Cheque dishonour law being misused: CJP

LAHORE:

Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while hearing a case here on Monday remarked that law pertaining to cheque dishonour (Section 489-F of PPC) is being misused whereof level of corruption has increased.
The CJP made these observations while granting bail to a person namely Ghulam Mustafa who was in jail for eight months on the charges of issuing a cheque which failed to encash.
He said only three years maximum punishment could be handed down under Section 489-F but surprisingly the accused has been behind the bars for eight months and the trial court had failed to conclude the case proceedings so far. Mustafa argued that complainant of the case was using delaying tactics by not producing the witnesses in the court.
Meanwhile, an Additional District and Sessions Judge on Monday directed court staff to provide case record to the accused in fake encounter case against DSP Riasat Bajwa and three others.

Torrential rain brings ‘Ravi’ in City

LAHORE:

 Parts of the country including the City received heavy downpour on Monday, bringing the life to a standstill by causing urban flooding, massive traffic jams and disturbing schedule of air and rail traffic. Lahore received 131 mm rain at Upper Mall, 124 mm at Airport, 116 mm at Misri Shah, 90 mm at Jail Road and 78 mm at Shahdara.

The experts have forecast more rains during the next couple of days. The rains started early morning and continued with varying intensities till the evening.

The heaviest rain of the ongoing monsoon submerged roads and streets in urban localities including Lahore into knee deep water and it took hours to sanitation agencies and tehsil municipal administration to clear inundated rainwater after stoppage of rains.

The inundated rainwater on roads added to the woes and miseries of motorists and pedestrians.

Massive traffic jams were witnessed on a number of important arteries till the evening.

The heavy rains also brought a pleasant change in weather by causing a considerable decrease in the mercury level.

In Lahore, the rains started at 4:40am and continued with varying intensities till the evening. Rains started heavily at 6:10am and continued for hours, submerging roads and streets not only in low lying areas but also in several posh localities into lakes and ponds, much to the agony of motorists and pedestrians.

Accumulation of water on roads, especially the branch roads, caused the motorists to sweat even during rains as their vehicles were broken down.

Lack of proper drainage system caused closure of a number of underpasses for vehicles for several hours that resulted into worst traffic mess on the thoroughfare.

The premier sanitation agency Wasa failed to clear inundated rainwater from roads and streets even hours after stoppage of rains.

In several localities, the rainwater could not be drained out till late at night. The situation was worst at Liberty Market, Centre Point, Firdous Market, various areas of DHA, Shadman, Gaddafi Stadium, Tajpura, Qartaba Chowk, portions of Multan Road especially Thokar Niaz Baig, Multan Chungi and Shahnoor, Punjab Housing Society, Kashmir Road, Davis Road, Shahra-i-Fatima Jinnah, GPO Chowk, Qartaba Chowk, Chowk Nakhuda, Aziz Road, Do Moria Pul, Sheranwala Gate, Misri Shah, Farooq Gunj, Main Boulevard Allama Iqbal town, Lakshami Chowk, MM Alam Road, Garhi Shahu, Jorey Pul, Muslim Town and Shah Jamal.

Heat stricken Lahorites took a sigh of relief as the rains and windy conditions brought a pleasant change in weather by causing decrease in the daytime temperature.

Lahore Canal attracted a large number of people including children during the rains. Youths were seen enjoying the rainfall by swimming in the mud coloured canal water.

People come out of their houses after Iftar to enjoy pleasant change in weather. Major parks and picnic spots in the City attracted a large number of people including women and children.

Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Racecourse Park, Bagh-e-Jinnah, Jallo Park, Sozo Park, Lahore Zoo and other picnic spots attracted a large number of people in the evening.

Massive traffic jams were also witnessed on the arteries in the close vicinity of these picnic spots.

On Monday, maximum and minimum temperature in the City was recorded 25.5 degree Celsius and 23.5 C respectively. Relative humidity in the morning and evening was recorded 96 per cent.

Local meteorological department has forecast partly cloudy weather with chances of more rains for the city during the next 24 hours.

