Mengal’s servants get life for kidnapping servicemen

www.dawn.com/2006/12/10/top2.htm
By Tahir Siddiqui

KARACHI, Dec 9: An anti-terrorism court sentenced on Saturday four domestic servants of former Balochistan chief minister Sardar Akhtar Mengal to life imprisonment for holding two army men hostage in April.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch also sentenced each of Nasarullah Mengal, Ghulam Hyder Langah alias Chappar, Mehboob Ali Satti and Ghulam Qadir to a 10-year jail term and imposed a fine of Rs20,000 under Section 7-B of the anti-terrorist act (ATA) for torturing the two army men.

The four men were also handed down a five-year term and a fine of Rs10,000 each under Section 7-H of the ATA for robbing their captives of all their belongings. Another five-year term and a fine of Rs10,000 were given to each under Section 7-I of the ATA for causing obstruction in the execution of official duties.

The judge ordered that the case filed against Akhtar Mengal, who had been declared a proclaimed offender in the case, be kept dormant as he would be tried upon his arrest.

The prosecution, represented by special public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum, examined 12 prosecution witnesses in the case.

Complainant Havaldar Qurban Hussain of the Military Intelligence alleged that on April 5, he and Lance Naik Fayyaz Ahmed were on duty along Khayaban-i-Shamsheer, Clifton when Mr Mengal’s servants kidnapped them and held them hostage.


Four servants of Baloch leader sentenced to life

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Islamabad, Dec 10: An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced four servants of former Balochistan Chief Minister and prominent Baloch nationalist leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal to life imprisonment for holding two armymen hostage in April this year.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch also awarded an additional 10-year jail term each to Nasarullah Mengal, Ghulam Hyder Langah alias Chappar, Mehboob Ali Satti and Ghulam Qadir and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 each under the anti-terrorist act for torturing the two armymen in captivity.

The four men were also handed down a five-year term and a fine of Rs 10,000 each for robbing their captives of all their belongings.

Another five-year term and a fine of Rs 10,000 were given to each for causing obstruction in the execution of official duties.

The judge ordered that the case filed against Akhtar Mengal, who had been declared a proclaimed offender in the case, be kept dormant as he would be tried upon his arrest.

Havaldar Qurban Hussain of the military intelligence alleged that on April 5, he and Lance Naik Fayyaz Ahmed were on duty at Clifton in Karachi when Mengal's servants kidnapped them.

Bureau Report

Army personnel hostage-taking case: ATC sentences Mengal’s employees to 45 yrs

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KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court sentenced Saturday four employees of former Balochistan chief minister Sardar Akhtar Mengal to an aggregate of 45 years in prison in an army personnel hostage-taking case.

The ATC, which declared Sardar Akhtar Mengal a proclaimed offender, also ordered the confiscation of the property of Nasarullah Mengal, Ghulam Hyder Langah alias Chappar, Mehboob Ali Satti and Ghulam Qadir worth Rs 100,000 each to the government and fined them Rs 40,000 each.

They were prosecuted for kidnapping two army personnel, Havaldar Qurban Hussain and Lance Naik Fayaz Ahmed in Karachi’s Darakhshan area on April 5, 2006.

The abductees were released after the house was besieged by the law enforcement agencies.

The defendants claimed they were innocent and took the plea that the SHO Darakhshan had been asked to apprehend the army personnel and take action against them for discreetly following the vehicle carrying the sardar’s children from school but the police registered a case on the complaint of the army personnel.

Ruling out the defense’s version that the defendants were falsely implicated in the case as part of political vendetta, the court observed that false involvement of the accused by the police does not click as neither the police official nor the army personnel are stated to be known to them nor is there any grudge shown to have been existing between them.

The court observed in an order that it was an unfortunate case of kidnapping of two persons of a sensitive department who are usually deployed for the protection of the general public and the accused, by committing such an act, have created a sense of fear and insecurity in the minds of the public.

It is an admitted fact that after the incident, the armed forces cordoned off the bungalow of Akhtar Mengal where the accused kept the abductees, the court noted in an order, observing that had they not been involved in such a crime, they might not have come forward and rather Akhtar Mengal should have contacted the high-ups for cordoning of his bungalow, but no such thing was brought on the record and rather Akhtar Mengal chose to abscond.

The court further observed that the defendants’ counsel themselves admitted that the army personnel were picked up and detained despite the fact that the law does not permit any person to take the law into own hands.

