Judicial Petitions Pakistan

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - Text of SC order on memogate petitions

2011-12-06T23:41:00.000-08:00

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - Text of SC order on memogate petitions

Nawaz Sharif Memogate Petition

2011-12-02T08:49:00.000-08:00

Nawaz Sharif Memogate Petition

Black money probe: bold step by Indian Supreme Court | Business Recorder

2011-07-08T05:19:00.000-07:00

Black money probe: bold step by Indian Supreme Court | Business Recorder

NICL Scam: Multi-billion Shady Deals of Politicians in Pakistan

2011-07-07T00:57:00.000-07:00

MR ZAFAR QURESHI,NICL SCAM INVESTIGATOR WAS SUSPENDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVT ON 5TH JULY. GOOD GOVERNANCE FORUM EMAILED THE SUPREME COURT IN THE NIGHT OF 5TH-6TH JULY URGING ACTION. WE ALSO EMAILED ENGLISH AND URDU JOURNALISTS, ANCHOR PERSONS AND NEWS AGENCIES SIMULTANEOUSLY.

SUPREME COURT SUMMONED ATTORNEY GENERAL AND ZAFAR QURESHI ON 6TH JULY TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COURT ON 7TH JULY.

DAILY 'DAWN' LAHORE PUBLISHED A TERSE EDITORIAL IN ITS 7TH JULY EDITION CAPTIONED 'NICL SCAM' HIGHLIGHTING NEGATION OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND REMARKED 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH' IN TUNE WITH THE STANDPOINT OF GOOD GOVERNANCE FORUM.

NICL SCAM INVOLVES SHADY DEALS OF BILLIONS OF RUPEES TO THE LOSS OF THE NATIONAL EXCHEQUER.

IT IS HIGH TIME OUR CIVIL SOCIETY REALIZED ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO THE STATE AND THE PEOPLE TO BRING GOOD GOVERNANCE TO PAKISTAN. CIVIL SOCIETY IS COMPOSED OF EDUCATED AND ENLIGHTENED MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL CASTES, SECTS AND RELIGIONS.

PROBE YOUR CONSCIENCE AND STAND UP WITH COMMITMENT TO LEAD THE WAY TO THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE IN PAKISTAN FOR A PEACEFUL, PROGRESSIVE AND PROSPEROUS PAKISTAN.

ONLY A PEACEFUL, PROGRESSIVE AND PROSPEROUS PAKISTAN CAN ELIMINATE EXTREMISM, MILITANCY AND TERRORISM FOR GLOBAL PEACE, PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY.

JOIN HANDS WITH US TO END CORRUPTION AND BUILD PAKISTAN BY VOLUNTEERING YOUR SERVICES AND DEVOTING YOUR TIME, EFFORT AND FUNDS.

MUMTAZ A. PIRACHA

CHAIRMAN

GOOD GOVERNANCE FORUM

PAKISTAN

www.goodgovernanceforum.com

--Leading the Way to the Challenge of Change in Pakistan

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Placing NRO beneficiaries on Exit Control List

2009-11-25T05:48:00.000-08:00

from Good Governance Forum
to Registrar Supreme Court
date Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 6:43 PM
subject Placing NRO beneficiaries on Exit Control List: Plea to CJP for suo motu notice

25 Nov 2009

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
Islamabad

Your Honour:

As the Chairman of the Largest, Most Diversified and Most Globally Searched portal on governance, I appeal to Your Honour to direct the Government of Pakistan to place the names of all the NRO beneficiaries on the Exit Control List and to take stringent measures to ensure that nobody leaves the country on any pretext whatsoever as long as his/her case is pending in a court of law.

Your Honour may kindly take suo motu notice of the probability of any one or more of the NRO beneficiaries leaving the country without being held accountable for the stolen assets of Pakistan and/or other crimes punishable under the law.

Cordially,

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Chairman
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
www.goodgovernanceforum.com

Fixation of sugar price: Plea to CJP

2009-11-08T23:06:00.000-08:00

9 Nov 2009

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
Islamabad
Fax: 051-9213452

Your Honour:

As the Chairman of the Good Governance Forum, the Largest, Most Diversified and Most Globally Searched portal, I submit to Your Honour the following recommendations to ease out the present sugar crisis in the country which have only added to the masses' existing bundle of miseries.

1. The Supreme Court may please allow the sugar mills to supply sugar at Rs 47 per kg as originally agreed between the Punjab govt and the sugar mills. The difference between Rs 47 and Rs 40 i.e. Rs 7 per kg may be subsidized by the federal government or the provincial governments for the time being so that the consumer gets the sugar at Rs 40 per kg.

2. The Supreme Court may please direct the federal government to call for the annual Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss accounts of the sugar mills, examine their accounts through accredited chartered accountants, and determine the cost of production of sugar and recommend the profit margin of the manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer to the Supreme Court within 4 weeks for refixation of price.

3. The federal government may recover the extra amount of Rs 7 per kg from the sugar mills if the prices are refixed at lower than Rs 47 per kg after the exercise conducted under point 2 above.

Submitted for immediate consideration and directive.

Cordially,

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Camp Islamabad

Consumer Oil Prices in Pakistan: Urgent Need for Adjustment

2009-10-19T01:26:00.000-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Sat, Jul 11, 2009 at 1:31 PM
subject Consumer Oil Prices in Pakistan: Urgent Need for Adjustment

11th July 2009

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan

Islamabad

Your Honour:

As the Founder and Moderator of the Good Governance Forum, the Largest, Most Diversified and Most Globally Searched portal, I respectfully submit the following facts and figures for the consideration of the apex court for appropriate directive to the Government of Pakistan.

1. India adds 103.595% to the basic price of crude oil to arrive at the consumer price. Considering that the current price of crude oil is $ 60 per barrel, cost of oil per barrel in Indian Rs will be $60 x INR 49 (1$=Rs 49) = Rs 2940

One barrel consists of approximately 160 litres. So Price of crude oil per litre will be INR 2940/160 = INR 18.375. Add 103.595% under different heads of taxes and duties and other costs, the consumer price will be INR 37.411 WITHOUT GOVT SUBSIDY.

2. Pakistan is placed in a difficult situation. One US dollar costs us Rs. 82 as compared to INR 49. The depreciated Pak Rupee value vis-a-vis US$ emerges from lower exports, higher imports. It is government's responsibility to increase its exports and reduce its imports. There is no reason to let the common man suffer on account of the performance of the government.

3. Pakistan needs to work on two things. First, it has to work on weighted average inventory cost. The weighted average price of crude oil of the previously months should form the basis for fixing the basic crude oil price. Add to it, the fixed percentage of duties and taxes and other costs and arrive at the end price for consumers. Second, because of the depreciated value of our rupee vis-a-vis US$, the government of Pakistan has to reduce its duties and taxes and other costs to apply a lower cost addition to the basic crude oil price than the government of India (103.595%).

