Kite victim’s father serves legal notice on governor

Sunday, April 12, 2009
By Sajid Bashir

LAHORE: 

The Father of a girl, who was killed by kite twine on Basant last, has served a legal notice to Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, asking him to justify his act of lifting ban on the kite flying which caused loss of life and limb to hundreds of innocent citizens. 

The governor would have to face legal proceedings if he failed to explain the reasons of allowing Basant within the period of 60 days, said the notice sent by Muhammad Saeed Ahmad Khokhar in capacity of Pro Bono Publico on behalf of Mohammad Safdar, the father of victim Maria (6). Raja Jahanzeb Akhtar advocate, the counsel for Mr. Khokhar, confirmed that the notice had been received by the staff of Governorís House. 

On March 15, 2009 (Sunday) Safdar along with his wife and two daughters Maria and Maheen was going to his relatives in Sheikhupura. 

He said Maria was sitting on bike’s petrol tank while his wife and four year-old Maheen were sitting on rear side of bike. “When I came on The Mall, the cops diverted traffic to Jail Road and from there police officials directed the commuters to go to Ferozpur Road,” meanwhile when he reached near Rehmanpura, a kite string struck the bike and they fell on the road. 

He saw a pool of blood around Maria and she was screaming in pain. She was rushed to the Services hospital where she passed away just after the ten minutes.

The notice highlighted that the Punjab Governor under his supervision had allowed kite flying in Lahore for two days on March 14 and March 15, 2009. As a result of the permission for kite flying, around three persons including a seven-year-old girl Maria were killed and 400 others sustained serious injuries. 

It stated that the Lahore Police also badly failed to implement the ban on aerial firing, motorcycle riding and the use of chemical strings as thousands of rounds were fired in the air and a six-year-old boy Zain-ul-Abideen lost his life due to a stray bullet that he received in his head. Instead of implementing ban on aerial firing and other offenses, the police minted money by arresting innocent people and releasing them after taking bribe. 

It further stated that as per section 154 Cr.P.C if any untoward incident takes place as above with the jurisdiction of particular, the SHO concerned shall be bound to register a case against the persons including the manufacturers and sellers of kites and kite flying strings, and after investigation the cases shall be forwarded not only against them to the court of law but also against such authorities as allowed kite flying in Lahore.

It has been stated in the notice that the government should xamine the previsions for the purpose of granting compensation of the victims, after recovering the same from the Kite Flying Association as well as the authority who had allowed such a culture in Pakistan. 

The notice stated that the Governor of Punjab had suspended operation of the Punjab Prohibition of Dangerous Kite Flying Activities Ordinance, 2001, with effect from evening of 14th March till morning following the 15th March, hereby giving a free hand to the kite flyers 

It may be mentioned here that one Muhammad Aslam Saeed also filed a writ petition in Lahore High Court against the Punjab Government challenging the action of the Punjab Government. 

When contacted, Media Advisor to Governor Punjab, Farrukh Shah expressed his ignorance about any legal notice received by the staff of the Governor’s House.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=172075

Basant celebrations for some, sorrow for others

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Salman Aslam & Sajid Bashir

LAHORE:

Basant is not only a kite flying event but also a time of sorrow and grief for families whose loved ones especially children fall prey to this bloody event.

The ban on riding motorcycles has caused serious problems for the poor and middle class people for whom motorcycle is the only means of transportation. As soon as the ban came into effect, a large number of motorcyclists were hauled by police and traffic wardens. Scores of motorcycles were seen lined up at main city crossings and traffic signals. Motorcyclists alleged that police received heavy bribes from them for allowing them to return home on their bikes. 

Almost two decades ago, kite flying was considered a very special day. It signified the onset of spring and was celebrated in almost all parts of the country with great fervour and gaiety. People of all ages were seen flying kites of all shapes and sizes. The clear blue sky beckoned everyone, and people surrendered themselves to the joy of kite flying. And thus, the sky remained dotted with vivid splashes of colour from dawn to dusk. But there used to be no casualties but only minor accidents. New methods of sharpening strings with lethal chemicals and crushed glass have not only deprived many families of their dear ones but also the people associated with this industry of their source of income.

