E-paper Pakistantoday ISB 24th January, 2012

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Zardari doesn’t need to move court for immunity, says Aitzaz

Senate resolves to arrest Pervez Musharraf on arrival

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Counsel says Ijaz is open to testifying from London or Zurich

polls on unverified lists will be unjust: sC | page 22

STAFF REPORT

Petrol price likely to be increased by Rs 5.45 per litre

MASOOD REHMAN

Continued on page 04

ISLAMABAD

Massive increase likely in POL prices from February

ISLAMABAD

T

tuesday, 24 january, 2012 safar 29, 1433

US-Iran standoff to send fuel prices through the roof

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HE memo drama takes a new turn as the government finally succeeded in scaring away Mansoor Ijaz, who has decided not to appear before the three-member judicial commission probing the controversy, saying he was ready to depose before the commission in Zurich or London instead of coming to Pakistan.

The counsel for Ijaz, the Pakistani-American businessman at the centre of the memo controversy, expressed his reservations on the security arrangements meant for his client’s appearance before the judicial commission, saying his client would be ready to record testimony before the commission either in London or Zurich. The commission had told Ijaz to appear before it personally to record his statements on January 24. His counsel, Akram Shaikh, told reporters at the Supreme Court building that he had held a teleconference with his client after meeting the Islamabad Police inspector general and had briefed him on security arrangements that had been made for him for his appearance before the commission. The statement from Shaikh ended speculations about Ijaz’s appearance before the commission today (Tuesday). Sheikh said his client underlined that he had been given no assurance by any person on behalf of the Pakistan government towards his apprehensions about his security. Later on, Shaikh also filed an application in the judicial commission’s secretary office to record Ijaz’s testimony outside Pakistan with a plea that the apex court had given a clear mandate in its order to the commission to collect evidence within and outside Pakistan according to prevailing laws on the subject.Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had told reporters during his recent visit to Lahore that it seemed as if Ijaz was some viceroy who was coming to Pakistan and the government had to arrange for his security as subservient people, also making it clear that the government would not spend billions on his security. Gilani categorically stated that under the constitution and under the system, it was the duty of the Interior Ministry to provide Ijaz security.

Shaikh added that Ijaz’s arrival under protection of a station house officer (SHO) as announced by the prime minister on Sunday was highly deplorable, adding that Ijaz had a concrete fear that electronic evidence in the memo case could be completely destroyed or tampered with.

Shaikh added that Ijaz was also concerned that Pakistan’s money should not be wasted and thus did not want law enforcement agencies to waste their money on him. “So, he wants to record his statement while sitting in his office in London. He is ready to tell the truth and present all grafts to the commission.” Days before Ijaz’s planned visit to Pakistan, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, which too is investigating the memogate, had issued summons to Ijaz to appear before it on January 26.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik had said if the committee desired, Ijaz’s name could be included in the Exit Control List (ECL). “It seems like a well-orchestrated trap to hold Mansoor Ijaz indefinitely in Pakistan after his deposition before the commission, therefore, Ijaz has decided to make a request to the commission to record his statement in strict compliance with the order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan... in London or Zurich,” said Shaikh. He added that his client had decided to file an application to the commission to record his statement outside Pakistan after reviewing security arrangements for his planned visit.

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pakistantoday.com.pk

rs15.00 vol ii no 208 22 pages islamabad — peshawar edition

Mansoor Ijaz won’t be coming after all

British woman claims new Antarctic solo record

Consumers will be faced with a massive increase in the prices of petroleum products because of the brewing crisis between Iran and the United States on the Strait of Hormuz, as the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has estimated an increase of Rs 3 to Rs 6.45 per litre on different POL products for the month of February.

An official source said an increasing trend in POL prices was witnessed during the last few days because of the intensification of statements between Iran and the US. He said usually POL prices started falling from January but this year, an increas-

ing trend was witnessed because of the confrontation. He said the initial estimates of OGRA pointed out that the price of motor spirit (petrol) would have to be increased by Rs 5.45 per litre, High Octane Blended Component (HOBC) by Rs 6.45 per litre, High Speed Diesel (HSD) by Rs 3.13 per litre, Light Diesel Oil (LDO)

by Rs 3.87 per litre and kerosene by Rs 2.98 per litre. OGRA would be making its final recommendations after a meeting to decide on the inland freight equalisation margin scheduled to be held on January 27.

OGRA had earlier notified an increase in petrol price by Rs 1.65 per litre to Rs 89.54 per litre and HOBC by Rs 5.13 to Rs 111.91 per litre with effect from January 1, 2012. The prices of HSD, LDO

ECP snubs SC’s ‘electoral jurisdiction’

and kerosene were retained at last month’s level of Rs 98.82, Rs 86.78 and Rs 89.24 per litre respectively.

To save the people from the negative impact of high inflation resulting from the increase in POL prices, OGRA had recommended lowering the Rs 10 per litre petroleum levy (PL) on POL products. However, the Finance Ministry had rejected the proposal. The government collects Rs 23 billion per month on taxation of POL products, Rs 16 billion per month in sales tax on POL and another Rs 7 billion as PL. The source said the Petroleum Ministry was stressing on reducing the levy on diesel so that its prices could be brought at par with the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) sector to reduce the demand there. Nearly 3.5 million vehicles run on CNG in Pakistan with a consumption estimate of 290 mmcfd.

No more chances for Ijaz please, pleads Haqqani ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Says if SC insists on delaying by-elections, it would be against the law and constitution g Secretary says ECP has no Aladdin’s lamp, can’t complete electoral rolls before May g

ISLAMABAD KASHIF ABBASI

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) asserted its independence on Monday by snubbing the Supreme Court and telling it not to interfere in its constitutional jurisdiction, and announced that the electoral rolls could not be completed before May. Staying several by-elections, the apex court had asked the ECP to finalise the electoral lists

by February 23. However, the ECP also challenged the Supreme Court order, taking a position that delaying by-elections would be unconstitutional.

The ECP also said if the Supreme Court insisted on delaying byelections, it would do so but this would not be in accordance with the law and the constitution.

“The outside interference in the matters of the ECP will be against the principle of trichotomy,” Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r)

Hamid Ali Mirza said at a consultative meeting of the representatives of political parties held here at the ECP. He said Article 224 of the constitution clearly made it mandatory for the ECP to hold elections within 60 days of a seat becoming vacant.

The CEC said if any other institution of the state was to hold elections, as the ECP saw sometimes such desire on part of some quarters expressed through media, then the right course was to amend the constitution. He said responsibilities of every institutions were chalked out clearly in the constitution and unnecessary interference in the ECP’s matters meant negation of the constitution.

The meeting was attended by representatives of 14 political parties. Prominent among the participants were Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Jamiat Ulema-e-IslamFazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman, Pakistan Muslim

League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Jamaate-Islami (JI) leader Liaqat Baloch. A source who attended the meeting told Pakistan Today that PML-N and JI strongly opposed the ECP’s stand on electoral rolls. Later, addressing a press conference, ECP Secretary Ishtiak Ahmed said it would be unfair to prepare the new voter lists in urgency. He said new electoral rolls to hold the 2013 general elections could not be finalised before May this year. He said the ECP was unable to comply with the Supreme Court’s orders to finalise the electoral rolls.

He said the task of making electoral rolls should remain with the ECP without interference from any institutions. He said the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) would print preliminary lists in March that would be published for three weeks on at least 65,000 display centres across the country.

Continued on page 04

As the main character in the memo case – Mansoor Ijaz – has declined to appear before the judicial commission in Pakistan due to security concerns, former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani has asked the commission to refuse another opportunity to the former to appear and get his statement recorded before the commission. In a letter submitted by Haqqani’s counsel with the memo commission, Haqqani said: “The attitude and conduct of Mansoor Ijaz clearly shows that he is playing with the sentiments of the nation and also wasting the precious time of this honourable commission, despite the fact that this honourable commission has acceded all his requests/demands on all issues. Even the High Commission of London granted him visa after office hours to facilitate his appearance before this honourable commission.” “Mansoor Ijaz (American national), wanted to record his statement before the Honourable Commission, for which, he sought number of adjournments through his counsel Mr Akram Sheikh i.e. 9.1.2012 and 16.1.2012, but today, he has also not attended the proceedings of honourable commission without lawful reason or excuse. It is on the record that Mr Mansoor Ijaz through his counsel requested to the Honourable Commission for his security in Pakistan and grant of visa to enter Pakistan without any condition.

Continued on page 04

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02 News

Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

NeWS

ISlAMABAd

FoReIGN NeWS

ITP introduces one-window operation for driving licences Nawaz, Zardari playing with country’s future: Imran

Today’s

Islamists take centre stage in Egypt parliament

Quick Look

Story on Page 05

Story on Page 0 7

Story on Page 17

WB links Pak economic growth with water, electricity availability ISLAMABAD ONlINE

The World Bank has linked the economic growth and development of Pakistan with the availability of water and electricity and underlined the need of better management, cost recovery and reducing subsidies.

According to the World Bank, continued investments in both rehabilitation of strategic assets (storage, barrages, irrigation systems) as well as new investments to shift the energy mix towards lower cost sources was essential. “The importance of water goes far beyond the development of hydropower. Pakistan has the world’s largest contiguous water system – the Indus. This Indus Basin Water System (IBWS) is considered the backbone of the country’s economy and is the sole source of water supply supporting life and livelihoods. In addition to providing water for irrigated agriculture, these resources also support the development of major cities, industry, and growth centres. Considering the country’s strategic location at the cross-roads of South Asia, Central Asia, China and the Middle East and its large working age population, this untapped wealth can help unleash the country’s economic potential,” said the World Bank, adding that the huge development needs of the 21st century required a strategic approach to boosting growth and addressing the existing challenges.

Commission to decide further on Mansoor Ijaz testimony: AG ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Attorney General for Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq has said that if Mansoor Ijaz did not appear before the judicial commission on memo probe for recording his testimony, it would be the discretion of the commission to decide further on the issue. He said all arrangements had been finalised for the security of Mansoor Ijaz and an officer of the police had been deputed, adding that “but in my opinion, he does not want to come”.

Talking to reporters at the Supreme Court building, he said Pakistan was a sovereign state and the security arrangements for Mansoor Ijaz had been made according to the constitution. He said the government had ensured foolproof security arrangements for Mansoor Ijaz and the Islamabad inspector general of police had briefed his counsel Akram Sheikh about the arrangements on Sunday night. He said Akram Sheikh was expressing dissatisfaction over the security arrangements regarding his client, but he did not spell the shortcomings in the arrangements. The AG said now the commission would decide how the statement of Mansoor Ijaz could be recorded. To a question about Akram Sheikh, the AG said: “I can only say that he utters words that come to his mind and does not think to whom he is talking.” “The government has finalised all arrangements relating to the security for Mansoor Ijaz in pursuance of the judicial commission’s directions as well as under the limits of the law,” the AG said.

‘Register treason case against Mansoor’ ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Punjab Opposition Leader Raja Riaz on Monday demanded registering a treason case against US national Mansoor Ijaz for his anti Pakistan lobbying, saying that by refusing to appear before the memo commission, Mansoor has proved that he wants to spread anarchy in the country.

Talking to journalists at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) after submitting his application to the judicial commission, Riaz said that stern action must be taken against Mansoor who had accepted playing a role to topple the PPP-led government in 1996 and also hatched a conspiracy against the country’s agency by writing against it this time around. “A case of high treason should be registered against Mansoor because he is a liar and conspirator against Pakistan,” Riaz alleged. Replying to a question that the army chief and ISI chief had also submitted affidavits in court testifying the US national’s claim, the Punjab opposition leader said that he did not read their affidavits but Ijaz was surely contriving against the PPP’s democratic government.

HYDERABAD: Scavenger boys wrestle at a green belt. INP

WhO OWnS IndUS AIR?

NA body to investigate Indus Air ownership Reports linking president’s sister Faryal Talpur to airline to be investigated g Committee chair himself linked to soon-to-be-launched airline g

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

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HE National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Defence on Monday took notice of ‘misreporting’ by electronic media on the issue of ownership of Indus Airlines and constituted a sub-committee to probe the issue.

Media has reported repeatedly that President Asif Ali Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur owns the new airline – a claim yet to be contradicted either by the PPP or anyone else.

However, the subcommittee tasked to probe the matter will be chaired by PPP MNA Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan, despite the fact that he was being linked by media as being amongst stakeholders for the new airline. The committee also discussed and approved the Airport Security Force (Amendment) Bill, 2011 besides being briefed

on the progress of the new Benazir International Airport Islamabad.

The committee was informed the total cost of the project was Rs 63 billion and the first phase had been completed while the second phase will be completed by September this year. The meeting was informed that the world’s fourth biggest construction company, a Chinese organisation, was constructing the airport’s terminal.

It was told the cargo operation could begin in December, 2012 and the main problem faced by the project was a road network being completed by the National Highway Authority (NHA). The committee directed NHA officials to complete the project urgently and put up a summary under PSDP for approval.

The committee was briefed on the current status of all airport runways. It was told the CAA was facing problems in moving the heavy machinery from Badin to Mitthi due to a dam-

aged road network for the Thar Airport. The Saidu Sharif Airport operation can begin on a one-week notice. On a request by committee members, the CAA managing director (MD) ensured that two flights to Sehwan Sharif will be available within thirty days, The committee condemned and took notice of the manhandling by Sindh Police of a PIA official for not delaying a flight for IG Police Sindh on 14/01/2012. The committee decided to discuss the issue on February 3. The committee was briefed on security measures adopted at small airports and the present status of vehicles brought in by foreign dignitaries through small airports in Pakistan.

The committee was chaired by Dr Aira Fazal Peehuho and attended by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Nawab Abdul Ghani Talpur, Dr Abdul Wahid Soomro, Shagufta Sadiq, Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial, Capt (r) Rai Chulam Mujtaba Khural and other officials concerned.

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Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

ARTS & eNTeRTAINMeNT

SPoRTS

Veena Malik’s horror film to release in May

Ajmal very hard to track, says Adnan

News 03

CoMMeNT Preposterous demands: Is security for Mansoor Ijaz justified?

The right’s wrongs: Votes mean something.

Dr Faisal Bari says: Value-chain issues: Is there a problem somewhere?

Syed Hassan Belal Zaidi says: Where’s your nikahnama? But who is Maya Khan?

Today’s

Quick Look

Rabia Ahmed says: The PM’s trial: ...and the cost of security.

Story on Page 15

Story on Page 18

Articles on Page 12-13

ARMY LAnd GRAB

SC directs Swat DRO to retrieve citizen’s land ISLAMABAD

E

MASOOD REHMAN

xPRESSING annoyance over the defence secretary for not submitting reply on the alleged occupation of a land of a citizen in Swat by the security forces, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the district revenue officer (DRO) to give the grabbed land to the applicants and submit a report by January 27.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez also ordered that no concerned authority would interfere in the process of retrieving the occupied land of the citizen.

Pakistan not being run like own country: CJ

The court was hearing a petition filed by Abdul Ghaffar seeking permission to enter his property, allegedly occupied by the Pakistan Army for the last three years.

The court noted that the defence secretary did not submit the report to the petition, which indicated that the Defence Ministry had nothing to say in its defence, therefore, the petitioner was entitled to get relief.

When the court resumed hearing on the petition, instead of the defence secretary, a section officer of the Defence Ministry appeared before it, upon which the chief justice expressed severe dismay asking the attorney general: “We had summoned the defence secretary, but a section officer has been sent.”

“Is this the respect being given to

Mansoor’s revelations are a publicity stunt: Malik ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

STAFF REPORT

Terming Mansoor Ijaz’s revelations as a ‘publicity stunt’, Interior Minister Senator Rehman Malik on Monday rebutted Mansoor’s lawyer Akram Sheikh’s allegations that the US national was being trapped by the federal government. He was talking to journalists outside the Parliament House. “Mansoor Ijaz himself made statements against the army, ISI and about toppling Benazir Bhutto’s government.

We (the government) as a stakeholder have the right to form a commission and investigate into these issues,” Malik said. The minister said that the nation was demanding an explanation of all claims made by Mansoor. On the US national’s statements that he was at war with Malik, the minister said that he had been fighting against terrorists and other enemies of Pakistan for the last four years and if Mansoor wanted to join those ranks, he was most welcome.

Malik said that Mansoor had refused to come to Pakistan because he was scared. “If Ijaz was an honest and brave man, he would have come to testify in the memo case,” the minister said, adding that he would not allow

Hearing a suo motu notice on the illegal allotment of 4000 plots amongst Capital Development Authority (CDA) employees, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Monday remarked that Pakistan was not being run like our own country.

He said the SC is criticised but no one thinks about the mentally-retarded child who had been languishing in jail for 12 years. He was heading a three-member bench comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez. He said the illegal allotment of 4,000 plots by CDA had caused the national exchequer a loss of billion of rupees.

CDA counsel Ramzan Chaudhry informed the court about the relevant rules and allotment process of plots to employees and officers on the deputation. The court, however, directed him to submit the rules related to plot allotment to CDA employees. Iftikhar said that it appears Pakistan is a foreign country under our rule. He asked CDA to pursue the case in its own interest. The hearing was adjourned for one week. According to media reports, CDA illegally allotted 3,192 plots worth Rs 70 billion in the settled sectors of Islamabad.

Six missing students recovered from Peshawar PESHAWAR INP

Police recovered six missing students of a private school of Rawalpindi from Peshawar on Monday. The six students went missing on January 19 during a recreational trip to Murree.

Sources said that the students were traced through mobile phone data but details and causes of their disappearance were yet to be disclosed. The missing students, including three boys and three girls of 9th and 10th classes, studied at a private school situated at Chaklala Scheme-3 in Valayat Colony.

the judiciary by the government?” he maintained. To a court query that what type of terrorism was the petitioner involved, the section officer could not reply.

However Sanaullah Zahid, counsel for the petitioner, denied that his client was a terrorist and claimed that in December 2011, some of his property had been leased out through auction. He contended that his client was not involved in any illegal or antistate activity, which he said was also acknowledged and conceded before the court by the deputy attorney general. He said his client had been a member of the local chapter of the Jamaat-e-Islami and had later become the president of the Swat Kissan Board. The court adjourned further hearing until January 27.

Four arrested in Kot Addu over foreign NGo workers kidnapping MULTAN REuTERS

Kot Addu police arrested four people in connection with last week’s kidnapping of two Western aid workers, local police officials said on Monday.

Gunmen stormed the workers’ residence on January 23 in the town located in Punjab province and drove away with the two aid workers — an Italian national and a German national. Punjab IG police Javed Iqbal said that the aid workers, who were working on a project in southern Punjab, are being held for ransom.

“That is all we can confirm, that they were abducted for ransom. At the moment, we cannot provide any more details or say anything about who is behind it,” Iqbal told reporters in Lahore.

“The four suspects were under observation since the kidnapping. We traced some calls back to them,” another police official said.

Criminal gangs often target foreign aid workers in Pakistan in hope of securing large ransoms for their release. Pakistani officials say militant groups such as the Taliban are also involved in kidnappings.

Gunmen kidnapped a British doctor, working with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in the southwestern city of Quetta on January 5.

American aid worker Warren Weinstein was kidnapped from the central Pakistani city of Lahore in August last year. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for Weinstein’s abduction in December. In July, a Swiss couple was kidnapped from the southwestern Baluchistan province by the Pakistani Taliban.

Afaq indicted in murder case KARACHI APP

anyone to insult Pakistan and its people. He said that Mansoor’s attempt to befool the people had failed.

The minister said that it was his ministry’s responsibility to provide security to the US national. He said that the Islamabad IG had assured Mansoor’s client of full security. Malik said that army security would be provided to Mansoor if needed.

Malir Additional District and Sessions Judge Munawar Sultana framed charges against Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) chief Afaq Ahmed in the Farooq Baig murder case on Monday. Afaq had pleaded not guilty. The judge ordered issuance of notices to prosecution witnesses for February 12 and adjourned the hearing. Farooq, a MQM activist, was shot dead in 2011 and Afaq was nominated in the case while in jail.

Zardari doesn’t need to move court for immunity: Aitzaz PPP’s legal ace criticises Justice (r) Ramday’s interview on immunity issue g Says it will be better for Ramday to keep mum otherwise Pandora’s box can be opened against him g

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Former Supreme Court Bar Association president and PPP leader Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan on Monday said President Asif Ali Zardari enjoyed complete immunity in criminal cases and he did not need to approach the court for it.

“The immunity under the constitution is not for the person but for the constitutional office that the president is holding so he has immunity until he is in the office of the president,” Aitzaz told reporters at the Lahore High Court (LHC).

He said Article 248 of the constitution could be objectionable. However,

parliament alone had the authority to change it through constitutional amendment. He said the president enjoyed immunity in the Swiss courts as well, adding that the government had not committed any contempt of court by not writing a letter to the Swiss authorities.

Reacting to Justice (r) Khalilur Rehman Ramday’s interview with a private TV channel against the presidential immunity, Aitzaz said it would be better for Ramday to keep mum on the issue as a Pandora’s Box could be opened against him regarding what he did as a judge of the LHC. “If I open my mouth against Ramday, I may expose his past which is not very like-

able,” Aitzaz said.

“It is surprising that Justice Ramday has started politics before completion of his two years period after retirement as SC judge,” Aitzaz said, hitting at the political bias of the retired judge against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Aitzaz said the building of the Lahore High Court was witness to Ramday’s one-sided judgements.

“It is odd on the part of the exjudge that he is trying to predict what arguments I will be giving in the SC in defence of the immunity to president,” he said.

Talking about his decision to defend the prime minister and the presi-

dent before the Supreme Court, he said it was everybody’s constitutional right to hire a counsel of his choice.

Aitzaz said before agreeing to defend the prime minister, he had laid down some conditions including not staging a rally of party workers to the SC and avoiding giving statements against the SC or its verdicts to the media.

About member of the lawyers community who were opposing his decision of appearing in the court as the prime minister’s lawyer, Aitzaz said the lawyers did not yet know the logic of his decision and once the crisis facing the country was averted, all lawyers would approve of his decision.

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04 News

Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

Forex ruckus in Karachi As plain-clothed FIA officials raid a foreign exchange firm without notice, security guards open fire at them considering them bandits g

KARACHI

why they raided the money exchange firm and if their action is legal or not,” he said.

“The police will definitely investigate the firing incident and the case has been handed over to the Tipu Sultan police.”

