| ISLAMABAD, March 31: Private hospitals, clinics and specialists are cashing in on the young doctors` strike in the capital. With outpatient departments (OPDs) closed in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Polyclinic and National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM), the patients are visiting the private hospitals and clinics in large numbers. "We have seen a sharp surge at OPDs as the patient load has increased twofold during the last few days," a senior consultant at the Shifa International Hospital told Dawn . The pathology department`s load, he said, has also increased. "As per our information, laboratories in Polyclinic and Pims are also not conducting or issuing any test reports." Some of the senior doctors working in the public hospitals are also asking the patients to visit them at their private clinics. "I have asked patients to visit my clinic," a senior doctor working in Pims, requesting anonymity, said. Justifying it, he said the patients at tertiary care hospitals like Pims come from far flung areas and a refusal at OPDs puts more financial burden on them. "Patients can`t afford such a distress." The doctor claimed that he was charging a nominal fee at his clinic from the patients because most of them were `poor`. The young doctors demanding increase in salaries and a better service structure went on one-hour token strike on March 14, and for the last five days have closed down the OPDs of the Pims, Polyclinic and NIRM. On the other hand, the Young Doctors Association on Thursday threatened to close down emergencies and critical and intensive care units by April 10 if their demands were not accepted. The strike has also badly affected the routine surgical procedures in the public hospitals, as the backlog reached 530 on Thursday. Meanwhile, the young doctors staged a demo in front of the Pims`, burned tyres and blocked the Ibn-e-Sina Road for two hours. During the peaceful demonstration, the doctors chanted slogans against the health ministry and the government. By Imran Ali Teepu |
2011-04-01
Private hospitals, clinics having a field day
Punjab Cabinet expansion likely next week
| LAHORE, March 31: The long-awaited expansion in the Punjab cabinet is going to be made next week, raising the total number of portfolios to 22. After ouster of the Pakistan People's Party from the provincial ruling coalition on Feb 25, the strength of the cabinet had been reduced to eight from 15. Rana Sana said although the Constitution, after the 18th amendment, allows 41 provincial ministers, Mr Sharif believed in a small cabinet. A PML-N official told Dawn that Unification Bloc, the breakaway faction of the PML-Q, was unlikely to be accommodated in the expanded cabinet. According to him, South Punjab will be getting more share in the cabinet, considering the weak party position in the region and the next general election. The recent defeat of a PML-N candidate in Dera Ghazi Khan by-polls also strengthened the view that South Punjab should be focused on by accommodating more and more MPAs from the region in the cabinet. At least four ministers — Dost Muhammad Khosa (Commerce and Investment) from Dera Ghazi Khan, Ahmad Ali Aulakh (Agriculture) from Layyah, Haji Ehsanuddin Qureshi (Religious Affairs and Auqaf) from Multan, and Malik Iqbal Channer (Special Education) from Bahawalpur — are already representing the cotton belt in the cabinet. Sirdar Zulfiqar Khosa, also from the region, is the senior advisor to the chief minister and acts as Shahbaz's second-in-command. Meanwhile, Rana Sana told the media outside the Punjab Assembly that the Unification Bloc faced no disqualification threat for going against the parent party (PML-Q) in support of the PML-N government as the disgruntled group enjoyed majority in Q League. As the House completed 100-day sittings in the parliamentary year on Thursday, the law minister was satisfied at the performance of Treasury. He said besides the important legislation of Local Government and Land Revenue acts it passed 11 bills in the last session and adopted several public interest resolutions. He regretted that the opposition members boycotted the legislative work by absenting themselves from the House. He alleged that four to five woman MPAs on opposition benches were violating the sanctity of the House by adopting a rowdy behaviour, therefore, a couple of privileges motions were carried against them. The minister said the opposition should look for its leader who was missing for the last one week, instead of giving an advertisement for the "missing chief minister". |
University campus
| PESHAWAR, March 31: Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti has requested Sindh government for provision of 100 kanals of land in Karachi for establishing Abdul Wali Khan University campus. Mr Hoti has made the request in a letter to Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah. Mr Hoti stated Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan was playing vital role in promotion of higher and quality education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. University`s campuses established in other districts were also acquainting the youth with education. The institute has achieved many milestones in a short span of two years, the letter said. Mr Hoti said a university campus in Karachi will benefit students of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh and also help take advantage of seasoned faculty available there, according to a press release. |
Strike claims girl`s life
| RAWALPINDI: A 13-year old girl died at Benazir Bhutto Hospital on Thursday allegedly due to young doctors` strike. The thirteen-year-old Sana, a tetanus patient, was brought to emergency ward of Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) in very serious condition but no doctor was available to see her, said the relatives of the girl. After crying with pain, Sana died in front of her beloved parents and other relatives. The relative took her body to their hometown Kalar Syedan in the afternoon. Young Doctors Association (YDA) Joint Secretary Dr Junaid Abbasi, however, termed the death of the girl the most unfortunate incident. Dr Abbasi said that it was the responsibility of the medical superintendent of the respective hospital to tell why this incident occurred and who was responsible for the negligence. He also held the Punjab government and BBH administration of the hospital responsible for the death of the girl, adding that had the government accepted their demands the situation would not have occurred. YDA Joint Secretary was of view that so far the doctors have tried their best to provide medical treatment to the patients. BBH Medical Superintendent Dr. Zaman Khan Niazi could not be reached as he neither picked up his cellphone nor replied to the message. Meanwhile, Young Doctors Association (YDA) on Thursday brought out a rally against Punjab government for not accepting their longstanding demands. Led by YDA Punjab Chairman Dr Muhammad Haroon, the rally was participated by more than 400 young doctors of District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and Holy Family Hospital (HFH), medical students of Rawalpindi Medical College. The protesters were carrying banner inscribed with slogans against the government and in favour of their demands. Enraged doctors also chanted slogans against Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Secretary Health Fawad Hassan Fawad and Parliamentary Secretary Health Saeed Ellahi. They blocked Fawara Chowk for traffic movement. The worst traffic jam was witnessed at Kashmiri Bazaar, Gunjmandi, Raja Bazaar, Iqbal Road, Jinnah Road and Liaquat Road. After one hour stay, the young doctors marched towards Rawalpindi Press Club. |
Justice in Fata impossible in presence of FCR
