Kidnapping for ransom on the rise, Senate informed -DAWN


03 February 2005	Thursday	23 Zilhaj 1425

Kidnapping for ransom on the rise, Senate informed
By Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD, Feb 2: The Senate was informed here on Wednesday that more than 30,000 Frontier Constabulary (FC) troops were performing duties in different parts of Balochistan costing the national exchequer an amount of Rs11.314 billion over the last five years.

The information was revealed to the upper house by Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao in response to a question by Senator Ismail Buledi. The minister informed the house that Rs10.442 billion were incurred on FC Balochistan since 2000-01. The minister said an amount of Rs872.8 million was incurred by the government on posting of Mekran Scouts.

KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM: Information placed before the house showed that incidents of kidnapping for ransom were on the rise in the country. The Senate was told that almost 1,500 persons had been kidnapped for ransom since 1998 with the largest number being in Sindh, followed by Punjab, NWFP and Balochistan. The record placed before the house showed that since 1998, 482 persons were kidnapped for ransom in Punjab, 763 in Sindh, 209 in NWFP and 38 in Balochistan.

TREES: The Senate was told that the government spent an amount of Rs2.57 million on planting 260 date-palm trees in the capital. Although payment of Rs1.1 million was made to the contractor, only 20 per cent of the planted trees survived. No information was furnished to the house if any action had been taken against the officials who ordered the wasteful expenditure of taxpayer's money.

LIGHTS: The upper house was told that 40 poles of fancy lights had been installed at the parade venue in front of the Parliament Building at a cost of Rs3.4 million. The cost of cluster of one pole with 7 lights on 35-feet long decorative pole cost the national exchequer Rs85,000 each.

LAND FOR ARMY: The Senate was informed that 97 acres of land was allotted to army welfare organization for commercial purposes. However, only nominal charges would be charged for the land given out on annual rents for a 90 year lease period ranging from Rs5220 to Rs26,321.