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Friday, 9 January, 2015 Rabi-ul-Awal 17, 1436 Rs 17.00 Vol V No 190 16 Pages Karachi Edition

‘MILITARY COURTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED A LONG TIME AGO’

IMRAN KHAN WEDS FORMER BBC WEATHER GIRL REHAM KHAN AT LOW KEY CEREMONY AT HIS BANI GALA RESIDENCE IMRAN KHAN’S FOUR SISTERS, CLOSE FRIENDS AND SENIOR PARTY LEADERS ‘NOT INVITED’ TO NIKAH CEREMONY

PM says Pakistan has become a country where mothers are afraid to even send children to school Says India did not reciprocate Pakistan’s efforts to improve relations between both countries

STORY ON PAGE 04

AKRAM LAHORI’S EXECUTION DELAYED FOLLOWING PARDON STORIES ON PAGE 03

FAZL SEES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ‘COLLECTIVE SUICIDE ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY’

Massive manhunt for PTI POSTPONES DHARNA ON killers in French magazine massacre 18TH FOLLOWING CHARLIE HEBDO STAFFERS VOW TO PUBLISH AGAIN NEXT WEEK STORIES ON PAGE 05

CHIEF’S WEDDING

STORY ON PAGE 04

Stocks breach 33,000 mark, break all time high record STORY ON PAGE 10

STORY ON PAGE 03

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02 NEWS

Friday, 9 January, 2015

sC gives PunjAb, sindh one Month to CoMPlete ArrAngeMents For lg Polls APEX COURT TELLS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO EMPOWER ECP TO HOLD LG POLLS IN ALL 43 CANTONMENT BOARDS IN COUNTRY ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

HE Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) complained to the Supreme Court on thursday that the provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh had yet to provide the commission complete data regarding the delimitation process for Local Government elections. “the ECP is committed to initiating the process of delimitation for local governments as soon as possible once complete information relating to notification of demarcation of local areas, determination of number of union councils/wards

and authenticated maps are received from the Punjab and Sindh governments as well as amendments in the respective acts by the two provinces,” said the commission in its report. During thursday’s hearing counsel for ECP Akram Sheikh requested the court to bind the Sindh and Punjab government to complete election process so that the commission could announce a schedule for polls within a week.

Upon this, the top court has directed both provincial governments to complete the arrangements for holding local government elections within a month. the three judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk further directed the federal government to

Four policemen, seven suspected militants killed in Karachi clashes

2013, as highlighted by the commission during a similar meeting, has been prepared and would be presented before the provincial assembly for necessary amendments. According to the report, the Punjab government has sent details of local areas, number of union councils, wards in each local government along with maps of 25 districts to the Provincial Election Commissioner (PEC) Punjab. For the remaining districts, there was only a promise for swift compliance. However, the PEC Punjab revealed that in the documents they had so far received, there was no information on the population in each local area.

Hence, the report concluded that delimitation could not be initiated.

LG PoLL PREPARAtIonS By SInDH: On the issue of holding local government elections in Sindh, the ECP in its report said that existing provisions of the Sindh Local Government Act 2013 require reconsideration, for the sake of clarity.

promulgate an ordinance empowering the ECP to hold similar elections in all the 43 Cantonment Boards of the country. the hearing was adjourned till February 12.

LG PoLL PREPARAtIonS By PunjAB: In its report the commission stated that during a meeting with representatives of the provincial governments and the cantonment boards on December 30, 2014, the secretary Punjab local government assured the ECP that the exercise of demarcation of local governments and determination of the number of seats in the local government institutions has been completed for 31 districts of Punjab. the ECP said they were assured that the requisite notification along with the authenticated maps would be provided to the commission once the requisite exercise is completed in the remaining five districts.

Similarly, a draft for removing anomalies in the Punjab Local Government Act

Two killed, four injured in Quetta violence sC declares

petitions to construct Kalabagh dam inadmissible

KARACHI: At least seven suspected militants were killed on thursday during a search operation conducted by the police in Karachi’s Sohrab Goth area. Acting on a tip-off, the security officials also arrested another two injured miscreants during the operation. One of the assailants was a local leader of al Qaeda. “As many as 500 security personnel conducted the operation,” SSP Malir Anwar confirmed. Meanwhile, four policemen were also killed in separate incidents of targeted killings in the city. two of the victims, who were shot dead in North Nazimabad, were identified as Bhagiyo Khan, 35, and Abdul Bari. Just a day ago, two policemen were also killed in a gun attack in Sohrab Goth. In 2014 alone, around 130 policemen, 27 security guards and 12 Rangers were killed in Karachi. STAFF REPORT

Four security officials killed in Orakzai landmine blast PESHAWAR: At least four security officials were killed while two others were injured in a landmine explosion in Lower Orakzai Agency on thursday.

According to sources, a vehicle of the security forces hit a landmine in Shabak area. A contingent of army men arrived at the scene and cordoned off the blast site. Orakzai is one of Pakistan’s seven semi-autonomous tribal regions in the northwest, where tehreek-e-taliban and Al Qaeda-linked terrorists are said to have strongholds. thursday’s incident comes as Pakistan is engaged in military offensive in the tribal regions of North Waziristan and Khyber and is likely to expand its anti-terrorist onslaught to more areas in the aftermath of the attack on Army Public School in Peshawar. INP

QUETTA: The scene of a bombing at Meezan Chowk on Thursday. INP

QUETTA

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t least two people were killed and four others injured in an explosion and firing here on thursday night.

Police sources said that four people were injured in the explosion at Bacha Khan Chowk. two children were also among the injured, they added. Police officials said unknown miscreants had planted explosives in a motorcycle parked on the roadside. the bomb blast smashed

glasses of nearby shops and vehicles parked on the road. the injured were rushed to Civil Hospital Quetta for medical treatment. In a separate incident, unidentified armed men opened fire on a house and killed two persons in Khilji Colony area of Quetta.

Police officials said that the assailants sped away on their motorcycles after the incident.

In yet another incident, militants hurled a hand-held bomb at the residence of a government officer in Wahdat Colony area of the provincial capital.

Police officials said that the blast damaged a small portion of the house, whereas no human loss was reported as a result of the explosion. there has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the terrorist attacks. However, the province is plagued by violence carried out by Baloch militants along with growing sectarianism. Balochistan has been experiencing violence and targeted killings since more than a decade. Al Qaeda-linked militants also operate in the region. the province shares borders with Afghanistan and Iran.

India should investigate Working Boundary aggression: FO SPOKESPERSON SAYS PAKISTAN CONDEMNS DEADLY PARIS SHOOTING ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

the Foreign Office (FO) on thursday said that India should investigate the causes of recent escalation in tensions at the Line of Control (LoC) rather than trading allegations and denying any such probe.

Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) personnel resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling along the Working Boundary in Sialkot’s Zafarwal and Shakargarh sectors earlier this week, killing four Pakistani civilians. Addressing her weekly press briefing, FO spokesperson tasnim Aslam also condemned the deadly shooting at a French satirical paper Charlie Hebdo

Moreover, the commission said that printing of ballot papers for multi-member constituency in party based elections may prove to be a highly challenging task for the Printing Corporation of Pakistan.

In this regard, the ECP report noted that the PEC Sindh had proposed single member constituency to be delimited for conducting elections against the seats of general members in the union council and union committee. Similarly, the secretary local government Sindh had stated that the process of notification of demarcation of local governments and the number of seats, preparation of authenticated maps was in progress and the requisite date and maps would be completed shortly.

A draft bill for removing anomalies in the Sindh Local Government Act 2013, as pointed out by the commission, had also been submitted before the competent authority, and would be tabled in the provincial assembly for consideration.

that left 12 people dead.

Earlier on tuesday, hooded gunmen had stormed the offices of Charlie Hebdo, killing at least 12 people, including two police officers in the worst militant attack on French soil in recent decades. Charlie Hebdo (Charlie Weekly) is well known for courting controversy with satirical attacks on political and religious leaders.

Aslam said that Pakistan deplores all forms of terrorism and extends condolences to the government of France and its citizens for the loss of life. She said that Pakistan’s stance over blasphemous cartoons is very clear. While strongly condemning the attack, she added that Pakistan in the past had moved a resolution in the United Na-

Kerry to visit PAKistAn on 12th ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State John Kerry will arrive in Islamabad on January 12 to participate in the USPakistan strategic dialogue and meet the country’s military and political leadership. The strategic dialogue is scheduled to be held on Jan 13 for a complete review of bilateral relations between the two countries. Secretary Kerry would meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the evening of Jan 12 followed by a dinner in his honour. Kerry would also meet Army Chief General Raheel Sharif after attending strategic dialogue on Jan 13, where Pakistan-US defence ties are expected to come under discussion. Secretary Kerry will also visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where he will visit Tarbela Dam to witness power generation projects. He is also expected to visit Peshawar’s Army Public school to pay homage to those killed in December 16 tragedy. STAFF REPORT

tions and the world needs to get out of Islamophobia.

Aslam further said, “We are confident that the international community will persist in standing firm against terrorism and that the culprits behind

terrorist activities will be brought to justice.” the FO spokesperson also mentioned that the dates of US secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Pakistan have been finalised.

She added that Pakistan’s is-

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sues will be discussed with him during strategic talks. the US State Department on tuesday announced Kerry’s visit to South Asia next week, but did not reveal his schedule for Pakistan due to security reasons.

ISLAMABAD: the Supreme Court on thursday dismissed petitions in favour of constructing the Kalabagh dam, and declared them inadmissible. A three-member bench led by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk presided over the case pertaining to the construction of the dam.

Lawyer of the petitioner, AK Dogar, said that the issue whether or not Kalabagh damn should be constructed has gone on for years. He moreover stated that the construction would prove to be detrimental. He further said that political parties and provinces are not in agreement over building Kalabagh dam. the court dismissed the case after hearing out the preliminary arguments declaring the petitions inadmissible. INP

Musharraf treason case adjourned till Feb 18 ISLAMABAD: A special court hearing the treason case against former military ruler Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf on thursday adjourned the hearing to Feb 18.

A three-member court, headed by Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court (SHC), resumed the hearing during which Musharraf’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry presented his arguments. the prosecuting lawyer pleaded to the bench that while the decision of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against Musharraf may stand, the special court be allowed to function. to this, Justice Faisal Arab said, “After the Nov 21 decision of the IHC, how can proceedings continue?”

On Nov 21, the special court hearing the treason case against Musharraf had included Aziz, Hamid and former CJ Dogar as Musharraf’s abettors in the treason trial. the order had come as the court disposed of a request filed by the former president calling for the trial of abettors during the November 3 actions.

Musharraf had also demanded that the civilian leadership and the military authorities that allegedly abetted in the imposition of the November 3, 2007 emergency should also be tried along with him.

In the ‘high treason’ case against the former president, the government has charged Musharraf with abrogating, subverting, suspending, holding in abeyance and attempting to conspire against the 1973 Constitution by declaring emergency and overthrowing the superior judiciary in November 2007. STAFF REPORT

Friday, 9 January, 2015

MilitAry Courts should hAve been estAblished A long tiMe Ago: shAriF PRIME MINISTER SAYS PAKISTAN HAS BECOME A COUNTRY WHERE MOTHERS ARE AFRAID TO EVEN SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL MANAMA

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RIME Minister Nawaz Sharif on thursday said military courts should have been established a long time ago, adding that the courts were in place the last time he was prime minister.

“I don’t think people who slaughter others deserve any sympathy,” the premier said while addressing Pakistanis in Bahrain during his two-day visit to the oil-rich country. “this is the first time such steps have been taken in Pakistan,” Sharif added. “terrorists roamed about freely,” he said, in reference to the long gap between his current and past tenures.

“Such people should be dealt with.”

Speaking about the devastating attack in Peshawar — in which 150 people were killed, including school children — Sharif said the 21st Constitutional Amendment had been signed to ensure that such an incident never takes place again.

He said he was thankful to those who voted in favour of the amendment, and was also thankful to those who abstained as they were at least present in parliament. “Pakistan is a country now where mothers are afraid to even send their children to school, a country where families are afraid their relatives may not make it back home,” the prime minister said.

In regard to the establishment of military courts, Sharif said the militants

SAYS INDIA DID NOT RECIPROCATE PAKISTAN’S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN BOTH COUNTRIES will be tried and if found guilty, they would be hanged in 10-15 days. “terrorism has been prevalent in Pakistan for several years,” he said. “the government has tried to conduct dialogue with the militants, but to no avail.” He said the attack on the airport in Karachi was an “eye-opener”.

“After that day, we decided that we would not continue with the dialogue process. Shortly after that, we launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb which has been very effective,” the prime minister said.

Sharif also highlighted the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and reiterated their commitment to fight terror. He also said he was hopeful of the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan improving, as well as improvements of

issues on western borders.

DISAPPoIntED WItH InDIA: On the LoC and Working Boundary violations by India, Sharif said his government made sincere efforts to improve relations with the new government in India, but the efforts were not reciprocated.

He spoke about his attempts to improve bilateral relations, “When I was invited to visit India for their new prime minister’s oath-taking ceremony, I made the decision to go without hesitation, whereas they cancelled a scheduled meeting with Pakistan just three days before it was bound to take place.”

He said India cancelled the foreign secretary level talks on the pretext of the Pakistani High Commissioner’s meeting with the Kashmir leadership, which has been a practice for 60 years.

NEWS 03 report cites lal Masjid, jamia hafsa ‘waging war’ against state ISLAMABAD: A video message by students of Jamia Hafsa madrassa, in which they invited Islamic State (IS) chief Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi to ‘avenge’ the 2007 military raid on Lal Masjid, has been termed as “waging war” against the State.

A report by the Islamabad police sent to the Interior Ministry says the words spoken by the madrassa students in the video released

by Shuhada Foundation come under Sections 121/121-A 505(1)b/505(2) of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). the mentioned sections include attempt to wage war and the abetment to wage war [against the State].

Security agencies have already warned the government that due to his links with known militant groups and his anti-government rhetoric, the resurgence of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz poses a security threat to law and order situation in the federal capital. they also stressed the need for a check on the growing number of madrassas in Rawalpindi and Islamabad who also have overt and covert links with militant groups. It may be mentioned that Ihtashamul Haq, one of the trustees of Lal Masjid Shuhada Foundation, filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) claiming that following the release of the video message, the federal capital police have started harassing him. STAFF REPORT

Fazl sees constitutional amendments MQM flays Fazl, ‘collective suicide attack on democracy’ accuses him JUI-F CHIEF CALLS NATIONAL MOOT ON JAN 22, WARNS OF ‘D-CHOWK-TYPE’ PROTESTS IF ‘DISCRIMINATORY LAW’ IS NOT DISCUSSED ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

nation stands with APs victims, says gen sharif PESHAWAR: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on thursday reiterated that the entire nation and the armed forces of Pakistan stand with the victims of Army Public School and their families. the Army chief, along with his wife, met with families of APS victims in Peshawar on thursday and expressed solidarity.

He reiterated that the entire nation and army stands firmly behind the affected families in this hour of distress. the COAS also paid tributes to the victims of APS for their sacrifice. Earlier, the army chief visited the Corps Headquarters Peshawar, and met with Corps Commander Peshawar. together they reviewed progress in ongoing operations Zarbe-Azb and Khyber-I. the COAS also reviewed preparations for the effective implementation of National Action Plan. STAFF REPORT

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman said thursday that the recent amendments made in the constitution for setting up military courts in the country for a period of two years were a collective suicide attack on democracy by parliamentary parties.

Addressing a press conference, Fazl said that his party had certain concerns over the amendments made in the constitution. “Constitutional experts should be consulted so that the cons of this amendment can be put forward and the nation is given an explanation based on rationale and not emotions,” he said.

“We had demanded a law which was universal, defines the parameters of terrorism and becomes a tool to eliminate terrorism,” he said.

Fazl said that a seminar will be held in Lahore on Jan 22 which will be attended by all national leaders so that a consensus can be developed on this “discriminatory law”. “the country cannot afford any division in any case,” he added. “Our stance against terrorism should be understood. terrorists have been given an escape route through this law...for instance if any terrorist shaves his beard off and takes off his turban renaming himself as Saulat Mirza or Ajmal Pahari, then terrorism would be accepted and the terrorist would not be presented in a military court.”

Responding to a question, Fazl said that in case the demands were not met, the situation could progress to a ‘D-Chowk-type protest’. Responding to another question regarding the reaction of PPP Senator Raza Rabbani, he said that each and every lawmaker’s conscience felt the same as Rabbani, but only the latter’s conscience was able to shout out what it felt.

