Posts published in July 2014

The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2014. GILGIT:  Five education department officials, including a director, have been arrested on charges of embezzling millions of rupees allocated for a project of vocational and technical training. “We have so far been able to collect evidence of corruption of over Rs20 million,” a senior FIA official told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity. The money was allocated for a project of the National Vocational & Technical Training…

By Shabbir Mir in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2014. GILGIT: Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali has revoked the parliamentary status of lawmakers of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, depriving them of the perks enjoyed by their counterparts in the rest of the country. The decision was conveyed to the G-B government and lawmakers of the G-B Legislative Assembly and the G-B Council through a letter issued from the interior ministry earlier this…

By Shabbir Mir  in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2014. GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Local Government Bill 2014 has been approved, with lawmakers and experts agreeing to party-based local government (LG) elections in the region. In a sense this puts the region ahead of the provinces, which have yet to hold local government elections despite Supreme Court orders. The draft bill was discussed, vetted and approved by a select committee of the assembly headed by the…

By Shabbir Mir  in The Express Tribune, July 14th, 2014. GILGIT: In a bid to prevent the infiltration of militants from Afghanistan via Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Chitral district, the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government has decided to deploy G-B Scouts in Ghizer Valley’s ravines. The decision was taken by the government after militants crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan on Saturday and attacked a check post in Bajaur Agency. Three Pakistani security personnel, including a captain, were killed in the…

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Inspector General of Police Mohammad Saleem Bhatti said on Friday that police had information that a group of terrorists linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan was present in Diamer district, and a search operation to arrest them had been intensified. Talking to reporters at his office here, he said that the group had kept contacts with the TTP in South and North Waziristan Agencies. He informed that two members of the group…

LAHORE: Former Azad Jammu & Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan has announced support to the proposed revolution and the revolutionary programme of Pakistan Awami Tehreek Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri. Talking to the media after meeting with Dr Tahirul Qadri at his residence on Friday, he urged upon all the political parties to support Dr Tahirul Qadri’s agenda for bringing about a revolution in the country. He said if the tyranny of rulers was…

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Inspector General of Police Mohammad Saleem Bhatti said on Friday that police had information that a group of terrorists linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan was present in Diamer district, and a search operation to arrest them had been intensified. Talking to reporters at his office here, he said that the group had kept contacts with the TTP in South and North Waziristan Agencies. He informed that two members of the group…

LAHORE: Former Azad Jammu & Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan has announced support to the proposed revolution and the revolutionary programme of Pakistan Awami Tehreek Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri. Talking to the media after meeting with Dr Tahirul Qadri at his residence on Friday, he urged upon all the political parties to support Dr Tahirul Qadri’s agenda for bringing about a revolution in the country. He said if the tyranny of rulers was…

By Shabbir Mir in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2014. GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Metals, Minerals & Gems Association has expressed reservations over the proposed Mining Concession Rules 2014, describing it an attempt to deprive people of their wealth. The Mining Concession Rules 2014 were reportedly formulated by the G-B Council, a body chaired by the prime minister, to regulate mining of minerals. The rules are to be tabled in the council for approval once…

LAHORE: The Chinese government on Friday released $49 million through Exim Bank of China for Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project in a bid to help Pakistan accelerate the pace of work on the mega hydel scheme. As the government was facing financial issues for timely completion of the project, senior officials concerned termed funds from China a major development that would help them accomplish various tasks on time. The Exim Bank of China is among five major…