E-paper pakistantoday ISB 6th January, 2012

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PML-N not against formation of new provinces: Nisar

Obama vows US ‘military superiority’ despite cuts

US senators concerned for Husain Haqqani

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pakistantoday.com.pk

rs15.00 Vol ii no 190 22 pages islamabad — peshawar edition

General elections in October, decides PPP

Friday, 6 January, 2012 safar 11, 1433

SC tames Awan with another notice Bench puts off ZAB hearing over Awan’s ‘unbecoming behaviour’

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ISLAMABAD Masood RehMan

PPP core committee discusses holding elections ahead of schedule per constitutional provisions, Senate polls likely in midFebruary g Defiant govt won’t write letter to Swiss authorities for reopening of cases against Zardari g

ISLAMABAD

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Mian abRaR

O, this is the elections year. Faced with innumerable political and legal challenges, the top leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in a major political move on Thursday, opened a new debate by announcing Senate elections in mid-February besides holding general elections in October this year instead of 2013, under an interim government, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably.

This was decided at the PPP’s core committee meeting jointly chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. A source told Pakistan Today that the meeting discussed holding of the Senate and general elections ahead of schedule per the constitutional provisions and the move was endorsed by all participants.

Though the government did not make an official statement in this regard, in case of early elections, the assemblies would continued on page 04

mixed reaction to ppp decision | page 23

Irked by the “unbecoming behaviour” of former law minister Dr Babar Awan, the Supreme Court on Thursday abruptly put off the hearing of the presidential reference and issued another show-cause notice to Awan, asking him to explain why his licence to practice law at the SC should not be cancelled.

“We are the issuing authority and have the powers to cancel the licences as well,” Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked before issuing Awan the second show-cause notice in 24 hours.

“Prima facie, we are of the view that the conduct of Dr Babar Awan is unbecoming of an advocate of the SC, therefore, we issue notice to him under Rule 30 of Order IV of the Supreme Court Rules, 1980 to ex-

Taliban return 15 FC men, dead PESHAWAR: The dead bodies of 15 Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel abducted by Taliban militants on December 22 were found in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) on Thursday morning. According to details, Taliban militants attacked an FC fort continued on page 04

plain why his name should be not removed from the roll of the advocates of this court,” the court said in its order. The court was scheduled to take up for hearing the reference filed by President Asif Zardari seeking a revisit of the death sentence awarded to former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. continued on page 04

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02 News Today’s

Friday, 6 January, 2012

ISLAMABAD

neWS

brilliant students at the mercy of fde, fbise

Cash-strapped pia continues its spending spree india anti-graft activist pulls out of poll campaign

Story on Page 05

Story on Page 10

FOreIgn neWS

Quick Look

Story on Page 15

FBI confirms no charges pending against Mullah Omar WASHIngton: Since no charge is pending against Taliban leader Mullah Omar in the United States (US), he is not in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) most wanted terrorist list, the FBI said.

Speaking to an Afghan news agency, FBI spokesman Joyce Riggs said, “Mullah Omar has no charges pending against him in the United States.” Riggs said, “Individuals on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist list have been charged in the US.” nni

Afaq files ‘contempt of court’ petition in SC KARAcHI: Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQMH) chief Afaq Ahmed on Thursday filed a contempt of court petition in the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry.

The petition makes the federal interior secretary, Sindh’s chief secretary, Sindh’s additional chief secretary and IG Sindh parties to it. In his petition, Ahmed claimed an inaccurate picture was shown to the Supreme Court on Karachi’s law and order situation and the existence of no-go areas in the city. He further stated his house had been transformed into a sub-jail and those who visit were being harassed and tortured. inp

WB dissatisfied with Pakistan’s ongoing power distribution ISlAmAbAd: The World Bank (WB) has expressed its dissatisfaction over the performance of the ongoing electricity distribution and transmission project.

According to the Bank, expansion of supply network and improving reliability and efficiency of power and gas systems are central to Pakistan’s growth and development and they remain a priority, though progress has been slow, both on the reform and investment front. “On the reform side, as noted the Bank has remained engaged through non-lending technical Preparation for Gas Efficiency, Tarbela IV Hydropower, and a transmission line from Central Asia (CASA 1000) continues,” said the WB in its report. online

Chaudhrys call on president, PM

pRoteCtion afteR abdUCtion: a paramilitary soldier keeps guard outside the office of the international Committee of the Red Cross in Quetta on thursday after unidentified gunmen kidnapped a british doctor working with the iCRC. REUTERS

SC seeks record of registration of eunuchs as voters ISLAMABAD

ISlAmAbAd: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PMLQ) President Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Senior Federal Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi separately called on President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday and discussed the country’s political situation. In their meeting with Gilani, the Chaudhrys showed their commitment to continue cooperation with the federal government and strengthen democracy in the country, a press release from the PM’s House said. They also reiterated their resolve to mobilise public opinion through their respective platforms to uphold democracy in the country. Sources told Pakistan Today that the PML-Q leaders raised the issue of delay in release of development funds for PML-Q parliamentarians with the premier. “The PM assured the Chaudhrys that concerns of their party lawmakers would soon be addressed,” sources said. staff RepoRt

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HE Supreme Court on Thursday asked the authorities concerned to provide the record of issuance of computerised national identity cards to eunuchs and their enrolment in voters list.

Hearing a petition about the humiliation of eunuchs, a two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain asked the secretary of the Social Welfare Ministry to monitor the process.

The court asked all the provincial governments to take concrete steps for the welfare of eunuchs and observed that they can be involved in tax collection on the pattern adopted by India.

Appearing on notice, the Balochistan advocate general informed the court that 107 eunuchs in 11 districts had been registered. He said the government had decided to provide free health

services to the eunuchs and a summary to this effect had already been sent to the chief minister.

He said a community centre was also being constructed to provide entertainment opportunities for the eunuchs at a cost of Rs 87 million. He said Rs 30 million had already been received and the rest of the amount was in pipeline. He said the community centre’s construction would start shortly.

The court, while expressing its dissatisfaction over the report submitted by Balochistan, observed that no concrete steps had been taken towards the welfare of the neglected segment of the society.

A representative of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa informed the court that inherited property had been transferred to some eunuchs in the province. The representatives of Sindh and Punjab also informed the court about the steps being taken for the welfare of the eunuchs in their respective provinces. Dr Aslam Khaki, the petitioner and counsel for the eunuchs, all provincial

law officers and Pakistan She-male Foundation President Almas Bobby appeared before the court.

PolIcE PRomotIonS SHould bE AccoRdIng to SEnIoRIty lISt: Separately, the SC on Thursday ordered promotions in police strictly in accordance with seniority lists instead of shoulder promotions.

A three-member SC bench consisting of Justice Shakirullah Jan, Justice Jawad Khawaja and Justice Amir Muslim was hearing different petitions filed by superintendents of police (SP) and others against shoulder promotions. During the hearing, representatives of the Punjab and Balochistan governments said that in compliance with court orders, all out of turn/shoulder promotions had been abolished in police departments of their provinces. The court disposed of the case to the extent of the two provinces but observed that if anyone had an objection, he could approach the forum concerned, including the Federal Service Tribunal in the future.

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Friday, 6 January, 2012

ArtS & entertAInMent

SPOrtS

News 03

COMMent

'topless' hilton boasts of making 1.3 billion dollars! india’s ‘faithful husbands’ nothing beyond home equal before the law:

Today’s

Why should only politicians declare their assets?

Myopia: Of misquided policies regarding the Taliban.

ejaz haider says: The illness of our souls: It is unfortunate that we celebrate Qadri.

Qudssia akhlaque says: Taliban back in the fray: From killing to talking

Quick Look

dr James Zogby says: GOP playing with fire: They could get burnt by extremism.

Story on Page 17

Story on Page 18

Articles on Page 12-13

To violaTe or noT To violaTe?

Reminded of handcuffs, cabinet rejects Chinese locomotives deal for now railways Ministry recommends PM condone deal violating PPrA rules g PML-Q minister Sheikh Waqas opposes, says supporters will get jail time g PM sets up 3-member committee to investigate deal

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ISLAMABAD

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iRfan bUKhaRi

HE efforts of Railways Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour to approve a violation from Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules to purchase of 75 locomotives from China became a fiasco when PML-Q Minister of State for Human Resource Development Sheikh Waqas Akram resisted the move in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, saying condoning the violation of PPRA rules would invite ‘handcuffs’ for those approving it.

A reliable cabinet source told Pakistan Today that Railways Ministry highups, Planning Commission of Pakistan and Law Division had recommended that the Prime Minister (PM) Yousaf Raza Gilani condone a violation from PPRA rules to procure 75 locomotives from China to allow the Railways Ministry to implement the deal to reduce the Pakistan Railways (PR) locomotives shortage. tHE fEAR of HAndcuffS: The source said the PM constituted a three member ministerial committee compris-

‘gen (r) Jones has no plan to record memo statement’ ISlAmAbAd: US Ambassador Cameron Munter on Thursday said former US national security adviser General (r) James Jones had no intention to visit Pakistan for recording his statement in the “memogate” case. The US ambassador said this while talking to reporters after inaugurating a four-day international conference on “Archaeology and Cultural heritage in Pakistan and Adjacent Regions”. The conference has been organised by American Institute of Pakistan Studies in collaboration with the US embassy and the Ministry of National Heritage and Integration. In his comments on the strained US-Pakistan relationship, Munter said 2011 was a bad year for relations between Islamabad and Washington, but the new year would bring improvement in ties. He said, “I hope it will be very positive in 2012 and time will tell how it works.” Munter said the US had faith in the assessment being done by the Pakistani parliament on issues related to the downfall of Pakistan-United States ties.

He said it would be respected and the US government would keep in view Pakistani government’s opinion while dealing with all those issues. He said, “My understanding is that the parliamentarians here are coming to the end of this assessment and it will begin a period where American and Pakistani leaders will be in touch with each other.” staff RepoRt

ing Rehman Malik, Sheikh Waqas Akram and Mir Hazar Khan Bijrani to probe the violation of PPRA rules and identify the officials responsible despite Bilour’s protests the move.

The source said that during the cabinet meeting, Sheikh Waqas Akram sought an opportunity to speak on the matter but the PM hesitated. At this point, Waqas said, “Hathkarian” (handcuffs) aloud upon which the PM allowed him to speak. Waqas said that the violation of PPRA rules, being a serious offence, could not be condoned. The source said Waqas reminded the cabinet that a violation of that PPRA rules during the Pakistan Steel Mills privatisation during previous regime meant the Supreme Court (SC) nullified the deal and a standoff between the judiciary and executive ensued. nEgotIAtEd In PREvIouS REgImE: The source said Sheikh Waqas criticised Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Nadeem-ul-Haq and Law Ministry officials for recommending that the illegal act be condoned. The source said Sheikh Waqas told the cabinet that the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways had already rec-

ommended against the procurement deal due to the violation of PPRA rules.

“Upon this, the PM asked Waqas how to solve the problem. Waqas responded that once the officials who had the deviation could be condoned only after fixing responsibility and identifying and penalising officials who had negotiated the deal. The PM responded that the negotiations for the deal took place under the previous regime. To this, Sheikh Waqas told the PM that this was another reason for the current government to reject attempts to condone the deviation,” the source said. no PREcEdEnt on tHE mAttER: The source said Railways Minister Bilour got angry at Waqas opposition to Bilour’s ministry’s proposal.

“At one stage, Waqas told Bilour to only address the chair,” the source said. The source said that when the PM asked secretary establishment Khushnood Lashari to offer his opinion on the matter, Lashari said no precedent existed of the federal cabinet condoning a deviation of PPRA rules. Subsequently, the PM a three member committee comprising to probe the deal and identify the officials who violated the rules despite

Bilour’s protests. The source said interior minister Rehman Malik offered that the FIA probe the matter.

Earlier, on January 3 (Tuesday), the cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) the cabinet had discussed the request by the Railways Ministry to condone the deviation of PPRA rules to purchase 75 Chinese locomotives. The ECC had sent the matter to the cabinet.

In November 2011, PR chairman Javed Ahmed had conceded to the the SC that rules and regulations were violated in the deal. Similarly, former Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid had told the SC rules and regulations were relaxed on the intervention of a top personality to conclude the deal.

PR has paid $10 million as down payment to procure the controversial 75 Chinese locomotives. Later, in April 2009, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways had directed the Railways Ministry to hold the deal to procure Chinese locomotives, costing Rs 12.7 billion, till the PPRA, Planning Commission of Pakistan (PCOP) and Ministry of Law and Justice cleared the violations committed in the procurement process.

Tank residents fearful as ex-peace committee head beheaded TANK inp

The beheaded body of a former peace committee commander was found in Warki village close to the Tank city on Thursday. Sources said commander Umer Gul’s beheaded body was found in Warki village and a letter was also found along with his body.

The letter threatened locals to abstain from offer-

ing funeral prayers of the deceased which sparked panic among Tank locals and its surrounding areas, where terror incidents had witnessed a break.

The deceased’s brother said three unknown persons identifying themselves as security agency personnel knocked their door and took Umer Gul along on the pretext of investigation.

He said the next morning they discovered the beheaded body of Umer Gul in Warki village along with

US senators concerned for Husain Haqqani

WASHINGTON afp

Three leading US senators on Thursday voiced concern over Pakistan’s treatment of its former envoy to Washington accused of crafting a controversial memo which has triggered a scandal.

Husain Haqqani resigned over the affair and a Pakistani commission is probing the unsigned memo said to have sought Washington’s help to

head off a feared military coup in May in exchange for overhauling the country’s powerful security leadership. The statement from Republican senators John McCain and Mark Kirk as well as independent Senator Joe Lieberman voiced concern that Haqqani may be “becoming a political tool for revenge”, and urged Pakistan to resolve the issue swiftly.

“We are increasingly troubled by ambassador Haqqani’s treatment since he returned home to Pakistan, including the travel ban imposed on him,” the statement said, adding he had served “honourably” as ambassador to the US. “Like many in Washington, we are closely following ambassador Haqqani’s case. We urge Pakistani authorities to resolve this matter swiftly and consistent with civilian rule of law,” the senators urged. Islamabad should “prevent the judicial commission investigating ambassador Haqqani from becoming a political tool for revenge against an honourable man,” they added.

the threatening letter. Recently, five to six members, including commanders, of the former peace committee formed to combat the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) both in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan, have been killed recently. TTP militants blame former peace committee members for the killing of TTP members and spying for security agencies, however, no organisation has claimed the assassinations, with police clueless on who is killing peace committee members.

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04 News Rumpus, walkouts hallmark of NA debate on new provinces

Friday, 6 January, 2012

Thar coal project to get funds g

Dr Samar says clean, blue-flame coal gas can enter national system with timely funding ISLAMABAD

continued From page 24 will come to an end when the last item on agenda is discussed,” he asserted.

Due to the rumpus in the House, the deputy speaker suspended the session for 20 minutes and asked the treasury parties to evolve unanimity of views over the debate.

Later, the deputy speaker gave his ruling in favour of the debate and it started, resulting into a walkout by the ANP chief and his party legislators.

Zafar Ali Shah also walked out against the debate.

Opening the debate, parliamentary leader of MQM Dr Farooq Sattar congratulated the people of Southern Punjab and Hazara on initiation of debate in the Lower House for creation of new provinces and said the MQM’s resolution was being supported by the prime minister and the president.

“The people of both Southern Punjab and Hazara division are suffering from sense of deprivation as their due rights and ownership of their resources has not being given. We want to create new provinces to prevent another making of the Bangladesh, the eastern part of the country before 1971. Balochistan-like situation in ignored and underdeveloped areas is developing and it could result in making those areas another East Pakistan,” he added.

He said creation of new provinces as Saraki, Hazara, Malakand and FATA would guarantee a strong

Pakistan. He said a survey had revealed that people in 21 districts of Punjab wanted new provinces within Punjab while the people of two districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, DI Khan and Tank also wanted to go with Saraiki province.

He said the MQM would also table 20th constitutional amendment to pave the way for creation of new provinces and hoped that the parliamentarians of other parties would also support the resolution.

PML-Q leader Amir Muqam said the resolution on new provinces was first presented by his party but it was not taken up for debate on the pretext that it was a provincial issue.

Muqam said it was his party that gave the resolution regarding the formation of new provinces first of all, adding, “The way my party disappeared, our resolution disappeared, too.”

Laiq Ahmed Khan of the JUI-F urged the prime minister to announce his support for Hazara province.

During his speech, Capt Safdar taunted him for reading from notes which infuriated Laiq which resulted in a dispute between the two.

Sardar Shahjahan Yusuf of the PML-Q said creation of new provinces was an appropriate decision at a right time. He thanked the MQM legislators for bringing the resolution to parliament.

Meanwhile, Kundi also took strong notice of the absence of ministers and parliamentary secretaries from proceedings of the House.

staff RepoRt

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EADING nuclear physicist Dr Samar Mubarakmand on Thursday briefed Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on producing coal gas to generate 100 megawatts of electricity by 2013 using underground coal gasification (UCG) at Thar. Mubarakmand told the prime minister that the coal gasification project achieved a significant breakthrough in December 2011 by successfully produc-

ing coal gas from ignited coal 600 feet below ground.

“This blue pollution-free flame of the gas burns in a flare and illuminates the dark night skies of Thar,” Mubarakmand said.

The total cost of the UCG project stands at Rs 9.9 billion. Dr Mubarikmand requested the prime minister to arrange immediate funds of Rs 2.4 billion for this year, and the remaining amount during the next financial year to start power generation before the end of 2013. The prime minister directed the

ministers of Finance, Petroleum and Natural Resources to urgently have a meeting and arrange the financial resources required for the project without delay.

The nuclear scientist also discussed the ongoing gas shortage in the country. He said the fertiliser factories and the industrial sector consumed 43 percent of the total gas in the country.

He said that he would soon make a presentation on coal gas to meet the industrial needs before the ministries of Finance and

Petroleum. The Prime Minister may also like to attend the meeting, Dr Samar said.

He said the project was expected to cost $250 million approximately and the gas from the project, when approved, will begin to flow into the national system as early as 2014.

However, he added that if the process of approval and financing was handled on a fast-track basis, and the project commences within the next three months, the outflow of gas could start even at the end of 2012 or early 2013.

taliban return 15 FC men, dead continued From page 1 at Mulazai, Tank on December 22, and took 15 FC men hostage after killing two soldiers. Reportedly, the Taliban had shifted the hostages to North Waziristan. Taliban spokesman Ihsanullah Ehsan claimed the responsibility for killing the FC troopers to “avenge” the deaths of Qari Kamran and his 11 accomplices in a military action in Kamarna, Khyber Agency on January 1. He also demanded the release of Kamran’s family members, including three women and two children, detained by security forces after the military operation, while warning of “dire consequences” in case of non-compliance.

SC tames Awan with another notice continued From page 1 When the 11-judge bench headed by the CJP began the proceedings and Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, one of the amicus curiae, proceeded to resume his arguments, the chief justice called Babar Awan to the rostrum. He asked Awan to respond to the first show-cause notice served on him for passing derogatory remarks against the judiciary at a press conference with four other PPP leaders after the court ordered formation of a judicial commission to probe into the memo controversy.

The chief justice drew Awan’s attention towards a news item according to which he had stated that the notice had been served on him because he was the federation’s counsel in the presidential reference and the purpose was to render his arguments ineffective. Instead of giving a clear reply, Awan asked the CJP to see other papers as well, saying,

“I have been called a barber.”

He said the court should also take notice of such comments against a senior lawyer, adding that his words uttered on television in fact reflected respect.

“OK, we can watch the footage aired by various TV channels and then proceed further,” the chief justice said.

The proceedings were adjourned for 10 minutes to make arrangements to play the video footage and finally the footage was played in the courtroom showing Awan saying that in the past also, criminal cases were registered against him when he was conducting cases of Benazir Bhutto and Zardari.

He also recited a couplet in Punjabi meaning that “nothing happened despite issuance of a notice. Why make a complaint to the darling and why not to welcome it”. Other members of Awan’s legal team were shown derisively laughing at the prank.

The court asked senior

lawyers, including Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Yasin Azad and Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Vice Chairman Latif Afridi whether the words and gesture amounted to bringing the court to ridicule. Both condemned the remarks and said they could not approve such a conduct from a senior lawyer like Awan, but asked the court to exercise restraint in order to avoid confrontation between institutions.

The chief justice said there was no confrontation between the organs of the state and all institutions, including the judiciary, legislature and the executive, favoured rule of law and constitution. Aitzaz Ahsan said the court was seized with a very important presidential reference that must not be detracted intentionally or unintentionally due to this matter.