4. What the government of Pakistan can do further is:

1. Buy crude oil on the basis of future projections of oil prices, rising or falling, and keep adjusting its crude oil inventory accordingly. It can raise its oil inventory when the price is low, and decrease it when the price is high.

2. Fix reasonable refining cost for the oil refineries and ask them to improve upon their operational efficiencies to lower their refinining cost.

3. Fix reasonable profit margin for oil marketing companies and ask them to improve upon their operational efficiencies to lower their marketing cost.

7. The refineries and oil marketing companies should be allowed net profit margins in accordance with the prevailing corporate dividends in the stock market.

It is time for all to tighten their belts. The government, the refineries and the oil marketing companies need to improve their operational efficiencies, re-negotiate shipping costs of crude oil to Pakistan, reduce domestic transportation cost, reduce bank borrowing cost, and reduce net profit margins.

India increased its prices of petrol by Rs 4 per litre and diesel by Rs 2 per litre as of 1st July 2009.The following statement reflects upon the circumstances under which the prices were increased.
"With hike in prices of diesel and petrol, oil companies will be able to avoid red ink in their balance sheet as they were bleeding under the burden of subsidies, discounts and oil bonds," Sajjan Jindal, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham), said in a statement.

The Confederation of Oil Industry (CII), another industry lobby, said the hike would add around 1.3 percent to inflation.
(Source: http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/India_inc_welcomes_petrol_price_hike-nid-58761.html).

"In view of the continuous rise in global crude prices, a marginal increase had become unavoidable," he argued and said the petrol price was raised by "only" Rs four against Rs 6.9 as desired and diesel price by "only" Rs two against Rs 4.11 "keeping in mind the interests of 'aam aadmi' (common man)."

He said the retail prices of PDS kerosene and LPG were not increased by the government for which the projected subsidy burden amounted to Rs 30,000 crore.
(Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/uproar-in-ls-over-fuel-price-hike-no-roll-back-says-govt/484117/)

Good Governance Forum is ready to become part of the court proceedings on the issue provided the travelling cost to and from Islamabad, lodging and board and local transport in Islamabad are provided free of charge by the apex court.

Respectfully submitted for due consideration on high priority as the high petrol and diesel prices are bound to adversely affect the economic well being of the people at large who are already undergoing hyper inflation of other items of daily use.

Cordially,

Mumtaz A. Piracha

Founder & Moderator

Good Governance Forum

Pakistan

Tel: 042-5503936

Cell: 0300-2265424

SC withdraws stay on power tariff hike: Plea to CJP to hear Good Governance Forum

2009-10-19T01:24:00.001-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 10:25 AM
subject SC withdraws stay on power tariff hike: Plea to CJP to hear Good Governance Forum

24 July 2009

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
Islamabad

Your Honour:

It is gratifying to note that the apex court directed NEPRA to inform the court in advance in case it recommends increase in electricity tariffs. The court also directed the Ministry of Water & Power and the Ministry of Finance to inform the court about the proposed withdrawal of subsidy on electricity or increase in tariffs of the utility. (The Nation, Lahore, July 24, 2009)

As the Founder & Moderator of the Good Governance Forum, the Largest, Most Diversified and Most Globally Searched forum, I request the apex court to allow the Good Governance Forum to present its point of view on the current electricity tariffs, proposed electricity tariffs and the proposed withdrawal of subsidy on electricity.

The undersigned will be based in Islamabad from 30th July to 30th August 2009 and will greatly appreciate an opportunity to offer comments on the government's proposals AFTER these are submitted to the apex court and its copies provided to the undersigned to facilitate the apex court to arrive at the appropriate conclusion and issue directives to the relevant government ministries/agencies accordingly.

Good Governance Forum is ranked at No. 2 out of 7.5 million listings under the search term good governance forum on Google, the World's Largest Search Engine as per attachment. A weblog's ranking is determined primarily by the clicks it receives by the Internet users around the world and represents popularity of the portal among the 1.3 billion Internet users worldwide.

Your kind consideration is respectfully solicited.

Cordially,

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Founder & Moderator
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Cell: 0300-2265424

Request for suo motu notice of blast victims in Mian Chunnu

2009-10-19T01:21:00.000-07:00

From Good Governance Forum
to info@lhc.gov.pk
date Mon, Aug 3, 2009 at 6:54 PM
subject Request for suo motu notice of blast victims in Mian Chunnu

042-9212279 - Fax to Registrar
042-9210930 - Fax to Secy to CJ

3rd Aug 2009

Hon'ble Chief Justice
Lahore High Court
Lahore

Your Honour:

As the Founder/Chairman of the Good Governance Forum, the Largest, Most Diversified and Globally Searched portal, I request Your Honour to kindly take suo motu notice of the dereliction of duty of the civil administration of the province of the Punjab in the blast caused by explosives stored in a house in Mian Chunnu. Reportedly, 17 persons died and dozens of people injured and their property damaged or destroyed. As of today, the victims have not been provided compensation and relief goods and services, according to the ARY News program called 'Daira' telecast on 3rd August 2009.

Submitted for due consideration on priority.

Cordially,

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Founder/Chairman
Good Governance Forum
Camp Islamabad
Cell: 0300-2265424

Plea to fix responsibility for supply of Atta and Sugar

2009-10-19T01:20:00.001-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to Registrar Lahore High Court
date Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 11:36 AM
subject Plea to fix responsibility for supply of Atta and Sugar on government-fixed prices

28 August 2009

Hon'ble Chief Justice
Lahore High Court
Lahore
Fax: 042-9212279 Registrar
Fax: 0420-9210930 - Secy to CJ

Your Honour:

As the Chairman of the Good Governance Forum, the Largest, Most Diversified and Most Globally Searched platform, I request Your Honour to fix responsibility for the supply of Atta and Sugar to general public on government-fixed prices. In my humble opinion, it is the District Nazim/City Nazim who should be responsible for ensuring uninterrupted and adequate supply of Atta and Sugar to the retail outlets from where the general public could buy on government-fixed prices. The District Nazim/City Nazim should also ensure through its network of district administration/councillors that the general public gets these two items from the retail outlets as per their requirements and on government-fixed prices.

It is more than obvious from the media reports that the general public is suffering immensely due to short supply and exhorbitant prices of these two staple food items.

There is apparently no reason for short supply and exhorbitant prices. It is a common practice of the producers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers to create artificial shortages just to make extra money at the expense of the masses.

I request Your Honour to call to court every District/City Nazim to apprise the court of the demand and supply position of Atta and Sugar and their prevailing prices in his/her district, modus operandi of the sale and purchase of these items, checks of the district administration/councillors on sale of these items to the general public on government-fixed prices and the penalties levied on violators.

In view of the huge workload of the Lahore High Court, the district and sessions courts may please be directed to call for these details and monitor the implementation of the commitments made in the court by the respective nazims on week to week basis under advice to the Lahore High Court.

Without strong and stringent measures, the supply of Atta and Sugar on government-fixed prices can only remain a dream.

With profound regards.

