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rs15.00 vol ii no 181 22 pages islamabad — peshawar edition
pakistantoday.com.pk
wednesday, 28 december, 2011 safar 2, 1433
I’m fighting fit: Zardari g g g g g g
President says PPP will fight for democracy, not seats Democracy will take time, sacrifice Wants to make history, not headlines Hails PM as ‘leader of all’ Tells Baloch to learn from his party Asefa will carry forward Benazir’s legacy GARHI KHUDA BAKHSH
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Agencies
RESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari used the fourth anniversary of his wife Benazir Bhutto’s assassination on Tuesday to ensure supporters he would not resign in the face of numerous crises building around him and to take a jab at the Supreme Court. Addressing a huge crowd comprising tens of thousands of supporters at the Bhutto family mausoleum at Garhi Khuda Baksh, the president asked the apex court about the as yet unsolved case of Benazir’s assassination. “People ask what happened to Benazir Bhutto’s case,” he said. “I ask (Chief Justice) Iftikhar Chaudhry: what happened to Benazir Bhutto’s case?” The president said the chief justice took up petitions against the government but was not paying heed to the petition he had sent to him to seeking to revisit the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto case. He said further that some cases were visible to the chief justice, others were not. “The things that are against our prestige are important in your view,” he said. Zardari said the best way to pay tribute to slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on the fourth anniversary of her assassination was to foil anti-democratic conspiracies. He vowed to protect the system, disallowing the federation’s split. Continued on page 04
a balanCed address, but replete with messages | page 04 speCial page on benazir’s anniversary | page 03
Benazir’s killers BB killing probe must be brought to justice: Nawaz almost complete: PM Calls PTI ‘king’s party’ g Says govt not to influence probe into ‘memogate’ g All institutions fall under govt
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LARKANA/GARHI KHUDA BUX/ISLAMABAD Agencies/stAff RepoRt
MARDAN Agencies
PPP leader Benazir Bhutto’s assassins must be brought to justice, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday. Talking to reporters at the house of PML-N Peshawar chapter leader, Saranjam Khan, Nawaz said he was not saying this for point-scoring, but was “really concerned about Benazir’s tragic assassination”. Nawaz said the government had failed in arresting the Benazir’s murderers despite the passage of four years, adding that if the PML-N came into power, it would bring the assassins to book. Earlier, the PML-N announced bringing Benazir’s assassins out in the open and issued a 15point questionnaire regarding her killing. In the questionnaire, the PML-N asked if the president and the interior minister knew about Benazir’s murderers, why were they not making their names public? It was also asked why were the names of the investigation team not revealed and why, the people designated for Benazir’s security and leaders who attended the rally, were not questioned. The PML-N also asked why the investigations of the government had produced no result in the four years since the PPP leader’s assassination. On the memo scandal, Nawaz said it was sub-judice, adding that all those involved in the scandal must be exposed and action should be taken against them.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said the investigation into the killing of Benazir Bhutto was almost complete and the Pakistan People’s Party’s central executive committee would decide whether to disclose some portions of the inquiry. Talking to reporters after offering prayers at Beanzir’s mausoleum in Naudero, Gilani said the PPP was a visionary party and pursuing the politics of reconciliation in accordance with Benzir’s vision. Gilani said that the constitution was created by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and eventually restored by his party (PPP). The prime minister added that he had dispelled the rumours regarding the removal of General Kayani and Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha. Commenting on the PTI’s popularity, he said people with no vision were uniting under the umbrella of “king’s party”. The prime minister said the PPP was a big party and had the courage to fight conspiracies being hatched against it. To a query, the PM said there would be no confrontation between the state’s institutions if they worked within the limits defined by the constitution. He said a conspiracy had been hatched to pit the government against the judiciary, but the PPP was “big enough” to face any conspiracy. Gilani said the government did not want to affect the investigations into the memo case. To a question regarding the “memogate”, Gilani said, “I am the premier, not a judge. The court will
uncover the matter.” He said the PPP was the name of an ideology, adding that “we are committed to the people regardless of the any political season”. Expressing resolve that government wanted to take all parties along, he said efforts were made in every era to pit institutions against each other. “We are working to bring all institutions under the constitution, as deviation from the constitution will lead to clash,” Gilani said, adding that the government did not want to enter into any battle. Gilani also said that the parliament was supreme and would take decision on all issues of national importance, adding that the supremacy of parliament would be ensured. The prime minister said only the “weak-hearted” had left the PPP, “and it is good, as such people could damage the party at the time of election”. Talking to reporters in Islamabad later, the prime minister said an inquiry was underway into the memo-related London visit of ISI director general (DG). Asked whether the ISI DG had visited London with the permission regarding the memo investigations, Gilani said, “General Pasha went to Doha after informing me, but an inquiry is being made into the London visit,” he said. Gilani said future relationship with NATO, ISAF and the US would be decided by parliament. He clarified that he had never said that the government did not respect state institutions. Continued on page 04
hashmi asks pm to hold early polls | page 02
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02 News
wednesday, 28 december, 2011
ISlAMABAd
Today’s
‘Deadly’ Liaquat Bagh reminds of Benazir
NewS
wOrld vIew
Balochistan may become east pakistan: saifullah imran is gaining momentum
Quick Look
Story on Page 09
Story on Page 08
221 locomotives to be functional by January 10, SC told ISLAMABAD: Railways Board Secretary Shafiq Ullah on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court (SC) that 221 of the total 494 faulty locomotives would be functional by January 10. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed hearing of a suo motu case about non-payment of salaries and pension to employees and workers of Pakistan Railways. During the hearing, Secretary Shafiq Ullah informed the court that administration of Pakistan Railways had repaired these locomotives with its own resources and they would make another 15 locomotives workable soon, but they needed Rs 120 million for the purpose. The CJ directed the finance secretary to look into the matter and inform the court within 10 days. Shafeeq Ullah said railways required additional 20 locomotives each year so that it could be run properly. Regarding the encroachment of Railways land, he said that around 470 kanals of railways land in Bannu was occupied by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and some land was being used by the Cantonment Board as well. He said the Punjab government had made agreement with Pakistan Railways that it would take 50 percent shares in case of sale of PR land. The CJ directed the secretaries of defence and interior and chief secretaries of all provinces to inform the court about the railways land which was occupied and a procedure to give rent to railways within two weeks. NAB additional prosecutor general told the court that an inquiry had been initiated regarding the sale of scrap, lease of Royal Palm Golf Club, purchase of 69 locomotives and awarding land on lease by ignoring rules and regulations. The proceedings were adjourned until January 19. App
Pay road surchage to restore supplies, Mukhtar tells NATO LARKANA: The government will not restore NATO supplies until the US-led alliance in Afghanistan agreed to pay road surcharge, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said on Tuesday. Talking to reporters in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, Mukhtar said the government would levy road a surcharge on containers and oil tankers carrying supplies for the US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Agencies
Another ‘killed-and-dumped’ QuettA: Another bullet riddled body of a government school teacher was recovered from Turbat, 1050 km south-west of Quetta on Tuesday. Levy force officials said that levy personnel rushed to the site at Pasni-Turbat road upon being informed and found a dead body. The body was shifted to a government hospital in Turbat town where the deceased was identified as local school teacher Abdul Qadir. Doctors said the deceased had been shot in the head and his body bore torture marks. Speaking to local reporters, relatives accused intelligence agencies of killing and torturing Ghulam Qadir. They said Qadir was picked up last May, 22 by intelligence agency personnel backed by FC Balochistan from Turbat from his village Nasirabad, outskirts of Turbat. eXPLOSIONS A gas cylinder exploded in a house in Saranan, some 40 km north of Quetta in the morning. Two children, Safia Bibi and Ehsanullah, both under ten years old were killed while two cousins Shahida Bibi and Naseer received serious injuries. In another incident, unidentified motorcyclists tried to steal Amanullah Bareach’s motorcycle on Sariab road in the outskirts of Quetta. Bareach resisted when robbers shot him dead and escaped from the scene. Later, relatives and locals reached the hospital and placed the dead body in front of Quetta Press Club in protest. stAff RepoRt
12 militants killed in Kurram Twelve suspected militants were killed as security forces pounded militant hideouts in central Kurram Agency on Tuesday, Dawn News reported. Citing security officials, the TV channel reported that the troops attacked three suspected militant hideouts, and killed 12 rebels while wounding nine others. During the past 24 hours, security forces have bombed multiple locations in Orakzai and Kurram Agencies. The death toll is reported to have reached 48, while more than 12 suspected hideouts have been destroyed in the operation, the report added. MonitoRing Desko
Story on Page 15
Hashmi advises PM to dissolve parliament, hold early polls Senior PTI leader says he will send his and daughter’s resignation from the National Assembly to Nawaz Sharif soon g
MULTAN/KARACHI
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Agencies
ENIOR leader of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Javed Hashmi has asked Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to dissolve the parliament forthwith to hold early elections. Addressing a massive rally of PTI supporters after his arrival at Multan airport from Karachi on Tuesday, Hashmi said his suggestion was “in the best interest of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani” considering numerous crises and lawlessness. “As a patriotic Pakistani and a well-wishing advisor in good faith, I strongly advise the prime minister that instead of clinging to the rule, he should immediately dissolve the parliament and hold early elections,” said Hashmi, who defected to the PTI on Saturday after ending his decades-long association with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). “I say this in light of my 45-year political experience, as after carefully observing the scenario I can state that the masses had already pinned their hopes with Imran Khan,” he said. Hashmi said that Imran Khan had personally visited him with a request to join the PTI to save Pakistan. “I asked for some time to ponder over the offer, but Imran was adamant and I had to join the PTI after a
MuLtAn: pakistan tahreek-e-insaf (pti) workers welcome former pML-n leader Javed hashmi. INP comprehensive consensus with friends and family,” he said. Earlier at Karachi airport, Hashmi said that he was not perturbed over leaving the PML-N, and would send his resignation and that of his daughter Mamoona Hashmi from the National Assembly to Nawaz Sharif in the next couple of days. He supported the creation of new provinces, including Saraiki, Bahawalpur and Potohar, saying it would lead to smaller ad-
Balochistan ‘N’ leaders mull over PTI ISLAMABAD iRfAn BukhARi
With Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan setting his eyes on the restive Balochistan with an announcement to hold the party’s next public procession in Quetta on March 23, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is dogged by internal bickering in the province and its incumbent chief organizer, Khuda-eNoor, is considering joining Imran Khan. Although PML-N central leadership has decided to complete party organisation in provinces pending since July 27, intra-party rifts are at their peak in Balochistan and may push a number of PML-N provincial leaders and workers toward the PTI. Talking to Pakistan Today, Khuda-e-Noor said he and a number of party workers had serious reservations over the party’s policies. “I have handed over a paper carrying my concerns about policies of the Sharifs … I will wait for Nawaz Sharif’s response before taking any decision,” he added. He said PTI leaders, in-
cluding Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and Javed Hashmi, had asked him to join the party. “If my reservations are not addressed, I may think of joining the PTI,” Noor added. Criticising the PML-N top command, he said the party had announced provincial elections on January 6, “‘but how will the election be held wihout elected or nominated provincial councils?” “Under the PML-N constitution, there must be 100 provincial councils in Balochistan to elect provincial office bearers,” he added. Communal differences among provincial leaders are also playing a part as a source said, “In Balochistan, party’s Baloch workers support a Baloch as provincial president, while Pashto speaking PML-N workers want a Pashtun. If the PML-N top command chooses a Baloch, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri or Changez Marri will be elected Balochistan president, and if the Sharifs prefer a Pashtun, Khua-e-Noor may be the next provincial president.” Sources said the the provincial president would likely be a Baloch with a Pashtun secretary general.
ministrative units and would resolve the basic problems of the people. He criticised the Punjab government for depriving the masses of southern Punjab of their legitimate rights. He said there were examples of hereditary politics in other countries of the world, but the capability of the leadership was a precondition. He said political parties organised around the rules of dictatorship could not practice democracy in the country.
Gunmen kill IB official in Peshawar PESHAWAR Afp
Unidentified gunmen on motorbikes killed an intelligence official in Peshawar on Wednesday, police said. The gunmen opened fire at the assistant director of the Intelligence Bureau when he was standing near his car, which was parked on the roadside. “Two gunmen came on motorcycles and opened fire at Sirajuddin, the assistant director of the Intelligence Bureau,” Peshawar police chief Imtiaz Altaf told AFP. “The incident occurred on the Kohat road. We don’t know who is exactly involved in this attack but we have ordered the inquiry to find out the culprits,” another senior police official Tahir Ayub said.
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wednesday, 28 december, 2011
fOreIGN NewS
ArTS & eNTerTAINMeNT
SPOrTS
indian govt in showdown over anti-graft bill Veena Malik regrets ‘tragic’ nude photo shoot
News 03 COMMeNT
tendulkar wait continues but india take command forget what i said: The PM backtracks.
Death anniversary: Another rally to mark BB’s death.
Dr hasan Askari Rizvi says: On civil-military relations: We all know who’s prevalent.
harris bin Munawar says: America is not our enemy.
Ali Aftab saeed says: New Khan Express: Too many landlords on board.
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Articles on Page 12-13
nation bows in grief to remember BB GARHI KHUDA BUX/PESHAWAR
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stAff RepoRt
EOPLE from different walks of life paid rich tributes to former PM and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto on her fourth death anniversary, which was observed on Tuesday with great fervour. The day began with Quran khawani at her mausoleum where a large number of people, including party workers and office-bearers took part. People in great numbers from every nook and corner of the country were reaching the mausoleum to pay tributes to their great leader. Party workers were carrying PPP flags and chanting slogans, including “Zinda Hai BB Zinda Hai”, “Charon Soobon Ki Zanjir Benazir Benazir”, and “Jeay Bhutto”. A big public meeting would also be held to mark the occasion. The venue of the public meeting was decorated with banners and PPP flags. Around 45 welcome camps were set up besides walk-through gates and other security measures at entry points for people who come to participate in the fourth anniversary of Benazir Bhutto. Simplicity in all aspects, including seating arrangements at 700-kanal space allocated for Benazir’s death anniversary, was the hallmark at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.n Like other parts of the country, different
programmes were held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to pay homage to services of Benazir. The Peoples’ Doctors Forum (PDF) and Peoples’ Youth Organisation (PYO) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa organised separate seminars at the Press Club. Keynote speakers included PDF Provincial President Dr Nisar, Party Labour Wing President Anwarzeb. PPP Provincial Information Secretary Ayub Shah participated in a programme where while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Population Welfare Minister Saleem Khan and Youth Provincial President Gohar Inqilabi addressed. To pay homage to Benazir, the PPP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA chapters organised different. A rally was taken out from Hastnagri area and paraded on GT Road via Firdous Bazaar, Lady Reading Hospital Road and Khyber Bazaar. Small processions, which were taken out from Qissa Khawani Bazaar and Saddar also joined the main rally that was later converted into a big public meeting at Chowk Yadgar. In Nowshera, MNA Tariq Khattak and Excise and Taxation Minister Liaquat Shabab also organised Quran khawani for the eternal peace of Benazir. In FATA, Quran khawani and dua were held at the agency’s headquarters. Benazir’s death anniversary was commemorated with great fervour in Gujranwala.
soMBeR Respect: current prime Minister Yousuf Raza gilani pays his respects over the grave of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Afp
Coalition welcomes, but opposition disappointed by Zardari’s address ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt
Benazir’s blood not to go waste: Sherry
PPP worker commits suicide
SuKKuR: Former PM and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s sacrificed her life for strengthening democracy and to protect the interests of the country and its people, Pakistani Ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman said on Tuesday. She was talking to journalists at Sukkur Airport before leaving for Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to attend Benazir’s fourth death anniversary.inp
GARHI KHuDA BAKHSH: A Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) worker, disappointed by the party’s policies and the federal government’s failure to arrest former PM and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s killers, committed suicide by hanging himself at Uch Sharif. Separately, a bid for collective self-immolation by angry Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) workers on former PM and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s fourth death anniversary was foiled on Tuesday. A caravan consisting of 25 to 30 PPP workers arrived at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on December 26 and all were handcuffed and fettered themselves as a mark of protest. onLine
Hailing President Asif Ali Zardari, leaders of coalition parties on Tuesday said the president made a positive and balanced speech which augured well for democracy and the federation, while the opposition called the speech disappointing, as no issue being faced by the country was touched upon. Welcoming President Asif Ali Zardari’s speech, senior leader of Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Haji Adeel said the president spoke from the core of his heart and expressed some of his woes clearly. “The president candidly spoke about his woes about dissemination of certain disinformation regarding his illness and court’s certain interest in some of the cases and unnecessary delays in hearing of others,” Adeel said, adding that rumours about the president not fit to function as president
had certainly pained the president. He said the president expressed his sorrow over certain attempts being made to tailor democracy. “The speech of the president was balanced, but simultaneously a candid expression of his feelings. The media, which expected the president to deliver a broadside against certain quarters, was disappointed,” Adeel said. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain welcomed President Asif Ali Zardari’s address at Garhi Khuda Bux, saying moderate political actions were good for democracy. Kamil Ali Agha, secretary information of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), called President Zardari’s speech “balanced and positive”. “It was a balanced speech and his remarks about saving the federation from disintegration were very positive … he also adopted a mature approach on talking about political is-
Aitzaz Ahsan rules out joining PTI
sues and opponents,” he said. Agha said his complaint with the judiciary was an unusual thing. “Actually, he questioned why the judiciary had singled him out … it is his personal opinion … he might have some concerns about the judiciary but I cannot comment on them,” he added. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Senator Professor Khurshid Ahmed said President Zardari’s speech was very disappointing. JUI-F spokesman Maulana Amjad said President Zardari’s speech was vague and ambiguous. PML-N Secretary Information Mushahid Ullah Khan said President Zardari’s comments had no value for the party. He called Zardari’s speech a “pack of requests.” PML-N senator Pervaiz Rashid said “last year, Zardari maligned Nawaz Sharif on Benazir’s death anniversary, but the PML-N did not agitate and this year he praised Nawaz and the party had no good feelings”.
PPP workers need no ‘distractions’: Bakhtawar
LAHORe/LARKANA: PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan on Tuesday said he was not joining the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf. Talking to reporters at Lahore Airport before his departure to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to attend the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, he said the PPP workers and the people were in a state of quandary over the inability of the authorities to expose Benazir’s killers. Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz said Interior Minister Rehman Malik was going to expose the killers of Benazir but PPP Chairman Bilawal Zardari Bhutto prevented him from doing so as he wanted that any announcement in this respect should be made after the case was completely investigated. “If Bilawal Bhutto allows, then the interior minister will inform the people about the killers on the eve of Benazir’s fourth death anniversary,” he said. Agencies
soLeMn MouRning: Mourners arrive at the Benazir Bhutto’s tomb at garhi khuda Bakhsh. AFP
ISLAMABAD: Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, daughter of former PM and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari, said that there is no need of distractions to keep PPP workers attentive. In her message on social networking website Twitter on Tuesday soon after her father’s speech on her mother’s fourth death anniversary, she said, “Our numbers and slogans speak for themselves: ZINDA HAI BB ZINDA HAI”. Bakhtawar said, “We will never need distractions to keep our crowds attentive”. She quoted her mother saying, “Life and death is in the hands of God and that is why I have the courage to stare in the eyes of death without any fear.” App
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04 News PM resubmits reply over PPP ministers ridiculing SC ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani reiterated on Tuesday his highest regards for the judiciary and submitted to the Supreme Court that his government believed in the trichotomy of power, rule of law and civilian supremacy, in terms of the constitutional scheme. In compliance with the Supreme Court’s December 23 order seeking a clear stance from the prime minister on the assertions made by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders in a press conference on December 1 ridiculing the judiciary and criticising the court’s order to constitute a judicial commission to probe the memo issue, Gilani submitted his reply to the court through Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq. stAff RepoRt
I’m fighting fit: Zardari Continued from page 1 “We will fight any evil eye that is a threat to the federation, but our way will be that of Aung San Suu Kye,” said the president, referring to the Burmese leader known across the world for her struggle for democracy. Zardari, speaking from behind bulletproof glass and appearing relaxed and healthy, said he had spent many years behind bars but his love for democracy remained firm and steadfast. He said further that his party would continue to fight undemocratic forces but would do so following democratic norms. “We will fight for democracy, not seats,” said the president. Zardari said democracy was new to the country and needed time to mature and get to the point where it should be. He said those who said democracy was in place must know that the spirit of democracy
Pakistan, India Continued from page 24 They also decided to make a recommendation to the foreign secretaries to extend the validity of another vital pact, “Agreement on Reducing the Risk from Accidents Relating to Nuclear Weapons” for five years. The current tenure of this agreement is set to end in February next year, said officials privy to the two-day consultations at the level of experts from the two sides. “The two sides reviewed a range of existing nuclear and conventional CBMs and discussed proposals for additional measures in areas where the two countries could make forward movement,” an official said, seeking anonymity. He said the nuclear neighbours also discussed the proposal to expand the ambit of advance notification of missiles tests and also include
faisalabad dSP beats up child A boy went into shock after being allegedly beaten by Faisalabad DSP Zafarullah Niazi on Tuesday. A 10th grader, Ahsan, had gotten into a fight with the DSP’s son while playing. Following the argument, the elder sons of the DSP beat up Ahsan. On Tuesday, the DSP along with other men came and beat up Ahsan and his family members. Punjab IGP ordered an enquiry. MonitoRing Desk
the cruise missiles test in it along with the ballistic missile. Another official said there was no understanding during the senior officials’ meeting on conventional CBMs, such as removal of heavy weapons from the Line of Control (LoC) in divided Himalayan region of Kashmir along with other CBMs like the proposed agreement on advance notification of military exercises, return of citizens crossing the border inadvertently to their respective countries and also a proposed pact on averting any incidents at sea. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry said Pakistan had proposed moving heavy artillery away from the Line of Control. “Pakistan has proposed to India to move 120-millimetre guns some 30 kilometres (18 miles) away from the Line of Control,” foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said.
