Govt releases ADP report on RPP

The government released on Friday the Asian Development Bank report on rental power projects (RPPs) which highlights major inconsistencies and weaknesses in the contracts, violation of procurement and regulatory procedures, lack of available capacity utilisation and up to 87 per cent increase in customer tariff in two years.

The Ministry of Water and Power, which released the report, has tried to challenge observations made in the report through an addendum, saying the ADB disregarded some of the losses the economy suffered because of loadshedding.

The report said the addition of even 14 RPPs would not eliminate the loadshedding. “Overall, rental service agreements are weak in their legal structure, do not balance the risk sharing between the seller and the buyer and have many inconsistencies.” The ADB suggested that about 2,000MW of electricity could have been utilised from within the existing system through full-capacity utilisation (of 997MW closed plants) and energy conservation measures (1,300MW). The report said that RPPs would put an additional financial burden of up to Rs207 billion on the government. The ADP did not clear eight RPPs on merit, as implied by certain quarters, but gave the go-head as a fait accompli because of already signed contract and payment of mobilisation advance.

The report said: “From customer perspective, under the no-RPP scenario, in fiscal 2011 they will face a tariff of Rs9.23 (from current Rs5.54), an increase of 67 per cent in two years. With 14 RPPs, tariff increases by 80 per cent to Rs9.96. In case of eight RPPs, the tariff increases by 75 per cent to Rs9.68. The low gas scenario is the worst from customer perspective as tariff in this case increases by 87 per cent to Rs10.33 with 14 RPPs. “However, this scenario is based on exchange rate of Rs83.55 a dollar, fuel price of Rs44,818 per ton, gas price of Rs333 per mmbtu and if the government did not provide subsidy as committed with the International Monetary Fund.”

The report said that original RPPs were based on advance payment of seven per cent, but the post-bid addition of standby letters of credit (SBLC) changed the financial situation in favour of RPPs. “Since RPPs are emergency measures where time is premium, it would have been prudent for the buyer to investigate the cost of confirmation before offering SBLC to the market and definitely before making down payment. This changed the situation and “weakened the government’s negotiating position with bidders and a new security package of 14 per cent advance down payment combined with an annual renewable GoP (government of Pakistan) guarantee to cover the buyers obligations, other than fuel payments which are covered under a separate SBLC was provided.”

The report said the provision of GoP guarantee and a high down payment-post bid was a major change under any prudent procurement guidelines as it changed the financial, equity and project risk profile in favour for RPPs. Had the revised arrangements been taken to the market, the government would have gotten better terms. “This, combined with the acceptance of unsolicited bids, diluted the transparency, competition and equal treatment that an international competitive bidding process is in intended to ensure.”

The ADB said that against National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) rules, generation companies had sought its approval of power procurement contracts with RPPs-post contract signing, “raising questions about the process”. The resolution of the SBLC issue contributed to delays and derailed a major objective to have rental power in place by the end of Dec 2009. “In fact no RPP has been commissioned to date”.

Two RPPs installed in 2006 had mostly remained off-line, the ADP said. The report said that performance guarantees obtained from RPPs were not uniform, were lower than the standards and inadequate to cover penalties because these were charged against future payments. In the tariff setting too, the hands of Nepra were tied and infringed on its powers and jurisdiction. “Contrary to the rules, Gencos (generation companies) did not obtain approval from Nepra of terms of the contract before signing. By applying for approval after signing a contract and when project is advanced it is forcing Nepra’s hand and also raises question of transparency, encroachment on Nepra’s mandate to ensure affordable and sustainable power supply.”

The report said about 997MW of installed IPPs’ unutilised capacity could be brought into the system that remained out of the system due to contractual and administrative reasons, while addition of energy-saver bulbs could also reduce loadshedding by 1,133MW. The two steps together could bring peak loadshedding to 850MW even without an RPP.

The report also revealed that rental tariff of 11 of 14 contracted RPPs ranged between 18 and 22.24 cents per unit, and one each of 15.60 cents, 9.5 cents and 8.5 cents per unit. The last three RPPs are based on gas and the others on furnace oil and hence could go up or down with fluctuation in oil prices.