“The guards involved in the firing can be arrested if the FIA proves that the action was legal and they showed their identity,” Rind added.

Talking with Pakistan Today, the firm’s owner, Malik Bostan, claimed that as the FIA team had no notice or warrants, their action was illegal. “After the Khanani and Kalia case, the FIA has made a business out of harassing money exchangers and demanding extortion.”

“When I asked them to prove their identity, they refused and manhandled me and my staffers,” he said.

“The guards mistook them for bandits and opened fire at them.”

Bostan – also the chairman of Exchange Companies

Association of Pakistan (ECAP) –announced that against the illegal action of the FIA, money exchangers all over the country will keep their firms closed today (Tuesday). “I have called an emergency meeting of the ECAP today (Tuesday) to discuss our future strategy,” he added.

He said that he would lodge an FIR against the FIA officials and go to the court for action against them. “The money exchangers would protest against the FIA outside the Parliament House,” he added. Bostan said the money exchangers would also approach Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and President Asif Ali Zardari to apprise them about the highhandedness of the FIA personnel.

Meanwhile, the FIA Sindh Director assured that action would be taken against the FIA officials involved in raiding at the foreign exchange company.

Pakistan will take Army rejects US enquiry forward MFN status Continued from page 22 promise: Sharma

which has been acknowledged in the US/ISAF report was the direct and clear responsibility of US/ISAF, who were, by their own admission, carrying out a near-border operation,” it also said.

“Positive identification could very conveniently have been done by a simple Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Aircraft sweep, which the US Investigation Report itself has also recommended,” said the army.

It said the US/ISAF violated all mutually agreed procedures with Pakistan for near-border operations put in place to avert such uncalled for actions. “It is increasingly obvious to Pakistan Military that the entire coordination mechanism has been reduced to an exercise in futility, is more for the purposes of optics and that it has repeatedly been undermined,” it said.

PENTAGON REJECTS: Meanwhile, the United States rejected the findings of a Pakistani probe into the NATO air strikes, saying the investigation ignored the fact that “mistakes” were made on both sides.

At a press briefing, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the Pakistani army had officially delivered during the weekend a copy of the report conducted by Islamabad on the November 26 strikes against a Pakistani border post.

“The statement that this was an unprovoked attack by US forces is simply false,” said Navy Captain Kirby. “It was not an unprovoked attack,” he said. “There were errors made by both sides here.”

Kirby said the Pentagon was “100 percent” behind the findings of the investigation report released last month by the US military.

Captain Kirby regretted that Islamabad refused to participate in the investigation initiated by the US military. He called on Pakistan to reopen supply routes for NATO troops in Afghanistan, which were closed after the bombing.

“We want to get past all this and we want to build a good cooperative relationship with the Pakistani military,” he said.

AAMIR MAJEED

P

ANDEMONIUM broke out on the main Shahrah-eFaisal on Monday when plainclothed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials raided a foreign exchange company without notice and the private firm’s security guards mistook them for bandits.

A seven-member team of FIA Crime Circle had raided the money changer located near the Nursery Bus Stop on reports that the company was involved in illegal transfer of money through “hawala/hundi” system.

When the company’s owner asked the FIA team to show any legal notices, arrest warrants or any substantial evidence to prove that the company is engaged in illegal financial transfers, the law enforcement personnel tried to arrest the owner. However, when the FIA team asked the

NEW DELHI NNI

After agreeing in principle last year to grant Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, Pakistan should now keep its promise and implement the new trade regime soon, Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said on Monday.

“I am sure that what they have said they will be in a position to take it forward and do it,” Sharma told reporters in the Indian capital when asked whether Pakistan was going back on its promise to grant India MFN status.

Sharma was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a SAARC Business Summit organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The Pakistani cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on November 2, 2011, had decided in principle to grant MFN status to India. However, Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim said last week the decision was still under process and had not yet been implemented.

Once the MFN status is granted, Pakistan will have to treat India on par with its other favoured trading partners. India has already granted MFN status to Pakistan and is treating it on par with other trading partners.

eCP snubs SC Continued from page 1 He said the ECP was unable to comply with the Supreme Court’s orders to finalise the electoral rolls. He said the task of making electoral rolls should remain with the ECP without interference from any institutions. He said the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) would print preliminary lists in March that would be published for three weeks on at least 65,000 display centres across the country.

money exchange proprietor to surrender for arrest, the private guards opened fire at them, resulting in bullet injuries to an FIA official, identified as Gulsher Mugheri.

The firing inside the money exchange firm created panic in the surrounding area and the resulting chaos, lead to a traffic jam on one of the city’s busiest thoroughfare.

A heavy contingent of police reached the spot and cordoned off the area. However, the situation calmed down after the FIA officials introduced themselves to the police.

Talking to reporters outside the foreign exchange company, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) East Khadim Hussain Rind said that there are two issues; one is whether the FIA team has permission to launch raids without warrants or not; and the second of the guards’ opening fire at the law enforcement personnel.

“The FIA should explain

In addition to giving a detailed response to the US enquiry report, Pakistan Army also said some additional details were required which should be provided in order for the army to complete its analysis and assessment. It said full and complete classified version of the US investigation report should be made available to it.

The army also asked for the provision of intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance picture of the complete incident along with all aerial platform videos and record of radio transmissions and communication between the crew(s) of the aerial platforms involved in the incident.

The army’s detailed perspective on the US investigation report on Monday led some observers to believe that the rejection of Washington’s enquiry into the NATO air strikes reflected clearly that swift resolution of the current Pakistan-US standoff was not likely, and improvement in their relations would take a long time.

However, diplomatic circles here said the army’s detailed response was supposed to be made public, as despite its desire for improvement of ties with Washington after the US administration’s assurance that Pakistan’s sovereignty would not be violated in future, Islamabad would still want to make its point clear that it still differed with the findings of the American probe and believed that it was devoid of facts.

The US report was received by General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Pakistan Army on the December 24, 2011. According to the army’s perspective, the report received was the same unclassified version as available on the US Central Command (CENTCOM) Website. “The analysis of the ‘US Investigation Report’ has been carried out by Pakistan Military with a view to reiterate facts and correct the perspective,” said the Pakistani military.

“The US Investigation Report is structured around the argument of ‘self defence’ and ‘proportional use of force’, an argument which is contrary to facts,” it said. “Continued engagement by US/ISAF despite being informed about the incident at multiple levels by Pakistan Military within minutes of initiation of US/ISAF fire, belies the ‘self defence’ and ‘proportional use of force’ contention. Affixing partial responsibility of the incident on Pakistan is, therefore, unjustified and unacceptable,” the army’s statement said.

It said that apart from being factually incorrect, the US enquiry report also brought to the fore the larger issue of lack of trust of US/ISAF towards the Pakistani military.

The army said that unfortunately, this was not the first incident of this kind as US/ISAF/NATO had been involved in at least four similar incidents in the past, after each of which US/ISAF regretted the incident and resolved to prevent recurrence.

“Not only did the recurrence of incidents continue but as far as we know, no one was ever actually held accountable,” it said.

“Pakistan has noted US/ISAF acceptance of its failures, which Pakistan believes were deep, varied and systemic. There have been several similar, though not as grave, US/ISAF failings in the past. Despite promises of thorough investigations, US/ISAF failed to hold anyone accountable after each of these incidents,” it said.

“There have clearly been several failures on the part of US/ISAF/NATO (as acknowledged in the US Investigation Report),” it said. The army’s response said further that “Pakistan expresses its regret over the mandate and terms of reference given to the Investigating Team, which was not mandated to determine or affix responsibility for the incident”.

“Establishing positive identification of the Pakistani Posts which was lacking and

Pasha advised Musharraf not to return: report MONITORINg DESK Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha held a secret meeting with former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in Dubai and advised him not to return to the country, according to Dawn News on Monday.

“Gen Pasha, who has remained very close to the former president, held a meeting with (Musharraf) in Dubai and advised him not to return to the country as the situation is not conducive for his return,” a source was quoted as saying by Dawn News channel.

The channel quoted its sources as saying that Pasha “strictly advised” Musharraf not to return to Pakistan from self-exile. The report said it was not clear whether the meeting was held on the directions of the government or if it was a private meeting.

The report said Musharraf, after meeting Pasha, convened a meeting of his All Pakistan Muslim League party on January 25 for reviewing his decision to return to Pakistan.

The media report coincided with a resolution passed by the Senate that demanded the arrest of Musharraf on his return to Pakistan and the registration of a case of high treason against him for abrogating the Constitution.

Ancient Jewish scrolls found in north Afghanistan KABUL REuTERS

A cache of ancient Jewish scrolls from northern Afghanistan that has only recently come to light is creating a storm among scholars who say the landmark find could reveal an undiscovered side of medieval Jewry.

The 150 or so documents, dated from the 11th century, were found in Afghanistan’s Samangan province and most likely smuggled out – a sorry but common fate for the impoverished and wartorn country’s antiquities.

Israeli emeritus professor Shaul Shaked, who has examined some of the poems, commercial records and judicial agreements that make up the treasure, said while the existence of ancient Afghan Jewry is known, their culture was still a mystery.

“Here, for the first time, we see evidence and we can actually study the writings of this Jewish community. It’s very exciting,” Shaked told Reuters by telephone from Israel, where he teaches at the Comparative Religion and Iranian Studies department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The hoard is currently being kept by private antique dealers in London, who have been producing a trickle of new documents over the past two years, which is when Shaked believes they were found and pirated out of Afghanistan in a clandestine operation. It is likely they belonged to Jewish merchants on the Silk Road running across Central Asia, said T Michael Law, a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow at Oxford University’s Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies.

Afghans hit by food price hikes as Pakistan shutdown bites KABUL REuTERS

With snow piled deep in front of his small Kabul shop and a border shutdown enforced by Pakistan driving up food prices and severing a vital lifeline into Afghanistan, Asmatullah is having his own winter of discontent.

Since Pakistan closed supply routes to NATO forces in Afghanistan after the coalition killed 24 soldiers in a cross-border air attack in November, ordinary Afghans and foreigners alike are feeling the impact of soaring food costs. “I have lost 50 percent of my customers,” Asmatullah says, somehow managing a smile as he surveys his empty shop, surrounded by cartons of eggs and milk, boxes of cigarettes, drinks and crates of bottled water, now frozen solid on the icy pavement outside. “Everybody has less income now, so people are just not able to buy. When the border is closed, the prices go up,” he said, huddled in a black hat and leather jacket to try and keep one of the most biting winters for years at bay.

The border shutdown, which Pakistan has promised to lift at a time still to be decided, underscores Afghanistan’s re-

Mansoor Ijaz Continued from page 1 Shaikh claimed that even Pakistan Army had backed out on assurances regarding the provision of security to Ijaz.

He claimed that these assurances were given during a meeting of the army’s corps commanders held on January 12, adding that he had also met the Islamabad police chief to discuss the security arrangements for Ijaz. Deputy Inspector General of Police Mujibur Rehman was made the focal person for these arrangements and police officials had said that they would seek assistance from the armed forces only if it was necessary, Shaikh added.

Referring to these developments, Shaikh said Ijaz was “not willing to fall in the trap laid by the government” and appear before the parliamentary panel. He said legal experts had also advised Ijaz that the parliamentary committee could not summon a foreigner, however, he pointed out that the parliamentary committee could record his (Ijaz) statement in London or Zurich or use any testimony he gave to the judicial commission.

“Ijaz decided in Pakistan’s best interests that his statement should be recorded outside Pakistan. He is not a criminal that he has to appear before a court. He offered to cooperate on a voluntary basis and no court or commission has the power to summon a foreigner,” Shaikh asserted.

HAQQANI PLEADS: Meanwhile, former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani has asked the commission to refuse another opportunity to Mansoor Ijaz to appear and get his statement recorded before the commission.

In a letter submitted by Haqqani’s counsel with the memo commission, Haqqani said: “The attitude and conduct of Mansoor Ijaz clearly shows that he is playing with the sentiments of the nation and also wasting the precious time of this honourable commission, despite the fact that this honourable commission has acceded all his requests/demands on all is-

liance on food imports through its mountainous eastern border, rather than from Iran in the west and longer, more costly, routes north through exSoviet Central Asia. Most food imports come from India, Dubai and Pakistan, and are trucked into the landlocked country from Karachi, entering Afghanistan through turbulent southern Kandahar province, in Spin Boldak, and Torkham, in eastern Nangarhar province.

Since the Pakistan border closure, the cost of trucking or flying supplies into the country for US forces has soared from $17 million a month to $104 million, figures from the Pentagon in US media showed this month. At the three-storey Finest supermarket, popular with foreigners and locals and the target of a deadly suicide bomb last year, owner Matiuddin says the cost of importing a container of food has soared from $8000 before the border closure to around $23,000.

“It’s a huge problem.

Everybody is yelling. If they don’t solve it soon we are going to have to close our business,” Matiuddin said in his cramped office, slamming his hand on an ageing fax machine in frustration. sues. Even the High Commission of London granted him visa after office hours to facilitate his appearance before this honourable commission.”

“Mansoor Ijaz (American national), wanted to record his statement before the Honourable Commission, for which, he sought number of adjournments through his counsel Mr Akram Sheikh i.e.

9.1.2012 and 16.1.2012, but today, he has also not attended the proceedings of honourable commission without lawful reason or excuse. It is on the record that Mr Mansoor Ijaz through his counsel requested to the Honourable Commission for his security in Pakistan and grant of visa to enter Pakistan without any condition. On which, honourable commission has accepted all his demands and even the dates are being fixed on the desire of his counsel Mr Akram Sheikh Advocate.

Learned Attorney General and government of Pakistan has arranged fool-proof security arrangement in compliance of the order of this august commission dated 9.1.11 and 16.1.11,” the letter added.

Haqqani said the act of non appearance by Mansoor Ijaz was based on malafide, ulterior motives and all his statements published in newspapers and aired through TV channels (national and international) were fake, bogus and untrue, which were also against the interests of Pakistan, which was why he had not come to Pakistan to face/attend the proceedings of the commission despite orders.

“That in such circumstances, the justice demands to close the right of recording the statement of Mr Mansoor Ijaz, so that further proceedings may be conducted accordingly in order to finalise the proceedings within time frame given by the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Under the above said submissions, it is most respectfully prayed that Honourable Commission may kindly accept the instant application and refuse to afford another opportunity to Mr Mansoor Ijaz to appear and get his statement recorded before the commission,” the letter concluded.

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Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

News 05

Nawaz, Zardari playing with country’s future: Imran

P

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

TI Chairman Imran Khan has said President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif have their bank accounts in foreign countries and they were playing with the future of the nation for their conman interests.

Addressing a press conference at his Zaman Park residence on Monday, he said in the current circumstances, his party was relying on the Supreme Court (SC), as the SC was the only pledge of survival of the country.

A number of politicians announced joining the PTI during the press conference, including Aftab Khichi, Mumtaz

Khichi, Aurangzaib Khichi and Imranullah Gujjar.

A group of former nazims and councilors also joined the PTI. Imran said President Zardari’s 60 millions dollars were present in Swiss banks, while Nawaz Sharif also had foreign bank accounts, adding that once he got to power, he would bring the money back in the country and spend it on the education and the health of the people.

He said law and order of the country was at its worst and condemned the PML-N rulers for failing to control the crime rate.

Imran also condemned the Punjab government for the death of innocent citizens due to substandard medicines pro-

vided at Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC).

He said the PML-N came to power five times in the Punjab but it did not give anything to the people and they were now demanding another opportunity.

Imran said those who disappointed the nation in the past could do nothing in the future and the leaders who had their money in foreign countries could not change the fortune of the nation.

He said Punjab’s rulers wasted billions of nation’s money under the sasti roti scheme and also destroyed the education sector of the province.

The PTI chief said schools across the province were sufferings due to a lack of facilities and the Punjab CM wasting

money on Danish schools.

Imran also criticised Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, saying he wanted to destroy the Supreme Court. He said the nation wanted a decision on the memo scandal as it was a conspiracy against the army of our country.

He said his party had always opposed the presence of NATO forces in Afghanistan, as they were killing innocent people.

To a question, Imran said his party was not a club or any NGO. “It is a democratic party that is based on an ideology and anyone can join it, but in the elections his preliminary boards will give tickets to only those peoples who will be neat and clean.”

PM to allure investors at WeF meeting ISLAMABAD GNI

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, who will attend the of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, said on Monday that Pakistan was well-placed to convince international investors to invest in Pakistan, as it was the best destination to do business. The PM said this in a meeting with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar. Gilani’s meetings with other leaders of various countries, including engagements with investors, businessmen and international media organisations were also discussed. He said that the WEF offered a good opportunity to project Pakistan’s economy, which had staged a comeback, as most indicators suggested that the economy was performing well despite the global recession. Hina briefed the PM on the overall regional situation with special reference to relations with Afghanistan and the US. She referred to the recommendations of the Envoy’s Conference and the Parliamentary Committee on National Security regarding formulation of new rules of engagements with the US and ISAF. The PM will leave on a five-day visit to Switzerland from January 25.

Kenyan aid worker missing in Naushero Feroz ISLAMABAD AFP

A Kenyan aid worker working for an international charity and his Pakistani driver are missing, feared abducted in flood-hit Naushahro Feroz district in Sindh, police said on Monday.

Police official Saqib Ismail said the Kenyan works for Care International and that his car was found abandoned in Naushahro Feroz on Sunday, about three hours after he and his driver set out from the town of Sukkur. Since then, there has been no news of their whereabouts. Six foreigners, four of them aid and development workers, have already been abducted since July in the country, where US forces last year killed Osama bin Laden and which stands on the frontline of a Taliban insurgency. Javed Suharo Jaskani, police chief of Naushahro Feroz said a foreigner aged around 40 who had been working in Pakistan for about a year was missing. “He left (the town of) Sukkur for Dadu (part of the floodaffected areas) yesterday and his car was found abandoned at Naushahro Feroz,” said Jaskani. “We believe local bandits have kidnapped him for ransom,” Jaskani said. Nothing appeared to have been taken from the vehicle, with the foreigner’s laptop and bag containing his personal effects left behind, he added.

“We are hopeful he will be recovered,” Jaskani told AFP by telephone. Osman Ibrahim, Kenya’s acting high commissioner to Pakistan, told AFP that the mission was working to confirm whether the foreigner is Kenyan.

ISlAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani talks to Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, who called on him at Prime Minister’s House on Monday. ONLINE

MOOn-SIGhtInG ROW

Senate body decides to draft Ruet-e-Hilal Constitution ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

In a bid to resolve the conflict on Ramadan and Shawal moon-sighting among followers of different sects of Islam, a sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Monday decided to draft a constitution for the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee which had failed to do so since its establishment in 1974.

“Though the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee was set up in 1974 under a resolution passed by the National Assembly, no rules and regulations for the functioning of the committee had been drafted in writing. Finally, the committee has decided to draft a constitution to streamline all matters of the moon-sighting body. This will help evolve a consensus between the clerics of different sects over the moon sighting for Ramadan and Shawal,” Senator Dr Khalid Mahmood Soomro, the convener of the committee, said.

He said the focus of the constitution would be to evolve consensus for sighting of moon and to simplify the fasting process besides celebrating Eidul Fitr on same day across the

country.

The committee would hold talks with the followers of various sects.

The first interaction in thies regard would be held in Peshawar in which prominent clerics from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be invited to submit their recommendations to resolve the issue amicably, he added.

“It is unfortunate to note that in past 39 years, neither the ministry nor the committees took any step to remove flaws from the moon sighting procedure being followed on verbal directives of its central chairman,” he added.

The committee members also grilled the officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, asking why had the number of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee members been increased from nine to 15. They also observed that most of the Ruet-e-Hilal members were not prominent clerics, which was a violation of the 1974 resolution passed by parliament.

The members also objected to the prolonged tenure of Central Ruet-eHilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman, who was presiding for almost 12 years. “This is also a violation of the minitsry’s decision taken

in 1974 as under the law… a chairman can be appointed for a period of three years only,” Soomro said.

He said a questionnaire would be prepared following the next meeting in consultation with the clerics which would be sent to the central, district and zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees, heads of Wafaq-ul-Madaris and prominent religious leaders belonging to various schools of thought for their suggestions.

“Following their proposals, a consensus draft of the constitution would be prepared and sent to the concerned quarters for its approval,” he said. Minister for Religious Affairs Khursheed Shah and Mufti Rehman could not attend the meeting due to their other engagements.

Senator Zahid Khan also attended the meeting besides Mufti Shahabuddin of Jamia Masjid Qasim Ali Khan, Peshawar, Ministry of Religious Affairs Secretary Shaukat Hayat Durrani, representatives of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Meteorological Department attended the meeting.

Shaukat Durrani said the Religious Affairs Ministry only facilitated the Ruet-e-Hilal committees in holding meetings for moon sighting.

Two arrested over 2011 Mumbai blasts MUMBAI AFP

Indian police on Monday said they had arrested two people in connection with triple blasts in Mumbai in July last year which claimed 27 lives.

The two suspects from the eastern state of Bihar are accused of taking orders from the alleged mastermind Yasin Bhatkal, who has not been arrested, and aiding with the attacks in two of the three locations.

“They were entrusted with the task of collecting the explosives and detonators used in the blast,” Mumbai’s anti-terrorism police chief Rakesh Maria told reporters, adding that the financial trail to fund the attack had also been detected.

The triple bomb blasts rocked Mumbai’s packed gold and jewellery quarter, a diamond trading hub and the south central residential and commercial district of Dadar.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. Alleged mastermind Bhatkal has been linked by police and the local media in the past to the Indian extremist outfit the Indian Mujahideen, which claimed a series of attacks across the country in 2008.

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06 News

Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

US and Afghan officials flexible on peace: Hizb-e-Islami KHOST REuTERS

SIAlKOT: A butcher sells meat in unhygienic conditions on Pasrur Road on Monday. ONLINE

Three criminals, two Khasadar personnel killed in Jamrud raid JAMRUD AKMAl QADRI

Hoti approves land for university in Karak KP chief minister says provincial govt following policy of generalising higher education facilities across the province g

At least two personnel of Khasadar Force and three alleged criminals were killed during a clash in Jamrud area of Khyber Agency on Monday.

The killed personnel of Khasadar Force included a naib subedar. Four people, including two children, were also injured as the security forces clashed with the criminals involved in kidnapping for ransom. Per reports, the Khasadar Force, Peshawar Police and Frontier Constabulary launched joint action against criminals, especially those involved in kidnappings for ransom. The criminals offered a stiff resistance and the clash continued for couple of hours.