four accused of BB murder being tried Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday said four of the people accused of Benazir Bhutto’s murder had been arrested and were being tried, adding that former president Pervez Musharraf would have to face the law too once he returns to the country. A private TV channel quoted Malik as saying that there was no inquiry underway regarding the visit of ISI General DG Shuja Pasha to London. MonitoRing Desk
SC to hear Continued from page 24 Asma contended that these petitions were not maintainable as the fundamental rights of the petitioners were not affected because of the memo issue, nor had they mentioned any such thing in their pleas. She said, however, that the fundamental rights of her client were affected because of these pleas as he was condemned unheard. She said it was not a matter of fundamental rights, instead a politically motivated game. She said the media was portraying his client as an accused because of the court’s December 1 order, which was passed without hearing him. The court told her that if she wanted, the media could
wednesday, 28 december, 2011
be restricted, but she said she would not demand that but would produce a judicial verdict to this effect. The chief justice told her the court had not restricted her client from going abroad and did not even pass any negative remarks against him, instead calling him a very respectable citizen. Asma contended that the memo was just an assumption, thus no fundamental rights of any one were infringed upon because of it. She said being an assumption, no forum for its probe was necessary. Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, however, noted that the law gave the right to the court to probe the matter and collect evidence. “The parliamentary committee also has the same right,” Asma
would take time to take hold. “Democracy with all its qualities will take time and sacrifices, which we are willing to make,” he said. “Let us on this day rededicate ourselves to the democratic mission of… Benazir Bhutto whose life was dedicated to fighting dictatorship and those seeking to defame and dismantle democratic institutions,” the president said. He said her assassination was a conspiracy to rid the world of its best weapon to combat international violent extremism. It was a conspiracy to rob Pakistan of its best hope to establish a fully functional democracy, he added. He declared himself completely fit, saying he wanted to make history, not headlines, in the media. The embattled president, who has recently been under treatment in Dubai after the memogate controversy surfaced, seemed very
energetic during his rare speech as he sought to stand behind his prime minister. “Tailor-made democracies don’t work. I don’t pay heed to anyone except Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, as he represents parliament,” he said. He praised Gilani for remaining steadfast and said he stood by him. He said those who were now jumping fences did not have any significant achievements to their credit. “Is this to derail real democracy, or an attempt to bring in some dictator?” he questioned. “You would not find Yousaf Raza Gilani stumbling at any stage,” the president said. He added that though in terms of protocol, Gilani reported to him, but in fact the prime minister was the leader of all. He said all forces were under parliament and he always listened to the prime minister because he represented the federation and was a representative of the people through parliament. The president said
he decided to hand over all powers to the prime minister as he wanted to nurture Pakistan’s nascent democracy. He asked the people and the party workers to remain steadfast and not to be deterred by temporary challenges. “Democracy can deliver and will deliver,” he said and asked how much time had been given to the nascent democracy. “It will take time for it to flourish,” he added. He said the chapter of Benazir assassination had reopened after former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice’s book surfaced. The president said he wanted to address the miseries of the Baloch people. “I want to resolve the matters within the parameters of the federation,” he said. “If the Baloch want to fight, they should learn from us how to fight,” he said. The president said in the same context that he gave an identity to the Pakhtuns and no one could take it back for centuries to come. Zardari also took a swipe
at the media, targeting TV talk shows in particular. He said he had advised his political leaders, party men and activists not to attend TV talk shows, which he said pitched politicians against each other. He also favoured a separate province in South Punjab and said “the people seek their rights from the Takht-e-Lahore (Throne of Lahore)”, referring to the Punjab government. President Zardari also said Pakistan had decided not to be part of any international war game. “We have decided not to join any ‘theatre of war’ that has nothing to do with us,” he said, adding that trade would rather be the top priority of Pakistan with the international community. The president also said Asefa, his daughter, would carry forward the legacy of Benazir Bhutto. The death anniversary came the same day the Supreme Court began deliberations on whether it could
A balanced address, but replete with messages No fireworks. It was expected, though the hotblooded agents of volatility had anticipated that President Asif Ali Zardari would make a confrontational speech with a strong message to the military establishment. Seen as a prelude to the president’s address in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s media talk a day earlier had unambiguously removed the suspicions about an imminent conflict between the army and the government. The president exercised restraint, albeit his address was evidently replete with messages for both internal and external audiences. Unlike his previous politically-loaded addresses on the death anniversaries of Benazir Bhutto, however, this time the president did not train his guns on his critics, political rivals and the military-led establishment – reconciliation with all was the bottom line of his speech. However, he did explicitly refer to the judiciary and registered his protest for - he candidly stated - judicial discrimination against the government and the Pakistan
People’s Party (PPP). But the most important question that remained unanswered was: Where are Benazir Bhutto’s killers? What surprised many was Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan’s comeback with a big bang after a long hibernation. He had chosen to take a backseat for the simple reason that some toadies had encircled the party’s high command and the ideologically committed vanguards, who had weathered all difficulties, were ignored. Though late, the president finally realised and Ahsan was again seen on the stage but this time with unprecedented respect, which he deserved, to the extent that he was asked to speak even after the last speaker – the president, who is also co-chairman of the PPP. Understandably, there was a method in this proverbial madness. While there were speculations that Aitzaz Ahsan, disenchanted with the party leadership, might say goodbye to the PPP and possibly join Imran Khan’s bandwagon, the president’s decision to invite him to speak after his address was well-calculated and the message to the disappointed party leaders and workers, who would probably be thinking of quitting the PPP,
was: stay around, we respect you and you are our assets. The president, like the Sharif brothers, appeared disturbed with the rise of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) as a third but formidable political force as he consumed a considerable amount of time to speak about it. He could not skip the latest political developments with top leaders of major political parties, including the PPP, joining the PTI, and without saying that the establishment was behind the cricketer-turned-politician, he said attempts were being made to introduce “tailor-made democracies” and asked: “Is this to derail real democracy, or an attempt to bring in some dictator?” Though he often praises the prime minister, it was for the first time that he lavishly did so. “I always listened to the prime minister because he represented the federation and was a representative of the people through parliament. He remained steadfast and stood by me … he is the leader of all. You would not find Yousaf Raza Gilani stumble at any stage,” the president said to remove the doubts about the prime minister that he might leave him in the lurch. While he did not make a direct comment on the memo
controversy that had dogged his relations with the army, he took a clear position that he would defend the constitution. “Our way will be that of Aung San Suu Kyi,” the president referred to the Burmese leader, known the world over for her struggle for democracy. His argument was that nothing supra-constitution would be allowed. His reference to the constitution was unmistakably for those he thought were intriguing to remove him. Frustrated with the United States for not supporting him to resolve Pakistan’s problems like the energy crisis despite its contribution in the war on terror and rather objecting to Islamabad’s efforts to improve trade relations with China and particularly with Iran, the president said: “We have decided not to join any ‘theatre of war’ which has nothing to do with us.” His categorical policy statement was that Pakistan would enter into trade pacts with the countries of its choice. “Your own economies are in trouble. Should I care for the children of my country or look after your interests?” he asked the US, without naming it. You do it your way, we will do it our way – that much was loud and clear to all inside and outside Pakistan.
contended. She said the court was hearing the ISI’s plea, but his client was not heard and a decision was given against him. She said if the ISI’s reports were examined, Wali Khan, Benazir Bhutto and many more - including members of the superior judiciary - would be found to have been stigmatised. She said the court only had to pay attention to the law, adding that it should not be worried about the security of the country’s frontiers, as other institutions were there for the purpose. She said the control of nuclear assets should be with the president and prime minister, as the army was not the sole owner of the nuclear assets, the entire nation was. She said further that Blackberry Messages of Mansoor Ijaz did not mention the memo. She said Ijaz had pub-
lished his article in the Financial Times after his meeting with the ISI chief. When Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq read out the federation’s rejoinders over the memo issue, the court asked him that if the memo was “just a piece of paper”, why was a meeting called in the Presidency over it? The chief justice observed that the Pakistani nation was a living nation, which did not tolerate the things written in the memo. He said the nation wanted there to be no compromise over the country’s interests and sovereignty. He said Benazir Bhutto was a great leader but there had been no progress in her assassination probe, despite Tuesday being her fourth death anniversary. He said a reference was filed to revisit the death sentence of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto, adding that the murder of former prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan was still a mystery. He noted that a reply was sought from the president over the memo issue, however he did not bother to file one, as maybe he did not deem it appropriate. He said there was no restriction on the courts to hear memo-like issues. In his arguments, the attorney general submitted that the Presidency had contradicted the alleged memo on October 29, whereas the prime minister had ordered its investigation on November 22. He said Haqqani had resigned before the meeting took place at the Presidency. To a court query, he said the memo was a matter of public interest but it was nothing more than a piece of paper, which did not infringe the fundamental rights of the petitioners. Justice
Jawwad S Khawaja responded that it would be ascertained after the probe whether the memo was just a piece of paper or something more. He said the Foreign Affairs Ministry had not contradicted the memo and had disowned it. When the chief justice repeatedly asked the attorney general that if the memo did not exist, why was Haqqani made to resign and why had the prime minister ordered an investigation into it, the attorney general stated that the court should wait for the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security over the issue and till that time the court should not hear the case. The court then adjourned further hearing for Wednesday (today), directing Asma Jehangir to conclude her arguments by then.
NewS ANAlySIS RANA QAISAR
open its own investigation into the memogate scandal. Zardari struck a defiant note, but noticeably refrained from attacking the military establishment at the rally. Tens of thousands of people gathered at Bhutto’s mausoleum on Tuesday, converging outside the heavily guarded perimeter of the compound to pay their respects, beating their chests and demanding that her killers be arrested. Around 6,000 policemen, hundreds of paramilitary officers, electronic gates, aerial surveillance and sniffer dogs were ensuring security, said police. “We want revenge. Arrest Benazir’s killers,” the mourners chanted, carrying party flags and photographs of Bhutto, eulogising her and her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also appealed for democracy to prevail in an editorial written in a local English-language newspaper.
BB killing probe Continued from page 1 He said first the judiciary was provoked “with a false impression that I wanted to de-notify the judges my government had restored”. “This was a conspiracy. Under the same situation, I also said on Monday that I did not want to let go of the army chief and ISI DG,” he added. The prime minister, however, reiterated that there should not be a parallel government. “When all secretaries had submitted their affidavits (with the government) and the secretary defence said that those institutions (army and ISI) did not fall under the government’s ambit, I said a state within the state was not acceptable,” he said. He defended the extension to the chief of army staff and the ISI DG, stating that generals were not changed in the middle of a war. “Under the same spirit, I had requested General Kayani to accept extension. This was not an appeal,” he asserted. To another query, Gilani said all the institutions fell under the government and their functions, whether operational or nonoperational, were also under the government. Regarding his statement submitted in the apex court regarding the press conference by former law minister Dr Babar Awan, the PM said Awan would himself respond for his conduct. Asked why the government had handed down the memo case to the parliamentary committee on national security if the memo was baseless and held no ground, Gilani said that it was not his decision and rather the civilian and military top brass was present in the meeting which took the unanimous decision. He said the nation already wanted to cut NATO supplies, but the decision was taken when the civilian and military leadership decided to. “The memo case was also referred to the committee after informing the president, army chief, and the ISI DG,” he maintained. However, late at night, a spokesman for the Prime Minister’s House called incorrect a news report run by several TV channels quoting Gilani as saying that investigation was underway into ISI DG’s visit to London in connection with the memo case. In a clarification, the spokesman said the prime minister had meant that the case was in court and sub judice.
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‘Deadly’ Liaquat Bagh reminds of Benazir PAGe 08
isLAMABAD: ppp and civil society activists gather at D-chowk during a candle vigil on 4th anniversary of shaheed Banazir Bhutto. STAFF PHoTo
No electricity, No life
Unannounced outages disturb life ISLAMABAD
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fAZAL sheR
HE hours-long unscheduled load-shedding in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad has badly affected the routine life of residents as well as the increased the miseries of students. The power supply company in the twin cities has resorted to over 10 to 12 hours of outages, which is adding to the miseries of the residents already haunted by the rising inflation and worsening law and order situation. “It has badly disturbed our life. The government needs to make some concrete efforts for the solution of this problem,” said a number of locals, while talking to Pakistan Today. “On one hand, the alarming in-
flation in the country is increasing miseries of people with each passing day, while on the other, the ongoing power cuts have further increase our burden as we could not meet the demands of our clients,” said a tailor Muhammad Ashraf.” “It has compelled us to purchase small power generators from the pocket money,” he said. The citizens said the load-shedding was not only affecting the routine life of people but also destroying the economy as it had affected business community and industrial sector. The power outages also affected the business of auto mechanics as they could not continue repairing of vehicles smoothly. “Due to these consistent power outages, our business has suffered significantly during this current wave of load shedding. It seems the government
wants to make the lives of citizens miserable, said a mechanic Zubair. A woman Salma, a resident of I8/4, said due to the unannounced load-shedding, one could not continue daily work smoothly. “When you want to press the uniform of kids or switch on the water pump, the power goes off.” “I have now decided to buy a generator from my savings.” A student, Asim Ali, said the ongoing tripping was badly affecting the research work besides routine studies. “Our labs are stocked with sophisticated equipment worth millions and some of them need electricity to keep them running round the clock,” he added. “Our course work is based upon laboratory and Internet research work, but due to the frequent loadshedding we could not continue our work,” he said. “I’m afraid if the sit-
uation remained same, I may not achieve my desired grades in current exams,” he expressed the fear. Muhammad Imran Khan, another student, said how a student would continue preparation during 7 to 8 hours power tripping. Jasim, a student of CA, said hours-long loading-shedding badly affecting the study hours. “My exam is approaching near, but I feel I would not appear in the coming exam due to the unavailability of light during study hours.” A shopkeeper Naeem Ahmad said, “Load-shedding has ruined our business as there is rare to get power supply in evening.” Most of the shopkeepers have purchased generators and UPS but it could not fulfill their requirements because of hourslong load shedding.
Capital’s traffic police to use speed cameras ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt
The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has obtained new cameras to monitor vehicular speed on the city roads. These gadgets will be installed at all the main boulevards of the city to control overspeeding as well as rash driving by the motorists. Traffic Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Moeen Masood said that in a meeting held here at his office on Tuesday, said a press statement issued here.
He said all the police officials would be given training about the use of the new technology. The meeting was attended, among others, by Traffic SP Mir Vaiz Niaz, all zonal DSPs, and others. The SSP said that it was the top priority of ITP to ensure road discipline in the city and utmost efforts were being made to accomplish this task. He said over-speeding was the main cause of road accidents and ITP personnel were working very efficiently to control that violation to make Islamabad an accident-free city.
Masood said the cameras would be installed initially at Margallah Road, the 7th avenue, Islamabad Expressway, Kashmir Highway, Murree Road, Park Road and other important avenues. He said that ITP would launch an educational campaign to control speed violations and special brochures would be also distributed to disseminate a message on road safety. Masood directed all the beat officers to give recommendations for better traffic flow in their respective areas. He urged the officials to ensure full implementation of traffic rules.
AAUR students protest for degrees’ recognition ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt
The students of the Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (AAUR) staged Tuesday a demonstration outside the Higher Education Commission (HEC). They were protesting against Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council (PVMC) and AAUR for not recognising their degrees. Carrying placards and banners in their hands, dozens of protesting students assembled outside the HEC building to slam AAUR and PVMC for not awarding them the PVMCapproved degrees. “It’s a responsibility of the HEC to tell the varsity to give us the PVMC-approved degrees… as at the time of admissions we were assured of the same degree,” said Arshad Khan a student. The students have been protesting for the last five several days at various venues including at Parade Ground against the non-accreditation of their degrees. Later, however, on the request of HEC high-ups, a group of protesting students had a meeting with HEC advisor on HRD Dr Riaz Hussain Qureshi and other officials. They assured the
students that the HEC would take up the issue with AAUR and PVMC. Upon that the students ended their protest. “The HEC has assured BSc (Veterinary Sciences) students that it would resolve the issue of their degrees’ recognition with the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council (PVMC),” said a press release issued here. During the meeting, the students voiced their concerns. Dr Qureshi assured them that the HEC was fully cognizant of their problem and hoped it would be resolved on priority basis. “We shall hold a meeting in which representatives of PVMC and your university will be invited to discuss the reservations of the council so that deficiency, if any, may be removed and your degrees are duly recognised,” he said. Dr Qureshi said that this will also pave the way for veterinary students of other four universities to get their degrees recognised. These include Islamia University, Bahawalpur, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, Uthal and University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad.
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06 Islamabad
wednesday, 28 december, 2011
corruptioN is a Norm!
Free passes sold at drama festival friends Production’s team mints money by selling invitation cards to university students g Surprised PNCA management manages to deal with the issue amicably
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ISLAMABAD
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MAhtAB BAshiR
HE tentacles of corruption have entangled the society to an extent that not only the top officials of public sector organisations are off and on gulped by them, but the educated youth of public sector educational institutions are also not an exception. The latest example was witnessed during the 16th stage play of the ‘National Drama Festival 2011’ ‘Ishq’, produced by Islamabad’s ‘Friends Production’, at the auditorium of Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) the other night. The PNCA administration handed over 100 free entry passes to every drama production team director and producer to promote theatre art among the youth, but
‘Friends Production’ team officials distributed those free cards to their kith and kin, studying in different educational institutions of twin cities who distributed those free passes among the various universities students at Rs 500 each for two persons. Though, the drama was based on the philosophy of Divine Love to Almighty Allah, yet the production team has been found involved allegedly in corrupt practices as this scribe observed a long queue of university students of Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU), Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), NUST, SZABIST, and NUML standing outside the gates of PNCA in a freezing cold holding entry passes, which were originally free. The alleged corruption of ‘Friends Production’ team not only surprised many students when they came to know
that these entry passes were free of cost, while the PNCA administration was also astonished. “Though, we are late because of weekend traffic mess, it is our right to go inside and watch the play as we have spent our money. It is freezing cold here, and we are with our family members,” said Sana, a student of FJWU who bought four passes for her family, adding that she purchased these passes from her university. Maria, another student, said it was not mentioned on the passes that they were free. Lamenting over the sinister motive, she said these sort of corrupt intentions were enough to distort one’s image. The PNCA at first refused to allow entry to the late comers, but later allowed them, before the situation got worse. The management not only resolved the matter
amicably by not only accommodating all of them, but also gave them six free entry passes for the next stage plays. When contacted, Hassan Abbas Raza, the chief coordinator of the drama festival, refuted the selling of free passes. “These are just rumours,” he claimed. However, PNCA Director Media Waqar Hanif resolved the matter amicably and invited all students to come into his office and write an application mentioning their names and educational institutions to take up the issue for a sterna action. “It was a sad incident and if it was not controlled peacefully, the angry students might have created chaos inside the PNCA premises,” Hanif said. Talking to Pakistan Today, Hanif said the PNCA had provided 100 free entry passes to all production teams. “The director and producer of stage play ‘Ishq’ obtained 100 more passes for this play and they handed them over to unknown persons who distributed these free passes to different universities of
twin cities at the rate of Rs 500,” he said. Waqar promised legal action against the ‘Friends Production Islamabad’ if they found guilty, adding that the PNCA would ban their entry. When contacted Farhan Mughal, the writer of the play ‘Ishq’ whose brother Usman is one of the accused persons, said it was impossible and there was no truth in the reported accusations. “There is no proof of the allegation that is being fabricated against the production team,” Mughal maintained. This scribe also learnt that the ‘Friends Production’ was formerly a part of Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) Dramatic Club, but they were removed because of the mischievous attitude. Later, they formed their own theatre group, while the official QAU Dramatic Club was still working at the varsity. Directed by Saadia Shahid, the stage play ‘Ishq’ was based on the philosophy of ‘Ishq-e-Haqeeqi’ and ‘Ishq-e-Majazi’, but it ultimately gave the message of ‘lust for money’.
Govt can boost local, foreign investment: IPO ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRteR
isLAMABAD: A broken footpath and nazim-ud-Din Road need the cDA’s attention. STAFF PHoTo
Majority of Pakistanis have no access to potable water: report ISLAMABAD: People in developing countries have no access to safe drinking water and in Pakistan, the vast majority of the country’s 180 million inhabitants do not have access to clean potable water. According to a report of Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), the best rural water supply amongst the provinces is in Punjab where only 7% of the rural population depends on a dug well or a river, canal or stream. In Sindh, some 24% of the rural population depends on these sources. The rural water supply situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan is worst as about 46% and 72% respectively of the rural population depend on water from a dug well or from a river or canal. Talking to APP, PCRWR Chairman Dr Aslam Tahir said most of the people in developing countries do not routinely think whether or not the water they are going to drink is safe. App
Journalists’ Panel wins NPC elections again this year ISLAMABAD: The Journalists Panel Tuesday made a clean sweep in the National Press Club (NPC) elections. It was their sixth consecutive win. All the candidates of the panel won the elections by a huge margin. According to the results announced on Tuesday, Farooq Faisal Khan of Journalist Panel has been elected President of NPC for year 2011-12. He got 590 votes while his opponent Kamal Azfar of Muttahida Panel bagged 274 votes. Shehriar Khan was elected as NPCA secretary by securing 591 votes, his opponent Baqir Sajjad Syed got 275. Similarly Afzal Javid of the Journalists Panel was elected finance secretary. Javid bagged 586 votes while his opponent Ikram Bokhari could get 285 votes. The successful candidates for Vice Presidents for Journalist Panel were Asim Ali Rana with 622 votes, Syed Amir Sajjad with 483 votes and Syed Ijaz Ahmed with 446 votes.