“With a 14 per cent down payment and limited bank guarantee, major concern is that the RPP sponsor may abandon the project in the event that the plant runs into difficulties…In case for RPPs with five years contract, the sponsor would have recovered his investment in three years, he would have made comfortable return and still own the government part of the down payment. The seller could thus abandon the project rather than face penalties and the plant would not offer any collateral.

It is noted that neither the request for proposal nor the rental agreement refers to the import policy order provisions on used/second-hand power plants.”

The report said the credibility of the process also suffered because of inclusion of unsolicited proposals, especially based on gas because they were free to offer different fuels. However, to expect bidders to arrange for gas whose allocation is controlled and regulated by the government restricted competition.

“If gas was available it should have been transparently included in invitations under the bidding. There is one unsolicited gas plant which has become effective.”

According to the report, the third-party review also highlighted the need to take an integrated look at the energy sector given that the current crisis to a large extent was fuel crisis caused by unexpected and unmitigated increase in furnace oil prices and delays in finding a substitute for depleting domestic gas supplies because gas shortage increased the cost of power and lowered efficiency and capacity for plants designed to run on gas.

“The available gas needs to be optimised for maximum economic benefit.” It said the report predominately relied on data and information provided by the government and its agencies and its findings were shared with the government during periodic reporting and consultation to confirm the direction of the study and facilitate early awareness and decision-making. (Daily Dawn)

Sindh PA urges Punjab to scrap power project

Sindh PA urges Punjab to scrap power project

Karachi, Jan 28: The Sindh Assembly on Thursday strongly opposed a proposed 44MW power plant at Chashma-Jehlum Link Canal by the Punjab government and urged the federal government abandon the project immediately.

The Sindh Assembly adopted the resolution unanimously. The resolution reads as “The Punjab government has proposed a 44MW power plant at the tail of the Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal to be operated by a private party. The Sindh government has been opposing this project as it is detrimental to the interest of the province and will add to the already acute water shortage being faced by the province.

Nepra (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority) and the Ministry of Water and Power (including the federal minister for water and power) have been made aware of Sindh government’s reservations by the government.

The honourable chief minister has also apprised the honorable prime minister of the objections of the government regarding the project. However, it appears that Nepra is continuing consideration of the project. Therefore, this assembly resolves and recommends to the government to approach the federal government and once again apprise them of the strong opposition of the people of Sindh to this project, which is detrimental to the interest of the people of Sindh, and convey to the federal government that this project is not acceptable to the people of Sindh and should be immediately shelved as Sindh has been facing acute shortage of water.”

Zardari signs bill on women's workplace harassment

KARACHI, Jan 29: President Zardari on Friday signed the 'Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill 2009' which the parliament adopted on January 21.

The bill was signed during a ceremony at the Chief Minister’s residence in Karachi.
The objective of the bill is to create a safe working environment for women, free of harassment, abuse and intimidation.

The bill was part of a comprehensive bill originally moved by former information minister Sherry Rehman when she held the additional portfolio of Women’s Development.
The House had passed the punishment section of the bill in November 2009, which was also adopted recently by the Senate. — DawnNews

LB polls in four months- President Zardari

Karachi Jan 28: President Asif Ali Zardari thwarting the deadlock between the coalition partners in Sindh, PPP-MQM, announced to hold local bodies election in Sindh within next four months.

President Asif Zardari addressing a ceremony of distribution free houses to poor women in the CM House announced that local bodies election will be held within next four months. This shows deadlock between PPP- MQM on appointment of administrators and holding local bodies election has comes to an end with the interference of the President.

A bill to amend Sindh local government ordinance will be tabled in the Sindh Assembly during the on-going session.

President also inaugurated of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical College Lyari and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto cardiac Institute Lyari general Hospital in the CM House.

India to free 175,000 prisoners

NEW DELHI: India is to free nearly 200,000 people held in state prisons awaiting trial — some of whom have already spent more time behind bars than they would have if convicted.

Federal Law Minister Veerappa Moily said on Monday at least 175,000 of more than 250,000 remand prisoners — known as “undertrials” — would be freed in response to human rights campaigns for people lost in the judicial system. “We want to dispose of as many as two thirds of the undertrial cases by July 31,” Moily told reporters.