Cordially,

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Chairman
Good Governance Forum
Camp Islamabad
Cell: 0300-2265424

Rental Power Procurements: Plea to CJP

2009-10-19T01:15:00.000-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to Registrar Supreme Court
date Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 7:41 PM
subject Rental Power Procurements: Plea to CJP for suo motu notice

4 Oct 2009

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
Islamabad

As the chairman of the Good Governance Forum, the Largest, Most Diversified and Most Globally Searched portal, I request Your Honour to kindly take suo motu notice of the press report reproduced below and direct the relevant authorities to provide details of the rental power procurements in the larger interest of the people of Pakistan.

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Chairman
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Cell: 0300-2265424

Rental power procurements: PPIB and Pepco avoiding to provide information to TIP
IQBAL MIRZA
KARACHI (September 05 2009): The Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) and Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) are avoiding supply of evaluation report and contract agreements of rental power procurements (RPPs) to Transparency International Pakistan (TIP).

Adil Gilani, Chairman of TIP, in several letters sent to Pakistan Power Resources (PPR) since July 24 had been emphasising that according to the laws of Pakistan, it is mandatory on PPIB and Pepco to provide the information asked for by the TIP.

The failure of the Ministry of Water & Power and the procuring agencies to respond to TIP request is strengthening the doubts about non-compliance of rules, especially the post-tendering terms of fuel supply guarantee by Government of Pakistan (GoP), almost one year's rental being paid in advance and government's obligation in case of its failure to supply gas.

PPR is an Oklahoma-based US company, which is 65 percent owned and controlled by Lahore-based Associated Group. David Walters and his firm Walters Power International (WPI) is a minority partner (35 percent) in PPR.

TIP has made it clear that standard procedures are required to be completed by Wapda, PPIB and Pepco, and also the contractors in processing and award of any contract, and it is also the contractor's responsibility to comply with all procedures. Any violation leading to proof of corruption is to be dealt as per the Integrity Pact (mandatory on PPR also) signed by the contractor.

It was further stated that in case if any violation is detected in future in the award of RPP contract in any one of the 50 requirements of Public Procurement Rules 2004, the contract award may be declared as "mis-procurement". TIP has advised PPR in its own interest to ensure that all rules "have been completed by your firm". TIP aims at building a coherent national integrity system, to institutionalise efforts to curb corruption, and make the country zero tolerant against corruption.

Adil has pointed out in his letter that as there were frequent stories appearing in the newspapers pointing to corruption in tenders of rental power being acquired by the Government of Pakistan under the policy framed by the government to have immediate power to cover up the shortfall, TIP contacted the ministry concerned on July 24, 2009.

It had requested the Minister of Water & Power for the copies of the tender documents containing Terms of Reference (TOR) and GoP terms to confirm that all bidders were provided the information that GoP would make 7 percent to 14 percent advance payments, the evaluation criteria, evaluation report declared and given to bidders 10 days before the award of contract under Rule No 35, copy of the Integrity Pact signed by the bidders and contract agreements, evaluation reports, and compliance of Rule No 35 of PPR 2004.

He has emphasised that transparent competitive bidding process and only competitive bidding process are two different subjects. Under the laws of Pakistan, all bidding process by public sector shall be transparent competitive bidding, which are based on the following principles:

1 Terms of Reference and scope of work shall be clearly defined in the bidding documents, including the specifications, detailed evaluation criteria on which contract is to be awarded (in such cases as RPP, life cycle cost is mandatory as use of gas as fuel and furnace oil will make a huge difference in evaluated cost to the lowest bid).

2 Once the bids have been received and publicly opened, there can be no change in the specifications, nor in the terms of reference like government guarantees, mode of payment, advance payments, time of completion, etc.

3 For competitive bidding, the documents shall include the following: invitation to bid, instructions to bidders; form of bid, form of contract, general or special conditions of contract, specifications and drawings or performance criteria (where applicable); list of goods or bill of quantities (where applicable); delivery time or completion schedule. Qualification criteria (where applicable), bid evaluation criteria, format of all securities required (where applicable), details of standards (if any) that are to be used in assessing the quality of goods, works or services specified; and any other detail not inconsistent with the rules that the procuring agency may deem necessary, and any information that becomes necessary for bidding or for bid evaluation, after the invitation to bid or issue of the bidding documents to the prospective bidders, shall be provided in a timely manner and on equal opportunity basis. Where notification of such change, addition, modification or deletion becomes essential, such notification shall be made in a manner similar to the original advertisement.

Any post-tendering change in these terms renders the contract award as mis-procurement, and comes under the definition of corrupt practices, which are defined as "corrupt and fraudulent practices" and includes offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting any thing of value to influence the action of a public official or the supplier or contractor in the procurement process, in contract execution to the detriment of the procuring agencies; or misrepresentation of facts in order to influence a procurement process or the execution of a contract. Corrupt practices also include collusive practices among bidders (prior to or after bid submission) designed to establish bid prices at artificial, non-competitive levels and to deprive the procuring agencies of the benefits of free and open competition and any request for, or solicitation of anything of value by any public official in the course of the exercise of his duty. The Chairman of TIP has reiterated that PPR should use its good offices with the Ministry of Water and Power, PPIB and Pepco and provide the required documents.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2009

--
Syed Adil Gilani

cell 923218229086

Electricity Tariff Increase: Plea to CJP

2009-10-19T01:09:00.000-07:00

From Good Governance Forum
to Registrar Supreme Court
date Mon, Oct 5, 2009 at 1:24 PM
subject Electricity tariff increase: Plea to CJP for suo motu notice

5th Oct 2009

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
Islamabad

The electricity supply corporations in Pakistan have announced increase in electricity tariff of six percent from Oct 2009, twelve percent from Jan 2010 and six percent from April 2010. The cumulative impact is estimated at 28-30 percent.

The people of Pakistan are practically forced to bear the cost of the inefficiencies of the corporations on an ongoing basis.

As the Chairman of the Good Governance Forum, ranked at 3rd position out of 8.2 million listings on Google as of today, I submit to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to kindly take suo motu notice of the increase and direct the corporations to present their case before the Supreme Court of Pakistan for examination by the relevant experts as well as civil society organizations.

Good Governance Forum would be more than willing to assist the court in this request.

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Chairman
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Cell: 0300-2265424

SC withdraws stay on power tariff hike: Plea to CJP to hear Good Governance Forum

2009-07-24T22:50:00.000-07:00

Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Jul 24, 2009 10:25 AM
subject SC withdraws stay on power tariff hike: Plea to CJP to hear Good Governance Forum
mailed-by gmail.com

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
Islamabad

Your Honour:

It is gratifying to note that the apex court directed NEPRA to inform the court in advance in case it recommends increase in electricity tariffs. The court also directed the Ministry of Water & Power and the Ministry of Finance to inform the court about the proposed withdrawal of subsidy on electricity or increase in tariffs of the utility. (The Nation, Lahore, July 24, 2009)

As the Founder & Moderator of the Good Governance Forum, the Largest, Most Diversified and Most Globally Searched forum, I request the apex court to allow the Good Governance Forum to present its point of view on the current electricity tariffs, proposed electricity tariffs and the proposed withdrawal of subsidy on electricity.