For the three slots of joint secretary, Attaullah Rajar with 591 votes, Nasir Mahmood 458 votes and Sagheer Ahmed with 570 votes were declared winners respectively. Those who were elected as members of the NPC Governing Body included Anwar Raza, Abdul
Rasheed Khan, Asghar Chaudhry, Asim Yasin, Azhar Abidi, Bashir Usmani, Farhat Abbas, Javid Qureshi, Mubarik Zeb Khan, Muhammad Rizwan, Shahid Mahmood Malik, Shahnaz Tatari, Shahmim Anwar Khan, Syed Abrar Kanwal and Yasir Mailk. stAff RepoRt
Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) Pakistan Chairman Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi said here on Tuesday that Pakistan had great potential for local and foreign investment and the government too was committed to bring economic stability by encouraging trade and commerce activities in the country. He stated this in a meeting of the American Business Council (ABC) and Overseas Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OCCI). The IPO chairman said that after upgrading infrastructure and strengthening of the IP regime, the legislation process of IP was in its final stage and with the cooperation of World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) training courses of IP professionals and representatives of stakeholders were progressing effectively. He further said that appropriate measures had been adopted to upgrade the facilities in the offices of IP Registries and an automation project in this regard was also being implemented. Highlighting the role of corporate sector in promotion of IP, Afridi said the enforcement mechanism had been upgraded by seeking close cooperation of the members of enforcement agencies and areas of mutual cooperation would be explored between IPO and Trade organisations. It was also pointed out in the meeting that vigorous media campaign was underway for the elimination of counterfeiting and piracy besides creating awareness regarding punitive actions against violation of IP rights.
debate contest at IIUI today ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt
The International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC), is organising ‘14th All Pakistan Inter-University Debate Contest’ for award of Allama Iqbal Shield at the regional level on Wednesday (today) at 2pm. The debate contest, to be held at Quaide-Azam Auditorium, Faisal Mosque Campus, will be chaired by IIUI President Dr Mumtaz Ahmad.
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wednesday, 28 december, 2011
Islamabad 07
‘Stop dumping mutilated bodies’ ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt
Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday, while discussing the worsening human rights situation in Balochistan, unanimously demanded an immediate end to the ongoing security operation in the province and recovery of bullet-ridden bodies. They also called for releasing the missing persons and judicial investigation for unlawful crimes against humanity to peacefully resolve the violent Balochistan conflict. The consensus emerged during a national seminar on ‘Human Rights Situation in Balochistan’, jointly organised by Sungi Development Foundation and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) at a local hotel. Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo said missing persons and bullet-ridden bodies was one of the major issues in Balochistan. “The state itself has been the major violator of human rights in Balochistan and the province presents the 18th century picture, where people have no human rights at all.” He said the day the Prime minister of Pakistan announced the Balochistan package, the mutilated bodies started appearing and it still continued in the province. “The resentment of Baloch people has genuine reasons. Unfortunately, the security establishment does not have the vision and will to address the issues,” he added. “They are even not ready to accept the human rights violations.” He said no civilian government was able to deal with the problem and they had been only interested in completing their tenures peacefully without addressing the core issues, resulting in the conflict.”
isLAMABAD: Labourers wait for work in the capital. STAFF PHoTo
Khaas Gallery opens Akbar Ali’s ‘Angels or Demons’ g
Artists’ subjects are today’s young men and women who forsake their cultural values while imitating western cultural ISLAMABAD
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MAhtAB BAshiR
HE contemporary world of art in Pakistan is not static and the young lot of brilliant artists is making unique experiments and statements on the artistic horizon through their works. One such miniature artist is Akbar Ali who showcased his 18 miniature art pieces at Khaas Gallery on Tuesday with the theme that society without knowing the identity and value of its own mimicking the western world. With the title ‘Angels or Demons’ Akbar Ali, a graduate of National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore in his cache of 18 paintings working in gouache on wasli, silver and gold leaf on walsi displayed the
different flavours and depth of horizons of today’s young men and women who have forsaken their own cultural values and while imitating the western cultural values often ends with losing the both. Akbar, 31 has also commented strongly on the contemporary world filled with fake romances and had painted the thoughtful images of the decline of human values and humanity. The artists, who won the ‘Best Young Painter Award- 2010’ by Lahore Arts Council, with a four years artistic background after graduation is teaching at various universities in modern art. However, surprisingly, Akbar, who belongs to Sanjarpur (Sadiqabad), has chosen miniature art painting as his medium of expression because of its long old history. While having a quick walk around the
gallery, Akbar Ali told Pakistan Today that the title of his art painting is a naughty young character who is a also a son of his guru. I painted him with the backdrop of downing sun because he resembles to a bubbly character of Krishnawho is often described as an infant or young boy playing a flute in Hindu mythology. The use of spoon, fork and churner (madhani) partially wrapped in fabric looks ridiculous to many but Akbar very seriously portrayed all three in a single painting saying “Fork and Spoon symbolizes a romantic couple while churner (madhani) between them is like of mother who knows everything but refuses to comment- perhaps she shows her satisfaction over this relationship.” The dating couples of different ages
are the feature of Akbar Ali’s artwork. While commenting on one of his paintings, Akbar said this is an Indian (water carrier) who lives his life laboring all day and consequently, got spots and rashes but he loves everything that’s why he does not show his physique to others but here I have wrapped his love into a fabric, he said. Akbar has lived his young life travelling from Karachi to Sadiqabad to Lahore, and Islamabad thus is familiar with all the provincial and regional languages and experiences of cultural lives of those people. “This is modern young man of Karachi, he is a completely confused person because he wears whatever he gets. This is because he does not aware of his own identity or originality and that is the core element this society is declining be-
cause people are oblivion of their values, culture and social norms,” Akabar kept on saying. Similarly, an Italian model is shown in couple of Akbar’s miniature art that again indicates the model is not aware of her own identity and culture but some one is exploiting her for his own sinister motives. Akbar said that fabric and in particular army uniform cloth piece is an integral part of his art work because he does not want to expose illegal commercial means and relationships based upon materialistic gains as for young Akbar “Different personalities that exist within society, focusing on their acceptance or rejection by the very society that has been there creator.” The exhibition will continue at Khaas Gallery (House 1, Street 2, F-6/3), till 2 January, 2012.
Students’ group painting exhibition begins at RAC RAWALPINDI stAff RepoRt
isLAMABAD: A poor family collects firewood for their home. STAFF PHoTo
A group of students from various educational institutes showcased their artwork, featuring diverse mediums and themes. The show started at the Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) here on Tuesday. Renowned artist Tasneem Abbas inaugurated the exhibition. The exhibition was aimed to promote art and culture of all the Pakistani provinces. As many as 21 students from painting and calligraphy class of RAC also participated in the exhibition. More than hundred art pieces were displayed on the occasion. The paintings comprised landscapes, historical buildings, and pictures of famous personalities, and calligraphy. The artists used pencil, poster,
water and oil colours as mediums of painting. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Tasneem Abbas said truthfulness and love for art reflected in the work of students. He said that with the passage of time they would exhibit more maturity in their work. RAC Resident Director Waqar Ahmed said the institute, as a platform for young artists would continue its struggle to promote art and culture in the country. Students who participated in the event included Bushra, Fehmina Irshad, Hassan, Ibrar Iftikhar, Maaz Irfan, Samad Bin Ramzan, Tahir Saleem, Younis Roomi, Zeeshan Bhatti, Nida Habib, Noshina Kanwal, Rubina Qureshi, Saba Adeel, Sadaf Zeeshan, Sadia Munsif, Sidra Kanwal, Sara, Shugfta Urooj, Salma Bibi, Sana Sadiq and Hassan Shan. The exhibition will continue for one week.
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08 Islamabad ‘Deadly’ Liaquat Bagh 16high°C reminds of Benazir 06°C wednesday, 28 december, 2011
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sALMAn ABBAs
HE Liaquat National Bagh, situated in garrison city of Rawalpindi has significance in Pakistan’s history due to its bloody history, as the venue has seen two political assassinations, that of Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan and Benazir Bhutto. The Liaquat National Bagh, usually just referred to as Liaquat Bagh, is a famous park on Murree Road. It was formerly known as Municipal Park, but was renamed after the assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan in 1951. It is known as a place for political gatherings and speeches. Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on 27 December 2007 while leaving after an election rally. Many residential neighbourhoods, including Arya Mohalla, are also located in the vicinity. Every year on December 27, the said park attracts the PPP workers, that is ‘Jiyalas’, as place of martyrdom of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is also located outside the park, where she delivered her last speech. Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, when she was campaigning ahead of 2008 elections. Shots were fired at her after a political rally, which was followed by a suicide bombing. Twenty-four other people were killed by the bombing. On Tuesday, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Rawalpindi chapter once again arranged a grand public gathering in front of Liaquat Bagh in which the central and local leaders of PPP including Senator Babar Awan, MPA Nargis Faiz Malik and others participated. Talking to Pakistan Today, Nargis Faiz Malik said the Liaquat Bagh was not an ordinary park for them and had become a sacred place for them for being the place of martyrdom of their leader. She said her party had given enormous and unmatched sacrifices for democracy. Addressing the gathering, she said no one could defeat the PPP, adding that PMLN chief Nawaz Sharif always tried come into power through unjustified means and he was again using the memo issue for his own political interests. Other party leaders also conveyed a clear message to the political rivals that all the leaders of other political parties would first have to made sacrifices like Bhuttos for defeating the PPP.
Senator Babar Awan criticised all the political leaders, who talked about revolution, saying the revolution could not come through ‘turncoats’. A grand stage has also been established in the park for the gatherings and the Rawalpindi
Development Authority is responsible for the renovation of the Liaquat Bagh. However, the poor condition of the park shows that the authorities concerned are not doing enough to preserve the site, which not less than a shrine for the PPP activists.
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alif laam meem
maNsoor rahi's exhibitioN
capoeira isltowN
COlleGeS / UNIverSITIeS INTerNATIONAl ISlAMIC UNIverSITy 9260765 BAhrIA UNIverSITy 9260002 NUMl 9257677 qUAId-e-AzAM UNIverSITy 90642098 ArId AGrICUlTUre UNIverSITy 9290151 fJwU 9273235 rIPhA INTerNATIONAl UNIverSITy 111510510 NCA rAwAlPINdI 5770423 PUNJAB lAw COlleGe 4421347
dATe: deC 21 - 31, 2011 veNUe: JhArOKA ArT GAllery ISlAMABAd
dATe: deC 22, 2011 - JAN 05, 2012 veNUe: GAllery lOUvre ISlAMABAd
Please join us for the opening reception of “alif laam meem” A group exhibition of recent work of Calligraphy by Arif Khan, hamid Nasir & Muhammad Anwar On Thursday,dec 22nd ,2011 At 4:30pm preview december 21st ,11 am Onwards The exhibition on Continue till dec 31st , 2011 Gallery hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 6pm
Gallery louvre Islamabad invites you to the solo exhibition of Mansoor rahi. The exhibition will be showcasing all three sketching school of thought by the artist Synergy; a mix of harsh and soft sketching medium Iconography: a sketch developed by singular line without ant support or color.
dATe ANd TIMe: every frIdAy 6:30-7:30PM veNUe: KhAAS ArT GAllery ISlAMABAd Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dancing, ritual combat & music in a unique synthesis of self defense and rhythm.
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wednesday, 28 december, 2011
News 09
People sick of politics of inheritance: Imran PTI chief says party striving for elimination of ancestral politics from country g Khan gaining foreign media’s attention g Guardian says Khan’s rising popularity cause for concern for US g los Angeles Times calls Karachi rally impressive, says Khan ‘has emerged as a force in the anarchic political situation of Pakistan’ g
ISLAMABAD/LoNDoN
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onLine
HE people of Pakistan are fed up with “politics of inheritance”, which has held the country hostage in the name of protection of democracy, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said on Tuesday. In an interview with an Iranian TV channel, Khan these politicians had stashed money in their off shore accounts and had assets in foreign countries. “These rulers are paying no tax and are imposed on the country,” he said adding that the
world. Therefore, they stepped up efforts to secularise Muslim societies,” he said. “It was our bad luck that western countries view us pro-west, moderate or liberal,” he added. MeDIA AtteNtION: Apart from making headlines on front pages in Pakistan in the recent months, the cricketer-turnedpolitician has also attracted the attraction of the foreign media. Newspapers abroad gave much importance to the PTI’s public meeting in Karachi which many said was one of the biggest held in recent years.Guardian reported over100,000 people attended the public meeting, which
people of Pakistan wanted to get rid of these politicians now. “I am striving to eliminate ancestral politics from the country,” he said. He said the people of all Muslim countries wanted democracy to be put in place in their respective countries. “People are sick of these corrupt and puppet rulers who want to impose foreign agenda upon them against their will and aspirations,” Khan said. He said Western countries wanted to secularise Muslim societies by extending assistance to pro-West Muslim countries. “Following the revolution in Iran, western countries felt threatened that the Islamic wave had swept entire Muslim
strengthened the perception that Khan’s strength in the political arena was increasing by the day. The newspaper said the reason for his rising popularity was his stance against corruption and the United States’ war on terror.Guardian said Khan was very popular in the urban-middle class and most of the youngsters that attended Sunday’s gathering wore western dresses. The British newspaper said Khan’s rising popularity was a cause for concern for the US because of his criticism of US policies, particularly the drone attacks in the Tribal Areas. However, the paper said it was not clear how much electoral success
he could achieve. The Telegraph, another British newspaper, said the Karachi meeting had made Khan’s position in Pakistan’s politics more prominent. Los Angeles Times called the public meeting impressive and said Khan had emerged as a force in the anarchic political situation of Pakistan. It said Khan’s campaign had gained momentum at a time when the ruling PPP was facing a lot of problems. The newspaper said “Khan’s pace shows he can win the elections”. Top Indian newspapers, including the Hindustan Time, The Hindu and the Times of India also gave prominent coverage to Khan’s massive rally in Karachi.
Moonis Elahi dropped from ECL
IndustrIalIsts of faIsalabad unIte! Industrialists burning sui gas bills during a demonstration against the prolonged gas outages in faisalabad. oNLINE
ISLAMABAD inp
The Interior Ministry has removed the name of Chaudhry Moonis Elahi, son of Senior Federal Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, from the Exit Control List (ECL) after his acquittal of the notorious multibillion National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) scam. Sources in the ministry said that soon after his acquittal, Moonis moved an application at the ministry for the removal of his name from the ECL. They said the ministry allowed him a one-time travel outside country, after which Moonis left for the United Kingdom, but has not returned so far. Sources informed that after getting instruction from higher authorities, Moonis was completely dropped from the list. The NICL case is still pending before the court, however the two main accused, Chaudhry Moonis Elahi and Ayaz Niazi, have been acquitted by trial courts. In one of its recent proceedings on the case, the Supreme Court, which took a suo motu notice of the scam, expressed annoyance over Moonis’ acquittal and his subsequent departure.
$5.5b World Bank loan must be rejected, says Workers Party Says need to hold govt, wB responsible for failed projects g wB, IMf, AdB agreements must be placed before parliament for approval g
LAHoRE pRess ReLeAse
Worker’s Party Pakistan (WPP) on Tuesday condemned the World Bank (WB) announcement that it plans to offer the government of Pakistan $5.5 billion over the next two years. It demanded the government and WB accountable for failed WB-funded projects and the pursuit of neoliberal macroeconomic policies. It such policies have left working Pakistanis impoverished and left the country indebted and incapacitated due to an annual debt repayment burden equal to 35% of the annual budget. It demanded that any new agreement between the government and the WB or
its sister institutions International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) must be placed before parliament and be made subject to full public scrutiny. It so criticised opposition parties such as the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that were speaking a rhetoric of ‘self-reliance’ and ‘sovereignty’ without questioning the control exercised by international financial institutions (IFIs). WPP President Abid Hasan Minto and Information Secretary Aasim Sajjad said the most insidious form of imperialist control exerted over Pakistan was that in the form of neoliberal policies and multilateral debt but mainstream political parties, media and intelligentsia ignore both the
short-term and long-term effects of the IFI-imposed policies. They said all mainstream party expect to sign loan agreements with IFIs when in power, as even the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal did the same when in power in KP between 2002-8. The WPP leaders called attention to the fact that no attempt had been made to account for the devastation caused by a number of mega water projects funded by the WB and ADB including the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD), which directly contributed to the flooding of Badin and other coastal districts in Sindh. The WPP leaders said it was strange that the bureaucracy was still a willing accomplice to the WB despite its project failures.
imran’s biggest challenge lies ahead ARIf TAj Imran Khan’s agenda for reforms fascinates a lot of people in the country and a sizable educated urban middle class, especially the youth, supports his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), which has become the biggest threat to the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz ... the two largest parties in the country representing hereditary or despotic politics. That sizable educated urban middle class has been the PTI’s real power base from the beginning owing to its reforms
agenda. That middles class was interpreted as the biggest challenge to the conventional hereditary politics in Pakistan, which earlier had witnessed a number of constitutions, military dictators and democratic elected parliaments and they all remained subservient to the hereditary politicians who largely ran the governments like personal fiefdoms. Imran, whose family had never been active in politics, was a new face in politics and his reformist agenda for social justice, as signified by the name of his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, led many educated urban people to rally around the PTI. The educated middle class, the PTI’s support base, was interpreted to be a force to spearhead the PTI’s reformist cause and pose a serious threat to conventional polit-
ical dynasties, which, in the view of the middles class, have brought the country on the verge of disaster. That urban middle class was also interpreted as a class committed to the country with a greater degree of sincerity and commitment. The reformist agenda converged many of the middle class liberals, conservatives, seculars and religious minds to a single point — that the country needs to be saved from disaster. Bringing people from such divergent views together and keeping them intact are not a plain sailing and Imran’s reformist agenda could fall prey to the same. The challenge Imran is going to face in the upcoming days that is how to keep balance between idealistic and pragmatic politics, how to put hereditary politics to an end while playing
conventional politics and how to maintain liberal posture to the world without losing conservative support within the country. These questions have become more important when flocks of ‘electables’ representing the country’s long-time hereditary political dynasties entered the PTI’s fold. Many in the PTI fear that the educated middles class is likely to deplete in the coming days as several scions of political dynasties have taken the front seats of the PTI bandwagon. Whether Imran would be able to weld pragmatic and idealistic politicians, the electables and the middles class, the liberal and the conservatives together is yet to be seen. Imran would have to walk a tight rope in the days ahead.
Balochistan may become East Pakistan, says Senator Saifullah
ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt
Faulty policies from current and previous rulers mean Balochistan might face a situation like East Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League-Likeminded (PML-LM) President Senator Salim Saifullah said on Tuesday In a meeting with PML-LM Balochistan President Noor Khan Tarin, Saifullah said, “Despite being the biggest province in terms of size and resources, Balochistan was less developed and its people are still striving to obtain basic rights.” Joined by Asif Memon, who was appointed PML-LM Central Joint Secretary, the politicians discussed the country’s political situation. Tarin briefed Saifullah on the situation in Balochistan and the grave consequences of ignoring it. Tarin said 75 percent of Balochistan was dependent on agriculture but governments had neglected this to the point that Balochistan’s agriculture land had converted to desert. He said no developmental projects had been implemented in Balochistan and target killings, unemployment, hostages, bribing and terrorism had become the norm.