India’s National Crime Records Bureau said last year a quarter of a million people facing trial — or 70 per cent of the prison population — were being held in 1,276 state-run jails across India. It said 96 per cent were male. Moily said the releases would include some detained foreigners. “But the law of the land would prevail in such cases as the matter also relates to extradition and other sensitive issues,” he said.—AFP (Dawn)

Nato, Russia re-launched military cooperation

BRUSSELS, Jan 26: Nato and Russia rel-aunched military ties on Tuesday, with senior officers meeting for the first time since the high-level talks were frozen over Moscow’s war with Georgia in 2008, a spokesman said.

In a first contact, Russian chief of staff Nikolai Makarov held talks with the head of the alliance’s military committee, Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, before joining the full committee for a so-called Nato-Russia Council. The council is the highest level forum for relations between the two.

The focus of the talks was cooperation on Afghanistan, Di Paola’s spokesman said. Nato and Russia have already reached agreement on the transit of non-lethal supplies across Russian territory by rail for the operation in Afghanistan, where Nato is struggling to hold off a Taliban-led insurgency.

The two are also discussing whether to broaden that accord to include other kinds of equipment, including weaponry, and they are trying to finalise a separate air transit agreement. On Dec 4, Nato and Russian foreign ministers announced their intention to re-launch relations, including military ties, which have also been strained over missile defence, arms pacts and the recognition of Kosovo.

Ahead of the Nato-Russia Council, the 28-member military alliance held talks with Ukraine, whose outgoing government aspires to join Nato but whose public is opposed. Despite not being a member, Ukraine is a major contributor to Nato military missions.—AFP (courtesy-Dawn)

Flaws in the judgment

By Asma Jahangir

The Supreme Court (SC) has spoken and the nation must bow its head. The chief justice has asked members of the bar to pray for the judiciary. This too must be respected, as the Almight alone can resuce those who wish to destroy themselves.

There is open friction between the ruling party and the court. By not restoring the SC judges earlier and letting Justice Dogar run amok with the law, the government lost face.
On the other hand, after a historical struggle for establishing the rule of law, the judiciary was expected to be above reproach in a political atmosphere of nepotism and incompetence. Woefully, that was not to be.

First came the judgment penalising the post Nov 3 PCO judges while ignoring the illegal takeover of Musharraf. This was followed by a host of undesirable suo motu actions.
Then came a request from the Supreme Court to appoint an ad hoc judge to the bench. The judges case clearly frowned upon such appointments, unless absolutely essential. Article 182 is also clear that such a request is made under special circumstances and needs presidential approval.

Further, seniority in elevations was ignored. The bar had strongly and rightly criticised Musharraf for letting the chief justice of the Lahore High Court rule the roost, while judges junior to him were being elevated to the SC. Arbitrary appointments erode the independence of the judiciary.

At the very least the judiciary is expected to be impartial. That too is suspect, as seen in the NRO judgment. Throughout, the NRO judgment has assumed the guilt of those who benefited from it. Courts are bound to presume a party innocent until found guilty. In paragraph 43 the judgment reproduces portions from a book by Benazir Bhutto, traces the reasons for the promulgation of the NRO and concludes that the ordinance had benefited only criminals and corrupt public office holders.

It then mentions how money plundered by Marcos of the Philippines and Sani Abacha of Nigeria was brought back from foreign banks. Once again, the court jumps to conclusion, glossing over the fact that both Marcos and Abacha were unelected rulers whose downfall did not start with judicial activism. Marcos was overthrown by the people and Abacha’s family was charged with money laundering after his death.

Throughout the almost 300 pages of the detailed NRO judgment a finger is pointed towards the president — but there’s hardly any mention of the immunity he enjoys under Article 248 of the constitution.

The SC, through its judgment, confirms that the Government of Pakistan spent Rs660m to Rs2bn to recover $60m laundered abroad. This constitutes an indictment of the institution of the judiciary which allowed these cases to fester for so many years with large amounts of money being spent under its very nose. This amount could not have been spent by Musharraf for his aversion to corruption but for victimising Benazir Bhutto. This lends credence to the PPP’s claim that it alone has been subjected to a witch hunt.