The undersigned will be based in Islamabad from 30th July to 30th August 2009 and will greatly appreciate an opportunity to offer comments on the government's proposals AFTER these are submitted to the apex court and its copies provided to the undersigned to facilitate the apex court to arrive at the appropriate conclusion and issue directives to the relevant government ministries/agencies accordingly.

Good Governance Forum is ranked at No. 2 out of 7.5 million listings under the search term good governance forum on Google, the World's Largest Search Engine as per attachment. A weblog's ranking is determined primarily by the clicks it receives by the Internet users around the world and represents popularity of the portal among the 1.3 billion Internet users worldwide.

Your kind consideration is respectfully solicited.

Cordially,

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Founder & Moderator
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Cell: 0300-2265424

SC verdict in plane hijacking case of Mian Nawaz Sharif

2009-07-24T22:49:00.000-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Jul 17, 2009 8:24 PM
subject SC verdict in plane hijacking case of Mian Nawaz Sharif
mailed-by gmail.com

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
Islamabad

Your Honour:

As a public citizen, I take the liberty of encroaching upon your precious time and seeking your personal attention to apprise you of the public sentiments on the way the superior judiciary has been behaving over the past months.

1. The Supreme Court announced the judgement in the case of plane hijacking case against Mian Nawaz Sharif on 17 July 2009, coinciding with the visit of the president of Pakistan to Raiwind. The SC announced on 16 July that it would give the verdict on 17 July and the presidency announced on the same day that the president would meet Mian Nawaz Sharif on 17 July.

The concerned citizens are bewildered as to whether it was the president who knew about the incoming judgement or was it the SC which had been directed to announce the judgement. The judgement was reserved on 18 June; announcing it suddenly on 17 July could be misconstrued and could create deviating perceptions among the general public. The people today hold the superior judiciary in the highest esteem; that perception needs to be maintained, cherished and fostered in the larger interest of the nation and the country.

2. The Supreme Court appeared to be reluctant to pass a short order on 30th July 2009 in the case of appeal against the disqualification of the Chief Minister Punjab, Mian Shahbaz Sharif but it did so very next day.

3. The Lahore High Court remarked in the hearing a day before the short order that it could not pass judgement on the disqualification of Mian Shahbaz Sharif and the very next day LHC disqualified him in Feb 2009.

The relentless efforts of the lawyers and the civil society activists were aimed at ensuring independence of judiciary and the rule of law, not just the restoration of the deposed judges. 'Law may be blind, but the judge is not' is applicable in all societies under specific circumstances, but the dignity and honour of the judiciary should not appear to have been compromised under any circumstances.

Most respectfully, I request Your Honour to take appropriate measures to retain the hope of the people in the independence of judiciary. That is the last hope, the people of Pakistan are clinging to, in the utter desperation of today's environment prevailing in the country.

Cordially,

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Founder & Moderator
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Tel: 042-5503936
Cell: 0300-2265424

Consumer Oil Prices in Pakistan: Urgent Need for Adjustment

2009-07-24T22:45:00.000-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Jul 11, 2009 1:31 PM
subject Consumer Oil Prices in Pakistan: Urgent Need for Adjustment
mailed-by gmail.com

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan

Islamabad

Your Honour:

As the Founder and Moderator of the Good Governance Forum, the Largest, Most Diversified and Most Globally Searched portal, I respectfully submit the following facts and figures for the consideration of the apex court for appropriate directive to the Government of Pakistan.

1. India adds 103.595% to the basic price of crude oil to arrive at the consumer price. Considering that the current price of crude oil is $ 60 per barrel, cost of oil per barrel in Indian Rs will be $60 x INR 49 (1$=Rs 49) = Rs 2940

One barrel consists of approximately 160 litres. So Price of crude oil per litre will be INR 2940/160 = INR 18.375. Add 103.595% under different heads of taxes and duties and other costs, the consumer price will be INR 37.411 WITHOUT GOVT SUBSIDY.

2. Pakistan is placed in a difficult situation. One US dollar costs us Rs. 82 as compared to INR 49. The depreciated Pak Rupee value vis-a-vis US$ emerges from lower exports, higher imports. It is government's responsibility to increase its exports and reduce its imports. There is no reason to let the common man suffer on account of the performance of the government.

3. Pakistan needs to work on two things. First, it has to work on weighted average inventory cost. The weighted average price of crude oil of the previously months should form the basis for fixing the basic crude oil price. Add to it, the fixed percentage of duties and taxes and other costs and arrive at the end price for consumers. Second, because of the depreciated value of our rupee vis-a-vis US$, the government of Pakistan has to reduce its duties and taxes and other costs to apply a lower cost addition to the basic crude oil price than the government of India (103.595%).

4. What the government of Pakistan can do further is:

1. Buy crude oil on the basis of future projections of oil prices, rising or falling, and keep adjusting its crude oil inventory accordingly. It can raise its oil inventory when the price is low, and decrease it when the price is high.

2. Fix reasonable refining cost for the oil refineries and ask them to improve upon their operational efficiencies to lower their refinining cost.

3. Fix reasonable profit margin for oil marketing companies and ask them to improve upon their operational efficiencies to lower their marketing cost.

7. The refineries and oil marketing companies should be allowed net profit margins in accordance with the prevailing corporate dividends in the stock market.

It is time for all to tighten their belts. The government, the refineries and the oil marketing companies need to improve their operational efficiencies, re-negotiate shipping costs of crude oil to Pakistan, reduce domestic transportation cost, reduce bank borrowing cost, and reduce net profit margins.

India increased its prices of petrol by Rs 4 per litre and diesel by Rs 2 per litre as of 1st July 2009.The following statement reflects upon the circumstances under which the prices were increased.
"With hike in prices of diesel and petrol, oil companies will be able to avoid red ink in their balance sheet as they were bleeding under the burden of subsidies, discounts and oil bonds," Sajjan Jindal, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham), said in a statement.

The Confederation of Oil Industry (CII), another industry lobby, said the hike would add around 1.3 percent to inflation.
(Source: http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/India_inc_welcomes_petrol_price_hike-nid-58761.html).

"In view of the continuous rise in global crude prices, a marginal increase had become unavoidable," he argued and said the petrol price was raised by "only" Rs four against Rs 6.9 as desired and diesel price by "only" Rs two against Rs 4.11 "keeping in mind the interests of 'aam aadmi' (common man)."

He said the retail prices of PDS kerosene and LPG were not increased by the government for which the projected subsidy burden amounted to Rs 30,000 crore.
(Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/uproar-in-ls-over-fuel-price-hike-no-roll-back-says-govt/484117/)

Good Governance Forum is ready to become part of the court proceedings on the issue provided the travelling cost to and from Islamabad, lodging and board and local transport in Islamabad are provided free of charge by the apex court.