He said the entire nation was awaiting outcome of the reference and requested the court not to press the matter.

The chief justice agreed

that it was a historic and important reference, saying, “We are bound to hear it as our duty. We are not obliging anybody by hearing it.”

He said the court would continue hearing the reference and would hear all lawyers, but said the matter of contempt could not be ignored, as it involved the court’s dignity.

The three senior lawyers asked the court to give them 30 minutes to find out an amicable solution, but Justice Jawwad S Khawaja took a firm stand by saying that it was not a matter of some individual but a question of the respect of an institution being served by him for the last thirty years.

He said he would not support the idea even if all other members of the bench agreed to show leniency.

The CJP then asked Awan the date of his enrolment as a SC lawyer and ordered the registrar to put up Awan’s file before the bench when Awan said he did not remember the

exact date. “We do not issue licences to lawyers who behave like this,” the chief justice said.

After the file was made available to the bench, it was found that Awan was enrolled as an advocate of the SC on May 29, 2000 and was conferred upon the status of senior advocate on May 29, 2008.

Passing a short order, the court issued a show-cause notice to Awan, asking him to file a written reply by January 9, explaining why his name should not be struck off the roll of advocates of the SC. The court order said the content of the utterance, the gestures made and the body language were indicative of an attempt to ridicule the court.

It said interaction between the bench and bar depended upon mutual respect. “Irrespective of the fact which bench issued the notice, the fact remains that it was a part of the judiciary,” the court said. The hearing was later put off until January 9.

General elections in October continued From page 1 not complete their constitutional tenure.

The only time the assemblies completed their tenure (2002-2007) was under former president General Pervez Musharraf.

As the government was being criticised for its failure to handle all issues and a trail of alleged corruption hounding it, the political parties, particularly the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), had suggested early elections. While the PML-N demanded the government immediately step down, the PPP’s move to hold early elections is a political strategy to engage other forces and buy more time for it to stay in government.

Per the schedule, 50 percent of the senators would retire on March 12 and their successors would take oath on March 13.

However, the PPP core committee meeting was told that under the constitutional provisions, the Senate elections could be held early. “So the committee decided to hold Senate polls ahead and now the same would be held in mid-February,” said the source.

The source said the committee also favoured holding of general elections ahead of schedule. However, the source said the meeting agreed that it was the right of the PPP to present a poor-friendly budget in the month of June. “It was proposed that the general elections should be held on October 16,” the source said, adding that the prime minister told the meeting that the coalition partners had also suggested holding early elections under a caretaker setup and the Salim Saifullah-formula may be adopted in this regard.

Under the Salim Saifullah-formula, the prime minister would be asked to propose three names to the leader of the opposition for the slot of caretaker prime minister. The source said some hardline PPP leaders opposed the idea of caretaker setup and as-

serted that PPP-led government should hold general polls. However, the president supported Gilani’s idea of caretaker government.

The PPP would hold negotiations with all political parties on caretaker set up and it may formally announce general elections in April this year. “After presenting budget 2012, the caretakers might be handed over the affairs of the government,” added the source. When contacted, Khurshid Shah told Pakistan Today that the PPP was ready for general elections and the electoral lists were also ready. The PPP is also in a defiance mood as it’s not ready to give in. With its top leaders publicly criticising, what they call the Supreme Court’s biased and selective slant towards their party and leadership, the ruling party is all set for a confrontation with the judiciary as it keeps mocking the apex court decisions inside and outside parliament.

In a clear show of defiance towards the apex court’s verdict on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and the show cause notices served on the party men for “ridiculing” the judiciary, the core committee of the PPP on Thursday endorsed the government’s decision to not write a letter to the Swiss authorities for reopening of the cases against the president, who, the legal wizards believed, enjoyed immunity under the constitution. The Supreme Court had set January 10 as last date for the implementation of its verdict on the NRO with a warning that this time action would be taken in case of non-compliance.

The meeting also gave a go-ahead to the party’s decision to adopt legal measures for creation of Saraiki province while the matter of Hazara province was deferred until an agreement with the Awami National Party (ANP) leadership.

A source told Pakistan Today that the meeting noted that the federation had al-

ready implemented the NRO verdict and since the president enjoyed immunity under the constitution, the government should not write any letter to the Swiss authorities.

“The party leaders viewed that there is no need for anyone to interpret the Article 248 of the constitution as the clause was clear and self-explanatory. Moreover, the committee members also decided in principle that the federation’s response in the memo case should be taken as of the president’s reply and there was no need for the president to respond to the memo commission,” added the source.

The source said during deliberation on the contempt notices issued to party leaders by the apex court, the core committee decided that freedom of expression was basic human right of every citizen. “The members resolved that since the court verdicts are always a public property and everyone has a right to criticise them,” the source said and added that the PPP leaders and workers had rendered unparalleled sacrifices for independence of judiciary, selective justice towards the PPP-led coalition government had no logic.

The meeting also decided to take all necessary legal steps for the creation of Saraiki province to remove the sense of deprivation among the people of southern Punjab. However, the committee viewed that the matter of Hazara province should be deferred until the party leadership and other coalition partners do not convince the ANP leadership which is a major stakeholder in the process.

Meanwhile, an official handout stated that the meeting decided to hold by-elections to all vacant seats in the assemblies and complete all legal formalities for this purpose at the earliest.

President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said political and economic situation was discussed during the meeting. The meet-

ing hailed the cabinet decision on Wednesday to support a private member’s bill that seeks to make it mandatory for all the public servants drawing their salary from the public exchequer to declare and make public details of their assets in the same manner as parliamentarians do. The meeting noted that in the past such initiatives were thwarted on flimsy grounds and decided to push through the proposed legislation with vigour and political determination.

Babar said the meeting rejected the proposal mooted by some political circles for the setting up of military courts as undemocratic, uncalled for and undermining the civil and democratic institutions. “The party will resist any such move,” he said, adding that the meeting welcomed the prime minister’s announcement to lift ban on government jobs. Noting that the announcement was awaiting formalization, the meeting called upon the government to urgently issue appropriate notification to this effect so that the doors for recruitment in government departments were opened.

The prime minister briefed the meeting on gas, electricity, sugar and fertilizer situation in the country. Discussing the issue of gas, the prime minister said the government was giving top priority to domestic consumers and there will be no interruption to the domestic consumers. He said gas supplies to industry, cement, fertilizer and thermal power sectors would remain suspended during the current month due to expected increase in demand and consumption by the domestic sector.

The prime minister said cabinet committee had been directed to introduce reforms in the energy sector as early as possible and to take necessary steps in order to reduce system losses by gas companies.

Babar said a committee led by Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain has been tasked to hold talks with stakeholders in

Sindh to share some of the gas produced in Sindh with Punjab and submit its report.

The meeting appreciated these measures and called for implementing the decisions and daily monitoring by the Energy Committee.

Briefing about the economic state of affairs, the prime minister said the government’s efforts to broaden tax base had registered a significant success. He said the austerity measures adopted by the government had also yielded positive results. The measures to curtail budgetary expenditures had also met successes. He said that inflation had come down during the first six months of the current fiscal year as was witnessed by the downward trend in the Consumer Price Index and sensitive price index.

The meeting decided to mobilise people and to hold rallies and public meetings at the divisional levels throughout the country which would be addressed by the senior leadership of the party including the prime minister.

It also asked PPP KPK chapter President Senator Sardar Ali to also prepare for a public rally in the Tribal Areas, the first of its kind by the PPP after the Political Parties Order was extended to the Tribal Areas by President Asif Ali Zardari in August 2011.

Babar said the meeting decided to hold dialogue with all political parties and leaders for strengthening democracy in the country and to take the country out of myriad of problems.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik also briefed the meeting on prevailing law and order.

Babar said as a part of consultative process to take coalition partners on board on the issue of new provinces, the president, soon after this meeting, would hold a meeting with ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan.

The current political situation and coalition matters were discussed during the meeting.

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Friday, 6 January, 2012

Young artists present ‘three Vanishing points’ at Rohtas Gallery PAge 07

Couple kills 11-year-old servant ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

A couple on Thursday allegedly killed their 11-year-old servant here in Sector G/13 in the limits of Golra police station. The house owner, Mudassir Abbas who works in NESOM phoned the police that his servant had committed suicide and his body was lying in his room. A police team reached the scene and found Zeeshan Ali’s body hanging with the curtain of a window under mysterious circumstances.

Police said it was a planned murder as there were clear marks around the boy’s neck and it seemed he was tortured.

“It’s a planned murder and we are probing it,” said Sub Inspector Chaudhry Aslam who is investigating the case. The police said Zeeshan had been working at Mudassir’s house for the last two years.

Later, the father of the deceased, Gulam Shabbir, lodged a murder case against Mudassir and his wife. Both the alleged killers have been arrested and further investigation is in progress. The body was handed over to the family after autopsy.

islaMabad: federal information Minister dr firdous awan inaugurates a new website of Radio pakistan. INP

Dry spell increases number of patients suffering from allergies ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

T

HOUGH the sky had been overcast since the last two days, the weather remained dry, increasing the number of people suffering from seasonal diseases like dust allergy, chest and throat infections and cough. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasted the weather as being partly cloudy with light showers for the next 24 hours. The dry spell continued and the paramedical staff of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Polyclinic continued their strike, adding to the miseries of patients suffering from seasonal ailments.

Since there has been no rainfall recorded since the beginning of the winter season, hospitals have seen a surge in the number of patients suffering from seasonal diseases, with children as the most affected.

Health experts said dry winters in Pak-

istan affect people allergic to dust. The combination of dry weather and the construction activities in the city added to their difficulties. Talking to Pakistan Today, PIMS spokesman Dr Zulfiqar Ghaori said it was natural for people to suffer from itchy eyes, nose allergies and chest infections during prolonged dry spells. Cases of children suffering from asthma have also increased. Ghaori said people should increase their intake of fluids and ensure cleanliness to prevent diseases.

He added that parents should make their children wear warm clothes but not overheat them. Dr Fareed Khan Zimri, a physician, said most of the patients came from the slum areas as they could not keep their homes warm because of the gas load-shedding. Talking about the weather forecast for the next 48 hours, a PMD official said more rain with snowfall was expected over the hilly areas of upper Punjab, Gigit-Baltistan and Kashmir while cold and dry weather is expected elsewhere in the country.

Cold weather sickening islooides RAWAlPIndI: Due to the prevailing dry weather conditions and increasing chill, the number of flu-related diseases, including cough and soar throat, are increasing in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. A large number of people, particularly children were seen in a large number at government as well as private hospitals with complaints of cough, flu, throat problem, pneumonia and diarrhea.

The doctors have advised the people, especially children, to wear warm clothes to save themselves from flu-related diseases. They have also advised the parents not to overheat the children and make them wear just sweaters and other warm cloths as sometimes overheating is not good. The doctors have asked the people not to use gas heaters when they are out of the rooms. According to them, a small bowl filled with water should be kept in front of a gas heater otherwise it will be detrimental for health. The complications of flu-related diseases were witnessed in a large number in the slum areas of the twin cities as the inhabitants complained that they could not keep their children warm because of gas load shedding. Misal Khan, a resident, said all his family members were suffering from throat infection and influenza because of the prevailing long dry spell and chill. A large number of people are also facing problems of dust allergy, especially those living alongside busy roads and crowded markets of the twin cities. Little rains in this winter have increased the risk of dust allergy among the people, particularly children. Moreover, the construction work in the capital as well as construction of flyovers and roads in Rawalpindi are the main cause of dust allergy. aRshad ali

Doctors’ strike continues ISlAmAbAd: Hundreds of medical staff of Polyclinic and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Thursday staged a protest demonstration in front of Polyclinic Hospital against new service structure of doctors. The protest was called by the joint action committee of regular employees of federal government hospitals against the government’s plan to provide legal cover to the Career Structure for Health Personnel (CSHP) Ordinance 2011. The act allows doctors and paramedical staff under the federal government domain to replace their current basic pay scale system (BPS-1 to 22) with the special health personnel pay scale (HPS-1 to 13). The doctors from PIMS, Polyclinic and Handicap Hospital also gathered in front of Polyclinic Hospital to stage a protest. On the occasion, the action committee member, Malik Ehsan, said: “We want implementation of timeframe promotional channel as approved for paramedics. Moreover, we should be given health allowance and non-practicing allowance.” Ehsan termed the implementation of CSHP a conspiracy hatched to deprive the country’s health professionals of the protective umbrella of civil servants’ rights.” He alleged that all doctors, consultants, nurses and paramedics had unanimously agreed on these demands until Dr Aurakzai hijacked the process by convincing them in favour of CSHP. staff RepoRt

Who is The viCTim?

Brilliant students at the mercy of FDE, FBISE g

Winners of last year’s scholarship still awaiting disbursement ISLAMABAD Kashif abbasi

The controversy between Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) and Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) is set to hamper future prospects of brilliant students, as outstanding students, who passed exams last year, have not received scholarships so far, it has been learnt.

Two hundred students, who passed scholarship exams of 8th class, are still waiting for the money, as neither the FBISE nor the FDE is ready to take the responsibility.

Previously, the FDE has always been the sole authority to conduct scholarship examination of 8th class; however, the FBISE conducted the scholarship exami-

nation last year for students of the FDErun schools.

After conducting scholarship exams, the FBISE asked FDE to pay scholarship money to 200 successful students; however, the FDE did not comply.

Talking to Pakistan Today, FDE Director General Atif Kayani on Wednesday said since scholarship exams were conducted by FBISE, so it was its responsibility to disburse the amount.

On the other hand, FBISE Chairperson Shaheen Khan said being an authority to conduct exams, the FBISE was not mandated to pay the scholarships.

“I realise students’ suffering, but I can’t do any thing as the FDE is given funds for scholarships,” said Shaheen.

In 2010, when FBISE chairperson was enjoying the additional charge of DG

FDE, she put the scholarship examination under FBISE domain.

FDE Director General Atif Kayani said the FBISE had no authority to conduct scholarships exams.

“According to the FBISE Act 1975 (as passed by the Parliament), the FBISE cannot not conduct examinations for 8th class. It can only hold matriculation and intermediate exams,” said Kayani.

He said the FBISE would have to go the Parliament for any amendments if it wanted to indulge in the exercise.

But the FBISE Chairperson says the FBISE is authorised to do so.

The FDE and FBISE have completed their preparation for conducting scholarship exam for year 2012.

“We are all set to conduct exams and have forwarded the request to Profes-

sional and Technical Education Ministry for holding scholarship exams for year 2012,” said the FBISE chairperson.

On the other hand, the FDE chief says they will hold conduct exams at every cost, adding that they have moved a summary to the Capital Administration and Development Division (CAAD) secretary to give the mandate back to the FDE. “All the government schools in the city come under the domain of FDE and it is our mandate to hold scholarship examination,” Kayani added. The FDE has already issued, according to which, the exams for scholarship for 8th class started from February 16. The schedule is available on the FDE website.

The issue has always remained a burning issue; however, it was only in last year that the FBISE held the exams for

the first time. That was done only after an announcement made by the then education minister Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali. A notification in that regard was issued by the Federal Ministry of Education on December 22, 2010, in which it was stated: “The examination of class eighth for scholarships only shall henceforth be conducted by the FBISE.” There are usually around 2,500 to 3,000 students take appear in the exams every year.

Before its devolution to provinces under 18th Amendment, the Education Ministry was running the affairs of both the FBISE and the FDE. For now, the FBISE is being managed by the Ministry for Professional and Technical Training while the CAAD is looking after the FDE affairs.

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06 Islamabad

Friday, 6 January, 2012

experts seek to find out links between health and poverty ISLAMABAD app

islaMabad: pM's advisor on law and justice farooq awan cutting cake on the occasion of 84th birthday of Zulfikar ali bhutto at party secretariat. STAFF PhOTO

‘IPO to promote innovation and creativity at nUSt’ ISLAMABAD

Protesters demand creation of Seraiki, Hazara provinces

staff RepoRt

A network of all Research and Development departments and Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (ORIC) of universities would be developed to encourage innovations in the country, Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) Director General Sajjad Ahmad Bhutta said on Thursday.

The IPO DG was talking to the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) officials. He said that Intellectual Property (IP) training modules would also be introduced in various organisations to make the trainees aware of the importance of Intellectual Property Rights.

He stressed the need for collaborations to transfer the IP knowledge to all offices in Pakistan and to enable them to apply patents in a professional way. He said that the role of IPO in technical capacity building and management of innovation by the universities was very important.

The meeting discussed the formal collaboration of IPO-Pakistan with educational institutions in the country, which would help the young researchers and innovators to register their creations without any delay, besides gaining advance knowledge and research-based guidance from the experts in the relevant field.

NUST School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS) DG Dr Arshad Ali stressed the need for international cooperation and protection of innovation, adding that NUST had given due importance to these subjects. The role of Higher Education Commission for promotion of R&D and ORIC was also appreciated on the occasion.

Experts at a seminar called for a comprehensive study to find out the linkages between health and poverty and the factors that negatively influenced health sector outcomes. The seminar titled ‘Poverty and the Social Impact of the Expanded Programme for Immunisation in Pakistan’ was organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). “Immunisation is the most cost effective health intervention against preventable diseases affecting the poor sections of society,” said the experts.

They stressed on researchers to identify gaps with empirical evidences and recommendations for policy-makers to improve the health situation in the country. They also talked about the very low percentage of birth registration and vaccination card recall in Pakistan and said the polio campaign must be initiated from households.

They also demanded that vaccination cards be made mandatory for admissions in schools at the kindergarten level and proposed to link polio campaign with incentives for people.

SDPI Research Fellow Dr Vaqar Ahmed said the stakeholders’ consultation was aimed to carry out institutional analysis, gauge expectation of stakeholders from the poverty and social perspectives and identify issues to discuss with the provincial administrations of the Extended Programme on Immunisation (EPI).

Poverty Reduction Strategy Monitoring Joint Secretary and National Project Manager Sajjad Shaikh gave a detailed account of the various social impact analyses carried out in Pakistan.

He said Pakistan prepared its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) in 2001 and was the first country in 2003 to be accepted for IMF’s ‘Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF)’.

Pakistan Institute of Development Economics’ Dr Sofia Ahmed highlighted the current crisis in immunisation and shared the methodology of the proposed study to analyse the impact of the immunisation programme in Pakistan.

She identified several gaps in the already limited literature available, such as the lack of empirical analysis, regional differences in the impact of EPI, impact of floods/terrorism, political and cultural factors. During the discussion, the participants deliberated on the relevance, objectives, ground realities, cost effectiveness and sustainability of any baseline study on the subject.

ex-secy information passes away ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

D

OZENS of people from Southern Punjab and the Hazara Division staged two separate protests on Thursday in front of the Parliament House to demand the creation of new provinces.

They welcomed the parliamentary resolution for the creation of new provinces.

Speaking on the occasion, Junaid Khosa said, “The idea of a referendum as suggested by some quarters is unaccept-

able. “The demand of the Siraiki districts of Punjab and Kyber Paktunkhwa for the formation of the Siriaki province is unanimous and the people will resist delaying tactics, like referendums, that complicate constitutional procedures.”

The participants of the protest also unanimously adopted a resolution saying: “We remind the Prime Minister that he propagated the Siraiki cause for four years and promised the province would be made. The promise must be fulfilled.”

It also stated that a task-committee on the Siraiki province be formed in the parliament to meet the Siraiki intellectu-

als and political activists and come with a solution for issues like the number of districts to be included in the Siraiki province.

The demonstration was called by the Siraiki students’ bodies of the Quaid-eAzam University, the Arid Agriculture University, the Federal Urdu University, and the International Islamic University.

The protesters from Hazara thanked the MQM for presenting a resolution in the national assembly for the creation of a new province. The protesters demanded that the government create the Hazara province without any delay.

ISLAMABAD app

Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Akram Shaheedi and former information secretaries Khawaja Ijaz Sarwar and Syed Anwar Mehmood have expressed their deep sorrow over the sad demise of former federal information secretary Haji Muhammad Akram.

Haji Akram died in Lahore on Wednesday after a protracted illness. They prayed to Allah Almighty to shower his blessings on the departed soul and for courage for the family to bear the loss.

Overuse of knee joints linked to arthritis ISLAMABAD app

islaMabad: prime Minister’s task force Chairman faisal sakhi butt and Cda Chairman farkhand iqbal pray after inaugurating a development project. ONLINE

Cyclists and people who spend long periods of time in a squatting position may be at risk of developing arthritis in their knees.

Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, occurs when the cartilage of the joints breaks down and usually begins after a person reaches middle age. It commonly affects the knees and can be disabling, Health News reported.

To determine whether occupational or leisure-time activities could influ-

ence the risk of a person developing the condition, researchers compared 480 people with osteoarthritis of the knee and 490 arthritis-free people in Iran.

Data regarding their occupations, sports and daily activities was collected.

It was found that people who spent more than 30 minutes daily in a squatting position were at a 1.5 times higher risk of developing knee osteoarthritis, while people who cycled for more than 30 minutes daily were twice as likely to have osteoarthritis in their knees.

People with jobs that required them to bend their knees for more than half

an hour daily were about twice as likely to develop knee osteoarthritis.

Housewives were also more likely than women who worked outside the home to develop knee osteoarthritis.

There was no link between playing sports, working in a non-sedentary occupation and knee osteoarthritis.

The findings support the hypothesis that overuse of a joint can influence arthritis risk.

The researchers concluded that education on preventable risk factors should be considered in order to ensure that people their used knee joints appropriately and avoided overuse.

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Friday, 6 January, 2012

Islamabad 07

Munter visits holy Family hospital

ZAB’s charismatic personality to be remembered in history: nD Khan

RAWALPINDI staff RepoRt

ISLAMABAD app

Senior PPP leader Prof N D Khan, paying tribute to the founder of Pakistan People’s Party, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, has said he will be remembered in the history as a revolutionary and visionary leader.

In an interview to PTV on Thursday, he said, “Bhutto is not a person but a personality whose legacy is giving lead to others by shifting it generation to generation as his inspiration is unending and everlasting.” He said Bhuttoism is a mission, it is a fight for human rights and a voice for the poor and helpless.

Replying to a question, he said Bhutto’s charismatic personality had created the culture of consensus. His thoughts, his speeches and his writings are the gifts to the nation.

He said Bhutto sacrificed his life for the poor segments of the nation and he used fragmentation to achieve peace for the people, adding his sincerity to the common man was like “Mahi-e-be aab hoon baghair awam ke” (I can’t survive without the masses), as he united the masses with his popular slogans ‘roti, kapra our makan’ throughout his life .

US Ambassador Cameron Munter on Thursday highlighted US-Pakistan cooperation in science, technology and health sectors during his visit to Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi.

The ambassador and his wife Marilyn Wyatt met the faculty and students of Rawalpindi Medical College at Holy Family Hospital’s telemedicine facility which, working together with US hospitals, has trained more than 100 doctors nationwide, and treated more than 2,000 patients remotely by using cutting-edge technology.

US-Pakistan Science and Technology Cooperation focuses on many elements, including innovations in Pakistan’s public health sector. During a tour to the hospital with Holy Family Hospital’s Telemedicine E-Health Training Centre Project Director Dr Asif Zafar, Ambassador Munter said, “Holy Family’s partnership with American hospitals is an example of the true spirit of our people who work together across the oceans to improve access to healthcare in remote areas of Pakistan and treat the sick.”

He added, “We commend Dr Asif Zafar and the Holy Family team for their efforts to strengthen the health sector in Pakistan and look forward to more shared successes that bring Pakistanis and

Rawalpindi: Us ambassador Cameron Munter and his wife visit holy family hospital.

Americans closer together.”

Since 2003, the United States has provided over $16 million to Pakistan-

US Science and Technology Cooperation that supports innovative and useful projects to broaden and expand

relations between scientific and technological communities of both the countries.

Young artists present ‘Three Vanishing Points’ at Rohtas Gallery

ISLAMABAD Mahtab bashiR

Defining consciousness and experiences of the human existence, the Rohtas Gallery on Thursday opened an exhibition of paintings and interactive neo-media works, titled ‘Three vanishing Points’, by three promising young artists from Lahore.

The paintings by Shiblee Munir and Ozma Bhatti and Interactive Neo-media works by Fahad Hameed defined aura as an electro-photonic vibration response of an object to some external excitation, such as an ambient light.

Shiblee Munir, a graduate of

Beaconhouse National University (BNU), used different lines as metaphors to showcase his thoughts in paintings. Ozma Bhatti, a graduate of National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore portrayed her subconscious vision on the canvas while Fahad Hameed, a graduate of BNU, defined life as an illusion through his interactive neo-media works.

Talking to Pakistan Today, Ozma Bhatti, whose work has been displayed in various group shows in Pakistan and abroad, said that working in the realm of the subconscious, the differences between conscious and unconscious disappear. The

meaning of the conscious and the unconscious is best appreciated when experienced visually, she added.

Ozma maintained, “It is with a sense of adventure that I introduce my vision, my way of seeing through the subconscious, a spiritual experience for me. It is through this outlet that I confront pain and joy, death and rebirth. But to distinguish reality from illusion I cannot.”

Shiblee Munir, who belongs to a Patiala family of miniature artists, said, “My work is about the experiences of my life where I survive amidst the set rules that make me vulnerable. To obey such obligations, tangible or intangible, where I find they are the last word and I no longer exist.”

Talking about his painting titled ‘Sea Urchin’, Shiblee said, “This is my own world where I try to depict my ideas humbly, that is why I use lines, a minimal source of visual action, as a metaphor to voice my thoughts. Yet to me each line denotes a galaxy of meanings rather than a rigid last word.”

Fahad Hameed said that life was not real or unreal, it was an illusion, adding that, “Experience is a part of human existence. As a new media artist I strive to probe the lines between humans and environmental relationships. With our society’s existing dependence on emergent tech-

Media playing vital role in educating society: PCP chief ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) Chairman Shafqat Abbasi on Thursday said the media was playing an important role in educating the society and strengthening the democratic system.

He expressed these views at a seminar on ‘Media Ethics and Court Reporting’ organised by the Islamabad Bar Association in collaboration with ‘Press Council of Pakistan’ to create awareness of sensitivity of court reporting among court reporters.

Media people and lawyers included in the participants of the event.

Shafqat said court reporting was a sensitive job as a minor mistake can destroy their organisation, so court reporters must be trained and taught to follow code of conduct. He, however, added that court re-

porters were a vital part of the judicial system. They also informed the public about court proceedings, he added.

Shafqat said trail reporting was a specialised form of journalism, adding that media institutions should organise workshops to train journalists. He urged media people to keep in mind principles of fairness, accuracy, relevancy, impartiality, right of privacy and right of clarification while reporting a matter. He said sensationalism, encouragement of violence and terrorism had no place in journalism.

He pointed out that the Press Council of Pakistan would also hold short courses in collaboration with the national universities to enhance capacity and professional capabilities. He added the Press Council of Pakistan would give Award of the Year to the best court reporter to promote healthy journalism.

nologies comes a conflicted relationship between our culture and the concern for nature. This paradoxical bond between human beings and nature poses and solicits the need for a joint co-evolution between the living and the budding technological innovations,” Fahad elaborated.

He said, “I introduce the remedies for our constant struggle with co-evolution in the form of interactive art, repetition of lines, objects

and mechanical manipulations. Somehow this makes illusions. My artwork invites technology, real and imagined, to heighten our awareness of existence. Though I find the development of evolving technology to be alluring, my work invites the viewer to experience a visual.”

The exhibition would continue at Rohtas Gallery, 57-B, Street 26, F-6/2, till January 12 daily from 11am to 7 pm except Sunday.

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islaMabad: population Census employees protest in favour of their demands outside the national press Club. STAFF PhOTO

CDA fails to retrieve land ‘Valuing time from illegal occupants leads to success’ PM’s adviser says strategy chalked out to g

gUeSt In tOWn staff RepoRt

ISlAmAbAd: Barrister Dr Amir Ali Majid said on Thursday valuing time was the leading factor in his success.

He was speaking at an inspirational meeting at the Press Club, organised by the Special Education and Social Welfare Directorate-General.

He was the first blind person in the world to get a doctorate degree in Civil Law from McGill University, to be a barrister and the second blind person in the UK to be appointed a judge. “Valuing time is the key to success. Those who do not value it cannot achieve their goals,” he said.

Sharing his success story, he said he never wasted time and always reached his job or educational institutions in time.

“One day the chief judge wrote a letter to me saying that you did not come in time and we thought you must be ill. In response to it, I wrote that I had no cases scheduled for that day. On that, the judge apologised for writing the letter.”

He said the British Government also offered him a position as a legal advisor to the law minis-

ter on the disable people’s quota but he refused saying he could compete with the candidates who had sight.

He demanded the Pakistani government to give equal rights to the disabled people saying that they should not be given special treatment. He also paid tribute to Saima Amar for her contribution to the welfare of the blind people of Pakistan and dedicated his lecture to her services.

Dr Amir is a legal scholar and author, born in Gojra, Faisalabad, Pakistan. He was in his second year at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad when he lost his sight. He went on to receive his B.A, LLB, LLM, as well as a diploma in Air and Space Law, and International Law. He was the first Asian in the UK to be the Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind of the UK (London Branch), a member of the Air Transport Committee of the UK International Chambers of the Commerce and the second blind person in the UK to be appointed to a judicial post.

Dr Amir Ali was conferred the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, (the second highest civilian honour in Pakistan in 2003). He is also the Journal of Islamic Station Practices in International Law’s Editor-in-Chief.

nUmUn 12

develop new housing sectors in capital ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has failed to retrieve all of its land from land grabbers, CDA Chairman Farkhand Iqbal said at the ground-breaking ceremony of Sector I-11 on Thursday.

He sought help from the residents for retrieving the land which is under illegal occupation. “There is a great need for the cooperation of the people affected in this regard because without it, the CDA will face a lot of difficulties in regaining possession of the sectors,” he said. He said the CDA will fulfil its commitment by handing over the possession of the plots in sectors D12, E-12, I-14 and I-15 to their rightful owners. He added that the development of Sector I-11 would be completed within the specified time frame.

According to the details, there were 2,000 plots in total, out of which, 1,700 were allotted to CDA employees and 300 to other residents. The project for the development of Sector I-11 will be completed in 18 months at a total cost of Rs 186.928 million.

The chairman said: “In addition to the provision of basic amenities to the citizens, one of the major responsibilities of CDA is to provide affordable housing for which we are planning to develop new sectors. “We have a comprehensive policy to start the development of the stalled sectors so that the residents can be given possession of their plots.” Prime Minister’s Task Force Chairman Faisal Sakhi Butt said the PM had entrusted the Islamabad Task Force with the responsibility to chalk out a strategy for developing new sectors and taking immediate steps for the development of the stalled sectors to overcome the shortage of housing units in the city.

He appreciated the efforts of the authority officials for taking concrete measures for the development of sector I-11, which was stalled after 1990.

mansoor rahi's exhibiTion

Capoeira islToWn

COLLegeS / UnIVerSItIeS InternAtIOnAL ISLAMIC UnIVerSIty 9260765 BAHrIA UnIVerSIty 9260002 nUML 9257677 QUAID-e-AZAM UnIVerSIty 90642098 ArID AgrICULtUre UnIVerSIty 9290151 FJWU 9273235 rIPHA InternAtIOnAL UnIVerSIty 111510510 nCA rAWALPInDI 5770423 PUnJAB LAW COLLege 4421347

DAte: JAn 26 - 29, 2012 VenUe: nUSt, H12 OPPOSIte tO POLICe LIne

DAte: DeC 22, 2011 - JAn 05, 2012 VenUe: gALLery LOUVre ISLAMABAD

After two highly successful Intra-nUSt episodes, nUSt now invites you to its first ever All Pakistan event- nUMUn 2012. this January, we'd like to welcome you here at H-12 and change all that you know about this place for the better.

gallery Louvre Islamabad invites you to the solo exhibition of Mansoor rahi. the exhibition will be showcasing all three sketching school of thought by the artist Synergy; a mix of harsh and soft sketching medium Iconography: a sketch developed by singular line without ant support or color.

DAte AnD tIMe: eVery FrIDAy 6:30-7:30PM VenUe: KHAAS Art gALLery ISLAMABAD Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dancing, ritual combat & music in a unique synthesis of self defense and rhythm.

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Friday, 6 January, 2012

News 09 ‘tsunami of turncoats’ cannot damage PPP: naveed LAHORE staff RepoRt

The PPP is the largest party of the country with strong roots in the masses and the “tsunami of a turncoat party” cannot cause any damage to it, the President’s Punjab Coordinator Naveed Chaudhry has said.

He said Imran Khan’s PTI was full of turncoats and “it cannot leave any significant impact on the country”, adding that Khan and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif’s were two sides of the same coin and both had no choice but to seek help from the establishment.

He criticised Nawaz’s statement of establishing military courts in Karachi.

He said the Sharifs had learnt no lesson from the past. Chaudhry said the PPP was being criticised by “political vultures but they will fail once again”.

“It seems Nawaz Sharif is returning to his old way of politics and asking for military courts in Karachi,” he said.

While quoting another statement of Nawaz of joining protests if the government failed to address the gas crisis, Chaudhry said everyone knew what the PML-N had done in Punjab in the recent three and half years.

seaRChinG the nUllah: a boy searching for valuables in the garbage accumulated in a drain in peshawar. INP

romney says he will seek to ‘influence’ Pakistan PETERBOROUGH afp

Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney on Wednesday said diplomacy was like dealing with a child and vowed to find ways to “influence” Pakistan to advance US interests.

“I don't want to suggest that a country is like a child, but in the way that when you deal with another person we think of all these dimensions on which we try to influence them, we have to influence Pakistan,” he told voters here. The former Massachusetts governor said he would “find how we can get those (Pakistani) institutions that are with us and will work towards modernity and peace and prosperity” to counter those that will not.

“In a place like Pakistan, you have the elected government, but then you also have the military -- and the military in some respects has more power than the elected government,” said Romney, the frontrunner for his party's nomination.

Pagara flown to London for medical treatment KARAcHI: Pir Pagara, spiritual leader of Hurrs, was flown to London on Thursday

by Royal Air Ambulance for medical treatment. Pir Sibghatullah Rashdi, Jam Madad Ali, Imtiaz Sheikh and a team of doctors also accompanied Pagara to London. Doctors allowed Pir Pagara to travel to London for his treatment soon after his condition got stable. He was taken to airport from a private hospital in an ambulance, wherefrom he left for London

by Royal Ambulance via Istanbul. online

PM announces rs 1m for O-Levels student ISLAMABAD online

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday announced a Rs 1 million award for Syed Zohaib Asad due to his outstanding performance in O Levels Examinations. According to sources, Zohaib secured 23 A grades. Gilani also congratulated Zohaib and expressed good wishes for him.

PML-N not against formation of new provinces: Nisar g

Leader of opposition says his party won’t support any group to ‘stage dramas’ on issue ISLAMABAD

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staff RepoRt

EADER of the Opposition in the National Assembly Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday said the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) was not against the formation of new provinces but it would not support any party to “stage dramas” on the issue.

He demanded the formation of a commission on creation of new provinces.

“A political party is staging dramas on provinces issue… the PML-N is not against creation of new provinces in the country but it is a sensitive matter which should be dealt carefully living in the constitutional ambit,” he said while talking to media outside the Parliament House.

Without naming the Muttahida

Qaumi Movement (MQM), he said the party which was demanding Saraiki and Hazara provinces in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not have a single seat in the provincial assemblies of both provinces. Nisar said the PML-N was not against Bahawalpur, Hazara or any other province but it was against the creation of provinces on linguistic basis.

“If provinces are created on basis of language, it will create unending unrest in the country… Punjab can afford provinces on lingual basis but other provinces could not bear the process,” he said. He demanded the formation of a high-level commission on creation of new provinces. “In all countries where new provinces were created, they were made by commissions … we will have to reach consensus on numerous issues like grounds of divisions, assets, liabil-

‘A tribute to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’ PESHAWAR staff RepoRt

A three-day exhibition of renowned Pakistani artist, social worker and peace activist, Jimmy Engineer is being held in Peshawar from January9-11.

The exhibition with Engineer's 80 signed canvass prints will open at Nishtar Hall on January 9 and will end on January 11. On display is the exhibition titled, “A tribute to people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: cultural history of Pakistan”.

Focus on road network needed, says KP governor PESHAWAR staff RepoRt

ities, seats representation in senate etc,” he said, adding that the government through the slogan of new provinces was trying to divert people’s attention from the real issues.

“As the rulers know they will be rejected by the masses in next elections for their bad governance and corruption, they are trying to win people’s support through this slogan,” he asserted.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Barrister Masood Kausar on Thursday stressed the need to focus on developing the road network in KP and FATA, especially within areas hit by the militancy. He was presiding over a high level meeting at Govenor’s House Peshawar attended by Federal Minister for Communication Dr. Arbab Alamgir Khan.

Crime data belies Punjab govt’s claims on law and order tahiR niaZ

Though the law and order situation all over the country is not satisfactory but a fresh data on 27 crime categories falling under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) belies the tall claims of Punjab government and also rejects general perceptions on the subject.

In the month of October 2011, most crimes among the monitored categories were registered in Punjab followed by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sindh and Balochistan. If we go by the data, perceptions also seemed to be totally different from reality. The law and order situation in Punjab is considered to be the most appreciable as compared to other provinces of the country, but the report speaks otherwise. Twenty-two percent of the total crime registered in 73 districts across the country was reg-

istered in only three districts of Punjab, with Faisalabad taking the lead followed

by Gujranwala and Multan. On the other hand, Balochistan, which is generally considered the worst in terms of security, has registered less crime than other provinces in October.

According to the report, most crimes were reported in Faisalabad district in October 2011, constituting 11 percent of the total 32,021 first information reports (FIRs) registered against 27 crimes in 73 districts nationwide. The FIRs lodged in the district were against crimes such as murder, attempted murder, injuries, robbery, criminal trespassing, criminal breach of trust, counterfeit currency notes, theft, motor vehicle lifting and forced marriages. Car theft has been the most irritating problem for the residents of Faisalabad, but the authorities concerned are yet to curb the crime.

Two other districts of Punjab, Gujranwala (7 percent) and Multan (4 percent), were the second and third most crime re-

porting districts respectively. Higher figures of registered crimes in Punjab can be attributed to better outreach, dense population and the absence of parallel judicial systems in the province. The report included 73 districts across the country with 25 districts of Punjab, 20 of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 17 of Sindh and 11 of Balochistan, while covering FIRs registered for 27 offences falling under the PPC in October 2011. The report reveals that among different categories, crime related to property was the most frequently reported (17 percent), followed by reported cases of physical harm (11 percent) and threat and fraud (7 percent).

Four percent of the total FIRs registered in October last year fall in the category of ‘crime against women’, which is also an alarming situation especially in the presence of pro-women legislation.

Crimes against women constituted four percent of the total FIRs. Of the 781 FIRs lodged for crimes against women, 33 percent were registered for forced mar-

riages with the highest numbers being recorded in district Faisalabad (42), followed by Gujranwala (40) and Sahiwal (37). Twenty-seven percent of the total FIRs for crimes against women were those of rape (24 percent for assault or criminal force threatening the modesty of a woman, 12 percent for offences related to marriage and 4 percent for honour killings). Several cases of honour killings were also registered in the four provinces. In Sindh 15 FIRs were registered of which six were in Shikarpur, three in Kamber Shahdadkot, two in Ghotki and one each in Khairpur, Larkana, Naushahro Feroze and Sukkur.

Of the registered crimes, 2, 014 FIRs were filed in 61 districts for theft, followed by 1,702 FIRs for physical injuries in 64 districts, and 1,294 reports lodged in 36 districts for counterfeit currency and bank notes. As many as 726 FIRs for murder were reported in 68 of the 73 districts monitored and 794 for attempted murder in 67 districts.

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10 News

Friday, 6 January, 2012

nha iniTiaTives

Funds shortage delaying Rs 625b projects g

Arbab Alamgir Khan says most projects not being completed on time due to lack of funds ISLAMABAD

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staff RepoRt

OMMUNICATION Minister Arbab Alamgir Khan on Thursday informed the National Assembly that the National Highway Authority (NHA) was currently constructing 61 development projects worth Rs 625 billion in various areas of the country.

“An amount of Rs 44 billion has been allocated under the PSDP for the current fiscal year (2011-12) but only Rs 18 billion have been released until now,” the communication minister told the House during Question Hour. He said most of the projects were not being completed at the stipulated time due to a lack of funds. He said it was decided that the NHA would provide funds to those projects which were 60 percent complete.