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10 News
wednesday, 28 december, 2011
USAId awards scholarships to 44 teacher-students PeSHAWAR: United States awarded scholarships to 44 students on Tuesday in a ceremony held at the Regional Institute of Teacher Education (RITE) Male, Peshawar. The scholarships of Rs 20,000 per semester are being provided to students enrolled in the recently launched Associate Degree in Education (AED) and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) (Hons.) programs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The USAID awarded scholarships to 44 Teacher Students from KP through its PreService Teacher Education. Beside others the ceremony was attended by KP Elementary & Secondary Education Minister Sardar Hussain Babak, Secretary Education Mushtaq Jadoon, , Director Curriculum Attaullah Khan;, USAID Senior Education Advisor Muhammad Tariq Khan; and USAID PreSTEP Chief of Party Dr Mahmoodul Hassan Butt. Addressing the students, USAID Education Advisor Muhammad Tariq Khan said, “The US government is pleased to cooperate with the Government of Pakistan to create educational opportunities throughout the country. We want to help young Pakistanis pursue their education and contribute to building a better future for their country.” STAFF REPoRT
Journalists, analysts give feedback to Abbottabad commission ISLAMABAD: Around a dozen journalists, political and defence commentators on Tuesday appeared before the Abbottabad commission and briefed the commission on their input about the US raid on the compound alleged used by Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. The commission which met at the cabinet division under the chairmanship of Justice (r) Javed Iqbalheld an interactive session with Dr Shireen Mazari, Nasim Zahra, Rahimullah Yusufzai, Saleem Bukhari, Fahad Hussain, Dr Farrukh Saleem, Dr Maria Sultan, Saleem Safi, Brig (r) Shaukat Qadir, Air Cdr (r) Sajjad Haider, and Asif Ezdi, a retired diplomat.Commission members Ashraf Jehangir Qazi and Lt Gen (r) Nadeem Ahmed also attended the session. STAFF REPoRT
Terror accused arrested ISLAMABAD: Dr Arshad, a key accused wanted by security agencies for killing four security men in Pir Chamabl, was arrested on Tuesday. Dr Arshad, a commander of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, had been operating along with his group in the area of Pir Chamabal in Chakwal and left the place after killing four security men in November. “Dr Arshad was arrested from a village near Phularwan, Sargodha from the house of a woman”, sources told Pakistan Today, adding that some of his companions were also under police custody. Sources said that Dr Arshad was also wanted by police in connection with kidnappings of many people, including former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer’s son Shahbaz Taseer. They said that Dr Arshad had kidnapped two people, Haji Nawaz, owner of a school, and Mudassir, both natives of Pind Dadan Khan and they were released by him after receiving ransom money worth Rs 20 million and 0.8 million respectively. Dr Arshad had got his beard and moustaches shaved off, sources said. Police had already arrested around 20 people suspecting them of having ties with Dr Arshad and his group. STAFF REPoRT
a CHIld at WorK: a young boy busy at work at a workshop in Quetta.
oNLINE
Turncoats can bring no revolution: Awan g
Says rumour factories will close down soon ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt
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OCKING the claims made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during its gathering in Karachi, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Senator Babar Awan said on Tuesday that the people who are talking about revolution must understand revolution cannot come through ‘turncoats’. “Whether the turncoats belong from Multan or from Rawalpindi, they cannot bring any type of revolution,” he said while addressing a public meeting organized by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Rawalpindi chapter in connection with the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in front of Liaqat Bagh. Pointing towards Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, the PPP leader said the so-called ‘Khadim-e-Ala of Punjab’ cannot follow the agenda of Qauid-e-Azam by singing old songs nor is it possible to follow the Qauid’s vision by singing songs of ‘Billo’. He said those who claim to be taking on the PPP should first render the sacrifices which the PPP leadership
rendered for democracy and the welfare of the country. Continuing his tirade against PTI chairman, former law minister said that the so-called leader of youngsters did not bother to pay tribute at the shrine of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on his birthday anniversary despite being there for more than eight hours. “His attitude
makes clear to everyone how much he (Imran) respects the Quaid,” he added. He said the time had come for PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to implement the promises made to the PPP in the charter of democracy. RuMOuR fActORIeS: Separately, addressing reference held in commemoration of Benazir Bhutto at Rawalpindi Press Club under the aegis of People’s Lawyers Forum, Babar Awan said rumour factories will cease to function in the country. He said some people are afraid that the roots of democracy would strengthen if the elected government completed five years. Separately, addressing the Chakwal Bar Council, Awan said the PPP will follow its manifesto on the Bhutto reference case and bring facts to the forefront. Addressing the Chakwal Bar Council, he said no one had taken the to come forward to plead Bhutto case, which was why I left my ministry to defend the innocent prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He said, “The mission of my life is to bring justice to the Bhutto. He added he was sure the Supreme Court will take a decision on the Bhutto case soon.
‘N’ Gujranwala public rally… the countdown begins GUjRANWALA MuhAMMAD shAfique
The countdown for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to show its popularity has begun as it will stage its much awaited public rally at Jinnah Stadium in Gujranwala on Saturday December 31. The PML-N has nearly shifted its political capital from Lahore to Gujranwala for the sake of its honour and restoration of its political supremacy in the country. Gujranwala is labeled the fort of the PMLN. Hamza Shahbaz, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood Ahmad
General elections will be on schedule, says firdous Awan
and many stalwarts of the PML-N have been on their toes for last two weeks to directly contact party workers as well as the people to convince them to be a part of its public rally at Jinnah Stadium where a minimum of 100, 000 people are expected to come. Gujranwala is a city where the PML-N clean swept last the general elections after Lahore. However, the party has been facing problems due to a lack of direct contact of its MNAs, MPAs and office-bearers with the people. Although, citizens have been witnessing unprecedented development work in the city, a socio-political phenomenon
has been lacking in the city which is now creating problems for the ruling PML-N here. The party has also been experiencing problems after being left by one of its most senior leaders, Javed Hashmi. In such circumstances, Hamza along with MNA Khuram Dastgir, is now visiting each and every union council of the city to convince the people to come to Jinnah Stadium on Saturday. The PML-N has already lost its one of the seasoned campaigners, SA Hameed who joined the PTI last month and the dent he caused in the party is being repaired these days. After getting an overwhelming ma-
jority in the last elections, the PML-N MNAs and MPAs ignored their vote bank and their contact with the people in the last three years. The masses retaliated by not participating in the part’s political activities last month due to which the PML-N was forced to cancel its rally. Now this gap is being reprimanded by party elites and half a dozen meetings are arranged daily. The party has been claiming the city as its fort in the past and it would be consolidated now. The outcome of the rally would leave its impression at the national level vis-à-vis the party’s political worth.
SuKKuR: General elections in the country will be held according to schedule in 2013, Federal Information Minister Dr Firdous Aashiq Awan said on Tuesday. She was talking to journalists at Sukkur Airport. “Political activities prior to polls strengthen democratic culture, however, attempts to create political instability under pretext of these pre poll activities will lead to problems,” Firdous said. The minister said that former PM and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto had lit the lamp of democracy with her blood due to which parliament was shining. “Future of the country lies in democracy and existence of all political parties depends on its continuity”, she said. Firdous said that the PPP believed in the power of the ballot and would hail any change brought through public vote. “The PPP government enjoys the public mandate and any change forced through unconstitutional means will never lead to stability,” she said. The minister said that Benazir had sacrificed her life for the principle of reconciliation and it had given the much needed strength to political culture in the country. The nascent democracy needed impetus and close cooperation among different political parties to strengthen democratic culture in the country, Firdous said. “The situation in the country demands unity among political workers and their parties,” she said. The minister said that mutual respect and confidence among politicians was needed to thwart international conspiracies against democracy. Firdous said that the PPP had strictly followed the policy of reconciliation and it was for the first time in the nation’s history that maximum number of standing and steering committees of the parliament were headed by opposition members. APP
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wednesday, 28 december, 2011
Editor’s mail 11 dilemma for the youth
where do we stand? The tsunami, as Imran Khan’s supporters like to call his movement, has wiped the whole Pakistani nation. The waves of this tsunami are uncontrollable at this stage. If you ask anyone to single out a reason for this massive support for Imran Khan, the most common response would be: Imran Khan is an honest person. He vows to put a full stop to the corruption engulfing the nation. I am not going to go into the debate of to what extent is Imran Honest or what guarantees that he will keep his party workers, the recently added ones, away from corruption when he gets into power. In fact, my focus of writing is to point out the levels of corruption at the lower echelons: at individual levels. What right do we have when we vent our anger at our political leaders for the level of corruption they do? Do we really deserve honest leaders who can pull the
country out of this plague? What do the talk shows aim to achieve by blaming those in power for the causes of all evils in the society? I agree that the leaders of a democratic government should be held accountable for their actions to the people who voted for them but hoping that the ones elected will act as messiahs and eradicate all vile practices in the society, the foremost being corruption, without changing ourselves does not make much sense to me. You sit in a taxi and have a little chat with the driver, and the conversation would revolve around the driver’s frustration with the elected party with one statement being the centre of everything: They have taken away all the wealth and left us with inflation. I ask do these taxi drivers really deserve this freedom to complaint. During the days when there is no gas, the taxi drivers increase their
fares and use the excuse of no gas as their justification, even though they have sufficient gas for the remaining day to transport passengers to the destinations. During my days at high school, if anyone would come to me with a charity box, I would always hesitate for sometime before donating to the cause. My reluctance was due to the fact that I do not trust the youth. I have seen my friends eating the money that they collected in the name of ‘funds for the poor.’ How can a milkman who mixes water in milk expects that he will get pure medicines and dutiful people around him? According to a recent survey released by Berlin-based Transparency International in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, bribery has become so endemic in South Asia that 40 percent had paid backhanders over the last 12 months to public servants, with police being the
largest recipients. Two thirds of Indians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis who dealt with the police last year said they had paid bribes to corrupt officers. This sums up the sorry state in our country. If we want the next government – be it PTI or PPP or PML(N) or any other party – to make significant strides towards ending corruption, we will have to reform ourselves. The time has come that we question our own deeds and make efforts to correct them. We need to look at ourselves before pinpointing the corrupt leaders. The ones who come to power are a product of this corrupt society and look to maximise their output from their positions. So unless we rectify ourselves, even Imran Khan will fail to deliver on his promises of eliminating corruption from Pakistan. SALEH MIRZA LUMS, Lahore
Cut in nuclear budget This is apropos to the reports about cuts in the nuclear budget. As a nation we have to understand that a balance has to be enforced between our priorities for development-cum-welfare and the necessity to maintain a nuclear deterrence for our defence, given the financial limitations that refrain our conventional capabilities. This country cannot afford to allow its paid servants to live luxuriously and have our vital sensitive security institutions getting their pensions from civil budget, maintain fleets of executive jets and limousines, whilst they have vast funds at their disposal to run a corporate business empire. We must differentiate that there can be no more funds to build palatial residential societies for elite members of civil and uniformed bureaucracy, where vast majority live below poverty line and does not even have access to clean drinking water. Your report highlights the cuts in our nuclear budget during past four years by the Planning Commission, which was incidentally headed by Sardar Assef Ahmed and Dr Nadeem-ul-Haq. The former has just been welcomed to join PTI by none other than Imran Khan himself in Karachi, while the latter has served IMF all his life and all his other assets are located abroad, where his family holding dual nationality resides. How many such men or women with split loyalties hold key positions in our civil bureaucracy, our parliament, or serve as ministers and even key senior positions in vital security services of Pakistan. What does it take for men like Sardar Assef to have their conscience hibernating and awaken when it is politically convenient to do so? GULL ZAMAN Peshawar
Tsunami of change The tsunami of change is coming in this country, slowly but surely. This was proved by the hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis who came up with the slogan, “We want change, we want change” to the mausoleum of the Quaid to attend the rally of Imran Khan. Pakistan is a country where millions of people live below the poverty line but at the same time millions of rupees are spent on the expenditures of our democratic leaders. There is neither electricity nor gas. The police and judiciary at lower level are completely corrupt. The accountability bureau is dominated by those in power. Heavy taxes are imposed on the poor, making them even poorer. The rate of unemployment is rising, causing more and more people to commit suicide. All the elements needed for a change are present in this country. The only thing lacking was a proper leadership to lead the people towards a change. I neither see a change coming under the leadership of the Bhuttos nor the Sharifs. The only change I can see is under the leadership of Imran Khan. He has stood up against the status quo and for the freedom of expression and justice. Change can only come under the honest leadership of Imran Khan who has given this country the first cancer hospital. The time is not away when we can see a truly elected democracy in this country. ALI USMAN KAKVI Lahore
let women step forward
peace with taliban The Americans are not ready to take the entire blame for 26 November incident wherein 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a Nato attack on Pakistani posts. As per the investigation report issued by the Americans, first fire came from the Pakistani side (but not necessarily from Pakistani posts) that triggered a chain of events marred with a clear lack of coordination (better say lack of trust). Pakistan didn’t participate in the investigation carried out by Pentagon. The State Department expressed regret over the loss of Pakistani soldiers’ lives but didn’t tender an apology as would be exploited by Republicans as a sign of weakness which means White House has to toe Pentagon’s line. Here in Pakistan, the army was also able to drum up enough backers to draw up a line against the American’s position. A recently held public meeting in Lahore, which was attended by clerics, including the defunct extremist organisation’s leaders, backed the army’s stance on suspension of Nato supplies and evacuation of Shamsi Base. They also warned army
yet another petrol bomb According to the reports published in the newspapers on Sunday last, another petrol bomb is ready to hit the people with its price likely to be increased by Rs 5 per litre from the first day of 2012. The federal government has been throwing such bombs on the people quite frequently without realising how much adversely these affect the people, with the prices of even essential daily use articles going up with each increase in petrol prices. Recently, I had a pleasant and welcome surprise when I went to Islamabad in connection with some work and noticed a display stall on the Main Boulevard. Couple of people manning the stall were distributing leaflets among the motorists and pedestrians who stopped there for a while for their information and motivation. The leaflet contained information about a Japanese technologybased equipment meant for use in the vehicles. According to the manufacturers and the suppliers, despite this equipment being small in size, still it could do wonders like saving fuel consumption up to 25 percent with more power and mileage, being environment friendly and economical. While there is no let up in hurling of petrol bombs by the federal government, there is no harm in giving a try to such
After the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s successful jalsa at Karachi, many of the youngsters of Karachi, who have been told by their elders since childhood that politics is a dangerous game to indulge in, are in a dilemma whether to support Imran Khan’s emerging PTI or the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) which has been the dominant party in Karachi for some time now. Both the parties have their positives and negatives. Youngsters look up to Imran Khan as a youth icon who has a charismatic personality and who has an attractive slogan of ‘change’. But they are also apprehensive of the fact that all the ‘old wolves’ are joining the bandwagon of the PTI now which is something similar to what happened with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s Peoples Party in the ’70s. The same generation has also seen development in Karachi under the leadership of MQM’s Mustafa Kamal which was unheard of in the history of the city. But MQM has negative connotations attached to it, especially in the context of ethnic violence. No one knows how much of this is fact and how much is fabrication. Both the parties have commonalities as well like they talk of middle class and youth empowerment and a large section of their following is from the educated class. Both the parties provide an appealing alternative to the tried and tested PPP and the PML(N) to break the status quo. There are talks of even a silent understanding between the two parties which according to some was manifest in the fact that PTI’s jalsa was ‘tolerated’ by the MQM in Karachi in return of the facilitation they received in Multan during their jalsa on the 23 December. Whatever the facts may be, it is for the youth to decide now which party to support after weighing all the arguments for and against both the parties. MUHAMMAD ASAD ALI ASLAM LUMS, Lahore
against resumption of Nato supply lines; otherwise, they would resort to attack on Afghanistan-bound Nato trucks. Among political parties, there are many including Imran Khan who support talks with the Taliban. They point out when Americans can talk to the Taliban why not Pakistan can do the same. They fail to understand the difference between these two talks: Americans need a safe exit out of Afghanistan and a possible stake in a future setup in Kabul. It’s a different ball game when it comes to Pakistan – after 2014 Pakistan would have to confront a very highly motivated force intoxicated with not one but with two achievements: defeat of Soviets in 80s followed by defeat of Americans in a post-9/11 Afghanistan. Pakistan should think twice before making peace with Taliban – a temporary respite of today will bring a dreadful tomorrow for the whole region. Do we need to copy the Americans? MASOOD KHAN Jubail, Saudi Arab
innovative equipments which may prove to be useful ultimately. ASIM MUNIR Rawalpindi
december the 25th The 25th of December is marked and celebrated as Christmas all over the world while it is also the birth anniversary of our great leader Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It is a unique and strange coincidence that a religious festival of the Christians and the birthday of the leader of the nation happen to be on the same day. Why they are observed on the same day? Why God chose for Pakistani nation the same day to remember their founder? The two, being random events, suggest a correlation. Maybe the ideology of Quaid about the nascent country gives us an insight into that correlation. Quaid wanted a country where everyone included minorities (Christians, Hindus etc) could lead a free and respectful life. We are living in a complex interdependent world, where the thoughts pursued, ideas evolved, and policies initiated affect each and every individual of the world. The vast variety of the people of the world in terms of origin, geography, food, dress, language and religion etc clarify His unity to be observed in His diversity. There is a single land to be lived
in. However, there are multiple faiths ranging from Islam, to Christianity, to Hinduism, to Judaism and Buddhism etc. The existence of single planet and multiple faiths is a proof of evidence in favour of cross-cultural understanding, dialogue and communication. The Abrahamic religions hold each other in great regard. Islam gives due respect to Judaism and Christianity by calling their followers as “The People of the Book”. Quran calls all human beings as the progeny of a single pair (Adam and Eve). Christians all over the world celebrate their festival with great pomp and show. They deserve our respect. Muslims living in Christian majority communities observe these two festivals with jubilation. The principle of reciprocity also guides us to honour our Christian brethren on the day of Christmas. Here in Pakistan, to help facilitate our Christian minority, we must promote tolerance and unity. I request all Muslims to give due respect to Christian minorities, who have the same rights as we do, who are also equal citizens of this state. The easy provision of employment, education, food, medicine, improvement in work conditions and such other facilities must be afforded to all Christians without any scruples attached. MUHAMMAD SALAR KHAN LUMS, Lahore
Despite living in the 21st century, Pakistan still is a country which is governed by laws and norms which are of the medieval ages. Laws which do not safeguard the poor, norms which do not promote scientific education among the young people, traditions which still consider women as secondary to men. All around the world, with time women have proved that they can work with and sometimes better than men. They entered the professions where only men were expected to work and excelled. Such extraordinary women also exist in Pakistan. They too can excel in almost all the professions. They just need to realise their potential and come forward and prove their skills. I ask the concerned authorities, and the people of this country, to stop considering women as inferior to men. Let them come forward; prove themselves so that they too can work for the betterment of this country and society. AROOSA SHAUQAT Lahore
doing nothing Along with Pakistan, gender bias is a thorn in the flesh of more or less every social system, in one or other way. It has been always realised that women have been exploited whatever they do. Their problems remain the same. There is a general perception that after getting job, all the financial and social problems are solved. However, the situation has been exactly the opposite in case of women. When men get jobs, their problems are solved, but when women get jobs, their problems only begin. In Pakistan, there is social environment that never allows Pakistani women to come out and face the society bravely; they remain restricted to their houses. There is small ratio of working women in Pakistan. They either don’t prefer to work or they don’t have access to the opportunities. There is a serious need to look into the reason why these women do not want to work as to play a vital role in the country’s economic growth and why Pakistan’s half of the population is sitting sluggish in homes. SABEEN IMAN Lahore
Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. Fax: +92-42-36298302. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk. Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively.
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12 Comment forget what I said... Taking all positions
O
ne can analyse the prime minister’s flip-flops on his stand against the military depending on which point of the political spectrum one stands. It could be interpreted, for instance, by pro-government circles that in this eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation, the other guy blinked. And, truth be told, the military high command actually was said to have been taken by surprise by the normally cool prime minister’s strong words. It prompted the army chief to come out with a statement rubbishing talk of a possible military coup. The flip-flop could also be construed, by others, as inconsistency and part of an irritating trend on behalf of the incumbent government to be happy with whatever they can get. Their immense capacity to accept anything as long as they can get out of whatever very immediate crisis they would be at a point in time has long been criticised by analysts. Another interpretation, by pro-military commenters, has been that of admonition on his earlier statement. Settle your disputes within the country, say these usual suspects, but don’t wash your linen in international public. The context: the premier’s rhetorical question about where the world’s most hunted man got a visa to stay in Pakistan from. This, say this lot, has the potential to bite the country later on. Of course, no one would find it easy to believe the premier’s side of it. That his talk of their being a state within a state was not directed towards the military but his defence ministry. Not many takers, either, for his spiel that he had to convince and cajole the army and ISI chiefs to accept their extension contracts. But such hardly plausible spin seems to the currency of anyone in politics in the country. If the prime minister genuinely felt the need for a rapprochement with the military, more power to him; no need for any unnecessary muscle-flexing at this rather sensitive time in our history. As long as the impulse to preserve the government and provide a united front internationally doesn’t take away from the larger, long term goal of correcting the civil-military imbalance in the country.
death anniversary Another show of strength
I
t is the season of political rallies, so an even larger than usual turnout at the death anniversary of slain two-time prime minister Benazir Bhutto was expected. The ruling party wanted to swing for the fences and the turnout was sizeable. Though it might not have been as TV-friendly an affair as the PTI rally in Karachi from a couple of days ago, here, too, the attendees were genuine supporters, many of them having travelled from as far as KP for this annual rite. The enduring allure of the Bhutto dynasty is the stuff political anthropologists’ academic papers are made out of. It continually serves to annoy ad nauseum the more “sophisticated” of political observers. But yesterday’s posturing, as mentioned earlier, was not about the death anniversary. It was all about politics. It was the president’s first major address after returning from his treatment in Dubai, a trip that had set the rumour mills on fire. This was a show of strength and the party leadership wanted to use it well. The president’s questioning the chief justice about the status of the BB murder case was an attempt to deflect the accusation that usually surface this time of the year about an indifference to the case; the PPP’s newest stance, it seems, is that the issue is not in their control. There were the usual lines, repeated with force of late, of the party’s intention to complete its term in power. The president also invited semi-estranged PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan to make the speech following his, where the latter swore his loyalty to the party, putting to rest rumours of his joining the PTI. But a rally stage that becomes a mutual admiration society does not win elections. The PPP has to take stock of the fact that there is much resentment against their government, especially on the economic front. True, there is a global recession. True, inflation, especially that of food and fuel, is a global phenomenon. But such defences don’t hold water in the voters’ framework; it has to be conceded that there have been huge gaps on the governance front.
