Posts published in September 2012

ON Tuesday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information minister announced that a special security force for the protection of passengers using the Karakoram Highway was being raised. This announcement, coming in the wake of several deadly ambushes on the highway and on the route connecting Quetta to Iran, should be welcomed. Nevertheless, it is hoped that the exercise in planning protection for these vulnerable routes is undertaken keeping the state’s capacity in mind. Most of those pulled…

MIRPUR: Protests have erupted in many areas following acute shortage of drinking water not only for residents but also for the industrial zones in Mirpur – a city dubbed the industrial district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). “The old industrial zone close to the city is among the areas facing severe shortage of water for the past three weeks,” an industrialist said in an emergency meeting of the Mirpur Marble Association held the other…

ISLAMABAD: The United States has shown its willingness to partially finance the gigantic Diamer Bhasha Dam to ease water and power shortages in Pakistan and this comes at a time when multilateral donors have backed down on assurances of funds following Indian objections. “Diamer Bhasha Dam needs massive financing and we can extend partial assistance for the project,” US Agency for International Development (USAID) Country Director Jock Conly told The Express Tribune on the sidelines…

ISLAMABAD: In related developments, an official of the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) told a parliamentary panel here on Wednesday that Japan has agreed to provide machinery and equipment worth $4 billion for the Diamer Bhasha Dam. While addressing the panel, he also said that Japan had agreed to cooperate in extending the power generation capacity of the Mangla dam. While briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power, the EAD official added that the…

BISHAM: The transporters in Shangla district have threatened to stop supplies of goods to Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) after the driver of a truck and his son were shot and injured by unknown persons in Sikandarabad area near Gilgit town. Addressing a press conference, president of the transporters union, Gul Muhammad, said that unknown gunmen in Gigit-Baltistan have killed over 10 drivers and their helpers in the last few weeks. He added in the recent incident driver…

GILGIT, Sept 10: The Gilgit-Baltistan lawmakers were told by the region’s police chief on Monday that his force was divided along sectarian lines and much was needed to arrest the sensitive situation. The Inspector General of Police Usman Zakaria briefed the members of the Legislative Assembly during an in-camera session that since he was new to the area he might take some time to fully understand the things. The chief minister had directed the local…

The writer is a freelance columnist Speaking at a press conference in Skurdu last Sunday, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo moto notice of targeted killing of members of the Shia community in Gilgit-Baltistan. His party had announced a day earlier that, if brought to power, it would give representation to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in the National Assembly and Senate. By addressing the two issues, the…

GILGIT, Sept 8: The police on Saturday arrested a proclaimed offender allegedly involved in many incidents of sectarian militancy. A police spokesperson said the special branch of police provided a tip-off regarding the whereabouts of the outlaw, identified as Wajid Ali. After which a joint team of police and CID led by SP Jahangir Shah arrested the militant. The police spokesperson said Wajid Ali resisted his arrest but police party overpowered him. Police recovered a…

By Shabbir Mir in The Express Tribune, Sept 9 GILGIT: Despite being blocked for traffic, passengers travelling from Danyore to Gilgit forced their way through the dilapidated Danyore Bridge on Saturday, risking their lives on the suspension bridge that was declared unsafe for travelling earlier. However, it was shut down once again when authorities found out about it three hours later. The 510-feet-long bridge that connects Damyore to the capital city of the mountain region…

By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir in the News, Sept 9 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has handed over “non-papers” to India on Saturday pertaining documentary evidence of serious breach of Indus Basin Water Treaty (IBWT) by New Delhi. The non-papers were delivered to visiting Indian minister for External Affairs SM Krishna here during formal talks, concluding the third round of Composite Dialogue. Highly placed diplomatic sources told The News Saturday evening that the Indian minister has been told about…