Answering another question, he said that his view did not seek to shelter those who had been sentenced

ConstitutionAl AMendMents MAde in light oF religious deCrees: rAshid ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid on Thursday said that constitutional amendments were made in light of religious decrees issued by Imam Khana-e-Kaaba, Imam-e-Masjid Nabvi, Jamia tul Azhar and Pakistani religious scholars for eliminating terrorism from the world. In a statement, the minister said ending terrorism unleashed in the name of religion would be an opportunity to remove baseless objections raised against Islam. He said terrorists used name of religion which made life of peaceful Muslims across the world miserable. “Because of these terrorists, religious leaders are looked at with suspicion at the immigration sections of international airports,” he said.

The minister said those who were objecting to the law must also had studied the statements issued by the terrorists, asking whether even after this there was any room or basis for objections. APP

to death while committing terror acts in the name of religion or sect, but rather he was seeking action against those who were committing terror acts on grounds other than religion and sect. “Our demand is that there should be a definition of terrorism and extremism.”

Akram Lahori’s execution delayed following pardon LAHORE STAFF REPORT

the execution of Ikramul Haq alias Akram Lahori, an activist of the banned Sipah Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) who was scheduled to be hanged early thursday at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore for the murder of Nayyar Abbas in Shorkot area in 2001 among other criminal

charges mostly on sectarian lines, was delayed in the nick of time after an agreement was reached between the plaintiff and the defendant. the death-row convict, who was sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court (AtC) in Faisalabad, was pardoned by the complainant’s family few hours before the scheduled execution.

Defense lawyer Ghulam Mustafa said that Lahori’s case will now be heard by the AtC in Faisalabad.

After black warrants were issued for Lahori’s execution, the counsel said he approached the complainant and the two sides managed to reach a compromise.

Mustafa added that both parties again approached the

high court and were told to approach Judicial Magistrate Imran Ishaq with their plea.

He said an application was submitted with the magistrate late Wednesday night. the counsel added that the plaintiff and four others related to the victim had been summoned along with their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) to

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appear before the judicial magistrate to verify that the compromise was not reached through force or by coercion.

Mustafa said the execution was expected to be delayed and then a high trial court could decide the matter of sentencing.

Later in the morning, both the parties appeared in front of the judicial magistrate amidst tight security.

of betraying APs victims

KARACHI: the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on thursday flayed Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman for defying national consensus over a 20-point national action plan to combat terror and the subsequent formation of military courts to try terrorists.

“Fazl has tried to divide the nation by distorting the facts. there is no outcry to be heard against the terrorists from the Maulana,” said MQM leader Qamar Mansoor on thursday.

Addressing a press conference, Mansoor said, “Religious seminaries are bringing the righteous message of Islam, but a few narrow-minded clerics like Fazl are ‘selling’ religious teachings to create friction between sects and are misusing mosques and religious institutions for their ulterior motives.” “there are websites available which encourage people to do jihad every day, they encourage people to become mass murderers of Shia and the people from other religions,” claimed Mansoor, “but I say this with a heavy heart that Fazl is silent on these matters.”

“Maulana’s news conference betrays victims of the army public school [attack].”

Speaking about Saulat Mirza, who is on death row, the MQM leader said that his family will be mounting a legal challenge to his sentence. “the case of Saulat Mirza is of political significance and his family has filed a petition with the help of a prominent lawyer. they have the same right to justice as every other citizen of Pakistan.” STAFF REPORT

04 NEWS

Friday, 9 January, 2015

it’s oFFicial!

IMRAN KHAN WEDS FORMER BBC WEATHER GIRL REHAM KHAN AT LOW KEY CEREMONY AT HIS BANI GALA RESIDENCE

IMRAN KHAN’S FOUR SISTERS, CLOSE FRIENDS AND SENIOR PARTY LEADERS ‘NOT INVITED’TO NIKAH CEREMONY ISLAMABAD

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LUAVUT ZAHID

NCE a ‘rumour’, now a reality, the wedding between Imran Khan and Reham Khan became official on January 8, 2014. The Nikah was reportedly conducted by Mufti Syed, who spoke to the media on the former cricketer’s behalf, “Imran Khan sb asked me to speak on his behalf to the media, his Nikah just happened and the witnesses included Aun Chaudhry, Zakir Khan, Reham’s friend Aziz and others,” he said.

Pakistan Today reported on Mufti Syed’s being the officiator and Aun Chaudhry and Zakir Khan being the witnesses to the Nikah, which originally took place at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM’s brother’s house on Nov 1 last year, while the present one seems to have taken place at Imran Khan’s residence in Bani Gala, Islamabad. That itself is interesting to note because it is contrary to Pakistani norms where the Nikah is held at the woman’s home and not the man’s.

Interestingly, the Nikah Khuwan refused to comment on whether the Nikah had been conducted earlier on or not. The Haq Mehr has reportedly been set at Rs 100,000. Reham wore an off-white Karma RED peshwas, while Imran looked dapper in a cream coloured Sherwani, at the ceremony which the two had spent a good amount of time vehemently denying. Khan had gone on to term the news regarding the nuptials an ‘exagger-

ation’ on his Twitter handle.

That was before he had the chance to discuss his new relationship with his two sons. He returned singing a different tune, one where marrying someone was the right every adult had. And it certainly wasn’t a crime!

While some of Reham’s family and friends were part of the affair, Imran’s four sisters seem to have been left out of the loop.

Aleema Khan, who had earlier lashed out at reports of the marriage as being propaganda and utterly false, had declared that her brother would only marry a “good person”. When the news of the marriage was confirmed she reacted with confusion and disappointment.

Speaking to Pakistan Today, Aleema further denied reports that she and the other sisters had refused to attend the wedding. Instead it seems that they were never asked to come in the first place.

“We, all the sisters, were never informed or contacted by Imran so there was no question to attend it. All of us are in Lahore,” she said.

ROLE MODEL FOR ChILDREN: Reham herself is quite happy with her role as Khan’s second wife.

Describing the qualities that drew her towards Imran, she told a news channel, “I was looking for a man who would be a good role model for my children.”

“Really admire Imran’s love for his sons...Pakistani men should emulate his example,” she added.

Reham further explained that she had

reham Khan: Naya Pakistan’s First lady, officially Reham Khan became Naya Pakistan’s first lady on Thursday following a formal announcement of her nuptials with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

Reham, who hails from the Hazara Division, is a former BBC journalist and at present is a current affairs anchor for a television channel in Pakistan.

However, this is not the first marriage for the newlywed Reham. She was previously married to her first cousin Ejazur Rehman when she was just 19 years old. Her cousin and former husband was 33 at the time. Her first marriage ended five years ago after the couple developed differences over Reham’s job at the BBC, according to her family. Like Imran, Reham also has children from her previous marriage – three – all of whom live with their father in England. “As far as I know, Reham’s husband objected to her busy work routine,” one of her relatives told reporters.

Imran Khan’s new wife has been under heavy media scrutiny for the past few weeks over her marriage with the PTI chief.

Interestingly, Reham’s real name is Reham Nayyar, and is the daughter of Dr Nayyar Ramzan who is from the Baffa village in Mansehra district. She belongs to the Lughmani branch of the Swati tribe.

Another interesting fact is that the former civil servant and governor of the then North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Abdul Hakeem Khan, was her paternal uncle, Reham’s family revealed. Her father is a physician who moved to Libya in the late 1960s, and Reham was born in Ajdabiya on April 3, 1973.

She has two sisters and a brother, and currently resides in Rawalpindi with her mother. NEWS DESK

a terrible opinion of her husband to be before she met him. Furthermore, she had been advised by people time and time again to be careful when dealing with Pakistani politicians. “People get a very wrong impression of him, but he’s different in real life,” she explained.

Some rumours suggested that Reham is anxious to join the political sphere as soon as the wedding is made official, however, Reham doesn’t feel that politics is as effective in terms of the things she wants to work on i.e. education and chil-

dren’s issues. “I am interested in politics as a journalist, observer and historian,” she further stated.

Meanwhile, it seems like Khan’s sisters weren’t the only ones ‘ignored’.

PTI Secretary General Jahangir Tareen confirmed to local media that no party leaders were invited to the event. “It is completely private. I have not been invited, neither has anyone else. The party understands that this is Khan’s private decision and not for us or anyone to be involved in.”

PTI postpones dharna on 18th following chief’s wedding PTI TURNS D-CHOWK’S DHARNA IN FEDERAL CAPITAL INTO WORKERS’ CONVENTION IN LIEU OF PESHAWAR CARNAGE AND KHAN’S WEDDING ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to postpone the sit-in announced by its chief Imran Khan, turning the event into a workers’ convention which would be attended by party workers only.

A source in PTI told Pakistan Today that the sit-in has been deferred for two reasons: Imran Khan’s wedding and public’s sombre mood following the Peshawar attack. “After a thorough discourse, better sense has prevailed and now the dharna has been converted into a ceremonial gathering to offer prayers for those PTI workers who lost their lives during PTI’s protests against rigging,” the source said, adding that Khan was also busy with his domestic affairs after his remarriage while security threats was also a reason for doing away with the protest mood.

“Moreover, PTI’s think-tank believes that the government cannot take ahead the agenda set by the army chief against terrorists. The government’s failure would lead to strengthening of General Raheel Sharif and weakening of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. So PTI does not

No secoNd marriage oN ‘youNg’ Fazl’s miNd Imran Khan and Reham Khan maybe on cloud nine right now but not everyone is impressed. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rahman, when asked about the newly wedded couple, did not seem all too amazed by the union. He was speaking to a TV channel when the subject of Imran Khan’s wedding with Reham Khan came up. He said: “Despite the fact that I am younger than the skipper, I have never thought of a second marriage.” When asked if he would greet the PTI chief over his new beginning, Fazl stonewalled the query. It is pertinent to mention here that Imran Khan was born November 25, 1952, and is only seven months older than Fazlur Rahman who was born on June 19, 1953. MONITORING DESK

want to prevent this process of a likely tiff between the army and government,” the source maintained. When contacted, PTI Vice President Naeemul Haque confirmed that PTI had decided to hold a workers’ convention at Islamabad’s D Chowk on January 18 which would be attended by two to three thousand party workers. “On February 1, we will arrange party workers convention at Karachi, in Lahore it would be held on February 8, while in Peshawar it would be organised on February 16,” he added.

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JUDICIAL COMMISSION BEFORE 18th: Meanwhile, Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal told reporters that the government would form the Judicial Commission for investigating rigging allegations before Jan 18.

“We don’t want Imran Khan to spend his time on the roads soon after his new wedding so the commission will be formed before his announced deadline,” he said, while greeting the PTI chief on his second marriage.

Evidently, Tareen who is a close confidant and friend to Khan was not introduced to Reham as the future first lady of PTI either. “I have never been introduced to her. No one has... Khan has kept it totally private.”

Interestingly Khan’s close friends were also not invited to the ceremony at Khan’s Bani Gala residence.

The couple does not intend to have a Walima (wedding reception) and will instead be feeding children studying in madrassas.

Nawaz sharif richest mNa ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday released details on the assets owned by parliamentarians for the financial year 2014.

The information was made available on their website. According to details provided by the MPs, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif possesses total assets (movable and immovable) worth Rs. 1.75 billion, whereas Imran Khan’s total of assets (plot, agricultural land, vehicles, bank accounts) are worth Rs. 33.3 million. In the previous year, there had been an increase of Rs. 3 million in Khan’s assets. Nawaz Sharif owns property worth Rs. 250 million in Lahore, and has investments worth Rs. 120 million. Moreover, the premier owns cars worth Rs. 160 million.

There is also a bungalow worth Rs. 100 million under his wife’s name in Muree. In addition, the land he received through inheritance amounts to more than a billion rupees. Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan’s assets include his 300 canal Bani Gala house as well as a seven canal house in Zaman Park. Khan also showed two cows in his assets.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah’s total assets are worth more than Rs. 20 million, whereas Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah’s assets amount to more than Rs. 10 million.

The PTI vice president Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s total assets are more than Rs. 130 million and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s total assets amount to more than Rs. 700 million. ONLINE

Friday, 9 January, 2015

Massive Manhunt for killers in french Magazine Massacre ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED FOR CHERIF KOUACHI, 32, AND HIS 34YEAR-OLD BROTHER SAID

THIRD SUSPECT SURRENDERS TO POLICE AFTER HIS PICTURE WAS PUBLISHED ALONG WITH OTHER SUSPECTS

PARIS

including newspaper cartoonists united in their revulsion of the daylight assault.

More than 100,000 people took to the streets across France to express their outrage, many carrying banners reading: “I am Charlie” while the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie was trending worldwide.

President Francois Hollande called the massacre — thought to be the worst attack on French soil since 1961 — “an act of exceptional barbarity” and “undoubtedly a terrorist attack”.

In the hunt for the attackers, police published pictures of the wanted men in

f

AGENCIES

RENCH security forces on Thursday launched a massive manhunt for two brothers suspected of killing 12 people in an extremist attack on a satirical weekly in Paris, the deadliest attack in France in half a century.

The attack triggered an international outpouring of solidarity, with demonstrations spreading from Moscow to Washington, as world leaders and other media

CHARLIE HEBDO STAFFERS VOW TO PUBLISH AGAIN NEXT WEEK PARIS AGENCIES

The surviving editors and staff at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo have vowed not to let the deadly attack on their Paris office stop them from publishing a new issue next week. Patrick Pelloux, a contributor to the magazine and an emergency room doctor, said in an interview on i-Tele that the magazine would come out next week. “I have come here to tell you that the newspaper will continue because they have not won and Charb, Cabu, Wolinski, Bernard Maris, Honore, Elsa, Tignous, Mustapha and the guard who was killed and was tasked with protecting us have not died in vain,” said Pelloux, according to The Associated Press, referencing those who were killed.

The remaining team members are being helped by staff at fellow media outlets and magazines, including the editors of fellow satirical magazine Sine Monthly, which offered to provide content and resources.

“The designers, proofreaders, editors, have responded without hesitation, ‘present,’” they said in a translated statement. Multiple radio, television and newspaper companies met at the French Culture Ministry to discuss helping to publish Charlie Hebdo, according to the Agence-France Presse. “We have a mission,” Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin said after the meeting, according to the Toronto Star. “We have to organize ourselves so the next edition of Charlie Hebdo comes out.” An attorney for the magazine said next week’s publication will dwarf its normal size with 1 million copies printed. The magazine usually produces 50,000 copies of an issue and has a readership of about 30,000 weekly readers. The magazine will only be eight pages long, according to the AFP.

an urgent appeal for information as a manhunt stretched long into the night with a raid by elite anti-terror police in the northern city of Reims.

An 18-year-old suspected of being an accomplice in the attack at the headquarters of the Charlie Hebdo magazine was taken into custody after surrendering to police in a small town in the same region as Reims.

A source close to the case said Hamyd Mourad surrendered after “seeing his name circulating on social media”.

But the masked, black-clad gunmen — who shouted “Allahu akbar” while killing some of France’s most outspoken journalists as well as two policemen — were still on the loose.

Arrest warrants had been issued for Cherif Kouachi, 32, convicted in 2008 for involvement in a network sending fighters to Iraq, and his 34-year-old brother

Said. Both were born in Paris.

Search-and-seizure operations took place in Strasbourg and towns near Paris, while in Reims police commandos carried out a raid on a building later scoured by white-clad forensic police.

DAY OF MOURNING: Flags were to fly at half-mast Thursday as Hollande declared a day of national mourning — only the fifth of the past 50 years.

“Nothing can divide us, nothing should separate us. Freedom will always be stronger than barbarity,” said the president. The attack saw the gunmen storm the offices of Charlie Hebdo in broad daylight as journalists gathered for a morning editorial conference, killing eight journalists, including some of France’s best-known cartoonists.

Charlie Hebdo has long provoked controversy, mocking many religions with provocative drawings, a practice that

Muslim police officer among dead in Paris attack PARIS AGENCIES

Police in the French capital have said that one of the officers killed in Wednesday’s terrorist attack on a satire magazine was a Muslim man in his early forties.

Ahmed Merabet was patrolling the Paris neighbourhood where Charlie Hebdo’s offices are located, when the gunmen attacked.

In a video footage released by a foreign news outfit, the gunmen wearing balaclavas and holding Kalashnikov rifles are seen running past the police officer – who had his hands up in surrender – and shot in his direction again at point-blank range as he was lying on the pavement outside the offices.

A masked gunman is heard on the video asking the police officer “Do you want to kill me?”

Merabat allegedly replied “No, it is OK chief” before one of them shot him a second time.

Another police officer was also shot dead by the attackers, who are now suspected of being on the run, while being pursued by French authorities. Wednesday’s terrorist attack, which left 12 people dead, was the worst militant attack on French soil in decades.

KAREENA’S MORPHED PHOTO USED AS WARNING AGAINST ‘LOVE JIHAD’ CAMPAIGN MONITORING DESK Vishva Hindu P a r i s h a d ’s (VHP) young women’s wing Durga Vahin rec e n t l y launched a campaign which aimed to ‘reconvert’ Hindu women who married Muslim men, claiming that the “ghar wapsi” campaign must address “love jihad,” Hindustan Times reported.