The criminals also took hostage a police officer, Rajab Ali, but the forces later succeeded in freeing him. The officials said that during the clash, two personnel of Khasadar forces, Meer Maat Khan and Yousaf, were killed, while four people, including two children, were injured.

The officials confirmed killing three criminals and arresting two others.

Meanwhile, four policemen were injured in an Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) blast targeting a police van in Nowshehra on Monday.

PESHAWAR

K

STAFF REPORT

HYBER Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haidar Khan Hoti has approved the provision of land for setting up of a university in Karak and urged the federal government to undertake measures for realising the project.

The chief minister was chairing a meeting at his office on Monday, in which matters pertaining to two options – setting up of a sub-campus of Kohat University of Science and Technology and a separate university – were discussed in detail and the option of a separate university was approved.

The chief minister said his government was following the policy of generalising higher education facilities in every nook and corner of the province, adding Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan and its sub-campuses in various districts proved the fact. He as-

sured provision of land for construction of the university in Karak and undertaking of the required legislation.

The meeting decided upon the location of the university. It was told that purchase of the land would be provided by the provincial government as well as from the royalty of oil and gas equally.

As Karak has emerged as the oil and gas producing zone of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, people from all over the district have unanimously demanded a separate university.

Hoti said people of Karak and associated districts would benefit from the higher education facility and it would help eradicate illiteracy from the area.

Meanwhile, chairing a separate meeting regarding the Tanzeem Lissail Wal-Mahrom, the CM stressed the extension of services of the organisation to more needy people and directed the adaptation of more effective and active procedures in this regard.

Project Director Syed Kamran Shah highlighted the purpose, administra-

Public holiday in Peshawar on Ghaffar’s anniversary PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

tive structure, funding, goals, successes, expenses and other matters of the organisation in detail.

India sails new nuclear submarine home NEW DELHI AFP

Indian navy personnel will take command of the country’s first nuclear-powered submarine in two decades on Monday after collecting the vessel near the Russian port of Vladivostok, an official said.

Moscow offered the Russian-built Chakra II to the Indian navy on a 10-year lease, a move that has angered Pakistan. The Akula II class craft is the first nuclear-powered submarine to be operated by India since it decommissioned its last Soviet-built vessel in 1991. “INS Chakra II is being handed over to Indian personnel in the east, near Vladivostok,” a senior navy source in India told AFP, asking not to be named because Russia is to formally announce the transfer. The 8,140-tonne submarine, capable of firing a range of torpedoes as well as nuclear-tipped Granat cruise missiles, is to sail under the Indian flag to its base at Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal. India is currently completing the development of its own Ar-

ihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic submarines and the Russian delivery is expected to help crews train for the domestic boat’s introduction into service next year.

The submarine was originally due to be handed over to India in 2009 but has been hit by various problems during testing. During trials in the Sea of Japan in November 2008, 20 sailors were killed when a fire extinguisher released a deadly chemical that had been accidentally loaded into the system. The INS Chakra was commissioned by India in 2004 and has seen the South Asian giant pay $650 million in construction costs. Earlier newspaper reports in India said New Delhi may end up paying as much as $900 million under the terms of the deal. Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency valued the contract at $920 million.

Russia supplies 70 percent of India’s military hardware but New Delhi has been unhappy about delays to arms orders from Moscow and has looked to other suppliers including Israel and the US in recent years.

US and Afghan officials have shown flexibility in secret talks with one of Afghanistan’s most notorious insurgent factions in the hope it will help end the country’s long war, a negotiator for the outlawed Hizb-e-Islami group said on Monday. Ghairat Baheer, the son-in-law of Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, told Reuters that he had in recent weeks held exploratory talks with CIA director David Petraeus, the former commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Despite Hekmatyar’s branding as a “terrorist” by the US State Department eight years ago for supporting Taliban and al Qaeda attacks, Baheer said he had also met face-to-face in the last three weeks with US Ambassador Ryan Crocker in Kabul, as well as current commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, US General John Allen.

“We had exchanges of views with the people and it was productive. We are fully open to any peace efforts and our aim is to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan,” Baheer said by phone from Pakistan. A spokesman for the US embassy in Kabul declined to confirm any American involvement in the talks.

“We have a broad range of contacts across Afghanistan and the region to support Afghan reconciliation efforts. I’m not going to get into the details of those contacts,” he said in response to Baheer’s claims. The US has been holding exploratory talks with the Taliban – seen as the best chance of ending the war that began with the US-led invasion of the country 10 years ago - for more than a year. Hizb-e-Islami, which means Islamic Party, is a radical militant group which shares some of the Taliban’s antiforeigner, anti-government aims, and has widespread national support.

Hekmatyar, a former Afghan prime minister, is a fierce rival of the Taliban’s one-eyed leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, and became a hero to many Afghans while leading mujahideen fighters against the Soviet occupation of the country in the 1980s.

The Peshawar district coordination officer (DCO) announced on Monday that there will be a public holiday in the city on January 26 on Pakhtun leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan alias Bacha Khan’s 24th death anniversary. To commemorate Bacha Khan’s and Khan Abdul Wali Khan’s death anniversary, the Awami National Party (ANP) had planned a public gathering at Shah Tehmas Football Stadium in Shahi Bagh, Peshawar on January 26.

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Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

Smoking thrills but kills

PAGe 08

City’s first parking plaza now partially functional RAWALPINDI APP

Public service vehicles’ stand (Suzuki Stand) in Rawalpindi city’s first parking plaza at Fawara Chowk in Raja Bazaar has gone partially functional. However, the whole project would be inaugurated by Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif during his visit to Rawalpindi on Feb 4. Construction and renovation work of the parking plaza was completed recently as this initiative is going to mitigate the problems of the motorists who visit the busiest bazaars of the town. The Punjab chief minister had taken keen interest for the construction of the parking plaza to fulfil a long-standing demand of the public. The parking plaza has been constructed on 4.5 kanals land and it will have total five stories and a basement. It is located in the heart of the city at the crossing of Liaquat and Jinnah roads near Fawara Chowk.

Police foil robbery bid ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

ISlAMABAD: A beautiful view of a temple at Saidpur model village in the capital territory. ONLINE

US to help boost Pakistan agri exports ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The US government launched a series of workshops across Pakistan on Monday to help increase Pakistan’s agricultural exports.

The workshops will bring together Pakistani government representatives, private businessmen and farmers to discuss international standards for agricultural exports and identify ways for improved manufacturing, processing and packaging of agricultural goods for international markets.

These two-day workshops will take place in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Quetta, says a press release.

“Pakistan’s share in the world’s agricultural and food exports depends on its ability to increase agricultural productivity, to identify strategic market opportunities, and to compete with other suppliers,” said Dr Andrew Sisson, the director of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Pakistan.

“The U.S. Government is committed to working with the people and government of Pakistan to unleash Pakistan’s potential for agricultural export growth.”

Pakistan Agriculture Research Council Senior Director Dr Azeem Khan, Trade Development Council of Pakistan Director Omar Hameed and LKMR Technology Consulting General Manager Haroon Sharif of also spoke at the opening of the Islamabad workshop.

Nearly two-thirds of Pakistan’s population is directly or indirectly linked with agriculture for their livelihood. However, this sector currently accounts only for 21 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. Similarly, agricultural exports constitute less than 18 percent of the country’s total exports. Pakistan’s share in the top five import markets for agricultural goods constitutes only 0.1 percent of these markets. These statistics suggest a tremendous potential for growth, both in the agricultural production and in exports.

IMMInEnt PRIvAtISAtIOn

IESCO employees lock head office in protest ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

A

large number of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) employees on Monday locked the head office of the power distribution company in protest against the expected privatisation of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and induction of private employees on high posts.

The workers serving in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad gathered in front of the head office and recorded their protest against the government and IESCO Board of Directors (BoD). Though, the government has assured the WAPDA employees that it has no plan to privatise the institution but, according to the employees, it has been inducting private employees on senior most posts in all DISCOs just to act

upon its plan of privatizing the WAPDA. An office bearer of WAPDA Hydro Electric Union Azmat Awan said the government did not provide any written assurance to them that it had no plan of privatising the company. “Why the government has been appointing private officials on hefty salaries despite the presence of compatible officers in the company,” he said.

He feared that the government was appointing private officials on contract basis to privatise the WAPDA by deceiving regular employees. He said he government had formed Board of Directors (BoD) of every DISCO just for the sake of the political benefits.

Senior IESCO official Wajid Ali Kazmi told Pakistan Today that the all the members of BoD are not competitive and it was beyond thinking that the people who had no knowledge of WAPDA are making its decisions. He

said that the businessmen and politicians were included in BoD, which was making political appointments in all DISCO’s including IESCO. The protestors said they had given several chances to the government to shelve the plan of privatising the power units, adding that the government after a demonstration a couple of months ago had announced not to privatise WAPDA, Lesco, PEPCO and other power companies, but the private company secretary and consultant taxation had now been appointed in a bid to strengthen its position for privatise the power units.

The IESCO workers also chanted slogans against the government. They also asked not to appoint a private CEO of WAPDA and threatened to continue their protests against appointments of outsiders on hefty salaries and to shut powerhouses all over the country.

The Sabzi Mandi police said on Monday they foiled a robbery and arrested two dacoits who were trying to escape after snatching money from a trader in sector I11. According to details, Jehangir Abbasi, a trader, was coming to Sabzi Mandi from Murree along with Mubashir Amin, truck driver and conductor Shah Nawaz.

They were intercepted by two armed men near a wheat warehouse and asked to drive the truck toward a slum. The robbers then snatched Rs. 3, 50,000 from the trader and injured the truck driver A police team headed by Sabzi Mandi police station SHO Abid Ikram and including ASI Asif Hussain Shah and other officials reached the scene and cordoned off the area. Another police patrolling team which was in the vicinity at the time of the incident also came to assist the Sabzi Mandi police. The policemen managed to arrest the two dacoits, identified as Qaiser Mehmud and Asmat Ullah.

The looted cash, a pistol and a dagger were also recovered from their possession.

HEROIN SEIzED: The city police on Monday arrested four outlaws from various areas and seized 1.6 kilogram of heroin, two 30-bore pistols and cash from their possession. A police spokesman said said the police nabbed two drug pushers, Gul Zaman anad Raj Wali, during special checking of the city and recovered 1.16kg heroin and one 30-bore pistol from them.

In another raid, the CIA police nabbed a dacoit, Kashif, and recovered one 30-bore pistol from him while ASI Asif Hussain Shah arrested a pickpocket and recovered cash from him. Separately, Aabpara police arrested two youngsters, Asad Latif and Qasim Ali for their alleged involvement in one-wheeling.

ITP introduces one-window operation for driving licences ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has streamlined the process of obtaining driving licences by introducing a onewindow operation at its office.

The one-window operation block was formally inaugurated by Inspector General of Police Bani Amin Khan on Monday. SSP (Traffic) Dr Moeen Masood, SP (Traffic) Mirvais Niaz Khan, SP (Sadar) Sajid Kiyani and other officers were also present on the occasion.

The IGP said that utmost efforts were being made to facilitate licence seekers and the whole process had been made easy through the one-window facility after opening a NADRA CNIC ver-

ification centre, NBP booth, blood test and medical examination centre.

Bani Amin Khan said that fee was deposited with the booth of the NBP under the relevant head of accounts allocated by the Ministry of Finance, adding this facility would be further upgraded for the convenience of the licence applicants. He said all requirements were being met under this new one-window licensing system and the process would be further streamlined. He further said every possible effort would be made to facilitate licence seekers.

Later, the IGP met with licence seekers and sought their suggestions to improve the system. He assured them of taking every possible measure to facilitate them.

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08 Islamabad

Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

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Campaign kicks off to warn people of hazardous effects of tobacco use World Cancer day to be observed on February 4 ISLAMABAD

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MAHTAB BASHIR

MOKING causes a slow death which kills a person by damaging his internal organs one after another. Smokers not just harm themselves, as they also affect their co-workers, family members and others surrounding them by smoking. Passive smoking has now been directly linked with various kinds of cancer.

Tobacco use continues to be the leading global cause of preventable death. It kills nearly 6 million people around the world and causes hundreds of billions of dollars of economic damage worldwide each year.The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 without intervention.

Low-income and medium-income countries are bit harder by cancer than the countries rich in resources. Tobacco in any form such as cigarettes, cigars and pipes are such a harmful thing that everyone should get rid of it. The immediate effects of over 4000 damaging chemicals including tar, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, metal, nitrogen oxides, ammonia and several radioactive elements can cause oral (mouth), throat and lung cancers besides heart diseases and mucous cough.

Right now, a large number of people are addicted to smoking and this ratio is increasing day by day. According to a WHO report, “By the year 2030, mortality from smoking related disease is expected to rise 10 millions and over 70 percent of these deaths will be in the developing countries like Pakistan where smoking is rising day by day.”

People, businesses, governments and non-profit organisations will work together on ‘World Cancer Day’ to be observed on February 4 to aware and help the general public learn more about the different types of cancer, how to watch for it, treatments and preventative measures.

Shifa International Hospitals has already launched a campaign to fight against cancer under which a string of activities including hiking, walk, soccer matches, and free resting and screening from January 22 to February 6, with an aim to create awareness among public about the disease. The Charter of Paris designated February 4 each year as World Cancer Day. The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) is responsible for coordinating World Cancer Day globally. It receives support from various partners and organizations, including the WHO, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and other international bodies. The UICC organised the first World Cancer Day in 2006.

According to the WHO report on “The Global Tobacco Epidemic”, Warning about the Dangers of Tobacco 2011”, most of these deaths occur in lowand middle-income countries, and this disparity is expected to widen further over the next several

decades. If current trend continues, tobacco will kill more than 8 million people worldwide each year by 2030, with 80 percent of these premature deaths among people living in low and middle-income countries. Over the course of the 21st century, tobacco use could kill a billion people or more, unless urgent action is not taken. The WHO reports that tobacco use is the second highest cause of deaths globally after hypertension and is currently responsible for killing one in ten adults worldwide.

The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cancers which we hear about routinely such as cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the testes, and endocrine system cancers such as thyroid, or skin cancer. It is not because of the fact that it is hard to discover or diagnose, but due to the cancer being routinely discovered late in its development. According to National Institute of Health (NIH) report, more than 100,000 people in Pakistan die due to use of tobacco while lungs, neck, heart and lungs related diseases are also affecting the lives of youth because of excessive tobacco usage.

The report says 22 to 25 million people use tobacco in any kind and thus annually 82 billion cigarettes are consumed in the country on average.

According to the report, Pakistan is one of the countries where the use of smokeless tobacco is a culturally accepted habit. Studies from Karachi have shown that 21 per cent of men and 12 per cent of women use betel, for both men and women 7.3 percent use pan, 6.7 percent chalia, 7.5 percent gutka, 14.6 per cent naswar and use of chewed tobacco is 20 percent and 17 per cent respectively.

In Pakistan, tobacco use is not limited to cigarette smoking. Other common forms of tobacco include water-pipe tobacco (sheesha in modern form), chewing tobacco and snuff. Over one-third of smokers are reported to use tobacco in other forms. Estimates show that nearly 25 per cent of adults smoke in Pakistan whereas the number of male smokers is about four times the number of female smokers.

The oncologists are of their views that tobacco is not only resulting in lungs cancer but also causing prostate, bladder and cancers in other reproductive organs among males and females in the country.

They said quitting tobacco use, which include both smoking and tobacco-chewing, could result in increase in the average lifespan. The oncologists claimed that oral cancer is the most common disease among tobacco users. Other causes including occupational hazards, pollution, obesity, inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables and too much exposure could also result in causing other cancers.

Oral cancer is particularly dangerous because in its early stages it may not be noticed by the patient, as it can frequently prosper without producing pain or symptoms they might readily recognise, and because it has a high risk of producing second, primary tumours. Oral cancer is any abnormal growth and

nUMUn 12

spread of cells in the mouth or oral cavity, including lips, tongue, inside of the lips and cheeks, hard palate (roof of the mouth), floor of the mouth (under the tongue), back of the throat, gums and teeth.

Oral cancers are diagnosed very late (Stage III and IV) in Pakistan leading to dismal prognosis. It needs not whether the patient is educated or not but awareness about the symptom is the key to prevent this deadly diseases. My brother, Moazzam Bashir, who was serving as an additional commissioner of Income tax in FBR, was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2007 at 3rd stage and he disappeared to meet his maker in January, 2008 after battling valiantly for months against the noxious tentacles of squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer can be treated in three ways: surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Moazzam went through all these three treatments yet neither the skills of surgeons nor the prayers of saints help him to delay his transition from this world to another, mainly because of lack of awareness and late diagnose.

Surgery is the art, practice or work of treating tumor by operative procedures. Chemotherapy is the treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells or make them less active. Radiotherapy is the use of high energy radiation to treat cancer. Out of these three techniques radiotherapy is the cheapest and most curative and palliative ways for various types of cancer. Usually combined therapy is mostly implemented in certain types and stages of cancer.

Talking to Pakistan Today, Dr Kamran Rasheed, a consultant oncologist, said there was an immediate need for creating public and professional awareness regarding the early signs and symptoms of oral cancer so that patient present early and medical professionals diagnose oral cancers early.

Rasheed said excessive smoking and usage of gutka in particular was the main cause of oral cancer and stressed that the thousands of units preparing the substance used in it must be exposed and banned.

The oncologist also warned against the chewing of chalia imported from India, saying this too was a very dangerous habit. He pointed out that by the time patients come to a hospital, it is too late as they have already contracted oral cancer. He also stressed on the imposition of this ban all across the country, adding that the spitting out of Gutka was also causing environmental pollution.

Talking about the signs and symptoms of oral cancer, he said sores in the mouth that do not heal within 2 weeks, dark red or white patches in the mouth, lumps located on the lips, tongue or neck, bleeding in the mouth, and sore throat and difficulty with swallowing are the symptoms of mouth cancer.

“There are many factors that can increase risk of developing oral cancer. If patient is over 40, he has Human Papillomavirus (HPV), uses tobacco products, especially if combined with high alcohol consumption, regularly drink a lot of alcohol, are the few of main causes of oral cancer or risk factors,” Dr Rasheed concluded.

thE WAY

OUR LEGACY

ColleGeS / UNIVeRSITIeS INTeRNATIoNAl ISlAMIC UNIVeRSITy 9260765 BAHRIA UNIVeRSITy 9260002 NUMl 9257677 QUAId-e-AzAM UNIVeRSITy 90642098 ARId AGRICUlTURe UNIVeRSITy 9290151 FJWU 9273235 RIPHA INTeRNATIoNAl UNIVeRSITy 111510510 NCA RAWAlPINdI 5770423 PUNJAB lAW ColleGe 4421347

dATe: JANUARy 26 — 29, 2012 VeNUe: NUST, H12 oPPoSITe To PolICe lINe

dATe: JANUARy 14 — 26, 2012 VeNUe: GAlleRy loUVRe

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

duo show, Gallery louvre Islamabad invites you to “The Way” an exhibition of a unique art combination

by Tariq and Natalia Kakar. "The way" is showcasing sculptures work by Tariq in different mediums of both abstract and realistic figures while Natalia show casing her abstract landscapes paintings

dATe: JANUARy 18 — 28, 2012 VeNUe: JHARoKA ART GAlleRy ISlAMABAd our legacy – The history of Mughal empire Water Color Paintings by MUHAMMAd SHAFIQ Mr. TAQI SAdeGHI Cultural Council, Islamic Republic of Iran will inaugurate the exhibition

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Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

Islamabad 09

Hospital employees plan massive rally today g

PIMS, Poly Clinic and NIRM staff will gather at Parade Avenue to press their demand of implementing old service structure under BPS system ISLAMABAD MAHTAB BASHIR

T

HE staff members including doctors, nurses, paramedical and clerical staff of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Poly Clinic and National Institute of Rehabilitative Medicine (NIRM) have planned to stage a massive rally and sit-in today (Tuesday) at Parade Avenue (D-Chowk), which will be a part of their ongoing strike against the non-implementation of the Basic Pay Scale (BPS) system.

“As concerned authorities have failed to pay a heed to our demands against implementation of Health Personnel Pay Scale (HPS) announced in National Assembly, while over two weeks of protests and sit-in by the staff of health institutions went unheard, the Joint Action

Committee (JAC) has decided to stage a massive rally and sit-in on Tuesday,” member JAC Raja Ilyas said while talking to Pakistan Today.

Ilyas said the staff members of Capital Development Authority (CDA) and people belonging to minorities would also taken on board to stage a protest-cumsit-in. “Chaudhry Yasin of CDA and Nobel Peace Prize nominee and former federal minister Julius Salik will lead the protest as over 80 percent of employees of these health institutions are against the implementation of new Health Personnel Pay Scale (HPS) package,” Ilyas maintained.

He claimed that over 5,000 employees were expected to participate in the protest to press their demands.

The JAC member, said it was ironic that on the assurance of the government officials, including federal minister Syed

Khursheed Shah, Senator Nayyer Bukhari and Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi, that they will do every effort not to implement Health Personnel Pay Scale (HPS), but the bill had been tabled in National Assembly.

“The non-medical staff along with doctors, and nurses also rejected the new HPS and preferred to remain in the old service structure of BPS. “They are demanding the service structure for promotion to higher grade for all non-medical gazetted and nongazetted staff as approved for paramedics and nurses; existing pay scales with all other rights under Civil Servants Act 1972, instead of proposed HPS; payment of salary out of voted budget (recurring budget allocation) through AGPR as already adopted; all existing facilities, perks and privileges as admissible from time to time; and grant of monthly Hospital

(health) Risk Allowance equivalent to running basic pay,” Raja Ilyas further said.

He said till Monday (January 23) no one from concerned authorities had taken notice of two weeks strike while the patients coming from far-flung areas continued to suffer. “It seems, government is not willing to solve this issue and wants to privatise these hospitals but the staff would not let them do so,” he said.

Ilyas added that over 1800 Poly Clinic employees were in favour of the BPS system, while118 favoured the HPS system.

He said the personnel would not quit fighting for their legal rights. Ilyas said further the PIMS and Polyclinic hospitals’ executive directors are also favouring the PBS system.

