Bhutta quits as chief info commissioner
Chief Information Commissioner Naseer Ahmad Bhutta has resigned after serving the office for two weeks. The Punjab government had notified Bhutta as chief information commissioner after he resigned as head of the PML-N Lawyers Forum and additional attorney general of Pakistan a couple of weeks ago. He has sent his resignation to party head Nawaz Sharif, but it has yet to be accepted. A source at PML-N Lawyers Forum said that after Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification as prime minister, a Punjab government office bearer called on Bhutta and asked him to resign from Lawyers Forum and office of the additional attorney general. Bhutta resigned and the Punjab government appointed him CIC against a vacant slot. The CIC draws pay and perks of MP1 scale, Rs324,000 salary per month. Moreover, he draws Rs95,910 against monetisation, Rs142,000 as house rent, Rs16,100 as utility bills and medical allowance equal to a grade-22 officer. On the other hand, Bhutta was drawing Rs600,000 as additional attorney general of Pakistan. After resuming his office, Bhutta issued notices to various parties, but could not issue the cases. Moreover, his appointment as CIC was challenged in the LHC. When former prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned from abroad, he might have directed Bhutta to resign as chief information commissioner and actively participate in the lawyers forum. –JAVED IQBAL
15 held in Data Darbar police limits
Fifteen suspects were taken into custody during search operation conducted by police in areas adjacent to Data Darbar in Lahore late Monday. Lower Mall DSP Wasim Dar led the operation on the directives of City SP Adil Memon. Police carried out search operation at Mela Ram Road, Zaildar Road, rest houses and hotels in the jurisdiction of Data Darbar police limits. The arrested persons were being grilled.–INP
Two found dead
A 30-year-old man was found dead on a footpath in Badami Bagh police precincts Tuesday morning. The deceased was identified as Muhammad Bilal from Gujranwala. He was a labouer, police said, adding that some passersby spotted the body at Haideri Chowk.and alerted the police by phone. A police officer said they believe the man was ‘poisoned’ by unidentified swindlers. police were investigating the death. Meanwhile, city police recovered the body of a drug addict from Lorry Adda police area. The body was shifted to the morgue. An official the man was lying dead near the bus-stand as they reached the spot.–Staff Reporter
NPT raises voice for Pak water rights
The Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust (NPT) organised a seminar titled “Facts of Indian Water Aggression” at the Pakistan Workers Movement Hall on Tuesday. Addressing the seminar, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) President Zia Shahid said India was violating the Indus Water Treaty, but the world had turned a blind eye to this issue. “The treaty is aimed at using the water of rivers for agriculture, drinking and environment protection. The Delhi administration has constructed dams on these rivers,” he said, adding that India was misleading the world on the treaty, depriving Pakistan of its right to water. He said India was violating the international laws formulated at the 1970 International Water Convention. He said that southern Punjab was the most affected area, as India had used the River Sutlej water to irrigate Cholistan. He urged the participants to launch a movement for water rights to keep the issue alive. He called for construction of Kala Bagh Dam and took a swipe at people doing propaganda against the dam. NPT Chairman Rafiq Tarar urged authorities to raise voice for Pakistani water rights and devise a strategy to overcome the crisis. NPT Secretary Shahid Rasheed urged the media to highlight the issue. –Staff Reporter
