Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Company responsible for Peshawar BRT’s construction gets another three projects in Islamabad

    Company responsible for Peshawar BRT’s construction gets another three projects in Islamabad

    The firm responsible for the construction of Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project that lies in limbo amid several delays and rising costs, has won the contracts for three mega projects of the federal capital by submitting the lowest bids, much below the estimated cost, The News reported.

    According to reports, Maqbool Associates-Calsons joint venture has been awarded by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) the construction of the Rawal Dam interchange (Rs1.2b, 11pc less than the estimated cost); expansion of Korang Bridge (Rs628.5m, 17pc less than the estimated cost) and the PWD Underpass (Rs420m, 19pc less than the estimated cost). These constructions will cost Rs2.248b.

    The official record shows that in its case against Shehbaz Sharif in the Ashiana Housing Scheme, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been betting on Calsons. The NAB has portrayed Calsons as a well-meaning firm that had won a contract on merit to develop the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme, but was wronged by the Shehbaz Sharif administration. The then chief minister was alleged to have secured Calsons’ Ashiana contract cancelled in order to give it to a choice party.

    Officials said Calsons came into prominence when it won the contract to remodel and widen the Kashmir Highway, a major artery of Islamabad. Because of delays, the project became a festering wound during the tenure of the last Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government in 2008-2013 and the capital’s residents faced untold hardships. The project was finally completed by the subsequent government.

    According to officials, the Calsons fell on the wrong side of the Punjab government under Shehbaz Sharif when, in 2013, the then chief minister received electronic evidence of the illegal award of the Ashiana contract to a joint venture involving Calsons by the Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC).

    Shehbaz Sharif referred the case to a committee, led by the then Punjab secretary finance Tariq Bajwa, who later became governor of the State Bank of Pakistan. The committee sought a further probe into the matter, following which Shehbaz Sharif referred the matter to the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE). Consequently, the Ashiana contract awarded to Calsons was also cancelled.

    The cancellation was done by the PLDC Board in September 2013. Calsons approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the PLDC decision. The LHC ordered arbitration as per the contract between the two parties. As a result, the contractor was awarded Rs5.9 million as compensation. Hence the first contract ended.

    Later, in 2015, Calsons was accused of wrongdoings in the Orange Line train project. Officials said that Calsons was accused of violations of contract, leading to the termination of its joint venture with Maqbool Associates. The company was blacklisted and a penalty of Rs902 million was imposed on it by the Shehbaz Sharif administration.

    According to officials, the Maqbool-Calsons joint venture made a bid for Package II (Chauburji to Ali Town) of the Orange Line. The Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMA) had entrusted the civil works of the project to the LDA. They said that the progress of work by the Maqbool-Calsons joint venture remained poor from the outset, and added that the contractor did not pay heed to repeated verbal and written instructions of the LDA and failed to meet its obligations under various contractual clauses. Resultantly, the provincial government terminated the contract and forfeited and en-cashed its bank guarantee of Rs903.289 million, the record showed.

    Officials said that Punjab administration, after terminating the contract, charged Maqbool-Calsons with violations, including refusal to hand over material (reinforcement bars, crush gravel, pre-stressing wire) worth Rs400 million, which had been purchased with the money advanced by the LDA. On the LDA’s complaint, the ACE lodged a first information report (FIR) with the police for building shorter piles. The Punjab government imposed a five-year ban on the contractors from participating in LDA tenders under Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules. It also sent a reference to the Pakistan Engineering Council seeking the blacklisting of the firm.

    When contacted, Calson owner Chaudhry Amir Latif told The News that they would complete all the three projects of the federal capital within the stipulated time. He said the company won the contracts for being the lowest bidders.

    To a question, he said that the matters relating to the Ashiana scheme have been settled and closed. Amir Latif said the issues pertaining to the Orange Line train project including the forfeiture of their bank guarantee were being looked into by arbitrators as provided in the contract. The arbitration, which is in final stages, will sort out the contention between the company and the LDA, he said.

    To another question, the Calson owner said that they have concluded the work of the Peshawar BRT assigned to them and have been issued the completion certificate.

    He said the delay in the completion of the given work was not caused by them but it occurred due to frequent changes in the design by the consultant, which consumed almost a year. In addition, he said, the land acquisition was also a major issue. He pointed out that the caretaker government had also been in place after the award of contract to them, suggesting that this interregnum also affected the pace of work.

    Amir Latif said that the government authorities have taken over the completed work of the BRT and were doing the trial run of buses. He said the COVID-19 pandemic has also been a major reason behind the non-start of the full-fledged start of the bus service.

