KHI 01-03-2012_Layout 1 3/1/2012 3:54 AM Page 1
Government has started talks with disgruntled Baloch: Rehman Malik PAGE | 05
In ‘secure’ Askari-III, Annual FESF 5 of a family found children’s benefit slain in house concert held PAGE | 7
PAGE | 8
rs15.00 Vol ii no 244 22 pages Karachi edition
thursday, 1 March, 2012 rabi-ul-sani 7, 1433
TRIPLE WHAMMY!
ISI fuNDING CASE
SC puts ex-ISI chief on notice ISLAMABAD mASood rehmAn
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NEPRA adds fuel to fire set by massive hike in POL prices
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Petrol price increased by Rs 2.75 to Rs 97.66, LDO by Rs 3.08 to Rs 93.09
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CNG price up by Rs 0.91 to 1.77 per kg
ISLAMABAD Amer SiAl
Without showing any mercy to the already hard-pressed people, the government on Wednesday apathetically passed on the full impact of the rise in global oil prices to consumers by jacking up POL prices by Rs 2.75 to 8.67 per litre, power tariff by Rs 3.03 per unit and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) prices by Rs 0.91 to 1.77 per kg with effect from March 1 (today). The massive increase in power tariff due to fuel price adjustment and hike in POL and CNG prices would trigger unprecedented inflation and there are fears in the official circles that the masses may take to the streets,
despite the government’s attempt to pre-empt any such situation by keeping on board its allies and opposition parties. According to a notification issued by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), the price of motor spirit (petrol) has been increased by Rs 2.75 per litre to Rs 97.66 per litre, High Octane Blended Component (HOBC) by Rs 8.67 to Rs 126.87 per litre, Light Diesel Oil (LDO) by Rs 3.08 to Rs 93.29 per litre and Kerosene Oil (KO) by Rs 4.38 to 96.40 per litre, while the price of High Speed Diesel (HSD) has been retained at Rs 103.46 per litre even though an increase of Rs 2.82 per litre was calculated. OGRA had recommended to keep the prices unchanged by absorbing the impact through petroleum levy (PL),
however, the government due to its budgetary constraints, decided only to retain the HSD price. The government also decreased the petroleum levy from Rs 6.50 to Rs 4.07 per litre, which will result in a subsidy of an estimated Rs 1.9 billion in March 2012. A crucial meeting of the National Assembly Special Committee on POL prices recommended freezing of HSD at the level of February 1, however, subsidy in the prices of other POL products would be decided after consulting the provinces. The federal government wants the provinces to share the burden of the subsidy by agreeing to cut the provincial share in the revenue. Continued on page 04
Resuming hearing after 13 years on a petition filed by Air Marshall (r) Asghar Khan around 16 years ago against the distribution of millions of rupees by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) among anti-Pakistan People’s Party politicians to manipulate the 1990 elections, the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices to ISI’s former director general Lt Gen (r) Asad Durrani, Ministry of Defence and the defunct Mehran Bank’s chief executive Younis Habib, directing them to file their replies by March 8. A three-member bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez, also directed its office to trace out the record pertaining to statements of former army chief General (r) Mirza Aslam Beg, interior minister Naseerullah Babar and Asad Durrani in the case in 1998 and produce it in sealed envelope on the next date of hearing. The court noted that the statements of Mirza Aslam Beg, Asad Durrani and Naseerullah Babar had been recorded in-camera, but the same were not available on the current record presented before it. The court also noted that according to May 27, 1998 order sheet, sealed cover report had been submitted on the working of ISI, thus it also be made available to the bench on the next hearing. The court noted that the presence of Asad Durrani during the case’ proceedings was imperative and directed that postal address of Mehran Bank’s chief executive Younis Habib be traced out and he be issued notice. Continued on page 04
‘those who sold their souls to isi’ | page 03