Corps Commanders concerned about Karachi violence

Top military generals:

Top military generals Monday expressed concerns over the law and order situation in the port city of Karachi and its ramifications and implications on the country's economy.

The Corps Commanders' Conference, held at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi with Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in the chair, discussed the security situation in the country in general and Karachi in particular, said a statement issued by ISPR.

The statement said that the army commanders expected that the measures recently undertaken by the government would help redress the situation in the city.

According to the statement, the participants of the conference were also briefed in detail regarding the ongoing law enforcement operations against the militants in the tribal regions of Kurram and Mohmand within the perspective of evolving security dynamic.

Local watchers said that it is very rare in Pakistan when army commanders make statements on the country's law and order situation, but the recent wave of killings in Karachi, also the commercial hub of Pakistan, has prompted the army commanders' statement.

In July alone, over 300 people were reportedly killed in Karachi as the result of ethnic and political violence. Nearly 100 vehicles were also torched in different parts of the city over the past few weeks.

To quench the violence in the city, the Pakistani government has taken a series of measures including deployment of additional security forces in the city and making concessions to the demands raised by some of the parties based in Karachi

PakSat-IR symbol of Pak-China cooperation in space science & technology: Masood Khan

Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Masood Khan:

Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Masood Khan has said that Pakistan’s new communication satellite -- PakSat-1R, is a symbol of Pakistan-China cooperation in the area of space science and technology.“It is a symbol of Pakistan-China cooperation in the area of space science and technology. It is the first of the kind to be launched by China and Pakistan. Therefore it establishes a new platform, and it marks a new beginning” said Ambassador Khan in an interview with China News Agency on the occasion of launch of PakSat-1R from China.The use of satellite will bring direct benefits to Pakistan’s economy, Khan said adding that it will refine and expand our capabilities for the use of broadband Internet, digital broadcasting, mobile telephony, and disaster prevention and management. All these capabilities will enable us to focus more sharply on social development, especially on education and health sectors, he added.The Pakistan Communication Satellite – PakSat-1R is due to be launched in space from Chinese satellite launching site located at Xichang city during the second week of current month, depending on weather conditions. It will replace Paksat-1.Ambassador Khan said that as we accomplished this goal of launching PakSat-1R, we will swiftly move on to expand our collaboration with China in related fields of space science and technology.The launching of the satellite, he said coincides with the celebrations of 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.Masood Khan said Pakistan and China “are moving into the higher stages of aerospace cooperation. Remote sensing satellite is one such area. This satellite will cover crop monitoring, weather forecasting, urban planning, disaster preparedness and response, earth observation, and oceanography. These applications will have a direct impact on our agriculture, industry and services – three vital sectors for Pakistan’s economy.”Last year, Ambassador Khan said that Pakistan was hit by massive floods which caused large scale devastation across the country. It was at that time that we fully realized the importance of a remote sensing satellite.In the long term, he said we also want to cooperate with China on satellite designs to develop Pakistan’s indigenous capability.He expressed Pakistan’s desire to participate in China’s Manned Space as well Deep Space Exploration programmes.He, however regarded it as something for the future. It is our desire that the first non-Chinese astronaut to travel on board a Chinese spaceflight is a Pakistani.Referring to the advancement made by China in space technology, Ambassador Khan said that China is constantly forging ahead at a brisk pace. It has made extraordinary strides into space science and technology as well as aerospace industry.Ambassador Khan said China's space technology industrial base is expanding. Shenzhou 7, the third manned spaceflight has established a new threshold for China.He, however said that “China is not sitting on its laurels. It is constantly moving forward. It has already planned Shenzhou 8 which will be docked with Tiangong 1 space module. Tiangong-1 will place the first portion of China's planned space laboratory in orbit. This will be a breakthrough. The docking of Shenzhou 8 and Tiangong 1 is expected to be followed by Shenzhou 9. The Beidou is yet another technological achievement as China can launch and operate complex systems in space. These are all new frontiers that China is conquering” he remarked.

The people of Pakistan, Ambassador Khan said, are proud of these scientific achievements of China.

