Hungry business: Grabbing a slice of the growing pizza market

(GNN) - KARACHI: If there was a sector that has witnessed phenomenal growth over the years, it is the food industry. Arrival of foreign fast-food chains and opening of various local outlets across the country has been able to cater to the growing appetite of the huge population in Pakistan that loves to eat.

One of the key ingredients to this growth has been the local pizza market, attracting dozens of new pizza chains in the country.

The concept of pizza is not new to Pakistanis. The country’s first pizza restaurant, Pizza Hut, entered the market in 1993 and has remained a dominant player since. However, in the last three years the market segment has witnessed a phenomenal growth.

Despite the high competition, most new players are doing good business but even all of them combined have not had any impact on the sales of market leader Pizza Hut, say industry experts. This is a strong indication that the size of the pie is growing.

If one was to study the growth of pizza business in Pakistan, Pizza Hut and Dominos – both international chains – were the only established players that catered to the appetite of pizza lovers. However, the market developed significantly in the last few years and many new players, mostly local, also launched operations. These include 14th Street Pizza, Broadway Pizza, California Pizza, New York Pizza, Pizza Crust, Pizza Club, Pizza Channel, La Pizzaro and Pizza Plus, to name a few.

“I think the market was not ready back in the 1990s,” said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at dealtoday.pk Shahrukh Chaudhary whose online portal frequently posts pizza deals . “Pizza Hut certainly developed this market and new players are now fully taking advantage of this and bringing in new varieties. Pan pizza was the only style followed in the past but the hand-tossed style is more popular these days.”

Unlike Chaudhary, 14th Street Pizza (a leading player) CEO Tanveer Yusuf says pizzas were in demand in the past as well but businesses failed to deliver as they followed a particular model. “Most players that entered the market in the past followed Pizza Hut’s style — some survived and others failed,” he said quoting Pizza Next as an example.

“Pizza is generally a takeaway and home delivery food all over the world, which is why the home-delivery market is growing so fast,” he says. “For large gatherings where friends watch the football World Cup for example, pizza is the most preferred meal.”

Perhaps, the ease with which pizzas can be eaten – without utensils and a laid-back attitude – is what appeals to the market as well.

Pizza Hut is the largest player when it comes to dine in — it offers pan style pizza and 12-inch is largest size it offers. By contrast, Yusuf’s 14th Street Pizza is hand-tossed, offers a 20-inch pizza and exclusively deals in home delivery and takeaway.

“Karachi is a very big market where two to three restaurants open up on a daily basis. Facebook has helped a great deal as well by continually informing the public of the newest restaurants opening in town, thereby attracting more people,” Yusuf said.

Commenting on the rapidly growing home delivery market, Broadway Pizza CEO Shahbaz Khan said home delivery is the fast-food culture. “If the fast food market grows, the market for home delivery will also grow,” said Khan.

He said Asia takes its cues from the western world when it comes to food or fashion trends. “The trends in Pakistan are inspired by them. They developed these habits decades ago. The market for pizza was bound to develop.”

Yusuf and Khan see home delivery as the future trend, while Chaudhary believes that dine in is still the most popular trend. But regardless, there is a clear indication that the market offers a lot of growth opportunity.

“This niche market will grow further as all the new players combined have not even been able to match the scales of Pizza Hut’s business,” Chaudhary said.
(GNN)(Tribune)(AIP)

Prisoners’ escape: FIA nabs sub-inspector for abetting crime

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested a Punjab police sub inspector for releasing three UK-convicted prisoners from the Central Jail Karachi in 2010 on forged papers drafted by a section officer (law) in the federal interior ministry who was arrested by the FIA last month.

The FIA investigation team is also facing great hardship in tracing the two absconding prisoners due to lack of cooperation of interior and prisons department of the Sindh government, it has been learnt.

Sources privy to the matter in FIA informed the Express Investigation Cell that Sub Inspector Ibrar of Punjab police was arrested by the investigation team of FIA Anti-corruption cell, Islamabad Zone, a few days back due to his involvement in the prisoners’ release case.

As per FIR No- 24/14 registered by FIA Anti-corruption cell on March 28, 2014, three Pakistani citizens Nasir Khan, Asad Habib and Rizwan were convicted by the British government in three different murder and narcotics cases.