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
wednesday, 28 december, 2011
on civil-military relations far from ideal
S
table civil-military relations are a pre-requisite for political stability and democratic continuity in Pakistan because the military has over the years acquired reasonable political salience. However, the elected civilian government has gained some political ground in the recent past for deflecting some, if not all, military pressure. This is not because of the increased credibility or better performance of the civilian government which continues to be abysmal. However, the complex and uncertain domestic socio-political factors and dynamics of global politics, especially the terrorism issues, restrain the Pakistan military from sweeping aside the elected political institutions and processes. The military stands a better chance of wielding influence on key policy decisions and allocation of resources from the sidelines. This saves the military from hazards of direct assumption of power and gives space to elected civilians. Civil-military relations are flexible in nature and the space available to civilians varies from issue to issue. It also depends on the context within which an issue is taken up. It is a bargaining relationship where both sides accommodate each other on reciprocal basis, although the military is sensitive on certain issues and does not like civilian interference in these matters. Governance becomes a balancing act for the prime minister. He has to balance the demands of democratic politics with the imperative of maintaining good relations with an overconfident military top brass. The military has one clear advantage over civilian leadership. The military is an integrated, disciplined and hierarchical institution with a well-defined command structure. It can deal with the civilian leaders as a cohesive entity. However, civilians are not an internally coBy Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi hesive entity with one authority structure. It is amorphous in nature comprising diverse, often conflicting, political, economic and societal groups. They complete with each other for power and influence. The civilian government is never sure that all civilian groups and parties would support it when it asserts its constitutional primacy over the military. In the present day Pakistani context when Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani took an exception to the disposition of the military and vowed not to allow a “state within a state,” not all opposition parties supported him. The PML(N) took self-contradictory position. While Nawaz Sharif declared that he would oppose direct military intervention, Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar Ali criticized the prime minister’s hard hitting comments about the military. Others wanted the prime minister to take action against those military officers who defy the federal govern-
ment. The virtual anarchy in the political domain enables the military to apply pressure on the civilian government. The divided political domain also becomes vulnerable to manipulation by the InterServices Intelligence (ISI). During the years of Musharraf rule, the Military Intelligence (MI) also carved a role for itself in domestic politics. This causes distortions in the political domain and fragments the already weak political and societal forces. The PML(N) is not supportive of strengthening the position of the civilian government, although it vows to oppose the military’s expanded role in the political domain. At the operational level, the PML(N) is working towards weakening the civilian institutions because it wants to dislodge the PPP-led federal government. As the PML(N) does not have the required vote in the National Assembly to remove the government, it describes the parliament as an irrelevant institution. It has gone to the Supreme Court for the memo issue and does not support the investigation by the parliamentary committee on national security. Unless the political leaders and parties (both in power and out of power) rely on civilian institutions and processes, they would never be able to assert their primacy over the military. The federal government’s position visà-vis the military is weakened because of its poor performance and the pressures of keeping the coalition together that requires some political compromises. Further, it faces strong opposition from the PML(N) and other political parties. Prime Minister Gilani’s hard hitting speech in the National Assembly was an overreaction that could have been avoided. However, he was under pressure not only by the aforementioned factors and the situational factors like the pressures built by the Supreme Court in the memo case filed by the PML(N) and the defence secretary’s statement to the Supreme Court without authorisation from the federal government. In a normal democratic political order, the defence ministry oversees the defence services and serves as the ‘proper channel’ between the federal government/prime minister and service headquarters. In Pakistan, one important consequence of ascendancy of the military in the political domain was the militarisa-
tion of the defence ministry by the induction of serving and retired military officers to key positions. During 1997-2011, Pakistan had 7 defence secretaries; all except one were retired Lt Generals. In April 2007, General Pervez Musharraf appointed a civil servant (Kamran Rasul) to this post. This civilian defence secretary was replaced with Lt-General (r) Syed Athar Ali in November 2008 on the recommendation of the army headquarters. In the first week of December 2011, Athar Ali was replaced with another retired LtGeneral (Khalid Naeem Lodhi). As a matter of courtesy, the civilian government appoints defence secretary on the recommendation of the army headquarters and the defence secretary often listens to the service bosses rather than civilian authorities. The army headquarters/army chief often interact directly with the prime minister and the president. The defence minister (Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar) hardly matters in the chain of command. It was not surprising that the defence secretary (Lodhi) did not feel the need of going through his civilian bosses; for filing his response to the Supreme Court whose contents surprised most people. It would be interesting to see how the civilian government deals with the defence secretary without alienating the top brass. Even if the defence secretary is removed, the military will continue to be the most formidable political player unless the political leaders join together to create a credible civilian alternative, agree among them to strengthen civilian institutions and especially the parliament, address socio-political issues. Above all, they need to redefine Pakistan’s profile from a security state focused on fighting terrorism, pursuing conflict-prone relationship with India and demonstrating miniature colonialism in its relations with Afghanistan to a state devoted to human and societal welfare as well as economic development. Such a change is going to be a difficult task as the military can find strong allies among Islamist-militant groups and far right political spectrum for a militarily strong profile of Pakistan. The main victim of this policy is going to be democracy, civilian primacy and the welfare of the people.
The writer is an independent political and defence analyst.
Regional press
Stuck on the road Daily Khabroona
T
he common people are suffering in Peshawar where they have exceedingly been troubled due to the traffic mess in the metropolitan city. Nothing has been done so far to improve the traffic situation and nor does there seem to be any plan with even a slight seriousness of purpose in offing. All the big routes are afflicted with traffic jams that take hours to navigate and a simple ten-minute journey is often prolonged into hours. Plying of ‘illegal’ vehicles is also a matter of concern for both the public and the government but the concerned authorities have so far been unable to come up with a tangible solution to the problem. Public quarters have been demanding time and again that, along with developmental works in Peshawar, special focus
should be paid to the growing traffic mess as the problem is worsening day by day. Both the provincial government and the traffic police authorities have on occasion assured the public about an improvement in the situation but these assurances have proved to be nothing but empty words. The improvement has not materialised due to the apathy of the administration. The people are urging the government not to issue hollow statements but to bring an improvement in the situation on the ground. The authorities should curb illegal vehicles plying in Peshawar along with unauthorised bus stands and encroachments. It is only these practical steps that will help the situation and bring some much-needed relief to the commuters of the provincial metropolis. – Translated from the original Pashto by Abdur Rauf Khattak
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wednesday, 28 december, 2011
New Khan Express the moral-free bandwagon of the landed elite
By Ali Aftab Saeed
L
anded aristocrats are by nature conservative in their political, economic, social and religious disposition. Since a change in the status quo would cause a decline in their standing, they fight any movement for change tooth and nail. They have always been the biggest obstacle in the progress of a society. For instance, England before the Bill of Rights; France before the 18th century; China before 1949; Russia before 1917; the US before Lincoln. In Pakistan the landlords, to this day, have managed to make their way into the governing bodies of all political parties because of their constituency clout. Ashiq Husain Batalvi’s book Iqbal kay akhri do saal contains letters of Iqbal to Jinnah, in which he is clearly not happy with Jinnah for his acceptance of feudal aristocrats into the Muslim League. Iqbal insisted on promoting middle class individuals such as Malik Barkat Ali – one of only two winners from the Muslim League from Punjab in the 1937 elections. Iqbal particularly insisted that Jinnah not proceed to sign the pact with Sikandar Hayat Khan for the same reason. Jinnah paid no heed, and the rest is history. In the1946 elections, the Muslim League relied on the landed elite for its vote bank, and ultimately we ended up with the crippled Ghulam Muhammad ruling the country and toppling prime ministers at will. After Ghulam Muhammad’s exit, the landlords characteristically continued siding with the establishment. They backed Ayub Khan against Fatima Jinnah in the 1964
presidential elections. While the progressive leaders of the time – Bacha Khan, Mujibur Rahman, Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardi and others – supported Jinnah, she obviously stood no chance against the self-appointed field marshal. Ayub won, but Pakistan lost heavily. In 1971, we returned half of our God-given state back to God with a thank-you note. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto relied on the same bunch, first in 1970 and then more extensively in 1977. While Bhutto won power, these feudal lords opposed, successfully, anything that threatened to go against their interest. Bhutto’s land reforms are a good example. While Bhutto succeeded in implementing the second wave of land reforms in 1977 against the feudal lords’ wishes, his victory was short-lived. Islam, of all things, came to the rescue. Zia overthrew Bhutto, and with Zia came the Federal Shariat Court. The land reforms were challenged, and the Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court declared the land reforms un-Islamic and therefore unconstitutional. The reforms may have temporarily clipped their wings but the infuriated landed aristocrats had had the last laugh again, with solid help from men of God and men of Justice. The feudal lords, in the meanwhile, had of course pledged their allegiance to Zia. The Lunds, the Jatois, the Junejos were now part of Zia’s cabinet, leaving middle class leaders like Jehangir Badar to get whiplashed. In If I Am Assassinated Bhutto admits that his gravest mistake was his attempt to marry the rural elite with the urban bourgeois - an impossible union – which led to his downfall. Fast forward to 2011, and the landed aristocrats and other traditional pro-establishment puppets are now falling over each other pledging their allegiance to the PTI. With the establishment realising that the popular political parties may be getting desperate to minimise its role in politics, and with Imran’s slogans against corruption getting popular, it was natural for the estab-
lishment to pave the way for Imran. Although the establishment is known to be very meticulous and painstaking in its ways, it is often enough for the generals to casually drop at get-togethers something like, “It seems Imran is coming into power.” The establishment, however, has problems of its own. One, Imran is neither tried nor tested and at any time could pull a Nawaz Sharif on the establishment; and two, Nawaz Sharif has just offered the establishment his services too by moving the Supreme Court on the memo issue. A coalition government would suit the establishment’s cause best, and so it would like the PTI to make an alliance with PML(N), something in which Imran doesn’t seem interested – at least now. PPP is not an option, and an overly depleted PML(N) would mean a very powerful Imran. The establishment is in a sense trying to make and break the PTI at the same time. Why would the resident PTI analyst break it on live TV that Shah Mehmood didn’t want Imran to receive Javed Hashmi at the Karachi airport, but Imran did so anyway? Makes no sense, unless the analyst is more loyal to Kayani than the PTI, and the PTI’s momentum – at PML(N)’s cost - is a bit too much for even its backers. The extent of the establishment’s confusion in the coming days will be directly proportional to PML(N)’s problems. What about Imran’s slogan of change that has so excited the masses though? The path to real change (Imran’s or anybody else’s) will have to start from good riddance to the feudal rubbish. It can be a bloody affair like China, industrially driven like England, or democratically directed the way Nehru did it in India. History suggests that to have them in your team and bring a change would be impossible. Imran apparently thinks otherwise. Good luck to him! The writer is a member of the band Beygairat Brigade that has recently released the single Aaloo Anday.
Comment 13
USA is not our enemy it’s in our own backyard
"W
e are going to cut these soldiers into pieces one by one, and we will send these pieces to their commanders," a Taliban spokesman said about the 17 Pakistani troops who were kidnapped in a brazen terrorist raid on a military outpost in Tank last weekend. One soldier was killed in the raid. Nine paramilitary troops were killed and 19 injured in an attack on a garrison in Bannu the next day. But a country that is furious over American raids on a tribal region it admits it cannot control does not react the same way to attacks by the Taliban. While the US has denied the Pakistan army’s allegation that the NATO attack on a Pakistani checkpost on the Afghan border last month was deliberate, the Taliban routinely release videos in which they behead and cut Pakistani troops into pieces. Their spokesman said Friday’s attack was to avenge the killing of Taj Gul Mehsud, an operational commander who had orchestrated several attacks on Pakistani soldiers. He was killed in a US drone attack in October. But Pakistan opposes drone attacks. If we must end ties with the US after the November 26 attack that it regrets, should we not also end ties with the Taliban who have killed more soldiers and policemen since then, and want to cut many By Harris Bin Munawar more into pieces? Taliban killed three soldiers in an IED blast in Kurram Agency on December 17, another two soldiers in clashes in Orakzai and Khyber agencies on December 16, four children and two adult civilians during a search operation in Khyber Agency and one policeman in Peshawar’s Badhabir area on December 13, three policemen and a pedestrian in a gunfight after they abducted two policemen in Hangu on December 12, three Rangers troops in a bombing in Karachi on December 9; two soldiers in a battle in Kurram on December 6, and one soldier in Orakzai on November 27. Also since November 26, Taliban have blown up two primary schools for girls in Charsadda, one girls’ school in Tank, another one in Jamrud (three children were injured), and one boys school in Landi Kotal. Ten Shia men have been killed in what appear to be sectarian attacks
Man bites Dog
in December this year. The wife of a Taliban leader in Karachi arrested after a gunfight earlier this month confessed to being involved in at least nine terrorist activities planned by her husband, including the embarrassing attack on the Mehran navy base in Karachi that was popularly blamed on the US. Qari Shahid belonged neither to India nor to the US. He had been a journalist, a member of the Karachi Press Club, and an operative of our very own Jamaat-e-Islami for eight years. If we want to find our enemy, these are good clues to where we should start looking. But at a time when the Pakistani military establishment thinks the country’s security is at stake, the best allies it could find were 30 religious outfits calling for Jihad in a public gathering in Lahore last week, former friends now grouping together in Imran Khan’s party, and Hafiz Gul Bahadur who announced earlier this month he will set up checkpoints on roads to ensure private trucks are not violating the army’s embargo on supplies to NATO troops in Afghanistan. They all find common enemies in the US, India and Pakistan’s elected president. Imran Khan says terrorism in Pakistan is a result of a flawed foreign policy in the last 10 years based on an alliance with the US. There have been two ministers for foreign affairs in the last 10 years. Both of them are in Imran Khan’s party, and sat on either side of the newly popular leader at his recent public meeting. While Pakistan’s major TV channels aired that tragic joke for several hours on December 25, there were no reports of another public rally in Swat the next day. When militants took over Swat to slaughter its men and flog its women, when the government was forced to persist with a failed truce, and when fears of the militancy spilling over to the rest of the country resulted in a military operation, the lives of members of the Awami National Party were on the line. Although they have been accused of being complicit in the establishment’s policies, they were part of the only successful military operation against terrorists so far, and have lost key leaders and workers in this war. Monday’s public meeting in Mingora’s Grassy Ground – where Sufi Muhammad had started his rebellion with a speech made to gun-wielding Taliban – was symbolic of decisive victory against the Taliban. And that is perhaps why it was not aired on TV. The writer is a media and culture critic and works at The Friday Times. He tweets @paagalinsaan and gets email at harris@nyu.edu
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14 Foreign News
wednesday, 28 december, 2011
Syria pulls out tanks as Arab monitors tour Homs g
Tens of thousand rally against Asad g france warns Syria against ‘manipulation’ during monitors’ visit BEIRUT / PARIS
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ReuteRs
YRIAN authorities fired tear gas on tens of thousands of Syrians who took to the streets of Homs on Tuesday against Syrian President Bashar alAssad as Arab League peace monitors began to tour the flashpoint city and the army was seen subtly withdrawing its tanks, following battles that killed 34 people. The observers want to determine if Assad is keeping his promise to implement a peace plan to end his uncompromising crackdown on nine months of revolt that has generated an armed uprising, edging the country towards civil war. Activist reports just before the monitors arrived said up to a dozen tanks were seen leaving Baba Amr, one of Homs’s most embattled neighborhoods, while others were being hidden. The opposition Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights, relaying activist reports from its base in Britain, said protesters had gathered in Khalidiya, one of four districts where there has been bloodshed as rebels fight security forces using tanks. Activists say they want to impress on the Arab League mission that it must not let its teams be hoodwinked by the state and be shown places where life is relatively normal. As the monitors arrived, tanks were seen leaving the Baba Amr district which activists say was pounded for the past four days. Hundreds have been killed in Homs in the revolt. On the border with Turkey, Syrian forces killed several men from an “armed terrorist group” trying to cross into Syria, the state news agency SANA said on Tuesday. The northern border has become the route of choice for infiltration by army defectors fighting to topple Assad. SANA also reported that said “an
armed terrorist group targeted and sabotaged a gas pipeline near Rastan in Homs province” on Tuesday. The pipeline has been attacked several times in recent months and has come back into operation after outages each time. MeetING WItH HOMS GOVeRNOR: The monitors started by meeting the governor of Homs, Syria’s Dunia television channel said. An Arab League source said they intended to tell him where they wanted to go, based on requests from people in Homs who have witnessed the violence. Assad’s opponents fear that the monitors - who arrived in the country on Monday after weeks of negotiations with Arab states - will be used as a cloak of respectability for a government that will hide the extent of violence. They say tanks have been withdrawn before from restive cities such as Deraa and Hama, only to return later. Syria stalled the Arab League for
months before accepting the monitoring mission, the first significant international intervention on the ground since the start of the popular revolt inspired by Arab pro-democracy uprisings this year. The Arab mission, led by Sudanese General Mustafa Dabi, is starting with 50 monitors who arrived in Damascus on Monday and will be split into five teams of ten. About 100 more monitors are to follow soon. The teams will use government transport, according to Dabi. But that arrangement likely to fuel charges by the anti-Assad opposition that the monitoring mission will be impeded and hoodwinked from the outset. Arab League delegates insist the mission will nevertheless maintain the “element of surprise” and be able to go wherever it chooses with no notice. Parts of Homs are defended by the Free Syrian Army, made up of defectors from the regular armed forces, who say they have tried to protect civilians.
Saudi Arabia frees 7 Shia protesters
Swedish journalists jailed for 11 years in ethiopia
RIYADH: Saudi authorities have released seven Shias detained after protests in the oil-rich Eastern Province earlier this year, activists said on Tuesday. The group attended a “guidance session” by a Shia cleric before leaving prison, the same sources said. They were arrested during demonstrations supporting mass prodemocracy protests led by the Shia majority in neighbouring Bahrain, and denouncing the intervention of Saudi troops there. The protests shook the kingdom’s Eastern Province from March, with a total of 385 people arrested, of whom around 60 remain in custody, according to activists. Saudi Arabia’s estimated two million Shias mostly live in the Eastern Province and complain of being marginalised in the Sunni-dominated kingdom. Afp
ADDIS ABABA Afp
An Ethiopian court on Tuesday sentenced two Swedish journalists to 11 years in jail for supporting terrorism and entering the country illegally. “The sentence should be punishment of 11 years imprisonment,” Judge Shemsu Sirgaga told the court in the Amharic language through a translator. “This sentence should satisfy the goal of peace and security,” he added. Reporter Martin Schibbye and photographer Johan Persson were arrested in Ethiopia’s Ogaden region on July 1 in the company of rebels from the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) after entering Ethiopia from Somalia. The conviction attracted a barrage of criticism from rights groups and Sweden. Both journalists admitted contact with the ONLF and to entering Ethiopia illegally, but rejected terrorism charges including accusations they had received weapons training. Following their conviction, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said Schibbye and Persson were innocent and should be set free.
Meanwhile, France warned Syria on Tuesday against attempts at concealment or manipulation as Arab League monitors arrived in the protest hub of Homs after reports that dozens of protesters had been killed. “So far the Damascus regime has spared no effort to disguise the reality” of repression in Syria, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told journalists. “The international community will be particularly watchful for any attempt at concealment or manipulation that the Damascus regime might try,” he said. “We call for vigilance and ask that the Arab League observers be allowed to carry out their mission without hindrance,” Valero said, noting that “as the first observers arrived in Homs, the tanks left the city.” “The observers must have access to the entire city and be able to clearly and independently establish what the situation is and bring about an end to the violence,” he said.
egypt court orders end to ‘virginity tests’
SANAA: yemeni anti-government protesters call for the trial of outgoing yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh on Tuesday, as dozens of protesters were hurt in clashes. AFP
cAIRO: A Cairo court on Tuesday ordered the Egyptian army to stop forced virginity tests on female detainees. The Cairo Administrative Court ruled in favour of Samira Ibrahim, who took the army to court over the practice, slammed by rights groups as “torture.” She was one of several women subjected to forced virginity tests when they were detained during a March demonstration. Afp
South Korea, China Afghan refugee strategy a ‘big mistake’: UN hold talks KABUL
SEoUL Afp
Senior South Korean and Chinese officials held talks Tuesday to discuss the aftermath of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il and ways to revive stalled talks on the North’s nuclear disarmament. China is the sole major ally and economic prop of the impoverished but nuclear-armed North, and is seen as one of the few countries that can influence its behaviour. South Korean vice foreign minister Park SukHwan called the previously scheduled talks timely “when security conditions on the Korean peninsula have been in focus since the passing of Kim Jong-Il”. Maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula is in the interests of both South Korea and China, Park said in opening remarks before the talks in Seoul with his counterpart Zhang Zhijun. World powers are watching the North after longtime leader Kim died on December 17 and his son Kim Jong-Un was proclaimed “great successor”. Beijing swiftly gave its backing to Jong-Un and pledged to work with the North to ensure peace and stability. Zhang called for closer communication with Seoul to address the “dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region” that were becoming “complicated and serious”. The two also agreed that the six-party nuclear disarmament talks should resume quickly and vowed to work together to maintain peace and stability, Seoul’s foreign ministry spokesman said. Cho also said Seoul’s top nuclear envoy Lim Sung-Nam will visit Washington this week to discuss ways to resume the six-party forum, after his own meeting with Beijing officials last week.