| PESHAWAR, March 31: Criticising the government for using delaying tactics to amend the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), Fata Democratic Movement`s representatives said on Thursday that justice and development in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas was impossible unless the draconian FCR laws were changed. Speaking at a press conference here, the FDM representatives, including Abdur Rahim Afridi, Ijaz Ahmed Afridi and Zar Ali Afridi, said that the tribesmen had intentionally been kept backward since the inception of Pakistan and the existing infrastructure in tribal areas was also destroyed in bomb blasts. They praised the initiative of political parties for the formation of a `Fata Reforms Committee` and assured it their full support. The FDM organiser, Abdur Rahim, said that the FCR had paralysed the tribesmen, who could not raise their voice against injustices, as the government had given unlimited powers to the political administration to send people behind the bars for years. "Unless political activities are allowed in the Fata the tribal people cannot make progress," he said and added that the one-man political agent rule should not remain any longer. The Fata had been ignored in all the country`s constitutions, Mr Rahim said and added that the restrictions on political activities in tribal areas was a violation of the international law. He said that people had the rights to carry out political activities, but they were not allowed to do so in the Fata. He said that President Asif Ali Zardari had announced on Aug 14, 2009 that the FCR would be amended, but his commitment was yet to be realised. He said that the 10 million tribesmen were not ready to accept the FCR any longer and demanded its replacement. Mr Rahim said that some forces were against any change in the black laws and the civil society and political workers were forced to raise voice for the purpose. He said that the existing problems in Fata could be resolved politically if the amendments were made by implementing the reforms package. Mr Zar Ali expressed concern over the destruction of schools, hospitals, bridges and rest of the infrastructure in the tribal region and said that this situation was pushing people of the already backward region towards darkness. |
Killer gets 10-year term
| LAHORE, March 31: Additional District and Sessions Judge Sana Khan Attique on Thursday awarded 10-year imprisonment to accused Safdar Masih and acquitted four others in a murder case. The court also ordered the accused to pay a fine of Rs50,000 to the victim family. In case of non-payment, he will have to undergo three-month additional imprisonment. The court, however, acquitted Imran, Mubarik, Shahzad and Asgher by giving them the benefit of the doubt. Safdar Masih along with his accomplices had murdered Imran in 2006 in Manga Mandi police precincts. DRUG PUSHERS: An anti-narcotics court awarded life imprisonment along with Rs200,000 fine to Inamuddin for possessing a large quantity of hashish. A court also awarded 13-month jail term to Habibullah along with a fine of Rs20,000 for possessing two-kg hashish. An other court awarded 10-month imprisonment along with Rs10,000 fine for carrying 440 grams of heroin. Meanwhile, Additional District and Sessions Judge Malik Ali Raza Awan awarded six-month jail term along with Rs5,000 penalty to drug peddler Muhammad Shahbaz. |
Bringing down HEC
| In retrospect no one can deny that the nationalisation of educational institutes by the first PPP government was a mistake. The education sector suffered heavily from this and the country could never recover from this mistake. No wonder then that just recently Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani conceded that the nationalisation of the schools by the PPP had been a mistake. The Zardari-Gilani set-up made its intentions towards the HEC clear at the very outset. Soon after coming into power, the PPP government removed Dr Attaur Rehman, the founding chairman of the HEC, who still had another two years to go. He was replaced by a PPP loyalist, Dr Javaid Leghari, who has served as a senator in the past. Rarely anyone protested this unfair treatment meted out to a body that has done some good work in the higher education sector in the past decade. For instance, since its coming into being in 2002, the number of public sector universities and degree awarding institutions almost doubled from 59 to 127 while student enrollment went up from 135,000 to 400,000. Thanks to the HEC`s efforts, the country produced 3,037 new PhDs from 2003 to 2009; compare this to the 3,281 scholars we produced from 1947 to 2002. It has awarded 11,000 foreign scholarships since it was established and country has started reaping the benefit in the form of PhDs, whose number is increasing with every passing year. Admittedly, a lot of this was possible because of the funds the commission had at its disposal. In 2002 when the HEC replaced the erstwhile University Grants Commission, its annually budgetary allocations hovered around a few hundred million rupees. This shot up to billions of rupees. In 2009-2010 the government allocated it Rs22.5 billion, along with Rs18 billion for recurring expenditures. Yet, the funds for the HEC were slashed drastically by the current PPP government. And now the government has decided to do away with it altogether. Many in the academy have criticised the government`s decision. The Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS), which closely monitors the quality of research, is a case in point. Dr Attaur Rehman has also been vocal. At a press conference, he asked the government to think twice before devolving the HEC`s responsibilities down to the provinces. "They don`t want to see the country transforming into a knowledge-based economy because this would enable us to free ourselves from the clutches of international forces that want Pakistan to remain a poor state," he said. According to another scientist, who requested not to be named, the decision was akin to the demolition of a multi-storey residential building shortly after its completion. "Once the complex has been destroyed, it is as if potential residents are asked to pick up the rubble and build their own houses." Indeed, now that the HEC is about to be disbanded, no one knows what will happen to its programmes or the various scholars enrolled in international universities whose bill was being footed by the commission. Already, media reports had appeared that many of these scholars were facing financial problems as their allocations had been reduced due to the budget cuts the HEC was facing. Some of them have, in fact, already returned without completing their studies. However, the government views all of this a little differently. Speaking at a press conference, on Tuesday, Chairman Implementation Commission Senator Raza Rabbani refused to accept that the HEC was protected under the federal legislative list of the constitution. He added that the "the HEC act will be revisited and reframed in the aftermath of the 18th amendment." The 18th amendment has given the eight-member implementation commission the powers to issue orders, undertake proceedings and make amendments to regulations, enactments, notifications, rules or orders as may be necessary. However, it is too soon to say if Mr Rabbani's will be the last word on the HEC. After all, a three-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, has accepted a petition challenging the devolution of the federal education ministry. Their decision will also impact the fate of the HEC. khawar.ghumman@gmail.com |
Students protest ‘misconduct’ by exam superintendent
| TIMERGARA, March 31: Students of the government high school Ramora on Thursday staged a protest demonstration against the superintendent of the school examination hall and chanted slogans against him. The protesting students were demanding of the Malakand board authorities to immediately suspend the official who they alleged was demanding money and gifts from them. |