Responding to another supplementary question, the minister said Rs 4 billion was required to remove around

7,500 houses for completion of Lyari Expressway. He told the House that NHA had disbursed Rs 0.5 million each to the victim of Sher Shah Bridge tragedy, adding that additional Rs 0.5 million each was paid to them on Supreme Court directives. Khan said work on 358 meters Khushalgarh Bridge was started in October 2011 and the projects would be completed by October 2013. He said PC1 of the project was estimated as Rs 1, 538 million. The NHA would provide 50 percent fund for the project while OGDCL and MOL Oil Company would share the remaining fund.

The minister said the NHA had undertaken rehabilitation and upgrading of foue-lane road between Lahore-Gujranwala (N-5) into six-lane. “The main carriageway has already been opened to traffic. However, certain ancillary works are under execution, he said and added that the project now would be completed

by June.” The National Assembly was also informed that commitments worth

Arbab Alamgir Khan

$370 million had been made by national and international agencies for Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) during the last three years.

Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshid Shah told the National Assembly that 85 percent of the amount had been received so far. He said $172 million dol-

lars had been disbursed to the BISP for the onward distribution to the eligible families. He said a programme was also underway to pay the electricity bills of the eligible families under the BISP programme.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi took strong notice of the absence of ministers and parliamentary secretaries from proceedings of the House to respond to various questions and calling-attention notices of the members.

Responding to Kundi’s concerns, PPP Chief Whip Khursheed Shah said he would record protest of the House with the concerned ministers, adding that next time ministers and parliamentary secretaries’ presence in the House would be ensured.

Separately, responding to another question, Parliamentary Secretary for Information Technology Nawab Liaquat Ali Khan told the House that Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), through the Ministry of Commerce was negotiating with many countries including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Iran, Nepal, Maldives, Vietnam, Italy, Serbia, Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan, Mauritius and Ireland for mutual cooperation and investment in IT and IT enabled sectors in

Pakistan. He said foreign companies were offered cooperation and encouraged to invest in IT and IT enabled services sector through public and private forums on a regular basis by Pakistan Software Export Board. He said the companies had also been exempted from tax till 2016.

Responding to another question, Nawab Liaquat Ali Khan said the government had taken a number of steps to enhance edible oil production in the country. He said projects of cultivation of olive oil in Malakand and Palm oil in Sindh were underway that would yield positive results after completion. He said at present edible oil worth $ two billion was being imported.

Responding to another question, Liaquat informed the House that the government had taken a number of measures to increase the production of wheat during the year 2010-12. He said the government increased the wheat support price from Rs 950 per 40 kilogrammes to Rs 1,050 per 40 kilogrammes. He said there was no shortage of urea and other fertilizers in the country but there was a problem of hoarding. He said the provincial government has been advised to ensure smooth supply of urea on the fixed prices to the growers.

Cash-strapped PIA continues its spending spree LAHORE iMRan adnan

The cash-strapped national flag carrier may not have any parallel in spending, as on the one hand, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is continuously trying to seek a bailout package from the federal government, while on the other hand it is paying 70-hour guaranteed flying allowance at 1.5 times of hourly allowance to management executive pilots, Pakistan Today has learnt.

According to sources, PIA, which was facing serious embarrassment abroad as vendors have refused fuel supply to aircrafts due to non-payment of outstanding bills, is paying around Rs 120 million per annum to management executive pilots on account of flying allowance at 1.5 times of the actual rate.

Talking to Pakistan Today, they said that during the tenure of former PIA managing director Captain Aijaz Haroon, Pakistan Airline Pilots Association (PALPA) and the PIA management inked an agreement–PALPA-PIAC Working Agreement 2009-11–that enti-

whiCh waRden will fine this waRden? traffic warden talks on his cell phone in the middle of a road in faisalabad in violation of traffic rules. INP

tled 70-hour guaranteed flying allowance at the rate of one-and-a-half of the hourly flying allowance, irrespective of the actual number of hours flown.

In 2011, PALPA and PIA management revisited the agreement and decided to reduce the guaranteed flying hours from 70 to 50 hours at double rate of hourly flying allowance irrespective of the actual number of hours flown. But despite serious financial constraints, the PIA management was still not implementing the revised agreement, they maintained. They disclosed that PALPA representatives had already asked the management, through a letter (Ref:

PALPA/G/06/677 Dated: December 04, 2011), to enforce the new agreement, but owing to management executive pilots’ vested interests, the revised agreement could not be implemented yet. They pointed out that the previous management had surreptitiously under the garb of the working agreement and for personal enrichment had issued an admin order (No. 14/2010 dated April 20, 2010) whereby all other flying allowance-related payments to be paid to the management executive pilots/cockpit crew on deputation with CAA/ ex-officio GM's, were to be calculated at 1.5 times more than being received by line pilots.

103 journalists killed in 2011, Pakistan among deadliest places VIENNA afp

Ayla Malik meets Imran, announces joining PTI ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

Former parliamentarian and niece of former president Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, Ayla Malik, on Thursday called on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and after a detailed meeting, decided to join the PTI. Talking to Pakistan Today, Ayla said she had discussed with Imran Khan her agenda for the progress and prosperity of the people of her area and she had decided to support the struggle for change in the country. She said Imran was representing the aspirations of the 90 percent people of the country and his party's agenda had impressed her a Ayla Malik lot. “Imran’s commitment to the empowerment of women and the powerless people is impressing and this is why youth are joining his party with a hope that it would bring about a positive change in the country. This was also my priority and that is the reason I have joined the PTI,” she added.

Ayla Malik is the sister of MNA Sumaira Malik and both are granddaughters of Nawab of Kalabagh. She had joined the Farooq Leghari-led Millat Party in 1999 and later became an MNA on Millat Party’s reserve seat for women. Ayla again served as MNA from year 2002 to 2007 and worked untiringly for the uplift of the people of Mianwali.

Pakistan ranks among the countries reporting most number of deaths in 2011. A total 103 journalists were killed in 2011, with Mexico the most dangerous place to work for the media, Vienna-based press watchdog IPI said on Thursday. Iraq came second with nine deaths – mostly from bombings – followed – by Honduras, Pakistan and Yemen, each with six deaths, and Libya and Brazil with five deaths. This was the second highest toll on record after 2009, when 110 journalists were killed while covering a story. “The numbers are getting worse,” the International Press Institute said in a statement, noting that 55 journalists were killed in 2001. “In 2002, 19 countries appeared on the IPI Death Watch list. In 2011, there were 40 – more than in any year of the past decade.”

With 10 journalists killed there in the past year, Mexico was the deadliest country for the media to work, IPI said.

In North Africa and the Middle East, journalists were mostly killed during the Arab Spring uprisings. In subSaharan Africa, in Russia and in several cases in Pakistan, the reporters were victims of targeted killings, IPI said.

“Almost all of the journalists killed in 2011 were local reporters and cameramen covering local conflicts, corruption and other illegal activities, it said.

“Tragically, the likelihood that the perpetrators will be brought to justice is close to zero. Impunity is fuelling the murders.” IPI also noted a “trend of increasing violence against journalists in the Western hemisphere” and called on governments to respect the media's right to work freely.

Mianwali: Chief of air staff Rao Qamar suleman meets ex-no 1 fCU commanding officers at the paf base Mianwali. PR

istanbUl: punjab Chief Minister visits swM Company. INP

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Friday, 6 January, 2012

Editor’s mail 11 Illogical solutions

the population bomb and slavery Our prime minister proudly participated in the function of collective marriages of 50 couples on 1 January 2012.

In such functions nobody bothers to ascertain the financial condition of the bridegroom. Islam ordains a discipline in marriage.

In Sura 24 (Noor) in Ayat 33 it is enjoined, “And let those who find not the

means to marry be abstinent till Allah gives them resources by His grace.” Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmai in his explanation of the Ayat wrote, “Those who do not possess even as much resources as to bear the necessary expenses of marriage they should control themselves till Allah gives them power to marry and should try to keep chaste.

It is not improbable that by the blessing of self-control and chastity Allah may make them rich and provide best chances for marriage.”

In India, collective marriages take place quite frequently and hundreds of couples perform Hindu rituals and the poor brides are not provided any assurance of minimum sustenance. Why

should we follow Indian example disregarding extremely useful Islamic injunctions? Such wholesale marriages result in unwarranted and unbridled overpopulation and virtual slavery of the poor brides and also result in child labour on large scale.

S FEROZ SHAH GILANI Karachi

Unsolved Afghan issue The Pakistan-US relation are the key to solve the Afghan problem, but for that the sensitivities of Pakistan are to be given a closer look .The carte blanche to Indian trainers and anthropologist is surely not going to be taken in positive light by Pakistan, not because Pakistan wants Afghan Army not to be trained but because Pakistan does not want it to be trained with Pakistan depicted as the perennial enemy.

It is now the people of Afghanistan who have to decide whether they going are to emerge as a new promising Afghanistan or they will remain a rentier state, serving the interests of different empires. Who is going to answer this question? The recent downturn of relations between Pakistan and the US is to be rectified soon; otherwise, not only the year 2011 but the efforts of a decade will be lost.

ALI ABDULLAH HASHMI Gujrat

Weapons for UAe The US the other day reached a deal to sell $3.48b worth of missiles and related technology to the UAE, a close Middle East ally, as part of a massive build-up of defence technology among friendly Middle East nations near Iran.

Pentagon spokesman George Little announced the Christmas Day sale and noted that the US and UAE had a strong defence relationship and were both interested in “a secure and stable” Persian Gulf region.

Fair enough, but my question is what does UAE stand for? The country got Shamsi base from Pakistan and handed it over to the US without consulting Pakistan. There are reports that the same is getting on lease thousands of acres of land for securing food supplies from Balochistan in future. Qatar has opened offices for the Taliban and in future the Americans would not bother to approach Kandhar. UAE has great influence in Pakistan and it is using the same against Pakistan, which is strange. The UAE has no capacity to fight against an enemy but it is getting the weapons of such a scale.

Why play a role of a haven state for a war against Iran or Pakistan or Afghanistan?

HAMZA ALI Muzaffarabad

new year’s eve In modern societies, New Year Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings during which participants dance, overeat, consume alcoholic beverages and watch or light fireworks to mark the incoming year. The above mentioned luxuries are suited to modern and developed nations. But most of us celebrate this night with endless buffet of food, lavish parties, social gatherings, fireworks and shopping overnight.

This night should be a time to avoid being wasteful, making a New Year resolution and getting prepared for the future. Furthermore, Islam being the religion of modesty urges its believers to be humble in every walk of life.

Muslims should refrain from such extravagant and wasteful activities and instead should spend most of their time in gathering the endless bounties of Allah bestowed upon us.

DR HASSAN ANJUM SHAHID Lahore

Knowing your enemy ‘Knowing your enemy in a war is winning a war,’ Sun Tzu said it centuries ago. This quote in your editorial titled “Know your enemy” can be translated variously, one of them being, we have very little to do for years with the war on terror being won or lost.

Z A KAZMI Karachi

Social networking

lawlessness in sindh

A police officer told me the other day that corruption could not be eradicated from our country because both the bribe taker and giver were satisfied in this kind of mutual transaction.

Only five percent of murderers are punished because the witnesses are not ready to come forward and give their evidence in court of law. Another reason for failure to control this evil is the apathy of legal officers towards official action taken to punish the delinquent functionaries.

A case in point is a top official of the Muzaffargarh district administration who was transferred several times for his bad reputation here but each time managed to get a stay order against those orders from the legal authorities, most recently just a few days ago. He thus continues to inflict harm on the public with no end in sight for his misdeeds.

Perhaps Nawaz Sharif wanted to talk about 'speedy terrorist courts' but by slip pf tongue mentioned 'military courts'.

However, MQM, PPP and PTI have teken upon themselves to use it as a toxic propaganda ploy.

I would not be bothered about others but cheap shots of Javed Hashmi. Surely, speedy courts were and are always required to prosecute, speedily convict the target killers, bathakhors, land mafia and other criminals to bring Karachi out of their grip. However, Chaudhry Nisar’s stand in the National Assembly was distasteful.

It is also important that the honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan bans the president to keep two offices and remain political on minute to minute basis on national expense, violating the constitution of Pakistan and disrespecting LHC’s verdict on the same.

N Z JEHAN Karachi

Some years ago a new trend of social networking emerged when social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace came into being. They gave a whole new dimension to the world of networking. These networks without a doubt brought people closer but at the same time these sites are becoming an addiction for the users.

People spend hours and hours on Facebook and it seems like a compulsion for everyone to regularly check their accounts and update their Facebook status. These sites are working exactly like drugs; dependency ratio of the people using these sites is increasing day by day.

Students waste their time on these sites and then they fail to meet up obligations such as completion of assignments and other study related tasks.

Students just fail to realise how much time they are spending on these sites and how it would affect their academic performance.

Studies have shown that social networking addiction is now categorised as a psychological disorder. In a recent study at the University of Athens, Greek psychiatrists argued that a woman who had gone as far as losing her job on account of her compulsion to check and update her Facebook, could be identified as a “social network addict.” It has been noted that there may be a correlation between low self-esteem and a sense of social inadequacy and social network addiction.

It seems that many types of social interaction which would present great challenges in the real world for certain types of individuals have been rendered much easier for them in the virtual world, thus putting them at a higher risk of becoming addicted to Facebook and other social networking sites.

NIMRA HAMID Kinnaird College, Lahore

trailer has gone viral on the internet and is receiving lot of attention. If the movie is going to be released worldwide, then it would certainly prove as a good budge to handle the shattered image of Pakistan across the globe and can change the mindset of the western public about Pakistan.

If we ignore all the downbeat party lines coming for a ‘Pakistan Army’s film’, picture can be seen in a win-win situation for Pakistan. It can bring in a Pakistani director on the global map and can provide opportunities to work at the Hollywood level that could help our local industry in various ways.

If the film goes triumphant interna-

tionally, it will encourage more investment in our film industry and the capital earned is likely to be invested manifold. Pakistani musicians are likely to receive epic fame.

The image of our war-torn country fighting for its survival has been badly tarnished since many years. In the way of fighting a war on terror, we had a considerable number of civilian and military casualties hence these sacrifices need to be acknowledged globally.

Not only internationally but even at the national level such movies and documentaries can hopefully boost the civilmilitary relations.

I believe the ISPR needs to do such

projects periodically to clarify the allegations on their end. It is somehow needed to tell the people what actually the Armed Forces are doing for all of us, night and day, 365 days a year.

The first and last Pakistani English movie was “Beyond the Last Mountain” directed marvellously by Mr Javed Jabbar. That was a milestone of Pakistan cinema. Hope this film will be a step ahead than the earlier one and would set a new trend. Good luck WAAR! Hope it has enough value and motivation for heightening our image and integrity!

MAIMUNA ASHRAF Rawalpindi

Three renowned doctors, Dr Shah, Dr Wagan and Dr Sangi, who are allegedly kidnapped by the dacoits from Larkano division, have not been found despite the passage of one month since their abduction. The dejected and dismayed members of their families have knocked at every door for their retrieval but all in vain. Hardly a day passes when people are not kidnapped for ransom and killed in the chronic tribal clashes in those districts.

Unfortunately, nothing has been done to control the lawlessness. This sad state of affairs wherein the kidnapping of professionals, such as doctors and engineers and also businessmen, has become the order of the day in the upper Sindh dis-

Aerial firing Every year on New Year’s Eve there is a display of fireworks and heavy aerial firing. These merrymakers around us are so eager to celebrate the New Year that they use all means possible to express their joy over its arrival. They do not even bother to think that how hazardous their methods of celebration could be.

Here in our country, the display of fireworks is not something planned officially to be performed on New Year’s Eve. So, here firing bullets and firecrackers only results in lawlessness and terrorising the people. Not only this, but in some areas with intense aerial firing, a few people actually die because of these bullets.

My question to all those involved in these perilous and worthless acts is that is it so necessary to celebrate the New Year in such a ferocious way? In fact, in the first place is it even necessary to celebrate the New Year at all? We live in a Muslim country and being Muslims we should not be concerned with the New Year’s celebrations because it is not our religious or cultural festival.

And why don’t they realise that their means of exhibiting joy and happiness are lethal to others? Why don’t they realise that their New Year merriments are

Pakistan Railways (PR) is all set to buy 150 new engines of American design for 44 billion rupees. It has 595 railway engines on record (see website of PR).

Pakistan has a railway repair and rehabilitation factory in Nowshera, KPK. On Supreme Court’s pressure, PR managed to repair 19 engines within two months time.

So, why is it that we are not considering spending this Rs 44 billion on repairing our 576 broken engines rusting away in scrapyards and at various train stations? And if it is decided to purchase new engines, what has PR decided to do with the broken 576 engines that are being disassembled and stolen for scrap?

Why are we considering to purchase them from an American company when America is a country that loves putting sanctions on Pakistan? Do we really want to be under pressure of sanctions when we require spare parts for the engines?

Pakistan Railways claim that the engines bought from China all broke down and they don't have a contract for the spare parts. Should PR not be directing their efforts onto securing a contract for the spare parts, especially since a lot of Chinese delegates visited Pakistan recently and it would have been a good opportunity to request their help in this matter?

But I guess the logical solutions are not the most profitable ones.

MANSOOR TARIQ Peshawar

tricts, and has sent a waves of frustration among the masses.

In another sad incident, a girl named Fazila Sarki was kidnapped from Jacobabad district some four years ago is still missing.

I appeal to the president of Pakistan to direct the provincial home minister to take necessary steps to retrieve the kidnapped three doctors and the girl, award an exemplary punishment to the perpetrators and control law and order in the upper and lower Sindh districts which is, indeed, a simple task for the incumbent home minister if he is willing to do so.

HASHIM ABRO Islamabad

posing a serious threat to human lives?

I would request the concerned authorities to ensure better and more efficient security measures the next time these New Year’s celebrations arrive so that no further lives are lost at the hands of these merrymakers.

MADIHA VIQUAR Karachi

engrossed in corruption

The only remedy seems to lie in making all members of society realise their collective responsibility to the society, beginning with the school.

MUHAMMAD SHARIF Muzaffargarh

Military courts?

Waiting for WAAr As I watched the official first trailer of Pakistan’s most anticipated English feature film WAAR, a big ‘wow’ abruptly came out of my mouth. I am excited and looking forward for a motion picture directed by renowned Bilal Lashari and produced by Hunt Lowry and Warner Bros with an estimated budget of $2,000,000. Star cast is causing for supplementary magnetism while the collaboration of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) is adding an ample meaning to the project.

The storyline is said to have been inspired by the war on terror in Pakistan and its effects on the world but with a different interpretation. The

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. Fax: +92-42-36298302. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk. Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively.

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12 Comment equal before the law no more holy cows

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he cabinet has decided to finally remove an anomaly in the law concerning the declaration of assets which was so far confined to politicians alone. With the inclusion of the judicial and military personnel also, all those drawing salary from the national exchequer would now be required to declare their assets every year. This would end the discrimination against a particular section of society only. This will also put an end to the perception that certain sections of society were being treated as holy cows.

In a society where influential people can bend rules and break laws, corruption is bound to spread like cancer. It is all the more so in cases where discretionary powers can be used to gain pecuniary benefits. So far, only politicians have been subjected to an intrusive examination of their assets and for obvious reasons. Governments in power have enough discretionary powers. There is still a fairly large statecontrolled sector where cronies can be accommodated or jobs sold. A foreign firm which can earn millions of dollars if the government agrees to sign a particular contract would go for bribing an obliging minister.

The rivalry among political parties ensures that corruption among politicians is brought to the lime light.

However, as numerous incidents reported by the media indicate, the malaise has hardly left any section of society unaffected. Certain sections have in fact institutionalised corrupt practices. While receiving discriminatory benefits they have provided them legal cover. Like politicians who are frequently accused of misusing their office to gain illegitimate wealth, the unscrupulous among the judicial and military officials too are not far behind. Stories about bribes in defence contracts have appeared several times in the media. Similarly there has been no dearth of corrupt judges in the country.

Corruption exerts a corrosive influence on society. This not only leads to the erosion of its moral fibre but also to bad governance which then has detrimental effect on the overall economy. A law that makes all sections of the civil servants to declare their assets would be a step in the right direction.

Meanwhile, the government should take more steps to improve its own reputation.

Friday, 6 January, 2012

The illness of our soul taseer is dead, in a physical sense. but in his death he survives because of the principle he stood for

I

Myopia Outdated paradigms

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he press corps have always been selective in their outrage. Compare two incidents: the murder of Pakistani soldiers at the Salala checkpost in Bajaur and the killing, yesterday, of 15 soldiers that the Taliban had kidnapped since a month ago. The former incident dominated the airwaves, the press and got the military brass fuming at this gross violation of our sovereignty and the callous disregard for the lives of Pakistani soldiers. The other incident, however, isn’t going to get a fraction of that attention.

