Day: January 25, 2008

FAISALABAD, Jan 24: A union council nazim, Shahzad Moazzam, who was nominated in an FIR registered by the Ghulam Muhammadabad police for abducting a woman, on Thursday swore on the Holy Quran that he had not committed the crime he had been implicated in.

He pleaded not guilty along with his minor daughter who also swore on the glorious Quran at Clock Tower intersection amid scores of PPP leaders and other people. Alleged victim Farzana Bibi had demanded that the suspect and his children swear by the holy book that they are innocent.

Also joining them was Shahzad’s elder brother Dr Asad Moazzam, the PPP city secretary-general, who said he wanted to end a two-week long political rift with City District Nazim Rana Zahid Tauseef whose younger brother, Arif Tauseef, is contesting the election from PP-67 against Dr Asad.

The PPP local leadership and the accused party announced that they would prove their innocence, after a party meeting held under the chair of city president Mahmoodul Hassan Dar. Shahzad said he was implicated in the case on political grounds.

Present on the occasion were Raja Riaz Ahmad, Riaz Shahid and others who said the PML-Q would soon be a matter of past and it was using negative tactics to undermine the popularity of the PPP. They criticised Farzana for not turning up to the venue despite raising hue and cry and slandering the PPP candidate.

The PPP activists also staged a rally from Clock Tower to the press club.

A row between two political stalwarts of the district started when an abduction case was registered against Shahzad Moazzam under section 496-A of the Women Protection Act. He was, however, not arrested. The PPP held the district nazim responsible for implication to dent the PPP’s political standing.

Several PPP ticket-holders and office-bearers met DIG (Operations) Muhammad Aslam Tareen the other day, asking him to intervene and stop defamation of Dr Asad Moazzam’s family. They informed the DIG that in keeping with the alleged victim’s demand, the suspect would swear on the Holy Quran that he had done nothing wrong.
Source: Dawn
Date:1/25/2008

NAWABSHAH: Implementing the instructions of Deputy Inspector General Police, Hyderabad, Shaukat Ali Shah, the first Women Police Station was established in Nawabshah city on Thursday. The District Police Officer, Syed Ghiasuddin Shah Rashidi, told the newsmen that Mussarat Khokhar was appointed as the first lady Station House Officer (SHO) of the Women Police Station.

The lady SHO was given a contingent of 30 women cops in the first phase while further enforcement was also expected. The Women Police Station is set up adjacent to the A-Section police station. Meanwhile, the fair price flour stalls, established a few days earlier by the flourmills administration, have disappeared from the scene all of a sudden, causing flour prices to shoot up once again. The fair price stalls were established under the supervision of Rangers to supply flour at Rs 16 per kg.
Source: The News
Date:1/25/2008

KAMBER: Not a single woman has ever cast her vote since the Independence in Ghathar village of district Kamber, Shahdadkot, the News has learnt.

As far as its population is concerned, the village is counted as one of the largest villages of the district. Other villages of its size are Shajra and Bair Sharif. Gathar is located just 8 kilometers away from Kamber. The village population is diversified as many ethnic communities are settled here.

Buledis and Buriros are in majority whereas Bhuttos, Shaikhs, Katpers, Waqahs, Solangis, Mangis, Memons, Totanis and others are also a part of this population.

Though a girls middle school and a girls/boys primary school are also present here, but not a single woman has ever been allowed to exercise her vote during the elections. Astonishingly, the village can boast the presence of a lady councillor, Hajiani Ghulam Fatima Buriro on its soil.

The reason for not permitting the women population to exercise franchise is the traditional feudal system in which women are not allowed many of their basic human rights.
Source: The News
Date:1/25/2008