300 people on Baitullah Mehsud’s hit list

* List includes PPP, MQM and ANP leadership

The intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been put on high alert based on the news that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud has prepared a hit list of around 300 high-profile figures, including political leaders.

“Of course this type of information is received from time to time,” said CID Chief DIG Saud Mirza, adding that the country was still under threat. “We are in coordination with all the intelligence agencies.” Source close to an intelligence agency said that it was assumed that the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party (ANP), anti-Taliban Shia, Sunni clerics, personnel from the intelligence and law enforcement agencies, officials from the interior and provincial ministries and journalists could be targeted by the Pakistani Taliban. Their families were also believed to be at risk.

The MQM leadership was also informed by the LEAs when Jundullah members were arrested on charges of attacking the then corps commander of Karachi Lt Gen Ahsan Hayat. During interrogations, these men confessed that they targeted the party’s leadership as its members were perceived as ‘American agents’.

FAITH

Autumn the divorce between trees and leaves,

Beginning of the winter, as we believe.

Leaves falling like drops of rain,

Trying to fly but in vain.

Wandering on the roofs, alleys and streets,

Crushing under the walking feet.

The trees feed the leaves, making them strong.

Keeping them green and fresh, all along.

When a leaf leaves the tree.

It becomes lifeless, direction-less and fall free.

I see these falling leaves and think,

All the things of nature have a link.

A person who loose his faith is just like a falling leaf,

Having no direction, no purpose of life and no belief,

Falling from the tree of faith, loosing life's flame,

Wandering on the streets of life without any aim.

Faith is the strength and essence of life.

Keep your faith alive in peace and strife.

Muttahida Quami Movement Vehemently Denounces The Murder Of MQM Worker In Karachi

The Central Organizing commitee of Muttahida Quami Movement have intensely deprecated the cold blooded murder of MQM worker Sohail Sami.Sohail Sami, 25, was a worker of MQM Malir Sector, Unit 97. The office bearers of MQM vehemently denounced the incidence occurred in Malir, Karachi in which, it is apprehended, that armed terrorists abducted Sohail Sami and then shot him to death with several rounds of fires. It is worth mentioning that two months ago, in the same vicinity, another worker of MQM Mohammad Azim was put to death by armed terrorists.The members of MQM Central Organizing Committee said that the murders of MQM workers and harassment to MQM workers is a part of strategic planning of non-democratic forces who, on one hand are encouraging and facilitating Talibanization in Karachi, and on the other hand, are creating unrest in the city of most peace-loving people of the country. They said that the workers and supporters of MQM are peace loving people and don’t want to take the law in their hand. However, they reiterated, if these elements will not refrain from attacking pro-democratic MQM workers, the workers and supporters of MQM will find no other way than to defend themselves in a better way. The office bearers of MQM demanded of the highest ranks in the law enforcing authorities to probe into the incidence and the culprits should be brought to justice instantly.

POLITICKING AGAINST PEOPLE

Ever since the PPP government came in power it is trying its best to undermine the MQM-led city government in Karachi. It cannot reconcile to the fact that Karachi is the power base of its main rival in Sindh. It knows that the real power of the political parties is the work it gets done for the people which votes them to power.

It is working on the premise that if you keep your opponent parties in need for money, restrict their ability to work and keep them busy dealing with allegations of misuse of power and financial irregularities you lessen their energies and frustrate them. The reconstruction work suffers and then you blame your opponents for not getting their work done.

It seems that the city government is surrounded by vicious adversaries, the Sindh Local Government Minister on one side, the CM on the other, the National Reconstruction Bureau and the Federal Government Local Bodies Ministry on the other two. Instead of addressing to the pressing economic issues of the people the PPP-led government is chipping on whatever good the local government has done for the people of Karachi.

The CDGK has done a marvel by transforming the city’s infrastructure in a short period of time. Like any other organisation, its work cannot be without a blemish but it is learning. The people have seen a change in the city and have benefited from it. For the first time people have been given a voice that is also being heard. People have access to its chosen leaders and there is no lord peon to stop his entry to the office of the union council (UC) and Nazim. The UC leaders are the residents of the area they represent and have a stake in getting the work of the area done. With a strongly willed Nazim, whose integrity even the opposition is willing to accept, Karachi is in line to become a major city of Asia.