Respectfully submitted for due consideration on high priority as the high petrol and diesel prices are bound to adversely affect the economic well being of the people at large who are already undergoing hyper inflation of other items of daily use.

Cordially,

Mumtaz A. Piracha

Founder & Moderator

Good Governance Forum

Pakistan

Tel: 042-5503936

Cell: 0300-2265424

Plane hijacking case against Mian Nawaz Sharif: A few questions to the Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan

2009-07-24T22:41:00.000-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Jul 2, 2009 6:16 PM
subject Plane hijacking case against Mian Nawaz Sharif: A few questions to the Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
mailed-by gmail.com

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
Islamabad

Your Honour:

Under the unwritten Law of Public Sentiment, I take the opportunity of availing the privilege of a public citizen as the Founder and Moderator of the Good Governance Forum, the Largest, Most Diversified and Most Globally Searched forum, to place before the Hon'ble Chief of Pakistan a few questions that agitate the public mind for his due consideration and appropriate action:

1. General Pervez Musharraf was a retired general and a former COAS at the time of the alleged plane hijacking. He had already been dismissed by the then Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif under the powers granted to the latter by the Constitution of Pakistan.

2. General Pervez Musharraf's military take-over was outside the purview of the Doctrine of Necessity. A retired general and a former COAS could not possibly be granted the benefit of the Doctrine of Necessity. There was no such precedent in the history of Pakistan.

3. Mian Nawaz Sharif was still the constitutional prime minister at the time of the registration of plane hijacking case against him.

4. It can fairly be assumed that it was General Pervez Musharraf who did not let the plane land until GOC Karachi arrived at the Control Tower of the Karachi Airport. The time of arrival of the GOC and the landing of the aeroplane coincided.

5. How could a retired general and former COAS keep the aeroplane in the air?

6. Did the passengers testify that the plane was not being allowed to land at the Karachi Airport by the Control Tower?

7. Why did the pilot keep the aeroplane in the air when the fuel was reaching the lowest level? Did'nt he have the authority to divert the plane and land somewhere else to save the lives of those on board? Should'nt he be prosecuted for risking the lives of so many on board?

The public sentiment demands that the plane hijacking case be reopened, retried and reassessed for judgement. In the meantime, Mian Nawaz Sharif be permitted to contest the election to the National Assembly to benefit the constituents who have all along remained 'orphans' owing to the absence of their representative in the National Assembly.

Submitted for due consideration on top priority.

Cordially,

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Founder & Moderator
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Tel: 042-5503936
Cell: 0300-2265424

Inquiry into tax evasion of trading community

2009-07-24T22:39:00.000-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Jun 29, 2009 9:22 AM
subject Inquiry into tax evasion of trading community
mailed-by gmail.com

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
Islamabad

Your Honour:

As the Founder & Moderator of the Good Governance Forum, the Largest, Most Diversified, Most Globally Searched forum and the First of its Kind in Pakistan, I bring it to the notice of Your Honour the massive tax evasion and fraud of the trading community throughout the country. The tax evasion of the traders in Jodia Bazar (Karachi), Akbari Mandi (Lahore) and Nankari Bazar (Rawalpindi) alone runs into billions of rupees, not to speak of traders in similar big markets/mandis in other parts of the country.

The tax evasion of the trading community has been causing hyper inflation in the country by forcing the federal and provincial governments to resort to taxation of one sort or the other to meet their revenue targets. At the same time, the ill-gotten money has been creating social imbalances, economic deprivation of teeming millions and adding to inequitable distribution of wealth in the country.

The Ministry of Finance, to the best of our knowledge, has NO databank of the traders in the country in the first place. It is indeed shocking that only 1.1 to 1.5 million out of 170 million are registered as tax payers in the whole of Pakistan. There might be 1.1 to 1.5 million traders in Karachi alone whose multiple businesses under fictitious names are un-registered.

Respectfully, I submit to Your Honour to direct the Ministry of Finance to:

1. carry out a country-wide survey of the traders by outsourcing the task to private organizations through open tenders to enlist each and every trader in the country.

2. carry out house to house survey by outsourcing the task to private organizations through open tenders to find out the ownership of the property.

3. carry out a thorough study of the importers by outsourcing the task to private organizations through open tenders to locate the real importers behind the fictitious names.

The Ministry of Finance should be able to complete the surveys during the fiscal year 2009-2010 in major towns of Pakistan in the first phase.

Submitted for due consideration on priority.

Cordially,

signed by
Mumtaz A. Piracha
Founder & Moderator
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Tel: 042-5503936
Cell: 0300-2265424

Inquiry into written off bank loans

2009-07-24T22:36:00.000-07:00

Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Jun 27, 2009 8:50 PM
subject Inquiry into written off bank loans
mailed-by gmail.com

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan

Islamabad

Your Honour:

As the Founder & Moderator of the Good Governance Forum, the Largest, Most Diversified and Most Globally Searched forum and the First of its kind in Pakistan, I submit to Your Honour to direct the federal government to disclose the particulars of all the bank loans written off during the past regime from 1999 to 2008 and to undertake appropriate measures to recover all those bank loans written off beyond the parameters set by the banks for all borrowers.

Respectfully, I reproduce below an article showing how bank loans were written off during the past regime. It may be just one part of the whole game of 'loot' and plunder in the past regime.

Submitted for due consideration on priority.

Cordially,

signed by

Mumtaz A. Piracha

Founder & Moderator

Good Governance Forum

Pakistan

Tel: 042-5503936

Cell: 0300-2265424
Top guns got Rs 54bn loans written off
SBP says it was under policy guideline; Omar Ayub defends govt scheme

The News

October 23, 2007

By Rauf Klasra

ISLAMABAD: As the present government completes its five-year term in office on November 15, it has been officially disclosed in a secret report that the top guns of Pakistan got Rs 53.499 billion bank loans written off on the basis of a decision taken by the financial team of Gen Pervez Musharraf in October 2002.

This shocking disclosure has been made in a secret report submitted before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly which has been requested to take up the issue at requested to take up the issue at the earliest to know the reasons behind such a massive loss to the public exchequer facilitating the privileged of the present government.

As the present government would claim to be the first in the history of Pakistan that has completed five years in office, at the same time it would also be ‘credited’ with writing off such an unprecedented amount of loans within its five years in office to facilitate top guns of the regime.

The report shows that a total of 50,000 persons including politicians, civil and military business concerns and business tycoons of Karachi, Lahore and other areas were the direct beneficiaries of this massive favour.

Two sitting chief ministers of the provinces and their families having big business concerns and stakes are also beneficiaries of these written off loans whose details would be discussed in the committee meeting.

Although in the past, reports of written off loans have been appearing at different forums including the National Assembly, this is the first time that the total written off amount has come to surface.

The chief minister of a province whose family owns sugar mills, also got loans written off under this scheme. The chief minister of another province got loans written off outstanding against his ghee mills. Even some foreign firms and multinational companies and a private bus service operating from Lahore to different cities of Punjab were also extended this facility.

