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NAB to file two corruption references

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP): The Executive Board of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a meeting Thursday decided to
file two corruption references.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Qamar Zaman
Chaudhry, Chairman NAB at NAB Headquarters.

First corruption reference was decided to be filed against Zia Pervaz Hussain and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for obtaining award of contract of five Helicopters from Cabinet Division through bogus firms M/s Cuxhaven of Denmark and misappropriated a sum of US $ 2.168 million.

Second corruption reference was decided to be filed against Raja Muhammad Ikram-ul-Haq, Ex-Secretary/DG Pakistan Post Office
Department and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for corruption and corrupt practices, fraud in housing scheme at Kurri Road, Islamabad and violation of PPRA rules in award of contract to M/s Telconet. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 100 million to the national exchequer.

The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) decided to authorize three investigations. First investigation was authorized against Iftikhar
Qaimkhani, Ex-EDO, Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority and illegal conversion and amalgamation of street/walkways in Sea Shell Stalls Plots. Thus caused a loss of Rs. two billion to the national exchequer.

Second investigation was authorized against Dr. Josphen
Wilson, Ex-Acting Chairman Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP)
and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for corruption,
corrupt practices and misuse of authority. Thus caused a loss of Rs
10.22 million to the national exchequer.

Third investigation was authorized against authorities of PEPCO, QESCO and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for illegal appointments made in QESCO in different categories from BS-1 to BS- 16 in year 2008-10. Thus caused a huge loss to the national exchequer.

The EBM decided to authorize two inquiries.
First inquiry was authorized against Parveen Naeem Shah, Vice
Chancellor (VC) Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income and misuse of authority.

Thus caused a loss of Rs 100 million to the national exchequer.

Second inquiry was authorized against M/s Silver Line Spinning
Mills (Pvt) Ltd, Bahawalpur Road, Lodhran.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for willful loan default of Rs 417. 698 million of UBL regarding Suspicious Transaction (STR) referred by the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU), State Bank of Pakistan under 31-D of NAO-1999. The EBM decided to close two inquiries.

First inquiry against officers/officials of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and others in the Metro Project lifts and escalators case and second inquiry against officers of PASSCO and others due to lack of incriminating evidence.

The EBM also decided to reject the Voluntary Return (VR) request of officers/officials of Sindh Police, AG Office Sindh Karachi and others on the allegation of embezzlement of budget of Sindh Police.

At the end, Chairman NAB Qamar Zaman Chaudhry said NAB is committed to eradicate corruption by using all its resources and by
adopting Zero Tolerance Policy.

He directed all officers and officials of NAB to put in their best efforts to conduct complaint verifications, inquiries and investigations against corrupt in accordance with law, transparently and on merit.

ATRs in service, no plane grounded:PIA

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PIA assures public of uninterrupted operations despite salary payment concerns

ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP): Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Thursday announced that all the ATR aircraft in the flying fleet of the airlines are in service.

“No ATR aircraft has been grounded in the aftermath of the crash of PIA’s flight PK-661,” Spokesman of PIA here told APP.

In response to media reports that some 8 ATR aircraft have been grounded by the airline following air crash of ATR aircraft flying from Chitral to Islamabad on Wednesday, the spokesman said that all the 10 ATR aircraft on PIA’s inventory are performing flight operations as per schedule.

The ATR is a twin-turboprop, short-haul regional airliner built in France and Italy by ATR. As of December 2014, 436 ATR 42 aircraft had been delivered worldwide.

47 perish as PIA plane crashes near Abbottabad

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Major restructuring of PIA done on modern lines: Mehtab

ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): Forty-seven persons, including five crew members, perished as a passenger plane of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flying from Chitral to Islamabad crashed in a hilly area near Abbottabad Wednesday evening.

Prominent among those killed were Deputy Commissioner of Chitral Osama Ahmed Waraich, former singer and religious scholar Junaid Jamshed and his wife, besides three foreigners.

The victims included two infants, 10 females and 30 males.

The flight PK-661 went missing after pilots lost control over the aircraft, a PIA spokesman said.

“We regret to inform that PIA’s ATR-42 aircraft operating as PK-661 carrying around 40 on-board passengers lost its contact with control tower on its way from Chitral to Islamabad a short while ago,” the spokesman said in the information released to the media at 1707 hours.

PIA’s emergency response centre has been activated, which could be accessed at the phone numbers (021) 99044890, (021) 99044376 and (021) 99044394.

According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan Army troops and helicopters were moved to the site immediately after the aircraft crash.

The army rescuers and volunteers recovered 40 bodies from the debris of the ill-fated flight.

