Areeb, martyr of Christchurch, laid to rest

KARACHI: The body of Syed Areeb Ahmed, one of the nine Pakistanis martyred on March 15 in the terrorist attacks on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, was brought to the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Monday. Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani and Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar received the body at the the airport. Later, Areeb’s father and a cousin took it to Areeb’s house in Federal B Area under tight security. Emotional scenes were witnessed as the body arrived and was received at the airport.

Areeb was one of the courageous persons who confronted the terrorist as he opened fire inside one of the mosques. He embraced martyrdom trying to save the lives of others. Speaking on the occasion, the governor lauded the New Zealand prime minister and her government for expressing solidarity with the Muslim community. Areeb has given a message to the world that Islam is a peace-loving religion and is against any kind of terrorism, Ismail remarked.

Sindh Local Government Saeed Ghani declared Areeb as a very brave person who sacrificed his life. The local government minister said the provincial government would extend all possible support to the family. The mayor termed the Christchurch carnage a tragic incident and showered praise on New Zealand's prime minister. Akhtar also called for imposing a ban on firearms in Pakistan to avert such incidents. It is the need of the hour that world is free of weapons, he said.

The funeral prayers for Areeb were offered at the Sangam Ground after which he was laid to rest at the Sakhi Hassan Graveyard. The prayers were attended by hundreds of mourners. The funeral prayers were also attended by members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s Rabita Committee, Dr Farooq Sattar and PML-N. Speaking after the funeral, former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair suggested that a university be named after Areeb.

Rs15 bn used by Sindh Coal Authority: SC orders Sindh CM to submit audit report

By Jamal Khurshid

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday directed Sindh chief minister to submit audit report about the utilisation of over Rs15 billion development funds allocated to the Sindh Coal Authority for completion of projects.

Hearing suo motu case against corrupt elements working on deputation in the Sindh Coal Authority, the Supreme Court ’s two-member bench headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed took exception to non-compliance of the court directives and asked the advocate general where Rs15 billion allocated to SCA has been utilised. The court observed that despite spending billions of rupees, the people of Thar could not get clean drinking water.

The court observed that it is responsibility of the government to provide basic necessities of life however the funds allocated for the development projects were not utilised properly and misused. The court observed that the Sindh Coal Authority was allocated funds worth Rs105,906,940,000 for implementing and executing projects and schemes but it has no achievement to show for record. The court directed the Sindh CM to submit audit report about the use of funds by the Sindh Coal Authority in one month.

The SC on March 24, 2017 had declared the Sindh Coal Authority dysfunctional since it was working without a functional board for last several years and ordered the Chief Secretary to conduct inquiry into all the projects undertaken by the Sindh Coal Authority and the Special Initiative Department. The court had observed that the Sindh Coal Authority was established to explore, develop, process, mine and utilize coal, however, it undertook activities which the Act does not permit, and that too without the approval of its Board. Instead, the two organisations are spending billions of rupees on the directions of a small clique while avoiding and circumventing established methods of checks and balances which is a matter of grave public concern, the court had observed. The court directed the Sindh government to transfer all such projects and schemes executed or being implemented by the SCA other than exploration and utilizing of coal, to the relevant government department.