Geo blocked over news of shoe hurling at Zardari
KARACHI: The transmission of Geo News has been blocked overnight in various parts of country after it aired news regarding hurling of shoes at President Zardari during his party address in Birmingham, Geo News reported cable operators sources as saying.
Meanwhile, many offices of cable operators in Karachi have been set ablaze by angry activists of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Some of PPP’s leaders and government officials have issued threats and warnings to cable operators across country against continuation of Geo News transmission, pressurizing them to shut Geo News transmission but most cable operators refused to do so, sources said.
However, a private company namely World Call and another one by the name KMPC blocked Geo News signals as late as 2am in morning.
Newspapers’ vendors have been robbed of copies of Jang and Thenews newspapers upon direction of President Asif Ali Zardari and Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira from London, besides, the PPP workers were accompanied by police officials in posing threats to cable operators and hawkers, sources told media.
Following the blockage, a large number of people registered a massive protest against closure of Geo News transmission across country and rampage, arson and riots triggered by workers of PPP, sources said.
Meanwhile, many a Geo News’ workers have decided to register a protest against government in reaction against blockage of Geo News transmission over keeping people updated with facts and truths.
People and Geo News employees have resolved staging a massive string of demonstrations against stoppage of Geo News transmission and burning of Jang and Thenews newspapers by PPP workers, sources said.
The Demos will be staged outside President House, Prime Minister House, in front of Oman Embassy in Islamabad, outside CM, Governor Houses, Press Clubs and offices of cable operators all over country.
Most copies of Jang and Thenews newspapers have been burnt to ashes after robbing them of hawkers at gunpoint in Karachi.
A meeting of journalists, and Geo News employees has been convened in this connection, which will decide further course of action over this issue, journalists told Geo News.
People were of the view that Geo/Jang Group is being penalized over revealing of facts and speaking the truth. They said the ruling elite is angry over reporting of news regarding controversial visit of president Zardari in face of worst floods in country.
President was not only being criticized in country but international media were also grilling him due to massive human crisis in country while he refused to call off his UK visit.
Indus River protective wall near Bhong breaches
SADIQABAD: A protective embankment at River Sindh near Bhong in Sadiqabad breached, allowing the flood tide to make headway to the residence areas, Geo News reported Sunday.
The residents of rural areas in Sadiqbad and Obaro have kick-started mass exodus. According to DCO Rahim Yar Khan Ahmed Javed Qazi, the flood torrents from Bhong, will, raging through Punjab villages, enter Sindh, where announcements are being made from the mosques for people to evacuate to the safer places.
Ahmed Javed Qazi said the administration called back the people tasked to take part in the relief activities in Bhong with 85 percent population in areas abutting protective embankment, evacuated to safe areas.
High flooding has hit Head Khanki and Head Qadirabad at River Chenab after inflow of torrent of 350,000 cusecs.
At least 20 villages were deluged, as protective embankment of Kala Shadian near Qadirabad caved in.
The people living near embankment of the river near Khangarh and Jhang Road in Muzaffargarh, started evacuation after the river surged.
The hundreds of people are still marooned in the floodwater in katchi abadis near Bhong of Sadiqabad with huge pressure from floodwater in Mud Ranjha, Ehsanpur, Bangla Dilkusha, Bangla Achha and Bangli Samka.
The water is persistently amassing at Trimu Headworks in District Jhang, as over 200 villages of four tehsils in Jhang have come under floodwater and crops covering vast swathes of 150,000 acres were completely destroyed.
Population of over 150,000 heads in Rajanpur Tehsil of Jampur is still water-locked for the third consecutive day today.
The protective bund of Kot Mithan Kot crumbled, inundating the mausoleum of Hazrat Khawja Ghulam Farid.
366,868 cusecs water released from reservoirs
ISLAMABAD: The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) on Friday released 366,868 cusecs water from various rim stations with inflow of 397,805 cusecs.
According to the data released by Irsa here, the maximum water level in River Indus at Tarbela was 1469.66 feet which was 91.66 feet above its dead level.
Water inflow was recorded as 231,800 cusecs in the dam while out flow was recorded as 219,300 cusecs.
The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa and Sukkur was recorded as 236,768, 245,665 and 118,628 cusecs respectively.
The water level in River Jhelum at Mangla was 1181.10 feet which is 141.10 feet above its dead level of 1040 feet whereas the inflow and outflow of water in the dam was recorded as 38,437 and 20,000 cusecs respectively.
Similarly, from River Kabul a total of 55,300 cusecs of water was released at Nowshera and 72,268 cusecs released from River Chenab at Marala.
India working to dry up river Chenab as well
India is planning to construct Swal Kot Dam. After the construction of the dam river Chenab would also dry up like Ravi. Swal Kot Dam is expected to be higher than Tarbela and Mangla.
The height of the Swal Kot Dam is 646 feet and the storage capacity of Swal Kot Dam is expected to be 13 times higher than the disputed Baglihar Dam. In comparison the height of Tarbela is 485 feet while Mangla is 453 feet high. The project would cost $2 billion dollars and would produce 1200 MW of electricity. Swal Kot Dam is being constructed on river Chenab near the district Doda and Udham Pur which is just 70miles away from Pakistan. The design of the dam has been prepared by a Norwegian company.
River Chenab would be completely dried up if the construction of the project would go ahead. Experts believe that if the construction is not stopped then the Pakistani economy specially the Agriculture sector would be completely destroyed.
India working to dry up river Chenab as well was first posted on February 8, 2010 at 10:56 am.
Noor Jamal Becomes New Hakeemullah Mehsud
NEW YORK: Maulvi Noor Jamal, a native of the Orakzai tribal region has assumed responsibilities as acting leader of the Pakistani Taliban after death of Taliban leader Hakeemullah Mehsud.
The local residents have claimed that Noor Jamal acting as Taliban chief, the paper reported.
Noor Jamal rose to power as leader of the Taliban in the Kurram tribal area. He was given the additional responsibilities for the adjoining area of Orakzai when the military began an offensive against the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan in October.
Noor Jamal had been close to Mehsud, one factor that might be in his favor if he does seek to replace him.
Noor Jamal, according to different accounts, is in his late 30s and was a teacher and prayer leader at a local religious school before he was made the leader of the Taliban in Kurram by Mehsud
Noor Jamal Becomes New Hakeemullah Mehsud was first posted on February 6, 2010 at 12:59 pm.
Indian Water Delegation Arrives Today
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: An Indian delegation led by its Indus Commissioner Ranganathan arriving in Pakistan today (Saturday) to discuss contentious water issues between the two countries after New Delhi decided to open talks with Islamabad.
The delegation will arrive in Lahore today and during his five-day stay in Pakistan will visit Baloki Headworks, Sadhnai Headworks. On Feb 8, the delegation will visit Islam Headworks on the River Sutlej and also inspect the Sulemanki Headworks.
The delegation will also meet with Pakistan Indus Commissioner Jamat Ali Shah and other officials. Shortage of water in the River Chenab would also be discussed with the delegation.
Later a Pakistani water delegation will also visit India.
These reciprocal visits from both sides are according to the Article VIII-IV C of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty Accord.
Indian Water Delegation Arrives Today was first posted on February 6, 2010 at 1:04 pm.
