated presence of their political rival, Shahbaz Sharif, at the ceremony.  Federal ministers, Manzoor Wattoo and Samina Ghurki, a good number of PPP leaders, including Jehangir Badr, Raja Riaz, Abdul Qadir Gilani, Mujtaba Gilani, Aslam Gill, Haji Chan, Aurangzeb Burki, Faiza Malik and Sajida Mir were also present. PPP activists raised the slogan of “Jiay Bhutto’ when Mehmood was sworn in as the governor. Jamaat-e-Islami Punjab President Dr Wasim Akhtar and central JUP leader Pir Ejaz Hashmi represented their parties. A considerable number of Makhdoom’s followers from his hometown also attended the ceremony. They were seen having tea and biscuits in different compartments of the Governor House after the ceremony. Later, the new governor went to Data Darbar to pay homage to Hazrat Ali Hajveri. He also visited the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal, the Poet of the East. Then he went straight to the grave of his mother in Gulberg and remained there for some time.  Talking to the media after taking oath, Ahmad Mehmood said he would try his level best to promote democracy and reconciliation in the province. He said he enjoyed cordial relations with the Punjab rulers and would have no problem in developing a good working relationship with the provincial government.

He hoped the Punjab government would pay maximum attention towards the provision of education, healthcare and other facilities to the people.He said he was aware of the financial constraints of the province, and would not receive his pay as a governor. Makhdoom said he would keep giving advice to the provincial government on how to facilitate the masses in a better way.To a question about Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, he said he had great respect for him, but he should not put his well wishers to test. On south Punjab province, he said the Punjab assembly and the National Assembly had unanimously demanded the restoration of Bahawalpur province and he would try to get these resolutions implemented.

He added it was the time that leaders from of all the political parties should pay attention towards forming caretaker governments. Ahmad stressed the need for developing understanding between the government and the opposition in the larger interest of the country.The governor thanked President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for reposing confidence in him for this slot.  He said that after his meeting with the president, the prime minister, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Faryal Talpur, he would also meet PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Shairf. The governor clarified that his appointment was not the result of any backdoor diplomacy or understanding. He also paid tribute to the political vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and greeted the Christian community on the happy occasion of Christmas.

Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), formerly the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, on Tuesday gave a strike call for Wednesday (today) after an armed attack on Allama Orangzeb Farooqi, in which his two personal guards and four policemen were killed.

Allama Orangzeb Farooqi was also injured in the ambush.The ASWJ has appealed to the transporters and the business community to support its strike call to make it successful. The ASWJ has asked its workers not to take law into their hands.

The two-member member bench of Supreme Court comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain will hear the CNG prices case today.The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) will again present formula on new CNG prices during today’s hearing. Meanwhile, a three-member Supreme Court Bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will also hear today the case of Reko Diq and case of IB funds allegedly used to topple Punjab government.

ISLAMABAD – The NAB chief Thursday reiterated that the country was losing up to Rs 5-7 billion to corruption daily, strongly rebutting that his Bureau’s recent born-again campaign against corruption was part of some conspiracy to prolong the rule of any near-future interim government.“

There are daily losses of five to seven billion rupees ($51.34 million to $71.88 million)” as a result of inefficiency, corruption and tax shortcomings, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari told a hurriedly-called press conference at NAB Headquarters.On Wednesday, the head of the anti-corruption watchdog was accused by the federal cabinet of making ill-timed allegations ahead of elections and the prime minister formed a four-member ministerial committee to probe the claims.

The cabinet also smelled a rat in a recent Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) report, and Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told the media that as the elections were round the corner, everyone could understand the motive of this anti-corruption campaign.“We are not working on any specific agenda in this regard”, Fasih said as he regretted cabinet’s criticism over NAB’s identifying corruption, adding that gone were the days when the martial laws were imposed and unconstitutional governments used to prolonged their stay. Breaking News  He pointed out that bureau’s estimate was more careful as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the TIP have estimated wastage of Rs10-12 billion daily, which he said was correct if corruption in mega projects is also accounted.The chairman said they were trying to purify the system and they would not be deterred by any kind of opposition or propaganda. “The Bureau is determined to eradicate corruption from the society and will not spare anyone who is doing this heinous crime.

” However, he said the bureau would fully cooperate with the four-member committee. He said corruption was no longer party-centric or incident-centric phenomenon but was now a cross-board attitude.“Rs 5-7 billion daily corruption mentioned by the NAB is a terrible figure but it is an international perception based on various factors of negligence,” he said. He said their estimate was based on annual direct losses as evident from various indicators like tax to GDP ratio whose global acceptable average was 17-20 percent but this ratio was 9 percent in Pakistan, making a total annual loss of Rs2.5-3 trillion. He said the same corruption figure was assessed by the PAC.Fasih said that losses in state enterprises due to incompetence and corruption are Rs300-350 billion. NAB assessment of direct losses in mega projects (miss-procurements) stands at Rs350 billion, he said. He said CPI index by Transparency International since last 10-15 years had been rating Pakistan between 23-27 percent. Decrease in rating must be seen in the perspective of increasing number of countries in the index, he suggested, and pointed out that international corruption evaluation structures were based on direct leakage parameters and not indirect losses.He said indirect losses which have not been quantified by the Bureau include untaxed agriculture sector having 20 percent of GDP‚ revenue department‚ land grabbing and encroachments‚ loans defaults‚ over staffing‚ ghost schools, ghost employments‚ wealth tax losses, custom duties and duty drawbacks. He said only in energy sector, losses due to loadshedding were around Rs960 billion per year that was 2 percent of Pakistan’s GDP.

Pointing to a major problem, the NAB chief said: “Not three, there are only two pillars of state now in Pakistan.” He explained that the two pillars of Legislature and Executive have merged into one, while the other existing pillar is Judiciary. Breaking News The legislators appoint executives of their choice and this is happening on both federal and provincial levels, he said. Also, the problems are being encountered in eliminating corruption because of the disharmony among these three supposed pillars of state, he said, as he emphasised on creating a balance in this troika. Fasih said that corruption was a longstanding issue and even Quaid-e-Azam had stressed its elimination. He said that 59 laws were passed to tackle it since creation of Pakistan but it was imperative to amend the system to eliminate this menace. He said the regulatory system has collapsed which is taking the country downward. Instead of going after the “crocodiles and dirty fish”, it was necessary to plug the loopholes in the system, he added.The NAB chairman said that they all have to jointly fight this menace with dedication and lauded the role played by media in this regard, declaring the media as NAB’s partner. He said NAB’s strategy yielding success rests on pillars of awareness, prevention and prosecution, adding that the bureau recovered Rs80 billion in the current year and it was working on 1,700 corruption cases. “We are trying to stop corruption at source level rather than taking action after corruption is committed because if you stop it at the source level, everything would be purified. Regulators have to safeguard the treasury and we have called regulators in 172 cases.”

KARACHI: Unidentified armed men attacked a shop with hand grenade in Mianwali colony in Manghopir area on late Tuesday night. Police said armed miscreants also resorted to firing before hurling hand grenade at the shop.

No loss of life has been reported in the incident.

The attack damaged nearby shops and a mosque.

The shop owner charged that extortionists attacked his shop after he refused to give extortion to them.


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