Spadework for dengue prevention completes
| LAHORE, March 31: Punjab Director General Health Dr Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry says arrangements have been finalised to combat the menace of dengue fever. He said community participation could help eradicate the disease more effectively. He said people should ensure anti-mosquito spray in their bedrooms, stores and washrooms. They should not store water in open tanks and keep water pots fully covered to check mosquito growth, he said. IPH Dean Dr Yaqoob Qazi, Chief Bacteriologist Dr. Zarfishan Tahir and Prof. Kokab were also present on the occasion. The DG said the government had taken all necessary measures to eradicate dengue mosquito besides providing free diagnostic and treatment facilities in government hospitals. "However, it is the prime responsibility of public health experts, family physicians and clinicians to create awareness about preventive measures among the masses through the patients visiting their clinics. Prof Yaqoob Qazi said dengue fever was comparatively a new disease in Pakistan, "therefore, there is a need to create awareness not only among the masses but doctors as well." He said no government despite spending huge resources could control dengue virus without active cooperation of the community. "There is no need to get panicky as dengue fever is completely a curable disease." Prof Kokab said dengue fever was a common disease in approximately 100 countries and 50 million cases were reported annually all over the world. She said rapid growth of population had made the dengue a big economic and social problem and whole society should make consolidated efforts to get rid of the disease. |
Bringing down HEC
| In retrospect no one can deny that the nationalisation of educational institutes by the first PPP government was a mistake. The education sector suffered heavily from this and the country could never recover from this mistake. No wonder then that just recently Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani conceded that the nationalisation of the schools by the PPP had been a mistake. The Zardari-Gilani set-up made its intentions towards the HEC clear at the very outset. Soon after coming into power, the PPP government removed Dr Attaur Rehman, the founding chairman of the HEC, who still had another two years to go. He was replaced by a PPP loyalist, Dr Javaid Leghari, who has served as a senator in the past. Rarely anyone protested this unfair treatment meted out to a body that has done some good work in the higher education sector in the past decade. For instance, since its coming into being in 2002, the number of public sector universities and degree awarding institutions almost doubled from 59 to 127 while student enrollment went up from 135,000 to 400,000. Thanks to the HEC`s efforts, the country produced 3,037 new PhDs from 2003 to 2009; compare this to the 3,281 scholars we produced from 1947 to 2002. It has awarded 11,000 foreign scholarships since it was established and country has started reaping the benefit in the form of PhDs, whose number is increasing with every passing year. Admittedly, a lot of this was possible because of the funds the commission had at its disposal. In 2002 when the HEC replaced the erstwhile University Grants Commission, its annually budgetary allocations hovered around a few hundred million rupees. This shot up to billions of rupees. In 2009-2010 the government allocated it Rs22.5 billion, along with Rs18 billion for recurring expenditures. Yet, the funds for the HEC were slashed drastically by the current PPP government. And now the government has decided to do away with it altogether. Many in the academy have criticised the government`s decision. The Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS), which closely monitors the quality of research, is a case in point. Dr Attaur Rehman has also been vocal. At a press conference, he asked the government to think twice before devolving the HEC`s responsibilities down to the provinces. "They don`t want to see the country transforming into a knowledge-based economy because this would enable us to free ourselves from the clutches of international forces that want Pakistan to remain a poor state," he said. According to another scientist, who requested not to be named, the decision was akin to the demolition of a multi-storey residential building shortly after its completion. "Once the complex has been destroyed, it is as if potential residents are asked to pick up the rubble and build their own houses." Indeed, now that the HEC is about to be disbanded, no one knows what will happen to its programmes or the various scholars enrolled in international universities whose bill was being footed by the commission. Already, media reports had appeared that many of these scholars were facing financial problems as their allocations had been reduced due to the budget cuts the HEC was facing. Some of them have, in fact, already returned without completing their studies. However, the government views all of this a little differently. Speaking at a press conference, on Tuesday, Chairman Implementation Commission Senator Raza Rabbani refused to accept that the HEC was protected under the federal legislative list of the constitution. He added that the "the HEC act will be revisited and reframed in the aftermath of the 18th amendment." The 18th amendment has given the eight-member implementation commission the powers to issue orders, undertake proceedings and make amendments to regulations, enactments, notifications, rules or orders as may be necessary. However, it is too soon to say if Mr Rabbani's will be the last word on the HEC. After all, a three-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, has accepted a petition challenging the devolution of the federal education ministry. Their decision will also impact the fate of the HEC. khawar.ghumman@gmail.com |
Students protest ‘misconduct’ by exam superintendent
| TIMERGARA, March 31: Students of the government high school Ramora on Thursday staged a protest demonstration against the superintendent of the school examination hall and chanted slogans against him. The protesting students were demanding of the Malakand board authorities to immediately suspend the official who they alleged was demanding money and gifts from them. |
People’s help sought for Chitral peace
| CHITRAL, March 31: District coordination officer Rahmatullah Wazir has asked the residents of Beori valley to extend full cooperation to the local administration to thwart any attempt by saboteurs to penetrate into the valley. He said that poverty reduction and prosperity was possible only in the atmosphere of peace and the prevalent atmosphere of peace must be maintained at any cost. Mr Wazir said that the flood-hit road infrastructure and jeepable suspension bridges over the stream would be rebuilt and funds would be given to the local community to solve their problems. He also promised provision of food packages, wheat seeds and ferti lizers to the affected households for the current season. He directed the Chitral Area Development Project officials to complete work on electrification of the remote area. |
Gandhara can bring back tourists to Pakistan
