e-paper pakistantoday 19th april, 2012

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Parliament can undo SC sends convert any SC decision, girls ‘to places of says Aitzaz Ahsan their choice’ PAGE | 03

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy makes it to Time’s 100 Most Influential People list

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Rs 15.00 Vol ii no 292 22 pages islamabad-peshawar edition

No pardon for Babar Awan: SC

thursday, 19 april, 2012 Jamadi-ul-awal 26, 1433

Time to focus more on development: Kayani g

ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to accept former law minister and PPP leader Babar Awan’s unconditional apology and hinted at framing contempt charges against him today (Thursday). A two-member bench comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Ather Saeed observed that if contempt charge was framed against Awan today (Thursday), it should be considered that his apology was rejected. During the hearing, Babar Awan was also present in the courtroom. Ali Zafar, counsel for Babar Awan, contended that when an accused tendered unconditional apology, the contempt proceedings were terminated. But the court did not immediately accept the contention of Ali Zafar and noted that it was always the discretion of the court to accept or reject the apology keeping in view the nature of the contempt. Zafar told the court that he wanted to advance some arguments on the apology thus his client may not be indicted today (Wednesday) and the matter may be adjourned for Thursday.

Continued on page 04

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CoAS says ‘peaceful coexistence’ with india vital for welfare of people of both countries President Zardari, CoAS visit Siachen to examine avalanche rescue operation SKARDU

C SKARDU: President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani arrive at the Skardu Airport for a visit to Gayari sector in Siachen on Wednesday. online

What 42 ministers couldn’t do, these 11 will Kaira named information minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf given iT Ministry g

PM convinces Zardari of letting him choose his ‘dream cabinet’ g

Zardari wanted Raja Pervez made power minister to send strong signal to judiciary g

ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt

After a week-long discussion over the allocation of portfolios to 11 newly-inducted ministers, the Pakistan People’s Party leadership on Wednesday appointed Qamar Zaman Kaira as the minister for information and broadcasting by replacing Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, who has been given the charge of the Ministry of National Regulation and Services.

The move reflects the PPP leadership’s desire to accommodate most of its mainstream leaders in the cabinet in the election year so that they could not only perform but also accommodate

their voters and supporters enabling them to win the next election.

Kaira had held the Information Ministry earlier as well, but was replaced by Firdous Ashiq Awan. His comeback shows that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has been successful in convincing President Asif Ali Zardari to allow him to select his dream-team of ministers. PPP insiders have suggested that the president wanted information ministry for Farzana Raja and for the same purpose, she had been administered an oath, but the idea was dropped after Gilani convinced Zardari that Kaira should be the main player in his media team.

Continued on page 04

AGenCieS

HIEF of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani on Wednesday said he would like to see the country spend less on defence, arguing that national security depended on development as much as on protecting borders.

The COAS accompanied President Asif Ali Zardari during his visit to Siachen to express solidarity and to monitor the search and rescue efforts which are underway at the site where Pakistan Army soldiers are buried in an avalanche.Talking to reporters at Skardu airport, General Kayani said “peaceful coexistence” with arch-rival India was vital to both countries and the welfare of the people should be a priority.

“Peaceful coexistence between the two neighbours is very important so that everybody can concentrate on the well-being of the people,” he said.

Kayani said soldiers would do their duty come what may, but defending borders should not be the country’s sole priority.“We in the army understand very well that there should be a very good balance between defence and development. You cannot be spending on defence alone and forgetting about development,” he said. “Ultimately the security of a country is not only that you secure boundaries and borders but it is when people that live in the country feel happy, their needs are being met. Only in that case will a country be truly safe.” He said national security should be a comprehensive concept. “And therefore we would like to spend less on defence, definitely,” he said. “Any country should do the same – more focus should be on the welfare of the people.”

Continued on page 04

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02 News Today’s

Thursday, 19 april, 2012

ISlaMabaD

nEWS

Health care staffer attempts suicide

Shahbaz responsible for load shedding in Punjab: elahi

Story on Page 07

Story on Page 05

caRToon

Quick look

Page 13

Drugs scandal: PM asks son to return home for investigations ISLAMABAD nni

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has reportedly asked his son, MNA Ali Musa Gilani, to cut short his visit abroad and return to Pakistan to join investigations into the chemical scandal, a private TV channel reported on Wednesday.

According to reports, Musa is currently in South Africa for his honeymoon. Musa has been served summons by the Supreme Court along with PM’s Principal Secretary Khushnood Lashari in a chemical import case involving illegal sale and distribution of substance. On April 12, PM Gilani condemned what he called a ‘malicious campaign’ against his son, and took his cabinet into confidence about the case probe. The prime minister said Musa had been allegedly involved in issue of allocating drug quota, claiming that various inquiries conducted by the departments, including one by the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, made no mention of influence exercised by him in its findings.

HR body seeks in-camera briefing on Shia killings ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt

Directing the Interior Ministry, Intelligence Bureau (IB) DG and ISI chief to separately brief it in-camera over the issue of Shias’ targeted killings, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday observed that some hidden forces were responsible for the killings in various parts of the country.

The meeting of the committee, which was held under the chairmanship of Riaz Fatyana, was of the view that recent killings of Shias in particular parts of the country were not the result of sectarian clashes, but some “third force” was targeting Shias to create law and order crisis in the country. He said clerics of both sides were in agreement to restore peace in Gilgit-Baltistan, Dera Ismail Khan and Quetta.

The main motive behind the killings was to disintegrate the country, the committee members observed. They said law enforcement agencies, police and intelligence agencies had completely failed to control such incidents and identify the culprits.

Raisani likely to join PTI ISLAMABAD nni

After parting ways with the ruling PPP, Lashkari Raisani is likely to join the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI). Quoting sources a private television channel reported that Raisani might announce the decision during a PTI rally which is going to be held in Quetta on April 20. Raisani on Tuesday tendered resignation from his Senate seat and party membership over what he called the ruling party’s ignorance towards Balochistan’s issues. Raisani, who was also PPP’s Balochistan president, submitted his resignation in the Senate Secretariat after holding a meeting with Upper House chairman Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari. The PPP leader apprised the Senate chairman of his motives behind the resignation, adding that he cited government’s failure in redressing concerns of the Baloch people and lack of party attention towards him as reasons behind his resignation. Taking to reporters, Raisani expressed disappointment over PPP’s role in tackling the Balochistan unrest.

“Neither is the coalition government taking any serious steps for peace in the province, not have I attached hopes with parliament and the judiciary for the justice.”

iSLAMABAD: A policewoman scuffles with a lady health worker during a protest outside the national Press Club on Wednesday. STAff PhoTo

SC sends convert girls ‘to places of their choice’ g

Says Hindu girls who converted to Islam were sui juris, fully capable of deciding their future ISLAMABAD

T

StAff RePoRt

HE Supreme Court on Wednesday directed police to take three Hindu girls who embraced Islam to places of their own choice and provide them full security.

A three-member bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez ordered this while hearing a petition coupled with civil applications filed by Pakistan Hindu Council, making Pakistan through the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry as respondents.

The police produced the girls before the court.

After hearing the counsel for the petitioners and the respondents in the case, the court held that the girls were sui juris and were fully in a position to decide about their future. The court noted that the girls had been provided pressure free atmosphere and neither the parties were allowed to meet them.

Comdr Shaukat, Sain Rakhio Mirani and Dr

Ameer Sheikh, DIGs of Karachi (South), Larkana and Sukkur, respectively, along with other police officials also appeared before the court on notice.

The court directed the Karachi (South) DIG and Sukkur DIG to take the two ladies in safe custody to the places of their own choice and wherever they wanted to stay.

The court further directed the two DIGs to provide protection to the ladies in terms of Article 9 of the constitution, as it was the duty of the state to provide them protection.

The court in its short order said that Ms Aasha, who after conversion to Islam was known as Haleema Bibi, belonged to District Jacobabad and she was also a sui juris and could not be compelled to accompany someone against her wishes.

The court directed Sain Rakhio Mirani, the Larkana DIG, to take Ms Aasha in safe custody to the place of her own choice because Jacobabad district also fell within the Larkana range and provide her protection.

The court noted that the matter to the extent of these ladies stood disposed of. However, the court adjourned the main case to a date to be fixed after two weeks for filing of reply of the petitioner.

The court also directed the police officers take the ladies to the Registrar’s Office and in his presence, willingness of the ladies regarding the places of their choice and they be taken to those places accordingly.

The court further directed the police officers to submit their reports, about the places where the ladies wanted to go, to the registrar by today (Thursday).

The court also directed the police officers that after Thursday, they would be required to continue submitting fortnightly reports over the matter.

On the last hearing held on March 26, 2012, Ms Rinkle Kumari and Dr Lata, who have been named Faryal Bibi and Dr Hifza, respectively, after their conversion to Islam were produced before the court.

The court after observing certain proceedings, had allowed both the ladies to stay in PANAH Shelter House, Karachi, being maintained by Majida Rizvi, a former judge of the Sindh High Court, with a view to provide them pressure free atmosphere, and being adult, to decide about their future.

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Thursday, 19 april, 2012

foREIgn nEWS

aRTS & EnTERTaInMEnT

SPoRTS

‘Death or freedom only possible outcomes of trial’

Veena Malik to go ‘ooh la la’ for ‘the Dirty Picture’ remake

B’desh tour will revive cricket: Zaka

News 03 coMMEnT failure in Balochistan Shameful

DCC meeting

Parliamentary review process

Khawaja Manzar Amin: Final destination?: Lahore’s public transport: Not for the faint-hearted

Dr James J Zogby: American intrusion: We come bearing democracy

Zubair torwali: My education, my language: The importance of mother tongue instruction

Story on Page 15

Story on Page 17

Story on Page 18

articles on Page 12-13

Parliament can undo any SC decision: Aitzaz ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt

A

ITZAZ Ahsen, counsel for Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in the contempt of court proceedings against him, on Wednesday said parliament enjoyed the authority to undo or reverse any decision of the Supreme Court and bring amendment in the constitution.

Talking to reporters after adjournment of the

Bin Laden family’s deportation from Pakistan delayed ISLAMABAD SALMAn ABBAS

Even after the completion of their imprisonment period of 45 days, the family members of al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden including his three widows and eight children could not be repatriated to the respective countries – Saudi Arabia and Yemen – due to a delay in the completion of their travel documents.

The lawyers for Bin Laden’s family on Wednesday said the passports of the widows and children were not ready due to which their repatriation had been delayed.

On April 2, a civil court of Shahrukh Arjumand indicted the adult members of bin Laden’s family to a 45-day imprisonment along with fine of Rs 10,000 each and the period of their imprisonment had ended on April 17.

“Bin Laden’s family was expected to be repatriated on Tuesday night but delay in completion of their travel documents resulted in the delay of their departure,” new lawyer for Osama’s family, Atif Ali Khan told reporters. Zakarya Ahmad Abd al-Fattah, brother of Osama’s Yemani wife, who has been campaigning for their release, fired the previous lawyer, Mohammad Amir Khalil, for making unauthorized statements to the media.

The adult family members who were handed over sentence included three widows namely Amal Ahmad Abdul Fatheh, Silham Sharif, and Kharia Hussain Sabir, and two daughters, Maryam and Sumiya.

The court at time of its decision also directed the government to arrange necessary documents for the earliest repatriation of the Osama’s family members, so that they can go to their own country’s —Saudi Arabia and Yemen – after completing their imprisonment.

Some media reports claims that the government has yet to provide names of Osama’s family to the embassies concerned so that they can proceed further in this regard. However, on the other hand Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that the government has written letters to the concerned embassies but they have got no response from the embassies so far due to which the family of Osama could not be deported.

The lawyer for the Osama’s family said the travel documentation was underway and it would be completed soon. He said the Saudi and Yemeni embassies were in contact with the Foreign Ministry in this regard, and a final decision about the place of departure of the widows and children would be taken after getting NOC from the competent authority for their repatriation.

contempt case at the Supreme Court premises, Aitzaz said the judges who framed contempt charge against the premier could not hear the contempt case.

He said the Supreme Court’s decision would be implemented in letter and spirit.

Aizaz said when Asif Ali Zardari would not be the president of Pakistan‚ letter should be written and law should be fully exercised.

He said the president was a symbol of the federation and no one would like to humiliate a pres-

ident.

To queries, he said being a sovereign forum, the parliament could undo any judicial decision, besides amending the constitution. He said the parliament could also reverse the court’s decision by bringing an amendment in the constitution.

He dispelled the impression that the prime minister was only defending the office of the president.

To a question, he said he was not employing delaying tactics to give the case undue length.

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04 News

Thursday, 19 april, 2012

india readies for long-range 42 miniSTerS missile test Continued fRom page 1

NEW DELHI AfP

India on Wednesday prepared for the first trial of a long-range nuclear-capable missile that could strike anywhere in China — Delhi’s main focus as it strives to modernise its military.

An official at the test monitoring station in the eastern state of Orissa told AFP that the maiden flight of the Agni-V rocket, which has a range of 5,000-kilometres (3,100-miles), was expected later Wednesday.

“Final preparations are

going according to the plan and the launch window opens today through to Friday,” the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) official added.

A successful test of the domestically-developed AgniV would be a major step for India, which is increasing its defence capabilities and spending billions of dollars modernising its military.

The rocket, which will blast off from an island off the coast of Orissa, would be able to strike targets across China, the rest of Asia and even parts of Europe,

experts say. India has long had missiles capable of striking across Pakistan. The earlier version of its Agni series has a range of 3,500 kilometres, while the new missile would cover the whole of China. Only China, Russia, France, the United States and Great Britain have full-scale intercontinental ballistic missiles, and the launch would take India closer to joining the elite club. DRDO chief Vijay Kumar Saraswat told the NDTV new channel that the new missile would reinforce India’s status as regional power.

“It gives us a great edge be-

cause our coverage extends to wide boundaries... in terms of technology, we are now competing with the best in the world,” Saraswat said. The Agni-V, named after the Hindu god of fire, weighs 50-tonnes and is 17metres (56 feet) high. It could be armed with a one-tonne nuclear warhead, according to officials.

India boosted military spending to $40 billion in its last budget, and is the world’s largest importer of military hardware with Jane’s Defence Weekly forecasting its total purchases between 2011 and 2015 will top $100 billion.

no pardon Continued fRom page 1 The court then adjourned the hearing for today (Thursday) hinting at framing charges.

Earlier on April 10, the court had adjourned until April 18 contempt of court proceedings against Babar Awan after indicating that his unconditional apology would be considered in his presence.

The court had taken suo motu notice against Babar Awan’s contemptuous address at a press conference held at the Press Information Department on December 2, 2012 after initial order of a larger bench on the memo issue.

On April 9, 2012, an application seeking exemption from personal appearance before the Supreme Court in contempt of court case was filed

by Babar Awan through his counsel Ali Zafar.

Zafar had contended in the application that his client intended to have medical check up during his recent visit to India until April 17, thus he may be exempted from personal appearance on medical grounds. On April 2, due to unavailability of Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq, the court had adjourned the hearing in the contempt of court case against Babar Awan and fixed April 10 for framing contempt charges against him. Awan and some other federal ministers had launched a tirade against the Supreme Court at a press conference soon after it had ordered an inquiry into the memo issue by Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) former director general Tariq Khosa and had attacked the family of a sitting judge of the apex court for being brother of Tariq Khosa.

The return of Kaira and Samsam Bukhari also indicates that the government’s media team had failed to deliver and this duo would now build its image in election year.

Moreover, sources said Zardari wanted to appoint Raja Pervaiz Ashraf as the Water and Power Minister to send a strong message to the superior judiciary, but Gilani again prevailed and gave Ashraf another “lucrative” portfolio of Ministry of Information Technology.

Per the announcement, the main character of the infamous rental power project scam, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has been appointed the IT minister. His appointment has also raised eyebrows as the apex court has already directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to take action against him.

Moreover, the IT Ministry is all set to announce auctioning of 3G licences, which are likely to bring billions of rupees.

Former law minister Maula Bux Chandio has also been accommodated and has been made the Minister of Political Affairs, a new ministry that has no office or secretariat.

Nazar Muhammed Gondal has been

given the important office of the minister for Capital Administration and Development (CADD).

Rana Muhammad Farooq has been made the Minister for Climate Change, another ministry with no secretariat.

The portfolios of the state ministers have also been announced, according to which Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi has been made the state minister of water and power.

Sumsam Ali Bukhari will function as the state information minister, the post he supervised previously.

Sardar Moazzam Jatoi, nephew of Qayyum Jatoi, will work as the state minister for national food security, while Dost Muhammed Mazari has been named the state minister for telecommunication.

Sardar Saleem Hyder will take up Defence Affairs as a state minister, while Abbas Khan Afridi will oversee the Commerce Ministry.

Malik Imad has been made the state minister for Foreign Affairs and Rahila Baloch has been handed the state Ministry for Science and Technology.

Imtiaz Safdar Waraich has become the minister of state for interior affairs.

No portfolio has been given to Farzana Raja, who is the chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme.

Zardari was not president Continued fRom page 22

KaRacHI: Men mourn the death of their relative after a firing incident at a hotel in north nazimabad on Wednesday. online

Time to focus FROM PAGE 01 Later, the president was given a detailed briefing by Force Command Northern Areas (FCNA) Commander Major Gen Ikramul Haq about the rescue activities being carried out. The president praised the efforts that were being made by the Pakistan Army in this regard. While paying glowing tributes to the valiant soldiers, Zardari said the “entire nation is indebted to these sons of the soil and prays for them from the very core of their hearts”. He said all available resources would be utilised to expedite the operation in view of any possible snow slides due to temperature rise and that the Presidency be kept informed about the progress in the rescue operation.

labourers slash their arms in protest against police LAHORE StAff RePoRt

Three young labourers injured themselves badly after cutting their skin with blades in a protest outside Mozang Police Station after being disheartened by the police’s refusal to register a robbery case on Wednesday.

The injured young labourers were identified as Mubashir, Murtaza and Waqar. The labourer while talking to reporters said some unidentified robbers had snatched mobile

phones and cash from them on gun point late on Tuesday night.

They claimed that four cops of Lahore Police were patrolling the area but none of them had intervened.

The injured labourers claimed that later, they reached the Mozang Police Station to report the incident but the officials threw them out of the police station and they had cut their skin in protest.

No action had been taken till the filing of this report.

Aitzaz, however, contended that as long as Zardari remained the president, a letter could not be written.

“By writing a letter to Swiss authorities we would acknowledged that cases are there,” Aitzaz said, adding that the president could not be subjected to a foreign country.

He contended that it would be a great disgrace for the country if a head of the state was subjected to foreign laws.

“When Asif Ali Zardari is no more president, you can sentence him, but right now he has international immunity in all criminal and civil mat-

ters,” Aitzaz said.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa recalled that during the proceedings of the federation review, they had asked Babar Awan to convince the court on the issue of Swiss cases, but he could not and now it had been stressed that the issue be delayed until the decision of the contempt case.

“All the doors and windows were quite open during the review proceedings, but despite that, the federation failed to convince the court on the Swiss cases issue,” Justice Khosa added.

He asked the lawyer whether any letter was written if any Swiss national was involved in the instant case.

1 0 kil l e d Continued fRom page 22 a hotel near Pahar Ganj roundabout in Shar-e-Noor Jahan police limits, killing the hotel owner, Allah Dost, his son and a worker, Muhammad Abbas.

The North Nazimabad SP said it was an incident of targeted killing.

Meanwhile, two dead bodies were found from Memon Complex area of North Nazimabad.