A half niqab faced Kareena Kapoor was morphed on to the cover of the latest issue of Himalaya Dhwani, which was devoted to this theme.

The text below the picture reads: “conversion of nationality through religious conversion.”

When questioned about why the film actor was used, northern India’s regional coordinator Rajni Thukral claimed “she is a celebrity. The youth try to emulate celebrities. They think if she can do so, why not us?”

“Sixteen Hindu women who married Muslim

men posing as Hindus have approached us for ghar wapsi. We have already reconverted two.

One has also been remarried,” Thukral told HT. “There has been much debate on love jihad and conversions. The nation was divided and Pakistan was created because of conversions. If a girl gets caught in Love Jihad and becomes Muslim by mistake and now wants to return to her original faith, isn’t it her right? It’s strange that some parties claiming to be secular call this conversion,” she wrote in the editorial section of the magazine.

She claimed that “love jihad” was a “serious” issue in Himachal Pradesh adding that Vahini would be going to 3000 villages to apprise the state government of the large scale of “love jihad”.

Taking up the matter on a national level, a conclave was carried out in Madhya Pradesh with another one to be held in Delhi in early March Thukral informed. Reacting to the cover, Saif Ali Khan told HT, “It’s ridiculous and not surprising… but these uneducated and bigoted ideas are the worst of India and condemning them is important”.

Within the VHP, women aged between 15 to 35 stay in Durga Vahini and are taught militarystyle combat a revisionist history that promotes Hindu supremacy; after which they join the VHP’s women’s wing Matr Shakti.

SRI LANKA VOTES IN TIGHTEST ELECTION IN DECADES COLOMBO: Sri Lanka went to the polls Thursday in its tightest election in decades, with its strongman president battling for survival after accusations of corruption and a failure to bring about national reconciliation. Mahinda Rajapaksa appeared assured of victory when he called snap polls in November, seeking an unprecedented third term in office five years after crushing a violent separatist rebellion that had traumatised the country for decades.

Rajapaksa, 69, came to power in 2005 and won a second six-year term in 2010 on a wave of popularity after the military defeated Tamil Tiger separatists, ending a 26year civil war. But his health minister’s shock decision to defect from the government and stand against him led to a bitterly fought campaign for an election analysts say is too close to call. AGENCIES

CMYK

NEWS

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has outraged Muslims whose religion forbids depictions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Even before the attack France was on high alert like many European capitals that have seen citizens leave to fight alongside the radical Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

The group has singled out France, which is home to Europe’s largest Muslim population, when calling for terrorist attacks against Western nations.

Hollande called for “national unity”, adding that “several terrorist attacks had been foiled in recent weeks”.

INDIAN POLICE PROBE GODMAN OVER ALLEGED CASTRATION OF 400 FOLLOWERS NEW DELHI: Indian police said they are investigating a popular self-styled godman for allegedly encouraging 400 followers to undergo castrations at his ashram so they could get closer to God. The country’s top crime fighting agency has registered a case against Gurmeet Ram Rahim, known as the “guru in bling” for his penchant for garish clothes and jewellery, over the operations in the country’s north. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said in a statement late Wednesday that Rahim is being investigated for criminal intimidation and causing grievous bodily hurt, saying 400 castrations were allegedly carried out. The guru, who heads the Dera Sacha Sauda organisation based in Haryana state, is already facing trial for conspiracy over the murder of a journalist in 2002 along with claims of sexually exploiting female followers. The latest case was filed after one of his devotees, Hans Raj Chauhan, lodged a complaint in court alleging he was manipulated into having the “painful” operation at the ashram. AGENCIES

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06 KARACHI

WEATHER UPDATES

FRIDAY

340C 180C

SATURDAY

330C 200C

SUNDAY

320C 190C

MONDAY

330C 180C Friday, 9 January, 2015

SINDH APPOINTS SAQIB SOOMRO AS CITY ADMINISTRATOR KARACHI: In the absence of Karachi administrator and metropolitan commissioner, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) departments have been witnessing a lot of problems and mismanagement. Files comprising issues encountered by citizens, employees and different departments have been piling up waiting for action on them.

However, on Thursday evening the Sindh government appointed Saqib Soomro as the city administrator. It may be remembered that this seat fell vacant after Rauf Akhter Farooqui left his office following a high court order. However, Metropolitan Commissioner Sajjad Hussain Abbasi has not been attending his office for at least a month, said the sources, adding his absence was also making matters complicated regarding solving the civic problems of Karachi. STAFF REPORT

DRY WEATHER WITH COLD NIGHT FORECASTED

KARACHI: The boundary wall of a school is being raised for security purposes in Karachi. ONLINE

KARACHI: The Met Office has forecast dry weather with cold night and misty morning Karachi on Friday with minimum temperature ranging between 13-15 degrees centigrade. Dry weather with cool/cold night and hazy/misty morning has been forecast for Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur and Larkana divisions. On Thursday, the highest maximum temperature of 33 degree centigrade was reordered at Turbat while lowest minimum of -2.0 at Quetta. STAFF REPORT

HANGINGS WILL START FROM 13TH: MEMON SAYS OVER 3,000 TARGET KILLINGS AND EXTORTION CASES ARE PENDING IN VARIOUS COURTS KARACHI INP

S

INDH Minister for Information and Local Bodies Sharjeel Inam Memon Thursday said that implementation on execu-

SHC ISSUES NOTICES ON PETITION OF DEATH ROW CONVICT KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday issued notice to interior secretary, home secretary and superintendent Karachi to submit comments on a petition of death row convict against his execution orders.

The petitioner, Muhammad Saeed, a condemned prisoner approached the court through his counsel requesting it to grant a stay order against his execution and commute his capital punishment to life imprisonment. The court was also requested to give the petitioner the benefits of Section of 382 which allows the period of a person’s arrest to be counted in the sentence.

Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the ATC had issued the black warrants for execution of the petitioner and set January 17 for his hanging. He said the mercy appeal of the convict was still pending before the President and there was very likelihood that his death sentence would be commuted to life imprisonment. The petitioner has already served many years in death cell and already faced much hardships and agony for more than the punishment and he is entitled for the less than capital punishment, he added.

Muhammad Saeed was awarded capital punishment in 2011 by the ATC for killing a retired DSP Sabir Hussain. STAFF REPORT

tion of death sentences will start from January 13.

Talking to media persons following the meeting of action plan committee, Sharjeel Memon said the mechanism of the plan was reviewed during the meeting. He said 14 points of the action plan fell in purview of the provincial government. He, however, said that provinces would forward recommendations to the federal govt which would then decide as to which cases were to be referred to the trial courts. Memon said as many as 3,000 cases of target killing and extortion were still pending in Sindh. He said

3 DIE, 32 INJURED IN RAIL-TRUCK COLLISION

the objective of 21st constitutional amendment was to stamp out the scourge of terrorism from the country. “We want a permanent end to this menace,” he added. The provincial information minister said the terrorists who had executed the attacks on Benazir Bhutto and Karachi airport also fall in the jurisdiction of trial courts. He said a total of 270 private security companies were functioning in Sindh and manpower of 60,000 heads was associated with these companies. Memon said a counter-terrorism force would be raised in Sindh for which 1,000 men would be inducted.

SEHWAN: At least three persons died and 32 others injured when a truck collided with a passenger train on Thursday. As per details, Khushal Khan Khuttak Express train, going from Karachi to Peshawar hit a truck carrying labourers at Gadarji Rail Crossing near Village Bhatti. As a result, three labourers, Sabit Ali Machi, Khabar Machi and Nadeem Machi died on the spot while 32 other workers were injured and rushed to the different hospitals of Sehwan, Sann and Manjhand. Four injured were shifted to Liaquat Medical University Hospital Jamshoro as their condition was precarious. The bodies were handed over to relatives after post-mortem while police began investigation. PPI

Clerks take out rally for their ‘rights’ LARKANA PPI

The All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) took out a rally on Thursday for acceptance of their justified demands.

The participants, carrying placards marched through main thoroughfares and reached Jinnah Bagh roundabout where they held a protest demonstration and chanted slogans in favour of their demands. A large number of clerks of all the government departments took part in the rally and demonstration after boycotting their official duties.

The rally was led by their provincial president Amanullah Shah Mishwani and participated by Maqbool Mahar, Ashraf Bozai, Rafique Jatoi, Sabir Soomro, Peeral Dayo and others. Addressing the participants, Mishwani and Sabir Soomro said the Sindh government had totally failed to address their problems and resolve them on priority basis. They said they had been demanding since years award of timescale, up-gradation of their scales, enhancement in salaries and pension, withdrawal of Ordinance 2000, confirmation of all contract employees of population

welfare department, payment of monthly salaries through district accounts office to the employees of municipal corporations, municipalities, town committees, district councils and local government, award of son quota and immediate removal of OPS officers throughout Sindh in compliance to the apex courts’ order.

They said: “If their demands are not accepted, they will be forced to come on roads and their protests will continue till these justified demands are accepted by the government.” They announced that next protest would be held in Sukkur on January 14.

3 MORE CHILDREN DIE IN FAMINE-STRUCK THAR THARPARKAR: Three more infants died of malnutrition in Thar on Thursday mounting the death toll to 34 for the month of January. The deceased included a two-day old daughter of Reham Ali and a three-day old daughter of Qaiser Bhail whereas eight children had been admitted to civil hospital Mithi for treatment. Distribution of wheat, blankets and dates by the Sindh government has also been relatively slow adding to the problems of affected people of Thar. INP

SC SUMMONS IGP ON APPLICATIONS AGAINST ILLEGAL HYDRANTS KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Supreme Court directed on Thursday the provincial police chief to show up before it on Friday and apprise it about what action was taken against illegal hydrants being operated in the city.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Amir Hani Muslim was hearing applications that sought court directions for the authorities concerned to dismantle illegal hydrants.

On Tuesday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk had taken notice on the applications regarding hydrants received through Supreme Court’s Human Rights

Cell. The applications had stated that influential mafias were operating illegal hydrants openly in the city by stealing water from Karachi Water & Sewerage Board’s pipelines in different areas.

It was further stated that not only the increase of illegal Hydrants had inevitably damaged the water board’s main water supply system but these illegal water connections were polluting the clean water and are creating health hazards and environmental problems.

Due to the operation of illegal hydrants, the residents were facing acute water shortage. When twojudge bench took up the matter at apex court’s Karachi registry, KWSB managing director, Hashim

Raza Zaidi and police officers appeared before it.

To a query, Zaidi told the judges that as many as 90 licences were issued for installing hydrants.

However, he said, more than 40 hydrants were being operated illegally, against which action was being taken by the KWSB. Over 100 FIRs were also lodged against the operators of these illegal hydrants but police personnel were not cooperating in arresting and producing the accused in courts. The judges questioned the police officers as to what action was taken against illegal hydrants. They said they have so far dismantled nine hydrants in Malir district. The judges expressed dis-

CMYK

pleasure at the absence of top police officers and summoned the Karachi police chief and IG Sindh in court after a short recess. After recess additional IG Khadim Hussain showed up before the bench

and told the court that IG was attending a meeting of Sindh Action Plan Committee and could not appear. Therefore, the bench adjourned the matter till Friday and directed IGP Sindh to be present.

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Friday, 9 January, 2015

GOVERNOR ASSENTS LEGISLATION FOR QUALITY EDUCATION

SHC restrains tribunal from passing order against CM’s victory from PS-29 KARACHI

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STAFF REPORT

HE Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday restrained the Election Tribunal Karachi from passing final order on an election petition that challenged elections to the provincial assembly seat PS29 Khairpur won by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

A division bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar had taken up a petition filed by Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who approached the court seeking transfer of election petition challenging his election victory from Election Tribunal Karachi to some other tribunal.

While adjourning the hearing till January 16, the bench gave time to the representatives of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to submit comments

on the petition. The court also directed its office to place the matter before the SHC chief justice to constitute a special bench to hear the case.

Shah, president of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) Sindh chapter, had won provincial assembly seat PS-29 in the May 11, 2013, general election. His rival, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Syed Ghous Ali Shah, runner-up, challenged his elections alleging that the massive irregularities were committed in the elections and he sought chief minister’s disqualification.

Advocate Farooq H Naik and Shazia Hanjrah, who represented the winning candidate, submitted before the judges that the presiding officer of the election tribunal Justice (r) Zafar Ahmed Khan Sherwani, who was pursuing the proceedings on election petition, was partial and biased against their client. They said

Shah had filed an application under Section 58 of the Representation of the Peoples Act 1976 before the ECP on December 10 requesting it to transfer the election petition from the Election Tri-

bunal Karachi to any other but the same was rejected. They pleaded the court to order transfer of the election petition regarding PS-29 from Election Tribunal Karachi to any other tribunal.

KARACHI APP

Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan has assented the ‘Sindh School Education Standards and Curriculum Act, 2014’ for improving quality of education from early years to grade 12. The Act to be enforced throughout the province, said a statement on Thursday. The Act is aimed at providing for maintenance of school education standards and supervision of curriculum, textbooks, and assessment process. As per Act, a curriculum wing would be established by the government for carrying out the purpose of this Act. The curriculum wing will be responsible for policy matters relating to curriculum, textbooks, learning materials and assessment. The curriculum wing will be headed by an officer designated by the government. The existing bureau of curriculum and extension wing would be restructured as directorate of curriculum assessment and research with its enhanced institutional capacity. The provincial institute of teacher education (PITE) would be responsible for implementation of pre-service teacher education and continuous professional development programmes. It would be responsible for academic supervision of teacher education programmes and would work under the administrative control of education and literacy department. The Sindh Teacher Education Development Authority (STEDA) will certify and accredit teacher education programmes.

The Sindh Textbook Board would further be strengthened as an effective regulating and monitoring authority to improve efficiency in managing authorship, production, copyrights, printing and distribution of textbooks and learning materials. The education and literacy department will strengthen the institutional capacity of the agencies, under its administrative control, responsible for carrying out the objectives of this act. The government will, by notification in the official Gazette, establish a Council to be called the Sindh Curriculum Council for the effective implementation of this act. The said council will advice on framing school educational standards and developing strategies and also advice on introducing research based curriculum.

The minister for education will be the chairperson and the education secretary will be vice-chairperson of the council.

The council will consist of the chairperson of standing committee on education of Sindh Assembly, Chairperson Sindh Textbook Board, Director Curriculum, Assessment and Research, Director General, PITE, Executive Director STEDA, one chairperson of examination boards, Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Sindh. Chief Programme Manager, RSU, two directors school education, expert on curriculum, textbook and assessment, representative from corporate sector, representative from private school management, representative from NGO working in field of education, serving teachers, as members while head of curriculum wing will act as member/secretary.

KARACHI: Students present a play during a ceremony at Cultural Center Napa. ONLINE

One big hospital demanded for each Karachi town KARACHI PPI

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has demanded establishment of at least one district headquarters level hos-

pital in each of 18 towns of Karachi to cater the needs of population of this sprawling metropolitan.

The Karachiites have been facing immense problems in getting affordable medical

CMYK

treatment, said Dr Qaiser Sajjad, as the city has just three big government medical hospitals to cater the needs of more than 24 million Karachiites. He said in last three decades not a single major government hospital had been established in Karachi in the government sector and the major tertiary care hospitals of the city, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) and Abbassi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) are no more enough to meet even the emergency care needs of the city.

He said the PMA since long had been demanding to establish at least one district headquarter level hospital with trauma care facilities in each of the 18 towns of Karachi, but the policymakers of provincial health department do not agree

with this genuine demand. He regretted there was no modern government-run trauma center in a mega city like Karachi.

Two decades ago the provincial government had built a trauma center, multi-storied building, near Safoora Goth behind the Ojha Campus of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), but instead of installing machinery and making it functional, the building was handed to private sector to run a general hospital.

The MPA leader said at least three big trauma centers were a must at Superhighway, National Highway and RCD Highway to save precious lives in case of serious highway accidents. He said thickly populated localities of Karachi Orangi Town and New Karachi - urgently needed a big government hospital like the JMPC or

CHK. He said many people, especially critically wounded in violence incidents and road accidents die before they were shifted to the JPMC, CHK or ASH from the far-flung areas of the city. He said these precious lives could be saved if Karachi was given one district headquarter level hospital in its each town. He said the government’s plan to upgrade major government hospitals as teaching hospitals was still on the back burner despite passage of several years.

He said the PMA earnestly requests the governor, chief minister and health minister to take steps for establishment of one big hospital and trauma center in each town of Karachi on urgent basis and necessary funds in this regard be released besides the earmarking of land for these healthcare centers.

08 COMMENT

Friday, 9 January, 2015

Call the bluff Will the government show religious leaders their hypocrisy?