Raja Ilyas said according to the law, the Cabinet Division could not pass any ordinance without consulting relevant organisations such as the Capital Adminis-

tration and Development Division (CADD) or Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), but all these bodies had been bypassed “to serve some vested interests.”

Earlier on Monday, over 3000 medical and non-medical professionals of PIMS, Poly Clinic and NIRM gathered at Argentina Park, near Melody Market, for a protest demonstration and chanted slogans in favour of their demands. On the occasion, JAC decided to hold another protest and sit-in in front of parliament house on Tuesday as no breakthrough has taken place.

On the occasion, All-Non-Medical Health Employees Association President Manzar Abbas Naqvi expressed serious reservations over the unjustified distribution of power among the medical and non-medical staff. “The influential status of medical staff compelled us to go on strike,” Naqvi said.

‘ANP democracy’s biggest supporter’ ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Analysing the ongoing clash of the country’s institutions, speakers at a seminar on Monday said the way the contradictions between the formal constitutional structure and the actual practice of democracy in Pakistan are resolved would shape the future of democracy in Pakistan.

Third World Solidarity Chairman Mushtaq Lashari, minority rights activist Julius Salik, ANP Islamabad Wing President Malik Riaz Bangash and ANP activist Tahira Begum expressed their views at a seminar ‘The Future of Democracy in Pakistan’ organised by the Third World Solidarity at the National Press Club.

Lashari said: “The three features of Pakistan’s governance underlie the current institutional instability and political chaos. First the civil-military rivalry in the process of governance, second the government-judiciary stand-off in defining the constitutional limits of judicial authority and executive power and third the imperative of political parties to stand united against any imminent military intervention.”

He added that within the constitution’s formal structure the military is subordinate to the elected civilian authority.

However, the real power structure is one in which the military has historically dominated governance during most periods of civilian rule. Elected governments were removed from power by the military, either through a military coup or indirectly through manipulation politics and media. “Pakistan is a democracy of two hundred million people. But the common Pakistani has no say in the country’s governance. The true spirit of democracy cannot be observed in Pakistan and democratic norms have not been allowed to thrive in the country,” he stated.

Salik urged Lashari to contest the forthcoming elections to materialise his vision about a democratic Pakistan. He said that the military had massacred democracy and called upon the three pillars of the state to not exceed their respective limits, adding that an uninterrupted democratic process was a prerequisite to bringing the country out of the crises faced by it.

Bangash said: “We believe in the supremacy of law. The repeated military intervention did not allow democracy and political culture to flourish in Pakistan.” He condemned the military’s extra constitutional steps, saying they eroded institutional stability. He said the Awami National Party was democracy’s biggest supporter.

Tahir Begum said the aspiration for freedom, human dignity, fraternity and equality is deeply rooted in Pakistani people and that the country’s depended on providing its people health care, education, justice and freedom. She added that the ongoing political chaos could be resolved in a democratic way and the military should remain in its defined constitutional limits.

ISlAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Special Assistant and Focal Person on Polio Eradication Shahnaz Wazir Ali addresses a roundtable conference on polio at a local hotel. STAff PhOTO

PNCA and Lok Virsa: promoting art and culture or corruption? g

Institutes granting irregular extensions to retired subordinates ISLAMABAD MAHTAB BASHIR

The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) and Lok Virsa are allegedly involved in administrative malfunctioning.

Defying all rules and even a Supreme Court warning that granting extensions or re-appointing officials would be punishable, the PNCA director general Tauqir Nasir and Lok Virsa executive director Khalid Javed have been granted extensions following their retirement on a contract basis without any prior approval of the Ministry of National Heritage and Integration or any other department concerned.

Pakistan Today collected official documents from both offices and found a number of similarities regarding administrative irregularities in both the cultural organisations.

The chiefs of both organizations were granted a two-year extension at the end of 2011 and both have re-hired retired personnel in their offices without prior permissions.

The employees of both the organisa-

tions retire at the government appointed age of 60, but make efforts for their reappointment. It is speculated Nasir was granted an extension as he belonged to southern Punjab-Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s native area.

Hassan Abbas Raza, who has been working as a performing arts division director and receives Rs 60,000 in monthly salary, retired on November 18, 2011 but the PNCA DG moved a summary for his extension to the Ministry of National Heritage and Integration secretary. Similarly, in Lok Virsa, administration and accounts director Shamim Akhtar’s service tenure expired in December 2011 but he continues to hold the post after being re-appointed by Khalid Javed. Several PNCA deputy directors and directors’ posts are vacant but the administration has failed to advertise for them. Meanwhile, the re-appointment of retired officers has been the norm for several years.

According to sources many PNCA employees have been reappointed, including Major (retd) Owais as a project officer, Agha Sehar Tanvir as Light and Sound incharge, Zarqa Chaudhary as a

dance teacher for National Performing Arts Group (NPGA) and Muhammad Shahid as a transport officer.

The Lok Virsa retired officials include Saeed A Khan who has been reappointed against the regular post of director development sales in (BPS-19), Salik Mehmood reappointed as project accountant, Zobia Sultana as deputy director, Naseemullah Rashid as media centre director and Azeem Iqbal as museum designer.

The PNCA and Lok Virsa staff said favouritism was a norm since senior officials like PNCA research officer Amber Shah and Lok Virsa programme executive (publications) Muhammad Ali have not been promoted despite being due for promotions.

PNCA junior photographer Ishtiaq Hussain, acting publication officer Anjum Sajjad Gohar, publication officer/ designer Sobia Rehman, and publication officer/designer Tanveer Akhtar filed a joint petition in Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the outof-turn promotions of two females from their basic pay scale (BPS) 16 to BPS17, on March 14, 2011.

Talking to Pakistan Today, Khalid Javed while talking about the illegal extension of Shamim Akhtar, said the National Heritage and Integration secretary gave directions for the reappointment.

When asked about Zobia Sultana, who was transferred to Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), and is now getting salary from the both offices, Javed admitted she has been transferred to PAL but was also working for an ongoing PNCA research project. “This is the government’s decision,” he said.

He said the employees were re-hired because of their expertise on an assignment basis. “We gave them assignments in their respective fields, and they are being paid for it,” Javed said.

PNCA Director General Tauqir Nasir when contacted about his statement on the matter, he did not receive the call.

When asked why PNCA does not advertise for the vacant posts, Hassan Abbas Raza said the government has put a complete ban on new hiring and recruitment. “Yes, there are a lot of vacant posts these days, and as soon as ban on recruitment is lifted, new recruitments will be made,” he said.

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10 Islamabad

Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

College teachers mulling series of protests for promotions ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The teachers of the federal government colleges who have been waiting for their promotions for the last one year have planned a massive rally and protest as the Capital Administration and Development Division is paying no heed to promote them in line with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s directives.

The prime minister announced to upgrade the teachers on October 8, 2010.

Later, the Capital Administration and Development Division (CAAD) issued a notification for the promotions of teachers through time-scale formula and notified that the teachers would be given promotions after the departmental promotion committees’ meetings. Only schoolteachers were have, however, been promoted so far.

Talking to Pakistan Today, Professor Tahir Mahmood of H/8 College said “The college teachers are still uncertain about their promotions, which looks like a dream. The CAAD officer concerned is delaying the matter on several pretexts.”

The teachers’ community held weekslong protests, including boycott of classes. According to the CADD notification, the teachers having experience of five years will be promoted from BS-16 to 17 while those with an experience of five years in BS-17 and 10 years in BS-16 and BS-17 will be promoted to BS-18.

The teachers having experience of seven years in BS-18 or 12 years in BS-17 and BS-18 will be promoted to BS-19 while others with seven years experience in BS-19 or 19 years in BS-17 and above will be promoted to BS-20. The teachers having five-year experience in BS-20 or 24 years in BS-17 and above will be promoted to BS-21.

The promotion of teachers was a part of the package announced by the prime minister on October 8, 2010.

Professor Tahir said that whenever the teachers contacted the CAAD officer dealing with the matter, he told every one that a notification was being issued shortly. Another college teacher, Yasmeen Bukhari, said that due to delay in promotions anxiety was mounting among the teachers’ community. She said the teachers were mulling to hold a series of protests against delay in their promotions.

ISlAMABAD: CDA gardeners busy planting saplings in the greenbelt of 9th Avenue. STAff PhOTO

Training for ORIC’s staff begins at NUST ISLAMABAD

T

STAFF REPORT

HE Higher Education Commission (HEC), in collaboration with the British Council, launched on Monday a fiveday capacity-building programme for the staff of the Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (ORIC) of 14 universities.

As many as 45 directors and mangers of universities across the country are attending the training being held at the National University of Sciences

and Technology (NUST), Islamabad.

NUST Rector Engr Muhammad Asghar and Dr Nils Tomes, director, Education for South Asia, British Council, chaired the opening ceremony.

The purpose of the programme is to train the managers of ORIC to run these offices effectively and efficiently. The HEC aims to develop and sustain a dynamic and internationally competitive research sector in Pakistani universities that make a major contribution to the community, economic prosperity, national wellbeing and the expansion and dissemination of knowledge. Establish-

ment of ORIC at the universities is a step towards achieving this goal.

Speaking on the occasion, the rector thanked the HEC and the British Council for providing NUST with the opportunity to host the training. He highlighted the role of the universities and the steps taken by his university for accomplishment of these goals. Dr Tomes told the participants that the British Council was keen to contribute and support the HEC in its role for promotion of higher education and knowledge exchange in Pakistan.

In her welcome remarks, HEC (R&D) Deputy Director Noshaba Awais

highlighted the new role of the universities and its impact on leadership, community and economy. She said research and development, and knowledge economy were the only solution to development and prosperity of the country.

“Promotion of research is one of the core strategic aims of the HEC. Through the programme and the initiatives launched by the HEC for strengthening research and the process of knowledge creation, the quality and research output emanating from the universities and institutions in the country had shown tremendous improvements,” she said.

SOME LIGht MOMEntS

Underprivileged children enjoy ‘Rio’ at local theatre RAWALPINDI MAHTAB BASHIR

The joy and ecstasy could be felt over the innocent faces of 1,000 boys and girls living in the orphan houses in the Rawalpindi and Islamabad when they visited a theatre for the first time in their life on Monday afternoon at Shaheen Cinema Rawalpindi.

A non-profit organisation Bardasht arranged the programme in collaboration with the Central Film Censor Board, Shaheen Cinema, Coca Cola and Savour Foods.

The popular animated film ‘Rio’ was screened specially at the cinema for the special guests from the Anjuman Faizul Islam, SOS Children Village, Ashiana, Saba Homes, Sweet Homes and some other organisations.

The 3-D animated adventure ‘RioThe Movie’ was premiered in Pakistan about a year back and became hotfavourite for the children of all ages, said Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar.

“Since then I was planning to arrange a special screening of the film for the special guests. However, it was delayed due to unclear political situa-

tion in the country over the year.”

Nilofar Bakhtiar, who is also the chairperson of Bardasht, was very happy to see all smiles on the faces of her ‘special guests’. “Rare are the moments when I genuinely feel happy.

Today is the one. The glittering faces reflect the sheer joy these children have had, surely for the first time. I wish I could arrange the special screening of the children-movies for these unprivileged ones that our children enjoy on DVDs at home-theatres.

“Rio-The Movie” is a Twentieth Century Fox’s animation venture from the Blue Sky Studios, the makers of the super-hit animation film for children Ice Age. The Rio is a comedy adventure about taking a walk on the wild side.

Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, and Jesse Eisenberg voice birds in familyfriendly, G-rated animated comedy.

It is set in the wonderful city of Rio de Janeiro as well as the incomparable rainforest of Brazil; the humorous journey focuses on Blu (a parrot), an infrequent macaw who believes that he is the only remaining of his type. When Blu finds out there is another - and that the other one is a female, Blu foliage the

luxuries of his cage in very small town Minnesota and moves to Rio. But it is far away from love at first sight among the tamed and flight inhibited Blu and the very self-sufficient, highflying feminine, Jewel. Suddenly chucked with each other, they begin a journey of a life span, where analyse friendship, adore, daring and becoming offered to life’s numerous wonders. Barrister Shahnwaz Noon, the General Secretary of the Bardasht said, “We need to groom the unprivileged children to make theme active citizens for the society. It is our common responsibility to share the best with them including our time, and what we like for our children.”

Several children while talking to this scribe paid tanks to the organisers for affording them the opportunity to watch the film on the big screen in cinema.

Children of the SOS Village said, “It was out firm time to the cinema, and perhaps, the last one.” Many of the children said no one cares about their outdoor activities. A girl child of the Saba Homes said “we should be taken to hiking and outdoor adventures as well as for several other activities including visit to galleries and museums and parks.”

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Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

Editor’s mail 11

defying the rules

Sanctity of the court

Schools all around the world are entrusted with the responsibility of teaching the children manners and instilling in them the characteristics of obeying rules, especially state rules. I have studied in four countries and can recall 10 schools that I have attended and in all those places the schools taught patriotism and instilled in us the characteristics of obeying rules.

This mindset of schools can be attributed to the direct success and progress of the countries. We can see India, a nation that will soon become a superpower, has a population of a billion patriotic people that are ready to do anything for the progress of the schools. The school system there teaches the children the importance of obeying rules be it bad or good,

and makes them love their country.

However, the schooling system in our beloved country Pakistan has become a victim of social disparity that exists in our society.

The majority of the public schools here portray an empty look with students or teachers being absent on a consistent basis, and we have private schools with lots of students and teachers but they teach nothing substantive to help them become better citizens.

The private schools here often have well connected sources to have influence over the local authorities to expand their school and defy the rule at their convenience.

One such school that has been at its zenith in terms of defying the rule has

been a new private A-levels school in the posh area of DHA, Karachi. This school has been able to host a multitude of extracurricular activities ranging from a fashion show in an Islamic country involving students to holding concerts in its vicinity which is in the midst of a residential area.

The school has sort of captured and taken over the whole area. The residents around the school have become helpless with the local authorities being incapable of stopping the school’s activities in any way. The school in the name of security has barred cars from being parked in front of the houses irrespective of the cars being of the guests coming to visit the houses nearby.

The school does not even respect the

notices of the government. It stays open even on the days the government has announced a public holiday, be it Shah Abdul Latif’s Urs or Begum Nusrat Bhuttos’ funeral, the school stays open. The school may be good in imparting knowledge to its students but the regular defiance of state rules and laws does not give a good impression to the kids. In a country already short of patriotism, such acts can further the problems for the government.

Schools are there to play a dual role, impart knowledge and make the children better citizens, and if the school itself is defying rules, we can imagine what the children would do.

AFFAN Karachi

Too late Arfa Karim Randhawa, the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional from Pakistan, has left for heavenly abode. May God rest her soul in peace!

After almost two weeks of her death, our political leaders, including Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, found time to go to Arfa’s house to pay condolences to her parents. The government has announced a commemorative postal stamp in memory of Arfa. PM Gilani has said that the government was considering awarding late Arfa the highest civilian award.

All this is nothing but an eyewash.

These statements are nothing more than adding insult to injury of Arfa’s parents.

Where were these politicians when Arfa was struggling for her life in a hospital and that Bill Gates had to come to her rescue? Pakistan has a history of awarding recognition to its heroes after their deaths.

Geniuses like Arfa are born in centuries and don’t need commemorative stamps and civilian awards for recognition. Arfa was a star that will keep shining in the sky and the world will watch and remember her. Bill Gates rightly said: “Today is the black day of my life and same for Pakistan because I lost my princess colleague and Pakistan lost her Pakistani.”

We salute you, Arfa.

M RAFIQUE ZAKARIA Karachi

The new Food Street The new Food Street in Lahore on Fort Road is very beautiful and an attractive spot for tourist from all over the world. But the thing that is worrisome is that the PML(N)-led Punjab government has demolished two old Food Streets, launched by the previous government, only for a political score and so that Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shehbaz Sharif could say that this is his Food Street.

What a political hypocrisy and complete waste of already established resources of revenue, tourism and entertainment.

MUBASHIR MAHMOOD Karachi

The sanctity of the Supreme Court of Pakistan was violated by few lawyers, who raised slogans within premises of the court.

These men had no business to be there, nor can they deny to Aitzaz the honour and prestige he has earned for himself by standing up to a military dictator, when many others were quietly going around their business appearing before Dogar courts and being handsomely rewarded for such services. It was Aitzaz who dared to defend Mukhtaran Mai, a poor woman raped and humiliated by a tribal jirga.

Every citizen of Pakistan has a right to be represented by a lawyer of his choice. Those who are raising issues of morality questioning Aitzaz for defending this government tainted with allegations of corruption, had no hesitation to take up cases defending others, who had defrauded national exchequer.

The sanctity of Supreme Court was also violated by a handful of jiyalas who managed to squeeze in and chant slogans, as it was grossly violated previously by a fake PhD holding controversial lawyer, responsible for pitting this regime on confrontational path with superior judiciary.

If these lawyers’ group who raised slogans against Aitzaz have no political motives then they must be seen defending common citizens who cannot afford to hire their services, although they have been denied their rights by state organisations or powerful feudal and traders. It is time the Supreme Court delivers justice to people of Pakistan, instead of being entangled in technicalities, since it alone has jurisdiction to do so and set precedents for other courts to follow.

MALIK TARIQ ALI Lahore

Street lights

The king and his subjects On 19 January, 2012, when our PM appeared in the Supreme Court to defend his case, more than 70 ministers, chief ministers of all provinces and big shots of all the coalition parties accompanied him.

If someone could calculate the expenditures and wastage of money that they did when by appearing in the court with pomp and glory, one could easily see that they have done no favour to the public; instead, they have just made a mockery of them.

They wasted financial resources, time which they were supposed to use in solving the problems facing the public, fuel, electricity, human resources and many other things. Our representatives must feel ashamed of their behaviour; people of this country do not even have fuel, electricity, bread and basic necessities of life while they go n wasting them without any care.

ZAHID RASHID Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir

Following in Asma's footsteps The Supreme Court summoned Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on 19 January in a contempt of court case. Barrister Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan was the counsel for PM Gilani to represent him in contempt case.

It appears that Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan has decided to follow in the footsteps of Asma Jehangir who was ap-

pointed as counsel to represent Pakistan's ambassador to United Sates Husain Haqqani in Memogate scandal.

Despite knowing that evidence collected so far against Husain Haqqani carried weight, she decided to represent him and finally ended vomiting venom against the judiciary.

People like Aitzaz Ahsan and Asma Jehangir are respected not only in Pak-

istan but elsewhere in the world for their professionalism and honesty.

Why they agree to represent in cases of mass corruption of the government is anybody's guess. Sooner or later, Aitazaz Ahsan will meet the same fate as that of Asma Jehangir’s. Let’s wait and watch.

M RAFIQUE ZAKARIA Karachi

Apart from the energy crisis in the country it surprising to see bright street lights turned on during the day hours. At one hand, we are ready to come to streets for the unscheduled loadshedding whereas on the other hand we never bother to close the street lights during the morning hours when they are not needed.

There are many areas where these lights remain turned on all day, like the DHA. Neither the people living here realise their responsibility to look after the street lights nor the management of DHA care to monitor them.

A small act of responsibility can bring change to the people facing distress, you never know.

RIZWAN JAMIL JAFFERY Karachi 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 may be edited for length and clarity.

It would be appreciated if letters were addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively.

Re-engaging with America

By Sajjad Malik

P

akistan is trying to redefine the terms of engagements with the US after last year’s devastating NATO air attack at a border outpost in Mohmand tribal agency, killing 24 servicemen. The Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) tasked to set the guidelines for future relations with the sole superpower has finalised a list of 35 recommendations, which will be implemented as baseline for ties with America after formal approval by the parliament in a joint sitting.

The process adopted for thrashing out the policy principles for reengaging with the US are of immense political importance for Pakistan. It started when the government convened a two-day Envoy Conference in Islamabad in December. Senior military officials like ISI chief Lieutenant General Ahmad Shujaa Pasha also participated in it. The recommendations of the conference were sent to the PCNS, where all parties sitting in the parliament are represented, for in-depth discussion. It was for the first time in the recent decades that elected representatives were involved to formulate the foreign policy which was considered an exclusive domain of the armed forces and the intelligence agencies.

Though, different stakeholders, like security institutions, were given a chance to provide input and later they also got an opportunity to discuss it during the meeting of Defence Committee of Cabinet (DCC), they were not essentially the sole arbiter of what

should be included or excluded. If taken to its logical end, as it appears that the government will ensure, we will have a truly home-made recipe for our ailing ties with Washington.

We do not know at this point in details about the final contours of the recommendations but the most important aspect of the new policy is its emphasis on openness and transparency in relations, based on written agreements, contrary to past practices of secret and verbal understandings which the US officials loved to forge with Pakistani dictators. Lack of documented proof about the nature of cooperation in post-9/11 era with the United States created a lot of troubles for Pakistan. In the name of security the government of military ruler Pervez Musharraf allowed the foreign powers to violate the sovereignty of Pakistan, creating serious security issues due to presence of CIA contractors and nobody had a clue as how to control them.

The committee has also reportedly proposed that new revised tariffs should be imposed on the NATO containers carrying supplies for Western troops fighting Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants in Afghanistan. The supplies were suspended after Mohmand incident and the government has refused to reopen the route despite direct and indirect pressure until the new policy is approved by the parliament. The seriousness can be judged from the fact that the government refused to receive AfPak envoy Marc Grossman, saying it was still reviewing the policy towards the US. Earlier, the military leadership showed clear reluctance to meet senior US military official who wanted to visit Pakistan. They even declined to get a briefing from the US side about a probe into the attack.

There are also reports that the new policy has asked for complete cessation of drone attacks as they are considered as the most prominent symbol of violation of na-

tional sovereignty. But this recommendation needs re-evaluation about their efficacy after reports that Taliban chief Hakeemullah might have been killed in one of the two drone attacks carried out in North Waziristan after Pakistan asked US to vacate the Shamsi airstrip, supposedly used to fly drone missions in tribal areas.

There are also unconfirmed reports that one of important AlQaeda leaders was also among those targeted by drones on January 10. Interestingly, no statement against these drone attacks was issued either by the government or the military.

Though, the drone attacks have become an emotive issue, courtesy of a ceaseless campaign by the religious right, believed to be sympathetic to Islamic militants, but the government should consider its impediments to strike at the heart of militants near Afghan border before standing against the strikes. It would be better to work out a formula to use

drones as the last resort to take on militants considered out of reach of our armed forces. Any such attacks should be based on mutual agreements and there should be clarity about the targets and objectives.