Thanks to deadly twine, kite flying now poses a serious threat to motorcyclists and pedestrians in busy residential areas and has also been known to cause power shutdowns. Dozens of people, majority of them children, had been killed or injured by twine. The deaths were caused by razor-like kite twine featuring metal strips and abrasives designed to slice through an opponent’s string. The string, however, posed more threat to pedestrians and motorcyclists, seriously injuring them and in some cases even decapitating them.

People who romance weapons saluted the Punjab government for allowing the ‘game of death’ by firing countless shots in the air. The use of hazardous materials in preparation of twine is going on across the provincial metropolis, leaving a big question mark over the performance of those assigned the task to stop the use of glass coating and chemical strings in the kite twine. 

Interestingly, the All Pakistan Kite Flying Association, Lahore, members staged a demonstration at the Lahore Press Club on Friday night, alleging that the government did not allow them to open their shops despite receiving Rs2,500 from each shopkeeper. They said the problem occurred after the city district government failed to issue the notification of lifting the ban on activities related to kite flying in order to allow people to celebrate Basant. 

The sale and purchase of kites and lethal kite twines had begun a week ago as kite lovers started collecting kites and twines for Basant festival. Keeping in view police action, people in the kite business had formed a new strategy as deals between kite sellers and purchasers were taking place secretly. Shopkeepers had shifted kites and twines from shops to unknown places and whenever a deal was struck, the consignment was delivered from a safe location to avoid arrests and raids.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=167211

Makro construction challenged

Wednesday, March 04, 2009
By Sajid Bashir

LAHORE:

ENVIRONMENTAL Tribunal Punjab has been approached through a complaint to stop construction of Makro Store in Model Town, also questioning an Initial Environment Examination (IEE) report prepared by Environment Protection Agency. 
Petitioner Fazal Karim, resident of G-block, Darbar Pir Behram Shah Model Town, along with other residents of the area, filed a complaint against Chief Executive Makro, Habib Pakistan Limited, Secretary Model Town Society and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, Punjab). The petitioner submitted in his compliant that the Chief Executive Makro had commenced construction of large cash and carry super store namely MAKRO at a grassy plot having numerous full-grown trees measuring about 78 Kanal situated at G-Block. 
This plot is under litigation for ownership rights and for declaration of the title because it had been cultivated by the petitioner and his elders. Earlier, a very old ancestral graveyard wherein elders and departed family members of the complainants were buried and a Mazaar of Baba Behram Shah had also been demolished and taken over illegally by the respondent proponents (Model Town Society). 
The complainant through his counsel Advocate High Court Akhtar H.Awan submitted that the proponents had not provided the clear documents to EPA, Punjab, along with the IEE report. Besides, the Model Town Society has also executed lease deed with the respondents without having lawful title of the land. The petitioner’s counsel submitted that Chief Executive Makro took over the possession of the land forcibly and illegally with the connivance of Model Town Society and local police. 
According to the Revenue Report, the land underneath the project was illegally leased out by the Model Town Society because of illegitimate possession of the said Society. He submitted that according to the IEE guidelines and regulations, it was mandatory to produce clear revenue record pertaining to the title and complete possession of the land for the proposed project. He contended that the EPA should have satisfied itself about the title of the land and before issuing the IEE report for the said project and the department should have assessed as well as public hearing was required before commencing construction and granting approval. 
He further submitted that the IEE report was defective and misrepresented wherein the exact potential environmental effects were not assessed nor mitigation measures were proposed. The conditions of the Environmental Approval were not according to the laws of EPA, he added. 
The complaint stated that numerous cases were pending adjudication before different courts and in some cases courts had granted stay in favour of the real owners of the land. 
In the light of above facts, the complainant through his counsel prayed before the court that the IEE approval for the construction of the said project might be cancelled and the construction of the said project might be stopped at the present disputed site.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=165596

Basant death devastates family

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

By Sajid Bashir:

LAHORE:

THE parents of a six years old boy, who died after being hit by a stray bullet on the eve of Basant has spoken of their devastation at losing their only son. 

