Day: July 30, 2022

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Stern action needed to check real estate frauds in Karachi: Altaf Shakoor 

Karachi, July 30, 2022 (PPI-OT):Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor here Saturday demanded stern action against growing frauds in land and real estate sector, saying this sector on one hand is giving cover to huge black money and the other it is depriving citizens of their lifetime savings due to widespread frauds.

He said in a statement the land mafia and real estate tycoons are a state behind state in the megacity Karachi and they influence police, administration and politicians through massive bribery. He said the authorities entasked to regulate housing societies and land and building matters in Karachi are filthy corrupt and they don’t take action to stop massive irregularities in their domains.

He said in Islamabad recently, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has canceled the licenses of 14 housing societies for failing to register with the district administration, but such a actions in Karachi by the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) or Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) are virtually unheard. He said in Karachi not only the departments like KMC, DMCs, KDA, SBCA and Board of Revenue assist the land, real estate and builder mafias but police, anti-corruption department, FIA and other agencies also burn the blind eye to them. He said all major political parties also back these mafias as they heavily fund them secretly.

Shakoor said there is huge demand in housing sector of Karachi and millions of people want their own houses. This gives a big leverage to these mafias as the KDA has not announced any new housing scheme in Karachi for decades. He said the Hawksbay Scheme 42 of the Lyari Development Authority has been in limbo for decades. The allottees in this Scheme are yet to take possession of their plots even after paying their full dues as development work is not started in many sectors of this big housing scheme. He said in fact the Scheme 42 Hawksbay is a big exploitation for the citizens of Karachi who have spent their lifetime earning to book plots in it.

Shakoor said acute shortage of housing facilities has helped in spread of slums and shanties in Karachi. He said from Sohrab Goth to Jamali Bridge on M-9 Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway roadside areas are freely encroached upon by private transporters, auto mechanics and shanties dwellers but the National Highway Authority (NHA) and other concerned agencies are not removing these illegal structure due to mega corruption.

He said that in fact whole megacity Karachi is a horrible example of bad governance. He said corrupt officials of the central, local and Sindh governments have made Karachi a heaven of bribery. He said public transport sector in Karachi is in shambles. He said the government has failed to accelerate work on revival of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), while the much awaited second phase of Green Line RBT from Numaish to Tower is yet to be started as both the central and Sindh governments are not interested in developing Karachi and facilitating its citizens.

He said Karachi needs dozens of new housing schemes for low-income people to mitigate acute housing shortage in the megacity. He said illegal slums should be removed and the genuine affecters should be provided alternate shelters while the land mafia behind illegal slum settlements should be punished as per law. He said action should be taken against irregularities and frauds of private housing schemes in Karachi on war footing basis and a fool proof mechanism should be devised to check land and real estate frauds in the megacity.

For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Pasban Democratic Party (PDP)
Pasban Central Secretariat
Office # 9, Five Star Center,
Block 11, University Road, Opp. Ibne Sina Hospital,
Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi
Tel: +92-21-34024480-81
Cell: +92-322-2212434
Email: pasban.ppick@gmail.com
Website: www.pasban.org

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NUST bids farewell to Interns from Europe, Africa, USA after a dynamic 4-week internship programme

Islamabad, July 30, 2022 (PPI-OT):NUST bade farewell on Friday to international interns who attended NUST Internship Programme for International Students (NIPIS ’22) from July 4 till July 29, 2022. Pro-Rector Research Innovation and Commercialisation at NUST, Dr Rizwan Riaz, graced the closing session with his presence and distributed certificates amongst as many as 23 interns, including 21 from NIPIS and 2 from Association for the International Exchange of Students in Economics and Commerce (AIESEC). In addition, 16 interns virtually joined the programme. Overall, these interns represented 7 countries including Afghanistan, Egypt, Germany, Libya, Sudan, the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK).

NIPIS ’22 included academic and recreational activities arranged by NUST Placement Office in collaboration with AIESEC and various NUST schools. The programme promises to deliver a sublime internship experience that not only advances professional skills of participants from around the world and reinforces their academic competence but also gives them insights into the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Pakistan.

During the course of programme, the interns gained exposure to not only Pakistani culture but also various other cultures through their interaction with fellow interns from other countries. They built strong bonds with each other, and made memories they will cherish for their entire lives. Reflecting on their internship experience in Pakistan, the interns thanked NUST management, administration and Placement Office for facilitating their internship.

Speaking to NUST Marketing and Communications, Alexis Aaron Vargas from the USA expressed his gratitude to highly qualified and seasoned faculty members of NUST for guiding him well in his research and making him learn new things. Bavly Atef from Egypt termed the internship very rewarding for him as he gained hands-on experience with some hardware and learnt new software. Mahmud-ul-Hasan from the UK said that the experience at NUST was a positive one and he learnt everything he expected from NUST. General Manager Placements at NUST, Ms Arooba Gillani, said that the foreign interns are part of NUST family and encouraged them to apply for higher studies at NUST.

For more information, contact:
Director Press and Media Release
National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)
NUST Campus, H-12, Islamabad, Pakistan
UAN: +92-51-111-11-6878
Tel: +92-51-90851381
Fax: +92-51-90851382
Email: prnust@gmail.com
Website: www.nust.edu.pk

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Hazrat Umar Farooq (Radiya-Llahu Anhu) was the best administrator and excellent rulers: Ulama Council 

Lahore, July 30, 2022 (PPI-OT):An intellectual sitting was arranged by Minhaj-ul-Quran Ulama Council to pay tributes to Sayyiduna Hazrat Umar Farooq (Radiya-Llahu Anhu), the second Caliph of Islam, on his martyrdom anniversary.