Pakistan desires that the future relation with Washington should be based on "mutual respect" and should be conducted in cooperative atmosphere which should be beneficial for both nations. The government may not be able to entirely end the "relationship of a client state" but the re-engagements will not be based on the presumptions of Musharraf era. As Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told CNN in an interview after the attack: “Business as usual will not be there, therefore we have to have something bigger so as to satisfy my nation, the entire country.”

The writer is an Islamabadbased senior journalist working for an international newswire and a PhD scholar at NDU.

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12 Comment Preposterous demands does Mansoor Ijaz deserve it?

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t is highly irksome to continue to comment on the preposterous demands of an ordinary American citizen, declared as such by the US embassy in Pakistan which has declined to provide him any security. For anyone with courage of conviction that he pretends to possess, Ijaz should have been content with the type of security promised by the interior minister.

The issue has highly significant political implications. In case Ijaz’s unreasonable plea is accepted, this would raise several disturbing question. Many will question why no army battalion was detailed to secure the life of Benazir Bhutto, twice Prime Minister of Pakistan? There is need on the part of the tribunal also to ponder over the matter.

Several leaders of the PPP and ANP are on the declared hit list of the militants. The army has never been asked to provide them security, nor has it ever considered offering them the service. Judges sentencing terrorist leaders and bosses of criminal gangs have a stronger case for military protection. Pakistan army doesn’t have enough battalions to look after each and every deserving case.

Once the precedent is set, the courts would find it hard to adjudicate the cases filed by so many genuine applicants in need of special security.

While a TV channel has reported the arrival of Ijaz in Dubai, his counsel has said he has been advised not to come to Pakistan in the absence of proper security and the fear that he might be detained in the country. The Parliamentary Committee on National Security has directed Ijaz to send his statement and present himself before the body. This was quite appropriate because the prestigious committee is also probing the issue of the memo. What is wrong with putting Ijaz on the ECL till he presented himself before the prestigious parliamentary committee?

The Defence Committee of Cabinet is meeting today with the memo case as one of the items on its agenda. It is time the committee looks into the grievous implications of providing the type of guarantees being sought by a foreign citizen with a seedy reputation.

Value-chain issues A lack of structural development policies and practices

By Dr Faisal Bari

P

akistan is the fourth or fifth largest producer of milk in the world. Yet, we import powdered milk and face milk shortages, while we only process a small fraction, some estimates put it as low as four percent or so, of the milk we produce in the country. Should we not have been self-sufficient, if not exporters of milk? Is there a problem somewhere and why are markets and/or governments not able to resolve the problems?

Pakistan produces, according to the billboards on the Motorway, some of the best citrus of the world, and though the world market for orange juice is very large, even for frozen or powdered concentrate, yet we do not figure in any appreciable way in this market. We have some of the best mangoes in the world, and while we export some mangoes, the export is not even near where our potential puts us. We have the perfect land for producing some of the best tomatoes and potatoes that can be, and the demand for both, or derivative products, is very large. But we have not been able to develop these markets either. We have some of the best rice in the world, and we do export quite a bit of rice, but we do not get the price of a brand name or export the volume we could.

There have been a number of large and/or multinational players in the milk market for a fair number of years in Pakistan now. And these players have made efforts to raise milk from certain areas of the country, but the fact remains that despite the efforts of these companies, we still have the bulk of milk production remaining un-processed and milk market, by and large, remains fragmented and local. Milk being unprocessed, perishable and bulky to transport, the market cannot be but local.

Some of the issues in milk sector are clear.

People usually have a few animals each so that milk production is not concentrated and milk collection has to take place over a geographic spread and from many suppliers. This means transportation and storage costs. We need ve-

The right’s wrongs Votes mean something

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n the heyday of Taliban rule in Swat, Sufi Muhammad, the obscurant-in-chief of the TNSM, addressed a large gathering at the Grassy Ground.

He said that the present political system – he did not mean just the political parties but the system of representative democracy itself – was anti-Islamic and was the calling of infidels. This was a little too much, even for the JI. Even though the latter had been, till then, vocal in support of the TNSM, this shot at anyone participating in the democratic process was too big a slur to let slide by. JI Amir Munawwar Hassan, not otherwise known for his sense of humour, quipped that this meant Sufi Muhammad – who had once contested, unsuccessfully, for the berth of a councillor – was a bit of an infidel himself.

It was heartening to know how parties as right wing as the JI accepted their place in the positive framework of the state and considered any swipe at the political class as a whole as an aspersion on their own character.

Any celebration of that seems to have been unfounded if one were present at the Difa-e-Pakistan rally in Rawalpindi the other day. JI Amir Munawwar Hasan talked about how the political process can only bring about some cosmetic changes in the lives of people; that the real deal is a full-on revolution. The Amir, along with several other leaders of the far right, threatened to lay siege to the parliament were the government to reverse its decision on the closure of the Nato supply routes.

Till press-time, this was a democracy and there is no way a non-representative body like the DFC could determine national policy through high-handed armtwisting. Parties like the Jamaat might be able to bring out an impressive rally or two but fall short of getting any representation in parliament. They have to respect that.

Whatever one might make of the 2002 elections, it gave the Jamaat its first share of political power in the staterecognised framework sense. One would have thought that experience would have strengthened the party’s resolve in the political process.

True, democracy also means freedom of speech and the lot at the DFC exercised theirs. But the media, ever ready to pounce on centrist and centre-left parties, should question the anti-people stance of these parties with an equal, if not greater, vigour.

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

Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

hicles in which milk can be collected and kept safely for sometime and we need chillers in rural areas where collections from the area can be kept. These vehicles and chillers need to have basic facilities for checking quality of milk and the people operating them need skills as well.

In some places where milk availability density is high, it is possible for milk companies to either set up their own collection systems and chillers, or they can do longer term contracting with a local person to set up the system for the company (given weak property rights and even weaker enforcement, this option will be problematic in Pakistan) but in areas where collection is thinner, setting up a chiller and collection mechanism, in the hope that better prices will eventually elicit a supply response of more production, requires an initial investment which companies might find difficult to do but have a public good element and the local governments could consider.

There are other issues in the milk market that might require state attention as well. In areas where milk companies are working, they do provide support to farmers on animal husbandry: it is in their interest to do so to ensure a certain quality and quantity of milk. But they would have little or no interest in extending the services to other areas or people who are not dealing with the companies as potential or actual suppliers. Furthermore, some areas, such as availability of proper feed, knowledge on breeding and stock management, and veterinary services, especially inoculation and disease prevention services, require state provision also as there are public good and sunk cost elements here too.

Do these issues explain the relative lack of development of the milk sector in the country? The gains from having a more developed milk sector are clear: in terms of higher incomes for cattle farmers and for the rural population, more jobs in rural areas, higher milk supplies for the entire population, especially the urban dwellers, higher profits for the corporate sector, possible exportable surplus or at least reduction in imports, and higher growth and income for the country overall. If it is issues given above and/or similar issues that are holding the sector back, why have the milk companies, in collaboration with SMEDA and other concerned/responsible bodies not been able to resolve them?

The saddest part is that the basic ingredients and the potential is all there, and all can see it and appreciate it as we keep hearing of the impending ‘white revolution’, but it has not happened for the last many years.

In fruit export, we see similar issues. Fruit exports require cold chains and on-time delivery, they need good quality assurance, grading

and certification mechanisms, and we need to ensure compliance with importing country’s regulations regarding pesticide use and other practices. But all of these have been done, in pockets, by other developing countries too.

Why has it been so hard for us to do it? Similarly, the juice markets have not developed, almost at all. There are many juice producers and retailers in Pakistan but most of them, barring a couple, are small. And even the larger ones, with locally known brand names, have not been able to break into the mainstream export markets. Where are the bottlenecks in this industry? Some years back the Ministry of Industries had undertaken valuechain studies in a number of industries. These studies, if completed, must have identified the bottlenecks. Why has the state/government been unable to address them?

We have talked most of those agri-product areas here which seem to have a lot of untapped potential and about whom we know quite a bit already. In these areas, it is not a question of ‘developing’ comparative advantage as that seems to be already present. But if we still cannot break into export markets in these products, it should be of major concern to the finance and industries ministries at federal as well as provincial levels. And given the state of the economy there should be a sense of urgency in dealing with such issues.

Last, but not least, I do want to mention another topic. But I will come back to it another day. There are some large consortiums that have recently started operating in Pakistan, for buying the crop straight from the farm and eliminating the middleman. The governments need to see that these companies do not rip the farmers of their profits through fine print on legal documents and also that such export be regulated properly in order to calculate local demand, so that shortages do not result.

Large multinationals are also pushing for genetically modified seeds to be used in Pakistan. The industrialised world, especially European Union and Canada, have very stringent rules against GMO crops. Government regulators need to ensure that the foreign consortiums together with local partners do not introduce genetically modified crops, because not only will it be counterproductive for our exports in the long run, they will also compromise the quality of crops grown by sustainable farmers and be ruinous for our environment.

The writer is an Associate Professor of Economics at LUMS (currently on leave) and a Senior Advisor at Open Society Foundation (OSF).

He can be reached at fbari@sorosny.org

Not a meek coach Conidering how he has formulated a winning team

By Ahmed Yusuf

T

actical nous seems to be underrated, or at least not talked about as much, in cricket. Perhaps even more underrated is the ability to man-manage. Tomorrow might be the second last Test Mohsin Hasan Khan will coach Team Misbah in Tests, but for the time he’s spent in the dressing room, Pakistan is grateful to Khan.

Pakistan has traditionally worked well with strong captains, who in turn have advised the board on the selection of the coach. The appointments of Richard Pybus and Geoff Lawson were both made on recommendations of the captains of the time. In practice, good coaches have had to take a backseat to their captains, much like Bob Woolmer and even Waqar Younis had to. In

the case of the former, Inzi developed into an autocrat of sorts. In the latter’s case, one of his captains fell to the spot-fixing saga, another to perceived marginalisation from team selection matters. Consider this: of the four Pakistani players to have ever been found guilty of fixing, two were captains. Their coaches were assumed to be bystanders.

Khan’s greatest ally throughout his tenure as interim coach is his ability to keep up the meek coach routine, though meek is far from what he has been. Khan had run into squabbles with Shahid Afridi and Waqar Younis over selection matters in 2010, while he also painted Misbah-ul-Haq’s installation as captain as a choice made out of necessity since Younis was unavailable to lead Pakistan. Karachi’s cricket association accused him of anti-Karachi bias while Abdul Razzaq spoke of an anti-senior conspiracy, but Khan rode that pressure out. Perhaps it is because of the impermanence of his position, perhaps because of the personal confidence reposed in him by a new board chief that Khan managed to pull the selectors and the captain in the same direction. A record of no lost series has become an outcome borne out of practice, not simply logic or luck.

Assuming that the PCB reinstalls Khan in his role of chief selector – after all, he was interim coach and should still have his old job – there is a larger debate over how much influence a captain and coach have over selection matters. In 2010, before the South Africa series in the UAE, the Pakistan squad was announced without consulting the captain or the coach. At the time, Khan had argued that while he preferred that the captain and coach’s input were sought, nowhere did it state in the PCB constitution that the coach and captain “must have a say in the selection of any squad." Afridi and Waqar had protested the decision, while Misbah had simply been told that about the squad he was supposed to pick a team from.

But along with Misbah, Khan has managed to create a Pakistan that is pragmatically exciting. While Misbah may lap up the plaudits despite his dour style, the core was created by Khan.

Identifying Mohammad Hafeez and Taufiq Umer as a long-term opening partnership in Tests, and subsequently persisting with them, the elevation of Azhar Ali to No 3 and a chance to learn from Younis and Misbah, the axing of Umer Akmal on the pretext of poor temperament, persisting

with Adnan Akmal, and of course the three-spinners strategy have all been decisions taken together with the captain. The underperformers have been sent home and a new hungrier bench has been identified. Letting Misbah choose his own lieutenants (Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal) was a masterstroke too; no captain wants to be a dummy and instead, wants to stamp his own mark on the team.

Once Khan returns to his chief selector post, a liaising link between the incoming coach, captain and selectors will have to be created. While all seems to be set for Whatmore to be named as Pakistan’s next coach, the question is how to go forward without rocking the boat and disturbing this upward trajectory. The Australians, ever on the forefront of coaching and technological innovation, recently handed their captain and coach great license in team selection. Khan’s greatest legacy will be leaving a settled combination and team. Whatmore’s mandate will be to improve on this. Perhaps the Australian solution is a roadmap Pakistan will need to adhere to.

The writer is a Karachi-based journalist. Connect with him on Twitter @ASYusuf

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Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

Where’s your nikahnama?

Maya Khan is not the culprit here. She is a puppet in the hands of the rating-mongers. Stop watching this trash and they’ll stop airing it.

Mighty Obvious

By Syed Hassan Belal Zaidi

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n a sprawling metropolis known to the heathen as Karachi, a new kind of malevolent despot has reared her notso-ugly head. Maya Khan, the host of SAMAA TV’s flagship morning show, has stepped up to the plate and become the most notorious TV personality in recent memory, almost overnight. That her descent into notoriety is swifter even than her erstwhile counterpart, Meher Bukhari’s was, is cause for little concern. What does matter is that the well-endowed lass is now the target of a social media witch-hunt and has invoked the ire of whitecollar bourgeois individuals from Gilgit to Gadani. The delectable damsel, whose only crime so far has been the mobilisation of the Conglomerate Of Concerned Karachiites Bullying Lovers Out of Clifton Karachi’s Enormous Recreational Sites, is now being billed an Antichrist.

But who is Maya Khan? And how can she make otherwise selfrespecting women run full pelt through a public park, under the watchful eyes of several cameras, as if this were a taping of an episode of Baywatch? To answer this question, we may have to go back to the beginning. A time when Nadia Khan, the ‘Happy To You’ queen, ruled the airwaves.

Many pretenders, such as Juggan, Noor, Sana Tariq etc tried to emulate her seemingly-inane formula, but to no avail. For every scantilyclad aerobics instructor and random-segment-host that the others managed to scrape together, Nadia did one better.

This game of one-up(wo)man-

ship continued until the day that Nadia got her ample posterior booted out of the Jeem Group, for godonlyknowswhat. With the queen out of the picture, the pretenders queued up to replace her.

In the battle for morning show supremacy, there was nothing that these women did not try. Live TV weddings, matchmaking, stories of heartbreak, reuniting lost family members and long-lost lovers and even busting the occasional cuckold; it was all a no-holds barred affair. Then, somewhere in the year 2010, Maya Khan Rind, a pleasantly-attired well-meaning lady from the ranks of the landed gentry, took to the airwaves at the ungodly hour that is 8:00am.

While I can proudly say that I’ve never woken up early enough to catch the show itself, I’ve seen more than my fair share of repeat telecasts. It also helped that I was once employed by the same channel that currently retains Maya’s services and was, therefore, intimately involved with the day-today disasters and bloopers that comprised this particular morning blend. And to be honest, I found the show to be rather mundane: she talked about the same old issues that everyone else did. She laughed, cried, wailed, shouted, became infuriated and seemed helpless like all the rest of us. She was, and probably still is, quite human. This was the charm which, in my opinion, lured many a viewer to her show every morning.

Things started to go her way and in the span of a few short months, ‘Subah Saveray Maya Kay Saath’ became the envy of morning shows across the country and everyone wanted a piece of the fair maiden who was serenading the people of Pakistan so sweetly.

Then, one fine day in the year 2011, SAMAA TV ran a news package on couples who go out on dates in public parks. They did not invent the subject, mind you, as reports on public displays of affection in places such as the Mazar-eQuaid in Karachi and the Lawrence Gardens and Model Town Park in Lahore had been urban myths since the beginning of time. But nobody bothered.

Mostly because all producers, TV personalities and their cameramen have, at one time or the other, indulged in what we affectionately call ‘parking’.

However, when this lady, having led a perfectly sheltered life, brought her rightist upper-class sensibilities to the small screen, it was a recipe for disaster. You see, contrary to popular opinion, there is no great oversight on content when it comes to shows of a ‘soft’ nature. Morning shows too, are considered ‘soft’ viewing, therefore, nobody on the top rungs of the corporate ladder pays much attention to their content. As long as the ratings are coming in and the people get what they want, nobody has any problems.

The lady in question, apparently, also did not have any qualms about marketing herself as the siren of SAMAA, dressing up as an Arab dancing girl and riding magic carpets as the tune from ‘Bewitched’ played in the background. Everyone was cashing in on the Maya bandwagon because her formula seemed to work. So when she started going around public parks, asking people for their nikahnamas, you can imagine how surprised people were.

From being the darling of young men and women everywhere (she did run a matchmaking service on her show for some time), she became an evil home-wrecker, out to rob parents and children of their right to privacy and a good time, not to mention a healthy relationship.

Why would any sane individual do such a thing? Maybe because in her mind, she is doing the right thing. Right by her employers, that is.

The truth is, you can report Maya Khan to PEMRA. You could get 100,000 signatures on a petition calling on SAMAA to kick her out. But that would not accomplish anything. Like it or not, Maya Khan is not the culprit here.

She is a puppet in the hands of the rating-mongers. Stop watching this trash and they’ll stop airing it.

Follow @mightyobvious on Twitter for more incoherence in 160 characters or less

Comment 13

The PM’s trial ...and the cost of security

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small lizard fell into my soup last night. As I jumped back the lizard with a huge effort flopped out again, leaving a wriggling tail behind.

The soup was cold anyway without gas to heat it. As it gurgled down the kitchen sink, the electricity went too.

Our stolid prime minister has declared that Pakistan’s gas and electricity shortage problems will end within six months. It is possible he knows something the rest of us don’t, being something of a gaseous anomaly himself. Or maybe he was referring to an ingenious agreement just entered into with neighbouring Afghanistan.

Under the terms of this agreement Pakistan, itself in the throes of a crippling power shortage, is to develop Afghanistan’s water storage and hydroelectric generation systems on the River Kabul. In a stroke of brilliance it is agreed that any surplus power thus generated is to be re-imported into this country.

There is, however, one glitch: according to a report in this newspaper, most of the water in the River Kabul is fed into it by the River Kunhar, which originates funnily enough in sada apna Chitral. We appear therefore to be grabbing our nose by reaching around the head. Water storage on the River Kabul is also likely to cause water shortage in the River Indus, leading to a further drop in Pakistan’s caBy Rabia Ahmed pacity to produce power itself.

This capacity is almost solely reliant on the availability of water which is increasingly scarce as a direct result of the ineptitude and failure of successive governments of Pakistan in providing – you got it – adequate water storage.

Such masterly examples of planning naturally render extrinsic enemy plots quite redundant.

Meantime, this week saw the same stolid and longest self-serving democratically elected prime minister of Pakistan in the courts, on charges of contempt, aided by the inimitable Aitzaz Ahsan.

Jo lawyer bhi hain shaair bhi, dono hi bohat khoob Long March ka maqta laikin Ahsan ko na bhaya The prime minister’s appearance in court seems to have been a carefully orchestrated affair. He was escorted by a large coterie of chanting followers in their cars, speak-

ing evidence of his terrific popularity which excused their blocking all traffic for hours. Also accompanying him were several obligatory hysterical security men, bullet proof vehicles, as well as a gunship helicopter which flew over and around the route and Supreme Court building that whole morning. It was most impressive.

The PM, demurely dressed, appeared driving himself and his barrister in a chaste white car. This further evidence of his being the people’s representative must have brought a tear to many a susceptible eye, especially when he began his statement by quoting the pioneer Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s line: “Dukhaan di mari jindri aleel hai.’’ He went on to assure the court of his undying devotion to the constitution and the law of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

One incongruous detail then: it appears that the license plate on the PM’s car, LRZ 786, once again chosen no doubt with an eye to its devout overtones, did not belong to any car owned by him. It belongs instead to a random citizen, now wandering bemusedly around the streets of Lahore who has no known connection whatsoever to the prime minister or his car. Therein lies a tale, I’m sure, and it is wriggling to be told.

The country and its people now await events following the arrival (or not) of Mr Mansoor Ijaz. Further evidence, if any is required, of our government officials being all on the same page has been provided as ever by the inimitable Mr Rehman Malik who has promised to provide complete security for Mr Ijaz, to the extent of a securing a suite for him on the premises of the Home Ministry. He cannot, however, promise that Mr Ijaz will not be arrested as soon as he sets foot in the country. Was he, maybe, referring to a maximum security cell?

The PM, on the other hand, has said quite firmly that security will not be provided for Mr Ijaz when he visits Pakistan to give evidence in court. It isn’t, he said sternly, as though Mr Ijaz were a viceroy visiting the country. In case anyone failed to understand him he clarified further that security was worth billions, and would therefore not be provided for Mr Ijaz’s person.

Ah, so that must be it then. If security costs billions, that of course is why members of the government down to every tinpot official moves in those perpetual clouds of bullet proof cars, security men, ambulances, and even gunship helicopters, and why the common man of Pakistan, being a citizen of such a poor country, lacks it so utterly.

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Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

Worst films to be ‘honoured’ by

in limelight

Razzie awards

on April Fools’ Day

LOS ANgELES

T

BBC

HE Razzies, which honour the year’s worst films, are to be given out on 1 April, organisers have announced.

The spoof prizes, formally known as The Golden Raspberrys, have traditionally been awarded the day before the Oscars.

Nominations will be announced on ‘Oscar Eve’-25 February-with the main awards handed out April Fools’ Day. Organisers said moving the awards would allow its voting members more time “to see the drek they will eventually nominate”. In a statement, they said: “John Wilson and Mo Murphy, co-owners of the Razzies, saw a unique opportunity to do something they’ve wanted to do since their awards were created in 1980: emphasise (its) comedic intent by unveiling the “winners” of Tinsel Town’s Tackiest Trophy on April Fools’ Day.” It added the new schedule

MUMBAI: Sonam Kapoor gestures during an event for the ‘Hello! Classic Race’. AfP

would also allow for more input from the moviegoing public before the contenders are determined. Organisers suggested Adam Sandler could top the list of nominees at this year’s awards for his roles in ‘Just Go With It’, ‘Bucky Larson’ and ‘Jack and Jill’. He could also be a frontrun-

ner in the worst actress category for playing Jill in the latter film. M Night Shyamalan’s ‘The Last Airbender’ won the most prizes at last year’s awards with five including worst director. Ashton Kutcher was named worst actor for Valentine’s Day while his co-star Jessica Alba won worst supporting actress.