War against terror The decisive phase

a

FtEr accepting the national action Plan (naP) and praying for its success the JUi-F chief is now out to wreck it. the mention of religion and sect is unacceptable to him. So is any oversight by the state in the affairs of the ‘deeni Madaris’ or seminaries. any reference to religion or sect amounts to degrading islam, he maintains. He also claims that the terrorists are not the products of the madaris. the religious parties that he has invited also take a similar stand though it is doubtful if they would revive the MMa with Fazlur rehman as chief. the religious parties argue that those agreeing to implement the naP are pushing the country towards secularism which they prefer to misinterpret as an antireligion polity. the terrorists themselves proclaim that they are conducting jihad. the anti-Shia outfits maintain they are killing Shias because they are apostates. interestingly when ttP conducted terrorist attacks in the name of Sharia, none among these leaders tried to stop the group from misusing religion or sect to justify their abominable acts. What they did was the opposite. the Ji accepted the ttP’s offer to represent it in parleys with the government. So did Samiul Haq the madaris are no doubt not the only factory which produces terrorists. But numerous seminaries have taken credit for producing hundreds of taliban leaders. the head of the Madrassah Haqqania still takes pride in calling himself the ‘Father of the taliban’. Self-interest has in fact brought all these leaders together. they draw political support from seminaries, treat the students as political workers, and pressurise every government with the help of the madrassah manpower. they must therefore support the madaris even if this goes against national interest. Fazlur rehman has threatened to hold protests at d-Chowk if the government went ahead with the implementation of the naP. Wafaqul Madaris might turn up with similar threats. one expects the government to call the bluff. it remains to be seen of it possesses the nerve.

PPP’s problems

i

Too many loose ends

t seems asif Zardari has some more fire-fighting to do before things can get any better for PPP. He has just kept fights in Punjab from getting out of control, diffused the amin Faheem situation, and even inaugurated asia’s largest water filtration plant in thar. the London Christmas photograph, too, did a decent enough job of countering rumours about a widening cleavage with Bilawal. and he’d only just started getting comfortable in mainstream politics once again – facilitating consensus on military courts, for example, at the last aPC – that chairman Bilawal tweeted the rift out in the open once again.

“Parliament cuts its nose to spite its face” is pretty serious language about the 21st amendment, especially if you consider the chronology. First aitzaz said the party would back military courts only if the constitution was not fiddled with. then Zardari won points for stressing their need at the aPC. then raza rabbani said the amendment made him cry just as Khurshid Shah said it was the darkest hour of his political life. and then Bilawal put the cherry on the cake with his ill- or willtimed tweet – depending on the intention. that party spokespersons continue to stay vague in such circumstances does it little good. the near-rebellion in Punjab spoke volumes about the pressure on the membership – people are leaving not just because of Pti’s pull, but also because of a regrettable push from the party. if there are differences all the way from the rank and file to the very top of the leadership ladder, then they must debate these reservations in a democratic environment, at least within party circles. if the party fractures further, it will not only make managing Sindh that much more difficult, but will also litter the national political scene at a very important time. dealing with difference of opinion by suppressing it – as has been normal practice in Pakistani politics since time immemorial – will also amount to cutting the nose to spite the face, and there might not be much left to salvage, by either father or son. it’s best if PPP ties its loose ends now before more embarrassment comes out in the open.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Joint Editor Lahore – Ph: 042-36375963, 042-36375965

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remarkable thing about the decision about establishing military courts is that they have a constitutional sanction behind them given by an elected Parliament. it is a unique and necessity-driven development and both the political and military leadership deserve appreciation for rising to the occasion and taking the tough decisions with the approval and backing of the entire nation. the war against terrorism has entered a decisive phase. General raheel Sharif, speaking at the Provincial apex Committee meeting of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa on Monday, assured the nation that army would extend full support to judicious and speedy implementation of the anti-terror plan to eliminate terrorists and their abettors, facilitators and sympathisers in the motherland. a day earlier, addressing a similar committee meeting in Lahore he emphatically declared that failure to eliminate all manifestations of terrorism and extremism was not an option, no matter what the cost. Such committees have been formed in all the provinces to ensure coordination between the provincial governments, military establishment and intelligence agencies in regards to the speedy implementation of the national action Plan. the words of the CoaS that reflect an unswerving resolve of the army to take the fight against terrorism to its logical conclusion are very reassuring for the people of Pakistan and all the stakeholders in its future. although there is a national consensus on the strategy adopted by the government and the military leadership to deal with terrorism, some human rights groups, the legal fraternity and some usual critics of the government still find it convenient to criticise the establishment of the military courts, terming the step as a breach of the fundamental rights. Some political parties

Malik MuhaMMad ashraf

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xtraordinary situations and circumstances require extraordinary solutions. that is what the pragmatism is all about. the nations are sometimes faced with situations and dangers that threaten their existence and ways of life and have to go for responses which are beyond the normal and acceptable constitutional and legal framework. History is replete with such examples. the national action Plan against terrorism formulated with the unanimous support of the entire political leadership, the government and the military establishment, particularly the establishment of military courts to try terrorists, their abettors and facilitators and those involved in sectarian violence, represents an extraordinary response to any extraordinary phenomenon which posed existentialist threat to Pakistan and its way of life.

Viewed from this perspective there was no other option available to fight the scourge of terrorism. the passage of the amendment to the army act Bill and the Constitutional amendment Bill to give constitutional cover to the establishment of military courts by both Houses of the Parliament, unanimously, marks a turning point in the fight against terrorism. the

who participated in the deliberations of the aPC and threw their weight behind the national action Plan also stayed away from the Parliament during the passage of the bills. the observations and reservations of these elements could have been valid and beyond reproach in normal circumstances wherein the constitution guarantees the fundamental rights. What they, however, forget to appreciate is that the enjoyment of fundamental rights by the citizens of a state is linked to an unqualified allegiance to the state and those who raise arms against the state lose the constitutional protection to their fundamental rights. these critics also fail to acknowledge the fact that it would not be the discretion of the military courts to try whomsoever the get hold of but it would be the federal government who would decide which cases would be referred to the military courts for trial. this has been done to prevent the misuse of the new legislation. Further, only those offences from the schedule of offences of anti terrorism act and Pakistan Protection act have been added to the army act which purely cover terrorism related activities against community, schools, institutions, state and military installations. that is why four laws including Pakistan army act, Pakistan navy act, Pakistan air force act and Pakistan Protection act have been included in the first schedule of the constitution which would exempt these laws from the operation of article 8 of the constitution. the entire exercise is intentioned to fast-track the process of justice with regards to acts of terrorism and religious extremism. during the aPC, Prime Minister nawaz Sharif and General raheel Sharif explained at length the rationale for the setting up of the military courts and to dispel the apprehensions being

expressed about the military courts. that should have been enough for the detractors of the military courts to lower their swords. the decision to set up military courts is a nationally-owned step evolved through a democratic process to deal with an existentialist threat and therefore must be supported and backed by all segments of the society. the military courts are not Kangaroo courts as stated by the interior Minister on the floor of the assembly. the cases referred to these courts will be heard and decided after affording due opportunity to the accused to defend themselves through their lawyers and they would also have the appellate avenues available to them, though within the justice system of the army. it is pertinent to point out that under the army act, the army personnel have been court marshaled for offences covered by the act and provided justice for decades and it is a well organised, effective and judicious system of dispensing justice with very minimal chances of miscarriage of justice. this legislation is only time and crime specific and would automatically become non-effective after the expiry of two years when hopefully the scourge of terrorism would have been subdued. if we look at the entire effort in the backdrop of the enormity of the threat to our existence and our way of life, it would start making sense. the entire nation would have to stand united like a rock with unflinching determination to uproot terrorism because army and the government cannot succeed without the support of the masses. it is now or never situation for the nation. We owe it to the posterity to save Pakistan from any harm.

Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic. He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com.

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

Fax: +92-42-32535230 E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan today exclusively

Editor’s mail

For a good cause an appeal by imran Khan is currently on-air in Pakistani tV media to raise one billion rupees for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in Peshawar to start its functioning. according to news from the hospital sources, the construction of the building has been completed and this huge amount is required to start the treatment of cancer patients at the end of this year otherwise the patients would have to wait for more time to have access to Pakistan’s latest cancer treatment facility. it was a daunting task but the nation stood steadfast as one to build Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore. Peshawar Cancer Hospital is the need of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa keeping in mind the magnitude of cancer patients in that area. the nation should come out again for this noble cause to help the deprived in costly cancer treatment which they cannot pay for. it would be a great blessing for the people and a satisfaction for us as individuals.

Late Malik Shahid Hamid, former Md KESC, his guard and driver, who fell victims to his bullets on July 5, 1997, in dHa, Karachi and Major (retd) Shahnawaz toor, local head of US drug Enforcement agency in 1995, has once again escaped execution because of political pressure and compromises in getting crucial votes for the 21st amendment. if this is how executions are to be subject to ‘ifham-otafheem’, where crime instead of being punished becomes an issue for negotiations that this country has witnessed in Karachi, then terrorism with all its miseries is here to stay, in one form or another.

Late Shahid Hamid’s widow was forced to flee Pakistan because powerful members of organised crime mafia with strong political backing had threatened to kill her because in their opinion she committed cardinal sin by recognising her husband’s killer. Saulat survived, planning and ordering target killings of more innocent Pakistanis from his cell while his victim’s next of kin had to flee this country. if this is the way terrorists are to be handled then may God almighty have mercy on Pakistan!

NUVERA AKMAL Islamabad

ALI MALIK TARIQ Lahore

Execution postponed Painkillers or pain terrorism nourishes and thrives in a country where crime friendly environment exists, inducers where corruption thrives, illegal weapons are available, judiciary is not independent, law enforcement is scared of criminals, establishment and politicians have ties with mafias, organised crime become tax-free business and individuals prevail over laws. international crime mafia, exploiting religion or ethnicity for local recruitment, run extortion and kidnapping for ransom groups in every country, where black economy is stronger than documented economy and profits earned can be transferred to foreign sponsors.

Saulat Mirza, responsible for brutal target killings of 58 innocent Pakistanis, including

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 Fax: 021-35381208

I

Pain killers usually used as headache killers are now becoming headache inducers .the most commonly self-treated pain is ‘tension induced headache’ on a daily basis, related to emotional stress, back and neck muscular pain (fatigue) and tightening sensation of forehead indicating being overstressed which means you need to relax, not to be medicated necessarily. the commonly used marketing punch line that two or three doses will give a rapid relief from pain sounds relaxing enough for the one who is suffering but on the other hand latest research shows that painkillers are creat-

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

CMYK

I

ing dependency and becoming pain inducers.

Experts believe that drugs increase the pain receptors in brain and make it more sensitive for pain sensation for the next time. More than half of the headache is stress related and migraine, most common in females, all of which can be treated by simple daily exercises, avoiding triggering factors, in some cases food items usually, and deep breathing, enriching your brain with oxygen. Painkillers are usually sold without any prescription as they are believed and tested to be safe as they do not affect other body functions, but they are not required necessarily. these are little armed forces killing your pain, not the cause. Starting fight against the cause is the real remedy and same should be the principle of treatment.

ARIBA HABIB Karachi

Future wars on water it has been said that all future wars would be on water disputes. Egypt has already issued an ultimatum of war to Ethiopia in the event of their building a dam on the Blue nile, a tributary of nile river that could curtail its historic rights on water. in our case too it is thought that any future war between Pakistan and india would possibly be on water rights as india keeps on building dams on our Western rivers ostensibly to generate power on run of the river basis while constructing gates to store river waters.

Pakistan is being steadily strangled due to blocking of its rivers which has reduced its irrigated area by four per cent by now. as the water noose is tightened for Pakistan, a famine like condition could result pushing Pakistan to conflict with india. as both powers are nuclear armed, it could unleash a third World War. it is advisable on the part of india not to curtail vital water supplies to Pakistan.

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

DR MUHAMMAD YAQOOB BHATTI Lahore I

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

WORLD VIEW 09

Friday, 9 January, 2015

A WARNING TO EUROPE WRITTEN IN BLOOD natIonal Interest

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JACOB HEilBruNN

HE hideous attack on Charlie Hebdo, the Parisian satirical weekly, was not just an assault on France, which has gone into lockdown mode as it searches for the gunmen who murdered twelve journalists. It was also a warning to the rest of Europe, which has been grappling with its growing Muslim population. The latest issue of Hebdo itself featured an illustration about the new novel called Submission by the professional provocateur Michel Houellebecq that is set in 2022 and that depicts a France governed by an Islamic president who bans women from working.

The blunt fact is that Europe has a Muslim problem because radical Muslims have a problem with it. They are following a Leninist strategy of attempting to heighten the contradictions between Western values and Islamic ones. They also happen, more often than not, to be anti-Semitic. Writing in the Independent, Jonathan Fenby says: As Yonathan Arfi, Vice-President of the main Jewish organisation, CRIF, noted, anti-Semitism had become “a portmanteau for a lot of angry people; radical Muslims, alienated youths from immigrant families, the far right, the far left” amid a “a process of normalisation by which anti-Semitism is being made somehow acceptable.” The French office of the Jewish Agency for Israel reported that the “climate of anti-Semitism” had led more immigrants to Israel in the first eight months of 2014 than from any other country.

In Germany, France and Great Britain, the attacks are likely to strengthen anti-immigrant parties. The question facing European leaders—German chancellor Angela Merkel is meeting British prime minister David Cameron—is whether they can move to co-opt and defuse nationalist passions. Until now, they have often taken refuge in banalities and homilies.

Confronting the plague of Islamic radicalism,

which has been greatly inflamed by the fighting in Syria and the rise of ISIS, is imperative. The Islamic threat may have the effect of forcing European leaders to work together more closely rather than feud with each other, as is often their wont. Already, Russian revanchism in Ukraine has inadvertently helped to revive a moribund NATO—had the Kremlin simply waited another year before annexing Crimea, NATO would by then likely have degenerated into a complete state of collapse. Now, Islamic radicalism could animate European leaders to seek further common ground in intelligence and educational efforts to combat terrorism. If it takes a threat to forge unity, then Europe has found it.

For now, however, the most immediate political beneficiary is Marine Le Pen, the daughter of JeanMarie Le Pen and the leader of the Front National party, which has long agitated against foreigners.

France has experienced a rash of terrorist violence, including the use of cars to attack festive celebrations. French president Francois Hollande will come under increasing pressure to show that he can effectively combat terrorism. He has vowed to capture the gunmen; it needs to happen quickly. But the broader problem Hollande will confront is the

mounting tension between Muslim radicalism and French society. Add in an economy in the doldrums and you have a recipe for further trouble.

In Germany, the nationalist Alternative Party, which is to the right of the Christian Democrats led by chancellor Angela Merkel, may see an uptick in support. Already, weekly demonstrations called by Pegida against Muslim immigration are taking place in Dresden—the center of the uprising against the former communist regime—and 18,000 people showed up this past Monday. Chancellor Merkel has condemned the rallies. Her condemnation has been ignored.

The Alternative Party does not sponsor the rallies, though some of its leaders have attended them. It focuses on calling for an exit from the European Union, but it is hostile to the institution and is anti-Euro. It won 14 percent of the vote in state elections in Thuringia and 10 percent in Brandenburg this past September.

The collapse of the centrist libertarian Free Democratic Party in the last federal elections has opened the door for the Alternative Party to replace it. It is eroding the long-standing taboo against German nationalism.

And in Great Britain, where radical Islam has long been a potent problem, UKIP may win more legitimacy for its warnings about the untoward effects of immigration. Cameron has been under steady pressure from UKIP. With elections looming in May, Cameron is under intense pressure over Britain’s status in the EU and government benefits to immigrants.

With its proximity to the Middle East, Europe is the locus of efforts to target terrorism at the West. It was no accident that the 9/11 plot was hatched in Hamburg. But it is Europe that has seen the most consistent efforts by Islamic militants to target its institutions and populations, whether it is in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands or Great Britain. Now is no time—to borrow a phrase from former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher—to go wobbly.

Jacob Heilbrunn is editor of The National Interest.

SRI LANKA: TEST FOR TRIUMPHALISM FInancIal tImes JAmEs CrABTrEE

The Port of Colombo ranks among the busiest in south Asia, with gigantic red and yellow cranes shifting millions of tonnes of cargo annually, roughly half of which heads north to neighbouring India. But on an otherwise quiet day last September, Indian authorities discovered that a less welcome visitor had slipped into Sri Lanka’s busiest harbour: Great Wall 0329, a Chinese military submarine.

The vessel arrived without announcement, docking in a recently opened $500m container terminal, built and majority-owned by Chinese state companies. No submarine from China had visited Sri Lanka before.