Long since accused of neglecting the devastation that the militants are causing to our civil law enforcement agencies and the civilians themselves, are our Clausewitzes to look away when it comes to their own comrades as well?

It appears so, what with rumours of peace talks between the militants and the “government” doing the rounds again.

Just who is carrying out these talks? For what it is worth, the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has denied the rumours and expressed concern. No word from the federal government either.

Talks between the US and the Taliban in Afghanistan, where the latter have agreed, for the first time, to drop the prohibitive precondition of the occupant forces withdrawing from the country, are set to take place after the Taliban set up a political office in Qatar. There is a sizeable school of thought here in the country that sees this as a vindication of their stand to not to get involved in the war on terror.

A flawed argument, the one above. Whereas the Americans can (need to) cut and run in Afghanistan, we cannot do the same. Our tribal areas are going to stay here as will the newer hotbeds of terror down south in Punjab. Not only will the militants create a fascist state-within-a-state, they will also want to expand their footprint. As far as the friendly Taliban regime in Afghanistan are concerned, let candid posterity not forget that the regime, with all its good relations with the Pakistani deep state, refused more than once to hand over certain sectarian militants back to Pakistan.

Strategic depth won’t even be a pyrrhic victory because the concept doesn’t even apply to modern, 21st century warfare and was, even in its heyday, extremely flimsy and counter-productive.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36298305-10 Fax: 042-36298302 Karachi – Ph: 021-34330811-3 Fax: 021-34330900 Islamabad – Ph: 051-2287414-6 Fax: 051-2287417 Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

By Ejaz Haider

asked a Barelvi friend why we say Assalamo Alaikum? He said because it means peace be upon you. And why do we say that? He said because Islam salamati ka deen hai. I said I agreed with him but then what were the Barelvi crowds at Data Sahib and elsewhere doing on Jan 4 asking that Mumtaz Qadri be released for gratuitously and cold-bloodedly murdering Salmaan Taseer?

He said Taseer had committed blasphemy. I see. And how does he know that? Because Taseer opposed the blasphemy law in support of a nonMuslim woman, he replied. Ok, and what makes him, the Barelvi interlocutor, an expert on the law, its intent, its uses and abuses, the Islamic jurisprudence and much else that would allow him to offer an informed view? His retort: so many people could not have been wrong. I told him to read history to see how many times so many people have gone wrong.

How exactly did Taseer blaspheme, I said, by asking that the law be rationalised or because he supported a Christian woman? There was hemming and hawing. I persisted. Does Islam forbid public discussion of laws that are man-made? Is it enough to get killed for seeking justice for someone who has been sentenced by a lower court but could well be let off by a higher one?

He got irritated. What’s the point of all this, he demanded. The point should be clear, I said. No act of violence is an act of salamati (peace). Qadri, who killed Taseer, should be tried on two counts – for murder and also for tarnishing the image of Islam itself. Moreover, how does Islam, or for that matter any moral-religious creed, allow anyone to be both judge and executioner? Under what authority did Qadri arrogate to himself the right to judge Taseer and then without giving him the benefit of defence, execute him?

No matter how one looks at it, and I have not even gone one per cent into the legal-moral-logical complexities of what happened in Islamabad that fateful afternoon more than a year ago, Qadri’s act cannot be justified; there were no extenuating grounds for his dastardly act and his supporters, frothing from their mouths, are a bunch of dangerous dimwits.

That such crowds are now to decide the fate of this country, or think they can, should make our spines tingle with fear. On Jan 4, when some rights activists like friend Marvi Sirmed went to Kohsar to hold a meeting in memory of Salmaan Taseer, a group of beards appeared, threatening to kill those commemorating Taseer. They were escorted by armed policemen. The mourners had to

disperse. The hooligans were victorious. Would the redoubtable Dr Rehman Malik, of the honorary-degree fame, in equal measure of which fame the infamy goes to the Karachi University, stand up and tell us why the police did not entertain the backsides of these beards for doing something so clearly illegal?

Let me recall. Taseer was a Pakistan Peoples Party leader. He was the PPP governor, even though he was nominated to the office by then General-President Musharraf. The last time I saw the map of Islamabad, I found Kohsar Market fairly close to the seat of the federal government. What stopped the Islamabad police from dealing with this bunch of potential murderers?

I know for a fact, and have written about it, that Rehman Malik D-infamous-Phil has been lackadaisical, to put it charitably, about nailing Qadri and his supporters. But should he get all the blame? It seems no one was prepared to stand up for Taseer, his act of bravery and his conviction except a handful of those who can see the tidings. Since Imran Khan talks about absolutisms, shunning the complexities of relativism, and since he is the rising star in this firmament, would it not have been in the fitness of things for him to give a statement to commemorate Taseer and the principle Taseer stood for?

Unless I completely missed it, and I am ready to apologise if I did, there was nothing from PTI or Mr Khan about Taseer. Of corruption Mr Khan never tires of talking and it’s good that he doesn’t, even though his assertions be rather simplistic. What about this total corruption of the religion of peace by misplaced, violent hordes, if not the corruption of the soul that seems to have entrenched itself within society in a way that leaves little to no room for

any peaceful dialogue?

Pakistan faces many challenges.

But one of the biggest is dealing with the remarkable absence of self-reflection in a rising majority that would even hound out Islamic scholars, let alone those who do not wear that badge of honour. How does a society advance itself and deal with complexities if it reduces spaces for dialogue? The Barelvi hordes that bay for the blood of anyone who wants to debate the abuse of Blasphemy Law have been killed by Deobandi hordes. Both use the principle of exclusion to kill those who want to question and argue.

It was a sad moment indeed that Qadri’s supporters gathered at the shrine of Data Sahib, the patron saint of Lahore, and demanded that which no decent society, if it wants to survive, can concede. And yet, we have seen this government constantly throw in the towel and let those who want to speak out be consumed by the hate-filled agenda of these hordes.

If the idea is to let these principles be sacrificed at the altar of petty politicking then the government of the day is deeply mistaken. Civilian governments survive in and through democracy.

Democracy is about argumentation and negotiations in a non-violent mode. How can any government survive if it allows the shrinking of the very spaces that it needs for its own ultimate survival?

Taseer is dead, in a physical sense.

But in his death he survives because of the principle he stood for. A year has passed. His family, and those of us who believe in basic human decencies, await justice.

The writer is Executive Director of Jinnah Institute. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect JI’s policy

Regional press

More attacks Daily Pashtun Post

C

hief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while expressing deep shock and grief over the bomb blasts in Landi Kotal and University Road, Peshawar the other day, said that whose agenda were the terrorists trying to fulfil by playing with innocent lives.

The bomb blast at University Road was carried out in a plaza basement through explosives planted in a motorbike, while the blast in Landi Kotal, Khyber Agency was remote controlled. The blast at University Road killed 5 people and rendered 40 others injured. It also inflicted damages to vehicles and property on the site.

It seems that certain terrorists have again resorted to violence after a period of relative calm. Abdullah Azam brigade

accepted responsibility for the Landi Kotal blast. According to media reports, Mullah Omar has asked the Taliban to focus on Afghanistan instead of Pakistan. After such reports, it was hoped that such acts of terrorism in Pakistan would comes to halt. But instead of following Mullah Omar’s directives, certain groups are still carrying out such acts. This indicates internal fissures and factionalism within the Taliban.

The government has stressed time again that those who lay down arms and accept the writ of the state will be held a dialogue with. As almost a decade of hostilities has yielded no result which is why the option of talks is being considered.

But this will also be fruitful only if the Taliban desist from carrying out acts of terrorism.

– Translated from the original Pashto by Shamim Shahid

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Friday, 6 January, 2012

Comment 13

Taliban back in the fray

GOP playing with fire

Can’t keep ’em out?

dug a hole for the democrats; may now fall in themselves

Cross Currents

By Qudssia Akhlaque

I

t is official now. Taliban will be opening their laision office in Doha, Qatar, with Tayyab Agha as their representative. Agha was a First Secretary at the Afghan diplomatic mission in Pakistan during the Taliban reign and has been the Taliban representative in secret talks with the Americans and to some extent with the Germans as well. The Bonn Agreement has, therefore, been stood on its head.

The Doha office will act as a post office when stakeholders begin negotiations to devise a workable formula for lasting peace in Afghanistan.

It is a work-in-progress. No more. Still ten years later and through a gradual process the world players seem to accept Taliban as a force to reckon with in Afghanistan. A reality that cannot be wished away.

After demonising the Taliban for a decade, the states fighting a war against the Taliban will now openly engage with them.

Even if the opening of the Taliban political office in Qatar comes as a surprise to those who believed that the Taliban were in the process of being vanquished, the policy struggle in the US eventually tilted from the Pentagon to the State Department in Washington’s new phase.

Pakistan has undoubtedly been a key player in this development which is evident by the ISI Chief’s visit to Qatar last month where apparently all this was firmed up. Even during US secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Pakistan in October 2010 and her

deliberations with senior officials here, it had transpired that US did finally see wisdom in Pakistan’s position of giving peace a chance and that there had been some change in the Obama Administration’s ‘kill-kill’ policy towards the Taliban. The continued violence and bloodshed in Afghanistan made it finally realise that the policy of advocating a dialogue with the Taliban while pursuing a ‘kill-kill’ policy on the ground had miserably failed.

The US policy of the last ten years has contributed lit-

many within the US to critique this existing Washington policy.

Just for historical recall, others who contributed in keeping the Taliban out of the Bonn process too have regretted, perhaps only a few years earlier. For example Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nation’s official who led the 2001 Bonn Conference, admitted in his 2009 interview with The New York Time journalist Barbara Crossette that if there was anything he miscalculated, it was keeping the Taliban out of the political process.

during Us secretary of state hillary Clinton’s visit to pakistan in october 2010 and her deliberations with senior officials here, it had transpired that Us did finally see wisdom in pakistan’s position of giving peace a chance. tle to peace in Afghanistan despite the fact that it cost thousands of Afghan and some American lives and billions of dollars.

To be fair to Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai, the first statement he gave upon his arrival was that he was willing to enter into a dialogue with the Taliban. But few will recall how within hours he received a public reprimand from Washington proclaiming that no Taliban were good for engagement. Later on, we heard of the good Taliban and the bad Taliban. For a decade most of Washington sought only killing and capturing of the Taliban and they may have succeeded. But the best case scenario that very few may subscribe to is that while Taliban may have been marginally weakened, the US won nothing but hate, anger and extremism in Afghanistan. It is this reporting and the rising economic problems within the US itself that have compelled

It is unlikely that the opening of the Taliban political office in Doha can ring immediate peace bells but it certainly signals a step in the direction that many have argued has greater chances of bringing lasting peace to Afghanistan. Afghanistan has been torn and destroyed in so many ways and for so long that peace-making is akin to putting together a broken egg.

It’s a tough and arduous task.

It will require time, patience and above all mutual trust among all – starting with Afghanistan, Pakistan and the US. The writer is a senior journalist and has been a diplomatic correspondent for leading dailies. She was an Alfred Friendly Press Fellow at The Chicago Tribune in the US and a Press Fellow at Wolfson College, Cambridge, UK. She can be reached via email at qudssia@hotmail.com

washington watch

By Dr James J Zogby

W

atching Tea Party radicals triumph over reasoned compromise in the Congress and Republican party candidates drive themselves rightward off the road in an effort to appeal to their increasingly hardline base reminds me of the adage we learned as children: it is dangerous to play with fire, not only because you run the risk of the blaze burning out of control, but also because you, yourself, can become the flame's first victim.

From the beginning, I worried about the consequences of the Republican Party leadership's cavalier exploitation of the animus that spawned the Tea Party. It appears that they thought the racist signs carried at "birther" rallies were cute or believed that they could harness the raw anger and fear of anxious middle class whites and direct it against the President and his programmes.

They saw the sometimes intense and even violent force of this movement as a sign of an "energised base" that would turn the tide from their humiliating defeats in 2006 and 2008. And so they opted to ride the crest of this wave of discontent and help it grow.

For a time it worked. Tea Party disruptions of Democratic congressional town meetings and incitement about "death panels" and "socialism" inflamed passions against the President's health care reform proposals. Nativist and xenophobic fears were exploited to stymie immigration reform and block

efforts to reign-in Bush-era law enforcement excesses. Islamophobia was callously used to frustrate the President's efforts to improve the US standing in the Arab and Muslim worlds, while the uncompromising and outright obstructionist mindset exhibited by the GOP repeatedly brought the government to the brink of bankruptcy in the past three years.

Stoking these embers combined created enough heat to help Republicans block change, frustrate hope, shift the blame for the US's domestic ills and foreign policy woes to the new President, thus helping the GOP capture Congress in 2010. But in the process of adding fuel to the fires of discontent, in several instances we have also seen instances where the Republican party's leadership have lost control and fallen victim to these same destructive forces that they had cultivated and unleashed. Incumbent Republicans deemed "too moderate" by the moblike base, were driven out by candidates who would have been laughable, had they not been so frightening. In safe, GOP-leaning states or congressional districts, some of these characters like Renee Ellmers (North Carolina) or Alan Watt (Florida) won, helping to create a Republican majority in an increasingly polarised House of Representatives. But in more competitive states and districts, the likes of Susan Angle (Nevada), and Christine O'Donnell (Delaware) frightened enough voters providing Democrats with the opportunity to retain seats they might otherwise have lost to more mainstream opponents.

In this year's Republican presidential primary, we can once again see how destructive this unchecked base can be for the GOP. In part because of this problem, thoughtful conservatives like Governors Mitch Daniels (Indiana) and Haley Barbour (Mississippi) declined to run, leaving the contest with what

can only be described as a perfectly bizarre field of candidates in the mix.

Thus far, polls have shown Republican voters running through or flirting with a string of "frontrunners" who never should have gotten off the ground, and wouldn't have had the chance to, were it not for this crazy GOP base. Think about it: Donald Trump? Michele Bachmann? Rick Perry? Herman Cain? Newt Gingrich? really? Look at their records (either personal and ethical, or political) and the positions they have taken (or, in some instances, felt forced to take to remain viable), and look at the volatility of the race as, one by one, the base latches onto a candidate and then in rapid succession, either burns them or casts them off. And after looking at all this, the GOP's problem with this calamitous situation becomes crystal clear.

In an effort to avoid disaster, the Republican Party’s leadership is making an effort to mobilise support for former Governor Mitt Romney.

But the establishment alone can't close the deal for Romney, whose conversion to conservatism is not convincing to the Tea Party and whose Mormon faith is a deal-breaker for many born-again Christians. And so Romney, who cannot get above 25% support from Republican voters, is not assured victory. And should he win the nomination, cannot be assured the support of the party's base.

Add to this, the chaos in Congress where the House Republican leadership is unable to control the rebellious Tea Party-backed caucus and you have a recipe for disaster for the party and the country.

The lesson in all this is clear: the GOP played with fire, and they are getting their hands burned. They unleashed a monster they hoped to turn against Democrats, but it has turned on them first.

The writer is President of the Arab-American Institute.

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14 Foreign News

Friday, 6 January, 2011

Black British politician sorry for twitter race row LONDON afp

A black British lawmaker apologised Thursday for a Twitter comment saying that white people “love playing divide and rule”, a day after two men were jailed for the country’s most notorious race murder. Labour MP Diane Abbott, the public health spokesman for Britain’s main opposition party, made the comment during a conversation about the sentencing of the white men for the killing in 1993 of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.

“White people love playing ‘divide & rule’.

We should not play their game,” she said in a tweet on the social networking site late Wednesday in response to a comment about solidarity in ethnic communities.

She added a “hashtag” -- a way Twitter users highlight topics -- which said “#tacticasoldascolonialism”. Her comment quickly sparked a storm, with her own party calling it “wrong” and lawmakers from Prime Minister David Cameron’s ruling Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition calling for her to apologise or resign. One Conservative MP, Nadhim Zahawi, said a “healthy society should not tolerate any form of racism”.

baGhdad: iraqis walk at the scene in the north baghdad neighbourhood of Kadhimiyah where twin car bombs exploded on thursday. . AFP

61 dead as Iraq bombs hit Shias g

At least 38 people killed by suicide bomber on outskirts of nasiriyah BAGHDAD afp

A

spate of attacks against Shia pilgrims and neighbourhoods in Iraq killed at least 61 people on Thursday as the country grapples with a weekslong political row that has stoked sectarian tensions.

The violence, which wounded more than 100, was the worst since 67 people died on December 22, soon after the crisis erupted when Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi was charged with running a hit squad US troops pulled out.

Unlike the December attacks, which mostly hit a variety of neighbourhoods in Baghdad, Thursday’s violence focused solely on Shias.

It was quickly condemned by Iraq’s parliament speaker Osama alNujaifi, a Sunni, as well as Iraq’s Shiite-majority neighbour Iran.

“Political leaders fight each other for power, and we pay the price,” said Ahmed Khalaf, a labourer who was near the site of attacks in the north Baghdad neighbourhood of Sadr City.

“How is it our fault if Hashemi is wanted, or someone else is wanted?

Why should we pay instead of them?”

The worst incident saw at least 38 people killed by a suicide attack on the outskirts of the southern city of Nasiriyah as pilgrims were walking to the shrine city of Karbala for Arbaeen commemorations.

“Hospitals in Nasiriyah have received 38 killed and 68 wounded,” said Hadi Badr al-Riyahi, head of the

provincial health department in Dhi Qar, of which Nasiriyah is the capital.

Arbaeen marks 40 days after the Ashura anniversary commemorating the slaying of Imam Hussein, one of Shia Islam’s most revered figures, by the armies of the Caliph Yazid in 680 AD. Five bomb attacks also struck two Shia neighbourhoods in northern Baghdad, killed 23 people and wounded dozens more.

In Kadhimiyah, car bombs exploded at around 9:00 am (0600 GMT) at adjoining intersections, said officials from the interior and defence ministries.

The blasts killed 14 people and wounded 37 others, the defence official said, while the interior ministry source put the toll at 15 dead and 31 wounded.

Several nearby vehicles and shops, as well as the facade of a newly built hotel, were badly damaged, an AFP journalist said.

“Where are the security forces?” shouted 60-year-old Ashur Abdullah at Al-Zahra intersection in Kadhimiyah.

“Where are the checkpoints? How did this happen here? The responsibility lies with the security forces.”

In Sadr City, a booby-trapped motorcycle exploded at around 7:00 am near a group of day labourers waiting to pick up work, killing seven and wounding 20 others, the interior ministry official said.

A short time later, twin roadside bombs detonated near the district’s main hospital as victims were being ferried in, killing two more people and wounding 15, the official said.

nigerian police ‘beat fuel price protesters’ KANO afp

Police on Thursday fired tear gas and beat demonstrators who staged a protest in Nigeria’s main northern city against soaring fuel prices, organisers of the rally said. Police in the northern city of Kano denied the claims, which came amid increasingly volatile protests over a government move that ended fuel subsidies on January 1, causing petrol prices to instantly more than double. Meanwhile, rights group Amnesty International called on Nigerian authorities to “immediately end excessive use of force against protesters,” with claims that police shot dead a demonstrator on Tuesday, which they also denied. Also on Thursday, a group of about 30 lawyers marched in the latest demonstration in the economic capital Lagos to denounce the skyrocketing petrol prices. Nationwide strikes are planned for next week. Protest organisers in Kano said some 300 people were wounded while 19 protesters were arrested and later released.

A Kano police spokesman said criminals had moved in to the area after peaceful protesters had left, forcing police to take action.

Murdered Indian student’s parents visit British parliament LONDON afp

The father of an Indian student shot dead in Britain pleaded on a visit to the Houses of Parliament in London on Thursday for other Indians studying in the country to be allowed to live in safety.

Anuj Bidve’s father Subhash and mother Yogini were met by British lawmaker Keith Vaz, who promised them that they would receive justice for the 23-year-old’s murder in Salford, northwest England.

A 20-year-old English man, Kiaran Stapleton, who described himself as “Psycho” in court, is accused of the murder and has been remanded in custody.

Anuj, who was studying at Lancaster University, was shot in the head at point-blank range in Salford as he walked into Manchester city centre

with Indian friends on December 26.

Vaz, flanked by Anuj’s parents, said he had promised them that once the criminal proceedings had been completed he would obtain a full account of the incident so that they could have “closure”.

“Unless they have that information there can never be closure because they simply cannot understand how this has happened,” the lawmaker said.