MUMBAI: US actress and singer Amy Johnson poses with Pratiek Babbar during a photo shoot for their forthcoming film ‘ek deewana Tha’. AfP SÃo PAUlo: Ashton Kutcher attends the 2012 Winter collection fashion show of Colcci during the Sao Paulo Fashion Week. AfP

Meera ka vivah, for real The scandal queen of Pakistan, Meera will tie the knot with a Pakistani-American pilot Naveed Parvez on 19 February.

Meera is hoping to get second time lucky with Parvez after facing a long run controversy involving her ex-husband Atiq-ur-Rehman and then smashing the hearts of 13 contestants of ‘Kaun Banega Meera Pati’. Parvez is an airline pilot. The wedding ceremony will take place in Lahore where Meera will invite some of her close friends both from Pakistan and India. Meera and Parvez have been friends for three years but have now decided to get hitched. Meera says she will continue her acting career after her marriage. NEWS DESK

PARIS: A model presents a creation by Swedish fashion label Acne as part of his Fall/Winter 2012-2013 Men’s ready-to-wear collection. AfP

Ranbir turns stuntman for

‘Barfee’

SÃo PAUlo: Models present designer creations during the Sao Paulo Fashion Week. AfP

Katrina-Ali to cut an NEWS DESK: Ali zafar’s dream has finally come true. It looks like Ali zafar is having a great time in Bollywood. last year he had a big role in the Imran-Katrina starrer ‘Mere Brother Ki dulhan’. He also worked with david dhawan in Chashme Buddoor. Now, the Pakistani actor-singer has another feather in his cap – he is all set to work on an album with Katrina Kaif. Ali and Katrina hit it off well on the sets of ‘Mere Brother Ki dulhan’ and rumours were rife that he had requested her to collaborate with him on an

album

album. Now it seems his dreams are finally coming true. Sources say Ali has already composed the songs that he wants to do with Kaif. She too has approved them and all that's needed is for her to record the numbers. Ali had wanted Kaif to be part of the composing process, but their schedules didn't allow it. Katrina, when approached didn’t comment on her new venture while Ali cleverly put the onus on Kat to clarify it.

Well, whenever the album is out, we can say it will be a sure-fire hit!

loNdoN: Simon Cowell is reportedly visiting an addiction clinic to help beat his 15-plus a day cigarette habit. It has been revealed that the 52-year-old music mogul, who has admitted he started smoking at age eight, is seeking help at the top london facility after friends and family begged him to stop smoking.

According to The People, he has a family history of lung cancer. “Simon made it his New year resolution,” the daily Mail quoted a source as telling the publication. “He's been smoking since a very young age and feels the time is now right to try and stop. He has no major health issues at the moment but, as always, he is under a lot of pressure with his work schedule. Simon's mother and some of his closest friends have been nagging him for some time about trying to stop smoking. His grandfather Robert was a heavy smoker who died of lung cancer. His father suffered a heart attack. It's made Simon think long and hard about his own health now,” the source said. The TV magnate, who is busy with 'Britain's Got Talent' auditions is often pictured aboard his yacht, lazing in the sun with a cigarette in his mouth.

“Simon is a very healthy guy who looks after himself diet-wise very well,” Cowell's spokesman Max Clifford said.

“But he has made a New year's resolution to give up, or at least significantly cut back, on his smoking,” he added. AGENCIES

ISB 24-01-2012_Layout 1 1/24/2012 7:41 AM Page 15

15 UTAH: Richard Gere speaks to media during the ‘Arbitrage’ Premiere during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. AfP

leBANoN: Mr lebanon 2012 Rodolphe Abu Nader poses with his trophy after winning the beauty contest. AfP

Veena Malik’s horror film

to release in May V

NEWS DESK

EENA MALIK, who has been making headlines over the last few months, is now all set to star in a 3D horror film, ‘Mumbai 125 KM’. It’s being directed by Hemant Madhukar who has to his credit last year’s superhit Telugu movie, Vastadu Naa Raju. The film is expected this May. “After a smashing hit, many questioned my decision to make a Hindi 3D movie. But I haven’t forgotten Chota Chetan (1998) that I watched as a kid,” says Madhukar, who two years ago had directed another ghost story, ‘A Flat’ (2010) which proved to be a BO debacle. ‘Mumbai 125 KM’ revolves around five friends who are stranded on a highway one dark night. The director refuses to divulge any details beyond this. All he promises is that it wil be a

“treat” for the audience. The film also stars Vedita Pratap Singh and Karanveer Bohra, but Veena is undoubtedly the star. Isn’t Madhukar taking a risk by casting the errant actor in his chiller-thriller? The director admits that when even though Veena fit the role to the T, he was hesitant about signing her. “But she promised me that she would give the challenging role her best shot. And after working with her, I’ve realised that she’s a dedicated actor. I’m sure people’s opinion of her will change after my film releases,’ he says. It was recently reported that Veena was having problems with Indian immigration officials, who had refused to process her visa following numerous controversies. Madhukar is not worried: “When I last spoke to her she said that she was returning to India in the first week of February. I am confident she will keep her promise.”

Toni&Guy showcase their styling prowess in grammathon 2012 NEWS DESK Toni&Guy were excited and proud to participate in Grammathon 2012 held at LGS 1-A1 on the 14th January.

Grammathon was organised as a fashion show with students presenting their original creations and modelling them in front of a panel of expert judges. The event was billed as a light hearted and fun event for students to showcase their creativity and enjoy an evening without schoolwork in these difficult times. Toni&Guy’s style director Juju Haider, was part of the judging panel for the fashion show. Grammathon brought together over 50 participants from 47 different schools, organised into private teams and school teams.

Other judges on the panel included model and style icon Sabina Pasha, dynamic designer duo Nickie and Nina and well known fashion photographer Rizwan (DeeVees).

Toni&Guy gave free makeovers to the winners of the best female and male models and also styled the host school’s

fashion show participants.

Under the guidance of owner and creative director Shammal Qureshi, Toni&Guy demonstrated their innovative techniques and creative styles. LGS 1-A-1 opened the 5 day event and had Alyzeh Gabol as their show stopper. Designer Hassan Shehryar Yasin also held a fashion seminar and the fashion show ended with a concert

by Pakistani band Noori.

All eyes on Kareena’s film with a new Khan;

‘Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu’ MUMBAI AGENCIES

The trailer of this year’s valentine release, ‘Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu’ has been creating quite a buzz as Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor appear together on screen for the first time.

After recently winning an award for being the most profitable actor, Bebo feels a lot of responsibility on her shoulders for this Karan Johar production. Whether it’s Amir, Salman or SRK; name her jori with any Khan and Kareena has generated revenues over at least Rs.100 crore. (Not to forget her real life hero is also a Khan). Now that the actor is currently juggling the on-going promotions for the Imran Khan-starrer ‘Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu’ and is working on the postproduction of Aamir Khan’s ‘Talaash’, she has two fold responsibility of living up to the Khan-jori -success reputation. Says Kareena, “They both are adorable as co-stars.

It’s a pleasure working with them. I have already worked with Aamir in ‘3 Idiots’ (2009).

Shah Rukh and Ajay:

Simon Cowell starts addiction

treatment

Clash of titans?

MuMBAI: The sizzling on-screen chemistry between his wife and Shah Rukh Khan has held viewers in awe for many years now.

But there’s no love lost between Ajay devgn and Shah Rukh Khan. The cold war between the two is almost on its way to becoming a full-fledged war. The clash between the two biggies of Bollywood has been in the air for quite some time.

Rumours, they say, have some truth in them. This one, apparently, has a bit more.

Ajay devgn has preponed his own home production, ‘Son of Sardar’ in order to take on Shah Rukh’s yash Chopra film slated to release this diwali. Rumours abound that devgn is not happy about the release of ‘Tezz’, originally scheduled for december last year, being pushed to April this year, to avoid clashing with King Khan’s release.

Apart from ‘Tezz’, Ajay’s film has had to accommodate Hrithik’s and Saif’s releases as well. And now he is wary of meandering around and believes that his film being moved around too many times is sending wrong signals in the industry. Ajay has finally decided that he doesn’t want to

NEWS DESK

be labelled as the one whose films are tweaked to adjust to the convenience of others. So will there actually be a ‘Clash of Titans’ in film industry? or will we have to settle down with something way more innocuous? Time, as they say, will reveal all! ZEENEWS

I love both of them equally.”

The film looks like an adaptation of Hollywood movie ‘What Happens In Vegas’ where the couple gets drunk and marries under the effect of alcohol. But Karan Johar has insisted it's an original script. Still audience are looking forward to seeing the film in cinemas on 10th of Februaury as the trailer starts with the couple in an attorney office, getting a divorce, not a very usual Bollywood rom-com beginning. This film is being distributed in Pakistan

by IMGC Global. Encyclomedia PR is running it’s publicity campaign for Pakistan.

Mallika Sherawat

Vidya Balan MUMBAI: Actress Mallika Sherawat has beaten Vidya Balan to the finish line of the ‘Sexiest Vegetarian Female’ poll conducted by PETA. The announcement has come as quite a shock as all hopes were pinned on Vidya Balan - especially after her ‘The Dirty Picture’ act - to win the coveted title. However, the representatives of PETA insist that the verdict is solely based on the votes collected. Vidya Balan is known to have re-defined ‘sexy’ and ‘hot’ after her popular ‘dirty act’. But we guess people had their reasons to vote for the oomphy Mallika Sherawat. Dhanush successfully bagged the Sexiest Vegetarian Male award, a tag previously enjoyed by Shahid Kapoor.

His ‘Kolaveri Di’ number took the world by storm. However, the simple Dhanush says: “I’m anything but sexy. But if people think I am, I don't know what to say.” AGENCIES

Kesa which is Lala Textile’s new summer collection brand will be launched on Tuesday the 24th January. Kesa is inspired by the richness of Japanese culture and its name is derived from the Japanese word for Buddhist monk’s prayer robes. The designs reflect Japanese subtleties and design aesthetics. Kesa combines the intricacies of art and design while retaining the best in fabric and embellishment, while representing Islamic and Oriental art designs in floral and geometric patterns in a variety of colours accentuated by embellishments, panels and embroideries. Currently the label is available nationwide at all stores.

Heidi Klum and Seal

call it quits LOS ANgELES ABC

“One day you’re in, the next day you’re out.” Heidi Klum’s catchphrase on her hit reality competition show ‘Project Runway’ may now have sad implications to her love life, as it has been confirmed that she is splitting with her husband, pop star Seal. The news that the power couple’s nearly seven year marriage is officially over was confirmed in a statement first released to People magazine. “While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate,” the couple said in the statement. Together the couple has two sons, Henry, 6, and Johan, 5 and one daughter Lou, 2. One insider said one of the issues the couple was facing was that distance was really tearing them apart, they both have very busy careers. The couple has so far released only a few details on their split, merely stating, “We have had the deepest respect for one another... but we have grown apart.”

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16 Foreign News

Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

British woman claims new Antarctic solo record

LONDON AFP

A British explorer, Felicity Aston, claims to have become the first woman to cross Antarctica on her own, after skiing more than 1,700 kilometres across the ice in 59 days. The 33-year-old’s arrival was announced with a Twitter message saying: !!!Felicity has reached her destination - Hercules Inlet - after 59 days !!!Congratulations to the 1st female to traverse Antarctica SOLO. V proud.”

Several hours later, she tweeted: “Sitting in my tent in the middle of Hercules Inlet waiting for a plane to come and pick me up. I’ve been promised red wine and a hot shower.” Aston, from Kent in south-east England, began her trek on November 25 at the Ross Ice Shelf and, after a stop-off at the South Pole, finally reached Hercules Inlet on the Ronne Ice Shelf on January 22 — a distance of 1,744 km. She battled freezing temperatures and winds to make the trip, dragging two sledges containing her food and equipment behind her as she skiied up hills and towards endless empty horizons. In an emotional message recorded shortly before her arrival, she said: “It feels amazing to be finished but yet overwhelmingly sad that it’s over at the same time. “I can’t quite believe that I’m here, and that I’ve crossed Antarctica.”

Saudi female driver defies ban, has fatal accident JEDDAH AFP

A Saudi woman who defied a driving ban in the kingdom was injured and her companion killed when their car overturned in the northern Hael province, a police spokesman said on Monday. “One woman was immediately killed and her companion who was driving the car was hospitalised after she suffered several injuries” when their four-wheel-drive vehicle overturned late on Saturday, said police spokesman Abdulaziz al-Zunaidi.

Ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where women are not allowed to drive. However, they get behind the wheel in desert regions away from the capital. There have been several incidents reported in recent years of women being killed in accidents while driving despite the ban, one of a host of restrictions imposed on women in the kingdom. In November 2010, a Saudi who defied the driving ban was killed along with three of her 10 female passengers when her car overturned in a crash. A group of activists launched an Internet campaign last year urging Saudi women to defy the ban on driving. The icon of the campaign, Manal al-Sherif, a 32-year-old computer security consultant, was arrested on May 22 and detained for 10 days after posting on YouTube a video of herself driving her car around the eastern city of Khobar. Since then, women regularly get behind the wheels of their cars, according to the activists.

SHANGHAI: Thousands of people visit a lantern festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Dragon on Monday. AfP

Nigeria’s Kano prays for peace after deadly attacks KANO

N

AFP

IGERIAN officials and clerics said peace prayers in Kano Monday after a wave of bomb-and-gun attacks claimed by Islamists left more than 160 dead and raised fresh fears of civil unrest. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, facing his worst crisis since winning April polls amid a surge in attacks by Islamist sect Boko Haram and mounting social discontent, vowed to beef up security.

Several bombs were set off and gun battles raged in coordinated attacks that were launched after Friday prayers in Nigeria’s second largest city and lasted several hours. Jonathan, after visiting the city on Sunday, said that some suspects had been arrested and that his government would track down the masterminds.

“We will strengthen the security in Kano and other parts of the country,” he said, vowing to track down Boko Haram’s sponsors. As the ancient holy Muslim city of about 4.5 million people still reeled from one of Boko Haram’s

bloodiest attacks, some 200 Muslim clerics and political leaders gathered for special peace prayers. “I will pray to God that we should never re-live the catastrophe that resulted in the deaths and maiming in our city,” Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso said.

The emir Ado Bayero told the clerics: “I enjoin you to continue praying for peace and stability in our city. I call upon you to use any religious fora to pray for peace in our land.” A purported spokesman for Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying it was in response to a refusal by the authorities to release its members from custody. Some detainees being held at a police station in the city were thought to have been freed during the attacks which targeted mainly police buildings. Senate president David Mark said he and the speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal, had ignored security to travel to Kano. “We want to ensure that a few misguided Nigerians who have been led into this action don’t take this country hostage... it is not about religion, this affects the entire nation,” he told the state governor and his officials.

Jonathan is battling the worst crisis of

his nine-month tenure as the violence has raised fears of an all-out civil war in Africa’s most populous nation and top oil producer.

He has said some of the Boko Haram members have infiltrated government — from the security agencies to the legislature and the executive arm of government. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo however tried to downplay the crisis. “Even though it is a big challenge to the Nigerian people and its government, it is not one that... shakes Nigeria to its foundation,” Obasanjo said in Banjul late Sunday after meeting Gambian President Yahya Jammeh. Jonathan imposed emergency rule in parts of Nigeria’s north on December 31 after a wave of violence blamed on Boko Haram, including attacks on churches on Christmas Day. But Kano, which had escaped the worst of the violence in recent months, was not among the areas covered. Relief workers said the overall death toll was at least 166 but a doctor at a major hospital said the toll could soar to 250. Around 50 people were gathered outside a main hospital morgue awaiting to collect remains of loved ones for burial on Monday.

Unilateral sanctions on Iran ‘do not help’, says Russia MOSCOW AFP

Russia said Monday it viewed the European Union’s oil embargo on Iran as counterproductive and would continue to defend Tehran against further sanctions over its nuclear programme. “Unilateral sanctions do not help matters,” Russian news agencies quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying in response to the EU decision. “We will restrain everyone from making harsh moves.

We will seek the resumption of negotiations.”

Lavrov added he was confident that talks between Iran and the Western powers could be resumed soon. “Moscow believes that there are fairly firm prospects for the resumption of talks in the immediate future,” he said. “These opportunities exist despite an entire series of recent steps, including those taken by the IAEA director general.” Russia has been fiercely critical of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog for issuing a report in November claiming it had “credible” intelligence showing Tehran’s interest in acquiring nuclear weapons. Lavrov has argued that the report contained nothing new and insisted that any sanctions beyond the four rounds approved already by the UN Security Council only threatened to harm the Iranian people. “Since we have already adopted collective sanctions in the UN Security Council, everyone should be keeping to that line, adding nothing and taking nothing away from the common position,” Lavrov said.

Yemen president en route to US, foes remain wary SANAA AFP

President Ali Abdullah Saleh was en route to the United States for medical treatment, Yemen’s state news agency said on Monday, after delivering a dramatic farewell speech that left his opponents wary.

The announcement came a day after Saleh in a televised address apparently marking the end of his rule appealed for forgiveness from the Yemeni people for “any shortcomings” during his 33 years in power. “The

president ... is on his way to the United States to continue what is left of his medical treatment” for wounds sustained in a June bomb attack on his compound, SABA news agency said on its website. The US State Department said on Sunday that Washington approved a visit by Saleh for medical treatment but stressed it was on the understanding that he would stay only for a “limited time.”

Saleh left late on Sunday for Oman with his five youngest children and his wife, according to a source close to the now “honorary president” of Yemen for

the next month. In his speech, Saleh said he would return to Yemen but not as president, signalling the veteran leader aims to implement a Gulfbrokered transition plan which calls for his ouster. “I will go to the United States for treatment and will then return as head of the GPC,” he said referring to his General People’s Congress party. After the election, “our brother Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi (the vice president) will move into the presidential residence and Ali Abdullah Saleh will pack up his bag, bid farewell, and go home,” he said implying that his

role as president has come to an end.

However, the thousands of protesters who have been camped out at Sanaa’s Change Square, the epicentre of a pro-democracy movement calling for Saleh’s ouster over the past 12 months, cautioned it was too early to celebrate. “We are still concerned that this latest move might be one of Saleh’s games ... We will stay in the square until election day on February 21,” said Walid Ammar, a youth leader, remaining sceptical.

“That is the day that Yemen’s future will be decided,” he said.

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Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

Foreign News 17

Islamists take centre stage in Egypt parliament CAIRO

I

AFP

SLAMIST MPs took centre stage on Monday as Egypt’s parliament met for the first time since a popular uprising ousted Hosni Mubarak, while their supporters massed outside to cheer the historic event.

A year after the uprising, many Egyptians see the new parliament as the first sign of democratic rule, in sharp contrast to the previous legislature dominated by Mubarak’s party. Egypt’s first free parliamentary elections, which were held in phases between November and early January, saw Islamists clinch nearly threequarters of the seats. Outside the People’s

Assembly, hundreds of Islamist supporters had greeted the MPs as they entered the parliament, in scenes unimaginable just a year ago when most Islamist movements were banned.

And in their first act, the deputies in the lower house began voting for a speaker, with leading Muslim Brotherhood member Saad al-Katatni expected to win. But the exact role of parliament remains unclear, with power remaining in the hands of the generals who took power from former president Mubarak. “How can we read this oath when we don’t even know if we will be a presidential system or a parliamentary system?” one MP asked during the swearing in. Later, protesters set off for parliament from across Cairo to press deputies

to implement the goals of the revolution, including an end to military trials of civilians, social justice and the trial of officials found guilty of abuse.

They were to join hundreds who were already chanting outside the parliament against the ruling military council and its chief Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who served as Mubarak’s defence minister for two decades. The military has come under intense criticism in recent months for rights abuses and stifling dissent. Activists accuse the generals of seeking to maintain political control despite assurances by the army that it will cede power to civilian rule when a president is elected in June. The packed and sometimes chaotic first session was chaired by parliament’s most senior member, Mah-

mud al-Saqqa of the liberal Wafd party. The deputies were sworn in one by one, pledging to “preserve the safety of the nation and the interests of people and to respect the constitution and the law.” In a sign of the Islamists’ increasing assertiveness, one ultra-conservative Islamist MP insisted on adding a religious reference to the oath. When lawyer Mamduh Ismail took the microphone vowing to also “abide by the law of God,” he was sharply rebuked by the chair, Saqqa.

“Please stick to the text,” an angry Saqqa urged Ismail, asking him to repeat the oath several times. “Mr Ismail, my friend, please stand up and read the oath, and stick to the text.” Others tried to add “to protect the goals of the revolution” to the oath and received a similar rebuke, during

the animated first session which saw several deputies don yellow sashes calling for “an end to military trials of civilians.” The longbanned Muslim Brotherhood won a crushing victory with 47.18 percent through its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party. The ultra-conservative Salafist AlNur party came second with 24.29 percent, with the liberal Wafd party finishing a distant third. The liberal Egyptian Bloc — which includes the Free Egyptians party of telecom magnate Naguib Sawiris who faces trial on allegations of insulting Islam — came fourth with around seven percent. The 508-member assembly was dissolved in February by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces that took power when Mubarak was forced to step down.

Syria rejects Arab league call for power change DAMASCUS AFP

Syria on Monday rejected an Arab League plan for President Bashar al-Assad to transfer power to his deputy and clear the way for a national unity government, as the EU slapped new sanctions on Damascus.