Earlier, soon after elections in October 2002, the then finance minister Shaukat Aziz and his financial team at the State Bank approved a ‘written off loan scheme’ in the same month (October 2002) after certain top politicians of the government put them under pressure to ease financial burden of loans from their business concerns.

In the garb of writing off non-performing loans of small businessmen, these top guns quietly got billions of rupees written off. An official of the PAC confirmed to The News that a report has been received containing the details of loans written off during the last five years.

Copy of the report available with The News shows that soon after the October 2002 elections, General Pervez Musharraf’s financial team decided to launch a scheme to write off loans of the big guns as it set the minimum limit of written off loans at Rs0.5 million. This 0.5 million condition deprived small growers and small businessmen of this scheme and only big guns were the beneficiaries.

The report said that prudent banking practices and prudential regulations issued by the State Bank required securing loans through best guarantees, viable credit approvals, proper documentations and effective monitoring and follow up to avert flow of cases of non-performing loans. On the contrary, cases of non-performing loans were allowed to be accumulated by the banks and the SBP.

Instead of launching an effective campaign for recovery of such loans, the SBP issued an incentive scheme to the banks/DFIs in October 2002 for writing off NPL of the organizations showing “loss” for three years or more. The NPL for the purpose of the scheme were divided into three categories: category A included NPL up to Rs0.5 million, category B included NPLs ranging from Rs0.5 million to Rs2.5 million whereas category C included more than Rs2.5 million. The big political families and top guns exploited the third category of the written off loans to get billions of rupees outstanding against them written off from the banks.

However, the report has pointed out that for the settlement of B and C category cases the banks/DFIs were required to recover maximum possible amounts on the basis of outstanding amount vis-‡-vis forced sale of available assets. The purpose of the scheme was to clean the balance sheets owned by banks/DFIs to make them ready for privatisation.

As a result of the scheme, the banks/DFIs settled over 50,000 cases involving outstanding amount of RS74.879 billion whereas only Rs11 billion could be recovered. The report claims that the scheme resulted in realization of only 15.15% of the outstanding loans but major portion of the loans was either written off or could not be recovered.

Meanwhile, the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) in its report to PAC has opined that this practice resulted in encouraging defaulters with an extraordinary financial burden on the public exchequer.

The report said the shocking written-off loans issue was raised with the Ministry of Finance and SBP management. The matter was also discussed in subsequent meetings in the recent past with the last one held in March 2007.

Meanwhile, an SBP official has argued that the writing off of loans in the banking sector was under a policy guideline issued vide circular 29 and that the losses mentioned by audit did not pertain to the SBP.

But, the AGP in its report has observed that such a huge write off may be looked into which was made possible due to circular No 29 of SBP and recoveries be made from the plunderers of public exchequer.

Talking to The News, Minister of State for Finance Omar Ayub strongly defended the policy of the government to introduce a scheme to help the borrowers settle their non-performing loans (NPLs) with the banks including the National Bank.

He said that these NPLs were settled in the light of circular No 29 issued by the State Bank. Omar said, a total of 50,414 borrowers availed the facility of settling their loans under this scheme which he confirmed was introduced in October 2002 after general elections.

Omar said that these decisions were taken by the boards of these banks that were quite independent and were not under the influence of the government. He said actually these non-performing loans were becoming a burden on the banks itself so the decision was taken to rather settle them after offering them a package.

Omar did not subscribe to the notion that top guns of the government including chief ministers or ministers had got their loans written off under this scheme. He also rejected the impression that these loans were written off as a bribe both to the politicians and big businessmen.

When told that even NBP had written off loans outstanding against some top politicians, Omar replied, “We need to understand that banks were deciding those cases in their own business interests without caring for pressure from any side”.

Source: http://server.kbri-islamabad.go.id/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2504&Itemid=47

Promotion of social and economic well-being of the people under Article 38 of the Constitution of Pakistan (Plea to CJP)

2009-07-24T22:32:00.000-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Jun 27, 2009 6:44 AM
subject Promotion of social and economic well-being of the people under Article 38 of the Constitution of Pakistan (Plea to CJP)
mailed-by gmail.com

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
Islamabad

Your Honour:

As the Founder & Moderator of the Good Governance Forum--the Largest, Most Diversified, and Most Globally Searched forum and the First of its kind in Pakistan-- I draw the attention of the Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan to Article 38 of Part II,Chapter 2, of the Fundamental Rights and Principles of Policy, enshrined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973, and reproduced below:

38. Promotion of social and economic well-being of the people.

The State shall :

(a) secure the well-being of the people, irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race, by raising their standard of living, by preventing the concentration of wealth and means of production and distribution in the hands of a few to the detriment of general interest and by ensuring equitable adjustment of rights between employers and employees, and landlords and tenants;
(b) provide for all citizens, within the available resources of the country, facilities for work and adequate livelihood with reasonable rest and leisure;
(c) provide for all persons employed in the service of Pakistan or otherwise, social security by compulsory social insurance or other means;
(d) provide basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing. housing, education and medical relief, for all such citizens, irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race, as are permanently or temporarily unable to earn their livelihood on account of infirmity, sickness or unemployment;
(e) reduce disparity in the income and earnings of individuals, including persons in the various classes of the service of Pakistan; and
(f) eliminate riba as early as possible.

The State has so far been unable to plan and implement short-term and long-term programmes to comply with the various provisions of the Article 38. In this regard, I also reproduce below a brief from the website http://uk.oneworld.net/guides/pakistan/poverty?gclid=CLuu9o6eqZsCFYVM5QodIHZpDQ on the state of Poverty in Pakistan. The figures are yet to be updated for 2009.

updated May 2008
"Pakistan is home to a significant proportion of the world’s poor. Almost a quarter of the country’s 158 million people survive beneath a poverty line evaluated as the cost of basic food and essential non-food items and which has been adopted as the benchmark for progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This indicator stood at 26.1% in 1990 but rose to 34.5% by the end of that decade.

The figure of 23.9% reported by the most recent household survey conducted in 2004/05 therefore implies a rate of poverty reduction which would meet the 2015 target of 13%. However, the survey draws attention to the large number of families living just above the poverty line, warning that their status is “very sensitive” to economic shocks such as food price inflation.

Prospects for achieving the wider range of MDGs in Pakistan are at best uncertain, none more so than in education where net primary enrolment remains barely over 50%, with girls lagging behind. Progress is far too slow to reach the 2015 Goal of equal and universal enrolment. Adult literacy remains just over 50% and, in rural areas, literacy of women is only 20%. Poor awareness about the MDGs amongst both public and private sectors allows the government to escape censure for inaction, for example, its exceptionally low spending on education and health which together amounts to less than 5% of GDP."

Respectfully, I submit to Your Honour to direct the federal government to make public (1) facts and figures of the current socio-economic conditions in the urban and rural areas of each province, (2) estimation/projection of the next five years of the socio-economic conditions in the urban and rural areas of each province and (3) government's short-term and long-term plans and programmes to ensure the socio-economic well-being of the people in the urban and rural areas of each province so as to comply with the provisions of Article 38.