  • ‘Tamatar lay aao’: Shoe garland for Zartaj Gul upon return to constituency after over a year

    Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul on Saturday was received by agitated constituents who reportedly forced her to leave before she could continue with her agenda of addressing them, while a shoe garland was also placed on an inauguration plaque bearing her name.

    According to media reports, the minister, who was visiting the constituency after over a year, was not allowed by the agitated constituents in Fort Monroe to sit with them or deliver her address.

    “‘Tamatar lay aao [bring the tomatoes]’ they shouted after which the police escorted her [Gul] away,” a reporter affiliated with GNN said, adding that the constituents also raised slogans against the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Sharing details of the shoe garland, he said it was placed on an inauguration plaque bearing the minister’s name in the Choti Bāla town of Dera Ghazi Khan.

    “This is not the first time a representative of the people has been treated like this by the locals for returning to the constituency after a long time,” the reporter maintained, adding that earlier a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker from Dera Ghazi Khan, Jamal Leghari, also had to face embarrassment upon his return.

    Gul has been a member of the National Assembly since August 2018 and is the first woman to be elected to the parliament from the mainly conservative Dera Ghazi Khan area of Punjab.

  • KP chief minister’s adviser removed over corruption allegations as PM orders investigation

    KP chief minister’s adviser removed over corruption allegations as PM orders investigation

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ajmal Wazir was on Saturday removed from the post of adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister (CM) on information over corruption allegations that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has ordered a probe into.

    Wazir was replaced by PTI lawmaker in the KP Assembly Kamran Bangash, who said that evidence of corruption was found against his predecessor following which the premier has ordered a high-level inquiry against the former spokesperson.

    “The CM has written a letter to the chief secretary for the inquiry and until then Wazir has been removed from the post,” Bangash, who was given the additional charge of the portfolio of Information and public relations in addition to his office of special assistant to the CM on local government, elections and rural development, told a private media outlet.

    Bangash said that an audio recording of Wazir and the owner of an advertising agency regarding commission from a deal had surfaced and was presented to PM Imran after which the orders were issued.

    A forensic report of the audio recording will also be prepared by the probing team.

    Earlier it was reported that Wazir was resigning from his post due to personal reasons. “I am unable to dispense my duties as the information adviser, therefor I am resigning from my post,” Wazir had said, adding that he had already sent his resignation to CM Mahmood Khan.

    Wazir, who belongs to Shakai valley in South Waziristan, was appointed as the adviser to the CM for information earlier this year.  He had joined the PTI just before the July 2018 general election and was earlier a member of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML).

  • Imran announces Rs30 billion subsidy for Naya Pakistan housing

    Imran announces Rs30 billion subsidy for Naya Pakistan housing

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has announced Rs30 billion in subsidy for his government’s flagship Naya Pakistan housing scheme project in line with helping the underprivileged class build their own homes.

    Addressing the nation after chairing a meeting of the National Coordination Committee on Housing, Construction, and Development, PM Imran on Friday said the scheme was aimed at the “working class, the welder, the small shop owner, who do not have a lot of money to build their own houses”.

    “The goal of the Naya Pakistan housing scheme was to construct houses for this strata of the society, which doesn’t have cash.”

    “We faced many hindrances while launching the scheme due to some existing legislation, such as the foreclosure law, which allows banks not to lend out money without a confirmation of repayment.”

    “[However] despite a lot of hurdles, we were successful in passing the law for Pakistan, which is now implemented around the world,” he said.

    The prime minister also spoke of the construction sector, saying it faced a lot of obstacles, but that the NCC had worked on formulating policies for its revival.

    “We have decided to revive our economy with housing and construction industry so that people can get jobs and we can generate revenue in times of global recession and pandemic,” he noted.

    “I, myself, will preside this meeting every week to supervise the working and progress of the committee regarding the Naya Pakistan housing scheme.”

    “We only have time till December 31 to provide incentives to the construction industry,” he added.

    PM Imran explained that under the Naya Pakistan housing scheme, Rs30 billion had been allocated as a subsidy, which would translate into Rs300,000 for each of the 100,000 households during the first phase of the programme.

    A 5% interest is levied on a five-marla house and 7% for 10-marla, he noted. “We have also directed the SBP [State Bank of Pakistan] to keep 5% of the portfolio for the construction industry, which is calculated to be Rs330 billion,” he said.

  • Shah Mahmood Qureshi rubbishes rumours of his death after Wikipedia page edited

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi rubbishes rumours of his death after Wikipedia page edited

    Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who contracted COVID-19 last week, has rubbished rumours of his death after his Wikipedia profile was edited, and said there was no truth to them.