“Syria rejects the decisions taken which are outside an Arab working plan, and considers them an attack on its national sovereignty and a flagrant interference in internal affairs,” an official said on state television. The Arab League on Sunday asked the United Nations to support a new plan for ending the bloodshed in unrestswept Syria that would see Assad transferring power to his deputy and a government of national unity formed within two months. The plan was detailed in a statement read out by Qatar’s premier, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani, at the end of a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo to determine the fate of their observer mission in Syria. “If this initiative is not put in place (by Damascus), we will go to the (UN) Security Council, where the decisions will be taken,” Sheikh Hamad warned. Deployed since December 26 to oversee an Arab League peace plan, the observer mission has been widely criticised for its failure to stem the government’s bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests. Saudi Arabia said at the Cairo talks that Riyadh was pulling out its observers from the mission because the Syrian government had “not respected any of the clauses” of an Arab peace plan. The League agreed, however, to extend the mission and boost the force from its current number of about 165 observers on the ground, according to the final statement of Arab foreign ministers. On Monday, EU foreign ministers voiced support for the Arab monitors and adopted more sanctions against Syria’s military brass, adding security officials on a new list of people and firms hit by a travel ban and asset freeze. “We call again for the violence to stop, for the (Arab League) monitors to be able to do their job unheeded,” said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, whose bloc is already enforcing an arms embargo and oil imports ban on Syria.

eU adopts new sanctions on Syria’s top brass BRUSSELS AFP

The European Union adopted fresh sanctions against Syria’s military brass on Monday, adding more security officials on a growing list of people and firms hit by a travel ban and asset freeze. EU foreign ministers, who renewed their call for President Bashar al-Assad to step down, targeted 22 people and eight companies in this 11th round of EU sanctions to protest the ongoing repression in Syria. “Today’s decision will put further pressure on those who are responsible for the unacceptable violence and repression in Syria,” said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. “The message from the European Union is clear: the crackdown must stop immediately. We will continue to do all we can to help the Syrian people achieve their legitimate political rights,” she said.

CAIRO: Saad al-Katatni, secretary general of Egypt's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), gestures after being nominated by the FJP for the post of the parliament speaker during the newly elected parliament's first session in Cairo on Monday. AfP

france calls for calm ahead of genocide law vote PARIS AFP

France appealed for calm after a furious Turkey threatened “permanent” sanctions if French senators pass a bill later on Monday to outlaw denial of the Armenian genocide.

The French lower house drew a first wave of Turkish ire last month, when it approved the bill which threatens with jail anyone in France who denies that the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turk forces amounted to genocide. Ankara froze political and military ties with France and has promised further measures if the bill is passed by the Senate or is approved by President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose right-wing UMP party put forward the bill.

“We appeal for calm,” said French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero. “Turkey is a very important partner and ally of France,” he said, with senators due to vote on the diplomatically fraught bill later Monday.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who cancelled talks with European Union foreign ministers in Brussels on Iran’s nuclear drive to deal with the crisis, said that Ankara had already prepared its response.

“We have previously determined the steps to be taken if the bill is finally adopted. No one should doubt it,” state-run Anatolia news agency quoted Davutoglu as saying.

Davutoglu said on Saturday that the law would result in “permanent sanctions” arguining that it goes against European values and would not help Turkish-Armenian relations.

Trade between France and Turkey was worth 12 billion euros (15.5 billion dollars) in 2010, with several hundred French businesses operating there. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused France of hypocrisy and Sarkozy of pandering to the vote of France’s estimated 400,000 voters of Armenian origin three months ahead of a tough reelection battle.

“I hope the Senate will not make France a country contradicting its own values,” Erdogan said. “This is a debate which is entirely against the freedom of thought. This is merely a step taken for the upcoming elections.” Around 15,000 Turks from France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg rallied peacefully on the streets of Paris on Saturday to protest the law. Turks and Armenians began gathering to stage demonstra-

tions outside the Senate ahead of the debate, set for Monday afternoon, with police keeping them some distance apart. In a bid to defuse the crisis, Sarkozy sent a conciliatory letter to Erdogan, released by the French embassy in Ankara on Friday.

“I hope we can make reason prevail and maintain our dialogue, as befits allied and friendly countries,” Sarkozy wrote, adding that the measure “is in no way aimed at any state or people in particular.” But the bill has not won universal support in the government, where some ministers fear it will hurt diplomatic and trade ties with a NATO ally and major economic partner. Even Sarkozy’s Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has admitted the bill is “untimely.” A Senate Laws Commission on Wednesday rejected the bill, but their vote is not expected to prevent it from becoming law.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in 1915 and 1916 by the forces of Turkey’s former Ottoman Empire. Turkey disputes the figure, arguing that only 500,000 died, and denies this was genocide, ascribing the toll to fighting and starvation during World War I and accusing the Armenians of siding with Russian invaders.

ICC denies deal for Gaddafi son to be tried in Libya THE HAgUE AFP

The International Criminal Court denied Monday that it had agreed that Seif al-Islam, slain Libyan dictator Moamer Gaddafi’s most prominent son, can be tried in Libya. “The ICC has made no decision on this matter,” court spokesman Fadi el-Abdallah told AFP in response to a claim by Libya’s Justice Minister Ali H’mida Ashur that Seif would be judged by a Libyan court. The ICC said earlier in a Twitter message that it had received a reply from the Libyan authorities to questions asked by its judges by a Monday deadline. “The ICC has accepted that Seif al-Islam will be tried in Libya by the Libyan judiciary,” Ashur told AFP. “The trial will take place in Libya. The Libyan justice is competent and we gave the file (on Seif) to the ICC on Friday,” Ashur added. Seif, 39, who was arrested on November 19, is in the custody of the military council of Zintan, a town 180 kilometres (110 miles), southwest of Tripoli. He is wanted by the ICC on charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the conflict in Libya. Libya’s National Transitional Council had already told the ICC in a letter published on November 24 that Tripoli wanted to try him.

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Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

Sharapova battles through after lisicki scare Page 21

Ajmal very hard to track, says Adnan ABU DHABI

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AFP

AKISTAN'S young wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal on Monday admitted England's destroyer Saeed Ajmal was difficult to judge from behind the wicket and he needed extra workouts to be successful. Ajmal took a career best 7-55 in the first innings and then 3-42 in the second to help Pakistan rout England by ten wickets in the first Test in Dubai, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

But despite the difficulty the 26-year-old Adnan finished with seven catches in the match and his valuable knock of 61 helped Pakistan gain an important 146-run lead in the first innings. Adnan, who replaced his more experienced elder brother Kamran Akmal in Pakistan line-up in 2010, said Ajmal was difficult to keep wickets on. "I had some trouble keeping on Ajmal's doosra (the second one)," Adnan, refering to Ajmal's delivery which turns the other way than the normal off-break, said ahead of the second Test which starts here from Wednesday.

"I worked with Ijaz Ahmed (fielding coach) and the work out and the drills helped me a lot. That came as a great benefit for me and helped me in the match," said Adnan, 26. "It's a bit different and difficult to keep off Ajmal. You know how to

ABU dHABI: Adnan Akmal (l) warms up as team coach Mohsin Khan (C) looks on during a practice session at the Sheikh zayed Stadium. AfP

dilshan quits as Cook aims for special 100th with partner Strauss Sri lanka skipper ABU DHABI AFP

COLOMBO

Alastair Cook is hoping he and opening partner Andrew Strauss will provide England with a good platform when they walk for a 100th time together in the second Test against Pakistan starting here from Wednesday. Cook and Strauss will become the fourth opening pair to complete 100 or more innings together in all Tests -- behind West Indian Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, Sri Lanka's Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya and Australia's Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer.

But Cook and Strauss face a huge challenge from Pakistan bowlers who restricted them to stands of ten and six during their ten wicket annihilation in the first Test in Dubai last week. Pakistan lead the three-Test series 1-0.

Strauss fell to off-spinner Saeed Ajmal for 19 and Cook was dismissed by Mohammad Hafeez for three in the first innings while paceman Umar Gul accounted for Eng-

land openers in the second innings.

Strauss made six and Cook five.

Cook said openers failed to provide the kind of begining the pair are used to giving in the past.

"It's a great thing to work now, I didn't know that it's our 100th time," Cook said on Monday as England prepare to avoid their first series defeat since going down 1-0 to the West Indies in the Caribbean in 2009. "He's got a great record and proved that over a number of years, it's our job with top of the order to lay out the platform, we didn't do that in Dubai and that's why we didn't get good totals," said Cook of England's low scores of 192 and 160. "It's always nice to our stability with Strauss at the top of order. We have had some great moments. We are pretty similar in character and we do enjoy batting together and hopefully on the 100th time we will do something special," said Cook. Cook, who hit a century in England's two wins in their leadup games to the series, blamed poor shot selection by the batsmen.

keep wickets on the off-spin that it will come in and one that goes out, so its difficult. Every time I keep wickets I watch his hand and have practised a lot," said Adnan.

Adnan denied he has set any signals with Ajmal on which delivery will come next. "It's only after a lot of practice that I am doing better on his bowling. I have set no signals because if you set signals then it's no use being keeper," said Adnan.

Adnan, who made his debut against South Africa in 2010, said batting is his plus point.

"My effort is always to give my best for Pakistan, for my team so every time I want to give benefit to the team. I enjoy keeping but batting is my plus point," said Adnan.

When asked about Ajmal's mystery delivery -- teesra (the third one) -- which the spinner had claimed to unveil against England -- Adnan said he had found no different delivery. "I never felt any difference, they were normal deliveries like I have been keeping on in the last ten twelve matches, he was bowling in the same manner. It may be different for the batsmen but I did not feel any difference," said Adnan.

Adnan said Ajmal's outstanding bowling forced England's batsmen into submission. "I think we bowled very well, they are better batsmen than us. I don't know what happened. It was Allah's blessings and that's why we won the match. Ajmal was outstanding in the match."

Talha out of england series ABU DHABI AFP

ABU dHABI: Alastair Cook plays a shot during a practice session at the Sheikh zayed Stadium. AfP

Pakistan's fast rising paceman Mohammad Talha was Monday ruled out of the remaining two Tests against England after developing spinal disc problems. The 23year-old, who did not feature in Pakistan's ten wicket win in the first Test in Dubai last week, will return home once his pain subsides. "Talha developed back problems and in the MRI scan it was revealed that he has a disc problem and when his pain subsides in the next two three days he will return home," team manager Naveed Cheema told AFP. Cheema said Talha needed ten to twelve days rest. Pakistan, who play the second Test here from Wednesday, require no replacement, Cheema said. Talha took four wickets in the warm-up match against England as part of the Pakistan Cricket Board xI. England won that three-day game by 100 runs.

Talha has played one Test, against Sri Lanka in Karachi in 2009 and is regarded as one of the future prospects for Pakistan.

AFP

Tillakaratne Dilshan resigned Monday as the Sri Lankan cricket captain in all three forms of the game, following the team's disastrous tour of South Africa, officials said.

Sri Lanka lost both the Test and one-day series in South Africa. Dilshan, 35, took up the captaincy on a series-to-series basis after Kumar Sangakkara stepped down after Sri Lanka's defeat in the 2011 World Cup final against India. "Dilshan has resigned as captain in all three formats of the game," Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said, without naming a successor. Under Dilshan, Sri Lanka lost Test and one-day series against England, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa."Members of the executive committee take this opportunity to thank Dilshan for his commitment and dedication during his tenure as the national captain," the board said. "We also wish him well as he continues to represent Sri Lanka as a national player." While Dilshan's own batting form suffered during his reign, he led the team to a historic Test win in Durban this year, Sri Lanka's first on South African soil. There was no immediate comment from Dilshan, who has so far scored 4,662 runs in Tests and 5,896 runs in one-day internationals. Local media have speculated that former captain Mahela Jayawardene could be Dilshan's replacement.

Spinner Lyon replaces Starc in Australia team ADELAIDE AFP

Australia will play spinner Nathan Lyon instead of paceman Mitchell Starc in this week's fourth and final Test against India, captain Michael Clarke said on Monday.

Clarke said Lyon's inclusion for the Adelaide match would give Australia an improved chance of sweeping the series 4-0 against India, who suffered heavy losses in the opening three Tests. "We think that is the best xI to give us every chance to win this Test match," Clarke said ahead of Tuesday's match. "I think the experience of the other three quicks will play a big part in these conditions. "The wicket looks really good and I think reverse swing is going to play a huge part in this Test match."

Clarke said the ease of Australia's quick-fire victories inside the scheduled five days had reduced the workload on his bowlers and he had no intention of resting leading pacemen Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus. "I have said from the start that we want to win every Test match that we play and this series is no different," Clarke said. "Winning the last two Test

matches in less than five days has helped everyone recover as well so all the guys are fighting fit and ready to go."

Lyon, who was left out of the team for the third Test in Perth, has had minimal impact in the series to date, taking 2-180 off 50.5 overs in his two matches. It will be Lyon's 10th Test and first at his home ground, where he is a former groundsman. Australia's bowlers ran through India's big-name batting line-up twice inside three days in Perth and Clarke is expecting a flat batting wicket in Adelaide with the match likely to run its full five days.

India have only won once in nine Tests at Adelaide Oval.

The match in the 2007-08 series between the two sides was a highscoring affair, with India racking up 526 in their first innings and Australia replying with 563.

Sehwag rates Australian bowlers the best ADELAIDE: Stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag said Monday he rates Australia's bowling attack as the best he has faced as India battle to restore some pride in the final Test in Adelaide this week. The tourists face the humiliation of another 4-0 series wipeout if they lose against Australia in the fourth Test starting at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday. Sehwag leads the beleaguered tourists after regular skipper M.S. Dhoni was suspended for slow over rates in India's crushing innings defeat inside three days in the third Test in Perth. Australia, spearheaded by Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus, have dismissed India's big-name batting line-up four times for under 200 and have prevented Sachin Tendulkar scoring his elusive 100th international century. "It's everybody's responsibility to score runs, especially outside India," Sehwag said. "Unfortunately, on the last two tours the batsmen didn't get those runs. "Yes, the openers need to make a good start but other batsmen need to score too." Sehwag, who has been one of India's worst performing batsmen with 118 runs at 19.66, paid tribute to the strength of the Australian bowling attack.

"They are bowling in good areas, they are not giving up easy balls to hit boundaries," Sehwag said. "I think that's the best bowling attack I've ever seen, especially against Australia. "Generally, when I played the fast men at Adelaide Oval, I'd get a couple of balls I could hit for boundaries. But in this attack I hardly get any balls." Sehwag said hapless India would be playing for pride, out to prevent an eighth consecutive away Test defeat after last year's 4-0 series drubbing in England. AFP

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Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

Sports 19

BEnAzIR BhUttO WOMEn’S CRICkEt ChALLEnGE

Punjab, ZTBL, Federal Areas advance

Serena loss blows draw wide open

MELBOURNE AFP

lAHoRe: Punjab Governor latif Khosa and Mrs Bushra Aitzaz give the player of the match award to Mariam Hassan Shah of Federal team while (R) zTBl bowler balls to the Balochistan batswoman (not in picture) during their Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Cricket Trophy match at the Kinnaird College ground. NAdEEM IjAZ LAHORE

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STAFF REPORT

UNJAB, Federal Areas and ZTBL won their matches on day two in the 1st Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Women’s Cricket Challenge Trophy here on Monday. Punjab Governor Latif Khosa was the chief guest of the day and presented the player of the match award to Federal team player Mariam Hassan Shah. Mrs Bushra Aitzaz and other PCB officials were also present on the occasion. Punjab beat Khyber PK by five

wickets here at the Gaddafi Stadium while Federal Areas also registered a win against KPK. Thus KPK lost both of their matches of the day and also lost their chance of making to the top.

Punjab allowed KPK just 78 runs and later achieved the score losing five wickets.

Komal Feroz was named the player of the match while in the other match Marium Hasan Shah of Federal Areas not only remained not out but was also name the player of the match with his 52 runs innings that led her team to a big 10 wickets win over KPK. At Kinnaird College, ZTBL beat Balochistan by six wickets with major

contribution coming from Nain Abdi. She remained unbeaten at 39 for ZTBL. SCORES: Khyber PK 78-8 in 20 overs: (Sukhan Faiz 53*, 62 balls, 6x4s, Hina Azam 2-10, zeba Manzoor 16) v – Punjab 79-5 in 18.4 overs: (Komal Feroz 45*, 60 balls, 7x4s, Uzma younas 3-2).

Player of the match: Komal Feroz (Punjab), Result: Punjab won by 5 wickets, Toss: Khyber PK, Umpires: Samera Aftab & Riffat Mustafa.

Match referee: Aziz-ur-Rehman, official Scorer: zahoor Alam.

Khyber PK – 101-4 In 20 overs: (Arifa Hasan 35*, 52 balls, 3x4s, Sukhan Faiz 21, 25 balls, 3x4s, zainab Khan 18, 20 balls, 3x4s, Hina Shafiq 2-18, Saima Maqsood 2-16) v Federal – 104-0 in 12.1 overs: (Marium Hasan Shah 52*,

36 balls, 10x4s, Fareeha Mehmood 38, 37 balls, 7x4s).

Player of the Match: Marium Hasan Shah (Federal), Result: Federal won by 10 wickets, Toss: Khyber PK, Umpires: Shakeela Rafiq & Afia Amin, Match Referee: Sohail Khan, official Scorer: Azhar Hussain.

At Kinnaird Collage Ground, Balochistan – 109-7 in 20 overs: (Arman Khan 49, 43 balls, 4x4s, 3x6s, Naheeda Khan 20, 22 balls, 1x4, 1x6, Sadia yousaf 2-11, Nida dar 2-17) zTBl – 113-4 IN 18.4 oVeRS: (Nain Abdi 39*, 51 balls, 2x4s, Sana Mir 31, 20 balls, 3x4s, 1x6, Bismah Maroof 20, 25 balls, 2x4s, Sabah Nazir 2-16) Player of the match: Nain Abdi (zTBl), Result: zTBl won by six wickets, Toss: Balochistan, Umpires: Humaira Farah & Kausar Shah, Match Referee: Pervaiz Akhtar, official Scorer: Muhammad Arif Sr.

Kamran wants Pakistan players to be part of IPL LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

Cricketer Kamran Akmal has said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must sort out its differences with India so that the country’s players can take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Akmal, who was a member of the Rajasthan Royals squad that won the inaugural IPL in 2007, has not featured in the event since 2008.

Akmal expressed the hope that

cricket between India and Pakistanm would begin soon and that Pakistan cricketers would soon be able to take part in the IPL. “Playing for Rajasthan was a wonderful experience. Having the opportunity to play under the leadership of Shane Warne was fantastic and it was a real eye opener. After that first tournament, we Pakistani players have not been invited back to play in the IPL and I don’t really want to go into the whys and wherefores of that, but I do feel

Adnan has given Pakistan security behind the stumps Comment

T

SIMON HUgHES

HE unsung hero of Pakistan’s humiliating defeat of England was their wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal. He took seven catches in the match and contributed a resourceful and at times impudent 61 to convert a slender lead into a substantial one for Pakistan. He has supplied the glue to Pakistan’s outcricket where before there was only grease. Irrespective of the adversity they bring upon themselves, Pakistan always seem to find bowlers who create chances. What they have always craved was a wicketkeeper who could cling on to them.

Now they appear to have found one.

Adnan’s emergence is more than a touch ironic since it was his older brother, Kamran, who was one of the culprits of Pakistan’s lamentable performances in England 18 months ago. Kamran had cymbals for gloves and he made such a hash of keeping wicket that his misses were into double figures by the end of that 2010 series. They were crucial misses, too, like the two drops and a missed stumping at the outset of the fifth-wicket stand between Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan at Trent Bridge.

They eventually put on 219 and England, helped by more error-prone fielding, secured an easy victory. Such insecurity has a psychological impact on a bowling attack who know they will have to generate about 15 chances for every 10 wickets taken. After this match they will feel different. Adnan’s impact was immediate. In the sixth over of the game, bowled by off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez, Alastair Cook, who has made permanent occupation of the crease his vocation, edged an attempted cut.

Akmal held the awkward, low chance and Pakistan had an immediate opening which widened when he collected a miscued leg

glance from Jonathan Trott. A sharp catch off Ian Bell’s outside edge accounted first ball for the man who averaged more than 100 last year.

Three prized scalps and England were in disarray at 43 for five. After his perky fifty on Thursday, speckled with carving drives and outrageous reverse sweeps, he was back in business behind the stumps again, holding chances from both Cook and Strauss down the leg side, clinging on to a difficult edge from Morgan, when he was just beginning to look settled, and finally seeing off the adhesive Trott with an agile take in front of first slip. All of his seven victims were of top-order players. The Pakistan bowlers can rest easier now, knowing they have a gloveman they can trust, but Adnan will not take anything for granted. In keeping with the general erratic nature of Pakistan cricket, his international career has had as many twists and turns as a Stieg Larsson novel.

In spite of the late Bob Woolmer first identifying him as the best keeper in the country in 2004, brother Kamran was unexpectedly preferred for several years. Adnan owed his eventual Test debut not to Kamran’s mistakes but to the sudden desertion of his successor, Zulqarnan Haider, seeking political asylum.

Then, after taking eight catches in a Test, Adnan was inexplicably dropped, before being recalled last year. The fundamental prerequisite of a Pakistan cricketer is to live in the present and not look too far ahead. For the moment they can revel in their all-round expertise, particularly in the field. Aside from Ajmal’s wiles, they can also be proud of Umar Gul’s forceful bowling, using the bouncer intelligently, knowing that it will come off the pitch at different heights and speeds if banged in hard, Abdur Rehman’s subtle, old-fashioned probing and Misbah ul Haq’s calm and astute captaincy. And he will know that England will not be fooled so easily again. (Telegraph)

that sportsmen shouldn’t suffer due to ‘outside’ matters and Pakistani cricketers should be included in the IPL,” Pak Passion quoted him, as Akmal, as saying.

“India and Pakistan should regularly play against each other in cricket and that is something that the fans of both nations want to see. Indian fans want to see the Pakistani cricket team tour India and likewise Pakistani cricket fans want to see the Indian team tour Pakistan.”

The Australian Open women's draw was thrown wide open Monday after Russia's Ekaterina Makarova shocked Serena Williams in the fourth round, as Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova won in straight sets. Makarova, the world number 56, reached a grand slam quarter-final for the first time when she stunned a belowpar Williams 6-2, 6-3 and will now face former champion Maria Sharapova, who battled back from a set down to progress.

Stunning Nishikori inspired by li Na

MELBOURNE AFP

Kei Nishikori shocked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to become the first Japanese man to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals for 80 years Monday, but defeat for Zheng Jie ended China's hopes. Nishikori roared back from a set down to stun the powerful 2008 finalist in five sets and set up a last-eight tie with Britain's Andy Murray, showing the form that has seen him rocket up the rankings.

Zheng, however, crashed out in straight sets at the hands of Italy's Sara Errani to end China's singles interest on Chinese new year's day -- and a day after last year's runner-up, Li Na, went out to Kim Clijsters.