Submitted for consideration on high priority.

signed by
Mumtaz A. Piracha
Founder & Moderator
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Tel: 042-5503936
Cell: 0300-2265424

The menace of loadshedding and no respite in sight

2009-07-24T22:29:00.001-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Jun 25, 2009 3:43 PM
subject The menace of loadshedding and no respite in sight
mailed-by gmail.com

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
Islamabad

Your Honour:

Respectfully, I submit that:

1. Minister for Water & Power, Government of Pakistan, has repeatedly stated in public that there will be NO loadshedding after Dec 2009. The documents of the past regime show estimates of deficit in supply and demand every year touching 13,651 MW by 2020.

2. WAPDA Vision 2020 Progam envisaged completion of 5 mega hydropower projects of 9500 MW by 2016 at estimated cost of US$ 20.3 billion. The projects cannot possibly be completed by 2016 when the tenders are yet to be floated, funds are yet to be committed and construction work is yet to start.

The program promises that 14 new projects are under study for producing 20,770 MW at estimated cost of US$ 32.15 billion. However, there is no public disclosure about the starting and completion dates, sources of funds, etc. Daimer-Basha Dam is to be constructed at estimated cost of US$ 11 billion to produce 4500MW but the public does not know when it will start and when it will be completed.

3. Minister of Water & Power, Govt of Pakistan, in his media conference on 31st March 2009, assured the people that the deficit in the supply and demand will be reduced to 165MW in April 2009, 800MW in June 2009 and 2500MW in Dec 2009. The present shortfall in June is estimated at over 2000 MW. Last year, we had peak shortfall of 7075MW in July. The public does'nt know what is going to happen to them in July 009.

4. According to govt sources, the installed capacity in the country stands at 19,505 MW with thermal at 12,580 MW (65%), hydel at 6,463 MW (33%) and nuclear at 462 MW (2%). Against this, the PEPCO stated in a press statement that it was producing 12,000 MW.

5. Planning Commission has estimated that the country will have demand of 19,600 MW in 2008-2009 and 21,500 MW in 2009-2010. How will the country get rid of loadshedding by Dec 2009 is hard to understand.

As the Founder of the Good Governance Forum -the Largest, the Most Diversified and the Most Globally Searched forum - I respectfully submit to Your Honour to direct the Ministry of Water and Power, Government of Pakistan, to make public:

1. The factual data of the present generating capacity of each unit in the private and public sectors, the current electricity demand in each city/region in the country, the current electricity production of each generating unit, the current electricity supply to each city/region in the country.

2. The factual data of the number of hours of loadshedding in each city/region in the country and the electricity saved from loadshedding.

3. The new generating units under construction in the private and public sectors, the production capacity of each unit, and the date of completion of each unit.

4. The planned new projects which are yet to be started for floatation of tenders, commitment of funds and launching of construction
and completion. Separate data for each planned new project needs to be made public.

5. The planned expansion of existing generating units, their production capacity, and starting and completion dates. Separate data for each project needs to be made public.

Respectfully, I submit that the loadshedding throughout the country has made the lives of domestic consumers miserable; commercial and industrial sectors are losing sales, income and profit; exporters are finding it impossible to execute export orders on time. It will certainly adversely affect the revenue generation of the federal, provincial and district governments and reduce the inflow of foreign exchange earnings.

Respectfully, I submit that while the loadshedding coupled with shutdowns for maintenance is going on for 8 to 12 hours every day, the consumer bills do not reflect the corresponding reduction in their consumption of electricity. The government has no right to enhance the electricity tariff for its consumers to pay for the inefficiency of the generating units and the line losses of the transmission and distribution companies.

Submitted for due consideration.

Signed by
Mumtaz A. Piracha
Founder & Moderator
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Tel: 042-5503936
Cell: 0300-2265424

Action Against Drone Attacks in Pakistan

2009-07-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Jun 25, 2009 2:17 PM
subject Action Against Drone Attacks in Pakistan
mailed-by gmail.com

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
Islamabad

Your Honour:

Respectfully, I reproduce below excerpts from various published articles highlighting the civilian casualties in Pakistan caused by frequent US drone attacks with total disregard of the sovereignty and independence of our homeland and the humanitarian considerations.

There are 3 key issues that needs to be addressed. First, the sovereignty and independence of Pakistan are being violated without declaring a war. Second, civilian casualties/injuries/damage of property are being caused of innocent citizens. Third, no compensation is being paid to the victims' families and/or the injured civilians for themselves and their lost/damaged properties.

As the Founder and Moderator of the Good Governance Forum--the Largest, Most Diversified, and Globally Searched platform-- I appeal to Your Honour to direct the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to agitate the issue in the United Nations and the International Court of Justice as well as other relevant forums under the international law on top priority for immediate relief and remedy.

Submitted for due consideration.

signed and issued by

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Founder/Moderator
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Tel: 042-5503936
Cell: 0300-2265424
June 25, 2009

Excerpts from published articles in the international media

"As the death toll from a US air raid on Pakistan climbs to 80, Islamabad has once again slammed Washington for attacks on its soil.

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman said such attacks undermine the country's sovereignty, adding that Islamabad made regular contacts with the US over the issue.

On Tuesday, some 80 people have been killed in what has been the deadliest US missile attack on Pakistani soil yet.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit urged the US to stop such attacks as military operations to eliminate militants in tribal areas were well proceeding, a Press TV correspondent reported.

The missiles, that left nearly 100 people injured, hit the funeral of people who were killed earlier in the day during a similar strike in the volatile region.

The US has carried out at least 35 drone attacks on Pakistan's tribal areas, killing and wounding over 500 people over the past year."

RZS/MMN

Source: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=98989§ionid=351020401

"For those who thought drones were something only seen in sc-fi movies, think again. Since October 2001 the US military has been using drones - unmanned, remotely-controlled aircraft - to gather intelligence and bomb targets in Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen. With the first operations undertaken by the smaller Predator drones, today the US is increasingly using the huge Reaper drones - "hunter-killers" with a 25-metre wingspan and up to 3000lbs of bombs that can be kept in the air for more than 40 hours by pilots working shifts at Creech airbase in Nevada. "The Reaper is a bomber in all but name", says Paul Rodgers, Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University.

According to the US Government the drones are an extremely effective tool in targeting Al-Qaeda leaders and its supporters in the semi-autonomous tribal area of north-west Pakistan. To back up this claim US officials recently leaked to the press information showing the drone strikes had killed 9 of the 20 top Al Qaeda leaders.

However, in response to the US Government's figures the Pakistani Government leaked data of its own to The News International, the second-largest English language newspaper in the country. These records revealed that out of the 60 US drone strikes that had been carried out in Pakistan since January 2006 only 10 hit their actual targets, killing 14 Al-Qaeda leaders. Meanwhile these attacks have killed 687 Pakistani civilians (about 160 of which have been killed since Obama took office according to the Los Angeles Times).