Nasir and Rizwan were sentenced to life imprisonment in murder cases on February 21, 2002 and November 8, 2010, respectively, while Asad was convicted for 25 years in a drugs case on August 7, 2004.

The three convicts were later handed over by the British government to the Pakistan government under a prisoner agreement on August 21, 2010, and were sent to the Central Jail Karachi to complete their remaining imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Section officer (Law) Ali Muhammad allegedly forwarded letters to the authorities of Central Jail Karachi in different time periods for the release of said prisoners. As a result, Nasir was released on September 9, 2010, while Rizwan and Asad were released in November, 2010.

In pursuance of such FIR, the FIA Investigation team arrested section officer Ali Muhammad from Islamabad and one of the released prisoners Asad from Karachi.

When contacted, the deputy director FIA Anti-corruption cell, Islamabad zone Jalil Khan has confirmed the arrest of Sub Inspector Ibrar for his involvement in the case.

(By Yaqoob Malik) Published in GNN & Tribune, May 23rd, 2014.

Blast in Karachi injures 8

KARACHI: A blast in the North Nazimabad Block B area of Karachi near Sachal Rangers Headquarters injured at least eight people, Express reported on Wednesday.

Rangers officials said that the bomb was planted in a motorcycle and two shops were destroyed in the explosion. No loss of life was reported.

SSP Central Muqaddas Haider confirmed that it was a planted bomb.

According to initial details, a Rangers convoy is believed to be the target of the blast.

Rescue teams reached the site of the explosion and the injured were taken to local hospitals for medical assistance. The bomb disposal squad was also summoned.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPA Dr Sagheer Ahmed, while speaking to the media in Karachi, confirmed that no loss of life had occurred. He added that the people with minor injuries were discharged after being provided with medical treatment.

Rangers personnel and police cordoned off the area and further investigations are underway.
This is not a first time there has been a blast in the same area.

In November 2012, a suicide bomber had rammed an explosives-laden pickup truck into the gate of Sachal Rangers Headquarters, causing a huge blast that killed three Rangers personnel, while at least 26 people were injured.

Sindh wants center to pay Rs27 bn for police improvement, rationalise power bill

KARACHI: The Sindh Cabinet on Saturday gave its approval to some of the decisions taken in the meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on May 14, 2014.

The May 14 meeting between the prime minister, governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in Karachi, had decided to expedite the ongoing targeted operation with full force and maintain law and order situation in Karachi.

On Saturday, the Sindh Cabinet recommended that the federal government provide them a financial package of up to Rs27 billion to pay for up gradation of police stations, acquiring equipment, that will help it make the targeted operations a success.

The cabinet also decided to establish a separate Counter Terrorism Department that would provide training to the Rapid Response Force (RRF) and help build legislation to clean up the Sindh Police of its black sheep.

The meeting, which was attended by all the provincial ministers, advisors and special assistants belonging to both the Pakistan Peoples Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement also discussed matters relating issues of illegal immigrants, the first power policy of Sindh government and eradication of polio, measles and Rubella virus from Sindh.

Cabinet members expressed their apprehensions over the polio cases and spread of measles in District Thatta. They decided in favour of a massive vaccination campaign with 100% coverage against the diseases with public participation

The chief minister expressed his dissatisfaction over the performance of NARA for failing to register aliens and eradicating illegal immigrants from Karachi, before recommending that the federal government merge Nara with NADRA.

Sensitive police station and jails
Declaring 26 police stations of Karachi and three prisons, including Karachi, Hyderabad and Larkana Central prisons as sensitive, the cabinet approved a move for increasing salaries of officers deputed at these locations.

The cabinet also decided to strengthen security at these locations by bolstering the force and reinforcing their structures, especially of the prisons. Five convicts had been shifted to prisons outside the province and 77 from Karachi to other prisons in the province.

The Cabinet also directed the IGP Sindh for providing security to all mosques, imam barghas, mandirs, religious places of minorities, especially in other parts of Sindh.

Chief secretary Sindh told the participants of the meeting that schemes for shifting the ATC Courts to Malir Cantt was underway. He added that red warrants against criminals who have fled the country have been sent to the federal government.

He added that recruitment of an additional 10,000 men, 2,000 former army personnel, 400 investigation officers for the police force in the province was in progress.

