Day: July 3, 2022

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Plan to impose Imran on Pakistan devised decades ago: Saad, Ayaz

ISLAMABAD: Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and former Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Sunday claimed that the plan to impose Imran Khan on Pakistan was devised decades ago.

Addressing a joint press conference, they claimed that the previous government wrecked the system, exacerbated the railway deficit, and destroyed institutions with Imran Khan as its leader. They questioned what the Bani Gala resident’s main source of income is. Khawaja went on to say that the nation’s current plight is the result of Imran Khan’s incompetence.

They said Imran referred to others as thieves, but he is the biggest thieves of all. He said Imran has grown up on other people’s pieces since the beginning of his cricketing career. The PML-N leaders went on to explain that this individual (Imran) has an uneven character and is ungrateful. He said: “You (Imran) do not want Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan”.

Khawaja said that politics of Imran will end when Nawaz Sharif returns.” He claimed that the EVM was a plot to undermine the constitutional structure with a two-thirds majority. “We also want overseas Pakistanis to have the right to vote,” said the Railways Minister. Farah Gogi led the previous government in Punjab, he claimed. Khawaja slammed the former premier, saying, “You didn’t even manage to spend three days in jail.”

Railway ministers claimed that if a caretaker government had taken control, world institutions may refuse to hold discussions with Pakistan. Khawaja Saad Rafique remarked that Imran is worse than dictators, and that anyone who disagree with him are verbally abused.

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NTUF protests sacking of 4000 workers

KARACHI: National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) staged a protest demonstration outside Karachi Press Club on Sunday against Denim Clothing Company for dismissing 4,000 workers on the eve of Eid.

The demonstration was led by Sami Sahir and Himmat Phulpto along with other activists including Nasir Mansoor and Rafiq Baloch of National Trade Union Federation, Zahra Khan of the Home Based Women Workers Federation, Karamat Ali of the National Labor Council, and Denim Clothing Company workers.

Addressing the protest, the leaders said that the Denim Clothing Company has many units where thousands of workers were employed. A unit of the same company located in Korangi Industrial Area was forcing workers to sign resignation papers.

They said that those workers, who did not sign resignation papers were threatened with dire consequences including forced ouster without paying their dues. The leaders said those workers had been working in factory for five to 10 years. Now to avoid paying government announced minimum wage of Rs25,000 and distribution of Eid bounce, the management had started illegal retrenchment, they said.

The leaders said that the management was planning to impose third party contract system (Thakadari) which was against labour laws. The workers added that labor laws in Denim Clothing continued to be violated even though the factory produced merchandise for international fashion brands. They said that the factory did not provide written employment contract to workers, and most of them were deprived of EOBI and social security cover.

A written complaint had been lodged with the Labor Department against the abuse of workers’ fundamental rights. The Labor Department had called the factory management to respond, but the management trampled on the Labor Department’s notice and refused to respond to any inquiries, the leaders said. The participating labor leaders demanded that the sacked workers be reinstated with due benefits.

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Haleem demands steps to save Karachi from flooding

KARACHI: Expressing serious concerns over the lack of preparedness by the Sindh government to cope with expected torrential rains in megacity Karachi, Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh Sunday demanded urgent steps to save the city from potential urban flooding.

Haleem visited the Gujjar Nullah and Mehmoodabad areas today to review the situation and take information from local citizens, who complained a lot about the lack of emergency measures to cope with possible rains.

Talking to media, Haleem said that the claims of rain emergency by the Sindh government were plain lies. He said that fact was that three main Nullahs of Karachi, Gujjar Nullah, Mehmoodabad Nullah and Orangi Nullah, were got cleaned by the federal government of PTI. He said it was responsibility of the Sindh government to get cleanesed 40 Nullahs of KMC and 500 Nullahs of DMCs.

He said presently, those Nullahs are filled with garbage and in case of expected urban flooding, the megacity could witness the worst situation. He said the ministers only had paid visits and they wanted corruption in rain emergency funds.

He said that the Sindh government had still not paid compensation to the affectees of Gujjar Nullah. He said the PTI government had issued Rs34 billion and work on Gujjar Nullah should have been completed by June. He said the Sindh government had no concerns about the sufferings of people as it wanted corruption even in Zakat funds.

He said that the Sindh government believed that ‘when there is more rain, there is more water’. He said the Karachi might witness the same situation now. He said Bilawal Zardari and Murad Ali Shah along with their ministers should have present at those Nullahs and faced tough questions of citizens.