This shocking number of civilian fatalities and disgraceful targeting history has produced some unsurprising results, with the Times newspaper reporting last month that the drone attacks are "causing a massive humanitarian emergency" with "as many as 1m people" fleeing their homes "to escape attacks by the unmanned spy planes as well as bombings by the Pakistani army."

Source: http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/21492

"The drones have been used occasionally in other countries, including Yemen and Somalia. But the use of the drones in Pakistan is sustained and shows no sign of letting up. The attacks violate Pakistan's sovereignty.

Retired Army Col. Andrew Bacevich, a professor of history and international affairs at Boston University, says the U.S. needs to admit it's opened another front and another war.

"This is a war that is mostly conducted by remote control, unmanned aerial vehicles launching missiles at targets on the ground," Bacevich says. "But it is a war … that deserves very critical scrutiny by the new administration."

Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100131283

Overcrowding in prisons: Remedies

2009-07-24T22:19:00.000-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Jun 10, 2009 12:11 PM
subject Overcrowding in prisons: Remedies
mailed-by gmail.com

The Registrar
The Supreme Court of Pakistan
Islamabad

According to the news reported in the print media from time to time, there are 3-5 times more prisoners than the capacity in our jails. The latest news in 'The Nation' of 10th June reports that there 4,250 prisoners against capacity of 930 in Gujranwala Jail. In addition to the overcrowing in our jails, there are other multifarious problems in our jails relating to hygience, bathing, washrooms, food, medical care, sports, library, vocational training as well as accommodation for women prisoners and children living with them and the jouveniles.

It may take a long time to enhance the capacity and improve upon the living conditions of our jails throughout the country. As a first step, we appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to order the following measures on priority.

1. All under-trial prisoners who have served the maximum sentence of their alleged crime without being formally convicted should be released.

2. All under-trial prisoners who are accused of petty crimes and whose trial is not completed in six months from the date of their arrest should be released on bail.

3. All prisoners who are serving their sentences for petty crimes because they could not pay the fine should be released by asking the district or provincial government to pay the fine on humanitarian grounds.

4. All cases pending in courts should be thoroughly reviewed by the prosecution branch and the cases be withdrawn if those cases are too weak to stand trial and lead to conviction.

5. All cases to be filed in courts should be thoroughly reviewed by the prosecution branch and only those cases should be submitted for trial where the prosecution branch has solid evidence to prove the allegations.

In view of the heaps of cases lying in the district courts, it is suggested that the district courts should work in two shifts and working hours should be rigidly enforced.

Submitted for the kind consideration of the Supreme Court of Pakistan for appropriate action as soon as possible to bring justice to the people and relieve the prisons of overcrowding and its accompanying problems.

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Founder
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Tel: 042-5503936
Cell: 0300-2265424

Judicial Commission on Insurgency

2009-07-24T22:16:00.000-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Jun 6, 2009 4:06 PM
subject Judicial Commission on Insurgency
mailed-by gmail.com

It is so deplorable that our mainstream political party leaders including those of the PPP, PMLN, PMLQ, ANP and JUI(F) have had the courage to ask the governments in NWFP and the Centre as to what plans had been drawn for the rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons, now estimated at one million, from the territories where military operation is going on to weed out militants. The federal and the provincial governments should have had drawn plans for the evacuation and settlement of civilians BEFORE ordering military operation in the affected areas.

On behalf of the Good Governance Forum and on my own behalf, I demand establishment of a Judicial Commission on Insurgency comprising the Chief Justices of the four High Courts and the Chief Justice of Pakistan to inquire into the causes of the insurgency, loss of lives and property of the people of the affected areas, responsibility of the political governments in the whole affair, punishment for those who failed to discharge their moral, legal and constitutional obligations and compensation for all affectees as well as the infrastructure of the affected territories.

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Founder & Moderator
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Tel: 042-5503936 Cell: 0300-2265424

Appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to ban forward blocks in political parties

2009-07-24T22:14:00.001-07:00

from Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Jun 4, 2009 1:58 PM
subject Appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to ban forward blocks in political parties
mailed-by gmail.com

The Registrar
The Supreme Court of Pakistan
Islamabad

The worst manifestation of horse-trading is the formation of Forward Blocks within our political parties. Forward Blocks and the dissidents groups/factions are the legacy of the military rule as well as the legacy of the dictatorial civilian rule in Pakistan. We, as a civilized nation, should like to demand an end to the formation of Forward Blocks as the first step towards strengthening of our political system. The mandate of each political party needs to be respected and lame excuses need not be adopted to justify affiliation of the forward block of one political party with another political party.

The most despicable example of the Forward Block menace is right there before us in Punjab. Half of the ministries of the Punjab government are being retained by the Chief Minister. He cant allocate portfolios for he has to accommodate PML(N), PPP and PMLQ Forward Block etc. Every group would like to have the most lucrative ministries, I presume.

Mian Nawaz Sharif is on record having publicly stated that he is ready to sacrifice 1000 Punjab governments for the sake of his principled stand on the restoration of the deposed judges. For a leader of his stature, sacrificing just ONE government should not be a problem for the sake of eliminating the menace of horse-trading and the accompanying corruption and maladministration if he is unable to muster the support of the PPP at any given time.

I appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to ban forward blocks in the political parties in Pakistan in the larger national interest, once and for all.

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Founder & Moderator
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Tel: 042-5503936, 0300-2265424
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Appeal for Judicial Inquiry into Terrorist Attack in Lahore on May 27

2009-07-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

Good Governance Forum		hide details	Jun 4
	to			mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
	date			Jun 4, 2009 2:12 PM
	subject			Appeal for Judicial Inquiry into Terrorist Attack in Lahore on May 27
	mailed-by			gmail.com

The Registrar

Supreme Court of Pakistan

Islamabad

I appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to order a judiciary inquiry into the terrorist attack in Lahore on May 27, reportedly killing 30 and injuring 300 innocent citizens. Daily 'The Nation' has reported details of the security lapse in its issue of June 3 captioned 'Terror attack footage exposes security lapse.'

The way our police and civilian intelligence services are working, there might be many more terrorist attacks in the time ahead causing enormous loss of precious life and property. There has been three deadly terrorist attacks in Lahore in just 3 months. The public does'nt know what happened in the earlier two attacks, who were the attackers, who lapsed in their duties, what action was taken to punish the guilty officials and what measures were put in place to prevent such attacks in the future. Likewise, the public may never be able to know the truth in the case of May 27 disaster as well.

The federal and the provincial governments are still unable to plan and implement a comprehensive, professional and pragmatic security plan for the city of Lahore. Instead, the police has resorted to the traditional 'Naka Bandi' and wasteful body and vehicle searches, causing extreme hardship and loss of time to the travelling public.

Mumtaz A. Piracha

Founder & Moderator

Good Governance Forum

Pakistan

Largest Network * Most Diversified * Globally Searched

Tel: 042-5503936, Cell: 0300-2265424