Vice Principal of Jinnah Polytechnic Institute, Imran Zaidi, was also killed when unidentified people opened fire on his car near the Matric Board Office late on Tuesday.

A guard was killed in SITE area of the city when

Aitzaz, however, replied that the Swiss accused made a plea bargain. At this, Justice Khosa said should they not demand back the looted money.

At one point, Justice Khosa said that as several issues were discussed, he wanted to say that there was a difference between Pakistani cases and Swiss cases, adding that the issue at hand related to kickbacks, while the Swiss issue related to money laundering.

Aitzaz said the cases in the country were closed on merit.

Meanwhile, the court asked Aitzaz to conclude his arguments by today (Thursday) and adjourned the hearing. unidentified people hit him with a rod on his head.

A woman was shot dead and her husband injured for offering resistance during a car-snatching bid near Jheel Park in Tariq Road area.

Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan has taken notice of the current violence in the city and directed Sindh Additional IG Akhter Gorchani to report to him regarding the incidents.

Afghanistan’s Taliban appeal for donations ‘Harassed’ by screening at US Zardari condoles with KABUL AfP

Afghanistan’s Taliban appealed Wednesday to the Muslim world for donations for their insurgency in a rare move that analysts said was part of their media war.

Complete with telephone hotlines and email addresses, the appeal was posted on a Taliban website asking Muslims worldwide to help the rebels in what they say is a “Jihad”, or a holy war, against non-Muslim “invaders”.

The Taliban were in power between 1996 and 2001 but were toppled in a US-led invasion after refus-

ing to turn in Osama Bin Laden, the leader of AlQaeda wanted by Washington for the September 11, 2001 attacks on US cities.

Since being ousted, the remnants of the militia have waged a bloody insurgency.

“In the light of Islamic sharia, all Muslims everywhere are duty-bound to join the Jihad with money and soul,” the militant group said.

The Taliban “are still waging legitimate Jihad single-handedly with mere help from common sincere Islam-loving masses and is in dire need of financial assistance from the Muslim

brothers worldwide for its military and non-military expenditures,” it added.

The appeal appeared to be part of the rebels’ “media war”, a move to show their campaign is supported by the masses, said analyst Abdul Waheed Wafa.

“I think it’s part of the Taliban propaganda war,” Wafa, director of the Afghanistan Centre, a research body at Kabul University, told AFP. “They are trying to show that their Jihad is supported by the people and their funds are coming from the people,” Wafa added.

According to Western and Afghan intelligence most Taliban funds are generated from Afghanistan’s multi-billion dollar opium production, the raw material for making heroin.

Afghanistan produces more than 90 percent of the world’s opium.

The nation’s Westernbacked government also accuses neighbouring Pakistan’s intelligence agencies and radical groups of funding the Taliban insurgency, mostly a campaign of suicide attacks and other bombings.

Pakistan denies the allegations.

airport, man strips naked NEWS DESK A man stripped naked at Portland International Airport in a novel protest against US airport security screeners, amid growing public resentment over tough security checks in the country, CNN reported.

The 50-year-old man identified later as John E Brennan said he felt that airport screeners were “harassing” him, CNN reported quoting Oregon police where the incident happened.

Police charged Brennan with disorderly conduct and indecent exposure after he

disrobed while going through the security screening area at the airport Tuesday night.

Taken aback by the exposure, passengers covered their and their children’s eyes, while others looked away. But some took it sportingly and even took pictures.

Following the streaking, the airport authorities had to close two screening lanes.

“When interviewed about his actions, Brennan stated he fly’s (sic) a lot and had disrobed as a form of protest against TSA screeners who he felt were harassing him,” a police said.

Karzai over afghan attacks ISLAMABAD AGenCieS

President Zardari telephoned Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday evening and condemned Sunday’s militant attacks on parliament building and embassies in Kabul and in other parts of the country.

President Zardari said peace in Afghanistan was critical for peace in Pakistan and that Pakistan would support all Afghanled peace initiatives.

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Thursday, 19 april, 2012

News 05

Shahbaz responsible for load shedding in Punjab: elahi LAHORE

P

StAff RePoRt

AKISTAN Muslim LeagueQuaid (PML-Q) leader and Senior Federal Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi has said that the so-called “Khadim-e-A’ala” was responsible for electricity load shedding in Punjab.

Speaking as the chief guest at the oathtaking ceremony of newly-elected officebearers of All Pakistan Pottery Manufacturers Association in Gujrat, Elahi said by opposing the Shujat Formula in the Energy Conference, Shahbaz had estab-

lished he was not sincere to the people of Punjab. He maintained that if the Shujaat Formula was sincerely implemented, electricity load shedding would be eliminated from the country immediately. He said if Punjab was the elder brother, then it should make its contribution and pay the money for ending the electricity load shedding. He said the rulers of Punjab were not shouldering their responsibilities and instead inciting the people against the federation. The PML-Q leader said they were holding demonstrations against electricity load shedding but not ready to implement the Shujaat Formula presented for elimination of this menace from the country.

Elahi said the Punjab government had totally failed, as in his tenure, doctors were returning to Pakistan from the US and Saudi Arabia and under the present government, doctors were out there on roads on strike and protesting and there was none to look after the patients. “We had given free medicines for patients in the emergencies of the hospitals and they have snatched even that facility from the patients,” Elahi said, adding that Shahbaz should compare his four-year rule with his tenure and the difference would be clear and visible. He said that the present government of Punjab instead of carrying forward wel-

fare projects launched during his tenure, closed down all such projects aimed at the welfare of the people.

Recalling various welfare works launched for the welfare of the people during his tenure, Elahi said his government provided 1122 Emergency Service, established Cardiology Hospital at a cost of Rs 3 billion in Wazirabad and were generating employment opportunities for 12,000 people every year, but the people of Punjab were now committing suicides due to persisting and mounting unemployment. He said the crime rate in the province had increased by 33 percent, which was an ample proof of failure of the government.

fiA officials cry foul for being excluded from seniority list ISLAMABAD SALMAn ABBAS

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general and interior secretary on a petition filed by five FIA assistant directors. The petition sought the court’s intervention in the matter of seniorities awarded to the FIA officials by the authorities. The court had already given a stay order for the case of the up-gradation of 90 FIA assistant directors. However, the petitioners, who joined the FIA two decades ago, said the FIA has issued an illegal seniority list of its official which jeopardised their seniorities. They stated that many junior officials, who had been working as their subordinates, had been given seniority over the petitioners. A single-member bench comprising of Justice Noor-ul-Haq Qureshi was hearing the case filed by the assistant directors through their counsel Advocate Safdar Shaheen Pirzada. The petitioners cited the Federation of Pakistan Interior secretary and FIA DG as respondents.

The petitioner’s counsel told the court that the investigation agency prepared a seniority list of assistant directors on July 20th 2009, according to which his clients were eligible for being granted seniority.

However, according to a revised list issued on January 20th, 2012, the petitioners were declared ineligible.

Pirzada said not awarding the petitioners seniority had destroyed their careers.

They requested the court to direct the respondents to declare the seniority list of July 2009 as final and conclusive instead of the list circulated during January 2012. In another case, IHC Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan on Wednesday once again issued notices to opposition leader and National Assembly Member Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in a Rs10 billion libel suit filed by the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) for damaging the repute of the organisation.

4 bonded labourers recovered from PMl-n MPa’s ‘jail’ in faisalabad

GAYARi: A soldier works with a sniffer dog to search for avalanche victims during an ongoing operation at Gayari camp near the Siachen glacier on Wednesday. AfP

NATO allies thrash out Afghan troop withdrawal BRUSSELS AfP

The United States and its 27 NATO allies closed ranks Wednesday to ensure an orderly troop withdrawal from Afghanistan over the next two years as Australia became the latest nation to declare its pullout. Foreign and defence ministers met in Brussels for rare talks to discuss Afghan strategy and the size and funding of Afghan security forces once foreign combat troops have left.

The talks aimed at preparing a NATO summit in Chicago on May 20-21 follow a weekend Taliban onslaught in Kabul that underscored the insurgency’s

resiliency even as officials insist that militants are on the backfoot.

Afghan forces are gradually taking over control of security in the country, with the goal of being in the lead nationwide next year to enable most of the 130,000 foreign troops to leave by the end of 2014. But Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Tuesday that she would bring home 1,550 troops a year earlier than planned, with most soldiers withdrawn in 2013 after significant security gains over the past 18 months. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen insisted that Australia’s announcement was “fully within the framework” of the transition agreed by nations contributing to the International Security

Assistance Force (ISAF). “All 50 allies and partners within the ISAF coalition have committed themselves to the basic principle of, ‘in together, out together.’ And I know that the Australians are committed to that principle as well,” Rasmussen said. But German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere said he was “surprised” by Gillard’s announcement, saying that his Australian counterpart had declared “something different” during alliance talks in February. Another major contributor in Afghanistan, France, may also review its pullout. France’s right-wing President Nicolas Sarkozy announced earlier this year that French troops would switch from a combat to a support role in 2013.

FAISALABAD inP

The police recovered four bonded labourers from private prison of a PML-N MPA in Faisalabad on Wednesday.

According to details, a contractor from Sahiwal, Muhammad Shaban, had moved a writ petition in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Shahbaz Ahmad with the request that PML-N MPA Ajmal Asif had detained four workers in his private jail.

Upon directives of the court, the police conducted a raid on the den of the MPA and recovered four bonded labourers identified as Muhammad Ramzan, Nawaz, Ghulam Mustafa and Rustam Ali from there. The recovered labourers told reporters that Asif had detained them where they were bound to work without any remuneration.

Pashto poet Said hassan Ustad laid to rest KARAK StAff RePoRt

Renowned Pashto poet Said Hassan Ustad died on Wednesday at the age of 88.

The poet, who was suffering from a protracted illness, was admitted to the Leady Reading

Hospital in Peshawar a few days ago.

He was laid to rest in his ancestral village of Latamber.

Hassan’s family members said he was the author of two Pashto poetry books ‘Ahoona au Soroona’ and ‘Ranga Rang Khyalona’.

Professor Wazir Shadan and

Professor Banaras Khan, two other Pashto poets, wrote a biography of Said Hassan Ustad. Titled ‘Zond aur Fun’, it details the late poet’s life. Hassan served in the Frontier Constabulary for a period of time.

Political figures, poets, lawyers and people from all walks of life attended his funeral prayers.

Quick-Reaction force to be stationed at jails ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt

After having beaten by terrorists at the Bannu jail, the authorities on Wednesday decided to station QuickReaction Force in the vicinity of jails while Rangers and FC personnel would be deployed at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi besides hearing all the cases registered under Anti-Terrorist Act inside prisons.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik chaired a high-level meeting in Ministry of Interior in which law and order and security situation of the country, especially security at prisons was reviewed. The meeting was attended by federal interior secretary, additional secretary interior, provincial home secretaries, IGs, IG prisons, IG FC, DG NCMC and reps of law enforcement agencies. Malik advocated that prisons’ staff salary and pay and allowances should be at par with the police. He said jails would to be guarded by police. He said high-power jail reforms committee should be formed under the interior secretary with concerned home secretaries and IGs as members and security scanners to be installed in Jails.

The minister said NADRA would conduct survey and scrutinise identity of all prisoners in the country for compilation of personal data base of prisoners. A summary would also be moved to the prime minister for establishing federal cadre prison service.

He said that high security prisons would be set up for high security prisoners.

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06 News

Thursday, 19 april, 2012

federal, provincial govts responsible for worsening law and order in gb: nawaz SKARDU inP

Calling the provincial and federal governments responsible for the worsening law and order in Gilgit-Baltistan, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said people of the region were being punished for electing the present rulers. Talking to clerics and religious scholars from various sects and schools of thought in Skardu, Nawaz assured them that his party would raise the issue of targeted killings in GilgitBaltistan in parliament and put pressure on the government to provide full protection to the masses. The religious leaders apprised the PML-N chief about the precarious law and order in the region. Nawaz said the government had failed to bring peace to Gilgit-Baltistan as it had no interest in the region, adding that the government had no power to eliminate terrorists from the country. He said the federal government was not focusing on safeguarding the people of the province, adding that the masses had been killed publicly. He criticised Interior Minister Rehman Malik, saying Malik should have stayed with security forces after the tragic killings in Chilas and Kohistan and should have taken immediate action against the killers.

RiSALPUR: Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal tahir Rafique Butt pins badges on fresh graduates on Wednesday.

Graduation ceremony held at PAf academy Risalpur ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt

The Graduation Ceremony of No 128th GD (P), 72nd Engineering, 86th Air Defence and 11th A&SD Courses and Commissioning Parade of 130th GD (P), 76th Engineering and 12th A&SD Courses was held at the PAF Academy, Risalpur. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt was the chief guest at the occasion. 84 under training officers and 16 cadets graduated and 117 cadets were commissioned on the occasion. The ceremony included the award of branch insignias to the graduating cadets and trophies to the front-runners. The chief guest also awarded the Champions Banner to the leading squadron of the academy.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest said: “The PAF has highly sophisticated aircraft, air defence systems and other equipment that will be assigned to your care as custodians of the country’s aerial frontiers.” He advised the graduates to exercise their professional acumen and technical expertise to the maximum. He said he was confident the graduates will perform their duties in a dignified manner. Pilot Officer Muhammad Imran Afzal of No 128th GD(P) and Pilot Officer Atta-ur-Rehman of 72nd Engineering Courses were awarded trophies for Best Performance in General Service and Training, respectively. Chief of the Air Staff Trophy for Best Performance in Flying Training and Engineering were awarded to Pilot Officer Muhammad Fahad Gul and Pilot Officer Faizan-ulHaq Rajpoot, respectively. The trophy for Best Performance in 11 A&SD course was awarded to Pilot Officer Saad Zafar and the trophy for Best Performance in 86th Air Defence course was received by Aviation Cadet Sergeant Omar Akram. The Sword of Honour for Overall Best Performance from the College of Flying Training was won by Pilot Officer Muhammad Suhaib Alam, while Pilot Officer Faizan-ul-Haq Rajpoot received Sword of Honour for Overall Best Performance from the College of Aeronautical Engineering.

SC questions absence of legislation for terming vote casting mandatory ISLAMABAD

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StAff RePoRt

EARING a petition seeking reduction and regulation of election expenses incurred by political parties during electioneering, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Wednesday asked why had political parties not legislated to make casting of vote mandatory.

He said this while heading a threemember bench comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez, which was hearing a petition filed by a noted lawyer Abid Hasan Minto on behalf of Workers Party. The chief justice noted that a person who secured at least 50 percent votes in polling should be de-

clared winner, instead of a person who bags only 11 percent votes.

“If some one files a petition against the alleged militant wings of political parties, we hear it,” the chief justice said during the hearing. He said the court’s verdicts in almost all important cases were not being implemented and the judiciary was ridiculed. Justice Khilji Arif Hussain said, “Now we will not take it light and initiate strict action against those, who flout the court orders.”

The court noted that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had failed to exercise its constitutional powers to monitor the expenditure of election campaigns. The court said it wished that there should be a culture of transparent elections in the country, in which there should be no projection of money. According to

the petitioner, heavy expenditures on elections were a main hurdle in flourishing of real democracy in the country. He said culture of investment in politics should be ended. Earlier on February 21, 2012, the Supreme Court had put on notice 26 political parties, including the People’s Party and the PML-N, to come up with replies on the petition against heavy expenditures on elections. According to the ECP, only 26 political parties are currently functioning in the country.

The petition has also pleaded for barring political parties from holding huge rallies and putting up banners.

Instead, the petition suggested, parties should conduct door-to-door campaigning and be given equal slot on the Pakistan Television for presentation of their manifesto.

‘Memogate: equal treatment is the way out’ ISLAMABAD onLine

The commission probing the bizarre controversy of writing a memo deferred the further hearing till April 26 but most observers feel that even that date would result into nothing but a further delay if video link request of Husain Haqqani is not granted. In a related development that could send shockwaves to various conspiracy theorists, Haqqani also surrendered his privacy rights and wrote to RIM to provide data of his blackberry communication with Mansoor Ijaz, American businessman of Pakistani origin and analysts maintain the decision would have been made after much meditation with no adverse outcome for Haqqani possible. The aim could well be to show the world he has no skeletons to hide.

His supporters say the belated move is deliberate as Haqqani wanted the dust to settle down and initial commotion over until things were seen in their true perspective.

After waiving his privacy rights Haqqani is now willing to take up the battle for his right to equal treatment with the other witness in the case, Mansoor Ijaz who had been allowed to record statement via videoconference.

Religious studies’ textbooks in KP can incite violence: review PESHAWAR StAff RePoRt

Some of the content in religious studies’ textbooks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is overemphasised in a way that can undermine social peace and incite violence.

These contents, inserted into the textbooks in the context of the Afghan jihad, are not in sync with the current realities socio-political realities because of their controversial, discriminatory and gender insensitive nature.

These findings are part of a review of textbooks that are being taught in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and which were shared with major stakeholders and the media at a seminar in Peshawar on Wednesday.

The review for books for grade 1 to grade 10 was carried out by subject specialists under the aegis of Peace Education and Development (PEAD), a

training and advocacy organisation.

Presented in the presence of concerned government officials, academicians and civil society representatives, PEAD foundation Executive Director Sameena Imtiaz said some of the themes in the text books overemphasis certain tenets of religion while discussing politics, history, literature and linguistic studies. This, she said, is detrimental to the growth of an enlightened, tolerant and inclusive mindset.

On the occasion, Farid Khattak, deputy director education sector reform unit E&SE, KP agreed that the curriculum needed to be reviewed in view of the grave challenges that the society faces today. There are shortcomings and gaps in our curricula that need to be improved. He lauded PEAD for doing a job that is usually considered that of the government. We have to seek opinions and suggestion of ed-

ucationists, clerics, and representatives of civil society for unbiased and inclusive curricula.

ESRU KP Deputy Director Coordination Hamid Naveed lauded PEAD for the review and underlined the need that representatives of various ethnic groups, social groups and even students should also have included in the review process. Naveed promised that the government would ensure continuation of education reforms as therein lay the salvation of the people and that was the only way for creating an enlightened and democratic society.

Earlier, Samina Imtiaz explained that the review took about eight months curricula because the PEAD feels that the curricula should be freed of hatred against other religions, communities and gender bases biases. Our education system should promote positive things to change our ethical and moral behaviors,

something that developed countries have always treated on a priority basis.

PEAD would appreciate the provincial authorities if they could consult its Review Report during the ongoing curricula reform process. We want to forward our suggestions and opinions to government in the larger interest of the future generations of the province.

Professor Khurshid Anwar and other speakers were of the view that changing minds was a collective responsibility of the society, not of the government alone.

Curriculum being taught in schools and colleges was not in line with the country’s current situation. They pointed out that hate or discriminatory materials were not restricted to school textbooks only and that even certain university courses contained materials that could be categorized as elements promoting hate, discrimination and a narrow vision of religion.

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Thursday, 19 april, 2012

bISP to launch Waseele-e-Taleem programme: farzana ISLAMABAD APP

Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Farzana Raja on Wednesday said that BISP would launch Waseele-eTaleem programme by the end of April.

Talking to PTV, she said that Waseela-eTaleem programme would enroll one million children in schools from under-privileged families to eradicate poverty in the country.

She said around one million children would be registered in the schools for free education in the first phase. However, the programme had planned to enroll 10 million children.

Farzana said that six million beneficiary families had been included in the programme, however, the number would reach up to seven million after completion of survey in FATA. To a question, she said that BISP had provided the facility of life insurance to its 2.5 million beneficiary families.