Addressing the gathering, Allama Imdadullah Qadri, president of Minhaj-ul-Quran Ulama Council, said that Hazrat Umar Farooq (Radiya-Llahu anhu) is a revered personality whose legendary courage, excellent character, integrity and the traditions of selfless and service-oriented caliphate are the bright chapter of Islamic history. He said that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) prayed for Hazrat Umar Farooq (Radiya-Llahu anhu) to join the fold of Islam.

He said that the second Caliph was the best administrator and ruler who introduced massive reforms and gave a vision of human welfare as bedrock of governance. He said that his period of caliphate saw the extension of the boundaries of the Islamic empire as conquests came aplenty. He said that his contributions and reforms are remembered even today after the passage of 1400 years as a model for the modern states to follow.

Allama Mir Asif Akbar, Secretary General of Minhaj-ul-Quran Ulama Council, said in his speech that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) prayed to Allah Almighty to strengthen Islam through whosoever was closer to Him, whether Hazrat Umar Farooq (Radiya-Llahu anhu) or Abu Jahal. He said that a day had hardly passed that Hazrat Umar Farooq (Radiya-Llahu anhu) presented himself in the company of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and requested to be ushered in the fold of Islam.

Allama Mir Asif Akbar said that Hazrat Umar Farooq’s (Radiya-Llahu anhu) acceptance of Islam was a watershed moment in history of Islam. He said that soon after he became a believer, the Azan was given aloud in the courtyard of the Holy Kaaba followed by Salah. He said that Allah Almighty endowed the power of articulation and majesty on him, as the infidels used to fear him at the mention of his name. He said that Hazrat Umar Farooq (Radiya-Llahu anhu) was a great reformer, a ruler, administrator, and the commander of the military who has amazing conquests to his credit.

He sharpened the contours of the State of Madina and further improvised it. He said that if the Muslim rulers want to enjoy the respect and prestige, then they should follow Hazrat Umar Farooq (Radiya-Llahu anhu) in his footsteps. Allama Ghulam Asghar Siddiqui, Mufti Khalil Hanfi, Allama Usman Sialvi, Allama Latif Madni, Allama Muhammad Rafique Randhawa, Allama Akram Tayyab and others were present on the occasion.

For more information, contact:
Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI)
365 M, Model Town, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-140-140
Tel: +92-42-35169111
Email: tehreek@minhaj.org
Website: www.minhaj.org

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PAT strongly rejects statement of Rana Sanaullah about ‘acquittal’ 

Lahore, July 30, 2022 (PPI-OT):PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur has strongly rejected the claims made by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah about the Model Town tragedy. Criticizing the Minister’s statement, he said that the Model Town tragedy was planned in the PM’s Office of that time. He said that Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and Rana Sanaullah were the mastermind of the plan, whereas it was translated into action by the Lahore police and local administration. He said that all these facts are duly mentioned in FIR No. 696 registered with Faisal Town police station, adding that the FIR remains pending as no action has been taken on it.

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that an effort was made to get the accused of Model Town tragedy acquitted during the illegal rule of Hamza Shahbaz, which was foiled due to the proactive legal response of the PAT legal team. He said that our lawyers have placed solid proofs about the involvement of Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and Rana Sanaullah before the anti-terrorism court but no headway has been made so far.

He said that Shahbaz Sharif as CM Punjab and Rana Sanaullah as Home Minister Punjab got the investigation conducted by the officers of their choice and this way they distorted and compromised important facts of the case. He made it clear that the then Punjab rulers made their blue-eyed officers conduct the probe not for the sake of justice but to get clean chit. This hand-picked team, he said, refused to record the statements of the injured and eye-witnesses and presented the one-sided challan to the court.

PAT Secretary General said that it has been our consistent demand for the past 8 years that an impartial JIT should investigate the Model Town tragedy. He said that a JIT was constituted at the order of the apex court, which was later on stopped from working by the order of Lahore High Court. He said that the stay order has remained in force for the last three years, adding that unless the report of the JIT comes out, Rana Sanaullah and his accomplices cannot claim acquittal in the case. He said that Mian Shahbaz Sharif and Rana Sanaullah want to shift the whole blame of killings on the police officers and officials, stating that the police played the role of an instrument to implement the plan.

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that Mushtaq Sukhera was brought from Balochistan to Lahore as IGP one day ahead of the tragedy. He said that both Shahbaz Sharif and Rana Sanaullah have failed to present any logical justification of the overnight transfer. He said that DC Lahore was also changed at a short notice and the police force of various police stations was gathered in the residential area of Model Town. He said that the plan was not just to remove barriers but to kill the leaders and workers of PAT.

PAT Secretary General further stated that the PMLN government wanted to scare Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri through the Model Town plan so that he could not come back to the country and pave the way for the end of their despotic rule. He said that it is our appeal to the honourable Chief Justices of Supreme Court and Lahore High Court to take up the stay order for an early decision on the stalled work of JIT so that the reality of the masterminds of Model Town tragedy could come to the fore.

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT)
365-M, Model Town,
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-140-140
Email: info@pat.com.pk
Website: www.pat.com.pk