Vaz described the murder as a “tragic accident” and said that over the last five years, 187,000 Indian students had come to study in Britain.

“We value that relationship and we want to send out a message to those who come to study here that this is the best place in the world to study and the safest place,” Vaz added.

Fighting back tears, Subhash Bidve said: “Thank you

to everyone for the concern that everyone has about our son Anuj.

“It was really unfortunate that I lost my son, but I feel myself as a father that this should not happen again because a lot of Indian students come here for their education and they go back to their own countries.”

His father said Anuj had come to Britain to study microelectronics and had been working on a “very special project” at the time of his death.

“He was very happy staying here and doing his work and I feel it could have been a very great asset not only to India, but to the world -- that is the kind of work he was doing,” Subhash said.

The Bidves arrived in Britain on Wednesday and have seen the body of their son. They are also visiting Manchester.

london: Mother of killed indian student anuj bidve, Yogini bidve cries as she leaves the houses of parliament on thursday following a meeting with british member of parliament Keith Vaz to discuss the police case after her son was shot dead. AFP

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Arab League turns to UN for help in Syria g

Syria releases 552 prisoners ‘who have no blood on their hands’ DAMASCUS

T

afp

HE Arab League has turned to the United Nations for help after admitting “mistakes” in its Syria monitoring mission, which has come in for withering criticism for its failure to stem bloodletting.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Feltman, the US assistant secretary of state for Near East Affairs, was Thursday to hold talks in Cairo with the Arab League about the Syrian crisis, amid mounting frustration over the unrelenting violence.

His meeting comes as President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which accuses the United States of “gross interference” in Arab affairs, said it freed 552 people detained for involvement in unrest and who have “no blood on their hands.”

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, who heads an Arab League task force on Syria, on Wednesday discussed the deadly protest crackdown with UN leader Ban Ki-moon in New York, Kuwait’s KUNA news agency reported.

“We are coming here for technical help and to see the experience the UN has, because this is the first time the Arab League is involved in sending monitors, and there are some mistakes,” said Sheikh Hamad, quoted by KUNA. A UN spokesman said only that Ban and the sheikh “discussed practical measures by which the United Nations could support the observer mission of the Arab League in Syria.”

The sheikh would not say what mistakes had been made. Syrian opposition groups say the monitors have been kept under too tight a rein in the country and

that hundreds of people have been killed despite the presence of the observers.

“This is the first experience for us. I said we have to evaluate what sorts of mistakes” have been made, said the Qatari prime minister.

“There is no doubt for me. I can see there are mistakes, but we went there not to stop the killing but to monitor.”

The prime minister said it was President Assad’s job to stop the killings, which the United Nations last month put at more than 5,000 since March.

The monitors had done their best, Sheikh Hamad was quoted as saying, but they do not have enough experience.

That is why “we need the experience from the UN and we need to see how we can evaluate if they go back, how they will work.” Arab League ministers are to discuss the mission at a meeting on Saturday.

The White House has said it is “past

time” for the UN Security Council to act, as “sniper fire, torture and murder” were continuing in Syria and the Arab League conditions for the regime have been dishonoured. “We want to see the international community stand together united in support of the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney.

But the Assad regime denounced the United States for “gross interference” in Arab League affairs and “an unjustified attempt to internationalise” the issue.

And, in bid to show it was implementing the Arab peace roadmap, it on Thursday announced the release of 552 prisoners, taking to almost 4,000 the number freed since the start of November.

The official SANA news agency said “552 prisoners involved in the latest events in Syria and who have no blood on their hands were released.”

India anti-graft activist pulls out of poll campaign NEW DELHI

Suu Kyi positive on democracy ahead of Britain talks NAYPYIDAW afp

Aung San Suu Kyi said Thursday she expected to live to see full democratic elections in Myanmar, ahead of historic talks with Britain’s foreign secretary, who called for more steps towards reform.

William Hague, the first British foreign minister to visit the military-dominated nation in more than half a century, urged the release of all political prisoners before holding talks with President Thein Sein.

He was due later on Thursday to meet Suu Kyi, the Nobel peace laureate who has grown cautiously positive about the country’s future since

the installation of a nominally civilian regime after November 2010 elections.

“I think there will be a full democratic election in my lifetime, but then of course I don’t know how long I’m going to live,” Suu Kyi said in an interview with the BBC. She added that her National League for Democracy (NLD) had been officially registered, passing the final hurdle to enable it to run in by-elections scheduled for April 1.

The 66-year-old opposition leader, who could enter parliament for the first time if she goes ahead with plans to contest the by-elections, was noncommittal on the prospects of eventually running for president.

afp

India’s popular anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Thursday pulled out of plans to campaign against the ruling Congress party in key state elections due to poor health. Hazare, 74, who last year triggered a massive civil protest movement against India’s deep-rooted culture of corruption, had vowed to rally opposition to the Congress party in five states that go to the polls over the next three months. But he halted his hunger strike in Mumbai last week and has since been treated at a hospital in the neighbouring city of Pune for chest congestion and back pain. “Anna is still on medicines and he is on drip so he needs complete rest,” Kiran Bedi, a close aide of Hazare, told reporters. “Doctors are not allowing him any more fasts or exposure through travel and so he won’t be campaigning.” Hazare’s fast in Mumbai attracted far less public support than his 12-day hunger strike in New Delhi in August, which galvanised millions across the country, and many observers say his popularity has peaked.

Former Israel PM indicted for graft in property scandal JERUSALEM afp

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert was on Thursday indicted alongside a number of other people for allegedly taking bribes in a massive property scandal, judicial sources said.

The allegations stem from Olmert’s tenure as Jerusalem mayor and will add to the woes of the former premier, who is already on trial on three unrelated counts of fraud and bribery. Olmert is accused of allegedly accepting bribes to smooth the way for the construction of the huge Holyland residential complex in Jerusalem during his tenure as mayor in the 1990s.

sanaa: Yemeni protesters take part in a demonstration demanding the prosecution of Yemen's president ali abdullah saleh on thursday. AFP

Iran rails against West’s ‘economic war’ TEHRAN afp

Iran on Thursday said the West was waging “an economic war” through sanctions, after European diplomats said there was a preliminary agreement for an EU ban of oil from the Islamic republic. “The enemies of the Islamic republic’s regime, with all their tricks, have not been able to chain the nation and now they want to chain the economy,” Economy Minister Shamseddin Hosseini said, in comments carried by the official IRNA news agency. “These sanctions are an economic war against us,” he said, urging Iranians to defeat them.

At the same time, other officials played down the impact of the looming EU ban, saying demand was so high for Iranian oil that they would have no trouble selling it elsewhere.

“An indictment has been served on Olmert and others,” a spokeswoman for the courts administration told AFP.

The indictment named Olmert, his former aide Shula Zaken and his successor as mayor, Uri Lupolianski, along with several senior city hall officials, prominent businessmen and property developers.

Last March, the justice ministry said Israeli prosecutors were poised to file charges against 18 people, including Olmert, for allegedly taking bribes during the time when he was mayor of Jerusalem.

“From the evidence, it appears that a long list of public servants at the Jerusalem municipality apparently received bribes to promote the Holyland project and the interests of its developers,” a ministry statement said at the time.

Two Britons charged over weapons in Afghanistan KABUL afp

Two British men arrested in Afghanistan with 30 AK-47 assault rifles have been charged with weapons smuggling, a government spokesman said Thursday.

The men, named as Julian Steele and James Davis, were paraded at a news conference which heard that they were detained while driving through Kabul and told police they were working for a private security company, Garda World.

“The detainees did not have any documentation for carrying weapons, so we have charged them with illegal smuggling of weapons and have handed them to the attorney general for further investigation,” said spokesman Sediq Sediqqi.

“The National Police hereby also announce the dissolution of this company, and based on the order of the interior minister, the head and other officials of this company will be summoned to give account. The company has been dissolved.”

Two Afghan nationals travelling with the men were also detained. They were also shown to the media along with the weapons, but all four men stood with their backs to reporters.

KabUl: two detained british men, their driver and interpreter are presented to the media on thursday. AFP

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16

Friday, 6 January, 2012

Streep on

IN LIMELIGHT

for Thatcher film premiere LONDON afp

M

e r y l Streep took to a s p e ciallylaid blue carpet for the European premiere of ‘The Iron Lady’, the biopic of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher which could win her an Oscar.

Streep braved the drizzle to walk up the carpet, matching Thatcher's trademark blue outfits and her Conservative party's traditional colour, at the BFI Southbank in central London.

Her performance as the grocer’s daughter who changed the face of Britain has earned her a Golden Globe nomination, putting her in line to win the third Oscar of her career next month. While Streep’s acting has won acclaim, critics’ early reviews were mixed.

Times reviewer Kate Muir gave the film three stars out of five, calling it a “performance of great depth that is condemned to stay in the shallow end”.

Muir criticised the film's “emphasis on feminism over politics” which

left the Thatcher years “almost unrecognisable”.

The staunchly-Conservative Daily Mail awarded only two stars, running the headline: “An Oscar prospect, yes. But a great film? No! No! No!”, echoing one of Thatcher’s most famous speeches.

Streep downplayed the talk of another Academy Award, focusing instead on the challenge of playing the former British premier from the start of her political career to an old age

troubled by dementia.

Film critics have pointed to Streep’s bouffant hair and clothes in the role as near-perfect, and the distinctive voice which Thatcher worked so hard to perfect booms throughout the film. Streep confessed she knew little about Thatcher'’s policies before accepting the role but defended the decision to make a film about a woman who remains a divisive figure in Britain.

“That was part of what made it interesting, because people tended to look at her either as the saviour or the destroyer of the UK,” she said at the premiere. Director Phyllida Lloyd Lloyd revealed that Thatcher’s family had turned down an invitation to a public screening of the film. “We did make contact with the family some time ago to tell them what we were trying to do but they perhaps quite understandably have sort of stepped back from the whole thing.

"I can quite understand them not wanting to see it in the public gaze so we are not actually sure whether they have seen it or not,” she said.

MadRid: daniel Craig and his wife Rachel weisz and actress Rooney Mara (below) arrive for the premiere of the film ‘the Girl with the dragon tattoo’.

MUMBAI: Vidya Balan poses during the preview of her forthcoming film ‘Kahaani’ directed and co-produced

by Sujoy ghosh.

Is Barbie cosying up with the Kardashians?

LOS ANGELES ReUteRs

Celebrity magazine Us Weekly reported on Wednesday that the world's most famous doll was getting three high-profile new friends-reality TV stars Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian. Us Weekly quoted an unnamed source as saying that the Kardashian sisters, who found fame in the U.S. show ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’, will be immortalised as Barbie's pals in an upcoming limited-edition doll line. “The dolls will reflect the girls' measurements and may even come in Kardashian-designed out-

fits,” the source said. Barbie doll makers Mattel declined to comment, saying they never comment on “product rumours.” But the iconic Barbie herself, whose “careers” over the past 50 years have ranged from U.S. President to computer engineer,

said in a cryptic Twitter message on January 1 that she had a new job to look forward to. “I'm so excited to share my New Year's resolution with you dolls! I'm going to pursue a dream I've always had... to be a fashion designer!” Barbie tweeted. Kim Kardashian, who made headlines last year by marrying basketball player Kris Humphries in a lavish TV wedding and filing for divorce 72 days later, has also been dropping hints: “I'm sure we will be seeing lots of each other!

Shopping soon! Xo RT @BarbieStyle: Happy Dollidays to you too @KimKardashian! See you in 2012?”

Sonam Kapoor bashes

‘Mausam’

MUMbai: For the first time, Sonam Kapoor has spoken about what went wrong with her Shahid Kapoorstarrer ‘Mausam’. A source reveals: “the two had huge differences during the making of the film. And since it didn't work at the box-office, things became even more uncomfortable between the two with Shaks reportedly claiming that the girl didn't promote the film as well as she should have.” Sonam had the last word on the matter: “I think the pacing of ‘Mausam’ was its biggest flaw. It wasn't something young kids would like to watch,” she recently told a film magazine.

Wonder what Shahid has to say to that. aGenCies

los anGeles: actress Kristen bell arrives at the premiere screening of showtime's ‘hou$e of lie$’ at the at&t Center.

Madhuri to get

waxed at Madame Tussauds

MUMbai: Fans of the ‘dhak dhak’ girl Madhuri Dixit have another reason to rejoice. Mad’s wax statue will soon be the new highlight at Madame tussauds. the 44-year-old actress was naturally thrilled to receive the news and said it was a huge achievement for her to be recognised globally as an artiste. Soon she took to twitter to express her delight: “Madame tussauds made the announcement and I am confirming it. Will be in London in March to introduce my likeness! thanks for all your support.” the induction into the hall of fame at Madame tussauds is an honour for Mads who will join the ranks of B’wood legends such as Amitabh Bachchan, Shah rukh Khan and Salman Khan, Aishwarya rai Bachchan, Hrithik roshan and Kareena Kapoor. Madame tussauds on its part said it was thrilled to honour India’s ‘dazzling dance star.’ Officials there also revealed that the decision followed soon after being inundated with requests from Madhuri fans that she be included in their prestigious collection. the statue is to be embellished in a sari designed by Manish Malhotra.

It may cost Madame tussauds close to 150,000 pounds and its creation will also involve a team of sculptors, hair, makeup and wardrobe experts for up to four months. aGenCies

MUMbai: Hrithik roshan and Karan Johar are coming up with new ways of marketing their upcoming release ‘Agneepath’. Despite a nagging back problem, Hrithik is still gung-ho about promoting the film. He's super excited to have his fans watch his film and is going all out to make sure it's promoted on every level. He has even shot a promo for a sports channel for the India Australia series, which is now known as the ‘Agneepath Series’. the promo of the film has audiences excited and generated great buzz about the project. As part of the marketing strategy, he also launched the ‘Mandwa Samachar’, a 'newspaper' that also serves as the film's press kit and will be given to audiences across all theatres. Co-star Sanjay Dutt is equally excited and this is the first time he is actively taking a keen interest in the promotions.

With marketing whiz Karan Johar's expertise, the film is already high on buzz and is the year's most keenly anticipated release. aGenCies

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17 hollYwood: actor dennis Quaid attends the premiere of ‘beneath the darkness’ at the egyptian theatre.

Mariah Carey asks fans to

NEW YORK

for sick husband LOS ANGELES afp

CalifoRnia: singer demi lovato poses at barnes & noble booksellers while signing copies of her ‘seventeen’ magazine cover issue.

Hrithik Roshan creates a

stir

Singer Mariah Carey asked fans Wednesday to pray for her rap artist and actor husband Nick Cannon after he was admitted to hospital suffering from mild kidney failure.

Tweeting a picture of her cuddled up with Cannon in his hospital bed, feeding him a drink through a straw, the Grammy-winning artist said the situation was “serious” but said he was fighting to recover.

“Please pray for Nick as he’s fighting to recover from a mild kidney failure,” she said in a Twitter message.

Elaborating on her website, Carey joked that the situation was a role reversal from last year, when she was in hospital to give birth to their twins.

“Last year it was me attached to the machines (after having dembabies) and Nick was there with me through it, and now here we are,” she wrote from Aspen, Colorado, where the couple were on holiday when the health scare occurred. And she added: “We’re doing OK but we’re “straaaaaanded in Aspen”. #DramaticDivaPlace (I know, we could be in a lot worse places) but the truth is as long as we’re together, we’re OK. “I’m not trying to make light out of the situation because it’s a serious moment that’s very tough on all of us so please keep us and our family in your prayers.” Carey and Cannon married in the Bahamas in April 2008. It was the second marriage for Carey, whose five-year union to legendary music producer Tony Mottola ended in divorce in 1998.

bbC ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark’, written by U2’s Bono and The Edge, has taken the highest single-week takings of any show in Broadway history. The musical, which was plagued with problems from its inception, took $2.9m (£1.8m) over nine performances last week, according to The Broadway League.

The Edge said it was a “proud day” for everyone who has been involved.

The show, which cost $75m (£48m) to make, is the most expensive Broadway show to be pro-

Jobs to stay in ‘action’ SAN FRANCISCO afp

A China-based company plans to begin shipping a realistic-looking Steve Jobs action figure in February. It remained to be seen whether Apple will take to the courts to block In Icons from selling the 30.4-cen-

'Topless' Hilton

boasts of

making 1.3 billion dollars! los anGeles: While posing topless for the front cover of FHM magazine, Paris Hilton revealed that she has made more than 1.3 billion dollars in the past six years. the 30-year-old heiress, who was celebrating her return to the magazine six years after first posing for the cover, even boasted about her entrepreneurial skills. “I'm involved in my products every step of the way,” the Daily mail quoted her as saying. “My fragrances are doing really well at the moment. they've produced more than 1.3billion dollars in revenue since 2005. I have 35 stores and 17 product lines and then there's my racing team, my 14 fragrances and my new project, the Paris Hilton Beach Club chain. the first one is opening in the Philippines soon. It's going to have nightclubs, restaurants, bars, gyms, everything really,” she added. aGenCies

duced.Initially the production was beset with problems, which included injuries to some of the cast members, opening night delays, poor reviews and unpaid royalty claims.

“For all the problems, there was magic on the stage,” Bono said.

“Things did get chaotic and messy after our producer Tony Adams died. But this week’s news has us all giddy again and we are raising our glasses to Tony, to our indefatigable cast, crew, creative - and production team.”

Co-producer Jeremiah Harris admitted he and his colleague, fellow producer Michael Cohl, “came

into a very difficult situation” when they signed up.

“We’ve changed the team. We added players when we needed to.

We’ve moved some players around to different positions. And the success we’ve had here is the culmination of all those people working hard to get done what we’ve gotten done,” he said.

According to figures collected by Cohl and Harris, it is thought that half of all attendees to Spider-Man had never been to a Broadway show before. They claim the production has been seen by more than 600,000 people during the past year.

timeter (one foot) tall dolls crafted in the image of the renowned California company’s late co-founder.

An In Icons website on Tuesday featured images of the jointed figure in classic Jobs poses accompanied with quotes, including “The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” The $99 dolls depict Jobs with a closely cropped beard and his familiar round “John Lennon” style eyeglasses. Accessories available at extra cost included his trademark sneakers, blue jeans, and black turtle neck sweater. Last year, the maker of iPhones, iPads, iPods and Macintosh computers blocked the sale of unauthorised Steve Jobs bobble-head dolls made by a different company in China. Jobs died on October 5, 2011 at the age of 56 after a years-long battle with cancer.

los anGeles: Demi Moore fears that she is “not lovable” following her agonising break-up with Ashton Kutcher.

Following their separation in november, the 49-yearold actress opened up for the first time about worries over her health and dread that she is “unworthy” of love. In a searingly honest interview, she also discussed her recent dramatic weight loss, admitting she is too thin.

“What scares me is that I'm going to ultimately find out at the end of my life that I'm really not loveable,” the Mirror quoted her as saying. “that I'm not worthy of being loved. that there's something fundamentally wrong with me,” she added. the couple, married for six years, parted after it was alleged that the 33-yearold actor cheated on her a blonde named Sara Leal on the night of their wedding anniversary last September. aGenCies

Demi Moore

fears being unworthy of love

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Friday, 6 January, 2012

Impressive Clijsters motors on in Brisbane Page 20

sYdneY: Australia’s Ben Hilfenhaus (L) celebrates taking the wicket of Virender Sehwag. (Inset, r, from top) Michael Clarke celebrates scoring 300.

Michael Hussey plays a shot and paceman James Pattinson delivers a ball.

(Left) India’s rahul Dravid is cleaned up yet again. AFP

More humiliation awaits India SYDNEY

t

afp

RIPLE centurion Michael Clarke put team interests ahead of personal glory as Australia moved towards a crushing win over India in the second Test in Sydney on Thursday. Captain Clarke, unbeaten on 329, declared Australia's first innings closed at 659 for four to press for victory despite various individual milestones beckoning. After building a massive 468-run lead, Clarke called a halt to the onslaught to give his attack seven and-a-half sessions to bowl India out. He was rewarded with the key wickets of Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid as the tourists dug in to save going 2-0 down in the four-Test series.