Throughout the judgment the SC has emphasised Article 62 of the constitution and shown keenness to disqualify holders of public office. While discussing the insertion of Section 33 F in the NAB ordinance, the judgment argues that by avoiding conviction through the misuse of law those with the stigma of corruption attached to them could not become members of parliament.
Meanwhile, the use of Articles 62 and 63 are justified as they remain a part of the constitution despite being recognised as obnoxious additions by dictators. If we are to turn over a new leaf in our political history, then to plead that that legacy of dictators that suits us will be accepted and the one that hurts us will not is a lame defence.

Stoning to death and amputation of limbs are valid punishments but their implementation would outrage public sentiment. It is shocking that even some stalwarts of civil liberties defended the use of Article 63 on the premise that it existed in the constitution — a pity that hatred for an individual should drive one to negate all that they painfully fight for all their lives!
Morality and religion are preached throughout the judgment. Article 227 has received its own share of prominence but the judgment cautions overzealous litigants not to expect the courts to strike down a law on the touchstone of this article.

The court tries to explain that observations relating to the application of Article 227 and to the “morality and conscience of the constitution” are only supportive observations. Yet, the substantive part of the judgment declares the NRO void ab initio being ultra vires and violative of Article 227 and others.

The judgment has relied heavily on the principle of maintaining the trichotomy of power. Taking away the powers of the courts to declare people guilty or otherwise would infringe upon the judicial domain. Yet, the SC has challenged the domain of the president to promulgate an ordinance without satisfying the apex court that advice given for its enactment was sound enough.

It also limits the powers of the legislature for enactments that will not stand the stiff test of law, morality and religion. Oddly, the superior judiciary has not so jealously guarded its domain when civilians are tried by military courts. The SC endorsed the judgment of the Lahore High Court disallowing a petition by a civilian sentenced to death by a military court. As for the others the trichotomy of powers as laid down in the NRO judgment translates into what is theirs is theirs and what is theirs is also ours.

The NRO judgment cannot be all about the evil in Asif Zardari. It must be seen on its own. It is a reminder of the time when the military’s illegal acts against Nawab Akbar Bugti were being tolerated because the latter was an unsavoury person. A number of well-meaning but misled individuals joined the official chorus in demonising Bugti who was being hounded by the military.

The nawab was no saint but the manner in which he was preyed upon and eventually killed turned him into a martyr and gave rise to multiple insurgent groups in Balochistan.

President Zardari, too, is far from blameless but he is not the only one who is so in the system — and he has been elected. His indiscretions ought to be criticised and removing him through constitutional means would not distress too many people. But circumventing all norms of the rule of law to get him would drown us too. (Courtesy- Daily Dawn)

River Indus day Observed

Karachi: Jan 25: Acute water shortage forced the people of Sindh to observe River Indus Day by offering prayers, singing songs and showering rose petals in the dry bed of Sindh Darya.

The call to observe River Indus Day was given by a Sindhi Channel, KTN and was received by all the people living in Sindh with open arms. All the political parties such as PPP, MQM, ANP and nationalist parties supported the call and participated in the programs to pay respect to River Indus which is considered to be life line of Sindh’s agro-economy.

The River Inuds day mobilized people and fostered unity and brotherhood among them by supporting the same cause.

Correct Timing to Drink Water

• 2 glasses of water 30 minutes before meal will help digestion;
• 1 glass after you wake up helps activate internal organs;
• 1 glass before you sleep will help avoid stroke or heart attack at midnight;
• 1 glass after taking a bath helps lower blood pressure.

President's eligibility challenged in ECP

Maulvi Iqbal Hyder, a lawyer of dubious reputation, has challenged eligibility of President Asif Ali Zardari in Election in Election Commission of Pakistan.

In the detailed judgment Supreme Court of Pakistan has declared NRO as unconstitutional and illegal. In the judgment a window has been opened to challenge Mr Zardari' eligibility for the office of President. Maulvi Iqbal Hyder taking the opportunity has filed a petition before Election Commission of Pakistan requesting the Chief Election Commissioner to re-scrutinize candidates of the Presidential election.