This is not going down well with the new anti-people PPP, which is hell bent in minting a piece of the pie and making money from whatever is the budget allocation for Karachi. If they were wiser they could have used the ‘Karachi Experience’ to bring about the same infrastructural changes in the rest of Sindh.

But it is not about the “people”. It is about “politics”. In the end the rich will become rich and the poor will become poorer.

Second Level Of Nagan Flyover Opened in Karachi

The second level of the Nagan Chowrangi flyover was opened for vehicular traffic late on Saturday night.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal performed the opening ceremony.

Seemingly undeterred by the withholding of the promised funds by the federal and provincial governments, the city nazim announced that the city government would curtail its non-development expenditures to finance and complete the ongoing development projects in the city.

Talking to newsmen after the inauguration, he said that the Nagan Chowrangi and Gulshan-i-Iqbal flyovers were actually federally-funded projects but owing to the withholding of funds, the city government spent Rs170 million from its own resources to complete the project.

He said that so far the city government spent Rs400 million on various development projects under bridge financing.

Defending his decision to continue the work on various projects without getting the promised funds, the nazim said that since the cost of raw material was increasing with each passing day, there was a possibility that if the city government kept waiting for the promised grants, the overall costs of the projects would increase manifold.

“Therefore, despite limited resources, we do not want to further delay the ongoing projects,” the nazim said.

Mr Kamal maintained that the city government was facing a shortfall of around Rs3 billion but was trying to meet the same by curtailing various non-development expenditures including fuel, medical etc.

However, he urged the federal and provincial authorities to release the withheld funds to the city government so that it could complete the ongoing development projects in the city.

The nazim said that the signal-free corridor II comprising five flyovers – three on Rashid Minhas Road, one at Sohrab Goth and the Nagan Chowrangi flyover – would be formally inaugurated on Independence Day.

He said that that the Nagan Chowrangi flyover was an important part of the signal-free corridor II, which linked Sharea Faisal to Surjani Town and was being completed at an estimated cost of Rs650 million.

Level one of the Nagan Chowrangi flyover was recently opened for vehicular traffic.

Currently, the city government is constructing one more loop of the flyover, which will cover Anda Mor and is scheduled to be completed by August 14.

Mr Kamal congratulated the people of Karachi on the opening of the Nagan Chowrangi flyover and observed that due to effective arrangements, traffic was not disturbed during the construction work of the flyover.

He said that the city government would work on the beautification of the entire area after the completion of work on adjacent roads and a storm-water drain.

ALTAF HUSSAIN ASKS TO CALL ALL PARTIES CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT CRISIS

Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder & Leader, has requested to government to call an all parties conference to discuss the current crises, growing talibanisation, country’s critical situation, economic crises; as it is the need of time. He has appealed to invite all the political and religious parties in this conference. He also appealed to call urgent session of all the chambers of commerce of the country and small investors to discuss the stock market commotion. He expressed these views in an important session at the MQM International Secretariat London attended by Members of MQM Coordination Committee Saleem Shahzad, Muhammad Anwar, Waseem Aftab, Mustafa Azizabadi, Asif Siddiqui, Qasim Ali Raza and Member of Provincial Assembly Sindh Nisar Pahnwar.
Mr Hussain said that as a result of the deteriorating situation of the country and the economic and trade crises; not only the stock exchanges are feeling the impact but also industrialists and investors, big or small, are faced with difficulties and compelled to come out on the streets. On the other hand, the situation in tribal areas is fast deteriorating with every passing day. The Taliban Movement has given ultimatum to the ANP Government in NWFP to resign in 5 days or face the consequences. Be it the economic crises, increase in terrorism in tribal areas, every citizen of the country is concerned, however, the government is yet to be seen to be taking strong action. He appealed to the Government that the current scenario and the national unity and integrity demands that an All Parties Conference is called to formulate a clear line of action to address and tackle the growing talibanisation in Pakistan, political and economic crises, closure of industries, inflation, unemployment, load shedding, energy crises and similar issues. All coalition partners and the parties of the Opposition should also be invited and a joint line of action to be formulated with consensus of all. He further advised the Government to call an urgent session of all the stock exchanges of the country and the investors, big or small, to discuss the economic crises and the stock market commotion.

