Baithak Desi Jul 03: Nepotism, Shahid Masood, Edhi's Langars, News & Views, Cartoons

After some highly controversial appointments of exiled friends on lucrative positions, the PPP-led coalition government is now pushing favourites and party loyalists for important jobs. This is being done in such a hurry that in some cases, private recommendation letters on the PPP letterheads are also being forwarded, along with federal ministers’ directives, to different government agencies. Such party letters today make part of official files. Sherry Rehman, when contacted, denied that she had issued any such directive to any government department. When asked that the directives were issued by her office under the signatures of her DG, she expressed her ignorance, saying, “Not that I know of.” Ansar Abbasi


Questions have been raised in the Senate on the appointment of TV anchor Dr Shahid Masood as Chairman and Managing Director of the PTV.... [some sources speculate at a salary of 13 lakh, and others say 53 lakh per month].....PML-N Senator Saadia Abbasi, who had also raised similar questions on the appointment of another TV anchor, Mubashar Luqman, has moved a question in the Senate for investigation into the circumstances in which unprecedented financial benefits were offered to Dr Shahid Masood. When the Senate had probed the appointment of Mubashar Luqman, he had to resign as Adviser in the Information Ministry during the caretaker cabinet before the Feb 18 elections. Senator Abbasi told The News she wanted to know why, according to her, the recruitment procedure for the appointment of the new PTV chairman was ignored and what were the reasons for keeping the complete remuneration, perks and privileges package secret. Senator questions PTV chairman’s appointment

Abdul Sattar Edhi has launched ‘Free Langar Scheme’ for the poverty-stricken people by establishing 325 Langar-Khanas across the country where, at least, two million people will be provided free meals. Addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday, Edhi said that he had to travel across the country in a bid to collect charity for the poor who could not afford to have proper meals. He said businessmen had always exploited the poor by causing widespread poverty in the society, adding that landlords, feudals and industrialists were plundering the national exchequer by not paying taxes. Edhi launches langer scheme

News & Views

US has the authority to hit Al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan, says Mullen
The coalition must not splinter
I’m not a street entertainer — Sarshar Siddiqui
Kishwar Naheed’s remaining dreams

Maxim - Today's Cartoon