Tag: Balochistan

  • Balochistan High Court orders no more cases to be registered against Azam Swati

    Balochistan High Court orders no more cases to be registered against Azam Swati

    Balochistan High Court (BHC) has ordered that no more cases should be registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Swati.

    The senator is currently the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for tweeting against senior army officials.

    BHC has also sought a written report of the cases filed against Swati from the police chief.

    A two-member BHC bench consisting of Justice Kamran Khan Mulakhail and Justice Aamir Rana passed the order on a petition seeking the termination of cases against Swati. The petition was filed by Swati’s son Osman Swati.

    Last week, a Quetta court handed over Swati to police for a five-day physical remand in the case. At the time, PTI chief Imran Khan said that Swati has been “taken away by the Quetta police” from Islamabad despite health concerns.

    According to media reports, the arrest was made over different cases registered against the senator across Balochistan.

    Earlier, Swati approached the Supreme Court (SC) to request the transfer of all cases registered against him in Sindh and Balochistan to Islamabad.

  • ’85 per cent of provincial budget is spent on govt employees’ salaries’: CM Balochistan

    ’85 per cent of provincial budget is spent on govt employees’ salaries’: CM Balochistan

    Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, the Chief Minister of Balochistan, has raised alarms on the financial difficulties that the province is facing.

    He said that 85 per cent of the provincial budget is spent on the salaries of government employees, leaving the provincial government with little funds to spend on development projects.

    Speaking at an event in Quetta on Friday, he said, “We are far behind other provinces of the country as far as development projects are concerned due to lack of resources and funds to develop the province.”

    The chief minister highlighted that before 2010, Balochistan used to get very little share in the National Finance Commission Award (NFC) award on the basis of population, with the government barely able even to pay the salaries of its civil servants.

    However, he said, the situation has improved a little now, however, the budget still doesn’t fulfill the needs of the province.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Balochistan was severely affected by the recent floods. The province has lost about a half million head of livestock in the floods.

  • SSGC cuts gas supply to industries in Karachi to facilitate domestic customers

    SSGC cuts gas supply to industries in Karachi to facilitate domestic customers

    Owing to the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited’s (SSGC) decision to stop supplying gas to several industries throughout the city, the gas crisis in Karachi appears to have gotten worse.

    “In adherence to the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) gas load management plan, that places domestic and commercial customers on top of the priority list, it has been decided to suspend gas supply to all general industries from November 15 to February 28, 2023,” a statement issued by the gas company read.

    The decision, according to the statement, is intended to accommodate the rising demand from domestic customers in Sindh and Balochistan.

    It should be remembered that due to a gas shortage, all CNG stations in Sindh have already been closed for two and a half months.

    According to Geo, the SSGC delivered notices last week that gas will be shut off for more than three months over the winter to the city’s industries, but they rejected the notices, claiming that gas interruptions would result in large layoffs and the closing of firms.

    “The industries are in a state of shock to receive SSGCL’s notices of gas closure starting from November 15, 2022, to February 28, 2023,” according to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

    “The gas closures can not be proved good for the economy, especially this year, as no special arrangements have been made by the government to purchase RLNG to inject in the system.”

    The committee, established by KCCI, stated that it expected the government to take the proper steps to ensure gas supply to the city’s industries rather than completely cutting off gas, which would cause a significant drop in exports and revenue, the closure of industries, and job losses.

    The committee had suggested to the government that the gas supply be shut off every 12 hours for two days each week during the winter.

  • Govt to spend Rs40 billion to uplift 20 backward districts

    Govt to spend Rs40 billion to uplift 20 backward districts

    In order to initiate rehabilitation projects across 20 backward and underprivileged districts over the course of 60 months in four provinces, the Ministry of Planning has announced a special development project worth Rs40 billion.

    The federal and provincial governments are expected to split the project’s estimated cost 50:50. The project has received approval from the Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal-led Central Development Working Party (CDWP).

    According to DAWN, the project has already been given a budget of Rs18 billion for PSDP 2022–23. Eleven districts from Balochistan, five from Sindh, three from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one from Punjab are among the 20 districts that were chosen based on Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) ratings. The recent flood calamity, notably in Balochistan and Sindh, has severely damaged many of these districts.

    Sherani, Kohlu, Jhal Magsi, Barkhan, Killa Abdullah, Zhob, Musakhel, Dera Bugti, Jaffarabad, Ziarat, and Killa Saifullah are among the 11 districts in Balochistan. Sujawal, Thatta, Tharparkar, Kashmore, and Badin are five in Sindh; Torghar, Shangla, and North Waziristan are three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; and Rajanpur is one district in Punjab.

    The tentative interventions in these districts will be in the areas of connectivity via roads, access to broadband services and the internet, solarization of off-grid areas, establishment of LPG terminals, development of the agri-livestock and mineral value-chain, tunnel framing, dairy farming, fish farming, etc., establishment of common border markets, investments in skill development, and student scholarships.

    Additionally, the provincial and federal governments will choose sub-projects based on a thorough analysis of the requirements of the marginalised population in their respective regions. These initiatives will be approved by the relevant federal and provincial forums. Steering committees at the federal and provincial levels will oversee the sub-projects.