| TAXILA, March 31: Thai Ambassador Marut Jitpatima on Thursday said Pakistan could bring tourism back on track through promotion of Gandhara heritage in Buddhist countries. He was talking to newsmen after inaugurating "Thai shines Gandhara heritage" project at TaxilaMuseum. The project, launched by Thai Airways in collaboration with Federal department of archaeology and museums, was aimed at providing different facilities to tourists at museum and different sites. To provide information about the archaeological sites, the project included installation of signboards in six different languages including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, English and Urdu. "Pakistan can be a great Buddhist pilgrimage destination in the world," the ambassador said adding Pakistan has rich Buddhist treasure and it could attract tourists from Buddhist countries through holding of seminars and exhibition in these countries. He said Pakistan was the land from where the great Gandhara culture was flourished across the world. Responding to a question, he said that Thailandwas ready to cooperate with Pakistanin preservation and excavation of Gandhara sites. He in this regard offered technical assistance, exchange of scholars and experts. Responding to another question, he appreciated the efforts of Pakistanpreserving Buddhist places of religious worship. He said that he was impressed by the archaeological treasures, well preserved sites and excellent preservation of the Buddhist artifacts but "we people at Thailandknow about Pakistanhaving rich Buddhist culture. He said that Thailandorganize different cultural events to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Thai Airways country chief Polapat Neelabhamoran also addressed the inaugurating ceremony of the project . |
People’s help sought for Chitral peace
| CHITRAL, March 31: District coordination officer Rahmatullah Wazir has asked the residents of Beori valley to extend full cooperation to the local administration to thwart any attempt by saboteurs to penetrate into the valley. He said that poverty reduction and prosperity was possible only in the atmosphere of peace and the prevalent atmosphere of peace must be maintained at any cost. Mr Wazir said that the flood-hit road infrastructure and jeepable suspension bridges over the stream would be rebuilt and funds would be given to the local community to solve their problems. He also promised provision of food packages, wheat seeds and ferti lizers to the affected households for the current season. He directed the Chitral Area Development Project officials to complete work on electrification of the remote area. |
Gandhara can bring back tourists to Pakistan
| TAXILA, March 31: Thai Ambassador Marut Jitpatima on Thursday said Pakistan could bring tourism back on track through promotion of Gandhara heritage in Buddhist countries. He was talking to newsmen after inaugurating "Thai shines Gandhara heritage" project at TaxilaMuseum. The project, launched by Thai Airways in collaboration with Federal department of archaeology and museums, was aimed at providing different facilities to tourists at museum and different sites. To provide information about the archaeological sites, the project included installation of signboards in six different languages including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, English and Urdu. "Pakistan can be a great Buddhist pilgrimage destination in the world," the ambassador said adding Pakistan has rich Buddhist treasure and it could attract tourists from Buddhist countries through holding of seminars and exhibition in these countries. He said Pakistan was the land from where the great Gandhara culture was flourished across the world. Responding to a question, he said that Thailandwas ready to cooperate with Pakistanin preservation and excavation of Gandhara sites. He in this regard offered technical assistance, exchange of scholars and experts. Responding to another question, he appreciated the efforts of Pakistanpreserving Buddhist places of religious worship. He said that he was impressed by the archaeological treasures, well preserved sites and excellent preservation of the Buddhist artifacts but "we people at Thailandknow about Pakistanhaving rich Buddhist culture. He said that Thailandorganize different cultural events to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Thai Airways country chief Polapat Neelabhamoran also addressed the inaugurating ceremony of the project . |
Spring festival for peace
| PESHAWAR March 31: Corps Commander Peshawar Lt-Gen Asif Yaseen Malik has said that security situation has improved in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the provincial capital. He was speaking as a chief guest at the opening ceremony of spring festival 2011 here on Thursday at the Karnal Sher Khan Stadium. The theme of the festival was "Yes to peace, no to terror". Gen Yaseen said that every possible effort was being made to restore peace in the province and to ensure better living conditions to the people. "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was in the grip of terror for the last few years and the miseries of people multiplied with natural calamities such as floods and earthquakes," he said. He appreciated the spring festival and the display of flowers, saying that such activities were refreshing and would have a positive impact on the minds of people."We enjoyed the colours and fragrance of flowers and the entire atmosphere had a soothing effect," he observed. Earlier in the welcome address, Peshawar Cantonment Board chief executive officer Shah-e-Rom said that flower exhibition was held every year that provided a platform to people to express their love for nature and flowers. "We should protect nature and provide clean environment to the coming generations," he said and thanked all the competitors for participating in the spring competition 2011. Later, the corps commander distributed prizes among the competitors of eight different categories. — APP |
KMU to introduce semester system in its affiliated institutions
| PESHAWAR, March 31: The Khyber Medical University (KMU) intends to start the semester system in its affiliated medical and dental institutions, taking advantage from the experience of the Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi which has started the semester system in its constituent medical colleges. This was stated by KMU Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohammad Hafizullah, while delivering welcome address at a symposium on "Curriculum Development" here on Thursday, according to a handout. The KMU had arranged the symposium wherein Prof Umer Farooq and Dr Rukhshanda Rubeen from the Dow University acted as facilitators. A total of 36 participants including principals and senior faculty members of the affiliated institutions of KMU attended the symposium. Dr Hafizullah said the current mode of instruction in the medical colleges had been in practice for the past 50 years. It is an annual based system where evaluation of the students is carried out at the end of the year. Because there is no evaluation and assessment before that, students have not much incentives and compulsion to study during the year and they only concentrate on their studies in the last four to six weeks just before the annual examinations, he maintained. Prof Hafizullah said keeping in view the drawback of annual system in most of the institutions other than medical the annual system had been replaced by the semester system. In the semester system the course is divided into various modules. Both the teachers and students have to work according to a very strict and regular timetable both for studies and evaluation. He emphasised the objectives of the symposium and thanked the facilitators from the Dow University. At the end of the symposium the participants agreed to work towards the implementation of the semester system in their colleges. The facilitators shared their experience of semester system with the participants, emphasising that it would require the commitment of the faculty in implementation of the semester system and some improvement will also require in infrastructures in the respective colleges. |
Effective population control campaign possible in peace
