In a tragic incident at a tourist attraction in Nawabshah, at least eight people of a family drowned after a boat carrying them capsized.

NAWABSHAH: In a tragic incident at a tourist attraction in Nawabshah on Thursday, at least eight people of a family drowned after a boat carrying them capsized.



According to the police, six bodies were fished out while the search for two people is still underway. Bodies of three women and children each were shifted to a nearby hospital.

The children were in the age bracket of five to fifteen years.

Additional Commissioner Imtiaz Rajpar said that the incident occurred at an illegal water park, which had no safety measures placed at the site, he added that the man running the tourist attraction has been taken into custody.</s>Minar-i- Pakistan, is standing aloft in the Iqbal Parks across the road from the historic and majestic Badshahi Masjid and the Fort in the city of Lahore symbolises the spirit and struggle launched by the Muslims under inspiring leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah for the creation of a separate homeland .

The concept of a separate homeland for the Muslims was presented by great thinker and poet Allama Mohammad Iqbal in late 1930s’, reduced in black and white at the historical session of the All India Muslim League at the then Minto Park from March 22 to 24, 1940 and the dream so visualised was translated into reality within short span of just seven years . Minar-i-Pakistan has been erected as a memory as well as tribute at the same place where the Resolution was presented and adopted on March 23 way back in 1940.

A visit to the Minar-i-Pakistan any time and day in the month of March rekindles the spirit of sacrifice, struggle and revives the determination for continuing working hard and still harder for realising the cherished objectives for which the Resolution was adopted and a free, sovereign and independent state of Pakistan was carved out the world map out of nowhere for existence for centuries together with blessings of Almighty Allah.

Only a visit to the Minar-i-Pakistan clears certain things and ambiguities . Generally, the Resolution adopted on March 23, 1940 is taken into consideration in the context of Pakistan Day celebrations every year on this historically important date. The clarifications made in the original Resolution for removing the certain misgivings and misconceptions through the Delhi Resolution some six years later are somehow little known and hardly read with the March 23,1940 original resolution.

To duly appreciate and understand the true spirit and objective of March 23 original resolution and April 9, 1946 Delhi Resolution clarifications should be read together . Both the texts of March 23 Resolution and operative part of April 9 Resolution are inscribed on the Minar-i-Pakistan quite prominently which no visitor can ever miss to notice, read and understand and also to make some pledges under the tall Minar-i-Pakistan as well as a determined and committed Pakistani.

It is imperative that the Pakistan Resolution, also known as the Lahore Resolution, and of the operative part containing some clarifications of the Delhi Resolution are reproduced here for the benefits and information of everyone and in particular for the younger generations whop need to know most the background of the creation of Pakistan before being swayed away by some other worldly attractions and so-called Indo-Pakistan friendship slogans which remain far cry in the wilderness.

Indeed March 23 has assumed a unique significance and importance in the annals of the history as a red letter day, it was on this day way back in 1940 that the Muslims of the sub-continent had formally resolved to struggle and achieve a separate homeland of their own Pakistan. It was also on this day in 1956, Pakistan had got its first Constitution and as such become a republic no more being a domain of the British Crown. The Lahore Resolution , as it is known, was surely a semblance of the aspirations of the Muslims of the sub-continent.

Resolved at the Lahore session of

1. While approving and endorsing the action taken by the Working Committee of the All India Muslim League as indicated in their resolutions dated the 27th of August, 17th and 18th of September and 22nd of October 1939 and 3rd February 1940 on the constitutional issue, this session of the All India Muslim League emphatically resolves that the scheme of federation embodies in the Government of India Act 1935 is totally unsuited to, and unworkable in the peculiar conditions of this country and is altogether unacceptable to the Muslims India.

2. “It further records its emphatic view that while the declaration dated the 18th of October 1939 made by the Viceroy on behalf of His Majesty’s Government in reassuring in so far it declares that the policy and plan on which the Government of India Act 1935 is based, will be reconsidered in consultation with the various parties, interests and communities in India. Muslim India will not be satisfied unless the whole constitutional plan is reconsidered denovo and that no revised would be acceptable to the Muslims unless it is framed with their approval and consent.

3. “Resolved that it is the considered view of this session of the All India Muslim League that no constitutional plan would be workable in this country or acceptable to Muslims unless it is designed on the following basic principle, namely that geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so constituted , with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary, that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North Western and Eastern Zones of India, should be grouped to constitute “Independent States” in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign.

4. “That adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards should be specifically provided in the Constitution for minorities in these units and in these regions for the protection of their religious ,cultural, economic, political , administrative and other rights and interests in consultation with them; and in other parts of India where the Muslims are in a minority, adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards shall be specifically provided in the Constitution for them and other minorities for the protection of their religious , cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights and interests in consultation with them.

5. This session further authorises the Working Committees to frame a scheme of Constitution in accordance with these basic principles, providing for the assumption finally by the respective regions of all powers such as defence, external affairs, communications, customs and such other matters as may be necessary”.