The BISP chairperson said the pilot project under the health insurance scheme being launched in district Faisalabad would benefit 75,000 beneficiary families.

iSLAMABAD: Pti Chairman imran Khan addresses a press conference at the party office. STAff PhoTo

Health care staffer attempts suicide

five outlaws arrested ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt

The city police on Wednesday arrested five outlaws and recovered two cars, 40 bottles of liquor and 3.650gm hashish from their possession, a police spokesman said.

The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) of Islamabad police apprehended Shehbaz Masih for having 40 bottles of liquor. Sub Inspector Azhar Mehmud arrested Mehmud Hussain and recovered tempered a car from him while another accused Sabtain was arrested by Margallah police for keeping a tempered car.

Tarnol police arrested Shazia Bibi for having 3.650gm hashish. Industrial Area police arrested a thief, Arshad, while Sub Inspector Mansoor Ahmed from Bhara Kahu police recovered a 12-bore gun from Abdur Rehman.

ISLAMABAD KASHif ABBASi

A

N employee of National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care on Wednesday set himself on fire in protest against the government for not regularising the services of lady health workers (LHWs) and other male staff associated with the programme.

Barkat Ali, a driver of the National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care immolated himself here in front of the press club against the government’s ‘apathy’ towards more than 100,000 employees, majority of females, of the National Programme, who have been struggling for their regualarisation for the last 18

years. The LHWs and male staff from across the country have been staging hunger strike in front of the National Press Club, Islamabad, for the last 11 days for their regularisation. The other day they had warned the government that they would commit suicides if their demands were not met by Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Barkat Ali, who had been associated with the programme for the last 17 years, set himself on fire in a suicide bid. The officials of the ICT health department and police on duty rushed to save his life and took him to hospital in serious condition.

Barkat Ali, from rural town of Jacobabad, Sindh, sprinkled fuel on his body before setting himself on fire, said SP Capt (retd) Muhamad Ilays Barkat’s 11-year-old daughter,

Body to revive Saidpur village’s rustic look ISLAMABAD

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StAff RePoRt

HE Capital Development Authority Wednesday formed a scrutiny committee to point out all illegal structures in Saidpur Village for their onward removal as part of a drive to revive its original rustic look.

The committee would be headed by CDA Environment Member Mian Waheed-ud-Din. The decision in this regard was made during a visit of Prime Minister’s Task Force on Islamabad Chairman Faisal Sakhi Butt and CDA Chairman Engineer Farkhand Iqbal.

Member of PM Task Force Asad Mumtaz Khan, political and social activist Chaudhry Jahangir and senior officers of CDA were also present there.

The committee would scrutinise all residences of the village as per final award list. He said a revised PC-I for the rehabilitation of Saidpur Village would be prepared with revised financial plan to execute remaining work of

this tourist spot. Moreover, the water bodies existing in the area would be preserved to ensure water usage for domestic needs, besides adding to beauty of the area. After the allotment of residences, some people had raised illegal structures there marring the original beauty of the area.

The CDA would carry out fresh demarcation of the houses in collaboration with the residents to revive its tourist attraction as envisaged in original rehabilitation plan. During the visit, both the chairmen and locals of the village deliberated on the future development plan of the tourist village by resolving the issues hampering the development process. Prime Minister’s Task Force chairman asked CDA to carry out numbering of the all the original houses that would follow an operation to demolish all the illegal structures constructed in the village with the assistance of the locals. The development works in the village including road infrastructure and proper fencing should be initiated immediately

to develop the Saidpur Tourist Village to the spirit of the original plan.

He said all the encroachments especially on the passage and entry points must be removed immediately and proper parking space available in the village should be utilised banning entry of the vehicles inside the tourist and restaurants area.

Faisal Butt also asked the CDA to provide golf carts facility at the entrance of the village to facilitate the visitors and add tourist attraction to the village.

He said that proper maintenance of nullah would revive its natural beauty and attraction alluring the people to visit the area. “Saidpur Village reflects historical and cultural heritage that would be preserved to attract more visitors in the capital city of Pakistan rich with natural beauty and green character,” the Task Force head said.

Farkhand Iqbal said that CDA would immediately start the development work in the Saidpur Tourist Village and locals would be taken on board for resolving the outstanding issues.

Rashman, who was present at the hunger strike camp, fell unconscious seeing her father on ablaze. Both, father and daughter were shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment. Doctors say Barkat’s condition is serious as he 50 percent body was burnt.

SUSPECT ARRESTED: Kohsar police on Wednesday arrested a security guard of a private company from outside the press club. He was collecting information from the camp of missing persons. The police said the suspect was being investigated. It is relevant to note here that during the last month the police arrested six security guards from the missing persons’ camp. They were collecting information for embassies. They were sent to jail on the charges of spying.

Substandard food at hospitals threat to patients ISLAMABAD APP

Canteens at hospitals in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi do not meet the basic standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

Vermin, cockroaches and mouse dropping, medical waste on food handling equipment and poor hygienic conditions of the catering staff are the main reasons.

Talking to APP, Muhammad Asad, a patient at a local hospital, said that hospitals had no proper arrangements to store food at the proper temperature.

Moreover, expired foods are served to the patients, putting their health at risk.

He said findings by local health inspectors painted a shocking picture of hygienic condition of the hospital food. It is simply unacceptable that such practices were taking place in an environment where hygiene and safety should be paramount, he added.

“Sick people are already vulnerable to infection. They don’t need the added risk of food-borne bacteria. Patients have a right to know how their food is being prepared.

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08 Islamabad

Thursday, 19 april, 2012

WEaTHER uPDaTES

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Zuhr 12:07

asr 16:48

Maghrib 18:44

Isha 20:09

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iSLAMABAD: Activists of Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen (MWM) stage a protest at Jinnah Avenue against sectarian violence in the country. STAff PhoTo

common school programme reduces signs of bullying ISLAMABAD APP

A widely implemented common school programme aimed at improving kids’ behaviour helps to slow increase in bullying during the elementary grades, according to a new study.

Researchers found that teachers at schools with the behaviour programme reported fewer displays of aggression, teasing and rejection among their students, health news reported.

Catherine Bradshaw, who worked on the study, said the decreases in undesirable behaviours were ‘modest’, but they come at an important time in kids’ development.

‘If we wait until the rates of bullying are their highest, say, in middle school, we might have missed a developmentally sensitive time for intervention during the elementary school years,” Said Bradshaw of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. “We expect the benefits will continue to increase as children move on to junior high school,” she added.

About 16,000 schools have been trained to implement School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, a programme supported by the US Department of Education that provides a framework for discipline and for encouraging good behaviour.

The program involves a few days of training for those who will educate teachers and staff and Bradshaw estimated that it costs a school about an extra $ 1,000 to buy posters and other supplies.

Corporal punishments leave bad impact on children’s minds ISLAMABAD

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APP

HILDREN in a school that uses corporal punishment performed significantly worse in tasks involving “executive functioning” psychological processes such as planning, abstract thinking, and delaying gratification than those in a school relying on milder disciplinary measures such as time-outs. According to a new study involving two private schools in a West African country, suggest that a harshly punitive environment may have long-term detrimental effects on children’s verbal intelligence and their executive-functioning ability, Science Daily Reported. As a result, children exposed to a harshly punitive environment may be at risk for behavioral problems related to deficits in executive-functioning, the study indicates.

The study by Prof.Victoria Talwar o McGill University, Prof. Stephanie M. Carlson of the University of Minnesota, and Prof. Kang Lee of the University of Toronto, involved 63 children in kindergarten or first grade at two West African private schools. Their families lived in the same urban neighborhood. The parents were largely civil servants, professionals and merchants.

In one school, discipline in the form of beating with a stick, slapping of the head, and pinching was administered publicly and routinely for offenses ranging from forgetting a pencil to being disruptive in class. In the other school, children were disciplined for similar offenses with the use of time-outs

and verbal reprimands.

While overall performance on the executivefunctioning tasks was similar in the younger children from both schools, the Grade one children in the non-punitive school scored significantly higher than those in the punitive school. These results are consistent with research findings that punitive discipline may make children immediately compliant but may reduce the likelihood that they will internalize rules and standards. That, in turn, may result in lower self-control as children get older.

“This study demonstrates that corporal punishment does not teach children how to behave or improve their learning,” Prof. Talwar said. “In the short term, it may not have any negative effects; but if relied upon over time it does not support children’s problem-solving skills, or their abilities to inhibit inappropriate behaviour or to learn.”

Despite the age-old debate over the effects of corporal punishment, few studies have examined the effects on executive-functioning ability.

This new study uses a quasi-experimental design to derive data from a naturally occurring situation in which children were exposed to two different disciplinary environments. The parents of children in both schools endorsed physical punishment equally, suggesting that the school environment can account for the differences found. There are many further questions that remain unanswered. “We are now examining whether being in a punitive environment day in and day out will have other negative impacts on children such as lying or other covert antisocial behaviors.

SCREENING: MOVING CLOSER

24TH CuLTuRAL WEEK 2012

DRuMMING CIRCLE

DaTE: aPR 18, 2012 (ToDay) aT 6:30PM VEnuE: KucH KHaaS - cac (ISb)

DaTE: aPR 17 - 20, 2012 VEnuE: InT’l ISlaMIc unIVERSITy (ISb)

DaTE anD TIME: 05:00 PM, WEEKly EVEnT VEnuE: THE cEnTRE foR aRTS & culTuRE

Moving closer is a documentary that follows the young adults (peace-agents) as they aim to break down barriers and bring people together across the Pakistan-India border using pop culture.

Ticket: Rs. 50/- (free entry for members).

MALe CAMPUS (17-19 april 2012) Venue new campus IIu

our drumming circle is a (free!) ongoing event and is held every friday from 5pm to 6pm We are having a great time, and want to share the good time with you! our drumming circle has children ...

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

******** feMALe CAMPUS (18-20 april 2012) Venue: faisal Mosque (old campus)

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Thursday, 19 april, 2012

Exhaust fumes are twice as deadly as roads, study claims ISLAMABAD: Air pollution from exhaust fumes kills more than twice as many people as road accidents in Britain, experts claim.

More than 5,000 people die prematurely from conditions like lung cancer and heart disease because of emissions, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Exhaust from airplanes cause a further 2,000 deaths annually while emissions from the energy and industrial sectors and pollution originating from Europe bring the overall total up to 19,000 deaths per year in Britain.

In contrast official figures state that 1,850 people were killed as a result of road accidents in 2010.

Prof Steven Barrett, who led the study, said: “It does appear to be the case that air pollution from road traffic causes more deaths per year than the number who die on the roads.

“But those who die from air pollution tend to die about 10 years earlier than they would otherwise, whereas people who die in road traffic accidents might be on average middle aged, so it is likely that road traffic accidents cause more loss of life years overall than air pollution.” The researchers made their estimates by comparing models of how gases circulate in the atmosphere against health statistics and the results of clinical studies. APP

CiiT campuses hold 43rd convocation ISLAMABAD

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StAff RePoRt

HE 43rd Convocation of the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Wah and Attock Campuses, was held on Tuesday.

Federal Science and Technology Minister and CIIT Chancellor Mir Changez Khan Jamali was the chief guest at the ceremony held at the Pak-China Friendship Center.

The chief guest congratulated the CIIT administration and faculty for their efforts in the institution’s progress.

He highlighted the importance of higher education for the development of the country and said he hoped CIIT will be granted the status of a federally chartered university.

Highlighting the importance of quality education, Jamali advised the young graduates to fully utilise their potential in order to bring a healthy change in the society.

He also congratulated the graduating students and advised them to work harder in their practical lives.

165 students, 142 of the Wah Campus and 23 of the Attock Campus, were awarded degrees at the masters and graduation levels in the disciplines of management sciences, computer science and computer engineering.

11 campus medals (4 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze) and 4 institute medals (1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze) were also awarded to the position holders in various programmes.

Wah Campus Director Dr Tayyab Akram presented the campus report and discussed the longterm strategic and development plans of the CIIT Wah campus.

He informed the audience about scholarships being provided to students who belonged to far flung areas like FATA, DI Khan and Gilgit Biltistan.

He further said that CIIT Wah had focused to provide highly skilled manpower to the industries in the surrounding areas.

HEC confers national professor award on four scholars ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has conferred Distinguished National Professor Award on four academicians for their outstanding performance.

The award is presented to those academicians who have shown exceptional performance in their respective fields, have set benchmark for others and played a vital role in raising the standard of research as well as academic status of the higher education in the country.

The HEC’s selection committee in its annual meeting selected four professors out of 63 applicants for the year 2011. These are Prof Dr Saqib Ali (Chemistry), Prof Dr Saleem Ashger (Mathematics), Dr M Asif Khan (Geology) and Dr Muhammad Sarwar (Veterinary Sciences). These scholars carry the title of HEC Distinguished National Professor for lifetime.

Prof Dr. Saqib Ali, Pride of Per-

Islamabad 09

formance, from Department of Chemistry, Quaid-e-Azam University, completed his PhD from Poland in 1984.

Having experience of 24 years of teaching and research, Dr Saqib won awards of Marie Curie Fellowship of CES in 1994-95 and George Forester in 19992000. He is a fellow of two professional societies and has 324 international research publications with 298.564 impact factor to his credit. He has participated in 32 international conferences and produced 24 PhDs in Inorganic Chemistry.

Prof Dr Saleem Ashgar, Tamgha-iImtiaz and Sitara–i-Imtiaz, from Department of Mathematics, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, is PhD in Mathematics. He has rich experience of 39 years of teaching and research. He has won 13 national and six international awards and is a fellow of nine professional societies. He has 253 international research publications with 242.2 impact factor and has supervised 15 PhDs. Dr M.Asif Khan, Tamgha-i- Imtiaz,

is working as Director at the National Centre of Excellence in Geology University of Peshawar. He completed his PhD in the Geology (Earth Sciences) from Imperial College, London, in 1988. He has 30 years of experience in teaching and research. He has won three national awards and is a fellow of two professional societies. He has 38 international research publications with 92.4 impact factor and 707 citation index. He has attended 52 conferences and produced 12 PhDs. Dr Muhammad Sarwar, Tamgha-iImtiaz, is currently dean, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. He did his PhD in dairy sciences from The Ohio State University, USA, in 1992. He has 20year experience of teaching and research. He has won three international awards and is a fellow of nine professional societies. He has 106 international research publications with 58.174 impact factor to his credit. He has attended 83 conferences and produced 13 PhDs.

One in four women buys wrong drugs due to wrong information ISLAMABAD APP

Women with embarrassing medical problems are misdiagnosing themselves after consulting ‘Dr Google’, research suggests. One in four women have bought the wrong medication after misdiagnosing themselves on the internet and one in ten has suffered unpleasant side effects as a result, research suggests. Half of women have diagnosed themselves online and bought a treatment without checking with pharmacists if it is the correct product, Telegraph newspaper reported. A similar proportion said they would seek to treat medical problems themselves before consulting doctors.

One in ten women said they hesitated to discuss health problems with family because they did not want “a fuss”, while a third one said they wait for answers from a doctor led

them to look online for guidance. A quarter said they “dread” speaking to doctors.

A third one said they had spent at least two weeks with a medical problem before speaking to a doctor, while one in twenty had spent more than a year enduring symptoms before seeking medical help.

The symptoms most likely to prompt women to diagnose themselves are problems sleeping, headaches and depression, while muscle pain, itching and fatigue regularly cause women to consult Dr Google. A fifth of women had at some time suspected they had a serious disease - the most common false alarm came over breast cancer, while many women had wrongly diagnosed themselves as having thrush, high blood pressure or asthma. The survey of 1,000 women was conducted by Balance Active, the women’s health brand.

The Attock campus director also presented its report and talked about the facilities being provided to the students.

He also congratulated the graduating students on their brilliant achievement and hoped they would work even harder in their practical life.

CIIT Rector Prof Dr Junaid Zaidi expressed his satisfaction on the functioning of the institute and acknowledged the efforts of the faculty in the academic development of their students.

He called upon the graduating students to be composed and encouraged them to play their new role effectively in the society.

The students’ representative recalled her stay at the institution and declared it the best time of the entire academic life for the whole batch.

She paid tribute to the faculty and the management for their dedicated efforts and unmatched cooperation. The entire graduating lot of the students gave a standing ovation to their parents for their sacrifices.

anti-polio drive geared up ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt

The ICT administration has intensified the ongoing preparations for the upcoming four-day national immunisation campaign starting in Islamabad from April, 23.

In this regard, a high level coordination meeting, co-chaired by Senator Usman Saifullah and Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Amer Ali Ahmed reviewed the arrangements made for making the campaign more effective and successful.

The meeting was attended by officials from the WHO, CDA, CADD, Federal Directorate of Education as well as representatives from the private sector, including the Islamic International Medical College and ICT DHO Dr Azhar.

The participants were informed that the six-day training of over 600 volunteers and teachers has been completed and that the WHO is also organising one-day training for the members of the polio teams.

274 house to house, 34 fixed and 24 transit teams for rural areas were also trained besides CDA volunteers for urban areas.

300 lady health workers and 200 PIMS nurses are also participating in the polio campaign.

The CDA has also deployed 500 teams trained for the anti-polio drive. 2, 27,000 children would be targeted during the drive in Islamabad.

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10 Islamabad

Thursday, 19 april, 2012

cultural show mesmerises children of slum areas ISLAMABAD APP

Colourful cultural and puppet shows on Wednesday mesmerised the children and youngsters of slum areas under the Talent Hunt Project of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

The performers of National Performing Arts Group (NPAG) and National Puppet Theater (NPT) enthralled the audience of rural areas with puppet shows, regional dances, national songs and skits to highlight various social issues.

While youngsters and children of Kachi Basti also showcased their skills to get selected for the Talent Bank of PNCA that provides platform to the budding performers for presenting their skills in various programmes of PNCA. The cultural show for talent hunt is a regular feature of PNCA’s activities that give informative entertainment to the youth of Kachi Basti and inculcate cultural values, said PNCA Director General Tauqeer Nasir, while talking to APP. Music, folk dances and puppet shows promote cultural values among the youth of rural areas with glimpses of traditional heritage, he added.

With a focus on educating youth about their rich cultural heritage, the programme has been arranging travelling shows in slum areas of federal capital as well as other parts of the country.

“Children and youngsters largely participate in the shows at Kachi Abadis as they have less quality entertainment opportunities with information about their traditions,” he said, adding “These shows are also an attempt to engage them in healthy and positive activities and create interest in performing arts.”

The objective of this programme is to provide informative entertainment for the deprived communities and give a platform to the art lovers of these areas for expressing their creativity.

It also enables them to utilise their talent in extra-curricular activities to the fullest that is also an essential part of their training.

“It is the responsibility of the state institutions to explore and polish the talent of our youth in an attempt to support the artists of the future generations,” he said.

The event was organised in collaboration with Ministry of National Heritage and Integration at Kachi Basti of G-7/2.

Radio Pakistan wins first prize in flower exhibition ISLAMABAD APP

The National Rose Society has awarded first prize to the garden of Radio Pakistan declaring it the best among the government institutions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The society holds flower competitions every year and awards prizes to the winners. Radio Pakistan has been winning different prizes in various categories for the past 20 years.

The judges of society visited the garden of Radio Pakistan on April 12. Radio Pakistan also won second position in cut-flower competition held at Islamabad Club.

According to Shaukat Ali Bilal, the head gardener of the organisation, the Radio Pakistan garden has flowers of over 300 varieties.

