CJ warns AG of stern action in missing prisoners’ case

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked that the court should not be compelled to take a stern action.

The Chief Justice made these remarks while hearing a case regarding the disappearance of 11 prisoners from Adiala Jail.

Attorney General Maulvi Anwar ul Haq said, “I stand by my stance that 11 missing inmates are not in the custody of intelligence agencies.”

In his remarks, Chief Justice Chaudhry said that evidence exists that these men are being held by agencies.

“The Chief Secretary is a reliable person. Think again or else things will get more complicated,” he said.

The apex court further warned that any attempt to obscure the case would lead to more problems.

The Chief Justice directed the Attorney General to submit a written statement in this regard. Trend Pk

PPP, Functional to jointly take part in LG polls

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muslim League Functional have decided to jointly take part in the next local body elections and formal announcement in this regard would be made soon.
Functional League Sindhs president Sadruddin Shah Rashdi and Imtiaz Sheikh held a meeting with President Zardari at Bilawal House Karachi. Issues regarding reconciliation process, strategy in the local body polls and alliance between both the parties came under discussion. The President also approved the construction of Zulfikar Abad and ordered the Chief Secretary Sindh to complete the master plan and groundwork till April 15, 2011. After the meeting, advisor to CM Sindh Sharmeela Farooqi while talking to media said that Karachi should be made a crime-free and safe city.

Missing prisoners: I am unable to recover accused, CS tells SC

Punjab Chief Secretary expressed his inability to recover the accused detained illegally in Musharraf attack case in the Supreme Court, Dunya News reported on Monday.
During the hearing of a case against the illegal detention of the accused in Musharraf attack case despite the court orders, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry warned that in case of non recovery of the accused, all the officials concerned would have to go to jail whether its DCO or Home Secretary.
If the government is that much helpless, what do you expect from Supreme Court?, Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday wondered.
The Chief Secretary (CS) submitted his reply in the court contending that he was helpless regarding the recovery of said people. The court also rejected the holidays record of the jail superintendent while the IG Jails was given a dressing-down for presenting fake record in the court.
Justice Ramday addressed the IG Jails, saying that even after a duty of 18 years you dont know that date and day accompanies signatures. Additional Attorney General KK Agha said that the said accused were not whisked away by any agency.

Shahbaz chairs law and order meeting

Staff Report

LAHORE: Punjab’s Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to review the prevailing land order situation in the province.

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik also attended the meeting.

The Interior Minister briefed participants about the overall security situation in the country.

The Federal Interior Secretary, NADRA chief, Punjab’s Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and Additional IG Police were also present on this occasion. Trend Pk

Police torture on lawyers: SC orders IGP to appear before court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed IG Punjab to appear before the court to present important documents in the court.
Hearing the suo moto case of police torture on lawyers at Aiwan-e-Adl in Lahore, the CJ held that we are part of both Bar and Bench and would not support anyone. IGP Tariq Saleem Dogar did not appear in the court today due to his engagements at Sihala Police College while the copies of FIR regarding the said case were also not submitted in the court. A member of the inquiry committee Kazim Khan told the court that the matter would not resolve unless issuance of a judicial order. The CJ asked Kazim to prepare a comprehensive report after meeting with both the parties. Later, while talking to media, Kazim Khan said that efforts are on to save the skin of prime accused: CJ LHC, CM and Chief Secretary Punjab.

Chief Secretary Gilgit Baltistan and CE SMEDA changed

Federal Government has changed the Chief Secretary of Gilgit Baltistan and Chief Executive of SMEDA.
Chief Secretary Gilgit Baltistan Babar Yaqub Fateh Mohammad has been changed and now appointed as Agricultural Secretary; where as Secretary Punjab for Mines and Minerals Saif Ullah Chattha has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Gilgit Baltistan. Chief Executive SMEDA Shahid Rasheed has been changed and appointed as Federal Minister for Tourism; where as the Additional Secretary for Agriculture Anwaar Ahmad Khan will be the new Chief Executive for SMEDA.

SC takes notice of police torture on lawyers

Staff Report

LAHORE: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday took suo motu notice of police torture on protesting lawyers in Lahore.

According to a statement issued by the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Chaudhry summoned Punjab’s Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police, DCO, RPO and CCPO before the Supreme Court on October 4, 2010.

Police baton-charged lawyers who were taking out a rally on Thursday.

This notice has caused tension among the administration. SAMAA

Gilani reshuffles bureaucrats

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday made large scale appointments and transfers in bureaucracy.

Under the massive reshuffle, K.B. Rind has been made Secretary of Social Welfare. Athar Tahir has been appointed Secretary Education and Asif Bajwa will serve as Secretary Statistics.

Similarly, Saeed Ahmed Khan and Wajid Rana have been posted as Secretary Overseas Pakistanis and Secretary Finance respectively.

Irfan Nadeem has been transferred to the Science and Technology Ministry as Federal Secretary. Javed Iqbal has been made Secretary Water and Power.

Shahid Raja has been made Secretary at the Ministry of Railways. Ghulam Dastgir will be new Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Arif Azeem has been appointed as Incharge Manpower. Captain Tahir Shafi has become new Additional Secretary at

Demoted officers to return privileges and plots

In accordance with the orders of Supreme Court, demoted officers to Grade-21 will have to return the privileges and plots which they were allotted when promoted to Grade-22.
The biggest name to suffer from the orders of SC would be the Personal Secretary of PM, Nargis Sethi. Chairman FBR Sohail Ahmed, Chairman CDA Imtiaz Inayat Ali, Chief Secretary Balochistan Ahmed Baksh Lehri and IG Motorways Dr. Naseem Kousar have also been demoted. According to law, these officers were required to leave their current posts and join back their previous posts, but most of them didnt.
The officers were allotted additional plots in Islamabad when promoted to Grade-22, which they will have to return.

Demoted officers to return privileges and plots

In accordance with the orders of Supreme Court, demoted officers to Grade-21 will have to return the privileges and plots which they were allotted when promoted to Grade-22.
The biggest name to suffer from the orders of SC would be the Personal Secretary of PM, Nargis Sethi. Chairman FBR Sohail Ahmed, Chairman CDA Imtiaz Inayat Ali, Chief Secretary Balochistan Ahmed Baksh Lehri and IG Motorways Dr. Naseem Kousar have also been demoted. According to law, these officers were required to leave their current posts and join back their previous posts, but most of them didnt.
The officers were allotted additional plots in Islamabad when promoted to Grade-22, which they will have to return.

Next Page »