As stated above already, the Pakistan Resolution of March 23, 1940 was further clarified by a resolution unanimously passed by the Muslim League Convention elected M.L.As of the Centre and from the Provinces held under the presidentship of the Quaid-i-Azam at Delhi on April 9,1946.

Among other things, the said Resolution specified that :

“The zones comprising Bengal and Assam in the North-East and Punjab, North-West province, Sind and Balochistan in the North-West of India, namely Pakistan Zones, where the Muslims are in a dominant majority, be constituted into a sovereign independent State and that on unequivocal undertaking be given to implement the establishment of Pakistan without delay”.

If both the resolutions in the context of their operative parts are read together, many things would clear up in the minds of the people in respect of creation of an independent, sovereign State of Pakistan.

Construction of Minar-i-Pakistan itself makes an interesting reading. But the story would be narrated some other time in all details . It was started started as the Pakistan Day Memorial , Its foundation stone was laid on March 23, 1960 by the West Pakistan Governor Akhtar Hussain while actual construction got underway by mid-1963.

The credit for construction of Minar-i-Pakistan goes to contractor Mian Abdul Khaliq and then then Commissioner Lahore and well-known literary figure Mukhtar Masood, who expired a year and more back, who had got its file recovered from the heaps of filed dumped in the store room of the office of one of the Assistant Commissioner.

The Minar, which was erected under the guidance of the Pakistan Day Memorial Committee and maintained till it was taken over by the Lahore Development Authority in May 1982.

Pakistan Day is celebrated quite enthusiastically every year on March 23 by the people at large as well as the government as a national holiday. Remaining details about the architect, material used, financial contributions and other aspects will be mentioned separately some other time, please.

The writer is Lahore =based Freelance Journalist and Columnist and retired Deputy Controller (News) Radio Pakistan, Islamabad.</s>NAWABSHAH: In a tragic incident at a tourist attraction in Nawabshah on Thursday, at least eight people of a family drowned after a boat carrying them capsized.



According to the police, six bodies were fished out while the search for two people is still underway. Bodies of three women and children each were shifted to a nearby hospital.

The children were in the age bracket of five to fifteen years.

Additional Commissioner Imtiaz Rajpar said that the incident occurred at an illegal water park, which had no safety measures placed at the site, he added that the man running the tourist attraction has been taken into custody.</s>NAWABSHAH - Six of a family, including five children, died on Thursday after a boat capsized in a private water park near Nawabshah-Daur bypass.

Shahnaz, 55, and her nephews and nieces Kashish, 11, Komal, 8, Siddiq, 6, and Aijaz, 4 ─ who were all siblings ─ along with another 6-year-old nephew, Husnain, died due to drowning after a boat they had boarded in the private water reservoir, overturned, Dawn reported.

The family of the deceased said that the water facility, spread over acres, was private property with no rescue service or facility of life jackets available.

People from nearby villages, upon receiving news of the incident, notified rescue services after which divers reached the site and started the search operation.

There were 22 people onboard when the boat capsized, however, other adults managed to save their lives, the eyewitnesses added.

The rescuers managed to take out the bodies of the drowned after which they were shifted to Nawabshah’s Peoples Medical University Hospital where they were pronounced dead by doctors.

Anila Naich, mother of the deceased children, and relatives Ali Hassan Naich and Ali Akbar Naich said the family had come to the facility for recreational purposes, completely unaware that it would prove so disastrous.

Station House Officer (SHO) Taluka Police Station Asghar Awan said that they have arrested the boat operator.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shaheed Benazirabad Nauman Siddiq Latki said the district government would provide support and compensation to the bereaved family.

He said the private facility did not have permission to operate as a water park and was thus illegal.

DC Latki added that investigation was underway to ascertain more facts about the existence of such facilities.</s>ISLAMABAD: Jang group-owned Geo TV network has apologised to Pakistan Army, the powerful spy agency ISI and its chief for leveling allegations against them over an assassination bid on leading anchor Hamid Mir.



In a published apology yesterday in English daily 'The News' and Urdu newspaper 'Jang', the media group clarified that they were respectful of Pakistani forces and its leadership.



"We have always appreciated their sacrifices to safeguard our borders and the security of our country," the apology letter said.



"After serious retrospection, editorial debates, feedback and engagement with all parties, directly and indirectly, we have concluded that our coverage immediately after the tragic and unnerving attack on Hamid Mir on April 19 was excessive, distressful and emotional," the media group said.



It accepted that the coverage of the incident was "misleading, disproportionate and inappropriate, giving impression of a campaign," although it followed current media practices including the version of the armed forces.



The group apologised to the ISI, its chief Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam, his family, Pakistan Army and large number of television viewers for causing "deep hurt", Dawn News reported.



The Jang Group clarified that the allegations were not hurled by the institution but by Mir himself and later repeated by his brother soon after the attempt on his life in Karachi.