Director General Murtaza Solangi and other staff members of Radio Pakistan congratulated the gardener and his team on their success.

iSLAMABAD: Pakistan Science foundation Chairman Manzoor Soomro presents a souvenir to iranian Deputy Minister for Science Research and technology Ahmed Akbari. STAff PhoTo

America not leaving Afghanistan: Dr Tanvir Khan ISLAMABAD

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StAff RePoRt

OREIGN policy analyst, Dr Tanvir Ahmad Khan, stressed the need for Pakistan to devise a strategy for long-term US presence in Afghanistan. “Americans are not leaving Afghanistan. Central Asia is the cockpit of multinational rivalries,” said Dr Khan at a round-table organised on Wednesday by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS).

Dr Khan argued that Pakistan is viewed as a weak client state in the US that should obey its dictates.

He said the US wants Pakistan to secure its interests in Afghanistan and not to obstruct Indian ambitions of becoming a regional power to counter the Chinese influence.

He stated that after the terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, the US went on a maligning campaign against the Pakistan army and its premier intelligence

agency, the ISI, through the media, which hurt bilateral relations.

“Pakistan is not a hostile country to America,” said Dr. Khan. He said that the Pak-US relations were improving but that the bad patch in the relations has helped rationalise the bilateral discourse and is likely to eliminate idealistic expectations for future relations between the two countries.

Dr Khan said irritants remain in the relations like the drone attacks-which he believed would not come to an end any time soon-and nuclear issue, as well as Pakistan’s overtures towards other countries like China, Iran, and Russia that would most probably be viewed with disapproval in Washington.

Dr Khan stressed the need for PakUS relations to shift from its current strategic focus to a more people-centric and economic focus. He also urged the US to play its role in bringing India and Pakistan closer.

He was of the view that the war in Afghanistan had dented the US policy of

bringing India and Pakistan closer. He criticised the Indo-US nuclear deal as exacerbating the nuclear arms race in the region.

Defense Analyst Lt Gen (r) Talat Masood said the US is bringing India and Pakistan closer as a by-product of its policy to keep India focused on China and Pakistan on militancy and extremism.

He was of the view that the major difference between Pakistan and the US is on the issue of militancy.

According to Gen Masood, Pakistan considers extremist militant elements a constant element in Pakistani society for some time to come; this is why it wants to evolve a solution to coexist with them, while the US wants Pakistan to crack down on them.

German Embassy Charge de Affaires Stephan Roken attributed Pakistani media’s obsession with covering even the least important aspects of the US foreign policy to Pakistan’s low level of self-confidence. He said that Germany

wanted Pakistan to be a self-confident international player.

Ambassador Khalid Mahmood stressed the need for Pakistan and the US to cooperate in the field of energy sector.

Ambassador BA Malik said Pakistan’s real enemy is militancy and extremism and not the US. He also disagreed with the perception that America had lost the war in Afghanistan.

American Embassy Deputy Political Counselor John Hill appreciated the hopes for objectivity in the Pak-US relations with the review of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS).

Other participants of the roundtable discussion included IRS President Ashraf Azim; Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi, Malik Qasim Mustafa, Romanian Embassy First Secretary Dragos Luca; Prof Zhou Rong of the Chinese Guang Ming Daily and French Embassy Press Attaché Marine Destrez.

FuMC ANNuAL DAY

Position holders awarded medals, merit certificates ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt

The Foundation University Medical College (FUMC) organised its annual day here on Wednesday. Prof. Dr Bilal A Khan, rector, Foundation University, Islamabad, was the chief guest while FUMC Principal Maj-Gen (retd) Dr Nasim-ul-Majeed was also present on the occasion.

The rector distributed gold medals, silver medals, distinction certificates and merit certificates among the students of MBBS 1st Professional Part-I and II, 2nd Professional and 3rd Professional over their respective academic achievements.

While addressing the audience,

Prof Bilal said that the FUMC has covered several milestones of development and today it stands out as a distinguished institution among medical colleges of the country.

“The well-designed campus of the college is located in proximity of a large teaching hospital and provides a studentsfriendly atmosphere highly conducive to learning,” he said.

He informed the audience that the construction of a building to house the dental college has also been started and it is expected that the dental degree programme would commence at FUMC in the near future.

Dr Bilal said FUMC is one of the pioneer institutions, where a dedicated department of medical education has

been created. “Some of the senior faculty members have taken keen interest in acquiring formal education and training in this futuristic discipline.

This timely taken step will go a long way in bringing the teaching methodology at FUMC in line with the latest trends in practice globally,” he added.

He said that the human output of the FUMC has earned a good repute in the circles of medical profession by performing well in the postgraduate examinations both in the country and abroad. “Alongside the exhaustive academic schedules, the Foundation University has taken care to provide the opportunities for co-curricular activities, including sports, athletics, debates and arts. This not only serves to recre-

ate and refresh the tired minds but also plays a positive role in personality development and grooming of the young doctors,” he said.

While congratulating the students who achieved academic excellence in various examinations, he said this performance is reflective of their hard work and devotion for which they genuinely deserve appreciation. He admired the role of faculty, adding that their competence and dedication is the most crucial factor in the scholastic growth of students.

Earlier, Maj-Gen (retd)Dr Nasimul-Majeed, principal, Foundation University Medical College, welcomed the guests, faculty, parents, alumni and students.

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Thursday, 19 april, 2012

Editor’s mail 11

Pull out from Siachen?

This is with reference to the statement by Mr Nawaz Sharif that ‘Pakistan should take lead in pulling out of Siachen’. Like most other statements by our politicians this statement also comes as a reaction to an event. But does it merit serious consideration? Will taking lead in pulling out our forces from Siachen compel India to do the same?

It has been three decades since both countries signed Simla Agreement. Has that helped Pakistan? Which dispute/issue have we been able to ‘solve bilaterally’ let alone take the lead in pulling out our forces and leave an open invitation to the Indians to take away further ‘what is left for us to hold in Siachen’. Militarily we can never depend upon the good intentions of the enemy. It is only its capability or lack of it that continues to draw our appropriate response.

Lets not forget that India is the aggressor

nato supplies in Siachen, we only stopped the advancing Indian military that has occupied two third of Siachen Glacier. If anyone has to take lead in withdrawing forces from Siachen it is the Indians.

As a young captain when I served at the glacier occupying a post at 22000 feet the greatest motivational force or inspiration was to defend the borderline against any Indian aggression. Strong snow blizzards did not allow the evacuation of sick men from the post (pulmonary edema, cerebral edema) and men died without us being able to do anything. Many such brave men have died on so many posts over the years just because they loved their country and cherished the opportunity to guard the national border irrespective of the harshness of the terrain. They could not accept Indians to take away an inch of land that was now held with us.

Today when 138 sons of this land have sacrificed their lives why do we focus only on the tragedy and forget the cause for which they died? Why do we forget those unsung heroes in thousands who have died since last 28 years this war in Siachen is being fought? Why didn’t we take lead in withdrawing our forces in the years went by? If guarding and protecting our borders through our armed forces is not a national responsibility then why have borders at all? Why keep and maintain the defence forces?

Yes, we are faced with many challenges and threats. One big reason that we face these threats is to compel us to falter in our will and resolve that guides us to stay together as one nation. Force us to ultimately choose the only weapon that our enemies want us to pick and fight – compromise – the weapon of weak’. On vital national interests we

should never unilaterally compromise because that’s what our enemies want us to do.

The best tribute that Mr Nawaz Sharif could have given to the martyrs of the Siachen was to salute the cause, believing in which the soldiers sacrificed their lives. To all the politicians who rule us today and who will rise to rule the people of this country in future I wish to convey a message. ‘Don’t send soldiers to wars as all wars are bad. But when you have chosen to send them don’t ever say the war you send them to fight is not worth fighting for'.

All wars must eventually end. The only wars without ends are the wars that the politicians perpetuate by failing to stop them from being fought on the negotiating tables.

LT COL (retd) MUHAMMAD ALI EHSAN Karachi

Strikes and riots Whenever some issue arises, such as loadshedding, shortage of water supply etc, people gather up on streets destroying traffic signals, putting up fire, blocking the traffic and so on. Their perception, that by creating a nuisance they can get the attention of the government, is mere wishful thinking. The only impact of these commotions is loss of lives, destruction of public property, negative image of our country and increase in further more problems. I kindly request the public to act sensibly and think before taking any rash actions.

KULSOOM INAM Karachi

aZ and nS Both are head of mainstream political parties, both have absolute power and control on their political party, both don’t want democracy within their parties, both believe and cherish dynastic politics, both are businessmen first, then politicians, both are owner of sugar mills, both have huge assets in foreign countries and hate to declare, both showed no respect for judiciary, both dislike army establishment, both want friendly and trade relations with India, both want to dominate provinces of Punjab and Sindh, both are ruling the country and blaming each other for bad governance and corruption, both hate accountability, both consider national kitty their personal wealth. In short, Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are two sides of the same coin.

S T HUSSAIN Lahore

Government-run hospitals I would like to highlight the pathetic conditions in government-run hospitals. Doctors hardly pay attention to patients who mostly belong to the poor section of society. But more bitter is the fact that there is no one to check their negligence and indifferent attitude towards their patients.

Doctors in private hospitals are better only because they are answerable to their seniors and also because there are checks and balances and constant monitoring by their superiors. Patients who consult doctors at government hospitals do not have much choice as they cannot afford expensive private hospitals.

Besides, one will never find medicines at government hospi-

Woes of a commuter

Violent attack

There is a growing traffic congestion in Karachi which is a major issue faced by commuters like me every day. The main reasons behind the constant traffic jams on the roads of Karachi include political rallies, protests, lawlessness, parking problems and mismanagement on the part of the traffic police.

The ever-increasing rush of heavy traffic on the roads is creating major traffic jams, resulting in hazardous conditions for the daily commuters through air and noise pollution and security issues.

The port in Karachi is so positioned that all the country’s imports and exports pass through this route, hence a massive traffic jam is common everyday and the government is not doing anything to control this deteriorating situation. Damaged roads, non-operational signals and illegally parked tankers at the curb add to the constant traffic congestion. People stuck in the traffic jams are being mugged while the authorities turn a blind eye.

On top of that commuters are surrounded by buses belching smoke which could only be lethal to one’s life. Another reason is the VIP movement due to which a lot of precious time is wasted just for the convenience of a few individuals.

It is high time that the local authorities planned and take action against the chaotic traffic system, lawlessness and old and smoke emitting vehicles so that at least we can travel on the city roads and highways in a safe, clean and stressfree environment.

AAMER HOSAIN Karachi

The gap between the Americans and the Afghan government had never been as pronounced as it is after the Quran burning episode in Afghanistan and the killing of at least 17 Afghans by a US soldier last month. Surely, what the Americans had set out to achieve in Afghanistan and the strategy that was to be employed has undergone many changes to evolve into one that is not completely workable. To dismantle AlQaeda and reversing the Taliban momentum by use of superior military might, along with surges of troops and well organized military operations that were to be followed soon after by rebuilding and rehabilitation measures became a pipedream for US/Allied soldiers in Afghanistan.

In eradicating militancy, the option of clearing some terrorist sanctuaries while leaving a few behind such as those in Kunar and Nuristan, cannot be translated as success either partial or complete. Surely, the recent spate of violent extremism launched this spring by the terrorists in Afghanistan can be translated as the result of partial eradication of terrorism. The security situation in Afghanistan speaks for itself and blatantly refutes the fact that things are under control. Partial success was being trumpeted as the US and Taliban had embarked upon the journey of reconciliation while those playing central stood at the margins wondering what they had done wrong this time round to deserve such isolation.

Amazingly, with minimum loss and no significant achievement to their credit, the demotivated US/allied forces

tals, and the authorities concerned always give a lame excuse of not having sufficient funds for medicines and other essentials items. In fact, funds for medicines are misused, leaving the common man to suffer mental and physical agonies.

Ironically, our leaders are not much bothered about these issues. When our leaders need medical assistance, they always fly off to the UK, UAE etc. The government should put doctors under tight scrutiny on the pattern of private hospitals. They should remember the oath taken by them.

MEHREEN FAROOQ Karachi

declare themselves triumphant in certain aspects. Can wars be won partially? Or can victory be achieved to some degree?

Partial victory means that not all objectives have been achieved by the super power in Afghanistan, which means that the situations hasn’t altered much and that the country will sink back precisely to what it was before the US decided to barge in with destruction and devastation as a by-product of war, thus completing a full circle bringing Afghanistan to where it had been a decade ago. Victory to all!

PROFESSOR KABIL KHAN Peshawar

Shared responsibility The sudden need for shared responsibility raises its ugly head once again as the failure of the American, allied and Afghan security forces in Afghanistan allows the Taliban to regroup and penetrate into heavily guarded areas and to raise violence and chaos in Afghanistan.

The Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton in her statement as she discussed the attacks in Afghanistan with Pakistani Foreign Minister, has underscored the “shared responsibility for robust action… to confront and defeat terrorists and violent extremists.”

Does the concept of “shared responsibility” only entail military actions and initiatives for fighting the terrorists and extremists while the reconciliation is a journey that the US embarks upon unilaterally without any backward glance at its key regional ally, so to speak? That Afghanistan has been a volatile region for decades, thanks to the US policies of some thirty years ago, is surely no state secret. Terrorist havens still exist and law

and order has hardly been any better despite a multitude of security forces in Afghanistan.

The current relations between the Afghans and the US/allied forces is hardly something the Western nations can boast of. The Chaos and violence that gripped the entire nation just a few weeks back is just enough evidence of what foreign intervention/presence does to the host country. Had it been possible, I’m sure Pakistan would have been blamed for allowing so much anti-American and anti-western emotions to spread inside Afghanistan after the Quran burning episode.

The best option is the complete sealing of the Pak-Afghan border has already been presented by Pakistani security forces. It would surely help in allowing the world to view the reality where terrorism infiltrates, not from Pakistan into Afghanistan, but from Afghanistan into Pakistan where everyone knew peace and harmony.

AYAANA MALIK Islamabad

We should desist Our media and politicians are openly saying that it is the utter failure of government in Bannu jail raid and escape of 400 plus prisoners. It may be true but we should not propagate. The US is watching us closely. If Pakistan cannot take care of its jail; can it take care of nukes?

It might serve as a good reason for US to walk in with all its might. Bush walked in Iraq to redeem ‘weapons of mass destruction’. Let us not forget that.

AMJAD H MIRZA Lahore

Australian Prime Minister Julian Gillard has announced that her country will withdraw its troops from Afghanistan much before the NATO set deadline. Though NATO and the United States have set a deadline of 2014 to complete the withdrawal from the wartorn country but apparently the process has started much earlier than anticipated.

This shows frustration on the part of coalition partners as present day situation in Afghanistan shows that whatever they achieved in last one decade has gone the drain – Taliban are strong enough to attack the so-called security zone in Kabul, not to mention their achievements in other cities and rural areas, war lords are as powerful as before, corruption is rampant, poppy cultivation is going unabated, whatever they built in the name of national army and police force seem to be disinterested in combating Taliban and often infiltrated by Taliban and their sympathizers.

In short, West is going to leave Afghanistan for the second time in last 25 years but again departing without establishing any socio-political structure who can steer the country in 21st century. It’s very unfortunate that we are going to see increased lawlessness in the area which will directly impact the neighbouring countries.

Triumphant militants who take pride in fighting and defeating the British and the Soviets will not settle down after the withdrawal of coalition forces; instead will go for settling score with those who sided with the invading forces. We see increased tension in Afghanistan when the majority Pakhtun who had been kept outside of political setup since 9/11, are going to put a check on the so-called Northern Alliance and ethnic groups this alliance represents.

Things are not very bright in coming days – April 15 attack on Kabul in Afghanistan and Bannu jailbreak in Pakistan are just a trailer of an action movie soon to be screened in South Asia.

MASOOD KHAN Jubail, Saudi Arabia

The arrival of spring The arrival of spring in Afghanistan has been marked by a series of multiple attacks by the Afghan Taliban thus dismantling all claims of the Americans of a sure victory in Afghanistan.

Can this new spate of violence be translated as an intelligence failure on the part of the Americans that had just announced last month of a guaranteed weaker position of the Taliban terming them incapable of launching a major offensive such as that launched in Afghanistan.

Whether this was a superior assumption that was proved wrong or an open invitation to the Taliban is something that needs to be seen as things unfold in this backdrop. How, pray, a handful of militants could penetrate so deep into a heavily guarded and secure area in the Afghan heartland?

Apparently, a failure to avoid such an occurrence and to substantiate claims of victory of sorts over the Taliban, the best possible American response has emerged in the form of scapegoating Pakistan yet again. Is there a shortage of Taliban in Afghanistan, that those based in Pakistan need to be highlighted every now and then a failure of the American/allied and Afghan security forces is witnessed in Afghanistan?

All previous incidents and episode of such nature have made it easy to predict the eventual outcome of the attack that a 10 year old with an average IQ could give a true prophecy in this case. Pressing Pakistan for an offensive in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) and a sudden acceleration in the frequency of drone strikes is something that every analyst tells us is sure to come.

It is time that America accepts its failure and recognize its weaknesses where such grave mistakes on the part of its security forces in Afghanistan is leading this war into, so that appropriate measures be taken to rectify the situation instead of thrusting blame left and right.

LUBNA UMAR Islamabad

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 failure in balochistan Shameful

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ederal as well as provincial governments seem to have shut their eyes and ears to the law and order situation in Balochistan. The indifference has led to an unending bloodletting that no decent government can ignore. Whenever asked, the government luminaries hold Pakistan’s enemies outside the country responsible for the situation. Involvement of unspecified countries has been hinted at several times by Rehman Malik. Balochistan Advocate General has now maintained at the SC that the Shia community was being targeted under an international conspiracy. As those involved in the killings are local terrorists, it is the responsibility of the agencies to trace them out. That this has failed to happen indicates a failure of the provincial and federal governments.

Criminal elements too enjoy a field day in the province.

In March, a government official revealed that 70 people were kidnapped from the Quetta Division alone during the last three months, including 23 members of the Hindu community. Earlier, two judges and eight NGO workers were also kidnapped. The motive behind these incidents is mostly the ransom money. There are reports of people in high places being involved in kidnappings. In March, Balochistan home minister Zafrullah Zehri stated on record in a cabinet meeting that some of the ministers were involved in the crime. Subsequent demands for probe made in the Balochistan Assembly were ignored. Finally, the SC ordered the registration of FIRs against the three ministers after Zehri submitted a written statement to the court.

Security agencies are widely accused of being another source of problems in Balochistan. In February PPP president and MPA Mir Sadiq Umrani gave a statement in the assembly claiming that the FC was involved in killings.

In the case of the missing seven, it was only after a warning of suspension from the SC to the top police officers that these missing persons could be recovered in installments.

They had been allegedly picked up by intelligence agencies.

No answer was supplied by the police about those behind their involuntary disappearance for nearly six weeks.

Unless the federal and provincial governments get their act together during the remainder of their tenure, Balochistan would remain a blot on the name of the ruling party.

Dcc meeting Parliamentary review process

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he long-standing Pak-US relationship has seen what could be called its ups and downs, but the current low, in the aftermath of Salala check post attacks, has brought to a halt almost all the cooperation Pakistan was extending to the US and Nato forces in Afghanistan. After the PCNS presented its recommendations after a parliamentary review process, it was the Cabinet Committee on Defence’s turn to discuss the issue and offer its insight.

The DCC, the country’s prime forum on defence related matters, just met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to formulate clear policy parameters on which to lay the foundation of relations with the US. Despite being the supreme powerhouse in a democratic setup, parliament cannot function independent of a sitting government. And what better forum than the DCC, in our case. The composition of the committee makes it an ideal platform for the task at hand.

