Karachi administrator removed

KARACHI: Lala Fazl-ur Rehman, Karachi’s Administrator, has been removed while additional charge is given to District Coordination Officer Mahammad Hussain Syed, TrendPK reported Monday.

According to the notification issued on August 9, Karachi’s DCO had to take the charge of the administrator but Lala Fazl-ur Rehman remained on the post on the verbal orders of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah. TrendPK

Altaf welcomes restoration of LG system

The MQM chief in his statement issued from London that he offered congratulations to the Pakistan People’s Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for conducting successful dialogs and restoring the local government system in Karachi and Hyderabad.

He offered gratitude to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari for their efforts to establish peace in Karachi.

He said that decision taken about Sindh would prove a mile stone for the promotion of democracy in the country.

Earlier, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad issued the ordinance to restore local government system and cancel the commissionerate system in Karachi and Hyderabad on the night between Saturday and Sunday.

The decision came at a meeting between PPP leader Babar Awan, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad at the Sindh Governor’s House.

Qaim calls cricket as ‘national game’

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah called cricket as the ‘national game’ instead of hockey here on Friday.

Sindh CM said this while addressing the dinner hosted for cricket players at Sindh CM House.

Sindh CM flanked by Sindh Sports Minister Mohammad Ali Shah tried to appreciate Pakistan cricket team performance during ICC World Cup 2011. TrendPK

BCCI must permit Pakistanis to play IPL: Afridi

BCCI must permit Pakistanis to play IPL: Shahid Afridi

Captain of Pakistan team, Shahid Afridi talking to an India News Agency, has appealed the Indian Cricket Board to give permission to Pakistani players of playing Indian Premier League (IPL). He said that as now the relations between two countries are improving so players of Pakistan must be given a chance to play IPL.

The proof of improving bilateral relations is the semi-final match of World cup 2011, between India and Pakistan, seen by Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and his Indian counter part Manmohan Singh together. Manmohan Singh invited Pakistani P.M to see the Indo-Pak semi-final of in Mohali last month.

“It is high time the Pakistani cricketers also get a place in the IPL. For three seasons, including the current one, we haven’t been a part of the IPL. We have no problems playing in India as we have just played a World Cup semi-final there,” Afridi said.

It is to be rememberd that this is the successive third year, since green shirts are not permitted to participate in the biggest T20 tournament.

Shahid Afridi says, IPL could be a great platform for youngsters

Shahid Afridi said hoped that IPL can be great platform for the youngsters to show their abilities.
“I am not saying I want to play the IPL but it could be a great platform for youngsters. They could make a mark for themselves,” he said.

IPL can ease tensions between both countries: Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi declared the inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL as the measure for reducing the tensions between two countries:
“Our PM responded positively to that invitation. Now IPL can be a platform to further ease the tension,” he added, “We should play more against each other. This will not only ease the pressure but will also reduce the unwanted media hype surrounded with Indo-Pak matches,” Shahid Afridi said.

Quaid-e-Azams 135th birthday being celebrated today

The 135th birthday of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is being marked today throughout the country with zeal and fervor.

A change of guard ceremony was held at the mausoleum of the Father of the Nation. Cadets of the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), Kakul mounted the guard at the Mazar-e-Quaid. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah along with the provincial cabinet and representatives of all three forces laid floral wreaths and offered Fateha at the Mazar-e-Quaid. People from various walks of life will visit the Mazar-e-Quaid to pay homage to the Father of the Nation. A number of organisations have chalked out programmes to mark the birth anniversary of the Founder of the Nation.

Gilani visits shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi

Staff Report

KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani visited the Shrine of Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Clifton here on Tuesday afternoon.

He was accompanied by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

The Prime Minister laid a floral wreath at the shrine and offered ‘Fateha’.

It is pertinent to mention here that eight people were killed and dozen others wounded in twin suicide attacks on Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine earlier this month. SAMAA

Surveillance cameras were not working at Ghazi’s shrine: Sindh CM

Staff Report

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah accepted on Friday that the surveillance cameras installed around Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine were not working.

He said this while talking to journalists after visiting those injured from the blasts admitted in Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Center.

Sindh CM said that the conspiracy of the attacks would be disclosed soon, adding that law enforcement agencies have had success probing the twin blasts at Ghazi’s shrine. It is too early to disclose anything, he added.

He said that Ghazi’s shrine will reopen by tomorrow (Saturday). SAMAA

All shrines to open by tomorrow: Sindh Minister

Staff Report

KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Auqaf Abdul Haseeb pledged on Friday that the government will open all shrines which were closed on the orders of Sindh Home Minister Dr. Zulifqar Mirza after twin blasts at Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine.

Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah during his visit to Ghazi’s shrine last night pledged that all shrines will be opened by Friday (today), but law enforcement agencies have disallowed visitor entry into shrines anywhere in the city.

Sources told SAMAA on Friday that the government is planning to make a third point of entry within the premises of Ghazi’s shrine. SAMAA

President Zardari, PM Gilani chair Sindh cabinet meeting

Staff Report

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani have chaired a meeting of the Sindh cabinet on Sunday.

The officials of the Sindh Irrigation Department briefed President Zardari and PM Gilani about the damages and devastations caused by the recent floods in the province.

The irrigation officials, contradictory to the ground realities, informed the participants of meeting that no dyke has been breached deliberately.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah presented a road map of the rehabilitation of flood victims and also gave a detailed briefing on the post flood situation in Sindh. SAMAA

Several Villages Inundated as Flood Hit Thatta, Dadu; Exodus Underway

News Trends: The deluge showed no sign of let-up in wreaking havoc in Thatta and Dadu areas of southern Sindh as breach in embankments of Bao Poran Das and Faqeer Goth unleashed devastation in several villages.
The banks of Chato Chund Canal busted, due to a 50 feet crack developed in its bank, and inundated around 10 villages forcing thousands of people to evacuate. Floodwaters are moving fast towards national highway, a development which could suspend ground links of Hyderabad and Thatta from rest of the country. Meanwhile, authorities have managed to plug a 30 feet crack in Bao Poran Das bund besides a 50 feet wide breach in Manarki bund. As a result of which water level in KB feeder and Thatta canals has been decreased.
As many as 15 villages have been submerged as a crack emerged in Sakro Branch while floodwaters entered into Daro City after a 700 feet wide breach took place in Surjani Bund. The deluge is roaring towards Bela City. Eighty percent population of Thatta has been shifted to safer places whereas Sujawal, Mirpur Bhatoro and Bela have also been vacated. On the other hand, several villages of Dadu district have been submerged; water level in Manchar Lake is also surging. Hundreds of thousands of people of tehsils KN Shah, Moheer and Johi have been shifted to safer places. Water is in downward trend at Ganda Singh while upward trend is recorded at Head Islam in River Sutlej. An inflow of 56,000 cusecs is being recorded at Ganda Singh while water flow in River Sutlej has been decreased from 59,000 to 56,000 cusecs. Floodwaters have devastated Bhaki Wand, Chanda Singh, Ranger Chowki and several other villages and destroyed standing crops on 3,000 hectares of land.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that government’s top priority is to rescue the people marooned in the flood-hit areas. He said that all-out efforts are underway to evacuate people, and added that the deluge inflicted heavy losses upon Sindh province.He maintained that the losses are hard to quantify as yet.

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