Coming days before a visit from President Xi Jinping, its appearance prompted alarm in New Delhi and beyond. “It was quite a shock,” says one senior Colombo-based diplomat, whose government contacted Beijing demanding an explanation. “Clearly it came here just to demonstrate that China could just do this without warning . . . It shows that in Sri Lanka, China is here to stay.”

Chinese officials deny sabre-rattling, saying the vessel simply refuelled after an east African anti-piracy mission. Yet China’s growing financial and military muscle in Sri Lanka is hard to dispute.

Despite Indian protests, a second military submarine turned up in November. During the state visit, Mr Xi described the island nation of 21m as an important link in plans for a new “maritime silk road” linking China to the Gulf. Other western analysts fret about Sri Lanka’s place on the so-called “string of pearls”, a network of Chinese-linked commercial and military facilities stretching around south Asia.

Sri Lanka’s strategic location close to the world’s busiest sea lanes means it is often described as a “swing state” in the regional tussle for maritime supremacy between China, India and the US — a fact that explains heightened foreign interest in the outcome of what many see as the country’s most important presidential election in a generation.

Voters head to the polls on Thursday following a snap contest called in November by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, architect of those growing Chinese ties. Having ended his country’s long civil war and presided over

a post-conflict economic boom, he expected an easy victory. Instead, he faces a resurgent opposition — and a fight for political survival.

If Mr Rajapaksa did suffer a defeat, it would mark a profound shift for a country that he has dominated for a decade, amid accusations of a drift towards authoritarian family-dominated rule. A victory for the opposition would begin to reshape Sri Lanka’s place within the region, as its leaders promise corruption probes into Chinese-funded investment projects, potentially signalling a turn against Beijing while seeking to repair frayed ties with India and the west.

Before his decision to call the election, few analysts would have predicted anything other than Mr Rajapaksa strolling comfortably to a third term. Government data put growth in gross domestic product at nearly 8 per cent in 2014. Inflation is low. Fancy new Hyatt and Shangri-La hotels are springing up along Colombo’s beachfront, as the tourist economy prospers. The island bristles with infrastructure projects elsewhere, including a reopened rail link to the northern Tamil-majority city of Jaffna.

A populist and an effective campaigner, Mr Rajapaksa led government forces to victory against separatist Tamil guerrillas in 2009. He won domestic plaudits by rebuffing international demands for inquiries into alleged war crimes committed in the conflict’s closing stages, when at least 10,000 civilians are estimated to have died. Government-controlled media should have helped his cause too, projecting images of prosperity and unity.

Instead, the election has underlined Sri Lanka’s many divisions, including those within the ruling party.

A senior minister, Maithripala Sirisena, defected as electioneering began. A down-to-earth figure from the rural town of Polonnaruwa, he was quickly adopted as the main opposition candidate, launching a populist campaign of his own.

Appealing to the conservative Buddhist Sinhalese majority, Mr Sirisena has lambasted corruption, drawing a link to Chinese-funded development projects. Controversial plans for big casinos in downtown Colombo have been attacked too. Yet Mr Sirisena has been careful to criticise international war crimes investigations, promising to protect Mr Rajapaksa from prosecutions, in the

process upsetting attempts to portray him as a western stooge.

Most significantly, the opposition plans dramatic constitutional reforms.

Sri Lanka’s powerful presidency, which Mr Sirisena says has been captured by Mr Rajapaksa’s family, would be scrapped. The island would return to a British-style parliamentary system, with greater judicial independence and media freedom. “We will get rid of all of this crony capitalism and centralisation,” says Ranil Wickramasinghe, leader of the United National party, Sri Lanka’s main opposition group.

Analysts say the island’s minorities — about a third of the population — will overwhelmingly reject Mr Rajapaksa. Tamil parties, dismayed over scant postwar reconciliation, have backed the opposition. Muslim leaders, anxious following anti-Islamic riots led

by Buddhist extremists last year, have turned against the president too.

The result has been a tense contest, marred in recent days by shootings and violence against opposition campaigners, according to election monitors. Although few predict widespread electoral fraud, the International Crisis Group says the ruling party is allowing “a significant level of misuse of state resources” as it tries to cling on to power.

In December, Mr Rajapaksa told the Financial Times that he remained confident of victory, albeit while pledging an orderly handover if results went against him. Sri Lanka lacks reliable opinion polls, but many analysts think his confidence is misplaced. A narrow opposition victory is the likely outcome, says Sasha Riser-Kositsky of Eurasia Group, a risk consultancy, with Mr Sirisena winning enough of the Sinhalese vote to pull off what, only a few months ago, would have seemed an improbable victory.

If Mr Rajapaksa prevails, he will have his economic record to thank. If the opposition wins, it may be because Sri Lanka’s stellar growth is not quite what it seems. Many economists argue that GDP figures are inflated; fuel and food costs remain high; heavy investment in ports and airports close to Mr Rajapaksa’s home city of Hambantota are often described as white elephants; and talk of transforming the area into an economic hub shows little sign of progress.

Sri Lanka’s infrastructure boom might not have benefited ordinary voters, but it has provided ammunition

for accusations of graft — again bringing China to the fore. Mr Wickramasinghe says projects will be halted, pending corruption investigations. A $1.4bn Dubai-style “port city”, to be built by Chinese companies on reclaimed land next to Colombo’s port, will be probed. Mr Sirisena says many such projects should be scrapped.

Foreign diplomats, meanwhile, worry about growing commercial debts owed to Chinese banks. The total outstanding is hard to pin down, but opposition leaders cite figures of $5bn or more since the end of the war.

Government data show China as Sri Lanka’s largest financial partner in 2013, providing a fifth of all loans and grants, up from virtually nothing a decade earlier.

Sri Lanka’s courtship of China is partly India’s own fault, given its inability to provide greater postwar funds to its neighbour. Mr Rajapaksa denies accusations that he plays the two powers off against one another.

A victorious Rajapaksa regime would be likely to retrench. “He will learn that he must take more power for the family,” says Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu of the Colombo-based Centre for Policy Alternatives. Tamil parties talk of a post-election civil disobedience campaign. Further bust-ups with the west are likely, with an independent UN war crimes investigation due in March, and talk of possible future sanctions.

Yet an opposition victory would herald problems of its own. Mr Sirisena, so recently an ally of the president, seems unlikely to bend to the demands of the island’s beleaguered minorities. His early months will focus on complex constitutional reforms. Fresh parliamentary elections will be needed, severely testing opposition unity. Anti-corruption investigations may end in score-settling, delaying infrastructure projects. Also, promises to repair relations abroad will have to be balanced by the need to secure foreign investment.

At best, a new government could see the country revert to its more traditional state as a rambunctious south Asian democracy, ending Mr Rajapaksa’s thorflirtation with a more au itarian form of nationalism. But the odds on Sri Lanka finally enjoying a period of national healing seem slim, argues Samanth Subramanian, author of This Divided Island.

A growing sociAl gulf in PAris Independent JONATHAN FENBY

The shootings in Paris at the offices of the French satirical journal Charlie Hebdo come after a steady rise in ethnic tension in France. Though it is too soon to attribute responsibility for the attack, the newspaper marked itself out in 2008 by publishing the Danish cartoons caricaturing the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) – it defended its decision in the name of freedom of expression.

Along with the increase in tension has come the remorseless rise of the National Front – polls say that, if a presidential election was held now, its leader, Marine Le Pen, would top the first round vote ahead of mainstream politicians. FN candidates have scored well in local and European elections and gained their two first seats in the Senate last year. Le Pen has softened the rhetoric of her father, the FN’s founder, but the anti-immigrant message remains at the core of its appeal along with concern about law-and-order. Charlie Hebdo ‘s cover story this week is on the latest novel by the controversial writer, Michel Houellebecq, which paints a France of the future governed by an Islamic party and a Muslim president who bans women from the workplace and who was elected with mainstream support to block Le Pen. A survey in 2014 showed French people believing that immigrants made up 31 per cent of the population, four times the actual proportion. On the mainstream right, where former President Nicolas Sarkozy is trying to stage a comeback, a survey of supporters of his UMP party showed the proportion which believed there were too many immigrants in France had risen to 87 per cent from 62 per cent in 2006. Those who felt they lived in conditions of insecurity had increased from 38 to 73 per cent in the same period.

France has always expected immigrants to conform to its Republican model, but a growing social gulf has become evident especially among second-generation children of immigrants from North and West Africa. There is increasing questioning of France’s immigration policy and the pursuit of communitarianism. Nine hundred young people from France are estimated to be fighting with the extremist forces in Syria/Iraq.

A Socialist deputy from the Paris suburbs, Sébastien Pietrasanta, who has worked for an anti-racist organisation, notes that ‘for some young people, the feeling of having a religious affiliation is stronger than the feeling of belonging to the Republic.’ .

Demonstrations against Israel last year spilled over into attacks on synagogues and Jewish individuals and property. Interior Ministry figures showed that anti-Semitic attacks and threats had nearly doubled in France in the first seven months of 2014 to 529 compared to 276 for the same period of 2013.

Instead of being fomented by classic extreme right-wing agitators, anti-Semitism is now driven by mainly young immigrants with Arab and North African roots, the very people whom the far right saw as the main threat to national identity. As a contributor to Le Monde put it in 2012, this ‘confirms a grim reality; there are groups in France determined on violence against Jews’.

In May, 2014, a Frenchman of Algerian descent who was reported to have fought in Syria was arrested after the murder of four people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels.

Two years earlier, a French-Algerian, Mohammed Merah, shot dead seven soldiers and Jewish schoolchildren In Toulouse and Montauban. Israel’s reprisals on Gaza after Hamas rocket attacks that summer unleashed assaults on eight synagogues, a kosher supermarket and a pharmacy owned by a Jew. Some participants in pro-Palestinian demonstrations chanted ‘Death to Jews’ and ‘Slit Jews’ throats’.

As Yonathan Arfi, Vice-President of the main Jewish organisation, CRIF, noted, antiSemitism had become ‘a portmanteau for a lot of angry people; radical Muslims, alienated youths from immigrant families, the far right, the far left’ amid a ‘a process of normalisation by which anti-Semitism is being made somehow acceptable’. The French office of the Jewish Agency for Israel reported that the “climate of anti-Semitism” had led more immigrants to Israel in the first eight months of 2014 than from any other country. Jonathan Fenby is the author of ‘France on the Brink’, published by Arcade.

10 BUSINESS CORPORATE CORNER Confiz ltd. and Mantaq Systems reach a definitive merger agreement LAHORE: Confiz Ltd. and Mantaq Systems today announced that their board of directors have approved a definitive agreement over a strategic merger between the two organizations. This strategic decision is one of a kind in the history of IT industry in Pakistan. The transaction will result in a leading technology and innovative company driven by ground-breaking solutions which is intended to transform the retail business across the globe. On this occasion Mr. Raza Saeed, CEO Confiz, said, “With this merger, we are well on our way to become a $10 million company by 2017.

Mantaq has a strongly differentiated value proposition as a specialized provider of ERP implementation and consulting services in Retail market, which will help us open new avenues in international market. We are now targeting on local and International Retail industry with much more rich expertise.” Hashim Ali, CEO Mantaq Systems, said, “By joining hands together, we now have a stronger management team as well as access to one of the finest engineering teams at our hands. This would allow us to offer richer and more innovative solutions to our customers and help them use our technology based solutions as a definite competitive advantage in this digital age.” The merged company is now 250+ people strong and has offices in Lahore, Karachi, Seattle (USA) and Estonia with strong presence in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The company’s customers include Microsoft, Intel, NCR, Ingenico, Walmart, Target, Sage, Nishat Linen, Khaadi, Servis Shoes, Stylo and Asghar Ali. PRESS RELEASE

Founder institute aims to create ‘Silicon Valley’ in karachi KARACHI: The Founder Institute (http://fi.co), the World’s Largest Entrepreneur Training and Startup Launch Program, aims to create a Silicon Valley-like startup ecosystem in Pakistan and launch over thirty meaningful and enduring technology companies per year in the city. The Silicon-Valley based program recently announced the launch of its first chapter in Karachi, which will help talented employees launch companies of their own through a step-by-step training program led by top local entrepreneurs. “Silicon Valley is not a place, it’s a mindset,” says Adeo Ressi, Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute. “The Founder Institute emulates this mindset in cities across the globe through what we believe to be the three tenets of Silicon Valley: talent, training, and teamwork.” In particular, the Founder Institute identifies the most talented people using a “Predictive Admissions Test” that identifies entrepreneurial personality traits. Then, these talented employees and entrepreneurs take part in a part-time, step-by-step training program, which is based on Silicon Valley-best practices and taught by experienced startup founders. Finally, through a unique “Graduate Liquidity Pool”, all participants in the program (including the enrolled Founders, Mentors, and Local Leaders) share in the equity of the companies formed.

This shared equity approach creates a teamworkoriented, “pay-it-forward” mentality conducive to building great companies, similar to the ecosystem found in Silicon Valley. PRESS RELEASE

Friday, 9 January, 2015

StoCkS BreaCh 33,000 Mark, Break all tiMe high reCord KSE BENCHMARK 100-SHARE INDEX CLOSES 0.86 PER CENT OR 281.53 POINTS ON THURSDAY KARACHI

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STAFF REPORT

AKISTANI stocks ended at a record high on Thursday, with the benchmark 100-share index of the Karachi Stock Exchange closing up 0.86 per cent, or 281.53 points, at 33,117.47.

Recovery in global oil prices helped the index cross the 33,000 milestone for the first time ever. Oil stocks rallied after many days as Pakistan Oilfields Ltd, Pakistan Petroleum Ltd, and Oil and Gas Development Co Ltd gained, said Samar Iqbal, a dealer at Topline securities.

Pakistan Oilfields rose 3.27 per cent to Rs 381.48, while Pakistan Petroleum ended up 2.12 per cent at Rs 182.31.

The rupee closed steady at

BUSINESS LEADERS ATTRIBUTE RECORD HIGH TO GOVT’S ECONOMIC POLICIES, ANTI-TERROR MEASURES 33,000,” he added.

Asim Zafar said that unity among all segments of society and political parties against terrorism was widely welcomed by the local and foreign investors. And new investments, he said, were coming into country while foreign funds had also started investment as they were observing political stability in Pakistan.

The former LSE chairman said that keeping in view the low interest rate, the investors tilt was now towards investment in stock markets instead of depositing their money into banks that was also one of the reasons improving the stocks.

Former LSE director and Senior Member Javed Iqbal said: “For the first time in Pakistan’s history, the KSE-100 Index crossed 33,100 points, and it is a clear manifesta-

100.70/100.75 against the dollar, compared with the previous close of 100.70/100.77. Overnight rates in the money market remained flat to 9.50 per cent.

Meanwhile, commenting on the record breaking by the KSE, business leaders said the record high of 33,000 points was a result of the vibrant and effective political, social and economic policies of the government.

Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) former chairman Asim Zafar said that stock markets were witnessing bullish trend because of approval of 21st Amendment and setting up of speedy trial courts for elimination of terrorism; political stability; reduction in prices of petroleum products and electricity as well as prime minister’s successful visit to Bahrain.

“This ideal situation has resulted in jacking up the KSE’s points beyond

CloudClinik signs landmark partnership with Ooredoo DOHA: CloudClinik EMR, a Lahore based IT Company, has announced a new agreement with Ooredoo to develop Qatar’s first cloudbased electronicmedical record (EMR) and practice management system. As part of the new agreement, Ooredoo and CloudClinik will provide the private healthcare sector in Qatar with a new service to manage its patients’ clinical information in an efficient way. Hosted in one of Ooredoo’s high-tech Qatar Data Centres, the new service will use a dedicated connection, enabling the most secure service for a patient’s private information, according to a statement. PR

Forex reserves inch up to $15.21b KARACHI: The total liquid foreign reserves held by the country stood at $15.212 billion up to January 2, reported the central bank on Thursday. During the week in review, the State Bank held $ 10.475 billion while the commercial banks $ 4.736 billion. During the week ending January 2, the SBP’s reserves increased by $171 million to $10.476 billion compared to $10.305 billion in the previous week. STAFF REPORT

MCB employees’ salaries LAHORE: MCB Bank Limited, one of the country’s largest banks has raised the salaries for its permanent clerical and security staff along with increase in various allowances keeping in view the increasing cost of living in the country.

The Bank continues to maintain its commitment towards welfare of the staff members and their families. MCB management and MCB Staff Union of Pakistan (CBA) signed an agreement today effective from January 1, 2015 for two years onwards after successful negotiation. Usman Hassan, Group Head Human Resources, on behalf of MCB Management and Riafat Khan Jadoon, President MCB Staff Union of Pakistan signed the agreement in a ceremony held at MCB Principal Office, Lahore. “The management decided to raise the salaries of the bank’s permanent clerical and security staff considering the present inflationary pressures and the increasing cost of living.” said President, MCB Bank Ltd. “MCB Bank always values its employees’ betterment and prosperity and I hope that they will be further motivated to perform their duties diligently and with exemplary zeal,” he added.