The parliamentary review process has offered the government a unique chance to pitch its demands to the public, thus making the public own the decision. Along with the public, the political and military leadership is also on board with the decisions. It is in this perspective that the DCC has to make its decisions. Working at the behest of the government, its decisions are likely to be considered final, and final they should be. The review process, as important as it is for both the countries, needs to be finalised and new terms and conditions for a lasting relation must be communicated to the US. To be fair, the demands suggested by the PCNS do carry a lot of weight and insight into how the politicians, the only true representatives of the public, want to see this relationship work. From territorial integrity to taxing Nato supplies, all issues have been discussed. But there is a need to finalise these suggestions and discuss them with the US. Any further delay in this regard is only going to hurt both the countries on the war on terror front. And that’s something both ought to avoid.

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

Thursday, 19 april, 2012

final destination?

Lahore’s public transport: not for the faint-hearted

By Khawaja Manzar Amin

T

he Surgeon General has determined that anyone naive enough to rely on Lahore’s public transport system for his travel needs runs the risk of being reduced to an incoherent and raving nervous wreck within the week, satisfaction guaranteed, or your money back.

For starters, when there is gas aplenty, there are few or a completely inadequate number of buses available, and when there are shining new buses galore, there is no CNG to fuel them.

Then there is no rhyme or reason or any concept of punctuality in running a modern transport service, and on some numbing days waiting for a bus which never comes are like waiting for the long hoped for revolution in Pakistan and the Red Dawn. And with all the VIP movement disrupting normal traffic by choking off main roads, one never knows at which unlikely destination one may finally end up, as drivers on such occasions take the path of least resistance.

All things considered, the most widely used modes of travel in the city are definitely not for the faint-hearted, and most certainly not for those easily spooked by their own shadow or prone to start at sudden noises.

The meek shall definitely not inherit the Lahore transport network and may also use it at their peril.

The biggest difference in the world, it would seem, is not between the rich and the poor, the literate and the thumb-markers, the military and the ‘bloody’ civilians, the elite and the peasantry, the happily married and the lonely bachelors, but it is between those who own their own vehicles and those that survive on smoky rickety wagons and coffinlike buses, enduring with an almost saintly patience the daily humiliation, maddening antics and weird road sense of the infernal men behind the steering wheel of these vehicles.

It can well turn out to be literally a world of difference, for in the wrong hands at the wrong time and with one’s lucky stars out of sync for the day, there is a short-odds possibility of being suddenly and rudely transported to the hereafter to guiltily confront a reproachful Maker.

The occupational hazards which have made travel in a wagon, bus, coaster or rickshaw such a thrilling and adventure-filled enterprise may include the possibility of one’s being blown to smithereens by a bomb thoughtfully hidden beneath one’s seat by a well-meaning and no doubt, enlightened, stranger to whom one hasn’t even been for-

mally introduced; being a victim (metaphorically) of repeated highway robbery at the hands of the transporters who ‘revise’ their fare on the three days of gas load-shedding, and (literally, but rarely) on the Motorway by the local madcap versions of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; the uncomfortable feeling engendered in one of not really belonging to the human race, but of being a variety of fish (the sardine comes readily to mind) judging from the density of passengers per square foot packed in a cramped space; crashing one’s vehicle (while racing recklessly with another Formula I oriented driver ) into a moving body travelling with equal force from the opposite direction, probably hoping to verify one of Newton’s laws of motion.

Ever since they were deprived of gas three days a week, the owners and drivers of the public transport buses, wagons and rickshaws no doubt felt it was only sporting to introduce a new ‘Russian roulette’ element in the equation, the common gas cylinder. Except it is not so common in their hands, or handling, as explosion in sub-standard devices have reportedly reduced the population by about 2,000 stout yeomen.

But it is the eccentric or outright crazy drivers who take pride of place as the principal ‘midwives’ responsible for one’s change of state to the ethereal. The members of the Drivers’ Union talk with awe and in hushed undertones of the legend that the driver attains a state of ‘nirvana’ at some stage during the course of a 500 foot sheer plunge down a mountain ravine and into the fast-flowing river below, with no survivors. A received wisdom, acquired from watching countless macho Punjabi movies and Maula Jat stereotypes, is that, if you have to go, take along as many of the brethren as you possibly can.

The basic requirements for being a public vehicle driver (apart from the mandatory near-sightedness and hearing loss) are a caustic tongue quick in repartee with a passenger, in romantic flirtation with someone sitting on the front seat beside him, or in backchat with the conductor (all of the above while winding through traffic at breakneck speed), a perpetual scowl, a low forehead and close set eyes, and above all, a sardonic manner for that traditional Lahori riposte delivered with dripping sarcasm.

But most of the driver’s working day is spent in keeping an eye open for the custodi-

ans of the law, the traffic wardens, and in determining how to outwit them by breaking every law in the book (and some not even in it!). More than three driving tickets in one day merit a special mention award from the Union (the Drivers’ Union, that is, not the Traffic Wardens’) and is proudly displayed as a talisman by the ‘winner’, who also swaggers horribly. In the neurosis department, the public transport driver must be a supreme egotist, with a ‘road hog’ mentality and an easy tendency towards road rage. A habit of sleepwalking is most welcome as it provides excellent training for the next day’s trancelike driving.

To emphasise the danger inherent in riding in a public transport vehicle many of the latter carry invocatory slogans like Khuda Hafiz (goodbye to all that?), mother’s blessings and praises, or a melancholy couplet of the driver’s own hallucinatory inspiration.

On one occasion one even saw a bus bearing the rather unlikely and hopefully unintentional legend, ‘Lady Diana Coach’, and from there it is but a step to a Titanic Coach or a Bermuda Triangle Bus Service.

In extensive war gaming of our various conflicts, it has been established beyond doubt that if a mechanised brigade of our public transport wagons was included with the armoured forces, it would have broken through any enemy defences, however impregnable, with a mathematical certainty.

After all, the infant future drivers of public transport vehicles have learnt on mother’s knees how to ride roughshod over, around and even (if possible) under any obstacle in their path. Even in the congested city streets their battle cry is vorwarts always vorwarts.

However dense and impassable the traffic tangle, they magically make it through dancing and weaving at high speeds – though not always so, as the tragic scenes of wreckage shown later on the television channels confirm! Sadly, the study also found that the enemy (and not only the enemy) would have to padlock the pockets of the dead to prevent their personal belongings being looted by our brigand WagonGruppe Lahore.

So, all in all, our present public transport system is not at all suited for the weak-kneed and the prudent or fussy types, and they should endeavour to give it a wide be-rth for medical reasons (their sanity)!

The writer is a freelance columnist.

Regional Press

upcoming elections Daily Khabroona

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here is still about a year before elections are slated to take place and it is now absolutely certain, barring extreme insinuating circumstances, that the incumbent government would complete its constitutional tenure. But as its tenure nears its end, the political temperature in the country is warming up. The country is witnessing the warming up of political campaigns by various political parties and big rallies and membership drives are taking place in various parts of the country.

The incumbent government during the last four years not only faced a deteriorating law and order situation but also had to face certain other critical issues including political tension between institutions and many constitutional impasses. Every political and religious party is now fishing for the peoples’ trust and want to ensure that the vote comes out in their favour.

However, the common people seem disillusioned with the

political process due to being disenchanted by the bad governance record of the incumbent government. They may bring a vote through change but it seems that they do not have much faith in the fact that their conditions will improve.

The low voter turnout in the previous elections may be indicative of the conditions wherein voters are losing confidence to take pain to go to polling stations for any possible change in the country through the democratic way. The reason for this disinterest in democratic processes could be the public losing faith in the ruling elites of the country.

The brawling among political parties and the constant levelling of allegations against each other instead of focusing on the problems of the masses has disappointed the poor strata of the society and they are pessimistic about seeing a solution to the problems of unemployment, price hike and the unstable law and order situation in the country.

– Translated from the original Pashto by Abdur Rauf Khattak

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Thursday, 19 april, 2012

Comment 13

American intrusion My education, my language the importance of mother tongue instruction

We come bearing democracy

Washington Watch

By Dr James J Zogby

F

or the past three decades, democracy promotion has been a staple, though oftentimes understated arm, of overall US foreign policy. President Jimmy Carter advocated this agenda. Ronald Reagan advanced it as a weapon in the Cold War. And presidents since then have embraced democracy promotion initiatives, though none with the ideological fervour of George W Bush.

Of late, this agenda has become a topic of heated debate here at home and abroad. Some of these programs are under assault in Arab countries, while in Washington, Bush-era critics of the Obama Administration are attacking the President saying that he hasn’t done enough to promote democracy in the Arab World, nor has he acted to defend US democracy efforts abroad.

Some of these Bush Administration officials were on hand for a conference on democracy promotion at Kenyon College this past week, making their case. I was a participant at the event.

The advocates of democracy promotion advance a number of arguments to make their case: “it’s about being true to our values,” “it’s in our interests,” “it is our moral obligation to improve the human condition”—all of which resonate with American audiences who reflexively respond to any mention of “our ideals” and appeals to “American exceptionalism.”

But as vigorous and at times passionate as this entire US conversation might become, it ignores one fundamental question that must be addressed at the outset, and that is, “should America even be involved in democracy promotion in the Arab World?” In my remarks to the Kenyon College event, I provided a contrarian view that said, quite simply, “No.” I have a number of reasons for taking this stance.

First and foremost, it is because I believe that America is not in the position to be the democracy promoters we fashion ourselves to be.

We fail to recognise the damage that has been done to “brand America.” While many Americans still want to see ourselves as “the shining city on the hill,” we simply do not understand that is not how most Arabs see us.

Two disastrous and bloody wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; the blind eye we have shown to Israeli violations of Palestinian rights and life; Guantanamo and the horrors of Abu Ghraib; torture, rendition, and “black sites”; and the treatment of Arabs and Muslims in America all have taken a toll on our credibility as advocates for democracy and human rights.

Our polling across the Arab World shows that not only has America’s favourable rating hit bottom, but when asked to name “the biggest threat to peace and security in the region,” more often than not, the US is named.

As our polling makes clear, what most Arabs want from America is not democracy, it is for Washington to play a role in pressuring Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian lands. Additionally, many Arabs believe that US investment can help create employment and build capacity in their countries.

And despite the fact that in a number of Arab countries, reform and democracy concerns have emerged in the top tier of political priorities,

in no case do Arabs indicate that they want American help in advancing these concerns. This they see as an unwanted intrusion into their domestic affairs.

There are, of course, those elements who do seek American support. Some in the Libyan and Syrian opposition have reached out in desperation, basically hoping that the US would do a “job” for them. There are also some “democracy” activists who have found it useful to cultivate US patronage. But none of these change the reality that for strong majorities across the Arab World, American involvement in democracy promotion is not wanted or seen as credible.

The reality is that because we don’t listen to Arab voices or respect Arab public opinion, we operate blindly in the region, seeing what we want to see and hearing only those voices who say what we want to hear. We don’t understand Arab society or the Arab people’s political priorities or their real aspirations. Because of our sense of cultural superiority, we assume a “one size, fits all” model. Those who want what we have to offer, we celebrate as democrats, “just like us.” Those who do not, we decry as backward.

In the end, we have too little knowledge about the history, culture, and people of the region to play a constructive role in transforming their societies. Our mistake in Afghanistan and Iraq was not just that we believed that we could use force to create a democratic order. It was that we assumed that we could play any constructive role in changing countries and peoples about whom about whom we knew so very little in the first place. This was true for our failed wars, and it is also true for our efforts at democracy promotion.

The writer is President of the Arab-American Institute.

By Zubair Torwali “Quail coos and the nightingale sings.

Each in its own language.

Punjabi is the language of your mothers and fathers.” Babu Rajab Ali, 1894-1979 (Punjabi poet) his is one of the five inspirations quoted by Dr Hywel Coleman in his research book ‘Language in Education in Pakistan: recommendations for policy and practice’ which was launched on 28 March in Islamabad. The research was conducted for the British Council primarily supposed to promote English round the world. It is refreshing that institutions like the British Council are now recognising the importance of mother tongues in education.

In mainstream Pakistan, the linguistic diversity of the country is still thought to be a threat to the national cohesion despite the fact that Pakistan has lost one of its arms mainly (including other factors as well) due to the denial of linguistic diversity.

It seems most of the respondents and informants in the report were not enthusiastic about an education policy incorporating mother tongues in education. They asserted that in Pakistan only five or six languages exist while the rest are just ‘small dialects’; second, there exist no such models anywhere in the world; and finally they say that a mother tongue inclusive education is expensive.

There are about 66 languages and dialectic variations spoken in Pakistan. Besides the regional languages Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Balochi and the national language Urdu, people often do not know about other languages. For instance, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa alone, many languages are spoken besides Pashto.

Linguists agree on a yardstick to differentiate a dialect from language: if two speakers do not un-

T

derstand one another and use a lingua franca to communicate instead, what they speak will be two separate languages. For instance, if a Lahori can understand what a Patohari speaks, their language must be the same but with variation.

Thus, they can be considered two different dialects of Punjabi. But if a Multani does not understand what a Lahori is speaking, it would mean they speak two different languages. Another example from upper Swat would help. In the two scenic towns, Bahrain and Kalam, two distinct languages Torwali and Gawri are spoken respectively.

They are two separate and complete languages in themselves because a Torwali or Gawri use either Pashto or Urdu to communicate with each other. These two towns are just 30 kilometres away from each other.

In Africa, Southeast Asia, India and even in the US mother tongue based education exists and is practiced. There has been done a great deal of research in the field by UNESCO, Save the Children, World Bank, Aga Khan Foundation, SIL and the British Council. In some parts of the world, these agencies are involved with the respective governments in programmes called mother tongue based multilingual or bilingual education. In Pakistan, too, there are a handful of such programmes run by organizations.

A similar programme has been designed and is run by the Institute for Education and Development in the Torwali speaking community in Bahrain Swat. The programme is called mother tongue based multilingual education. It was established in 2008 and has by now 150 students. It is a pre-primary school programme for two years.

Here the students start their education in their native language exclusively for a year. After getting literacy in the mother tongue, the learners are transitioned to Urdu.

At a specific stage in the second year, the learner is further bridged to English first orally and later on its literacy begins. Besides the languages, other subjects such as Maths, Science, Ethics et al are also taught in the mother tongue. A two track pedagogical system is applied with emphasis both on ‘accuracy’ and ‘meaning’, in other words on skills and critical thinking. In the planning stage a ‘Language Progression Plan’ is designed clearly indicating which language is to be

started when, how, how much and at what stage.

The Torwali based multilingual education programme has so far attained significant achievements: at the start, parents were reluctant to send their kids to schools on the pretext that they understood their language but gradually this trend changed as the parents saw the success of their kids. The parents have by now gained a sense of dignity about their language and culture; it has connected the children with the elderly and created a sense of affection. The children now go to the elderly and learn words, proverbs and riddles in their languages. Third, the endangered language was preserved, documented, promoted and used as an effective tool to learn other languages; and finally the students in this programme are performing better than the ones at the government schools. The programme is not only better for kids but the mother tongue based multilingual education can effectively educate adults as well. Mr Khair Muhammad was ale to become literate at age 70 thanks to learning aids in his mother tongue. The following anecdote might also be illustrative of the importance of education in the mother tongue.

“Salman Malik and Ghufran Malik are two brothers. Ghufran is 11 and is in the fifth grade in a public school whereas Salman is just 6 and is at our multilingual education demonstration school, Mhoon School, run by IBT in Bahrain, Swat. Salman has to date completed two terms (four months) of schooling.

Performance of both the brothers was evaluated in December last year before the winter holidays.

They were given common words in both their mother tongue and in Urdu. The words were “Baba”, “Mama”, “Kaka” and “Lala”.

Salman quite comfortably wrote the words while his elder brother Ghufran failed to do so. This story shows two trends viz the lack of quality in our public schools and the effectiveness of multilingual education primarily based on the learner’s mother tongue.”

The writer is a researcher and activist, who leads Idara Baraye Taleem-o-Taraqi (IBT), a civil society organisation working on languages and education. Web: www.ibtswat.org

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Thursday, 19 april, 2012

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

FASHION

makes it to Time’s 100

most influential People list NEWS DESK

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HE Time magazine has n a m e d Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy in their 2012 TIME 100, the magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The full list, which also includes Barack Obama, Harvey Weinstein, Hillary Clinton, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge and Adele, will appear in the April 30th issue of TIME. The list, now in its ninth year, recognises the activism, innovation and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals. As TIME Managing Editor Richard Stengel has said of the list in the past, “The TIME 100 is not a list of the most powerful people in the world, it’s not a list of the smartest people

in the world, it’s a list of the most influential people in the world. They’re people who are using their ideas, their visions and actions to transform the world and have an effect on a multitude of people.”

As a member of the TIME 100, Sharmeen has been invited to attend the annual TIME 100 Gala on April 24, at the Lincoln Center in New York City

where many current and former TIME 100 members are brought together including the world’s leading figures in politics, technology, science, philanthropy, media, business and entertainment.

Past guests have included Elton John, Oprah Winfrey, Carlos Slim, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Warren and Kathryn Bigelow.

On being featured in the TIME 100 list, Sharmeen said: “It is a privilege and an honour to be featured on such a prestigious list; I am grateful to be recognised for my work and would like to extend my gratitude for being selected. Women are telling examples of the ways in which Pakistani’s are stepping up to support their fellow citizens and I am proud that their work is being recognised and commended.”

PaRaguay: Paul Mc cartney waves as he performs at the Defensores Del chaco stadium. aMRITSaR: Sanjay Dutt addresses a press conference about his upcoming romantic comedy film ‘Son of Sardar’.

WaSHIngTon: alec baldwin attends the arts advocacy Day 2012 congressional arts Kick off & Press conference.

HollyWooD: Jane fonda arrives for the los angeles Premiere of ‘Marley’

Guzel opens first

multi-designer store in Peshawar NEWS DESK Guzel, the much awaited multi designer fashion house had a glamorous red carpet launch in Peshawar on 24th March.

The PR for the events was handled by Sarah Gandapur and was hosted by model Natasha Hussain. Models from Lahore walked the ramp. Over 600 guests attended the red carpet launch including many socialites, politicians and bureaucrats. Islamabad-based entrepreneurs, Ali Ozgen and Temur Ozgen came with the concept of providing a multi-designer store to Peshawarites. Ali Ozgen said: “We strive to provide everything for the have-it-all fashionistas. Guzel embodies the philosophy to make women not only look stunning but also feel spec-

tacular.” Temur said: “The globe-trotting clientele of Peshawar take their dressing very seriously hence the fashionistas are demanding designer wear at home. Now style lovers do not need to travel to Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi to know about or buy the latest fashions.” The architect Tabreed’s ideas, extensive attention and a clear vision led to the architectural design of Guzel and has resulted in the simple yet effective and sculpturous interior. Guzel’s outstanding branding, interior design, marketing, designer selection, merchandise, staff behaviour, plus many other details makes it truly unique. The most fantastic feature of Guzel is the assorted mix of 55 designers known throughout Pakistan for putting style lovers in just the right dress.

Sonakshi clears air about

rift with Salman Khan

MUMBAi: Sonakshi Sinha made a splash in bollywood with her desi avatar in 2010 blockbuster ‘Dabangg’ starring Salman Khan. It was Salman who had seen the actor in her and inspired her to take up acting as a career. Post ‘Dabangg’ there were reports that the beauty was moving out of the Salman Khan camp to be friends with the who’s who of the industry which also included her mentor’s arch rival Shah Rukh Khan.