    In a statement issued on Thursday, the Foreign Office (FO) said that “mischievous” elements had edited Qureshi’s profile on the site. “Many complications were created, and it caused distress to my loved ones and family members,” FM Qureshi said in a separate statement, adding that he also started receiving phone calls.

    “There is no truth to these reports, and I am doing well,” he said.

    While Qureshi did not specify the changes that were made, the page’s history showed that the edits were made on July 5 to reflect that the foreign minister had died on July 4.

    “We strongly condemn attempts by mischievous elements to hack [the] Wikipedia page of the foreign minister and spread rumours on social media about his health and well-being,” said FO spokesperson Aisha Farooqui in a tweet.

    “By the grace of Almighty Allah, [Qureshi] is recovering fast. Everyone’s prayers, from Pakistan and abroad, are deeply appreciated.”

    The FM had tested positive for coronavirus on July 3 and announced quarantining himself.

  • VIDEO: PPP leader tries to hit Murad Saeed with headphones in National Assembly

    In yet another unusual occurrence in the National Assembly, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Shazia Soomro on Thursday tossed her headphones towards Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Federal Minister for Communication and Postal Services Murad Saeed as the latter read out the confessional statement of Lyari gang war kingpin Uzair Baloch, who was allegedly affiliated with the PPP.

    As per the details, the minister, during the session of the Lower House, delivered a speech on the joint investigation team (JIT) report related to criminal gang war leader Baloch. In its response, Soomro attempted to hit him with her headphones but missed.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://twitter.com/Khaista90/status/1281153858522288128

    Earlier, while addressing the assembly, Saeed read out the confessional statement and said the Lyari gang war kingpin harassed people around Bilawal House and vacated 40 houses.

    “Uzair Baloch used three police officers and a mobile phone in a murder,” he said, adding that Baloch had confessed that extorted money, as well as that obtained through other illegal means, was transferred to former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur.

    Earlier, the Sindh government made public the JIT reports on infamous Lyari gang war leader Baloch, Baldia Factory tragedy and Nisar Morai.

    JIT report of Lyari gang war leader Uzair Baloch consists of 36 pages that include the names of dozens of accomplices, including Ahkhana, Habib Jan, Habib Hassan, Saif Ali and Noor Mohammad. According to the report, Baloch has also confessed to killing 198 people.

  • Metro, causing ‘Rs3.6 million loss a day’, remains shut for over three months

    Metro, causing ‘Rs3.6 million loss a day’, remains shut for over three months

    The Punjab Mass-Transit Authority’s (PMA) deficit has reached Rs375 million due to the closure of the metro bus service for 105 days while officials believe that a single-day shutdown of metro bus causes a loss of Rs3.6 million, Pakistan Today reported.

    According to reports, while no decision has been taken to restore the service by the government so far, the Punjab government had earlier also cut subsidy of PMA by Rs1 billion and the fourth quarter’s funds were not fully released in the last fiscal year (2019-2020).

    “Due to non-issuance of funds, there have been problems in payment to contractors,” reports quoted officials as saying.

    They lamented that the government’s policies were beyond understanding as it had allowed intra-city and inter-city transport to operate but had not yet restored the metro bus service since after the first coronavirus lockdown.

    “An average of 130,000 commuters were benefiting from the metro bus service daily. The authority is currently facing the worst financial crisis. No strategy has been formulated to restore the financial damages nor has it been decided how the foreign company which is operating the metro bus will be supported.”

    Due to the outbreak of coronavirus, the Punjab government had decided to close Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan metro bus service in March. However, local transporters were later allowed to operate inter and intra-bus service while following certain guidelines.

    The report also quoted sources in the Punjab government as claiming that the metro bus service was a white elephant. “The service had been subsidised by the previous government but it is very difficult for the present government to subsidise the bus service further.”

    PMA General Manager (Operations) Uzair Shah said the decision to reactivate the bus service would be taken by the Punjab government whereas no order had so far come from the government. “The authority is facing problems due to non-receipt of subsidy,” he added while also requesting the government to release funds.

  • Jadhav refuses Pakistan’s offer to challenge conviction in IHC

    Jadhav refuses Pakistan’s offer to challenge conviction in IHC

    While refusing Pakistan’s offer to file an appeal in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against his conviction, Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav has decided to apply for a mercy petition, the Foreign Office (FO) has said.

    Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel — a serving commander of the Indian Navy associated with Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) — was arrested on March 3, 2016, from Balochistan while attempting to crossover into Pakistan through the country’s border with Iran. Subsequently, in April 2017, a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) handed him death sentence on charges of espionage and terrorism.

    In a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Ahmed Irfan and Director General (DG) (South Asia & SAARC) Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry said that an ordinance was promulgated by the government on May 20, which allowed the Indian government, Jadhav and his legal representative to file a review petition in IHC within 60 days, which expire on July 19.

    According to Dawn, they said Indian authorities had requested to appoint an Indian lawyer to advocate for Jadhav but if an appeal is filed in the IHC, only a lawyer that holds a license of the respective court would be able to represent the spy. Therefore, an Indian lawyer cannot advocate for the convicted spy but they may be allowed to assist Jadhav’s counsel.

    The Pakistani government had allowed consular access to Jadhav twice in the past and has offered to do so again, the officials said. Authorities have also offered to arrange Jadhav’s meeting with his father and wife, they added. The AAG and DG (South Asia & SAARC) expressed hope that the Indian government will respond positively to this offer.

    Both officials recalled that Pakistan had earlier allowed Jadhav’s mother and wife to meet him and said that the government had complied with the verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) passed last year.

    They said Pakistan had provided evidence of Indian state terrorism to the international community multiple times and will continue to do so.

  • Kamran Khan claims Punjab CM Buzdar ‘skipped interview to avoid tough questions’

    Kamran Khan claims Punjab CM Buzdar ‘skipped interview to avoid tough questions’

    Senior journalist and analyst Kamran Khan has claimed that Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar “skipped a scheduled interview with him after some tough questions were shared with Buzdar’s team beforehand”, drawing a strong reaction from the government as officials explained the “real story” behind the postponement.

    “CM Usman Buzdar wanted me to interview him and it was scheduled for today. Moments before the recording, he and his team disappeared. They had sought the topics [to be discussed during the interview] beforehand, which were shared, and we even told them the questions,” the journalist tweeted while also sharing the questions that he said Buzdar “couldn’t deal with”.

    Kamran, who is visibly irritated ever since he was ditched, also tweeted a video likening Buzdar to “the student with whom all questions are shared before the exam and is even promised grace marks for every right answer but still cuts and runs from the examination hall”.

    But the journalist’s claims did not sit very well with officials of the Punjab government.

    “Both you and your producer were called at 5:40 pm today and requested to reschedule the interview because CM Buzdar had to chair an emergency law and order meeting. Rescheduling an interview is not that big a deal,” Focal Person to Punjab CM on Digital Media Azhar Mashwani tweeted in response to Kamran’s claims on Monday.

    He went on to say that CM Buzdar had addressed dozens of press conferences wherein he had dealt with all sorts of difficult questions. “This overreaction on a rescheduling request is beyond my understanding.”

    Mashwani on Tuesday also tweeted a video of Buzdar chairing a similar meeting a day later as well:

    Kamran, however, hit back with the screenshot of a message that was sent to Buzdar’s team around 6:30 pm on Monday.

    While Twitterati are divided on claims made by both sides, what is that you think? Let The Current know in the comments.

  • Parliament approves law allowing army men to contest elections

    Parliament approves law allowing army men to contest elections

    Egypt’s parliament on Monday approved amendments allowing active or former military personnel to run for the presidency and parliament pending the army’s approval, AFP reported.

    The legislative changes come a year after Egyptians overwhelmingly voted in favour of constitutional amendments that potentially allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a former army chief, to stay on until 2030.

    Since it became a modern republic, all but two of Egypt’s presidents have hailed from a military background.

    The army is highly visible in Egypt’s public life, with former top brass currently serving as ministers and heading governorates as well.

    The nationalist institution boasts a sizeable business portfolio ranging from massive construction projects to most recently producing protective masks.

    Sisi, the former general-turned-president, led the army’s overthrow of elected president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 following mass protests against the Islamist leader’s rule.

    He won his first term as president in 2014 and was re-elected in March 2018 with more than 97 percent of the vote, after standing virtually unopposed.

    The amended law also prohibits officers from divulging information during their service publicly or joining political parties without the Supreme Council of Armed Forces’ permission.

    SCAF is a military council comprised of the country’s most senior generals. It ruled Egypt following the toppling of long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

    A former chief of staff of the armed forces, Sami Anan, was jailed in January 2018 after contesting the presidential elections against Sisi without the military’s explicit approval.

    He was released nearly two years later.

    A military court jailed another former soldier in December 2017 for six years for announcing his decision to enter the presidential race as a potential candidate in a video he posted on YouTube.