ISLAMABAD: The commission investigating the US military raid, which killed Osama Bin Laden and his presence in the country, on Monday summoned the country’s former US ambassador Hussain Haqqani, who resigned this month, the commission said. Osama Bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad on May 2, the US unilateral action had sparked condemnation in the country. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had formed a five-member inquiry commission under a Supreme Court judge to investigate the US raid and the presence of the world’s most wanted man in Pakistan for years. The commission will interview Husain Haqqani in its meeting, on December 14, a commission statement said. Haqqani resigned this month after a Pakistani-American businessman said he had been asked by Haqqani to deliver a memo to the former US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen from President Asif Ali Zardari, seeking US help to stop a military coup after Osama’s death. Haqqani was summoned by Gilani and is now being investigated about the memo, which has created a political uproar in the country. online
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
'dream machine'
NASA launching 'dream machine' to explore Mars
As big as a car and as well-equipped as a laboratory, NASA's newest Mars rover blows away its predecessors in size and skill. Nicknamed Curiosity and scheduled for launch on Saturday, the rover has a 7-foot arm tipped with a jackhammer and a laser to break through the Martian red rock. What really makes it stand out: It can analyze rocks and soil with unprecedented accuracy. "This is a Mars scientist's dream machine," said NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Ashwin Vasavada, the deputy project scientist. Once on the red planet, Curiosity will be on the lookout for organic, carbon-containing compounds. While the rover can't actually detect the presence of living organisms, scientists hope to learn from the $2.5 billion, nuclear-powered mission whether Mars has — or ever had — what it takes to nurture microbial life. Curiosity will be "the largest and most complex piece of equipment ever placed on the surface of another planet," said Doug McCuistion, director of NASA's Mars exploration program.
As big as a car and as well-equipped as a laboratory, NASA's newest Mars rover blows away its predecessors in size and skill. Nicknamed Curiosity and scheduled for launch on Saturday, the rover has a 7-foot arm tipped with a jackhammer and a laser to break through the Martian red rock. What really makes it stand out: It can analyze rocks and soil with unprecedented accuracy. "This is a Mars scientist's dream machine," said NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Ashwin Vasavada, the deputy project scientist. Once on the red planet, Curiosity will be on the lookout for organic, carbon-containing compounds. While the rover can't actually detect the presence of living organisms, scientists hope to learn from the $2.5 billion, nuclear-powered mission whether Mars has — or ever had — what it takes to nurture microbial life. Curiosity will be "the largest and most complex piece of equipment ever placed on the surface of another planet," said Doug McCuistion, director of NASA's Mars exploration program.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Rs.190mn NAB recover misused amount
PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accomplished to deposit Rs.190 million embezzled money in the national chequer Voluntary Return.
The inquiry into the illegal allotment of plots in Ghazikot Township Mansehra by the officials of Mansehra Development Authority was authorized in May, 2009 on the direction of Supreme Court, says a NAB press release here on Thursday.
Consequently, NAB KPK not only conducted inquiry but also charged the perpetrators of corruption i.e. the officers of MDA and a draft reference were forwarded to NAB Headquarter Islamabad.
The illegal allottees of plots were given voluntary and plea bargain notices under Section 25(a) and (b) of NAO, 1999. The former Chairman NAB had delegated special powers to Director General, NAB KPK to settle the VR and PB cases in MDA.
All plea bargains were recommended by Director General NAB KPK on merit as the Judge Accountability Court also verified the decision of NAB authorities. This enabled NAB to recover looted money of more than Rs.150 million from the illegal allottees through BP.
In another case of state vs Haji Gul Sher, ex-senator, NAB succeeded to recover a total of Rs.40.630 million. Brief fact of the cases are that provincial government decided to acquire land for construction of Northern Portion of Ring Road to reduce traffic congestion in the main city of Peshawar.
Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) and Projects Management Unit were responsible for the project. The accused persons namely Haji Juma Sher and Haji Khatum Gul received Rs.35.693 million and Rs.32.802 million respectively in respect of land claimed to be owned by them.
The statement further said that it was reported that the then Chief Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpoo, Minister Local Government Habibullah Kundi and Revenue Staff N/Teshildar Mosam Khan, Patwari Nisar, Patwari Dilawar Khan and LAC Muhammad Ayub, allegedly allowed exorbitant rates per marla to give undue benefits to influential land owners.
It was therefore, considered necessary to order an inquiry / investigation to ascertain the real facts and reference was sent to Accountability Court.
In the meanwhile, the accused applied for PB and also requested to re-assess the market value.In the light of above, the said amount was recovered through PB. The total loss made goods to the public exchequer comes to Rs.190 million.
It is also clarified the money recovered through VR and PB is directly deposited in government treasury and there is no question of manipulation as perceived in the news item which appeared in various Urdu newspapers on 31st October, 2011 where Director General NAB KPK, Brig (R) Muhammad Musaddiq Abbasi was wrongfully alleged in committing favours and acting against the orders of Supreme Court. All plea bargain cases are duly approved by the Courts before attaining the finality.
Reuters
The inquiry into the illegal allotment of plots in Ghazikot Township Mansehra by the officials of Mansehra Development Authority was authorized in May, 2009 on the direction of Supreme Court, says a NAB press release here on Thursday.
Consequently, NAB KPK not only conducted inquiry but also charged the perpetrators of corruption i.e. the officers of MDA and a draft reference were forwarded to NAB Headquarter Islamabad.
The illegal allottees of plots were given voluntary and plea bargain notices under Section 25(a) and (b) of NAO, 1999. The former Chairman NAB had delegated special powers to Director General, NAB KPK to settle the VR and PB cases in MDA.
All plea bargains were recommended by Director General NAB KPK on merit as the Judge Accountability Court also verified the decision of NAB authorities. This enabled NAB to recover looted money of more than Rs.150 million from the illegal allottees through BP.
In another case of state vs Haji Gul Sher, ex-senator, NAB succeeded to recover a total of Rs.40.630 million. Brief fact of the cases are that provincial government decided to acquire land for construction of Northern Portion of Ring Road to reduce traffic congestion in the main city of Peshawar.
Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) and Projects Management Unit were responsible for the project. The accused persons namely Haji Juma Sher and Haji Khatum Gul received Rs.35.693 million and Rs.32.802 million respectively in respect of land claimed to be owned by them.
The statement further said that it was reported that the then Chief Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpoo, Minister Local Government Habibullah Kundi and Revenue Staff N/Teshildar Mosam Khan, Patwari Nisar, Patwari Dilawar Khan and LAC Muhammad Ayub, allegedly allowed exorbitant rates per marla to give undue benefits to influential land owners.
It was therefore, considered necessary to order an inquiry / investigation to ascertain the real facts and reference was sent to Accountability Court.
In the meanwhile, the accused applied for PB and also requested to re-assess the market value.In the light of above, the said amount was recovered through PB. The total loss made goods to the public exchequer comes to Rs.190 million.
It is also clarified the money recovered through VR and PB is directly deposited in government treasury and there is no question of manipulation as perceived in the news item which appeared in various Urdu newspapers on 31st October, 2011 where Director General NAB KPK, Brig (R) Muhammad Musaddiq Abbasi was wrongfully alleged in committing favours and acting against the orders of Supreme Court. All plea bargain cases are duly approved by the Courts before attaining the finality.
Reuters
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