Hence rumours of her rift with Salman were on full swing. However, Sonakshi decided to put all rumours to rest once and for all. Sonakshi said, “firstly, after ‘Dabangg’ released it took me two months to really accept the fact that the film had reached such massive levels and that audiences loved me. Post that, both of us were busy with our respective projects, but whenever we met at events or functions we were as comfortable with each other as we were during the shooting of the film. Rumours of a problem between us amuses us no end. I have immense respect for Salman. He is the best. Why would we have any problems with each other?” This star kid respects Salman for whatever he has done for her. She said, “Salman and arbaaz (Khan) saw me at a college fashion show, and asked me to be Rajjo in their film. I hesitated at first as I wasn’t sure. Salman mentored me through not just acting, but also my gymming and well being.” AGenCieS

laHoRE: Dr Zen-ul-abideen, Dr Mussarat afridi, Dr Mubashir Hasan and Dr Tahira Saleem reopen asher clinic as a Polyclinic at an impressive ceremony held at cavalry grounds, commercial area, lahore cantt.

I am dating somebody and it’s a big secret: Preity MUMBAi: Bubby actress Preity Zinta, who is known to wear her heart on her sleeve, got candid with media recently when she spoke about her relationship status and her love life. She revealed that she is dating someone and it’s a big secret. everyone knows that after her split with business tycoon ness Wadia, Preity Zinta moved on in life but she maintains that she is still in touch with her ex-flame courtesy iPL commitments. Probed further about that special someone in her life, PZ said, “these days i get scared telling people that i am single because when i say that, i get linked to everybody i meet. So i have a new strategy today - when people ask me if i am single i say ‘i am dating somebody and it’s a big secret’ as that’s safer than saying i’m single.” About ness, Preity said that she regrets her mixing professional and personal life and admitted that she has learned a lot all these years. Preity, 37, is happy being single, but she said she does intend to “get married and have amazing kids.” And when she does that, she “will tell everyone because i have always been honest about what i do,” said Preity. AGenCieS

Aamir ignores

Shah Rukh Khan MUMBAi: Salman Khan doesn’t leave an opportunity to take on Shah Rukh but aamir Khan loves to ignore him. The actor who is set to make his television debut avoided talking about Shah Rukh at a recent press conference. aamir’s first ever television reality show ‘Satyamev Jayate’ goes on air from May 6. The actor is certainly kicked about the show on which he has been working since the last two years. aamir at a press conference praised all his colleagues who made it big on the small screen. He said, “I loved amitabhji’s ‘Kaun banega crorepati’, Hrithik’s dance show. I haven’t seen ‘bigg boss’ but Salman’s ‘Dus Ka Dum’. I enjoyed watching these shows.” aamir smartly avoided any opinion on Shah Rukh Khan’s TV histrionics, be it the third season of ‘Kbc’ or even ‘Zor Ka Jhatka’, or ‘Kya aap Panchvi Paas Se Tez Hain?’ When quizzed about Shah Rukh Khan’s shows, aamir avoided by talking about how he would love to participate in game shows but would not to host one. but that still didn’t say anything about how aamir felt about SRK’s TV stints. AGenCieS

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15 SanTo DoMIngo: carlina Duran, 25, is crowned Miss Dominican Republic 2012.

Lohan to play Taylor in biopic

DESPITE ASSAULT ACCUSATIONS Sunday is a Funday series

OS ANGELES: Lindsay Lohan’s producers, who hired her to play Elizabeth Taylor in the late actress’ biopic, are sticking by her despite the alleged nightclub assault charge and her weekend-long partying. The troubled actress’ rep Steve Honig said that he spoke to the filmmakers, after the photos of the 25-year-old wearing see-through clothes at the Coachella Music Festival came out, and insists that there are no problems at all. “Producers have assured us everything is on track and there are absolutely no problems,” TMZ quoted Honig as saying.

Sources close to the production say that producers also aren’t overly concerned about the ongoing police investigation into whether the ‘Mean Girls’ star assaulted a woman at a Hollywood nightclub. “Lindsay is going to star in ‘Liz and Dick’,” Honig added. AGenCieS

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Veena Malik to go ‘ooh la la’ for

with Nida Yasir

MauSummery present their

‘The Dirty Picture’ remake PURE Prêt Collection 2012 NEWS DESK AGenCieS

HollyWooD: luke Wilson poses on arrival for the premiere of ‘Marley’.

NEWS DESK AGenCieS

laHoRE: (l-R) Dr Mussarat afridi, Mrs Samia afridi, Dr Shaista bhatty and Dr Zen-ul-abideen.

Vidya Balan took one and all by surprise with her scintillating act as ‘Silk’ Smitha in Milan Luthria’s ‘The Dirty Picture’.

And now its time for Pakistani starlet Veena Malik to follow suit. The controversial actress is all set to do a south Indian remake of the super-hit flick.

Veena took to Twitter to break this news. She wrote, “Super excited to be the part of south film industry.....just signed ‘THE DIRTY PICTURE’.....!!!(sic).” Earlier,

rumours had it that Tamil actress Nayanthara was approached for the role of ‘Silk’ in the film. But the lady denied being offered any such role.

‘The Dirty Picture’ helped Vidya bag the National Award for her stellar performance. It is yet to be seen whether Veena Malik stepped into Vidya’s shoes to play the lead role of ‘Silk’ in the south Indian remake or will she simply be playing a sidekick.

Although Malik is highly excited with her upcoming project, but will she succeed in wooing the South Indian audiences with her oomph?

Hrithik Roshan to romance Vidya Balan MUMBAi: The success of ‘The Dirty Picture’ and ‘Kahaani’ has evidently put Vidya balan in the elite list and made her amongst the most sought after actresses in bollywood. If the recent industry buzz is to be believed, Vidya balan is on the wish-list of Karan Johar now. It’s a known fact that Karan Johar has acquired the rights of the novel ‘The Immortals of Meluha’. The novel written by amish Tripathi is a trilogy on lord Shiva. after watching Vidya balan’s work in ‘The Dirty Picture’ and ‘Kahaani’, Karan Johar strongly wishes to cast Vidya balan as the female lead of the film. apparently Vidya will be seen portraying the role of Parvati, lord Shiva’s wife. but in that case who would be playing lord Shiva is the big question.

Hrithik Roshan is the name being considered by KJo. The two delivered the biggest hit of this year in ‘agneepath’. So if everything goes fine, we would get to see a fresh pairing in the form of Hrithik Roshan and Vidya balan. The jodi seems as unique as unusual it is. Karan Johar literally knows how to get the best of both worlds. AGenCieS

This summer, coveted brand MauSummery by Huma presents their latest ‘PURE Prêt Collection’. MauSummery’s collection is a fusion of all three elements of design, quality and colour, while retaining their principal philosophy of bringing individuality of style to each print. It comes in 13 distinct designs with the fabrics including the signature MauSummery lawn, chiffons and woven materials with detailed embroideries and intricate borders, complimented with a variety of embellishments. The collection also comes in longer silhouettes, embroidered backs with a focus on print and embroidery, contrasting and embroidered backs and sleeves, with heavy damaans and rounded hemlines, collared shirts and cuffed sleeves.

Inspired by a diversity of cultures, with strong influences from vintage Victorian designs, ancient Al-Hamra architecture, Arabesque patterns, Kashmiri shawls and Mughal Maharani costumes, the colours palettes for the collection includes bold fuchsia, raven black, tangerine, teal, seashell pinks and mustard.

MauSummery’s collection is now available at their flagship store in Lahore.

MUMBAi: Managing to steal some time from her back-toback schedule, Priyanka chopra came to Rajasthan to attend her friend’s wedding.

There was even talk that she had gone off to the uS for a fortnight to learn music, meet Katy Perry and all. but those things were scheduled for later. She came here to make sure the wedding of her friend, organised by her, went off well. The wedding rituals started in a sub-urban luxury resort situated in far off village off Jaipur. Priyanka reached Jaipur on april 13, two days ahead of the wedding, so that she can participate in the sangeet ceremony among other rituals. our source said, “She took keen interest in each and everything related to her friend’s wedding. She wanted it to be a royal affair that everyone would remember. Priyanka even organised a hen party for her best friend a day before the sangeet. The party was well attended and everyone had fun till the wee hours on friday night, leaving Priyanka and her friends tired to the core.” AGenCieS

NEWS DESK: Dolmen Mall Tariq Road and Dolmen Mall Hyderi recently hosted a Sunday Brunch, inaugurating their Sunday is a Funday series. The Sunday brunch was hosted at the Dolmen Mall Tariq Road food court and was an activity-oriented event with unique games for children such as a real time simulation of Angry Birds. Television host Nida Yasir visited Dolmen Mall Tariq Road’s food court, delighting visitors with her sense of humour and elegance. The food court at Dolmen Mall Tariq Road is the largest indoor food court in Pakistan, with a huge number of restaurants catering to every kind of palette ranging from Italian cuisine to traditional food. Lucky draws were announced throughout the event, and games were being played enabling visitors to win free meal vouchers. AGenCieS

Pattinson, Stewart banned

FROM RED CARPETS LONDON: ‘Twilight’ stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart can only appear together at Twilight themed red carpet events, because of a clause written in their contracts. The on and off screen couple - who star alongside each other in the vampire franchise, are reportedly prevented by their contracts from appearing at any other red carpet event together. Pattinson was seen alone at the premiere of Paul McCartney`s video to his latest song ‘My Valentine’ in Los Angeles last week. “‘Twilight’ kind of owns some of their appearances they do together until ‘Breaking Dawn: Part 2’ is one hundred per cent completed,” a source said. The filming on ‘Breaking Dawn’ isn’t over yet and both Pattinson and Stewart have been recalled to Canada to shoot some “technical” scenes for the film. AGenCieS

Priyanka Chopra

turns party planner

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16 Foreign News

Thursday, 19 april, 2012

New Syria bloodshed clouds UN observer talks DAMASCUS

S

AfP

YRIAN forces shelled rebel areas anew on Wednesday, six days into a UN-backed ceasefire, sparking new pressure for unfettered nationwide access for an observer mission intended to oversee it.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who was due to report to the Security Council later on Wednesday on the progress of talks between an observer advance team and Syrian officials, urged Damascus to give the mission free access across the country.

But a pro-government newspaper reported that a protocol governing the mission’s operations might still be days away.

The seven-member advance team arrived in Damascus on Sunday to

prepare for the observer mission agreed with international envoy Kofi Annan as part of his blueprint for ending 13 months of bloodshed.

But its efforts to reach agreement with the authorities on unrestricted access to protest centres for the full mission have so far failed to bear fruit, diplomats at the United Nations said.

Syrian’s pro-government AlWatan newspaper said the advance team had held talks with foreign ministry officials on Tuesday and that the protocol should be finalised in the coming days.

Members of the advance team also visited the southern province of Daraa, cradle of the uprising against Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and met its governor, the newspaper said.

The observers were seen heading out of their hotel in Damascus on board two vehicles early Wednesday

but it was unclear where they were headed.

“We do not make comments about our mission,” said team leader Colonel Ahmed Himmiche.

“There are seven of us and our numbers will increase today or tomorrow until we reach 30,” he said.

Annan wants the mission’s numbers to swell to more than 250, but the UN Security Council resolution adopted last Saturday approves only the initial 30.

Security Council diplomats have said reinforcement would depend on compliance with the ceasefire that went into force last Thursday.

Washington warned that Annan’s hopes of a larger mission were being jeopardised by the persistent violence, which saw at least 20 people killed on Tuesday, 17 of then civilians, according to monitors.

On Wednesday, regime forces launched a fresh bombardment of rebel neighbourhoods of the flashpoint central city of Homs, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A civilian was killed as troops carried out search operations in Idlib, a province in the northwest close to the border with Turkey where fighters of the rebel Free Syrian Army have been active, the London-based watchdog added.

“The violence is escalating. It will be very difficult for the council to send unarmed observers into a hot war,” US ambassador Susan Rice told CNN television in a new sign of Western doubts about Assad’s intentions.

She said Annan’s peace plan was “in jeopardy” because Assad’s government was not keeping to its side of the bargain.

Rice would not comment on the

observers’ talks with the Syrian government, but another senior UN diplomat said that if Damascus did not complete the protocol by the end of the week then the Security Council could not allow the full mission of 200-250 observers envisaged by Annan.

Following recommendations by the former UN chief, the Security Council resolution which sent the advance party said there had to be “full, unimpeded, and immediate freedom of movement and access” for monitors.

“I think there is a risk that the Syrians will not agree to all of that and we will have to decide what to do,” said the diplomat.

“There is a holdup and it looks like the Syrians are doing it deliberately,” a second diplomat told AFP.

Turkey intercepts ship with suspected arms headed for Syria ANKARA AfP

Turkey has intercepted a vessel in the Mediterranean suspected of carrying weapons and ammunition to Syria, a diplomatic source told AFP on Wednesday.

“We received information that the vessel has a cargo of arms and ammunition headed for Syria,” the source said on condition of anonymity, adding that Turkish authorities would search the vessel later in the day. The Antigua and Barbuda flagged “Atlantic Cruiser” belongs to a German company, the source added. The German shipping firm denied allegations Monday that its vessel was carrying Iranian arms to Syria, violating EU sanctions against the Damascus regime.

News weekly Der Spiegel reported at the weekend that the Atlantic Cruiser, owned by German company Bockstiegel but chartered by a Ukrainian firm, had been stopped on the high seas with Iranian weapons on board. Bockstiegel said they had no indication that the cargo included arms or ammunition as stated in the press, and the Ukranian company that chartered the ship further testified that the cargo contained no weapons, but legal goods for civilian use. The ship was stopped close to the Turkish port in Iskenderun for a port inspection of its cargo.

MoSCoW: Russian tanks roll during a rehearsal of the Victory Day Parade in Alabino, outside Moscow, on Wednesday. AfP

Thai parliament flashed by pornographic picture BANGKOK: The graphic image of a naked woman caused shockwaves in Thailand’s parliament on Wednesday when it flashed across big screens during a legislators’ debate. Monitors that had been showing a close-up shots of the parliamentarian addressing the house suddenly flashed a picture of a woman of Asian appearance in a provocative pose. MP Sanong Thepaksornnarong, from Thailand’s Bhumjaithai Party, spotted the picture and called for the session to be halted. Screens were hastily turned off and an investigation was launched. House speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont said an official told him the picture signal was beamed in from outside parliament by hackers.

Representatives, from both the lower and upper houses, later recommenced their discussion on a controversial constitutional amendment. AfP

Rights groups urge US reveal details of Yemeni strike WASHINGTON AfP

Two US rights groups on Tuesday urged the United States to divulge details of a 2009 missile strike in Yemen that targeted Al-Qaeda militants but allegedly left dozens of civilians dead.

Yemen initially said it launched the December 17, 2009 strike in a remote mountain village, but media reports later quoted unnamed US officials saying it was an American operation. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights said in a statement they had filed a request for details on the strike under the Freedom of Information Act. The request seeks information about the legal and factual basis for the strike,

whether officials knew there were civilians present and what steps have been taken to investigate what went wrong or to compensate victims’ families, the statement said.

The rights groups say 41 people were killed in the attack, including 21 children and 14 women.

Although US officials say operations targeting Al-Qaeda militants cause few civilian casualties, reports of civilian deaths in Yemen, Pakistan and elsewhere “raise serious questions about whether the government is violating international and domestic law by failing to distinguish between civilians and combatants, and by using lethal force away from active battlefields,” it said.

The US military declined to comment on the request.

US officials usually avoid pub-

licly discussing “targeted killings” against militants abroad, including the 2009 attack in Yemen.

A 2010 diplomatic cable — divulged by the WikiLeaks website — showed Yemeni leaders telling the then chief of US forces in the Middle East, General David Petraeus, that they would cover up Washington’s role in strikes against Al-Qaeda militants.

“We’ll continue saying the bombs are ours, not yours,” Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is quoted as saying in talks with Petraeus, who is now head of the Central Intelligence Agency, according to the cable.

The leaked diplomatic cable also confirmed Yemeni concerns about the accuracy of cruise missiles like the weapon used in the 2009 strike.

new poll shows obama, Romney in dead heat WASHINGTON AfP

Republican challenger Mitt Romney has closed the gap with US President Barack Obama and the two are now neck and neck in the White House race, a poll released Wednesday shows. Romney, the party’s presumptive nominee now that his main Republican rival has folded up his campaign, matched Obama 46-46 percent among registered voters who were asked in a CBS News/New York Times poll who they would vote for if the election were today.

Last month, a survey by the same media outlets showed Obama with a 47-44 advantage. Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, gained a bump in support in the week since religious conservative Rick Santorum dropped out of the Republican race, effectively handing Romney the nomination. CBS and the Times conducted the poll, whose margin of error is three percentage points, between last Friday and Tuesday, after Santorum ended his campaign. Republicans — who split their votes between Romney, Santorum, former House speaker Newt Gingrich and congressman Ron Paul in more than two dozen state primary contests this year — are now rallying behind Romney.

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Foreign News 17

north Korea rejects Un condemnation of rocket launch SEOUL AfP

North Korea on Tuesday rejected the United Nations’ condemnation of its rocket launch and vowed to continue to try to put a satellite into orbit. “We resolutely and totally reject the unreasonable behaviour of the UN Security Council to violate the DPRK’s (North Korea’s) legitimate right to launch satellites,” the foreign ministry said in a statement carried by state media. The statement came after the Security Council ordered tightened sanctions on North Korea over its failed rocket launch Friday and warned of new action if the isolated state stages a nuclear test. The 15-member council — including the North’s closest ally China and nuclear-armed Pakistan — “strongly condemned” the launch in a statement that highlighted “grave security concerns” in Asia. Led by its new young ruler Kim Jong-Un, the North claimed it launched a satellite-carrying rocket but the United States and its allies said it was a disguised long-range ballistic missile test banned under UN resolutions.

Consul kidnappers demand prisoner release: Saudis JEDDAH ReUteRS

A suspected al Qaeda militant who claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of a Saudi Arabian diplomat in Yemen has warned that his group will “prepare the knives” unless their demands are met, an official Saudi spokesman said on Tuesday. Mishaal al-Shodoukhi, who was named on a list of fugitive al Qaeda militants by Saudi authorities in 2009, phoned the Saudi embassy in Yemen to demand a ransom and the release of militants in Saudi prisons, the spokesman said. He also threatened more attacks including an embassy bombing and the assassination of a Saudi prince. Abdallah al-Khalidi, the kingdom’s deputy consul in the southern Yemeni port of Aden, was kidnapped outside his residence there on March 28.

“There are some people here who have been calling, ever since Khalidi was kidnapped, to prepare the knives (to kill him)... Now it is a consul kidnapped, tomorrow it will be an embassy bombing and after that a prince killed,” Shodoukhi said, according to a transcript of his conversation with the embassy released by Saudi authorities.

‘no time to wait’ for peace deal, says Jordan’s king BRUSSELS AfP

Jordan’s King Abdullah II called for “a quantum leap forward” Wednesday in efforts to strike an Israel-Palestinian peace deal, warning time was fast running out. “We cannot afford one more generation in waiting for a Palestinian state,” the Jordanian monarch said in a vibrant speech to the European parliament that drew repeated rounds of applause. “There is no time to wait,” he said. “The Arab Spring is rooted in a profound call for human respect. No affront is felt more deeply than the Israeli occupation.” “The longer Palestinian suffering endures, the longer settlementbuilding continues, the greater the frustrations, dangers and unknowns.” King Abdullah said that if talks on a two-state solution collapsed, Israel would be “further than ever from real security”. “It would take decades, even generations for peace to regain the initiative,” he said. The king said the decade-old Arab Peace Initiative remained the only blueprint, with two states living side by side on the 1967 borders.