Mr Hussain said that Pakistan came into being as a result of enormous sacrifices. The country has already been disintegrated in two and the remainder Pakistan is faced with a critical situation. Therefore, for the sustenance of the remainder of the country, it is the need of time that all the political and religious parties, industrial and traders organisations, social organisations and people from all walks of life to come forward and demonstrate national unity. He reminded that the MQM has already offered its unconditional support to the Government and its defence institutions. He appealed to the citizens of Pakistan not to get despondent and remain united.

Altaf Hussain offers unconditional support to the government

ALTAF HUSSAIN OFFERS UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THE DEFENCE INSTITUTIONS OF THE COUNTRY
Country is faced with critical situation; our nuclear assets are at risk

Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder & Leader, has stated that the country is faced with critical situation, our nuclear assets are at risk, therefore, and we must refrain from issuing provocative statements against foreign powers so as not to provide them with justification to carry out an attack on Pakistan. The MQM in the past has offered unconditional support to the Government and today once again we offer our unconditional support to the Government and defence institutions for the safety and security of the country. Mr Hussain expressed these views while addressing a meeting at the International Secretariat of MQM in London. The meeting was attended by the Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan, City Nazim Mustafa Kamal, Members of MQM Coordination Committee Muhammad Anwar, Syed Tariq Mir, Senator Babar Ghauri, Adil Siddiqui, Javed Kazmi, Waseem Aftab, Mustafa Azizabadi, Ashfaq Manghi, Provincial Minister for IT Raza Haroon and Member Provincial Assembly of Sindh Nisar Pahnwar.

Mr Hussain said that he has recently issued repeated statements drawing the attention of the people at the helm of affairs towards danger and deteriorating situation in FATA and tribal areas. He said that he emphasised that if concrete steps are not taken to tackle this situation and the spread of terrorism then it might be too late. He said that all his apprehensions have come true and every citizen is aware that US leaders, military officials and President of Afghanistan have said that if the situation is not controlled then they will no longer do dialogue or share intelligence with Pakistan and have warned that they will carry out unilateral attacks on Pakistani areas used for terrorist attacks on Afghanistan. Mr Hussain said that the Prime Minister himself has acknowledged that tribal areas are harbouring Uzbek, Chechan and other foreign elements who are engaging in warfare with the security forces and committing acts of terrorism. They are beheading captives and throwing the bodies on streets. Addressing the political and religious parties Mr Hussain asked does Islam teaches us to behead Muslim brothers. It is, therefore, essential that the Government should take concrete steps to tackle terrorism or else if the American and NATO forces will attack the tribal areas and the FATA region then it will highly detrimental to the country. Pakistan is already faced with threats at borders, the lawyers community must also rethink whether their priority should be to join the struggle to save the country or continue with the movement for restoration of judges. The PML-N and PPP should also resolve their differences through dialogue and take into confidence all the coalition partners and also the opposition parties with a view to save the country.
Mr Hussain appealed to all political and religious parties not to issue provocative statements nationally or internationally against foreign powers so that to provide them with a justification to attack our borders. He requested all the political and religious parties to demonstrate patriotism, maturity and sincerity at this crucial time. He informed that information has reached that our nuclear assets are in danger but instead of grasping the depth of current situation we are still busy in making tall claims of erecting our national flag at the Delhi Red Fort. Such was the state of affairs when we lost half the country in 1971. We must refrain from issuing provocative statements and be sensible in our political approach. Mr Hussain reminded that the MQM has already offered its unconditional support to the Government and feeling the need of time the MQM once again offers its unconditional support to the Government and the defence institutions for the safety and security of the country. He prayed to Almighty Allah for the safety and security of Pakistan.
During the meeting Mr Hussain also offered fateha for lat Syed Hashim Ali, former Haq Parast Member of Provincial Assembly, who passed away in Leicester City recently.