Giving a briefing on cases, he said that of the 705 cases in which a charge-sheet had been presented in the anto-terror courts, 59 have been decided.

Acting IGP Sindh Ghulam Haider Jamali told the Sindh Cabinet that the targeted operation had reduced murders by 33%, and caused a 65% drop in target killings. Street crime was down by 6% and extortion cases were down by 9% decrease in registration of extortion cases. 188 suspects had been arrested and challaned during the ongoing operation. Further, 850 murder suspects have been arrested pending trial.

Draft power policy
With Sindh under criticism for not paying its bill and facing a power cut off from the national grid, the Cabinet discussed and deliberated over the draft of a power policy for the province.

Tabled by the Advisor to CM for Energy and Finance Syed Murad Ali Shah, it was decided that the Cabinet members would go through the proposed draft and share their recommendations within 15 days.

The draft policy proposes the establishment of a Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company (STDC) to transmit the power generated by Sindh Government.

An establishment of Sindh Power Development Board (SPDB) and NEPRA like institutions in Sindh is also part of the proposal in the draft policy document.

The provincial energy secretary during in his briefing was of the view that Sindh government was actively launching the power projects on ADP and PPP mode of investment and trying its best to at least bridge the power shortage by enhancing its own production capacity over the next four years.

It was recommended that renewable energy such as solar energy and wind energy be encouraged to resolve the grievances of the people.

The cabinet, expressing its apprehension over excessive billing and increasing durations of load-shedding from 16 to 20 hours in Sindh, recommended to the federal government to reconcile its bill for justified payment and reduce load-shedding. Failing to do so, it was resolved that the matter will be raised in Council of Common Interests.

For his part, the chief minister wanted WAPDA to justify their bills, adding that the Sindh government will pay only genuine bills. He further complained that nothing had been done even after both the prime minister and federal minister for water and power had ordered the concerned authorities to resolve the problems.

Wanted gangster Baba Ladla reportedly killed on Pak-Iran border

Baba Ladla reportedly received three bullets. PHOTO: FILE

QUETTA / LAHORE: A gangster of Lyari gang war Noor Mohammed, commonly known as Baba Ladla, was reportedly killed by Iranian border guards near the Pakistan-Iran border on Tuesday.

“Baba Ladla was crossing the border when Iranian border guards opened fire at him. He received three bullet wounds and had died on the spot,” source across the border told Media, adding that the guards had opened fire after Baba Ladla’s car failed to stop for routine security check. His body is currently in the custody of Iranian border guards.

Some sources said the incident took place at the international border crossing point Border 250 near Chahbahar, while other sources put the location at Mund Bullo.

Baba Ladla was crossing the border along with his accomplices when the Iranian border guards fired at them. However, the sources only confirmed the death of Baba Ladla.

Intelligence sources told The Express Tribune said that the deceased was Baba Ladla, who died from three fatal bullet wounds.

On the other hand, officials in Gawadar said they did not know about the incident, nor had any Iranian officials approached them.

Ladla was wanted by law enforcement agencies and his name was in Sindh Police’s ‘Red Book’ with a bounty for his capture.

With a targeted operation against criminals underway in Karachi, the top gangsters had managed to move out of the city. Baba Ladla’s rival Uzair Jan Baloch is believed to have fled to either Oman or Dubai.

2 Killed As Quake Jolts Nawabshah, Surrounding Areas

Staff Report

NAWABSHAH: At least two people were killed and more than 50 wounded as an earthquake struck different parts of Nawabshah district in the wee hours of Friday morning.

According to police and rescue services, roof and walls of several houses collapsed on the people due to earthquake which struck at around 3.15 am, and followed by aftershocks at around 4.11 am and 4.47 am.

The worst affected areas were Taj Colony, Gharibabad, Dhobi Gath, Muunu Abad and Ghulam Hyder Shah Colony, where more than 50 people were injured, two of whom succumbed to their wounds.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS) the magnitude of earthquake was measured as approximately 4.3.

The epicenter of the earthquake was 27 km North East of Nawabshah with a depth of 15 km.

Police personnel and rescue teams immediately shifted the injured to Nawabshah's Civil hospital where an emergency has been declared.

Karachi court grants bail to arrested FBI agent

FBI agent Joel Cox.

