Nine KPK cabinet ministers take oath

Ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa caretaker cabinet took oath at 5 pm, Sunday, March 24, at the Governor’s House. KPK Governor Engineer Shaukatullah Khan administered oath to the new ministers.
The nine names finalised after consultation with the stake holders by the caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Tariq Pervez include; former inspector General of Police Fayaz Khan Toru, former bureaucrat Abdul Rauf Khattak, Col (Retd) Samin Jan Babar a former federal secretary and a bureaucrat, Farukh Saer, Jehangir Khan a former additional secretary in KPK, Mussarat Qadeem, and Umer Farooq, besides others.
The portfolios of the ministers were likely to be announced later while some sources said that the number of ministers was also likely to be changed. There were also chances that the ministers would be taking care of multiple portfolios.

Conservation: Heritage at the front lines

Being a student of archaeology I am in the habit of comparing the past with the present and somehow end up thinking that the ancient people were more advanced, sophisticated, civilised and intellectually sound.

The region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has gone through many difficult stages of history. Alexander ravaged it coming all the way from Macedonia; the Scythians and the Kushans from Central Asia too wreaked havoc on the entire region. But then there were some amazing times too when KP was the centre of propagation for peace through Buddhism. One of the first universities of the world was constructed here (Takht-i-Bahi and Taxila) and eventually this place became the seat of learning. Students from all over the Buddhist world came to learn sutras, religion, languages and other sciences (the phenomenon which modern day educationists call internationalisation).

The origin of the Indus Valley civilisation can be traced back to ancient KP that later on gifted the world the science of civil engineering and town planning. The emergence of Hinduism can easily be traced from this very region. Until recent times, this province was the centre of multicultural activities (internationalisation), and I am sure that all this happened because of good governance, administration and
through sincere commitment practiced by the ancient people.

Pakistan is blessed with various natural and cultural resources which include a rich history too. There are approximately 5,000 archaeological sites only in KP (many others have not been explored yet in other provinces). Despite extraordinary wonders, which perhaps we do not deserve because we have not learnt from our glorious past nor do we feel proud of our cultural heritage, the country has never capitalised on its glorious assets and as a result is facing many problems and turmoil. Another factor is bad governance.

Targeted attack: Anti-Taliban lashkar leader's son gunned down in Peshawar

 Doctor Tehsinullah Safi, the son of a peace lashkar head was gunned down in Peshawar today in a targeted attack.

An initial investigation revealed that two unidentified men fired at him near his clinic in the Budni area of Peshawar.

He was rushed to Lady Reading Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Dr Safi belonged to the Safi Tehsil of Mohmand Agency, where his father was the head of an anti-Taliban peace lashkar head.

Police confirmed that this was a targeted attack and his attackers had successfully escaped. Further investigations are underway.

Kohat historical sites turning into ruins

Most historical places in Kohat are in an absolute shambles due to the archeology department’s neglect.

Many artefacts, including carved stones, marble tiles and statues, are taken away possibly by smugglers for a better price abroad.

Not long ago, the government had planned preservation of these places and sent in archeological experts for survey. However, the plan didn’t enter the execution phase.

Among these sites listed by the erstwhile federal tourism ministry are caves from Aad and Samud dynasty, Kohat springs visited by Baba Guru Nanak, Zinda Pir shrine, Kohat Fort, Cavagnari House, Guava Gardens, hilly track, Teri ashram and Hindu Bazaar, Handy Side Gate, Toi Banda rest house, Khushal Garh rest house, a 16th century mosque in Shahpur village, grave of former West Pakistan chief justice M. R. Kayani, palaces of emperor Durrani and his princes, Dhoda ground, where emperor Zahiruddin Babar camped on his way to India, eight out of 12 gates of the Walled City and Khushal Garh iron bridge.

During a visit, Dawn found the Durrani graveyard and the ruins of Aad and Samud without precious tiles, gravestones, coins and statues. A few are rebuilt by caretakers.

KP launches laptop scheme for students

 It was responsibility of the federal government to provide adequate funds to the public sector universities till next National Finance Commission award, said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti.

However, he said that provincial government would extend every possible financial support to the universities.

The chief minister was addressing a ceremony, held here on Sunday at the Convocation Hall of University of Peshawar (UoP) to launch free laptop distribution scheme.

He launched the Naway Sahar Scheme (New Dawn Scheme) by distributing 35 laptops among the position holder students of four-year bachelor programme. The position holders, who got the laptops, were students of 30 departments of UoP, its three constituent colleges and two affiliated degree colleges.

