Day: July 14, 2011

PESHAWAR: The provincial government has provided auto-rickshaws to widows belonging to different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to earn livelihood and support their families.

The auto-rickshaws were given to widows by provincial social welfare and women development department with assistance of Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA).

The keys and documents of auto-rickshaw were handed to the women at a ceremony, said a press release issued here on Wednesday.

Addressing the ceremony, Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development Sitara Ayaz said that Turkey had always extended help and support to the people of Pakistan.

Elif Turk Oglu, programme coordinator of TIKA, and deputy programme coordinator Cahit Asil were also present on the occasion.

Appreciating the cooperation of TIKA in different projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , the minister said the agency would soon start work on many schemes including reconstruction of district headquarter hospital in Swabi, construction of two schools in Pir Sabaq and different water supply projects in Swabi. The TIKA will also provide Ramazan package to the province.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Oglu said that Turkey and Pakistan had stable relations. She said that she felt immense pleasure to see goodwill gesture from the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Ms Oglu said that with the provision of auto-rickshaws, the widows would be in a better position to earn their livelihood. She said that TIKA had started work on various schemes 18 months ago. “Now wee feel that we should have started the service earlier,” she said, adding they would extend all possible help for the wellbeing of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Source: Dawn

Date:7/14/2011

FAISALABAD – The Faisalabad police have drawn out a new strategy for a speedy action in the investigation of rape cases.

According to the new strategy, the police will arrange the DNA tests of rape victims at government expenses. The decision has been taken for swift proceedings in the investigation and to relieve the victims of the heavy charges of the tests that cost Rs 15,000.

SSP Dr Usman has directed all the officers concerned to take into account the new policy while dealing with such cases. He has also ordered the SHOs that in the event of any complaint of rape they must arrange the immediate medical test of the victim and record her statement without wasting any time. He has also instructed all concerned to make the DNA Test as an integral part of record in the investigation and challan.

The move will go a long way to ensure justice for the victims and discourage the trend of levelling false allegations of rape to settle personal enmities and grudges. DNA Test is the most advanced and a state-of-the-art diagnostic process with mathematical accuracy. In the Punjab, the test facility is available only at Punjab University’s Micro Biology Department, Lahore.

The heavy cost involved for the test make it difficult for poor victims to pay Rs. 15,000/ to get justice as it is contrary to the principle of inexpensive justice at the doorstep of the victim. Women organizations and human rights activists have welcomed the move as a humane decision and have expressed the hope that it will enable the victims to get the vital evidence to prove their cases and convict the rapists in the courts.

“Once the victim has a documented evidence of rape to support her version in the court of law, it will save a lot of time required in the court proceedings and will save the victim from the embarrassment of lengthy cross-examination in the court”, said an analyst. Stolen manhole covers recovered by WASA team: Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) raided a house in People’s Colony No 2 near Fawara Chowk and recovered dozens of stolen manhole covers.

The WASA team, headed by Batala Colony Sub Engineer Iqbal Ahmed, raided a house in People’s Colony No 2 and found at least 35 manhole covers. The owner of the house, Munir Ahmed, however, escaped from the scene. Open manholes are a serious cause of public concern as a number of children have lost their lives after felling into them.

The WASA is always held responsible for the incident as when it takes place, but the WASA officials say they cannot arrange security for hudreds of manholes spreading all over the city.

Source: The Express Tribune

Date:7/14/2011

KARACHI: A collection of 44 paintings and installations by over 35 artists will be displayed here on Thursday at Jharoka Art Gallery to highlight and condemn ‘Honour Killing’.

The interactive art exhibition will be followed by various sessions including video presentations, installations, poetry recital, skits, musical performance, speeches, meet the affected families and dialogues.

The show ‘In the Name of Honour’ has included the paintings that capture brutal incidents of honour killings and its impact on the society through various mediums while some abstract paintings depict stories of such incidents with symbolism. The event has been organised by RASTAY, a non-for-profit organisation, to promote art, culture and cultivate pluralism in the society.

Participants of the event include Maqbool Ahmed, M H Sulehri, Mohammed Ali Bhatti, Nadeem Noor, Nahida Raza, Natalia Kakar, Naqsh Raj, Noor ul Ain, Orchestra Music Academy, Rabia Dawood, Saeed Akhtar, Saeed Mungi, Shaheen Sultan Dhanii, Sharon Zappha Barfoot, Tabassum Rizvi, Tariq Kakar, Tashfeen Majeed, Umna Nabi, Yousuf Sheikh, Zahra Kazmi, Mansoor Rahi, Maggie Neale, Kausar Iqbal, Kaleem Khan, Iqra Ahmed, Ibrahim Khan, Hussain Chandio, Humera Ghazanvi, Haleem Khan, Hasda Majeed, Hajra Mansoor, Farah Adnen, Faiza Khan, Bilal Sayal, Ata Turab, Arif Khan, Arjumand Awan, Aqsa Majeed, Altaf Ahmed, Alina Chaudry and Ahmed Iqbal Qureshi.

Source: Business Recorder

Date:7/14/2011