| PESHAWAR, March 31: Speakers at a workshop on Thursday suggested that the government should involve religious leaders, media persons, traders and civil society activists to control population growth by creating awareness of the best practices in family planning and reproductive health in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Departments of health and population welfare had organised the two-day workshop, which was attended by senior health and population welfare officers from all the districts of the province and representatives of international donor agencies. The participants said that peace was a must for launching work for overcoming the fast spreading population. They said that work for creation of awareness among the communities could be expedited with the help of ulema, students, media persons, traders, transporters and civil society organisations. The participants belonging to far-flung districts also demanded facilities, including contraceptives, at the healthcare centres and hiring services of people for social mobilisation. Health Department director-general Dr Noor Nawaz was the chief guest on the occasion while Dr Tauseef Ahmed and Dr Shabeena Raza were the key speakers. "Pakistan ranks as the 6th most populous country in the world with a population exceeding 180.8 million. With the current population growth rate of 2.11, Pakistan will be the third most populous country by year 2050," they said. They said that the women and children in Pakistan were the most vulnerable section of the community and their appalling health conditions demanded serious deliberations to secure human development. Referring to the latest demographic survey of 2006-07, they said that Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of Pakistan was 4.1 whereby the unwanted fertility rate accounted for having one added child per woman on average beyond their planned family size over their reproductive lives. They said that the unmet needs for family planning in Pakistan remained high at 25 per cent. The officials said that major hurdles that accounted for such a heavy load of unmet needs in the country included lack of awareness, religious and cultural practices, societal pressures and opportunities to access family planning services. They said that according to a research the close-spaced pregnancies were among the major non-clinical factors that contributed to maternal deaths and put the newborns at a higher risk of health consequences. They said that in the current situation there was a need for implementing plans for extended family planning and reproductive health services. They said that in Pakistan 25-40 per cent of maternal deaths could be eliminated if unplanned pregnancies were prevented. They said that infant mortality decreased tremendously with the increase in mother`s age and birth spacing. |
Women MPs` role sought to curb domestic violence
| LAHORE, March 31: Participants at a consultative meeting on Domestic Violence Bill has called upon the women parliamentarians to strive hard to end domestic violence against women by spending their development funds on such issues. Speaking at a meeting held by Mumkin Alliance, a network of civil society organisations, with parliamentarians and political parties here at a local hotel on Thursday, they said woman parliamentarians should contribute to prevent violence against women and improve their overall living conditions. "We should aim at enhancing coherence of actions and plans conducted on violence against women besides raising awareness and improving legal and political instruments regarding prevention, protection, care and socio-economic integration of women facing gender-based violence," said Punjab Chief Minister`s adviser Begum Zakia Shahnawaz while speaking on the occasion. She said it was the duty of MNAs and MPAs to move the domestic violence bill irrespective of their political affiliations. Speaking on the occasion Justice Nasira Javaid Iqbal (retired) called upon the government to restore the local government institutions so that victims of domestic violence could easily approach them. She said the National Assembly had passed the bill in 2003, but later on it lapsed at Senate due to absence of on-time debate on it. She urged the PPP government to take initative at national and provincial levels to move the bill at appropriate forums at the earliest. "We must know that 90 per cent women in Pakistan are victims of domestic violence while only five per cent have the ability to move police stations and courts and the rest take it as their fate," she added. Former MNA Mehnaz Rafi said Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had always supported the cause of women as he considered them a major power of society. MNA Beelum Hasnain, Salman Abid, Amna Ulfat, Dr. Amna Buttar, Sajida Mir, Qamar Aamir Chaudhry, Riffat Sultan Dar and Riffat Javaid Kahlon also spoke on the occasion. Earlier Mr Ali Imran (coordinator) of the meeting said the alliance would take up the issue by initiating advocacy and lobbying efforts for the approval of the bill at national and provincial levels. "The alliance will also hold such discussions with various civil society groups to launch a joint campaign for women rights," he added. |
5th, 8th grade exams Top positions go to private schools
| CHAKWAL, March 31: Students of private schools grabbed the top positions in the district as the Punjab Examination Commission announced the results of the primary and middle standard exams on Thursday. Disappointingly, only 31 per cent of the candidates passed their fifth grade exams. However, 56.72 per cent of the candidates passed their eighth Out of the 26,038 students appearing in the primary exams in the district, 8,072 were declared successful. Mohammad Waqas Anwar of New Misali Public Secondary School, Talagang, got first position in the primary exams by securing 526 marks. Anam Anwar Malik of Fauji Foundation Model School, Buchal Khurd, stood second with 515 marks while Mohammad Aslam of Fauji Foundation Model School (Boys), Arrar, stood third by securing 509 marks. New Misali Public Secondary School, Talagang, clinched the three top positions in the middle exams. The school's students, Ali Zainul Abideen, Khalilur Rahman and Arsalan Hussain respectively got 733, 713 and 710 marks. The second and third positions were also shared by Anam Fatima of District Public School and Hamnah Zahra of Government Higher Secondary School No 1, Chakwal. — Correspondent |
NEWS IN BRIEF
| Petrol, diesel not available According to a survey conducted by this scribe, most of the filling stations in Taxila, Wah Cantonment, on the GT Road, Farooqia Road, Hazara Road had fixed the banners saying, 'Petrol not available,' while people continued to run from one filling station to the other in hope of finding the fuel. A few petrol pumps were giving petrol only to the motorcyclists and that was also not more than two litres. — Correspondent Legal notice sent to BBH A patient Tasawar Naeem, resident of Kalar Syedan sent a legal notice of damages worth Rs20 million contending that on Jan 27, 2011 he was admitted to the ICU of the hospital and was diagnosed as a heart patient however he got treatment of a mental patient. On February 9, 2011 he was administered a wrong injection by a student nurse resultantly, his left arm paralysed. The doctors later declared his arm dead and thus he became handicap. He said in the notice that he might be compensated for the damage done to him by the BBH staff otherwise he reserved the right to move the court for the damages. —Online Woman commits suicide Kishwar Yasmeen, resident of Moreed village hanged herself with the ceiling fan to death as she could not bear the death of her mother. — Correspondent Water shortage IHC new timings According to a notification issued by the IHC Registrar, the court would take a break from 10:30am to 11:00am whereas division bench would start hearing of cases from 