Afp
The head of the UN refugee programme in Afghanistan on Tuesday described its strategy in the war-wracked country since 2002 as the “biggest mistake UNHCR ever made”. Almost a quarter of the population of Afghanistan is made up of refugees returning from Pakistan and Iran. Many find themselves homeless, or living in slums under tarpaulin. But Peter Nicolaus, UNHCR representative in Afghanistan, said the international community had failed to help returnees find a means of earning a living and therefore reintegrating into society. “We made a big mistake, the biggest mistake UNHCR ever made,” he said of the strategy which was implemented in 2002. “We thought if we gave humanitarian assistance then macro development would kick in.” Nicolaus said only now, 10 years after the US-led invasion and with 5.7 million refugees having returned to Afghanistan since 2002, was the UNHCR focusing more fully on the issue of sustainable reintegration. An international conference involving Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and the refugee agency is to be held in April to present the new long term strategy. “It’s the income that counts, the livelihood. In very simple terms we need to find jobs for the people coming back,” Nicolaus said. “You can build five roads to a village and the farmers will benefit because they can go to the next town to sell their vegetables. “But the returnee doesn’t benefit at all. He has nothing to sell at the market.” Nicolaus was speaking at a distribution centre for vulnerable returnees, who were gathered on the outskirts of Kabul to receive a package of blankets, clothing, tarpaulins, wheat and coal. The UNHCR is set to help 34,500 families, or 200,000 individuals, around the country as the freezing winter sets in. But the difficulty of working in Afghanistan was underlined when the Afghan Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Jamaher Anwary stormed out of the centre because there were UNHCR banners on display but no
KABUl: Afghan women line up to receive winter supplies at a UNhCr distribution centre for needy refugees on Tuesday. afp ministry logo. Hundreds queued for assistance outside the walled compound, clutching the necessary papers that proved they were designated as being in need of help. “I’m glad to be back in my own country but we are 20 in my family and we live in two rooms without electricity or drinking water,” Mohammad Tahar, 30, is one of the 3.7 million who have returned from Pakistan, said. “This assistance is nothing for us.” UNHCR provides cash grants for returnees of $150. The money covers transport home and is supposed to help them survive the first few months of their new lives. Three million registered Afghan refugees still live in exile, but the lack of jobs, food and shelter and the volatile security situation in many parts of the country makes it difficult for those who want to return. Although
the rate has slowed considerably, another 66,500 people came back in 2011. But the UNHCR estimates that 40 percent of all the returnees it has helped since 2002 are “not at all reintegrated”. “In Afghanistan a quarter of the population are returnees,” said Nicolaus. “This is what the donor community constantly forgets. This has been overlooked and it’s still overlooked. Nobody has taken this seriously. It’s a tragedy. “We are now - for the first time - bringing this up in the spring conference.” As he spoke dozens of boys lined up with their wheelbarrows. Armed guards were stationed at the gate and on the roof. The boys hefted the coal into the barrows in a cloud of dust. They piled the package of blankets and supplies on top and wheeled their goods away.
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Iran signs fuel deal with Afghanistan
Foreign News 15
2011 topshots
TEHRAN Afp
Iran has signed a deal with Afghanistan to supply its neighbour with a million tons of fuel oil, petrol and aviation fuel a year, Iranian media reported Tuesday without putting a value on the agreement. The accord was signed Monday by the Afghan trade and industry minister, Anwar Ul-Haq Ahady, and Iran’s deputy oil minister, Alireza Zeyghami. Two-thirds of the export deal was for fuel oil, a category that includes diesel and fuel for agricultural, industrial and heating uses, according to Zeyghami. A quarter was for petrol and around 10 percent was jet fuel, he said. The agreement was announced as Iran is subject to Western sanctions against its oil and gas sectors over Tehran’s controversial nuclear programme. The United States and Europe are poised to increase sanctions in coming weeks. Iran’s oil ministry in February said it hoped Afghanistan would buy “all its needed (fuel) products from Iran.” But the Afghan government responded by saying it could not afford to do so and would continue to also buy from central Asia and Pakistan. Meanwhile, Iranian Vice President Ali Rahimi warned on Tuesday that no oil will be permitted to pass through the key oil transit Strait of Hormuz if the West applies sanctions on Iran’s oil exports.
Kremlin top strategist named deputy PM MoSCoW Afp
President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday named the Kremlin official credited with designing Russia’s tightly-controlled political system as deputy prime minister in charge of a modernisation drive. The appointment of Vladislav Surkov, until now Kremlin first deputy chief of staff, comes as Russia’s rulers scramble to reassert their authority amid a wave of protests against the conduct of parliamentary elections. PutIN DeRIDeS PROteStORS, RejectS DeMANDS: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Tuesday belittled Russia’s protest movement as lacking clear aims or leaders and rejected their demands for a review of the results of disputed parliamentary polls. Putin’s comments were his latest warning he does not plan to be swayed by the demands of the emboldened protestors, who at the weekend staged their biggest demonstration yet against his 12 year domination of Russia. “They have no united programme, clear ways of reaching their aims which are themselves not clear - or people who could achieve something concrete,” Putin said in comments broadcast by state television. “I have difficulty imagining who from their ranks could do concrete work for the development of our state,” Putin told a meeting of his All-Russian Popular Front that rallies support for him.
BANGKOK: A Buddhist monk joins others in a ceremony for vesak day, an annual celebration of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death, at wat dharmmakaya on May 17, 2011. reuters
Indian government in showdown over anti-graft bill g
Anna hazare begins new three-day fast NEW DELHI
T
Afp
HE Indian government faced off against angry opposition parties and a popular hunger-striking activist Tuesday as it sought to push a divisive anti-corruption bill through parliament. Parliament met for a special threeday session devoted to the new legislation which would create an independent “Lokpal” or ombudsman to probe corruption among senior politicians and civil servants. “If you don’t pass this bill, the people of this country will never forgive you,” Telecoms Minister Kapil Sibal warned MPs as the debate got off to a heated start with the opposition insisting on a raft of amendments. The bill has been condemned as weak and ineffectual by critics, including veteran activist Anna Hazare, 74, who was cheered on by several thousand flag-waving supporters as he began a three-day public fast in Mumbai to press for the law to be re-
drafted. A similar protest by Hazare in August had galvanised millions of people who took to the streets of cities across India in a spontaneous outpouring of anger and frustration with the endemic graft that blights their daily lives. The main
points of contention focus on the ambit of the ombudsman’s office and its powers of investigation. The government bill offers only limited jurisdiction over the prime minister and requires the ombudsman to put any criminal probes in the hands of the government-controlled Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Hazare and a number of opposition parties want the ombudsman’s office to have its own, independent investigative team. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s administration, which has been tainted by a series of high-profile corruption scandals, has a lot riding on the new legislation as it battles against accusations of policy drift. The mass demonstrations triggered by Hazare’s campaign earlier in the year had forced a review of the bill’s initial draft and observers say any further climbdown on the government’s part would be very damaging politically. “The government is acting as if this bill is a nuisance and they just want to get it over with,” opposition leader Sushma Swaraj told parliament.
Calling the draft legislation “weak and bureaucratic” and “fraught with deficiencies,” Swaraj said the government should either accept the opposition amendments or withdraw the bill entirely. With key state elections looming, Hazare has threatened to take his protest to those regions going to the polls, and tens of thousands of his supporters have vowed a campaign of civil disobedience if the bill is passed in its present form. Many see a new national hero in Hazare, who models himself on India’s independence icon Mahatma Gandhi. But critics see an autocrat who uses undemocratic methods to force his views on parliament and offers false hopes that a single law can end corruption in Asia’s third-largest economy. The government will be keeping a wary eye on the turnout for Hazare’s Mumbai fast. His August hunger strike in New Delhi had attracted daily crowds numbering in the tens of thousands. “What is going to be passed in parliament today is a farce. This is not the bill that we want,” said Vijaykumar Pulstya, 39, who came from far-away Haryana state in northern India to support Hazare.
Palestinians chase UN, unity Iraq blocs call on Iran to mediate standoff RAMALLAH Afp
With peace talks in the doldrums, the Palestinians have fixed their sights on “international activism” and on unity between their rival factions in order to advance their cause. “We are in a truce until January 26,” senior Palestinian official Nabil Shaath told reporters at a recent briefing. “But this political ceasefire will end on January 26,” he said, referring to a deadline set by the international peacemaking Quartet, giving the parties 90 days to submit comprehensive proposals on territory and security. “If on the 26th Israel does not come up with a freeze of the settlements and talks based on the 1967 borders, we will continue our international drive,” said Shaath, who is a senior figure in the ruling Fatah movement of president Mahmud Abbas. Palestinian negotiators say they have laid out their proposals and
suggestions in response to the Quartet’s proposition and they accuse Israel of failing to reciprocate. But Israel, with the backing of Washington, has shown great reluctance to outline its proposals except in the framework of direct negotiations with the Palestinians, whom they accuse of “boycotting” the talks. The Quartet’s latest attempt to resuscitate talks and secure a deal by the end of 2012, was announced on September 23, just hours after the Palestinians submitted a formal request for full state membership at the United Nations. Both sides welcomed the loosely worded proposal, but with completely different interpretations, prompting each camp to blame the other for the failure to resume talks. “If we don’t snatch it (back) now, the two-state solution is dead,” Husam Zomlot, Fatah’s international affairs adviser, said. Many Palestinians have lost faith in the peace negotiations, which were launched 20 years ago in Madrid and led to the 1993 Oslo Accords but
since then have not managed to end decades of conflict. “Only the first five years were genuine, until the death of (prime minister Yitzhak) Rabin” who was shot dead by a Jewish extremist in 1995, says Shaath. “Since then, the peace process is dead - there has not been any progress. The settlements never stopped, the grabbing of land never stopped,” he said. “While negotiating, Israel has deepened the colonisation of the land,” Shaath said. Negotiator Mohammed Shtayeh agrees. “We have been taken nowhere,” he said earlier this month. “The political negotiation has been used to maintain the status quo.” With peace negotiations deadlocked for more than a year, the Palestinians were looking to secure a two-state solution through whatever channels they could, Shaath said. “We have no alternative but to go to the UN,” he said. “It is the only alternative. All the other options are extending the conflict forever.”
BAGHDAD Afp
Iraqi political blocs have held talks with Iran over a standoff sparked by a warrant for the arrest of the country’s Sunni Arab vice president that has stoked sectarian tensions, officials said on Tuesday. Charges that Vice President Tareq alHashemi ran a death squad have plunged Iraq into political crisis, and representatives of multiple parties have spoken to top officials in Tehran, according to senior political sources in Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdish region, where Hashemi is holed up. The United States, which completed a troop pullout a week ago, has long charged that Iran plays a nefarious role in Iraq by funding and supporting militias, and interfering in Iraqi politics, charges Tehran rejects. “Iraqi parties are contacting Iran to mediate over the Hashemi issue,” an official close to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki
said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Three Kurdish political sources belonging to parties including the ruling Kurdistania alliance, meanwhile, said a senior Iranian delegation met with Kurdish regional president Massud Barzani and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, in recent days to discuss the Hashemi arrest warrant. The delegation, which includes senior officials from the Iranian intelligence service and army, was headed by Sardar Majidi, the deputy chief of the Quds Force of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards, according to the sources, who did not want to be named. They said the delegation pushed for a meeting of senior political leaders, but Maliki refused to attend any meeting held in Arbil, and Barzani declined to join talks in Baghdad. Two independent Kurdish newspapers, Awene and Baas, have also reported that a top Iranian delegation visited Iraq and made the request.
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wednesday, 28 december, 2011
Veena Malik regrets
IN LIMELIGHT
nude photo shoot MUMBAI
V
ZeeneWs BuReAu
EENA Malik, who made a splash in the Indian showbiz industry last year with her sleazy stint in reality TV ‘Bigg Boss 4,’ regrets the latest controversy that stirred the country. The actress has confessed that she has made a mistake by posing topless for the magazine but has categorically denied going nude. However, according to her, the magazine cheated on her by tampering with her images. Talking to a daily, Veena said, “Yes, of course, both the images were morphed. My upper portion was covered with tattoos. I think if I could rewind this time, I would like to delete. I feel cheated. But we all make mistakes; I have made a mistake, learned from it and want to move on.” Reportedly, Veena’s father had disowned her following the news that shamed him utterly and also called in for severe action against her. Her subsequent participation in ‘Swayamwar’ forced many Islamic bodies to issue ‘Fatwa’ on her for disrespecting their community. “It has been tragic and traumatic, really sad. It has been very difficult,” the tainted actress said. Most of her actions have made news and it is believed that she is a desperate publicity seeker. Well, we really wonder if you sincerely repent for the controversy Ms Malik.
BANGAlO Bachchan re: Abhishek Bipasha , Sonam Kapoor, B Mukesh d asu and Niel Nitin uring a p romotion event for a movie ‘Pla their forthcoming l y e rs ’. The mov based on ie is th blockbus e 2003 hollywoo ter ‘The Italian Jo d and is am b’ o n g st t expensiv e films in he most Bollywoo d.
Salman turns 46, B-town tweets wishes MUMBAI Agencies
Salman Khan, who entertained his fans this year with movies like ‘Ready’, ‘Bodyguard’ turned 46 Tuesday and celebrities took to Twitter to wish him a wonderful year ahead. This is what the celebs had to say: Sonakshi Sinha: “Happy birthday Pandeji.” Preity Zinta: “Hey Salman, Here's wishing you a very very Happy Birthday ! May all things wonderful big and small always come your way. Love ya.” Dia Mirza: “Happy birthday!!! May you continue to further your dreams and help others realise theirs health, peace, happiness always.” farah Khan Ali: “Happy birthday to one of the most misunderstood person I know. Happiness, health, wealth success, and lots of love.” Sophie: “Wishing one of the most amazing people I have the privilege of knowing a very happy birthday.”
Actor Matthew McConaughey
proposes to girlfriend
Los AngeLes: Actor Matthew Mcconaughey took advantage of the christmas holidays to propose to his long-time girlfriend, Brazilian model camila Alves, the hollywood heartthrob told his internet followers. “Just asked camila to marry me. Merry christmas,” Mcconaughey, 42, said in a message posted on twitter and Whosay late sunday. Alves, 28, and Mcconaughey started dating in 2006 and have two children: Levi, age three, and Vida, who turns two next month. the star of ‘Lincoln Lawyer’ and 2008's ‘tropic thunder’ was proclaimed the ‘sexiest man alive’ by people magazine in 2005. Afp
AMrITSAr: Pakistani actress Sana and Indian singer and actor Inderjit Singh Nikku pay their respects during the filming of 'dil Pardesi ho Gaya' inside the dargah mausoleum.
phoenix: B roo national An ke White performs the th opening nB em before the season A game betw orleans horn e ets and th en the new at us Airway e phoenix suns s center.
Radcliffe learns from ‘Harry Potter’
mistakes LonDon: Actor daniel radcliffe says he learnt a lot working on the ‘harry Potter’ franchise. The 22-year-old shot to fame playing the titular boy wizard in all seven movies and while he learnt a lot from the films, he admits it was hard to see his acting shortcomings shown publicly. “It's only recently that I've become aware of the problems people had with me in the films. It's a double-edged sword. I had the amazing privilege of working with these fantastic actors for 10 years and learning from them, but I also had we all did - the slight curse of somebody seeing, basically, our acting exercises. And, you know, people are obviously entitled to their opinions,” said radcliffe. “But we learn from our mistakes. you know, I'm at the age most actors would be when they've learned from their mistakes in private and done drama school for three years,” he added. Agencies
Farhan wasn’t
keen on Don 3: SRK
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17 Violence changes Pakistan’s song book PESHAWAR
H
MuMBAi: indian Bollywood actress chitrangda singh shows the latest cover of ‘Maxim’ magazine.
Afp
E sings about peace and hope, but Gulzar Alam lives in fear. He has survived three attempts on his life and moves regularly to keep one step ahead of the Taliban. Once inspired by romance, Alam is part of a growing number of Pakistanis changing the lexicon of the song book, writing less about affairs of the heart and more about the tragedy of suicide attacks and Islamist insurgency. "O Peshawar, I watch helplessly when your lovers' blood becomes rain. Helplessly, with tears in my eyes, I read their funeral prayer," he sings in one of his greatest hits in the northwestern city on the Afghan border. Being a singer in one of the most dangerous parts of the world can be lethal. The Taliban think music is ungodly. Music shops are bombed. Dancers have been killed and singers threatened with death. In 2004, Alam was worried enough to move to Quetta, the then relatively peaceful capital of Baluchistan in the southwest. But he was hit by a speeding car, critically injured and now has a rod in his right leg and uses crutches to walk. He blamed militants and returned to Peshawar in 2008. That October, gunmen opened fire on his car on the outskirts of the city. He survived a second time. "I can see tears in people's eyes, when I sing and I want to create an awareness using my voice," Alam told AFP in the dank basement flat where he lives with his wife and six children, with no
name plaque on the gate. "We have stopped giving musical shows," he said. "I have received dozens of phone calls and SMSs threatening me to stop singing." Peshawar, the largest Pashtun city in the world and once a base for Osama bin Laden during the 1980s' CIA-sponsored mujahedeen against the Soviets in Afghanistan, has been on the frontline of a Taliban insurgency for years. More than 500 bomb attacks have killed 4,700 people across Pakistan since government troops stormed a radical mosque in Islamabad in 2007. They have maimed hundreds more, targeting government secu-
rity forces and ripping through shops, mosques and restaurants. Although there has been a drop in attacks in the eight months since bin Laden was killed at his Pakistani compound on May 2, fear remains palpable. Sitara Younus made waves on YouTube this year with her lyrics: "I am a suicide blast, I do everything by force and I rule everywhere". The song was a track from the Pashtu film "Sabar me Tamam Sho" which translates as "I have lost my patience". "Do not chase me, I am a cheater, I am a suicide blast. I have looted people's hearts," she sings, as an actress wiggles her
hips suggestively with bare arms and a relatively low-cut top. It may not have been popular among conservative Pashtuns and criticised as "vulgar", but it showed how far violence has permeated popular culture. Many artists and singers have retired. Certainly they keep a low profile. Even shopkeepers dice with death to sell music. On September 19, a motorcycle bomb killed five people and wounded 28 others at a CD market in Peshawar. Traders say hundreds of music shops have been destroyed in recent years. Amjad Naveed, a writer and producer of several low-budget, limited-distri-
bution Pashtu films, also believes that violence has ushered in a new trend of preaching peace and patience through music. "You see the trend in Pashtu music changing because of the bombings," he told AFP. "People are dying, children are dying and poets write such things when they see the devastation and singers sing it," he added. Abasin Yousafzai, a renowned poet and professor of Pashtu at the University of Peshawar, agrees. "Poets are always inspired by what happens around them. Poets and singers are sensitive people and they serve society through their poetry," he said. Neither is the trend limited to the northwest. Ali Azmat, one of Pakistan's most famous rock stars, has a hit song "Bom Phata" (Bomb Exploded) that exposes not just the violence, but the shortages and inflation facing Pakistanis today. In the video, people are shown standing by in frustration, waiting for electricity, food and water while Azmat sings about bombs exploding everywhere until a mob storms the stage, violence erupts and shots are fired. "We are killing each other, why blame others. We are each others enemies, why blame others," sings Irfan Khan, another famous Pashtu singer. Conspiracy theories run rife in Pakistan, where it is common currency to blame the Americans and the war in Afghanistan for the country's ills. But many singers believe that until Pakistanis face up to reality and take their own destiny into their hands, nothing will change. "We are a part of this society and we are trying to create awareness," Khan told AFP.
i’m not hungry for anything: Atif Aslam qawwali festival MUMBAI Agencies
To say that Atif Aslam with his repertoire of songs like ‘Pehli Nazar Mein’ from ‘Race’, ‘Tu Jaane Na’ from ‘Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani’ is one of the most sought after playback singers in Bollywood will not be far from the truth. But the singer, admits quite candidly that he did not quite enjoy the playback scene initially. “I had to change my lyrics and mould myself according to the situation,” he explains. Over the years, he learnt to strike a balance and started
MuMBAi: ‘don 2’ has been getting great audience reviews and farhan Akhat too has spoken on how he may make a ‘don 3’. Shah rukh however revealed the filmmaker was not keen on making a sequel to ‘don 2’. "we were not sure. farhan was like how many dons will I continue making! But we were not keen on making ‘don 2’ too! It happened as we loved don. likewise, ‘don 3’ may happen you never know. we have kept a scene in ‘don 2’ where there's a slight hint that is given about the sequel. everyone seems to be liking the action in ‘don 2’, so does farhan" said Shah rukh Khan. Agencies
enjoying it. Atif will next be heard in the film ‘Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya’, in which he's sung two songs. On the international front too, the singer is making headlines for collaborating with Guns N' Roses for an album. “I will be recording the album with Slash, Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke by the end of June or July,” says Atif. Currently, Atif is in Mumbai to shoot for a new music reality show, where he will be mentoring aspiring singers from Pakistan, while Himesh Reshammiya will mentor aspiring singers from India. “I've been offered reality shows before but I gave the
green signal to Sur Kshetra, as I was told it will not be scripted,” says Atif. As opposed to Himesh, whose music is influenced by Bollywood, Atif says he has his organic folk music to offer. The singer, who's recently made his debut on the big screen with the critically acclaimed ‘Bol’, says he enjoyed the acting experience. So would he consider a commercial Bollywood film, if offered? “I will consider it, as long as it's not cheesy like other films, it should be different and contemporary. I am very choosy,” he admits, “I'm not hungry for anything, I'm just fine.”
at Al hamra LAHoRE stAff RepoRt
A three day qawwali festival was inaugurated at Al Hamra today. The festival was organised by the Pakistan National Council of Arts and the Lahore Arts Council. The performers included Allama Nazeer Chishti from Faisalabad, Asif Ali Khan Santu, and Faiz Ali Khan from Lahore and Ameer Ali Khan. The program is to continue from December 27 to December 29.
