KARACHI: Sindh Government has dispatched ten boats to Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa for the shifting of flood affected people to safer places.

According to an announcement here Friday, these boats have been despatched on the instructions of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

ISLAMABAD: The US Ambassador to Pakistan, Anne W. Patterson, Friday announced that as an initial response to the floods in Pakistan, the US government is immediately making seven helicopters available to assist the government in its relief efforts.

“The heavy monsoon rains have caused much suffering,” said Ambassador Patterson, adding “we are working with Pakistan”s government to review urgent humanitarian needs and hope to announce additional assistance very soon.”

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday upheld decisions against three legislators, two among them belonging to Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and declared them disqualified for possessing fake degrees and concealing facts and showing corrupt practices during 2008 general elections.

The Election Commission of Pakistan was directed to proceed against the disqualified legislators under the law laid down in its decision on Rizwan Gill and for violating Representation of Peoples Act 1976.

The ECP was also asked to make arrangements for holding by-elections on these constituencies under relevant election provisions.

However, the Higher Education Commission was ordered to verify the educational qualifications and authenticity of his Sanad of Molvi Mohammad Sarwar of JUI-F Balochistan minister for labour and manpower and submit a report till August 13.

Those whose appeals were dismissed by the apex Court included Haji Mudassar Qayyum Nehra of PML-N who was elected from NA-100 Gujranwala, Malik Yasir Raza PML-N MPA from PP-13 Rawalpindi and Mir Zahoor Hussain Khan Khoso, MPA elect from PB-26 Jaffarabad-II Balochistan.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalil ur Rehman Ramday heard separate pleas filed by these ex-members against verdicts of election tribunals.

In June, an election tribunal, comprising Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh of the Lahore High Court had disqualified PML-N MNA from NA-100 Gujranwala, Haji Mudassar Qayyum Nahra, for obtaining a graduation degree by concealing facts.

Nahra had won the MNA seat in 2008 general election as an independent candidate but later he had joined the PML-N. His credentials were challenged by Chaudhry Bilal Ijaz, a runner up candidate of the PML-Q.
Malik Yasir Raza had filed appeal against a decision of LHC Rawalpindi Bench over issue of possession of fake degree.

On June 30, Justice Khwaja Imtiaz Ahmed of LHC”s Rawalpindi bench in a short order had declared him disqualified on a petition filed by Ishtiaq Mirza, a PPP candidate.

The petition had challenged the validity of Raza”s Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) obtained from the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education in 1995 and graduation degree and matriculation certificate.

The HEC had submitted its report with the apex court over the Sanad obtained by Zahoor Hussain Khosa, MPA from Balochistan which was not recognized by it.

The same bench also remanded election pleas on NA: 263 Loralai-cum-Mashkhal-cum-Barkhan, PB-17 Barkhan, PB-20 Killa Saifullah and PB-60 to concerned election tribunals of the province.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force is actively participating in the ongoing rescue/relief operation being conducted in the flood affected areas of Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa.

In this regard, C-130 aircraft of PAF have transported 30 small/medium size boats from PAF Base Faisal (Karachi) to PAF Academy Risalpur to be used in flood affected areas of the province.

Around 1000 IDPs have been rescued from adjacent areas of Risalpur and are sheltered inside PAF Academy wherein they are being provided shelter, food and complete medical assistance.

The entire PAF fleet of C-130 aircraft is on high alert for carrying out immediate relief sorties whenever required. In addition, two helicopters of PAF have been handed over to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to participate in the rescue/relief operations in the affected areas.

Additionally an MI-17 helicopter of PAF has also been dispatched from Karachi to Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa to participate in the ongoing relief operations.

LAHORE: Pakistan Army has been called in for meeting an eventuality on war footings arising out of flash flood and torrential rains in Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab and Rajanpur districts besides forthwith evacuation of marooned and stranded affectees by army helicopters.

Provincial Relief Commissioner, Akhlaq Ahmad Tarar said that on the special directive of the Chief Minister Punjab, the services of troops of Pakistan Army have been acquired for effectively carrying out rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.

He said that entire relevant staff of different provincial departments including Divisional Commissioners and DCOs have been put on high alert to fully ensure the prompt relief to affectees.

When contacted Inspector General of Police Punjab, Tariq Saleem Dogar said that all Regional and District Police Officers of the affected areas had already been directed to deploy armed police contingents in flood and rain affected areas for security and protection to the aggrieved people and ensure round the clock patrolling in and around the river embankments and riverine areas.

LAHORE: Former Amir Jamat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed Friday demanded of the government to declare emergency in the flood-hit areas and take all necessary steps towards protecting the life and property of the victims.

Addressing an emergency press conference here at Mansoora, Qazi Hussain said the stranded people are awaiting help on the rooftops of houses and mosques. If emergency rescue and relief work is not carried out with the help of helicopters their lives and properties could be put at serious risk of damage, he feared.

He said when he tried to contact the high ups, he was told that the President, Prime Minister, governors and chief ministers were all taking rest after holding a high level meeting and that they could not be put through.