    “This is the first of its kind project in the economic history of Pakistan where the federal government is undertaking a national intervention to uplift the poorest districts and address the disparity in economic development,” said the planning minister in a statement released on Saturday.

    With the assistance of the UNDP, the MPI survey was finished in 2017–18, allowing for the first time ever to map poverty at the district level nationwide.

    Through targeted investments in infrastructure and the development of human capital in the nation’s poorest regions, the project’s principal goal is to promote inclusive growth and equitable development. One of the main cornerstones of the proposal is investments in human capital development, especially for young people and women.

    According to Pakistan’s MPI estimation for 2017–18, 38.3 percent of Pakistan’s population (87,089,000 people in 2020) will be multidimensionally poor, and a further 12.9 percent will be vulnerable to multidimensional poverty (29,353,000 people in 2020).

    The initiative seeks to significantly contribute to eliminating regional inequality and enhancing national integration and peace in the nation in line with Pakistan Vision 2025 and the Global Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Youth Development Program, which the project is a part of, was introduced last month.

  • Rana Sanaullah wants to send Khan to ‘Mirchi ward’ of the ‘Machh jail’ in Balochistan

    Rana Sanaullah wants to send Khan to ‘Mirchi ward’ of the ‘Machh jail’ in Balochistan

    Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), would be kept in the ‘Mirchi ward’ of the Machh Jail in Balochistan.

    “I will keep him [Khan] in the Mirchi Ward at Machh Jail as several politicians have lived there previously,” he said during Geo News’ programme ‘Capital Talk’ as the war of words between the government and PTI showed no signs of cooling down.

    Sanauallah vowed that if he laid his hands on Khan, he won’t “spare him”.

    Discussing the political stand-off on a talk show, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader Akhtar Mengal has taken a promise from him that Imran Khan, if arrested, would be kept in Machh jail in Balochistan.

    Rana said that a lot of politicians have been detained at the Machh jail. Imran Khan would have been behind bars by now if the cabinet agreed with him, he added.

    Recalling the incidents that took place on May 25 this year, during Khan’s first long march towards Islamabad, the interior minister lamented not arresting him on that day.

    “I wish a case should have been filed instead of forming a sub-committee,” he said, adding that if the cabinet had paid attention to his words the authorities would have arrested the PTI chief.

    Responding to Sanaullah’s remarks PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said, ” Rana Sanaullah’s statement is more of a gunda (goon) than that of an interior minister.”

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1588046664111202305?s=20&t=fNFbYwuhOuHx5n7Iml3UMQ

    Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s long march toward Islamabad has entered its seventh day on Thursday.

  • Punjab govt buries abandoned bodies, says they are not of Baloch missing persons

    Punjab govt buries abandoned bodies, says they are not of Baloch missing persons

    The Punjab government revealed on Wednesday that the abandoned bodies that were found on the roof of Nishtar Hospital’s mortuary in Multan are not of Balochistan’s missing persons and have been buried.

    Punjab Chief Minister’s Advisor, Tariq Zaman Gujjar, clarified that the Vice Chancellor and administration of Nishtar Medical Health University have a complete record of abandoned bodies and none of them is a missing person

    On the same day, the hospital’s administration and Edhi Foundation buried the remains of 66 corpses, all found in various stages of decomposition.

    Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) Chief, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, had also expressed concerns that the bodies could be of Balochistan’s missing persons. Mengal had demanded that an investigation must be held.

    The Baloch leader also asked for conducting DNA tests on the corpses, fearing that some of them might be missing persons.

    Responding to this, Gujjar said that he respects Akhtar Mengal but his statement was surprising in that he suspected the abandoned bodies might be those of missing persons.

    Last week, the grisly discovery of putrefied bodies found lying in open on the roof of Multan’s Nishtar Hospital grabbed the country’s attention after videos were widely shared on social media.

    At that time, it was speculated by online media that up to 500 bodies were allegedly found on the rooftop of the hospital. Soon after, an investigation was launched.

    Earlier, Nishtar Medical University’s (NMU) Head of Anatomy Department, Dr Mariam Ashraf said that the facility does not just keep bodies for research purposes but also for safekeeping, if handed over by police or Rescue personnel.

    She claimed that there were only four bodies on the rooftop. “The only reason for keeping bodies on the roof is that their influx is huge and they aren’t being returned back to police stations in the numbers that they should,” she claimed.

  • ‘Balochistan’s issues must be resolved’: NA addresses fake encounters

    Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal raised the matter of fake encounters in the National Assembly (NA) in which, he alleged, innocent people were killed and presented as terrorists.

    Three missing persons were found dead in Kharan on Monday. They were allegedly killed in fake encounters by the Balochistan Counter Terrorism Department.

    Mengal told the lower house that the people killed by the department have been identified and all of those people were “picked up”.

    “Wasim Tabish was a student who wrote a poem for missing persons. Those who speak and write are picked up,” said the BNP-M chief.

    “Do not push us to a point of no return”, warned Mengal, as he urged the end of fake encounters in Balochistan.