In our society it is not easy for a police officer to try to catch such prominent political leaders and lodge a false FIR, but in the case Akhtar Mengal did not cooperate or approach the investigation officer to prove himself innocent but chose to abscond leaving an ocean of doubt with respect to his involvement, the court observed, adding that it was constrained from considering his plea for false involvement.

Declaring that the prosecution successfully proved its case against the accused as it was supported by factual, medical and circumstantial evidence, the court sentenced all four accused to life imprisonment with the confiscation of property worth Rs 100,000 to the government under section 7 (e) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 10 years in prison with a fine of Rs 20,000 u/s 7 (b) of the ATA, twice 5 years in prison with a fine of Rs 20,000 u/s 7 (h) and 7 (I) of the ATA.

The prosecution represented by Special Public Prosecutor Mazhar Qayum placed eight witnesses, including the abductees, to prove the guilt of the accused.

The defendants also produced the name of MNA Abdul Rauf Mengal and MPA Ali Akbar from Balochistan as their defense witnesses but they did not appear before the court. ppi

Political dialogue to provide healing touch for Balochistan: Mushahid

NOOOOOO ... FREE INDEPENDENT BALOCHISTAN WILL PROVIDE HEALING TOUCH TO BALOCHIS

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Secretary General, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has said that Balochistan needs a healing touch and it can provided through the political process of dialogue.

Speaking at a seminar on the "National Dialogue on Balochistan Conflict", organized by Action Aid Pakistan, here on Monday, Senator Mushahid Hussain, said that Balochistan is the equal partner of the whole process and the government wants to resolve all issues including Balochistan through consensus and political dialogue.

He said that no government in the past has taken any action, despite the fact that it has been vividly mentioned in the constitution. The secretary general said that on the issue of the provincial autonomy the present government, despite some unavoidable mistakes and faults, has taken concrete and positive initiatives.

He maintained that the main issue is one of mindset and through the government’s sincere efforts the mindset about the Punjab and military is changing gradually. For the first time in 33 years, the issue of provincial autonomy has been open up and it has been done through democratic, political, and constitutional forces.

Senator Mushahid Hussain also appreciated the opposition’s role in this respect and said that report of the sub-committee on Balochistan wouldn’t have been possible without its support. That it was the first committee, which functioned on schedule and submitted its report to the house on time, with the unanimity of most of the stakeholders, he observed.

He said that the committee recommendations have been instrumental in changing the whole debate and instead of the strong center, which was the hallmark of Pakistani politics since the death of the Quaid-e-Azam, it was suggested that there should be strong provinces, which in turn would contribute to the solidarity of Pakistan.

On the issue of NFC Award, it was recommended to the government that the fundamental premises should be the level of development and level of backwardness, he said.

Senator Mushahid Hussain said that the government has now increased the share of Balochistan in the NFC Award from 3.2 percent to 5 percent

No positive Baloch solutions sans Autonomy, NFC and political dialogue; Rabbani

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ISLAMABAD: The opposition leader in the Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani has said that the volatile situation of Balochistan can only be resolved by granting just autonomy, cessation of military operations, and granting of National Finance Commission Award for the province.

While addressing a seminar alongwith PML (Q) secretary general Mushahid Hussain Syed at a local hotel on Monday, he said that Balochistan crisis has exceeded beyond the limits of control and those of Provincial Autonomy, and stressed for a change in "military and civil establishment".

He expressed deep regrets over the recent statements of President Musharraf, saying nobody has the right to grant anybody certificates about patriotism of anybody. He said that according to his comprehension, "we are more patriotic than any uniformed self".

Rabbani said that he would like to convey his feelings to Balochi masses that they were an integral and mandatory part of National mainstream, and their struggle was based on just causes of their rights and equality and not for "independence" (secession from federation), while castigating the government for misrepresenting the incident of Akbar Bugti’s death, causing more tension in the region.

He demanded immediate cessation of military operations in Balochistan, release of all political activists, and immediate procurement of all the abducted persons. He also demanded to include the "original and legitimate representatives " of Balochi region in Balochistan Dialogue, and conducive enforcement of Mushahid Hussain Syed’s Parliamentary Committee.

He also demanded to curtail any future construction of cantonments in the Province, and said that President Musharraf has no constitutional right to consider the NFC Awards’ issue, but he has usurped this legal commitment and issued the NFC Award in contravention of constitution.

