November 23, 2005	Wednesday	Shawwal 20, 1426

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QUETTA Nov 22: United States Consul General Ms Mary H. Witt called on Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani here on Tuesday The governor and the American diplomat exchanged views on the problem of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, terrorism, law order situation in Balochistan and measures to promote education.

Ms Witt informed Mr Ghani that poppy cultivation in Afghanistan had adversely affected Balochistan government’s efforts to stop its cultivation in the province.

The governor also stressed the need for taking strict measures against poppy cultivation and drug factories in Afghanistan.

Ms Mary appreciated the steps taken by the Balochistan government to curb terrorism and poppy cultivation and assured the governor that her government would fully cooperate with the provincial government in this regard.

THREE CONVICTED: A local Accountability Court on Tuesday convicted three former officials of the Excise and Taxation Department Balochistan of corruption in three references.

Judge Muhammad Naeem Kakar sentenced accused Misri Khan Mengal to undergo an imprisonment for 3 years and to pay a fine of Rs8.6 million. Another two officials of the department, Allah Dad Mengal and Haji Saleh Muhammad, were also convicted and sentenced to suffer one year imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs400,000 each. The court held that the prosecution had brought home its charges against the accused (convicts).

The references filed by the National Accountability Bureau said that the accused helped in illegal registration of a number of vehicles due to which the provincial exchequer suffered losses to the tune of Rs49 million.

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