Hrithik Roshan and KJo's film
Priyanka extends the
the most awaited
Olive branch
MuMBAi: There's just about a month to go for the release of Karan Johar's ‘Agneepath’ remake, and it looks set to be the movie to beat in 2012. reportedly, tracking among audiences as well as trade analysts indicates that the hrithik roshan starrer will, in all probability, cross the rs100 crore mark. The film, produced by KJo, has also been voted the most awaited release of 2012 in a poll by Ormax Media. In the poll, ‘Agneepath’ was followed by yash Chopra's directorial project starring Shah rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma; on the number three spot was Salman Khan's ‘ek Tha Tiger’, next came Sallu's ‘dabangg 2’, and number five was Akshay Kumar's ‘rowdy rathore’. The buzz is that the satellite rights of ‘Agneepath’ have already been sold for a jaw-dropping rs41 crores, believed to be the highest ever for a hindi film. hrithik is still riding high on the success of ‘zindagi Na Milegi dobara’, and this movie, where he's the sole hero, will give fans that much more of him. Agencies
2012 release
MuMBAi: tired of rumours about her ‘cold war’ with co-actor ileana, priyanka decided to be friends. since the time Anurag Basu's ‘Barfee’ went on floors, and probably even before that, reports of the cold war between the film's two leading ladies made it to the headlines. And finally, tired of the rumours, priyanka chopra has decided to put an end to such gossip. the actress has made the first move to break the ice and extended an olive branch to ileana D'cruz. priyanka invited ileana, who she believes to be ‘an innocent little baby’, for a special screening of her new film at Yash Raj studios, reveal friends close to the actress. At the screening, last thursday, the senior actress even took care of ileana ‘like a sister’ said the friend. “priyanka was rather miffed with the stories about her not getting along with ileana. she did not want a repeat of the phase that she had to go through at the beginning of her career when the media pitted her against her ‘Aitraaz’ co-star kareena kapoor. As far as priyanka is concerned, there was no animosity between her and kareena. she did not want the same to happen with ileana,” explained a friend of the actress. After the screening, ileana was a rather happy girl. she went back and told the ‘Barfee’ crew about how much she enjoyed the film and priyanka's company. And now the ‘Barfee’ crew helmed by Ranbir kapoor and Anurag Basu, have demanded a screening of priyanka's film which she is only happy to organise. Agencies
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Serena muscles up for another year Page 20
Tendulkar wait continues but India take command scoReBoARD
MelBOUrNe: Australian paceman Peter Siddle (r) celebrates dismissing Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar (l) on the second day of the first Test. AFP
MELBoURNE
A
ReuteRs
USTRALIA paceman Peter Siddle deflated a nation of a billion people when he bowled Sachin Tendulkar for 73 in the last over, but India's fluent batting helped the tourists seize control of the first test on Tuesday. With Tendulkar gliding effortlessly toward his 100th international century, Siddle sent a stinging full-pitched delivery that swung in late and bowled the 38-year-old through the gate to break a 117-run partnership with Rahul Dravid. Ishant Sharma came in as nightwatchman and survived the last three balls of the second day to see India through to 214 for three at stumps in response to Australia's first innings total of 333 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Dravid ended the day unbeaten on 68 alongside Sharma, who has yet to score, with the tourists primed to build a big total on a pitch that is offering little for the bowlers. Tendulkar and Dravid had resumed after tea on 99-2 and made hay while the sun shone, blunting an Australian attack that had been buoyed by their dismissal of Virender Sehwag for 67 shortly before
AustRALiA, 1st innings: (overnight 277 for 6) 68 e. cowan c Dhoni b Ashwin D. Warner c Dhoni b Yadav 37 0 s. Marsh c kohli b Yadav 62 R. ponting c Laxman b Yadav M. clarke b Zaheer khan 31 0 M. hussey c Dhoni b Zaheer khan 27 B. haddin c sehwag b Zaheer khan 41 p. siddle c Dhoni b Zaheer khan J. pattinson not out 18 B. hilfenhaus c kohli b Ashwin 19 6 n. Lyon b Ashwin 24 extRAs: (lb21 w2 nb1) 333 totAL: (all out; 110 overs) fall of wickets: 1-46 (Warner), 2-46 (Marsh), 3-159 (ponting), 4-205 (clarke), 5-205 (hussey), 6-214 (cowan), 7-286 (haddin), 8-291 (siddle), 9-318 (hilfenhaus), 10-333 (Lyon) BoWLing: Zaheer khan 31-6-77-4 (1w, 1nb), sharma 24-7-480, Yadav 26-5-106-3 (1w), Ashwin 29-3-81-3 inDiA, 1st innings: 3 g. gambhir c haddin b hilfenhaus 67 V. sehwag b pattinson R. Dravid not out 68 s. tendulkar b siddle 73 0 i. sharma not out 3 extRAs: (w1, nb2) 214 totAL: (for 3 wkts; 65 overs) fall of wickets: 1-22 (gambhir), 2-97 (sehwag), 3-214 (tendulkar) Bowling: pattinson 15-3-35-1 (1w), hilfenhaus 14-1-50-1 (1nb), siddle 15-2-53-1 (1nb), Lyon 14-2-53-0, hussey 5-0-15-0, Warner 2-0-8-0 crowd: 52,858 toss: Australia umpires: ian gould (eng), Marais erasmus (RsA) third umpire: paul Reiffel (Aus) Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (sRi)
the interval. The pair dominated the hosts in a bruising session with few genuine chances but Siddle's late breakthrough was just reward for a bowler who thought he had removed Dravid for 65 a few overs earlier, only for the decision to be overturned on review. Television replays showed the paceman's foot had crept over the crease, rendering it a no-ball, and after the fiery redhead from rural Victoria had displayed his anger by spitting on the field, he came steaming back with renewed determination. "It actually felt like he did come through five k's (kilometres per hour) quicker after that which was good and I thought he showed a bit of character coming back after what happened to get Tendulkar late in the day," wicketkeeper Brad Haddin told reporters. "It was a big blow for us to get him." Having survived a tense few overs before tea, Tendulkar belted Siddle for six off the first ball of the final session with an uppercut over the slips to ignite the crowd of 52,000. By the time he trudged off the ground to warm applause, the "Little Master" had lofted another two deliveries over the slips cordon and stroked a
pair of sublime cover drives among the eight boundaries he spread around the ground. Dravid reverted to type, playing the role of straight man in the double act, reaching his half-century off 139 balls with a thick edge that fired past home captain Michael Clarke in the slips on the way to the fence. Tendulkar raised his 50 a few minutes later with a deft flick to mid-on off spinner Nathan Lyon, sparking a roar from the crowd, where one of the many banners read: "We welcome His Excellency Sachin Tendulkar to the MCG." India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who took 3-81, said Tendulkar would bounce back from another near-miss. The right-handed master batsman has been stranded on 99 international centuries since March. "It will eventually happen, so there's no point in really bothering about it," he said. Sehwag had earlier put Australia to the sword, helped along by two dropped catches. Mike Hussey grassed a diving chance in the gully early in the hard-hitting opener's innings, while Haddin later spilled an edge toward the end of his knock. Sehwag registered his 8,000th run in the seven-boundary, 83-ball innings
before Pattinson had him play onto his stumps. Opener Gautam Gambhir was out for three when he feathered an edge to Haddin off recalled paceman Ben Hilfenhaus. Resuming their innings on 277-6, Australia's tail-enders cobbled 56 runs for the final four wickets with paceman Zaheer Khan and Ashwin sharing two wickets apiece. Zaheer had Haddin caught behind for 27 to end a 72-run stand with Siddle, but Hilfenhaus and Pattinson frustrated the tourists with a 27-run partnership for the ninth wicket before Lyon joined the latter to add another 15. Ashwin ended a quick 19 from Hilfenhaus who was caught in the deep by Virat Kohli, and then bowled Lyon for six when he attempted an ill-judged sweep. Zaheer, playing his first test in five months after a long injury layoff, took 477 to finish the best of the Indian bowlers. Umesh Yadav matched Ashwin's haul of three wickets. "In the end we were happy with 330. India might be a little bit in front than us in the game but it's evenly poised tomorrow if we start this first session well," Haddin added.
India 'unbothered' by dashed Tendulkar bid MELBoURNE Afp
Sachin Tendulkar's latest setback within sight of his elusive 100th international century may have dismayed fans at the first Melbourne Test on Tuesday, but not his Indian teammates. Test cricket's greatest run-getter was bowled for 73 by paceman Peter Siddle with just three balls left on the second day of the opening Test against Australia. The wicket sent groans around the vast Melbourne Cricket Ground from the sizeable Indian contingent in the 53,000 crowd, denied the chance of seeing the "Little Master" reach the landmark on Wednesday. India reached the close in a commanding position at 214 for three, trailing Australia's first innings 333 by 119 runs with Rahul Dravid, second only to Tendulkar for most Test runs, unbeaten on 68. "It’s going to eventually happen," teammate Ravi Ashwin said after the day's play. "No point in bothering about it. We’re very happy to be in the position we are presently. "Probably one wicket less would have been nice. He played very well but eventually he got a good ball."
Babar to lead Pakistan U-19 team in SA tri-series LAHoRE stAff RepoRt
The national selection committee on Tuesday announced a 15-member Pakistan U-19 team for South Africa tour in January 2012. The Pakistan U-19 team will participate in a triangular series comprising Pakistan, South Africa and Zimbabwe from January 5 to 22 and then play three youth ODIs against South Africa on January 25, 27 and 29, 2012. The team management was also named which will remain intact till the ICC U19 World Cup 2012 and the committee also announced six reserve players while the team will be led by Babar Azam. The team: Sami Aslam, Babar Azam (Captain), Syed Faraz Ali, Umer Waheed (V. Captain), Shahan Akram, Syed Saad Ali, Adnan Mahmood, Muhammad Irfan, Shahid Ilyas, Ehsan Adil, Azizullah, Zia ul Haq, Fawad Khan, Usman Qadir and Saifullah Bangash (W/K). Reserves: Imam ul Haq, Salman Afridi W/K, Mir Hamza, Muhammad Nawaz, Ghazanfar Abbas, Muhammad Farman Team Management: Haroon Rasheed (manager), Sabih Azhar (coach), Dr. Sohail Saleem (doctorphysiotherapist), Yasir Malik (trainer) and Usman Hashmi (analyst).
Aaqib returns as Pakistan’s bowling coach LAHoRE stAff RepoRt
Former fast bowler Aaqib Javed has returned as the national team's bowling coach for the series against England in the UAE that starts in January. Aaqib will be part of a nine-man support staff for the series. He has been involved in coaching within Pakistan for almost a decade now, having started at the Lahore Regional Academy and then had stints as Pakistan Under-19 coach and head coach at the National Cricket Academy. He was with the national team on and off since 2009, first as bowling coach and then as assistant coach, before he was removed from that position ahead of Pakistan's tour of Zimbabwe earlier in the year. According to Cricinfo, Aaqib was part of the coaching staff when Intikhab Alam
was Pakistan's tour manager, and both were replaced prior to the tour of Zimbabwe. He is in contention to take the role of bowling coach on a full-time basis, as the PCB's search committee is believed to be interested in hiring home-grown batting and bowling coaches. Ijaz Ahmed, the former Pakistan batsman, has been named fielding coach for the series against England while Mohsin Khan will continue as the interim head coach. Aqib a member of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup winning team was sacked by PCB after West Indies trip. Except for Col (Retd) Naushad Ali, PCB retained the rest of management which was named for the series against Sri Lanka in UAE and against Bangladesh in Bangladesh. The PCB kept Mohsin Khan as interim coach for next month's series against England as the search continues
to find a permanent replacement for Waqar Younis. Khan, 56, was appointed after Waqar quit on health grounds in September, and later helped Pakistan win a clean sweep over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. "Khan will be the coach for the series against England next month," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said. Pakistan plays three Tests, four oneday internationals and three Twenty20s against England in the United Arab Emirates between January 17 and February 27. Pakistan team management: Naveed Akram Cheema (Manager), Mohsin Hasan Khan (Chief Coach), Ijaz Ahmed (Fielding Coach), Aqib Javed (Bowling coach), Saboor Ahmed (Trainer), Faisal Hayat (Physiotherapist), Col. (retd) Waseem Ahmed (Security cum Assistant Manager), Umar Farooq (Analyst).
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Arsenal held by 10-man Wolves LoNDoN Afp
Arsenal missed the chance to draw level on points with third-place Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Wolves at the Emirates Stadium. The result left Arsenal in fifth place, two points behind their north London rivals ahead of Spurs' match at Norwich later Tuesday. Gervinho gave Arsenal an eighth minute lead when, following a superb through ball from Israeli playmaker Yossi Benayoun, the forward rounded Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey. But Wolves, now two points above the relegation zone, were level shortly before half-time when a corner came out to Stephen Hunt, whose shot took a deflection before Steven Fletcher reacted quickly to head in an equaliser. In a niggly sceond half, Arsenal had a penalty appeal for handball by Christophe Berra turned down. Then, with 15 minutes left, Wolves were a man down when Nenad Milijas was sent off by referee Stuart Atwell for diving in on Mikel Arteta. Arsenal pressed for a winner, with Robin van Persie twice denied by Hennessey before the Welshman saved well from Thomas Vermaelen as Wolves held out. Tuesday's other Premier League match will see promoted clubs Swansea and QPR going head to head at the Liberty Stadium.
United ready for new year title charge: fergie MANCHESTER Afp
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United will be ideally placed to retain their Premier League title if they reach New Year's Day alongside Manchester City at the top of the table. Ferguson, who turns 70 on New Year's Eve when his team entertain struggling Blackburn, saw United draw level with City on points after an emphatic 5-0 victory over Wigan at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. It marked a remarkable recovery from United who, as recently as December 10, trailed City by five points and 17 goals prior to a 4-1 victory over Wolves. Now, following consecutive 5-0 victories, all that separates United from the current league leaders are five goals in the goal difference column -- the margin of defeat which United suffered at the hands of City in their historic 6-1 home loss to Roberto Mancini's side in October. "As I say, it's a long season," said Ferguson. "If we get to New Year's Day top, or joint top with City, then I will be happy. "I've been saying for a few weeks that somebody was going to suffer against us and we've really hit good form now and got a goal threat from all departments. "The clean sheet was a good part of the game for us and the consistency of the team is very good now. "But the injuries are mounting up for us now -- Phil Jones was down ill, Chris Smalling was ill, Rio Ferdinand called off with a back injury and Jonny Evans came off injured at half-time. We're getting our fair share." Those injuries will severely test United with Ferguson confirming that a calf strain will keep Evans on the sidelines for two weeks. "We will just have to wait and see," added Ferguson, with an eye on his team selection for the Blackburn game. "I'm hoping Smalling and Jones will recover. That will make a difference." A single point against Blackburn will take United to solitary ownership of first place at the top of the table and place intense pressure on City, who visit Sunderland 24 hours later on New Year's Day. However, for all their defensive injury concerns, there is no doubt that United seem to have found the answer to their goalscoring problems with Bulgarian forward Dimitar Berbatov, starting just his second league game of the season, claiming a hat-trick against Wigan.
Aamir Atlas to face farhan in Pakistan International Squash final LAHoRE stAff RepoRt
lONdON: Arsenal's German player Per Mertesacker (3rd l) jumps for a header against wolverhampton wanderers' during the english Premier league football match. AFP
Riaz relieved to be back LAHoRE stAff RepoRt
Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz has said he is relieved to be back in the Test squad for the series against England, after a six-month break from international cricket, reported Cricinfo on Tuesday. Riaz seemed to have cemented his place in the Pakistan team after an impressive introduction to international cricket but has found himself out of the national side after the tour of the West Indies in May this year. His name had come up during the spot-fixing trial of Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir in October. The prosecution read out a written statement by security manager, Major Khwaja Najam Javed, which said Najam had found Azhar Majeed, brother of player agent Mazhar Majeed who was convicted of spotfixing, in Riaz's room in the company of Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal after midnight during The Oval Test match. At the time his name came up in the case Riaz was with the Pakistan Test squad in the UAE for a series against Sri Lanka but did not play any of the Tests and was sent home before the one-day series. "I am happy and relaxed to be selected again," Riaz told ESPNcricinfo. "I am honoured that the PCB and the selectors have kept their faith in me and supported me all the way. It was a nagging situation for me when I was out and it's obviously difficult when you are not part of the
national team despite having all the ability to represent them. "It was tough not being part of the squad for some time. But I had a firm belief that things will be cleared; I don't want to get into the details. What I know is that I am ready for yet another stint. I have kept myself fit and in form while playing domestic cricket so I don't think I will face any difficulty." Riaz's last Test match was against West Indies in May. After that he had a stint with Kent during the English domestic season and was rested for Pakistan's tour of Zimbabwe. He seemed set to return for the series against Sri Lanka but did not play a match and was subsequently left out of the squad for the tour of Bangladesh. In the meantime, he took 30 wickets for National Bank of Pakistan at an average of 24.86 in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan's first-class competition. He also got 213 runs in eight innings at an average of 35.50. Riaz, 26, said he is working on troubling the England batsmen with pace during the Test series that starts in the third week of January. He is among two leftarm seamers in the Test squad, the other being Junaid Khan, who has taken 13 wickets in four Tests in Riaz's absence. Riaz said he had added to his game by improving his batting and wanted to help Pakistan continue their successful run. "I am fully fit and in good rhythm to carry on. I'm focusing on speed and some variation in my deliveries. I am bowling at a speed of 150 kph and am useful with the bat down the order.
AFC ‘C Certificate’ Coaching Course begins LAHoRE stAff RepoRt
The second AFC ‘C Certificate’ Coaching Course for Women commenced at Football House here on Monday with 18 participants attending the activity. The 14-day course is being conducted by AFC Instructor Tariq Lutfi will conclude on January 8, 2012. This is a milestone achieved by PFF to further develop football among women. It is the second fullfledged AFC “C” Certificate Coaching Course for Women on Pakistan soil and first B license holder Kiran Ilyas will act as Assistant Instructor. PFF General Secretary Lt. Col. (retd) Ahmed Yar Khan TI (M) who inaugurated the Course said: “It is very productive activity which will add to the confidence of our women coaches equipping them with the latest knowledge of the game to supplement ongoing efforts for the overall promotion of the game.” The PFF has pinned hopes on
coaches (men and women) to unearth future stars under directives of PFF Chief. Under Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, the PFF is organising such courses to get as many talented Pakistan-based men and women coaches, and AFC helped us by deputing well-known FIFA/AFC Instructors for men/women couching courses during last four years. The participants; Jamila Arif, Ambreen Hameed, Nadeem Munzoor, Arifa Sheikh, Qurat ul Ain Hameed, Samia Ishaq, Naila Rani, Nadia Bhatti, Zanib Mushtaq, Amber Nazir, Riffat Shabbir, Nazia Naz, Zoobia Latif, Rubina Shaheen, Tahira Akram, Saba Aziz, Shahida Kausar and Fouzia Saeed. The AFC ‘C’ Coaching Certificate course aims at training coaches and developing their basic techniques and skills in football. It is designed to teach the coaches to organise, direct and conduct basic coaching practices targeting especially young players.
Number one seed Aamir Atlas Khan will take on sixth seed Farhan Zaman in the final of the Pakistan International Squash Circuit No. IV 2011 on December 28 here at the Punjab Squash Complex. The semi-final matches of Circuit No. IV 2011 were played here on Tuesday with Atlas making to the final in just 18 minutes but Farhan had to fight for 40 minutes against his rival to get through to the title match. President Punjab Squash Association Malik Amjad Ali Noon was the chief guest of the day. In the first semi-final Aamir Atlas beat eighth seed Seed Nasir Iqbal 11-6, 11-6, 1-0 while Farhan halted the dream run of qualifier Muhammad Saquib Yousafin a tough fought match. Farhan lost two games before his stride to the final with score being 12-10, 11-6, 12-14, 6-11, 11-4. The final match will start at 1600 hours between Atlas and Farhan and Jahangir Khan Emeritus, President World Squash Federation will be the chief guest at the final ceremony.
lahore Garrison win in MMA Cup Polo LAHoRE stAff RepoRt
As many as three matches were played in the MMA Polo Cup on Tuesday here at the Lahore Polo Club ground. Lahore Garrison beat PAF Blues by seven goals to four. The winners got their goals through Col. Mashud Akbar, Maj Omer Minhas and Maj Nauman Wasif while Tauheed Ahmad, Fahd Hadeed and Kaiser Trimzi were the losing side scorers. Taimur Ali Malik and Raja Temur Nadeem led Guard Group/Caanchi to a 5-4 win over PAF Whites. Adisseo crushed Olympia 7-2 and their scorers were Adnan Jalil Azam, Sameer Habib Oberoi and Usman Haye and for the losing side Ahmad Nawaz Tiwana and Moin Yaqub struck. The matches were supervised by Ahmed Ali Tiwana, Ahmed Zubair, Santiago Mendivil, Shah Qubilai Alam, Omar Asjad Malhi and Wing. Comd. Nausher Khan.
