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| September 30, 2006 | Saturday | Ramazan 6, 1427 |
Team in Sust for probe into dry port scam
ISLAMABAD, Sept 29: Officials of the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) and security agency have reached Sust to probe the alleged corruption and mismanagement in the Silk Route Port Trust, sources told Dawn on Thursday.
The CBR chairman took notice of a report that appeared in Dawn on September 25 about the dry port crisis and directed the two officials to immediately rush to the border town to probe the scam, the sources said.
Meanwhile, an arbitration committee, set up to resolve the port crisis, has warned that the people of Hunza will not allow any one to usurp their rights.
“Sust Dry Port is the most important asset of Hunza valley and Northern Areas and the people of Hunza will not allow any one to create unrest and usurp the rights of the poor people”, said Sultan Madad, convener of the arbitration committee, and others at a meeting at Sust village on Wednesday.
The committee, comprising notables, public representatives, political leaders and social activists, visited Sust and met the affected shareholders and landowners of the dry port.
The meeting was attended by 25 members of the committee and 35 representatives of the affected people.
The affectees expressed their confidence in the arbitration committee and assured their full support in resolving the issue. They agreed to follow rules and regulations, including those of the trust, and gave undertaking to accept and abide by the decisions of the committee.
The speaker of the committee said that Hunza could not let everybody astray and damage its interests and fame. This is just beginning of a completely new era. Enormous opportunities will grow in the strategic corridor but we have to unite and prepare ourselves to harness the benefits. We have to be careful of identity and economic rights.
All out efforts would be made to protect the interests of the local communities. He disagreed with the idea of approaching the registrar and said: “We will settle things at our own and not provide chances to outsiders. The people of Hunza will bring to book all those responsible for the mess howsoever powerful they may be.”
Those who addressed the day-long gathering include Sultan Madad, Amanullah Khan, Naeemullah Baig, General Secreaty Union Council Central Committee Hunza, Lambardar Fida Karim, President PPP Ghulam Muhammad, former member District Council Ghulam Muhammad, Sihat Ali Tawasul Shah, Lambardar Shanawar Khan, Baba Jan, Bai Nazar, president Village Organization Sust, Khalil Ahmad former president Sust VO, Subedar Ghulam Muhammad, Jalaluddin, Gojal Union Council chairman Aziz Jan, Lambardar Sultan Shah, Irshad Karim, Aman Ali, Sultan Ali, Shafiullah Baig, Mohammad Nazar, Faiz-i-Nazar, Farman Ali, Qalandar Shah, Ghulam Rasool, Ala Lambardar Shah Gul Aziz, Ghulam Murtaza, Rustam, Muhammad Din, Sharif, Afsar Jan and Ali Johar.
Meanwhile members of various sections of society, representatives of Northern Areas Chamber of Commerce, business associations and political and civil society leaders have expressed satisfaction over formation of the committee and reposed confidence in them.
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