KARACHI: The district and sessions court Malir on Thursday accepted the bail plea of a Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agent who was earlier arrested at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, GNN, & Express News reported on Thursday.

FBI agent Joel Cox was travelling from Karachi to Islamabad by PK-308 on May 5 evening when, during a routine search by Airport Security Force (ASF) staff, 15 bullets and a magazine were found in his bag. He was handed over to the airport police station where a case was lodged against him under Section 23 1(a) of the Sindh Arms Act, 2013. The district Malir court has already remanded the suspect to police custody till May 10.

The bail was granted to the accused on the condition of producing a surety bond worth Rs1 million.
A source told Express News that Cox had claimed in his request that the ammunition found in his bag was not his own and that he was being framed.

Another source said the court was pressured by the government and the US embassy into granting the bail. The chief and home secretaries reportedly visited the jail to ensure the FBI agent was released.

Investigation
Even after hours of arrest, investigators have failed to decode information from the devices belonging to the agent.

According to the latest details, the police officers at the Artillery Maidan police station are finding it difficult to interrogate the FBI agent as he only speaks English. Also, Cox has been insisting that his embassy should be contacted for all the queries.

The detained FBI agent has been reportedly afforded VIP protocol and provided with fast food meals.
The devices seized from Cox’s possession include pen cameras and locator gadget. The bullets he was carrying are also said to be different than those found in Pakistan.

Malir SSP Rao Anwar told Express News that no criminal record was found against the agent. He said Cox had come to Pakistan with a 90-day long visit visa on a passport made five months ago.

Anwar said people Cox had met during his stay in the country were also being interrogated.

Pakistan-US coordination 
During the daily press briefing, spokesperson for the US State Department Jen Psaki said US officials were coordinating with the Pakistani authorities to resolve this matter.

“This individual detained is an employee of the FBI who was on a temporary duty assignment to provide routine assistance to the legal attache at the US mission. But we are coordinating closely to resolve this manner with authorities, and we are hopeful in that regard,” she said.

Problems and solutions: Prison authorities, experts suggest reforms for detention centres

Sindh chief secretary Sajjad Saleem Hotiana speaks with prisoners during a visit to the Central Jail in Karachi. PHOTO: INP

KARACHI: Prison authorities want the Sindh government to form two separate forces for jails in the province.

“One force should deal with the management of the detention centres and the other should deal exclusively with security,” said Prisons IG Nusrat Mangan on Wednesday. “There should be separation in jail staff too. A constable dealing with terrorists should not be tasked with looking after women and juvenile inmates.”

IG Mangan was speaking at the launch of a report, ‘Sindh Prison Reforms: Through the Lens of Legal Aid, From Current Issues to Recommending Security and Legislative Measures’ by the Legal Aid Office (LAO).

Mangan revealed that last week, the Sindh government had granted them Rs750 million to improve security measures. The funds would be used to construct bomb-proof walls around jails in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur.

According to the officer, the majority of inmates in the province were under-trial-prisoners.
With a total capacity of around 11,827 prisoners, the jails in Sindh were currently catering to around 18,651 inmates. Of these, 3,400 were convicts while the rest were UTPs.

He said that the number of prisoners had been reduced to 16,000 last year, from 22,000 in 2008 and 2009. But from December 2013, the figure had jumped to 18,651 and was increasing with each passing day.

CPLC chief Ahmed Chinoy, who was part of the audience, questioned Mangan about the presence of mobile phones in the jail. He also asked why people living in the vicinity were made to suffer because of the jammers and why only one cellular company was functioning properly in the area.

Mangan replied that the jammers were being narrowed down and that no cellular company services were reaching the prisoners. He admitted, however, that the infiltration of mobile phones was a problem, not just in Pakistan, but in many countries.

The report
Advocate and Professor Dr Akmal Wasim gave an overview of the report, based on the interviews of 2,333 UTPs, as well as interviews of officials. He said that one of the major problems in Karachi’s prison was overcrowding. “Overcrowding is a major issue at the Karachi Central Jail. In contrast, the rest of the prisons in Sindh are under-populated.”

The report suggests that there should be a reduction in the length of stay of prisoners to curb this issue.

Wasim also emphasised on the separation and segregation of the inmates, saying that Section 27 of the Prisons Act, 1894, dealt with this right.