Addressing the seminar Mushahid Hussain Syed demanded that Senate should be made totally independent and empowered, while Council of Common Interests (CCI), should be given a totally independent Secretariat.

He also expressed "sure possibility" of return of Mian Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto back to their Homeland and contest the general elections.

He stressed to solve the Balochistan crisis, above any political bias and partiality saying the government is carrying forward its development agenda despite certain mistakes, while clarifying that the issue has nothing to do with civil/ military Bureaucracy, but rather of despotic and selfish mindset of local sardars.

He pointed out that the very first military operation against Balochistan was perpetuated in 1973 by the very first democratically elected civil government, followed by successive military governments.

He said that for the first ever time since independence, after 33 years, this government has taken concrete steps to open issues like autonomy and ensured of resolving the issue immediately.

He also stated certain steps for the Province like an 8% quota in Federal positions, while 50% of the Parliamentary report has been implemented, while the rest is being carried over by the federal Minister for Inter-Provincial relations, Salim Saifullah.

He also promised just and equal rights for Saraiki region, and berated the regional politicians who always become agitated the moment their political graft is withheld.

Landmine blast kills man

www.dawn.com/2006/12/11/top17.htm

By Our Staff Correspondent

QUETTA, Dec 10: A man was killed and his mother suffered injuries in a landmine explosion near Punjabi Dob village in Jaffarabad on Sunday.

Police said that Maroof Bugti and his mother were on their way home when their cart hit a landmine. The man died and his mother suffered injuries. She was taken to a hospital.

A police patrolling party came under attack in the same area early on Sunday. The attackers escaped after a brief crossfire. No casualty was reported.

Meanwhile, two rival groups of the Bugti tribe exchanged heavy fire in the area over a land dispute. No casualty was reported.

Pak standing at the critical juncture of history: Nawaz

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Monday December 11, 2006 (0851 PST)

LONDON: Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League Quaid Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan was standing at a critical juncture of the history and its future depends on the success of ongoing democratic and political struggle in the country.

"Without democracy and public participation in this system neither a country can prosper nor it can sustain its freedom, whereas General Pervez Musharraf is trying to verify Pakistan as a failed state," he observed this while talking to opening session of PML (N) Parliamentary Committee and Office Bearers meeting here Sunday.

He said in a country where constitution and law are violated, an individual withdraws historical stance on Kashmir without any negotiations with any national institution or platform, the defense budget, which was accumulated through the hard earned money of poor masses was used for electioneering rigging and horse trading we have to think as whether we are moving towards a strong and stable state or vice versa.

Citing the Balochistan situation, the PML leader said Nawab Akbar Bugti vowed his allegiance with the federation but had to pay the price of standing against President Gen Pervez Musharraf. Whoever does not surrenders before the 'General', he labels him as a traitor.

He pointed out that Nwab Akbar Bugti and Sardar Attaullah Mengal played a positive role in passage of 13th and 14th amendments and were part of military-political streamline. But if today we are getting hot words from Balochistan it is because of the a tyrant.

Mian Nawaz Sharif made it clear that he was not against Army because he wants to see Armed forces of Pakistan to prosper as true professional force but alas! its Chief wants to indulge it actively into politics. So in these circumstance, he questioned can we say that armed forces could be termed stable and strong after it conspired against constitution and democracy.

Commenting on the conduct of fair and free general elections under General Pervez Musharraf, former premier Nawaz Sharif made it clear this is impossible and unimaginable.

Conduct of free and fair election could not be imagined because General Musharraf can't afford it. General Musharraf wants to enforce Presidential form of government with two third majority and he will cross every limit to rig the polls. Whereas the dubious elections will be a shock for the country, he held.

Commenting on Charter of Democracy, the former premier said we are standing by CoD and whatever we decided we will stick by it. It was clearly mentioned in it that whosoever had changed allegiance will never be accepted in the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy nor we will go for a deal with military dictator directly or indirectly.

He said if governments will be formed under General Musharraf then the status a prime minister in a government under the General will be just like a clerk.

He said in these circumstance we have to forgo the politics of power and resort to the politics which can change the entire system and make the people master of their own destiny, reduce poverty, unemployment and injustices.

Nawaz Sharif went on to say that during his term in power during last eight years General Musharraf tried us vehemently in Accountability Courts but failed to prove corruption worth a penny on me or any other of my allies. All the corrupt elements are sitting in the lap of General Musharraf right now.

He made it clear that only a representative government of people of the country can save the country in these circumstances