11:00am. In view of the upcoming summer season, restriction of wearing gowns for lawyers has also been withdrawn. — Online Petrol, diesel not available TAXILA, March 31: The petrol and diesel became a rare commodity here and in the adjoining areas on Thursday ahead of the expected increase in the petroleum prices likely to be announced by the government on April 1. Legal notice sent to BBH RAWALPINDI, March 31: A patient sent a legal notice of damages worth Rs20 million to the Benazir Bhutto Hospital administration and staff for negligence. Woman commits suicide CHAKWAL, March 31: A woman committed suicide in Moreed village near here on Wednesday when she heard the death of her mother. Kishwar Yasmeen, resident of Moreed village hanged herself with the ceiling fan to death as she could not bear the death of her mother. — Correspondent Water shortage RAWALPINDI, March 31: Residents of Wapda Colony Mareer Hassan on Thursday expressed concern over severe water shortage for the last on week. They said that the tube well was out of order and the colony was not being supplied water and the people had to fetch water from far off places. They demanded of the Wasa authorities that the tube well should be repaired and till then they must be provided water through alternative sources otherwise they would go for a protest. — Online IHC new timings Islamabad, March 31: Islamabad High Court has set timings from 8:30am to 2:00pm from April 1 on regular basis. |
Encroachments: Drive to continue till 5th, says DCO
| LAHORE, March 31: District Coordination Officer Ahad Cheema has said the ongoing operation against encroachments will continue till April 5. Cheema also directed that repair and carpeting of roads that had been in a dilapidated condition should be completed. Vendors should not be allowed to come to major thoroughfares besides commercial areas and violators should be dealt with an iron hand. Expressing displeasure over the performance of Lahore Development Authority staff, the DCO asked them to extend all-out cooperation to TMA squads. He also sought lists of TMA and LDA officials deputed to monitor re-emergence of encroachments. Taking a strict notice of the presence of huge signboards at certain buildings, Cheema asked the officials concerned to remove the same. He said illegal parking lots and encroachments on GT Road would not be tolerated and a mechanism be devised to prevent emergence of the same. Meanwhile, some 15 illegal shops were demolished in Gulberg as part of the ongoing operation against encroachments on Thursday. The operation was carried out by LDA's Town Planning Wing and Estate Management Directorate staff in collaboration with the Gulberg Town. The shops had been constructed on state land near the Government College for Women, Gulberg, and the illegal commercial activity had been causing hurdles in smooth flow of traffic and movement of pedestrians in the locality. |
2011-03-31
Funds sought for repair of Torkham Road
| PESHAWAR, March 30: Civil society activists belonging to Khyber Agency have expressed grave concern over the dilapidated condition of Peshawar-Torkham road and demanded of the government to allocate sufficient funds for its reconstruction. Mr Afridi said that due to bad condition of the roads it took several hours to cover a distance, which would have been possible in one hour if the road was fit for travel. He said that patients were the worst affected, as they could not be shifted to hospitals in time. |
US prosecutors defend Times Square bombing probe
 Prosecutors wrote that Mohammad Younis was shown a photograph of Shahzad, and he said the man he gave the money to resembled him, except for a beard. –Photo by Reuters NEW YORK: The government urged a judge on Wednesday to deny a businessman's request to toss out statements he made to the FBI about last year's Times Square car bombing probe, saying he wasn't read his rights before blurting out that he provided $7,000 to the unsuccessful bomber but wasn't guilty ''for the bomb.'' Prosecutors were responding to papers filed two weeks ago in US District Court in Manhattan by lawyers for Mohammad Younis, a Pakistani-born man who was visited at his Long Island home just days after the May 1 bombing attempt. The car bomb attack by Faisal Shahzad failed because the bomb produced smoke but no explosion. Shahzad, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, was arrested days later as he tried to flee the country. He is serving a life prison sentence after pleading guilty to plotting to set off the propane-and-gasoline bomb in a car parked outside a string of restaurants and a Broadway theater showing ''The Lion King.'' The government said Younis was visited by FBI agents on May 13, when he admitted that he gave an individual $7,000 in $100 bills at a restaurant near a suburban train station on April 10. Prosecutors wrote that he was shown a photograph of Shahzad, a Pakistani immigrant, and he said the man he gave the money to resembled him, except for a beard. According to the court papers, Younis, 44, ''became visibly upset when he was told that the individual in the picture was 'the Times Square bomber' and denied knowing Shahzad or having contact with him, aside from the April 10 meeting.'' Prosecutors added: Younis told agents, in substance, 'I paid the money, but I am not guilty for the bomb.' Younis was interviewed voluntarily two more times before he was arrested and charged in an indictment on Sept. 15 with conspiring with others to conduct an unlicensed money transmitting business affecting interstate commerce and with conducting, aiding and abetting an unlicensed money transmitting business. Lawyers for Younis asked a judge to toss out their client's statements and evidence seized from his home on the grounds that he was not notified of his rights and the interviews and searches violated his constitutional rights. The government called the suppression request ''meritless,'' arguing that he did not need to be read his rights because the circumstances in which his statements were taken were custodial in nature. In a written statement to the court earlier this month, Younis described his ordeal, saying he was ''overwhelmed'' after government agents arrived at his Centereach home at about 6 am, waking him while he was at home with his wife and young daughter. He said he was not advised of his rights as he was interviewed by members of a terrorism task force while they did their work from 6 am to 11:45 am. He said he also met them at the FBI's Melville office from 12:45 pm to 4:30 pm that day and twice more within a week. ''I have the belief,'' he said, ''that my statements to the government agents were involuntarily elicited.'' |
JUI-F blames CIA, KP govt for suicide attack
 Maulana Haidri said the Swabi suicide attack was an attempt to kill Maulana Fazl because he was exposing the American designs against the country. - File Photo QUETTA: Jamiat Ulema Islam-F secretary general Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri has held the ANP-led coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the US agency CIA responsible for the attack on a rally to be addressed by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. He claimed that the recent drone attack in which innocent p eople were killed in tribal areas was carried out with the consent of the government. Maulana Haidri said the government had given a free hand to the CIA and Blackwater to target political forces opposing the drone attacks. He said the Swabi suicide attack was an attempt to kill Maulana Fazl because he was exposing the American designs against the country. He said that such attacks would not force the JUI-F to abandon its struggle against imperialistic policies of the United States. The JUI-F leader asked the government to stop US drone attacks and unlawful activities of the CIA and Blackwater in the country. |