“The ordinary ones should be separated from the hardened, and the hardened from terrorists. Similarly, juveniles should be separated from adults.”  For this, more facilities should be built, he said, adding that the Sindh government should increase the budget for prisons.

Wasim also called for relocation of prisons. “Prisons are at risk because they are part of residential areas. They have to be moved out.”

The report suggests that prisons, for various reasons, ranging from socio-economic forces to ideological cohesion, serve as breeding grounds for the recruitment of violent extremists. It quoted the attack on Justice Maqbool Baqir last year and how it was planned by prisoners.

Retired Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, who is the chairperson and founder of the LAO, said that the prisons in Pakistan were better in terms of population, compared to jails in India and Bangladesh.
Addressing members of his fraternity, he said that lawyers should be more responsible when handling cases of people behind bars, urging them to keep their prejudices and biasness away from their work.

HRCP’s IA Rehman called for training and reform activities in jails. He was of the opinion that a person’s dignity was at stake when he entered the jail premises as he was cut off from his family, and faced humiliation from others too.

(By Our Correspondent) Published in GNN & Tribune, May 8th, 2014.

Bomb defused: After three bomb explosions a day earlier, authorities avert a fourth blast

Police officials watch as smoke and dust billows after bomb experts detonated an explosive device near an oil terminal in Karachi. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: A day after three bomb blasts damaged two oil tankers at the Keamari oil terminal, another bomb was discovered on Wednesday.

On Tuesday evening, three oil tankers were partially damaged when three improvised explosive devices (IED) went off at the Keamari oil terminal. Two went off in the Keamari terminal whereas the third went off in Gulbai within the limits of Sher Shah police station. While the investigators were busy in ascertaining the culprits and the motives behind the attack they found on Wednesday, another bomb similar to the previous ones.

The IED was attached to an oil tanker at the terminal and the law enforcement agencies including the police, Rangers as well as the bomb disposal squad were called to defuse it. Law enforcers reached the site and cordoned off the area. “Initially, we tried to defuse the bomb but it was too hard,”

admitted an expert from the bomb disposal squad. “Finally, we burst the IED after covering it with sand bags.” The sand bags minimised the intensity of the blast.  The expert also said that it was attached to a vehicle using a magnetic device, which contained around 800 grammes of explosives including ball bearings.

The police officials are so far unable to ascertain who is behind the attacks but they suspect that it may have been linked to extortion. “It would be premature to say anything as our investigation is still in progress,” said SHO Idrees Bangash. “But it is clear that it is the same group who is responsible for planting all the bombs.” No case has been registered so far and further investigations are underway.

(By Our Correspondent) Published in GNN & Tribune, May 8th, 2014.

Appointment to SHC: Judicial commission meets today to consider 10 names

Those nominated include five district and sessions judges. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

KARACHI: The judicial commission will meet today in Islamabad to consider the appointment of 10 judicial officers as lawyers as additional judges to the Sindh High Court, Tribune has learnt.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani will preside over the meeting, which will also be attended by the federal law minister, the attorney general, SHC chief justice Maqbool Baqar and the provincial advocate-general.

Currently, the high court has a working strength of 29 judges against the sanctioned strength of 40. According to officials, SHC CJ Baqar had forwarded the names of 10 judicial officers and lawyers to fill the vacancies as additional judges for a period of one year.

Those nominated include five district and sessions judges – Abdur Rasheed Soomro, Abdul Ghani Soomro, Saghir Zaidi, Lal Mohammad Khairo and Ghulam Qadir Leghari. The lawyers include former SHC Bar Association secretary Shahab Sarki, Iqbal Kalhoro, Advocate KK Agha, Amir Raza Naqvi and Hasan Akbar.

The judicial commission is set to meet today in Islamabad to ponder over the names. “Once the judicial commission approves the names, they will be sent to the parliamentary committee on the appointment of judges to the superior courts to give its consent,” said an official. “Afterwards, the names will be sent to the president for approval on the advice of the prime minister.”
Last year, eight additional judges were appointed to the high court for a period of one year with a view to overcome the dearth of workforce in the superior judiciary of the province.

Retiring in the future
The SHC will lose seven judges in the next five years, unless service periods of some of the additional judges are extended. SHC’s Justice Nisar Muhammad Sheikh will retire on November 17 this year, while Justice Hasan Feroze’s retirement is due on August 1, 2015.