Riafat Khan Jadoon, President MCB Staff Union of Pakistan (CBA) said that all MCB Bank employees are part of the success story of the Bank and our collective prosperity lies with the growth and progress of the Bank. Usman Hassan, Group Head Human Resources Management thanked both the management and union representatives for their efforts and hoped that this team spirit would strengthen relationship between employees and the employer. PRESS RELEASE

tion of local and foreign investors’ confidence in the policies of present government that introduce businessfriendly initiatives.”

Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Mian Muhammad Idrees termed the new KSE-100 Index record as historic success of the government. He said that passage of 21st Amendment and speedy trial courts would eliminate terrorism from Pakistan that would improve overall law and order situation that was a prerequisite for investment and businesses.

The FPCCI president said that stable and vibrant economic environment would also help resolve social and economic problems as well as early completion of requirements for speedy dispensation of justice.

Former senior vice president of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Abdul Basit said that Pakistan was an ideal country for investment since the stock markets here were providing maximum profits than any other country of the world.

MINISTER ANNOUNCES 5PC REDUCTION IN RAILWAYS FARES ISLAMABAD INP

Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has announced that Pakistan Railways has decided to reduce passenger trains fares up to 5 per cent.

The decision has been taken in the wake of decrease in the prices of petroleum products so that the effects can be transferred to common man. This announcement was made during a media talk in Islamabad on Thursday.

The minister said that fare of different passenger trains were to be reduced from 3 to 5 per cent depending upon the profitability and passenger load on the trains. He hoped that this reduction in the fare would provide a common man an economic and safe mode to travel. “Although, the expenses on lubricants and fuel are only 18 per cent of the total, even then we have decided to reduce the fares,” the minister maintained.

He also informed the media persons that the present government was taking steps to improve facilities to the passengers which include betterment in dining car services, improvement of facilitations at railway stations, purchase of new engines and railways vans, and infrastructure improvements. The minister said for providing quality food to the passengers during their travel, dining car service now being run on non-profit basis, and quality food and crockery had been provided. He said even critics had appreciated

this improvement in facilitation.

While commenting on closure of Kohat – Rawalpindi Rail Car Service, the minister said that the railway track between Rawalpindi and Kohat needed improvement as passengers, prefer travelling by road, and train was running under losses. “Our prime focus are those routes where passengers prefer to travel by train, however, in the later stages other route also be taken up,” the minister declared.

Answering a question, he said that Karachi Circular Railways was domain of the provincial government; however Pakistan Railways was ready to provide land and technical facilitation for this project. Rafique also took notice of the media report about the loss of his luggage on Lahore airport and categorically cleared that his luggage was neither stolen nor misplaced on Lahore Airport and news reports in this regards were completely baseless and misleading and were result of irresponsible journalism. He advised the media persons to verify the facts before issue any breaking news.

Khawaja Saad Rafique while commenting on his recent visit to Saudi Arabia for Umrah said that during his visit he had meetings with the Pakistani community and Pakistani consulate there.

He noted that Pakistanis working in Saudi Arabia contributed a handsome amount in their economy in the shape of remittances, so their problems in Saudi Arabia were to be taken up in the cabinet.

He said the government would ill take every step to resolve their problems.

Naudero Sugar Mills closed sending blow to growers

CDC introduces eDividend facility

NAUDERO: Naudero Sugar Mills (NSM) has been closed on the call of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) after the Sindh High Court directed the mill owners to pay Rs 182 per 40 kg sugarcane, NSM Finance Manager Hamz Ali Chakrani told reporters on Thursday.

He said closure of mill information was passed on to the growers so that they may stop the cutting of the crop. “I am unaware of the date when the crushing will resume,” he said. Due to closure of the mill, the growers have suffered millions of rupees losses as they said that they were not informed about the sudden closure of the mill. They refuted the claim of Finance Manager Chakrani. Larkana Chamber of Agriculture President Syed Siraj Rashidi told PPI that a grand meeting of sugarcane growers of entire Sindh would be held in Nawabshah on January 10 where the matter would be discussed. Rashdi said the arbitrary closure of mill amounts to destroying the tillers as they had invested a lot of money and labour in the cultivation of cash crop. He refuted the claim of Chakrani that growers were informed of the shutting up of the mill. Rashidi further said that the mill owners had refused to obey the orders of the Sindh High Court which was a contempt of court. PPI

KARACHI: The Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited has introduced innovative concept of eDividend for stock markets. The introduction of eDividend service enables issuers to electronically credit dividend amounts into bank accounts of shareholders directly without involving printing and dispatch of dividend warrants saving huge expenses and time too. The first such transaction was executed for the dividend

by Lucky Cement Limited through its banking partner. Innovative offering of services like this has enabled CDC to achieve another milestone in share registrar services after exceeding 100 clients in short span of time.

Speaking about this new market shaping facility, Muhammad Hanif Jakhura, CEOCDC, said: “Central Depository Company has a legacy of introducing efficiency and time efficacy in market processes. Just like the eDividend facility, CDC will continue to take the lead in improving the infrastructure of Pakistan capital market for both investors and corporate alike.” With this latest introduction, the CDC has become the pioneering institution in Pakistan to introduce innovative concepts in share registrar services to facilitate the shareholders. STAFF REPORT

LEISURE 11

Friday, 9 January, 2015

HaGaR tHE HoRRIblE

aries

taurus

gemini

Your attention is directed at getting ahead on the job now that the fun is winding down. Of course, it makes sense to organize your life and focus on your career as much as possible. But don't become so.

If you are clear about your overall direction in life, the little things will fall into place today. Although it's helpful to define your goals in great detail, it's counterproductive now to actually compare.

Family matters can be very complicated and dealing with details at home may be a bit overwhelming today. It's your natural inclination to sweep everything under the rug, but this avoidance tactic won't.

cancer

leo

virgo

Although you are often led around by your emotions, you may be able to step outside of your feelings today to see your world more objectively. Focusing on your communication skills can help you discuss.

Relationship dynamics at work are challenging if you have an agenda that's not fully supported by others. Nevertheless, your current confidence feeds your sense of optimism, even if it flies in the face.

Being emotionally vulnerable is more likely now that the sensitive Moon is back in your sign. You may feel slighted if you don't receive the appreciation that you deserve for your hard work. You are usually.

libra

scorpio

sagittarius

Someone may require your assistance today, but don't wait to receive a specific request. If you are concerned about a friend, pick up the phone and give them a call. He or she may only need a kind ear.

You might have to take severe criticism from someone today, yet remaining open to their advice ultimately works to your advantage. Nearly everyone could get on your nerves while the fussy Virgo Moon lingers.

The greater your dreams, the more the minutiae will require your attention. Similarly, the higher you aim, the more precision needed. Remember, you are most effective today when you handle the little things,

dIlbERt

GaRFIEld

baldo

capricorn

aQuarius

pisces

Although you excel at playing the role of an authority figure, sometimes it's more advantageous to be humble in your approach. If you are willing to adopt a beginner's mind, a teacher can be extraordinarily.

Your compassion is required when dealing with a partner or close friend today. However, a thorough examination of your communication style can also reveal hidden patterns that you need to know about now.

You might believe your good intentions are solid enough to make a relationship work.

Unfortunately, your idealism isn't necessarily being played out by the current circumstances. Even if you aren't ready,

cRosswoRd

sUdoKU

woRd sEaRcH

ACROSS

bRIdGE

How to play fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the squares contains all the digits. the object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once.

jungle kitchen mire mite other pretty prime princes prop scream scrounge sire slave stone street tramp uncle where write

Today’s soluTions

tEst yoUR dEFENsE

cHEss white tO PLAY AND MAte iN fOur MOVes 8

crossword solution

7 6 5 4 3 2

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

chess solution

A

1.Nf6+ gxf6 2.exf6 Qe5 [2...Qg3 3.Qxf8+ Kxf8 4.Rd8#] 3.Rg1+ Kh8 4.Qxf8+

1

sudoku solution

1 courageous (6) 4 ascend (anag) (6) 9 strong feeling of embarrassment (7) 10 form of oxygen, o3 (5) 11 state of being disregarded or forgotten (5) 12 raised aloft (7) 13 close together (5,2,4) 18 complete failure (7) 20 more recent (5) 22 two times (5) 23 without (7) 24 impede (6) 25 requiring immediate action (6) DOwn 1 jam — vegetables preserved in vinegar or brine (6) 2 deprive of all weapons (5) 3 musical entertainment, originally from japan (7) 5 garlicky mayonnaise (5) 6 native american — skating movement — cat chow (anag) (7) 7 horses for riding (6) 8 precisely — punctually (2,3,6) 14 cloth made from jute (7) 15 caretaker (7) 16 change over (6) 17 determine (one's position) with reference to another point (6) 19 grossly fat (5) 21 forgo (5)

about advice amuse bays cart college could date dress drink fantastic fathers flesh frighten ghost gifts gypsy honest horse insane

12

Friday, 9 January 2015

ARTS PARIS

s

AGENCIES

CIENTISTS seeking a cure for AIDS said Wednesday they had found important clues about how HIV manages to skirt detection after being suppressed

by drugs.

The sleeping virus can harbour mutations which, like an invisibility cloak, help it evade detection by the immune system, they said. But there was encouraging news as well.

Lab experiments offered hope that the immune system can be trained to spot the peril and then eradicate it.

The research, published in the journal Nature, touches on the “kick-and-kill” strategy, one of the main thrusts of cure research — the most ambitious campaign in the 33-year war on AIDS. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which causes AIDS hides away in so-called memory CD4 T cells, a component of the immune system, after the infection is rolled back by antiretroviral drugs.

Once the therapy is stopped, the virus rebounds, threatening the patient once more. “Kick-and-kill” looks at how to kick the virus from its redoubt with powerful drugs and then kill it once it is forced into the open. The new research explains in part why this goal seems so hard to achieve, but also offers a possible avenue, the scientists said.

“Our results suggest that luring HIV out of hiding is winning only half the battle,” said Robert Siliciano, a professor of molecular biology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore,

New clues iN quest for HiV cure: researcHers Maryland.

“We found that these pools of dormant virus carry mutations that render HIV invisible to the very immune cells capable of disarming it, so even when the virus comes out of hiding, it continues to evade immune detection.”

The team analysed blood samples from 25 patients with HIV. Ten had begun therapy very soon after infection, and 15 had started the drugs only when the virus had spread to a chronic stage.

In a striking finding, the researchers discovered that those who had been early initiators of therapy had holdout virus with almost no mutations.

But those who had begun therapy later had virus that was highly altered — it was stuffed with “escape mutations” which made it undetectable to immune sentinels.

Even so, even in this highly mutated state, the virus had retained a tiny bit of its original viral protein — a “conserved” piece that could be an Achilles´ heel.

The scientists took uninfected immune cells and exposed them to virus that was either mutated or had the “conserved,” non-mutated form.

Trained To kill: Thus primed and ready for action, the cells were then ex-

posed to infected cells taken from patients with the now-notorious escape mutations.

Immune cells that had been previously primed with the “conserved” virus were able to kill 61 percent of these infected cells. But cells primed only with mutant HIV responded weakly, eliminating only 23 percent of the infected cells.

“It´s as if the immune system had lost its ability to spot and destroy the virus, but priming killer T cells that recognise a different, non-mutated portion of HIV´s protein reawakened that natural killer instinct,” Siliciano said in a statement.

In a comment, Sharon Lewin, director at the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, Australia, said the paper had “exciting and important” implications.

“All up, this study has shown us that we will need an additional boost to the immune system to clear virus released from the reservoir,” Lewin said. “The encouraging finding was that the immune system could be ´boosted´ or trained to respond to the hidden virus,” she said.

“The more sobering finding was that the retraining still didn´t give the cells the power to eliminate all the reservoir.”

Lewin noted that the experiments

were conducted on lab-dish cells and mice, so human trials are likely to be “a long way off.” Since 1981, about 78 million people have been infected by the

EARLY WEIGHT GAIN ‘UPS ASTHMA RISK’ Babies who rapidly gain weight in the first three months of life are more likely to develop asthma, a study has found.

Researchers at the University of Bristol analysed information on height, weight and asthma symptoms in almost 10,000 people from birth to age 17.

They found rapid weight gain from birth to age three months was consistently associated with asthma in eight and 17-year-olds.

It was also linked with lower lung function and increased responsiveness of the airways, which are both signs of asthma. In contrast, fast weight gain in children aged between three and seven was associated with higher lung function at 15 years old.

Asthma is one of the world’s most common chronic diseases in childhood.

Dr Agnes Sonnenschein-van der Voort, lead researcher on the study, said: “It is clear from our research that there is a connection between babies gaining weight quickly in the first three months of life and the risk of them developing asthma later on.

VIENNA-BRATISLAVA TO GET 'WORLD'S SHORTEST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT'

VIENNA AGENCIES

Passengers travelling on a new flight offered by Austrian budget airline Fly Niki from April will hardly have time to sip a coffee between take-off and landing. The flight between Vienna and Bratislava; the Slovakian capital, which lie just about 50 kilometres (30 miles) apart, will last about 20 minutes, the airline said, claiming that this would be the world's shortest flight between two countries. The trip between the two European capitals usually takes a little over an hour by train or road.

“We are not sure exactly what causes this but it may be that rapid weight gain leads to abnormal development of the lungs or the immune sys-

tem. Further studies will be required to confirm these findings.

“We would recommend that GPs check a child’s personal growth curve

if they come to them with asthma-related symptoms and take this into account in their decision to start medication.”

The research, which used data from the Children of the 90s study at the University of Bristol, analysed records for 9,723 people. Current asthma was reported for 13.9% of those aged eight, 13.2% at age 14 and 15.3% at age 17.

Many factors are associated with an increased risk of asthma but the cause of the condition is still not known.

It is now widely accepted that events in early childhood could be critical for asthma development, with rate of foetal growth and low birth weight both associated with the condition.

Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and policy at Asthma UK, added: “More research is needed to get a clearer picture of the connection between a baby’s weight and their likelihood of developing asthma in later life.” The study is published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. AGENCIES

2014 HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD: JAPAN METEOROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION The Japan Meteorological Association (JMA) has become the latest organisation to claim that 2014 was the hottest on record.

They say it was 0.27°C warmer than the average from 1981 to 2010, and 0.63°C warmer than the 20th century average - without the help of an El Niño weather event. And according to their data, ten of the hottest years on record have come since 1998.

The JMA joins Nasa and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) in the US, and the UK Met Office, as one of four major global temperature 'keepers' to reveal 2014 was the hottest ever.

All four make their readings separately to one another - and they have all individually come to the same conclusion that last year was the hottest since records began in the late 19th century.

Experts say the rate at which it is warming is alarmingly quick, and heavily suggests the emission of CO2 by humans is causing manmade global warming.

According to the JMA, the average temperature last year was 0.27°C warmer than the average

from 1981 to 2010, and 0.63°C warmer than the 20th Century average. And it is by far the hottest year in 120 years of keeping records.

The findings also reveal there has been no warming slowdown in the past decade, despite claims to the contrary by skeptics.

Some believed there was a slowdown because of an abnormally extreme El Niño weather effect in 1998 which was the second hottest

CMYK

year on record.

However, this data shows that, although cooler than 1998, the top ten hottest years on record all came in the last 16 years - showing there has been no climate slowdown.

Before 1998, no year came close to approaching these top ten in temperature. 'The warmth in 2014 is also notable for another reason: the absence of El Niño,' reported Nature. COURTESY MAIL ONLINE

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS, according to the UN programme UNAIDS. Thirty-nine million have died from AIDS-related illnesses.

BRIDGE TO THE PAST: US OPENS 220-YEAR-OLD TIME CAPSULE

BOSTON AGENCIES

A 220-year-old time capsule containing coins, documents and other artifacts left by U.S. founding fathers Samuel Adams and Paul Revere was opened by Massachusetts officials this week. "The history of Massachusetts is the history of America," Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin said before the box was opened, adding the items were symbols of the "great hope" of the country's founders. The corroded 10-pound (4.5-kg) brass box, removed from beneath the state house last month, was painstakingly dismantled and unpacked by custodians at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts in a gallery hung with oil portraits of both men. Among the items in the box were two dozen coins including a 1652 Pine Tree Shilling struck by colonists in defiance of England, a bronze medal portraying George Washington, a silver plate made by Revere, and colonial records and newspapers. Galvin said he expected the items would be displayed at the museum for some time before being placed back beneath the state house cornerstone, possibly with additional items from this era.