JeRUSALeM: female Palestinians look on as their furniture is removed following their forced eviction by israeli authorities, handing over their home to Jewish settlers in the israeli annexed east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Beit Hanina on Wednesday. AfP

malaysia landmarks were terror targets: minister KUALA LUMPUR AfP

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Malaysian minister has said that a dozen terrorist attacks on landmarks including the iconic Petronas Twin Towers have been foiled since 1999.

Nazri Abdul Aziz, minister in charge of legal affairs, was quoted by the New Straits Times as saying that regional outfit Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) targeted Kuala Lumpur International Airport, police headquarters and fast food outlets. And in 2000, authorities learned of a plan by

militant group Kumpulan Militan Malaysia (KMM) to attack a US warship docked at a Malaysian port, he told parliament in comments confirmed by his office Wednesday. Nazri’s addressed parliament as it passed a new security law Tuesday to replace the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA) which allowed indefinite detention without trial.

JI, which draws inspiration from AlQaeda, has carried out dozens of bombings in Indonesia in the past decade including the 2002 attacks in Bali that left more than 200 dead, mostly foreign tourists. Nazri said that in 2008, two JI members from In-

donesia, who entered Malaysia with fake passports, targeted the upmarket shopping centre underneath the Twin Towers but were arrested, deported and jailed in Indonesia. “The militant group had done surveillance on their targets, but the authorities managed to stop such attacks from taking place following arrests made under the Internal Security Act,” he was quoted as saying. Parliament’s lower house passed the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act to replace the colonial-era ISA which has been slammed by rights group who say the government has used it as a tool against political opponents.

‘Death or freedom only possible outcomes of trial’

The new act stipulates that suspects must be released or brought to court after 28 days in custody, and that people cannot be detained for their political beliefs.

Malaysian right groups Suaram and Movement to Abolish the ISA called Wednesday for the new law to be withdrawn, saying it still gives police broad detention powers and “fails to uphold international human rights standards”. Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is expected to call national elections soon, has launched a slew of reforms aimed at easing restrictions on civil liberties, including media freedom and the right to assemble.

US military intelligence critic to lead spy agency WASHINGTON

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A US general who once blasted the work of military spies in Afghanistan as “only marginally relevant” has been nominated to take over the Pentagon’s intelligence agency, officials said Tuesday. The decision to name Lieutenant General Michael Flynn suggests a possible shake-up of the sprawling Defense Intelligence Agency as the general has earned a reputation for pushing for dramatic change in his work with special forces. Flynn was a scathing public critic of military intelligence in Afghanistan, where he served as a top intelligence officer in 2010, saying it failed to provide decision makers with a clear picture of conditions on the ground. He chose to publish his critique through a Washington think tank, the Center for a New American Security, instead of sticking to customary channels within the Pentagon bureaucracy.

“Eight years into the war in Afghanistan, the US intelligence community is only marginally relevant to the overall strategy,” his report said. “Having focused the overwhelming majority of its collection efforts and analytical brainpower on insurgent groups, the vast intelligence apparatus is unable to answer fundamental questions about the environment in which US and allied forces operate and the people they seek to persuade,” it said. Flynn is credited with playing an influential role during his tenure at Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), the secretive headquarters that oversees elite commandos like the team that killed Osama bin Laden in May 2011.

Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in twin attacks in Norway last July, told an Oslo court Wednesday there were only two possible outcomes of his trial: acquittal or the death penalty. “There are only two legitimate outcomes of this case,” he told the court: “Acquittal or the death penalty.”

He acknowledged that neither was “realistic,” since he has confessed to the attacks and Norway does not apply the death penalty. If found sane, Breivik risks a 21-year jail term, which could then be extended indefinitely if he is still considered a threat to society. If found insane he could be sentenced to closed psychiatric care, possibly for life. “I consider 21 years prison a pathetic punishment,” he said, adding he thought it a shame that one of the judges hearing the case had been removed on Tuesday for having called for him to receive the death penalty the day after the July 22 attacks. Two psychiatric evaluations have drawn contradictory conclusions on Breivik’s sanity, and ultimately it will be up to the judges to rule on them when they deliver their verdict sometime in mid-July. Breivik, who has said his attacks were aimed at defending “ethnic Norwegians” from

what he considers a Muslim invasion, also told the court two other cells were prepared to attack Norway.

When prosecutor Inga Bejer Engh asked if Norwegians should truly fear attacks from two other cells, Breivik answered: “Yes.” “I am only one of very many militant nationalists in Norway and Europe ... If our demands are not met this will happen again,” he said, referring to his wish that the ruling Labour Party put an end to its generous immigration policies. On July 22 last year, Breivik first killed eight people when he set off a bomb in a van parked outside buildings hous-

ing the offices of Labour Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who was not present at the time.

He then travelled to Utoeya island where, dressed as a police officer, he spent more than an hour methodically shooting at hundreds of people attending a ruling Labour Party youth summer camp. The shooting spree claimed 69 lives, mostly teens trapped on the small island surrounded by icy waters. It was the deadliest massacre ever committed by a lone gunman.

Breivik has entered a plea of not guilty, saying his acts were “cruel but necessary”.

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thursday, 19 April, 2012

nadal passes knee test, Djokovic sweeps past Seppi Page 21

B’desh tour will revive cricket: Zaka LAHORE

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StAff RePoRt

HAIRMAN Pakistan Cricket Board Zaka Ashraf has said that the Bangladesh tour was confirmed after the International Cricket Council recognized the series and the visit of the tigers would pave the way for other teams’ tour to Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference here at the National Cricket Academy on his return after attending the ICC meeting, Ashraf said that the ICC has agreed upon sending its officials and referees to Pakistan. He also revealed that the Pakistan Premier League will be held in October.

Giving details of the Bangladesh series, Ashraf said that they will come to Pakistan on April 28.

Bangladesh confirmed that they will tour the country for a One-Day International (ODI) and one Twenty20 match at the end of this month.

The ODI is slated for April 29 with the Twenty20 taking place the next day

— both matches will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

“I’m pleased to confirm this visit,” said Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Mustafa Kamal in a statement.

“I know how important it is for the PCB to revive cricket in their country. This

short visit will demonstrate to the world that cricket should resume in Pakistan.”

Ashraf added that Pakistan had played an important part in Bangladesh gaining status as a test playing nation.

He said that complete security would be provided to the visitors. He said it

was his first priority to restore International cricket in the country.

The chairman said that Bangladesh’s visit would give confidence to other cricket playing nations. He also thanked all the member boards of ICC on supporting Pakistan.

Bangladesh will be the first Testplaying nation to tour Pakistan since a gun attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in March 2009 ended their ongoing tour.

Since then, Pakistan has played its home series on neutral venues and was also stripped of the rights to co-host last year’s World Cup. Afghanistan, International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Associate Member, was the only side to play in Pakistan during the period.

Ashraf also said that Pakistan is now a safe place to play cricket in, adding that terrorism was at its peak in 2009 but this was not so now.

“Times have changed,” said Ashraf, adding that the university teams from England who came to Pakistan did not face any threats and gave positive feedback after returning home.

He applauded the efforts of the Punjab government and police as well as the role of the media in this regard. “Pakistan is a safe place to play cricket in,” he said.

botham backs Pakistan yet to fielding coach vows to turn submit security team into high performance unit ‘blasé’ England to bounce back plan to Icc LAHORE

StAff RePoRt

LAHORE StAff RePoRt

The Pakistan Cricket Board has not yet submitted its security plan to the ICC for next week's brief visit by Bangladesh for two matches in Lahore. "The report is delayed, but I hope it will be dispatched later in the day," PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said on Wednesday. According to a foreign news agency, the International Cricket Council wanted to assess the security report before deciding whether it's safe to send neutral umpires and a match referee for a one-day international at Gaddafi Stadium on April 29. Ashraf said the ICC wanted the report during last week's executive board meeting in Dubai, but he wasn't finished hearing from all the required security departments in Pakistan. "We dispatched letters to all the (government) departments on April 16 informing them about the Bangladesh team's tour to Pakistan later this month and I hope that our report will be completed today," he said. The ICC has already said it could appoint non-neutral umpires if its anti-corruption and security unit deemed Pakistan unsafe. Bangladesh will be the first major team to tour Pakistan in three years, but the tour comprises only an ODI followed by a day later by a Twenty20 on the same ground.

Pak athletes to figure in asian gP Series LAHORE StAff RePoRt

The Asian Athletics Association has selected four Pakistan athletes to participate in the Asian Grand Prix Series 2012. Three Wapda and Army player make the four selected athletes who stood qualified to participate in all the three venues of the Asian Grand Prix Series 2012. Liaqat Ali of Army in 100m, Farhan Ahmed, Ms. Rabia Ashiq and Ms Zeenat Parveen, all of WAPDA were selected to figure in 800m and shot-put categories respectively. They will figure in all the following events that will take place in Thailand that are 1st Leg, at Bangkok on May 8, second Leg at Kanchanaburi on May 11 and the third Leg at Chonburi on May 14.

Pakistan's new fielding coach Julien Fountain has said he along with coach Dave Whatmore are determined to convert the team into a 'High Performance Unit'.

Fountain was quoted by PakPassion as saying that Pakistan team has scope to improve in fielding, and he is going to do his best to make them a better fielding unit.

"I think every professional sports team is always looking to tweak it's performance, to raise it's game to make sure it's up there with the best, if not actually setting the standard as the best in the world," Fountain said.

"Specifically within my department as the fielding coach yes of course there are going to be lots of little areas that we can adjust or tweaks we can make," he added Fountain, who was the first baseball player to be used as a 'Specialist Fielding Coach' by any test level cricket team, said he along with Whatmore were looking forward to create an environment that nurtures high performance.

"The philosophy that both Dav and I subscribe to is "High Performance Unit". We both feel that for a team to succeed, there has to be a group buy in from all concerned, players, staff and officials. We will draw on both our experiences from across the cricket world and beyond, to ensure that we create an environment that nurtures high performance," he said.

LONDON AfP

Sir Ian Botham expects England to hold onto their world number one status for "quite a while now" provided they learn from the disappointments of their recent series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka. England climbed to the top of the Test match rankings after whitewashing India 4-0 in England last year. But no sooner had they reached the top of the International Cricket Council's standings, Andrew Strauss's side were beaten 3-0 by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and fell behind in Sri Lanka before drawing a twomatch series 1-1. "England are a good team," former captain Botham, one of England's greatest all-rounders, said Tuesday. "I don't know what went wrong in the first part of the (northern hemisphere) winter. It was really weird, all of that.

"The bowlers were magnificent throughout and it has to be said the batsmen just didn't turn up. "Why that is, I haven't got a clue -- and I don't think they know.

PCB asks India to host Pakistan’s home-series LAHORE

StAff RePoRt

The Pakistan Cricket Board has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in Indi (BCCI) to host a home series of the Pakistan cricket team in India. Indian media quoting sources claimed that the chairman of the Pakistan cricket board, Zaka Ashraf, made the offer to his Indian counterpart, N Srinivasan, on the sidelines of the ICC meeting in Dubai.

The report said: “Ashraf told Srinivasan that Pakistan would be willing to play its future home series on Indian soil if the Indian board was ready to play hosts”.

According to the report the PCB chairman told the India board president and ICC (International Cricket Council) that they would pay for all the expenses involved in the venture if India agreed to

host Pakistan’s home series. The report continued, “Clearly Ashraf wants resumption of bilateral cricket with India and believes if India agrees to play host to Pakistan’s home matches, the ice will break between the two boards”. The Green-shirts, since 2009, have been forced to play all their home series at neutral venues as foreign teams have declined to come to Pakistan because of security reasons. It played its home matches mostly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and even in England and

New Zealand in a bid to ensure that the team is not deprived of international game. The Green-shirts will be playing a home one-day international series against Australia in Sri Lanka in August after the Aussies refused to tour the country. Since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the Indian board has avoided any bilateral cricket relations with Pakistan. The report added, “Ashraf has the backing of the Pakistan government in his endeavours and he apparently had a pleasant discussion with the Indians in Dubai”. Recently Pakistan captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, also called for resumption of regular bilateral cricket ties with India, insisting this would prove beneficial not only to both countries but also to the world of cricket.

Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif also called for reviving cricketing ties between Pakistan and India to help improve relations between the two countries.

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girl’s nose broken by gayle six NEW DELHI AfP

West Indies batsman Chris Gayle Wednesday visited a girl in hospital who suffered a broken nose after being hit by one of his sixes as she watched from the stands at an Indian Premier League match.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) opener smashed eight sixes, including five in a row off leg-spinner Rahul Sharma, during an explosive innings that helped his team beat the Pune Warriors on Tuesday evening.

Gayle said on Twitter that after learning one of his strikes had hit the young fan, named only as Tia, he decided to go and visit her at a hospital in Bangalore. "Her 1st word to me is to Chill, She's fine!" he wrote. The left-handed opener, who was named man of the match, cracked a 48-ball 81 in a magnificent display of power-hitting to help Bangalore surpass Pune's challenging total of 182 with six wickets to spare in a last-ball finish.

"She was thrilled to meet Gayle, who also presented his medal (for hitting maximum sixes in the match) to her," RCB manager Avinash Vaidya told AFP, saying the girl was thought to be aged about 10.

The 32-year-old Jamaican has so far scored 6,373 runs in 91 Tests with 13 centuries and 8,087 runs in 228 oneday internationals with 19 hundreds.

Gayle has not played for his national side since last year's World Cup and has been involved in a long-running dispute with the West Indies cricket board.

The 76-match IPL tournament has nine teams playing each other on a homeand-away basis before the top four sides qualify for the play-offs. The final will be played on May 27.

Pune now have six points and Bangalore four after five matches.

Sports 19

Windies 257 in second as Australia 40 for 2 at lunch PORT OF SPAIN

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USTRALIA were 40 for two at lunch in their second innings on the fourth day of the second Test against West Indies at Queen's Park Oval on Wednesday. Ed Cowan was 14 not out with Ricky Ponting on 8 as Australia extended their lead to 94 runs. Earlier, West Indies were left trailing Australia by 54 runs after being bowled out for 257 in their first innings on the fourth morning.

Carlton Baugh was dismissed lbw for 21 with just the fourth ball of the morning

by Michael Beer. He had hit the previous ball for four but missed a sweep shot.

Beer finished with 2-56 while Nathan Lyon, after his spell of 5-15 on Tuesday, took 5-68. Shivranine Chanderpaul top scored for the West Indies with 94. A spell of five for sixteen by Lyon put Australia in charge on Tuesday. It was the first time that Lyon had taken five wickets in an innings since his debut Test in Sri Lanka.

"I'm over the moon, even though I didn't run around like I did in Galle," Lyon said. "Still over the moon and really happy with the way things panned out but, saying that, we've still got a lot of work to do to win this Test match."

West Indies finished the day at 252 for nine, still trailing by 59 runs, having, at one point, looked as though they would have a lead after a sterling fifth partnership work from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Narsingh Deonarine roused home hope before tea. But Lyon gave Australia a good chance of wrapping up the threematch series after they won the first Test in Barbados. The Decision Review System (DRS) caused controversy before a ball had even been bowled. There were 5.3

Pacquiao trains ‘with god’ for bradley bout BAGUIO AfP

Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao began training Wednesday for his June world title defence against US challenger Timothy Bradley, saying he has God in his corner.

Reciting biblical passages as he shadow-boxed in a park, Pacquiao said finding God earlier this year had not deprived him of the devastating speed and power that earned him eight world titles in as many divisions. "Nothing has changed. I am still fully focused on training although now I am happier because I have God," he told reporters in the northern mountain resort of Baguio, where he undergoes altitude training ahead of all his fights. Regarded by many in the sport as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, Pacquiao, 54-3 with two draws, stakes his World Boxing Organisation welterweight crown against the undefeated Bradley in Las Vegas on June 9.

laHoRE: uMT celebrates after winning the clash T20 Inter-university cricket championship 2012 after beating uET in a thrilling match.

laHoRE: faheem Mumtaz (4th from l) Director Sales operations Zong, inaugurates a venue at Model Town where matches and trials will be conducted. Zong will be sending 32 young boys to Menchester uniter Soccer School, abu Dhabi for a one week training camp.

PoRT-of-SPaIn: australian team gathers to watch results of a review as West Indies batsman carlton baugh was caught lbw during the fourth day of the second Test. AfP overs still to be sent down from the previous day following rain on Monday, with the West Indies due to resume on 49-3.

Michael Beer was set to bowl the first ball when everyone started walking back off the field, as it transpired that there was no power supply for the cameras and hence DRS was not available. After much discussion, power was restored and play resumed with only 20 minutes lost.

The first major incident on the field happened in Lyon's third over of the morning. He found the edge of Chanderpaul's bat and the ball hit wicket-keeper Matthew Wade on the left thigh before deflecting straight to Michael Clarke at first slip, but the Australia captain was unable to re-adjust. After about an hour's

play, Clarke turned to his support bowlers, with Mike Hussey coming on at one end and Shane Watson at the other.

The tactic worked. With the fifth ball of his second over, Hussey appeared to have Darren Bravo plumb lbw for 38. In a desperate decision the batsman decided to use the DRS but to no avail. The 62-run fourth-wicket partnership had been broken and all four dismissals had been lbw.

Chanderpaul and Deonarine then almost saw their hard work undone in a risky moment off the last ball before lunch.

Chanderpaul pushed wide of mid-on, where Hussey swooped and threw to Wade, who broke the wicket. Deonarine just made his ground. After lunch, the West Indies batsmen started to attack and in the

Australia 1st innings 311 all out (M. Hussey 73, S. Watson 56; K. Roach 5-105, S. Shillingford 3-92) West indies 1st innings (overnight 49 for 3) 7 A. Barath lbw b Beer 0 K. Brathwaite lbw b Hilfenhaus 19 K. Powell lbw b Pattinson D. Bravo lbw b Hussey 38 S. Chanderpaul lbw b Lyon 94 n. Deonarine st Wade b Lyon 55 21 C. Baugh lbw b Beer D. Sammy c Hussey b Lyon 1 S. Shillingford c Cowan b Lyon 4 0 K. Roach c Wade b Lyon 0 f. edwards not out extras (b1, lb8, w1, nb8) 18 257 total (all out; 104.4 overs) fall of wickets: 1-0 (Brathwaite), 2-26 (Barath), 3-38 (Powell), 4-100 (Bravo), 5-230 (Deonarine), 6-231 (Chanderpaul), 7-237 (Sammy), 8-241 (Shillingford), 9-249 (Roach), 10-10-257 (Baugh Bowling: Beer 25.4-9-56-2, Hilfenhaus 16-4-39-1, Lyon 29-968-5, Pattinson 11-2-40-1, Hussey 6-1-19-1 (1w), Watson 12-5-14-0, Warner 3-1-9-0, Clarke 2-0-3-0 Australia 2nd innings 14 e. Cowan not out D. Warner c Bravo b edwards 17 0 S. Watson b Roach 8 R. Ponting not out 1 extras (nb1) total (2 wickets; 20 overs) 40 fall of wickets: 1-26 (Warner), 2-26 (Watson) Bowling: edwards 5-2-13-0, Shillingford 10-2-17-0, Roach 5-110-2, toss: Australia, Match situation : Australia lead by 94 runs with eight second innings wickets remaining. Umpires: ian Gould (enG), Marais erasmus (SA), Match referee: Jeff Crowe (nZ), third umpire: tony Hill (nZ)

14 overs before rain arrived, the fifth wicket partnership produced another 56 runs.