SHC’s pusine judge Justice Faisal Arab is also due to retire on November 11, 2017. However, there are chances of his elevation to the apex court.

In year 2017, the SHC is set to lose another three judges – Justice Sadiq Hussain Bhatti, Justice Syed Muhammad Farooq Shah and Shahnawaz Tariq. Justice Abdul Rasool Memon will retire in 2018.

Published in GNN & Tribune, May 8th, 2014.

3 killed, 13 injured as Karakoram Express derails near Nawabshah

A file photo of a different train. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD AZEEM/EXPRESS

NAWABSHAH: Three people were killed and 13 other passengers were injured when an engine and two bogies of the Karakoram Express train derailed near Bandi, Nawabshah on Wednesday morning,

The train – travelling from Lahore to Karachi – derailed when the driver hit the brakes suddenly after he felt something had collided with the locomotive.

Rescue workers arrived at the scene and shifted injured to a local hospital.

Railway officials said the track will be reopened soon after the maintenance work is completed.
In February, a blast had derailed ten wagons of the Night Coach Express near Dhabeji area.

A six-year-old girl was killed and at least 27 others were injured in the incident.

Bomb defused in Karachi's Kemari area

Express News screengrab of the site from where the bomb was found.

KARACHI: A bomb disposal squad defused a bomb found from the Kemari area of Karachi on Wednesday, Express News reported.

It was planted in the oil tanker terminal and the oil tanker, next to which the bomb was planted, was empty.

Around 10 to 12 kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the bomb.

Police and Rangers personnel reached the site and cordoned off the area.

US national detained at Karachi airport for carrying bullets was an FBI agent

Cox, who was training local police, was found carrying 15 bullets of 9mm calibre in his bags.

KARACHI: A US citizen, who was detained at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Monday evening for carrying bullets in his baggage, was found to be an agent for the US investigating agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), CNN reported on Wednesday.

Joel Cox was attempting to board a domestic flight to Islamabad on Monday evening, when the Airport Security Force (ASF) discovered 15 bullets of 9mm caliber and a pistol clip in his baggage.

He was detained by the ASF before being handed over to the Airport police station where a case was lodged against him under section 23 1 (a) of the Sindh Arms Act, 2013.

The US national was sent on physical custody remand by a judicial magistrate in district Malir on May 6.  Adam H Ishaque, the judicial magistrate in district Malir, had remanded the suspect to police till May 10.

“The American failed to provide any legal permission for carrying bullets,” senior police officer Rao Anwar told AFP.

US officials in Pakistan confirmed that an American had been arrested.

“We are aware of the situation that has been reported and we are coordinating with the Pakistani authorities to resolve the matter,” a US embassy spokesperson said.

Carrying firearms or ammunition aboard commercial flights is prohibited.

Early on Wednesday, CNN reported that Cox was an FBI agent.

FBI agent arrested in Pakistan after accidentally carrying ammunition boarding a domestic flight, official says.
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) May 6, 2014

CNN added that the agent was in Pakistan to train police officers.

The report added that diplomats were working with Pakistani authorities to secure his release.

 By Web Desk / AFP Published: May 7, 2014

Police mobile targeted: Blast in Karachi injures ASI

Express News screengrab of the police mobile.

KARACHI: A remote-controlled blast in North Karachi injured two police officers including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), Express News reported on Tuesday.

According to the police, the device was planted on the road-side and was detonated via a remote control.

The ASI, identified as Farooq, and the other injured police officer were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medical treatment and were reported to be in critical condition.

A police mobile was reportedly the target of the blast and there were four police officers in the vehicle at the time of the explosion.

The vehicle, which was parked in the area as per routine, was badly damaged in the attack.

Initially, it was reported that two unidentified men on a motorbike had thrown a cracker at the police mobile.

Rescue teams and the security officials have reached the area, and evidence is being collected from the site of the attack.

Express News screengrab of security officials at the site of the blast.

Blast near Garden area
Later on Tuesday afternoon, a blast was heard near the Garden Police Headquarters, Express News reported.

DIG South Abdul Khaliq confirmed this, and said that people around the area at that time, heard it as well.

Police officials have not yet confirmed the nature of the blast and have not mentioned any casualties.