The capsule was first placed under the cornerstone of the 18th-century state house building, a Boston landmark topped by a gilded copper dome made by Revere's company, on July 4, 1795 in recognition of America's 20th anniversary of independence. Adams was then governor of Massachusetts, and Revere a colonial icon and silversmith best known for alerting Colonial fighters to the approach of British Forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775. The capsule is more than a century older than a 113-year-old one discovered inside a lion atop Boston's Old State House last year. That capsule included materials from the presidential campaigns of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.

13- ENTERTAINMENT 09-01-2015_Layout 1 1/8/2015 10:54 PM Page 1

Friday, 9 January, 2015

Downey Jr, Lawrence win big at PeoPLe’s choice awarDs

R

AGENCIES

OBERT Downey Jr. and Jennifer Lawrence emerged the biggest movie star winners at the People’s Choice awards Wednesday, while on the small screen “The Big

Bang Theory” won the coveted top TV show. “Iron Man” star Downey Jr. won both favorite movie actor and favorite dramatic movie actor, while “Hunger Games” actress Lawrence took acting prizes for both general and action films.

On the music front Ed Sheeran was named favorite male artist and

Taylor Swift top female artist. On the big screen, favorite movie went to Disney’s “Maleficent” starring Angelina Jolie, while best action movie went to teen adventure “Divergent” whose co-stars Shailene Woodley and Theo James were named favorite movie duo. The People’s Choice glitter-fest, launching Hollywood’s annual awards season, is based on voting by the public in contrast to ballots of industry insiders (Oscars, Grammys) or foreign journalists (Golden Globes). In the comedy categories Wednesday night, buddy film sequel “22 Jump Street” took best comedic movie while veteran Adam Sandler won favorite actor and “Bridesmaids” star Melissa McCarthy favorite actress.

“I want to thank the fans that go out and buy movie tickets and allow me to do what I do. Thanks for the job,” McCarthy said, adding “Without you I would not have a job and I’m going to stick around as long as you have me.” On the small screen meanwhile CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” won the top prize, beating shortlisted rivals including “Game of

Thrones,” “Once Upon a Time” and “The Walking Dead.” The show also won favorite network comedy and best comedy actress for Kaley CuocoSweeting, while best comedy actor went to “Glee” star Chris Colfer. Favorite network drama went to “Grey’s Anatomy,” which all but swept the board winning favorite dramatic actor for Patrick Dempsey and actress for Ellen Pompeo. Music fans meanwhile chose Sheeran as top male artist over a shortlist including Pharrell Williams, John Legend, country star Blake Shelton and Britain’s young soul sensation Sam Smith. Taylor Swift beat Beyonce, Iggy Azalea, Katy Perry and Sia to be named favorite female artist, while favorite group went to Maroon 5, and breakout artist to 5 Seconds of Summer. And so awards season gets into full swing. The Golden Globes, which also recognize both music and television, are due to be held this Sunday, January 11, while Oscar nominations will be announced next Thursday, January 15. The Grammys are due on February 8, while the Academy Awards will be held this year on February 22.

No smooching! Aishwarya bowled over by father-in-law Bachchan’s Zaid Ali T says ‘no’ to Hollywood ‘Shamitabh’ trailer Canadian-born Pakistani internet star Zaid Ali T, known for his comical videos on desi attitudes, declined an offer to play a role in a Hollywood movie, private media reported.

On his Facebook page, YouTube sensation Zaid said, “Today is a very huge day for me. Today, I was offered a role in a Hollywood movie. Yes, a Hollywood movie. Unfortunately, I had to say “no” to the role because there was a kissing scene in the movie and I could never imagine myself doing something like that.”

With over 147,000 Twitter followers, the young star, in a very short time, received acclamation all over the globe by uploading videos which comically pointed out differences between ‘desi’ and ‘white’ people. Almost four years on, the Zaid has over two million likes on his Facebook page and over one hundred videos on his Youtube channel.

“Being true to yourself and your morals is one of the best feelings and it shows that you have achieved something in your life. Insh’Allah there’s something better written for me, maybe not. But I am very happy with my decision,” Zaid posted on his Facebook page. ENTERTAINMENT DESK

ARTS

13

Movies Boyhood, Whiplash, Guardians Get Writers Guild aWard nods LOS ANGELES: Independent films “Boyhood” and “Whiplash” as well as superhero blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy” received Writers Guild Awards nominations on Wednesday in one of Hollywood’s top annual honours. “Boyhood,” a coming-of-age chronicle and early Academy Award best picture favourite, earned a nod for best original screenplay for director Richard Linklater from the Writers Guild of America. The movie, which Linklater filmed over a dozen years, will vie against wresting biopic “Foxcatcher” by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman, as well as jazz drummer tale “Whiplash” by director Damien Chazelle. Also scoring nominations in the original screenplay category were idiosyncratic period comedy “The Grand Budapest Hotel” for Hugo Guinness and director Wes Anderson, and noir drama “Nightcrawler” for director Dan Gilroy. “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Walt Disney Co’s Marvel superhero action flick and 2014’s top-grossing film, earned a surprise nomination for director James Gunn and Nicole Perlman for adapted screenplay. It will go up against “American Sniper,” Jason Hall’s script for Clint Eastwood’s Iraq war story, and biopic “Wild”

by British author Nick Hornby. Thriller “Gone Girl,” which was written by Gillian Flynn, and Alan Turing biopic “The Imitation Game” by Graham Moore also earned adapted screenplay nominations.

The scripts for early Oscar contenders “Birdman,” “Selma” and “The Theory of Everything” did not qualify as they were not produced under the jurisdiction of the WGA, which is known for having some of the strictest awards qualifications. The Writers Guild Awards, which are voted on by guild members, have a mixed record of predicting the best screenplay Oscar awards. The Hollywood awards season starts in earnest on Sunday with the annual Golden Globe Awards. AGENCIES

A

CTRESS Aishwarya Rai is bowled over by the trailer of R. Balki’s upcoming film ‘Shamitabh’, starring her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan. She says she’s looking forward to see the megastar in a different look on the big screen.

The makers of “Shamitabh” launched the film’s trailer at an event in Mumbai Wednesday. The film also stars southern superstar Dhanush in a key role. When Aishwarya Rai was present at the launch of a beauty product here the same day, she was asked about her feedback on the trailer. “It’s incredible,” Aishwarya exclaimed, and added: “The idea is fascinating and I know more than that is revealed in the trailer.

I’m very very excited to see

this product, to see this film (‘Shamitabh‘). I think when Balki (R. Balki) and Pa (Amitabh Bachchan) come together, it’s great to see them.” R. Balki and Big B had earlier collaborated for films like “Cheeni Kum” and “Paa”. “As a creative person and as an artist, let

alone a family member, I’m truly looking forward to this idea (the film) on celluloid,” she added ‘Shamitabh’, which also marks the debut of Kamal Haasan’s daughter Akshara Haasan, is set to release Feb 6. It features Amitabh in a new avatar.

AGENCIES

Cumberbatch ‘to become a father’

At 36, Bipasha Basu says no to college girl roles

Screen star Benedict Cumberbatch is to become a father as his fiancee Sophie Hunter is pregnant, according to reports.

The Sherlock actor’s publicist is said to have told newspapers that theatre director Hunter is expecting and that the couple are “over the moon”. Cumberbatch, 38, and Hunter, 36, announced their engagement in The Times newspaper on November 5 last year and they are said to be planning to marry this spring. Cumberbatch is enjoying a golden period in his career as one of Britain’s most popular actors and he has been lauded for his role as codebreaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. Hunter is an Oxford graduate who studied modern languages. She has directed a number of experimental and avant garde productions including a puppet version of Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition which toured the US. She has taken acting roles in TV shows

Actress Bipasha Basu, who has turned 36, says she’s only keen to do roles that suit her and that she’s not game to essaying a college girl on the big screen. Bipasha, who celebrated her birthday Wednesday, will next be seen in a double role in horror movie “Alone”. She was last seen in “Creature 3D”. Asked why she’s picking horror films, the bold and beautiful actress said: “If at all anybody offers me a role of a college girl, I won’t do it. It is very frivolous! You have to do roles that suit you.” She feels that whenever she has essayed “strong roles”, people have liked it. “People want to see me in strong roles…whether it’s in an artistic film or comedy.

They want a lot of strength (in the character). And I only care about my audience, about entertaining the people who love me,” she added. Bipasha is currently busy promoting “Alone”, directed by Bhushan Patel. It marks TV actor Karan Singh Grover’s debut in Bollywood. The actress is happy with the response that the trailer has received, and she is hopeful the movie will be lapped up once it releases Jan 16. “I feel good when my work is appreciated. People are liking my chemistry with Karan. This film is not just a horror story, it a love story.” AGENCIES

CMYK

such as Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood and an episode of Midsomer Murders, as well as the 2004 film version of Vanity Fair starring Reese Witherspoon. She appeared alongside Cumberbatch in the 2009 film Burlesque Fairytales. AGENCIES

14 sports

STARC REPRIMANDED FOR VIJAY SEND-OFF SportS DeSk An ICC release said that the charge related to Starc’s “exaggerated celebration” after he dismissed M Vijay in the first over of India’s innings on Wednesday. Starc appeared to scream at the batsman following the dismissal. The charge was laid by the onfield umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Richard Kettleborough, third umpire Simon Fry and fourth umpire Gerard Abood. Starc accepted the offence and the proposed sanction of an official reprimand. As such, there was no need for an official hearing. He admitted to a breach of Article 2.1.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to conduct that “either (a) is contrary to the spirit of the game; or (b) brings the game into disrepute.” Australia captain Steven Smith admitted after the second day’s play that he had not seen Starc’s send-off but agreed that the practice should end.

BARREDA TURNS UP HEAT BY BEATING COMA TO STAGE FOUR WIN

Friday, 9 January, 2015

SA turnS to LAngeveLdt knowhow

L

SportS DeSk

IKE sleeveless vests, baseball caps and sneakers, T20 was once considered a young man’s thing.

But Shane Warne, Brad Hogg and, more recently, Jacques Kallis have torched that theory, which is why the announcement that 40-year-old Charl Langeveldt was joining up with South Africa’s T20 outfit was met with barely a tilt of the eyebrow, until it became obvious he would not actually be playing.

Credited with being key to the development of, among others, Beuran Hendricks at the Cobras, Langeveldt is starting a second career in cricket as a coach. It’s no coincidence his involvement with the national team comes with the World Cup little more than a month away and South Africa still searching for a death bowler.

Langeveldt was known for his ability to bowl yorkers at the end of an innings a skill which was best on display at the 2007 World Cup when his four wickets in four balls stopped a Sri Lanka surge. That

particular skill has proved elusive for South Africa’s seamers, as evidenced on the trip to Australia late last year, and they are looking to Langeveldt, not existing bowling coach Allan Donald whose contract expires after the World Cup, to help them find it. “He has been seen as a great death bowler so it’s an opportunity for us to pick his brain,” Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s T20 captain, said. “We have got a reputation of bringing guys in and credit to Russell [Domingo] for that. He is not an ego coach that thinks he knows everything. He likes to get in help.”

The person Langeveldt will likely work closest with is Kyle Abbott, who has been identified as South Africa’s finalover hangman and is the only one of the specialist seamer in the T20 squad. “Kyle is a fantastic yorker bowler, he is probably the best at that,” du Plessis said. Wayne Parnell may also benefit from Langeveldt’s experience but du Plessis hopes the rest will find other ways of restricting runs.

“In South African conditions, sometimes your best ball to bowl when a guy

is putting you under pressure is not necessarily a yorker because if you get it wrong it goes for six but if you bowl a hard length or a bouncer, especially at the West Indian players, that is probably the best ball,” he said. “Guys like Kagiso Rabada or Marchant de Lange are quite aggressive so they should use that. It’s about your strength as a bowler and what you are best at bowling when you are under pressure.”

But that is likely the only aspect of World Cup planning South Africa can do during the T20 series. Their senior players are all being rested and with both JP Duminy and Quinton de Kock injured, the matches are an audition for some new talent and a way to relook at some of the older faces. “You can use T20 to prepare for the tournament if you have the same personnel. With us, it’s difficult to do that because the core of the team will change,” du Plessis said. “This is more about guys

getting an opportunity to play international cricket because if something is going to happen and we need extra players for the World Cup squad, it will come from the guys that are here.”

The one player that applies directly to is Morne van Wyk. The wicketkeeperopening batsman is on standby in case de Kock does not recover in time for the World Cup. He last played for South at the 2011 tournament and will use this series to reintroduce himself to the biggest stage. “Morne is very experienced,” du Plessis said. “He is a good captain at the Dolphins and the more leaders you have in your group, the better. From a playing point of view, if he gets runs, he looks like the guy that may come in if we need him.

Morne hasn’t played for us for a while so it’s also nice for him to see how the setup has changed. One of the first things he said is that this is a very happy team so we take a lot of joy from that.”

Heat scorched by Carberry fifty SportS DeSk

Joan Barreda won stage four of the 2015 Dakar Rally bike race after a blistering final section in which he outpaced fourtimes champion Marc Coma. Barreda was able to celebrate victory his second stage win of 2015 as the race moved into Chile for the first time on day which saw competitors cover over 900km - with an epic ride of almost 600km before the day’s special stage even began. Coma led for much of the stage, but Barreda upped his pace in the final kilometres to clock a time of three hours 27 minutes 28 seconds, 1:59 quicker than his fellow Spaniard. Chile’s Pablo Quintanilla finished close behind in third place, but the big surprise was that Jordi Viladoms was over 10 minutes back, even though he remained in fourth place for the stage.

Rookie rider Matthias Walker, who claimed a surprise stage win earlier in the week, struggled to keep up the pace, losing 23 minutes to Barreda and dropping out of the top three in the overall standings. Agencies

An all-round bowling performance by Perth Scorchers was capped by an impressive half-century form Michael Carberry as they trounced Brisbane Heat by eight wickets at the WACA ground. He creamed 77 off only 37 balls to stunt any threat a target of 135 might have.

The decision to bat backfired on Heat as they lost a steady drip of wickets inside the first 10 overs. A wicket in the fourth over was followed by another in the fifth and the same trend was observed by the time the ninth over came around.

Nathan Reardon walked in at No. 5 and attempted to pick up the pieces with a 40-ball 52. There wasn’t much help from the tail, although if their top order could not handle the meticulous work of Jason Behrendorff and Brad Hogg, who took two wickets each.

The chase began with Scorchers losing their openers inside five overs , but since then Carberry took over. His first boundary was a bludgeon that soared over long-off’s head and landed beyond the ropes.

With his appetite whetted, he carved two fours and another six off Ryan Duffield in the 11th over to turn the equation to 54 needed at a run a ball. Andrew Flintoff’s first and only over of the match cost 18 runs as Carberry smashed for successive sixes. All of that was part of a 114-run partnership with captain Adam Voges that took only 65 balls and reduced Heat’s most outlandish hopes of a turnaround into ashes.

Ireland, Afghanistan, Scotland seek finishing touches AgencieS Three of the four Associate qualifiers for this year’s World Cup descend on Dubai on Thursday for some much needed fixtures

ahead of the main event. Afghanistan, Ireland and Scotland would probably prefer to get some pre-World Cup opportunities against Full Member opposition instead of playing amongst themselves. Yet, they can

be grateful for the fact that they now have a bit of a leg up on preparation over Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, both of whom are starved of ODIs from December 1 through the start of the World Cup. AfghAnistAn: The de facto hosts won four of eight contests on their preWorld Cup tour to Australia and New Zealand in September and October, but had their confidence dented by a humbling 3-1 ODI series defeat in November at the hands of fellow World Cup qualifiers UAE. Former captain Nawroz Mangal has been superb since moving to the top of the order but his opening partner is yet to be confirmed. Both Javed Ahmadi and Usman Ghani will be eager to present their respective cases to join Mangal.

The team management will be keeping its fingers crossed that fast bowler Hamid Hassan can make it through the series injury-free. Hassan took 5 for 45 against UAE on December 4, in only his second match back since pulling up lame in Afghanistan’s Asia Cup win over Bangladesh in March. Afghanistan’s chances of excelling in both the tri-series and the World Cup will be greatly enhanced if Hassan remains on the field instead of in the physio’s room. New

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bowling coach Andy Pick will be licking his lips at the chance to work with Hassan and the rest of Afghanistan’s pace troupe, including Shapoor and Dawlat Zadran.

Squad: Mohammad Nabi (capt), Javed Ahmadi, Aftab Alam, Mirwais Ashraf, Izatullah Dawlatzai, Usman Ghani, Hamid Hassan, Nasir Jamal, Nawroz Mangal, Gulbadin Naib, Hasmatullah Shaidi, Samiullah Shenwari, Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Shapoor Zadran, Afsar Zazai (wk) irelAnd: The darlings of the last two World Cups had a hit and miss autumn tour of Australia and New Zealand. The team suffered collectively due to the absence of Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce and Tim Murtagh, and it showed in the results. On the bowling side, youngsters Craig Young and Peter Chase started off their acclimatisation tour down under with promise, but ended it with mental scars at the hands of opening onslaughts from Ronnie Hira and Jesse Ryder. Young claimed a five-for on ODI debut in September against Scotland and will be happy to see them again in an effort to rediscover the form he had at the end of the northern summer. The return of Murtagh should also ease pressure off the younger parts of the pace unit.