    Later, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif described the issue as “Wounds of the state that have been bleeding for years”. He called for measures to address and resolve the issues and acknowledged that the problem had existed for a long time.

    “Balochistan’s issues must be resolved”, stressed the federal minister.

    Not only Khwaja Asif, but Minister for Climate Change, Sherry Rehman, also called for constituting a “truth and reconciliation commission” to address the unrest in Balochistan.

    The federal ministers also highlighted growing concerns over the situation in Swat.

    “A terrorist is a terrorist and he remains one because he took up weapons. And when he agrees to talk to you, he has pre-conditions,” said Rehman.

    The PPP senator recalled multiple incidents of terrorism and said it was beyond her understanding how a compromise could be reached with terrorists. Moreover, she urged the house to call a joint session again.

    Khawaja Asif called for the members to sit together on the situation in Swat, among other issues of grave importance.

    He recalled that a similar situation in Swat was seen 11 to 12 years ago when concerns were raised that “those in Swat may not be too far away from Islamabad”. He warned that “Whatever is happening in Swat and elsewhere, those flames can reach us as well”.

  • Police issues warning of possible TTP attacks across Balochistan

    Police issues warning of possible TTP attacks across Balochistan

    Balochistan police issued a security alert on Thursday and warned of possible attacks by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) across the province.

    According to the letter issued by the Central Police Office in Quetta, the banned outfit has threatened to launch attacks in different cities of Balochistan, possibly including Zhob, Qila Saifullah, Ziarat, and Loralai.

    Moreover, the letter says that the police and other law enforcement agencies need to be vigilant and improve security arrangements.

    Earlier, the interior ministry issued an alert over the increasing threat of terrorist attacks by TTP.

    It is pertinent to mention that earlier this month, Senator Raza Rabbani, on a point of public concern, asked Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani to direct the interior minister to take parliament and the public at large into confidence about the present status of peace talks with the TTP.

  • Balochistan appoints its first female deputy commissioner

    Balochistan appoints its first female deputy commissioner

    Ayesha Zehri has been appointed Balochistan’s first female Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Nasirabad district.

    It is the first time in the administrative history of the province that a female officer was appointed as DC of any district.

    The appointment took place on Tuesday and she assumed her new responsibilities after a notification of the appointment was issued by the Services and General Administration.

    Chief Minister (CM) Balochistan Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo said that Zehri’s appointment reflects confidence in the abilities of women from the province.

    “Women are an important part of society. Empowering women and making full use of their abilities is one of the priorities of our government. The appointment of the first female officer in the province as a deputy commissioner is an expression of confidence in the abilities of the women of the province. I pray for her success”, he added.

    Replying to the CM, Ayesha thanked him for acknowledging her efforts.

    Prior to this appointment, she had held the post of Assistant Commissioner (AC) of the Khichi district. In Nasirabad, Ayesha has replaced DC Mohammad Hussain.

    Earlier this month, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif visited Balochistan where he appreciated Ayesha for her work during floods.

    In a video, it can be seen that the PM along with CM Bizenjo clapped for Ayesha.

    Who is she?

    DC Ayesha Zehri did her BE in Electrical Engineering from Khuzdar Engineering University and Wapda. In 2017, she appeared in the Provincial Services Commission exam and joined the provincial services.

    As assistant commissioner of the Chagai district, Zehri conducted many raids against criminals and drug smugglers and arrested a number of suspects.

    During the rain emergency in Bolan, she helped the flood-stricken passengers stranded between Bibi Nani and Pinjra Bridge.

  • Govt to waive fees, give scholarships for university students in flood-affected areas

    Govt to waive fees, give scholarships for university students in flood-affected areas

    Federal Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain has said on Thursday that the government has decided to provide relief to university students in flood-affected areas by waiving their fees and giving them scholarships.

    In a tweet, he said that he held a meeting with the Chair Higher Education Commission (HEC) and decided to facilitate the university students in calamity-struck zones.

    Under the relief package, the government would defer current/due university fee payments, devise a mechanism/possibility for a fee waiver and announce a special scholarship program (undergraduate and graduation) for students.

    Tanveer stated that in these pressing times the government stands firm with the people and would do whatever it takes for rehabilitation of flood victims.

    “Doing fund-raising, providing food and tents, and setting up medical camps and transitional schools is our top priority,” he added.

    In another tweet, the federal minister said that “Our Government under the able leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif is fully committed to provide maximum relief to our people suffering from flood calamity. In these pressing times, we stand firm with our people and will do whatever it takes for rehabilitation.”

    Earlier today, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif announced that he will not be taking a scheduled official trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to focus on relief and rescue operations. Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also cancelled his scheduled visit in late August to four European countries. Separately, the media wing of the armed forces, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also announced that Defense Day celebrations will be postponed to express solidarity with flood victims.

    Heavy monsoon rains in the country have triggered massive floods that have submerged a third of the country and killed at least 1,191 people. 27 more people died in the previous 24 hours on Thursday.

    Approximately 116 districts across the four provinces have been affected. Infrastructure, including bridges, roads, schools, homes and hospitals. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), 888 health facilities have been inundated with flood water.