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Serena muscles up for another year MIAMI Agencies
Serena Williams missed the last Australian summer but she appears set to return to her powerful and potent best next month. Williams looked happy, relaxed and extremely fit as she ate lunch aboard a yacht with friends. Williams is in Miami preparing for the Australian Open, a tournament she has won five times from 11 appearances, and she will again be among the favourites in Melbourne despite a lacklustre finish to 2011. Illness forced her out of tournaments in Tokyo and Beijing in October. Her last appearance was in the US Open final on September 11 when she lost to Sam Stosur. She only played six tournaments in 2011, missing two of the four majors -the Australian Open and French Open -due to the after-effects of a pulmonary embolism. But from those six, she reached three finals and won two. "By now she knows how to manage her career and she's also got a great game," said former tour champion Nicole Bradkte, on how Williams keeps resurrecting her career from serious injuries or long lay-offs. "She has a beautiful game when it's on. She's a very clean hitter of the ball and has a very good service action so there's not a hell of a lot that can go wrong, in respect of technical issues with her game. So if she's playing well and she's confident she's very difficult to beat." Her ranking has only slipped to No 12, so with no points to defend in Brisbane or Melbourne, Williams can jump back into the upper level quite easily. "Traditionally when she's started well in January she's ended up having a strong year so that'd be her first objective," said Australian Open director Craig Tiley. "She's said before that she's got a lot of tennis in her. Especially with her age, her longevity and her success in the game, people might think it was time for her to think about something else. "But not Serena. She's highly competitive, loves to compete, loves to win. I know she's fit and raring to go. So that's good news for the Australian Open."
Phf Inter-Academy hockey begins LAHoRE stAff RepoRt
The second PHF Inter Academy Hockey Tournament started at Sialkot Hockey Ground on Tuesday. The inaugural ceremony of the event was performed by EDO Finance Tariq Zaman. On the occasion, President District Hockey Association Khawaja Khawar Anwar, Organising Secretary Ajmal Khan Lodhi assistant coach Pakistan hockey team, tournament director Amir Shafique and officials of DHA Sialkot were also present. As many as three matches were played on the opening day of the tournament with wins coming for Lahore and Sialkot while the third match remained goalless. Results: Lahore beat Bahawalpur 2-1 (full time) 0-0 (half time) Lahore: Awais-ur-Rehman 2 goals 48th minute (FG) & 51st minute (PC). Bahawalpur: Junaid Manzoor 60th minute (FG). Faisalabad vs Gojra 0-0 (full time) (draw) Sialkot beat Bannu 3-2 (full time) 0-0 (half time) Sialkot: Hammad Zafar 36th minute (FG), Amir Sohail 42nd minute (FG) & Ali Raza 53rd minute (FG). Bannu: Faheed 41st minute (FG) & Usman 45th minute (FG).
dUrBAN: Sri lankan players (l) celebrate the dismissal of South Africa's batsman hashim Amla (r). AFP
Welegedera sends Proteas crashing DURBAN Afp
L
EFT-ARM opening bowler Chanaka Welegedera produced a career-best performance to put Sri Lanka in the ascendancy on the second day of the second Test match against South Africa at Kingsmead on Tuesday. Welegedera took five for 52 as South Africa were bowled out for 168 on a good batting pitch, giving Sri Lanka a first innings lead of 170. It also gave Sri Lanka hope of gaining their first Test win of the year, in a complete
dUrBAN: Chanaka welegedera picked up five wickets as Sri lanka took control in durban.
turnaround from the first Test at Centurion, which South Africa won by an innings and 81 runs. Sri Lanka were seven for one in their second innings at the close, with captain Tillekeratne Dilshan falling to Dale Steyn before bad light stopped play.Welegedera, whose previous best Test figures were five for 87 against Pakistan in Sharjah last month, bowled an impeccable line, slanting the ball across the righthanded batsmen, with all of his victims caught behind or in the slips. Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath took four for 49 as South Africa crashed to their lowest total against Sri Lanka. The tourists
were earlier bowled out for 338. Thilan Samaraweera made a century and Marchant de Lange took seven wickets on his debut. De Lange's figures of seven for 81 were the best recorded by any bowler in Test matches in 2011 and put him at the top of an extraordinary crop of eight bowlers who have taken five or more wickets in an innings in their first Test match this year. Samaraweera made 102 before he was last man out. He became only the second Sri Lankan to hit a Test century in South Africa, joining Hashan Tillekeratne, who made 104 at Centurion in 2002-03. Samaraweera and Herath frustrated the South African bowlers at the start of the day, adding 46 to the overnight total of 289 for seven, with Samaraweera batting watchfully to reach his 13th Test century off 265 balls. After Samaraweera reached his hundred, Herath top-edged a slog against De Lange and was caught by wicket-keeper Mark Boucher for 30. The tall, strongly built De Lange quickly wrapped up the innings, having Welegedera caught at short leg fending off a vicious bouncer before Samaraweera was caught at deep cover. South Africa reached 22 for no wicket without Graeme Smith and Jacques Rudolph looking in any trouble before Rudolph played a loose hook against Thisara Perera and was caught at long leg by a diving Welegedera. Welegedera then struck twice, having South African captain Smith caught behind for 15 and Jacques Kallis caught at second slip without scoring. Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers added 76 for the fourth wicket before Welegedera made another double strike soon after tea to plunge their innings into terminal decline, dismissing De Villiers for 25 and Amla for a fluent 54. Amla hit ten fours in an 83-ball innings.
scoReBoARD sRi LAnkA, first innings: (overnight 289-7) t. paranavitana c Boucher b De Lange 12 t. Dilshan c Morkel b imran tahir 47 k. sangakkara c Boucher b De Lange 0 M. Jayawardene b Morkel 31 t. samaraweera c prince b De Lange 102 A. Mathews c and b De Lange 30 D. chandimal c Boucher b Morkel 58 t. perera c Amla b De Lange 12 R. herath c Boucher b De Lange 30 c. Welegedara c Amla b De Lange 2 D. fernando not out 0 extRAs: (lb8, nb6) 14 totAL: (108.2 overs) 338 fall of wickets: 1-35 (paranavitana), 2-47 (sangakkara), 3-84 (Dilshan), 4-117 (Jayawardene), 5162 (Mathews), 6-273 (chandimal), 7-289 (perera), 8-335 (herath), 9-337 (Welegedera) BoWLing: steyn 23-5-63-0, Morkel 21-3-61-2 (4nb), De Lange 23.2-3-81-7, imran tahir 32-3-101-1 (2nb), kallis 9-1-24-0 south AfRicA, first innings: g. smith c chandimal b Welegedera 15 J. Rudolph c Welegedera b perera 7 h. Amla c chandimal b Welegedera 54 J. kallis c Jayawardene b Welegedera 0 A. de Villiers c Jayawardene b Welegedera 25 A. prince c Jayawardene b herath 11 M. Boucher c Dilshan b herath 3 D. steyn not out 29 M. Morkel b herath 0 imran tahir st chandimal b herath 11 M. de Lange c chandimal b Welegedera 9 extRAs: (nb3, w1) 4 totAL: (54.4 overs) 168 fall of wickets: 1-22 (Rudolph), 2-27 (smith), 3-27 (kallis), 4-103 (De Villiers), 5-106 (Amla), 6-118 (Boucher), 7-119 (prince), 8-119 (Morkel), 9-145 (tahir) BoWLing: Welegedera 16.4-3-52-5 (3nb), perera 9-227-1, Dilshan 1-1-0-0, herath 20-7-49-4, Mathews 2-0-11-0 (1w), fernando 6-0-29-0 Match situation: sri Lanka lead by 170 runs on the first innings toss: sri Lanka umpires: steve Davis (Aus), Richard kettleborough (eng) tV umpire: Rod tucker (Aus) Match referee: chris Broad (eng)
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Pakistan’s Waseem thrashes India’s Madan Lal
wAtch it Live ESPN Big Ten Conference Basketball Wisconsin vs. Nebraska
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China invites Pakistan hockey team for test series KARACHI App
lAhOre: British boxer Amir Khan gives autographs to fans at the Pakistan Sports Complex. ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt
M
Abbottabad in U-16 Pepsi-CB Star Cricket final LAHoRE stAff RepoRt
Abbottabad U-16 defeated Multan by 87 runs in the second semifinal of the PCBPepsi Cricket Stars U-16 One Day Tournament 2011 here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday. Abbottabad will now take on Quetta in the final. Faizan Ali, Junaid Khan and Sultan Mehmood bowled out Mulatn in just 38.1 overs. Scores: Abbottabad U-16 – 222-6 in 45 overs:(Muhammad Hanif 85, 105 balls, 9x4s, Mazhar Fareed 51, 79 balls, 5x4s, Khalid Kail 26, 31 balls, 2x4s, Mustafa Hanif 21*, 20 balls, 1x4, Sher Muhammad 2-35) v Multan U-16 – 135 in 38.1 overs:(Ahmer Ashfaq 28, 56 balls, 3x4s, Farhan Sarfraz 21, 31 balls, 4x4s, Usman Ali 20, 54 balls, 1x4, Faizan Ali 3-21, Junaid Khan 2-23, Sultan Mehmood 2-33) Result: Abbottabad U-16 won by 87 runs Toss: Abbottabad U-16 Umpires: Muhammad Kaleem & Muhammad Asif Jr. Official Scorer: Abdul Hameed
Mancini rues festive fixtures after City slip WeSt BROMWIcH: Roberto Mancini bemoaned Manchester City's Christmas fixture schedule after watching his team surrender their lead at the top of the Premier League. City were held to a 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day and are now top by virtue of goal difference alone after rivals Manchester United thrashed Wigan 5-0. Afp
OHAMMAD Waseem thrashed Indian challenger Madan Lal 19-12 in the semifinal of flyweight category of ongoing second Benazir Bhutto Shaheed International Boxing Tournament here at the Laiquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex, on Tuesday. Madan Lal, who defeated Haroon Khan on last Monday at the same venue, could not respond to the punches of Waseem. The remaining host boxers failed to overcome their opponents in the different weight category bouts and compromised on bronze medals. results (semifinals): Men’s light flyweight (46-49kg): Ariubold Ganselem (Mongolia) beat A.M. Amila Nuwan (Sri lanka) 16-9, Peter Mungai (Kenya) beat Mohammad Nisar(Pakistan) 18-8. Men’s flyweight (52kg): Mohammad waseem (Pakistan) beat Madan lal (India) 19-12, Benson Gicharu (Kenya) beat latipov Jasurbek (Uzbekistan) got walkover. Men’s Bantamweight (56kg): wassam Salamana (Syria) beat Ghulam Mustafa (Pakistan) 13-8, Shayimov Orzubek (Uzbekistan) beat Naimatullah Khan (Pakistan) 22-14. Men’s lightweight (60kg): Ayrin Ismetov (Bulgaria) beat Mohamad dumairieh (Syria) 13-10, Gaibnazrov fazliddin (Uzbekistan) beat Joegin ladon (Philippine) 23-7. Men’s light welterweight (64kg): rahmanov Sanjarbek (Uzbekistan) beat rantna Bahadur (Nepal) 4-1 (Technically
Pakistan has immense talent in boxing: Amir Khan ISLAMABAD: British-born Pakistani boxer Amir Khan has said that Pakistan has amazing talent in boxing and it needs training and facilities. He offered his boxing facilities to Pakistani boxers who qualify for the London Olympics 2012. He also that Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Championship would prove to be a milestone for Pakistan boxing future. Khan said that he has already filed a case in International Boxing Federation against the controversial decision in his last title fight with Lamont Peterson. The decision of the case is due next year. Khan said that Haroon Khan is working hard to qualify for the Olympics. Besides Khan’s relatives and fans, President Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) Doda Khan Bhutto and Secretary General Akram Khan were also present there. During his stay in Pakistan, Khan will visit his ancestral house and meet friends and relatives in Lahore. stAff RepoRt Knockout), Ambomo Serge (Cameron) Chinzorig Baatarsukh (Mangolia) 26-18. Men’s welterweight (69kg): Normtov (Uzbekistan) beat Sahrouz Toradideh (Iran) 14-4, Mamadajnaov Ahmad (Uzbekistan) beat rayton Okwiri (Kenya) 19-17. Men’s Middleweight (75kg): Abdullayev Shuhrat (Uzbekistan) beat Shinebayar Nardiandakh (Mongolia) 23-10, Atoev Abbos (Uzbekistan) beat Jamal Nasir(Pakistan) 21-3. Men’s light heavyweight (81kg): rasulov elshod (Uzbekistan) beat Nisar hussain(Pakistan) 14-2, Manaf Asaad (Syria) beat Majid hajabbasi (Iran) 22-17. Men’s light heavyweight (91kg): Tulaganov rustam (Uzbekistan) beat yasir Jawaid (Pakistan) 30-8, Mohammad Ghossoun(Syria) beat Nadir Khan(Pakistan) 39-5. Men’s Super heavyweight (+91kg): Ali Salmani (Iran) beat Charles Okoth (Kenya) 21-16, Soumar Ghossoun (Syria) vs ergashev Izzatullah (Uzbekistan) 18-14. finals (Thursday schedule-29-12-2011): Men’s light flyweight (46-49kg):
Ariubold Ganselem (Mongolia) vs Peter Mungai (Kenya) Men’s flyweight (52kg): Mohammad waseem (Pakistan) vs Benson Gicharu (Kenya) Men’s Bantamweight (56kg):wassam Salamana (Syria) vs Shayimov Orzubek (Uzbekistan) Men’s lightweight (60kg): Ayrin Ismetov (Bulgaria) vs Gaibnazrov fazliddin (Uzbekistan) Men’s light welterweight (64kg): rahmanov Sanjarbek (Uzbekistan) vs Ambomo Serge (Cameron) Men’s welterweight (69kg): Normtov (Uzbekistan) vs Mamadajnaov Ahmad (Uzbekistan) Men’s Middleweight (75kg): Abdullayev Shuhrat (Uzbekistan) vs Atoev Abbos (Uzbekistan) Men’s light heavyweight (81kg): rasulov elshod (Uzbekistan) vs Manaf Asaad (Syria) Men’s light heavyweight (91kg) Tulaganov rustam (Uzbekistan) vs Mohammad Ghossoun(Syria) Men’s Super heavyweight (+91kg): Ali Salmani Koyakhi (Iran) vs Soumar Ghossoun (Syria)
A member of the Chinese hockey team’s delegation Li Gaochao described his tour to Pakistan memorable and extended an invitation to Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to send their national team for the Test series in April next. "Our team learnt a great deal during the 4-match Test series with Pakistan and we are going back satisfied,” he told reporters at Quaid-e-Azam International airport prior to their departure for Beijing after a week long-trip to Pakistan Monday night. Pakistan is among the top teams and has some skilled players, said Gaochao, who is also the Vice President of China Hockey Federation. Neighboring China is the first hockey team to visit in seven years which signaled the return of international sporting activities in Pakistan. The home team won the series 4-0 after matches in Lahore, Faisalabad and Lahore. He thanked PHF for making their trip a great success. "Our basic purpose to play in Pakistan and prepare for next year's London Olympic Qualifiers,” he added.
Army advance in PPfl LAHoRE stAff RepoRt
Army earned a one-goal win to get three points in the 8th Pakistan Premier Football League on Tuesday. Playing against PIA, Army got the only goal of the match at the Jinnah Football Stadium, Islamabad, through its forward Muhammad Ikram in the 64th minute.
Tendulkar's dismissal a win for karma Comment RICHARD HINDS YOU would like to say you had hoped to be glued to the couch today, watching Sachin Tendulkar make his 100th hundred. That you were disappointed Peter Siddle's inswinger deprived today's (now diminished) crowd of the chance to see history. But, sometimes, you must crouch down to your full height and admit you are smaller than that. You must admit Tendulkar's death rattle brought only joy and satisfaction. That his dismissal was for you - if not several hundred million Indians - a delicious moment of cricketing karma. Twice before he removed Tendulkar, Siddle had featured in incidents that had made India's refusal to embrace the DRS seem absurd - if the sound of Michael Hussey's bat thrown into his kitbag the day before had not made that point. The first seemed non-contentious. Siddle edging the ball to M.S. Dhoni to end a tail-wagging 41. But it was the replay that provided Exhibit A for those countering subcontinental claims that DRS technology
is unreliable. It did not merely show the ball hitting the edge of the bat, but shaving a fine spray of splinters from it. The camera work was quite remarkable - unlike the balance of the notorious Joe the Cameraman, who toppled from a Segway while filming players during the lunch break. As Ian Healy put it: ''Can't bowl, can't throw, can't Segway.'' Wind forward to the final hour, with Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar cruising and Australia flying a white flag - the experimental leg-spin of Dave Warner. In this time of need, Siddle produced a wicked indipper that knocked back Dravid's famously well guarded middle stump. It wasn't Dennis Lillee taking four late wickets against the West Indies, but, at the very least, it was a heartening moment for a team under pressure. Yet, in a match supposed to be decided by human umpiring frailty, came dramatic technological intervention. The umpires who could not be asked to review the wrongful dismissals of Ed Cowan and Hussey checked whether Siddle's foot had slipped a fraction - perhaps the same fraction as the ball had missed both Cowan and Hussey's bats - over the line. Which it had.
No ball! Some had defended the advantage gained by India on the opening day. The game, you see, had a way of ''evening out''. Yet, already, Australia had been clobbered on the head by the swing and run head-on into a semi-trailer in the roundabout. In that context, fate - not to mention irate Australian fans - might have called for Tendulkar's removal to involve a dubious decision that might have been overturned, had his own board not opted to spurn the DRS (Don't Review Sachin). But Siddle producing another snorting in-dipper and extending Tendulkar's quest for his century of centuries was, in a way, more satisfying. Not an eye for an eye, simply great cricket. Even without their DRS ordeal, this series is proving an exacting test of the Australians' temperament. Cowan had led the way on the first day with a knock that prompted him to tweet (yes, quoting Twitter again): ''Ever felt like you walked through the wardrobe and ended up in Narnia?'' Never mind that some of his new teammates might be wondering (a) why they didn't also have a walk-in wardrobe at the team hotel and (b) is Narnia that little fish-
ing village south of Wollongong? Yesterday, it was Siddle's big heart and the surprising maturity of young tearaway James Pattinson that passed the temperament test. In two Tests against New Zealand, Pattinson could have been forgiven for thinking Test cricket was a doddle. Against India, it had become like finding a decent bacon sandwich in downtown Tel Aviv. Twice Virender Sehwag had been dropped from his bowling - a tough chance to Hussey at gully, a more straightforward edge to Brad Haddin that prompted Healy to observe: ''That's pain.'' A reference to Haddin's remorse? Or an observation that, once the Tasmanian wicketkeeper is fit, ''That's Paine'' into the line-up? Pattinson's response? A hostile spell in which he kept his nerve - and, as importantly, his full length, until Sehwag dragged a ball onto middle stump. As encouraging was Pattinson's response. Despite an earlier tangle with Sehwag, he ran towards the slips to celebrate. Plenty of fire, but no unnecessary brimstone. Just as there was no gloating over Tendulkar's late dismissal. Just, you suspect, a greater than usual feeling of satisfaction.
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wednesday, 28 december, 2011
Mullah Omar removed from fBI most-wanted list MoNIToRING DESK
SC to hear if moved on CoAS, ISI DG Asma says apex court should have no role if PM removes anyone from his post
ISLAMABAD
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has removed the name of Afghan Taliban supreme commander Mullah Omar from its list of the most wanted terrorists. However, the names of Ayman Al Zawahiri and Hakimullah Mehsud still remain on the list.Earlier, reports about the US establishing contacts with Omar had surfaced. The reports said the US wanted to bring the Taliban to negotiation table to end the conflict in Afghanistan. So far, several claims have been made by the US about negotiations with the Taliban, but Pakistan and Kabul have never been taken into confidence over the much speculated-about talks.
Court asks AG why Haqqani was made to resign and a probe ordered if memo not real g
MAsooD RehMAn
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EDIA reports about the possible removal of Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha in the wake of the memo controversy echoed in the Supreme Court during the first hearing of the memo case here on Tuesday, as Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said if the matter came to the court, the court would have to decide it. During the hearing, when the chief justice, who was heading a nine-member larger bench, noted that the news about the possible removal of the army
and ISI chiefs was published and came under discussions suggesting that action had started on the memo issue, Asma Jehangir, counsel for former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani, stated that there should be no role of the court if the prime minister removed anyone from their post(s). She said the court had no concern with the removal of the army chief and it should not interfere, as the prime minister was empowered to remove the army chief. Arguing the maintainability of the petitions filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif and others seeking a probe into the memo issue,
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Pakistan, India to extend pacts on N-accidents, missile tests ISLAMABAD shAiq hussAin
Pakistan and India on Tuesday agreed to move forward on proposals to extend the two vital agreements on “reducing the risk from accidents related to nuclear weapons” and “pre-notification of ballistic missile tests”, as they concluded their two-day talks here on Conventional and Nuclear Confidence Building Measures (CBMs). Senior officials of the two countries agreed to recommend to their foreign secretaries to extend the validity of the “Agreement on PreNotification of Flight Testing of Ballistic Missiles” by five years.
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