No financial support for Islamic university victims

Criminal negligence towards families of IIU victims
Islamabad, Nov 5: The families who lost their loved ones during the International Islamic University blasts are passing through hard times due to criminal negligence of the government towards the families of victims who are expecting financial support looking to the government and philanthropists for.

Pervez Masih's family is one of such families who laid his own life and saved hundreds of innocent female students as he successfully stopped the suicide bomber to enter the main hall of the cafeteria. But it is very strange that government had not announced any compensation for families of martyrs and injured students and employees.

The family of late Pervez Masih is living in a very miserable condition because of his death. Although the university has offered his widow, Shaheen, an employment but it is not enough.

Pervez is survived by one daughter, Dia. Though he had three brothers and four sisters but they all live separately and never supported Pervez and his old mother ever except Parveen who is the youngest sister among all the members living with her mother and Pervez's family in a rented house. Now all the responsibility rests with Parveen to look after her mother in a meager salary.

"I took out loan of Rs 20,000 for funeral and to serve guests since his death who have been arriving to condole. We were very happy because Pervez had recently got this job and he had not received a single salary yet. No compensation can lessen our grief and we have no greed for any amount but life has become so tough," remarked self-esteemed Parveen.

Kurshaid Bibi, mother of the deceased, after the death of Pervez has become too weak and cannot work and see in this old age. Since his death to visit the graveyard again and again and spend hours weeping and grieving has become her routine.

Pervez was their only hope. She has struggled all her life and raised her all children earning herself as Pervez's farther had died very early when they were too young, a neighbourer stated while telling about the plight of Khurshaid who is still in a state of shock and cannot express her grief.

Two suicide blasts rocked the International Islamic University Islamabad on October 20 killing 8 and injuring about 30 students and staff members but there was no financial support for them at all and the university has been bearing all the expenses of treatment of victims. Five students are still under treatment in different hospitals and university has spent millions of rupees on their treatment. One student, Amna Batool, who expired later, the university spent Rs 2,500,000 only on her treatment.

The government should compensate Pervez's family as well as other bereaved families. This is being done all over the country and the government should not deprive IIUI victims of this support. The community should also come forward to help IIUI victims. The nation

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60% burnt victim of IIU blast survived
Islamabad: Following successful surgery, doctors of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) turned a miracle into reality with the grace of Almighty Allah by saving a victim of International Islamic University suicide attack, who suffered 60% burn injuries.

According to details, October 20 was a gruesome day as Islamic International University, Home of Learning witnessed a suicide bomb attack in which an ill-fated 24 years old student, Waqar Khalid suffered 60 per cent burn injuries facing life-threatening situation.

He was admitted at PIMS amid panic and tears, but the efficiency of doctors turned a miracle into reality, as he had no chance of survival in such circumstances. The incharge Dr. Tariq Iqbal under his able team of doctors worked day and night round the clock to save the student from the clutches of death hence now the patient has recovered and will be discharged in a few days.

While talking to this agency on Wednesday, Dr. Tariq Iqbal said that the treatment of Waqar Khalid was not less than a challenge for him as they looked after him with utmost care adding in PIMS they treat patients fee of cost.

He further added that out of 616 patients admitted in PIMS, 462 patients, which makes 75 per cent have fully recovered. He said that the survival rate is not more than 15 per cent in general hospitals.

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NIP receives around 59,677 applications
Islamabad: The Ministry of Youth Affairs has received over 59,677 applications from across the country for the 3rd batch of National Internship Programme (NIP).

NIP Director General Ashiq Hussain said that the under the program the NIP has received over 39,239 online applications and 4,238 by post applications, adding that among the total applicants 13,247 are female and 25,992 male applicants. "We have received 7,706 total applications from Malakand division including male and female applicants which shows positive response of the Malakand youth," he added.

He said, the last date for submission of the applications for the youth from Malakand division was October 30, while November 10 is last for submission of the applications from across the country.

He said that NIP has been designed to benefit young unemployed post- graduates and graduates from across the country, having completed 16 years of education from recognized universities or degree awarding institutions including external candidates.

He said, the management of the programme has received positive response from the youth and its reflects not only the success of the programmes but also its popularity.

"In order to further scrutinize the candidates eligibility, the authority has dispatched the applications to Higher Education Commission (HEC)" DG NIP added.

Ashiq Hussain said that under the NIP fresh batch of unemployed post- graduates will be inducted in first week of October, adding that after the verification of the applications from HEC and Nadra, the selection process would be finalized and letters would be issued.