Squad: William Porterfield (capt), Andy Balbirnie, Peter Chase, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Andy McBrine, John Mooney, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien (wk), Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young scotlAnd: Despite coming away with just two wins on their September tour down under, Scotland turned in some encouraging performances including a nail-biting one-run loss to a virtually World Cup strength New Zealand XI. Scotland’s improved depth over the past year was evident in the fact that they nearly chased down New Zealand XI’s 263 despite Kyle Coetzer and Preston Mommsen scoring no runs on the day.

Aside from that blip, the decision to switch the captaincy from Coetzer to Mommsen has continued to have a positive impact for both players. However, Scotland needs more incisive contributions from their fast bowlers. The last time a Scotland pacer took four or more wickets in an innings in an ODI was Iain Wardlaw’s 4 for 43 against Kenya in June 2013.

They will struggle to beat their fellow Associates, let alone Full Members, unless big hauls are taken on a more regular basis.

Friday, 9 January, 2015

ruSty roger federer SurviveS 2nd round, AdvAnceS in BriSBAne

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Agencies

OGER Federer was rusty in his seasonopening match at the Brisbane International, and it had him in a serious sweat.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner held his cool to recover from a set and a break down and beat Australian wild-card entry John Millman 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday.

The weather was reasonably mild for subtropical Brisbane, where Federer lost to Lleyton Hewitt in the final last year. It was the hot reception from the No. 153-ranked Millman that troubled him for a while.

“I’m sweating like crazy,” Federer said. “Under a lot of pressure. I think I got quite lucky in the second set.

He was playing great tennis.” It was slow start for the 33-year-old Swiss star, who had a first-round bye. He wasted four break-point chances in an opening game that lasted seven minutes before Millman held.

Federer was broken in the 10th game, saving three set points before hitting a swinging forehand

volley too long to surrender the first set to Millman, who was getting raucous support from a parochial, hometown crowd. The top-seeded Federer dropped serve to give Millman a 3-1 lead. But he broke back immediately, setting it up with classic one-handed backhand down the line, and saved three break points in the next game to keep it on serve. That’s when things started to go his way.

“First match of the season, you never know quite what to expect,” said Federer, who walked on court with 996 career match wins on the ATP tour 993 more than Millman. “Credit to him for pushing it.” Federer will face another Australian wild-card entry in the next round, after James Duckworth beat Jarkko Nieminen 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Third-seeded Milos Raonic had 17 aces and didn’t face a break point in a 6-3, 6-4 win over Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan to set up a quarterfinal match against Sam Groth of Australia, who beat Lukasz Kubot of Poland 6-4, 67 (2), 7-6 (3). The 24-year-old Canadian has worked hard to improve his serve, and believes he’s ready to make his breakthrough at the Grand Slam events.

“That’s the biggest goal I’ve set for myself,” said Raonic, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals and French Open quarterfinals last year. “I’ve been in a semifinal now, but I can do much better.” The top two players in the women’s draw had contrasting paths to the semifinals, with top-seeded Maria Sharapova beating Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-1, 6-3 and No. 2 Ana Ivanovic struggling to overcome Kaia Kanepi, losing the first five games before coming back to advance 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Sharapova next faces Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, who rallied from a set and a break down to beat third-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Ivanovic bounced back from a shaky start, getting the better of a second-set featuring seven breaks of serve and then holding on to beat Kanepi, who let herself down with 10 doublefaults. Ivanovic’s semifinal match will be against Varvara Lepchenko of the United States, who had a 7-5, 7-5 win over Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia.

At the Hopman Cup in Perth, Serena Williams and John Isner of the United States reached Saturday’s final with a 3-0 win over Czech Republic.

Williams beat Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-7 (1), 7-6 (6) and Isner defeated Adam Pavlasek 7-6 (4), 6-4 before the American pair won the mixed doubles 6-3, 6-3, with Pavlasek double-faulting on match point.

Earlier, Canada had a 2-1 win over Italy, with Eugenie Bouchard beating Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 64 and Vasek Pospisil beating Fabio Fognini 6-0, 6-3 to secure the victory before the Italian pair won the doubles. Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts after she won her quarterfinal match against Carla Suarez Navarro o … Poland can qualify for a spot in the final against the United States with a round-robin win on Friday over France.

In quarterfinals at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki beat Julia Goerges of Germany 6-4, 6-4 and third-seeded Venus Williams had a 6-2, 6-4 win over Elena Vesnina. Wozniacki’s semifinal opponent will be fourth-seeded Barbora Zhalavova Strycova of the Czech Republic, a 6-4, 7-5 winner over Coco Vandeweghe. Williams, the losing finalist in Auckland last year, will next meet unseeded Lauren Davis of the United States.

Eugenie Bouchard wins in Perth as row blows up off court ASton viLLA cAptAin ron vLAAr ruLed out for Six weekS AgencieS The Villa captain limped out of New Year’s Day’s goalless draw with Crystal Palace with a knee injury and is unlikely to return until the middle of next month.

Holland international Vlaar is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with a move from Villa Park but his injury has all but ruled out an early exit. “You would think so,” said Lambert.

“We just have to get him back fit. “He had his scope on Wednesday so maybe it’ll be four to six weeks but it’s not as bad as it could have been. “It’s the same kind of injury he had at the World Cup, he hurt it and then played in the semi final.” Jores Okore and Ciaran Clark formed a partnership in Vlaar’s absence this season when he had a calf injury and Lambert has no issues throwing them back together.

“The two of them have been outstanding.

To be fair to the lads we have the fifth best defensive record in the league and they have been a major part of that,” he said, ahead of Saturday’s Barclays Premier League trip to Leicester. “The back four and Guz (Brad Guzan) shows you the cornerstone is pretty strong.”

AgencieS The 20-year-old Bouchard, who thrashed American world number one Serena Williams in the mixed team event on Tuesday, beat Pennetta 6-3 6-4 without being broken in the match in Perth.

“Each game was kind of like a battle and I’m happy I was able to keep my serve in the second set, you know she was really putting pressure on me,” Bouchard said after defeating the world number 12. The Canadian world number six was, however, unaware that her last minute withdrawal from last September’s inaugural Hong Kong Open, which drew the ire of

the organisers, remained a hot topic on Thursday.

The Hong Kong Tennis Association publicly criticised Bouchard, who said she was tired after playing at the U.S. Open, for which they have been fined $10,000. The WTA cited a breach of code of conduct by the HKTA and said the comments had hurt Bouchard’s reputation and financial interests, according to the reports. HKTA president Herbert Chow Siu-lung called the WTA sanction as “injustice” and said the association would appeal against it.

“I see this as an act of bullying and intimidation and I ask that this (HKTA) council re-

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sponds responsibly to such injustice from the WTA,” Chow was quoted as saying in the report.

“I am disappointed the WTA has taken this small-minded action to punish a new event on the WTA calendar, which was operated so successfully. “I am baffled the WTA has ignored the efforts of the Hong Kong Tennis Open and just focused on protecting and spoiling one player.

“The conduct clause they cited was meant to protect all three stakeholders: the tournament, WTA and players. The HKTA will definitely make an appeal over this fine and will also seek an apology from the WTA.”

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Luis Suarez to kiss goodbye to Barcelona AgencieS Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are all on red alert over the possible availability of Luis Suarez, a report claims. The Uruguayan’s future in Spain is far from certain following the dismissal of director of football Andoni Zubizarreta and the resignation of his assistant Carles Puyol this week, with England’s four biggest clubs all said to be “monitoring the situation”. Although the Catalans are understood to want to hang on to the former Liverpool hitman, at least for the moment, a change of regime at the club in the summer following elections in June, could see Suarez deemed surplus to requirements after an indifferent start to the 2014-15 campaign under Luis Enrique. The 27-year-old is coming under increasing pressure to find his goalscoring form after moving from Liverpool last July for a reported €94m, having hit the back of the net just three times in 12 games, and the English quartet are keeping abreast of his situation. Even so, Suarez’s position at Barca is further complicated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling to uphold the transfer ban imposed on the club for breaking the rules regarding young players from outside Spain, meaning they would be unable to bring in a suitable replacement.

Humphreys hungry for home comforts at Gloucester

AgencieS Gloucester will slump to a 19-season domestic low at Kingsholm if they are beaten by Aviva Premiership title contenders Saracens on Friday night. Although Gloucester returned to winning ways by pipping Exeter 26-25 in last weekend’s west country derby, their current league form on home soil is miserable. And a fourth successive Kingsholm loss in the Premiership would represent their worst home league run during one season since 1995-96. Increasing the degree of difficulty, meanwhile, is third-placed Saracens’ record against Gloucester of just one defeat in the last nine meetings, stretching back to 2010. Gloucester last tasted Premiership success at Kingsholm when they toppled Leicester on October 4. Reflecting on the Exeter victory, Gloucester rugby director David Humphreys said: “That win was important for a number of reasons, but mainly because it came after two disappointments at home over the Christmas period. “Perhaps, looking back, we were a bit lucky, but there have been plenty of other games this season where we haven’t had that luck. “It was important from a morale point of view, and gets the new year off to a winning start. “With 10 games still to go, it gives us a bit of enthusiasm and encouragement going into this next phase of games. “There has been a bit of a buzz about training this week, but also a note of reality because Saracens are coming to Kingsholm and, over the course of the past few seasons, they’ve shown themselves to be one of the top teams. “Our record against the top teams hasn’t been great this season, so it’s a big opportunity.

“We’ve got to aim for a complete performance. “We have had certain elements of our game go well in certain matches this season, and we will need to be closer to that complete performance on Friday evening.” Humphreys has named an unchanged team from last Saturday, with wing Jonny May and hooker Darren Dawidiuk both making their 100th appearances for the club. Saracens, meanwhile, will be captained by flanker Kelly Brown, taking over from lock Alistair Hargreaves, who has a knock. Former Gloucester lock Jim Hamilton packs down in the second-row alongside George Kruis, with Owen Farrell and Richard Wigglesworth forging the half-back combination. “I feel as if we’re going well, without us fully firing,” Brown said. “I think we’ve done well in our last few games, but in saying that we are working very hard on what we can improve on. “I think it’s only a matter of time before we pull it all together.”

SPORTS Friday, 9 January, 2015

Balance will Be Pakistan’s Biggest concern kARACHI

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egeNdARy leg-spinner and former Test cricketer Abdul Qadir believes that the national selection committee has taken a brave decision by including two leg-spinners in the 15-man World Cup squad. In his view, the inclusion of Shahid Afridi and new comer yasir Shah could turn out to be a double-edged sword for Pakistan.

“It is a very brave decision and a gamble to include both Afridi and yasir in the 15-man squad,” said Qadir. “Leg-spinners can turn out to be match winners on their day but it will not be easy to bowl in Australia and New Zealand. If the wickets suit them, then they could turn out to be unplayable but if they don’t adjust, then they would just as quickly become the weak links. In my opinion, left-arm spinner Raza Hasan would’ve been a better choice.”

Qadir represented Pakistan from 1977-93 and played 67 Tests, in which he picked up 236 wickets, while he claimed 132 scalps in 104 OdIs. The ex-leggie said that Afridi can do well in the mega event because he has the experience on his side but yasir could struggle to adjust quickly.

Asked if he would welcome Afridi and yasir to give them some tips ahead of the mega event, Qadir replied that he had earlier helped Afridi improve his bowling but he never gave credit to him and since yasir has been praising Shane Warne, he should go and learn the art from him instead.

Meanwhile, Qadir urged the team management, experts and fans to back wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz

Ahmed even if he makes some mistakes behind the wicket. “I urge everyone to back Sarfraz because he has emerged as a game-changer for Pakistan with some special knocks and everyone must back him. I’ve seen world-class wicketkeepers make mistakes, so former cricketers and critics such as Ramiz Raja should support him,” he added. “Our batting only gains momentum once Sarfraz and Afridi come out to bat. The team management should give confidence to Umar Akmal as well by sending him at number three or four. I think he would deliver. They also need to chalk out their best XI before departing for New Zealand.”

Qadir termed co-hosts New Zealand as one of the hot favourites to win the World Cup because of how they have prepared their team; evidenced by their OdI series win against Pakistan in the absence of skipper Brendon McCullum, Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

Zulfiqar, Fawad unlucky to be left out: Latif Former skipper Rashid Latif said that the likes of Zulfiqar Babar, Fawad Alam and Bilawal Bhatti were unlucky to be left out of final team.

“Hard luck for Babar, Alam and Bhatti that they were not selected. Only 15 players could be named by the selectors but somewhere Pakistan would miss them in my opinion,” stated Latif. “Now it’s up to the players who have been selected to make up for their absence by raising their game and my prayers are with the team.”

No fast-bowling all-rounder?

Former batsman Basit Ali said that he has been surprised that selectors have not included a fastbowling all-rounder in the squad.

“I’m baffled as to why selectors didn’t include a genuine fast-bowling all-rounder. Bhatti could’ve been an important addition to the team. I hope that

our pacers don’t break down in Australia as they have just recovered from injuries, while my wishes are with the squad,” said Basit.

DHAKA COURT JAILS RUBEL HOSSAIN IN RAPE CASE SpORtS DESk Bangladesh cricketer Rubel Hossain has been sent to jail by a dhaka court in a case filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. dhaka Metropolitan magistrate Muhammad Anwar Sadat passed the order after Rubel surrendered before the court and pleaded for bail on Thursday morning.

Rubel had, on december 15, been granted four weeks of anticipatory bail in the case. This came two days after the complainant, an actress, had filed the case against Rubel with Mirpur police station on charges of making false promises of marriage.

Rubel is in Bangladesh’s 15-member World Cup squad. But with his future uncertain, he could be replaced if he fails to join the flight to Australia on January 24. BCB CeO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said that it was too early to comment on the issue, but discussions were on. “We are discussing the matter, so it is quite early to say what we are planning to do,” Chowdhury said. “But he had been handling the matter personally so far. If he fails to join the squad in time, we have a contingency plan in place.”

Aussies kick-off Asian Cup campaign on Friday MELBOURNE Agencies

Australia will launch their attempt to reach new heights in football by toppling champions Japan and winning their first ever Asian Cup trophy when they kick off the tournament on Friday.

A sell-out crowd is expected at the 30,000-capacity Melbourne Rectangular Stadium as Ange Postecoglou’s men take on Kuwait on day one of the 16-nation extravaganza. An eventual victory for Australia would put the country on top at both club and international level after Western Sydney Wanderers won the AFC Champions League in November. And it would provide a further boost for football among the Australian public, which traditionally prefers the rugby codes, Australian rules and cricket.

Australia coach said his players were itching to get started on what could be a defining campaign for football in Australia. “To be honest, the boys can’t wait for Friday night,” said Postecoglou.

“We’ve been on the road for 12 months and to walk out to a sellout crowd on Friday night, it’s going to make the boys feel a couple of feet taller. I can’t wait to get the match started.”

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot No 79, Sector 24, Korangi Industrial Area Karachi.

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sir Bradley wiggins to launch new cycling team SORtS DESk British cycling great Bradley Wiggins is to set up a new professional cycling team in his name this year as he gears up for the team pursuit at the 2016 Olympic Games. Wiggins is keen to give something back to the sport and wants to use his success to encourage a healthy cycling culture within the country. “Cycling has given me everything,” he said in a press release on Thursday. “Now I want to build something to inspire kids and to reach all those people who might be on the fringes of the sport. My message is simple: If I can do it, then so can you.”

The new team will be named “Wiggins” after the 2012 Tour de France winner and will be sponsored by the 34-yearold’s long-time supporter Sky. It will feature an array of young British talent including Andy Tennant, Owain Doull, Mark Christian, Jon Dibben, Steven Burke, Daniel Patten, Mike Thompson and Iain Paton. Details for the team’s colours, logo and team jersey will be unveiled in spring, along with the team’s schedule of track and road events including Wiggins’ live televised attempt on the prestigious “Hour Record” in the summer. “I’ve dreamt about the Hour Record since I was a boy,” said the 34year-old, four-time Olympic gold medallist. “Anyone can have a crack at it and measure themselves against the best in the world. We’ve seen cycling grow in popularity over the last few years and I want “Wiggins” to inspire a new generation of cyclists.” The move to create a new British team has been welcomed by top cycling names such as Team Sky general manager Dave Brailsford and Britain’s most decorated female Olympian Victoria Pendleton.