David Warner was finally given a bowl in the 74th over having taken two wickets in the first Test and his first delivery here struck Deonarine on the pads. Surprisingly, Clarke decided to review the decision after it had been given not out. It was ambitious as the batsman was down the wicket and it was no surprise when it was not overturned. Following a ninety-minute rain delay, the one hundred partnership was brought up when Chanderpaul swung Michael Beer for a six over mid-wicket.

De Villiers, Gayle help Bangalore edge thriller BANGALORE CRiCinfo

Chris Gayle was going at around a run a ball against some tight bowling. Then he calmly decided to shift gears. The bowling ceased to matter; five consecutive sixes came against the bowler with one of the best economy-rates in the IPL, Rahul Sharma. Treating that Rahul over as an aberration, Pune Warriors responded with more tight bowling, with Ashish Nehra yorking Gayle. But AB de Villiers and Saurabh Tiwary hit 24 off the final over, bowled by Nehra, to pull off an improbable win, Royal Challengers Bangalore's first in four games.

For more than three-quarters of the game, the Royal Challengers had played catch-up to the Warriors. After Robin Uthappa's 69 took the visitors to 182, they had kept the Royal Challengers, and Gayle, in check for 12 overs. Gayle and Virat Kohli, game-changers both, had crawled along in a partnership of 30 in 35 deliveries. The askingrate had ballooned to over 13, with 111 needed from 50. It claimed Kohli, who found deep point as he tried to hit out.

Kohli's dismissal fired up Gayle, who was on 37 off 35 then. Rahul bowled short, he bowled full, he went around the stumps, he went wide of the crease, he went wide of Gayle. To no avail.

Five consecutive sixes later, the asking-rate was down by more than a couple of runs.

Warriors were stunned but they recovered quickly. Ashok Dinda, battling a painful side strain, conceded just 12 in two overs, including seven off the penultimate one with Royal Challengers needing 28 from 12. In between, Nehra had, for once, found the perfect yorker to send Gayle back for 81 off 48. De Villiers and Tiwary kept the Royal Challengers in the hunt, hitting a six each to take 16 off the 18th over bowled by Angelo Mathews. Dinda's final over, the19th, seemed to have left Royal Challengers too much to get in the 20th over - 21.

De Villiers scrambled outside off to play the scoop off the second delivery in the final over, arming it past the wicketkeeper for four. Nehra delivered a low full toss and a length ball next.

De Villiers smoked one straight down the ground for six; the next one was scooped nervelessly for another six over fine leg. With three needed off the last ball, Tiwary swung a length ball over the long-on boundary even as the rain came pouring down. Marlon Samuels, who had gone for under three an over, had two overs left.

bangaloRE: Royal challengers bangalore's batsman ab DeVilliers celebrates as he runs towards the pavilion after his team won the IPl Twenty20 cricket against Pune Warriors. AfP Somehow, the Royal Challengers' batsmen had delivered after their bowlers had once again conceded a substantial score. Uthappa did most of the scoring with a power-packed half-century at the top of the order with Jesse Ryder and Samuels chipping in with smaller contributions.

The opening partnership between Uthappa and Ryder was worth 63 in seven overs. By then, Uthappa was in complete control. He timed three consecutive reverse-sweeps off Dilshan, with two of them beating short third man. He was put down by KP Appanna at long-off, a

tough diving chance off Vinay Kumar in the 12th over but departed in the next as he sliced Daniel Vettori to point. The Warriors went at the same rate of around nine an over after Uthappa's dismissal with Samuels smashing the spinners for a couple of sixes. As it turned out, though, even 13 an over wasn't enough to deny Gayle, De Villiers and Tiwary.

SCORES: Royal Challengers Bangalore 186 for 4 (Gayle 81, Tiwary 36*, de Villiers 33*) beat Pune Warriors 182 for 6 (Uthappa 69, Ryder 34, Samuels 34) by six wickets.

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20 Sports Dawson will try to hunble age-defying Hopkins

Thursday, 19 april, 2012

MONACO: Spain’s Rafael Nadal hits a return to Finland's Jarkko Nieminen during the Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament. AFP

ATLANTIC CITY AfP

Chad Dawson says Bernard Hopkins faked an injury to escape a lopsided defeat last October and plans to pick up where he left off in a world light-heavyweight title rematch next week. Hopkins, boxing's oldest-ever champion at age 47, defends his World Boxing Council crown on April 28 at Atlantic City in a rematch of a bout that ended in round two when Dawson lifted Hopkins by the leg and slammed him to the canvas. The fight was halted with Hopkins suffering a left shoulder dislocation. Referee Pat Russell awarded the fight to Dawson, saying no foul was committed, but the result was overturned to no-decision and a title rematch ordered. Dawson, 30-1 with 17 knockouts, says he could tell in the ring that Hopkins wanted no part of the 29-year-old US southpaw six months ago. "I don't really believe Bernard Hopkins was hurt," Dawson said.

"He showed he didn't really want to be in the ring with me. "I looked in Bernard's eyes that night. He didn't want to be in the ring with me. Maybe he undertrained. Maybe he underestimated me. Either way, I'm here.

I'm for real and I'm coming to fight. "I was pressing the fight. Bernard didn't show any sign he wanted to fight until the fight was over. I want to pick right up where I left off, be the aggressor and take the fight to him. "I hope Bernard comes to fight." Hopkins, 525 with two drawn and 32 knockouts, said that Dawson can think whatever he likes and that he has made no future plans beyond his next fight. "I'm not going to get into a dog and cat fight. There ain't too much for me to say. It's about what I do," Hopkins said. "Right now I want to beat Chad Dawson. We'll see what the future holds after I beat Chad Dawson." Hopkins' motivation for a rematch came into question, with promoter Richard Schaefer saying Hopkins wanted the challenge and Dawson promoter Gary Shaw saying the mandated title rematch forced his hand. "Without the belt he's just an old fighter," Shaw said.

Dawson said Hopkins had little choice. "I guess it's all about his legacy," Dawson said.

"If I was him I wouldn't want to go out on a bad note like that, ducking somebody."

Hopkins gave a simpler reason -- "Because I'm a legend" -- among several rants on Tuesday about his career, saying that even if he beats Dawson, some will diminish the feat -- "Look for an excuse when it's all said and done." Hopkins railed against boxing politics that kept him from fighting from more than a year after a 2008 upset victory over Kelly Pavlik at Atlantic City and the desire to promote younger fighters that he keeps beating. "Maybe Bernard Hopkins is just better than a generation.

They just don't want to give me the credit," Hopkins said. "I believe I'm the most under-rated fighter that ever laced on a pair of gloves and reached the level I've reached in my 24-year career and that's the motivation for me to keep proving who I am." Dawson gives full respect for all that Hopkins has accomplished but plans on leaving no doubt as to who is the better fighter this time, possibly by inflicting the first knockout defeat of Hopkins' career.

Beckham Olympic bid still on course LONDON AfP

David Beckham's hopes of playing for a combined British team at the Olympic Games in his native London remained intact after he survived the latest whittling down of manager Stuart Pearce's squad.

Pearce, also currently the caretaker boss of the England national side, reduced his initial 191man long list to 80 players on Wednesday.

They are now being contacted by the English Football Association to see if they are available for Games duty.

Provided he remains fit, it seems highly likely Beckham, 37 next month, will be one of the over-age players in what is primarily an Under-23 tournament when ex-England full-back Pearce names his 18-man squad at the end of May. Former England captain Beck-

ham, worldwide the best known English footballer of his generation, is far and away the most high profile figure still in contention for a place in Pearce's Olympic lineup.

Now with the LA Galaxy, former Manchester United midfielder Beckham was one of several leading sportsmen who helped convince International Olympic Committee delegates to award the Games to London.

And there is no doubt his presence in a British squad would help boost ticket sales for the Olympic football tournament although there are those who argue that, as his best days as a player are behind him, he may hinder home hopes of a gold medal.

Players from all the four Home Nations -- England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland -- that comprise the bulk of British squads for Olympic sports remain in contention for a place in the

football team.

Although they accept they cannot bar their players from competing at the Games, football chiefs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland remain adamantly opposed to a British team, fearing it could be the thin end of a wedge that ends with their extinction as independent soccer nations.

More than 50,000 tickets have been sold for the July 26 opening game at United's Old Trafford home ground and a double-header friendly featuring both the men's and women's teams will be confirmed for the north-east of England at some stage over the next few weeks.

Britain will learn who their group stage opponents are at an official draw on Tuesday, a day after Senegal face Oman in Coventry, central England, in a playoff for the final place in the Olympic men's football tournament.

Westwood gears up to defend Indonesia title JAKARTA AfP

World number three Lee Westwood vowed Wednesday to improve on a third-place finish at the US Masters as he defends his CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters title.

The 38-year-old Briton, who has previously been a world number one but has never won any of the four major championships, said his putting had "let me down" at the US Masters earlier this month.

Westwood finished tied third at Augusta but hopes he can again take the number one spot in the $750,000 Indone-

sian Asian Tour event at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club, which tees off Thursday.

Speaking of his US performance, Westwood said: "I played well to the greens, probably well enough to win the tournament, but if you don't putt well, then you're not going to win any tournaments."

He refused to respond to questions as to whether he would fire his putting coach Phil Kenyon. Chubby Chandler, the head of his management company, has criticised Kenyon for Westwood's performance in Augusta.

Westwood said he aimed to return to the number one

rank, a position he occupied briefly after winning the Indonesian event last year.

"I'm not far off at the moment in third place," he said, adding that he was looking forward to the Indonesia event.

"It is always special to come back here. It is nice to come back and try to defend but I don't think it will be easy.

It is tough to win one and it is even tougher to defend.

"I mastered the course last year and had the game plan right. All the players playing here wouldn't be in this tournament if they weren't capable of winning. No matter where you play in the world now it is difficult to win."

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Thursday, 19 april, 2012

Sports 21

Nadal passes knee test, Djokovic sweeps past Seppi MONTE CARLO

R

changoz, guard group get identical wins LAHORE StAff RePoRt

Changoz and Guard Group got an identical margin wins against their respective rivals in the LCCI Polo Cup 2012 on Wednesday. Changoz beat TNBT 8-5 and similarly Guard Group defeated Diamond Paints/Wi Tribe 8-5. In Changoz’s win Shah Shamyl Alam hammered all the eight goals while from the losing side Samir Malik, Shahzad Magoon and Muhammad Usman shared the goals. In the other match, although all the four Ahmad Nawaz Tiwana, Taimur Mawaz Khan, Shehryar Bukhari and Taimur Ali Malik played their part but star of the day was the latter of all.

On the other hand Saqib Khan Khakwani hit in four goals with one coming from Omer Asjad Malhi but their efforts were for the losing cause.

LONDON AfP

Around 10,500 athletes from more than 200 countries will take part in the London 2012 Olympic Games, which open in exactly 100 days. Here are some of the key numbers:

eVentS AnD PARtiCiPAntS: - 10,500 aTHlETES - 205 naTIonal olyMPIc coMMITTEES - 7,500 TEaM offIcIalS - 3,000 TEcHnIcal offIcIalS - 26 SPoRTS, 39 DIScIPlInES - 302 MEDal EVEnTS - 34 olyMPIc VEnuES - 8.8 MIllIon TIcKETS - 21,000 JouRnalISTS anD STaff - 70,000 VolunTEERS - 100,000 conTRacToRS

AfP

AFAEL Nadal emerged a 6-4, 6-3 winner over Jarkko Nieminen with no obvious discomfort to his troublesome left knee as the Spaniard began his quest for a record eighth title at the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday. Nadal, now 40-1 at the venue where he lost his only match in 2003, won his 38th straight game in the principality as he overcame stubborn resistance from the Finn ranked 48th who claimed the Sydney title in January.

Nadal, who required two weeks of knee treatment after failing to play his Miami semifinal match due to pain, has not lifted a trophy since the French Open ten months ago. The second seed joined world number one Novak Djokovic in moving through a clay-season opener in straight sets on a cloudy day on the Mediterranean coast.

Djokovic began with a 6-1, 6-4, victory over Andreas Seppi. taking a 5-0 lead over the 44thranked Italian and breaking for an early lead in the second on the way to his seventh win in the series. "I served really well when I needed to," said Djokovic. "That's encouraging for the clay, it's good to have a couple of free points there.

london 2012 games in numbers

oLYMPiC PARK: - 2.5 square kilometres of former industrial wasteland in east london, an area roughly the size of the capital's famous Hyde Park.

- 9 major competition venues, including a £486-million ($790-million, 550-million euro) stadium with capacity of 80,000, an aquatics centre with room for 17,500 spectators and a 6,000 capacity Velodrome.

- More than 4,000 trees, 74,000 plants, 60,000 bulbs and 350,000 wetlands plants put in as part of britain's largest ever planting project.

- 4 skeletons removed from a prehistoric settlement discovered on the site.

- 2,000 newts relocated to a nature reserve.

BUDGet: - £9.3 billion, triple the original estimate.

- a further £6.5 billion to modernise london's creaking public transport network, to manage three million extra daily journeys on top of the 12 million made on any ordinary day in the capital.

SeCURitY:

Monaco: novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the match against andrea Seppi during their Monte-carlo aTP Masters Series Tournament match. AfP

- 13,500 army, air force and navy personnel, 12,000 police, 13,200 private security personnel and 3,000 volunteers - a budget of £553 million, raised from £282 million in December 2011.

- Warplanes, two navy ships including a helicopter carrier stationed in the River Thames and batteries of surface-to-air missiles on stand-by.

Australia fired up for top-5 london finish SYDNEY AfP

Australia's Olympic team chief on Wednesday said that he was confident of a top-five finish in London despite a renewed threat from the hosts, Japan, Germany and France.

With 100 days to go till the showpiece event, Australia know they face a battle to claim a place among the world's elite Olympic nations with the country set to send its smallest Games team in 20 years. Around 400 athletes are expected to make the trip after the "Olyroos" failed to qualify for the football tournament for the first time since 1984. The women's team also missed out.

But chef-de-mission Nick Green said they will not go down without a fight. "We know we are in for a tough tussle to claim a revered topfive spot with hosts and long-time ri-

vals Britain, the strong European contingent headed by Germany and France, and the ever-present Japanese," said Green. "But we know, as Aussies, we will never go down without a fight.

"Our athletes have to continue pushing in these final 100 days to give themselves the best chances of Olympic glory and ensure that we will hear Advance Australia Fair playing throughout the London venues."

Australia collected 14 golds at the last Games in Beijing and 46 medals overall, behind powerhouses China and the United States, as well as Russia and Britain. In London they will again be relying on their swimmers to bolster the medal tally with swimming head coach Leigh Nugent targeting at least a dozen medals from their 44-strong squad led by 100m freestyle world champion James Magnussen.

London begins 100-day countdown LONDON AfP

London Olympic organisers stressed the importance of creating a legacy from the Games on Wednesday as they started the 100-day countdown by unveiling the event's motto: "Inspire a generation".

The milestone was marked by celebrations around the world as well as the start of three test events to iron out any operational problems before the opening ceremony on July 27, and Olympic bosses insisted London was ready. "Expectations are high, and we won't disappoint," said former Olympic gold medallist and London Games chairman Sebastian Coe. He was speaking at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, southwest London, where 20,000 flowers were planted on Wednesday in the shape

and colours of the five Olympic rings.

They are visible from planes flying into London Heathrow Airport.

"The London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics are within touching distance now and there's something incredibly exciting about that," added Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, the government minister with responsibility for the Games. "The country is getting ready to welcome the world this summer and it's set to be an amazing celebration that we will never forget." Some 31 out of 42 sports test events have been completed so far, with dress rehearsals for wheelchair rugby, synchronised swimming and shooting all starting on Wednesday. Amid the all-round air of optimism, Paul Deighton, the London Games chief executive, stressed that there was still an "enormous amount to do", with several

temporary venues to be completed. Some 200,000 temporary seats are yet to go in.

Olympic fever will spread beyond Britain's borders as sports fans around the globe join in the countdown. In the United States, former heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis will lead 100 cyclists and an open-top London double-decker bus on a ride down Miami's South Beach.

Events were also taking place in Istanbul, Caracas, Wellington, Berlin, Sarajevo, St. Petersburg and the Palestinian Territories. "There is a groundswell of support and excitement, not just in the UK, but internationally as the final countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games begins," Coe said. "Whether it's the competing athletes or people getting ready to join their communities in supporting torchbearers on the streets of the UK, the whole world is getting ready for London."

SyDnEy: australia's beijing 2008 olympic diving gold medallist Matt Mitcham (l) and silver medallist Melissa Wu (R) pose with the boxing Kangaroo as the australian olympic committee (aoc) marks 100 days until the opening ceremony of the london 2012 olympic games. AfP

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Thursday, 19 april, 2012

10 killed in Karachi violence

Zardari was not president when former AG wrote to Swiss govt: SC g

aitzaz again pleads immunity for President Zardari g bench says immunity claimant should himself approach the court ISLAMABAD

KARACHI AGenCieS

MASooD ReHMAn

At least 10 people were killed and several others injured in separate incidents of firing across Karachi, officials said on Wednesday. According to police, five incidents of killings were reported in North Nazimabad, while firing incidents also occurred in PECHS, Ranchor Line, Gulistan-e-Jauhar and SITE areas of the city. Some unidentified armed men opened fire on a hotel in North Nazimabad, resulting in the killing of the three people and injuries to two others. According to details, unknown armed men opened indiscriminate fire on people sitting inside

OUNTERING the justification of presidential immunity, the Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that President Asif Ali Zardari was not the president at the time a letter was written to Swiss authorities for withdrawing the request made earlier for reopening graft cases against him and bringing back $60 million in alleged money laundering issue.

A seven-member special bench of the apex court headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk heard contempt of court case against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani for non-implementation of court’s verdict in the NRO case. Commencing his arguments on the issue of presidential

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immunity, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, counsel for Gilani, submitted that President Asif Ali Zardari being the head of state enjoyed absolute immunity under international customary law from the jurisdiction of all the domestic courts all over the world in all civil and criminal matters.

Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed, however, observed that Asif Ali Zardari was not the president when the letter was written by former attorney general Malik Muhammad Qayyum requesting the withdrawal of a civil suit pertaining to money laundering case against Zardari.

The court observed that according to Vienna Convention, the benefit was only for diplomats. Aitzaz, however, replied that the convention had also extended this benefit to the heads of states. Aitzaz

Published by Arif Nizami for Nawa Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad.

Ahsan repeatedly contended that as long as Zardari remained the head of the state, a letter could not be written to Swiss authorities. He further said that the there was no harm in writing a letter, but being the head of the state, Zardari got international immunity in all the civil and criminal matters. Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa said that if anyone claimed immunity, he should himself approach the court instead of conveying the message through others. “The court had only directed for writing a letter to Swiss authorities for withdrawing the letter earlier written by Malik Muhammad Qayyum,” Justice Khosa said.

He further observed that a hue and cry had been created among the public by fueling the issue that the court had asked

for initiating cases in Swiss courts.

“Why should we say that cases be initiated against the president,” Justice Asif Khosa remarked, adding that their only concern was that their orders were not implemented in letter and spirit. “We are not interested in sending anyone to jail, but want to bring back the looted money of the national exchequer,” Justice Khosa observed. Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany asked Aitzaz who started the prosecution in Swiss courts. Aitzaz replied that the Swiss government had done so. “Then why an impression is being created that a Pakistani court was asking for starting the prosecution in Switzerland,” Justice Osmany said.

Editor: Arif Nizami, Executive Editor: Sarmad Bashir, Resident Editor: Rana Qaisar

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