Maulvi Iqbal Hyder has a track record of serving the interests of the establishment by filling such cases in the courts of law. The establishment's designs have exposed with the filing of a reference against President Zaradri's election by Maulvi Iqbbal Hyder.

ARY chief leads relief team to Haiti

Karachi, Jan 23: The recent earthquake in Haiti killed over 200,000 people and rendered more than one million homeless; an overwhelming response from all over the world has been launched to provide relief to the millions of Haitians affected by this catastrophe. Salman Iqbal, President and CEO of ARY Digital Network, has geared up his effeorts to help the afffected people. He is leading a Relief Team taking water, medical supplies and other necessary goods worth over US$100,000 to the unfortunate region and will donate over US$100,000.00 in cash to victims. His team includes a group of volunteers, reporters, doctors and social workers.

The ARY DIGITAL Network has also organized a Five Hour long Telethon to be broadcast globally over the entire Network. “We are hoping to raise over one million dollars through this televised campaign. In this effort, we are partnering with Helping Hand USA, a USA based non for profit organization and all the funds collected will go directly to benefit tof he people in need in Haiti,” He added: “I have seen the disparity and hardship of those in the Northern Areas of Pakistan when the quake jolted the region, I can imagine how difficult life is out there and they definitely need the world’s attention,” Mr Salman said,

Mr. Iqbal, also a philanthropist, has provided relief work during the deadly quake in Northern areas in Pakistan in 2006, he received “Sitara-e-Isaar” by then president of Pakistan, in recognition of his services to then quake affected people of the Northern Areas of Pakistan.

ARY Digital started its operations in 2000 catering to the Southeast Asian community in UK. Since, ARY Digital has grown up into the largest Urdu television network in the world and spread it’s footprint across the globe. Today the channel has separate beams across South East Asia, Middle East, United Kingdom, Europe and North America.

President smells `judicial murder-like conspiracy

CHAKWAL: Jan 22: President Asif Ali Zardari vowed on Thursday not to be deterred by a conspiracy of pen, and said the people of Pakistan would foil all such attempts.
“We cannot be killed by any stroke of pen or bayonets,” said Zradari while addressing a gathering at the ground breaking ceremony of Ghabir Dam.

He said the conspiracies that began during thetimes of Zulfikar Ali Bhuttpo continued to this day, and lamented the role of political actors-who consider themselves politicians.” He said those who were part of the conspiracy against Bhutto “have now admitted that it was a judicial murder.”
“Even today, a conspiracy of pen is underway against the PPP,” said Zardari, adding that history had `proven’ that those led to the fall of Benazir Bhutto’s both the government s were part to a conspiracy (to remove him).

A direct head- on collision between two important institutions of the State has started. The ruling party considers detailed judgment on NRO against their co-chairman President Zaradri. President Zardari also mentioned in his speech that as former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was killed with a stroke of pen (judicial murder) similarly a conspiracy has been hatched against him.

This is a very serious situation, if the developing conflict between the two important institutions is not averted it would badly damage the integrity of the country.

Love marriage: father kills his daughter

Karachi: Jan 21: A pregnant woman, Fahima, 26, was killed by her father and brother in the name of honor in the area of Muhammandi Colony on Wednesday, the jurisdiction of Site police.

According to details Gul Zamin and Fahima come from Swabi where they fell in love with each and got married against the wishes of their family about seven years ago. After marriage they escaped from Swabi to Karachi and were living in a slum area of Mohammadi Colony. They had a 5-year-old daughter Saher.

Fahima, 8 -month pregnant, was busy in household work when her father Mohammad Ali and brother Fida Hussain broke into her house and axed her to death and escaped.

The couple was running from pillar to post from the seven years in fear of their lives. They had also filed an application with Site police for protection but the police failed to protect them.

10 people kidnapped from old Larkana district

Jan21,2010: Law and order situation in larkana district, located in the northern part of Sindh province of Pakistan has worsened to such an extent that during the last 20 days 11 people have been kidnapped for ransom. Police of the area have failed to recover them. The helpless family members have started approaching feudal lords of the area to recovery of their near and dear ones.