Mohammad Asim Sheikh, the father of Zain-ul-Abideen, a resident of Rashi Bhawan, Nishtar Road, Branderth Road, Naulakha, said, “I don’t want to believe it’s real.” He added, “Lifting ban on kite flying has deprived me of my only son.” He showed his son’s pictures. 

He remembers the first time he held his newborn son Zain and the day he touched his cold body. He said, “His face looked fresh, he only had a small scratch on his arm. He just looked like he was sleeping.” 

He said, “I am poor and helpless to hold the responsible persons like Punjab governor and district nazim, accountable.” As he recalls the story of losing Zain, no tears run down his cheeks, but a seemingly permanent sadness reflects in his eyes. Zain, a student of class one at Muslim High School was the second one among his two sisters Taiba,10, and Mahnoor,3. Asim, dal tikkiwala, dropped Zain at the residence of his in-laws at Lunda Bazaar on March 14. Zain went to bazaar on March 15 at around 1:30 pm to buy juice and on return, he received a stray bullet in his head. He was rushed to Mayo Hospital where he yielded to his wound. 

Asim said that doctors told him that he had received a bullet wound in his skull. The Naulakha police contacted the senseless father and got a statement that he did not want to initiate any legal action. 

Ironically, the Naulakha police still claimed that the boy did not received the bullet wound but he fell on the ground and received a fatal head injury. Another dilemma is that no official representative or member of the ruling party visited the two-marla dingy house of Asim to console the heartbroken family. Zain’s father is one of dozens of grieving parents who can never turn their tragedies into a cause for a change. Asim knows nothing will bring his son back. He blamed the authorities that could have prevented families from suffering the pain of losing a child. “We are not the only family who has gone through this situation as many others have already been deprived of their dear ones in the past,” Asim regretted.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=168873

110 people hospitalised under strict security

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

By By Amer Malik and Sajid Bashir 
LAHORE:

A total of 110 victims, including seven dead bodies, of Monday’s Manawan firing incident were brought to different public and private hospitals in Lahore. The victims are kept under close observation as well as strict security.

As the shootout between the terrorists and security forces began at Manawan police training centre early morning, an emergency was declared in all the teaching hospitals to provide treatment to remaining 103 patients, who were injured during the deadly battle, and shifted in the hospitals starting from early 8 am to 8 pm till the filing of this report. 

The highly trained surgeons and medical professionals had taken excellent care of the patients in both public and private hospitals. The seven victims, who were received dead, were shifted to mortuary, where another four bodies were also shifted directly from Manawan.

However, the government passed clear instructions to all the hospitals not to discharge any patient without clearance by the intelligence and security agencies. Most of the injured patients are policemen, mostly hailing from various districts of Punjab. 

The Rescue 1122 ambulances, Edhi and other voluntary ambulance services reached the spot immediately after the gun and grenade battle, which shifted the victims to nearby hospitals including the Services Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Mayo Hospital and Lahore General Hospital and private hospitals including Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital and Shalamar Hospital.

According to the details available with The News, a total of 36 victims including four dead were brought to Services Hospital, 22 victims including two dead were shifted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, 10 injured patients in Mayo Hospital and two patients were referred, rather than directly taken, to Lahore General Hospital, while 42 victims including one dead were taken to Ghurki Hospital. The Ghurki Hospital administration referred two patients, with serious head and chest injuries, to Lahore General Hospital and discharged three patients, with minor injuries, after necessary medical aid. Besides, another 13 injured patients were also brought to Shalamar Hospital, who were later referred to public sector hospitals including Services Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Mayo Hospital after initial medical aid. 

The victims, who were received dead in hospitals, included a pedestrian Waseem, 22, in Ghurki Hospital, Ghulam Mohaiyuddin, 27, and Abid Hussain, 22, in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, and four bodies, including Rohail, 22, and three unidentified bodies, were brought to the Services Hospital. 

