Srinagar: With mobile users affected by the general ban on prepaid connections in Jammu and Kashmir, state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday joined the chorus protested against the decision of the Center.

The Ministry of Interior of the Union has banned prepaid connections mobile phones in the state from November 01, on “serious security concerns” following reports that militants were receiving prepaid SIM cards of false identities.

However, the J & K CM has spoken out against the comprehensive ban, saying the move also punishes legal users. According to Omar, the ban on prepaid services should be lifted and security controls must be strengthened to curb its misuse.

The Interior Ministry, while the implementation of the ban, had said that the move “comes in the wake of reports of adequate verification is not being done while providing such connections prepaid mobile service providers and suppliers. In some cases, a single person had been issued with the number of multiple connections.

The J and K police earlier this year indicated that an improvised explosive device was triggered in north Kashmir through a wireless phone SIM card had been issued in the name of a senior army official in the northern district Kashmir Baramulla.

“False documents and identity cards are used by sellers, especially in the case of prepaid connections. This situation has led to serious security concerns. Therefore, the decision”, the ministry had said.

The use of mobile phones to explode IEDs is one of the most easy and widespread attack the security forces and militant after sowing of FDI can be exploited for miles.

Omar’s father Farooq Abdullah, who holds the office of the Union Ministry for New and Renewable Energy, Interior Minister P Chidambaram had also to reconsider the continuation of the ban on prepaid mobile services in J & K. According to Farooq, a ban on prepaid services had created anger across the state.

Outrage in the streets

The “walk and talk” generation in the state are furious that has been badly beaten with terrorists who use pre-paid connections.

“Are we extremists?” Shahid Khan, a student, asked in anger and frustration. “There are millions of prepaid subscribers terrorist connection?” He asked.

The decision to add this service has resulted in a total chaos among subscribers.

“It’s strange that I should be punished because someone somewhere might be misusing the facility. This is regrettable and reprehensible,” said Muzaffar Ahmad, 23, a university student in Srinagar.

There are some 3.8 million pre-paid connections in the state. Most of them are Airtel (one million), and new enterprises have entered the state as Tata Indicom, Idea, Aircel, Reliance. There have been large investments, and they too are angry.

“This is a bad move,” said an official of a leading mobile service provider said.

LAHORE: Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) announced that the ongoing power load shedding in the country has been terminated, as the demand and supply of electricity equaled owing to the increased power production from Terbela and Mangla dams, Geo News reported Friday.

According to Pepco spokesman Muhammed Khalid, the outflow from Tarbela Dam bulged to 60,000 cusecs daily and from Mangla Dam 32,000 cusecs daily, which raised the power generation.

He added the recent power production came up to 11,988 Megawatts, the same is the demand of power in the country; hence, the shortfall narrowed to zero.

According to the spokesman, as the gap between power demand and supply amounted to zero, the load shedding has been put to an end.

The spokesman said the industrial, domestic and commercial consumers have absolutely been exempted from the load shedding; however, the new schedule for load shedding may be given if needed in future.

KARACHI: Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Parliamentary leader of the MQM Dr Farooq Sattar Friday claimed that Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) did not take any advantage of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

He said all the party’s cases came to the logical end through courts.

KARACHI: Entry tests for admissions in medical colleges are being held today across Sindh including Karachi.

In Karachi entry tests are being held at Ojha Campus under Dow University of Health Sciences and students have been directed to bring only admit card with them.

Chairman Admission Selection Committee Professor Umar Farooq told Geo News the candidates have been directed not to bring anything with them including cellular phones, electronic devices, pencils and papers.

‘Students will be provided all necessary things at Ojha Campus.’

The chairman said: Strict security measures have been adopted for the entry test and no unconcerned person will be allowed to enter in the Campus.

Meanwhile, interviews for the admissions will begin from November 8th, Farooq added.

KARACHI: All educational institutions including schools and colleges will reopen from Monday.

A decision in this regard was taken in a meeting of Sindh Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah here Saturday.

Briefing newsmen later, Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri said that there was no any disturbing report which may warrant the further closure of schools.