ISB 24-01-2012_Layout 1 1/24/2012 7:42 AM Page 20

20 Sports Shoukat wins Mr Pakistan title, WAPdA lift trophy

Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

ABU DHABI: Pakistan’s cricketer Junaid Khan (2nd R) delivers the ball as coach Mohsin Khan (2nd L) looks on during a practice session. AfP

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Shoukat Shahzad was declared the Mr Pakistan while Ruh Ullah was adjudged Junior Mr Pakistan after the 60th competition was held here at Alhamra.

WAPDA won the National Championship winning eight gold medals and Railways were placed second while Punjab secured third position.

The Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation organised the 60th Junior Mr and Mr Pakistan contest and the National Bodybuilding Championships and after the two days competition, Ruh Ullah from Balochistan won the Junior Mr Pakistan trophy and Rs 25000 cash award while Shoukat Shahzad achieved the title of national champion Mr Pakistan 2012 out of 10 weight categories and was awarded Rs 50000 with champion trophy.

Overall WAPDA gave excellent performance during the Championship and got 1st Position in team trophy with 195 points winning 8 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze medals, the second position went to Railways with 67 points and Punjab secured the third Position with 61 points.

President POA, Lt. Gen (R) Syed Arif Hasan, was the chief guest on the occasion. He distributed medals among the 1st, 2nd and 3rd position holders and the team. Other guests of honour were Ch. Mahboob Alam, CEO GEPCO, Chaudhary Guftar Ahmed President Wapda Sports Board, Muhammad Khalid Mehmood, DG WAPDA Sports Board, Muhamamd Jhangeer, President PKF, Ch. M. Asghar Secretary General, PWF, President of Sindh Bodybuilding Association Mr. Sohail Anwar, Secretaries of KP and Baloshictan Bodybuilding Associations and other formers Mr. Pakistan and Secretary General, Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation Sh. Farooq Iqbal.

FINAl THREE SEEDING WT CT 1ST WAPDA 2ND RAIlWAY 3RD PuNJAB 55 KG 19 6 13 60 KG 15 12 4 65 KG 22 6 10 70 KG 12 21 1 75 KG 31 6 80 KG 25 5 85 KG 16 6 15 90 KG 25 4 2 100 KG 15 1 6 ABoVe 100 KG 15 10 TOTAl 195 67 61

MEDAlS TABlE uNI WAPdA RAIlWAy PUNJAB HeC KPK BAloCHISTAN

G 8 1 1 0 0 0

S 5 1 2 1 1 0

B 3 2 1 2 0 1

WAPdA down NBP in National junior hockey final LAHORE STAFF REPORT

WAPDA registered a solitary goal win over NBP to claim the 31st U-21 National Junior Hockey Championship that concluded on Monday here at the National Hockey Stadium with SSGC getting the third position.

On Monday, final and classification matches were played and WAPDA and NBP remained locked on an even game until the former got their winning goal in the 43rd minute of the match. SSGC got 3-2 win over Punjab Colours to earn the third position. The final started with the pace it should have been and despite sev-

eral attempts none of the teams’ players could find an open house to get the goal.

The first half passed by without a score and as the match entered the second half, WAPDA got a penalty corner in the 43rd minute and Asad ensured that his team gets a lead. That one goal lead remained in tact till the final whistle was blown.

However, the third position match between SSGC and Punjab went into extra time after the teams played a twoall draw in the given time and it was Hammad Butt who scored the golden goal in the 73rd minute of the match.

Punjab got ahead in the second minute of the match when Nohaiz Zahid who converted both the goals of his team,

found an opening. But that was lead short-lived when Mohammad Zahid responded for SSGC in the same fashion in the 13th minute. Nohaiz took Punjab ahead once again in the 42nd minute but Waseem Abas responded for SSGC to push the match into extra time where Hammad produced the golden goal to get WAPDA the third place.

Secretary General Pakistan Hockey Federation Olympian Muhammad Asif Bajwa was the chief guest of the final.

Tournament Director Saghir Ahmed, Arshad Ali Chawdhry member PHF National Selection Committee, Olympian Zaka-ud-Din, Manager national team Khawaja Junaid, Olympian Tauqeer

Ahmed Dar, Miss. Parveen Sikandar Gill, Olympian Muhammad Sarwar and officials of DHA Lahore were also present on the occasion.

The winners WAPDA pocketed the purse of Rs 50,000 and the trophy while NBP received runner up trophy and cash prize Rs 30,000 and SSGC got the third position Trophy and Cash Prize Rs 20,000.

RESulTS: (3rd & 4th Position) SSGC beat Punjab (C) 3-2 (extra Time), 2-2 (Full Time), 1-1 (Half Time) SSGC: M. zahid 13th minute (FG), Waseem Abbas 56th minute (PC) & Hammad Butt 79th minute (FG).

Punjab (C): Nohaiz zahid 2 Goals 26th & 42nd minute (FG).

Final: WAPdA beat NBP 1-0 (Full Time), 0-0 (Half Time) WAPdA: Asad 43rd minute (PC).

AUStRALIAn OPEn dIARY

Mixed day for Aisam as he crashed out of doubles FROM ALI AKBAR IN MELBOURNE

I

T was a mixed day for Pakistan's Aisam Qureshi at the Australian Open on Monday. He and his partner Jean Julien Rojer crashed out of the men's doubles in the round of 16.

Later in the day, on Margaret Court Arena, Aisam and partner Andrea Hvalackova advanced in the mixed doubles against Bernard Tomic and Jelena Jancovic, winning decisively, in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.

Aisam and Rojer were outclassed by the American Brazilian combination of Eric Butorac and Bruno Soares. Rojer's serve was particularly vulnerable as he was broken three of the four times he served. Aisam held on to all of his service games. Although the team performed creditably, winning the first two matches comfortably, the pairing did not look strong enough to trouble the top teams and win a major title. The

IndoPak Express was good enough to do that and had reached the US Open final. Aisam will have to keep his eyes open for a partner who can help take him to the very top of the doubles game.

Aisam's Czech partner in the mixed doubles played a very good supporting role as the pairing completely outclassed the highly touted Tomic and Jancovic.

Tomic looked listless and played as if he did not care.

Perhaps the previous night's lesson by Roger Federer had exposed some of the weaknesses in his repertoire.

Tomic has a big future and should reach top ten in a couple of years. He has an instinct for dismantling his opponent's games by subtle off speed balls, but Federer, after he had figured things out, was much too good and the result was never in question.

Thomas Berdych was involved in a controversy where he did not shake his opponent Nicolas Almagro's hand following their titanic battle on the Hisense Arena. Berdych had hit a drop shot and then was camped at the net. Seeing no way out, Almagro aimed the ball at Berdych, hitting him on the arm.

Berdych fell and did not respond to Almagro's apologies. After the match, Berdych completely ignored Almagro. The booing that ensued was so loud that it completely drowned out his interview. Tennis players hit the ball directly at each other many times, espe-

cially in doubles. When Berdych had shut off all opportunities for Almagro by moving in close behind the drop shot, then Almagro had every right to hit the ball through his opponent.

Berdych is a nice enough fellow, but will certainly regret his actions. Juan Martin Del Potro booked hi place in the quarter finals with an impressive display and will play Federer for a place in the semis. Berdych takes on Nadal, another player with whom he has had problems in the past. Lleyton Hewitt takes on Novak Djokovic, a task that will surely prove beyond him, but Hewitt is one of the really great competitors and will leave everything out on the court.

ISB 24-01-2012_Layout 1 1/24/2012 7:43 AM Page 21

Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

Sports 21

Djokovic roadblock in Hewitt’s path MELBOURNE

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STAR SPORTS Australian Open Tennis 05:30AM

ESPN Sports Center 08:00PM

REuTERS

OCAL hero Lleyton Hewitt's surprising run to the last 16 of the Australian Open looks certain to come to an end when the 31year-old meets world number one Novak Djokovic on Monday. Defending champion Djokovic will not let sentimentality stand in the way of a place in the quarter-finals and the crowd on Rod Laver Arena are likely to leave disappointed as they did on Sunday when Roger Federer unmanned Bernard Tomic.

Former world number one Hewitt fought his way past young gun Milos Raonic in the third round but Djokovic, coming off the season of his life and in ruthless form in the first week, is an altogether tougher proposition. Women's second seed and bookmaker's favorite Petra Kvitova kicks off the second week of the year's first grand slam in an intriguing clash against a resurgent 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic.

Five-times champion Serena Williams is also in action against unseeded Ekaterina Makarova, while another Russian in fourth seed Maria Sharapova meets German Sabine Lisicki in the first match of the evening session.

Men's fourth seed Andy Murray is likely to already be in the quarterfinals by then as he meets world number 92 Mikhail Kukushkin, the Kazakh one of two Asian men aiming to get into the last eight.

The other is Japan's Kei Nishikori, who faces in-form sixth seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - losing finalist here in 2008 when Djokovic won his first grand slam title.

Hassan clinches Mobilink Indigo Golf title LAHORE STAFF REPORT

MElBOuRNE: Novak djokovic of Serbia hits a shot against lleyton Hewitt of Australia in their match. AfP

Kvitova makes a hash of smash MELBOURNE REuTERS

MelBoURNe: Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic waves to celebrate her victory over Ana Ivanovic of Serbia. AfP

wATch IT LIve

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova stood head bowed, red faced, praying for the ground to open up and swallow her. There's nowhere to hide when you hit the worst shot of a tennis grand slam. The world number two had her racquet raised and ready to snash home a winner against Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Monday and as the ball dipped closer the Czech coiled in anticipation.

What should have been a routine smash will undoubtedly become an Internet sensation as Kvitova slashed into thin air, the ball slapped off her hip, hit the ground and bounced over the net. "I really don't know how I missed it," she told Reuters in an interview. "I stood on the spot, saw the ball and it just missed my racquet. But this is

tennis, this can happen. "I'm not the first and won't be the last to miss a shot. It's not really that horrible." The Czech recovered from the embarassment to win 6-2 7-6 but smiled sheepishly when asked if she could remember hitting a worse shot.

"I don't know if it's the worst (shot) of my career," Kvitova said, shaking her head. "I know that it looked really strange when I missed it. But anyway ... I won, that's the important thing." The 21-yearold returned to her chair after the miss, wrapped her head in a towel and tried to focus on her next service game but was so rattled she dropped it to love, giving Ivanovic the sniff of an upset. However, Kvitova pulled herself together to win the set in a tiebreak and secure her place in the last eight. Kvitova's role model Martina Navratilova said the fact that she did not fall apart completely after the clanger

showed that she could cement her place as one of the top women in the world.

"Today she hit a whiff on the overhead, embarrassed as heck," Navratilova said.

"Shanked like six balls in a row, but got it together, held serve. In years past, and even last year, she would lose those matches or lose her concentration. "But now she gets it back together. She's tough. I'm glad I'm not the on the other side of the net.

"With the absence of Serena (Williams) playing enough, we need some superstars that you really feel like they're holding their own. I think Petra has that possibility." Kvitova says she is flattered to be compared with Navartilova, who won 18 grand slam singles titles. "She is a legend. She won many grand slams and was originally from the Czech Republic. She was my idol growing up and it's nice to have that (comparison)," she added.

Dr. Hassan clinched the 5th Mobilink Annual Club Indigo Golf Invitational Tournament trophy after an exciting golfing event organised at the Islamabad Golf Club.

The day saw some sterling performances from the golfers, making for a well competed event. The winners for the ladies’ tournament were Ami Qin (Gross) and Sadia Afsar (Net), while Dr. Hassan bagged the trophy for the men’s round in the Gross category and Maj. Gen. Tahir Masood won the trophy for Net. Irfan Akram, Vice President Customer Care at Mobilink said, “We are glad to have been able to end the tournament on a high note in Islamabad. We are indeed thankful for the support of Club Indigo’s golf enthusiasts in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad for making it a truly enjoyable event. On our part, Mobilink will continue to nurture golfing talent in Pakistan through such tangible efforts in the years to come.”

The Club Indigo Golf Invitational has been organised nationwide since 2007, and has become one of the most prestigious corporate golf tournaments in Pakistan, with the 18-hole tournament attracting golfing enthusiasts from across the Mobilink Indigo customer base. The Tournament is a continuation of Mobilink’s commitment towards supporting healthy recreational activities and sports events in Pakistan.

Mobilink has taken this initiative to raise awareness about golf in Pakistan, and enhance the quality of golfing in the country.

Stunning Nishikori inspired by li Na MELBOURNE AFP

Kei Nishikori shocked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to become the first Japanese man to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals for 80 years Monday, but defeat for Zheng Jie ended China's hopes.

Nishikori roared back from a set down to stun the powerful 2008 finalist in five sets and set up a last-eight tie with Britain's Andy Murray, showing the form that has seen him rocket up the rankings. Zheng, however, crashed out in straight sets at the hands of Italy's Sara Errani to end China's singles interest on Chinese new year's day -- and a day after last year's runner-up, Li Na, went out to Kim Clijsters.

Sharapova battles through after Lisicki scare MELBOURNE REuTERS

Maria Sharapova hammered her way into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday but only after some tense moments in a third-set decider when Germany's Sabine Lisicki had her hanging on by her finger nails. The fourth-seeded Russian had to blunt the powerful ground strokes and blistering service returns of the 14th seeded Lisicki and fought off five break points in the third game of the final set to turn the match her way. The Russian's confidence grew enough for her to break Lisicki's serve in the sixth game of the set, which essentially sealed the victory and she ran out a 3-6 6-2 6-3 winner.

The 24-year-old had walked onto Rod Laver Arena a heavy favourite having conceded just five games in her previous three matches and spent only three hours, 29 minutes on court. In contrast, Lisicki

MelBoURNe: Maria Sharapova returns a shot to Sabine lisicki of Germany. had been hampered by an abdominal injury that forced her to withdraw from the Auckland Classic quarter-finals and out of Sydney altogether. Knowing that old rival

REUTERS

Serena Williams would not be waiting for her in the quarter-finals after the American was bundled out earlier by Ekaterina Makarova, Sharapova raced out to a 3-0

lead and seemed destined for another early night. Lisicki, however, finally found her range and reeled off six successive games to win the first set when Sharapova blasted a backhand service return well over the baseline.

A nervous looking Sharapova, well aware that if she did not stop the momentum she would be joining Williams on an early flight home, was in danger of losing her first service game of the second set before she attacked the net twice and managed to fight off the German and hold serve.

She then began to control the pace of the match, stopping Lisicki's high-paced game to seal the second set in 42 minutes.

"She's a really solid player," Sharapova said of Lisicki, who she beat in last year's Wimbledon semi-finals. "If you play to her strengths, if you give her time that's what she really does best, she gets a good strike on the ball and can hit a good winner from any side of the court.

MelBoURNe: Sabine lisicki plays a shot during her fourth round women's singles match against Maria Sharapova. AfP

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Tuesday, 24 January, 2012

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Senate resolves to arrest Musharraf on arrival Senators also want govt to institute case against former president under Article 6 g discuss resolution suggesting government take immediate steps to declare Urdu as official language

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ISLAMABAD

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TAHIR NIAZ

HE Senate frustrated former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf’s dream to return home as the governmentdominated Upper House of parliament on Monday unanimously passed a resolution asking the government to arrest General Musharraf immediately upon arrival in Pakistan and the federal government institute a case against him under Article 6 of the constitution for twice holding the constitution in abeyance and bringing disrepute to the judiciary.

The resolution moved by Senator Raza Rabbani said Musharraf removed, ridiculed and arrested judges of the supreme judiciary. He aided, abetted and was an accomplice in the murders of Benazir Bhutto and Akbar Bugti, the resolution said. It said Musharraf committed numerous crimes. His policies and use of state force in Balochistan led to the loss of innocent lives and further sponsored dis-

appearances of its citizens, the resolution said, adding that he also compromised vital national security interests through clandestine deals and unwritten agreements with foreign governments.

URDU: Earlier, the senators discussed a resolution, which suggested the government take immediate steps to declare Urdu the official language of the country in pursuance of Article 251 (1) of the constitution.

Professor Khurshid Ahmad moved the resolution in the House.

Though the resolution asked the government to take immediate steps to declare Urdu as the official language of the country but most of the senators, including Naeem Hussain Chattha, Prof Ibrahim Khan, Khalid Soomro, Dr Abdul Malik, Abdur Rahim Mandokhel and Hasil Bazenjo were more concerned about the regional and mother tongues. They lacked clarity of views as they built up their arguments, simultaneously supporting the regional languages to be declared as official languages and also advocating for Urdu to be used as a medium of interaction at the national

level. Soomro was of the view that mother tongues should be declared national languages. Dr Malik said Urdu, as a language, was not facing any existential threat, pleading at the same time that English was “required by the people of the country”.

Mandokhel said the medium of instruction should be the mother tongue but at the same time said Urdu should be the official language. However, Senator SM Zafar asked the senators to approach the respective provincial assemblies if they wanted promotion of regional languages as has been prescribed in the constitution.

He said the senators could not apprehend the resolution properly and told his colleagues that it only demanded the government take immediate steps to declare Urdu the official language of the country and nothing more. He said there was no bar on the provincial governments in promoting regional languages. Senator Abdul Khaliq Pirzada and Sajid Hussain Zaidi also endorsed the view point of Zafar.

Pirzada said Urdu came into being after “conquering” over

450 other languages. He said, “Urdu is the daughter of Arabic” and asked his colleagues to raise their voice in the provinces if they wanted promotion of regional and other languages. Senator Hasil Bazenjo said he did not oppose the resolution, adding that Urdu was made controversial by Urdu-speakers who migrated from India.

On the other hand, he said, Bengalis had also declined to speak Urdu.

Later, the resolution was deferred as the mover wanted some amendments in it.

Army rejects US enquiry report as ‘factually incorrect’ g

Resents affixation of partial responsibility on Pakistani forces ISLAMABAD SHAIQ HuSSAIN

CAIRO: Egyptian members of Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party celebrate as they arrive to the parliament on Monday. Egypt’s lower house of parliament held its first session since a popular uprising ousted veteran president Hosni Mubarak, with Islamists dominating the assembly for the first time. AfP | ANOThER PICTURE & STORY ON PAGE 17

drone kills five in nWA PESHAWAR

Polls on unverified lists will be unjust: SC ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

STAFF REPORT

At least five suspected militants were killed and several others were injured when a US drones fired missiles at two different targets in Datakhel, North Waziristan on Monday. The drones targeted a vehicle in the Deegan area and a compound in the Mohammadkhel area of Datakhel Tehsil with two missiles each simultaneously. Officials in Miranshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan Agency, told Pakistan Today that five suspected militants were killed in the strikes, however, some tribesmen said the number of casualties could increased as a number of suspected militants were grievously injured. The identity of those killed and injured could not be immediately ascertained but tribesmen believed they included several foreign fighters associated with al Qaeda and its affiliated militant groups from Central Asia.

In response to a statement by the chief election commissioner (CEC) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) secretary, the Supreme Court on Monday said elections on basis of unverified voter lists could not be termed just, fair and in accordance with the law, as required under Article 218(3) of the constitution.

A statement issued by Supreme Court Registrar Dr Faqir Hussain said the ECP was free to hold by-elections subject to what had been observed by the Supreme Court. However, he clarified that an erroneous impression was created during the meeting of the CEC with political parties as well as by the statement of the ECP secretary, giving an impression as if the Supreme Court had stayed the holding of by-elections in the country.

He said the relevant para of the Supreme Court’s January 19, 2012 order showed that the court directed the ECP not to hold by-election on the basis of polluted/unverified voter lists, after deleting 37,185,998 unverified voters by NADRA per their statement before the Supreme Court on July 4, 2011, in the case of Imran Khan vs ECP. He said the court order added that the ultimate focus should be on verified/valid electoral list in order to meet the requirement of the constitution under Article 218 (3) which stipulated that elections should be conducted hon-

Pakistan Army rejected on Monday the findings of a US probe into the NATO air strikes on border posts in Mohmand Agency in November last year, saying it did not agree with several portions and findings of the investigation report as they were factually incorrect.

The army also expressed its annoyance that in its enquiry report, the US military had considered Pakistani military in an “adversarial role” and not as a friend. “Pakistan does not agree with several portions and findings of the Investigation Report as these are factually not correct,” said the army, in its “Perspective on the US Investigation Report”, released here to the media by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Noting that the US investigating team’s mandate was to “conduct an operationally focused fact-finding investigation into the circumstances surrounding the engagement between friendly forces and PAKMIL (Pakistan Military)”, the statement said it was implicit in this mandate that “Pakistan was considered in an adversarial role and not part of friendly forces”.

“The fundamental cause of the incident of

estly, fairly and justly in accordance with the law. To fully explain the matter, the court reproduced the relevant para of the order, which says: “It has been informed that the ECP has announced by-elections in some of the constituencies on the basis of prevailing/uncorrected/un-amended electoral lists. It may not be out of context to note that on 4th of July, 2011 NADRA reported before this court that 37,185,998 unverified voters have been removed from the database and thereafter the court directed on the same day to the ECP to expedite the correction of the electoral list and a schedule for the same was also given by it but the ECP failed to do so.”

However, the court said that the date of February 23, 2012 had been fixed. “Therefore, we direct the ECP and NADRA not to hold by-elections against the casual vacancies on the basis of polluted voter list, having 37,185,998 unverified voters as the elections of these constituencies are necessary to be held under the constitution.

Therefore, ultimate focus should be on the verified/valid electoral list for the purpose of holding the said elections and elections should be held on the basis of the same in order to meet the requirement of the constitution given under Article 218(3) thereof, which commands that the elections shall be arranged by the ECP honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with the law. The demand of the constitution can only be fulfilled if there is a verified voters list free from any bogus votes,” the court noted.

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

26th November 2011 was the failure of US/ISAF to share its near-border operation with Pakistan at any level. This obviously was a major omission, as were several others, like the complicated chain of command, complex command and control structure and unimaginative/intricate Rules of Engagement as well as lack of unified military command in Afghanistan,” it said. Contrary to Pakistan Army’s response, the US enquiry report released on December 22 last year had found that both American and Pakistani troops were to be blamed for the strikes on Pakistani outposts. Pakistan had responded to the NATO strikes by blocking supplies for US led NATO forces in Afghanistan and forced the United States to vacate an air base that was used to launch drone attacks in the tribal areas.

The army said in its response: “In addition to the foregoing, US/ISAF violated all mutually agreed procedures with Pakistan for nearborder operations put in place to avert such uncalled for actions. It also carried out unprovoked engagement of Pakistani Posts located inside Pakistan violating the US/ISAF mandate which is limited to Afghanistan alone.”

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