Work on KCR to begin by year end: Qaim

KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shahhas said work on vital surface train-based urban public transport scheme, Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), will be initiated this year with an amount of 900 million dollars.

He was replying to a question in Sindh Assembly session here on Friday.

Chief Minister said that all hurdles in way of the KCR have been removed, adding the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has already approved the project and work on it would be initiated this year with the help of Japan. He said the project will be completed by 2013, adding Japan would provide a soft loan of 900 million dollars for the project.

Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Agha Siraj Durrani said during question hour that completion of northern part of Lyari Expressway suffering a delay due to encroachments. He said the demolition process of these encroachments is being carried out by the city administration, hoping the project will be completed this year. He said the northern bound carriage of the project is 16.5 KM long and its 88 percent work has already been completed.

Sindh Minister said in reply to a query of MPA Arif Mustafa Jatoi that cultural department of government of Sindh has notified 635 buildings as “protected heritage” while the technical committee on dangerous buildings has declared 157 buildings as dangerous, and 22 of these buildings are included in the protected heritage list.

To a question of MPA Marvi Rashidi, he said that Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) has surveyed the buildings constructed by violating building control rules in Karachi and initiated the legal process while it requested home department for provision of security during operations against illegal buildings.

Asma Jehangir, Tariq Mehmood call on Nawaz Sharif

RAIWIND: Presidential candidate for Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Asma Jahangir and lawyers’ leader Justice (Retd.) Tariq Mehmood called on Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif here on Friday and discussed political scene as well as Bar Association’s role.

During meeting that lasted for an hour, support of Nawaz Sharif was sought for Asma Jahangir in the upcoming SCBA elections

Mian Nawaz Shari, on the occasion lauded the role of Asma Jahangir in the lawyers movement for restoration of judiciary but added that decision regarding the sought support would be made after consultation with the party.

The PML-N Chief also met with his party workers in Raiwind. During meeting, he said, in re-organization of the party the workers who remained supportive during dictatorship will be kept in view.

Hoti demands investigation into killing of Puktoons in Karachi

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber-Pakhtunkwa Province, Amir Haider Hoti has demanded an in-depth investigation into killing of Puktoons in Karachi so that the conspiracy of sowing hatred among people on linguistic basis be scuttled in the beginning.

He expressed these views while talking with newsmen in Mardan on Saturday on the occasion of inauguration of academies under Malik Saad Shaheed Sports Trust.

The Chief Minister said the conspiracy of killing outsiders in Karachi be scuttled at the earliest otherwise it will cause enormous damage.

He said government of Khyber-Pakhtunkwa has taken notice of the incident and contacted government of Sind and asked them to ensure protection and safety to Pukhtoons residing in Karachi.

He said it is very ironical that on the one hand Pukhtoons are being killed and on the other hand they are being blamed for the riots.

Independence of Judiciary to be ensured at any cost: CJ LHC

JAND: Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Khawaja Muhammad Sharif Saturday said that independence of judiciary would be ensured in the country at any cost.

“For the supremacy of law, every sacrifice would be made,” the CJ LHC stated this while addressing judges and advocates here today.

In the eyes of judiciary, the rich and poor all are equal, he said.

Chief Justice LHC Khawaja Sharif said that upgradation of Jand Courts to Sessions Division was his duty.

Violators of law would be dealt with an iron hand, he determined while emphasising that the federal and provincial governments to respect the law.

He lauded the role of media, lawyers and society for the independence of judiciary.

CJ LHC asked the lawyers to stop observing strikes as it would hamper the speedy justice. He urged the people to play their due role in the development of the country.

Nation to continue mission of slain journalists: Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said Monday that several media persons have sacrificed their lives in fight against terrorism, and the nation would continue their mission by completely eliminating such elements from the country.

Addressing the participants of “Shuhada-e-Sahafat rally” being held in connection with World Press Freedom Day in front of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) office here.

Kaira congratulated the PFUJ and other journalist organizations for organizing the rally in memory of their martyred companions. He said that journalist community has always remained on the forefront of all movements in the country including freedom movement and the movement for restoration of democracy.

He said that in the present testing times when the whole nation is fighting the menace of terrorism, the journalists have set a noble example by giving great sacrifices while exposing the real designs of the evil forces.

Kaira also lauded the role of the media organizations in waging a Jihad against the forces of evil not only through their writings but also by organizing rallies and seminars for this purpose.

Britain Will Continue Its Support for Pakistan: PM Brown

British Prime minister Gordon Brown has assured Pakistan of their full support and cooperation in war against terror. On the other hand, Peresident Asif Ali Zardari has told that the South Waziristan operation will continue till the objectives are achieved.
In a telephonic conversation between the two leaders, Mr Brown lauded the role of Pakistan and its contributions to eliminate terrorism from the region.He also said that Britain will continue to cooperate till the restoration of economy and rehabilitation of the operation affectees. The leaders also exchanged views on the availability of Pakistani goods in the European markets. The British PM wished President Zardari a very happy eid. Mr Zardari told the PM that the Pak army is achieving its objectives in the Waziristan operation, and that it will continue till situation goes back to normal.

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Britain Will Continue Its Support for Pakistan: PM Brown was first posted on November 29, 2009 at 11:59 am.