Dead bodies were evacuated to Hospital Havelian and Ayub Medical Teaching Hospital Abbottabad, contact number (0992) 9310200.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of valuable lives in the crash.

He directed the departments concerned to provide full emergency help and assistance to the family members on the whereabouts of the unfortunate passengers and keep him updated on the evolving situation.

On the directive of the Prime Minister, the authorities concerned took necessary steps to transport and recognize the unfortunate bodies of passengers and crew.

These steps included: National Emergency Operation Centre was activated for coordination and any assistance from National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Phone No (051) 9205037.

The NDMA had advised PDMA and district administration to transport all dead bodies to a single hospital for recognition and further transportation.

Ministry of Interior placed its helicopters on the disposal of NDMA to transport dead bodies.

Meanwhile, the search operation by police and army troops was in progress.

The NADRA Chairman was asked to send mobile biometric teams for recognising the passengers.

The district administration through PDMA, and NADRA Chairman activated mobile biometric team to identify bodies.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government established six information centers at various locations in the province.

The information centers include Deputy Commissioner Abbotabad Phone No (0992) 9310200 and (0992) 9310201, Deputy Commissioner Haripur Phone No (0995) 613391, District Police Officer Chitral Phone No (0943) 412077 and (0943) 412505, Deputy Commissioner Chitral Phone No (0943) 412055 and (0943) 412519, PIA Chitral Phone No (0493) 412547 and (0943) 412863 and PIA Peshawar Phone No (091) 9212567.

President Mamnoon Hussain also expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives.

PIA to fully probe cause of crash: Chairman

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PIA assures public of uninterrupted operations despite salary payment concerns

ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chairman Azam Saigol Wednesday said complete investigation would be carried out into the crash of ATR aircraft near Havelian.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said, “We will investigate how the plane met the accident.”

He said there was no technical fault in the plane. ATR planes were considered safe for travel as thousands of French manufactured aircraft were operating around the world, he added.

Saigol said the plane was manufactured in 2007 and was included in the PIA fleet the same year. At present the PIA had 11 ATR planes, he added .

He said every PIA plane was checked as per routine and on regular basis.

Air travel was still the most safe mode of travel, however, faults could happen in any plane, he added.

He said all the passengers of the ill-fated plane died. The contact of the plane with the radar was cut off suddenly, he said.

Army rescuers recover 40 bodies from plane debris

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): The rescuers of Pakistan Army and volunteers have recovered 40 bodies from the debris of Pakistan Airlines International flight PK-661 that crashed near Havelian on Wednesday.

According to Inter Services Public Relations, rescue work at the crash site was in progress and 40 bodies had been recovered from the debris.

About 500 troops along with necessary equipment and machinery were engaged in the search operation.

Funeral prayer of Osama Warraich to be held in Islamabad on Thursday

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): The funeral prayer of District Commissioner Osama Warraich, who died in the PIA plane crash on Wednesday, will be offered here at H-11 Graveyard at 3 pm on Thursday.

Osama Warraich, who died along with his wife and daughter, was a nephew of former Director General Motorways Police Zulfiqar Cheema.

His father was a professor at NUST University and brother in Foreign Service and posted in the United States.

Zulfikar Cheema expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise and said it was a testing time for the family and friends.

He said Osama was also his student who believed in merit and served his nation and country with devotion.

Top UN leadership call for India-Pakistan dialogue, reduction of tensions

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APP14-07 NEW YORK: December 07 - Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi shaking hand with the UN Secretary General-designate Antonio Guterres at UN Headquarters. APP

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 7 (APP): Top United Nations officials called for resumption of dialogue and de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan during their meetings with the visiting Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi, at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

During his flying trip to New York, Fatemi met Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson and Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffery Feltman and briefed them on the situation in South Asia and Afghanistan as well as on Pakistan’s tough counter-terrorism measures.

Fatemi also paid a courtesy call on the Secretary General-designate Antonio Guterres, who will take over as world’s top diplomat on January 1. He conveyed congratulations to him on behalf of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, and expressed the hope that the fruitful cooperation between Pakistan and the UN would further enhance under his leadership.

Fatemi also had a luncheon meeting with a group of Arab ambassadors where conversation focused on UN reforms, especially of the Security Council to make the 15-member body more effective, accountable and representative.

He was accompanied in all his meetings by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi.

The special assistant to the prime minister, who arrived in Washington from Islamabad on Monday, came to New York on Tuesday morning. He returned the same evening to the US capital where he will resume his interaction with the US administration and reach out to the officials who are likely to join the new administration following the recent US Presidential election.