MQM chief Altaf welcomes restoration of LG system in Sindh

(MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain:

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain has welcomed restoration of Local Government system (LGS) 2001 across the Sindh province.

In a statement issued from London, he paid tribute to the President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Sindh Governor Dr. Ishraturl Ebad and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah over restoration of local government system.

Altaf Hussain said that this measure would strengthen democracy besides improving the atmosphere of brotherhood in the province, adding that it would have positive impacts on the common man.

He also felicitated people of Sindh saying that this decision would prove as a milestone in flourishing democracy.

He also thanked the president and Prime Minister for successful negotiations between Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and the federal government to restore the LGS in Sindh province.

Terrorist safe haven in Pak cannot be allowed to continue: McCain

John McCain:

US Senator John McCain has said that continuation of terrorist safe haven in that country would make it tough for America to succeed in the war against terrorism."We have to have a realization that the present sanctuary situation in Pakistan cannot continue. Otherwise, it places enormous burdens on our ability to succeed," McCain told NBC.McCain said continuation of terrorist sanctuary now in Pakistan with the Haqqani network, the ISI cooperation with other groups including Taliban, is a major problem in this war against terrorism.

"I believe we've made significant successes. Our prayers and thoughts go out to the families of those brave, brave, elite of our elite that have sacrificed," he said.

"But, at the same time, we're going to have to address this sanctuary situation, and we're going to have to address the problem that the President has created, and that is that out there, there is the perception Afghanistan and other parts of that part of the world that America is withdrawing that can't be good," McCain said.

"There is no doubt that we have had significant success, particularly in the Southern part of Afghanistan. The reason why I worry a lot is I'm not sure we have a sufficient number of troops for another fighting season so we can gain control in the Eastern side of the country," he said.

"We all know that Taliban cooperated with an assisted al- Qaida initially, which is the reason why we went to Afghanistan as the result of 9/11. So there is no doubt in my mind that we would have al-Qaeda presence and influence in Afghanistan and even a return to a base for attacks on the United States of America," he added.

Stolen vehicle identification system launched

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad Police have introduced a service at Rescue 15 through which one can know about status of vehicle whether it is genuine or stolen by simply sending an SMS to Rescue 15 with details of vehicle. According to newly launched service of Rescue 15 Islamabad, the citizens can, now, check either the used car, they are buying, is stolen or genuine and they can do it by sending registration & chassis number of vehicle to Rescue 15 by Short Messaging Service (SMS) to 8521 and they would get details in 20 second. Inspector General of Police formally inaugurated the service on Saturday here at Rescue 15. The IGP said that Islamabad Police has signed an agreement with Digital Seal Pvt. Ltd. Highlighting the salient features of this service to be called Stolen Vehicles Identification System, the IGP Bani Amin Khan said that persons anywhere in Pakistan will write down simply an engine no or chassis number of the vehicle and send it to 8521. Within less than 20 seconds all out details about the vehicle will be displayed on his mobile, the IGP said and hoped for curbing car theft incidents through this way.It is pertinent to mention here that a sizeable number of citizens purchase second hand cars and very often get trapped in the deal of a stolen car and eventually lose both the car and their money. To avoid this malady the Rescue 15 has already briefed the second hand car dealers to get the said cars checked through police computer record and the Forensic Science Laboratory. Meanwhile it has launched a service to provide speedy info about the vehicles to facilitate the citizen. Islamabad police, said the police officials, believe that the primary responsibility of securing the vehicle rests with the owner as he has invested huge amount of money in the purchase of a car therefore, he should make a genuine deal by getting the car cleared from police computer record and forensic science laboratory where after, he should protect it by installing a security device.According to higher police authorities, the Excise and Taxation Officer, has been apprised of the impending danger of re-registration of stolen cars.It is pertinent to mention here that the dealers can play a very important role in this regard. In this connection police can assist and coordinate with these dealers who could supply the quality gadgets at economical and affordable prices.

It is pertinent to mention here that Islamabad police are taking measures to curb car-lifting practices in the city and several receivers of stolen vehicles have been apprehended due to the coordination of Islamabad police with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police.