Kharotabad inquiry puts blame on Frontier Corps, police

The judicial tribunal tasked to investigate the killing of five foreigners in Kharotabad on May 17 has held officials of the Frontier Corps (FC) and the police responsible for the incident.

Report says foreigners entered country illegally but this did not warrant their instant killing.

According to sources that have access to the tribunal’s report, Station House Officer (SHO) Kharotabad Fazlur Rehman and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Raza Khan were named the main accused. “Stern action should be taken against both police officials,” the report stated.

It also stated that former Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Dawood Junejo and Lt Colonel Faisal Shehzad of the FC had mishandled the situation and recommended that action be taken against them. Shehzad was shown opening fire at the foreigners in a video filmed by a journalist.

The tribunal also said that even though the foreigners had entered Pakistan illegally or even if they were terrorists, there was no need for opening indiscriminate fire and killing them instantly. “The foreigners could be caught alive since they were unarmed and it has been observed that excessive force had been used against them.”

The report mentioned that the foreigners were trained for terrorist activities. However, they did not possess any explosive materials, suicide jackets and arms and ammunition when they were gunned down.

The tribunal has recommended enhancing and improving the capability of the bomb disposal squad, with equipment being available at all police stations.

The Balochistan chief minister has already directed the chief secretary to make the tribunal report public. However, the report has so far not been provided to anyone or to the media.

Five foreigners, including three women, were gunned down by FC and police personnel on May 17 in Kharotabad, a suburb of Quetta. While security forces officials claimed that those killed were suicide bombers, the police surgeon who conducted autopsies found no indication that the foreigners – four Russians and one Tajik – carried explosives. All the foreigners were buried in Quetta.

Govt purchases electricity at shocking price of Rs41 per unit

In an astounding development, the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) has disclosed that the government was purchasing electricity from Karkey Rental Power Plant at record price of Rs 41 per unit, more than twice the amount paid to any other Independent Power Producer.

NEPRA approves 61 paisa increase in power tariff for May

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) expressed serious concern on Thursday over the shocking rates being given to Karkey Power Plant – the world’s largest power ship – for electricity.

CPPA authorities during hearing of a petition also disclosed that the government was paying $9 million per month as rental charges to the Karkey Power Plant that was producing 30MW electricity against 230MW committed in the agreement.

Nepra officials said that government departments were involved in this negligence and such a huge burden could not be passed on to consumers.

The government is giving Rs26.37 per unit on account of capacity charges and Rs15.48 per unit on account of fuel cost to Karkey Rental Power Plant, official said during the public hearing.

CPPA officials also mentioned said that letter of credit had not been opened yet to get fuel as banks were reluctant to provide funds to the power sector.

Nepra reserves judgement over power tariff hike

Eight power distribution companies filed a petition seeking an increase in power tariff by 68 paisa per unit for May on account of fuel adjustment charges.

However, Nepra following the hearing approved increase of 61 paisa per unit for the eight Discos including the Karachi Electric Supply Company against the demand of 68 paisa.

Bleeding losses

Auditor General of Pakistan in its report for the current financial year observed that a rental contract was signed between Lakhra Power Generation Company and Karkey for 231.8 MW rental power plant at Korangi Thermal Power Station, Karachi.

The Auditor General noted that the seller did not start production before the commercial operation date of April 7, 2010 and resultantly power guarantee of $1.25 million was to be encashed along with liquidity damages of $2.39 million was to be recovered up to June 30, 2010. Due to non-adherence to contract clause the company sustained a total loss of $3.64 million.

Indonesia group raps Saudi beheading of a Woman

The chairman of Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization has censured Saudi Arabia for the execution of an Indonesian maid over killing her employer.

Head of Nahdlatul Ulema Said Aqil Siradj condemned Saudi Arabia for beheading Ruyati binti Sapubi, saying that the Saudis are still living in the era of ignorance, IRNA reported Wednesday.

Siradj slammed Riyadh for indicting and then executing the Indonesian national without giving her a chance to defend herself, and described the Saudis as uncivilized.

Sapubi, 54, was beheaded on June 18 in Saudi Arabia after confessing to killing her employer, saying he had abused her.

Saudi officials executed her by sword and then dangled her corpse from a helicopter to make sure the public could see the result of the execution.

The chief of Nahdlatul Ulema further touched upon the difficult working conditions that Indonesian maids and workers face in Saudi Arabia, saying the Indonesian maids working in a non-Muslim country are treated more humanely than in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi employers do not respect Indonesian maids and use abusive language, he went on to say.

Indonesian Ulema have decided to ban exporting Indonesian workers to Saudi Arabia through a fatwa (religious decree) in the upcoming days.

In reaction to Riyadh’s punishment measure, Indonesian protesters staged a demonstration in front of Indonesia’s presidential palace in the capital Jakarta, slamming the government for failing to protect its migrant workers in Saudi Arabia.

The mistreatment of Indonesian workers, particularly females, in Saudi Arabia has strained the two states’ relations in recent years.

The execution of Sapubi also prompted the government of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take stern action against Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia “broke the norms and manners of international relations” by carrying out the death sentence, the president said.

He added that he had lodged a protest with the Saudi government over the execution of the Indonesian citizen.