The chief minister said that provincial government established eight new universities as education was its top priority. He said that the laptop scheme was introduced to keep the educated youth of the society connected with the world. He said that an amount of Rs1 billion was allocated for purchase of laptops.

Mr Hoti claimed that utmost importance was given to ensure transparency in procurement and distribution of laptops among more than 23,000 students. He directed the vice-chancellors and head of the institutions to oversee transparency in the award of laptops to deserving students.

Traffic congestion in Peshawar: Signal-free corridors proposed

Construction of signal-free corridors and shifting of all bus stands and vegetable markets out of Peshawar city could substantially ease traffic pressure on the city roads.

Peshawar SP (traffic) Asif Iqbal said this while speaking at ‘Meet the Press Programme’ of Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday. He said that a proposal to install closed circuit cameras at prominent spots across the district was under consideration to check performance of the traffic police.

He said that for pedestrians the government should focus on building overhead bridges instead of underpasses because the former could be built in the shortest possible time with minimum problems for traffic.

Mr Iqbal said that enforcement, education and engineering were three essential things for controlling traffic problems and the police could focus on the former two points. He said that engineering department was not under the police and that was why the lack of liaison created difficulties.

“We have no engineer to help control the system and all such problems are seen by the Peshawar Development Authority,” he said and added that engineering department was supposed to play key role in the system otherwise the problems would continue.

Scholarships for tribal students

Twenty-one students belonging to tribal areas were awarded scholarships during a ceremony held at Institute of Management Sciences (IMS) Peshawar.

According to a press release, the scholarships were awarded to deserving students of tribal areas under IMS Fata Scholarship Programme by Arshad Majeed, the secretary of Fata Investment Facilitation Authority (Fifa), Fata Secretariat.

Centre’s reply to petition against FCR sought

The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday directed the federal government to file written reply to a petition challenging several provisions of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and terming it inconsistent with the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Irshad Qaiser directed deputy attorney general Mohammad Iqbal Mohmand to submit the reply within 15 days.

The bench observed that in case it accepted the petition, it would have severe implications and impact for the government and therefore, it was necessary for federal government to furnish its reply.

The petition is filed by a Khyber Agency resident, Ghufran Kukikhel, who was convicted by the political agent on Nov 23, 2011, of drug trafficking.

His conviction was made on the basis of the inquiry conducted by a jirga of elders constituted under FCR.

He was handed down 10 years rigorous imprisonment and Rs100,000 fine.

The petitioner was charged under the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order, 1979 read with FCR whereas he claimed that in presence of Control of Narcotics Substance Act, 1997, he could not be tried under the former laws.

Noor Alam Khan, lawyer for the petitioner, said several of the FCR provisions were in conflict with the Constitution and against several judgments of the superior courts.

He said his client had also challenged the judicial powers of the political agent for being in conflict with Article 175 of the Constitution.

The lawyer said the FCR sections mostly related to powers of district magistrate, additional district magistrate, council of elders and trials were also questioned.

Bhoja crash: compensation to families overdue

THE ill-fated aircraft of Bhoja Air crashed on April 20 last, killing all the 127 persons on board. There was an outpouring of sympathy for the perished and the affected families. But as the days passed, the tragedy has been overtaken by other events and almost forgotten.

Unfortunately, this has been a hush-hush affair from the beginning. Reticence to tell the truth on the part of the government, the CAA and the airline itself is giving rise to rumours of all sorts. There is a story afloat of attempted sale of Bhoja Air to an unknown entity in the UAE to apparently avoid adverse consequences.

If true, this might complicate payment of compensation to the bereaved families, as only 11 out of 127 have been reportedly paid compensation till now, apparently for an invidious reason to benefit the insurance company.

Results of the aircraft investigation and action, if any, against those responsible for the accident, directly or indirectly, has also not been disclosed, keeping everybody in suspense apparently for ulterior reasons. And last, but not least, why the unprecedented action for initiating criminal proceedings against the management of the airline for murdering the people on board the aircraft was taken again remains a mystery.

Was it for upholding the rule of law or for arm-twisting for political or other less than altruistic reasons, as this has never happened in airline history.

Delay in passport delivery

PASSPORT authorities are getting Rs3,000 for ordinary and Rs5,000 for urgent passport. Fifteen days’ time is promised for an urgent passport and 30 days for an ordinary passport.

However, urgent passports are not delivered on time while ordinary passports are delivered after three months.

This is ridiculous and unjustified. The passport authorities give the plea that they are short of passport books and hence the abnormal delay.

Owing to the abnormal delay in issuing ordinary passports, many people prefer to apply for passports on an urgent basis.
However, despite payment of extra money, urgent passports are not delivered on time.