The old Larkana district comprising present Larakan district and Qamber-Shahdakot district, is the native district of former prime minister late Mohterma Benazir Bhutto and now it is the district of President Asif Ali Zardari. In principle, the area should have ideal law and order situation but contrary to the fact it has become a hub of out laws.

The kidnapped are Menhon Khan Chandio, Khalid Mashwari, Hamzo Khan Chandio, Juman Khermtio, Pathan Bhatti, Qaimudin Shaikh and his nephew Ayaz Shaikh, Riaz Mugheri, Engineer Abdul Hadi Bhutto and taxi driver Bashir Dayo,Ghulam Mustafa Buhar, Abdul Khalid Buhar and taxi driver Shaikh.

Indian nuke plants: a world concern

The end of 2009 has again opened many possibilities for the global nuke experts and IAEA to investigate the real troubles in Indian nuke plants. It has also left a number of unresolved questions regarding Indian nuke safety and security and might not be resolved in 2010 also.


On second last day of 2009, a high intensity explosion took place at a chemical laboratory inside Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) resulting into the death of two junior scientists, Umang Singh and Partha Bagh.


Though Indian authorities claimed that no reactor, radioactivity or radiation was involved in the incident yet severely charred bodies of the scientists and totally burnt equipments revealed that something happened inside the plant very seriously.

It may be noted that BARC was commissioned in 1954, as the Atomic Energy Establishment. Since it has started conducting research in Biotechnology and Gama Rays.


Initial Inquiries
The initial investigations into the incident lead to solve the mysterious occurrence. Firstly, Indian scientists might be carrying out some experiment on biological and chemical agents.
The experiment failed and chemical reaction caused damaged to the lives of the scientists and the laboratory.

Test for WMD
According to a world news agency staff working on the plants also heard the blast inside the project. The blast and condition of the dead bodies did confirm that India was preparing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).

The preparation of WMD is the desire of Indian top military and political leadership. The intensity on this venture has been multiplied since self-predicted Chinese threat on the border is being considered by the Indian leadership.


Poor expertise
Second opinion could be that Indian scientists were yet to achieve expertise and hall mark in the nuke field. Their weak knowledge and causal attitude might become the reason of their death. But poor expertise of Indian nuke Programme has also put the lives of Indian and regional masses at stake. In this connection again we can notice the lapses of security.

There are reports that junior Indian scientists were busy in carrying out experiments on preparing some chemical and biological weapons but failed to tackle the situation because of their less experience. It was further reported that they even have never been guided by their senior colleagues. August 27, 2009 interview of senior nuke scientist K Santhanam, with “Times of India” confirms that nuke test at Pokhran II further endorsed the weakness of Indian nuke programme.

He admitted that the only thermonuclear device tested was a “fizzle”. The incidents of Kaiga, Pockran and now BARC do reflect that Indian nuke plants are real danger to humanity since her scientists are lacking requisite experience in this field.


Mysterious scientists killing:
Third version could be that some member out of nuke staff intentionally carried out some sabotage activities inside the plant with the purpose of killing these two junior members of the team. These two comrades might be having some knowledge of on-going Indian nuke proliferation and killed by the Uranium smugglers present in Indian nuke plants.

Earlier, too on June 13, 2009 dead body of Indian famous nuke scientist Lokanathan Mahalingam has been found from Kali River. The scientist was working on Kaiga Atomic Power Station since last eight years. Reportedly, he was in possession of highly sensitive information and might be doubted for Indian nuke proliferation. Mahalingam was involved in training apprentices on a replica of the actual reactor.

However the exact cause of the fire has not yet been ascertained and need deliberate efforts to dig out the actual causes of repeated nuke incidents in India. IAEA should send some teams of expertise to inspect the Indian nuke plants since continue occurrences may prove fatal to human life.

Indian government should also carry out detail investigations through global experts since some members of the police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) of the centre could be involved in the series of nuke accidents in India. Indian Prime Minister should not declare BARC incident as mischief and should seriously remove the weaknesses of the safety and security of Indian Nuke programme.