Describing the allocation for the programme insufficient, he said the NIP management requested for an amount of Rs3.7 billion for the programmes, however, Rs1.6 billion have been earmarked. The news

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Oxford Book Fair 2009
Islamabad: Like other cities of the country, 'Oxford Book Fair 2009' with its amazing collection, continues to attract book-lovers in the federal capital, reviving the tradition of book reading.

The month-long book fair organised by Oxford University press started with the advent of November and maintained its spirit this year too by engaging the people of all ages toward book reading activities.

The book fair is an annual activity of the Oxford University Press and this year's slogan is 'The best books-the biggest discounts'.

Huge variety of books on politics, history, poetry, education, culture and dictionaries are being displayed in the book fair.

The book fair has introduced the new books including "Between dreams and realities-some milestones in Pakistan's history" by Sartaj Aziz, "Pan-Islam in British India" by M. Naeem Qureshi, "The Ismailis in the Middle Ages" by Shafique N. Virani and "Comparing Cities-The Middle East and South Asia" by Kamran Asdar and Martina Riekar.

Oxford Bookshop Assistant Jangraiz Khan told the agency that the Oxford University Press is offering 25 percent discount on general books, 30 percent on dictionaries and 22 percent on educational stuff.The book fair is arranged every year to promote book industry and highlight the importance of valuable literature, he said.

The book fair starts in the morning at 10:00am and continue till 8:00pm including Sundays and other holidays, he said.

About response of people, he said, "We started receiving phone calls a week prior to the exhibition and people were excited imagining this year's unique collection of book fair". This year, the visitors seems to be reluctant to come at the book fair due to prevailing uncertain law and order situation in the Capital.

Therefore, the number of visitors is less as compared to the last year, he said. The books on diversified subjects are being showcased in the book fair according to the interest of the people belonging to different age groups. APP

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Contractual lecturers move LHC
Rawalpindi: Seventy-one female lecturers working in eight different women colleges on contractual basis for more than ten years have moved the Lahore High Court seeking regularisation of their services.

Justice Asad Munir was to take up the petition of Razia Nadeem and others on Tuesday but put it off on the request of lawyers who wanted to participate in the protest demonstrations against the November 3, 2007 emergency.

Making secretary higher education Punjab and director colleges Rawalpindi as respondents, the petitioners through their counsel Mohammad Akram Sheikh have requested the court to direct the education department to regularise their services.

The petitioners maintained that they were appointed in 1998 and 1999 in the newly-built degree colleges for women located at Mohanpura, Zafarul Haq Road, F Block Satellite Town, B Block Satellite Town, Dhoke Elahi Baksh, Milad Nagar, Dhoke Hassu and Muslim Town on the contract of three years against permanent posts.

They stated that more female teachers were also appointed on contract in 2005 in different colleges of Punjab through the Punjab Public Service Commission and were later regularised in the basic pay scale of 17.

They maintained that they had served for more than ten years but their services were not being regularised.

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Spies to monitor teachers playing truant
Muzaffarabad: Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider issued on Wednesday a stern warning to teachers against absenteeism, saying the government would take punitive measures to arrest the unfortunate trend.

Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of AJK Headmasters Association, Mr Haider announced that the government would monitor the attendance of teachers in schools through intelligence agencies which were supposed to serve as its eyes and ears and update it on the working of official machinery.

The prime minister pointed out that a righteous head of any educational institution could keep the system in proper working order, but the principals with otherwise tendencies could not ensure attendance and punctuality on the part of their subordinate teachers.

"I would advice such teachers to quit this profession," he said while expressing the hope that teachers' organisations would not come up with requests for undue favours in the face of action against their guilty members.

Mr Haider said transfer of a government servant was part of service and teachers' organisations should work out a policy for that by themselves in consultation with the education minister.

He stressed upon teachers to create a good atmosphere in their respective institutions and instil moral values into students to make them law abiding citizens.

The prime minister said since the teachers were associated with the noblest profession their responsibilities were higher than other professionals.

He assured that all problems of the teacher community would be resolved within the state resources but he would not make any announcement which he could not fulfil afterwards.

"Our state's financial health is not very good and I would ensure that whatever resources it generated or obtained are spent in all fairness and honesty," he said.

The prime minister, who carries the repute of an outspoken politician, said he would not compromise on his principles.

"If I felt that I cannot discharge my responsibilities with honour and dignity I will sidestep instead of sticking to this chair," he said.

Earlier, Minister for Education (Schools) Noreen Arif and several others also spoke to the gathering. Dawn

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