Justice still inaccessible despite access to justice plan
Despite the Access to Justice Programme, people still suffer in police stations and the lower courts. According to the Planning Commission, the last installment of Rs 5.69 million has been released for the provincial programme, out of the total outlay of Rs 11.88 billion.
As such, 96 percent of the programme was completed. Rs 1.90 billion were also used on federal programme. Reportedly, there have been 250 policy actions taken under this programme in police stations and courts. It included freedom of police from interference, improved capacity, independent prosecution service, transparency and accountability, improved police-citizen liaison and public awareness of rights.
The policy actions proposed for lower judiciary consisted of better policy making, strong judicial independence, greater efficiency, legal empowerment of the poor, better judicial governance and human resource development.
In 2011, there were 2.5 million cases pending in the country, out of which 10 percent were in the Supreme Court and high courts. As of January 15, 2012, there were 2.2 million cases pending in the Punjab alone, according to the chief justice of Pakistan. Supreme Court budget has been increased by 112 percent to Rs 18 billion. There are 2500 judges in the country.
In session and district courts, new furniture, vehicles, computerization of record and new buildings was added under the programme. The salaries of the judges were also increased under the programme. But the fact remains that the justice has become all the more expensive for the common people. The people have to pay for stationery and conveyance in the police stations to get the culprits nabbed.
Report by Zulfiqar Ali
Latvala wins Sweden Car Rally
Ford s Jari-Matti Latvala overcame a late puncture to win the Rally of Sweden on Sunday and make amends for crashing out of the Monte Carlo season-opener on the first day.
The Finn beat compatriot and former team mate Mikko Hirvonen, now with Citroen, by 16.6 seconds while eight-times world champion Sebastien Loeb finished a distant sixth.
Latvala still had to overcome a late scare when he hit a rock and punctured a front tyre on the 22nd stage, a setback that slashed his lead from more than half a minute to eight seconds.
He won the same event four years ago and was evidently happy with his sixth World Rally Championship victory.
Norway s Petter Solberg, Latvala s team mate, hit the same rock on the same 22nd stage and lost third place to compatriot Mads Ostberg, also in a Ford.
Frenchman Loeb, winner in Monte Carlo, saw his hopes vanish when he hit a snow bank on the opening day but retained the championship lead by winning the power stage.
Loeb leads the title race with 28 points, 10 ahead of Spain s Dani Sordo, whose Mini Cooper failed to finish after crashing on the eighth stage, with Petter Solberg third on 15.
The next event is the Rally Mexico from March 8-11.
PIC drugs issue: YDA again on roads to protect seniors
Young doctors came out to protect senior doctors who had been suspended by Punjab government after deaths from reaction of PIC drugs.
On Saturday, the YDA announced that Out Patient Departments of all hospitals of Lahore will remain close against transfer and suspension of senior doctors.
The association said that purchase and supply of medicine is responsibility of Punjab government and suspended doctors were not guilty.
Lawyers beat man in LHC premises
As per detail, Muhammad Shakil, after getting interim bail in a case exchanged harsh words with the rival group’s counsel Shabir Ahmad.
On this, Shabir Ahmad started beating Shakil along with his colleagues. Shakil ran to main gate and tried to escape but lawyers chased him and started beating him again.
On intervention of some lawyers, Shakil was freed after apologising from Advocate Shabir.
Zambia triumph in CAN penalty shoot out
Didier Drogba s ghosts returned to haunt him as Zambia won the African Nations Cup for the first time after beating Ivory Coast 8-7 in a drama-filled penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw on Sunday.
Stoppila Sunzu converted the winning penalty after three successive efforts had been missed in a long and nervy shootout that totalled 18 kicks. But the goalless match might not have had to go to the shootout had Drogba not ballooned a 70th-minute penalty well wide to deny his team victory inside 90 minutes, repeating his miss in the 2006 final which the Ivorians lost to Egypt.
The loss was another near miss for the Ivorian s golden generation, who had been expected to win African football s top prize at the last four editions but failed every time.
Two of their English Premier League players – Kolo Toure and Gervinho – missed kicks in the shootout.
Zambia, who had gone into the game as underdogs, won over the 40,000 crowd in the Friendship Stadium in the Gabon capital with their positive play against a surprisingly timid Ivorian side who failed to take the initiative in the game.
After winning, the Zambian team held up banners remembering their side that died in a air crash not far from the stadium in 1993 and whose memory they had honoured on the eve of the game.
At times, Zambia showed complete disdain for their star-studded opponents, with showy tricks on the ball and some clever routines although they also lived dangerously in defence.
Yaya Toure and substitute Max Gradel both went narrowly wide for the Ivorians but it was Drogba who could have been the hero after Isaac Chansa had pushed down Gervinho in the penalty area in the 70th minute and the Senegal referee Badara Diatta bravely awarded a penalty.
Mumtaz Rizvi assigned additional charge of FBR chief
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has approved the promotion of Mr Rizvi, a BS-21 officer of Customs and excise group, presently posted as Member (Customs) Federal Board of Revenue to BS-22.
According to notification issued by the PM office, Mumtaz Haider Rizvi is posted as member (Customs) by up-grading the post to Bs-22. He is also assigned additional charge of the post of Federal Board of Revenue Chairman with immediate effect.
Parliament will decide NATO supply restoration: COAS
While talking to the media in Jaccobabad, Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani said that this is wrong impression that Pakistani fighter jets are unable to hit the NATO aircrafts.
He said that F-16 jets would be seldom used in war on terror, adding that restoration of NATO supply restoration would be decided by the Parliament.
Money in Swiss banks must be returned: Nawaz
Speaking alongside the chairman of the Sindh National Front Mumtaz Bhutto, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said that people of Pakistan wanted their money to be returned.
He further said that the government’s actions were against the will of the people and instead of hiding behind the cover of immunity, the nation’s money must be returned.
I could not understand why the government is reluctant about writing the letter to Swiss authorities,” he said.
No reason for Gilani to remain as PM: Imran Khan
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief said that Gilani should resign as the Prime Minister after being indicted in the contempt of court case instead of putting pressure on the Supreme Court.
He said this on the ceremony arranged for joining of PML-N member Hafizuddin’ the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf.
He said that in Karachi“Contempt was committed to safeguard the Rs5 billion of Asif Ali Zardari. Yusuf Raza is disrespecting the courts to protect this money” Khan said.
He said that PM Gilani has not breached rule of law for the national interest; rather he has broken law to secure President Zardari heavy amount in Swiss banks.
He sarcastically said that how the violator of law can bring justice and fair play.
He said that the he would endeavour to make the PTI more strong with the passage of time as there is no chance of alliance with any other party.
Commenting on current situation, he said that if Pakistan stops fighting the war on the part of the US, peace may be restored within 90 days. This is why I suggested during a meeting with the ISI chief. He said that his party is ready to have a dialogue with the armed groups.
Israeli diplomat’s car blown up in New Delhi, 2 hurt
An Israeli embassy car on Monday blew up in the Indian capital New Delhi, injuring two people, but the cause of the explosion was not immediately known, police said.
Two people were injured when the car exploded, police spokesman Rajan Bhagat, told AFP.
The car, which was parked down the street from the Israeli embassy in a residential neighbourhood of central Delhi, was badly burnt.
The vehicle had Israeli diplomatic plates, Vinod Tokas, a police officer at the scene said.