Mir, who works for Geo TV, had said last month that he faced threats from both non-state and state actors including the ISI.



Following the attack on Mir, Jang group said, "We also want to bring it on the record that the ISI has been continuously and strongly complaining to our senior editors against some of our senior journalists, particularly against Hamid Mir. We will prove this and many other things at the proper time."</s>NAWABSHAH: Six members of a single family were killed as their boat capsized in a private water park in Nawabshah.

Ten people were in the boat when tragedy struck.

The boat could not maintain balance due to extra weight and capsized.

Women and children were among the casualties.

The injured were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital for treatment of their injuries, rescue teams stated.

Emergency team reached the scene as soon as they were informed of the incident. They imposed an emergency in the recreational spot.</s>ISLAMABAD: Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada was killed on Sunday after a powerful explosion rocked his office in Pakistan's Attock city, Geo TV reported.</s>INGESUS SIMONS, 56, a fisherman of Karwab, Upper Pomeroon River is feared drowned after the boat in which he was travelling capsized in the vicinity of Labba Creek, Upper Pomeroon River on Tuesday.

According to the wife of the deceased, Evednay John, she and her husband, along with their four-year-old son, Kenroy Simon, were heading home in their wooden paddle boat when a speed boat darted passed them, creating heavy waves that capsized their boat.

Luckily, John and her son managed to swim ashore but the father went missing. A number of searches carried out to locate him have so far proved futile.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident.</s>LAKESITE (WRCB) -- A 52 foot long boat sank at Lakesite Marina in Hamilton County and investigators are searching for a cause.

Friday afternoon, Emergency Services personnel respond reports of a boat sinking in a slough. They found a 1951 Chris Craft boat partially submerged in the water with gas surrounding the boat. Members of the Hamilton County Hazmat Team immediately started surrounded the boat and kept the boat fuel from spreading. The value of the boat is unknown. Investigators say Marion Environmental, Inc. responded to the scene and will finish the clean up then pull the boat from the water.</s>LUCKNOW: India's most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim is not in Pakistan, Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit said today, rubbishing Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's statement in the Lok Sabha.

"Uskey baarey mein yehi kehna hai ki woh sahab Pakistan mein nahin hain (The only thing I have to say about that gentleman is that he is not in Pakistan)," Basit said. He was responding to a question at a "Meet the Press" event organised by UP Press Club here.

Basit was asked to comment on Singh's statement in Lok Sabha earlier in the day that the 1993 Mumbai blast mastermind was in Pakistan and the government will do everything to bring him to justice. "Whether we have to pursue Pakistan or pressurise it, we will not rest till Dawood Ibrahim is brought back," the Home Minister said in Lok Sabha and averred that India has maintained pressure on Pakistan at all levels over the issue.

He alleged that Pakistan has "failed" to track him down despite being provided with "overwhelming evidence" about his presence there, based on "credible information".

Asked about 26/11 Mumbai blast mastermind Hafiz Saeed's release from jail, Basit said Pakistan had arrested eight persons in connection with the blast and the government was pursuing the case seriously in court. "He (Hafiz) has been granted bail by the court. He has not got clean chit from it. There should not be any premature conclusions. Whatever verdict court gives, we have to accept. You all should respect our court," Basit said.

"The prosecution has put all evidences including those provided by India (before the court). The matter is subjudice and I will not make comments on it," he said. Maintaining that killing of innocent people cannot be justified, Basit said Pakistan had sufferred a lot after 9/11 with around 50-60 thousand civilians having fallen prey to terrorism, besides six thousand security personnel. "We have suffered economic losses of 100 billion dollars due to terrorism in past 11 years. We are fighting it and will surely get rid of it," Basit said.

About sectarian conflict in that country, Basit said there were different dimensions to violence in Pakistan which, he claimed, had come down. "The government of Pakistan is determined to end violence," he said. On continued infiltration in Kashmir by Pakistan, Basit said, "It's your view point."

"The issue of Jammu and Kashmir is not new. Whatever is going on there is not terrorism. We also have our concerns. The issue is to be resolved through talks. Whatever people there want would happen. Let the talks begin between two countries. We want talk on all issues besides this," he said. "There are forces on both sides of border that could pressurise governments. Government side should not be held hostage to such forces," he said.

Basit rejected allegations of ceasefire violations by Pakistan. "We have opened a big front on Western side and all our forces are engaged there. Why will we open two fronts?" he asked. About elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Basit said, "Elections are not substitue for plebiscite. We believe so." He said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took a "huge

step" and came here with focus on peaceful development but unfortunately momentum of dialogue could not be maintained. "We want peace through talks. Whenever India wants, dialogue will be resumed. We are not in a hurry, we are waiting," he said when asked when talks between the two countries could be resumed.

On when Pakistan would grant India Non-Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA) to facilitate enhanced bilateral trade, Basit said the matter could progress once the dialogue process resumes.
A boat capsizes in Nawabshah, Pakistan, killing eight people.