YDA strike continues: Seven die due to doctors’ apathy
| LAHORE, March 30: The Punjab chapter of Young Doctors Association on Wednesday turned hostile towards patients, including those admitted in a critical condition, as they allegedly manhandled and threw several of them out of government hospitals of the provincial capital. As a result seven patients, including five children, died at public hospitals as the doctors refused to attend them. Four-year-old Shahzad died at the Jinnah Hospital emergency as no body allegedly attended him despite requests made by his parents. He suffered head injuries with massive bleeding from his nose and ears and was brought to the infirmary in a critical condition. The only senior doctor, Dr Mohsin, who was present at the emergency, was forced by the YDA office-bearers to leave the department without attending the minor. The child remained unattended for some minutes and breathed his last in the lap of his father. Kiran, 7, of Gujranwala, Hamza, 9, of Shahdara and Rabia, 5, of Faisalabad died outside Children Hospital's emergency. Similarly, three critical patients identified as Nasir of Township, Sughran Bibi of Kahna and seven-year-old Zahid Kamran of Kasur district also died at Lahore General Hospital on Wednesday as doctors at the emergency refused to attend them. Sources said the YDA doctors completely paralysed healthcare services at the major public sector hospitals. They said the YDA leaders, with the 'connivance' of their striking colleagues, had early in the morning locked operation theatres and emergency departments at all the state-run hospitals except the Mayo. Emergency at Punjab Institute of Cardiology was no exception on Wednesday night. The `merciless' doctors even did not spare women, children and elderly people and rejected their repeated appeals for the treatment of their ailing family members and relatives, the witnesses said. Scores of surgeries, this time even gynae operations, were postponed at the city's all major government hospitals as YDA doctors mostly equipped with clubs attacked the on-duty doctors, paramedics and attendants of the patients when they insisted on emergency care. The YDA leaders took round of office of the administrations in all hospitals and threatened them with dire consequences for providing treatment to the patients. They also roughed up senior doctors at Jinnah, Sir Ganga Ram and Services hospitals who later brought the matter to the knowledge of the authorities concerned but no action was taken against the offending medics. The situation remained tense in Jinnah Hospital where two YDA activists were allegedly holding weapons while taking round of the health facility. A senior doctor at Jinnah Hospital requesting not to be named told Dawn that the administration did not take any action when it was informed that two armed doctors were also present in the hospital causing panic among the senior medics as well as patients. Keeping in view the gravity of the situation, Allama Iqbal Medical College/Jinnah Hospital Principal Prof Dr Javed Akram declared emergency in the infirmary and cancelled casual and spring leaves of all the staff. He also withdrew security staff from hospital's residential colony, hostels and college and deputed them at all the departments of the health facility to avert frequent attacks of the offending doctors. The security staff at the hospital got arrested two YDA activists Dr Salman and Dr Asad when they attacked lady doctors at gynae emergency department for providing treatment to patients. When contacted, Prof Javed Akram said serious efforts were being made to provide treatment to patients. He said a hurriedly called meeting of AIMC/Jinnah Hospital Academic Council took various decisions to carry out emergency care at the institution. The meeting passed a resolution, condemned the attitude of the young doctors and also appealed to the Punjab government to resolve the issue of pay package. A source said a group of YDA, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital chapter, threw out all the serious patients, including wife of same health facility's acting principal Prof Rasheed Chaudhry, from the operation theatre when senior doctors were about to perform their surgeries on Wednesday morning. One of these patients was under the influence of general anaesthesia and the doctors were ready to operate on him, the source said. The YDA doctors took the unconscious patient on a stretcher and 'dumped' him on the road outside emergency department. "It was unbelievable and extremely cruel attitude of the doctors. They are animals, not human beings," a senior doctor told Dawn while quoting patient's relative Mujahid Ali. Prof Rasheed Chaudhry's wife was admitted to the hospital for over a week and senior doctors had controlled her blood pressure after round-the-clock observation. They took her to the operation theatre on the basis of her diagnostic reports which suggested her stable for surgery. The YDA doctors, however, expelled all the patients who had been shifted for surgery and locked the operation theatre. They also tore the operation list displayed outside the theatre, thrashed the staff and threatened the senior doctors when they protested against their act, witnesses said. Similarly, the YDA office-bearers locked operation theatres in other hospitals. |
4,000 gas schemes add to shortfall
 "The gas utilities are under extreme pressure to work with full throttle to complete the schemes", a senior official of the petroleum ministry said. — File Photo ISLAMABAD: With gas shortfalls extending first time into the summer months, about 4,000 new gas provision schemes on the instructions of the prime minister for party colleagues mostly in Punjab and Sindh are estimated to add another 10 per cent to the shortage. Informed sources told Dawn that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was told at a recent presentation that completion of gas connections schemes under his instructions would cause an additional gas shortage of 312 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) in winter and 118 mmcfd in summer, from an existing gap of about 950 mmcfd. The prime minister had called the meeting to push for speeding up gas development schemes on the recommendations of members of the National Assembly, Senate, provincial assemblies and other leading figures of his party so that these could be completed before the next elections. "The gas utilities are under extreme pressure to work with full throttle to complete the schemes", a senior official of the petroleum ministry said. The two Sui gas companies SNGPL and SSGCL and the ministry of petroleum had informed the prime minister that most of these schemes did not fit into the viable expansion plans of the two gas companies. "This is not only forcing them (the gas companies) to borrow from the banks to fund such schemes but also depriving the government of dividends it had estimated to accrue from their profits", a chief executive of the company said requesting not to be identified. Already, the gas utilities are entangled in the chronic energy sector circular debt and struggling to clear their dues to the gas producers and other equipment suppliers. The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has to recover about Rs8 billion from its consumers but was holding back payments of about Rs24 billion to its suppliers, further aggravating the circular debt position. Under the prime minister's directives, the SNGPL and SSGCL have to complete 3,200 and 750 expansion schemes, respectively, involving more than 200,000 mostly household and commercial connections before the next elections. The federal government provides about 30 per cent of the cost of new connections while the remaining 70 per cent portion has to be funded by the gas utilities. The SNGPL had already started