US funds end up in Taliban hands

About USD 360 million of US taxpayer s money has ended up in the hands of Taliban and local criminals in Afghanistan, through US financed contracts awarded to Afghan companies.

The findings come after examining hundreds of combat support and reconstruction contracts in Afghanistan, in an investigation by a special task force assembled by General David Petraeus which began last year.

Petraeus has recently relinquished command in Afghanistan to become Central Intelligent Agency (CIA) director.
American-led coalition has spent nearly a decade battling in Afghanistan, however the coalition had little visibility into the connections many Afghan companies and their vast network of subcontractors had with Taliban and local criminals.

In a process known as “reverse money laundering”, money was sent from US to businesses and individuals in Afghanistan who had ties to Taliban or criminal networks, through companies hired by the US military for transportation, construction, power projects, fuel and other services in the war troubled country, The Huffington Post reported.

US officials have requested anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation into the movement of US contract money in Afghanistan.

Overall, the USD 360 million represents a fraction of the USD 31 billion in active US contracts that the task force reviewed. But insurgents rely on crude weaponry and require little money to operate.

The US has reportedly spent over USD 1 trillion in taxpayer money on its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. Some experts estimate indirect costs such as interest on the additional debt will exceed the direct costs.

The 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan was launched with the official objective of curbing militancy and bringing peace and stability to the country.

The security situation remains fragile in Afghanistan despite the presence of 150,000 US-led foreign forces in the country.

The escalating human cost of the war is putting a great deal of pressure on NATO member states to withdraw their troops.

Govt files petition seeking change of lawyer in NRO case

The Supreme Court has proposed the government to get services of Additional Attorney General KK Agha in the case. Advocate Kamal Azfar told the court that the government had asked him to not appear before the court in this case.

The CJP remarked that the case was adjourned on October 13 because Kamal Azfar was appointed as advisor, when the case was adjourned, he tendered resignation. The CJP further remarked that the court would allow the change of lawyer if the government issued a notification of Kamal Azfar’s appointment as government advisor.

The CJP said that the court would issue its verdict if the government lawyers failed to appear before the court. The case was adjourned till April 14.

Kazmis judicial remand extended for 14 days

Former religious affair minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi was brought to the senior civil judge of Islamabad Aslam Gondal’s court in Haj corruption case on Wednesday.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director General Khalid Butt told the court that the FIA found 14 plots that were registered against the name of Kazmi’s family members. He said that the total value of plots was estimated around Rs 4 million and the FIA would submit evidence to the court in this regard.

Extending the judicial remand of the former minister, the court sent him to jail for 14 days.

Court rejects plea to stop action against Moonis as proclaimed offender

Moonis Elahi’s lawyer Anwarul Hassan Tarar maintained before the Additional Session Judge that Moonis Elahi was being made target of political rivalry and red warrants were issued illegally against him and now an attempt was being made to declare him proclaimed offender. The court rejected the petition about declaring Moonis a proclaimed offender and sought the reply from the FIA till February 12 for issuing red warrants against Moonis.

Karachi: former Chairman NHA arrested as bail cancels

Three persons including former Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) Chaudhry Altaf have been arrested from a court in Karachi after their bail was cancelled by the court during the hearing of the case of Sher Shah Bridge collapse, trendpk.Com reported on Saturday.

It has been reported that the three people were arrested soon after the cancellation of the bail while two of the accused managed an escape from the court.

The supplementary challans of the accused were presented in the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge West Gulshan Ara Chandiyo in which the police declared the accused as innocent but the Judge rejected the challans and cancelled the bails of the accused. Upon cancellation of the bails, the police arrested Chaudhry Altaf, Najam Ul Hassan and Khalid Mirza while Farrukh Bashir and Yousaf Barakzai managed to escape from the court.

It is to be remembered that the aforementioned case was lodged on the directions of the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Punjab FIA director changed

Staff Report

LAHORE: The Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for Punjab, Zaffar Qureshi, who was investigating the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) scandal, has been changed Thursday.

Qureshi has been ordered to leave his charge immediately while Additional Director Admin Jawad Qureshi has been given additional charge of the FIA Punjab.

Sources said that Zaffar Qureshi held former federal minister Major (rtd) Habibullah Wrraich and others in NIC scandal on the orders of Supreme Court. Trend Pk

Emergency Response Unit to be set up: Rehman Malik

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman A Malik said the number of women officers would be boosted 25 percent in Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Geo News reported Sunday.
He made this announcement during a meeting held here at FIA Headquarters.
He said the salaries of the Agency crew would be brought at par with the personnel of Motorway and Islamabad Police in the next fiscal year.
Malik said Emergency Response Unit would be set up in collaboration with France.
Various high-ups including Additional Home Secretary, DG FIA and Additional DG Anti-Corruption attended the meeting.

Five judges suspended in KP on corruption charges

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: Five additional and sessions judges have been suspended on the allegations of corruption Thursday.

According to the Registrar of Peshawar High Court, five judges have been suspended including the Additional District and Sessions Judges, Syed Asghar Shah, Faqeer-ur-Rehman Jadoon, Shahid Naseem Khan, Sajjad Anwar and Fayaz-ullah.

These judges have been suspended for three months.

Earlier, six other judges of different had been sacked due to corruption charges and other allegations. SAMAA

Peshawar CJ terminates additional district & sessions judge

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: The Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court (PHC) has sacked Additional District and Sessions Judge Jan Mohammad on Wednesday.

According to the official announcement made by the Registrar of PHC, Jan Mohammad pressurized a judge in a case of his relative as a favor. Jan Mohammad has been sacked after an investigation into the matter. SAMAA

Kot Radha Kishan: Police torture makes man blind

In another unfortunate incident, the police tortured a man and kept him for 21 days in police detention, Dunya News reported on Tuesday.
As per reports, Muhammad Taj, father of victim Tariq, told the reporters that his son along with his wife was going on a motorcycle when Sub-Inspector Abdul Ghani of PS Kot Radha Kishan intercepted them at a picket.
The SI allegedly took Rs10,000 form them besides cell phones and took away Tariq with them leaving his wife high and dry.
Police kept Tariq at Kot Radha Kishan police station for 21 days and inflicted severe torture on him as a result of which he got blind with failure of kidneys.
However, a court bailiff produced Tariq before the court of Additional and Session Judge Jazela Aslam who sent him to DHQ Hospital.

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