India, who have never won a Test series in Australia, reached third day stumps at 114 for two, 354 behind, with Gautam Gambhir on 68 and Sachin Tendulkar eight. The tourists had an early stumble when big-hitter Sehwag was brilliantly plucked from the air by the athletic David Warner at point off Ben Hilfenhaus for four. Dravid's reputation as "The Wall" took another hit when he was out bowled for the third time in the series, this time by Hilfenhaus for 29. Gambhir was dropped by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin on 66 off James Pattinson in the penultimate over of the day. Clarke's selfless decision meant he passed up the chance to press on against an unthreatening Indian attack and

sCoReboaRd india, 1st innings: 191 (M.s. dhoni 57 not out, s. tendulkar 41; J. pattinson 4-43) aUstRalia, 1st innings: (overnight 482 for 4) d. warner c tendulkar b Zaheer Khan 8 e. Cowan lbw b Zaheer Khan 16 s. Marsh c laxman b Zaheer Khan 0 R. ponting c tendulkar b sharma 134 M. Clarke not out 329 M. hussey not out 150 eXtRas: (b2, lb13, w4, nb3) 22 total: (for 4 wkts declared; 163 overs) 659 fall of wickets: 1-8 (warner), 2-8 (Marsh), 3-37 (Cowan), 4325 (ponting) bowlinG: Zaheer Khan 31-4-122-3, Yadav 24-2-123-0 (2w), sharma 33-2-144-1 (1nb, 1w), ashwin 44-5-157-0 (1w), sehwag 23-1-75-0 (2nb), Kohli 8-0-23-0 india 2nd innings: G. Gambhir not out 68 V. sehwag c warner b hilfenhaus 4 R. dravid b hilfenhaus 29 s. tendulkar not out 8 eXtRas: (lb3, w1, nb1) 5 total: (for 2 wkts; 41 overs) 114 fall of wickets: 1-18 (sehwag), 2-100 (dravid) bowlinG: pattinson 12-1-40-0 (1nb, 1w), hilfenhaus 16-6-372, siddle 11-7-23-0, lyon 2-0-11-0 toss: india, Crowd: 31,644, Umpires: Marais erasmus (Rsa) ian Gould (enG), Video umpire: bruce oxenford (aUs), Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (sRi).

have a shot at Matthew Hayden's 380, the highest Test score by an Australian.

The 30-year-old now ranks fourth behind Hayden, Mark Taylor (334 not out) and Don Bradman (334) in the list of highest individual Australian Test scores. "I didn’t think about it at all," Clarke said. "I didn’t have Don Bradman and Mark Taylor’s score in my head whatsoever. "It was about trying

to get the team to a total which I thought was really good for a declaration and then get out there and try and have a crack and take a couple of wickets this afternoon. That’s all I was thinking about." Taylor earned national admiration in 1998 when as skipper he declared overnight on 334 against Pakistan in Peshawar rather than beat the legendary Bradman's highest Test score.

In a world perspective, Clarke's score ranks joint 14th among the highest Test innings behind West Indian world record holder Brian Lara's 400. Soon after batting partner Mike Hussey reached 150 and middle session drinks were due, Clarke called it quits, leaving his bowlers with plenty of time to bowl India out.

"I spoke to Huss (Hussey) just before we declared and I really wanted him to make 150, he deserved that, and once he got that and I thought once we have a 450run lead it's a good time to pull up stumps and try and get a couple of wickets tonight," Clarke said. Clarke's supreme innings surpassed V.V.S. Laxman's 281 as the highest individual score in Australia-India Tests and also overtook Bradman's 270 as the best by an Australian captain in a home Test -- a record that had stood since 1936.

The Australian skipper received a standing ovation from his hometown crowd when he eclipsed the highest score of 287 at the Sydney Cricket Ground -hosting its 100th Test match -- registered

by Englishman Reg Foster in 1903.

INDIA’S ‘FAITHFUL HUSBANDS’ NOTHING BEYOND HOME nEW dElHI: India's effigy sellers are licking their lips at the prospect of booming business as the national cricket team continue to struggle on a shambolic tour of Australia and fans back home lose patience. "Indian batsmen are like faithful husbands, they perform only at home..." model Poonam Pandey quipped on her Twitter page. Pandey's sarcasm pinpointed the grim reality about a team traditionally known as 'poor travellers', a notion Dhoni and his men did little to dispel by surrendering their top test team status in England last year after a 4-0 whitewash. "It has always been the case over the years and it's the same now," Gavaskar told NDTV channel. "If you want a resurrection of your career, play against India. If you want your highest score, play against India.

If you want your best bowling figures, play against India."

Australia captain Michael Clarke could vouch for that, having hit a career-best 329 not out before declaring the first innings in Sydney. ReUteRs

ISB 06-01-2012_Layout 1 1/6/2012 4:55 AM Page 19

Friday, 6 January, 2012

Umar Akmal eager to make century against england LAHORE

Sports 19

PCB honours Misbah’s men for glorious year

UAe conditions similar to home, says Cheema LAHORE

staff RepoRt

staff RepoRt

The camp training of the national cricket team began here at Gaddafi Stadium and the players got training from interim coach Mohsin Khan’s supervision. Batsmen including Umar Akmal had proper batting practice after his return to the national Test team. Talking to journalists here on Thursday, Umar expressed his desire to record a century against England in the upcoming series in the UAE. “The position on which I play provide fewer chances to score century but its my desire to get one against England and I am concentrating on several factors to develop my innings to three figures,” he stressed.

“My return in the team was all due to the support of the team and the team management and I would thank them by scoring for the country and bring victories,” he maintained. “All the members of the team are supporting each other and that was why the team is developing into a winning combination. This team work will surely earn them victory even against the strongest team like England,” said young Umar. “There is no limit to learning and coaching should be done at all levels of the career,” he said. He further said that with the same spirit and the hard work, the team is in a position to surprise England.

Pakistan fast bowler Aizaz Cheema has said Pakistan will have the advantage of being more used to conditions similar to those in the UAE when they take on England there later this month, reported Cricinfo. The pitches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are generally slow and batsman-friendly but Cheema said they were not too different from those in Pakistan and therefore he was confident of taking wickets on them. "Through my life I have played on similar pitches and I earned my place in the national side with the wickets I took on them," Cheema said after the second day of Pakistan's training camp in Lahore. "The conditions won't make a difference to me. I have pace but the main thing is being disciplined in my bowling. If I hit the right line and length it will be a problem for any batsman.” “I will try not to give runs in any spell I bowl and will try to take wickets. Our experience of the conditions is more than theirs because there is not much difference in the tracks in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates," he added.

Cheema only played in one of the Tests during the three-Test series against Sri Lanka in the UAE last year, with Pakistan picking two spinners for the matches in Dubai and Sharjah. He will face further competition for his place this series with Wahab Riaz, the leftarm quick, returning to the squad.

Bahawalpur, Lahore on top in Inter Academy Hockey SIALKOT staff RepoRt

Bahawalpur and Lahore lead the points table after the first round of the second PHF Inter Academy Hockey Tournament at Sialkot Hockey Stadium. But on Thursday, Sialkot, Bannu and Gojra won their matches.

Sialkot and Bannu got big margin wins while Gojra struggled for success.

Results: Sialkot beat Faisalabad 5-1 (full time), 3-0 (half time) Sialkot: Qasim Ahmed two goals 12th & 36th minutes (FG), Ali Raza 24th minute (PC), Nohaiz Zahid 26th minute (FG) & M. Ali 51st minute (PC).

Faisalabad: M. Shan 44th minute (PC).

Bannu beat Quetta 6-0 (Full Time), 3-0 (half time) Bannu: Atif 2 Goals 1st & 27th minutes (FG), Shiraz 15th minute (FG) & Jamil Baber 3 goals 39th, 58th & 59th minutes (FG). Gojra beat Abbottabad 1-0 (full time), 1-0 (half time) Gojra: Mubashar 4th minute (PC).

point table ps 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

teaMs Bahawalpur Lahore Sialkot gojra Faisalabad Abbottabad Bannu Karachi Quetta

p 7 7 7 8 8 7 7 7 8

w 6 6 5 4 2 2 1 1 0

d 0 0 1 3 3 2 2 1 0

l 1 1 1 1 3 3 4 5 8

Gf 28 20 35 12 12 7 13 5 3

Ga 9 3 7 4 17 12 16 18 49

pts 18 18 16 15 9 8 5 4 0

Gd +19 +17 +28 +8 -5 -5 -3 -13 -46

Junaid fit to play Poms LAHORE staff RepoRt

The Pakistan cricket team bound for the England series got Junaid Khan boost after the bowler passed the fitness test. JUnaid, who was nursing an ankle injury on Thursday, underwent fitness test and during that he bowled a couple of overs with a speed of 140 km. After the test, the medical team of the PCB declared Junaid fit to travel with the team to play against England.

LAHOre: the Pakistan squad with PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf during a reception to mark the glorious ride of the team in 2011. MURTAZA ALI LAHORE

T

asheR bUtt

HE Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday took a journey back to 2011 to highlight the glorious performance of the national team during the year. The evening with the national team was attended by the officials of the PCB, Lahore cricket, cricket legends from the city, big names from the corporate world attached with Pakistan cricket who especially flew to the city to attend the function arranged at a local hotel.

Even the family of Punjab governor Sardar Latif Khosa was also present on the occasion where all the players of the national team were awarded Rs 300,000 each while the support staff – the team management was given Rs 100,000.

Standing ovation was accorded to the national team that marched into the arena lit with candles while the top performers of the team carried the trophies it won during 2011.

The Pakistan team’s journey to suc-

cess during the last year started from the South Africa series in the UAE in which the they played 32 ODIs and won 24, figured in 10 Test matches with win coming in six and losing one while they played five T20 matches and tasted success in four and lost one.

“The team’s turning point towards success was the Test match that Pakistan drew against South Africa,” said Misbahul Haq. The PCB especially arranged a proper presentation and video clips highlighting the team’s performance player by player and with every presentation, the player who performed well last year was called upon the stage and was asked about his views of the past and the coming series against England. Number one bowler of the world Saeed Ajmal, top allrounder Mohammad Hafeez, middle order start Umar Akmal, the Mr Reliable Younus Khan and the most consistent batsman of the team Misbah were called on the stage and all were of the view that it was the team’s hard work and the support of those people who work behind the

curtain main reason of their success.

Particular mention was made of Shahid Afridi, who is in Australia playing for Big Bash, the resounding success of Aleem Dar and former PCB COO and captain Ramiz Raja expressed his confidence that the way the team has gelled after the spot-fixing saga, made everyone believe that they can beat even the top teams of the world. “They were noticed when they beat Sri Lanka and will be noticed the world over if they beat England in the forthcoming series. All they need to do is to transform all the anger of the 2010 and perform on the field to make the England series count suffer,” he maintained.

Concluding the evening, PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf congratulated the team for their achievements and wished them good luck in the series against England. He also mentioned his talk with Ramiz about the team’s recent performance. Appreciating the way Misbah guided the team to such a glory, he showed his confidence saying 2012 will be the repeat of last year.

Olympia, PICIC Insurance advance in BoP Polo LAHORE

staff RepoRt

Olympia and PICIC Insurance registered wins in the Bank of Punjab Lahore Open Polo Tournament being played here at the Lahore Polo Club Ground on Thursday.

Olympia had to fight for a win against Lahore Garrison while PICIC Insurance has easy-sailing against PAF Blues. Olympia managed 4-3 win as compared to PICIC Insurance’s 83 triumph.

Hamza Mawaz Khan hit three goals and Abdul Rehman Monnoo registered one for Olympia while Lahore Garrison’s three goals came from Maj Omer Minhas and Maj Nauman Wasif who shared two and one goals respectively.

In the easy ride of PICIC Insurance, Santiago Mendivil was the star of the day who with his solo effort scored seven goals while Waseem

LAHOre: the PICIC Insurance and PAF teams fight for the ball during the BoP Polo Cup match. NADEEM IJAZ Sial added the eighth goal of his team. For PAF Blues Kaiser Trimzi scored two goals with Tauheed

Ahmad getting one. Umpires for the matches were Raja Temur Nadeem and Bilal Hayat Noon.

UBL launches Students Sports Arena

Atif Bokhari and Dr Ishrat Hussain at the formal unveiling of foundation stone of the UBL Students Sports Arena.

KARACHI pR

UBL in alliance with IBA-Karachi held a ground breaking ceremony for the ‘UBL Students Sports Arena – IBA’ at the IBA university campus Tuesday. The event was a component of UBL’s support for the enrichment of education in Pakistan as part of its CSR manifesto. Through UBL’s support, IBA was facilitated in its infrastructure enhancement efforts via a grand Sports Arena comprising of international standard cricket stadium, football pitch, tennis, badminton and volleyball courts along with other facilities. The construction of this facility is being undertaken by a renowned local architect firm. In his welcome address, Dr. Ishrat Hussain, Dean and Director IBA, thanked UBL for its long term support not only to IBA but also to the cause of education in Pakistan. “The IBA’s goal is to develop well rounded individuals – people who not only know the value of a sound education but also realize the necessity of sports, exercise and team-spirit,” said Dr. Hussain. Mr. Atif R. Bokhari, President UBL praised IBA for being a premium business institution.

Inti confirms another name added to coach’s list LAHORE staff RepoRt

Intikhab Alam, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) coach-hunt committee, has confirmed that a list of six shortlisted candidates has been sent to the board’s chief in order to seek his views before calling approved names for interviews. The committee had earlier shortlisted five candidates for the position of head-coach and a list was sent to the former PCB chairman Ijaz Butt. However, a change at the helm not only delayed the appointment but also forced the committee to send in a fresh list.

Former Sri Lanka and Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, who resigned from his post at the Kolkata Knight Riders earlier this week, remains a front-runner to get the nod but Intikhab said that candidates will be

called in for interviews after the approval of Zaka Ashraf. “We held a meeting for the purpose of finding Pakistan’s new coach and we’ve finalised six candidates after going through the applications for various coaching positions of the national squad,” Intikhab told reporters here. “There will be separate coaches for the bowling, batting and fielding departments, along with a head coach and whoever is appointed will be given a twoyear contract.” The PCB has kept faith in former chief selector Mohsin Khan since the resignation of Waqar Younis, who stepped down after the tour of Zimbabwe. Mohsin, so far, has lead Pakistan to clean sweeps of two tours – against Sri Lanka in the UAE and against BD last month. Mohsin’s tenure was extended for the Test, One-Day International and Twenty20 series against England that commences from Jan 17 in the UAE.

i’ll never accept captaincy: afridi lAHoRE: Pakistan’s all-rounder Shahid Afridi has claimed that he will never accept captaincy of the team in the future after having a bitter experience of leading the team. “I won’t take the job even if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offers it to me,” he reported to have said. The veteran player stated, “After the way I was treated last year I was heartbroken and I have decided never to be the captain again and to just carry on as a ordinary member of the team and do whatever I can for the team as a senior player. I don't want to be sacrificed time and again over the captaincy issue.” Afridi was captain of the Pakistan cricket team in ODI and Twenty20 cricket until the first quarter of last year. He led the team to the semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2011, but lost to arch rivals India in a tough clash. The veteran further added, “While playing in the UAE I did my best to ensure the environment remained good and even when I was captain I used to make every effort to ensure that the dressing room atmosphere remained good.” staff RepoRt

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20 Sports

Friday, 6 January, 2012

CAPE TOWN: Imran Tahir of South Africa celebrates after bowling out Perera of Sri Lanka on the third day of the third Test. REUTERS

Writing on the wall for SL CAPE TOWN

S

afp

RI Lanka were in danger of an innings defeat after losing 12 wickets on the third day of the third and final Test against South Africa at Newlands on Thursday. Sri Lanka were 138 for four in their follow on innings at the close, still 203 runs short of making South Africa bat again.

South Africa's fast bowlers, backed by the leg spin of Imran Tahir, put Sri Lanka's batsmen under inexorable pressure after the first two days of the decisive Test were dominated by batsmen. Only six wickets fell while 729 runs were scored in the first two days but it was a complete contrast on Thursday as 12 wickets fell for 228 runs despite conditions remaining largely favourable for batting.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 239 in their first innings, with fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander taking three wickets apiece.

Philander struck again in the fourth over of the follow on when Tillekeratne

Dilshan drove loosely at a ball which moved away, edging a catch to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Lahiru Thirimanne and Kumar Sangakkara showed some fight in a second wicket stand of 67, although Thirimanne should have followed his fellow opener to the pavilion when he was on 10. He edged Morne Morkel and Boucher put down a straightforward chance. Thirimanne made 30 before he was caught at short leg off Jacques Kallis after umpire Richard Kettleborough initially gave him not out.

South Africa asked for a review and the 'hot spot' revealed a faint edge from his bat before the ball looped from his thigh pad to Hashim Amla.

Tahir gave Sangakkara a difficult time, bowling into rough outside the left-hander's off stump, before having the batsman caught at slip for 34 when he went back to a ball which bounced sharply.

Morkel claimed the key wicket of Mahela Jayawardene with the assistance of a diving catch at second slip by Kallis. Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews added an unbeaten 40 for the

fifth wicket before the close.

Sri Lanka collapsed in their first innings, losing eight wickets for 90 runs after resuming on 149 for two.

Steyn took three for 56 and Philander three for 46. Both bowled superbly on Thursday, with Steyn's figures for the day an impressive three for 16 off eight overs, while Philander was even better, his three wickets costing 12 runs off nine overs.

Steyn struck with the third ball of the day when Sangakkara sliced a drive to point without adding to his overnight score of 35.

Jayawardene and Samaraweera stayed together for more than an hour before Philander accounted for Samaraweera, who was caught at second slip for 11. Steyn came back for a second spell and had Jayawardene caught at second slip for 30 with his third ball and Mathews caught behind for a single in his next over.

Dinesh Chandimal, who made two half-centuries on debut in the second Test in Durban, hit 35 off 45 balls but the tail crumbled before he was last man out.

sCoReboaRd soUth afRiCa, first innings, 580-4 dec sRi lanKa, first innings (overnight 149-2) l. thirimanne b Morkel 23 t. dilshan c smith b imran tahir 78 35 K. sangakkara c amla b steyn 30 M. Jayawardene c Kallis b steyn t. samaraweera c Kallis b philander 11 a. Mathews c boucher b steyn 1 d. Chandimal c boucher b Morkel 35 t. perera b imran tahir 5 R. herath lbw b philander 1 9 d. prasad c petersen b philander 0 C. welegedara not out eXtRas: (b6, lb3, nb2) 11 total: (73.5 overs) 239 fall of wickets: 1-70 (thirimanne), 2-126 (dilshan), 3-149 (sangakkara), 4-184 (samaraweera), 5-189 (Jayawardene), 6194 (Mathews), 7-219 (perera), 8-220 (herath), 9-236 bowlinG: steyn 20-5-56-3 (1nb), philander 19-7-46-3, Morkel 13.5-2-74-2 (1nb), imran tahir 21-1-54-2 sRi lanKa, second innings: l. thirimanne c amla b Kallis 30 t. dilshan c boucher b philander 5 K. sangakkara c Kallis b imran tahir 34 M. Jayawardene c Kallis b Morkel 12 t. samaraweera not out 19 a. Mathews not out 28 eXtRas: (lb10) 10 total: (4 wkts, 53 overs) 138 fall of wickets: 1-12 (dilshan), 2-79 (thirimanne), 3-83 (sangakkara), 4-98 (Jayawardene) bowlinG: steyn 10-2-18-0, philander 9-2-24-1, Morkel 9-329-1, imran tahir 16-4-37-1, Kallis 7-2-13-1, smith 2-0-7-0 toss: sri lanka, Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (enG), Rod tucker (aUs), tV umpire: steve davis (aUs), Match referee: Chris broad (enG).

Pakistan’s judo Punjab Olympic officials retain their positions player Pervaiz dies LAHORE

staff RepoRt

LAHORE staff RepoRt

Pervaiz Khan, 23-year old Pakistan’s international judo player, breathed his last on Thursday and was buried in his ancestral town Tillo, Kalyas, graveyard Chardsadda.

The reason of his death was not clear as yet. Pervaiz, an Army judo player, had won silver medal in the South Asian Judo Championship, gold medal in the Inter-Provincial Games. Four months earlier, he participated in the World Judo Championship in France.

The Pakistan Judo Federation in a meeting expressed sorrow over the sad demise and termed it a national loss.

The general council of the Punjab Olympic Association on Thursday re-elected all its officials unopposed. PbOA President Syed Shahid Ali, Secretary Idris Haider Khawaja, Senior Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik and Bashir Ahmed Gul retained their positions. The general council of the PbOA met here at Syed Shahid Ali’s office and was participated by 33 affiliated units who once rested faith in the same body for another term. Other officials include six vice presidents Ch Mohamamd Shafiq (handball), Khawaja Mohammad Hassan (athletics), Zoraiz Lashari (swimming), Malik Iftikhar (wushu), Rana Mujahid Ali (hockey) and Parveen Sikandar Gill.