discussions with the banking sector to raise loans at an interest rate of more than 4 per cent. The maximum political pressure was on SNGPL because of its network in Punjab mostly in Southern region, followed by SSGCL in Sindh and some parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the sources said. Under the procedure, the prime minister approves different schemes on the recommendations of the parliamentarians and party workers and then sent these to the ministry of petroleum for cost estimation by the gas utilities. On the basis of these estimates, the Prime Minister Secretariat issues directives to the finance ministry to release the amount to the cabinet division against federal government's share for onward transfer to the gas companies through the Auditor General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR). An official said that an amount of Rs6 billion was set aside by the government in November 2010 asking various ministries and divisions to surrender their unspent allocations of last financial year. Officials said the gas utilities were unwilling to fund most of these schemes because of their unviable returns to recover the cost of new pipelines as most of these projects were in far-flung areas. The downside of the expansion is that the government will have to make additional cuts in gas supplies to fertilizer sector, CNG and commercial sectors in the coming years, the official said. The overall share of CNG consumption has already dropped from about 7.2 per cent in overall supplies to about 6 per cent this year because of two-day weekly gas holiday while fertilizer sector has been unable to get its committed supplies almost throughout the just concluded winter. As a result, the overall gas shortfall was expected to go beyond 1.6 bcfd (billion cubic feet per day) in next winter season. Currently, the two gas utilities supply about 4.2 bcfd of gas, with winter shortfall at about 950 mmcfd. The gas shortfall has been estimated to remain throughout summer albeit with a lower impact. |
Qadhafi Stadium a venue away from venue
| LAHORE, March 30: The Qadhafi Stadium attracted a 13,000-strong cricket fans on Wednesday to watch the match live on big screens. During the second semi-final of the ICC World Cup, the PCB installed big screens making the venue the biggest point of the city to watch the pre-final. The presence of vociferous fans, who cheered, danced and chanted slogans for every good work of the Pakistan team made the stadium as a real venue of the match. Fans started arriving at the stadium well before the start of the grueling encounter and gradually it was almost half-full when India finished the innings. When Pakistan started the innings, more people had reached the venue. During the lunch break, prominent singers Arif Lohar and Jawad Ahmad performed much to the delight of the crowed. N adeem Ahmed, a spectator wearing green shirt, said that he enjoyed every ball in the stadium. Natasha, another fan who had come to the ground with her family from Shahdara, said though there were many points in the city to see the match on big screens, she preferred the stadium as it was the very right place for such an activity. Police were deployed in and around the stadium to maintain the law and order situation. Also, in other parts of the city, big screens were installed by fans on streets, roads, hotels, mohallas and shopping plazas in almost all the areas of the city. cinemas: Major cinemas of the city on Wednesday showed the Pakistan-India match on big screens instead of movies, as cricket mania gripped the Lahore like other parts of the country. Some of the major cinemas of the city like Metropol, DHA, Sozo World, Cinestar, PFA and Angoori showed the match. According to Qaiser Sanaullah, chairman of the Cinema Management Association, people i n good numbers watched the match in cinemas, which charged Rs150 to Rs600. Private screenings of the match at many places in the city also added spice to the semi final between Pakistan and India. |
Ruckus a routine at Punjab PA
| LAHORE, March 30: The Punjab Assembly members, it seems, cannot conduct themselves decently even for a short time; every day, on the slightest provocation, they stoop to new lows, leapfrogging all limits of decency to hoot and abuse one another. On Thursday, the house proceedings, which began 95 minutes late than the scheduled time of 10am, quickly denigrated into a pandemonium within ten minutes of their start, and for the rest of day no one knew who was hooting and abusing whom. Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal, who had been reduced to a helpless spectator, restricted himself to expunging "non-parliamentary remarks," which were coming thick and fast from all sides. It all started as soon as Sheikh Allaudin (Unification Bloc) took the floor to ask a supplementary question on under discussion Home Department, and Samina Khawar Hayat (PML-Q) had a jibe at him for being a 'turncoat' (lota). The Sheikh, who is also known for quickly losing temper and then resorting to, what speaker called, "non-parliamentary language," was quick to tell Ms Hayat that those "purchasing make-up kits in the garb of medicines from provincial exchequer" should not try to shame others for being turncoat. Once the argument started, both Treasury and Opposition came to the support of their respective members and a mud-slinging match ensued that went on and on for the next one hour until the latter decided to walk out. During the cacophony, Seemal Kamran of the Q-League threw the day's agenda at Speakers dice and Khalid Baloch of the N-League threw a copy, which he was holding, back that hit Ms Kamran and it was free for all. Qamar Hayat Kathia physically charged towards Baloch "to teach him a lesson", and was stopped by Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Deputy Speaker, who was trying to calm both sides since morning. It also led to a bout of pelting each other with all kinds of available objects, including even those which, according to Rana Sanaullah, were of "purely women's use." The pandemonium consumed entire time reserved for the Question Hour, privilege motions and adjournment motions. Calm only returned to the House when after almost one-and-a-half hours, the former labour minister, Ashraf Sohna, of the PPP took the floor and asked the Speaker to "seek apology from Sheikh Allaudin or expel him for the rest of session," threatening a boycott of the session by the Opposition, otherwise. After that he, along with all the Opposition members, walked out of the House. The speaker formed a four-member committee to get the Opposition back to the House, but in vain. Rana Sanaullah, however, was of the view that since both sides had committed excesses, both should be punished. "The speaker can form a committee to apportion the blame and punish the guilty. But, it was certain that people from both sides were to be blamed," he conceded. |
Mill owner held in loan case
| LAHORE, March 30: The Punjab chapter of the National Accountability Bureau claimed on Wednesday to have arrested Javed Iqbal of M/s Khalid Oil Mill, Vehari, in a bank loan fraud case. According to NAB, Javed Iqbal and Muhammad Shafi, both partners of M/s Khalid Oil Mill, were cited as accused in the reference under trial in an accountability court. The accused allegedly caused a loss amounting to Rs4.69 million to the bank. The investigation revealed that the accused had availed running finance and cash finance facility from MCB Bank Ltd, Vehari, to the tune of Rs5.5 million against pledged stock. The NAB said the accused misappropriated the pledged stock illegally without paying back the loan. The bank management lodged FIR against them and filed a complaint with the bureau for legal action. The accused has been produced before the accountability court that granted his physical remand till April 13. |