She said the government was reluctant to close the educational institutions but for the protection and safety of children the decision about their closure had to be taken.

Shazia Marri said that Sindh cabinet, in the light of Islamabad meeting attended by Sindh Chief Minister, reviewed the role of people and armed forced during Swat operation and paid tributes to them.

It was optimistic that people would show the same spirit during the Waziristan operation and would contribute as much for the welfare of affectees as they did for Swat affectees.

The Cabinet urged the people to remain courageous and counter the handful of elements who are bent upon creating chaos and fear in the country.

The Cabinet noted that after having been defeated in swat and now on the run during Waziristan operation, they are making children and innocent people as their target. But the people would give a befitting response to these anti-human elements.

Shazia Marri hoped that people being responsible citizens would continue to extend their cooperation to armed forces and the government against terrorists.

She pointed out that police, during a campaign, has advertised the telephone numbers through the media on which people can pass on any information concerning the anti-state elements and LEAs would soon bring situation under control.

Replying a question, Shazia Marri said that government has provided adequate funds in the budget for reinforcing the police force and equip it with weapons and other equipment besides raising their number.

She said the cabinet members and Sindh MPAs have been directed to stay in the country and not go abroad.

After reviewing various aspects of the project, the Chief Minister set up a four- member committee comprising senior Minister Pir Mazhar-ul- Huq, Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, Jam Mehtab Daher representing Land Utilisation Department which is with the Chief Minister, and Syed Sardar Ahmed.

The Committee was directed to submit its final recommendations with regard to various technicalities and legalities of the project within 8 days.

Shazia Marri said that this project was under consideration and its plan was discussed during the previous government but it could not materialise.

She said it is a good project and the Cabinet was briefed about it which noted that there is need for having an explanation of various points for which the 4-member committee was formed to give its final recommendations and clarifications to various aspects of the project.

KARACHI: The newly-elected premier of Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Hyder Saturday thanked Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain for supporting him in the Legislature.

According to MQM statement, Faja Farooq phoned MQM’s center Nine Zero and talked to the members of Rabta Committee.

He said the democratic process was restored in Azad Kashmir in collaboration with the MQM, on which Altaf Hussain merits great credit.

MUZAFFARABAD: Raja Farooq Haider has sworn in as Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir.

President Azad Kashmir Raja Zulqarnain has administered the oath. Earlier, Raja Farooq of Muslim Conference secured 29 votes whereas his rival Sardar Yaqoob got 19 votes.

MUZAFFARABAD: The president Muslim Conference Sardar Atiq Ahmed has said the nominated hopeful for membership of Muslim Conference will be Raja Farooq Haider Khan even if house goes for voting on selection of leader of the house, Geo news reported.

He said this during a press conference here. H said Sardar Yaqoob is a member of Muslim Conference and can rejoin at any time.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Parliamentary leader of the MQM Dr Farooq Sattar said the elections in Gilgit-Baltistan would be held in next three months to install Asad-Kashmir like government there.

Addressing a news conference, he said a cabinet committee would be constituted to remove hurdles for merging Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan in accordance with the resolutions of United Nations.

SRINAGAR: Held Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday submitted his resignation to Governor N N Vohra after being accused of involvement in a sex scandal.

His father Farooq Abdullah accompanied him to the governor’s residence.

PDP leader and former deputy chief minister Muzaffar Beig linked the held Kashmir chief minister to the infamous sex scandal that had rocked Srinagar in 2006.

In his speech assembly session, Omar Abdullah said,” I can”t bear this kind of humiliation. I am innocent until proven guilty.”

Omar’’s name figures at 102 on the list of offenders involved in the sex scandal, the opposition alleged. His name is being probed by the CBI, it claimed. “I have to say with regret, there is the name of Omar Abdullah, son of Farooq Abdullah, in the list. He has lost the moral authority to rule the state. He must resign,” Muzaffar Beig said.

In reply, Omar Abdullah said, “I am going to submit by resignation to Governor N N Vohra. I know it is a false allegation. But I want to resign till I am cleared of this false allegation. I cannot work till I am proved innocent. It is a blot on my character.