According to details, a total of 32 injured patients are still under treatment at the Services Hospital including Muhammad Asif s/o Muhammad Sharif, 25, Muhammad Kashif, 25, Zahid, 25, Muhammad Raza, 25, Muhammad Asif s/o Muhammad Ali, 25, Muhammad Shoaib, 23, Waqar, 20, Ghulam Hussain, 20, Amir Farooq, 22, Sohail, 22, Sadaqat, 22, Arif Hussain, 19, Safdar Ali, 24, ASP Gul Jawad, 42, Basharat Ali, Muhammad Waseem, Nasir Iqbal 24, Mohsin Shahzad, Muhammad Shahzad, 23, Abbas, 22, Shafique, 22, Abid Ali, 23, Muhammad Ajad, 22, Muhammad Adil, 22, Shakeel Ahmad, Attaullah, Iqbal, Asif Ali, Shabrez, Al-Shaukat, Muhammad Farhan and Zafar Iqbal. 

A total of 20 patients are under treatment in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital including Adnan Saeed, 25, Muhammad Afzal, 25, Rafaqat Ali, 20, Shahzad Naveed, 20, Muhammad Naveed, 22, Kashif Shahzad, 19, Muhammad Fayyaz, 20, Awad Anwar, 19, Zeeshan, 23, Muhammad Asif so/Javed Akhtar, 24, Muhammad Ilyas, 27, Imtiaz Ali, 25, Tahir Masood, 25, Ijaz, 20, Allah Ditta, 50, Muhammad Akram, 25, Muhammad Kashif s/o Muhammad Mushtaq, 21, Asif Ali s/o Javed Akhtar, 24, Muhammad Ashfaq, 24 and Muhammad Jaffer, 40.

The FJMC/Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Principal Prof Dr Abdul Majeed Chaudhry said that, out of the 20 admitted patients, one patient’s kidney, ruptured in the attack, was removed and another patient had lost sight in his right eye, while remaining 18 patients were suffering from minor injuries and in stable condition after necessary medical and surgical treatment. However, he said that the biggest challenge for the patients was to endure psychological trauma they underwent during the deadly attack. 

A total of 10 patients are under treatment at the Mayo Hospital including Basim, Waqas, Ehsan, Mudassar, Ilyas, Mehmood-ul-Hasan, Ali Akbar, Faryad Hussain, Ghulam Mustafa and Mohsin Iqbal. None of them had any serious injuries as no major operation was conducted upon any of the patients. 

Two patients including Kamran and Hasan Bilal, with serious injuries, were operated upon at the Lahore General Hospital referred by Ghurki Hospital.

A total of 36 patients are still under treatment in Ghurki Hospital after three patients were discharged from the hospital.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=169982

Panic, chaos ensue terror attack

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

By Sajid Bashir
LAHORE:

PANIC spread through Manawan area immediately after terrorists attacked the Manawan Police Training School.

All shops were shuttered and people locked themselves inside their houses. Later, however, people began gathering on the rooftops of their houses and outside the training school.

The attack on the training school began when dozens of trainee police officers were engaged in morning drills. Around 750 trainees were inside the school at the time of the attack. 

An eyewitness trainee police officer, who was present inside the school when terrorists launched their attack, told The News that he heard a blast when he was busy in the morning drill. He said around 700 trainees were present in the school ground. 

He said he, however, did not react when he heard the blast. He said soon after that three hand grenades blew up near them in the ground one after the other. He said grenade explosions injured his colleagues and created smoke clouds. He said he then heard bullet shots and ran towards the school gate along with thirty trainees. He said the trainees were slightly injured and succeeded in safely leaving the school. 

Muhammad Salman, 23, another trainee police officer who got trapped inside the school, said: “The two hours I was trapped inside the school felt like two centuries. It was like I died several times. I was certain it was all over.”

After the beginning of the deadly ambush, people living adjacent to the training school locked themselves inside their houses. People became really afraid and were afraid to come out.

Talking to The News, Iqbal Hassan, a local resident, said he was about to leave his house to drop his son to school when he hear gun shots. He said he went back and did not leave his home after he learnt what was happening.

Later as the operation dragged on, a large number of people began gathering near the police training school while some were seen watching the battle between law enforcement personnel and terrorists from the rooftops of their houses.

All shops were shuttered and traffic was diverted to other roads. People also brought water and edibles for police officials and media persons. A hawker who sets up his stall in front of the Manawan Police Training School said that he saw terrorists throwing grenades at the school.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=169979