Addressing the chief minister, he said ‘only tall claims do not work and it needs practical work’. He demanded that urgent steps should be taken to save the Karachiites from drowning into rainwater.

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SPS protests illegal immigrants, water shortage

LARKANA: Sindhi Porhiyat Sangat held a protest at Jinnah Bagh in Larkana on Sunday against the settlement of Afghans, acute water shortage and harmful projects in Sindh.

The protesters, holding banners and flags in their hands, shouted slogans again the government.

Speaking on the occasion, the party leaders Siraj Kalhoro, Muhammad Hashim Makol and Mumtaz Joyo said that since last over 75 years, Sindh and Sindhis were being harmed and PPP during the said period had been constantly involved directly or indirectly in those acts.

They said that PPP had been helping Afghans and other illegal migrants in settling in Sindh and on the other hand, Katchi Abadis of Sindhi people were being demolished in Karachi, rendering them homeless in their own capital city. They said millions of Afghanis, Burmese and other refugees had been facilitated in Sindh, ignoring original inhabitants.

They said it was astonishing that the refugees had been exposing PPP for their misdeeds and corruption but even then, PPP was facilitating them. They said Sindh was facing acute water shortage, but PPP had done nothing yet to get Sindh’s proper water share.

They demanded expulsion of all illegal immigrants from Sindh, provision of proper water shar and end of Sindh-enemy projects as they would deprive local residents of their properties.

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SAS stages rally for students’ fundamental rights

LARKANA: Sindhi Shagird Tahreek (SAS) in Larkana took out a rally against raise in fees of the educational institutions of Sindh, not taking the semester exams of the law colleges affiliated to the University of Sindh on time and rendering students of Sindh unable to get admissions in Karachi educational institutions through the KSP policy.

The rally was taken out from Pakistan Chowk which after marching through various roads culminated at Jinnah Bagh. The participants were chanting slogans in favour of their just demands.

On this occasion, the students’ leaders, including Naveed Abbas Kalhoro, the central leader of the SAS, Farhan Kalhoro, President SAS Larkana, Farhan Kalhoro, Aitzaz Gaincho, Haji Ali Hasan Wako, Ali Muhammad Wako, and Shoaib Nawaz Noonari demanded that anti-students policies should be stopped forthwith, the raised fees of educational institutions should be withdrawn and the education budget should be increased.

The said that exams should be taken on time, while the KSP policy should be withdrawn in the educational institutions of Karachi to enable the students of rural Sindh to get admissions. The annual budget of Sindh HEC and Sindh Intermediate Boards should be increased while the student unions should be restored and the problems of the students community should be resolved without loss of further time, or else, they warned, they will be forced to enlarge the scope of their movement for seeking just fundamental rights.

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Crackdown against illegal cattle markets soon

LARKANA: Islamabad Police on Sunday decided to take strict action against illegal cattle markets hampering traffic flow and causing inconvenience for citizens.

Following the directions of IGP Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, special arrangements have been made in the capital to facilitate citizens on the occasion of Eidul Azha. Any hindrance in traffic flow would not be tolerated and strict action would be taken against those causing inconvenience for citizens, police spokesman said.

Strict actions would be taken against illegal cattle markets and those selling cattle alongside roads, he said, adding that relevant beat officers and DSPs would ensure strict action against such persons.

Additional strength has been deployed at various busy areas and specified cattle markets to ensure smooth traffic flow which would work in three shifts. Purpose of this deployment is to ensure smooth traffic flow while diversions points have been also erected. Citizens can lodge their complaints at ICTP Helpline (1915 or 051-9261992-93) and prompt action would be ensured on it.

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Sindh lifts ban on closure of markets at 9pm

KARACHI: Sindh government on Sunday lifted the ban on closure of markets in the Sindh province at 9:00pm on the eve of Eidul Adha to facilitate citizens for shopping.

The restriction to shut markets and bazaars till 9pm has been ended till July 10,” said the notification issued by the Sindh home department. Shops, markets, and commercial areas can now remain open even after 9pm till July 10.

The notification said that the restriction will come back into force from July 11. It said that on the eve of Eid ul Adha, the Government of Sindh suspended the operation of this department notifications that has imposed restrictions on closing hours of various shops, restaurants, wedding halls, etc in the territorial.

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On Saturday, Punjab chief minister (CM) Hamza Shehbaz lifted timing restrictions in the province on businesses ahead of Eidul Adha.

In a statement, Punjab CM Hamza Shahbaz Sharif said markets across the province can now remain open even after 9 pm. There would be no time restriction on the businesses until Chand Raat.