Associate secretaries are: Mohamamd Bashir Butt (karate), Mohamamd Yousuf Butt (boxing), Ch Mohammad Rizwan (netball), Sajid Asghar (table tennis) and Mrs Tania Malik. The

Clijsters motors on in Brisbane

general council members are Mohamamd Latif Butt, Younis Shafiq Chaudhary, Nawaz Kasuri, Mian Waqar Ahmed, Zubair Butt and Ms Kausar. Speaking on the occasion, Syed Shahid Ali said that the PbOA from its own resources is holding the Inter School and Collegiate Games successfully. “It is unfortunate that there is very little support from provincial and federal level. We are doing our best for the promotion of sports but without the government support the level can’t be lifted,” he maintained. “The country lacks corporate sector’s interest in sponsoring sports events. The government’s interest towards sports can be gauged from the fact that in the 64 years history of the country, not a single fully furnished sports gymnasium was built,” he observed. He further stated that during the next four years they would try to build a proper structure of sports in the province and encourage people who support sports. In the end Kh Idris announced affiliation for Punjab Ju Jitsu Association with the PbOA.

BRISBANE afp

Belgium's Kim Clijsters cruised into the semi-finals of the Brisbane International with a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 win over Czech player Iveta Benesova on Thursday. Fifth seed Clijsters took 78 minutes to see off Benesova, who had beaten top seed Samantha Stosur in the previous round. Benesova struck the ball beautifully at times but she was unable to reproduce the consistency she showed against Stosur to bother the four-time Grand Slam champion. "I think I was looking for the lines a little bit better and... I tried to get in charge of the rallies as soon as I could because I knew that once she gets behind the ball and gets a good look at it she's so sharp," Clijsters said. "I'm starting to feel more confident, the little ups and downs that happened in my previous matches weren't there, which is good, which is why I'm here, to get those matches and improve every match and to learn from the things that weren't going well." Clijsters will now play Daniela Hantuchova in the semi-finals after the Slovakian was handed a place in the last four when Serena Williams withdrew on Wednesday night with an ankle injury. Estonia's Kaia Kanepi caused the tournament's second upset in as many days when she dumped second seed and 2011 runner-up Andrea Petkovic from the tournament 6-1, 7-6 (9/7).

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Friday, 6 January, 2012

News 21

PPP’s decision of holding early elections gets mixed reaction g

PML-n, MQM refuse to comment while PML-Q, AnP welcome move ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

W

HILE the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) refused to make a formal comment on the Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) decision to hold Senate and general elections ahead of schedule, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Awami National Party (ANP) welcomed the move.

PML-N Information Secretary Senator Mushidullah Khan refused to

trade with Afghanistan should remain priority: Saifullah ISLAMABAD

comment on the announcement made

by Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshid Shah regarding the holding of Senate elections in mid-February and general elections at any time after June, saying the PML-N would give a formal reaction after consultations within the party.

However, another reaction coming from the PML-N was “better late than never”. PML-N Finance Secretary Sardar Ayaz Sadiq told Pakistan Today that the PPP core committee’s decision was proof of admission of failure. He said the PPP had now finally accepted

that it had failed and it would be better to hold early elections to save the system. He said the PML-N would devise its policy soon accordingly.

Senator Zahid Khan of the ANP said his party had no reservations over the decision.

Senator SM Zafar of the PML-Q said the Senate elections could be held a few weeks before the completion of the tenure of the incumbent senators.

“The newly-elected members will be delivered oath after completion of tenure of the retiring senators,” he said.

The senator said the decision reflected that the government had lost grip and wanted to get rid of the problems confronting the country as well as wanted to pacify the agitated opposition.

He said the prime minister would have to take all provincial chief ministers on board if he opted for beforetime general elections in the country.

Meanwhile, the MQM also refused comment on the decision. Nasir Jamal of the MQM told Pakistan Today that his party would not give its point of view regarding the PPP’s meeting.

Cooperation the only way forward, says Tharoor

staff RepoRt

Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Senator Salim Saifullah on Thursday said the country should boost economic relations with India but the trade with Afghanistan should remain on priority.“I am in favor of creating good relations with the neighbouring countries and Kabul is more important capital for me than Washington,” Saifullah informed the Senate committee during a media briefing on Foreign Office meeting.

The Foreign Office also informed the committee about the details of giving the status of ‘most favorite nation’ to India and conferences held between several ambassadors and about the prevailing conditions in Afghanistan.

He said fate of relations with the US, NATO and ISAF would be decided after the approval of recommendations of the national security committee by joint session of parliament.

Regarding the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, the PML leader said besides making good relations with India, Kashmir issue must remain on priority in central negotiations and the country would have to consider the feelings of the Kashmiris and about the sovereignty of the country. He suggested that a highlevel parliamentary delegation, presided by the National Assembly speaker and the Senate chairman should visit Afghanistan for good relations with the country, adding that good ties were vital for peace in the entire region.

tasnim gardezi joins PML-n LAHORE staff RepoRt

Prominent politician from Bahawalpur Tasnim Nawaz Gardezi on Thursday joined the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N), tightening the contest between major political parties in southern Punjab. Tasnim, a former minister associated with the PML-Quaid, met PML-N President Nawaz Sharif at his residence in Raiwind in the company of PML-N’s coordinator for new entrants Chaudhry Jaffar Iqbal. Apart from the Makhdooms, the Gardezis also enjoy significant influence in south Punjab from their spiritual seat in Multan. Tasnim’s entry into the PML-N is likely to influence other members of the Gardezi clan, some of which have either joined the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) or the PMLQ. Sources told that the PPP had also invited Tasnim when Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani arrived at his residence to express condolences on his sister’s death.

Tasnim was one of the prominent leaders when Nawab of Bahawalpur Salahuddin Abbasi announced to launch the Bahawalpur Awami Party in a big public meeting at his residence at SadiqGarh Palace, DeraNawabSahi.

ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

I

NDIA is genuinely committed to peaceful relations with Pakistan, which is why Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had embarked on yet another round of peace talks, Dr Shashi Tharoor, Member of Lok Sabha and former Indian minister of state for external affairs, said in Islamabad on Thusrday. Dr Tharoor was speaking at a policy discussion seminar titled “India and Pakistan: Cooperation or Conflict?” organised by the Jinnah Institute. Tharoor said Pakistan defined itself in opposition to India and while this had coloured India’s perception of bilateral issues, cooperation was the only way forward.

He asserted that Pakistanis interested in peace and regional security would definitely find willing partners in India.

Tharoor, who was the United Nations’ under-secretary general for communications and public information from 1996 to 2007 and currently represents the constituency of Thiruvananthapuram in the Lok Sabha, argued that terrorists were able to use the instruments of globalisation to drive India and Pakistan apart.

“Previously benign forces of religion and culture have become causes of conflict,” he said. Tharoor welcomed the fact

that President Zardari had been pushing for trade links with India, because it reflected how important it was for Pakistan to normalise relations with India. However, he said civilian initiatives by Pakistan were unlikely to take off because of the strategic view of the Pakistani military. Tharoor is the first among the Jinnah Institute’s distinguished speakers as part of its ongoing Indo-Pakistan Track-II engagement termed the Chaophraya Dialogue.

JI has partnered with the Australia India Institute (AII) for the Chaophraya Dialogue and plans multiple interactions between policy experts and audiences on

Obama vows US ‘military superiority’ despite cuts WASHINGTON afp

US President Barack Obama on Thursday vowed that the US military would maintain its “superiority” and bolster its presence in Asia despite planned cuts to the defence budget.

“So, yes, our military will be leaner, but the world must know – the United States is going to maintain our military superiority with armed forces that are agile, flexible and ready for the full range of contingencies and threats,” Obama told reporters at the Pentagon.

Unveiling a revised military strategy designed to reflect a more austere era, Obama said the plan called for increasing the American presence in the Pacific while moving away from large ground wars against insurgents.

“We’ll be strengthening our presence in the Asia Pacific, and budget reductions will not come at the expense of this critical region,” said Obama, in an unusual appearance in the Pentagon’s briefing room.

“As we look beyond the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – and the end of long-term, nation-building with large military footprints — we’ll be able to

ensure our security with smaller conventional ground forces,” Obama said.

The strategy review is supposed to shape Pentagon budget priorities as Obama’s administration prepares for $487 billion in defence cuts over the next 10 years.

In a politically charged election year, White House officials stressed Obama was deeply involved in the strategy review and sought to portray the president as taking a responsible approach to defence spending informed by the advice of commanders.

both sides of the border.

Tharoor’s talk was preceded by opening remarks made by Aziz Ahmed Khan, honourary vice president of Jinnah Institute and a former ambassador, who said it was definitely possible to promote a better understanding between Pakistan and India through dialogue. Ejaz Haider, executive director of Jinnah Institute, said focusing simply on Pakistan’s actions and reactions was likely to miss the point. He argued that India and Pakistan had remained locked in a conflictual paradigm and one needed to understand the dialectics of the relationship to get the full picture.

Fazl claims 35m bogus votes exist KARAcHI: Chief of Jamiat Ulema-eIslam-Fazl (JUI-F) Fazlur Rehman on Thursday alleged there were 35 million bogus voters in electoral lists and the anomaly had to be rectified. Addressing a press conference following his party's provincial council meeting, he proposed urgency for an “independent election commission” in the country. To a question, Fazl appreciated that NADRA was playing its role to weed out fake voters.

The JUI-F chief said there was a need for consensus among all political parties about any snap elections in the country and that democracy must not be allowed to be derailed under any pretext. "I do not think there is anything wrong in holding early election and I do foresee polls in 2012," he said. Early polls, he reiterated, must not be due to disagreement among different institutions of the country nor should it lead to dispute among them. “We are passing through a crucial phase and cannot allow the derailment of democracy,” he insisted. The JUI-F chief said mistakes were also committed by Nawaz Sharif and no one was perfect. He said the PML-N, as well as the JUI-F had participated in the polls conducted by the government of Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf. Fazl said he was eager for the restoration of the MMA. app

PIA airhostesses risk jobs to celebrate new year on thai beach LAHORE iMRan adnan

Two airhostesses of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) returned to their hotel in Bangkok on January 1 after skipping with friends to a Thai tourist resort a couple of days earlier.

Sources in the national airline told Pakistan Today that the female flight attendants, with initials NP and TH, reportedly went missing from their hotel room on December 29. Sources said the two airhostesses arrived in Bangkok on PIA flight PK-892, operated on the Hong Kong-Bangkok-Islamabad-Lahore route. They reached the hotel along with other cabin crew members, but secretly left the hotel later without informing anyone.

Sources said the two flight attendants were supposed to catch the returning PIA flight PK-893 on the same route.

The cabin crew, clueless about the missing stewardesses, reported to the Bangkok police after not getting any information from the hotel staff.

However, some 48 hours later and in the early hours of January 1, the two airhostesses returned to their hotel room. When enquired, they said they had gone to the tourist resort of Pattaya with friends.

Sources said the PIA management appointed its director flight operations (DFO) as enquiry officer to investigate the matter, while some intelligence agencies also took notice of the incident. When contacted, the PIA spokesman said that it was difficult to substantiate the incident offhand.

However, the management would thoroughly investigate the incident and would take necessary action under the law, he added.

US probes claim filmmaker given bin Laden mission info WASHINGTON afp

The US military and CIA are probing claims that classified information about the killing of Osama bin Laden was given to Oscar winning filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow, a Republican lawmaker said on Thursday.

Peter King, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said he requested an investigation after reports that President Barack Obama’s administration gave highlevel access to Bigelow and Sony Pictures about the raid that killed the al Qaeda leader in Pakistan last year.

“I am pleased that the Inspectors General at DoD (the US Defense Department) and the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) agree with me that potential leaks to filmmakers are something worth investigating and taking action to address,” King said in a statement.

“The leaks that followed the successful bin Laden mission led to the arrests of Pakistanis and put in danger the mission’s heroes and their families,” he added.

King included with his statement correspondence from the office of the Pentagon Inspector from last month, as well as a November dated letter from the office of the deputy director of the CIA, confirming a probe had been started.

The New York lawmaker made his original request for an investigation into the alleged leaks in August.

King’s statement added that the new Bigelow film was to have been released in October 2012, one month before a US presidential election that will determine if Democrat Obama will win a second term in the White House.

Bigelow won a best director Academy Award for The Hurt Locker, a 2008 movie about a US army bomb disposal team set during the Iraq War. The movie also won five other Oscars.

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Friday, 6 January, 2012

22

Pakistan has Chinese support on all fronts, Wen tells Kayani BEIJING

C

nni

HINESE Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on Thursday assured Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani that Beijing would support closer military exchanges between both friendly countries.

“China will consistently support Pakistan’s efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as back the country’s economic growth and improvement of its people’s livelihoods,” he said.

Wen expressed his belief that the government, armed forces and people of Pakistan will work together to overcome the challenges facing them and achieve more rapid development. In the face of complicated regional and global situations, cementing coordination between China and Pakistan and jointly meeting challenges meets the common interests of both nations, Wen added.

He said Pakistani armed forces had made important contributions toward

beiJinG: Chief of army staff General ashfaq pervaiz Kayani meets Chinese premier wen Jiabao on thursday. INP maintaining bilateral relations and boosting the China-Pakistan strategic cooperative partnership. He pledged to

support stronger military exchanges and cooperation between both countries.

Kayani, who is currently on a six-

day visit to China, expressed gratitude for China’s efforts to aid Pakistan’s economic growth and social stability, as well as China’s support for Pakistan’s efforts to maintain its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Developing the China-Pakistan strategic cooperative partnership was a cornerstone of the foreign strategies of both countries, Kayani said. Pakistani armed forces would unswervingly boost cooperation with China and firmly support China’s efforts to maintain its core interests, he said. Kayani also met Defence Minister Liang Guanglie.

“China values its traditional friendship with Pakistan,” Liang said, adding that China hoped to develop pragmatic and effective cooperation with Pakistan in the national defence arena.

Liang said the bilateral “all-weather friendship” between China and Pakistan was a strategic choice and in accordance with the fundamental interests of both nations.

Liang said China hoped to safeguard regional peace and stability with Pakistan and contribute to the security and development of the two countries.

Rumpus, walkouts hallmark of NA debate on new provinces ANP, MQM legislators enter into verbal clashes g PML-Q supports MQM, leaving ANP chief with no option but to lead walkout g

ISLAMABAD Mian abRaR

Rumpus, walkouts and exchange of harsh words between leaders of various political parties were the hallmark of the debate on new provinces in the National Assembly on Thursday with major coalition partners – the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) legislators entering into verbal clashes while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) putting their weight behind the MQM, leaving ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan with no option but to lead a walkout in protest.

Verbal attacks against each other, strong responses and clashes between the emotionally-charged members were the order of the day in the National Assembly as the House debated creation of new provinces.

Same was the case with the opposition benches as JUI-F MNA Laiq Muhammad Khan and PML-N lawmaker Captain (r) Safdar, both from Hazara, entered into an argument for Hazara province and continued the verbal clash most of the proceedings. The PML-N members also rose from their seats and protested against the debate, saying the resolution could not be discussed as it was not on agenda list.

Meanwhile, PPP legislator Zafar Ali Shah and Najamuddin Khan also staged walkouts from the proceedings.

Shah opposed debate on the pretext that it was prerogative of the provincial assemblies and this issue should not be taken up in the National Assembly while Najamuddin Khan walked out for not being allowed to speak for the creation of Malakand province.

MQM lawmakers also protested against the then chairman, Riaz Fatyana, for not allowing Najamuddin and some PML-Q members and allow-

ing Captain Safdar of the PML-N to speak for half an hour.

Earlier, a dispute started on whether or not to start a debate on new provinces on a resolution submitted by MQM lawmakers. Asfandyar said since there was no bill or resolution moved in the House, no debate could be started.

He argued that the debate was also not on the agenda. “I am not opposed to the discussion on new provinces. Please bring it to the agenda any day, we are willing to discuss it,” he added.

On the contrary, Haider Abbas Rizvi of the MQM reminded National Assembly Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi that he had taken sense of the House on Tuesday and Thursday was fixed for debate on the resolution. Rana Tanvir of the PML-N opposed the debate on the resolution, stating that since the debate was on a resolution, it was not a part of the agenda. He said the mere lip service would not help the cause and practical steps were needed to redress grievances of the people.

PPP leader Khurshid Shah also supported MQM’s views, saying since the chair had given its ruling, the House should start a debate over the new provinces. Shah said the House decided in unanimous voice to allow discussion over the issue. Leader of the Opposition in the NA Nisar Ali Khan said the party was not opposed to the new provinces and discussion on the issue.

He also questioned the role of deputy speaker for chairing the session and said the one who had personal, political or party interests in the issue, should not preside over the session during the discussion on the new provinces.

Asfandyar said the assembly was run in accordance with the rules and regulations. “The matter is not the agenda and the session’s proceedings continued on page 04

Army uninterested in removing govt, says nawaz Sharif ISLAMABAD inp

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Nawaz Sharif has said that the army was not interested in dislodging the government but the establishment was encouraging politicians to join a particular party, a veiled reference to the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaaf. In an interview with a private TV channel on Thursday, Nawaz said they had concrete proof that the establishment was sending the politicians to a specific political party, adding that the budget of armed forces and intelligence agencies should be debated and approved by parliament.

He said he did not meet the ISI director general and the chief justice of Pakistan, but said he was confident that the judiciary would not deliberately dismiss the government. However, Nawaz said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had been meeting the chief of army staff in national interest. The PML-N president said he had moved the Supreme Court on the memo issue after getting disappointed by parliament. He called for a thorough investigation into the memo issue as it related to national security.

Nawaz said he was not opposed to the creation of new provinces on administrative basis and was in favour of Hazara province. He warned against the creation of provinces on linguistic basis, saying if that was done, the situation would go out of hand.

ttP releases 17 hostages KHAR afp

peshawaR: Relatives mourn over a soldier’s coffin during a funeral ceremony on thursday. the bodies of 15 members of frontier Constabulary were found on January 5, almost two weeks after they were kidnapped from a northwestern town. AFP

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Thursday released 17 people after over three months of captivity, who mistakenly crossed the border into Afghanistan, officials said. More than 30 young people aged between 20 and 30 were kidnapped from the Bajaur Agency during Eidul Fitr in September 2011. “Today, Taliban has released 17 of them, some 8-10 are yet in their custody,” Bajaur Agency official Islam Zeb told AFP. Zeb said the boys had been abducted by a militant group allied with Taliban commander Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, who led insurgents but is believed to have fled to Afghanistan in 2010. “They have been freed unconditionally,” he added. Another senior official, Tariq Khan, also confirmed the release.

ICRC official abducted in Quetta QUETTA shahZada ZUlfiQaR

Unidentified gunmen abducted Khalil Ahmed Dale, a British national and staff member of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), from inside the security zone in provincial capital Quetta on Thursday.

According to details, a team of ICRC, including Health Programme Manager Khalil Ahmed Dale, was returning to office after visiting local hospitals when some unidentified armed men intercepted their official vehicle and asked the driver to open the door locks. One of the team members Dr Ahmad, a local doctor, asked the driver not to resist.

“The armed men pounced upon Dale and dragged him out of the car and into

a waiting SUV before driving away in the direction of the airport,” the DIG (Operations) told reporters.

The team was hardly 200 meters away from its office in Chaman Housing Scheme when the incident took place, an ICRC staff member said on the condition of anonymity. He said Dale, who must be around 60, was Scottish and had been serving the people of Balochistan for the last one year.

Police officer Nazir Kurd said police and other security forces deployed on all exit and entry points around city had been put on alert. It is the second incident of kidnapping of a foreigner in Quetta.

In the previous incident in the same area, American John Solecki, head of UNHCR Quetta office, had been kid-

napped while his driver Syed Hashim was killed by militants of the Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF) on February 2, 2009. However, he was set free in April that very year.

Police have registered a case and started investigation.

Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani strongly condemned the incident and directed police to make all efforts for Dale’s early and safe recovery.

On the other hand, the ICRC announced to continue its humanitarian work in Pakistan despite the abduction and called for a rapid and unconditional release of its staff member. The ICRC currently has no indication of the abductors’ identities or motives. Dale’s family was informed immediately, it said.

Published by Arif Nizami for Nawa Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd. Printed by Ghulam Akbar, AA & NHT Group, Plot 24, Shalimar Road, Lilly Market, Soan Garden, Islamabad.