Target killing
In a separate incident in Karachi, two young men were shot dead in Gulshan-i-Iqbal by unidentified assailants.

According to the police, the deceased were being followed by four men on two motorcycles.

The police further stated that the men on one motorcycle stopped the car the young men were in, and the men on the second motorcycle fired at the car, killing both men on the spot.

One of the deceased has been identified as Moizullah Khan, a resident of North Nazimabad. The police also suspect that both the deceased were brothers.

Name on ECL: Cases based on political grounds, claims Musharraf's reply

Former president Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: Former president Pervez Musharraf’s lawyer Farogh Nasim submitted a reply at the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday, GNN News reported.

The 13-page reply claimed that cases against the former president were on the basis of political grounds and therefore Musharraf’s name should be removed from the Exit Control List (ECL).

The reply reportedly added that the government had not been able to prove anything in the cases against him.

Yesterday, the federal government had raised objections over the SHC’s authority to accept a petition regarding the removal of Musharraf’s name from the ECL.

In response to the high court’s notice, the government had strongly opposed allowing Musharraf to leave the country on any ground and stated that he is accused in other high profile cases and may therefore be awarded capital punishment.

The government had also contended that allowing Musharraf to go abroad for treatment would be a violation of Article 25 of the Constitution as adequate medical facilities are available in Pakistan.

The reply had stated that Musharraf’s name was included on the ECL first on April 5, 2013 by the federal government and that the Supreme Court on April 8, 2013, had also directed the federal government to place his name on the ECL.

The petitioner had approached this court (SHC) after more than a year against the order dated April 5, 2013. The instant petition was therefore hit by the ‘doctrine of laches’ and the same was therefore liable to be dismissed with costs.

Fire at Panorama Centre Saddar extinguished

KARACHI: The fire which broke out on the 5th floor of Panorama Centre Saddar, has been doused on Wednesday.

Rescue sources said eight fire tenders and a snorkel took part in dousing the blaze.

People, present in the building at the time of fire, were safely rescued.(GNN)(Geo)(S-W)

Sindh, ECP at odds over LB polls date

KARACHI: The matter of holding local bodies’ elections in Sindh seem to be in the doldrums, as the provincial administration has termed it impossible to conduct the polls on January 18 while the Election Commission says the polls will be held as per the schedule.

Sindh Information Minister, Sharjeel Memon has reiterated that the Sindh government intends to hold the LB polls in March. “As per the law it is mandatory to hold consultation with the provincial (on the matter),” he added.

The ECP rejected the Sindh government’s request to hold the LB elections in March. The Commission categorically said that the polls will be held as per the specified date – January 18.

Rangers conduct house-to-house search near Lal Qilla Ground

KARACHI: Paramilitary troops carried out house-to-house search near Lal Qilla Ground in Azizabad area of Karachi, sources said.

Sources in the Pakistan Rangers Sindh told Geo News that they also carried out snap checking in Azizabad and adjacent areas.

Heavy contingent of police were also present during the search, which the sources said was being carried out to arrest some suspects.

Sindh govt to move SC for LB polls date extension

KARACHI: Sindh government has decided to submit a plea in the Supreme Court (SC) for extending date of local bodies (LB) elections in the province.

Sources said the provincial government is of view that owing to Muharram-ul Haram holidays there might be some delay in holding LB elections.

In the petition, the Sindh government would pray for extending date in the polls till December 07. (GNN) (Geo)

Sindh CM satisfied over ongoing targeted op in Karachi

KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has expressed satisfaction over ongoing targeted operation in Karachi. Qaim Ali Shah was presiding over a high level meeting on law and order at CM House on Thursday.

Provincial Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Chief Secretary Sindh Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhry, IG Police Sindh Shahid Nadeem Baloch, Additional Chief Secretary Home Mumtaz Shah, Additional IG Police Karachi Shahid Hayat, representatives of intelligence agencies and other officials attended the meeting.

Qaim Ali Shah called for making prosecution process more effective and faster to bring to justice the suspects arrested in the targeted action.

The Chief Minister said that the first 10 to 12 days of Muharram are very important and ordered extra ordinary security arrangements during this period.

Taking notice of recent killings in the city, Qaim Ali Shah ordered immediate arrest of culprits.

He also called for blocking of unregistered mobile phone SIMs.