Fatemi, in his meetings at UN Headquarters, reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism. He said Pakistan expected the UN to play its role in ensuring peace and stability in the region, especially in the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Recalling that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had reached out to India and made efforts to develop a mutually beneficial relationship, he expressed disappointment at the efforts not being reciprocated.

The special assistant to the prime minister also briefed them about continued human rights excesses being committed by Indian occupation forces on the Kashmiri people. Efforts to quash a popular, peaceful, spontaneous and indigenous uprising in Indian Occupied Kashmir had led to the killing of over a hundred people, injuries to thousands with over six hundred blinded by the brutal use of pellet guns.

To divert international attention from the atrocities, Indian forces had also stepped up ceasefire violations on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary. A particularly deplorable aspect of this escalation was the deliberate targeting of civilians. He brought to their attention about the attack on a passenger bus and a ambulance on Pakistan side of LoC.

India had also closed the doors on any bilateral engagement. In this situation, the UN had a moral responsibility to call for ending human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir, play its role in resolution of this long festering dispute and help in immediately de-escalating tensions.

On Afghanistan, Fatemi said Pakistan was ready to play its part for peace and stability in the country. Pakistan had extended the deadline for return of Afghan refugees, as it believed that Afghan refugees should go back to their homeland with dignity and honour.

The Special Assistant also briefed them on the consolidation of democracy in Pakistan, the country’s economic revival and its counter terrorism efforts. The Counter Terrorism operations had been very successful in eliminating terrorist infrastructure and hideouts. This campaign, he said, would continue until the last terrorist was eliminated.

Deputy Secretary General Eliasson expressed concern at the regional situation and called for the lowering of tensions. He said Pakistan was an important member of the United Nations and had an important role in the region. He also appreciated Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees for decades.

Information Ministry to lead Quaid’s week celebrations: Marriyum

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): Minister of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb Wednesday said the Ministry of Information would play a leading role in celebrating Quaid’s week from December 19-25 in connection with upcoming birthday anniversary of the Father of the Nation.

Chairing a high level meeting here, she said people from all walks of life, particularly the children, would participate in the Quaid’s birth celebrations as it was necessary to sensitize the new generation with the ideals, personality and achievements of the great leader.

Special programmes would be scheduled with the view to shed light on the Quaid’s struggle for creation of Pakistan and to pay tribute for the services he rendered, she added.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Quaid’s principles were a beacon of light in attaining the goal of unity, harmony and national cohesion.

The activities, among other things, would include a printing competition of Quaid’s image, speech contest and quiz on the life of Quaid, puppet show, tableaus by different groups of children and national anthem and songs.

The meeting reviewed the progress and various aspects of preparation regarding celebrations of the Quaid’s birth anniversary. Senior officials of the Ministry of Information attended the meeting.

The theme of celebrations is “Quaid ka Pakistan”.

CAA orders inquiry into plane crash

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PTI govt takes practical measures for improving aviation services in country
PTI govt takes practical measures for improving aviation services in country

ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): The director general of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)on Wednesday ordered formation of a board of inquiry into the Pakistan International Airlines’s flight PK-661 crash.

According to the CAA spokesperson, the board of inquiry had been directed to look into the cause of the crash.

About rumours of any fault in the left engine of the aircraft, the spokesperson said the inquiry would consider all aspects and issue a detailed report within due course of time.

PIA crash: Measures taken on PM’s directive

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PIA assures public of uninterrupted operations despite salary payment concerns

ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): On the directive of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the authorities concerned Wednesday took necessary steps to transport and recognize the bodies of unfortunate passengers and crew of PIA flight crash near Havelian.

These steps included: National Emergency Operation Centre is activated for coordination and any assistance from National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) PH No (051) 9205037)

2. NDMA has advised Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and District Administration to transport all casualties to a single hospital for recognition and further transportation.

3. Ministry of Interior has placed its helicopters on the disposal of NDMA to evacuate dead bodies. Meanwhile, the search operation by police and army troops was in progress.

4. The NADRA Chairman was asked for mobile biometric teams for the purpose of recognition.

5. District Administration through PDMA, and NADRA Chairman have activated mobile biometric team to identify bodies.

6. A facilitation centre was established by District Coordination Officer Abbottabad.

6. Dead bodies were being evacuated to Hospital Havelian and Ayub Medical College Tehsil Havelian.

7. DCO Office Abbottabad has confirmed that burnt bodies would be shifted to Ayub  Medical Teaching Hospital Abbottabad, Phone No (0992) 9310200.