In fact, the incident of BARC need to be thrashed out seriously since India is already heading towards making WMD. So called think tank Bharat Verma, Editor Indian Defence Review has started propagating that China and Pakistan would be attacking India in 2012.

Indian scholars on their government directions are creating hype in the masses by design, since they are trying to divert their public attention from poor nuke safety arrangements. The strong ongoing separatist Maoist movement and regional issues like Khalistan, Kashmir, territorial disputes and water conflicts with the regional issue.


Pak-China Concerns:
Thus, we can deduce from the BARC incident that India is preparing for global war and her propaganda campaign against China and Pakistan would be taken as her preemptive action against two allies.

Chinese and Pakistan governments are already taking notice of new development in the region. Both the governments have the concern over increasing USA influence in Asia and Indo-USA Nuke Deal. USA Nuke exerts do have serious reservations about the said deal since Indian nuke safety arrangements are very poor. India is already facing the charges of smuggling and theft of enriched uranium.

Indian nukes threat to region
The world community should force India to open her Nuke Programme for inspection because repeated accidents are serious threat to China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka because of the location of Nuke Plants.

IAEA should direct India to remove the prevailing tension in the nuke staffs since the involvement of RAW has created panic in them. In short the detail investigations are required to be carried out at Indian nuke programme, covering the type of weapons being made, arrangement of safety, cause of murder and killing of nuke scientists and staff, reasons of accidents and smuggling and theft of enriched Uranium.

About myself

This is Rasheed Channa, Bureau Chief ARY NEWS, Sindh, Karachi Pakistan. Born in 1967 in the house of a school teacher received my early education in Mirpur Buriro, a tinny village in the backward district of Jacobabad. After completing middle school education moved to Jacobabad for technical education and did DAE (Diploma of Associate Education) in electrical technology in 1986. Since, I was inclined to reading and writing work, therefore switched over from technical side to non-technical side. Got admission in Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur for Bachelor of Arts (BA) and took subjects of International Relations, political Science and Economic. After graduation, did masters in Economics in 1992 from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur.

In 1990 along with education started professional career and joined Sindh Tribune- a Sindh based English newspaper of Barsat Group. In 1992 quit Sindh Tribune and joined Dawn Group of Newspapers as staff reporter of The STAR, a leading Eveninger and worked with STAR till December 2006. In Feb. 1997 joined ARY, a leading TV channel of Pakistan as Assignment Editor in Feb 1997. In June 1997, after about four months, I was promoted as acting Bureau Chief and by September 1997 promoted as Bureau Chief Sindh Province. Still I am working with ARY New.

From 1992, as reporter of Dawn group of newspapers, started investigative reporting in different beats such as education, health, Excise, agriculture, Irrigation, forest, wildlife, home department, fisheries, working as investigative reporter. I was the first journalist who started working on the performance of Sindh government department in investigative style. I have also honor to introduce problems of rural areas in English press. The people affiliated with agriculture, fisheries and irrigation had no voice in the English press but I worked with them for them.

I took some high profile political interviews such as of Mr Asif Zardari, now President of Pakistan, former prime minister, Mohterma Benazir Bhutto, nationalist leaders Mumtaz Bhutto, Rasool Bux Palijo, religious leaders President JUI (F) Chief Maulana Fazal Rehman, Dr Khalid Mahmood Soomro and various others.

I wrote special articles on Water issues in Pakistan between different provinces in Herald magazine, the largest circulating magazine in Pakistan. Highlighted National Finance Commission issues, and wrote a large number of articles on devolution plan and discussed it with different angels as it was aimed at strengthening feudal system in Pakistan and opening gates to corruption.

I also raised human rights issues and exposed the then chief minister Sindh, Arbab Ghulam Rahim’s nephew for rapping a married woman and when her husband raised voice he was put in a grave-like underground room for several days. Nobody took up the issue and I wrote news with follow ups as a result the chief minister got me arrested and implicated me in a false `attempt to murder case’. This incident is of May 2005.

In ARY NEWS I am also serving with same spirit and raising socio-political issues such as bonded labor, water issues, poverty etc.